Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Now you see him. Now you don't.
Geno Smith, just two weeks ago was the front-runner for the Heisman. Ahead of Matt Barkley, Collin Klein, Landry Jones, and every other player classified as a participant in the FBS -- Smith could have considered a run for public office; could have been anything in the state of West Virginia.
If things had continued, the Heisman may have been in danger of an identity crisis. Sure, Superman may wear Chuck Norris pajamas; but the Heisman Trophy was on the verge of being reincarnated as the Geno Smith Award.
After a 70-63 once-in-a-decade game against Baylor, Smith and the Mountaineers climbed as high as fifth in the polls with a win over the top-ten Texas Longhorns on the road. Maybe it was a sense of accomplishment that led to relaxation in the program. Or perhaps it was the first opponent to offer up a legitimate defense. Either way, the West Virginia dream came crashing down with a shocking 49-14 loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
But all hope wasn't lost; redemption was still possible -- college football allows for that. It's not always that a team suffers a loss but sometimes more importantly when. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, situational perspective went straight out the window "when" the Kansas State Wildcats did "that" to Geno Smith and West Virginia this past weekend -- a 55-14 defeat.
The difficulty with being the best player in college football -- or at least in convincing the Heisman voters as such -- is that it's never enough to be an exceptional stat-o-matic sensation. You have to stand out in your region, have a captivating back-story, provide novelty to the nation, and ultimately play for a national championship contender or take your team to heights they haven't seen in a generation.
There really isn't anything wrong with Geno Smith the football player, but his product -- his Heisman resume' -- just doesn't fit the mold anymore. He's passed for over 2,400 yards with a 74.2% completion clip. Smith has totaled these figures while connecting for 26 touchdowns and only two interceptions through only seven games of the season -- good enough for a 172.0 quarterback rating.
But numbers aren't enough to define a Heisman winner.
At five wins and two losses, the West Virginia Mountaineers lack the potential to do anything as a team they haven't done in recent memory. A nine or ten-win season has been an expectation for quite some time. No matter what Geno Smith does the remainder of this year he can't resurrect the hope of a Big-12 conference championship and certainly not a national championship.
After starting the year 5-0 as a team with Smith tossing 24 touchdowns to zero interceptions, it all changed. Deuces have been wild since then. Two games, two touchdown throws, two interceptions. But more importantly, two Mountaineers losses.
For Geno Smith's Heisman hopes it appears it's also too late.
Sound Off: Is Geno Smith still a serious Heisman candidate?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
06:07 PM - October 23, 2012. Written by jmik58
Let the figurative game of college football leap-frog begin.
The rules are simple. Beat a team ranked higher than you and move an equidistant number of spaces ahead. End up on the losing end of said scenario and watch your pawn slide down the ladder a pro-rated number of spaces depending on your previous rank and that of your opponent.
Ok, so maybe the rules aren't so simple after all but they are predictable -- predictably simple yet hard to define. We know these things will happen but we can't always prophecy to what degree. Only weathermen can be more right when they're wrong -- and vice versa.
Confused yet? Good, you're ready for week nine. Here are five winners and losers from week eight of the college football season.
FIVE TEAMS ON THE RISE
#2 Florida (7-0)
Week 8: #7 South Carolina, won 44-11.
Week 9: #10 Georgia (6-1)
- Don't look at the boxscore to try and define this win for the Gators. The Gamecocks out-gained Florida in the yardage department 191-183 yet found a way to lose by a whopping thirty-three points. South Carolina struggled to hold onto the ball -- turning it over four times -- which led to an eleven-minute advantage on time of possession for the Gators. Anyone who can make a defensive battle look like a blowout on the scoreboard deserves a double-take.
Week 8: #23 TCU, won 56-53.
Week 9: #3 Kansas State (7-0)
- Destiny seems to be on the side of the Red Raiders this year as they continue to simply win games. The manner in which they have achieved their six-and-one record hasn't been simple but a win is a win. Early in the year it was the power of defense that moved Tech to the top but their latest offensive explosion shows they have potential on both sides of the ball.
Week 8: North Carolina, won 36-33.
Week 9: #12 Florida State (7-1)
- The Duke Blue Devils are bowl eligible -- oh, and they've only played eight games. Sure they play in the meek ACC and have looked pedestrian in their two losses to Virginia Tech and Stanford, --but it's Duke. Sunshine is sunshine when football is relevant in the land of the Blue Devil. Make fun of them all you want but few down-and-out programs have had as much fun thus far in 2012.
Week 8: Kansas, won 52-7.
Week 9: #5 Notre Dame (7-0)
- Not many teams in the nation look as dangerous as the Sooners at this point. Their only loss was to #3 Kansas State and they feature the 5th ranked scoring offense (44.7 ppg) and 12th ranked scoring defense (15.3 ppg) in all the land. The Fighting Irish have found ways to win despite a lack of balance and Oklahoma hopes to expose Notre Dame as frauds while vaulting themselves back into the national championship discussion as they face off this week.
Week 8: #13 West Virginia, won 55-13.
Week 9: #14 Texas Tech (6-1)
- The Wildcats dismantled the Mountaineers and exposed Geno Smith's West Virginia squad as nothing more than a one-trick pony. Kansas State has proven an ability to win big games on the road, win with defense, win with offense, and win with all of the above. It's still hard to quantify just how good this squad is, yet they still may be left out of the BCS championship discussion.
Auburn (1-6)
Week 8: Vanderbilt, lost 17-13.
Week 9: #20 Texas A&M (5-2)
- This week could be the defining moment on whether Gene Chizik finds himself looking for new employment two years removed from winning a national championship. Chizik has failed to build on the success of Cam Newton's coattail and is painting himself as nothing more than a lucky coach who struggles to maximize the potential of strong recruiting classes. A loss to Vanderbilt is about as low as it gets for the SEC's elite.
Week 8: #2 Florida, lost 44-11.
Week 9: Tennessee (3-4)
- The Gamecocks are a prime example of a team struggling to put it all together. They have the pieces but the stars couldn't misalign any more if they tried. Thankfully for them, their tough schedule has been rewarded by the BCS as they only fall to #13 after their second loss in-a-row. How many teams in the history of college football could make that claim? If South Carolina can find a way to stop beating themselves and play conservatively behind a stingy defense they may be able to turn it around.
Week 8: BYU, won 17-14.
Week 9: #8 Oklahoma (5-1)
- In a way, the Irish are an inverse representation of what is wrong with the aforementioned Gamecocks. Notre Dame has found ways to look impressive statistically yet they somehow haven't found a way to lose a game. I have a feeling this could be the week it all comes to a head for Notre Dame and a huge letdown -- potentially a blowout -- could be imminent against the soaring Sooners.
Week 8: Kentucky, won 29-24.
Week 9: #2 Florida (7-0)
- The 'Dawgs are another squad that has repeatedly played down to the ability of their opponents and eventually it's going to bite them in a big way. This game is their last chance to vault themselves into position for an SEC title and National Championship appearance. Perhaps they've simply been looking past previous opponents to this week's contest with the Gators, but don't expect an upset as the Georgia defense may find it hard to keep pace with Florida's balanced attack.
Week 8: #4 Kansas State, lost 55-14.
Week 9: TCU (5-2).
- It was just too good to be true for the Mountaineers and Geno Smith. From Heisman shoe-in and potential BCS darling to imbalanced and exposed, West Virginia couldn't have fallen much harder than they have in the past two weeks. Geno Smith is still a phenomenal talent and the Mountaineers are a great squad, but their drop has been sudden and shocking. The BCS is likely out of the question but how will the squad respond the rest of the year?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Thursday, October 18, 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.
