Friday, November 23, 2012
12:13 PM - November 23, 2012. Written by jmik58
College football randawesomeness packed into 120 seconds or less (reading levels not checked); getting you up to speed on the weekend ahead and dropping you off on a gravel road three miles outside of town.
KNEE AND ELBOW DOWN? TOUCHDOWN!
I usually try to stay away from the NFL when it comes to the TMD, but yesterday's officiating debacle in the Texans and Lions game is begging for a hero to save the day.
Houston running back Justin Forsett, who was clearly tackled to the ground, was allowed to get up and scamper for an 81-yard touchdown. The play was deemed non-reviewable because Lions coach Jim Scwartz threw a challenge flag which constitutes an unsportsmanlike penalty for challenging a play he couldn't challenge -- the play was going to be automatically reviewed as are all scoring plays.
The officials then ruled that because of Schwartz's penalty, the play was not reviewable. Since then, Schwartz has apologized for his bonehead move and the internet has lit up regarding this idiotic rule.
One problem though -- the ruling by the officials may have actually been wrong. As in, the play should have still been reviewed.
If you go to last line at the bottom of page 97 of the NFL Rulebook [click for .pdf link] you will clearly see the following: "[the Replay Official] cannot initiate a review of any ruling against a team that commits a foul that delays the next snap."
The rule essentially keeps a team from stalling so that a coach or the replay official might have more time to make a decision on whether to challenge a play or not, preventing the offense from quickly running the next play. In this case, the play was going to automatically be reviewed anyway so the penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct didn't delay the next snap at all.
In a Twitter conversation I had with former NFL supervisor of officials Jim Daopoulos it looks very possible that the NFL screwed up on this one in their wording of the rule. The league, however, is standing behind the interpretation made by the in-game officials.
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE
The year-long countdown has finally left us with a single undefeated team. Only one problem: we're not finished with the regular season yet. Oops!
That means nothing but good things for the SEC as they shove their way to the front of the line of the BCS, pointing at each other as justification for why they should be next in line for a shot at the national title. Meanwhile, Notre Dame just needs to beat USC on the road to take their place in the title game. If not, we could see a repeat of last year's all-SEC national championship game.
ROAD WARRIORS
So the entire home-field advantage thing really panned out well last week, expect it didn't. Out of my picks, only UCLA was able to hold home-court. Naturally, the next overreaction requires a flip in illogical thinking. It's time to revert to shallow analysis.
This week I'm taking Ohio State over #20 Michigan, #1 Notre Dame over USC, #14 Oklahoma over #22 Oklahoma State, #12 Clemson over #13 South Carolina, and #10 Florida State over #6 Florida.
SUPERMAN-ZIEL
In my observations of what the Heisman has become I've taken a little fire over my clipping of Johnny Manziel's campaign for the trophy. In the spirit of the season, I dedicate this week's Meme of the Week to all the Aggies homers and fire-ready-aim readers out there.
TMD's Meme of the Week: [CLICK FOR IMAGE].
LONG SNAPPER SPOTLIGHT
Last but not least, welcome again to the caboose of TMD's football train. Whether for good or bad, long snappers need lovin' too.
Here we go again with the injury news. San Diego Chargers long snapper Mike Windt is out against the Baltimore Ravens (and probably longer) with a broken wrist. In his place steps a man who has never snapped a single time in an NFL game -- Kyle Nelson.
Instead of heading to the kitchen for another round of Thanksgiving leftovers during punts and field goals, stay glued to the couch as an adventure may uncoil for the Chargers this week.
TMD's BOLD PREDICTION OF THE WEEK
Notre Dame will beat USC by double-digits.
(Share your Bold Prediction of the Week in the comments section below)
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The Manziel Mania needs to stop. It's ludicrous, illogical, offensive, and comedic. But the hilarity of the madness is quickly trumped by panic.
My god, what if he actually wins?!
If you're like me -- once you've paused from a good laugh or eye-roll -- you quickly look back at America and realize they aren't kidding. These guys, past winners and current pundits who cast a vote, are serious. Johnny Manziel is a legit contender for the Heisman Trophy in 2012.
You might say, "Well, fine then, I guess the Heisman just doesn't mean what it used to." The problem with that way of thinking is that the Heisman can't be defeated by debate. It does and always will mean what it used to. The Heisman is an evolving award that matches pop culture. The masses -- and voters -- decide what the Heisman means.
If this Manziel campaign tells us anything, the most coveted individual award in college football is less about stats and performance. It's about being cool, creating a moment, and leaving us emotionally stirred.
How else do you explain the campaign to elect Johnny Manziel president of the college football tree-house?
Picking Manziel to win the Heisman would be like earning honorable mention in your conference and then first team all-state recognition. He's not even the best in his conference and is barely one of the top twenty quarterbacks statistically in the entire country.
But the Heisman doesn't care. If you haven't noticed, numbers lost their key to Heisman City a long time ago. America and the voters love Manziel's innocence as a freshman and the story that comes with it. When the Aggies took down the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, that defining moment was created.
The story is what America truly loves and few plots are as captivating as that of David defeating Goliath. Not only did little Johnny Football take down the Giant, but he did it in the monster's own desolate death-trap.
If Johnny Manziel wins the Heisman, the award will mean what it always has. The bronzed stiff-arm wasn't created for the best player or the most skilled. In their own words, the Heisman Trust seeks "...the most outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence..."
It's about the pursuit -- the chase. It just so happens that the defining visual of college football's best chase scene of 2012 was Manziel's Aggies triumphing over the mighty Crimson Tide. That is this season's most emotional moment when tiny David (or Johnny) stood over the defeated Crimson Tide army.
The Heisman doesn't mean what you or I envision. The Heisman is what it was and always will be, and in 2012 it may very well belong to Johnny Manziel.
Sound Off: Should Johnny Manziel win the 2012 Heisman Trophy?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Monday, November 19, 2012
03:59 PM - November 19, 2012. Written by jmik58
Welcome to the state of BCS.
Capital: Upset City.
Population: As many undefeated teams as you have.
Official Bird: Snail Kite.
Official Flower: Autumn Corcus
Motto: "Crushing dreams since '98"
The only way to solidify your BCS title hopes is to schedule a quality opponent late in the season, right? Oops! Goodbye Kansas State; fall back in line Oregon Ducks. Hey Irish, have fun with the "lowly" USC Trojans to lock-down your title game appearance next weekend.
And we all thought the SEC was a joke for scheduling FCS teams on Saturday. Here are five winners and losers from week twelve of the college football season.
FIVE TEAMS ON THE RISE
#13 Stanford (9-2)
Week 12: #2 Oregon, won 17-14
- No Andrew Luck, no problem. Actually, Luck would have only made things worse for the Ducks. The Cardinal defense was incredible in holding the juggernaut Oregon offense to a pedestrian fourteen points.
