There is always a buzz in the air around this time of year.  Do you know what it is?  If you haven’t guessed, it’s College Football Subdivision National Signing Day.  It just passed yesterday on February 4, 2009, and seems to get bigger every year because of the media exposure and the internet age.  It seems to capture the attention of American sports fans more than ever.  Now there are high school football all-star games played right after the bowl games end in early January.  The two most prestigious and well-known are the Army All-American Bowl and The UnderArmour All-American Bowl.  The hype for these games gets taken up a notch each year,  if that’s even possible?  After these games are played, the recruiting season is in full throttle and keeps building until the climax, National Signing Day.  I’ll admit, I am one of these recruiting junkies that contributes to the  madness by checking Scout and Rivals.com.  The recruiting starts right after National Signing Day ends and continues until signing day, 2010.

Well, I am going to list some of the top blue chip prospects that just made their decisions in the last week or two to sign with a university.  These are athletes that didn’t verbally commit to a school or are de-commitments from a school.  It seems as though the popularity and publicity of these blue chippers trumps the others.  It’s not that they are better than the other student athletes, but it’s because they haven’t made their decision yet and it’s the most recent news.  Right here, right now, the Americans mentality these days, they don’t want to hear the old recruiting news.  If one of these top 100 players, according to opinion, has a good game in one of these all-star games, look out, their stock is going to sky rocket like Tajh Boyd and Bryce Brown did this year.  Enough already, here is my list.  Over the next week or so, I will give my class rankings, breakdown, and analysis.

Pos Name School
RB     Bryce Brown Wichita (KS) East
Finalists: Miami, Oregon, Auburn, USC, Tennessee, Kansas State
Committed: Undecided until March, was verbally committed to Miami until January

LB     Manti Te’o Honolulu (HI) Punahou
Finalists: Notre Dame, UCLA, USC
Committed: Notre Dame

LB     Jelani Jenkins Olney (MD) Good Counsel
Finalists: Boston College, Florida, Illinois, Notre Dame, Penn State, USC
Committed: Florida

RB    Trent Richardson Pensacola (FL) Escambia
Finalists: Alabama, Florida, LSU, Tennessee
Committed: Alabama

WR    Rueben Randle Bastrop (LA)
Finalists: Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma
Committed: LSU

WR     Marlon Brown Memphis (TN) Harding
Finalists: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio State, Tennessee
Committed: Georgia

LB     Vontaze Burfict Corona (CA) Centennial
Finalists: Arizona State, USC
Committed: Arizona State

TE     Orson Charles Tampa (FL) Plant
Finalists: Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee, USC
Committed: Undecided

WR    Pat Patterson Macon (MS) Noxubee
Finalists: Alabama, Mississippi, Southern Miss, Tennessee
Committed: Mississippi

CB     Dre Kirkpatrick Gadsden (AL)
Finalists: Alabama, Florida, Texas
Committed: Alabama

CB    Greg Reid Valdosta (GA) Lowndes
Finalists: Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia
Committed: Florida State

DE    Sam Montgomery Greenwood (SC)
Finalists: LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee
Committed: LSU

OL    Marcus Hall Cleveland (OH) Glenville
Finalists: Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee
Committed: Ohio State

S    Jawanza Starling Tallahassee (FL) Lincoln
Finalists: Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, USC
Committed: USC

LB     Jarvis Jones Columbus (GA) Carver
Finalists: Florida, Georgia, LSU, Texas, USC
Committed: USC

S     Byron Moore Harbor City (CA) Narbonne
Finalists: Colorado, Notre Dame, USC
Committed: USC

RB    David Oku Oklahoma City (OK) Albert
Finalists: Auburn, Syracuse, Tennessee
Committed: Undecided

OL     Xavier Su’a-Filo Provo (UT) Timpview
Finalists: BYU, LSU, UCLA, USC, Utah
Committed: UCLA

WR    Justin Brown Wilmington (DE) Concord
Finalists: Iowa, Penn State, Rutgers
Committed: Penn State

OL    Pete White Washington (DC) St. Johns
Finalists: Maryland, Miami, Tennessee
Committed: Maryland

S     Darren Myles Atlanta (GA) Carver
Finalists: Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Purdue, Tennessee
Committed: Tennessee

WR    Randall Carroll Los Angeles (CA) Cathedral
Finalists: Arizona State, California, Oklahoma, UCLA, USC
Committed: UCLA

LB  Barkevious Mingo West Monroe (LA)
Finalists: Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, LSU
Committed: LSU

CB    Janzen Jackson Lake Charles (LA) Barbe
Finalists: Alabama, LSU, Tennessee
Committed: Tennessee

