Once again, I am taking a neutral side here and not sticking up for either. I just came across some facts that really stuck out to me. I'm not crediting this one for privacy purposes. Read them, comment, and leave your feedback. But as always, don't direct your feedback at me - direct it at the blog itself. It's a touchy subject, so let's keep it clean.

1.) Since 1993, the SEC and the Big Ten have had the most top 25 ranked teams at the end of the season, 58. Impressive right? SEC fans will probably now say something like "Oh, but the SEC plays harder schedules and the SEC is tougher so they're better"

2.) Wrong. Over the last 8 years (as far back as my source goes), the average Strength of schedule for Big Ten teams were far better than SEC teams. For instance, OSU had an average SOS of 14.375. The mighty SEC UF gator's SOS was 21.125. Bama's was 22.875, and Auburn's was 43. The same held true for other Big Ten schools, PSU, Michigan, Wiscy all had a better average SOS over the last 8 years. Here's the source too, look it up yourself: http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/1993_archive_computer_rankings.html

Now SEC fans will probably alude to last year's national championship game and the SEC's "dominance" over Big Ten in bowl games.

3.) The Big Ten went 2-1 against the SEC last year, and are 8-6 over the last 5 years. SEC fans might make a bogus claim of BCS dominance, but...

4.) The Big Ten has had 15 BCS bowl bids, the SEC has had 13. Now the SEC fan is getting desparate, and might claim that the SEC has better players...

5.) The Big Ten has had 5 heisman winners over the last 15 years, the SEC has had 1.

Now you SEC fans might be saying "well the SEC has much better depth than the Big Ten (or as you hilariously call it, the Big 3):

6.) Wrong again. Let's take a look at conference winners over the last 8 years:

Big 10 Champions
06- OSU
05- OSU, PSU
04- Iowa, Michigan
03- Michigan
02- Iowa, OSU
01- Illinios
00- Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue
99- Wisconsin

SEC champions
06- Florida
05- Georgia
04- Auburn
03- LSU
02- Georgia
01- LSU
00- Florida
99- Bama

Since 99, the Big Ten has had 8 different teams at least share the conference title. The SEC has had 5 teams win the conference title over the same span. Also keep in mind the SEC has one more team than the Big Ten. Which conference is deeper now? You guys might complain that the Big Ten doesn't have a conference title game, and they can share conference titles. Alright, fair enough, you got me. Even if we take away the tiebreakers and award the Big Ten conference title to one team in each of the disputed years, the Big Ten has anywhere from 4-7 teams winning the conference title over the last 8 years, depending on who you give the title to. Stiil, proving they are just as deep as the SEC.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Let the arguments begin. Keep it clean. Be smart. No stupid posts.

New York Times Reports:

                   Rodriguez's Agent Votes for Free Agency

A clubhouse attendant packed the belongings from Alex Rodriguez's locker into cardboard boxes yesterday, in what may have been a sign that Rodriguez did not plan to visit Yankee Stadium anytime soon. He may never return as a member of the Yankees because he seems sure to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract.

The Yankees have the exclusive rights to negotiate with Rodriguez until 10 days after the World Series, but Boras's remarks make it appear improbable that there will be substantive discussions. If Rodriguez opts out, the Rangers, who owe about $21 million as part of the trade that sent him to New York in 2004, would pay him nothing. The Yankees have said that if Rodriguez chooses to become a free agent, they would pass on trying to retain him.

If Rodriguez does not opt out, he could become a free agent after the 2008 season, when he would earn $27 million, unless the Yankees bumped his salary to $32 million for 2009 and 2010. There is no guarantee that Rodriguez will stay with the Yankees, but there is a guarantee that a rich man will became richer.

"I hear people say, 'Boras is the guy taking it to the owners,'" Boras said. "This is about fairness. This player is in a unique place and a unique situation. He's got to get a unique salary."

FULL STORY: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/sports/baseball/10boras.html?_r=1&ref=baseball&oref=slogin

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Since I'm lacking time to make a full blog, I'll be brief. A-Rod is gone. I don't think he wants to be there and I don't think the Yankees want him back. With this year's free agency promising to be a booming one, the Yankees could use A-Rod's salary to bring in a more balanced line-up. The first thing the Yanks would do is make sure Jorge Posada, Matsui, and Andy Pettite are still on the roster. The next thing they would try to do is replace Melky Cabrera. He hasn't produced in his past two years and George S. has often times put him on warning. The Yanks have already expressed interest in Tori Hunter and other big name free agents, such as Andruw Jones. Of course, the pitching staff will be the biggest concern. Clemens won't be back, Mussina is iffy, and Pettite is losing interest fast. Rising names in the veteran Villone and 23 year-old Joba Chamberlain aren't quite at rotation material. Chamberlain maybe. Many people still show interest in Carl Pavano. In my opinion, he is the biggest waste of money in the entire MLB. When was the last time he won12 games in a season, or yet, was not on the DL for 1/2 of the season? I honestly don't remember, so if someone could jump in and fill me in, that would be wonderful.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Give me your opinion.

Will A-Rod Be Back?
Who Do You Want The Yankees To Go After (FA)?
What's Joe Torre's Future?
What's The Yankees Future?

Give me your opinion. If you hate the Yankees like most a lot of people do, look at from a neutral point of view. I want to know what you think about the situations of the organization. I don't care if you don't like them, or why you don't like them.

