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Tag: College Football

  • Katy Perry Flirts With College Quarterback For ESPN College GameDay

    Singer Katy Perry took time out of her busy schedule as an international popstar to crash a sports show on Saturday, and flirt with a college quarterback. At a guest appearance on ESPN College GameDay, Perry gave a shoutout to 21-year-old Trevor Knight, star quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners.

    The 29-year-old singer was asked by the show’s hosts to predict how the game between Knight’s Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs would turn out. Knight’s Oklahoma team was ranked 4th while TCU was No. 25 at the time. Perry said, “I’m picking this one based on looks. Trevor Knight, do you hear me?”

    “The quarterback for Oklahoma, we don’t mind. So I’m going to go with him. Trevor Knight, call me!” she shouted, while making a “call me” signal with her hand. She was also holding up a heart-shaped sign with a picture of the Oklahoma quarterback.

    Perry displayed more antics on the show, including chucking corn dogs at the camera to taunt LSU fans and ripping off host Lee Corso’s Alabama elephant mask. However, by the end of the game between Oklahoma and TCU, it was apparent that Perry didn’t have a good system for predicting football wins. Knight’s Sooners lost to TCU, 37-33.

    The “Roar” singer reportedly stuck around after finishing the shoot in Oxford, Mississippi to catch Ole Miss’ game against Alabama, which the latter team lost. Perry even trolled Alabama coach Nick Saban on Twitter with a couple of tweets about their loss. Perry was also caught on video drinking beer and crowd-surfing at a local bar, evidently enjoying her day of college football.

    Meanwhile, as of Monday, Knight hasn’t yet called Perry. “I have not called Katy Perry yet,” the quarterback said. Perry performs on Monday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so Knight may still have a chance to say hi—along with his girlfriend.

  • 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Johnny Manziel Approaches No.1 Pick Again

    Another round of the 2014 NFL mock draft has been released, and this time quarterback Johnny Manziel is placed at the top. A number of players have been discussed as a possible No.1 pick, but Manziel may be emerging as the favorite as the draft comes closer.

    He was a Hesiman winner in 2012, and one of the runners up for the 2013 season, as he passed the torch to the young quarterback at Florida State, Jameis Winston.

    Johnny Manziel has been hailed for his skills in being able to throw and pass the ball efficiently, although some people think that he may not be NFL material. He could simply have the college style of play, which would not translate well to the NFL, a problem that has happened to various quarterbacks.

    However, due to the way that the Texas A&M quarterback performed at the pro day workout, he is being considered as a possible No.1 pick in the draft. Famous quarterbacks such as Brett Favre and Fran Tarkenton have both said that they can see aspects of themselves being emulated by the young player.

    It can sometimes be risky to take a quarterback as the No.1 pick, and some people have also heavily discussed the idea of Jadeveon Clowney being selected with the No.1 pick, although in the latest mock draft, he has slipped to the No.5 slot. Clowney is one of the top players at his position, and played as a defensive end at South Carolina.

    The connection to these picks being somewhat switched around could also relate to the fact that the Raiders and Texans recently made a deal that sent quarterback Matt Schaub to the Raiders, giving the Texans a more urgent need for a quarterback.

    The 2014 NFL mock draft has the Texans with the No.1 pick of course after their awful season in 2013, followed by the Rams, Jaguars, Browns, and Raiders. The Rams received their No.2 pick in a trade with the Redskins, who recently acquired free agent DeSean Jackson.

    The Rams are currently predicted to take Jake Matthews, an offensive tackle who has spent his college years blocking for Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, while the next two picks are slated to go to quarterback Blake Bortles from Central Florida, and Greg Robinson, an offensive tackle from Auburn.

    A couple of other star-caliber players such as quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and wide receiver Mike Evans, who were both originally predicted in the top ten, are now set to go with the 8th and 12th picks, being drafted by the Vikings and Giants, respectively.

    The 2014 NFL mock draft will continually be updated leading up to the big draft day, which will begin with round 1 on May 8th. Will Johnny Manziel end up going to the Texans with the No.1 pick, or would someone else fit better with Houston’s roster?

    Image via Youtube

  • Johnny Manziel Lives Up To Hype In Pro Day Workout

    College football player Johnny Manziel recently had his official workout for the annual drafts of the NFL teams, and it drew attention from former president George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara, and Texas governor Rick Perry.

    During the workout held Thursday, the Texas A&M University quarterback threw for 75 officials representing 30 teams.

    Manziel, known to students and fans as “Johnny Football,” entered the facility with his receivers and a Drake soundtrack that blared over the building. In true flashy Manziel form, the quarterback arrived in full gear, wearing a black jersey with his number 2 on the back, camouflage shorts, shoulder pads, and a helmet.

    Evaluating Johnny Manziel’s performance in Pro Day workout

    The shoulder pads and helmet caused quite a stir, but Manziel said that it was a no-brainer. According to him, players wear the shoulder pads in Sundays games, so “why not come out and do it?” Manziel said that he was “going for perfection” when he threw 65 passes to six receivers. Only two were not caught. Sixteen NFL general managers and head coaches watched the workout. General manager Rick Smith and coach Bill O’Brien liked what they saw, but admitted that the workout was just one step in the long process of drafting.

    New York Jets’ Michael Vick and Miami Heat’s LeBron James also complimented Manziel on his skills.

    George Whitfield, who runs a quarterback training academy, ran the workout and was impressed with Manziel’s competitiveness. Manziel and Whitfield have worked together through Manziel’s career and have spent the last two months training in California.

    Manziel worked under center and did throws of varying distances, both in the pocket and on the run. Whitfield added some challenges to prove that “we didn’t have anything to hide.”

