#Road2Arlington Survive and Advance #CFBPlayoffs here we come

At the start of the 2014 college football season many teams appeared to be unbeatable and apparent shoe-ins to punch their #Road2Arlington tickets to the inaugural College Football Playoffs. The close calls in week four has all but destroyed these cloaks of invincibility. The Auburn Tigers high octane sputtered in Manhattan but was bailed out by a dominant run defense and uncharacteristic miscues by the Kansas State Wildcats missing three field goals and two sure handed touchdown passes.

The Oregon Ducks offense may not have been as abysmal but the Ducks offensive line was dominated by the Washington State Cougars defense who sacked the frail Heisman front runner Marcus Mariota seven times, who had to run just to survive. The Ducks defense was a complete no show surrendering 480 yards in passing alone. The Ekpre-Olomu Darrell Revis comparison from this summer looked downright laughable as he was victimized frequently as Cougars quarterback Connor Halliday showed little fear attacking the All American corner.

While the Ducks were saved by Mariota the Florida State Seminoles nearly lost because of the selfishness of Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. The nations longest winning streak was on the verge of being snapped until defensive tackle Eddie Goldman saved their season and as well as their championship hopes when he caused a fumble with his bear claw.

Routes come and go but these close calls were a huge wake up call for several title contenders. Although battered, bruised and humbled these week four close calls will either bring the team together or serve as a sign of things to come. The diagram their championship demise is no secret and their adversaries smell blood: Auburn can not run; Oregon cannot protect or defend; and poor FSU who knows what Winston will do next. Upsets are inevitable, the only question is who will be next victim? Stay tuned…I know I will.

Road2Arlington: Ohio State Buckeyes – Championship or Bust, No Excuses. No Apologizes.

THE Ohio State Buckeyes have had two unblemished regular season finishes, but no national championships to show for it. At programs like that SCHOOL UP NORTH a 23-game win and a Big Ten Conference is something to be proud of, but in Columbus where excellence is expected NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP are all that matter.

This year the Buckeyes are stacked and the gap separating them from their Big Ten peers is gaping. After three years Coach Urban Meyer has well stocked roster that has both speed and talent galore. Despite the Buckeyes abundance of riches the national championship hopes of Buckeye Nation rest squarely on the surgically repaired shoulder and previously strained MCL of Heisman favorite senior quarterback Braxton Miller. 

When Miller was on the field he was nearly unstoppable, which is why he has two Big Ten Player of the Year Awards in his trophy case. Although Miller will always be a threat to run he continues to grow and mature as a passer. Each time Miller pulled the ball down fans were both amazed and horrified hoping that he would get up unscathed. Although there is no shortage of talent, replacing an entire offensive line for an injury prone quarterback is a bit unsettling.

However, the Buckeyes saving grace will be their defense, which will rank as one of the best in the country. Despite the losses of first rounders Bradley Roby and Ryan Shazier, the defense will be nothing short of dominant. The defensive line will be downright scary and opposing quarterbacks and OC will be terrorized in their dreams and on the field by Michael Bennett, Joey Bosa, and Adolphus Washington. At Ohio State they don’t replace, they simply reload, FS Vonn Bell, CB Doran Grant, and LB Curtis Grant are all poised to be premier play-maker that will not be a secret for much longer.

Although no team will ever rival Meyer’s 2008 Florida Gators, Meyer may have assembled his best team yet in Columbus. The offensive line holds the key to the Buckeyes championship fate. Since they practice against the nation’s best defense there may be hope after all. If talented play maker Dontri Wilson finally live up to his Percy Harvin expectations which he is more than capable of doing then the Road2Arlington will be an easy one. But if Miller misses time due to injury all bets are off. Stay tuned…I know I will.