THAT'S A CLOWN MEME, BRO
Our buddies over at College Football Memes come in this week with a winner on South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. The real reason he wears a mouth guard? It's not what you think.
THREE DOWN, TWELVE TO GO
Last week I predicted that three more teams would fall from the ranks of unbeaten, if only my math would have cooperated. Somehow fifteen minus three equaled thirteen in my world last week; but enough about numbers. The only important stat left is the almighty "zero".
Kansas State looks the most vulnerable to get axed this week as they take on Geno Smith and the Mountaineers. Florida won't have a tough go either as they take on the Georgia Bulldogs -- a team few are talking about considering the top-heavy nature of the SEC teams above them. And Rutgers, Cincinnati, and Louisville are always suspectible out of the volatile Big East. Buckle down as we chip away; this week the list drops three more and we reach single digits one week into the second-half of the season.
LET THE COMPUTER PICK
In honor (or dishonor) of the initial BCS standings I've decided to let a computer formula make my picks this week. I also went 3-2 last week so I'm due for a flop. At least this way I can blame it on the BCS -- er, I mean computers.
This week I'm (the "computer") taking #23 Michigan over Michigan State, TCU over #18 Texas Tech, North Carolina over Duke, #17 West Virginia over #4 Kansas State, and #3 Florida over #9 South Carolina.
HOT DIGGITY DOG!
The Texas A&M Compliance Team's Twitter account sent out a zinger in advance of their matchup with the LSU Tigers this week over missteps within the Bayou Bengals' past. The tweet, which teases at the fact the NCAA's Major Infractions database contains a violation regarding a hot dog; not only made me hungry but got me thinking -- what the heck happened?
I'm glad I asked. In August 2003, the University of Maryland was put on one-year probation, in part, due to impermissible benefits involving a hot dog given to a recruit by an assistant coach [Read the report].
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.
I don't have "news" this week, but I did stumble across a possibly relevant blog devoted to the Chicago Bears (Audibles from the Long Snapper). If you're a Bears fan or enjoy random things I'm not certain associate with football; that site may be for you.
Really though, how hilarious would it be if a long snapper audibled? And what would the call be?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
10:24 AM - October 16, 2012. Written by jmik58
If the first wave of BCS standings teach us anything it's that the SEC is still king of college football. They play by their own rules and quite frankly -- rule college football.
2011 delivered a national championship matchup between two teams from the same division of the SEC (Alabama and LSU from the West). The initial offering of the BCS for this season doesn't exactly eliminate a repeat performance with Alabama at number one, Florida at two, LSU at six, and South Carolina seventh. The SEC has earned their top billing due to six consecutive national championships, but is their success being blown out of proportion to the detriment of the present?
Moving forward it's clear to see that the rest of the nation is playing by a different set of requirements than the SEC as a loss means more to everyone else outside of that tight inner circle. The question may now become: How will we ever know when the SEC has lost its edge?
The conference home to the past six BCS titles is riddled with top-ten teams. But if they are good due to their rankings -- and conversely ranked highly due to their solid reputation -- what will it take to bring it to and end? When a supposed #12 beats #2 and they change places, we assume they were appropriately rated. Have we created a self-serving reciprocal relationship that has no end?
Quite frankly, the SEC's hold on the nation is reaching a point where the 2014 playoff format is going to arrive just in time. With over 120 teams in FBS (and growing yearly) there is no way that teams can prove their worth directly. Instead, we're stuck making inferences and relying on illogical and hypothetical number-crunching that amounts to subjective conjecture.
The BCS proved this flaw by ignoring a one-loss Oklahoma State team in 2011. We should have been given a chance to see how an LSU or Alabama defense would perform against the likes of the Cowboys' spread attack. Instead, the computers took that away; tying together distant ends by filling in non-compatible components.
There is no way that the SEC will be left out this year. The only question is whether they'll get two teams in again or only one. The winner of the Alabama/LSU contest will have the toughest argument going into postseason play. If the SEC East representative should take down either the Tigers or Crimson Tide, they'll automatically receive the bump necessary to square off in the national title game. And the winner of South Carolina and Florida this week has just as tough a grip out of the East.
With all these ranked teams scattered across the top squads of the SEC, it's becoming less a hypothetical question of "Does the SEC deserve an automatic bid?" and more an informal reality that someone in the conference will get a spot in the national championship.
Throughout the rest of the nation, #5 Notre Dame's schedule looks too daunting, #3 Oregon must survive Stanford and USC (possibly twice), #4 Kansas State is a "boring" product that voters likely hope will fall to Geno Smith and West Virginia; meanwhile #11 Florida State is praying that Florida stays in the top two for their season ending matchup.
The bottom line for everyone outside of the SEC is that too many things have to go perfectly for even a hack at the championship. A loss by any non-SEC team is devastating and requires extensive argument in defense of inclusion. A loss by the SEC's elite means something completely different.
It means a shrug, a point to the schedule, and a back-pat from the BCS standings.
Sound Off: What are your thoughts on the initial BCS standings of 2012?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Monday, October 15, 2012
10:36 AM - October 15, 2012. Written by jmik58
The Biased Conference Standings have struck again.
Episode one of the SEC's postseason positioning party has begun but luckily the series is limited -- if you haven't heard, playoffs will end the punishment in 2014. Until then it appears our college football from week eight and beyond will be relegated to SEC and computer formula back-patting.
The SEC is tops in the BCS because they have the best teams -- which are largely defined by their position in the polls. It's a self-serving circle that can only be interrupted by intra-conference shenanigans. Oregon, Kansas State, and Notre Dame are solid teams but wouldn't sniff the national championship if the SEC wasn't forced to play itself.
So it begins. Another year of "Who can survive long enough to fill the void left by Alabama, LSU, or Florida?" It seems almost pointless to view the rest of the nation on the same terms, but we'll pretend all is equal for the sake of conversation.
Anything can happen and who knows; maybe SEC teams will beat each other up enough to give someone a real shot at the party. Here are five winners and losers from week seven of the college football season.
FIVE TEAMS ON THE RISE
#9 LSU (6-1)
Week 7: #3 South Carolina, won 23-21.
Week 8: #18 Texas A&M (5-1)
- It may be tempting to say the loss is more devastating to South Carolina, but a two-point triumph at home for LSU fit the mold for expectations. It doesn't mean that South Carolina is floundering or that LSU is soaring, but it was a must-win for the Tigers. A 258-34 advantage on the ground told more of the story as LSU dominated the line of scrimmage, something they must continue if they hope to climb their way back into the national title hunt.
Week 7: #5 West Virginia, won 49-14.
Week 8: #23 TCU (5-1)
- The Red Raiders pulled off one of the more baffling games in recent memory by pounding the Mountaineers on the scoreboard. Many knew that the West Virginia defense was suspect but everyone expected Geno Smith to save the day with his arm. Not only did that not happen this weekend, but Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege stole the show with 32-42 passing for 499 yards and six touchdowns.
Week 7: #17 Stanford, won 20-13.
Week 8: BYU (4-3)
- It doesn't really matter how you do it, as long as you do. The Irish certainly aren't gaining points for their style or dismount but they just keep winning. When you play a schedule as brutal as Notre Dame you aren't required to be dominant but don't say it's all luck either. Going back the last 34 quarters the Irish haven't surrendered a rushing touchdown.
Week 7: #15 Texas, won 63-21.