LB     Tana Patrick Stevenson (AL) N Jackson
Finalists: Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, USC
Committed: Alabama

CB    Denard Robinson Deerfield Beach (FL)
Finalists: Florida, Georgia, Kansas State, Michigan, UCF
Committed: Michigan

WR    Je’Ron Stokes Philadelphia (PA) N’east
Finalists: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee
Committed: Michigan

OL Brandon Moore Montgomery (AL) Carver
Finalists: Alabama, Florida
Committed: Alabama

QB    Raymond Cotton Fort Meade (MD)
Finalists: Kansas State, Mississippi, Southern Miss
Committed: Mississippi

CB    Marsalis Teague Paris (TN) Henry County
Finalists: Alabama, Florida, Tennessee
Committed: Tennessee

DE     James Boyd Los Angeles (CA) Jordan
Finalists: Oregon State, USC, Washington
Committed: USC

WR     Alshon Jeffrey St Matthews (SC) Calhoun
Finalists: South Carolina, Tennessee, USC
Committed: South Carolina

WR    Devon Flournoy Van Nuys (CA) B’ham
Finalists: UCLA, USC
Committed: USC

DT     Kwame Geathers Georgetown (SC) Carvers
Finalists: Central Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Committed: Undecided

WR    Kendall Kelly Gadsden (AL)
Finalists: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, LSU, Tennessee
Committed: Alabama

OL     Morgan Moses Richmond (VA) M’brook
Finalists: Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Committed: Virginia

RB     Eddie Lacy Geismar (LA) Dutchtown
Finalists: Alabama, Tennessee
Committed: Alabama

WR    Adam Hall Tucson (AZ) Palo Verde
Finalists: Arizona, California, Oregon
Committed: Arizona

DT    Terrence Coleman Mobile (AL) Williamson
Finalists: Auburn, Arkansas, Southern Miss
Committed: Auburn

QB     Tajh Boyd Hampton (VA) Phoebus
Finalists: Clemson, Ohio State, Oregon
Committed: Clemson

DE     Lanford Collins Stafford (VA) Brooke Point
Finalists: Virginia Tech, Penn State, Boston College
Committed: Virginia Tech

CB Jayron Hosley Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic
Finalists: Virginia Tech, South Florida, Clemson, Louisville, Michigan
Committed: Virginia Tech

by Wayde in Sports

I have always been in favor of a college football playoff for a number of years, but now I am adamant about a playoff for the Football Bowl Subdivision.  Last season and the current season have influenced my position on this subject.  Teams lose their last regular season game and still play in the BCS Championship game.  Come on, please, you call that fair?  I for one don’t!  This year it looks like there will be a number of one loss teams in the mix, and computers will decide who is more deserving.  The system is flawed and my opinion is based upon that fact.  When the season concludes, a real system needs to be utilized to determine a true champion for college football.  The Football Bowl Subdivision needs to adopt the system that the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision has in place.  Follow the lead of your little brother, the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA, to decide championships.  I propose a 16-team playoff to settle the ongoing debate.

There are four main criticisms lobbed at any proposed playoff system: The season would last too long.  A playoff would diminish the traditional bowl games.  It would be too hard to pick the teams.  Regular-season games wouldn’t count anymore.  All of these accusations are baseless in my opinion.  The season doesn’t seem to be too long for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, and travel concerns would be eliminated for fans and players in my proposed playoff system.  The Bowl games would still be used and generate millions in revenue in my formula.  Of course, the regular season would still count and determine if you make the playoffs.  Lastly, I would still use the BCS to seed the teams from 1 to 16.

Well, here is my system, a 16-team tournament field based upon the BCS to decide the seeding.  I would cut the regular season to 11 games including conference championship games.  Get your brackets ready!  The power conferences ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC champions would get automatic bids and be seeded based upon the final BCS rankings.  The smaller Football Bowl Subdivision conference teams would get automatic bids if they are ranked in final BCS standings.  This would include the following conferences: WAC, MAC, MWC, Sun Belt, and Conference USA.   Just like the wildly popular and profitable NCAA mens basketball tournament, Cinderellas like Utah would be in, others would be on the bubble.  This year it looks like three non-BCS conferences would qualify for the playoff.  Utah, Boise State, and Ball State from the MWC, WAC, and MAC, respectively, would still have their dream season alive.  The rest would get at-large bids based upon their BCS rankings.  This would equal 7 at-large teams for the 2008 season.  Big 12 South teams Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech will in all likelihood tie for the division champion if Texas Tech loses at Oklahoma next week.  The winner will be decided upon some crazy tie breaker.  Under my system the two unlucky teams would not be left out and would receive at-large bids.