Anthony Denmark is a writer for eatdrnkslpsprtz.com. Follow him on Twitter@eatdrkslpsprtz2, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. Listen to eatdrnkslpsprtz radio  Subscribe to podcast

 

 

Texas Longhorns Reality Check

When big time college jobs become available a who’s who’s list of coaching royalty is assembled. Names like Nick Saban, Jon Gruden, Les Miles, Urban Meyer and Chip Kelly find themselves mentioned very every coaching vacancy that comes available at so called elite programs. However, the elite coaches are always missing when the school has their press conference to announce their next coach.

These coaching vacancies provide a harsh reality check to programs, boosters, and fans, letting them know that they are not as glamorous or as appealing as they had been led to believe. USC Athletic Director Pat Haden was dealt a similar reality check when their A-list of prospective hires all said no despite Haden’s promise to pay $6 Million annually. Now, don’t get me wrong Steve Sarkistan may turn out to be a home run hire but initial impressions certainly left more to be desired.

Now as the coaching carousel makes a pit stop in Austin the usual list of elite caliber coaches are mentioned to fill the vacancy. Everyone claims to have well placed sources connecting coaches like Mike McCarthy, Jim Mora, Jim Harbaugh, and even Mike Tomlin to the vacancy at the so-called most premiere college football program in the country.

However, just like small town beauty who realizes they are not the dime that they had been lead to believe, the Texas Longhorn football program is due to experience a similar fate. Despite Forbes Magazine declaring them as the highest grossing sports program in the nation, they will not be exempt from hearing the harsh two letter word N-O !!!

Once the dust has settled and the dream hires decline or uses the vacancy to get another raise or extension a la Saban, a real candidate will be welcomed with little fan fare and a few shades of disappointment.

The next coach of the Longhorns will likely not have won a conference championship, a National Championship, or even appeared in a BCS Bowl game.

Who fits the bill? Vanderbilt HC James Franklin? Clemson OC Chad Morris? Fresno State HC Tim Deruyter? Only time will tell. Stay tuned…I know I will.

Anthony Denmark is a writer for eatdrnkslpsprtz.com. Follow him on Twitter@eatdrkslpsprtz2, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. Listen to eatdrnkslpsprtz radio  Subscribe to podcast

 

2013 the year of the Cardinal

The Stanford victory over the boyishly frail mighty Ducks cemented 2013 as the year of the Cardinal. Although no national championships or final four banners were won an endless list of athletes from the Farm have sent shock waves to throughout the sports world altering perspectives, challenging bias and making many people uncomfortable along the way.

Seattle Seahawks All-Pro Richard Sherman, class of 2010, altered our view on what many thought a Stanford graduate was supposed to look like and act. However, behind the dreadlocks, trash talk and brovado this football genius terrorized opponents and made life uneasy for opposing quarterbacks. Week in and week out he showed fans it was not only his mouth that brought him praise, but his superb play on the field.

As apart of the college football playoff inaugural committee Condoleezza Rice, class of 1981, will play a key role in giving fans what they have been begging decades for. Although her appointment ruffled a few feathers in the Plains her contribution along former Cardinal football coach Ty Willingham and others will play a key role in determining future national champions for decades to come.

Both Jason Collins and Jonathan Martin have caused franchises and their front offices to acknowledge the pink elephant in the room – homosexuality and mental health. Although both of these men are colossal in size their situations reminded us that you can not judge a book by its cover. Martin and Collins may never play another down or grab another rebound but their contribution to the sports world will be immeasurable.

When we think about Stanford we think about academics but in 2013 the Cardinal truly stood alone. Who will be the next Cardinal from the Farm to show up and show out? There is certainly no shortage of candidates: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, is it you? Does Shayne Skov have another goal line strip in him? How about you Coach Johnny Dawkins? Or maybe 3-time All-American Chiney Ogwumike has a title run in her? The possibilities are endless, who will it be? Stay tuned…I know I will? – A. Denmark

Anthony Denmark is a writer for eatdrnkslpsprtz.com. Follow him on Twitter@eatdrkslpsprtz2, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. Listen to eatdrnkslpsprtz radio  Subscribe to podcast

No offense, but defense will be the reason Oregon beats Stanford

Each week in the world of college football there are big games played that have national title implications and this week is no different. At the start of the season several teams were believed to have a legitimate shot at winning the title, but each week teams showed us who they were and now its the Oregon Ducks led by Heisman frontrunner Marcus Mariota turn to show us when they go to the farm to take rival the Stanford Cardinals.

