College Football Betting Odds: Will The Auburn Tigers Be The Next No. 1 To Fall?

The Lady got back to being average last week, finishing the weekend slate with a 5-5 record. The challenge for this site has become to complete the season ABOVE .500 and, sitting at 34-41 on the year, there is still plenty of work left to do before that goal is accomplished.

So, this week, the usual ten picks will be upped to fifteen—just for kicks. To keep it interesting, there will be no "cupcakes"—all Division-I. The Lady will either sink or swim with her choices but, there again, she always does.

The time stamp offered by this posting may not reflect the lines as you may find them to be as of Thursday morning, but as of 8:33 Wednesday night, these were the lines offered by VegasInsider.com.

Let's get it going, shall we:

1. Ole Miss vs. Auburn: Auburn (-7)

The Tigers are really feeling like winners right now, aren't they? They're the No. 1 team in the nation, undefeated in the SEC, sporting a Heisman contender (likely the Heisman winner) at quarterback...things are looking sweet on The Plains right now.

Well, here's the thing about that, Auburn has looked lights out all season EXCEPT on the road where they've struggled against both Kentucky and Mississippi State. Ole Miss has one of the most mobile quarterbacks the Tigers have faced all season and Masoli is coming off one of his best games of the season.

Don't sleep on the Rebels.

The Lady's Pick: Ole Miss

2. Southern Cal vs. Oregon: Oregon (-7)

Oregon is mad as hell, and they aren't gonna take it any more!

If you're Chip Kelly's bunch, you have to be wondering what on earth you have to do in order to see some BCS respect—a little No. 1 love? Well, the best way to get that is to go to L.A. and stomp the living crap out of Lane Kiffin's boys.

If they can do that, they might be able to get enough of a boost to pull those Auburn Tigers right off their mantle.

The Lady's Pick:  Oregon

3. Connecticut vs. West Virginia: (-6.5)

Connecticut has to break in another quarterback this week and, although, they are playing at home, they have looked another shade of awful over the last two weeks—against both Rutgers and Louisville.

Are they really going to improve that much between then and Friday?...Not likely.

The Lady's Pick: West Virginia

4.  Illinois vs. Purdue: Illinois (-17.5) 

What did Illinois do to deserve this much respect?

Purdue hasn't been good this year, but they've played every team they have faced in a tough fashion this season. Illinois beat the crap out of Indiana last week, and no disrespect to the Hoosiers, but that's not saying much.

The Lady's Pick: Purdue

5.  Iowa vs. Michigan State: Iowa (-6)

Michigan State averted a disaster in Illinois last week against a tough Northwestern team. That won't happen again in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes will be ready to get stop the Spartans streak in Iowa City.

The Lady's Pick: Iowa

6. South Carolina vs. Tennessee: South Carolina (-17.5)

Tennessee doesn't look good. The lack of depth, the issues on the offensive line, the quarterback spot, etc...all look completely exhausted at this point.

By stark contrast, the Gamecocks will be playing at home...with Marcus Lattimore.

The Lady's Pick: South Carolina

7. Mississippi State vs. Kentucky: Mississippi State (-6.5)

Kentucky is better than their record. Mississippi State isn't as good as theirs.

The Lady's Pick: Kentucky

8. Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State: Oklahoma State (-5.5)

Brandon Weeden just, unexpectedly, lost his No. 1 receiver. That means the Cowboys offense just got run-heavy. The Wildcats would be wise to take advantage of the Cowboys period of adjustment.

The Lady's Pick: Kansas State

9. Nebraska vs. Missouri: Missouri (-7.5)

The Cornhuskers were on the opposite side of this line two-weeks ago against the Longhorns—they blew it. Don't look for Pelini's bunch to make the same mistake twice.

The Lady's Pick: Nebraska

10. Oregon State vs. California: Oregon State (-2.5)

The Golden Bears feel pretty good about themselves after a huge win over the Sun Devils last week, but they should be careful not to bring too much of that ego into Oregon this weekend. The Beavers play well at home and the Bears have been woeful on the road.