Congrats to Favre for passing Dan Marino with a beautiful pass to Greg Jennings. He is now the number one TD passer in the history of the NFL. Some say this is the best record in football, other's are still confused how Marino got it in the first place with a lack of a Superbowl ring and never really having that dominant of a receiving core. But the question still remains - is Favre the ultimate forever or will someone pass him? For that, we have to look at the simple stats.

Brett Favre:
17 Years Pro
421 Passing TD's
Average: 24.7 TD's per Season

That's not too bad. Actually, it's amazing. Brett Favre is easily the most consistant player to play the game. But the question after today will be: Who's Next? Here are some stats of some of today's quarterbacks that possibly have a chance. I'm not saying that any of these players will break the record, I'm just tossing them out for discussion.

Peyton Manning
10 Years Pro
280 Passing TD's
Average: 28 TD's per Season
*If he keeps his average, he will tie Dan Marino at Year 15.

Tom Brady
8 Years Pro
157 Passing TD's
Average: 19.6 TD's per Season
*If he keeps his average, he will tie Dan Marino at Year 21.


Tony Romo
5 Years Pro/ 1.3 Years Playing
27 Passing TD's
Average: 20.7 TD's (While Playing)
*If he keeps his average, he will tie Dan Marino at Year 25.


Steve McNair
13 Years Pro
173 Passing TD's
Average: 13.3 TD's per Season
*If he keeps his average, he will tie Dan Marino at Year 26.


Matt Hasselbeck
9 Years Pro
119 Passing TD's
Average: 13 TD's per Season
*If he keeps his average, he will tie Dan Marino at Year 32


Carson Palmer
5 Years Pro/4 Years Playing (Injury)
87 Passing TD's
Average: 21.7 TD's per Season
*If he keeps his average, he will tie Dan Marino at Year 19.


Donovann McNabb
9 Years Pro
157 Passing TD's
Average: 17.4 TD's per Season
*If he keeps his average, he will tie Dan Marino at Year 24.


Daunte Culpepper
9 Years Pro
127 Passing TD's
Average: 15.9 TD's per Season
*If he keeps his average, he will tie Dan Marino at Year 25.

Those are just stats. We all know that you can't win a game or throw a TD on paper, and stats are liable to change. My personal opinion is if Peyton Manning can stay healthy (so far so good) than he is going to break every record in the book. I do believe Tom Brady will end his career in the Top 10 in Passing Touchdowns. If Carson Palmer can stay healthy, I do think he has a great chance to end up in the Top Ten, or maybe even the Top Five. Give me your feedback!

Again, congrats to Brett Favre! It's a wonderful accomplishment for all sports. The one thing I love about Brett Favre is he is the only player in football that everybody cheers for, unless he's going against your team. Which still, I know if my team plays him and loses, it doesn't hurt near as bad as it would if it were any other player.

This is the new QB battle in Chicago. Brian Griese vs. Kyle Orton. I am one of the few backers of Kyle Orton. When he had the opportunity to start in '05 - he didn't walk into very much. But he won. He may not have won in style - but a win is a win. It was his rookie season and he didn't have a quarterback already in place to follow and train with. He had the injured Rex Grossman (and we all know how he turned out). All I can say is Kyle Orton - Griese has two games to prove himself. So start warming up Kyle.

- I do believe the Bears should have gone after Leftwich. They have the salary to pick him up and he probably would have fit in just fine with the team. Granit, he's not the best quarterback, but he is better than Grossman, Orton, and Griese.

- I don't think that Grossman will leave the team. He may not look like it, but he knows the system. There could be worse backups to have besides Grossman.

- Depending how Chicago finishes out the season, watch for them trade up to get a better draft choice and draft a good QB. A QB is where the offense starts. Cedric Benson will get better. A WR may be a plausable choice as well.

As I sit here in the computer lab in the land of the Hilltoppers, I am bored. So I'm going rant. Read if you want, like I said, it's only a rant.

Rant #1: Who the hell is responsible for scheduling my Astronomy Lab at 8:00pm, well-knowing that Monday Night Football comes on at 7:30pm? I don't care what the moon looks like! I have my whole life time to look at the moon. How often do I get to look at Vince Young vs. Reggie Bush - the Re-Battle of the Rose Bowl?

Rant #2: McNabb. I hear what you say about black quarterbacks get more criticism. You are an idiot. But you are right. Why do black quarterbacks get more criticism? Because there is more expected out of them. 90% of black quarterbacks are more of a threat than white quarterbacks. You can run the ball. You can scramble. When you can do that, more is expected out of you. That's why black quarterbacks are criticized more than white quarterbacks. Let's line up Tom Brady and McNabb for a 40-Yard-Dash and see who wins, shall we?

Rant #3: Ohio State Buckeyes - my boys. Thank you! Right now, your only problem in taking home the Big Ten Title is Wisconsin. But you play them at home, which takes a lot of stress off. Everyone says that the Buckeyes should have no problem with Michigan this year. That's not true. It is never true. When Ohio State and Michigan play, they are two completely different teams. If Michigan never won a game and Ohio State never lost a game, it would still be an unbelievable fight.

I am on my way to stair at dust particles on the moon...or something like that. Please - let me know who is winning the game ... damn the moon.