The caption above says it all.  Let's get this season started today.  College football is back and needs to be.  I'm sick and tired of the following football coverage. . .95%  Mike Vick's going to jail. . .5% Preseason NFL games where guys that will be bagging my groceries in two weeks are deciding the outcome of a completely insignificant event.  C'mon NCAA football.  America needs you now more than ever!!!

Tomorrow is National Signing Day for all of you already-football-starved folks out there.  We have finally reached a time where football is so popular that people will latch on to something that is about as irrelevant as my top 25 most played list on my IPOD just because it's about football.  ESPN.com has an entire page dedicated to tomorrow's college football "event".  Don't be fooled folks, this is not an event.

We all (especially Arkansas fans like myself) remember the circus a month and a half ago surrounding Mitch Mustain's mother, along with two other highly touted freshmen's parents questioning the role of their children to Arkansas A.D. Frank Broyles.  Why was this a story you ask.  Tomorrow is the reason.  We give stardom away to college kids, even high school kids now because we are so determined to find the "next one".  Without this hype, Mustain and the others would be seen for what they are, spoiled, overhyped brats who are nothing more than a backup QB, blocking TE, and fast, no hands WR.  We can't enjoy the greatness that is Peyton Manning for one week without digging out Tom Lugginbill's rankings of the incoming freshman prospects to find out who will steal Manning's throne in 2015.  Let me tell you something folks, HE DOESN'T KNOW who will be great at the college level.  Even more, you don't know either!  You won't know until these kids play the game.

I'm so sick of hearing about these recruiting classes.  How many years did we hear about Texas's incoming class?  We heard all about it until they got beat by 50 in the Red River Shootout from about 1998-2004 (give or take a year or two).  Can we please give it a rest?  Can we please reserve news for. . . well. . .NEWS?  These are glorified children that are about to start playing a young man's game.  Some will be great, others will never be heard from again.

If you are interested in what happens tomorrow, I challenge you to do one thing.  Print off your little ESPN top 150 list and save it.  Four years from now, when you watch the NFL Draft (and you will because anyone who cares about signing day would absolutely treat the NFL Draft like Christmas morning) take out your list and see how it stacks up.  See how many people go in the first round.  See how many get drafted at all.  I guarentee that you will look at the list and say, "Boy, I really wasted a lot of time worrying about which school Noel Devine was going to attend."  You're right.  You did.  I'm trying to help you save that time.  You'd be much better off taking Martin Lawrence's advice and having a Coke and a smile.  It will last a lot longer.

By now, everyone knows that there is no more self-righteous, self-absorbed, and ridiculously arrogant entity in the world of sports than the Baseball Hall of Fame and all that it entails.  It routinely plays God, passing eternal moral judgments on people like Pete Rose, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, and the most recent heathen, Mark McGwire.  Today, two of baseball's most recent saints (and very deserving players) were promoted to the third heaven in the angelic forms of Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn.  No one disputes the fact that these two deserve their wings.  However, who are you, Major League Baseball, to #### the gavel of justice like you know anything about people like Mark McGwire?

Who else shall you shun, oh judge of judges?  Do A-Rod and his imposing figure deserve your ire?  We all know that Rafael Palmeiro will feel your wrath, oh mighty smiter!  Now that Jason Grimsley has proven that your "banned substances" are not limited to hitters, shall you pass your judgment on the great Roger Clemens, whose physical conditioning despite age and years of use, seem to defy the very laws of nature that you so quickly embrace as law.  Have you gotten to the point that all it takes is to be born at the wrong time and you are suddenly guilty because you performed in the alleged "steroid era"?  You are the same people that have embraced casino employees (Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays) in a time when baseball was much more sensitive to gambling.  You have endorsed users of other illegal drugs (Fergie Jenkins among others), womanizers (Babe Ruth), racists (Ty Cobb), drunks (pick a Yankee from the 50's and 60's), as well as many other participants in a variety of moral "transgressions".  Where is your line?  What is your standard?

In the United States of America, as well as Canada (that covers the Blue Jays and Expos), there is a presumption of innocence until guilt is proven.  You obviously are above that!  You can sit on you little perch and call people like McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds guilty, while pronouncing so many others innocent.  The rest of the human race wishes it could be so careless and indiscriminant in its judgments!  Not only are you punishing those who have been proven anything but guilty, but you yourself, Major League Baseball, have perpetuated this very problem!  It's your inactivity that led to the problem you had in the 1990's.  You had labor issues.  Your game was struggling.  So you sold your soul to the needle-packing devil, and now you have the gall to stand and pass judgment on the very people that you needed to survive through your darkest hour?  How dare you?  How dare you?

If all this isn't enough, you've robbed Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken of the greatest day of their individual careers.  Instead of writing about going to Memorial Stadium as a kid and Camden Yards as a teen to see #8, I have to talk about this.  Instead of paying homage to one of the greatest hitters I've ever seen, my generation’s Ted Williams, I'm left to bloviate about the crime and the shame that you have dragged some of your brightest stars through.  Why?  Why have you done this to our game?  If you would've done something about these steroids when you should have, we'd be talking about the greatest Hall induction class since the very first one.  However, we are not!  We're talking about steroids!   I blame you Major League Baseball!  I blame you! 