The Lady's Pick: Oregon State

Lady's Luck Picks:

11. Washington State (+21) at Arizona State


12. Minnesota (+25.5) vs. Ohio State


13. Penn State (-3) vs. Michigan


14. Miami (-15.5) at Virginia


15. Kansas (+19) at Iowa State

College Football: The 20 Most Interesting Storylines To Watch This Season

College Football is a finicky sport. The fans are judgmental, the boosters are relentless, and the media is...well...the media.

That said, we haven't seen the first snap of the college football season yet, but we already can just about guess the stories we'll be implored to pay close attention to this year. Some of them have already begun to creep into our daily newsletters (can Alabama repeat), while others are just now making it into rotation (will Masoli succeed at Ole Miss).

Either way, this year promises to be something special, I can't wait.

1. How well will Lane Kiffin do at USC?

Let's face it, the guy isn't the most appealing individual in the world and most fans—outside of Southern California—would love to see him fall flat on his face. However, if he is able to parlay his way to an 11 or 12 win season, he will shut a lot of the doubters up—even though his team won't be bowl eligible until after the 2011 season. 

2. Can Florida still be dominant without Tim Tebow? 

Talk is cheap. Play the games and then tell me what a great team you are now that superman has officially left the building. The Gators are getting a lot of love, despite key losses on the defensive side of the ball. The team will lose this season—bet on that—the only question is, how will the fans take it when they do? 

3. Will Houston Nutt regret allowing Jeremiah Masoli onto his team?
 

Houston Nutt is taking a big risk with Masoli—that's obvious. However, if the risk pays off, he's a genius. He'll likely save his job and Nathan Stanley would be that much better in 2011. On the other hand, if Masoli gets in trouble or falls flat, Nutt could find himself out of a job real soon. 

4. Can Alabama repeat as national champions?

The real question needs to be, can Alabama get back to the SEC Championship game. As much love as people have for the Tide, they are a lot more human than they were last season and the target on their back isn't that much easier to carry minus the likes of Terrance Cody and Javier Arenas. If the Tide expect to repeat as SEC West Division Champs, they will need to fight through a horrendously tough schedule and overcome the fact that they will have both an inexperienced punter and kicker for the first time in four-years. 

5. Will Florida State thrive under Jimbo Fisher?

The Tallahassee faithful finally got what they wanted, they ran Bobby Bowden out of town and happily ushered in the start of the Jimbo Fisher era. Fisher, so far, has shown he's got the midas touch as he reeled in a solid recruiting class for 2010 and is already well on his way to a solid 2011 as well. Will he be the man who returns the Seminoles to their former glory?

6. Can Georgia Tech get defensive?

The Yellow Jackets didn't have much trouble running all over their competition last season. but they did have some trouble stopping it. They brought in Al Groh to fix what ails them on that side of the ball—can he work his magic? Many feel that if the Jackets can find some balance, they can be contend for a BCS title. 

7. How much longer will Joe Paterno walk the sidelines in Happy Valley?

It's a question that many have asked a lot over the last several years. He's one of the last stalwarts of a coaching era that has long since passed him by—would a sub-par season put him under the gun again?

8. Is Boise State TRULY for real?

If the Broncos beat Virginia Tech in September, there is little doubt that they will ride a magic carpet to the BCS title game and FINALLY may be worthy of the respect they've been shouting for since 2004—maybe. 

9. Can the Nebraska Cornhuskers exit the Big XII with a conference championship?
Despite what Phil Steele has to say about the Sooners being the best team in the conference this season, Nebraska has a lot of reasons to want to stick it to the conference on their way out the door. What better way to do so than to win the championship that many felt they were deserving of last season—if not for that one measly second. 

10. Will Steve Spurrier be able to take the Gamecocks to Atlanta in December?

There are some who feel that if any team in the SEC East has a shot at dethroning the Gators, it's the USC of the east. If Spurrier can get his guys clicking on all cylinders, he could have a shot to do what no other coach in the history of South Carolina football has been able to do—win an SEC Championship. 

11. Can the Ohio State Buckeyes go all the way with Pryor at the top?

The Rose Bowl, supposedly, was the coming out party for the much-maligned Terrelle Pryor. He was poised and focused on every down as he led his team to the win over the highly-favored Oregon Ducks. To some, his success in that game spelled the turning of a corner for the young man—was it really that? 2010 promises to see him playing an even bigger role in the offense as a passer as he looks to both lead the Buckeyes to the national title game and contend for the Heisman. 