Week 12: Wake Forest, won 38-0
- The Irish did exactly what they had to do. They took care of business and in a convincing way. As the last remaining undefeated BCS-eligible team, Notre Dame simply needs to win and they're in the title game.
Week 12: #20 Louisiana Tech, won 48-41
- It doesn't look like we'll have the next Boise State anytime soon as the Bulldogs were downed by the Aggies in overtime. What is it with Aggies screwing up everyone's party lately? First it was Alabama and now Louisiana Tech.
Week 12: Cincinnati, won 10-3.
- We can complain about the Big East having an automatic bid to a BCS game all we want but the reality is that we have to watch them play in the Orange Bowl regardless. Thankfully, Rutgers is doing their best to put a quality product on the field should they survive their season finale with an equally dangerous Louisville.
Week 12: FCS Obliteration
- Rumor has it that the SEC originally intended to finish their season with rivalry games, but when conference championships extended the season they were forced to push back those games leaving a void in "week twelve." The conference decided to fill said "void" with FCS teams instead of taking on a bye week. Whether true or not, much of our complaining was redirected at the horror of the top-two falling in Kansas State and Oregon. Well played SEC, well played.
#1 Oregon (10-1)
Week 12: #13 Stanford, lost 17-14
- It's not completely over for the Ducks, but they need a lot of help to get back into the title hunt in such a short amount of time. Don't expect the SEC to be in a giving mood.
Week 12: Baylor, lost 52-24.
- Unlike Oregon, it is over for the Wildcats. This loss, while still a conference contest, reeks or non-quality. Kansas State needed that signature moment that every championship team has and they wilted under the early pressure like a deer in headlights.
Week 12: #12 Oklahoma, lost 50-49
- It's not Geno Smith's fault that the Mountaineers don't play defense. Once again we're reminded that exceptional talent on offense is never enough as West Virginia has been humbled in their transition to a big-boy BCS conference.
Week 12: Utah State, lost 48-41
- Colby Cameron had been phenomenal all year long. Until Saturday he hadn't thrown an interception in over four hundred pass attempts while the Bulldogs' only loss was a heart-breaker to top-ten Texas A&M earlier in the season. Obviously, all of those things changed as the Aggies from Utah State grabbed the Louisiana Tech party and moved it to Upset City.
Week 12: #21 Michigan, lost 42-17
- Here is my plate of homerism crow for the year. With their loss to Michigan, the Hawkeyes are denied of a bowl game for the first time since the 2000 season. The departure of offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe and defensive coordinator Norm Parker hasn't gone well for Iowa and head coach Kirk Ferentz is on the hot seat once again. Realistically, however, the program won't do much better than above-average and fans of Iowa just need to sit tight and let the current valley run its course.
Sound Off: Who are your winners and losers from week twelve of the college football season?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Friday, November 16, 2012
College football randawesomeness packed into 120 seconds or less (reading levels not checked); getting you up to speed on the weekend ahead and dropping you off on a gravel road three miles outside of town.
FCS? F-C-YES!
"With so much drama in the LBC it's kinda hard being a part of the SEC. But they -- somehow, some way -- keep dishin' out fists full of money to entice the FCS to play."
While Oregon faces Stanford and Kansas State gears up for offensive juggernaut Baylor, the SEC has decided to bolster it's case by facing their helpless little brothers from the land of FCS.
West Carolina, Jacksonville State, Wofford, Alabama A&M, Georgia Southern, and good ol' Sam Houston State are "taking one for the team" this week in exchange for fat pay-days from the SEC.
Meanwhile, the BCS and the SEC "...keep rollin' down the street, playin' slap-hands, laughin' at me and you."
WE PLAY TO LOSE THE GAME
It's about time we got the message across. "We'll always be undefeated", they said. And then week eleven showed up. Down goes Alabama. Down goes Louisville. Ohio State, Kansas State, Notre Dame, and Oregon -- watch your backs.
The Buckeyes, who many have forgotten about, could very well see their unblemished season come to an end on the road as they travel to Madison to face the Wisconsin Badgers. Kansas State must survive the ridiculous offense of the Baylor Bears, and Oregon has a game against some ranked team named Stanford.
It's time to let the big boys with a real chance play it out and that means a loss for the Buckeyes this week. Notre Dame won't be challenged against Wake Forest but all other contests have paths to defeat. If you don't have a dog in the fight, do the American thing -- root for the hero to fall. You know we will.
MANZIEL MANIA
Apparently all you need to do to be in the Heisman chase is win a game against Alabama. Texas A&M quarterback, Johnny Manziel, did an outstanding job of managing the game against the Crimson Tide -- but is he really that good? Not even close.
He's only 27th in the nation in quarterback rating (151.2) and has been sacked more times (21) than he's thrown touchdowns (18). He's also tossed six interceptions and doesn't stand out from the crowd statistically from the rest of the nation in other areas, raising the question of whether he deserves the attention he's received or if the rest of the team is being overlooked.
You want a Heisman darkhorse? Try the next guy on for size.
WHAT WOULD COLBY CAMERON DO?
First of all, he wouldn't throw a single interception. Next, he'd lead his Louisiana Tech Bulldogs to a 9-1 start -- their only loss coming by two points to the Texas A&M Aggies -- the same squad that just housed Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Did I mention they lost to them by two points? Two points!
Cameron has tossed twenty-seven touchdowns to go with his hoola-hoop interception total and has a phenomenal passer rating of 161.5 thanks to a completion percentage of 71%.
You might remember that the contest between the Aggies and Bulldogs was scheduled for week one but was rescheduled for later in the year. Had the game been played in week one we might be talking about an undefeated Louisiana Tech squad that shocked the Aggies.
HOME COOKIN'
It's time for a new strategy on game picks. Using the brain doesn't help nor does using a computer. It's time to go with the ol' tried and tested theory of home-field advantage.
This week I'm taking Cincinnati over #22 Rutgers, Wisconsin over Ohio State, #17 UCLA over #21 USC, #19 Louisiana Tech over Utah State, and #1 Oregon over #14 Stanford.
MASTER CHIEF VS. OREGON
Oregon football does everything better than just about everyone, including their vast selection of uniform combinations. I'm not sure how well Master Chief from Halo 4 can defend the "Blur Offense" but he does have the Ducks beat in one category.
TMD's Meme of the Week: [CLICK FOR IMAGE].
LONG SNAPPER SPOTLIGHT
Last but not least, welcome again to the caboose of TMD's football train. Whether for good or bad, long snappers need lovin' too.
Nothing too exciting this week, unless you have an email-direct RSS feed for anything and everything "long snapper" (no I haven't gone that far, yet). What I did come across, however, is a blog devoted to nothing but long snappers. The location of said site: www.longsnap.com
Did you know there is an award given to the nation's top high school long snapper each year? No really, stop laughing, this means a lot to someone's dreams. Who doesn't want their name etched on the "Herbalife 24 Chris Rubio Award"?