    Whitfield on Manziel

    After the workout, Manziel called all the NFL officials and personally thanked them for coming. That afternoon, he met several teams to discuss future plans.

    Image via YouTube

  • Northwestern University Football Players Granted Right To Form Union

    The unionization efforts of the football players of Northwestern University are starting to pay off. On Wednesday, a National Labor Relations Board official ruled that the players have the right to form a union as they are considered employees of the university. As such, they may vote in a union election and they also have the right to bargain collectively.

    The petition toward the ruling was submitted to the NLRB by the newly-formed College Athletes Players Association, headed by former UCLA football player Ramogi Huma. The petition was submitted in January, and in February a hearing for it spanned three weeks.

    Peter Ohr, the regional director of the NLRB, stated in a 24-page decision that all of the football players granted scholarships by Northwestern University are eligible to form a union. His decision was based on a number of factors, including the amount of time they spend for football-related activities, which could amount to as many as 50 hours in a week.

    In addition, the scholarships also serve as contracts for compensation, or a form of payment in exchange for the work done on the football field, which earns money for the NCAA and its member universities. For Ohr, it is clear that there is a transfer of economic value and employer-employee relationship: the university, as the employer, pays for the players’ room, board, tuition, and other necessities provided by the scholarship.

    The NCAA has been facing criticism for its profiting from basketball and football players, as they earn billions of dollars every year. In a statement, the NCAA expressed its disappointment with Ohr’s ruling. Donald Remy, their chief legal officer, stated that they disagree with the belief that student-athletes are considered employees.

    One of the base arguments was whether the scholar players were students, or employees, or if they were somehow hybrids.

    Ohr’s decision cited examples supporting his conclusion. He says that the football players were different from other students in that they were on campus basically to play. Football players are also recruited for what they can do on the field and not in the classroom. In addition, part of the team’s guidelines include drug testing, which other students are not subjected to. Other students can also refuse a friend request from a professor, but players cannot do the same when a coach adds them on Facebook.

    Ohr’s ruling applies to the football players on scholarship in private Northwestern University, but the precedent may be applied to all of the scholarship football players in Division I private institutions as well.

    Should Student Athletes Get Paid?


    Image via YouTube

  • Fran Tarkenton: Manziel Has Franchise Qualities, But Has Questionable Character

    Former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton sees himself in Johnny Manziel, and has no doubt that the former Texas A&M quarterback can make plays in the league. Whether Manziel has the qualities to become a leader is a different story.

    Manziel is being considered as one of the NFL’s top three quarterback prospects, together with Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater and Central Florida’s Blake Bortles.

    Some say that Manziel’s small frame isn’t ideal for the big league, but Tarkenton, himself slightly smaller than other players during his heyday, thinks size isn’t a problem, as long as one knows how to play the game. And being a prime quarterback is something Manziel can definitely do.

    Tarkenton considers Manziel to be a quarterback savant, but he knows that on-field talent is not enough, especially now that the NFL clubs are evaluating probable new players. “You look at your great players, they have to be leaders in the clubhouse and off the field,” Tarkenton said. They don’t necessarily need to be pious churchgoers, but “They have to have character.”

    Manziel stands to be a high-reward, but also a high-risk draft pick because of his questionable character. Last summer, he had to prematurely leave the Manning Passing Academy because he overslept, making him miss a morning meeting. Manziel has also been known to have a bad-boy image, if the “exploits” he posted on social media were any indication.

    Tarkenton commented that he would have to spend more time with the young player so that he could understand him better. He had already seen what Manziel can do on the field, but character is another matter. Manziel’s off-field behavior could be a problem, Tarkenton said, if Manziel would be drafted in the league. “There’s never been a great quarterback I know of who was a rodent,” Tarkenton added.

    During his prime, Tarkenton played 18 seasons, leading the Minnesota Vikings to three appearances at the Super Bowl. When he retired, he owned every major quarterback record.

    Johnny Manziel’s Character May Be Questionable But His Game Isn’t!

    Image via YouTube

  • “Duck Dynasty” Fam Earns 5-Year Deal With Bowl Game

    “Duck Dynasty” has seen its share of drama in recent months, but the family behind the name is looking to turn that around by putting their name out there in a very different way. Duck Commander, the Robertson family’s line of outdoor gear, will be sponsoring Louisiana’s Independence Bowl in a new 5-year deal.

    “College football is very important to us, both as fans and former players. The Independence Bowl is what college football is all about: It has great tradition and it’s all-American. Add in its Louisiana location and appreciation of the military and it creates a winning partnership for both parties. It’s especially exciting to see our brand help the Independence Bowl create an awesome fan experience,” said Willie Robertson.

    As of now, a date for the game hasn’t been set, but it will officially be titled the Duck Commander Independence Bowl. Chairman Paul Pratt says he’s happy that the Robertson family chose to restore the original name of the game, as it had been changed to the AdvoCare Bowl previously.

    “The Independence Bowl has a long history of bringing valuable and exciting sports entertainment to the Shreveport-Bossier City area. This is a new day and an excellent opportunity for college football in Louisiana,” Pratt said.

    The family was briefly suspended from A&E after patriarch Phil gave an interview to GQ Magazine in which he spoke about the sin of homosexuality. After public backlash, the show seemed to be in jeopardy until die-hard fans insisted that Phil and his family not be punished for their beliefs, and the show went on as scheduled.

    “It seems like, to me, a vagina — as a man — would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical…start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he said in the interview.

    Image via YouTube

  • Johnny Manziel Has Been Compared To Brett Favre, And Even Favre Can See Why

    Johnny Manziel has been continually praised throughout his college career for the way in which he is able to pass and run effectively as a quarterback. As a star for Texas A&M, he impressed fans as one of the best passers in the league, while also leading his team in rushing.

