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NCAA Football News
Week 2 College Football Conference Power Rankings
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and for some FBS conferences, that could be their ultimate undoing.
The 2013 college football season kicked off last weekend, pitting nonconference opponents against one another in almost every case. Unlike midseason contests, where each league's wins and losses are zero-sum, the first few weeks provide a chance to make a statement.
Once conference play kicks off, leagues that acquitted themselves poorly will have to wait for bowl season to avenge their reputation.
These are the weeks that really count.
What Does It Say About Mack Brown That He Didn't Recruit Jameis Winston?
The first weekend of the college football season came to a close Monday night with one of the most impressive performances over the past few days.
Jameis Winston, Florida State's redshirt freshman quarterback, diced up Pitt's defense in his first career start by going 25-of-27 for 356 yards and racking up five total touchdowns (four passing, one rushing).
He had help. Winston's offensive line gave him a mostly clean pocket throughout the night and receivers were generally wide open. A ground game that averaged almost five yards per carry made play-action much more effective.
Still, Winston demonstrated superb athletic ability and made some nice throws. To say it was a solid debut would be underselling it. While it's just one game, it looks like Winston is primed for a must-see TV career with the Seminoles.
So it's only natural Winston's connection to Texas head coach Mack Brown—or lack thereof—was brought up Monday night.
And, in fact, Winston did admit in an article from al.com last year that he had prior interest in the Longhorns. But he says he never received a scholarship offer (Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com do not show Texas as one of Winston's college choices, let alone an offer).
"The school I'd be committed to now over everyone else never offered," Winston said. "I loved Texas. I grew up watching Vince Young.
Texas even has a great baseball program. The first tape I asked our coaches to send out was to Texas. The only school I called was Texas."
For what it's worth, a source at UT told Bruce Feldman of CBSSports on Tuesday morning that they did reach out to Winston's high school coach, but they didn't think Winston was seriously interested.
Feldman followed up on that tweet with a story that says Winston called Texas "four or five" times but didn't hear back. From Geoff Ketchum at Orangebloods.com to Travis Haney of ESPN.com, just about everyone seems to have a different version of what happened.
Almost every story has three sides: one side, the other side and the truth.
What is known is that Winston ultimately chose between Alabama and Florida State coming out of high school. Would an offer from Texas at any point in time have changed that? Maybe, maybe not. Here's what Winston said in the same al.com interview:
"It's about relationships," he said. "I dreamed about Texas, but if they came with an offer now I couldn't consider it. I don't know those coaches and the time between now and signing day is not enough time to get to know them."
The Longhorns signed one quarterback in the 2012 class: Connor Brewer from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Brewer, a four-star prospect according to Rivals.com, only lasted one year in Austin. Brewer tweeted over the summer that he was transferring to Arizona.
It was another swing and a miss in the grand narrative about Mack Brown recruiting Joe Quarterback to play defensive back for the Longhorns...if he recruited him at all. And it was only made worse when the news about Winston's one-time interest in Texas was dredged up again Monday night.
There is some validity to the joke, though. And sometimes it writes itself. This is what Brown had to say about FCS teams during Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference:
The most popular stories in the narrative involve Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel and former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, both Heisman winners who were reportedly viewed as athletes in the eyes of Texas.
"I don't remember what the conversations (about Griffin) were," Brown said via a 2011 piece from the San Antonio Express-News. "Which is bad."
Even Andrew Luck from Stratford High School in Houston, Texas, couldn't get an offer from the Longhorns, according to both ESPN.com and the Austin-American Statesman.
The list could go on, but really, this has become a question of where the criticism of Brown's (in)ability to sign top quarterbacks is specifically merited, and where it isn't.
Recruiting, at its core, is a game of roulette. Sometimes you nail it, oftentimes you don't. Before Texas' current quarterback quandary, Brown had two remarkable players come through Austin back-to-back in Vince Young and Colt McCoy. As far as quarterback play is concerned, Texas swung from one end of the spectrum to another in a matter of a year.
As Bomani Jones of ESPN points out, not recruiting Manziel or RGIII isn't the worst thing Brown's ever done. There are a lot of recruits in the state of Texas. Not everyone's going to grab the attention of the folks in Austin.
Were they still oversights? Sure, but you know what they say about hindsight. It's not like Manziel was heavily recruited by all the Big 12 schools out of high school anyway. Aggies beat writer Brent Zwerneman even notes on Manziel's Heisman website that Manziel didn't initially catch the eye of Texas A&M's staff. And Kevin Sumlin? The coach who receives a lot of credit (along with Kliff Kingsbury) for Manziel's instant success? That wasn't his player when he came to College Station in 2012.
As for RGIII, he was closely tied to playing quarterback for Art Briles when Briles was at Houston and followed him to Waco when he took the Baylor job in 2008. Even if Texas had made a run at him, it would appear the current starting quarterback of the Washington Redskins had his heart set on playing for Briles.
Where Brown deserves criticism—and he certainly gets it—is putting all his football-shaped eggs in the Garrett Gilbert basket while letting a prospect like Luck completely go by unnoticed. During that period, one backup, Connor Wood, transferred to Colorado. Wood didn't see any playing time with the 'Horns, but he racked up 400 yards passing and three touchdowns for the Buffaloes in Sunday's win over Colorado State.
Clearly he has some ability, but Wood was buried in the depth chart at UT behind David Ash and Case McCoy.
Ash is a junior now and there's a growing amount of pressure for him to have a breakout year. Ash ranked 14th last year in the nation in total QBR, per ESPN.com stats, but consistency is an area in which he does need to improve.
In any case, Ash isn't typically regarded as the game-changer like Colt McCoy and Young were. Not yet anyway.
Could Winston have been that game-changer for the Longhorns? The belief that UT apparently didn't even try with one of the most highly regarded high school players in the country who was, in his own words, interested, is troubling. On the other hand, maybe Winston wasn't as interested as he says he was.
We'll probably never know for sure.
Of course, this narrative could all go away if Tyrone Swoopes, the highly regarded freshman, steps up to have a monster career. He showed flashes during UT's spring game, but he doesn't figure to see a lot of playing time this year, if any.
Whether Swoopes pans out remains to be seen, however. For now, there were likely several Texas (and Alabama) fans watching Florida State on Monday night and wondering what could have been.
And they have every right to wonder.
Ben Kercheval is the lead writer for Big 12 football. All quotes obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise. You can follow Ben on Twitter @BenKercheval.
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Ohio State Football: 26-0 Is a Tall Task for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes
Anytime an immense amount of hype is met with some serious results in a college football-crazed town like Columbus, the expectations naturally expand. This is exactly what Ohio native, Urban Meyer, did in his first season as the head coach of Ohio State.
The Buckeyes were following up a historically bad season in 2011 that all began with the dismissal of head coach Jim Tressel and his star QB Terrelle Pryor. Just a season earlier, the pair had defeated Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl (a victory that was later vacated by the NCAA) and was expected to compete for a national championship in 2011.
Of course, the turmoil that followed this bowl "victory" is well-documented and would change the entire face of the OSU program.
By the time the Luke Fickell-led Buckeyes had fallen to their arch rivals, Michigan, for the first time in several years, the rumor mill was already churning Urban Meyer's name at a ridiculous rate. Sure enough these rumors materialized into reality in the next few days and Buckeye Nation could hardly contain themselves.
Of course there were some speculators upon Meyer's hiring. However, the majority of these doubters were silenced when the new head coach and his staff managed to resurrect a subpar recruiting class into one of the best-assembled in the nation in just three months. This impressive showcase of recruiting prowess caught the fans' attention, and the hype surrounding this new-start program really began to build.
However, this was just the beginning.
Meyer and his staff immediately changed the culture of the football program that had just finished 6-7 the year before and molded the Buckeyes into a resilient and competitive unit. Heading into their first season under Urban Meyer, the players spoke confidently and raved about the coach's tactics and objectives.
Obviously the new head coach did something right because his troops marched directly to a 12-0 record in 2012, Meyer's second undefeated season as a head coach and the first unscathed season at OSU since 2002.
Then the hype floodgates burst wide open.
Despite losing some key players in the defensive front seven, the Buckeyes return plenty of key starters including Heisman-candidate QB Braxton Miller. Combine this with two impeccable recruiting classes under Meyer's belt at OSU, and in return, you're number two in this year's preseason poll.
Many analysts have cited Ohio State as a very possible national championship contender and a team that could potentially end the SEC's seven years of dominance; and why not?
Urban Meyer has dominated historically in his second season at previous programs. With more experience in the spread offense and a plethora of weapons to utilize, Miller looks primed to contend for a Heisman and lead one of the best offenses in the nation. Sure the defense has a few new faces across the front seven but some of those faces are Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington, two true sophomores with limitless potential. The Buckeyes were also fortunate enough to keep their coaching staff intact over the offseason, which can't be overlooked.
There are plenty of compelling arguments to make for OSU and their very possible chance of another undefeated season. So should Buckeye Nation start booking their tickets to Pasadena for the final national championship of the BCS era?
Not so fast.
Before you snag your non-refundable plane ticket to the west coast, observe the task placed before Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes.
The core of this team hasn't lost in over a year and carries the longest active winning streak in college football into the 2013 season. In order to win a national championship this season, Braxton Miller and company must extend their winning streak all the way to 26-0, which would cement these Buckeyes in college football history.
For starters, it would surpass the longest winning streak in Ohio State's history that stands at 22-0. This streak was set by "super sophomores," like Rex Kern, and stretched from 1967-1969. That Woody Hayes-led team dominated their era and even the legend himself called it the best team he ever coached.
Only five teams in the history of the Big Ten have won 25 consecutive games or more, the most recent team being the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1994-1996. Is this Ohio State team truly one of the greatest units to ever play in their conference's rich history?
