BallHype - Latest NCAA Football News Articles

No. 6 Boise State at Utah State

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:04:09 +0000

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WSU seniors prepare for final home game

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:38:02 +0000

When the Washington State Cougars emerge from the Martin Stadium tunnel before today's football game against Oregon State, four unique seniors...

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Syracuse stuns No. 6 North Carolina

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:37:31 +0000

Orange use 22-1 run to start second half to crush defending champions 87-71.

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WSU-Oregon State preview

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:17:49 +0000

Washington State (1-9, 0-7 Pac-10); Oregon State (7-3, 5-2) Time: 2 p.m. at Martin Stadium (Pullman) TV: None Radio: 850 KHHO, 1090 KPTK...

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Ken Knutson new interim baseball coach at ASU

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:11:03 +0000

We don't usually delve into non-football matters here but thought this would be of interest to a lot of you on here as news broke today that former Husky baseball coach Ken Knutson is now the new interim head coach at Arizona State.

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The Amazing Story of Northwestern Football's Senior Class

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:09:30 +0000

Tomorrow afternoon, 21 NU seniors will play at Ryan Field for the final time. They've been through hell and have emerged as one of the most successful senior classes in Northwestern football history. For many of the seniors, 2005 was their first year in the program. It was a banner year for Northwestern football, as Brett Basanez helped lead the 'Cats to the Sun Bowl, where they fell just short in a memorable battle with the UCLA Bruins. It seemed like NU had turned the corner and was set up for years of success. Then on June 29, 2006, the unthinkable happened. Head Coach Randy Walker died of a heart attack at the age of 52. All of a sudden, football just didn't matter anymore. It would have been understandable if many had decided to transfer. But they didn't. They stayed, and on July 7, 2006, Pat Fitzgerald was named as the new Head Coach. He immediately became the youngest coach in all of college football. The senior class has grown along with Fitzgerald since that day. 2006 was ...

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Man pleads not guilty for role in UConn stabbing

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:07:27 +0000

A man who allegedly killed University of Connecticut football Jasper Howard, has pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge.

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Bruins want to experience the joy of six

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:45:00 +0000

Rick Neuheisel's team is 5-5 and needs one win in its last two games, including Saturday's against Arizona State, to be bowl eligible. Doing so would eradicate a significant 'barrier,' the coach says. > Rick Neuheisel's team is 5-5 and needs one win in its last two games, including Saturday's against Arizona State, to be bowl eligible. Doing so would eradicate a significant 'barrier,' the coach says.

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Ohio State's Pryor On The Verge of a Breakthrough

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:18:11 +0000

Does the Terelle Pryor saga have a bit of déjà vu? If not, listen again: A highly touted auarterback at a University rich in football tradition is up and down early in his career, much to the frustration of his rabid fan base. As his sophomore season winds down, however, the QB starts to put it together. While he loses the chance to play for a national championship, he rebounds and leads his team to the Rose Bowl. There, in front of a National audience, he leads his team to victory in dazzling fashion. Making his team a national title favorite at the outset of the following season. If this story sounds too good to be true for Buckeye fans, they should be excited to know it has happened before. The story I told is actually about former Longhorn QB Vince Young. Who parlayed a decent sophomore season into an all-time National Championship season as a junior in 2006. It is amazing, as the Buckeyes play for the shot at the Rose Bowl, to see the similiarities in the two QB's. Both have been ...

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The 10 Greatest Gopher Football Players of All Time

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:15:25 +0000

Though the University of Minnesota has suffered through some less than stellar seasons over the years, the program has still put some amazing players on the field. Despite a Rose Bowl drought that is nearing 50 years, the program has still managed to produce a fair amount of NFL-level talent. As the 2009 season winds down, it's a good time to take a look at the 10 greatest players to ever suit up for the Gophers football team. I tried to look at team success as a measure of deciding which players deserved to make the cut, but in some cases, the individual's performance couldn't be ignored, no matter how poor the Gophers' record was during that particular season. Nonetheless, my final list is still a little heavy on players from the earlier eras of college football. The stats aren't very impressive by today's standards, but college football was a different game back then. Due to the program's recent struggles, it's quite easy to forget what a national power the University of Minnesota once was. ...