    He is one of the best, if not the best college player in this class, as he prepares to head into the 2014 NFL draft, and has even been compared to Brett Favre. Favre recently took notice of this comparison, and was able to give his take on the situation.

    Through a recent interview with USA Today, Brett Favre revealed that he also felt that the play of Johnny Manziel was reminiscent of his early days. As with Manziel, Favre had a strong arm, and was able to run, utilizing a skill that many quarterbacks have not been able to master.

    Johnny Football was impressive for Favre to watch, and speaking on a particular game that he had seen, the former NFL star said “I almost thought I was watching film of a young Brett Favre. I didn’t think I did a lot of things well (in college at Southern Miss), but he did. And and I liked the attitude of ‘whatever it takes’ — from that standpoint, I liked him.”

    Johnny Manziel will be one of the key players to keep an eye on in the draft, in addition to the upcoming NFL scouting combine, which is taking place this week. However, he doesn’t plan to throw for scouts and personnel executives until March 27th.

    He had great success in college, and has almost gained a celebrity status with his nickname of “Johnny Football,” along with the way that he has attracted such a large amount of fans, especially as a college player. Manziel won the Heisman Trophy last season, and while he made it to the final six this year, it was Jameis Wisnton who ended up winning the award.

    With a 6’0, 210 pound figure, he is also small for a quarterback. He has significant similarities to Russell Wilson in terms of their build, and playing style, and the young player has also credited Wilson, a recent Super Bowl winner, for giving shorter quarterbacks a chance in the NFL.

    After an outstanding career with the Texas A&M Aggies, Johnny Manziel is ready to transition into the NFL. The two most likely destinations for him to end up seem to be with the Houston Texans or the Cleveland Browns. Who should get him? Is he able to become a star in the NFL in the same way that Russell Wilson has?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Marlon Humphrey, Five-Star Recruit, Commits To Alabama

    Well, it is no surprise that an elite high school player would pick Alabama as their school of choice. Marlon Humphrey, a five-star recruit, chose to remain in his home state when he committed to Alabama.

    Humphrey will join a recruiting class for the Alabama Crimson tide that was already looking strong, and just got even better.

    He is ranked No.9 on Rivals’ list of players in the class of 2014, and he is arguably the best defensive back prospect in the country, although he is planning to switch to cornerback when he gets to Alabama.

    Marlon Humphrey is a defensive back from Hoover, Alabama, which is less than a hour from the campus of the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. At 6-foot, 179-pounds, he has the type of build to play the physical style that Nick Saban demands from his defense.

    Although they missed out on the national championship this year due to a loss to Auburn, Alabama had been the national champions the previous two years, and they already had the No.1 recruiting class going into 2014 before their latest commitment of Humphrey.

    His high school coach, Josh Niblett talked about the young player’s process to committing to Alabama when saying “He did a really good job of looking at all the aspects of the programs recruiting him. … In the end, he wanted to see what was the best fit for him and the best for his future. And obviously that choice came down to the University of Alabama.”

    Humphrey also took to Twitter to show his excitement to be playing for Alabama.

    His coach said that he was proud of his former player’s decision, and fans should be able to expect great things from him when he plays for Alabama.

    The defensive star is also the No. 2 player in the state behind running back Bo Scarbrough, who is also committed to Alabama. With the addition of Marlon Humphrey, the Crimson Tide have Tide 18 ESPN 300 commitments in total.

    Marlon Humphrey had 35 tackles and three interceptions in his senior season at Hoover. He marks the 25th commitment for Alabama in the 2014 class.

    Image via Youtube

  • Penn State Coach Likely to be Vandy’s James Franklin

    Now that the college football season is officially over until the fall, it is time to start the roller-coaster that is the coaching rumor mill. The NFL has already seen its fair share of firings and hirings, and now it is time for the NCAA to do the same. While progress in the college coaching sphere has been slower (most likely due to university bureaucratic red-tape), the wheels are starting to turn. The latest coaching rumors come from the home of the Nittany Lions, Penn State.

    Rumors abounded Wednesday and Thursday that James Franklin, current coach at Vanderbilt University, will be the next coach of Penn State, with multiple sources claiming that Franklin had already accepted an offer from the university. The head coaching position at Penn State came open after former head coach Bill O’Brien left the program to become the head coach of the NFL’s Houston Texans. As it currently stands, Larry Johnson, the Nittany Lions defensive line coach, is serving as interim head coach.

    Credence was given to the rumors when the Centre Daily Times reported on Thursday that the Penn State selection committee had scheduled a meeting for Saturday morning to discuss the compensation package for the university’s next head coach. The news of the meeting came on the heels of university administrators and certain members of the selection committee returning from a trip to Destin, Florida, where James Franklin just happens to have a vacation home.

    The Times-Tribune of Scranton reported on Wednesday that following said meeting in Destin, the selection committee offered the position to Franklin. This report is most likely what led to statements that Franklin had already accepted the job.

    Vanderbilt’s athletic director, David Williams, is adamantly reminding players, fans, and media outlets that Franklin has yet to make any decision yet, however: “He just called to let me know that the reports that he had accepted the job were not true. I think it was a call to say, ‘I know what’s being said,’ and as I’ve said, he’ll be our football coach until he tells me he’s not. I’m hoping that will remain.”

    Williams is not simply relying on hope, though. In speaking to Nashville radio station 104.5 FM on Wednesday, Williams announced just how far he would go to retain Franklin as head coach: “I’d shave my head (to keep Franklin), and I’d give him the money I saved going to the barber shop.”