In fact, only five teams in the past 25 years have won 26 or more consecutive games. These teams include dynasties like the Miami Hurricanes of the early 2000's and the Cornhuskers of the mid 90's. We're talking about juggernaut teams that really dominated the sport during their time and unloaded their rosters into the NFL.
Are the 2013 Buckeyes capable of something that legendary?
It takes something special to finish a season undefeated, but it takes a type of team you'll only see a handful of times in your life to reach 26-0. Sure the Buckeyes have every reason to believe they can run the table again. They have a manageable schedule with a Heisman trophy candidate at QB and one of the best coaches in college football at the helm.
However, in order to accomplish their goals and complete what they have personally labeled "The Chase," the Buckeyes must go on a tangent rarely seen in their sport. If Meyer and his Buckeyes can manage to reach their goal and defeat all in their path again, they will go down as not only the best team in program history, but one of the most dominant teams in the past 30 years.
Does this team have what it takes to establish themselves as one of the best in history?
"The Chase" has just begun. How will this team be remembered?
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Notre Dame vs. Michigan: Devin Gardner Is Perfect Mix of Run, Pass
Recent memories of games between Notre Dame and Michigan usually involve Denard Robinson running for his life, throwing ridiculous last second touchdowns or throwing up arm punts—either way, Michigan found ways to win three of the last four meetings between these two schools.
Just don't call them rivals though, right Brian Kelly?
So, as No. 17 Michigan plays host to No. 14 Notre Dame for the last time in the foreseeable future there will be no chance of Robinson and his late game heroics as he finally graduated (wasn't that guy around for like a decade in Ann Arbor?).
That means its time for Devin Gardner to get a taste of what this game is like as a quarterback, and in recent times, it's a game that has been insanely close. Over the last four meetings these two teams have been separated by a measly 4.75 points.
If the recent trend continues this year, Michigan fans shouldn't have too much to worry about from their new starting quarterback.
Why? Well, because while Robinson may have pulled some heroics, his unsteady nature and up and down play was what caused a lot of the closeness of the past few years, and this year's starter, Devin Gardner, is anything but uneven.
In fact, Gardner's steady nature really comes from his ability to know how to mix the passing game and running game at the right times.
What do I mean by his ability to mix the passing game and running game? Isn't he just running plays as they are called by Al Borges?
Yes and no. Of course any QB is running plays called for them—that's a given. However, as we saw with Robinson over the past few years, there has to be an ability to improvise by a quarterback these days.
Unlike his predecessor though, Gardner isn't going to eschew the passing game just because he can run and he isn't going to take off and run just because he doesn't see his first option wide open in the passing game either.
Instead, Gardner appears to have a great handle on exactly when to stick with the play called and when to fold it in and take off.
Last week against Central Michigan, Gardner was 10-15 (66.7 percent) for 162 yards passing with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also ran for 52 yards on seven carries with two touchdowns.
While Gardner had some rust in the first half (those two interceptions prove that), he appears to be well aware that you can not do that against the Fighting Irish.
As the saying goes, the devil is in the details though. He was super efficient in the passing game last Saturday and he knew his place more often than not in the running game as well.
In fact, Gardner was one of three Michigan players to rush for more than 50 yards against the Chippewas, showing the college football world that while this offense may be more pro-style, they won't be afraid to let players use their talents either.
What is perhaps most impressive about Gardner's game is his ability to be extremely efficient in the areas that matter most—third downs and in the red zone.
According to Josh Slater of MLive.com Gardner has done the following:
With Gardner at quarterback last season, Michigan scored on all 18 of its trips inside their opponents' red zone, including 15 TDs. Against the Chippewas, the Wolverines scored on all seven red zone trips, with six touchdowns.
Michigan converted 50.3 percent of its third downs in 2012, which was sixth nationally and tops in the Big Ten. On Saturday, the Wolverines were 10 of 15.
Gardner, a 60 percent passer on third down last season, was 4 of 4 for 73 yards and a touchdown to Jeremy Gallon. His second rushing TD came on third down, too.
So, as Michigan takes on Notre Dame in a Top 20 battle at the Big House on Saturday it may be Gardner's ability to find the perfect mix of the pass, run and efficiency where it matters most that could win the game for the Maize 'N Blue.
*Andy Coppens is the lead Big Ten writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @andycoppens.
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College Football Picks: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Boston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles are 5-3 against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons since joining the ACC, which is important to consider when making your Week 2 college football picks Friday, as the two teams meet at Alumni Stadium.
Sports bettors will find that the Eagles are three-point home favorites in the NCAA football odds, with the betting total sitting at 48.5 in the market.
Let's take a closer look at this matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.
All gambling statistics via SBR Forum
Breaking Down the Best BCS Championship Games at Week 2
Alabama cruised to a 35-10 Week 1 victory over Virginia Tech, but the two-time defending BCS national champions weren't as dominant as expected. Still, the Crimson Tide remain the favorites to earn a trip to the Rose Bowl for the BCS title game.
Fellow national title favorite Ohio State wasn't overly impressive in its win over Buffalo, but with a favorable schedule, the Buckeyes still have an excellent shot at making it to the promised land.
Oregon once again showed why it is considered one of the best teams in the land with a dominant effort on both offense and defense.
Meanwhile, two ACC programs played well enough to enter the national title picture.
But do any of these teams have what it takes to challenge the dominance of Alabama the SEC?
B/R's New Penn State Writer Reveals Why He's Ted Roof's Biggest Fan
Is this real life?
I had interviewed recruits like Adam Breneman and Damion Terry before, but asking high school football players questions over the phone is easy.
This was different.
A few of the Penn State coaches were making their way around the northeastern corner of the country on a "coaches caravan," reaching out to alumni and fans to gain support and donations.
As a result, I found myself in a secluded room on the second floor of The City Club of Cleveland joined only by Jared Slanina of BlackShoeDiaries.com and Penn State head football coach Bill O'Brien. My first instinct was to run.
I thought, "I'm just a blogger. I don't want to waste his time." Upon arrival, I had two questions that I wanted to ask if there was time. Two well-constructed questions that would help me to blend in with the "real" media.
Except they didn't show up.
Instead, O'Brien sat a few feet away from us and answered questions for 17 minutes, when the two of us finally ran out requests for the new figurehead of Penn State University football.
In the coming months, I would have countless interactions with players and recruits but it was that evening when I realized I had the chops to do this.
Not only am I grateful to O'Brien for spending that time talking to a couple of guys he didn't owe anything to, but I owe him the confidence that I took with me into the Penn State media room following home games last fall.
Over the last couple years, I've spent time as the lead editor at VictoryBellRings.com and I've covered recruiting for both PennLive.com and the Centre County Gazette. I was also fortunate enough to work on a 2013 preview e-magazine with some of the best journalists on the Penn State beat.
While many of you have probably come across my work at some point, now that I'm here at Bleacher Report, I'd like to re-introduce myself with a little question and answer session. Feel free to shoot me extra questions if you'd like. I enjoy socializing.
Best athlete or coach to interview
I know this won't sit well with some Penn State fans but, for me, it's Ted Roof.
I spent time asking him questions after games last year every chance I got. I'm fascinated by defensive strategy and I thoroughly enjoyed picking his brain about certain decisions and personnel packages he used. He was always open and honest with me and I felt like he did a heck of a job with the roster he had in 2012.
When I approached him after the Wisconsin game, I asked about the 5-man front he used for the first time all year. He smiled and replied, "You liked that, didn't you?"
Best team covered
While 8-4 doesn't scream "greatness," the 2012 Penn State football team was a great unit to cover.
From the time the sanctions were handed down, until Sam Ficken hit the game-winner against Wisconsin, the players on that team served as an inspiration to many, myself included.
Early losses against Ohio and Virginia looked like the foreshadowing of a season to forget but later served as a reminder to never give up. With their backs against the wall, this Nittany Lions team rallied around each other and closed the season in near fairy tale fashion.
Most memorable game ever covered
The aforementioned Wisconsin game wins this award and it's really not close. It was Senior Day and the players wore 42 on their helmets as a tribute to Michael Mauti, who sat out with a torn ACL.
I was on the field for the last few minutes of regulation and the overtime which saw Sam Ficken redeem himself in grand fashion. The eruption in Beaver Stadium when the game ended sounded like a crowd sending their team to a championship.
In most years, an 8-4 team beating a 7-5 team wouldn't get any credit for being epic, but the emotions shown by the players following that game showed that the amount of wins was irrelevant.
That scene was a reminder that these players were young men trying to find their way, and they got caught up in something way bigger than themselves.
Will Christian Hackenberg keep the starting job all season?
Yes. At least, Penn State fans should hope so.
Bill O'Brien didn't take this decision lightly and it would take a lot for him to pull his freshman project. In the coming weeks, I expect to see a little more Tyler Ferguson sprinkled in but injuries aside, Christian Hackenberg is the quarterback of the present and the future.
Who is most responsible for replacing Mike Mauti and Gerald Hodges on defense?
The obvious answer is Mike Hull, who has replaced Mauti on the strong side.
However, as we saw in the first game, senior middle linebacker Glenn Carson has a chance to put his name among the list of greats to come through Linebacker U. Carson has now started 25 straight games and worked diligently to improve on his pass coverage, in order to become an every-down player.
His leadership on and off the field will be needed in the absence of guys like Mauti and Hodges.
What is Bill O'Brien's biggest concern in 2013?
Managing a freshman quarterback.
As we saw with Rob Bolden, there is more to grooming a young quarterback than conservative play-calling. BOB will need to do everything right to not only win games, but to bring Hackenberg along at the right pace. O'Brien and his blue chip quarterback will be forever linked and the head coach knows that needs to be a positive thing, for both of them.