TMD's BOLD PREDICTION OF THE WEEK
Stanford will lead Oregon at the half -- but still lose.
(Share your Bold Prediction of the Week in the comments section below)
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Monday, November 12, 2012
03:46 PM - November 12, 2012. Written by jmik58
Well that was a boring weekend of status-quo college football.
Now we're stuck with three undefeated teams and only a couple of weeks in the regular season. Can college foootball get any more boring?
The SEC holds six of the top nine positions in the BCS -- here we go with a seventh championship for the conference everyone is tired of hearing about. We know, we know; Alabama could beat the Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Chuck Norris, and Tim Tebow all at the same time.
How depressing.
The only thing that could help (other than more cowbell) would be if by some magic trick that a team led by a freshman quarterback could beat the Crimson Tide on their home field. And wouldn't it be cool if that winning team were to be so new to the SEC that the conference can't quite claim their skill as home-grown? But the chances of that happening are about as likely as a second-rate school from Louisiana scaring the pants off the Florida Gators.
So here we are, stuck in the SEC's spin cycle. The question now isn't if the SEC will get two teams in the national championship, but instead, does the conference deserve three teams?
Put your sarcasm goggles on and re-read the previous six paragraphs as I have my tongue surgically removed from my cheek. Here are five winners and losers from week eleven of the college football season.
FIVE TEAMS ON THE RISE
#15 Texas A&M (8-2)
Week 11: #1 Alabama, won 29-24
- Nobody likes the new kid in school and this is why. He's smarter than you, throws the football farther, and steals your girlfriend. Then we make fun of him so we feel better about ourselves. Especially the part where his mascot is an animal; a dog, can you believe it! Try an elephant, chump [initate sobbing]!
Week 11: TCU, won 23-10
- They just keep winning, and by a lot. Now they're the new number-one team but can't get a single network to broadcast their games in prime time so the rest of the nation can watch them. They're boring on defense because they're good, and all they do is run the ball behind a quarterback that does everything. If they swapped their mascot for a Gator and lived on the sEc-SPN Network, America would eat them up. Until then, the 3:30 time slot is busy chewing on K-State.
Week 11: California, won 59-17
- It's next man up in the machine known as Oregon football. The Ducks have played with a defensive line full of freshmen and as far as I can tell they have a depth chart that goes seven-deep and it doesn't affect their play at all. Seriously, the NFL needs to grab Chip Kelly and fast. And by fast, I mean "faster than Oregon runs three plays" fast -- so about twenty-five seconds sound right.
Week 11: Boston College, won 21-6.
- The Fighting Irish remind me of a cat that loves to torture the tiny mouse it just snatched up. They could destroy their opponent but instead smack them around, spit them out, and then chase them down just to finish the kill moments before the clock runs out. It almost feels like Notre Dame is bored; like they're manufacturing a competitive game. Bring on the next challenge: the Wake Forest Demon Rodents.
Week 11: Auburn, won 38-0
- I love where the Bulldogs are set up. They're likely to face Alabama for the SEC championship with each being rated in the top five. The game could very well be dubbed the waiting-for-a-screw-up bowl, as the SEC champion needs two of the nation's remaining three teams to lose or they may get shut out of the title game.
#1 Alabama (9-1)
Week 11: #15 Texas A&M, lost 29-24
- Sure they lost, but how bad is it? In the SEC every win means more and every loss means less. The Crimson Tide have dropped to fourth place; next in line for the national championship if/when two undefeated squads above them fall. They're not out of it, but they certainly lost their leverage.
Week 11: Louisiana-Lafayette, won 27-20.
- Sure, the Gators won the game but that was embarassing. Florida, who was a twenty-seven-point favorite completed a Cam Newton-like miracle to come back and win. Like every other SEC team they likely won't be punished in the polls or BCS standings, but for a week we can all chuckle at how horrible the best of the best looked on this particular day.
Week 11: Syracuse, lost 45-26
- Teenagers are such an intriguing species. Physically they have the ability to do things on a football field that old men marvel at, but then there's this little thing called a brain that gets in the way. The biggest argument over keeping the college football season short shouldn't be regarding the wear and tear the body takes, but instead, coaches should put up a stop sign because it means more chances for mental and emotional breakdowns. But hey, at least Louisville is still likely to make it into a BCS bowl game. Hooray!?
Week 11: Another Mike Leach Scandal
- Wazzu's leading receiver Marquess Wilson has left the program amid allegations that he was mistreated and abused by Mike Leach and his coaching staff. Leach, who has led the team to a less-than-stellar start, was fired from his previous gig at Texas Tech for similar accusations of mistreatment of a player. Unless Wilson is lashing out like a spoiled brat, there's a good chance in the post-Sandusky era that Leach may be one-and-done in Cougarville.
Week 11: Where did it go?
- North Carolina gave up sixty-eight points to Georgia Tech to set an ACC record, Alabama surrendered twenty-nine points at home in a loss, Virginia and Miami (FL) battled to a one-point contest despite eighty-one points total, and Tennessee and Missouri racked up a billion points (or 99 if you're counting) thanks to triple overtime.
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Friday, November 9, 2012
07:43 PM - November 9, 2012. Written by VisceralBishop
Our review of Need for Speed: Most Wanted for home consoles is already live, but what about the PlayStation Vita version? It was handled internally by Criterion Games, and they promised a console-quality game. We get that ... to an extent. That same core multiplayer experience is there, albeit with four players in this version. However, there are a few technical issues that hold back Most Wanted from being a great handheld racing game.
Gameplay
First off, you're getting the same experience you would get on the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version, but on-the-go. That same open-world gameplay is there for you, including the speed points, most wanted list, and no menus or lobbies (via what they call "EasyDrive"). Not only that, but exclusive races are also waiting for you. Those exclusive races are just more of the same checkpoint and street races, but it's nice that they give them to you.
Your main goal remains the same, make your way up the Most Wanted list to become THE top driver. The single player, since it's the same, is still not all that exciting to play. The fact that there is less traffic does make the game less frustrating since crashes are more infrequent, but the structure is still odd and uninspiring. Criterion did try something different with the way progression is handled. Instead of you unlocking cars after completing races, you unlock them by finding "jackspots" throughout the city of Fairhaven, which in turn gives you more events to compete in. The way you are given cars could have something to do with why the single player is so ho-hum, but even if you unlocked new car(s) after each event, it still would not be anything special.
As previously mentioned, traffic density is nowhere near the same as it is on the home consoles, which is both good and bad. Expect less headaches during races since there are less civilian cars to crash into, but also get used to the city of Fairhaven looking like a ghost town. When in races you'll see less traffic, but that won't stop the fuzz from trying to wreck you. The cops are still a pain, and they are just as aggressive as ever.
Autolog and the social aspect of Most Wanted has not changed one bit with the Vita version, and that's terrific. Beating a friends time in a specific event is there with the "Autolog Recommends." Not only that, but all the billboards, security gates, and speed cameras are there waiting for you to speed through them.