Thank you so much for saving our national title hopes by defeating USC on December 2.  It is impossible to express how much you've helped our recruiting, public image, and overall legacy as a college football powerhouse by making the impossible happen one short month ago.  You see, we know something that you may not know.  We know that you see the Trojans as a cross-town rival, but we see them as so much more!  They are a program that specializes in shuting up teams that are trying to make national statements.  You don't know what we mean.  Let us explain.

Arkansas faced Tommy's Trojans in the opener, hoping to prove last years' 50+ point loss was a fluke.  They faced Nebraska the next week trying to re-establish themselves as a national player.  USC also took on Oregon, California, and Notre Dame in consecutive weeks, trying to prove things like conference supremecy and a shot at the national title.  How did those teams do?  You Bruins know!  A combined score of 180-67!  Not to mention the mighty Wolverines this afternoon.  I know you were almost as tired of hearing them whine about how they should be playing us instead of Florida as we were.  Not anymore.  Some statement they made today huh?

Between us, the only way a team even has a chance against those Carrollers is if they get overconfident.  Take someone for granted.  Look past them, as it were.  Kinda like what happened to you guys.  They came to your house and got beat.  Not because you're so good, with all due respect, but because they were thinking about Glendale.  Obviously they would not have looked past us in the big one, and, as much as I hate to admit it, we don't have the secret to beating them (a.k.a. Vince Young).  Troy is good, but not that good!  (Don't let that last sentence leak.  PLEASE!)  Anyway, thanks again. 

Because of you, we will win our second title in five years.  Because of you, Coach Tressel will add to his legacy as an "unbeatable bowl coach.  Because of you, 2007 will be a great year for us, the mighty scarlett and gray,  THE Ohio State University.  We owe you wonderful warriors of Westwood. 

Forever Greatful,

THE Ohio State Athletic Program

P.S. - Maybe we can do you a "solid" if we meet on the hardwood in April.  Who cares about basketball anyway!  LOL!  

This article was posted in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette this week.  Parents of athletes at all levels please feel free to share your opinions.

FAYETTEVILLE - Parents for Arkansas freshman football players Mitch Mustain, Damian Williams and Ben Cleveland met with Razorbacks Athletic Director Frank Broyles last week to discuss concerns about the direction of the football program.
   Rick Cleveland, Ben's father, confirmed Tuesday that the meeting took place last Thursday in Broyles' office and lasted about an hour. The meeting included Rick Cleveland, Beck Campbell (Mustain's mother), David and Karen Williams, and Broyles.
   The meeting centered on whether Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn will get more say in how the offense is run, Rick Cleveland said, and if it will be more passoriented.
   Mustain is a quarterback and Cleveland and Williams are receivers, and all three played for Malzahn at Springdale High School, where they excelled in a Spread, no-huddle offense to help the Bulldogs go 14-0 last season and win the Class AAAAA state championship.
   "The reason for the meeting was very simple," Rick Cleveland said. "We wanted to know what is the direction of Arkansas' football program? Are we eventually going to get to Gus' offense? Or are we going to stay with the way we are at present?"
   In going 10-3 this season and winning the outright SEC West title, Arkansas' offense has been built around sophomore tailbacks Darren McFadden, a consensus All-American who was the Heisman Trophy runner-up last week to Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, and Felix Jones. They are the third duo in SEC history to each rush for 1,000 yards, with McFadden at a school-record 1,558 and Jones at 1,018.
   It was a big bounce-back season for the Razorbacks after they went 5-6 and 4-7 the previous two years to put Coach Houston Nutt's job status in jeopardy.
   Nutt, who hired Malzahn last December to be offensive coordinator and call the plays, was voted SEC Coach of the Year by the media and coaches after the Razorbacks' six-victory improvement.
   "For us, personally, we have nothing against Houston Nutt, nothing against Arkansas' program," Rick Cleveland said. "Every school and its head coach has the full authority to run the offense that they want. That's what they go recruit people for, to run what they're comfortable with.
   "That's not the issue with us. Arkansas has every right to run that and do what they want."
   Cleveland said the issue for the Springdale players and their parents is that the offense isn't what they were led to believe it would be during the recruiting process. After Malzahn was hired, Ben Cleveland and Damian Williams switched their commitments from Florida to Arkansas and Mustain recommitted to Arkansas after reopening his recruiting.
   "With our kids going to Arkansas, it's basically like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole," Rick Cleveland said of the offense. "When Gus came onto the scene, the very first question we would ask was, 'Do you have full control of the offense and do you have full control of the personnel?' Which we were told, 'Yes.'
   "I don't believe Gus lied to us. But as the season has progressed, it's very obvious that this is not Gus Malzahn's offense and Gus does not have full control of the personnel or the play calling.
   "From our perspective - and it's only our perspective - it seems as if you've been sold a bill of goods.
   "We never would have committed here knowing that this was the offense, because we knew our boys wouldn't be happy."
   Rick Cleveland said the response from Broyles was that Nutt continues to be in charge of the team.
   "His exact words were that experts have told us that Coach Malzahn's offense will not work in the SEC and for it to work the quarterback has to run the ball 15 to 18 times a game," Cleveland said. "That made it pretty clear that things are going to stay the way they are and Malzahn's offense is not going to be run here."
   Broyles said Tuesday he had told the parents they needed to meet with Nutt, not him, but he agreed to see them when they showed up at his office anyway.
   "I didn't want to be rude," said Broyles, who declined to discuss any details of the meeting.
   Nutt declined comment Tuesday about the parents' meeting but said he doesn't expect any players to transfer. Malzahn couldn't be reached for comment.
   Rick Cleveland said the parents wanted to meet with Broyles "because he's the one who ultimately controls everything" at Arkansas.
   "Why not go to the person who's totally in charge?" Cleveland said. "It was a very pleasant meeting. There was no confrontation whatsoever."
   Since Malzahn was hired, he and Nutt have said publicly the offense would be a combination of what has worked well at Arkansas in the past with additions brought in by Malzahn and new quarterbacks coach Alex Wood, a former NFL offensive coordinator.
   Malzahn has said the running backs are Arkansas' best players and the team would play to its strengths, and his greatest contribution has been putting together an offense that enables McFadden and Jones to be on the field at the same time.
   The Razorbacks have run numerous trick plays for big gains and excelled in a "Wildcat" package with the versatile McFadden at quarterback.
   Nutt and Malzahn also have said they expect the passing game to continue to progress next season.
   David Williams, Damian's father, declined comment on the meeting and whether his son is considering transferring from Arkansas.
   "To be honest with you, I don't think any of the boys want to transfer. They love Arkansas," Rick Cleveland said. "But as a ballplayer, you want to be used to the best of your abilities."
   Ben Cleveland and Damian Williams each made the SEC All-Freshman Team and are among Arkansas' top six receivers.
   Williams is tied for second on the team with 19 catches for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a score that put Arkansas ahead to stay just before halftime in its SEC West title-clinching 28-14 victory at Mississippi State.
   Cleveland is tied for fourth on the team with 11 catches for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the game-tying reception in overtime against Alabama before Jeremy Davis hit the winning extra point in a 24-23 victory.
   Mustain has completed 64 of 122 passes for 853 yards and 10 touchdowns with 8 interceptions. He started eight games, all victories by the Razorbacks, before being replaced by sophomore Casey ####.
   While the three Springdale freshmen have played key roles in the Razorbacks' season, Rick Cleveland said they anticipated having more impact on the offense.
   "It's a very fluid situation," Cleveland said of whether he expects any of the Springdale players to transfer. "These are 18-year-old kids. One day they want to stay. One day they're upset and want to leave.
   "What the coaching staff has to understand is that they can't keep telling these kids, 'This is going to happen, this is going to happen, this is going to happen,' and it doesn't happen."
   Rick Cleveland said his son and Damian Williams want to play in an offense where they'll catch 60 passes per season.
   J.J. Meadors, with 62 catches in 1995, is the only Razorback with 60 or more catches in a season in the program's history.
   Five SEC players have 60 or more catches this season; three had 60 or more last season.
   "Our boys are used to catching 60 passes a year," Rick Cleveland said. "They want to go to a college where they get the same opportunity. Whether they're good enough to do that or not is a whole different question. They have to earn that.
   "They are team players... but they're saying, 'Hey, I don't know if I'll be happy being in this offense, catching 10 balls a year or 15 and blocking 90 percent of the time.' "