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MIami Hurricanes Not Ready To Sell Their Souls To The Blue Devils

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:12:56 +0000

There will be no BCS bowl game nor an ACC Championship for the Miami Hurricanes this year. In fact they won't even get a shot at ACC title with Georgia Tech's 49-10 win over Duke last week (and Miami's subsequent loss 33-24 loss to North Carolina.) Meanwhile, sophomore QB Jacory Harris leads the FBS with 16 interceptions. Plus the injury report just got longer with CB Sam Shields and WR Thearon Collier both definitely out for the game against Duke this Saturday. Everything it absolutely going wrong for the Hurricanes. Right? Well not everything. At least we know who has the best hair on the team: Travis Benjamin! Ugh. Look, I don't mean to be a cranky kill joy but when UM's star football players are busying themselves with who has the best hair like a group of cosmopolitan swilling, Sex In The City fashionistas, I get bothered. The losses to Clemson and North Carolina can't of course be blamed entirely on a team that features mostly sophomores and freshmen who weren't born yet ...

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Oregon at Arizona: Will The Ducks Escape The 'Zona Zoo?

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:02:54 +0000

I am a Ducks fan, and I am scared. I am scared because I have seen this episode before, and it was one of my least favorites in the last several seasons of this gut wrenching show that is called “Oregon Football.” Oregon is riding high and controls its own BCS destiny, but they have to play the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson. The hairs on the back of my neck refuse to quit standing on end. I still remember Kellen Clemens broken ankle in 2005. Dennis Dixon came into the game and immediately suffered a concussion. If it weren’t for “the pride of Cottage Grove” (linebacker Brent Haberly) and a fumble return for a touchdown the Ducks may well have lost. As it was they escaped 28-21. Two years later Dixon returned at the head of a team ranked #2 in the nation and a favorite to win the Heisman trophy. But he completed a tear in his ACL that had originally been hurt the previous week. Oregon lost that game and the rest of its regular season matches. Chip Kelly has done a good job downplaying the ...

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Man pleads not guilty for role in UConn case

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:51:06 +0000

A man who allegedly was with the man charged with killing University of Connecticut football Jasper Howard, has pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge.

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USC in the Sugar Bowl? Not such a sweet possibility

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:55:00 +0000

The Times' college football writer gives the answers to readers' questions. > Times college football writer Chris Dufresne gives the answers to readers' questions.

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What We Learned: Hawkins back on the hot seat

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:29:51 +0000

Sporting News' Dave Curtis analyzes what Friday's buzz means to college football. Where the Buffalo roam The buzz about Dan Hawkins getting dismissed (and bought out) at Colorado grew hot not because the Buffs lost by three on the road to a ranked team Thursday night. The bad vibes are back because of how things went down. Colorado's final four offensive possessions ended with a missed 49-yard field goal, a turnover on downs (incomplete pass on fourth-and-2 at the Oklahoma State 28), a fumble near midfield and a punt with 2:45 remaining. The Buffs either led by four or trailed by three points on each occasion yet ended with another loss, sending Hawkins' record at CU to 16-32 (and 2-20 on the road). Missed opportunities such as Thursday's have plagued the Hawkins era, and the sum of them will inspire deep-pocketed boosters to fund his removal and replacement. Hawkins inherited an out-of-order program when he arrived from Boise State—some folks at CU didn't realize how much effort would ...

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LSU-Ole Miss Preview: Don't Tell Them There Is Nothing To Play For

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:57:42 +0000

What some thought might be a game for the SEC West title has most likely turned into a game for the Capitol One Bowl. LSU has two losses, albeit to the two top teams in the country, and is out of BCS bowl contention despite their lofty ranking. Ole Miss came crashing back to Earth in Columbia on a Thursday night in late September. But there is still a lot of pride in this “rivalry” game (probably second biggest for both teams) and it is the CBS game of the week, so it is my SEC game of the week. Last week was a good week going 11-1 straight up and 7-4-1 against the spread, including both games right involving these two teams. Here are the areas where I think this game will swing. Quarterback Play It is really about which QB hurts their team less. I never thought I would say that about Jevan Snead at the beginning of the season, but he had a sub-par year by everyone’s standards not named Mr. and Mrs. Snead. And for LSU, Jordan Jefferson looks like he will start after ...

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Ga. Tech adds a year to Johnson's contract

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:47:28 +0000

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson agreed Friday to a one-year extension of his contract, which now runs through 2016. Johnson initially signed a seven-year contract worth about $11 million when he came from Navy before the 2008 season. The school gave him a new seven-year, $17.7 million deal after he led the Yellow Jackets to a surprising nine wins in his debut. His second year has been even better. No.