Which running back will lead Penn State in rushing yards in 2013?
I think it has to be Zach Zwinak. For Hackenberg and this Penn State team to be successful, they'll need to establish a power running game. Who better to do that than the converted fullback with a 1,000-yard season already under his belt?
2013 Season Prediction for Penn State
There are going to be some growing pains this year as Hackenberg finds his groove. Luckily, the team was able to get out of New Jersey with a win and they now get a few weeks to settle in at home in winnable games.
The Nittany Lions have a great shot at starting out 5-0 but then the schedule gets exponentially more difficult. Can they pull an upset or two at home against Michigan or Nebraska? Can they find a way to win over Wisconsin on the last day of the season again? So much depends on the development of Hackenberg.
Final Prediction: 8-4
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Johnny Manziel Acted Like a 'Punk' vs. Rice, Says Brian Urlacher
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is the talk of college football for both positive and negative reasons following his Week 1 performance against Rice. The defending Heisman Trophy winner has already rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, including former Chicago Bears linebacker and current Fox Football Daily analyst Brian Urlacher, according to Ross Jones of FoxSports.com.
As seen in this video, the future Hall of Fame linebacker was complimentary of Manziel's skills, but he clearly believes that some of his antics are unnecessary:
He's such a good football player. You saw in the second half what he did, three touchdown passes and ran it pretty well. It's just too bad he had to act like that. I'm pulling for the guy, I want him to do well.
Urlacher stopped short of calling Manziel a "punk" directly, but he believes that Manziel came off looking like one on Saturday:
I'm not saying he's a punk, but he acted like a punk in that game. Like his coach said, guys are going to come after him all season long.
Things haven't exactly gone smoothly for Manziel since he became the first freshman to win the Heisman last year, as his offseason was rife with scandals. One came in July when he left the Manning Passing Academy early after missing several scheduled practices. While it was eventually written off as a case of Manziel being ill, rumors persist that "partying" could have played a role in his absence.
More significant was the investigation surrounding Manziel potentially being paid for signing autographs. The NCAA was unable to find any hard evidence of that type of exchange occurring, so it reached a compromise with Texas A&M. Since the NCAA contended that Manziel should have known his autographs would allow others to profit, he was suspended for the first half against Rice.
Manziel took the field in the second half with the Aggies leading the Owls 28-21, and he didn't waste any time making an impact. Johnny Football's Heisman form was on full display, as he threw for 94 yards, rushed for 19 more and threw three touchdowns as well.
However, some of the other things he did on the field overshadowed his performance in the game, including a celebration in which he rubbed his hands together to signify money, as seen in this GIF courtesy of Bleacher Report:
Manziel also seemed to reference the autograph scandal by making a signing motion in the direction of a Rice defensive player.
The worst offense came when referees flagged Manziel for unsportsmanlike conduct for arguing with Rice players. It didn't cost Texas A&M, as the game was well in hand, but head coach Kevin Sumlin certainly won't accept that type of behavior moving forward.
It's difficult to argue with Urlacher's assessment of Manziel. There is no question that he is an incredible talent, but he may have to turn down his bravado a bit if Texas A&M is going to reach its full potential this season.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter
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Georgia Kicker Marshall Morgan Suspended for Week 2 vs. South Carolina
Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan, the subject of a late-June intoxicated boating arrest, was suspended for the Bulldogs Week 1 game at Clemson and will remain inactive against South Carolina on Saturday.
According to Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald, head coach Mark Richt confirmed the suspension on the radio:
Morgan, a sophomore, made eight of 14 field goals and 63 of 67 extra points as a freshman last year. Those aren't earth-shattering numbers, but he is—supposedly—the best kicking option on the team and was/is being counted on to improve this season.
Walk-on sophomore Patrick Beless took his spot against Clemson and made all five of his extra-point attempts. He's the assumed starting kicker against South Carolina, though it's worth noting he still hasn't attempted an actual field goal in his career.
The one time Richt sent him out there, Georgia trailing 31-28, the snap on a 20-yard attempt was mishandled, and Georgia came up empty. Even though it wasn't Beless' fault, an error in the kicking game helped promote the Bulldogs' loss, leading many to (wrongly) expect Marshall's return in Week 2.
Earlier in the game, on 4th-and-4 at the Clemson 33-yard line, Richt elected to go for it rather than kicking a 50-yard field goal. The Bulldogs trailed 14-7 at the time (and the drive eventually ended in a touchdown), so it's hard to say whether Morgan's absence played a role in that. Truth be told, it probably didn't.
But Richt will stay just as aggressive on fourth downs against the Gamecocks.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Vanderbilt Football: The Commodores' Anchor Will Not Be Moved After Defeat
The Vanderbilt Commodores suffered a heartrending 39-35 defeat in Week 1 of the college football season to the Ole Miss Rebels on Thursday night, Aug. 29
The final quarter of the game was like an emotional roller coaster for the coaching staff, players and fan base.
After just one game, many have marked the Commodores off for the season. While they believe that Vanderbilt will still make a bowl game, hopes of another nine win season are over in their opinion.
However, the "anchor" dropped into Nashville over the past two seasons still holds plenty of weight and the Commodores are not going anywhere.
The Commodores are no longer the "Dore-mat" of the SEC and will rebound from this disappointing loss.
In my preseason selections, I had the Commodores going 9-4 with a win in the Gator Bowl. While their bowl outlook might have changed with the loss, I still think Vanderbilt will win nine games.
The defeat to Ole Miss did not change my opinion of this Commodores team. Perhaps most importantly, they have a coach in James Franklin who knows how to motivate his team and get them back on course after a setback.
Last season, Vanderbilt did not win its first game over a FBS school until Oct. 6. The Commodores started the season 1-3 with their lone win coming over FCS Presbyterian. After their first road win against the Missouri Tigers, the Commodores lost again, this time to the Florida Gators.
With the Commodores at 2-4, the critics were chanting, "Same old Vandy"
However, under Franklin, you can knock the Commodores down but you can't knock them out. Like their head coach, they are forever resilient.
Franklin kept his team focused and confident. The Commodores won seven straight games to finish the season, including a 38-24 win in the Music City Bowl over North Carolina State.
Can Vanderbilt still win nine games this season? A closer look at its remaining schedule has me believing it will.
The Commodores next host Austin Peay at Vanderbilt Stadium. The two schools are close in geographical proximity, but there is a vast difference in their talent level. The Commodores will dominate Austin Peay the same way the Tennessee Volunteers did this past week in a 45-0 win over the Governors.
The following week, the Commodores will travel to Williams-Brice Stadium to face the South Carolina Gamecocks. Vanderbilt will be an underdog, but don't count it out just yet. In all likelihood, the Commodores will begin preparation for the Gamecocks this week while South Carolina will be preparing for a slugfest with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Win or lose at Georgia, this is a trap game for South Carolina and the Commodores could pull off a major upset.
After South Carolina, the Commodores will have a three-game stretch where they will be favored in games against Massachusetts, UAB and Missouri. If they are able to win those three, they will be looking at either 5-1 or 4-2.
After the Missouri game, Vanderbilt will have a tough three-game stretch that includes Georgia, at Texas A&M and at Florida.
However, the Commodores have a bye week prior to facing Georgia and Florida looked very beatable in its opener. Even if they lose to South Carolina next week, the Commodores only need to win one of these three games to still be on track for nine wins.
Vanderbilt will complete the regular season with three more games that it will be favored in against Kentucky, Tennessee and Wake Forrest.
In other words, the Commodores' season is far from over. The Anchor remains strong and so does their resolve to win.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
FSU QB Jameis Winston Plays Way into Heisman Trophy Conversation in Week 1
If it wasn't for Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston might be shooting for college football history in 2013.
The redshirt freshman was nearly flawless in Week 1 and played his way into the Heisman Trophy consideration in the process. Unfortunately, reigning Heisman winner Manziel already paved the way when he became the first freshman to take the award.
However, nothing could be done by Manziel to take away from Winston's phenomenal debut.
In a 41-13 eradication of Pitt, Winston completed 25 of 27 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns. He also added another score on the ground and 25 rushing yards.
All of that production equates to a gargantuan quarterback rating of 252.23—the highest of any quarterback in Week 1. His completion percentage of 92.6 also stands as the second best in the FBS.
Winston has only played one game at the collegiate level, making it extremely early to tab him as the next big thing in the sport.
At the same time, there is no questioning that he is an elite talent and should be right in the thick of the Heisman conversation.
No player was as impressive as Winston through the entire weekend, a feat which should earn a heaping of praise no matter the time of year.
Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer said it best—set the bar high now and reevaluate as more sides of Winston show up throughout the season:
Winston will continue to be tested, and he will face opponents much tougher than Pitt, a team voted to finish near the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the preseason.
The Seminoles will undoubtedly be in the race for the ACC title against the other darling from Week 1, Clemson.
With Tajh Boyd at the helm for the Tigers and Winston now leading the Seminoles, Florida State's Oct. 19 trip to Death Valley may prove to be one of the biggest games of the season.
If Winston can best Boyd, a fifth-year senior, he will still have to guide the 'Noles through two rivalry tilts in November against Miami and Florida. If the freshman sensation keeps up his strong play through the long season, he'll have one more Heisman audition in the ACC title game.
With Winston playing well, Florida State looks like a top-10 team with the potential to be a national title contender—and if FSU remains in the spotlight, Winston's Heisman candidacy will only grow.
If you're already tired of the "Winston for Heisman" hoopla, you might want to leave the country, because it isn't going away anytime soon.
