Allegiance to Whom

College Football:

Bowl games start Thursday, so get your team shirt ready...I will leave it to Brent to give his picks for this years Bowl season - he's the expert on matchups.

Now...the coaching carousel is always a heavily debatable topic this time of the year and the 2007 season wasn't different and if anything..more intriguing. First...the media have been bashing Petrino for leaving the Atlanta Falcons to go to Arkansas. I believe most don't agree with the way it was handled, but wasn't it Alabama's coach Saban that taught us that loyalty and commitment mean nothing, so to me it's no surprise. Petrino bit off way more than he could chew in going to the NFL - where ego's rule - he's a college coach and that's were he belongs. Also, it's funny how a month ago the Falcon players wanted Petrino to leave, and when he did..they still complain. Now with that said...the way he handled it was wrong, but when has tact and honestly been a trademark of sports?? It's a shame...those trademarks have been forgotten. Oh yea, Michigan finally landed a Coach...sucks for WVU.

MLB & Steroids:

This story has dried up. Seriously, how naive do you have to be to believe that some of those guys were not juiced up. This situation is easy to fix - put stiff rules in affect...test the crap out of them...if they fail...suspend them for the season with no pay (I know easier said than done with the players union). As far as the players that did them in the past...what can you do? Unless you have the needle that went into their ass, then their Innocent until proven guilty, and if you were tattled on by your former trainer...then just apologize. If there's nothing we have learned in this society, it's that people forgive...or forget...either way..honestly is the best policy.

Kasey Kahne:

Kasey Kahne is being sued by a security guard, who alleges that Kahne roughed him up (pushed him down) raised his blood pressure and has caused him mental anguish...after the guard would not let Kanhe and his brother into the drivers lot after final practice at Homestead...apparently, Kahne's brother did not have his credential on him. Now..can we say "frivolous"....I sure can..., it's good to know my tax money is going to good use. Seriously...they really need to watch out who they give a flash light, pepper spray and a plastic badge too, because security guards can be d-a-n-g-e-r-o-u-s (I know from personal experience)..sometimes you just need to shake your head yes and let them think there real cops for a bit.

There are two suspicious facts in this case: 1) Is it that hard to figure out he can go into the drivers lot...considering...he was wearing a drivers suit?? (da da daaaaa) 2) Kasey's..ohh about 5'7..to put it mildly...he's not a fighter from the UFC. 3) Finally, can we say easy & quick 401K for security guards.

USM Has a New Head Man

USM introduced Larry Fedora today as their new football Head Coach. In front of a large crowd, Fedora promised to bring an attacking style of offense and defense to Hattiesburg. 

With 17 years of coaching experience, Fedora has most recently served as Offensive Coordinator at Oklahoma State University for three seasons, brining the Cowboy offense up from one of the worst offenses in the NCAA (ranked in the 100's) up to ninth nationally in total offense this past season. Prior to being at OSU, he served for one season as Offensive Coordinator at the University of Florida under former Coach Ron Zook. 

To me, it looks like USM got a great young head coaching prospect. As with all Coordinators-turned-Head Coaches, there may be a slight learning curve, but Fedora does have some good experience on his resume. 

I've always thought that the three major universities in MS need to find a way to out-scheme a majority of the teams they play due to the difference in talent level and depth against some of the top tier schools, especially some of the SEC schools. I think USM has a found a coach that will bring an exciting brand of offense to Hattiesburg, one that should definitely be able to keep up with the top teams in CUSA right now - UCF and Tulsa to name a few. 

I say good job to the USM administration for taking the time to interview multiple candidates and not make a rushed decision. I had a chance to sit down and talk with Richard Gianini two summers ago when I interviewed for a position in the USM athletic department and although I didn't take the position offered to me, I was very impressed with Gianini and his other administrative staff. 

I know some of the fan base at USM was (and still may be) upset at the ouster of Bower after 17 years, but I think Fedora will rally the fan base in a short time and create some excitement in Hattiesburg. 

Feel free to comment. I'd especially like to hear from the USM fans/alumni out there. 

Bowl Mania

Man, what a crazy season of College Football. Now the Bowls are set and it's time to debate whether each team went to the right one. Before I get to "if LSU deserved to go" bit..I want to say...What the hell was West Virginia thinking????!! With that performance against Pitt they don't even deserve a BCS bowl. Trade them for Missouri...at least they put up a fight. I mean, a team that averages over 40 points a game, scores 9 against a horrible Pitt team. WVU didn't want it.

Ok, now to the National Title game. I think everyone will have an opinion on which team deserves it, but I'm going to chime in with my opinion. First of all, I really believe Kansas got ripped off more than anyone. The only difference between Kansas & Oklahoma is that the Sooner's have the history of being a good football team...that's it. With that said..it should have been 11-1 Kansas v. 11-1 Ohio St. With Kansas being disqualified for being Kansas I feel as if they got it close to right. Ohio St. was Johnny on the spot, and automatically moved up with Missouri and WVU losing, but the controversy was with who should play them...should it have been LSU, USC, Georgia, Oklahoma or VA Tech. In my opinion, out of those LSU was the right selection. Why, my reason's are below:

1) It took 6 overtimes to beat them in both of their loses.
2) They have been beat up all year and still competitive.
3) They won the SEC, Georgia did not - if Georgia had then they would be a no brainier.
4) The kicked VA Tech in the junk earlier this season.

Personally, I thought they would let USC slip in there to play for it, and I would rather see Georgia than LSU..but..that's not the case...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2836420

Now, by my calculation everyone's team made a Bowl game this year except Miami and Ole Miss..and for them I give these words of encouragement:

To Miami...you will get to play in a new stadium next year - no more stinky Orange Bowl & your team did not get in any brawls (or least none that I know of).

To Ole Miss...yes, you suck..but now your players can understand what the hell your coach is saying..meaning....I see improvement in the future.