Despite losing Chip Kelly to the NFL the Ducks offensive juggernaut has not slowed down one bit. Even after De’Anthony Thomas missed three games due to an ankle sprain the offense rarely missed a beat due to running back Byron Marshall and wide receiver Bralon Addison stepping up and showing out.

However, let’s be honest we have seen this all before, the offensive firepower and stats are impressive and the highlight plays are unforgettable but until they beat their Pac 12 nemesis a BCS championship will always be out of reach.

This Oregon team enters Thursday’s game healthy which was not the case last season, both of their lines resembled the walking wounded. Marcus Mariota has made tremendous strides in his game, he is now using his athleticism to extend plays which will make life difficult for Cardinal defenders

Although their offense will continue to hog the headlines Oregon will beat the Cardinals in the trenches, the place where championship are truly won or lost. The Ducks offensive line although inexperienced will be facing a wounded Cardinal defensive line that is scary but very thin due to injuries which will reduce the impacts of All American linebackers Shayne Skov and Trent Murphy.

The Oregon defensive line is no slouch either, and with the nation watching this will be their coming out party.  Their line is deep and talented; it averages 6’5″ 300 pounds, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner are the headliners and at the end of Thursday night they both national commodities. The secondary led be All-American Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is stout and but the linebacker corp although talented will likely give up  a few shots.

Every year fans are lead to believe that this year will be different, that this will finally be the year that the Oregon Ducks get a shot to dethrone and take down the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide. But before Ducks fans talk Bama they must win the day, beat Stanford and handle things at the farm. Will they? Stay tuned…I know I will – A. Denmark

Anthony Denmark is a writer for eatdrnkslpsprtz.com. Follow him on Twitter@eatdrkslpsprtz2, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. Listen to eatdrnkslpsprtz radio  Subscribe to podcast

Brent Musburger strikes again – Add Holly Rowe to Musburgers on air list of hotties

Brent Musburger makes headlines again  for adding another woman to his ever-growing list of hot women during his coverage of last night’s college basketball snoozer between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Baylor Bears.

After so many years of great commentary one begins to wonder if Musburgers sharpness has begun to fade and he has now assumed the role of the uncensored horny uncle that every family has. Due to his lack of censorship it would not be a surprise if ESPN begins to reduce his own air duties because when the games are blowouts Musburger runs out of things to say and just turns to the one thing he knows better than commentary, women. Too the surprise of many the old guy continues to get the same pass that every uncle across America gets, the same pass that gives them the freedom to look and say just about anything without fear of being smacked or cursed out.

However, after single-handed launching the career of Miss Alabama Katherine Webb with his comments in the BCS National Championship game the old buzzard strikes again calling ESPN side line reporter Holly Rowe ‘smoking hot’ during last night’s telecast. It’s unlikely that his comments will get Holly Rowe a spread in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition or boost her twitter followers by 100,000 like it did Miss Alabama. How ESPN responds to Musburgers latest on air flirtation is unknown? But his latest comments makes one wonder if he says this on the air no telling what he does in public. At this point Musburger is teetering on being accused of sexual harassment with celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred standing next to a hot pretty blonde client.