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ESPN Gameday To Make First Appearance in Tucson

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:44:47 +0000

Arizona Football has finally arrived. ESPN College Gameday is making its first trip to Tucson for the biggest game of the 2009 Pac-Ten season. The arrival of ESPN's College Game Day is a testament to Arizona's success this season. Gameday has not had too many opportunities to travel to Tucson. The national spotlight shining on Tucson has usually been reserved for the Basketball team. Gameday hasn't had a reason to setup on the mall since 1998. Arizona finished second in the Pac-Ten that season with a 7-1 record. That was the last time Arizona was a serious contender for the Pac-Ten title. UCLA eventually won the conference in '98 with an 8-0 record. UCLA defeated Arizona in Tucson 52-28 on October 3rd that season. Had the game been later in the year, Gameday might have made its inaugural appearance in the Old Pueblo. College Gameday brings a lot of excitement to town. They have done a great job this year of traveling to non-traditional locations. Stops have included Provo, Utah ...

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Georgia Tech adds one year to coach Paul Johnson's contract

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:28:46 +0000

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has agreed to a one-year extension of his contract, which now runs through 2016.

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Pat Fitzgerald: A Better Fit at Northwestern than at a Big Time Program

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:26:49 +0000

The annual rumors concerning potential major NCAA football coaching vacancies have started, and Pat Fitzgerald's name has come up often in connection with Notre Dame. This isn't terribly surprising considering that Fitzgerald is a young coach that has been successful at Northwestern in the Big 10. However, I have a hard time seeing him leave. This isn't just the usual comments about his loyalty, although Fitzgerald is a Northwestern alum that seems to bleed purple. He recently signed a seven year contract extension that could keep him in Evanston for the foreseeable future. There was also his recent quote in a Chicago Tribune article, where he said, "I think I've made my intentions and my feelings about Northwestern crystal clear," when commenting on the situation. He also said that his previous love for the Irish "died a long time ago." I'm sure that won't stop the speculation. However, I just don't feel that Fitzgerald is a good fit at a top tier football program. While I'm a big fan of ...

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Pac-10 Predictions: Week 12

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:23:19 +0000

College GameDay is coming to Tucson, Arizona and I couldn't be more excited. I've been down here all week and it has absolutely been the talk of the town. My UofA friends that are still in college (and even some of the ones that have graduated) are planning on camping out tonight in preparation for the GameDay set. Myself, and a few of my friends, bought tickets to this game over a month ago in preparation for what we thought might be the biggest game in recent Arizona Wildcat history. Looks like we were right. Despite Arizona's tough loss to Cal last weekend, they still control their own destiny when it comes to making the Rose Bowl to play Ohio State. The story lines for this game abound, but for me, I've been struggling trying to decide what I'm more excited for: Potentially witnessing Tucson, Arizona erupt in joyful chaos...or being in the same vicinity of every sports fan's ideal woman—Erin Andrews. I'm going to go with a toss-up. Now onto the picks: Arizona State @ UCLA ...

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Ohio State-Michigan series has slipped in stature

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:10:07 +0000

The Game has lost a lot of luster.

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Yardbarker: Carroll won't forget Harbaugh's act

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:08:52 +0000

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Ga. Tech, Johnson agree to one-year extension

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:07:57 +0000

ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson agreed Friday to a one-year extension of his contract, which now runs through 2016.

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Ga. Tech adds 1 year to Johnson's pact (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:54:56 +0000

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Trent's Touchdown - Six Games to Watch in Week 12

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:28:00 +0000

With births to conference championship games and outright claims to the top spots in other conferences on the line, Week 12 looks like a winner. So, let’s skip the preamble and get right to the games. 1) No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan — 12:00 on ABC While this one looks like a cakewalk for Ohio State, this one gives me pause. As much as I hate it when people say that records don’t matter in rivalry games, this one transcends the records. Both have something to play for, just one is more important than the other. Ohio State is playing for the outright championship of the Big Ten and, more importantly, respect. Yes, they are going to the Rose Bowl, but no one thinks they can beat any Pac-10 team. They are a team being carried by their defense. Every Buckeye fan out there, while not admitting it, just hopes that Terrelle Pryor doesn’t do anything stupid when he has his hands on the ball. I mean, look at the series they played in the OT win against Iowa, three straight dives into the ...