My system uses home games for the higher seeds in the first round.  We can keep the BCS Bowls. We’ll just make them the 7 games after the first round to keep the Bowl traditions and revenue.  The Cotton Bowl, Outback Bowl, Capital One Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl could host the second round games on neutral sites.  The Semi-finals would be played at the Orange and Sugar Bowls.  Then you would have a College Football Championship Final at the Rose Bowl to determine the real champion of the Football Bowl Subdivision.  I would rotate the big four: Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Rose Bowl games each year between the second round,  Semi-finals, and the Finals.

I would suggest the first two rounds be played in December, breaking for final exams and staging the semifinals just after Christmas.  The title game would then be played in early January.  The college football playoffs would have a chance to rival the NFL playoffs (Super Bowl included) as the biggest sporting event in the country.  It would capture the attention of the nation!   Imagine, number 7 seed Utah, hosting 10th seeded Georgia in the first round!  There you have it.  It wasn’t that hard to figure out, NCAA bureaucrats!

By Wayde in Sports

Ladies and gentlemen, please join us in recognizing one of the most heralded teams in college football history.  Led by Head Coach Ara Parseghian, the 1966 Irish are widely recoginized as one of the best teams of all-time.  So lets take a look at this blast from the past right here on SportsVids.com.  This team is also famous for the 10-10 tie and classic match against Michigan State.  Also, there was a local flavor on this great team that SportsVids.com would like to recognize.  Larry Conjar, a Steelton, Pennsylvania native, was an integral part of the 1966 Irish team, read on and find out!

The 1966 Irish team proved to be one of the most dominant in the history of college football.  They set records beginning with the first game of the season when end Jim Seymour caught a record 13 passes from quarterback Terry Hanratty for 276 yards and three scores in a win over Purdue.  On the offensive side that year, Hanratty and Seymour joined consensus halfback selection Nick Eddy, along with Tom Regner, Paul Seiler, George Goeddeke and Larry Conjar in winning All-America honors.

Meanwhile a dominant defense led by All-Americans Jim Lynch, Alan Page, Pete Duranko, Kevin Hardy and Tom Schoen allowed only 38 combined points all season. Notre Dame shut out six of its 10 opponents, including wins over 10th-ranked Oklahoma and 10th-rated USC.

In addition to their on the field honors, both Lynch and Regner were named Academic All-Americans.

Notre Dame led the nation in scoring that season, averaging 36.2 points per game - and finished 2nd in scoring defense at just 3.8 points per contest.

1966 Season Highlights click here

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By Wayde in Sports

What’s the excitement in the air about this week?  No, it’s not the Democratic Convention!  It’s that time of year when late summer arrives and the kids go back to school.  Autumn is near, so get your fireplaces ready, ah, the smell of wood burning chimneys.  It’s here, and I can almost smell it in the air. Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2008 College Football Season is upon us!  Every team in the country loves this time of year and loves the excitement before their first game of the season.  Every team is undefeated and has dreams of winning the National Championship.  I am going to give my preseason top ten analysis and picks for the 2008 season.  I will start with the #1 team in the country.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

In my opinion the Bulldogs take home the hardware this year.  They return a bunch of starters on both sides of the ball.  If they can stay clear of off- the- field problems and take care of business in the classroom, they should win it all.  They did take one big hit in camp when starting OT Trinton Sturdivant blew out his left knee and was lost for the season.  Knowshon Moreno may be the best RB in the nation in 2008 and strong armed QB Matthew Stafford is one of the best in the SEC.  They have enough depth to replace Sturdivant.  My prediction is, if they win the SEC with one loss or none, they will be in the Orange Bowl playing for the BCS National Championship in Miami.

Prediction: 13-1, 7-1 SEC

2. Florida Gators

The Gators return all-everything Heisman winner, Tim Tebow.  Florida suffered some preseason injuries, but they have the depth and maybe the most talent in the nation to replace injured people.  I perceive them as the team that is going to be Georgia’s toughest challenge of the season.  I also predict that they will beat Georgia but lose two other games in the SEC, the best conference again this year.  Look for WR Percy Harvin to be an all-american this year.