Sorry about the length, but this is a major issue.  I am a high school coach myself.  We deal with this kind of thing all the time.  Here's the deal people.  Parents have the luxury of only having to worry about one member of a team.  Coaches have to worry about what's best for everyone.  Parents' often struggle with this concept.  Surely not all, or even most parents, but there are always some.  I'd like to hear everyone weigh-in on this especially parents.  I have a lot more feelings on this, but for the sake of brevity, I'll respond in the form of comments after some of you speak your minds.

The Heisman Trophy is one of the easiest awards to predict.  The only time in my life that I was surprised was when Carson Palmer won it over Larry Johnson.  With that being said, we all know that Troy Smith is going to walk away from tonight's ceremony with the most "hallowed" award in college sports.  So why?  We have three finalists, Troy Smith, Brady Quinn, and Darren McFadden.  All great college players.  Two seniors and one sophomore.  So, why is Troy Smith going to win?  First, let's look at who I would vote for (in case the picture didn't give it away, it's Darren McFadden):

McFADDEN’S STATISTICS RUSHING     

                             G          Att        Yds      TD        Lg         Avg/C   Avg/G

2006                 13         265       1558     14         80         5.9       119.8

 RECEIVING        G          Rec       Yds      TD        Lg         Rec/G   Avg/C   Avg

 2006                 13         11         149       1          70         0.8       13.5      11.5

  PASSING           G          Att        Cmp     Int        Yds      TD        Lg         Pct

  2006                 13         8          6          1          72         3          28         75.0     

KICK RETURNS  G          No.       Yds      TD        Lg         Avg/R   Avg/G    

   2006                 13         8          226       1          92         28.2      17.4

Unfortunately for McFadden, Reggie Bush was last year's winner.  Reggie was probably the most versitile player in college football history.  He was Rocket Ismail, but much better.  McFadden also deserves to be considered in that category with Bush.  Thanks to the famed "Wildcat" formation, McFadden had the unique opportunity to not only run and catch the ball this year, but to run the offense out of the QB position.  He proved to be Arkansas's best player at every position he played.  The great thing about McFadden is that he had his best games against Arkansas's toughest competition.  McFadden's rushing yards and TDs were:  112 and 1 vs. Alabama, 145 and 1 @ Auburn, 219 and 2 @ South Carolina, 181 and 2 vs. Tennessee, 182 and 2 against the nations #1 defense, LSU.  Darren also caught a 70 yard TD vs. Ole Miss that led to that victory, and had a 92 yard kickoff return that won the Mississippi State game.  Darren also entered the year with an injury and played sparringly against USC, which proves his "MVP" status because the Arkansas team was certainly not the same without him as they got drubbed by the Trojans.