    Vanderbilt players are also Tweeting to their followers about the lack of authority behind the rumors that Franklin has already made up his mind:

    While others are trying to keep the ‘Dores fan-base optimistic even if Vanderbilt loses Franklin as its head coach:

    Even Vanderbilt alums are getting in on the action, with PGA golfer Brandt Snedeker tweeting his plan to get Franklin to stay:

    Considering Vanderbilt is not a typical football power-house, many fans may wonder why Franklin has become such a hot commodity. Over the past 3 years as head coach, Franklin led the Commodores to a 24-15 record, winning 16 of his last 20 games as head coach while leading Vanderbilt to 3 consecutive Bowl Games. Before Franklin, Vanderbilt had won a total of 13 SEC conference games in 10 years and had played in only 4 bowl games in school history.

    Due to having overcome so much adversity at Vanderbilt due to a complete lack of interest or success in football, Franklin may be the perfect candidate for Penn State’s next head coach. Penn State still faces severe sanctions stemming from the Jerry Sandusky scandal, the most notable being the lack of scholarship positions available and the bowl games ban until 2016. As such, the next Penn State football coach will have to view the school as a final destination and not a platform through which to obtain a “better” coaching gig.

    Considering Franklin has very close ties to the state of Pennsylvania (having grown up, played football, and coached in the state) and to former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien (the two coached together at the University of Maryland), he may well be the perfect candidate to fill the shoes worn so well by Joe Paterno. If hired, James Franklin will become the first black coach in the history of Penn State football, cementing the university’s transition away from its storied, yet marred, past and into the future.

    Image via YouTube

  • Tre Mason, Auburn’s Speedy Running Back, Enters NFL Draft

    The 2014 NFL draft is getting even better. Fans of college football got a chance to see Tre Mason do what he does best as the running back for the Auburn Tigers, and he will soon be running for a new team.

    There is no telling who will go as the No.1 pick in the draft yet, but as of now teams have another option of Tre Mason. In addition, while college football fans all knew this was coming for a while, Johnny Manizel officially declared for the draft today too.

    Tre Mason recorded outstanding numbers to end the season, including the SEC championship game in which he ran for 304 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown in their game against Alabama, in a huge game for Auburn.

    Mason was impressive throughout the season, and he broke Bo Jackson’s school record of 1,786 yards that was set during Jackson’s 1985 Heisman season, while the Tigers also finished the season as the first SEC team to lead the nation in rushing.

    He mentioned that breaking Jackson’s record was a goal of his coming into the season, and said “Breaking Bo Jackson’s record was a goal of mine from the time the season started, and I believe God blessed me with the opportunity to do that.”

    Through his surge at the end, and the impressive season that the Auburn Tigers had, Tre Mason earned himself a trip to the Heisman ceremony, and was among the top six finalists for the award.

    As if those numbers were not enough, in the biggest game of the year for any team, he put up some of his biggest numbers when he rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Tigers lost that game 34-31 due to a last-minute drive by Jameis Winston, who is also having his rape case brought back into the headlines yet again after his college football season has ended.

    Gus Malzahn, the coach of the Auburn Tigers, spoke highly of his player when saying “The [NFL] is getting one of the tougher individuals in all of college football. He can run between the tackles. He has great courage. He played his best games in the biggest games, and he’s a good receiver out of the backfield, also.”

    Tre Mason is only a junior, but has decided to declare for the draft early. He finished the season better than anyone else in college football, and will look to bring his momentum and confidence to the NFL in the fall of 2014. Which team should get him?

    Image via Youtube

  • Lane Kiffin to Interview for Alabama OC Position

    And the coaching carousel continues. While much clamor has been made concerning the massive amount of firings and hirings occurring in the NFL, coaching changes have been relatively quiet on the college side of the equation. Cue Lane Kiffin.

    Wednesday, reports surfaced that Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Doug Nussmeier, was planning to take the same position at the University of Michigan. Thursday, those speculations were confirmed.

    Upon learning of the opening present at one of college football’s premier schools, sports pundits, analysts, and fans across the nation began conjecturing about who would replace Nussmeier as Alabama’s new offensive coordinator. In all of the names one could have listed for said position, Lane Kiffin would most likely have been one of the last choices.

    Despite the slim likelihood of the situation, CBS Sports reported that Lane Kiffin is scheduled to interview for the open offensive coordinator position at Alabama as early as today.

    Kiffin’s name popping up for this position comes as such a surprise due to his lack of success as a coach at both the collegiate and professional levels. Kiffin’s most recent coaching position was at the historic University of Southern California, where Kiffin was fired in the middle of his 4th season after his team was defeated by Arizona State by a score of 62-41. During his 3.5 year stint at USC, Kiffin led the Trojans to a subpar record of 28-15.

    Before he was coach at USC, Kiffin coached at the University of Tennessee for one season, going 7-6. And before coaching at Tennessee, Kiffin was fired from his position as head coach of the Oakland Raiders after leading the pro team to an abysmal record of 5-15.

    But perhaps the news should not have been much of a surprise, once one looks at the facts. Before taking the position at the Oakland Raiders, Kiffin was the offensive coordinator at USC under current NFL coach Pete Carroll. In his first year as offensive coordinator at USC, Kiffin helped the Trojans break multiple PAC-10 offensive records, such as total offense, first downs, points scored, touchdowns and PATs. That team also put up 50 or more points a school record 7 times. (Albeit, Kiffin was aided by the offensive talents of Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and Steve Smith.)

    Adding even more credence to Alabama interviewing Kiffin is the fact that Kiffin met with Alabama head coach Nick Saban preceding Alabama’s match-up against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl in order to discuss Alabama’s offensive strategy for the game.

