Trent Richardson's Yukon May Not Actually Be As Pimp As SportsByBrooks Would Have You Believe

While it hasn't acquired the full-on attention and airtime of the major mainstream media (ESPN, CBS Sports, etc.), and only as much of the airtime of local sportstalk as the hosts will allow (Dunaway, Finebaum, etc.) - anyone with better than a dial-up connection has followed the drama of the T-Town Menswear timeline supplied by Clay Travis' OutkickTheCoverage.com and Brooks Melchior's SportsByBrooks.com.

Much to the chagrin and frustration of Alabama fans - and delight of their rivals - these sites have hammered away at this story displaying (in what seems like every few days) new deleted-account Facebook pictures of Tom Al-Betar (owner of T-Town Menswear) with current and former Alabama players. All-in-the while insinuating that Alabama football players are receiving improper benefits from others, and that they should not be eligible now (Trent Richardson), and former players were ineligible during their competitive days (Julio Jones).

The most recent accusation of implied improper benefits are the multiple high-priced vehicles owned by Alabama tailback Trent Richardson. Pieced together from traffic violation reports involving Trent Richardson, Brooks has got all the info right there - the case details and the ticket and complaint. After displaying these documents on his site, here's Brooks:

Considering that the NCAA has access to Richardson’s bank records - like all student-athletes under the auspices of the intercollegiate governing body - it wouldn’t take long for the NCAA to find out exactly how the Alabama star running back acquired two vehicles with a combined, base sticker price of over $60,000 in the span of 10 months.

Clay Travis chimed in on Twitter and apparently received a barrage of feedback from Alabama fans on how/why Trent could own the vehicles. And, in his style, Clay thought he'd prod the fan base and share Bama's best excuses. From Mr. Travis...

The Crimson Tide star was going 85 in a 70 and the officer noted that he blamed the "large rims" on his vehicle for the speeding violation. What was the vehicle? A 2011 GMC Yukon which retails for in the neighborhood of $40,000 even without the added expense of new rims. Raise your hand if it makes sense that an "unemployed" athlete at Alabama with two children, no job, and a non-wealthy family could afford a brand new SUV. Put your hands down Alabama fans. Trent Richardson could be flying in his own private jet and you'd talk about how it's perfectly reasonable for him to avoid traffic this way.

For the rest of us Richardson driving a brand new SUV raises an awful lot of questions.

Especially when you consider that most of his money was already going to suit payments.

Here's the problem - I'm not so sure that's actually the right Traffic Ticket and Complaint. Or actually, it may be the right one, just that the information on it has been SELECTIVELY displayed. Possibly to make the story more interesting...

I've done a little research and have acquired the actual traffic ticket and complaint from the Yukon incident. Let's compare!

From SportsByBrooks.com

As you can see from Brooks' image, he displays the Statute and Described sections - but nothing else from the actual ticket. Above this, in what looks to come from the case details, under vehicle information, the vehicle is described as a 2011 GMC Yukon. He even highlights this for us with a nice big black box.

But there's a problem... What does the rest of that actual traffic ticket and complaint say?

Actual traffic ticket and complaint, Case #2011 005435

To make it easy on us all, bullet points:

1) First, please note the case number on this traffic ticket and complaint and compare with Brooks' image above. They are the same.
2) The Statute and Described section displayed by Brooks is identical to the one from the actual traffic ticket and complaint.
3) In Brooks' case detail, the vehicle is described as a 2011 GMC Yukon, and he has reported it no other way. The actual traffic ticket and complaint clearly shows the vehicle to be a 2007 GMC Yukon.

What does this mean?

Well, it mostly means that Brooks has selectively chosen what facts to display and what not to. I only say this because he obviously has access/has a copy of the actual traffic ticket and complaint - he cropped out a portion of it and displayed it on his website. That's a bit misleading.

Now, I guess it's possible that the case detail or traffic ticket and complaint would have a mistake. But to run with one and make no mention of the other is, well, dishonest. At least I think. It sure makes me think a third or fourth time on the validity of the information that SBB provides - or has been providing - on his site. It could have at least been easily fact-checked. It is public record, after all. (Clay Travis is a licensed attorney - he probably should be able to easily get a copy of the traffic ticket and complaint.)

This news also undermines the angle of the story that SBB (and OKTC) have been on for over 8 weeks now. That improper benefits are running wild in Tuscaloosa. Maybe they are, I don't know. But going from a $40,000+ brand new 2011 Yukon to a 2007 Yukon are two different things. What do we know about this Yukon? Did Trent get it new or used? Has it been totaled? How many miles are on it? On and on it could go. A quick Google search lists off 2007 Yukons under $20,000. Compare that with the Nissan Altima he used to have? Roughly $20,000.