Now let's look at the man viewed as the perrenial favorite and certain winner, Troy Smith:

Smith is 199/297 for 2507 yards, 30 TDs and only 5 INTs.  Certainly very good, but Heisman Trophy material?  His supporters will say, don't forget his mobility.  Okay, his rushing stats are:  62 carries for 233 yards and 1 TD.  Not exactly Vince Young is he?  Supporters then will point you to the Michigan game.  Troy had his best game on the biggest stage. Troy was 29/41 for 316 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT.  Great game!  No question.  But does one game a Heisman winner make?

The point is that, once again, the trophy is going to the most recognizable, not best, player on the best team.  Troy Smith is a "great" story, if you think someone that would've been dismissed from the team a few years ago is a great story.  However, the Heisman shouldn't be about a story.  It shouldn't be about a team.  It shouldn't be about NFL value or the popularity of your program (notice the finalist I didn't talk about, this is why).  It should be given to the best football player in America.  Is Darren McFadden the best player in country?  I don't know.  It would be hard to argue against him if you've watched many Arkansas games this year.  I don't know if he's the best football player in the country, but I know he's the best player that has been nominated for the award this year!

(Darren McFadden's stats were gathered from hogwired.com and Troy Smith's from ESPN.com)

Welcome to the salary cap era of the NFL.  This is when things happen that you would've never thought possible because no team is really that bad in the NFL, and teams aren't allowed to stockpile enough talent to be that good either.  This explains the worst to first and subsequently the first to worst trends that run so rampant in the NFL today.  It is this reason and this reason only that the Giants will beat the Cowboys in the NFL game of the week this week.

When things look like they can't happen, they do.  Take the 49ers/Rams game last week. No team had looked worse through the month of November (Oakland teams excluded) than the Rams.  They had lost four straight, and headed into a matchup with a young, upstart San Francisco bunch that had just achieved their "breakthrough" win by beating up on the conference champion Seahawks.  What happened?  Not only did the Rams win, but they mustered up the moxxy that is reserved for champions (allegedly) and pulled of a last second mirace TD to win.

Enter the Cowboys.  All but officially annointed the NFC representative for the Super Bowl based on their impressive performances in the last few weeks.  Tony Romo is brushing up on his Hall of Fame speech, while his agent is working on his prenuptuial agreement (I'm sorry, that's Jessica's agent).  Bill Parcells, the legend, the Tuna, is at the helm.  Little T. seems to be learning to share, and all couldn't be better in Big D. 

Enter the Giants.  All but officially left for dead.  Ernie Acorsi is reportedly working out Brady Quinn and Troy Smith during the week.  Shockey hates Coughlin.  Strahan hates Burress.  Burress hates losing (unless he has to break a sweat to prevent it).  Tiki hates football.  Strahan now loves Burress.  Strahan is a man.  Everybody hates Eli.  So on and so on.  The Giants can't win.  The Cowboys can't lose.

In today's NFL, this is exactly what upsets are made of.  Giants 24   Cowboys 20

I'm gonna make this short and sweet.  There are a two major keys to solving who should be #2.  First, any one loss team that lost to another one loss team cannot go ahead of that team.  Second, Michigan got its shot yesterday, and looked good, but that was their shot.  No rematch unless it comes down to Mighigan and Notre Dame as the only two loss teams.  So with these simple rules in mind, this is how it SHOULD break down:

Ranking of the contenders to play Ohio State in the order they should appear assuming that they win out.

1- USC - They will have defeated California, Notre Dame, and UCLA coming down the stretch

2-Florida - Florida would have defeated Arkansas in SEC championship game and would deserve to go as the SEC champion

3- Arkansas - Arkansas would have won @Auburn and defeated LSU and Florida on back to back weeks.  They just can't go ahead of USC because of their head-to-head loss to them.

4- Michigan - Michigan is placed here because they simply have to be ahead of Notre Dame thanks to the wood-shed special they gave them in the regular season.  Michigan may be the second best team in the country, but a rematch opens up too many problems.  Who deserves the title is Michigan wins since they are 1-1 head to head?  If Ohio State wins, We already saw OSU beat them once; are we slow learners?

SInce Michigan has no remaining games, everyone else has no shot to make it.  Sorry Notre Dame and all Big East teams.  If Notre Dame pulls their popularity play and actually beats USC and becomes #2, I will officially withdrawl my support of the BCS on the spot!  I'm not a ND hater, but it's completely ridiculous that they are even in this conversation.  Look at ND's schedule vs. some of these Big East schedules and tell me why we're not talking about West Virginia in this converstation.  If the Big East is too weak, then why is no conference better?  Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Air Force, Navy, Army, North Carolina, Purdue, Stanford, UCLA, Michigan (blowout loss), Penn State, and USC (we'll see what happens) make up a national championship caliber schedule?  Come on!