Regardless of what ESPN does Musburger will continue to remind us of the old uncle that every family has – unedited and uncensored. Despite the college basketball season being a snoozer with Musburger covering the game there will not be a boring moment. Stay tuned…I know I will. – A. Denmark

Anthony Denmark is a writer for eatdrnkslpsprtz.com. Follow him on Twitter@eatdrkslpsprtz2, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

My college football blues – The thrill is gone 9 months until the euphoria returns #collegefootball

The Euphoria that follows the kick off of a new season of college football unfortunately inches closer and closer to its final curtain call. The All-american teams have been announced, the hardware has been handed out, and the well deserved assistant has finally earned the chance to run a program. This year was marked by new faces like Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman and the return of Notre Dame from the depth of mediocrity contending for a National Championship after so many years of years of disappointment. And who can forget Coach Petrino and the motorcycle scandal that kicked the 2012 college football season off with a bang conjuring up memories of another native Arkansan’s fall from grace.

The Preseason Magazine you bought in May is now wrinkled up in your bathroom or its being used for scrap paper for the little ones. And although your favorite team may have made it to a bowl game, your jubilation at their success is met with sadness because the next game will be the last game. Each week you feverishly switched channels and scheduled your days around the big game that was coming on that Saturday.With each punt return or hail mary that was answered it was the topic of conversation with your friends and peers in the workplace.

Only a Handful of days remain, when we must find something else to fill this void and although the NFL and basketball are options, they just do not hit the spot. What is the cure for this madness? How can we go on? preseason magazines do not come out til June and recruiting will be over in February. The agony the pain of college football fever, an addiction that spreads from coast to coast, from sea to shining sea.

A Toast to a great season, may it hold us over until another arises that first fateful day in September. Too the true college football fans continue to EAT DRINK SLEEP SPORTZ and we shall enjoy each touchdown as if it was the last one. Be sure to check out my radio show eatdrnkslpsprtz radio every Tues/Thurs. 630 EST and Sat 10am EST for more sports news from myself and friends. Stay tuned… I know I will. – A.Denmark (eatdrkslpsprtz2)

Anthony Denmark is a writer for eatdrnkslpsprtz.com. Follow him on Twitter@eatdrkslpsprtz2, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

Texas Longhorns: Is everything still bigger in Texas? Mack Brown Era nearing its end #hookemhorns

Last weekend the Longhorn faithful and Head Coach Mack Brown breathed a sigh of relief as a season full of disappointment was capped off with a bowl win over the Oregon State Beavers. Four years ago this once proud program was playing for a national championship but since former quarterback Colt McCoy exhausted his eligibility the Longhorns have finished 5-7 (2010), 8-5 (2011), and 9-4 (2012). For a program that was voted the most profitable football program in the nation by Forbes Magazine the past three years has not only been completely unacceptable but also inexcusable.

Since Mack Brown took the helm in 1998 the Longhorns experienced nearly a decade of dominance with BCS bowl appearances, 9 consecutive ten win seasons, 4 Big XII Championships, and 1 BCS National Championship. However, the blueprint for the downfall of the Longhorn football program was laid when Coach Brown would wrap up recruiting at his infamous Texas junior days where all the top talent in Texas camped at over the summer. Although this technique helped the Longhorns secure the state’s best talent and build a pipeline to the pros with 35 former players on NFL rosters. The success that the program has experienced in the past has led to an over reliance on recruiting rankings, poor player evaluations, and fostered an arrogant aura of entitlement that has infected the entire program.

The Longhorns have attracted the state’s top talent for years with very little effort resulting in a revolving door of 5-star recruits, this easiness of attracting premiere athletes has led to the program obsessing over recruits heights and measurables preferring ‘pro-ready prospects over diamonds in the rough. The laziness of the coaching staff has led to a Longhorn team chock full of undisciplined over-sized gazelles who continue to infuriate their fan base with poor play on the field.

The frustration of the Longhorn fan base is further heightened when their bitter in-state rivals flourish and thrive with in-state players that the Longhorns did not offer scholarships too. Led by Coach Art Briles has produced a Heisman winner last year in RG III and led the nation in scoring with senior quarterback Florence at the helm, the Longhorns did not offer either recording breaking quarterback. The resurgent Southern Methodist Mustangs led by June Jones has yet to attract a instate 5-star recruit but somehow produced more NFL prospects last year than their deeper pocketed talented-filled in-state rival.