My opinion is that - either intentionally or not - the leaders at SBB & OTKC have taken an imperfect (although at times, much more entertaining) route with these stories. It seems they've decided upon their conclusion - that there was something fishy going on - and all reporting from their sites, radio hits, and Twitter will support that conclusion and nothing else. I wrote about this in early August:

There's just too many unknowns and jumped-to conclusions/insinuations. Like in the case of Julio Jones' suits, we are asked by OKTC whether or not Julio can afford all those suits. Well, I don't know if Julio can or can't. Did he buy them or rent them? And, as many Bama fans have pointed out, it may not be that many suits - just different shirt/jacket/pants combos.

For me, when the question line is extended further and further, and you have to continue to 'leap' to answers - with no question concretely answered - you aren't getting closer to the truth. You're getting closer to the answer you want to hear.

Maybe this ticket or case detail was doctored by SBB. Or maybe it was doctored before it got to SBB. I don't know and don't want to accuse him of that. But what I don't mind doing is asking Brooks and Clay Travis and the rest - just be a little more careful with what you're putting out there. Because if you do too much of it, you become the News of the World of college sports. Unless that's what you want to be.

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Very Disturbing

For those who don't mind the burn of vomit in the back of your throat, here's Nancy Grace's nipple:

And the video!!



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Cam Newton Plan, Week Cuatro

Last week, I was not so hot. 1-2 on my plays. My man won our head's up with Clemson/Auburn, but overall was a paltry 4-3. Let's do better this week.

It's also my birthday today, so we've gotta have some level of luck on our side, right? Although, I'm not sure if turning 30 is necessarily luck. Turning 16 is lucky. Turning 21 is lucky. Turning 95 is lucky. 30 doesn't necessarily scream luck.

The plan is today I will be stomping the good grounds of Tuscaloosa, AL. Still yet to be determined on whether or not I will actually go to the game. Big screens at Gallette's and Houndstooth sure do seem to be a better seat - and they'll serve you beer! They've got bathrooms, too! It's like heaven.

On to my plays - again, my plays, and at the number that I got or bought down to:

Because I will be mobile today, no big promises on any updates with late plays. I also have the worst iPhone ever that holds maybe 3 hours of battery life. Yes, I will be camping out for an iPhone 5, no matter how dorky it makes me look.

Alright, here we go:
So Miss +3'
Cal pk
UNC +7
Texas A&M -4'
LSU -5'

Get it done.

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Something's Not Right Here - Why Hasn't There Been More Made of This?

Real quick on a thought that's been in my mind over the past day or so. On Tuesday, it was reported that Missouri had been extended an invitation to the SEC.

The Birmingham (Ala.) News reported later on Tuesday that the SEC and Missouri have “informally agreed that, barring new developments, the school will join the league and that Auburn University will move to the SEC East Division.” The report cited two people familiar with the discussions, adding that, “(a) majority of presidents has endorsed the informal agreement.”

But on the same day, Missouri and the SEC office shot those reports down:

On Tuesday afternoon, the SEC issued a statement saying the conference has not extended an invitation to any school other than Texas A&M since it extended invitations to Arkansas and South Carolina. SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom would not comment when asked whether the SEC and Missouri have discussed realignment.

MU officials had a similar response.

“We would echo what the SEC statement said,” said Chad Moller, Missouri’s assistant athletic director for media relations. “We have not received an offer from any conference.”

In the article, the source of the supposed invite was a "Missouri booster who had spoke directly to a Missouri official". Talked to a guy who had talked to a guy. And I guess that's fine, assuming that the reporter (Mike DeArmond) had a good history of trusted, accurate information from this booster.

So, did this happen or didn't it?

I was listening to Paul Finebaum's program Tuesday afternoon (big surprise, right?), and Paul was taking the pinata bat to Missouri and poking fun of the SEC office for running from this report and denying any such agreement. I've also been reading Outkick the Coverage pretty regularly (I know some of the guys there... disclaim, disclaim), who have made the claim that the leak of the Missouri-SEC invitation really "pissed off" the SEC.

Did it really?

I only ask that because there doesn't seem to be any real 'proof' of that. Doesn't really seem to be any established 'proof' that there is/was ever an official/unofficial. One thing's for sure - there is a lot of confusion.

I just did a Google News search, "missouri sec". Check out the headlines:

On this page, no one really seems to be on the same page.

I don't know if a leaked announcement "pissed off" the SEC office or not. It just seems a little incomplete to make that claim. But I will defend OKTC to the extent that they are the only ones really going bare-bones with opinion and providing alternative speculation on how things could play out. I'm down with all of that. Just not down with reporting - if that was the intent - that the SEC got "pissed off".

Seems a little too easy for me to just say that. I'd need to get some validation on that before I'll believe it.