    Following shock and surprise from fans and media once they learned of this meeting, Saban spoke the praises of heeding the advice of Lane Kiffin, stating:

    “There’s only a few people out there that you have an opportunity to do it with. Lane is a really good offensive coach and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. Just to come in and brainstorm a little bit, get some professional ideas with our guys, is a real positive thing, so I don’t know why there’s any reaction to it to be honest with you. I’m really quite surprised.”

    While news that Saban personally likes Kiffin’s professional style offense seemingly cements the fact that Kiffin will be Alabama’s newest offensive coordinator, other options are being explored as well, including former Alabama quarterback Freddie Kitchens.

    There will be critics regardless of who Alabama hires, so logic says hire whoever the best candidate is and let the naysayers naysay. When all is said and done, Kiffin may be the best option available, despite his poor record as head coach and antagonistic personality.

    Image via YouTube

  • Final AP Poll: Florida State Clear Number One

    All the bowl games are over. Last night, Florida State defeated Auburn 34-31 in an up and down battle in the BCS title game. That means the 2013 College Football Season is officially in the books and the final AP Poll rankings were released this morning.

    Here’s a look:

    1. Florida State (60)
    2. Auburn
    3. Michigan State
    4. South Carolina
    5. Missouri
    6. Oklahoma
    7. Alabama
    8. Clemson
    9. Oregon
    10. UCF
    11. Stanford
    12. Ohio State
    13. Baylor
    14. LSU
    15. Louisville
    16. UCLA
    17. Oklahoma State
    18. Texas A&M
    19. USC
    20. Notre Dame
    21. Arizona State
    22. Wisconsin
    23. Duke
    24. Vanderbilt
    25. Washington

    The Twitter world reacted to the always controversial rankings:

    This is the third time that BCS Champ Florida State has earned top dog in the AP Poll. The Seminoles also received all 60 first-place votes. One interesting fact about the AP Poll is that a bowl win doesn’t necessarily improve a squad’s ranking. For example, underdog Clemson University surprised Ohio State in the Orange Bowl by defeating them 40-35. However, that was still only good enough for 8th place. And even though Oklahoma defeated a heavily favored Alabama team, who many thought should have been playing instead of Auburn in the BCS title game last night, they still ranked outside of the top 5.

    Tell us what you think about the final rankings?

    Image via Twitter

  • Dee Dee McCarron Commits Epic Twitter Fail

    Perhaps Dee Dee McCarron (AKA Dee Dee Bonner) was jealous that it wasn’t her son A.J. giving an emotion-filled post game reaction after leading his team to a touchdown winning drive in the waning seconds of the BCS Title Game last night? Her reaction to Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston’s speech was not…well it certainly wasn’t very nice and definitely very insensitive.

    Mrs. McCarron tweeted to her 20,000 followers last night:

    Then she deleted the tweet after the immediate backlash and apologized for her remarks. And of course, she wants to let everyone know that she’s not a racist.

    Unfortunately for McCarron, she is finding out the hard way, that you can’t just delete a tweet. Once it’s out there in the cyber universe, it’s out there forever. It only takes one person to copy and paste. The reaction to her thoughtless remarks was not kind.

    The actual football game against Auburn and Florida State last night was one for the ages. Somehow, someway, the Seminoles came back and topped the Tigers 34-31. And in the middle of all the madness and lead changes, Winston, a 19-year-old freshman kept his cool and led his team to victory. In fact, Winston led the Seminoles to a perfect 14-0 season. He also took home the Heisman Trophy this year, making him the youngest player to ever do so.

    Here’s a look at the quarterback’s post game reaction. He’s certainly fired up and happy, but there doesn’t seem to be a problem with his command of the English language.

    Image via Twitter

  • De’Anthony Thomas Declares for 2014 NFL Draft

    This Sunday, Oregon Duck star running back and all-purpose player De’Anthony Thomas declared for the 2014 NFL Draft, making him the second Duck to forego the rest of his collegiate career.

    “I am officially withdrawing from the University of Oregon to pursue a professional career in the NFL. I want to express my deepest appreciation and thanks to the University and all of my teammates, coaches and fans. I look forward to staying connected to the University and visiting the sidelines as often as possible,” Thomas said in a statement on Sunday.

    Thomas’s decision comes after a subpar 2013 performance in which he was hampered due to an injury suffered following Oregon’s 4th game of the season. Thomas’s right ankle injury sidelined the star junior for almost 4 complete games, resulting in his lowest production yet as an Oregon Duck.

    Before his injury, however, Thomas was one of the most explosive players in collegiate football in quite some years. In his freshman season, Thomas accumulated 2,235 all-purpose yards, ranking second all-time in Oregon school history for total yards in one season.

    Thomas capped off a stellar freshman season by totaling 314 all-purpose yards in the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin, 91 of those yards coming on a single touchdown run, marking the second longest run in Oregon history.

    Thomas’s sophomore season wasn’t as productive as his first, finishing with 1,757 all-purpose yards, but his finish that season was just as spectacular, running the opening kick-off of the Tostitos Bowl back 94 yards to score a touchdown.

    Overall, De’Anthony Thomas finished his Oregon career with 5,345 total yards, ranking third in school history behind LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner. “De’Anthony has been a spectacular talent in college football and has been a part of some of the most memorable plays in the history of the University of Oregon. We wish him success going forward with his career,” stated Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich.

    Despite his stellar freshman and sophomore seasons, Thomas’s draft stock may not be as high as many would think, most likely due to the recent injury which obviously impacted his performance once he returned to the field. Early draft boards show dissent amongst the ranks in terms of deciding when Thomas will be drafted, with CBS Sports projecting the running back being drafted in the 5th or 6th rounds while, ESPN’s Scouts, Inc. have Thomas listed as the 37th overall draftee.

    NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst Rob Rang gave his assessment of the running back’s draft potential, stating, “Despite his gaudy production, Thomas’ lack of bulk makes him a tough evaluation for the NFL. Some are sure to question his role in the pros, as he won’t see the wide-open running lanes in the NFL as he’s found in college football. However, as evidenced by (the 2012 draft), the NFL is evolving into a league in which players who can make defenders miss in the open field are much more highly valued than ever before.”

    If Thomas is able to recoup from his injury and impress at the NFL combine, he could be drafted high by a team that needs an energy player in the likes of Darren Sproles or Danny Woodhead. If not, Thomas could easily slip down the draft-board and become another player who wishes they would have stuck it out during their senior year.

    Image via Twitter

  • Speedy Noil, The Nation’s No. 1 WR Recruit, Signs With Texas A&M

    Speedy Noil has been labeled as the top wide receiver prospect going into the 2014 season of college football. Although Texas A&M may be losing some strong weapons in their offense, they are looking to even that out with a strong addition at the wide receiver position.

    Texas A&M came into the 2013 with high expectations, having the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, and a successful 2012 season that saw them give the Alabama Crimson Tide their only loss.

    Although Johnny Manziel put up an incredible performance and almost beat Alabama this season, they were not able to get the job done, and with some key losses at the end of the season, they were bumped down to the Chick-Fil-A bowl.

    In the game, they fought a fierce battle with Duke, and came away with a win, 52-48.

    Speedy Noil had received interest from several top-notch schools for college football including LSU, Alabama, and Auburn, but Texas A&M was the team that made the offer, and he made the announcement that he would be an Aggie on Thursday.

    Earlier this year, SB Nation stated that Speedy Noil is a consensus four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings, although 247Sports has Noil as a five-star prospect. He’s the No. 55 player nationally in the former rankings, as well as the No. 5 wide receiver and No. 6 player in state of Louisiana.

    Speedy Noil is a wide receiver from Edna Karr high school in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has decided to make the switch to wide receiver upon entering the NCAA, however, he spent his high school career playing quarterback.

    In 2012, Devante “Speedy” Noil totaled 2,235 passing yards and 1,345 rushing yards as a quarterback, as he showed off his dual-threat ability. This may sound familiar to anyone who has followed the Texas A&M program in the past few years, with Johnny Manziel being one of the best players at the position who is able to pass and run.

    He is a smaller player at 5’10.5″, 176-pounds, but makes up for it with his speed and elusiveness. His overall ability and strengths as a player have placed him as the 11th-best overall prospect in 2014, and No.1 wide receiver, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

    Speedy Noil is set to be a strong addition to the Texas A&M offense. Unfortunately for fans of the Aggies, with Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans both being likely candidates to go high in the 2014 NFL draft, they will not be able to see the star players together.

    Image via Youtube

  • Mark Dantonio Will Remain At Michigan State Following Rose Bowl Win

    After an incredible win at the Rose Bowl, Mark Dantonio has decided to stay put. He was hired as the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans in 2006, and he will be receiving a new contract for the 2014 season.

    Following Mack Brown’s departure, there have been rumors going around about who would be the one to replace him as the coach of the Longhorns.

    After Mark Dantonio’s recent success, he was in talks to join the coaching staff of Texas, but says that will not happen.

    However, he refused to leave Michigan State, and has said that he feels that coaching job at Michigan State is a destination, not simply a stop along the way.

    Fans of the Spartans are certainly familiar with the situation, and will remember when a similar thing happened, losing Nick Saban to LSU.

    The new contract will place Dantonio among the top 3 highest-paid coaches in the Big Ten, and will be increasing his paycheck from $1.96 million to $4 million. Urban Meyer of Ohio State is paid the most at $4.6 million.

    He has worked to completely turn around the football program at Michigan State and does not want to abandon his team. He showed an incredible amount of emotion following their win of the 100th Rose Bowl last night, and showed that he has formed quite a strong bond with his players and the university.

    After being asked about a potential change in coaching jobs, and being linked to high-profile programs such as Texas, he simply said “That’s very flattering, but it would be hard to leave these guys. So while it’s very, very flattering, my intentions are to be at Michigan State. That’s all I’ll say about those things. I’ll look forward to seeing my guys back on Monday mornings for classes.”

    While MSU struggled for several seasons before hiring Mark Dantonio, he has lifted the spirits of the players and fans. As a coach, he boasts an impressive record of 63-29 in his seven seasons as head coach at Michigan State.

    Mark Dantiono led Michigan State to their first Rose Bowl bid since 1988, and in a special game for him as a coach, and the program, they defeated Stanford 24-20. The Spartans were able to stop Stanford on a 4th-and-1 to end the game, which is significant of how strong their defense has been throughout the season.

    After the game, Mark Dantonio said that Michigan State found “some type of way” to win the game. The phrase comes from a song by rapper Rich Homie Quan, and the team was seen celebrating to the song in the locker room following the game.

    Image via Youtube

  • Fiesta Bowl Preview: No.15 UCF vs. No.6 Baylor

    When the BCS Bowl Game line-up was first presented, analysts and fans were excited about the plethora of fantastic games slated for January, especially the national championship game pitting Auburn against Florida State. However, one game produced groans of a blow-out, much to the dismay of Florida residents and Knights fans.

    This year’s Tostitos Fiesta Bowl pairs the University of Central Florida Knights against the Baylor University Bears. The Knights come into the game ranked No. 15 in the nation (with one loss to South Carolina), while the Baylor Bears are ranked No. 6 in the nation (with one loss to Oklahoma State).

    Despite their equal records, the groans of despair stemmed from the fact that many believe UCF to be an unproven program which played in a weak conference, the newly minted American Athletic Conference.