Prediction: 12-2, 6-2 SEC

3. USC Trojans

The team with, probably, the most talent in the last five or so years will be in the hunt again.  Mark Sanchez takes over as the QB but has had some nagging injuries during preseason camp.  He should fit the bill, if healthy, for the Trojans.  RB Joe McKnight draws comparisons to Reggie Bush and is explosive and talented, if he is as good, look out!  The Trojans go about 5 or 6 deep again at RB.  The defense, maybe Pete Carroll’s best yet, led by LB Rey Maualuga is dominating.  The game with Ohio State is the most anticipated of the season, and if the Trojans prevail, it could springboard them to the national championship.  I am banking on that scenerio.

Prediction: 12-1, 8-0 PAC 10

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes have to prove to the nation they belong.  This starts with beating Southern Cal in LA, and if they don’t, the skepticism begins.  They have to win the big game and haven’t yet.  I am assuming it won’t happen again this year against USC until they prove me wrong.  The Buckeyes probably have the most returning talent in the country led by RB Beanie Wells and QB Todd Boeckman.  The defense is spearheaded by LB James Laurinaitis and lockdown CB Malcolm Jenkins.  I see either Wisconsin or Illinois tripping up the Buckeyes in conference play.

Prediction: 11-2, 7-1 Big Ten

5. Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners have been as bad as Ohio State at the BCS Bowls the last few years.  They just haven’t been playing for the National Championship which has kept the negitive publicity down a notch nationally.  In Norman, though it is well known, Bob Stoops is on the hot seat.  Until the Sooners prove me wrong, I am predicting another failure on the national stage in a BCS Bowl in 2008.  The Sooners are led by SO QB Sam Bradford and the electrifying RB DeMarco Murray who is coming off a knee injury from last year.  Murray is said to be healthy, and a nasty defense returns that should have the Sooners challenging again for the Big 12 Championship.

Prediction: 12-2, 7-1 Big 12

6. Clemson Tigers

My darkhorse pick for the National Championship is Clemson.  I think this is finally Clemson’s year.  The best RB dynamic duo in the nation is back in James Davis and C.J. Spiller. A favorable schedule and less than steller ACC make Clemson a definite contender.  Also, the talent is there defensively.  QB Cullen Harper returns and should be one of the conferences best.

Prediction: 12-1, 7-1 ACC

7. LSU Tigers

The defending National Champions lost a lot, but talent abounds all over the roster.  The Tigers have some young and inexperienced players.  After some seasoning, I think the Tigers, will round into form and play spoiler this year, another solid season for Les Miles and the Tigers.   RB Keiland Williams returns as does speedster WR Trindon Holliday; they look to bolster the offense.  Jarrett Lee looks to take over as the new QB.  WR Demetrius Byrd, hero of last year’s Auburn game returns at WR.

Prediction: 10-3, 6-2 SEC

8. Missouri Tigers

Was last year’s Tigers season just a fluke?  I don’t think so.  Missouri should have another solid season and be a top 10 team, led by Heisman hopeful QB Chase Daniel. The Tigers look to challenge Oklahoma for top conference honors.  WR Jeremy Maclin is Daniel’s top returning target and should be one of the best in the nation.    WR Danario Alexander also figures into the equation this year.   The Tigers should boast a solid defense to keep them in all games.  I have the Tigers losing to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game.

Prediction: 11-3, 7-1 Big 12

9. West Virginia Mountaineers

Heisman hopeful, Pat White is back for what feels like his tenth year. Pat White and RB Noel Devine, and a solid defense, should be enough for West Virginia to repeat as Big East Champions.  This team isn’t quite as talented overall as last years, but new Coach Bill Stewart really inspired the team in the upset Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma.  I predict that will carry over and West Virginia, again, will be in the hunt but lose one game in conference.  They lost WR Marc Renaud to graduation which could hurt until they find another game breaking WR.

Prediction: 11-2, 7-1, Big East

10. Auburn Tigers

I think Auburn is underrated this year.  Actually, I probably underrated them too!  The Tigers upset Florida on the road last year and had LSU on the ropes until the last play of the game.  They finished strong by beating Clemson in the Peach Bowl.  They could be my other surprise pick besides Clemson, although I have USC vs. Georgia in the BSC National Championship.  Enough, let’s talk Auburn.  RB Ben Tate is talented and as tough as they come.  He is complimented by RB’s Mario Fannon and Brad Lester. This should take the pressure off new starting QB Chris Todd by breaking him in slowly.  As always, Auburn’s defense is really good and talented and headed by future NFL defensive linemen Sen’Derrick Marks, Antonio Coleman, and Antoine Carter.  They have a favorable schedule with LSU, TN, AR, and GA at home.

Prediction: 12-2, 7-1 SEC

Orange Bowl BCS Championship: USC vs. Georgia, Bulldogs win 31-27!

By Wayde in Sports

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