Well, another week has come and gone in the College Football world, so let's get the rundown:
Game of the Week: Alabama vs. Arkansas- A hard fought game by both teams that actually should have been won by the Razorbacks. However, the Crimson Tide came back and flexed their muscles and achieved an impressive fourth-quarter comeback.
1. Alabama- Ohio State looks more impressive so far, but you have to look at the strength of schedule. The Buckeyes want to have the easiest road to the National Championship, while Alabama has had challenges early, which they have won.
2. Ohio State- It makes me sick to think about how easy their schedule is. I can't wait to drop them from this spot.
3. Boise State- Again, they proved themselves, this time against Oregon State. Kellen Moore is my front runner for the Heisman this year, and look for him to lead the Broncos through the season undefeated.
4. TCU- They had a scare against rival SMU, but won big in the end. However, the score didn't tell the whole story, as it was a hard fought game. They did impress me by not getting worried at all. Good performance overall.
5. Oregon- This offense is just built for breakout offensive plays. What an explosive team, despite getting challenged by Arizona State. The Sun Devils have a good team, however. Big matchup against Stanford this week.
6. Oklahoma- Another really close game against Cincinnati, but they still looked impressive on offense. We will see whether they can make Texas look foolish again after their stomping by UCLA.
7. Nebraska- A scare by South Dakota State this weekend, but not on the scoreboard necessarily. They were fine on defense, only allowing three points, but on offense, it was a struggle. If an FCS team can stop their running attack, it'll be intersting to see what the Big 12 opponents do.
8. Florida- Finally they have an impressive performance, despite it coming from their backup quarterback. We shall see whether they can knock off the mighty Crimson Tide this weekend.
9. Stanford- They keep impressing me more and more, and I agree with the AP putting them so far up. They are just continuing to have impressive win after impressive win, and they should keep it going against top-5 opponent Oregon this weekend.
10. Auburn- They have some very impressive wins so far, and they deserve to be a top-10 team until they lose. Quarterback Cam Newton is very impressive so far, and what a shock to find three SEC teams in the top-10.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Rankings, Week 3
A week of lackluster games turned into a night of intense watching for me. After playing golf as a substitute for the lack of interesting games on in the morning and afternoon, I was glued to the TV all night watching several nail-biters at once.
Game of the week: You can't beat the gamble that Michigan State took on a fake field goal in overtime to beat Notre Dame. All they needed was that field goal, and they went for all the marbles. Lucky for them, the play worked perfectly. Unlucky for them, their coach had a mild heart attack after the game. I didn't know I was that dead on when I described it as heart-attack football.
Now, here are my all-important rankings after Week 3.
1. Alabama- They routed Duke. No big surprise there. However, Mark Ingram looked great in his first game, just making this team even more powerful.
2. Ohio State- They routed Ohio. Again, no big surprise. They looked solid and even perhaps powerful against the Bobcats, but I was too busy watching the mascots duel it out to take any interest in the score.
3. Boise State- Impressive rout over Wyoming. They made Texas look silly with how embarassing they beat the Cowboys one week after Texas struggled for a while with the same team. Big game vs. Oregon State on Saturday.
4. TCU- This team has no weakness that I have seen. You have to love them to go undefeated. A potential upset alert however against SMU in the Iron Skillet Game.
5. Oregon- They continue to rack up points against no-name opponents, but they do indeed look very powerful and dangerous.
6. Nebraska- I expected Washington to upset the Huskers, or at least make it a game. Nebraska flexed its muscles and blew out the Huskies and limited Heisman-candidate (might as well call him a former one) to 4 completions in the game.
7. Oklahoma- Again, they struggled with an opponent they were supposed to manhandle, but I haven't lost confidence that they can show their power in big games like they did in Week 2.
8. Texas- Their defense was powerful, but their offense is about as exciting as a retirement home during the night. I am not impressed with them, but their win was enough to keep them ahead of Florida.
9. Florida- Aforementioned, Texas is just a little better at the fundamentals still. Florida is getting it together, but they still have leaps and bounds to perfection.
10. Arkansas- A very good game against Georgia. Ryan Mallett is very impressive, and the game against Alabama should be close. That is, unless Alabama is better than they have showed yet (a hard thing to accomplish).
Game of the week: You can't beat the gamble that Michigan State took on a fake field goal in overtime to beat Notre Dame. All they needed was that field goal, and they went for all the marbles. Lucky for them, the play worked perfectly. Unlucky for them, their coach had a mild heart attack after the game. I didn't know I was that dead on when I described it as heart-attack football.
Now, here are my all-important rankings after Week 3.
1. Alabama- They routed Duke. No big surprise there. However, Mark Ingram looked great in his first game, just making this team even more powerful.