Week 8: Kansas (1-5)
- Don't fall asleep on the Sooners whose only loss was to #4 Kansas State. The trademark of a veteran team is that of refocused tenacity and Oklahoma certainly showed a stark contrast between themselves and Texas after tough losses in recent weeks. The Sooners piled up a ridiculous 343 rushing yards as a team while giving up only 289 total yards to the 'Horns.
Week 7: Pittsburgh, won 45-35.
Week 8: South Florida (2-4)
- The Cardinals avoided a major trap by closing out a tough road stretch to earn the victory over the Pitt Panthers. Hoping to avoid the same fate of Virginia Tech earlier this year at Heinz Field, Louisville once again did just enough to earn the win while playing clean football. Neither squad made major mistakes but a strong advantage on the ground (156-93) seemed to be the difference in an otherwise evenly played game.
#5 West Virginia (5-1)
Week 7: Texas Tech, lost 49-14.
Week 8: #4 Kansas State (6-0)
- A quick glance at the final score and it seemed as if the number-five rating was misplaced in front of the wrong team. The Mountaineers showed their weakness on defense once again and were finally burned, and in a big way, as their high-flying offense couldn't rescue the struggling defenders. They're still a solid squad that can hang with nearly anyone but consistency reigns supreme when the goal is an undefeated season and national championship appearance.
Week 7: #13 Oklahoma, lost 63-21.
Week 8: Baylor (3-2)
- Well, that was embarrassing. Just when you thought the Longhorns were finally back and all that talent was going to pay dividends. Apparently a tough loss against West Virginia was just enough to tip their unpredictable youth over the edge. How else do you explain a 36-2 halftime deficit? Pathetic.
Week 7: Indiana, won 52-49.
Week 8: Purdue (3-3)
- The Buckeyes apparently get bored with themselves. Few other teams have made a living off of playing to their opponents' ability this season quite like that of Urban Meyer's Ohio State squad. A 17-16 win against Michigan State, followed by a 63-point explosion over Nebraska, and now a 3-point defense-optional contest against Big-Ten bottom-feeder Indiana -- Ohio State is on a one-way crash course with disappointment.
Week 7: #22 Texas A&M, lost 59-57.
Week 8: Idaho (1-6)
- This was the Bulldogs' national championship game and they lost. There is little doubt that they will have their way in the WAC this year, but a victory over the Aggies was their only ticket to get the attention of the country. Now Louisiana Tech is just another solid one-loss non-BCS team destined for a December bowl game.
Week 7: Everyone has a chance.
Week 8: Start the SEC waiting game.
- Is it 2014 yet?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Friday, October 12, 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.
TAKING A PASS ON THE PASS
When I was in high school I remember one specific film session from the football season. The head coach stood up and exclaimed that our opponent that week really liked to run out of a certain formation, but if they didn't -- they would probably throw. My best friend and I snorted in an attempt to stop the laughs that had simultaneously erupted. No one else in the room got what had just happened, but then again no one else in the room went on to coach at any level.
If they would have decided to dawn the headset, however, they would have struggled to figure out the less-than-complex approaches of the SEC's South Carolina Gamecocks and Florida Gators last week. Between the two teams (who defeated #5 Georgia and #3 LSU, respectively) they attempted fourteen passes -- South Carolina (6) and Florida (8).
COACHES VERSUS ZOMBIES
Washington State head coach Mike Leach is enjoying his existing players as much as Lamar basketball's Pat Knight did in 2011. Referring to Cougars seniors, Leach compared them to "empty corpses" and "zombies". Maybe Wazzu just isn't hungry enough? The comments may have put off many around college football but Notre Dame's Brian Kelly feels his pain.
EIGHT DOWN, FIFTEEN TO GO
Finally, the number of unbeatens has dropped below twenty teams -- thanks in large part due to conference schedules picking up. Eight victims were claimed including a devastated TCU Horned Frogs squad and their estranged quarterback, Casey Pachall. So now only fifteen remain.
None remain from the ACC, two in the Big-12 and PAC-12, one from the Big-10 (Ohio State), four from the SEC (Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Mississippi State), and the surprising Big East has three (Louisville, Rutgers, and Cincinnati). I'll play it safe this week and predict only three more drop from the ranks to leave us with an unlucky -- yet lucky -- thirteen.
COIN FLIPPING SKILLS
Like many people, I'm really good at predicting the team that somehow loses on a last-second collapse or is narrowly edged out. The only problem is that I predict them to win. Last week I went a boring two-and-three, nailing Florida's win over LSU and South Carolina's romp over the Georgia Bulldogs. Navy surprised me, Geno Smith did just enough to ruin the day, and Penn State defied the odds again.
This week I'm taking #24 Boise State over Fresno State, #7 Notre Dame over #17 Stanford, #11 USC over Washington, #3 South Carolina over #9 LSU, and #15 Texas over #13 Oklahoma.
CRIMSON BALL-HOGS
If Alabama football has a mother she obviously skipped the lesson on sharing. Offensively, it's well known that quarterback AJ McCarron is having a Heisman-like season with his twelve touchdowns and zero interceptions. But it's the rest of the offense that is having the hardest time with reciprocity.
Not only has Alabama not lost a fumble -- they haven't even fumbled, period. Not a single time have they put the ball on the turf. No stray helmets have connected with the pigskin. Not a single sweaty or rain-soaked ball has disconnected the epidermal gridlock of a Tide player.
LACES OUT, DAN!
Last but not least, welcome again to the caboose of TMD's football train. Whether for good or bad, long snappers need lovin' too.
This week it's less about the big fellas and more about what happens after they let fly with a perfectly placed snap. More specifically, what the heck is up with college kickers?
So far, sixty-one teams have missed extra points. Sixty-one! That's essentially half of all college football teams. We're not talking field goals; simply extra points. Among the teams who have missed, 1,205 PATs have gone up and only 1,109 have gone through - a 92% success rate. If you include all of college football, the chances only improve to 95.9%. We're talking extra points folks. Essentially, one out of the next ten probably won't go through.
Field goals aren't much better. So far, 990 attempts have resulted in 699 footballs splitting the uprights -- that's only a 70.6% success rate. The next time your favorite team settles for the field goal instead of going for it on fourth down, feel free to shake your head at the end results.
Perhaps teams should start going for two, eventually accumulating an extra three points, cancelling out the need to kick that field goal later in the game? But what do we know -- we just snap the ball.
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Geno Smith has the 2012 Heisman Trophy all wrapped up -- if the rest of the team cooperates.
If you read my Heisman preview for this season you may remember the argument that the award is much more than a performance-based honor. Beyond the on-field exceptionalism it takes geography, class, team, and story. No one else within driving distance of Smith and the Mountaineers looks to have a chance at stealing votes from West Virginia's quarterback. Likewise, extend the concept of geography to that of the Big-12 conference and it doesn't look as if he has much competition there either. The only other choice would be Collin Klein and there's little hope that voters would pass on Smith's prolific arm over Klein's gritty running skills.
Next up, the fact that Smith is a senior weighs less heavily in the grand scheme of the Heisman -- but it still matters. There's something about picking a "mature" player that makes voters feel good when they get the chance. If it comes down to an identical choice for the award in other categories, Smith will get the nod.
Most obviously, and of prerequisite importance, is that Smith has the numbers to garner the award. He's thrown for twenty-four touchdowns to zero interceptions, has completed 81.4% of his passes, and the biggest question about his throwing numbers may be whether or not his quarterback rating (202.4) finishes higher than his weight (214 lbs).
While all of those less objective factors explicitly push Geno Smith towards the top of the Heisman ballot it's the story aspect -- and subsequent success of the team -- that blows him through the roof faster than the top of a thermometer on the sunny side of Mercury.