The BCS!  Just the words envoke thoughts of hatred, passion, cries of getting ####, and millions of dollars to University Presidents and Conference Commisioners everywhere.  Personally, I like the BCS because it's fluke proof.  Which is the anti-March Madness, anti-wild-card spot and anti-any other fly-by-night playoff system that other sports use.  A system that rewards the best team from the regular season?  Hogwash!  Balderdash!  Who cares about the 4 months of games, we just want to watch the month long sprint to the finish!  Anyway, I'm getting side-tracked!

The teams of the year in college football this season are Rutgers and Arkansas, period.  Simply put, Rutgers has won every game it's played this season.  That's pretty good!  They beat the #3 team in the country on national television, while even half of the people in Pascataway don't know any of the players besides. . . Glen Rice. . .uh . . .Jerry Rice. . . no . . .Condie Rice. . .no. . .  Ray Rice!  That's it.  Rutgers has been as much of a doormat as a team in a BCS conference can be.  A team that had never played in a game involving two ranked teams, EVER, before last Thursday's classic.  A team that endured even worse losses than some high schools that cancel seasons due to players' inability to even protect themselves(illegedly) is now America's darlings. 

Then there's Arkansas.  Members of the mighty SEC since 1989 and have never won the conference title.  A team whose coach was coming into the year on one of the hottest seats in the country after two disappointing seasons.  A team so desperate for recruiting talent that it turned the play-calling duties over to a high school coach, A HIGH SCHOOL COACH, that had no college experience.  A team that went into its season opener without its starting QB due to a back injury and its now Heisman contending RB due to a bar fight injury.  A bar fight?  Isn't McFadden only 19?  Nevermind. 

These two teams are flying higher than high.  Sure, Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Notre Dame, are having great years (even though ND has beaten absolutely no one!  Sidetracked again.), but we expect this from them.  Rutgers and Arkansas are in unchartered waters, breaking new ground, greener pastures, etc.  Can we please, please, please spare these players and coaches of the pressure of national championship talk for five seconds and let them enjoy their respective historical seasons. 

Every year, only one team wins the national championship (sometimes two, sidetracked again!)   That does not mean, despite our #2 is the first loser mentalities, that there is only one successful team each year.  Boise State, Maryland, Rutgers, Arkansas, Wake Forest, and so many others are having phenominal seasons and people are missing it because they're so worried about that Whinermaker (because it makes whiners, doesn't it coach Tuberville?  That's for you golf fans.) trophy. 

I urge you to look beyond Ohio State/Michigan this weekend.  Now, I'm not crazy.  I'm going to watch that game too.  However, this is a special college football season for many teams around the country.  Don't miss what are truly historical seasons by some of the historically less fortunate among us.  Oh by the way, its kinda fun to watch Florida State and Miami struggle too! 

Yesterday the New York Knicks officially said goodbye to the disaster that was the 2005-2006 NBA season.  After financially settling with Larry Brown and cutting Jalen Rose, the New York Knicks are officially ready to turn to page toward Wednesday's opener against Memphis and the rest of the NBA season.

In order to fix any problem, one must first diagnose the problem.  The laundry list of Knicks problems is both long and distinguished.  However, I have narrowed the Knick problem down to three major statistics.  Today's fan love stats, well here are some that may just blow your mind, especially considering that little or nothing was done to correct these problems. 

Problem stat #! -  The Knicks are notorious for having too many "shoot now and ask questions later" guards.  There is no question that Jamal Crawford, Steve Francis, and of course, Starbury himselt fit this description to a "T".  To further this point, the Knicks only had one player rank in the top 50 in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ration.  This statistic is the single most accurate in determining a players ability (especially a point guard) to run the offense efficiently and get his teammates involved.  Stephon Marbury ranked 27 (which is still extremely low for a starting point guard getting his minutes) in the league, which was NY's only top 50 representative.    Conclusion - Someone MUST step to the plate and get this surprisingly talented roster involved without sending half of the passes to Spike Lee and friends in the stands.

Problem stat #2 -   Jamal Crawfork averaged .5 steals per turnover last season.  That ranks 45th in the NBA in that stat.  Sound bad?  It is, especially when you consider that he actually led the Knicks in this stat.  This tell us many things about the offense.  First is that big men are turning the ball over way too much.  A solid big man should have good numbers in this category, not because of his high number of steals, but his low number of turnovers.  For example, some of the names ahead of Crawford are:  Shawn Marion, Rasheed Wallace, Shane Battier, Rashard Lewis, Antawn Jamison, Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, Michael Redd, Stephen Jackson, and Andrei Kirilenko to name a few.  Not necessary people known for steals (some are), but rank high in this category due to a lack of turnovers.  Conclusion - the Knicks have to maximize on stealing the basketball to capitalize on the open-court talent that they have while limiting the turnovers that obviously plague them severely.  Basketball is more like football than one might think here.  The team that wins the turnover battle usually wins the game.

Problem stat #3 - Somethings in basketball take little effort and can be mastered by people who have the work ethic to make it happen.  To me, blocked shots are one such stat.  Eddy Curry led the Knicks in blocks last year.  I know what you're thinking!  "Curry doesn't play any defense."  You're right!  Fourty-five players in the NBA blocked more shots per game than did Curry, unfortunately none of those 45 play their home games in Madison Square Garden.  This screams to a lack of defensive hustle and effort.  Solution - The Knicks must get more serious about defending their own basket.  They did address this somewhat with the acquisition of Jared Jeffries, but he's out until December so someone else will have to step-up until then.

