Football Wrap On the 1's: Congrats Auburn, Seattle and Fans

This says it all. Cam Newton overcome by emotion after he, Michael Dyer, Nick Fairley, Wes Byrum, Gene Chizik won the 2011 National Championship. Overcome by a long season that showed his maturity/poise at 21 that many folks lack at that age. Perhaps a bit of disbelief that it's finally done - the journey back to the mountaintop that had more twists and turns than even he expected.

I picked Oregon to win because of their offense and defense. Give the Ducky Boys credit for hanging in there when Auburn missed their chances. Darron Thomas balled his arm off. But Auburn did what they've done all year, stand tough and find a way to win games just a lil harder.

Nick Fairley showed why he'll be playing on Sundays. Michael Dyer showed why we'll watch him next year like we did Trent Richardson at Alabama this year. Bo Jackson smiled like he was back at Auburn wowing everyone as a 2-sport star. You can't help but be happy for them unless you're an Alabama fam.

I'm happy for Cam Newton and I wish his father Cecil could've been on the field with him. Next stop, the NFL.

College Tidbits

- OSU head coach Jim Tressel was a punk for asking Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron to promise him he wouldn't leave to escape their suspension. Apparently we know why. Pre-Pryor, OSU gets labeled BCS chokes for never winning a bowl game outside of the Fiesta. Pryor arrives: They win BCS bowls over the Pac-10 and SEC. I wish Pryor and Co. would just leave because the farce behind what they did was terrible.

- TCU has every reason to be mad. Just like Auburn in 2004-05.

- Andrew Luck's the man. But if he were smart, he's change his mind and jump to the NFL. New head coach, offensive line and the chance to get hurt. I value the degree but this is business.

- Oregon should be preseason No. 1 next year. Go head and try to pick 2-5. South Carolina? Spurrier magic is gonna be insane to watch build.

NFL Playoffs 1st week

Seattle??? Really??? That city just witnessed the best moment it's had since Kevin Durant got drafted there. The best playoff moment since Edgar Martinez hit that double that sent Ken Griffey Jr. home and smiling under a dog pile. The Saints may have had trouble running the ball but Seattle won that game. And Marshawn Lynch...that run said so much about one team's desire and the other's team desire to quit and go home.



Check out Lynch's teammates rallying behind him and running to throw blocks down field. And the irony of Super Bowl hero Tracy Porter getting trucked 5 yards. That pretty much said, "We belong and we're not going down quietly." (literally, because Seattle had a mini-quake when this happened)

NFL Tidbits

- Michael Vick to Riley Cooper to end the season? Tebow's running buddy made a great catch before the INT but really? I question that playcall letting a rookie play a big role in such a big drive. But Philly's D and O-line deserve more blame as do David Akers leaving 6 points wide.

That said, Vick's season will be remembered as a positive for so many more reasons.

- Peyton Manning: Greatest regular season QB ever with a ring. Mark Sanchez 1-upped him with help from the old man LaDainian Tomlinson.

- Chicago/Seattle, Atlanta/Green Bay look pretty attractive considering the Seahawks beat the Bears and Falcons did the Packers already this season but Patriots/Jets and Ravens/Steelers? WHOA! It's like deciding to date the potentially hot quiet girl vs. the proven hot girl who dazzles you right away.

- Since my picks last week sucked, I'm gonna try it again. Chicago, Green Bay, Patriots and Baltimore. Imagine the hype of that classic rivalry if CHI and GB determine the NFC champion and Lovie Smith not only saves his job but potentially can go to 2 Super Bowls in 4 years.

Football Wrap Week 12 - Boise State Blues, Cam's Revenge, TCU Love

Nothing like a lil shake up to see things more clearly. Except Kyle Brotzman might still be the loneliest man in America outside of Buffalo Bills WR Stevie Johnson and Boise State feels like the rebel who got dethroned.

Black Friday provided one of the best days in college football in recent memory. Probably the best since 1998 when UCLA and Kansas State lost in the final minute to shake up the first BCS poll and put Florida State in the title game with Tennessee.

Auburn was down 24-0. I left home thinking Auburn would wake up at some point. Came back to them 24-14. Then Cam Newton took over and showed that leadership that'll earn him that Heisman in a few weeks. Biggest comeback vs. Bama ever. 28-27 and Killa Cam all but sewed up that trophy.

(Sidenote: I'd love to be a NFL GM and have to decide between Andrew Luck or Cam Newton. Love both of their styles, their pocket presence and mobility. Luck will probably get more "Golden Boy" love but Cam got a combo of Vince Young's gifts with Donovan McNabb's head)

Oregon was down to Arizona late and then the Ducky Boys exploded as usual. Like I've said, both Auburn and Oregon have defenses that can flip on a switch better than anybody else and go into shutdown mode to give their offense a chance to move.

Then there's Boise State. Y'all remember that Fiesta Bowl where Boise won on miracle plays? Their game vs. Nevada was karma coming back. After one of the best passes of the season from Kellen Moore to Titus Young to set up a chip shot game winner, Kyle Brotzman shanked it. Brotzman proceeded to out-do himself by missing another gimmie a few minutes later in OT.