    While this is UCF’s first ever BCS bowl game, the same is also true for Baylor. The Bears have the upper-hand in the media, however, due to playing in the historic Big XII conference and playing in the national spotlight for most of the year.

    Instead of relying on preconceived notions and Vegas (who has Baylor as a 16.5 point favorite) to form one’s opinion on who will win tonight’s match-up, let’s look to the numbers instead.

    Offense:

    This game promises to be a contest between offensive juggernauts, pitting two of the nation’s leading offensive squads against one another.

    Baylor comes into tonight’s contest having accrued more yards in one season than all but 1 other football team in FBS history, putting up a staggeringly impressive 624.5 yards per game (second only to the 1989 Houston team which average 624.9 yards per game). The Bears’ offense is led by quarterback Bryce Petty, perhaps one of the most offensively prolific quarterbacks in recent FBS history. This season. Petty led the nation in yards per pass, averaging 17.4 yards per pass. Petty also ranked second nationally in passing efficiency at 179.2 and finished 8th in passing yards per game at 320.3.

    What UCF’s defense really has to prepare for with Petty, however, is the big play. This year, Petty led the nation in passing plays of 25 yards or more with 46, along with completing 13 touchdowns longer than 25 yards.

    While Petty brings a big arm and much confidence in tonight’s game, UCF’s quarterback, Blake Bortles, is a star in his own right. In his last 7 games, Bortles has completed 70% of his passes, with 13 of those passes going for touchdowns while allowing only 4 interceptions. For the season, Bortles ranked 9th nationally in passing efficiency at 163.3. While Bortles’s arm may not be as explosive as Petty’s, his intelligence and game-making ability ensure that he will keep the Knights in the game.

    The quarterback match-up is honestly the duel to watch this game, seeing as both UCF’s and Baylor’s star running backs have accumulated a touch over 1,000 yards for the season with 11 touchdowns each, evening the match-up in the backfield.

    Defense:

    With such explosive offenses on the field, the key to the game may be which defense can hold the opposing offense in check. While neither Baylor nor UCF will impress audiences with their defensive might, neither team is awful on the defensive-end of the ball. UCF comes into tonight’s game allowing only 346.3 yards per game and allowing just 19.6 points per game, ranking 12th nationally in scoring defense.

    Baylor, on the other hand, ranked 20th nationally in points allowed per game at 21.2 ppg, slightly more than UCF. Despite being known almost exclusively for its offense, Baylor did rank 6th in the nation in yards allowed per play at 4.53 and 7th in tackles for loss per game at 7.9. If the Baylor Bears want to win tonight, they will have to find a way to get to QB Blake Bortles, who has faced sack issues in the latter half of the season, getting sacked 14 times in his last 5 games.

    Prediction:

    Due to the fact that this is both Baylor’s and UCF’s first BCS bowl game, one cannot give UCF the underdog edge. Both teams have something to prove on the national stage and will use this opportunity to its fullest. However, one has to believe that UCF’s strength of schedule from playing in the AAC (76th nationally, as opposed to Baylor’s 6th ranked SOS) will do them no favors when playing against a Baylor team which has seemed unstoppable on the offensive side of the ball this year. Edge goes to the Bears.

    Image via FiestaBowl.org

  • Texas A&M Football: Johnny Manziel Prevails In His Last Game As An Aggie

    The Texas A&M football team may have looked as if they were going to lose early in the game last night, but perhaps that was just a tease for all of the fans.

    Last night’s game was a game of two halves, and while Texas A&M was not able to put up the offense that was expected in the first half, they completely turned the game around in the second half, dominating on the offensive end, and shutting down Duke defensively.

    Johnny Manziel has been in the spotlight throughout the past two years, earning himself a trip to the Heisman ceremony both years.

    Despite his successful season, he did not win this year, but he was among the top six finalists.

    The Heisman candidate of the Texas A&M Aggies certainly showed up in the second half, and gave the team a total of 52 points by the end. They edged Duke in the end with a score of 52-48 in a close, and high scoring game.

    In what is likely to be Johnny Manziel’s last game of college football, he showed up with an impressive performance and threw four touchdown passes, completed 30 of 38 passes for 382 yards and ran for 73 yards and a touchdown.

    As he knew that he may never play another college game, and with an incredible career at Texas A&M, this was clearly an important game for him. Speaking about the game, Johnny Manziel said “I was in a zone I haven’t been in before. Ever. I just wanted this game.”

    While they were forced to come back in the game, it is certainly not the first time that Johnny Football has done it. The Aggies were down 38-17, but with the help of Johnny Manziel, the teams combined to make the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl the highest-scoring game that the bowl has ever had

    Texas A&M advanced to 9-4 on the season with their bowl win, and prevented Duke from winning a bowl again. Duke has not won a bowl game since beating Arkansas 7-6 in the 1961 Cotton Bowl.

    While some people may judge Johnny Manziel’s character and say that he is too cocky as a player, he had positive things to say about Duke over twitter after the game.

    The Texas A&M defense did not stop Duke much, but that didn’t seem to matter once Johnny Manziel started showing what the team was capable of offensively. They have had one of the worst defenses throughout the season, and Texas A&M ranked last in the Southeastern Conference and 105th in the nation in total defense. They were also 88th in the nation in scoring defense.

    Johnny Manziel impressed the fans and everyone else again last night as Texas A&M piled on the points in an impressive comeback win.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Johnny Manziel Humbly Passes Heisman Trophy Torch To Jameis Winston, Gives Advice To Young Star

    Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy last year, and while he made it as one of the top 6 finalists, Jameis Winston won this year’s award in one of the biggest landslides in the history of the award.

    Winston had a commanding lead, and as the quarterback of the No.1 team in the nation, he was predicted by everyone to win the award.