Outlook for the Knicks.  People that are enthusiastic about the Knicks this season rationalize that by saying that the Eastern Conference is so bad that New York can "talent" its way into playoff contention.  That's a dangerous line of thinking because people who say that are underestimating how bad the Knicks can be at times.  Others believe that the Knicks would love nothing more than to rub a playoff run right into Larry Brown's $50 million face.  While this maybe true, Isiah Thomas doesn't exactly lead to insomnia to any opposing coach I've heard of.  The 2006-2007 Knicks will be better than last year simply because they can't be worse.  Will they be good enough to make the playoffs or at least contend?  I think they might.  Why you ask?  That's the question I can't answer, but if they turn the ball over less, steal and move the ball more, and get more aggressive on the defensive end, they will be the story of the upcoming NBA season. 

Are we now to the point in college football where the player legitimizes the Heisman more than the Heisman legitimizes the player? You don't understand the question? Well, Reggie Bush won last year's Heisman trophy, and Matt Leinart before him. So right now the American sports fan is pretty pleased with the Heisman. Leinert looks as good as a rookie QB can, in Arizona anyway, and no one questions the talent of Reggie Bush. Therefore the public sentiment is that the Heisman truly is a legimate award. My question is, why does NFL success, a.k.a. the player, dictate the legitimacy of the Heisman?

The list is long and distinguished of Heisman winners who did not live up to their previous standard of success in the NFL. Heisman-lovers who double as NFL fans tremble when they hear names like Danny Wuerfful, Gino Torretta, Rashan Salaam, Andre Ware, Eric Crouch, etc. They seem to feel as if they must have made the wrong decision or cast the wrong vote because of their lack of success in future endeavors. This is what we do with politicians isn't it? So why doesn't it work with football players?

The reason is that future data doesn't answer a previous question. For example, we all remember that 12 year old baseball player who all of the other parents swore was 16 during the all-star tournaments. This 5'10, 175 lbs. monster of a child was hitting home runs and no-hitting kids on a Ruthian pace. All of the sudden, five years later, that same kid is 5'11, 185 lbs. and warming the varsity bench while the same parents don't even recognize him. Circumstances change, level of competition changes, and most importantly, the context in which the athlete performs changes.

We all believe in system players. This explains why some poor loser drafted Mike Bell in your fantasy draft this year. "He's a Denver runner so he's automatically better than Frank Gore!" this guru proudly exclaimed.  This phenomenon is the standard in college football.  Texas Tech's QB is the prime example, and would explain many of the above listed "bust" winners (Nebraska QB in the option era, Spurrier QB, Miami QB in the glory years, etc.).  Unfortunately for us as college football fans, the Heisman voters are tired of having their selection criticized for being "illegitimate" or a "Heisman bust". So what do they do now? I truly believe that they, on occasion, take NFL projection into consideration. How else could Carson Palmer have beaten out Larry Johnson, who despite NFL success, was not as highly touted as he is now. Why else would Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson be considered. His stats weren't nearly as impressive as many other backs in the country before his injury.

In this election year, I'd like to ask the Heisman voters to take their vote seriously. The Heisman is an award for one year of excellence. It's not a lifetime achievement award. If you think Troy Smith is the best player in college football, then please vote for him. However, if you truly believe that the best player plays for a small school like, I don't know, Northern Illinois, then don't hold his schedule against him. If you think the best player is a defensive player or offensive lineman, then please, don't let their positions hold them back. The best is the best. This trophy doesn't have to go to the best player on a great team. It's supposed to go to the best player. Regardless of team, position, ranking, competition, etc. Please, vote for the best college football player period!

As I sit and watch Pittsburgh finish up defeating Miami in a surprising and impressive effort, I realize quite a few things:

First, we have finally reached the moment that much of mainstream America has waited since early February for, the NFL season.  The greatest league in the world opened on the biggest stage in the world with the champs at home, the way it should be.  Yes, it pains me to call the Steelers the champs, but they earned so I'll do it.  Everyone loves the NFL because of the parody, the pagentry, the peril, the pride, the pure provocation of passion that people long for is found on that field. 

Second, football means many things to many people.  To the people on the field, its the greatest job in the world.  To the fans, its a reason to paint your face, talk trash, and be a part of something without having to pay any physical price (except the anguish of watching your team lose).  To the League, cha-ching. 

Third, as exciting as tonight is, for many people all over the country, the real football season starts tomorrow, or started last Friday night/Saturday morning.  It may not be true for many people in Pittsburgh, Miami, Detroit, New York, or other major American cities, but for many of us in rural America, high school football is football.  Family football.

These are the fields we played on.  We watch our sons, nephews, brothers, grandsons, strap on the shoulder pads and headgear to engage in one of the few truly primitive actions our society still allows us to enjoy.  Louie Lastick, the overweight character in Disney's Remeber the Titans, encapsulated the feelings of so many teenage males when he quipped, "I figure if I have to be in school, I might as well hit some people while I'm at it."  It's amazing that a game that allows kids to do things that they'd be arrested for in any other context, teaches them such things as teamwork, sacrifice, persistance, toughness, and most of all, family.