But even in the mess of it all, it's curious in that there hasn't been anyone yet (where my Yahoo! boys at?) to pick up on this item. Did Missouri actually get an invite? Was it rescinded by the SEC? What really happened here, and will we ever really know?

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We All Need To Put This In Terms We Can Understand

Conference realignment has my head spinning, and while Dan Wetzel pleads that no one should be going anywhere, I find that I haven't bitched about the BCS in awhile.

A dissolution of some conferences and the creation of super-conferences does put a bit of a dent in my ultimate visions of a 16-team playoff (11 conference champs, 5 at-larges). I guess I'd be fine with 10 champs and 6 at-larges (really can't think why I wouldn't). But what I can't get my head around is whether or not super-conferences would allow more inclusion into the national title race, or less.

For Mississippi State, Washington State, Illinois, and other 'good-every-once-in-awhile' schools, it's tougher. Mississippi State has to play alongside Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, Auburn every year. And then there's the SEC East. Even if everything was even, in a 12-team SEC, State would have only an 8.3% chance of winning the league. (I know some statisticians that could provide a pretty good argument against that figure, but I'm going with the 1 of 12 argument.)

Beyond that 8.3% to just win the conference, State would also have to be in position of overall record (0 or 1 losses) and would have to depend on the overall records of other conference champions (how many other undefeated's are there?). All this drives that % down sharply.

Now, go back to the beginning of that equation. 1 of 12 = 8.3%. Now we're talking 1 of 14? 1 of 16? (7.1%, 6.3%) From 12 to 16, the odds of winning go down by 1/4. That's 25%.

Too many numbers? Let's see if we can explain it a little more simply...

"All the Tostitos..."

I remember being a kid and getting inquisitive with some adults. It always frustrated me to get the "just because" or "because that's the way it is" answers.

This all kind of feels that way, doesn't it?

But look, I don't know if super-conferences are a good thing or bad thing. I'm going to hate to lose the Alabama-Tennessee game (assuming an Auburn move to the SEC East), as that's the one game that my dad actually wants to go to each year. Yesterday on Finebaum the loss of this rivalry was discussed, and Paul said that Tennessee's been so bad, the game doesn't mean anything anymore.

That's awfully short-sighted (and right up Paul's alley). I can recall Alabama losing quite a few games to Tennessee over the past 15 years. I should know - I was in school for most of them.

Regardless, it is a bit of a shame that the conferences that got it right (SEC & ACC, eventually the PAC-12) now have to possibly water-down their product - maybe/maybe not with the schools they collect, but with the competitive opportunities - because the other conferences had screwed up so bad.

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I Am So Confused Right Now

Just what in the hell is going on here?

Has conference expansion happened or not?

Honestly, at this point, I don't have a clue.

Texas A&M has been extended an invitation to the SEC. So, uh, is it official yet? Yes? No? Anybody? What's that T. Boone?

“I think the Aggies are sobering up,” Pickens told The Oklahoman.

Pickens says he talked to Aggies leadership a month ago about staying in the Big 12, but the talks seemed pointless. But now he says there now appears to be a glimmer of hope in stopping them. He’s even petitioned Texas Gov. Rick Perry, also a presidential candidate, to get involved and help.

“I keep thinking they're hearing me,” Pickens said of A&M. “I'm not sure they're listening to me. But they trust me.”

Pittsburgh and Syracuse are going to the ACC. Good enough. When? Next year? Or is it 2013? And does that mean the ACC is going to stop at 14, or is there more? Could anyone still leave the ACC?

Didn't TCU join the Big East? Is that still on?

Thompson is investigating if TCU would remain in the MWC instead of its original plan to join the Big East in 2012, staying in touch with the Big 12 schools that could be left behind if four of the conference's core schools bolt for the Pac-12 and speeding up the process of putting together a deal with Conference USA where the two leagues would play in football a championship game to earn a possible automatic berth to the BCS.
...
Thompson said he has been talking to TCU on a constant basis to get a read on the Horned Frogs as they play their final season in the MWC.

I heard Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and maybe Texas are heading to the Pac-12. Or maybe not. (Wait, wasn't Texas going to the ACC this past weekend?)

West Virginia's a great fit for the SEC. Or the ACC. Or not, to either.

Missouri kind of got an invitation, then told everyone, now the SEC says no they didn't ever like Missouri in the first place, Missouri says that's not what the SEC said behind the playground after school... And (as of... NOW) they have gotten back together.

Believe it or not, but I'm a fairly intelligent person. This conference realignment has been highly entertaining, but once I sat back and tried to figure out where we stood at this moment - I got dizzy.

Maybe that's why this is taking so long. Everyone's trying to be the smartest person in the room, playing some extreme Survivor-style alliance games, that I think we've actually all confused ourselves. Just imagine if you were a TCU or Missouri fan. Is it possible there's a fan base out there that - as of right now - they don't know (for 100% sure) what conference their team is in?