It's nothing game breaking, but the city is drawn in a lot of the times, and it's really noticeable on certain roads. Driving around a corner and seeing the world just magically show up is unappealing. Add that to the blocky headlights when you actually see any traffic, and you can clearly see the technical limitations the Vita has. The upside is that we didn't come across any frame rate issues like we did the 360 / PS3 versions.
Even with the draw in issues, the gameplay is identical to its console counterpart. The fewer civilian cars become a bright spot after spending some time with the game. Being able to actually compete in a race without having to worry about traffic is fantastic and, yes, it does make the races easier. It's a shame the gameplay is surrounded by the stale single player story.
Multiplayer:
The main difference in the Vita version is that online play is only four players, not eight like 360/PS3 or 12 like on PC. We do wish for more players online, but the multiplayer is just as fun on-the-go. Those same speedlists that feature co-op challenges, speedtest, and races are all here -- and you still have to drive to the meet up before it starts.
Speed points, which dictates when you unlock the next Most Wanted race, carries over to and from the PS3 version. So if you just barely miss unlocking the next race, you can take your Vita with you and continue your climb up the list. Those speed points also determine what your online rank is, and said online rank is how you unlock more cars for use in the multiplayer.
The low player count makes it less chaotic, and that is exactly what makes the online in Criterion games so much fun. Online is still enjoyable and entertaining, no doubt about it, but it is missing the straight bedlam that is featured in every other version of the game.
Final Thoughts:
All in all, Need for Speed: Most Wanted on the PlayStation Vita is a solid port, minus a few technical bugs. The ability to transfer your speed points to the Vita is a nice touch and that same grounded gameplay is included, along with all the new bells and whistles. Even though the multiplayer is still entertaining, we can't get pass the four player limit. If it had at least six players for online, this game would rival WipEout 2048 as the best racing game the PlayStation Vita has to offer. With just four players allowed online, though, Most Wanted is simply above average.
Control Scheme: Pretty easy controls to get the hang of and very familiar to fans of racing games. Drifting is as simple as tapping the brake. If you are new to the genre, Most Wanted does a good job at introducing you to the controls when you first start the game. Not only that, but front / rear touch controls, and the ability to take a picture of yourself with the front facing camera for use in the autolog and multiplayer features are all in the full package.
Visuals: The City is drawn in and is very noticeable. Car models look good, not great. The traffic that you do see has blocky headlights that are distracting. You also don't see the race intros on the Vita version. Overall, it's not an ugly game, but you can clearly see the Vita's limitations.
Audio: Same great soundtrack and the cars still sound great. Audio design is something that is top-notch, no matter what console Most Wanted is on.
Customization: The same features are included in the Vita version: After winning a race you unlock new mods for your car, from new tires to a new transmission. Each one helps make your car a little faster or handle better. You can also change the color of your car by simply driving through a repair shop.
Value: Although it's easier to recommend the full game at a lower price point ($40), the less-than-inspiring single player is a hard sell. Luckily, the well-made multiplayer is intact and something that can easily be worth the entry price...but just barely due to the four player limit.
Bottom Line: Most Wanted, even with its technical flaws, is still a fun multiplayer racing game. Solid gameplay is featured, but that dull single player brings the game down a lot.
+ Same experience as the 360/PS3; Ability to transfer speed points across PS3/Vita; No menus or lobbies
- City is drawn in at times; Same monotonous single player; Only 4-player multiplayer
Score: 6.0
College football randawesomeness packed into 120 seconds or less (reading levels not checked); getting you up to speed on the weekend ahead and dropping you off on a gravel road three miles outside of town.
TROJAN BALLS SCANDAL
When Bill Belichik was busted for Spy-Gate he was smart enough to cover his tracks in the future or stop his shenanigans all-together. USC Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin should take a lesson. Controversy has followed Coach Kiffin nearly everywhere he's gone. He's mastered the art of the uncomfortable working environment. From Oakland, Tennessee, and now USC, strange front office relationships, recruiting missteps, the Karma of inherited sanctions have always followed.
Earlier this season it was an illegal move to have a player switch jersey numbers mid-game against Colorado -- I said Colorado! Now a manager has been "fired" after the school discovered the individual purposely under-inflated footballs to help the Trojans in their game against Oregon.
Lane Kiffin knows that many believe he may have encouraged the behavior but is standing firm that this was the act of one rogue manager. Whether Kiffin deliberately instructed the act or not isn't the bottom line. The culture he has promoted is one where someone believes that stupid behavior such as this is actually allowed -- that is the problem.
SIX-SHOOTERS
Apparently the six undefeated teams in FBS didn't get the memo from TMD about America loving to watch trainwrecks. We tune in to watch great teams play well, but we also love seeing the mighty fall. It's why reality tv is so beloved in our country and why thousands of liberals listened to Rush Limbaugh's program on Wednesday, November 7th -- we love to watch and listen to people spin themselves into giant balls of yarn.
Speaking of cat antics, Kansas State should be careful as they take their unbeaten record on the road against TCU this week. Notre Dame shouldn't have any problems with Boston College and Oregon should take it to Cal. Alabama returns home to take on the Texas A&M Aggies -- a game many feel has upset potential. I'm not buying the hype as the Tide likely won't face a team as good as LSU again until the SEC title game. Lastly, Louisville heads to Syracuse for the only real chance at a drop of an unbeaten team.
As much as I'd like to see the plot thicken by narrowing down our list, I'm calling for all six to survive another week. But if not, bring on the yarn.
THE GIRL NO ONE WILL CARE ABOUT
I get it when people are excited about athletes, humans, and especially children "defying the odds." What I also get is annoyed when people in the media overreach on an attempt to find such a story. Enter: ESPN's Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr breaking down a video of a girl playing youth football.
Some nine-year-old girl is really good at pee-wee football. I know, how is your jaw still attached to your face at such a shocking story? Let's get a few things straight. At the ripe age of nine a certain thing called puberty hasn't exactly come into play, and if it has, girls have the advantage. Secondly, the video is run at a faster frame-rate than what the kids are moving. Lastly -- and most importantly -- she'll be nowhere near a football field in ten years unless she's holding pom-poms. But if she is still owning the boys in a decade, send me a video; I might watch then.
PICK ME OUT A WINNER
This time of year it's not so much that you pick the winning teams, but that you...well I don't have a good excuse. Another week of 2-3 isn't going to feed the family, but the bookies are happy at least.