I've been coaching football for only 3 years.  This, my 4th year, is the first time I've been a full-time varsity level coach.  Tonight my wife and I hosted my first and second team defensive lineman (the position I coach) at our house for dinner and fellowship.  It was amazing to see their faces when I invited them over (this is not a normal tradition at our school).  They loved being here and we loved having them.  Some of them don't have much at home, so this is their only family.  This is their football family.  They learn that there are things bigger than them, a lesson that too many kids learn too late or not at all.  They learn how to care about others.  They experience people who care about them, no matter their level of talent.  It's not about what they give us, but what we can give them. 

I love the NFL like many of you.  I make my weekend schedule around the Seahawks' kickoff time.  However, its these kids that make football great.  Its truly the family sport.  You'll never hear of any of the kids we hosted tonight.  I'll never hear of the vast majority of the kids under the "Friday night lights" of your town either.  However, it is they that make football.  It is them that this game was made for.  It is them that take the lessons of this game with them forever.  God bless football.  God bless football players.

Not really.  However, yesterday he made a decision that officially puts him on a hotter seat than any coach in college football.  Coming off of a disappointing 4-7 season, the Razorbacks are optimistic for a return to a bowl, and possibly being a dark-horse contender for an SEC West crown. 

The two major reasons for this optimism if Fayetteville are:

1)  Arkansas finished very strong with a young team last year.  Arkansas won two of its final three games last year, and in the last five games lost to South Carolina, Georgia, and LSU by a combined 9 points.  The Razorbacks became much more competitive when starting quarterback Robert Johnson was benced in favor of Casey ####, who moved the team far more efficiently.  So many feel that with a year of experience of competing at the highest level in the SEC, the Razorbacks can get over the hump this season with 19 returning starters. 

2)  The signing of consensus high school All-American Quarterback Mitch Mustain.  Mustain is easily the biggest recruit ever signed by the University of Arkansas.  Arkansas's biggest question mark could now be an exclamation point.  Mustain is such a star in Arkansas, being from Springdale (suburb of Fayetteville), Nutt hired Springdale head coach Gus Malzahn to run the Razorback offense.  Many people feel this was a desperate effort to sign Mustain after having reservations about his initial verbal commitment. 

No question that the turning point last year was when Robert Johnson went to the sideline and Casey #### took over the offense.  Many fans were anticipating either Mustain starting as a freshman, or red-shirting a year and letting Casey take this season.  Houtson Nutt chose option "C" last night by re-naming Robert Johnson the starting QB for 2006.  That moan that you heard late last night coming from the Southwest wasn't thunder, it was Hog Nation responding from a devestating shot to the gut.

Players make the game.  It doesn't matter what sport you're talking about.  However, football is the ultimate team game.  It's the one game where fans are fans regardless of who happens to be wearing the jersey at the time.  The SEC (the conference of choice here at XEA headquarters) has many explosive players to keep an eye on this upcoming year.  So here's a list of some players for your viewing pleasure as the SEC viewers guide rolls on.  We'll even break the list down for you by position.  If you like stars, you got 'em.

You know what games to watch!  Here's who to watch in the meantime:

1st Team XEA Pre-Season All-SEC Team (one player per position) -

QB - JaMarcus Russell, LSU - Although looking like Duante Culpepper doesn't make you a good QB, it sure does catch your eye watching a ball game.  Russell is the most physically imposing QB in the league.  At 6'6", 252 lbs., JaMarcus lookes like the most misplaced player in the SEC since Jared Lorenzen.  However, his arm and athleticism also resemble Culpepper to the point where Nick Saban even traded for Culpepper just to remember what it was like to have Russell in his backfield. 

RB - Darren McFadden, Arkansas - For those of you too young to have seen Eric Dickerson play football, this is the closest thing you'll see.  McFadden is destined for greatness (assuming he stays out of bar fights of course).  If you don't know what "explosive" means, it goes something like 1113 yards on 176 carries as a true freshman in the SEC.

WR - Sidney Rice, South Carolina - Please keep in mind that Rice may not even start if Spurrier gets a "burr" in his hind part for some reason, but this kid can flat out play.  Also, no system in college football makes stars out of their receivers like the "Fun-and-Gun".   Rice is coming back from a freshman season that saw 70 catches for 1143 yards and 13 TDs.   The future is now for Rice, Spurrier, and the football's only "Carolina".

TE - Cole Bennett, Auburn - QB Brandon Cox is a check-down saavy player, very much in a Drew Brees mold.  Bennett has just the skills to make that a successful third down option for the TIgers.  Bennett will be an imporvement over former tight end Cooper Wallace.  Bennett is a much better blocker and an adequate reciever.  He's the best of the lot.

OL - Aaron Sears, Tennessee - A 1st team all conference performer from a year ago, Sears is a 338 lbs. mountain of manhood.  Not to mention that he was one nasty cuss when he straps it up.  This left tackle will lead the way, both literally and figuratively, to the Vols rebound of last years disappointing season.

DL - Quentin Moses, Georgia - At 6'5", 250 lbs., he's got the ideal size for a speed defensive end.  Moses's 11 1/2 sacks last year says that he is just that.  As Georgia's sixth all-time sack man, you can expect one more great year from Moses before he parts the jersey and chases QBs on Sundays.

LB - Sam Olajabutu, Arkansas - The SEC has reverted back to smaller, faster linebackers in recent years.  Olajabutu epitomizes this new philosophy.  At only 5'9", 230, Olajabutu, like so many others in the past few year, will be seen as a "tweener" when he's poked and proded by NFL scouts.  However, this fall he'll be viewed as a straight playmaker.  His combination of speed, strength, and sure tackling will lead an aggressive Razorback defense back into bowl contention.