12. Which team will be the BCS buster this season?

There seems to be one team every season that "comes out of nowhere" to surprise the college football world and make things very interesting for the pollsters. Last season, it was TCU and Boise. Boise was so much a surprise as a given, but, they did make the conversation interesting for a moment—particularly in light of the Longhorns poor game against Nebraska. Cincinnati was another. Who will it be this year? 

13. What player will finally break through and stake his claim as one of the premier college players in the nation?

Trent Richardson, Andrew Luck, and Dion Lewis all put up flares last season and the glare from that action was bright enough that expectations are higher for all three gentleman in 2010—especially for Luck who is already getting Heisman buzz. Who else will prove themselves indispensable parts of their respective teams? 

14. Which coach will finally wear out his welcome?

Odds are at least one or more head coaches will see their tenures end this year. Who will they be? Heavy wagers should be placed on Dan Hawkins and Ron Zook—neither of whom have seen a winning season in quite some time. 

15. What new coach will see the most success in his first season?

Charlie Strong is making noise in Louisville. Brian Kelly is going to introduce his high-powered offense to the Irish. Joker Phillips is trying to break out of the shadow of Rich Brooks at Kentucky. Derek Dooley wants to erase the bad taste that Lane Kiffin left at Tennessee. Skip Holtz wants to make South Florida great again...they all have a legitimate shot to do what they want to do, but how long will it take? Who will do the most with the least in 2010?
 
16. Will Rich Rodriguez finally get the ball rolling in Ann Arbor?

He has the team and the system in place to make this season a special one for the Wolverines. If he can't get it done this year, many feel he will be out of a job.

17. How many teams will go undefeated this year?

The fact that Boise, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, and Alabama all went undefeated last season left a bad taste in the mouths of many college football fans who would love to see a playoff coming in the near future. Will the same be said this season? Chances are there won't be as many as last year but anything more than a couple and a firestorm could crop up yet again.

18. Will the Georgia Bulldogs get back on track in the east and mount a challenge to the Florida Gators?
 
Many are saying that Mark Richt is on the "hot seat". That's not nearly as true as most would have you believe but a return to the SEC Championship game this season would cool a lot of the madness that has surrounded the team over the last 8-months.

19. Can Jim Harbaugh lead Stanford to a Pac-10 title without Gerhart?
 

A lot of pressure is being placed on the shoulders of Andrew Luck and there is plenty of optimism at Stanford after last seasons performance. However, this is a new year and the Cardinals have plenty of questions to answer on both sides of the ball. Can Harbaugh lead his team to the conference title game and, if he does, will he be called upon for something bigger not long after?

20. What potential Top 10 team will be out of the running early due to an unexpected loss?

 
It's happened time and again. A team goes in with high hopes and high expectations but is met with a nasty dose of on-field reality. Who will that team be this year?

Derek Dooley to Bryce Brown: "Text Me?...Release NOT Granted"

Earlier this week, Bryce Brown showed just how much he knows about personal etiquette when he decided that he would text Tennessee Vols head coach, Derek Dooley, instead of showing up to meet with him face-to-face. The message was clear, Brown was done playing football at Tennessee.

Game over...or so we thought.

As it turns out, the game isn't really as over as first thought and coach Dooley has a little hand of his own he still wishes to play—he has refused to grant Brown his release. Brown has already decided he will return to his home state of Kansas to play football at Kansas State University.

Why won't Dooley grant Brown's release? Well, he says it isn't "personal", but rather a matter of his own personal protocol where releasing players is concerned.

Apparently, before Dooley can be satisfied that a player is ready to move on, he must meet three criteria:

1. What was the player's personal investment into the program? 

None if you ask me. I am wondering what types of promises former coach, Lane Kiffin, made to get the kid to Knoxville in the first place. It's no coincidence that Brown's desire to bolt the Vols came shortly after Lane exited stage  left. Adding more fuel to the fire, why would Brown leave when he was all but guaranteed to start next season? Seems fishy to me.  

2. What harm the player's departure would cause the program?   

Well, depth immediately becomes an issue, but I don't think anyone will be disappointed with what Tauren Poole can do. Also, incoming freshman, Rajion Neal could be a factor this season as well. Brown's departure will cause a minor inconvenience for the Vols but there still plenty of talent left at tailback. 