    While he has been criticized for some of his off-the-field antics throughout his career, while at the same time being viewed as a celebrity in some ways.

    In this year’s presentation of the Heisman Trophy, Johnny Manziel had to sit and watch as Jameis Winston accepted the much-deserved award.

    It has been a couple of historic years in Heisman history, as Manziel became the first freshman to win the award, and now Winston has become the second. Jameis Winston is the quarterback of the top-ranked Florida State Seminoles

    As someone who knows what it is like to win the award, and how it can have an effect on a player, Johnny Football had some words of advice for the young quarterback, and other young stars as they begin to enter the spotlight.

    Speaking toward the future generation of college football stars, he said “Live it up. Enjoy it. Continue to be yourself, and don’t let anybody change you. You’re going to have to adapt to how life is going to be after this.”

    In addition to Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston, Andre Williams, Jordan Lynch, Tre Mason, and AJ McCarron were all among the top 6 players competing for the award.

    The man who has become known as simply “Johnny Football” by fans all over the country did not have the success with the Texas A&M Aggies that he would have liked, and as a result they are stuck playing against Duke in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on December 31. A list of the full college bowl schedule can be seen here.

    Like Johnny Manziel and a few others that have come before him, Jameis Winston also faced some troubles that were not football related when he was accused of raping another student in an incident that occurred in December of 2012. The investigation was brought to the attention of the media recently, although he was not charged with the crime.

    As a third-year junior, Johnny Manziel can declare for the draft after this season, and it would be a huge surprise if he doesn’t. He will be one of the most scrutinized players going into the draft, and whether his wild style of play is able to translate into the professional league will also be put into question.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngCOQb_5COw

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Mack Brown Steps Down As Texas Longhorns Coach

    We all knew this was coming sooner or later before the beginning of next season. Mack Brown’s Texas Longhorns have had trouble winning all season, and have struggled as of recently in the Big 12 conference.

    After 16 years as the Texas coach, Mack Brown officially stepped down and resigned as the head coach on Saturday.

    Texas had a disappointing season, and with a record of 8-4, they will be heading to the Alamo Bowl to play against Oregon on December 30th. For a full list of the bowl games, check out the full schedule here.

    Despite the past couple of disappointing seasons, Brown has had a very successful career during his tenure as the Texas football coach.

    Over the 16 years as coach, he had an impressive record of 158-47, and from 2000-09, Texas averaged a national-best 11 victories per year, had seven top-10 finishes, played in four Bowl Championship Series games and won its first national championship since 1970.

    Realizing that his departure could be what is best for the program, Mack Brown has decided to resign, but hopes that Texas can regain the power that they used to have has a leading football program. He wishes nothing but the best for the team after leaving when saying “I sincerely want (UT) to get back to the top and that’s why I am stepping down after the bowl game. I hope with some new energy, we can get this thing rolling again.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Rf1HbyReg

    He will join the team in the Alamo Bowl for one last game, but will not be returning next year. As a 62-year-old coach, and veteran at Texas, Mack Brown earns about $5.4 million per year, and was contracted until 2020. He led the Longhorns to one National Championship, and almost made it to another before the team started to decline.

    In 2013, the team suffered two early losses to BYU and Ole Miss, causing a downhill spiral from there, and a Big 12 record of 7-2. Due to the recent failures of the team, there have been rumors buzzing around the league on whether Mack Brown would be replaced by Alabama’s Nick Saban. However, Saban seems to be staying put for now, and was unable to be lured away by Texas.

    Despite the recent downfall of Texas’ footbal program, Mack Brown had a very successful tenure and will be held in high regard by fans of Texas football.

    Image via Youtube

  • Johnny Manziel Is Among Finalists For Heisman Trophy

    Once again, Johnny Manziel has secured himself a trip to New York, and is listed among the top finalists for the Heisman Trophy. He is an outstanding player that he is quick on his feet, and has a strong arm, a very threatening quarterback for any defense to face.

    One of the best quarterbacks in the league, and in the SEC, Manziel elevates himself on another level during some games, reminding fans of quarterbacks such as Cam Newton or Russell Wilson.

    He is certainly not the favorite to win the award this year, but there is always the chance of him pulling a major upset. The man who has become known as simply “Johnny Football,” joins Jameis Winston, AJ McCarron, Tre Mason, Andre Williams and Jordan Lynch as the six Heisman finalists. It is only the second time in history that the committee has been unable to eliminate the number of finalists down to five, showing how competitive the league has been this year.

    Yesterday was a big day for the post-season of college football, as the schedule of the college bowls was announced as well, telling everyone where their favorite teams would be heading including Johnny Manziel’s Texas A&M Aggies. Texas A&M will be plaiyng against Duke in the Chick-fil-A bowl on December 31st at 8 p.m.

    Jameis Winston is certainly the favorite to win the award, however Johnny Manziel has had a wildly succcesful season as well. He won the Heisman Trophy last season, and has actually been putting up more impressive numbers this season surprisingly.

    Over the 2013 season, Manziel has thrown for 3,732 yards, 33 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while completing 69 percent of his passes. He also ran for 7 touchdowns throughout the season, and provided impressive rushing yards in each game.

    Johnny Manziel may not have beaten Alabama this year as he was able to last year, but he came very close in an incredibly exciting game that went down to the final minutes, and went in favor of the Tide, 49-42. Weeks later, he led a blowout of Vanderbilt, but in the last few games of the season they struggled to win, and hurt the team’s chances of going to a better bowl.

    Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy last year, and while it is not won by the same player two years in a row often, it has been done before. It is not likely that he will win, but he has certainly made the case for himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and put up even more impressive statistics than when he won the award in 2012.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons