Touchdown Maker Baker

Congratulations to quarterback Baker Mayfield of the Oklahoma Sooners in winning the 2017 Heisman Trophy.

Mayfield is the sixth Sooner to win the award, and the first walk on player to ever win the award.

The voting was chalk this year, with Mayfield's victory was the third largest.

We do not have a Heisman vote, but if we had one, our top five was as follows:

1.    Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2.    Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
3.    Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
4.    McKenzie Milton, QB, UCF
5.    Saquon Barkley,  RB, Penn State

Rockford Rides On

It was just back in April I noted an interesting story in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the gold 1974 Pontiac Firebird Esprit featured in televisions hit show, The Rockford Files. James Garner played Jim Rockford, a likeable down on his luck private investigator.

 

James Garner in 74 Pontiac Firebird/Photos GM Acdhives

Sadly, over the weekend, we learned of the death of James Garner, who among other stellar roles, was well known for his portrayal of private investigator Jim Rockford in NBC's The Rockford Files.
Garner, tall and handsome, player the role brilliantly, in many ways acting like himself.

Garner, also well known for his Maverick role, was much more than a heartthrob actor.  He was a war hero, winning a purple heart in the Korean War.  Garner was sadly described as a lifelong Democrat, was a very good golfer, playing in many pro-am tournaments and was heavily involved in auto racing, owning LeMans teams and driving the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 on several occasions.  He was also an Oklahoma Roughneck, cheering the Sooners on each fall Saturday.

I did meet him very briefly back in the early eighties at a golf function, and he seemed larger than life at the time.  Certainly, we enjoyed his work, are grateful for his service to our great nation, and will miss him.  

The Time Has Come

The time has come. A clash of titans at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on Seminole Saturday Night!



The time has come. This ain't their time, THIS IS OUR TIME! GO SEMINOLES!

Top 25

College Football

Forwarded from our good friend Boofus S. Bulldog is a copy of CBS Sports Tony Barnhart's Thanksgiving Day column, which is a must read for all fans of the color and pageantry of NCAA College Football. Read it HERE

Top 25

1. Auburn, 12-0, 2
2. Oregon, 11-0, 1
3. Texas Christian, 12-0, 4
4. Wisconsin, 11-1, 5
5. Stanford, 11-1, 6
6. Ohio State, 11-1, 8
7. Michigan State, 11-1, 11
8. Arkansas, 10-2, 12
9. Oklahoma, 10-2 14
10. Virginia Tech, 10-2, 13
11. Nebraska, 10-2, 15
12. LSU, 10-2, 7
13. Boise State, 10-1, 3
14. Oklahoma State, 10-2, 9
15. Alabama, 9-3, 10
16. Missouri, 10-2, 16
17. South Carolina, 9-3, 17
18. Texas A&M, 9-3, 18
19. Nevada, 10-1, 19
20. Florida State, 9-3, 22
21. Mississippi State, 8-4, 23
22. West Virginia, 8-3, NR
23. Maryland, 8-4, NR
24. North Carolina State, 8-4, 21
25. Arizona, 7-4, 20

OUT: Iowa (24) & Florida (25).

VOTES: Iowa, Florida, Hawaii, Central Florida, Penn State, Northern Illinois, Utah, Baylor & Georgia.

Alabama thought they had Auburn knocked out, but off the canvas Cam Newton and the Tigers came to deal the Tide a bitter defeat for the ages, complete with with a TKO of Tide signal caller Greg McElroy with time running out.... Texas, a year ago playing of the national title, is 5-7 and will not go bowling after losing on Thanksgiving to A&M. Longhorn faithful are really scratching their heads on this bizarre season....Baylor is going bowling....Missouri belted Kansas, and for the Jayhawks, thank goodness the hardwood game is underway....Boise State let loose a 24-7 halftime lead and then missed two chip shot field goals to fall at Nevada in overtime, ending any potential BCS championship dreams for the Broncos....Maryland won a big one at home against NC State, sending Florida State to the ACC title game against Virginia Tech....Arkansas and LSU had another wild one, with the Hogs winning....Mississippi State won The Egg Bowl capping off a very soild season....Iowa lost to lowly Minnesota, getting punted on the stat sheet in addition to the scoreboard, concluding a very disappointing campaign for the Hawkeyes, who were in most pre-season top tens. Iowa joins Florida, Texas and Miami for the biggest diappointment of 2010. Victim says it is Texas.