During their decade of dominance the thought of another coach at the helm was unconscionable and prospects never de-committed nor was the staff looking for better options. Nevertheless, it appears that the ride of dominion is over: Prospects are de-committing left and right; assistant coaches have one foot out the door preparing for the end of the Mack Brown era; and worst of all Texas A&M has now become the trendy school of choice for in-state prospects.

Although the Longhorns won their bowl game the fate of the program is uncertain: Will Mack Brown be fired or will he retire gracefully? When the time comes who will lead the Longhorns back to prominence? Who will be given the keys to the best the best job in the country, the number of interested candidates would be endless. Next season promises to be an exciting one.Stay tuned… I know I will. – A. Denmark #hookemhorns

Anthony Denmark is a writer for eatdrnkslpsprtz.com. Follow him on Twitter@eatdrkslpsprtz2, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

What I learned from the 2012 College Football Season! #road2bcs #collegefootball

There is one week left in the 2012 College Football season. One week left of fight songs, trash talk, and bad bowl games before we finish off the season with Alabama and Notre Dame going head to head for the BCS National Championship.

With that in mind, here are my Top 5 things we learned in 2012:

5) Florida State isn’t back…yet: 11-2, ACC Champions and a spot in a BCS bowl game for the first time since the 2005 season. Am I a spoiled fan, or an I being realistic? Many would say I’m a spoiled fan, but here’s why I expected more from 2012. I never thought this FSU team would win a BCS title, but I thought there was a good shot at being in the conversation. That all ended with a mind-boggling 1-point loss to a bad NC State team. Near-losses to VT and GT, combined with a 1-1 record against ranked teams and you can see why I say FSU isn’t back…yet. This program is headed in the right direction. Head Coach Jimbo Fisher is recruiting the right type of players and coaches. He’s shown that he has an eye for talent and he’s certainly learned to be a more effective head coach, winning some games the Noles would have lost in previous years. While I still believe Fisher needs to hand over play calling duties to an offensive coordinator, if he can continue to build on his success, the Noles can be in the hunt in 2013 and beyond.

4) It’s time for Mack Brown to retire. Mack Brown is getting dangerously close to being forced into retirement much the way several legends have in the past. His 2010 season was a disastrous 5-7, but he recovered with a decent 8-5 in 2011 which had many thinking it was just a blip on the radar. However, the Longhorns struggled to an 8-4 regular season mark in 2012 and showed no signs of returning to the college football elite. The defense, which thrived in 2011 regressed this year, giving up 30+ points 6 times. The offense struggled to find an identity, changing QBs several times as neither David Ash or Case McCoy has been able to be “the guy” for Texas. Mack Brown has earned the opportunity for one more year, but at some point, it’s time to move on.

3) The coaching world has changed. Years ago, coaches were given 5 years to prove whether they were the right guy for the job. While that changed a few years ago (see Tyrone Willingham at ND), what we’ve seen this year has been downright crazy. Gene Chizik won a National Championship at Auburn in 2010 and was fired 2 seasons later, albeit after a disastrous 3-9 season where AU became the first SEC team to have a conference title and a winless conference season. Ellis Johnson was given one year at Southern Miss where he took them to an 0-12 season. Patience is a virtue and college football has none (patience or virtue). In this win or else era, it’ll be interesting to see how many programs get caught breaking rules in the coming years. Then again, with Auburn, they were supposedly cheating and still  went 3-9.

2) Preseason Polls mean NOTHING.