In this week's version of the college football torture chamber I'm advising all teams on my prediction list to sell their assets to the highest bidder -- my poisonous touch is upon you. I'm taking #2 Kansas State over TCU, Tulsa over Houston, Michigan over Northwestern, #16 Stanford over #13 Oregon State, and #1 Alabama over #15 Texas A&M.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
It's your civil duty to vote just as it is to watch college football. Former LSU superstar Tyrann Mathieu also feels it's his duty to watch his career go up in smoke -- pun intended. Perhaps the troubled defensive back should consider enrolling to play for the struggling Colorado Buffaloes after a recent ballot measure was approved in the state legalizing recreational use of marijuana. Recent images of a private press conference have surfaced that may indicate Mathieu's decision. The validity and truthfulness of said image is still up for question, however.
TMD's Meme of the Week: [Click for IMAGE].
ROYAL BONE SALUTE
To honor the passing of former Longhorns coach Darrel Royal, Texas will dawn helmet stickers with "DKR" when they take on the Iowa State Cyclones this weekend -- but that's not all. On the first play from scrimmage the Longhorns have announced they will run a play from the wishbone formation to honor Royal who introduced it to major college football in the 1950's.
LONG SNAPPER SPOTLIGHT
Last but not least, welcome again to the caboose of TMD's football train. Whether for good or bad, long snappers need lovin' too.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I used to be a long snapper -- but I also was a kicker as well. How did that work, you might ask (or maybe you don't care). Well, someone else had to snap for the kicks of course. Enough biographical information though, the bottom line is that long snappers have to be multifaceted, much like this week's spotlight player: Kent State's Chad Bushley.
Similar to myself, Bushley was once his team's long snapper but also the punter. For the Golden Flashes, however, he's filled the snapping duties quite effectively. In fact, he's done so well that the first-year long snapper for Kent State has helped lead the squad to a quietly exceptional record of 8-1 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the conference.
If you're a fan of Bushley or Kent State; just don't read the next section.
TMD's BOLD PREDICTION OF THE WEEK
Miami (OH) will defeat Kent State for their first conference loss of the season, much the way the Redhawks handed Ohio their first loss on October 27th.
(Share your Bold Prediction of the Week in the comments section below)
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Monday, November 5, 2012
01:35 PM - November 5, 2012. Written by jmik58
Those at the top remain at the top -- at least for one more week.
Schedule strengths will shift as teams build their resume's and thus the BCS standings shuffle around the top unbeaten squads. And now the waiting game begins.
Only two teams are allowed to battle it out for the national championship but the top five aren't cooperating. Something has to give and someone has to lose -- at least the BCS hopes so. Now that we're in the home stretch, winning and losing is much more than simply earning the victory -- style points are a must. Here are five winners and losers from week ten of the college football season.
FIVE TEAMS ON THE RISE
#1 Alabama (8-0)
Week 10: #5 LSU, won 21-17
- Every team that wins a championship has one of these games. A lucky break or a last minute drama-filled moment to come from behind. This could be the signature moment for the Crimson Tide who likely won't face a more formidable opponent until the BCS title game.
Week 10: #24 Oklahoma State, won 44-30
- Concussion problems could be disastrous for the Wildcats if Collin Klein has lingering effects of his third-quarter injury. As much as Klein means to this team, however, you don't get to this point without having a solid all-around squad. The 'Cats have a good defense and a potent running attack that can survive these final few weeks when upsets are bound to happen in the Big-12.
Week 10: #17 USC, won 62-51
- There are a few ways to look at this win for the Ducks. It's unlikely that a team as good as Alabama, Notre Dame, or Kansas State would give up this many points to Oregon. Also, it's scary to see any national title contender give up fifty points or more at any point in the season. The name of the game is "win", however, and Oregon did it against a tough -- and ranked -- USC squad.
Week 10: Pittsburgh, won 29-26.
- The Irish aren't winning the style side of things, but the other three unbeaten squads vying for a BCS title appearance didn't stand out much more this week either. Throw in the fact that America (and the BCS) would love to see Notre Dame play for the championship, and it may be a matter of "as long as you win, we don't care how" for Notre Dame.
Week 10: Temple, won 45-17
- Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 29th when the likely-unbeaten Cardinals will travel to Rutgers for a top-25 showdown for the Big East crown. I'm assuming, of course, that the status quo will remain. If it does, however, that also means a major upset is brewing in the Big East with a Thursday matchup on the horizon. Until then, Louisville is the best BCS side-show in college football this year.
#5 LSU (7-2)
Week 10: #1 Alabama, lost 21-17
- The Tigers had it and then lost it. A win meant everything in their title hopes and path to redemption. In the grand scheme of things the rest of this season is now meaningless for LSU.
Week 10: #13 Texas A&M, lost 38-13.
- We all saw this one coming from a mile away. Not the manner in which the Aggles took down the Bulldogs, but the fast start thanks to a weak schedule finally exposed the 'Dogs as they continue their fall out of relevancy. The top ten is riddled with SEC teams, but it's likely that Mississippi State has been riding their coattails to this point.
Week 10: San Diego State, lost 21-19
- Maybe the Broncos should have stayed in the WAC. The Aztecs took down Boise State on the Smurf Turf to push the one-time BCS busters into mediocrity for the rest of the season. Like a good fling we had in high school, Boise State was fun while she lasted.
Week 10: #20 Nebraska, lost 28-24
- This wasn't the way things were supposed to go in Lansing. Not after taking down Boise State to start the year. We all know now that neither team was all the hype made them out to be when the year started. The Big Ten can be summed up as a disappointment this year with the only relevant teams being deemed irrelevant by sanctions and postseason bans. The others -- well five-and-five pretty well sums it up.
Week 10: TCU, lost 39-38
- From national title contender to a team without a ranking -- week eleven will be a lonely and humbling one for the Mountaineers. Teams like Notre Dame can't lose if they try, yet an explosive offense and one of the nation's best players in Geno Smith can't do it all as West Virginia keeps finding ways to lose.
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Friday, November 2, 2012
10:24 AM - November 2, 2012. Written by jmik58
College football randawesomeness packed into 120 seconds or less (reading levels not checked); getting you up to speed on the weekend ahead and dropping you off on a gravel road three miles outside of town.
BRONCO BAMA
Tired of the endless presidential campaign information shoved in your face? So is this four-year old girl: [Click for Link]
FIVE DOWN, SIX TO GO
Time flies when you're waiting for the train to wreck -- and boy did it ever this past week as only six unbeaten squads remain in college football. Ohio State, Louisville, Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State, and Notre Dame -- pick the best two and send everyone else home. Interestingly enough, only fourteen teams have a perfect conference record, meaning eight programs are still clean within their circle of close enemies despite at least one non-conference loss -- excluding Notre Dame's unique relationship with themselves.
This week could be dangerous for those that remain. Ohio State and Louisville haven't looked good enough to stave off an upset all year long. Meanwhile, Oregon and Alabama take on tough conference rivals for a chance to boost their BCS hopes or lose it all.
SNAP IT TO THE DB
Ever thought it would be awesome to see a defender intercept a snap? Of course you have. The only problem is you've never done it, but luckily for you a video has surfaced of a high school game from the rowdy state of Kansas where this very thing happened. A nice catch, but an even better snap by the center to lead him perfectly. [See the video HERE]
NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP?