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Cam Newton Plan: Week 3

Last week was a little stronger for us, as I got us off to a 2-1 start, and my man piling in late with a 4-2. And - between us - he was beyond pissed about that Notre Dame game. Toss that in with the Miami game from Week 1, and we've seen some pretty tough beats in the first two weeks.

I must come clean in that I pulled an okey-doke on Thursday. I had been listening to everyone all week that Mississippi State was going to be the right play, but when it came to pull the trigger, I just couldn't do it and took LSU instead. Hopefully you'll forgive me.

It was tough, though - I had to go against the tried and true formula of the weeknight home dog. I love to catch points at home on short weeks. But what got me away was that LSU really didn't have a short week last week. They had Northwestern State the prior week, so it was really like they had over a week and a half to prepare going into Starkville. If this had been a mid-October Thursday night game, things may have been different. So, that's why I turned my back on State this week.

So, on to this week. Once again, these are my plays, and I show you the number that I got and/or bought down to. Here we go...

Colorado -6' (This started out at 9'. I bought a half point. Basically we're getting a field goal for free.)
Auburn +4' (Possibly my worst play ever. I'm totally buying into the 'they just keep winning' talk. David Pollack is on my TV screen way too much. Stay away from this one.)
South Carolina -14 (I think South Carolina's about to hit their stride. We'll see.)

So there you have it. That's what I've got.

I've already been in touch with my man this morning, so here's an early serving for you (yes, we go head to head on AU/Clemson - do what you like):
Maryland +1
Clemson -3'
Pittsburgh +3
Duke +7

UPDATE: More plays for the evening...
N Tex/Bama u58'
Arizona +10
Stanford/Arizona u56
And we're torn on FSU & Oklahoma. We feel good on Oklahoma, but the public us telling us the smart play is FSU. Whatever you do, drink up. It'll make it better no matter what happens.

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The RC Johnson Archives

RC Johnson. Not exactly clairvoyant.

Because of all the hubbub with the University of Memphis' football program getting trounced by Arkansas State and the follow up email to fans and boosters by athletic director RC Johnson, I've done a little bit of Googling around the interwebs. Here's how we came out:

Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal wasted his time with his article asking for RC Johnson to resign as AD. He should have just republished the one he wrote two years ago:

Let Johnson pick a day in the next few months to announce his hard-earned retirement. Give him a lifetime pass to Graceland for all the good work he's done.

Then hire someone who can inject direction, energy and credibility into the Memphis athletic department.

Johnson can't do it any longer.

That's August 23rd, 2009.

It has to be common knowledge (at least among sports fans) that Memphis is indeed in the bottom 5 of all college football programs. And in a world where football steers the ship, athletic programs have poured collectively billions of dollars into their athletic facilities and programs over the past 15 years - with the emphasis of those dollars being on football, the major revenue producer for college athletics across the country.

About two years back, Memphis had hired Mike Tranghese to help deliver Memphis to a BCS conference. From Johnson:

"His role is to help us and advise us," Johnson told (The Commercial Appeal). "He asked me, 'What's my charge?' I said, 'There are six BCS conferences. Just get us in one.'"

Tranghese wasn't exactly on the same page:

"I've been hired to help them evaluate their athletic program, not to get them in a conference," Tranghese, who was hired Aug. 1, (2009,) said in a phone interview. "I can't get people into conferences. That's not what I do."

Memphis paid Tranghese about five thousand a month. His ties were obviously to the Big East, which Memphis has been chomping at the bit to get in to ever since they were left behind by Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida. In the linked article, RC Johnson speaks of his desire to get into, well... any conference that will take them.

But always on top of things, in 2009, RC couldn't foresee what lay just one and two summers ahead. When talking about the SEC:

“They would have to expand and I don’t see that happening,” Johnson said. “We’re right in the middle of the SEC country and we would hope someday that that would happen. That would always be our first choice. We would just really like to get in a BCS conference.”

And his thoughts on the Big 10, prior to adding Nebraska:

“I’ve heard all sorts of rumblings,” Johnson said. “Their first choice would certainly be Notre Dame. But I keep hearing that Notre Dame may not be interested. I hear that they might try to get somebody from the East Coast.”

Is Nebraska north or south of the Carolinas?

Since RC's obviously got a good grasp on what all is happening around the country, what were his thoughts on the Memphis athletic program?

Truthfully, we think our program is better than about half the BCS programs. But not being BCS there’s always that stigma.

Oh, boy. That was 2009, folks. Look where they are now.

And just for fun, one more from RC on how Mike Tranghese was going to "Get 'Er Dun"...

“I think he can get through any door,” Johnson said. “I really believe that. He’s so highly thought of, I think he can do that. And I think everybody would listen to what Mike has to say.”