Nevada wins. Boise sees their BCS dream go bye bye. Somebody go comfort Kellen Moore and the Broncos.

Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State all won so the Badgers are headed to a BCS bowl. Throw in Stanford's and TCU's dual demolition and we got a clear-cut BCS ranking.

What does that mean for this weekend? TCU has to root for Oregon State and South Carolina to upset the Ducky Boys and Cam's Crew to have any chance of the national title. Stanford QB Andrew Luck needs to root for South Carolina to make Cam look average in defeat so he can earn some Heisman love.

Guess all the Boise St. haters got their wish as Ohio State president Gordon Gee looks vindicated for being an elitist. Good ole America squeezing out the little guy - capitalists everywhere rejoice while us workers continue to scream for a playoff.

It's unfair that Boise State loses to a Top 20 team on the road in OT and tumbles out of the BCS top 10. People couldn't wait to say Boise was finally overrated yet they won't penalize another team that harshly who does the same thing.

I hope TCU wins just to make them crash the party and play a worthy opponent. I'll be watching this weekend to see how this all shakes down. It always come out clear even if it's not perfect but I'll never use this as an excuse to justify a flawed system.

Football Wrap Week 9 (Adios Wade!)

No matter what anybody tells you, pro sports is a coach's league. Players dominate it and make things go but teams usually thrive based on how their coach runs the ship. Case in point - this is what I noticed this week.

My Dallas Cowboys are 1-7 and looked like dog crap since Tony Romo went down and I wrote my eulogy. That's Wade Phillips' fault as players have stopped playing for him and just quit. Finally Jerry Jones put this dog out of its misery and clipped him. Next up - Jason Garrett, the failed Boy Wonder to Wade's Batman. Super Bowl faves to disappointment.

Minnesota's the worst organization in the NFL and why? Brad Childress over-reacting to Randy Moss, jawing with Percy Harvin, coddling Brett Favre. Tell me why he deserves to keep his job? The owner wants to fire him and had they not won Sunday, he'd be gone like Wade.

Buffalo's still winless but playing hard. Give their coach some credit for inspiring the troops because they're still fighting hard despite their record.

Washington's troubles are coming from Mike Shanahan overmanaging that team. He and his son did everything but call Donovan McNabb a waste of talent - out of shape, lazy, can't run a 2-minute drill. Hmmmm where I have heard his before? How about every old stereotype of a Black QB not able to cut it.

I mean what's worse than subbing him for the luckiest QB to reach the Super Bowl since Trent Dilfer. Rex Grossman? It's disrespect of the highest for a team that's still a Top 15 squad and a QB who got you there.

Coaching kills. Coaching wins. The winning teams this year? Jets, Ravens, Giants, Steelers, Packers - all excellent coaches along with great players and playcalling. That's why they're winning and why my teams are struggling.

Speaking of which, the Chargers finally won on the road this year. Two game winning streak means one thing - Houston may finally make the playoffs but Virgo's Teams are 2-0 against the Texans. Go head and chew on that.

Quick football hits.

- I don't care what Cam Newton allegedly did. I care about what he has actually done, which is nothing that he's been accused of. Auburn's checked him out and that's good enough for me. Guilty until proven innocent huh? Not in my book

Cam hasn't done anything wrong at Auburn. This is just smoke with no fire. I'm glad he went out and played well last week. They can't take that Heisman/redemption story away from you. I hope that these stories of youthful discretion are just another reminder of how you've grown since then.

- Illinois coach Ron Zook had a 4th and 1 with 6 minutes left. Up 7 on the road, he elected to punt to Michigan despite picking apart that terrible defense. Tate Forcier led the game-tying drive and set up the stage for that triple OT thriller they won. But Ron Zook made it all happen. Man Up! You on the road, you go for the kill! Die trying not settling.

- UCLA beating Oregon State may have sucked for Boise State and TCU (more on them later), but it's a great win that we needed. This team has no quit in it and the young players are showing why the future's in good hands. Jordan Zumwalt's (above) showing why he was the steal of the HS recruiting season last year.

- When's the last time a blocked PAT was the play of the game? USC-ASU made it all happen. The Trojans snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

- Anybody catch the Lions' new placekicker? That Ndamukong Suh guy has plenty of potential. First time I saw a brotha kick something since the World Cup.

- Peyton Hillis???? Peyton Hillis???? I haven't seen a white tailback have a pro day like that. 184 yards and 2 TD's on the Patriots??? Rub my eyes and let that settle. For the Record, the best rushing days for a White RB: John David Crow (203 yards - 1960), Norm Bulaich (198 yards - 1961)

- Terrell Owens is quietly having a resurgent year with the Bengals. For all that ruckus about him doing damage to the team, his stats (55 catches, 770 yards, 7 TD's) say that he's making it work.

- If Boise State can't crash the BCS title game, here's hoping TCU does after they destroyed Utah. I don't see Oregon or Auburn losing (although I'd bet more on Auburn losing to Alabama) but I want to see the best teams play in the final, not just the best teams from a power conference. The game is better when mid-majors play the big boys.

Bad Fantasy Week for me going 1-3. And my only win was by a score of 50-41. Ah well, next week will be better.