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Kansas State Football: Wildcats Still Have Bill Snyder, so They'll Be Just Fine
On the same day that a statue of Kansas State head football coach Bill Snyder was unveiled outside the very stadium named after him, the Wildcats lost their season opener to FCS opponent North Dakota State, 24-21, on Friday night.
The Bison are a good team, having won the past two Division 1 championships, but this was a game that K-State should have won. If nothing else, it was odd to see Snyder, a proclaimed wizard among college football coaches, lose like that in his own house.
A straight shooter, Snyder told reporters after the game, via David Ubben of Fox Sports Southwest, "Now will you believe me when I say we're not very good?"
Sure, there are some key departures from last year's Wildcats' team. Collin Klein and Arthur Brown immediately come to mind. But with all due respect to Snyder, to say this Kansas State team isn't very good is underselling its talent.
Are the Wildcats a BCS team again this year? Perhaps not, but as we noted last week in the Big 12 blog, that was going to be difficult to do anyway.
There are clearly areas in which K-State has to improve. The defense needs to be able to get off the field on third downs and the offensive line needs to be more physical off the snap.
But there were some bright spots in the loss, too. Snyder remarked on Monday during the Big 12 teleconference that quarterback Jake Waters managed the game well in his debut as a starter.
"We don't stray too far from what we're doing," Snyder said. "It's about getting better every day."
The Wildcats start off Big 12 play with two road games at Texas and Oklahoma State before hosting Baylor, but things get more manageable in the second half of the season.
K-State's next two games are against Louisiana-Lafayette and UMass. Both are winnable and both games allow the Wildcats to build some chemistry heading into their conference slate. Maybe some team leaders will begin to emerge on both sides of the ball. That was an area which was sorely lacking in the loss to North Dakota State.
Knowing how good Snyder is, this team should be better by Week 4 when it faces the Longhorns. The coach doesn't have his own statue for nothing. If you'll recall, K-State once struggled in its 2011 season- opening win over Eastern Kentucky. The Wildcats went to the Cotton Bowl that season.
When asked on Monday how he was doing, Snyder replied that he'd had better days.
Rest assured, he'll have them again before too long.
Ben Kercheval is the lead writer for Big 12 football. All quotes obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise. You can follow Ben on Twitter @BenKercheval.
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Nick O'Leary Will Become Florida State's Most Dangerous Red-Zone Threat in 2013
Florida State junior tight end Nick O'Leary made it clear before the season began that he wanted to "get a lot more balls this year" and become more involved in the Seminoles' passing attack, according to The Palm Beach Post's Tom D'Angelo. In the season opener at Pittsburgh on Monday night, the 6'3", 240-pound Palm Beach, Fla., native certainly lived up.
O'Leary only needed four receptions against the Panthers to score three touchdowns in Florida State's blowout win.
The grandson of legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, O'Leary wreaked havoc on Pittsburgh in the red zone, scoring on touchdown receptions from 24, two and 10 yards out.
Though he would finish with only 47 yards—fourth-most among all Florida State wide receivers vs. Pittsburgh—his ability to quickly shed coverage and get open in the red zone was ultimately what put the Panthers in an early hole.
But O'Leary's memorable Week 1 outing is no flash-in-the-pan performance. With freshman quarterback Jameis Winston now knowing he has a reliable red-zone safety valve in O'Leary, the third-year pass-catcher is sure to flourish into the Seminoles' most dangerous threat deep in opponents' territory.
Plus, since his freshman season in 2011, O'Leary has become a more utilized playmaker year after year.
After reeling in a dozen passes for 164 yards and a touchdown two seasons ago, O'Leary recorded 21 receptions for 252 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore in 2012. Even better, all four of O'Leary's touchdown receptions through his first two seasons came from 10 or fewer yards out.
Through one game in 2013, he already has as many touchdowns as he scored all of last season. That's not to say that O'Leary will find space and touchdowns nearly as easy to come by the rest of the year. But with upcoming home games against Nevada and Bethune-Cookman, the trending tight end will have a great shot to pad his numbers, develop more chemistry with Winston and gain some early-season confidence.
While Florida State's leading receiver, Rashad Greene, will continue to get a majority of the looks from Winston moving forward, when the Seminoles make their way into the red zone, there will be no mistaking who the first-year passer will be looking for.
The fact that only one of O'Leary's seven career touchdown passes has come from more than 10 yards out proves he is most comfortable and effective down around the goal line. In those scenarios, when the field is shortened, O'Leary's combination of size, strength and hands makes him the ideal red-zone target.
Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.
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Florida vs. Miami: Gators Confident in O-Line's Command
Florida's offensive line stained headlines in April for all the wrong reasons.
Only six of the Gators' 11 scholarship linemen were healthy at the time, and it was the lack of depth up front that forced Coach Will Muschamp to morph the annual spring game into the disappointing format of a spring practice.
But after their performance in a 24-6 defeat against Toledo Saturday, it's clear that Florida's O-line is rising as a threat that can control the clock and pave the way for an impactful backfield.
As Bleacher Report's David Kenyon previously highlighted, UF's offensive line paved the way for 262 rushing yards for a Florida team that averaged 5.5 yards per attempt Saturday. Versus the Rockets, the guys up front contributed to an impressive total possession time of 39 minutes and 48 seconds.
In head coach Will Muschamp's opening remarks during his press conference Monday, he highlighted the success of his men up front:
Scrap iron offensive linemen were Jon Harrison, Tyler Moore and Max Garcia. I thought all three of those guys played really well, really build come continuity with those guys up front. Tyler [Moore] and Max [Garcia] have been two really good additions for us.
Moore (right tackle) and Garcia (left guard) are surely two transfer linemen to look out for moving forward into the schedule. Moore, a 6'5", 320-pound redshirt sophomore, started four games at left tackle for Nebraska as a freshman before transferring to St. Petersburg Community College in the fall of last year due to lack of playing time.
Garcia, a 6'4", 307-pound junior, nabbed plenty of playing time as a left tackle at Maryland, starting all 12 games. However, the Norcross, Ga., native opted to spend the second half of his college career playing in a realm closer to his southern roots.
Florida's current starting O-linemen (Moore, Garcia, Harrison, Kyle Koehne and D.J. Humphries) were all listed as healthy during April's spring..."practice." Increased reps from a thin unit for these guys are proving to be a benefit for the Gators early on.
But their first true test arrives Saturday, which marks Florida's first road game of the season. While Toledo's defensive line was an inexperienced crew, the Hurricanes boast "added size and depth" according to the Miami Herald's Manny Navarro.
One concern for the O-line is Humphries' sprained MCL stemming from Saturday's fourth quarter. But Coach Will Muschamp seems optimistic about the sophomore moving into this weekend. UF's head coach addressed his injury during Monday's press conference:
D.J. Humphries we feel like will be back at practice tomorrow (Tuesday) in a limited role, but full time on Wednesday.
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NCAA Football Rankings 2013: Predicting Squads That Will Crack Top 25
Ranking college football teams early in the season is always a crapshoot. This season is no different, and we are headed for a shake-up of the rankings after an entertaining Week 1.
Losses by No. 25 Oregon State, No. 20 TCU and No. 19 Boise State will likely send those teams out of the Top 25, which means teams will be taking their spots.
I've figured out which teams will make the jump into the Top 25.
Have a look at the rankings on ESPN, and then check out the three teams I have pegged for making their debut in the rankings this week.
Check out the latest rankings at ESPN.
Washington Huskies
Few teams in the nation made as loud of a statement in their opener as the Washington Huskies. Opening up their newly remodeled stadium, the Huskies dismantled No. 19 Boise State, 38-6.
At the heart of all the success was quarterback Keith Price. This is great news for the Huskies.
Price entered last season with legitimate Heisman hopes. However, his numbers dipped from his outstanding sophomore season. Last season, Price posted a quarterback rating of 122.4. This was well below the 161.9 rating he posted the season before.
On Saturday, he was outstanding. Well, after his first pass. He was picked off the first time he let the ball fly. For the rest of the game he went 23-of-30 with 324 yards and two touchdowns.
While Price was the biggest bright spot, he certainly wasn't a one-man show. The Huskies, behind 161 yards from Bishop Sankey, gained 268 yards rushing at five yards per carry.
Combine that with a defense that held Boise State to one field goal per half, and the Huskies handed Boise State its worst loss under Chris Petersen.
Washington will undoubtedly be rewarded with a spot in the Top 25.
Baylor Bears
While the Huskies enjoyed opening their redone stadium, Baylor celebrated the last home opener at Floyd Casey Stadium, and it did so in style.
Baylor was scoring like its basketball team in this one as it steamrolled its way to a 69-3 victory over lower-division Wofford.
Sure, it is dangerous to read too much into a big win over an obviously inferior team, but it's clear the Bears' offense is going to be a lot to handle.
Lache Seastrunk stomped his way to 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, junior quarterback Bryce Petty made sure the defense couldn't key in on Seastrunk and threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns.
What was also impressive was that Baylor's defense held Wofford to 2.9 yards per carry, and Wofford was an excellent rushing team last season.
Look for Baylor to make the leap into the polls after this one.
Miami Hurricanes
Miami is another team that beat up on a lesser opponent but was still impressive enough to make a jump into the Top 25.
It didn't start out that way for the Hurricanes. Miami got off to a sloppy start. Nowhere was that more apparent than when the Hurricanes were flagged for delay of game before ever getting a play off from scrimmage.
Miami wound up only putting three points on the board for the first quarter. However, that sloppiness faded in a flash, and the Hurricanes put a hurting on Florida Atlantic.
They put up 31 over the next two quarters en route to a 34-6 victory.
Most of this damage was done on the ground. Miami rushed for 303 yards at eight yards per carry.