2. Ohio State- They routed Ohio. Again, no big surprise. They looked solid and even perhaps powerful against the Bobcats, but I was too busy watching the mascots duel it out to take any interest in the score.
3. Boise State- Impressive rout over Wyoming. They made Texas look silly with how embarassing they beat the Cowboys one week after Texas struggled for a while with the same team. Big game vs. Oregon State on Saturday.
4. TCU- This team has no weakness that I have seen. You have to love them to go undefeated. A potential upset alert however against SMU in the Iron Skillet Game.
5. Oregon- They continue to rack up points against no-name opponents, but they do indeed look very powerful and dangerous.
6. Nebraska- I expected Washington to upset the Huskers, or at least make it a game. Nebraska flexed its muscles and blew out the Huskies and limited Heisman-candidate (might as well call him a former one) to 4 completions in the game.
7. Oklahoma- Again, they struggled with an opponent they were supposed to manhandle, but I haven't lost confidence that they can show their power in big games like they did in Week 2.
8. Texas- Their defense was powerful, but their offense is about as exciting as a retirement home during the night. I am not impressed with them, but their win was enough to keep them ahead of Florida.
9. Florida- Aforementioned, Texas is just a little better at the fundamentals still. Florida is getting it together, but they still have leaps and bounds to perfection.
10. Arkansas- A very good game against Georgia. Ryan Mallett is very impressive, and the game against Alabama should be close. That is, unless Alabama is better than they have showed yet (a hard thing to accomplish).
Monday, September 13, 2010
NCAA Fall Madness
Yes, I'm talking about college football. The amazing season has returned, and all teams are aiming for a shot at a BCS Bowl, preferably the National Championship Game. Since the BCS is not accurate nor published yet, and the AP and USA Today polls are terrible, I must right their wrongs with MY perfectly accurate standings, and of course, my reasons.
Call it the TCS (Tanner Championship Standings):
1. Alabama- How can you go against a national champion that returns their quarterback AND Heisman Trophy running back? As much as I hate the Crimson Tide, I couldn't have been more impressed with their defense in their convincing win over top-20 Penn State. They will be number 1 until they stop winning so convincingly.
2. Ohio State- I am a BCS buster advocate, but Ohio State also impressed me against a Miami team that I thought would beat them. Miami is a VERY good team, and Ohio State had no problem taking care of them. They will be my number 2 until they lose.
3. Boise State AND TCU- Boise State did nothing to drop in the rankings, and I love the Broncos, but I think TCU has deserved to be considered for the BCS buster team as well. They have really looked special this year and deserve more credit than they get. Boise State has only played one game, so I haven't had as much to base my impressions on.
5. Oklahoma- I was a little worried about the Sooners after they had problems with Utah State, but they sure proved themselves in what I thought would be a very tough game against Florida State. I was blown out of the water with the Seminoles after week 1, but OU really proved they can manhandle a good team.
6. Oregon- I was at the Oregon-UT game, and Oregon didn't play as well as the score looks like. Having said that, they have a very explosive offense, and this is why they are here.
7. Iowa- They have gained my respect. They are explosive on offense and dominant on defense. They should challenge Ohio State the most this year. Very impressive so far.
8. Nebraska- This was my preseason pick to win the Big 12, and they have been solid this year. They have played no better or worse than I have expected.
9. Texas- Texas hasn't wowed me this year. They should be beating their opponents a lot more convincingly than they are, and Garrett Gilbert has been less than spectacular this year.
10. Wisconsin- Whereas most people have Florida in the 10 spot, I have Wisconsin. They look good, despite a closer than expected score against San Jose State. However, this pick is more about why Florida doesn't deserve it. They look fundamentally awful for a top-10 football team. I am a Gators fan, and am disgusted at the way the team looks this year. It is disgusting. Otherwise, they are looking great... not.
Log in every Monday to see my wonderful top-10 rankings, and maybe I might get my rankings a little more accurate than the BCS this year (it's not hard to do).
Call it the TCS (Tanner Championship Standings):
1. Alabama- How can you go against a national champion that returns their quarterback AND Heisman Trophy running back? As much as I hate the Crimson Tide, I couldn't have been more impressed with their defense in their convincing win over top-20 Penn State. They will be number 1 until they stop winning so convincingly.
2. Ohio State- I am a BCS buster advocate, but Ohio State also impressed me against a Miami team that I thought would beat them. Miami is a VERY good team, and Ohio State had no problem taking care of them. They will be my number 2 until they lose.
3. Boise State AND TCU- Boise State did nothing to drop in the rankings, and I love the Broncos, but I think TCU has deserved to be considered for the BCS buster team as well. They have really looked special this year and deserve more credit than they get. Boise State has only played one game, so I haven't had as much to base my impressions on.