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Air Force (6-4) at No. 19 BYU (8-2): An Air Force Upset, Or a BYU Blowout?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:26:26 +0000

I thought this sign (held up by a BYU fan at an Air Force game in a previous year) was hilarious. On paper, this game looks like it will be a tough close game. Air Force has one of the best defenses in the country, and one of the best rushing offense. They may be 7-4, but those four losses have come by a combined 20 points, three were on the road (at Minnesota, at Navy, and at Utah), and the other was to TCU. Air Force is a very good football team this year. They are much better than their 6-4 record would indicate. They've been extremely competitive and have had a good chance to win in every single game they've played this year; they could be 10-0 right now. And BYU certainly looked completely underwhelming last week, at winless New Mexico. BYU was favored by 28; they ended up escaping with a five point win. BYU has not looked very impressive at home. They've won comfortably against Colorado State and Utah State, and they looked downright awful in blowout losses against Florida State and ...

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Five Coaches Who Have What Notre Dame Football Needs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:56 +0000

When Bob Davie took over for Lou Holtz before the 1997 college football season, nobody knew it was effectively the end of Notre Dame's reign amongst the nation's elite college football programs. With Holtz leading the Fighting Irish, success was a given. Notre Dame won fewer than eight games only twice in Holtz's 11 seasons as coach. In those 11 seasons, Holtz led Notre Dame to nine bowl games (six of which are now considered BCS bowl games) and the 1988 national championship. Since then, the list of Notre Dame coaches has been riddled with rash hires and emphatic burnouts. Davie and Tyrone Willingham combined for two BCS bowl games—both losses—in eight years And then there is current coach Charlie Weis. Weis was supposed to bring change to South Bend. Instead, his five years have been filled with high expectations and shortcomings. Over the past three seasons, the Fighting Irish has a 16-19 record. Davie, Willingham, and Weis had a combined one bowl victory before coming to Notre Dame. The ...

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Breaking News: Georgia Tech and Paul Johnson Agree to Contract Extension

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:42:27 +0000

CPJ will remain at Tech through at least 2016. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that Paul Johnson has signed a one-year extension at Georgia Tech, meaning his contract with the Institute will now run through 2016. What does this seemingly innocuous one-year deal mean to Tech fans? Well, for starters it means Johnson has done a spectacular job at Tech, going 19-5 in his first two seasons. Fans have noticed, attendance is up, and there is a certain fervor around the program that did not exist in the Chan Gailey era. The Georgia Tech faithful are very anxious to have Johnson stick around; he is enjoying a level of success that the Yellow Jackets have not seen since the national championship run of 1990. Also, this small extension should serve to ease any fears Tech fans may have about Johnson leaving at the end of the season for a position with a certain prestigious Catholic school. While no monetary figures have been reported as of yet, there is no doubt that another win ...

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Friday Night College Football Predictions: No. 6 Boise St.-Utah St. and Others

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:29:50 +0000

Hey everyone, it's CFF coming back to BR after nearly a year-long hiatus. I just thought I'd have some fun and make a few predictions for tonight's games. I'll probably make an article for tomorrow's set too. Akron (2-8) vs. Bowling Green (5-5), 5:30 PM ET/4:30 CT, ESPNU (HD) An otherwise unremarkable game is made possibly watchable by the fact that you'll get to see the most overlooked player in college football in 2009, Freddie Barnes, wide receiver for Bowling Green. Barnes has had an incredible senior year, taking in 117 receptions for 1,285 yards and 12 touchdowns, plus two rushing touchdowns as well for a total of 14. Unfortunately for Barnes, the rest of his team just cannot match up to his level, save for maybe quarterback Tyler Sheehan, as the Falcons sit at 5-5 heading into a pivotal matchup with Akron. If the Falcons win this one, they're bowl eligible in Dave Clawson's first season as BGSU head coach. The Falcons have made a great run over the past month, as they have won ...

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Irish, UConn seek to end losing streaks (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:18:53 +0000

Notre Dame and Connecticut keep coming up a play short. They do it in dramatically different styles, but the common theme heading into their game on Saturday is this: Their seasons could be drastically different if someone could have come up with a key tackle, catch or run. The Huskies (4-5) keep getting ahead and finding ways to lose.