The Hurricanes will still have to prove themselves, but enough eyes were already on them that this win will push them into the rankings.
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College Football Rankings 2013 Week 2: Updated Top 25 Projections After Week 1
The first week of the college football season is in the books, so here's a projection of what the Top 25 will look like when the polls come out Tuesday.
There were classic games and a few upsets in Week 1, so there will be some movement in the polls.
Despite big wins in the first week, it'll be tough for some teams to make big jumps, because the top of the poll looked strong. There wasn't much clarification as to which top teams will be the last ones standing, but this has the makings of a great college football season.
Here is an updated projection of the Week 2 Associated Press poll, with last week's rankings courtesy of ESPN.com.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0)
Alabama looked ready to win a third consecutive title. It jumped out to a 28-10 halftime lead over Virginia Tech and coasted in the second half.
The offense didn't look great, but it didn't need to. Christion Jones got the team on the board when he returned a punt for a touchdown, and the team never looked back. He would later add a kickoff return and a receiving touchdown, making him arguably the top player of Week 1.
Although the Hokies outgained the Crimson Tide on offense 212-206, Virginia Tech had a tough time moving the football. If you take out a 77-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, the team had only 135 yards of offense.
Alabama had only two offensive touchdowns, but this was a total team effort. The Crimson Tide will stay No. 1 until someone knocks them off.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)
Coach Urban Meyer is now 13-0 at Ohio State, and his team had an interesting day against Buffalo.
The Buckeyes were dominant in the first quarter. They went up and down the field at will, and quarterback Braxton Miller was able to make plays with his arm. After each of the first two touchdowns, Meyer elected to go for two. He was successful, and the Buckeyes jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the opening quarter.
Fans should be encouraged by Miller's performance. He still has room to grow, but he looked much better than last season.
Buffalo outscored Ohio State 20-17 the rest of the game, but the outcome was never in doubt. Voters may look at this game and penalize the Buckeyes for not winning by more.
The Buckeyes coasted after the first quarter. Playing that way could cost them against tougher competition, but they did enough to stay at No. 2.
3. Oregon Ducks (1-0)
Chip Kelly is now in the NFL, but the Ducks flew down the field. They set a school record for most yards in a game with 772 against Nicholls State. They had 500 rushing yards, and three different players recorded over 100 yards on the ground.
Oregon looked great in Mark Helfrich's debut. It was up 24-0 with five minutes left in the first quarter, and it kept adding to the lead the entire game. The final score of 66-3 was impressive, but the opposition wasn't supposed to put up much of a challenge.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota and running back De'Anthony Thomas put themselves near the top of the Heisman watch. Mariota had nearly 350 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.
The Ducks looked great in Week 1. They could jump Ohio State, but this type of game shouldn't be enough to move up in the polls.
4. Stanford Cardinal (0-0)
Stanford was off in the opening week, so no movement here. A home game against San Jose State on Saturday will be the first time the team will take the field and show the nation what it can do.
5. South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0)
Like Ohio State, South Carolina had a huge first quarter but didn't put up many points the rest of the game. A 17-0 lead in the first quarter was enough for the team to pull back the rest of the way against North Carolina.
Connor Shaw completed only 11 of his 20 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Mike Davis ran for 115 yards and a score on only 12 carries.
It was a good test on the first day of the college football season, but now the Gamecocks have to travel to Athens, Ga., to take on the Bulldogs. A win in that game should move South Carolina higher in the polls.
6. Texas A&M Aggies (1-0)
The first half didn't go the way Aggies fans had hoped, but that may have been a good thing. Rice had a 14-7 lead after the first quarter before Texas A&M scored 21 straight points and held a 28-21 lead at the half.
With Rice still being competitive, Johnny Manziel had a chance to play in meaningful action in the second half. He looked great in his first game since winning the Heisman.
It was clear the Aggies need Manziel if they are going to contend in the SEC. He helped the team blow out Rice, and the voters should evaluate the team based on how it played when he was in the game.
7. Clemson Tigers (1-0)
The Tigers had the biggest win of the week. This may be a little bit of a low projection, as the Tigers were ranked eighth last week, but the teams ahead of the Tigers looked great.
Clemson upset Georgia to start the season and looks like the team to beat in the ACC. The Tigers won 38-35 thanks to Tajh Boyd's five touchdowns.
The Tigers were the team of the week, but don't expect too much of a jump in the polls.
8. Louisville Cardinals (1-0)
Teddy Bridgewater was fantastic against Ohio. He completed 23 of 28 passes for 355 yards and five touchdowns, and he looks like one of the top contenders for the Heisman.
This could have been a trap game for the Cardinals after a huge win over Florida in the Sugar Bowl last season, but they came out and made a statement. With their schedule, this could be a sign of things to come.
9. Florida Gators (1-0)
The Gators had a nice balance on offense as they topped Toledo 24-6. The defense held the Rockets to 205 yards as the team cruised to an easy victory.
10. LSU Tigers (1-0)
LSU had its hands full with TCU, but it was able to come away with a victory at a neutral site.
The Tigers were up 30-17 at the end of the third quarter before letting the Horned Frogs get back in the game. The score got to 30-27 before the Tigers put the game away. The 10-point victory was impressive and should be enough to move the Tigers up in the polls.
11. Georgia Bulldogs (0-1)
It will be interesting to see how far the Bulldogs fall after their loss to Clemson on the road in a tight game.
The game could have gone either way, but the Bulldogs couldn't overcome a high snap on a field-goal attempt in the second half.
This loss doesn't eliminate the Bulldogs from contention, but they will have to run the table the rest of the way if they want to get to Pasadena. For now, Georgia will have to work its way back up in the polls. It will host South Carolina this week.
12. Florida State Seminoles (1-0)
The Seminoles took care of business Monday night, and freshman quarterback Jameis Winston shined in his first start. He completed 17 of 18 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. He also had a rushing touchdown in the first half. After the break, he came out and connected on his first two passes, which spanned 51 yards and helped lead Florida State to another score. It was a great start to his career against an ACC opponent.
13. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-0)
The Cowboys fell behind Mississippi State 3-0 but scored touchdowns in each of the next three quarters to win 21-3. It wasn't a cakewalk, but this game could benefit the Cowboys as the season moves on.
14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0)
Losing in last season's title game is in the past, and Notre Dame had to find a way to rebound. Senior Tommy Rees completed 16 of his 23 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns to show that he is capable of leading the team. A 28-6 victory over Temple is a good start, but it won't be enough for the Fighting Irish to make a big jump.
15. Texas Longhorns (1-0)
The score was 0-0 after one quarter, but Texas ended up blowing out New Mexico State. David Ash did everything. He threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns, and he added 91 yards and a score on eight carries.
The Longhorns need Ash to put up big numbers like that all season, but he can't throw two interceptions every game. It was a good start for Texas.
16. Oklahoma Sooners (1-0)
The Sooners were also in a scoreless game after one quarter, but they pulled away from Louisiana-Monroe in the middle of the game.
The 34-0 final score shows how dominant the defense was. The Warhawks were held to only 166 yards of total offense. The passing game needs to improve, but the Sooners looked good on the ground with 305 rushing yards.
It will take at least one more weeks for the Sooners to jump their rivals.
17. Michigan Wolverines (1-0)
In their first game without Denard Robinson, the Wolverines put up some points. They beat Central Michigan 59-9 and didn't let up until the final quarter. Michigan had a 35-6 halftime lead but added 21 points in the third to show just how explosive the team can be.
18. UCLA Bruins (1-0)
UCLA had a 17-13 lead at the half, but a strong second half gave the Bruins an easy win. They scored at least 20 points in each quarter in the second half and put Nevada away. The Bruins will benefit from poor performances by a couple of teams ahead of them, and they will jump up a few spots.
19. Northwestern Wildcats (1-0)
Northwestern didn't look great in the opener, but they went on the road to Cal and came away with a victory. The Wildcats won 44-30 in a tough game, and the voters will respond by moving Northwestern up a few spots.
20. Wisconsin Badgers (1-0)
Wisconsin, like Michigan, was looking to replace a big-time playmaker. Montee Ball is gone, but the Badgers ran for 393 yards against Massachusetts. Three players had at least 100 rushing yards, and Melvin Gordon and James White each topped 140 yards.
Those numbers overshadowed a defense that didn't allow a point and allowed just over 200 total yards.
It was a good outing by the entire team, and the Badgers will jump a few spots.
21. Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-0)
Nebraska had a tough time putting Wyoming away and had to hold on for a 37-34 victory.
The Cornhuskers ran for 375 yards, and two guys had at least 100 rushing yards. Unfortunately for them, they allowed 383 passing yards and let Shaun Wick rush for 101 yards. The defense is going to have to get better, so look for Nebraska to fall in this week's poll.
22. TCU Horned Frogs (1-0)
TCU shouldn't fall too far after losing to LSU. It kept the game close against a strong opponent but was unable to come out on top. The Horned Frogs will have a couple of weeks to prepare for their next big game.
The loss will move TCU down a few spots, but it shouldn't be a big drop.
23. USC Trojans (1-0)
The Trojans looked sluggish to start the game and trailed 5-3 with under five minutes remaining in the first half. They exploded for 17 points in just over four minutes to take control of the game on the way to scoring 27 straight points.
USC had a disappointing season last year, but a big win to start the season should give the team confidence. Next week will be its first conference game.
24. Michigan State Spartans (1-0)
With Boise State and Oregon State dropping out of the rankings, two spots open up in the polls. The first spot will go to Michigan State. They will become the sixth team from the Big Ten to be ranked.
A 26-13 victory over Western Michigan doesn't look great, but the defense looks like it will carry the team. The Broncos had only 204 total yards and turned the ball over four times. The Spartans have some work to do on offense, but they will enter the polls this week.