Look at the preseason AP poll (granted the AP poll means nothing anyway). Atop the poll, you will see the USC Trojans. The top ranked team in the nation finished 7-5. Look at the current AP poll. The top ranked ND Fighting Irish are nowhere to be found. They finished the season 12-0. At some point the AP and Coaches polls need to realize that preseason polls are useless and are based off of last year’s finishes, rumors, innuendos, and practice reports. While we all love to see the polls and talk about them, this year truly has shown us how worthless being the pre-season #1 team in the country is.

1) It’s the SEC and everyone else.

I admit it, I’m an SEC hater. I can’t stand when people root for their conference as if Alabama winning a national title means Auburn won one too. I’m a Nole fan and I NEVER want to see Miami or UF win a national title. Sorry, it’s the truth. And while I think the SEC was somewhat overrated (or rather overvalued) this year, they were still the best conference in college football. The reason I say they were overvalued is because the majority of the conference refuses to play legitimate out of conference schedules (yes I know we played Murray State and Savannah State), and the polls seem to disregard losses when they occur within this conference (see Alabama barely falling after a loss and 2-loss SEC teams jumping 1-loss teams all season). That said, this conference still has 5 of the top 10 teams in college football (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, LSU and Texas A&M). With a chance at a 7th straight National Champion coming from the SEC, the other conferences have a lot of catching up to do.

As we close out another college football season, it’s time to also look forward. In less than 2 months, signing day will be upon us. In less than 4 months, spring practice will start. 8 months from now, those meaningless pre-season polls will be out and fall camps will begin. And before you know it, that first kickoff weekend will be here!

Enjoy the off-season!

New England Patriot Dominance and NFC Parody – in search of a NFC King #superbowl

Parody in the NFL has become a widespread phenomenon that has infected the entire NFC. The only team that appears to be immune to its elixir are the New England Patriots who continue to widen the gap of dominance over their AFC counterparts. NFC division leaders New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, and Atlanta Falcons have all been remarkably inconsistent all season suffering loses to unacceptable opponents and conference cellar dwellers.

The regular season is nearly over and no dominant team from the NFC has separated themselves from the pack as a prohibitive favorite to represent the conference for the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Unlike the NFC teams the Patriots continue to stomp on the throat of their opponents and it would not be considered presumptuous for their fans to start booking flights and making hotel arrangements to Bourbon street for another shot at another Super Bowl.

As the playoff picture begins to become more clear fans and odds makers alike have no clue who will contend. At the start of the season the Green Bay Packers were projected to have the best chance to win another Superbowl.

Although the play of the Packers has been impressive at times, the Packers have failed to overcome the injury bug as well as produce a serviceable running game. Last week against the reigning Super Bowl Champion New York Giants they were thoroughly dominated as the G-men defensive line made life for Aaron Rodgers a nightmare.

Led by Eli these same New York Giants have also been remarkably inconsistent recently ending a 4-game no touchdown pass drought. Despite holding onto a slim lead in the division over the resurgent Washington Redskins there chances of repeating and potentially missing the playoffs all seem like unsurprising outcomes. Their NFC Conference Championship foe the San Francisco 49ers are still breaking in quarterback Colin Kaepernick who has been both electrifying and riddled with mistakes all alike.

The Falcon continue to prove pundits right with two embarrassing loses to two teams with records below .500. Despite an 11-2 record has their ever been a team with such an impressive record that everyone presumes will make an early playoff exit like they have done in times past The last three Super Bowl winners were NFL wildcards which means teams like the dangerous Seattle Seahawks and the talented but inconsistent Chicago Bears may serve as more than just first round exits during the postseason.

As the season progresses the Patriots eventual crowning as AFC Champion seems like a certainty. However, history has shown us that the Super Bowl Champion may come from the NFC for the fourth time in five years. Although the Patriot’s eventual foe has yet to be determined their challenger promises to be compelling none the less. Will the Giants and Falcons shake the bug of inconsistency? Will the 49ers led by their unproven quarterback prove pundits wrong and return to the site of their last Super Bowl run in 1990? Stay tuned… I know I will – A. Denmark