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Mark Mangino's Attackers Are as Soft as His Midsection

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:01:55 +0000

I'm a little confused. No, I'm a lot confused. One minute, these high-octane athletes are gladiators, soldiers, or any manner of rugged testaments to perseverance in the face of physical duress incapable of being understood by mere mortals. The next, they're complaining of hurt feelings and unforgivable (imperceptible) assaults on their egos. Of course, I'm referring to the ongoing absurdity that's befallen the University of Kansas football program and its rotund head coach, Mark Mangino. Former players are apparently materializing out of the ether with complaints about Mangino in the wake of senior linebacker Arist Wright 's formal complaint against the portly papa bear of the team. According to Wright, Mangino yelled and poked him in the chest during a team walk-through/practice. Consequently, the University has launched an investigation into the coach's methods. In the developing game of he-said, he-said, Mangino claims it's nothing more than bitter players coming forward to get ...

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The Baker’s Dozen: 13 College Football Games To Watch in Week 12

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:55:37 +0000

Time to change things up a bit. I’ll still have my top 10 games of the week, but with a few bonus games to keep an eye on. Before we get to that, how about the Thursday night game in the Big XII? No. 12 Oklahoma State pulled out a win against a three-win Colorado team at home. In Oklahoma State’s defense, it was playing without starting quarterback Zac Robinson, and has been without Dez Bryant at receiver. But thanks to third-string quarterback Brandon Weeden, who threw three touchdown passes, the Cowboys pulled out the 31-28 win to move to 9-2 on the year, and if Texas slips against Kansas or Texas A&M, it could be the Cowboys playing in the Big XII title game on Dec. 5. Saturday’s games really don’t have the punch you would expect in late November. No. 1 Florida continues its “stellar” non-conference schedule when it plays host to Sun Belt powerhouse Florida International. After all, the Panthers have beaten Western Kentucky, Louisiana-Lafayette and North Texas, and those are their only three ...

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Is Mark Mangino's Kansas Controversy Ready for Jerry Springer?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:47:26 +0000

It's hard to believe that just a week ago the primary conversation in Lawrence about Jayhawks football involved Kansas' upcoming game against the Cornhuskers. Beginning on Monday with Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins's bizarrely timed launching of an investigation into allegations Mark Mangino has been treating his players inappropriately, the situation has steadily progressed from bad to worse to terrible. Some former players have rushed to Mangino's defense, and others, including many who transferred from the program, have used the opportunity to air their own complaints against KU's coach. The Kansas City Star 's windy and know-it-all columnist, Jason Whitlock, probably tired from kicking the dead horse that is the Kansas City Chiefs' season, jumped onto the controversy by publishing back-to-back articles endearingly titled "Weight Issues Are Root of Mangino's Problems" and "Mangino Is an Abusive Bully." Not looking to be outdone by another Star columnist, J. Brady McCullough put in ...

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Yardbarker: Carroll won't forget Harbaugh slight

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:43:43 +0000

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Arizona State VS. UCLA: The Preview

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:38:40 +0000

Well, the decision that fans in Tempe were waiting anxiously for, has been announced. Sophomore quarterback Samson Szakacsy will be under center in his home state of California, with one job in mind: leave the Rose Bowl with an Arizona State Sun Devil victory. Surely, that is the ideal situation for Dennis Erickson. The coach has played musical chairs at quarterback all season long, and the fans at Frank Kush Field have been calling for numerous different names to play quarterback, but at times Szakacsy's name was not even mentioned. Until last weekend's performance in Eugene. Szakacsy did not get a full game experience under his belt, but in his second half relief appearance of Brock Osweiler, Szakacsy passed as well as ran for a touchdown in the Sun Devils 44-21 loss. However, Erickson must have seen something that he liked in Szakacsy, to hand over the reigns to lead the Sun Devils in their final two games. Maybe it was that spark, a little bit of energy, the athletic ability, or the calm ...

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The Five Questions That Will Be Answered This Week In College Football

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:30:28 +0000

Outside of the PAC-10, there are not any big games in college football this week. Even the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is not demanding the attention its commanded in past years, due to a struggling Michigan team. Although your eyes may not be glued to the television Saturday, there are a few story lines that you have to keep your eyes on. Here are the top five questions that will answered this week in college football when its all said and done. Begin Slideshow

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Don't count on a Saturday snoozefest

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:28:13 +0000

Matt Hayes These are the bland Saturdays when no one is safe. No, really. How often have we seen this is the past: the relatively uneventful developing into the remarkably significant. Even No. 1 Florida, playing host to cupcake Florida International, isn't immune at this late stage of the season. "We know what's on the line," Florida linebacker Ryan Stamper said. "We're going hard." Maybe it's some cosmic balance in response to the wild weekends of the last three years, but just when you think 2009 couldn't be more predictable we give you these six wild possibilities (ranked in order of likelihood it will happen) that could develop Saturday: 1. A Stanford player wins the Heisman Trophy How it can happen: Hey, it has happened before (Jim Plunkett, 1970), why not again? No BCS league tailback has more yards (1,395) or touchdowns (19) than Toby Gerhart, who has surged to the top of Heisman ...

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Spotlight game: No. 11 Oregon at Arizona

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:26:12 +0000

Place: Tucson, Ariz. Time: 8 p.m. ET TV: ABC Line: Oregon by 6 Three reasons Oregon will win He's back: LeGarrette Blount could contribute for Oregon against Arizona. Double trouble: After LeGarrette Blount TKOd much of his 2009 season, LaMichael James became the newest Ducks running back to jump from unknown to all-conference-caliber in less than a season. Now, Blount is back on the squad, and indications are he'll see playing time Saturday for the first time since before Labor Day. Arizona has decent statistics against the run, but Cal's Shane Vereen, a backup to injured star Jahvid Best, went for 159 yards on the 'Cats last weekend. Oregon averages 237 yards per game and needs a big edge in this area to win on the road. Coach Chip: Chip Kelly's two encounters with Arizona as Oregon's offensive coordinator resulted in some odd results. Dennis Dixon's injury left the Ducks helpless in a 2007 loss. Last year in Eugene, Oregon rolled up 45 first-half points, then ...

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No. 14 Stanford confident for Big Game (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:22:56 +0000

When Toby Gerhart arrived at Stanford in 2006 there was more talk about whether the Cardinal should field a major college football team than about the farfetched possibility of going to the Rose Bowl. Stanford went 1-11 in Gerhart's freshman year under coach Walt Harris, losing eight games by at least 21 points.

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VIDEO: Rivalry week

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:04:38 +0000

Does the Rose Bowl matter if you can't beat your No. 1 rival on national TV? Petros Papadakis sizes up Ohio State-Michigan.

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UT-Kansas, ND-UConn, and the Rest of the Week 12 Preview

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:57:39 +0000

(Aaron Torres is a journalist whose work has been published by Sports Illustrated and syndicated by USA Today, AOL.com and Slam Online. To read all of his work, as well as the rest of his Week 12 picks and his thoughts on Ohio State-Michigan and LSU-Ole Miss, please click here or visit him at www.aarontorres-sports.com ) Mississippi State (+11.5) over ARKANSAS: 12:21 p.m. See, this is what I love about the SEC. This is a game featuring two totally middle of the pack teams that I should have no interest in, yet both having compelling coaches and star power, and I’m more interested in this one than most of the other games on the national schedule. Here’s why I like Mississippi State to keep it close: Look at their schedule. They’ve faced every single offense you can possibly go against over the course of the season: High-powered passing attacks (Houston is ranked No. 1 in college football in passing offense), a triple-option running game (Georgia Tech is the No. 2 rushing defense in ...

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College Football Weekend: Week 12 Preview and Predictions

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:54:38 +0000

One of the biggest story lines entering the 2009 college football season was whether or not USC was on the verge of an uncharacteristic down year. The Trojans had lost a significant part of last season’s Rose Bowl team. They would be forced to start plenty of inexperienced players—including a true freshman, Matt Barkley, at quarterback. After seven straight Pac-10 titles, many wondered aloud whether 2009 would finally see a new champion on the West Coast. Perhaps it would be Cal’s year, many said. The Oregon Ducks were loaded with talent, others noticed. Some analysts warned that you could never count out Mike Riley’s Oregon State Beavers. But Stanford? Who saw this coming? I know I didn’t. I predicted the Cardinal to finish 5-7 overall and seventh in the Pac-10 standings. Oops. Perhaps no team in the nation has been a more pleasant surprise in 2009 than Jim Harbaugh’s Cardinal. Not only has Stanford posted a 7-3 overall record (6-2 in conference) thus far, putting itself squarely in ...