Geno Smith and the narrative he is creating are out of this world but also familiar. He's leading the West Virginia Mountaineers into the spotlight the way that Robert Griffin III did for the Baylor Bears in 2011. We all know how that turned out for RG3. And like Griffin III, Smith has room for error in the win-loss column -- his numbers set him apart that significantly. What he's doing in leading West Virginia towards a potential national championship appearance set him apart from any other at his school in modern memory.
If a one-loss SEC team, an undefeated Oregon squad and undefeated West Virginia remain at the end of the regular season, voters and the BCS machine will have an interesting selection to make.
I have a feeling, however, that the national championship will shape up like the big-time ceremony that will precedes it at the Downtown Athletic Club in early December. If an undefeated West Virginia squad is still standing, the nation and voters won't pass up on Geno Smith and the Mountaineers.
Sound Off: Will Geno Smith win the Heisman? Who are your top-five contenders?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
It doesn't happen very often but when it does it's ugly.
Fans throwing debris on the field, cheering an injury, or dumping a beer on a player as he leaves the court -- it's all happened recently and it makes no sense. There is zero justification for it in the perspective of life yet it is a far-from-rare action when considering the complex web that is human behavior. We tab such actions as deplorable but the reality is that many of us aren't as immune as we would like to believe.
But are fans -- humans -- really that messed up or is the media's reaction creating a story where none exists?
The answer -- in the sports arena -- has everything to do with the setting in which people appear. A curious reaction occurs when a person is placed in a large group. The larger that group becomes the less responsibility for one's actions each individual feels. Normally I wouldn't toss my half-eaten eight-dollar hot dog onto the field, but it's not like I'm that bad -- nearly everyone else was going it.
Oh the power of social proof (judging a situation based on the actions of those around us).
Our mothers often asked us, "If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump also?". What our mom's didn't know, however, is that the answer to that question is most likely a conditional "Yes!". Yes, if they landed safely. Yes, even more so if a large number successfully made the leap without injury.
If your friends angrily threw trash and beer bottles onto a baseball field in Atlanta, would you do it too? Maybe you wouldn't but too many did. And the more people participated, the more others around made exceptions for their morals and justified their actions. The mob mentality, or herd, was moving full steam ahead.
And what if your friends, frustrated by the poor performance of your favorite team's quarterback, cheered as that player was helped off the field following a concussive blow leading to the insertion of the backup quarterback? Would you cheer? Thousands in Kansas City did, but did they mean it? And did they even know how badly Matt Cassel was hurt?
The answers are never quite as extreme as the discussion makes the actions seem. The Budweiser bottle you threw was aimed for the left-field line, fifty feet from any vulnerable player or umpire. You never hoped that Matt Cassel was that hurt, only for him to be dinged enough so he received some natural punishment for his perceived poor play. Regardless of your excuse -- it's still wrong.
It's often believed by individuals and heavily lectured by coaches that sports imitate life. Lessons on the practice field and in a game reflect the adversity you may deal with in your future life as a husband, father, or employee. Life and sport truly are analogous but the comparisons go both ways and they don't stop at the white lines -- they carry over the wall and into the stands.
Those people in the seats -- those sports fans -- are imitating life. The moral exceptions they make and the influence they succumb to as a spectator reminds us how vulnerable human beings are and how unexceptional we can be despite our prideful objections.
The problem with sports fans is that they let themselves go; that they're making mistakes in an arena that is covered by knee-jerk hyperbole. The problem with sports fans is that they're all so very human.
Sound Off: What are the worst actions by sports fans you've experienced or witnessed?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Monday, October 8, 2012
10:49 AM - October 8, 2012. Written by jmik58
The SEC completely owns the college football landscape and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
The perpetual self-serving game of leapfrog ignited this week within the nation's best conference as other teams were left staring up through the eye of the storm once the latest AP Top 25 Poll had been settled. While Alabama rested this week and Oregon took care of business, teams three through five held hands and dropped from the national title race in varying degrees of disappointment.
While #3 Florida State lost to an unranked squad from North Carolina State, #4 LSU and #5 Georgia were taken down by fellow top-ten SEC teams -- limiting their fall yet catapulting their successors. West Virginia (who defeated #11 Texas) climbed only slightly along with other unbeaten squads such as Kansas State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Due to their win over LSU, however, the Florida Gators jumped nearly everyone to land at the number-four spot.
Those stuck in the middle can only sit and watch as the rest of the season is set up for more trade-off movements within the polls at the hands of the SEC. While little will be made of it in the immediate future, it's clear that a single loss from anyone outside of the SEC will almost guarantee an exit from the national championship picture.
The SEC is good because they fill the top-ten, and the nation calls them the best because of those rankings. There's no way around the reciprocal back-patting as other teams fight for a spot at the big-boy table. With little room for error, no one outside the SEC can afford to let down their guard for a single week.
As always, the final result doesn't always tell the full story. Here are five winners and losers from week five of the college football season.
FIVE TEAMS ON THE RISE
#9 West Virginia (5-0)
Week 6: #11 Texas, won 48-45.
Week 7: Texas Tech (4-1)
- Everything about this matchup was nearly identical from the pregame analysis to the postgame boxscore. The Mountaineers looked like they may have been in trouble with the Texas defense and realistically the game could have gone in favor of the Longhorns had the game been extended by a few more minutes. Wins are all that matters though and West Virginia proved they could win the big conference contests on the road.
Week 6: #4 LSU, won 14-6.
Week 7: Vanderbilt (2-3)
- No one questions the defensive talent of the best squads in the SEC, but the thing that sets apart the likes of Alabama from the rest is a quality running game. Granted, a few timely injuries to the LSU linebacker corps helped the Florida cause, but the Tigers looked pedestrian in the second half trying to stop Mike Gillislee. A team is bound to bust a special teams or defensive score at some time during the season and it will be interesting to see if the Gators can develop a threatening passing game against a tough defense when the moment calls for it.
Week 6: Miami (FL), won 41-3.
Week 7: #18 Stanford (4-1)
- Excitement is definitely building in South Bend but so is the difficulty of the schedule. The Irish completely dominated the Hurricanes, running the ball 51 times while Miami ran only 53 offensive plays the entire game. Notre Dame has been exceptional at controlling the pace of the game and has shown a surprisingly strong defense, allowing only 7.8 points per game -- second best in the nation.
Week 6: #5 Georgia, won 35-7.
Week 7: #9 LSU (5-1)
- I thought the Gamecocks would win but not quite like that. Ground games seemed to be the theme of the week for the nation's best teams -- ignoring West Virginia, of course. South Carolina outgained the 'Dawgs 230-115 on the ground and played nearly mistake-free football by not surrendering a single turnover and only five penalties for forty-one insignificant yards.
Week 6: #21 Nebraska, won 63-38.
Week 7: Indiana (2-3)
- At this point in the Big-Ten season it looks as though the Buckeyes may run the table as an undefeated squad. OSU pulled out a one-point squeeker on the road against arguably the best defense in the league (Michigan State) and returned home to demolish the most explosive offense in the conference. If Wisconsin can hit their stride by November they may catch the Buckeyes looking forward to the matchup with Michigan but don't count on it.
#3 Florida State (5-1)
Week 6: NC State, lost 17-16.
Week 7: Boston College (1-4)
- After this loss it's a nearly impossible climb for the 'Noles to get back into the national title hunt. Their only shot will be to remain undefeated and hope that their regular season finale against Florida finds the Gators undefeated. A late-season victory over a top-three squad from Gainesville could be enough to put them back in the picture.