Randy Shannon has been fired at Miami in a decision that had to be made after the Hurricanes, before a sparse crowd even by their low standards, dropped to South Florida in overtime. As a 'Nole, I had hoped Shannon would keep his job, but this was an ugly afternoon all around for the "U", so everyone saw this coming. I think the Hurricanes made a big mistake moving to SunLife Stadium from the now flattened Orange Bowl. The home field advantage at SunLife, 40 minutes north of the campus, is non existent. Miami needs to find the real state to build an on campus 50K seat stadium like what UCF built in Orlando. This program, in only small part due to Shannon, is nothing like what it used to be. Tomahawk Nation had a great article on the 'Canes program and the reality that it may be unwilling to compete at the level needed to regain the past glory.

Vanderbilt's highly thought of Coach Robbie Caldwell surprisingly resigned, and this looks like a great spot for Shannon to land....Speaking of coaches with a burning chair, RichRod is again atop the list ( Stanford coach and former Wolverine QB Jim Harbaugh comes home?) which should include Dabo Swinney at Clemson, where 6-6 is not going to get it....This was supposed to be a strong year for Pittsburgh with several starters returning, but it has been a disaster. One has to wonder if AD Steve Peterson is leading Pitt into decline like he did at Nebraska (he is) and if Wannstedt may join Bill Callahan back in the NFL.

In the final game between the departing teams of the Big XII, Nebraska used a strong performance by running back Rex Burkhead to smash the visiting Colorado Buffaloes. Replacing the Buffs for a rivalry game will be Iowa as the 'Huskers move to the Big Ten. Now, it is on to the Big XII Championship game in Dallas to take on the Oklahoma Sooners, who won Bedlam at Okie State. Nebraska-Oklahoma will play the final Big XII game, and that is exactly how it should be. GBR!

Florida State is 2010 state champs, smothering Florida 31-7 in Tallahassee. How Bout Them 'Noles?

PHOTO: (Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel / November 26, 2010)

Nebraska Secures Stability in Big Ten

In December, The Big Ten Conference released a press release signaling their hopes to expand, which seemed to center around two goals; landing Notre Dame and securing two divisions which would culminate in a conference championship game. Instantaneously, Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton made public proclamation that the Missouri Tigers were more than interested. That left Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne contemplating a turn of events that could lead The University of Nebraska, and it's storied football program, vulnerable.

Colorado had always been flirting with the PAC 10 conference, so with Missouri obviously seeking greener pastures, the Big XII North Division becomes real shaky. During the Big XII meetings, one item could have given the whole situation some clarity about the league remaining in tact going forward, and that was the television rights. The University of Texas, who thinks they are the big fish in the pond, and they are, was set on doing their own television deal and would not commit to assigning the media rights to the conference for the long term. If you are looking to preserve the Big XII, that was the wrong answer.

During this time period, Nebraska and The Big Ten Conference began discussing a possible relationship. Given the turmoil brewing around the Big XII, Nebraska appeared set to making the move. Seemingly before a deal was finalized, Colorado, the "declared" rival of Nebraska, announced their intention to move to the PAC 10. At this point, although Nebraska appeared set to move anyhow, the Cornhuskers had no alternative now. On Friday, Nebraska was accepted as the 12 member of The Big Ten. "The Big Ten offered stability," UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said, "the Big 12 could not offer." CBS Sports.com writer Dennis Dodd sums up the events quite nicely.

I have never been a big fan of Big Ten football and I think teams from this conference are usually overrated. Therefore, from a football standpoint, I am not real happy. But this was about much more than football, and overall this is an outstanding move by the University of Nebraska. Nebraska football will be fine, and while UNL has a good academic reputation (even in the sports teams), the University will benefit in a big way academically. On the gridiron, I think Nebraska will win quite frequently and annually challenge for the conference title.