Last week was an ugly one for pics at TMD. After letting a computer formula make the choice in the previous rendition, my human-based computer followed that up with an exact 2-3 showing. Maybe it's time to over-analyze again to achieve that sweet spot of 60% accuracy.
No easy games this week though; I'm taking #17 Mississippi State over #16 Texas A&M, SMU over UCF, #1 Alabama over #5 LSU, #21 Nebraska over Michigan State, and #2 Oregon over #18 USC.
GIVE MEME A BREAK!
Tired of NCAA Football 13 screwing you over? The guys at College Football Memes provide us an all-too fitting TMD Meme of the Week for your Operation Sports pleasure. [Click for IMAGE]
FOOTBALL IN THE WAY OF LIFE
Most of you are likely familiar with the gruesome injury to South Carolina halfback Marcus Lattimore in last week's game. If you haven't seen the images of his dislocated knee -- don't. The game of football is a viscious one that has silent but long-term injury impacts but sometimes the traumatic variety strike.
While most of us where talking about the horrible limb situation of Lattimore, a young man by the name of Sterling Thomas was in the midst of fighting through a spinal injury that has left the Lindenwood University player in critical condition. As someone who spent my college days competing against Lindenwood on the gridiron, TMD sends its best wishes to Mr. Thomas.
LONG SNAPPER SPOTLIGHT
Last but not least, welcome again to the caboose of TMD's football train. Whether for good or bad, long snappers need lovin' too.
No news on injuries this week but good ol' Mother Nature wasn't backing off of the brethren as Super Storm Sandy laid waist to much of the eastern United States.
Cincinnati Bengals long snapper, Clark Harris, just happens to have a home on the coast a few miles north of Atlantic City. As the storm was bashing in his home and pumping thousands of gallons of water through his residence there was little he could do other than keep on practicing.
Luckily the Bengals long snapper has the distraction of a family (a wife and child to care for), a game to play this weekend, and one other important thing -- flood insurance.
TMD's BOLD PREDICTION OF THE WEEK
Oregon will score less than thirty points against USC. (Share your Bold Prediction of the Week in the comments below)
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Monday, October 29, 2012
03:02 PM - October 29, 2012. Written by jmik58
The marathon of the college football season is starting to take its toll on the pretenders.
Teams once thought of as national title contenders are playing horribly on the road while Oklahoma can't figure out a way to beat ranked teams at home. College football is a crazy game that walks an analogous path to that of the emotional roller-coaster of its amateur participants -- young men barely out of their teenage years.
The only thing predictable about the sport, like its athletes, is that it's unpredictable -- and that the BCS loves the SEC a lot. Here are five winners and losers from week nine of the college football season.
FIVE TEAMS ON THE RISE
#1 Alabama (7-0)
Week 9: #11 Mississippi State, won 38-7
Week 10: #5 LSU (7-1)
- The Crimson Tide are averaging forty points per game while only surrendering eight. Unfortunately for 'Bama, LSU had two weeks to prepare for their matchup in the Bayou.
Week 9: #2 Florida, won 17-9
Week 10: Ole Miss (5-3)
- The Bulldogs should cruise easily through the rest of their schedule before a potential SEC Championship matchup. Georgia will benefit from losing early and could work their way to a BCS appearance should they find a way to take home the SEC title -- even with one loss.
Week 9: #8 Oklahoma, won 30-13
Week 10: Pittsburgh (4-4)
- The Fighting Irish are on fire after a huge road win against the Sooners. Don't overlook that garbage touchdown in the closing minutes either as the seventeen-point margin of victory could push the computers in their favor. Notre Dame should run through the rest of their schedule before the finale on the road at USC.
Week 9: Penn State, won 35-23
Week 10: Illinois (2-6)
- The Buckeyes may not get the prestigious number-rank as a preface to their school name the rest of the year (not eligible for BCS) but they're playing well regardless. Unfortunately, Ohio State has been as volatile as any Big Ten program this year and could fall in any of their remaining contests -- not counting Illinois. Their points per game (38.6) and points allowed per game (24.1 -- 50th in the nation) paint a grim story for what looks like a pristine record.
Week 9: #14 Texas Tech, won 55-24
Week 10: Oklahoma State (5-2)
- If Collin Klein wants the Heisman it's essentially his. The Wildcats -- ranked #2 in the BCS -- also are in position for the national championship if they want it. The rest of their schedule is against squads with floundering defenses (TCU and Baylor on the road), capped by a contest at home against the potentially-solid Texas Longhorns.
#7 Oregon State (6-1)
Week 9: Washington, lost 20-17
Week 10: Arizona State (5-3)
- Seattle has been home to some strange things this year. The Packers were hosed by the replacement officials in an NFL contest and the USC Trojans had their national title hopes dashed all on the same field. Add the Beavers to the list as well as the injury bug was too much to overcome against the home-happy Huskies.
Week 9: #10 Georgia, lost 17-9
Week 10: Mizzou (4-4)
- Being the hottest team in the country not named "Alabama" has its rewards, but it also means you get everyone's best. The Gators learned the hard way that no conference has it tougher than that of the SEC. Their biggest misfortune may be in the timing of their loss as the Bulldogs are positioned ahead of them at the present time and likely won't slip up with only a few weeks to go.
Week 9: #5 Notre Dame, lost 30-13
Week 10: Iowa State (5-3)
- Poor, Big-Game Bob. You can't blame the Sooners for trying to boost their chances by taking on the Irish, but two losses -- and at home -- make this season a loss for OU as their national title hopes are now replaced by that of the Irish.
Week 9: Arizona, lost 39-36
Week 10: #4 Oregon (8-0)
- Maybe the Trojans were caught looking ahead to their matchup with the Ducks. Maybe the football gods had enough of their jersey-swapping shenanigans. Perhaps Lane Kiffin just isn't a championship-caliber coach. Now watch as they inexplicably end the Oregon Ducks' season by winning at The Coliseum.
Week 9: Lost vs. Miami (OH) & Kent State, respectively.
Week 10: Who cares?
- The last remaining BCS-buster is gone in the Ohio Bobcats. The only remaining challenge to Louisville Cardinals (who barely won) is gone, rendering the Big East irrelevant still. Yay, SEC.
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Three best friends. Check.
Solid young core. Check.
Best player outside LeBron. Check.
Sixth Man of the Year. Gone.
Wait, what?
With the trade that sent James Harden and a flurry of pointless bench warmers to the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City may have just found their flaw in the system every NBA team gushes over. A small-market team can't go all-in.
It isn't the fact that you traded Harden away, it's the timing of the move that has baffled me and countless others. Three nights before opening tip, and OKC decides to ship out 25 percent of its main core.
Here are a few reasons as to why Oklahoma City just robbed themselves.
They Just Lost a Best Friend
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Harden were the three best friends that anyone could have. They enjoyed playing with each other on the court, and would constantly hang out and hit up the XBOX off the court. That kind of chemistry, especially in any professional sports league, is almost unheard of.
Yes, the Thunder received an impressive haul with Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and three very good draft picks. Now, if those draft picks pan out, they could be even better in two years, right? Lamb can easily become a more athletic Harden, right? Martin will easily be able to fill Harden's shows on the court, right?
Wrong. Oklahoma City has already been down the path of potential, and it turned into four very young and very good basketball players. They just got rid of the fourth one to save some dough.
Offense or Defense: Something's Gotta Give
Martin can score, we know that much. But what else can he do? He can't penetrate like Harden, he can't defend like Harden and he doesn't have a Beard Like Harden. Also, Martin had Kyle Lowry tossing him the rock last year. And no knock on Westbrook, but just because he is the better player does not mean Lowry isn't the better point guard. Harden was at his best with Westbrook on the bench.
And leave Lamb out of this. I've already discussed how pointless it is to trade away an Olympian for potential in the Thunder's current position.
But what about Thabo Sefolosha? He's a damn good perimeter defender! But can he score? We all know that Sefolosha isn't the biggest offensive weapon on the Thunder, but in no way will his defensive presence help on offense minus the occasional corner 3-pointer.
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat
Remember when there were three NBA title contenders to start the season? I do, because it was yesterday morning. Now LeBron and Kobe are breathing a sigh of relief. Their top competition just screwed around with their chemistry days before tip off.
When LeBron goes cold, Wade steps up. When Wade goes cold, Bosh steps up.
When Kobe goes cold, Howard will step up. When Howard goes cold, Pau will step up. When Pau goes cold, Nash will step up.
Who's going to step up when Durant and Westbrook go cold? Martin is now the third-best scorer on the team. Good luck with that.
I see the reasons as to why Sam Presti pulled the trigger on this deal, but I still don't understand why he wouldn't have waited a little bit longer. Operation Sports Senior Staff Writer TD St. Matthew-Daniel made a good point on Twitter about why they may have pulled the trigger.
But for now, we can argue and we can debate. One thing is for certain, though: Oklahoma City just took a step back from winning the 2013 NBA Championship.
Dustin Toms is OS' Senior Editor. For insight on professional sports and sports gaming news, follow him on Twitter at @DustinToms_OS.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
College football randawesomeness packed into 120 seconds or less (reading levels not checked); getting you up to speed on the weekend ahead and dropping you off on a gravel road three miles outside of town.
GOLD PANTS, BLACK EYE
The Big Ten is struggling this year, especially on offense. No player represents those woes more than Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg. The Hawkeyes' gun-slinger was one of the conference's top returning passers with twenty-five touchdowns in 2011, but through seven games has totaled a dismal three scoring throws this year. Kirk Ferentz has stated he plans to stick by Vandenberg -- who has five interceptions -- despite his touchdown total being the lowest among all BCS schools.
ONE DOWN, ELEVEN TO GO
This week we're guaranteed to see ten teams standing as undefeated -- at most -- considering the matchup between Alabama and Mississippi State. Florida won't have an easy go of it against the Bulldogs and Notre Dame may likely receive their first blemish against the surging Oklahoma Sooners. Rutgers and Louisville remain unbeaten out of the Big East while Ohio State continues it's perfect run in a season that means little more than what the regular season has to offer. Look for nine remaining unbeaten squads when the final whistle blows this weekend.
HEMP BADGER
Put on your shocked-face; former LSU Tigers star defender Tyrann Mathieu is in trouble yet again. While many speculated at his suspension from LSU being related to a failed drug test, the public nature of his arrest this week leaves little to the imagination.
LET THE HUMANS PICK
Last week I resorted to some computer algorithm mind tricks to make my picks -- in honor of the first BCS standings. True to form the picks went a boring two-and-three, proving that humans did, in fact, invent the machines with the flaws still inside.
This week I'm hoping to return to slightly-above-average by taking Arizona State over UCLA, #3 Florida over #12 Georgia, #16 Louisville over Cincinnati, #4 Kansas State over #15 Texas Tech, and #8 Oklahoma over #5 Notre Dame.
THE HEIS-MEME TROPHY
Geno Smith was just holding the top spot to keep it warm for Collin Klein.
[TMD Meme of the Week: IMAGE]
LAME KIFFIN STRIKES AGAIN
USC is either really bored or really insecure. In their showdown with the lowly Colorado Buffaloes, Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin illegally had a player swap jerseys during the game to disguise the fact that the holder on an extra point wasn't actually the punter, but instead was a reserve quarterback. That two-point conversion attempt never really mattered, however, as USC beat Colorado by a bajillion points -- I know, a real shocker.
LONG SNAPPER AUDIBLE
Last but not least, welcome again to the caboose of TMD's football train. Whether for good or bad, long snappers need lovin' too.
For a few weeks now we've profiled idiot kickers and just horrible kicking in general. Well we can only ignore the long snapper injury news so long -- even if it means paying attention to that loft apartment over a great party -- aka, Canada.
Edmonton Eskimos long snapper, Ryan King, was blindsided on a missed field goal attempt to close out the first half in a Canadian Football League (CFL) game. I'm not sure what's more amazing, the fact someone threw a blindside block on a field goal block attempt or that a touchback is worth a point, or "rouge," in the CFL.
Pretty crazy, eh?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Friday, October 26, 2012
Defense wins championships but only one team can finish the season on top.
For the other 120-plus teams in the FBS they might as well have fun if they can't be champions, and what better way to enjoy yourself than to score a bunch of points.
To be a good offense you have to do three things well statistically: Score points, gain yards, and protect the ball. Per capita of the number of teams in each conference, which BCS conference most predominantly fills the top-thirty nationally based on the big three factors of a successful defense?
6. Big East
It's a sad state of affairs on the offensive side of the ball in the Big East this year. No teams rank in the top thirty nationally for points scored (Cincinnati is 36th) and only one fits the mold when considering total yards gained. Members schools aren't even that impressive at protecting the ball as only two are in the top thirty -- tied for fourth among BCS conferences.
5. Big Ten
The elephant in the room for the Big Ten this year has been lackluster offense. Only two teams (16.7%) are in the top thirty for points scored and total offense. Even worse is that one of those teams is the lowly Indiana Hoosiers. If nothing else, Big Ten teams take care of the ball well with half of the conference in the top thirty for offensive turnovers. Once again, however, Indiana is the high-water mark -- not exactly the poster-child of excellence.
4. PAC-12
Teams out west have done a solid job of performing defensively and that has covered up mediocre offensive output when considering the PAC-12 as a whole. The conference is fourth nationally in points scored with three teams (25%) in the top thirty, but they come in second among BCS conferences for total offense with four teams (33%) clearing the bench mark. The problem, however, is that the model for inefficiency is that of high yardage and low scoring output.