Week 6: #10 Florida, lost 14-6.
Week 7: #3 South Carolina (3-0)
- This loss was weeks in the making. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger was showing he just didn't have the qualities necessary to lead the Tigers offense and the Gators took advantage of key in-game injuries to LSU linebackers in route to a second-half ground explosion. If the Tigers can rebound and go unbeaten the rest of the way they still have a shot.
Week 6: #6 South Carolina, lost 35-7.
Week 7: No Game
- The Bulldogs were dominated all over the field in every facet of the game. Moral victories weren't even in the cards as UGA struggled to gain yards through the air (106 passing for the game) or on the ground -- only scoring a pity touchdown in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout.
Week 6: Iowa State, lost 37-23.
Week 7: Baylor (3-1)
- The excuses were already being prepared before the game even kicked off with the suspension of Horned Frogs quarterback Casey Pachall. The offense, however, wasn't the problem as the Cyclones controlled the game and humiliated an uninspired TCU squad by two touchdowns. To make matters worse, Iowa State did the deed with a backup quarterback of their own in Jared Barnett.
Week 6: #12 Ohio State, lost 63-38.
Week 7: No Game
- Forget the black shirts, the only thing that is black lately for Nebraska has been the eyes of its defenders. While the 'Huskers put up decent numbers offensively, they turned the ball over four times to compound matters as the Buckeyes racked up a ridiculous 371 yards rushing for the game. It may be time for a change in leadership in Lincoln as the defensive identity continues to evolve into a shameful weekly display.
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Friday, October 5, 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.
"POUR SOME GATORADE ON ME"
If you're a fan of those who embrace their situation as a differently-abled person, take note. A school in Little Rock, Arkansas -- whether by pop culture genius or coincidental (mis?)fortune -- has forever latched itself in history to that of a legendary 1980's rock band. Now introducing, your Arkansas School for the Deaf Leopards. You have to like the boldness if nothing else. No really, the school is on Facebook -- "like" them.
IDIOT, LIQUORED-UP KICKERS
When kickers make the news it's not typically following anything positive. One particular kicker doesn't buck that trend, and rightfully so, as Geno Smith of West Virginia stole the show en route to a 70-63 victory over Baylor last weekend. But someone had to kick all those extra-points, right?
Right indeed -- all ten of them. West Virginia kicker, Tyler Bitancurt, successfully connected on ten extra-point attempts -- his only points of the day. Let that soak in a moment as you consider that the Mountaineers kicker went into the boxscore with ten points scored on the game; none via field goal -- the type of ridiculousness you expect to see on the second highest scoring day in college football history.
THREE DOWN, TWENTY-THREE TO GO
The weekly countdown continues as we inch closer to the teens for the number of teams left without a loss. Only three squads with perfect records fell off the wagon last week, and this time around the football Grinch is predicting more teams off a bye will result in under twenty surviving unbeaten squads.
#24 Northwestern may see their streak end at Penn State as they try for their first 6-0 start since the 1960's. Undefeated teams #4 LSU and #10 Florida face off for a forced-blemish matchup, as does #8 West Virginia versus #11 Texas, and #5 Georgia versus #6 South Carolina.
Keep your eye on TCU as they test their perfect record without suspended quarterback Casey Pachall against a one-loss Iowa State squad. Also in danger are the Texas Tech Red Raiders who welcome the Oklahoma Sooners to town. Hopefully the third time is a charm as I claim -- once again -- that this will finally be the week the total number of unbeaten teams finally dips below twenty.
TWO PLAYS FROM PERFECTION
As always I subscribe to the philosophy of slightly-above-average. Asking for anything more and you're bound to end up with a goose egg on the prediction board. Sure, I connected on West Virginia, Texas, and Georgia; but Virginia Tech and Michigan State -- ouch. Another field goal by Sparty and it's a different story; a Butch Davis secondary that acts like it's not lost against the Bearcats and we're eating steak.
This week features plenty of high-profile matchups between ranked opponents and a few others easily considered as coin-flip contests. I'm going with my gut and doing my best not to over-analyze this week realizing that sometimes you just can't predict a Hail Mary or a Big-Ten offense. I've got Air Force over Navy, #10 Florida beating #4 LSU, #11 Texas takes down #8 West Virginia, #24 Northwestern upends Penn State, and #6 South Carolina drops the #5 Georgia Bulldogs.
STEFPH-ON THE GAS
This year has certainly lent itself to passing exploits highlighted by the kings of the Big-XII. One team and one player, however, didn't get the memo that football has gone completely to the quarterbacks. Stefphon Jefferson of the Nevada Wolfpack (4-1) leads the nation with 877 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. At his current pace (175.4 ypg), Jefferson is headed for a total of 2,104 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.
While neither would set any national records, each mark would cement Jefferson's spot at third in each respective category. Only Barry Sanders (2,628) and Marcus Allen (2,342) have more rushing yards in a season. Also, Sanders (37) and Nebraska's Mike Rozier (29) would be the only players resting above that of Jefferson should he maintain and reach his current touchdown clip.
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.
This week's casualty story at the position comes via the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles. Who knew long snapping could be such a dangerous position, but Jon Dorenbos went down last week leading to the signing of Kyle Nelson. Previously I profiled Denver Broncos halfback Willis McGahee who was once the backup long snapper for the Baltimore Ravens. Like McGahee, Eagles tight end Brent Celek is the team's unofficial backup. Andy Reid, however, isn't too ambitious about testing out Celek's skills as the veteran tight end has never actually attempted a snap in a game.
Fortunately for Philadelphia, Nelson apparently did well in last Sunday night's game considering hardly anyone knew of his role with the team against the division rival New York Giants. Philadelphia pulled the minor upset 19-17 over the defending Super Bowl Champions thanks in large part to four field goals and four successful punts averaging 45.5 yards -- including two inside the twenty.
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Thursday, October 4, 2012
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The buzz from last night's Presidential Debate may be fading but passion over college football's never-dying hot topic never will.
Which conference is the best in college football?
So far, 2012 has been a year where the Big-Ten seems to be in turmoil on the field, the SEC is doing its best off-the-field impersonation, and another conference is sneaking up on everyone.
The seasons surely change and the college carousel always turns, but has enough happened through five weeks of college football to trigger a change atop the BCS conference power landscape?
Here are the top-six BCS conferences through five weeks:
6. Big East
Lately it hasn't been a question of which conference is at the bottom among the big-boys, but instead 'by how much?'. Yes, I'm talking about you Big East. Sure you have two top-25 teams in Rutgers and Louisville, but a 19-10 non-conference record thus far is worst among the BCS brethren (65.52 Win%). Factor in zero teams in the top-30 in scoring offense -- although four defensively -- and it's business as usual out east.
5. ACC
Speaking of east, the Atlantic Coast was still there last time I checked. And you know what that means; more sub-par BCS football. The ACC does have a national title contender in Florida State, but that's where it all falls apart. A non-conference winning percentage of 68.42% (28-12) and only two teams in the top-25 tell much of the story. The Seminoles and Clemson Tigers are high-quality teams, but the disappointment of North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech have really dropped this group a notch. The ACC does have four of the top scoring offenses (three defensively) in the nation, but the wins haven't followed.
4. Big-Ten
The hate party on the B1G started early in week two, and rightfully so -- at least for a little while. Their early family trip to the west coast turned disastrous (as it often has in years past) but the conference has rebounded slightly since then. Sure, Penn State is supposed to be in shambles and Ohio State is a ghost team, but things aren't that bad -- are they? Despite how it may seem, the Big-Ten is actually 34-13 against non-conference foes (good enough for a win percentage of 72.34%). Three top-25 teams are respectable along with four top-30 defenses, but only two top-30 offenses in the conference have hurt their cause. The Big-Ten just isn't flashy enough.
3. PAC-12
Surprisingly, the boys out west actually have a lower winning percentage against non-conference foes than that of the Big-10. That doesn't move them below their week-two beat down of the ugly ducks from the Midwest, but it does limit their placement on lists such as this. A mark of 21-11 out of conference equates to a 71.88% winning percentage, which is very respectable next to a 50% rate of teams in the top-25 (six if you left your calculator at home). The PAC-12 is also home to two of the country's top-30 scoring offenses and three from the same list defensively. Like the Big-10 they're not putting up huge numbers on their journey (ignore Oregon for a moment) but what they do have sets them a spot above -- wins head-to-head.
1b. Big-12
If it wasn't for the structure of the top-ten this rung of the ladder may have been reserved for the SEC. It's hard, however, to justify such a move with more consecutive national titles by the SEC than most humans have fingers on one hand (six, once again, if you're using a solar calculator in a dark room). The quarterback play has been off the charts so far in the Big-12 with five of the top seven Quarterback Ratings (QBR) coming from within the conference. More impressive, however, have been the wins. Twenty-six victories to only three losses out of conferences. Wow, indeed. They boast seven of the top-30 offenses in the country and five of the top defenses (who knew?), and hold five top-25 teams. How do you top that?
1a. SEC
...by looking at the top-ten, of course. Five teams from the SEC rest among the nation's top ten of the Associated Press poll. Collectively, the conference has built up a 30-7 non-conference record to this point and have six teams in the top-25. Statistically they've held their own as well (obviously), with six of the top-25 defenses in the nation to go with five on the offensive side. Some may believe that defenses win championships, but another criteria seems to be looming: Play for the SEC.
Sound Off: Do you agree with the rankings? Has the Big-12 done enough to dethrone the SEC?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
01:50 PM - October 3, 2012. Written by jmik58
The BCS national championship runs through the SEC and it would be hard to fathom a matchup featuring two teams not from college football's most impressive modern dynasty.
But is the SEC so good it might cost itself a chance by trading blows with other members in the conference? Realistically, voters could push the champion from a one or two-loss SEC squad into the national title game if they take the conference title. Strength of schedule is a factor hard to ignore but it's also a circle of self-serving poll boosting -- the SEC has the highest ranked teams because they beat other high ranking squads in conference.
As much as it might be difficult to accept, voters would find it hard to ignore two undefeated teams from BCS conferences over a one-loss SEC program. But is that possible? The chances might be more probable than you think.
The SEC deserves to have a dog in the fight, but who are the top six teams with the best shot at a national championship?
6. Notre Dame (AP Rank: #9 - Record: 4-0)
The Irish are one of the very few non-SEC teams that could lose a game and still be considered for the national championship due to their devastating schedule. Notre Dame's problem seems to be an inability to create breathing room, but their efficiency in the win column has a Tebow-esque quality. They may not be the best team or the most conventional, but they just find ways to win.
Toughest remaining games: #18 Stanford, #17 Oklahoma, #13 USC
National Championship Odds: 12/1
5. West Virginia (AP Rank: #8 - Record: 4-0)
If any team from the Big-12 finishes undefeated they should be guaranteed a spot in the national championship game. No conference has more talented quarterbacks and that means a lot of points on offense -- something voters and fans can't get enough of. The Mountaineers need a big shift on the defensive side, but their offense may be so good that it doesn't even matter.
With playmakers like West Virginia totes, no team can walk into a game and feel confident they have the game in control. I feel squads like Texas, Kansas State, and Oklahoma may be better overall teams; but only the Mountaineers have the potential to overcome mistakes by scoring sixty points a game.
Toughest remaining games: #11 Texas, #7 Kansas State, #15 TCU, #17 Oklahoma
National Championship Odds: 10/1
4. Oregon (AP Rank: #2 - Record: 5-0)
Considering how many points the Ducks are scoring a game (52.4) it's fairly impressive they're giving up only 19.8 points per game on defense. Oregon has a back-loaded schedule, which should be beneficial to the squad as they continue to improve and potentially peak at the end of the regular season. The biggest downfall will be the fact that the PAC-12 has a conference championship game. If the Ducks go into that game undefeated they may still lose to the likes of USC -- something that could tarnish their chances due to the timing of the loss.
Toughest remaining games: #23 Washington, #13 USC, #18 Stanford, #14 Oregon State, PAC-12 Championship Game
National Championship Odds: 8/1
3. Alabama (AP Rank: #1 - Record: 5-0)
The defending national champions are on a collision-course for their chance at a third title in four years. The only problem is that it will likely require perfection for it to happen. The Crimson Tide will be hurt by a schedule that doesn't quite measure up to that of other SEC foes, but if 'Bama finds a way to recover from a regular season loss to win the SEC Championship, don't count out the voters' ability to push the 'Tide back into contention.
Toughest remaining games: Tennessee, #20 Mississippi State, #4 LSU, SEC Championship Game
National Championship Odds: 5/1
2. Florida State (AP Rank: #3 - Record 5-0)
If the Seminoles can keep their focus throughout the rest of the regular season they should go into the finale with the Florida Gators for a chance to solidify their national championship hopes. Beating Clemson was their biggest hurdle of the season and if the Gators continue to climb the polls, a victory against their rivals from Gainesville would practically cement their place. Assuming the 'Noles would survive the ACC Championship game; FSU should have one of the easiest roads to reach the crystal football.
Toughest remaining games: Miami (FL), Virginia Tech, #10 Florida, ACC Championship Game
National Championship Odds: 7/2
1. LSU (AP Rank: #4 - Record: 5-0)
Despite their unimpressive performances the past two weeks against Auburn and Towson, the Tigers of LSU have one of the toughest-yet-forgivable paths to a national championship this year. With their schedule, one loss (perhaps two depending on the rest of the nation) shouldn't mean a thing to pollsters unless Alabama finds a way to run the table as an undefeated squad. Sure the offense hasn't been flashy, but LSU still ranks in with the 9th rated scoring defense in the land (12.6 ppg) -- perhaps just enough to stymie the Crimson Tide. If the Tigers can down 'Bama in the regular season again, expect the potential for another one-loss SEC team to rebound through the back door for the SEC's seventh straight BCS Championship.
Toughest remaining games: #10 Florida, #6 South Carolina, #1 Alabama, #20 Mississippi State, SEC Championship Game
National Championship Odds: 5/2
SOUND OFF: After five weeks, who are your top picks to win the national championship?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
If Ryan Braun or Yadier Molina with the National League MVP award they'll owe a huge thank-you to a rookie phenom -- from the American League.
As odd as it sounds, the race for the NL MVP runs through the American League this year. It has to for the sake of consistency among voters. While the Senior Circuit is full of possible contenders, Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera have set themselves apart among American League candidates and the disparity between the two is as simple as Yin and Yang.
It's old-school versus new-age; simple measurable statistics against complex Sabermetrics for Major League Baseball's MVP races. And whatever the voters decide in the American League will surely trickle down to the NL as well -- at least it should, for the sake of consistency.
On one hand you have Mike Trout, the 21-year-old five-tool outfielder for the LA Angels. He hits for power (30 home runs) and average (.321), has blazing speed (48 steals), a phenomenal glove in center field (.992 Fld%), and holds an incredible 10.5 WAR for 2012. Typically those figures would guarantee him the game's highest on-field individual honor -- but Detroit's Miguel Cabrera hasn't been quite so accommodating.
Cabrera has been everything that the game hasn't seen since the steroid era presumably came to a halt. Currently on pace to claim the Triple Crown in the American League, prior to last night's game "Miggy" had clubbed 43 homers to go with 136 RBI and maintained a .325 batting-average throughout. There has been no one more dominant at the plate this year in the AL, but his value seems to screech to a stop once he leaves the batter's box.
Unlike Trout, Cabrera isn't the model of physical fitness or athleticism, lacking ability on the bases to go with a pedestrian glove (.955 Fld%) at third-base. On top of this, Cabrera's 6.5 WAR gives yet another nudge to Trout and his 10.5 WAR. But will voters see it this way or is the Triple Crown label too much to overcome?
If those with a tally in the MLB awards races want to present a model of consistency, delivering the MVP to Mike Trout will mean trouble for the likes of Buster Posey, who some feel is the rightful owner of the trophy.
By casting a vote for Trout, voters will be painting themselves into a corner that forces their hand towards the likes of Yadier Molina or Ryan Braun. Sure, Posey is the model of offensive excellence -- a .337 average, 23 home runs, and 100 RBI. It also doesn't hurt that Buster plays for a division champion in the San Francisco Giants.
But a vote for the "new age" in Mike Trout would also mean a look past the necessity for a player fighting on a playoff team. It would mean that defense and stolen bases are just as important, and no longer is it good enough to dominate in one phase of the game.
Meanwhile, as baseball's most analytic media minds contemplate their choices, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and Ryan Braun are set to benefit if Trout is chosen -- or at least they should. Molina has put up similar offensive numbers to Posey with a .317 average, 22 home runs, and 75 RBI; but Yadier also boasts the best glove and arm combination in the game (the defending Platinum Glove Award winner) to go with his heady play and surprising skill on the bases (12 stolen bases).
Ryan Braun, the reigning NL MVP, has defended his crown well despite the loss of Prince Fielder to the Detroit Tigers and any subsequent protection in the lineup. Braun who has a 6.9 WAR (Molina a 6.8) has been explosive again with the bat, clubbing 41 homers with a .320 average in route to 112 RBI thus far. Oh and he can run as well, totaling an impressive 30 stolen bases.
While Posey isn't completely lost in the metrics fight (6.7 WAR) his offensive and speed numbers are significantly behind that of Braun, meanwhile Yadier Molina's similar production at the plate is teamed with an exceptional glove and arm (throwing out 47% of base stealers to Posey's 30%).
Voters who want Buster Posey -- or anyone not named Ryan Braun or Yadier Molina -- have dug themselves quite a hole. If they do pull the trigger on Miguel Cabrera and the Triple Crown it's not quite as muddy. But if rookie phenom Mike Trout is the man-of-the-year in the American League they're making a selection for the new, holistic, Sabermetric way of thinking in baseball.
A vote for Trout would be a vote for Molina or Braun. Regardless of which direction baseball's writers go, I vote they simply stay consistent. I vote they get it right.
Sound Off: Should MLB awards be based on Sabermetrics or more traditional statistics or labels such as the Triple Crown?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Monday, October 1, 2012
10:37 AM - October 1, 2012. Written by jmik58
If you took the "over" on Saturday there's a good chance you won -- on everything.
On a day that saw a combined 133 points between West Virginia and Baylor, the FBS division of college football experienced it's second-highest scoring day in history, according to Rece Davis of ESPN's College Football Live. But who gets the credit? Was it exceptional offense or bad coverage and atrocious tackling?
Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated summed up the debate well with a tweet, "On Twitter, every high-scoring game is bad defense, every low-scoring game [is] bad offense. No one is good at anything in college football."
While fans -- and sometimes experts -- struggle to understand the factors that lead to extreme results like we saw on Saturday; the reality is that a combination of great execution on offense took advantage of poor schematics by coaches and failed execution on defense. Coordinators and players may make mistakes, but rarely are they exposed and exploited to the degree we saw this weekend.
As always, the final result doesn't always tell the full story. Here are five winners and losers from week five of the college football season.
FIVE TEAMS ON THE RISE
#12 Texas (4-0)
Week 5: Oklahoma State, won 41-36.
Week 6: #9 West Virginia (4-0)
- Winning on the road in conference is never easy especially when it involves taking down the defending Big-XII champions in Stillwater. Mike Gundy's squad will always have the plug-and-play potential on offense regardless of who is at quarterback or receiver, but their average defense is what separates them from the stellar squads of the past two years. On the surface it looks as if the Texas defense took a hit by giving up 36 points to Oklahoma State, but their recovery after a first-quarter letdown showed they have what it takes to take on the likes of West Virginia. The Cowboys do tote the highest-scoring offense in the nation as well with nearly sixty points per game. This week will tell us how good they truly are as they must face Geno Smith and Company after their record-setting day.
Week 5: Illinois, won 35-7.
Week 6: #24 Northwestern (5-0)
- Statistically, the Nittany Lions didn't own the game as much as the score might indicate, but their discipline in terms of ball control and ball security were second to none on the day. While Illinois turned it over three times, Penn State never once lost the ball. Likewise, PSU was penalized only twice for seventeen yards. But the most telling stat of the day for folks from Happy Valley was that of the number of times the blue-and-white ran the ball: fifty-five. Penn State may not be able to put better athletes on the field than their opponents this year, but if they duplicate this performance in efficiency they will undoubtedly make noise in the Big-Ten this year.
Week 5: #8 Stanford, won 17-13.
Week 6: #2 Oregon (5-0)
- Hopefully the Huskies enjoy the party because the hangover might be extra painful with a trip to Eugene, Oregon awaiting. For one weekend, however, Washington was the talk of the PAC-12 as they took down the Stanford Cardinal a week after the nation's number-eight squad dropped the #1 USC Trojans. Amazingly, Washington held the Cardinal to 65-yards rushing and actually attempted more runs (34) than did Stanford (28). The ability of the Huskies to take control of the pace of the game and influence the gameplan of Stanford was a beautiful thing to watch -- if only for one week.
Week 5: Virginia Tech, won 27-24.
Week 6: Miami (OH) (3-2)
- Sure, the Bearcats probably shouldn't have won the game but the win-loss columns don't care and neither does Cincinnati. There wasn't much in the way of dominance by the 'Cats throughout the contest but they did hold the Hokies to seven points through the first three quarters. Despite the figures, the key component for Cincinnati was playmaker at quarterback, Munchie Legeaux. Passing for 376 yards on 19 completions for three touchdowns, Legeaux's ability to stay alive in the pocket -- and scramble when necessary -- will give fits to Big East opponents the rest of the season. Despite contests with Louisville and Rutgers down the road, a light schedule could carry the Bearcats to a double-digit win total at their current pace.
Week 5: Arizona, won 38-35.
Week 6: Washington State (2-3)
- They don't win big but the Beavers just find a way to get it done. Whether you want to play a low-scoring defensive affair or a high-flying shootout, the Beavers are up for the challenge and have won each scenario. Not only that, they're taking down high-ranked opponents along the way as well. A trap game at Arizona could have put OSU in their place, but their surprising ability to match the firepower of the Wildcats has established a balanced attack that will give PAC-12 opponents nightmares as the season progresses.
#8 Stanford (3-1)
Week 5: Washington, lost 17-13.