Unfortunately, as a college football traditionalist who appreciates the color and pageantry of the game and who is not looking for a playoff system, this is bad news for the game. The shifting of teams has only just begun, and the ripple effect of these moves will be titanic. As with anything while we are still a nation of capitalists, there will be winners and losers. Among the teams that may come out short are Kansas and their storied basketball program, Missouri who helped get this started by dreaming ahead of themselves and Iowa State and Baylor, who are sadly looking homeless.

Perhaps the worst of this is what appears to be the death knell of the battle of the Big Reds, Nebraska vs. Oklahoma. The formation of the Big XII made this game a non annual tilt anyhow, but the teams could have always continued the rivalry by meeeting in the Big XII Championship game on off scheduled seasons. Now Nebraska gets another red team to deal with, Wisconsin. I just can't curb my excitement.

At the end of the day, due to the confluence of events, this was a move The University of Nebraska had to make. Look out Man, Woman and Child, here come the 'Huskers. The Big Ten is impressive, but There is no place like Nebraska!

NCAA Penalties Off Balance

After waiting several months, on Friday afternoon, Florida State University received word on the findings and penalties of the NCAA investigation into an academic fraud case from back in 2007.

According to FSU, Florida State University officials said that "they are pleased that the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Committee on Infractions accepted the findings of its investigative committee and acknowledged that nearly all of the penalties self-imposed by the university were appropriate".

The NCAA went a step further, however, and ruled Florida State must vacate all wins in which ineligible athletes in 10 sports competed. In this case, wins will not turn to losses, it will be as if these games had never been played.

Since FSU immediately suspended all players involved upon learning of the problems, which is in line with NCAA guidelines, "We just don't understand the sanction to vacate all wins in athletics contests in which student-athletes competed because we did not allow anyone who we knew was ineligible to compete," FSU President T. K. Wetherell said in a statement.

I am with T.K. here, because first on the list of those to feel the pain of this particular ruling is football coach Bobby Bowden. Coach Bowden, 78, is in a batte with Penn State Coach Joe Paterno as the winningest coach of all time, with Bowden 1 game back prior to this ruling. Given the age of Coach Bowden, this essentially hands the record to Paterno as Bowden would lose 14 victories.

It is most unfortunate these events happened, and those charged with preventing this type of fraud on the academic side were dismissed, including former AD Dave Hart. But, they did, and there are consequences for actions and sometimes folks away from the events suffer as well. No competitive advantage was ever gained from this situation and it was promptly dealt with, to NCAA guidelines, immediately upon FSU having knowledge.

While media pundits around the state feel, and I agree, that the penalties could have been much worse, the vacating of wins forces Bowden to be unfairly stigmatized and face the heaviest penalty. This action by the NCAA is over reaching, as evidenced by a very similar case Oklahoma faced a few years back.

I have known Coach Bowden for over 25 years. For those who have never been in contact with him, he is exactly what you see on television, a competitive, kind and humorous gentleman. Most important to him is his Christian faith and his family, and yes, the Seminole family. I have great respect for him and admire him very much as not only as Coach, but as an individual.

I hope FSU is successful in appealing this part of the sanctions levied, for Coach Bowden is undeserving of this stigma and losing a chance at the record as decided by some suits in Kansas. I am fairly certain Bowdens fans are more worried about it that he is.

I look forward to seeing Coach Bowden in May when he visits Orlando and to putting this unfortunate incident behind the Seminole faithful, of which I am proudly one. Go 'Noles!

College Footballs Most Prestigious by ESPN

After extensive research using a complex formula derived by the research team at ESPN, the network has unveiled the most prestigious college football programs in America, with the data used beginning in 1936, which is the first year a national champion was declared by The Associated Press.

It obviously can be argued the formula has flaws, but after reviewing it I think the researchers did a wonderful job evaluating the programs. The point system is elaborate, issuing points for major bowl games, Heisman winners and even deducts points for NCAA penalties.