For Memphis fans, I hope that there's somebody over in that athletic department that sees that this is just a merry-go-round. In the past two years, that program has spun tires.

I'd advise Calkins to hold on to his latest article. He'll probably be able to use it again in 2013.

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Memphis' Athletic Director Should No Longer Be Allowed to Use a Computer

The athletic director at the University of Memphis sent out a communication yesterday. But before I get to that morsel...

If you haven't noticed, the Memphis football program may well be the worst in the nation. It's not just Athlon that says so either. It's on the field. After making Chris Relf look like he didn't have the arm of a 7th grader in the 59-14 first game (Relf threw for 202 in 3/4 of a game) loss to Mississippi State, Memphis journeyed up to Jonesboro, AR and got a beat down of 47-3 from Arkansas State.

Not Arkansas. Arkansas STATE.

I have been anti-Larry Porter just about since he was hired. I was living in Memphis at the time, and was never convinced that he was really a good fit for the job. Bad with the community, bad with the media - and at a time when he wasn't going to be winning any football games. When a coach is in a situation where (for whatever reason) his on-field product is not going to perform in the near term - he needs the people to believe in him and getting the media on your side to use as a tool to keep the expectations low is a good idea. Larry didn't do that.

So, because of these recent beatdowns - and no less a massive beatdown to a Sun Belt this past weekend - the hounds are out. Even after the week 1 loss to State, there was already angst towards the head coach. Athletic director RC Johnson even had to deny to reporters late last week that a blowout loss to Arkansas State wouldn't cost Larry Porter his job. (Memphis was a 17-point dog to Arkansas State.)

Things obviously didn't go well for Memphis. Terrible loss, right? It's an all-time low for the program. Couldn't get any worse...

Then THIS.

via @FantasyRC, confirmed by @DanWolken

RC Johnson sent this email to fans and Tiger football boosters. Really. I couldn't believe it when I saw it.

Now, I'll get to the public relations faux pas, but so you know that RC's already starting to get some heat, that prior to Johnson's email, here was commentary on RC Johnson from the introspective Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal:

He has turned Memphis into — there can no longer be any debate about this — the worst football program in the country.

Can you imagine Johnson starting another football search? Can you imagine him introducing another coach? The notion is preposterous.

You hear all the time about coaches who are fired because they lost the team. Well, Johnson has long since lost the fans. He has no credibility remaining.

Strong stuff from Mr. Calkins.

Here's RC. Crafting up that email.

But honestly, this email is a public relations disaster. I don't think that athletic directors should be "compelled" to communicate anything. At least not ones that are in charge of their program. Is there any communication filter in the UM athletic department? There doesn't appear to be.

I'm sure Calkins will echo his thoughts again in a column this week, but this is really embarrassing for the entire University of Memphis. (UPDATE: He sure did.)

And I bet it's frustrating as well. From hiring Mike Tranghese in another failed effort to align themselves with a BCS conference, to this email which references continued work on facilities. For those of you who have never been, the University of Memphis' athletic facilities do not resemble those of a major college program. I would bet that instead of resembling the offices and stadiums of Auburn, Texas A&M, or Louisville, Memphis' athletic facilities and buildings are much closer to those of, well, Arkansas State. And Memphis just got beat up pretty bad by them this past week.

In the arms race of the 90s and '00s that was the 'Facilities War', Memphis sat it out. Now programs have moved on to using their uniforms as recruiting tactics - they've done so much, they've run out of ways to impress kids. Memphis hasn't done any of this. Except play on national TV with no one in the stands, be ranked at the bottom of the barrel by the magazines, and get your butt kicked by a Sun Belt team - located within your local recruiting area, by the way. The last 15 years of Memphis football have been spent watching pitches go by.

Now, the athletic director is writing emails to the remaining supporters, assuring them they are going to "work harder than ever".

If that's true, I'd say the bar is set pretty low.

This is an athletic department that needs large changes. And desperately.

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The Cam Newton Plan, Week 2: Either We Will Receive a Bag Man, Or We Will Become the Bag Man.

Hoping this week will be our
Redemption Song.

Needless to say, last week was a total disaster. So, there's only one way to go from here, we're due, blah, blah, blah.

We need winners.

I haven't seen too much I like, and I personally and sticking with teams that I know best - SEC teams. Which, historically, have been the toughest to pick. And I don't have a whole lot to share early. Again, these are my plays, so take them for what they are worth. The numbers here are what I got them at/bought them down to...

Mississippi State -4'
Alabama -9'
South Carolina -2'

Lots of chalk, I know. I wanted to jump in on State all week, but the number kept growing. Then the talking heads started to give Auburn some credit, and the number stalled and came back a little. I'm not anti-Auburn (I bet on them last week, and you saw where that got us.), I just think State's a better team by at least ten points, even on the road.

Games I'm still looking at (nothing dialed in, yet.):

1) Michigan +3 hosting Notre Dame. Wrong team favored here? Maybe.
2) Memphis at Arkansas State. Memphis is something like a 17 point dog to Arkansas STATE. It's going to be real tough for Larry Porter to get some momentum in Memphis if he's dropping games to the Wolfpack (Howl!) by double digits.
3) Cal & Colorado. I don't like Colorado, but don't know anything about Cal. I may have to look to the experts here.

I'll again be with 'interested parties' today - at least through the 2:30 & 3:30 games. So check back here for more plays throughout the day.

If you've got a game that you want to get my man's pick on, just slap it into the comments below or hit me up on twitter, and I'll try to hook you up.

UPDATE, 12:03: My man has a big play for today. Like "we're getting the band back together" big.
Notre Dame -2' (I bought down)
He also likes Air Force -1.
Get to it.

UPDATE, 2:20: My man has more plays for us, and this time we get points. Enjoy.
Rice +1'
Wake +1'
Colorado +6'
BYU +7

And of course, if you'd like to follow me on Twitter, you can do so: @harry_long. I'd also appreciate it if you 'liked' the Facebook page of A Total Waste of Blog. You can do that at the top right of this page, or you can do it here. And you see all those buttons under the title of this post? That's how you share this thing. Get to it.

Can't Say I'm On Board With Saban's QB Challenge

Can't say I'm on board
with the way Nick's
shuffling these QBs.

I'm not totally down with how Nick Saban has handled the QB competition in Tuscaloosa. I understand that he is not to be questioned, but for just a moment hear me out, because - based on last week - Phillip Sims is not getting a fair shot.

I am anti-public auditions. That is to say that I am against having your starting quarterback (or any other position, or sport, for that matter) determined through competition in actual games. Isn't that what practice is for?

The game itself should not be an audition. Because, as Herm Edwards would let you know, "You play to win the game." You don't play games to figure out who should play, well, in the games.

You pick one and you go with him. And if he underperforms in the game, then make a change. And that can happen. There are great 'practice players' who, once thrown into the spotlight, don't respond. And - at that point - they can be replaced. By the backup QB. But until you give your starting quarterback the keys - that is, tell him and the team that he is the #1 guy, then you aren't getting a true representation of how that player would perform AS THE STARTER. Because, well, he isn't the "starter" yet.

And specifically why last Saturday wasn't fair - Phillip Sims didn't get the same effort and concentration level that AJ McCarron did. Alabama was already up 14-0, I believe, and it was obvious to everyone (players, coaches, fans, even Kent State players) that Alabama was going to win this game no matter what. The tone of the day had been set.

So by the time Phillip Sims took his first snap, the 'edge' had been taken off of his teammates. I'm not saying it's something that is consciously done, but in sports, it happens. You know the phrase, "playing down to your competition"? It happens.

I used to coach high school basketball. One year, we had a truly excellent team. Our kids were just bigger, faster, stronger, and flat-out better ball players than most anyone we played against. We would jump out to literally a twenty-point lead during or after the first quarter. Ballgame. But the game had to be played on, and even with substitutions, very quickly my guys would lose that fire they started the game with. Because, quite simply, they had already won the game. They had lost that focus of purpose that good teams have. Once we lost that, we were just average.

That's why I think bringing in Phillip Sims after three series against Kent State wasn't fair. Players (maybe coaches) would never admit it, but by the time
he had entered the ballgame, he wasn't getting 100% from everyone - whether they intended to or not. Some players may have still been going full speed, but not everyone. At least not like they were the first three series with AJ McCarron.

Pick one and go with him. I'm not saying it's easy, but that's what you have to do.

You know what to do when you just can't bring yourself to decide between one of two things? Allow me to sprinkle some knowledge on you...

HERE IS HOW YOU DECIDE BETWEEN GIRL A OR GIRL B, BOY X OR BOY Y, LEFT OR RIGHT, UP OR DOWN:

Flip a coin.

Don't laugh. Try it. If you can take your options down to 2 remaining, and you're just stuck beyond belief on what to do, assign one side heads and one side tails. And flip that coin.

How did it come out? Girl B?

Now, here's the decider: Do you want to flip again? If you do, then you know which option you really wanted to go with in the first place. If you don't, then you've landed on your choice. Do it, and move on.

It's a real test of truth and honesty with yourself. Everyone knows what they really want to do, it's just whether or not they are willing to make that hard decision.

Pick one. Then see what happens.

Now, back to the QBs. It could be a different story if one quarterback is your 'running' QB and the other your 'passing' QB. Then maybe it makes some sense to do some swapping around in-game or game-to-game. As long as it's clear what everyone's role is, and the players understand it. No problems there. Clarity of roles and expectations is almost always the best policy. I actually can't think of an example when it's not.