Week 6: Arizona (3-2)
- Playing on the road in the PAC-12 has the same affect on teams within the conference as it does to teams from the Midwest who dare venture west early in the season. After thrashing the USC Trojans on the ground in their previous contest, Stanford amassed a pedestrian 65-rushing yards against the Huskies. Even worse was the lack of commitment to the run by the Cardinal coaching staff -- attempting a total of twenty-eight runs on the day.
Week 5: Towson, won 38-22.
Week 6: #10 Florida (4-0)
- For the second straight week the Tigers appear on my "Teams on the Decline" list. The rest of the nation spiced up their schedules in week five but LSU put themselves in a difficult situation by taking on Towson where winning the game wouldn't be enough to satisfy pollsters. The Tigers from Louisiana came through for a comfortable victory, but their first-half struggles didn't meet the standards of a top-three team and the voters responded in kind.
Week 5: #25 Baylor, won 70-63.
Week 6: #11 Texas (4-0)
- For every amazing throw that Geno Smith made against Baylor there was an equally problematic miscue by the Mountaineer defense. Smith, who had more touchdowns (8) than incompletions (6), was phenomenal the entire game. The Bears defense failed to get pressure and made mistakes in the secondary the entire afternoon that West Virginia capitalized on. While Nick Florence of Baylor was impressive as well, his success against the Mountaineer defense came on the heels of completely blown coverages and horrible pursuit angles compounded by missed tackles. For a top-ten team these types of defensive mistakes can not be repeated as the schedule heats up for West Virginia.
Week 5: Kentucky, won 38-17.
Week 6: #5 Georgia (5-0)
- The Gamecocks are in serious trouble as the next three weeks loom large on their schedule. Defensively, South Carolina can hang with anyone but their offense has failed to play to their potential; instead, matching the intensity of their opponents and then turning it on with their backs against the wall. In their two conference road games they've struggled mightily (Vanderbilt in week one) and trips to #4 LSU and #10 Florida await following their matchup with #5 Georgia later this week. Don't expect to see the Gamecocks among the top fifteen teams come the end of October.
Week 5: Middle Tennessee State, lost 49-28.
Week 6: #15 Clemson (4-1)
- This certainly isn't the year of the triple option as the Yellowjackets have struggled mightily alongside the likes of Navy and Army (see loss to Stony Brook). Georgia Tech moved the ball well -- as they should against the Blue Raiders -- but four turnovers doomed the 'Jackets, including three lost fumbles. More painful, however, was the swiss-cheese ground-defense of Tech as they let MTSU's Benny Cunningham run free for 217 rushing yards and five touchdowns. For a team allowing nearly thirty points a game, things don't look promising as a contest with the explosive Clemson Tigers looms around the corner.
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
Saturday, September 29, 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.
BOOMER LOSER
Last weekend's 24-19 loss by #6 Oklahoma to #15 Kansas State wasn't just your typical Big-12 letdown for the Sooners. Collin Klein and the Wildcats proved how powerful a strong running game (213 yards on the day) and defense can be when teamed with experience to overcome a tough road environment.
But the significance of the win may have been missed by mainstream media this week. Since the 2003 season, Oklahoma had been a combined 64-2 at home including 18-1 over the past three seasons. No team from a BCS conference had been more dominant at home over the time and only Boise State has a higher home-field win percentage during that stretch.
BOUQUET PASS FOR TWO
TMD's play of the week comes via playonsports.com in Atlanta, Georgia. High school may not be the optimal age for marriage but apparently it's never too soon to practice the tossing of the bouquet -- on a two-point conversion. Weddings have never been much fun for those of the male gender but this really spices things up. Us men really know how to take something and make it better by adding football and this isn't the first time a football game involved a trick play and marriage or engagement connections. Former Boise State halfback Ian Johnson and current head coach Chris Petersen would be proud.
FOUR DOWN, TWENTY-SIX TO GO
This time last week college football had thirty undefeated teams remaining. Four casualties later and we're down to the final twenty-six. My predictions last week proved to be a little ambitious but the list will continue to dwindle as conference play picks up across the nation.
There is a good chance Ohio State falls to Michigan State and Minnesota travels to Iowa for a coin-flip game. The floundering Big-10 could be looking at Northwestern as their lone unblemished team on Sunday morning. Likewise, the Big-12 holds seven undefeated squads with two games (Iowa State/Texas Tech and Baylor/West Virginia) guaranteed to add loss number one for two conference members. Trips by #18 Oregon State to Arizona, Virginia Tech to Cincinnati, and Louisiana Tech to Virginia could spell trouble for the Beavers, Bearcats, and Bulldogs who have busted out to surprising starts in 2012.
Outside of these games there is bound to be an unforeseen upset -- Texas at Oklahoma State beware -- while a few others are sure to continue surprising runs. I don't think we'll see the list shrink into the teens quite yet, but twenty surviving undefeated squads is a realistic number when the dust settles Saturday night.
FOUR SCORES
From perfection, to complete failure, and then back to above-average; it's been a rocky road for predictions at TMD so far this year. Having experienced it all I think it's safe to say sustained growth or slightly-above-average is the safe place to be and last week's results prove that. While I missed on my prediction of Oklahoma over Kansas State (see above for the significance of that loss) I correctly labeled Notre Dame, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida State as week-four victors.
This week I'm taking #9 West Virginia at home against an overrated #25 Baylor team, Virginia Tech on the road over Cincinnati, #5 Georgia at home over Tennessee, #12 Texas on the road over Oklahoma State, and #20 Michigan State in Lansing over the #14 Ohio State Buckeyes.
BIG-XII PASSING THE NATION
Five of college football's top seven passer ratings belong to quarterbacks from teams in the Big-12. Led by TCU's Casey Paschall (209.9 QBR), West Virginia's Geno Smith (191.2), and David Ash (190.5) of Texas; the most proficient arms in the country are correlating with the league filled with the highest number of undefeated teams (7). Oklahoma State's J.W. Walsh (183.3) and Texas Tech's Seth Dodge (182.8) have performed admirably as well. Between the five quarterbacks, a combined 45 passing touchdowns have been amassed this year to only three interceptions.
In 2011, only Baylor's Robert Griffin III (189.5 QBR -- 2nd in the nation) and Brandon Weeden (159.8 -- 9th) of Oklahoma State finished the year in the top-30 nationally for quarterback rating among Big-12 passers. Not surprisingly then, Oklahoma State (3rd) and Baylor (13th) were the highest ranked teams from the conference in the final AP Top 25 poll from 2011. If the early success of quarterbacks is any indication, we could be witnessing the birth of the Big-12 as a dominant force on par with that of the SEC in 2012.
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.
Last week I highlighted the tough-as-nails feat by Washington Redskins long snapper Nick Sundberg who played against New Orleans with a broken arm. Coming on the heels of Oakland's week-one debacle where an injury to Jon Condo forced reserve linebacker Travis Goethel into action, teams have been fielding questions as to their backup plan on second-string long snappers.
It's no secret that rarely anyone knows the name of the long snapper unless he becomes injured, snaps with a broken arm, or sails a game-loser over the head of the punter; but you may not realize one such reserve is fresh in your football memory bank. While they won't reveal their current plan, the Baltimore Ravens spilled that their backup long snapper in 2011 was none other than running back Willis McGahee -- now with the Broncos. Coincidentally enough, Denver recently released would-be backup long snapper Lonie Paxon after losing the job to rookie Aaron Brewer.
I'm not one to wish injury upon a player, but if Brewer was to "misplace" his cleats on 4th-and-12 from Denver's own twenty, I might revel in the ensuing chain of events that involve a McGahee induced punt play.
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper
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