DB - Ramzee Robinson, Alabama - As the only returning starter from Alabama's feared secondary last year, Robinson will be looked to as a difference maker for Mike Shula this year.  His two interceptions and seven pass breakups of a year ago may not improve due to teams staying away from this guy.  Look for most teams to lineup their top recievers on the offensive left as Robinson plays defensive left corner.  Fresh off winning the "Mal Moore Leadership Award" (a prestigious leadership award given to an Alabama player after spring practice) Robinson is ready to be the "man" on the revamped Tide defense.

 Returner - Felix Jones, Arkansas - The all-American returner is back for his sophmore season of electrifying moves and explosive plays.  Simply put, Jones is the best returner in the country.  Also look for him to shine in the USC opener if McFadden can't go because of his foot.

Punter/Kicker - Brandon Coutu, K, Georgia and Kody Bliss, P, Auburn - They have strong legs.

There you have it.  You are now well on your way football the way it was meant to be played.  Great schools, great tradition, great rivalries, great athletes.  Southeastern Conference Football, Greatness Personified!

Today begins SEC media days.  That may not mean much to many people, but if you have or do live in the South then this is big.  We're getting closer.  SEC football brings the whole package.  The biggest difference between the SEC and other conferences that I've seen is the passion of the people in the states of the teams.  Sure there are passionate Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Miami, Florida State, USC, and many other fans of other schools in other conferences.  However, the state of Florida doesn't shut down for Hurricane games.  Neither does California for USC games, Pennsylvania for Penn State nor Indiana for Notre Dame.  However, the SEC fans do it and do it right.   Anyone who has ever been to Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, or Florida during football weekends knows exactly what I'm talking about. 

For you folks that want to try the SEC for the first time, please use this as a guide to a Fall that you will never forget:

1)  Watch the games.  You've got to watch the games.  The highlights just don't give you the same effect.  Here's what to watch each week:

Sept. 2 - Southern California @ Arkansas - Matchup of potentially the nations' most improved team (Arkansas) and its most unrecognizable recognizable team.  USC's new at almost every skill position.  Hint:  find the largest screen possible for this one

Sept. 9 - Georgia @ South Carolina - Spurrier is always entertaining t.v.  Add Mark Richt's perennial top ten bunch and you've got what instant classics are made of.

Sept. 16 - LSU @ Auburn - Called the tobacco bowl in some small circles (Tuberville's 4th quarter celebration cigar is the reason), this is the pre-SEC West championship game.  These are two of the most talented teams in the country.  Kenny Irons vs. JaMarcus Russell should be an early Heisman candidate machup.   Tennessee vs. Florida is also on this day.  It's a great day for football.  LET'S PLAY TWO!

Sept. 23 - Alabama @ Arkansas - New Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn will find out quickly if his prolific high school offense translates into major division one sucess in this one.  Darren McFaddin, Felix Jones, and Peyton Hillis comprise the nations most balanced and underrated backfield.  Can they push through the mighty Crimson Tide?

Sept. 30 - Alabama @ Florida - 'Bama's backend of a brutal road doubleheader rolls into Gainesville.  Chris Leak + Year 2 of Urban Meyer may = disappointing start to 2006 for the TIde.

Oct. 7 - Arkansas @ Auburn, LSU @ Florida, Tennessee @ Georgia - Officially named "Whatever floats your boat" week in the SEC.

Oct. 14 - Florida @ Auburn - Possible SEC championship game preview.  Auburn gets another tough conference game in the friendly confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Oct. 21 - Alabama @ Tennessee - Matchup filled with much more hatred than most national fans know about.  Fulmer has had some less than flattering comments about the Tide in the past.  Fulmer is affectionately known as "Elmer Fudd" in some areas of Alabama.  Those are the religious areas!   Fresno State @ LSU would also be a compelling non-conference game this week as well.

Oct. 28 - Georgia vs. Florida @ Jacksonville - "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party"  That says it all doesn't it?

Nov. 4 - LSU @ Tennessee - Desperate to catch Florida in the eastern standings, Tennessee will be primed to pull off the upset at home.

Nov. 11 - South Carolina @ Florida - Spurrier Bowl take two! Alabama @ LSU and Georgia @ Auburn are also tasty little treats this weekend.  Also, the annual "Somebody's gotta win" bowl, Vanderbilt @ Kentucky.

Nov. 18 - Tennessee @ Vanderbilt, Auburn @ Alabama, Arkansas @ Mississippi State, Mississippi @ LSU - Border wars.  In-state rivalries, the Iron Bowl, I LOVE THIS CONFERENCE!

Nov. 25 - LSU @ Arkansas, Florida @ Florida State, Georgia Tech @ Georgia, Kentucky @ Tennessee, Mississippi @ Mississippi State, South Carolina @ Clemson.  A conference this great and this passionate cannot possibly settle all of its battles and rivalries in just one week.  Were playing for a Golden Boot, state pride, and a Beer Barrell among other things this week!

Dec. 2 - SEC Championship Game - College football's true championship game.  Finding the best team in the best conference always gets you closer to finding a true champion. 

Whew!  That should keep you busy this fall!  Come back soon for players and teams to watch.