But if both quarterbacks do the same thing (have the same style), and you don't select one over the other, I believe that you marginalize your opportunities. Benching one for performance is fine, but an ongoing audition for the starting job doesn't move the team forward. It hangs over your season and creates a distraction for a team that frankly, doesn't need an unnecessary distraction.

Alabama is contending for a national title this year. Why bring in drama when you don't have to?

Flip a coin. Pick one and go with him.

And of course, if you'd like to follow me on Twitter, you can do so: @harry_long. I'd also appreciate it if you 'liked' the Facebook page of A Total Waste of Blog. You can do that at the top right of this page, or you can do it here. And you see all those buttons under the title of this post? That's how you share this thing. Get to it.

Devastation Day in Week 1

The Reaper took it to us yesterday.

Yesterday was a slaying. No excuses, it just was what it was.

Pretty sure that my initial picks all saddled in at 0-4, and we had a 3-3 effort (lucky the Western Michigan game was called - we weren't going to win that one) from what my man was able to share with us. Just a devastating day.

Most frustrating points of the day:
1) Bronco Mendenhall not kicking the field goal to go up 4.
2) The entire South Carolina game. Why Spurrier messed around like that, I'll never understand.
3) Phillip Sims setting up the lone score for Kent State.
4) Not dialing in on Boise State. I should either be much more selective or much less selective with my gut.

We'll do better.

College Football - The Plan is to Make as Much Money as Cam Newton Did Last Year

I think this picture's 6 years old.
I will remember it always.
The moment I fell in love. Twice.

Alright, here we go. I posted a few weeks back that I was worried about this season, and my ability to enjoy it to it's greatest potential. Let's just say that my issues were quickly resolved.

I'll let you know what I'm doing, and if I pick up any tips throughout the day, I'll post those as well. I'll be amongst 'interested parties' throughout the day, so keep checking back here or on twitter for updates.

Remember, this is what I'm playing. Take it for what you will, and yes - I've been jumping on teams early in the week and buying points like crazy:

Auburn -22'
BYU -2
South Carolina -20
Oregon -3'

If you've got a play that you want to share with everyone - OR if there's a game you want me to ask my man about, just slap it into the comments below, and I'll try to hook you up. We're a family, after all, so why not share?

UPDATE, 10:32a - two plays from my man (I've placed with the numbers I bought to):

Alabama/Kent State Under 49'
Western Michigan +14

UPDATE, 1:28p - another 2:30 game play from my man. Make this one fun to watch:
UCLA/Houston OVER 58

UPDATE, 4:32p - late day chasing, should you need it. From my man:
New Mexico +7'
Ball St +6
Tulsa +25
Colorado +7

And of course, if you'd like to follow me on Twitter, you can do so: @harry_long. I'd also appreciate it if you 'liked' the Facebook page of A Total Waste of Blog. You can do that at the top right of this page, or you can do it here. And you see all those buttons under the title of this post? That's how you share this thing. Get to it.

The Bobby/Whitney Drama Continues With Spurrier/Garcia

Spurrier is in love with this guy?

Couldn't have scripted it better myself.

Always one to keep us all entertained, Steve Spurrier revealed on his weekly radio program last night that he will start Connor Shaw over ninth year senior Stephen Garcia. Both would play in Saturday's game, but Shaw would be on the field first.

"I said way back we're going to have a preseason competition to see who the starter is going to be (the) first game," Spurrier said. "We've gone through preseason, so it's over. The guy who rated the best was Connor Shaw. He played better than Stephen Garcia. Simple as that. So he's going to start the game."

SOS went on...

"(Shaw) is going to play the first quarter and Stephen's going to play the second quarter," Spurrier said. "And we're going to see what happens after that. That's the fair way to do it."

If you didn't spend too much time thinking about it, you'd say that Garcia must be pissed. But Garcia's a different bird. I'm not sure this dude is down with learning lessons. Particularly if Garcia ends up playing in the game anyway. He's never really struck me to be one to take much from a repercussion-less lesson.

I also believe that Garcia gets a fairly bad rap. The best I can tell, he's just like about six or seven dozen of my friends in college, only probably much cooler and much more popular. He just happens to be the quarterback of the football team. But getting drunk and naked with a bunch of other girls while in college? I'll admit that in college I did at least one of those two things. This kid has fully embraced the college experience. We should all be so lucky.

But it's obviously been a bumpy ride for Coach and QB. Which leads me to wonder that with all the great college QBs that Steve Spurrier has coached - how good must Stephen Garcia be for him Spurrier to put up with all of it? He's still on the team, after all, and he's got a kid - presumably - in Connor Saw that has played better than Garcia. Why keep allowing Garcia back on the team after all the trouble and suspensions?