25. Baylor Bears (1-0)
Baylor and Miami (FL) both had impressive opening victories, but the Bears will get more votes.
A 69-3 blowout of Wofford was a strong start to the season. The Bears gained nearly 700 total yards. Bryce Petty completed 19 of 24 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Lache Seastrunk added 111 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
The Bears looked good against a weak opponent, which should be enough to get them up to No. 25.
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College Football Rankings 2013: Predicting Surprise Entrants into Top 25
The landscape of college football has drastically changed after just one week of exciting action.
While the focus of the world may be atop the rankings, it is teams quietly sneaking into the bottom of the Top 25 that fans should also pay attention to after big wins.
Breaking into the Top 25 is a big deal, as it can create momentum that parlays into greater leaps for schools.
There were not many surprises inside the Top 25, with most teams playing tune-up games, but surprises will abound near the bottom of the Top 25 after some lesser-publicized action.
Here's a prediction of the Week 2 AP Top 25 poll, highlighted by surprise entrants after strong performances.
For the current AP Top 25 Poll, via ESPN, click here.
Baylor Bears
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big 12)
Week 1 Result: Def. Wofford, 69-3
No Robert Griffin III here, but Baylor is set to sneak back into the Top 25 already, as Lache Seastrunk puts the team on his back and possibly himself into Heisman consideration.
Baylor by no means handled stiff competition against Wofford, but the margin of victory certainly is not a typo. A 66-point margin is something to behold and a sign of greater things to come for the Bears.
Seastrunk carried the ball just 11 times in the warm-up contest, but he turned it into 111 yards and two touchdowns.
Baylor has some help sneaking into the Top 25, with fellow Big 12 team and former No. 20 TCU being upended by No. 12 LSU. The Bears also have two more cupcake games in the coming weeks, against Buffalo and Louisiana-Monroe.
It's safe to say that things are looking up for the resurgent program.
Miami Hurricanes
Record: 1-0 (0-0 ACC)
Week 1 Result: Def. FIU, 34-6
Duke Johnson is the name to know in college football.
The sophomore running back exploded for the Hurricanes against FIU, racking up a ridiculous 186 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. The touchdown came on a 53-yard scamper, and he also added a 38-yard reception for good measure.
In reality Miami should have been ranked in the Top 25 to begin the year based on talent alone. The Hurricanes will have a chance to truly prove that they belong next week against the No. 9 Florida Gators.
If Miami wants to pull off the upset and stay ranked, improving on its horrific 4-of-14 third-down-conversion rate against FIU is imperative.
That won't fly against the Gators.
Washington Huskies
Record: 1-0 (0-0) Pac-12
Week 1 Result: Def. No. 19 Boise State, 38-6
Washington is the definition of a sleeper team. Well, "was" is a better verb after Week 1.
Leaving the week of games, the Huskies are now being talked about as contenders for the Pac-12 title.
There is a reason for that, as Washington downed a ranked opponent in Boise State that had figured to make a run at a title.
Quarterback Keith Price had his way with the defense, throwing for 324 yards and two touchdowns, while star running back Bishop Sankey rushed for 161 yards and two scores of his own.
It's sweet revenge for a Washington team that lost to Boise State back in December when the two sides met in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas, which saw the Broncos escape with a two-point victory.
Not only did Washington get revenge, but it also blew out the Broncos, likely knocked Boise State out of the rankings and took a spot in the Top 25 for itself.
Not bad for an opener.
Follow B/R's Chris Roling on Twitter for more news and analysis @Chris_Roling.
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USC Football: Quarterback Controversy Update
After Southern Cal's rather unsatisfying 30-13 win over Hawaii last Thursday, fans of the USC program were left with as many questions as answers regarding who will be the eventual Trojans quarterback.
With neither Cody Kessler nor Max Wittek enthusiastically making a case to grab the starting gig, head coach Lane Kiffin has been left to his own devices in determining the identity of the guy to lead USC in 2013.
It appears that Kiffin has made his decision, according to USC.scout.com (subscription required), but apparently he finds it necessary to keep those who care about such things in the dark until USC plays Washington State on Saturday.
In the meantime, we are left with what we saw against Hawaii in terms of drawing our own conclusions regarding USC's signal-caller.
Here is a look at the progress (or lack thereof) in the Trojans' quarterback battle with one assessment of who should be named the starter.
While the identity of USC's starter has been determined, but not yet revealed, here are some of the things that went into Kiffin's mysterious decision.
How Scripting Helped Washington Set the Tone for Boise Blowout
With a complete remodeling of their aging football facilities, the Washington Huskies showed that the overhaul didn't end when construction crews vacated Montlake. With the new-look Huskies 38-6 dismantling of No. 19 Boise State on Saturday night, it appears that Steve Sarkisian may finally have the stagnant Huskies headed back towards a once familiar spot in the upper echelon of college football.
Washington showed off a new-look, up tempo offense against the Broncos that gave the Huskies their most impressive win in years. How did they manage to dominate a team that edged them out in last year's MAACO Las Vegas Bowl? For starters, they imposed their will early and often on the Broncos' defense by having a solid game plan in place and executing it to perfection.
The Huskies have their best group of skill-position players in a decade, and head coach Steve Sarkisian built a game plan around his team's strengths. Any coach knows the right way to put the best product on the field is to utilize the talent you have in the proper ways, and Sarkisian did that from the opening kickoff.
No one used his team's talent better than the late, great Bill Walsh. Walsh, known as the father of the "West Coast Offense," is a legend across the football landscape. Along with his idea of a more horizontal passing game that relied heavily on short, quick-timing passes, Walsh developed the idea of scripting a number of plays to start each game in order to set the tone for the entire contest.
The Huskies' fifth year head coach is one of a handful of major college coaches that still open games with a scripted set of plays. As told to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times,"Sark said he plans to continue to script the first 15 plays of the game, though there is flexibility in that, depending on the situation, what is working, what isn't."
With the unlimited variables that can alter the course of a game, why do coaches bother scripting plays? More importantly, does it really work? There are a number of reasons coaches utilize the practice.
Setting the Tone
With technology and advanced scouting, teams usually have a pretty good idea of how their opponent will attack them come game time. Despite facing a defense that knows what to expect, coaches and offensive coordinators want to set the tone early on in order to make adjustments later in the game.
Saturday's game didn't start out how Sarkisian envisioned it. Huskies' quarterback Keith Price was intercepted on the second play of the game, but Sarkisian didn't flinch. After a short run by running back Bishop Sankey, Sarkisian went right back to Price and threw the ball six of the next eight plays. Aside from a one-yard completion to wide receiver John Ross, Price connected for gains of eight, nine, eight, 12 and 11 yards over the next eight plays.
The point behind a pass-heavy set of scripted plays early on was to instill confidence in Price after a dismal 2012 season. The Huskies know what they have in RB Bishop Sankey and a standout group of pass-catchers. They didn't know what to expect from Price, who has had an up-and-down career.
By connecting on a barrage of short, quick-hitting passes, Boise State had to deal with more than just a strong rushing attack from the Huskies. The Broncos had to adjust to the Huskies' new, up-tempo offense and face an entirely different Keith Price than they faced in the 2012 season.
By sticking to the pass-heavy script, Sarkisian unleashed Price and the quick-hitting passing offense, leaving the Broncos off-balance early in the game. While the Huskies didn't put up a lot of points in the first half, they did rack up a lot of yards and set themselves up for a big second half.
While you can prepare for weeks and envision the execution down to the last detail, preparing for the variables in a football game is futile.
For Example
- The first scripted play calls for an easy eight-yard dig route by the tight end, with the idea that you will be left with a 2nd-and-short situation.
- Play two is a quick dive out of a power-I formation with three offset tight ends to the strong side.
If things go according to plan, this idea should work most of the time. But what is the alternative should something like a personal foul penalty disrupt the plan and leave the offense in a 2nd-and-17?
Some coaches will have situation replacements in case of a sack, penalty or lack of execution. Others will stick to the script no matter the outcome in order to set the offense up for later in the game.
- A coach can skip to play three of the script, which calls for a quick slant from the weak side.
- He can call for a new play designed to safely gain eight-12 yards in order to have a manageable third down.
Sticking to the Script
If a coach wants to stick with the plan to run a quick-hitting dive to the strong side, it may be for a couple of reasons.
- Lining up in a power formation with three offset tight ends could catch the defense with the wrong personnel on the field. If there is a cornerback or safety lined up over one of the tight ends, the play might work to perfection based on the mismatch.
- The defense might run a stunt or get enough penetration to disrupt the play in the backfield. It sets the offense up for success later in the game. If the defense sees the same formation again, they could counter with a goal-line package after seeing a smaller defensive back get blown off the ball by a tight end earlier in the game. If that happens, the offense could motion a tight end or run a flood route with a defensive end tasked with covering a faster tight end.
Teams utilize strategies like this every game, and it becomes a chess match between the offensive and defensive coaches.
In the second half, the Huskies unleashed a perfect mix of play calls that left the Broncos guessing all night. After expecting Bishop Sankey to be their biggest problem, Keith Price made them pay with a 324-yard performance through the air. Of course, Sankey still had a tremendous game with a 161 yards on 25 carries.
By scripting the first 15 plays of the game, the Washington coaches set up a variety of weapons to be unleashed later in the game. Keith Price found his 2011 form, and after carving up the Broncos early with a crisp passing attack, the Huskies had the Broncos off-balance.
Sarkisian stuck with the plan, and it paid off in a big way. With a full arsenal of weapons at his disposal in 2013, Sarkisian should have the Huskies primed for a big season ahead.