5. Oklahoma- I was a little worried about the Sooners after they had problems with Utah State, but they sure proved themselves in what I thought would be a very tough game against Florida State. I was blown out of the water with the Seminoles after week 1, but OU really proved they can manhandle a good team.
6. Oregon- I was at the Oregon-UT game, and Oregon didn't play as well as the score looks like. Having said that, they have a very explosive offense, and this is why they are here.
7. Iowa- They have gained my respect. They are explosive on offense and dominant on defense. They should challenge Ohio State the most this year. Very impressive so far.
8. Nebraska- This was my preseason pick to win the Big 12, and they have been solid this year. They have played no better or worse than I have expected.
9. Texas- Texas hasn't wowed me this year. They should be beating their opponents a lot more convincingly than they are, and Garrett Gilbert has been less than spectacular this year.
10. Wisconsin- Whereas most people have Florida in the 10 spot, I have Wisconsin. They look good, despite a closer than expected score against San Jose State. However, this pick is more about why Florida doesn't deserve it. They look fundamentally awful for a top-10 football team. I am a Gators fan, and am disgusted at the way the team looks this year. It is disgusting. Otherwise, they are looking great... not.
Log in every Monday to see my wonderful top-10 rankings, and maybe I might get my rankings a little more accurate than the BCS this year (it's not hard to do).
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Local Spotlight: BHS Golf
In the quietest sport that exists, the Brentwood High School golf team is quietly making ripples across the state. Around the course and around the state, the BHS golf team moves under the radar but leaves the impressions of an earthquake. Undefeated in the 2010 season, the team has grabbed the attention of far too few people. Fueled by new coach John Higgins and their overall positivism, the team continues to cruise through opponents.
An intensified look fills the golfers’ eyes as they maneuver through the course, but their competitiveness alone didn’t bring this on. First year coach John Higgins has taken the team to soaring heights that have easily met expectations so far. Higgins grew up in the Charlotte area, where he played golf on his school teams, as well as competing in amateur tournaments in high school. During his young career, he won eighteen Junior Golf and Amateur tournaments, as well as heading a high school team that won the State Championship. David Lipscomb offered him a scholarship to play golf in college, where Higgins graduated with a major in Communication Studies. He now owns an agency to help struggling athletes, mostly golfers, which have just graduated from college and are looking to make it to the next level.
Young and talented, Higgins was still impressed with the Brentwood High School athletics as well as the team. “What impressed me the most were the class of professionalism that they showed, as well as the talent of the team.”
Higgins brings an unusual coaching method to the team. He requires conditioning of the athletes to prepare them for the blistering heat that they must battle while walking 18 holes of golf. He also includes a lot of competitive games, such as a putting contest or a specific drill, where he will reward the winners with prizes. “I do this to prepare the golfers for the feel of competition,” says Higgins.
His focus, however, lies in the mind. Course management, and the “mental” game are two key elements of the game that will improve a golfer’s score no matter who it is. He also focuses on putting. The old mantra of golf, “Drive for show, putt for dough,” is reverberated by Higgins. “Putting ends up taking 40 percent of the holes in golf.”
Even though Higgins is very impressed with the talent of the team, he is still disappointed in each golfer’s expectation of him or her self. “These guys don’t realize how good they really are,” says Higgins.
An intensified look fills the golfers’ eyes as they maneuver through the course, but their competitiveness alone didn’t bring this on. First year coach John Higgins has taken the team to soaring heights that have easily met expectations so far. Higgins grew up in the Charlotte area, where he played golf on his school teams, as well as competing in amateur tournaments in high school. During his young career, he won eighteen Junior Golf and Amateur tournaments, as well as heading a high school team that won the State Championship. David Lipscomb offered him a scholarship to play golf in college, where Higgins graduated with a major in Communication Studies. He now owns an agency to help struggling athletes, mostly golfers, which have just graduated from college and are looking to make it to the next level.
Young and talented, Higgins was still impressed with the Brentwood High School athletics as well as the team. “What impressed me the most were the class of professionalism that they showed, as well as the talent of the team.”
Higgins brings an unusual coaching method to the team. He requires conditioning of the athletes to prepare them for the blistering heat that they must battle while walking 18 holes of golf. He also includes a lot of competitive games, such as a putting contest or a specific drill, where he will reward the winners with prizes. “I do this to prepare the golfers for the feel of competition,” says Higgins.
His focus, however, lies in the mind. Course management, and the “mental” game are two key elements of the game that will improve a golfer’s score no matter who it is. He also focuses on putting. The old mantra of golf, “Drive for show, putt for dough,” is reverberated by Higgins. “Putting ends up taking 40 percent of the holes in golf.”
Even though Higgins is very impressed with the talent of the team, he is still disappointed in each golfer’s expectation of him or her self. “These guys don’t realize how good they really are,” says Higgins.
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