Maybe SOS thinks that Stephen Garcia is awesome, and he's just waiting for him to break out in a Manning-type of way. (Peyton, not Eli.)

Like Whitney and Bobby,
Spurrier and Garcia can't quit each other.

Probably not, but it makes you wonder why SOS puts up with it all.

Is there a more dysfunctional relationship in college football? Spurrier & Garcia draws comparisons to Bobby & Whitney, Ronnie & Sammi, Lindsay Lohan & Samantha Ronson... It's our own college football soap opera.

Wildly entertaining. Thanks for getting our season off to a great start, Ball Coach! Should be another fun one.

The NCAA Is Really Starting to Piss Me Off

If I can put a crappiness scale rating to the NCAA on this, I'd put it at extremely crappy. Not very creative, but appropriate.

The NCAA has decided that there are eligibility questions with three Boise State Broncos, less than 36 hours before they start the season against Georgia in this year's Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Not exactly low-profile. Dr. Saturday has the nice recap.

Does this really have to happen now? Just what has the NCAA been doing all summer - these guys didn't just show up this past week.

If only the NCAA could be as ready
to start the season as Boise State.

(I'm not necessarily a Boise State fan, so I don't want this to come across as sour grapes through my blue-colored glasses. I usually find myself pulling for them, because for years they have been an excellent agent of chaos for the BCS and college football, and do I ever love chaos. Pro-Boise State is just like being anti-BCS. And that works for me.)

Chris Peterson (via The Idaho Statesman):

The three are being held out of the game due to a review of their NCAA eligibility. The review is not academic or violation of team rules.

This isn't a violation of team rules, it's nothing that the player brought upon himself in the past few days. He didn't kick anyone in the head.

I recall a similar situation last year with Ole Miss and Jeremiah Masoli. It had been known for months that he was going to transfer to Ole Miss. He transferred, enrolled in his graduate school classes, practiced... then the week before the opening game the NCAA declared him ineligible. Then a day or two later, reversed their decision. Ole Miss lost to Jacksonville State that weekend. The team had been jerked around, unable to focus and prepare properly (they had to figure out just who was going to play QB, after all) - and their season was lost from the opening weekend.

Because the NCAA finally got around to looking into whether or not Masoli could transfer and remain eligible. (Although, by the rules, he qualified with everything that the graduate school transfer rules called for. It should have never been in doubt.)

When the NCAA does stuff like this, it can ruin a season. Because one loss can completely ruin your chances at a national title, and without that goal still in reach, the rest of the games aren't as important anymore. Before long, players realize that they really aren't playing for anything anymore (perhaps pride, themselves, sure - if you want to put sunshine on it), and the complacency rolls in and the season is truly lost.

I've heard all the excuses about being understaffed, blah blah blah. Hire more people. (Or outsource your investigations to Yahoo! Sports - they seem to be more on top of things.) The NCAA is involved with billion-dollar television contracts and apparel sales, and as I understand it, there are a few people out there now looking for jobs. It makes no sense for this to happen to a team now, hours before kickoff.

You and I know that Ole Miss wasn't going to win the BCS title last year. But Boise this year?

Sooner or later, this kind of stuff is going to really cost somebody...

And of course, if you'd like to follow me on Twitter, you can do so: @harry_long. I'd also appreciate it if you 'liked' the Facebook page of A Total Waste of Blog. You can do that at the top right of this page, or you can do it here. And you see all those buttons under the title of this post? That's how you share this thing. Get to it.

Tonight, I'm Punting On State

I have no idea what's going on with Mississippi State. Twitter's abuzz that State has to sit 10 or so guys, and one of them is DT Fletcher Cox. Vegas took the game off the board for about 20-30 minutes, and the line has dropped a point and a half. (Opened at 27', got all the way up to 31, now back to 29'.)

I have no idea what this all means, though I still know that Memphis is still terrible.

Because of the drama, we're punting on State.

But, because of all the hullabaloo, we'll back off and punt on today's play and go across the dial. Today's Play and kickoff to making money on college football...

UNLV/Wisconsin UNDER 56'.

Call whoever you need to call, do what you need to do.

Good luck.

And of course, if you'd like to follow me on Twitter, you can do so: @harry_long. I'd also appreciate it if you 'liked' the Facebook page of A Total Waste of Blog. You can do that at the top right of this page, or you can do it here. And you see all those buttons under the title of this post? That's how you share this thing. Get to it.

Football Season Has Arrived - Everybody Dance!!

Everybody get down!

For more intense analysis such as this, why not follow me on Twitter: @harry_long. I'd also appreciate it if you 'liked' the Facebook page of A Total Waste of Blog. You can do that at the top right of this page, or you can do it here. And you see all those buttons under the title of this post? That's how you share this thing. Get to it.