That is, if things go according to the script.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Texas A&M Football: Media Reaction to Johnny Manziel's Antics Atrociously Unfair
Saturday evening was an excellent evening for college football fans. A plethora of intriguing games dominated the airwaves, ranging from No. 5 Georgia's visit with No. 8 Clemson to No. 12 LSU facing off with No. 20 TCU in AT&T Stadium. All important match-ups, each on a national broadcast.
But nothing...NOTHING...compared to the negative attention Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel received throughout the evening and into Sunday morning from pundits and critics across the country.
A Short Timeline, If You Will
Sunday, August 4th—ESPN breaks a story regarding Manziel accepting monetary compensation for a number of autograph signings he performed during the offseason.
Wednesday, August 28th—Texas A&M and the NCAA release a joint statement saying there was no evidence the 20-year-old quarterback ever received money in exchange for autographs, but due to his inadvertent violation regarding the situation, the university agreed to suspend Manziel for the first-half of A&M's season opener against Rice. Conclusion: Issue closed.
Saturday, August 31st—Manziel spends the first-half against Rice on the bench, as promised, having ESPN commentators analyze every move he makes while he bides his time until the second half. He then proceeds to perform well, both send and receive trash talk, and walk away from a 52-31 lead late in the second half. No big deal, right?
Wrong. According to most every ESPN analyst from Mark May to Lou Holtz (and every one in between), Manziel has pierced the sanctity of the game. Call off the season, Johnny Football has ruined the very sport he earned his legendary name from.
A Quick Glance at Their Three-fold Reasoning
1) Following Manziel's debut play of the 2013 season (which ended with him scrambling 12 yards for a first down), the quarterback mouthed back and forth with a Rice defender before scrawling a signature-like motion in the air as he returned to the offensive huddle. The gesture caught the attention of many viewers, with a gif of the moment up online just minutes following the play.
The National Response
Johnny Manziel is mocking his suspension, sending a message to the NCAA and college football fans that he hasn't learned anything from the autograph-gate that enveloped his life the past month.
My Take
It's almost as if Johnny Football was just forced to deal with a month's worth of the NCAA, Texas A&M and the national media looking into every detail of his life from the past few months as the autograph scandal took its natural course, and when taunted about it on the football field, he responded in kind. The passion of the game brings out an intensity unlike most in everyday life, and unsurprisingly, the cockiness behind Manziel's personality came out in the gesture.
I refuse to crucify a 20-year-old quarterback for being cocky, especially due to his position and current situation. Not only is he the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, but he's also a starting college QB...part of the job description is a certain level of confidence bordering on arrogance.
2) Manziel flashed a gesture in celebration that resembled someone rubbing dollar bills together between their fingers. Again, it caught national attention as videos, pictures and gifs of the moment popped up all over the internet. Shocker.
The National Response
Manziel is, once again, taunting everyone who tried to bury him under a pile of autograph allegations.
My Take
This is a joke, right? It's a celebration, not a symbol to the public that Manziel is the world's greatest con man. Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd performed the same gesture during the Tigers' victory over Georgia Saturday afternoon. Perhaps if the analysts had been watching the game instead of breaking down Manziel's every motion, they might have caught on sooner.
3) Following Manziel's third touchdown throw of the day, two Rice defenders continued to jaw off at the quarterback as he continued his way to the sideline. After a few words himself, Manziel closed any semblance of an argument by pointing to the scoreboard, which currently read Texas A&M 51 Rice 28. In case anyone missed the 90's, "scoreboard" is the ultimate comeback when you're ahead.
The referees thought differently, flagging Manziel for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The flag effectively forced head coach Kevin Sumlin to bench his young star, but not before Manziel lightly bumped past Sumlin on his way to the water coolers.
The National Response
First off, complete and utter disrespect to the game itself. Manziel failed to adhere to the very rules and regulations set in place to prevent such behavior (actually, as the ESPN commentators discuss Manziel's lack of discipline, A&M true freshman Daeshon Hall is ejected for fighting and they barely take notice).
Second, Manziel BUMPED into his head coach as he was yelling at him. The ultimate sign of disrespect—the bump—clearly qualifies Manziel as outside the jurisdiction of even A&M's coaching staff. Everything is out of control in College Station.
My Take
The penalty was undeserving, first off. Manziel, while walking back to the sideline, was approached by two defenders from Rice (neither of whom were flagged), who mouthed off at him—WHILE THEY WERE ALREADY DOWN 23 POINTS. If anything, Manziel did everyone a favor by directing the two to the most blatant and simple comeback in the book. For that, I say well done.
As for "the bump," it was almost literally nothing. Manziel, moments after receiving a ridiculous penalty, was walking back to the sideline and Sumlin saw fit to grill him on the flag, as any decent head coach would. Manziel merely bumped into the enraged Sumlin, signaling more an absence of mind rather than a symbol of disrespect.
A Few Fun Headlines
Since Manziel's antics transpired, the media has been on a feeding frenzy regarding the young quarterback.
Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel: Unteachable and maybe Unreachable, The Washington Post
Johnny Manziel Needs to Mature, ESPN
Johnny Manziel: Embrace the Dark Side, National Football Post
Manziel has made A&M the new villain, FoxSports
And that's just to name a few.
In reality, Saturday's "antics" was just Johnny Manziel being, well, Johnny Football. From an attitude perspective, there was nothing new Manziel showed against Rice anyone who watched or followed Texas A&M and its quarterback hadn't seen before.
The only difference this time around, though, was the perception surrounding Manziel due to his offseason and the amount of overall attention he's receiving due to his Heisman.
And that, apparently, makes all the difference in the world.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com


text:
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Good kit for the pricePros: Comfortable, easy to customize, great keyboard and mouse kit. Really love the Logitec product for years and that upgrade does not disappoint. Cons: Some lag, I will not use that keyboard for intensive gaming but for regular use only. Anyway, pro gamer will never go for wireless - a minimal delay can make the difference between successful raid and lame one. Also the Fkeys are not by pack of 4 as usual. Ok for office work but long time gamer will have trouble to adapt. Other Thoughts: Great that the connector offer a long extension, make it easy to place it near the kit for best result. Did you find this review helpful? |
Give it timePros: Great buttons, I love buttons. Cool design and convenient location for... ,take a guess, Yes BUTTONS. when I first got this board I thought it might be defective, but turns out it was my browser speed, because it took time for me to type things in online. But now that the Wi-Fi is working better here, I have no problem. Cons: Lot of times when I first got this board it would just stop typing. I would look up from the keyboard and nothing was going down. this was do to the window management button, located on the left next to shift and control keys. once I disabled this button, actually reassigned the button, my problems stopped. Did you find this review helpful? |
Pros: Very comfortable, very easy to setup works on Windows7 or Ubuntu linux with no additional drivers. Range is good. It comes with an usb extension in case you want to change location of the dongle. Cons: I didn't order two of them while they were on sale. No other cons at this time. Did you find this review helpful? |
KB & MousePros: To begin, I should state am not a very picky user with immensely high standards. Cons: Occasional lag from the keyboard Did you find this review helpful? |
Pros: Fast Shipping!!! Cons: none Did you find this review helpful? |
Pros: Inexpensive and it works as advertised. All I had to do after unpacking the combo was to stick the USB receiver and turn on the devices. I have a 2006 PC running Vista and so far the keyboard and mouse are doing their job. I have not experienced the any problems with the equipment. Cons: The keyboard feels cheap (but not flimsy). I may be that I'm not used to the tactile response of the keys. Did you find this review helpful? |
Didn't Work Well At AllPros: Comfortable, good build quality, nice looking Cons: Wireless connection seems very poorly implemented: Other Thoughts: I bought this because it looked like a step up from the model I happily use at work everyday (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126192) Did you find this review helpful? |
Very Comfortable; Buying a 2nd for WorkPros: - Perfect ergonomic design. I have never used a keyboard that is a more comfortable fit for my hands. If you are a home-row touch-typist, then GET THIS KEYBOARD! Cons: - Mouse in combo is meh. It's a mouse, and it works, but it's nothing fancy. Other Thoughts: I've had this keyboard for over a year, and have used it heavily daily for gaming, work, typical typing, etc. and I have had no sticky keys or any of the labels wear off. I've also had no issues with the mouse. If things become sticky, it's unlikely that's it's due to the design of a plastic product. What's more likely is that something has been spilled on it at some point (or you're operating it in a furnace that's hot enough to melt plastic...) Did you find this review helpful? |
resilient keyboard, mouse not so muchPros: I've had the keyboard for 4 years now, and it's had water spilt on it, been dropped, etc. and it still works great. Great battery life, and comfortable to use. Cons: The mouse crapped out a couple of years ago; so now I have 2 USB slots taken up because the keyboard and the logitech mouse I got as a replacements' receivers aren't compatible with each other. Did you find this review helpful? |
Favorite keyboardPros: Best keyboard on the market for comfortable use; love the shape, angle adjustment, special function keys. The texture, too, is dead one. The mouse, too, is pretty good, though it's a midrange device (it's no Performance MX). This unit I bought is the second one of these I've worked with, and I've found the battery life to be very good as well. Cons: No backlight, Some people say they don't hold up over time. I haven't had that experience, but I respect my fellow reviewers. Other Thoughts: The Wave is a nice piece of kit, and while it does have longevity issues, because of the grime and dirt keyboards build up over time, I don't like to keep a keyboard forever anyway. I wish Logitech would make a durable, washable, wired version. Did you find this review helpful? |

subset: commoncrawl


text:
13 March 2007 18:26 [Source: ICIS news]
HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Colombia producer Ecopetrol increased the prices for low density polyethylene (LDPE) 2.5% effective on Tuesday to reflect the latest surge in US Gulf PE prices, a source with the producer said.