PAC-12 teams may be inflicting wounds on themselves as the defense within the conference has been equally as efficient by forcing offenses to work despite a lack of scoring. The difficult question remains: Is this a lack of offense, proof of strong defense, or a combination of both?
3. ACC
Teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference don't garner a lot of respect when compared to the likes of the SEC, Big Ten, Big-12, or PAC-12 -- but they may finally have some leverage when it comes to the argument of best offenses. They come in second with four squads (33%) among the top thirty for scoring and total offensive yards, and have a respectable showing (three teams) within that same range for turnovers surrendered. When compared to other BCS conferences the ACC comes in second in both points scored and total offense, but the quality of defense doesn't present as much a challenge as the two conferences ranking above.
2. SEC
One thing to consider when placing the SEC at this spot is how tough their conference is defensively. Despite that factor, conference squads still manage to land four times (28.6%) within the top thirty for scoring. In regard to yards gained the SEC falls a little short, but that only makes their scoring output even more impressive as a sign of efficiency against the nation's best defensive conference.
1. Big-12
If you watch scoreboards there is little doubt who belongs here -- but that's not always enough. Thankfully for the Big-12 they play solid defense despite the high output on the offensive side. Not only are they tops in scoring and total yards but they blow away the rest of the field. Among the top thirty nationally in scoring and yards gained, the Big-12 has eight teams (80% of the conference) and five (50%) respectively. To top it all off, they also come in second in turnovers with four teams in the top thirty.
Sound Off: If Big-12 offenses faced off against SEC defenses; who would be left standing?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Thursday, October 25, 2012
There are an infinite number of ways to trivialize the comparisons for the best college football teams and conferences.
But as much fun as it can be to chime in with arbitrary analysis it's tough to argue results and statistics. In terms of defense, the goals can be summed up into three objective categories that are backed by statistics. The job of the defense is to stop the opponent from scoring, limit the number of yards accumulated, and to take the ball away from the offense via turnovers.
We all know the SEC has dominated college football on the highest level for the past six years in the win column for the national championship, but how do they stack up as a whole against the other big-boy conferences in America?
Per capita of the number of teams in each conference, which BCS conference most predominantly fills the top-thirty nationally based on the big three factors of a successful defense?
6. ACC
Despite having twelve members, the ACC only places three teams among the nation's top thirty for points per game allowed -- accounting for 25% of the conference members -- worst among all BCS conferences. Along with this, the ACC comes in dead last among the big boys in regard to yards allowed per game with only 16.6% of the conference (two teams) ranking among the thirty best nationally. Turnovers are a little more prominent in the conference but not by much as the ACC is fourth among the "big six," landing four teams in the top thirty for most turnovers forced.
5. Big East
Despite having only eight members, the Big East is playing the quality over quantity card fairly well as they cling to relevancy. Three (37.5%) of the Big East's members find themselves in the top thirty for the least points allowed and come in fourth with the same number of representatives in the yards allowed column. The Big East isn't taking the forceful or lucky route, however, as only one club ranks in the top forty for turnovers forced among the best in college football.
4. Big-10
Whether by fad or fact the Big Ten has been the target of many for poor play this season. A slow start in non-conference BCS games was an embarrassment and less-than-explosive offensive play has made the conference look like it's straight out of the dark ages. Statistically the Big Ten hasn't looked all that bad, but is that due to the mediocre offensive output? The B1G ranks in fourth-best with four teams among the top thirty in points allowed, second best with five teams near the top for yards allowed, and near the bottom for turnovers forced with only three teams among the top thirty.
The Big Ten may not be giving up many yards, but the negative correlation between yards given up and points allowed is troublesome. Essentially, few conferences are less efficient on defense than the Big Ten as the amount of yards per point shows a tendency to give up the big play more than nearly any conference. Offenses are putting up points against the B1G but aren't working very hard to get it done.
3. Big-12
They're more known for offense (check back tomorrow for those figures) but the Big-12 apparently can play a little defense as well. Games with final scores of 70-63 may not showcase this, but collectively the conference has done a solid job so far in 2012. Three teams in the conference are in the top thirty for points allowed while four can claim the same success when it comes to yards allowed -- both reasonably impressive when considering the Big-12 only fields ten teams. Among those programs, four also rank within the top thirty for turnovers forced -- respectable figures for a group that sees top-ten foes battle to one hundred point contests.
2. PAC-12
Almost a mirror image of the results of the Big Ten, the PAC-12 has shown the positive side of defensive efficiency. Percentage-wise no other conference has more teams among the top thirty in the category of points allowed (five of twelve -- 41.7%) but all of those squads rest outside of the top fifteen. Where the conference really starts to shine, however, is in the fact that they rank fifth out of six BCS conferences in regard to yards allowed (3 of 12 in the top thirty -- 25%).
PAC-12 teams are giving up a lot of yards but aren't surrendering many points; the model of defensive efficiency. Not surprisingly, they're also second among BCS conferences in turnovers forced with five teams (nearly 42% of the conference) in the top-thirty nationally. Surrendering yardage on the field and time on the clock isn't a wise strategy, but the PAC-12 is forcing several teams to wear down without much to show for it on the scoreboard.
1. SEC
Sorry folks, but even the statistics back up the SEC on this one. The third-best tally in teams within the top thirty for points allowed (five of fourteen -- 35.7%) and first for yards allowed (6 of 14 -- 42.9%) easily puts the SEC near the top. The number that really helps them leap the PAC-12 is the fact that all of the SEC's teams (five) near the top for points allowed are within the top-fifteen nationally. Throw in the fact that no other conference is as impressive at forcing turnovers (6 of 14 in the top thirty) and it's painfully clear that if defense wins championships then the SEC could easily be in for their seventh in a row.
Sound Off: What are your top six defensive conferences in college football?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
03:00 PM - October 24, 2012. Written by JohnDoe8865
Recently, users on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have not been able to download rosters from other gamers using the in-game roster share function. Many passed it off as a glitch, bug, or server issue.
What sports gamers might need to face however, is this reality; this might be the beginning of the end. With the lawsuits that have been filed against EA Sports and the NCAA on behalf of players such as Sam Keller and Ed O'Bannon, the whole notion of named rosters might be disappearing as we know it. Certainly EA could decide to remove the ability for users to share rosters through the game's menus.
The idea that EA might already be disabling this feature in NCAA Football 13 is beginning to really gain steam and the silence from EA on the issue is deafening. I sincerely believe that the NCAA Football series itself could have it's days numbered. Gamers are not going to buy the game in the same numbers if roster sharing is disabled or worse, roster editing is removed altogether.
This leads myself and many others to wonder if we might not be seeing not only the beginning of the end of roster sharing in NCAA Football, but also the end of the NCAA Football series itself.
Comment and let me know what you think. Were you aware of this issue? What are your thoughts? Is the community over-reacting?
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