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Oregon, Arizona seek control of Pac-10 (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:49:04 +0000

Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews has a vivid memory from the Ducks' last trip to Arizona Stadium -- a 34-24 loss to Arizona in 2007. "Their fans rushing the field," Matthews said this week. "We were ranked No. 2 in the nation and we came out on the losing side and it was tough. ... It crushed us as a team." The Ducks were contending for a berth in the Bowl Championship Series...

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McClain, Spikes among Butkus finalists again

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:46:02 +0000

Alabama's Rolando McClain, Florida's Brandon Spikes and Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon are once again finalists for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker.

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Ryan Mallett Is the Best Quarterback in the SEC, Not Tim Tebow

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:45:18 +0000

Across the nation you will be hard-pressed to find anyone who is not familiar with Tim Tebow. Tebow has been part of two national championships for the Florida Gators and has won a Heisman Trophy. He has already been immortalized by the University of Florida with his motivational speech plaque at the entrance to the new football facility. Tebow is a missionary and an all-around great person. What would you say if I was to tell you with all that success that Tim Tebow is not the best quarterback in the nation—not even the best quarterback in the SEC? I am sure you will call me crazy, but by the numbers there is another quarterback in the SEC who has stood out as the best in the 2009 season. That quarterback is Ryan Mallett. Mallett leads the SEC and ranks third in the nation in quarterback rating, with a 165 rating. His offense leads the SEC in scoring offense (37.6 ppg), total offense (450.1 ypg), passing offense (310 ypg), and pass efficiency (160). Mallett has done all of this in his ...

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To Right The Ship This Week There Are 5 Basics That Michigan Learn

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:34:06 +0000

Two-a-day practices in August, offseason conditioning, the basics. What do they have to do with this week's Ohio State-Michigan game? Simple, Michigan must do the little things correctly. With six straight conference losses an a bowl birth on the line, Michigan must return to the basics. 1. Run Blocking In the six straight conference losses, Michigan has averaged, 1.0, 4.3, 2.8, 2.6, 4.9 and 2.2 yards rushing respectively in those six losses. That is just not good enough to get the job done. The Wolverine offensive line must be consistent in getting off the ball and getting good blocks on the Ohio State front seven. If they can do this they will take some pressure off of the passing game. 2. Pass Blocking In the six straight conference losses, Michigan has given up 3, 1, 5, 4, 5 and 2 sacks respectively. This is outrageous. Michign's offensive line must hold up at the point of attack. This is going to be an especially tall order this weekend with an Ohio State defense that is without ...

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The Florida Gators Are Poets of Destiny: A Fan's Poem

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:25:10 +0000

The Florida Gators are poets of destiny because they have defined recent times through actions and results translated into words. The Florida Gators are poets of destiny because they have defined recent times through principles and standards translated into relevance. The meaning we place on their performance should take into account our view of the team as a whole. Their weekly effort is the primary connection between people and poets who write beautiful verses between the lines. The Florida Gators are poets of destiny because they inspire their nation with identity and spirit that lifts them to new heights. The Florida Gators are poets of destiny because they inspire their nation with voice and vision that leads them to championships. Fly me to the swamp. Let rise the balloon of popularity, the blimp's view - To millions, connected to people like me. Pan left, pan right, I soared with my fan. And turned on surfing and the natural high. I climb the mountain and equipped, ...

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UCF—Tulane Football Preview

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:20:38 +0000

The UCF football team did something last Saturday it hadn’t done in 22 tries; beat a ranked team. After a historic 37-32 win over No. 13 Houston, the Knights are bowl eligible and face Tulane Saturday with an outside shot at the Conference USA title. The match up UCF (6-4 overall, 4-2 C-USA) enters its contest against Tulane off its biggest win in program history. The Knights defeated the Cougars behind great offensive performances from QB Brett Hodges and RB Brynn Harvey. Hodges completed 21 of 25 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown. Harvey rushed for 139 yards on 35 carries and found the end zone three times. UCF kept the nation’s No. 1 offense off the field, holding the ball for 39:30 in the game, almost doubling Houston’s time of possession. The Green Wave (3-7 overall, 1-5 in C-USA) come in off a 28-20 loss to a previously winless Rice team. Tulane led 14-0 after the first quarter, but allowed Owls’ quarterback Nick Fanuzzi to throw for four touchdowns ...

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Bye week questions, volume three

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:20:03 +0000

Before I get to some more questions this morning, a quick link from the LA Times with more on Steve Sarkisian's recruiting efforts in that area this weekend.

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