Here in the Sunshine State, The Florida State Seminoles edged out Miami, FL as the most prestigious in the state, coming in 9th. Miami is 10th, while Florida is 15th.

Nebraska was fifth, Notre Dame fourth, Ohio State third and Southern Cal second.

Ivan Maisel gives you the breakdown of the Top 5:


The winner is the Oklahoma Sooners. My boy Bent found it necessary to celebrate the news. Boomer Sooner!

The Heisman

Sam Bradford, quarterback of the top ranked Oklahoma Sooners, won the Heisman Memorial Trophy Saturday night in Manhattan. The three finalists were all very deserving as they all had brilliant seasons and possess top notch leadership skills.

My ballot, if I had one, would have been as follows:

1. Colt McCoy, Texas
2. Tim Tebow, Florida
3. Sam Bradford,Oklahoma

I landed on McCoy primarily distancing himself based on his completion percentage, which was mind boggling. And before my Gator fans cry foul, I would have voted Tebow in '07 simply on his astounding numbers.

All three of these young competitors are superior representatives for their respective universities, college football and life in general. We could learn a lot from these outstanding young men, each of whom has remaining eligibility. This is not good for those who compete against Florida, and that just happens to be my boys. Congratulations Sam! Boomer Sooner!

Rivalry Renewed

On Saturday, one of the greatest rivalries in college football will be renewed. The Nebraska Cornhuskers will visit Owen Field in Norman, Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma Sooners.
Oklahoma recently lost former signal caller Jack Mildren to disease, shown here eluding 'Husker DB Joe Blahak.

Officials at Oklahoma have invited former players and coaches from "The Game of the Century" in 1971 to come back for a reunion. It is being well received on both sides. This was a fantastic contest of two stellar teams, and it is correctly identified as the greatest college game of the day. Oklahoma greats from Gregg Pruitt to Jon Harrison will be mingling with 'Huskers Rich Glover, Larry Jacobson and Heisman Trophy Winner Johnny 'The Jet' Rodgers. Everyone is looking forward to sharing the memories. It does appear that the Sooners will be a bit to strong for Nebraska to contend with on the field this year, but that is why they play the game.

A first half punt return by Johnny Rodgers, otherwise known as JR Superstar, electrified the crowd back in 1971, and you can have a look at it yourself. That was indeed NOT a clip for those of you wondering. GBR!

Sooner Socialism

In sports, and in life, it is competition that keeps your fire burning. In a sense, the Celtics need the Lakers, Oklahoma needs Texas and the Red Sox need the Yankees. This is true politically as well, and the Republicans do in fact need the Democrats, or an adequate substitute. The old Democratic Party no longer exists, as it has been high jacked.

Although there were some real questionable cats back in day, like Adali Stevenson, George McGovern, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis, there were also members of congress who had common sense and worked for and considered America first.

In the current presidential election, it appears the Democrats will end up putting forth the most liberal member of the Senate, who is essentially a community activist, one who associates with some real scary folk. Although he is first term US Senator, he has been running for President for at least two of the three years he has been in congress, leaving him with little experience on the national scene.

As I take note of the rhetoric of the party leaders these days, I see defeatism with respect to the global war on terror, an erroneous attitude towards our enemies reminiscent of Jimmy Carter, income and wealth redistribution, the idea of free healthcare for everyone and an economic policy bordering on socialism, complete with the raising of taxation on capital gains “due to fairness”.

I recall John F. Kennedy famously putting forth “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you could do for your country”. That thought has our citizens competing with another for jobs, in job performance and providing service in the community when able, which gives us a good sense of being. Competition brings out the best in us, and if we fail, we learn and persevere. The new Democrats apparently seek the opposite of what Kennedy sought, having the country provide for you through socialist programs, thus killing American pride and spirit.

I don’t recall the OU Sooners giving Texas a few touchdowns “in a sense of fairness”. If I am a Longhorn, or an American, I would not want them to!

By the way, is there a spot waiting for JC Watts in the McCain administration?