The price of domestic bagged LDPE material was set at Colombian pesos (Ps) 3,680/kg, equivalent to $1,649/tonne (€1,254/tonne).
The price of bulk LDPE material was set at Ps3,525/kg ($1,580/tonne), a 2.6% increase over last week.
The above listed prices are for cash transactions, with material delivered at Barrancabermeja, where the production plant is located.
Ecopetrol adjusts prices weekly to keep pace with alternatives from the US Gulf or Asia, and also to meet currency fluctuations.
The Colombian peso was slightly stronger this week at Ps2,231 per US dollar.
($1 = €0.76)
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text:
Dental dam
This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. (January 2010) |
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (April 2011) |
A dental dam or rubber dam is a rectangular sheet of latex used in dentistry, in particular endodontic therapy, to reduce contamination, and where dental composite is being placed, due to the need for the area to remain dry during filling placement. They are also used as a safe sex technique during cunnilingus and other sexual activities.[1]
In dentistry[edit]
A dental dam (sometimes known as a "Kofferdam"--from German), is used mainly in endodontic treatment and when putting fillings into teeth. They are thin squares of latex rubber. Silicone versions are available for those with latex allergies.
The main function is to isolate the tooth being treated from its environment, in particular from the bacteria in the oral cavity. The rubber dam is held over individual teeth or groups of teeth by appropriate rubber dam clamps or threads (ligatures) along the edge of the gum. The tooth crown stands out from the rubber dam through individual holes made by a hole punch. This permits a clean and dry operative field, retracts the lips and cheeks, and enables treatment of the appropriate tooth without contamination from blood or saliva. Another function of the rubber dam is to protect the patient's airway from any materials which may fall into it during treatment.
Routine use of dental dams is not always appropriate because of some difficulties: for instance communication with the patient is significantly reduced and the patient may feel restricted. However for endodontic procedures it is considered mandatory. For adhesive dentistry procedures involving bonding dental composite it is to be encouraged as the operative field must avoid moisture contamination in order to get maximum bond strength from restorative material to tooth substance. Composite is affected by moisture during its setting reaction and thus a rubber dam is considered advisable during placement.
Safe sex[edit]
In safe sex practices, dental dams are recognized for their use during cunnilingus and anilingus to protect against the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. After lubrication with water-based lubricant an unpunctured dental dam may be held over the vulva or anus, allowing oral stimulation of these areas without transmission of bodily fluids and skin contact.
- ^ "Dental Dams | Sexually Transmitted Infections | Adults | sexualityandu.ca - Your Link to Sexual Well-Being". sexualityandu.ca. 2006-12-15. Retrieved 2010-09-12.


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There's a Realtors expo today in Knoxville, but if you drop by the event on Clinton Highway don't expect a festive mood.
If 2007 was a tough year among those who sell homes for a living, 2008 has started off worse.
According to numbers from the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors, East Tennessee home and condo sales were off nearly 22 percent in the first quarter. Perhaps more foreboding were the prices fetched by those domiciles - the median sale price of a three-bedroom home fell from $145,500 to $144,000, while homes with more bedrooms fell more than 3 percent to $229,900.
It's not just homes that are struggling - empty lots are causing some trouble, too. BankEast, for example, recently sold more than 30 lots in West Knoxville's Oakleigh subdivision to Cardinal Enterprises for $891,000, after foreclosing on the builder who owned them previously.
So what's up with the local market? University of Tennessee professor Thomas Boehm, who has studied housing economics, said Knoxville tends to lag national housing trends but, more importantly, doesn't see the same volatility as the national market.
"If things are happening very rapidly in other markets and less rapidly here, we won't go up as fast either on the other end," Boehm said. "When other markets shoot up, we tend to lag there, too."
Suzy Trotta, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace, said she wasn't too surprised by the local price figures, noting that even if Realtors tell their clients there is no national real estate market, "it doesn't really matter because everybody watches the national news."
"I think buyers kind of smell blood in the water, and they're negotiating pretty ruthlessly right now," said Trotta, who also authors the local real estate blog All Around KTown.
"We have a lot of vacant homes in Knoxville, more than I've ever seen, because you've got people who are relocating, they've already had to leave (the) state and they're motivated to sell now."
So what are sellers to do when trying to put their home's best foot forward? This columnist, speaking from personal experience, can offer one piece of advice: It's not a pleasant surprise when prospective buyers are scoping out a property and open the door to a darkened bedroom only to find someone snoozing in the bed.
Meanwhile, Trotta said that when the market was hot, sellers could offer an allowance for things like carpet or paint, "but now that there's so much inventory you really have to stand out. If people have the cash (to update those items) I would say go ahead and do it."
Barry Hensley, president-elect of the Association of Realtors, struck uncomfortably close to the Scope's home in warning that a well-organized garage is a very good idea.
He also offered a bit of real estate psychology, saying that buyers typically make a purchase by comparing House A to House B to House C to House D.
"The most bang for the buck, so to speak, is the one that's going to be getting the offers on it," he added.
Property Scope columnist Josh Flory may be reached at 865-342-6994. To receive free e-mail updates from his real estate blog, submit a request to firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
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What's up, Mixcloudians? Well, the Prince's refurb desktop died out on me a few weeks ago, so I've been out of commission until just recently (my netbook's gonna be getting a serious workout, fo realz). Thanks to everyone for supporting the last mix, the comments and adds were well appreciated!
Now, onto April ... the Prince begins the month on a more mellow tip, going back to good ol' proper house! Still fresh, still dope, still the same toe-tapping ish the Prince strives to bring to your ear! Clocking at just 40 mins, it's a reintroduction to the finer things. My homegirls, the Golden Girls, would definitely approve (nasty pic, eh? Eeew!). As usual, click that green button and enjoy! - DJ Prince Philippine Uploaded - Featuring tracks by Marvin Gaye, Grantorino Feat. Sha'ron, Maxine Hardcastle, Crystal Waters, Lidell Townsell and more Report this Cloudcast | Listeners also enjoyedEnjoying Mixcloud?Join with Facebook Do you like us? |


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It is the broken calabash that has iron staples driven into its edges; it is the cracked pot that has its neck tied with a rope. ~ Yoruba Proverb
He sits alone, lost and unloved,
Ramshackled eaves choked with dust,
A scrawny hen pecks in baked earth,
Just beyond a porch parched by African thirst.
He sits alone, with a chest full of clothes,
For children thirty-five years gone,
For a life full of woes;
He sits alone, as scratched vinyl moans, and
Looks out at the Zimbabwean corn.
He wrestles with primordial turf,
Wrenching from it, a meager living,
Which by contrast to the rest of the country
Is fit for a king for he is landed gentry.
Legal alien resident, in a nation of starving Africans,
Choctaw, African, Scottish American, ex-pat, Muslim.
Brown skinned, green eyed, bespeckled genius,
Envied for the passport that affords him the
Freedoms to spit upon his country of origin.
Politics and bedfellows, Mugabe and he,
Both products of American and British educations,
Each victims of self-hatred; conflicted and attracted
By the institutions and nations that shaped them,
Caught up in their idealism, they lost sight of the realism,
And became trapped in the solipsistic prison of nihilism.
My hoary rock, sits alone,
having garnered all that he sought.
Mugabe as a friend,
two old black men with the darkest of hearts.
Pontificate lofty objectives of sovereignty and freedom,
As if these witch doctors' incantations,
Will liberate them from
The memories and voices of those
They do not see.
Barren shelves and salt crusted cups,
Mouths parched with dust,
the dampest relief from parsed tears,
Of those who mourn, the souls beaten, brutalized and crushed.
Their pain is mine, for I too starved,
for love he could not give.
Perhaps, it was his brother lynched,
One of twenty-three siblings,
Circa turn of the century;
Born of two mothers,
Rose Hill, Mississippi.
Perhaps, it was the cop who
Arrested him on black tarmac
Stretched between Ohioan pastures.
For driving too slow, too fast, or
Was it erratic?
It was the summer of 1969.
Older than the cop who called him "boy",
He could not defend his young children
From the violence of that word.
Contrasted against a bucolic scene,
Of verdant green and doe eyed cows,
The battle lines were drawn,
Black piece against white power.
A Civil Rights chessboard of an ideological battle,
Each side fighting for the soul of America,
While here at the basest level,
Pawn against pawn unconsciously maneuver.
Black capitulates to spare his children,
The witness of a cold-blooded murder.
Handcuffed and led to the waiting vehicle,
Roughly shoved into a caged back seat,
A three-point turn later, the subjugation complete.
Face stony, jaws clenched, his woolen head
Did not dare a backward glance.
Waves of heat rose from soften pitch,
Eddied and waked as the black and white passed.
A mirage and tears, distorted hopefulness,
Of three children left in a sun-baked Plymouth.
This hoary rock holds fasts to his secrets.
Misdirected anger turned inward,
He became the tyrant and abuser,
Oppressed the family he could not protect,
Until finally in despair they fled,
From the untenable situation of a man,
Who lost himself on a sunny day in a distant past.
Related articles
- Mugabe's blasphemy (bananaza.wordpress.com)
- Zimbabwe's Mugabe slams African leaders over Libya (ctv.ca)
- Mugabe: 'I Have Beaten Christ' (huffingtonpost.com)
- 'Oldest man' who taught tyrant Mugabe as a schoolboy (thesun.co.uk)
- Insulting Mandela While Zimbabwe President Mugabe Tells West to go to Hell (oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com)
- Don't recognise Libya's NTC, Mugabe tells AU (kayceeweezy.wordpress.com)
- Discrimination in Black Country (marcusampe.wordpress.com)
- Zimbabwean Legislator Arrested For Calling President Mugabe Gay (thinkprogress.org)