3. How the player handled the situation as a person.

The kid sent a text message to announce his departure. I'd say he handled it very poorly and, honestly, I don't care what coach Dooley says about his protocol, he took that personally. He's letting Brown take a nap in that bed he decided to lay down in and, who could blame him?

Seriously, though, it doesn't make sense for Tennessee to allow this matter to go any further. Brown was enough of a distraction before, due to his lengthy indecision, and the best possible thing coach Dooley can do now is let him go. Don't let this soap opera stretch out any further because it looks like, if it does, it will become a war of words between the coach and the player's father.

Arthur Brown, Bryce's father, has already started doing a little talking of his own and nothing good can come of a back and forth conversation which starts with finger-pointing and ends with "he said..."

You've made your point, coach. Now let the kid go back to Kansas—with your blessing.

Bryce Brown...The Very Definition of Unclassy

Bryce Brown just joined the ranks of his former coach and, coincidentally, the man who lured him to Knoxville in the first place, Lane Kiffin, by exiting the Tennessee football program via text message.

Brown, who abruptly departed the Vols football program in late March, was given quite a bit of leeway by new coach Derek Dooley. No pressure was applied to Brown as the Vols awaited his decision to either finish out his career at Tennessee or transfer out. However, the longer the decision took to be made, the more apparent it became that Brown would not be returning—by the end of spring, it was clear both Dooley and the team had moved on. 

In hindsight, though, Dooley may have been better served to approach Brown and alert him that he needed to make a choice sooner rather than later. The reason for doing so would have been simple, to take pressure off both the team and himself in answering the question of whether Brown was going to remain or not.

Why continue to allow that kind of a distraction? Especially since it was clear that Dooley knew Brown's fate long before the end of spring practice. I mean, most of the fans and players had moved on from this soap opera, but the waiting was the kicker—Brown continued to drag out his request for a release, why?

In the end, not only did Brown not show up to meet with Dooley about his situation but he decided the best way to say goodbye was through a text message.

Unbelievable.

It always seems like poor form to talk negatively about a 19-year old kid who, presumably, still has a lot of growing up to do, but come on—seriously?!? A text message? Considering the amount of respect that Brown was given by Dooley, I would think he would have thought to at least give him as much respect in return. The fact that he didn't says a lot about him as a player and a man—right now.

According to at least one report, his parents weren't too happy about his decision to exit the program in this manner either—his father was vocal in stating that he didn't feel it was the manly thing to do. Well, I can definitely agree with daddy Brown on that one, but, at the same time, look at the example Brown toiled under during his first season in Knoxville.

Former Vols coach, Lane Kiffin, scurried out of town, under the cover of night, on short notice, with no explanation other than he was taking his "dream job". After which, he tried to pilfer what was left of the Vol's 2010 recruiting class and then proceeded to make statements to the effect that he never promised Tennessee a rose garden.

I guess Bryce picked up on the wrong man's cues for how to do things the right way.

New USC AD Pat Haden Could Be Trouble For Lane Kiffin

Today, the USC Trojans did some house cleaning and, in the process, sent a message to the NCAA and the college football world that "Playtime Is Over" in Southern California.

Athletic Director Mike Garrett was fired,  replaced by the clean-cut, wholesome, image of Pat Haden—a former Trojan and member of the USC board of trustees. He has since resigned from the latter.


He is a well-respected figure in the community and, at USC, few will find any reason to disagree with the choice—especially given the recent turmoil the program has suffered with Garrett at the wheel.

Also gone is any material memory of Reggie Bush. His No. 5 jersey along with the Heisman Trophy he won in 2005 have both been removed from Heritage Hall. Said president-elect Max Nikias, "The Trojan Family honors and respects the USC sporting careers of those persons whose actions did not compromise their athletic program or the opportunities of future USC student-athletes,". 

USC is certainly following the guidelines set forth by the NCAA which advised them to disassociate themselves from Bush in the wake of the scandal. However, it does make you wonder, will they return all the revenue they reaped as a result of his jersey sales? Will they return the money that was likely generated from the boosters and alumni who gladly opened their checkbooks thanks to his greatness on the field?

Don't get me wrong, Reggie Bush was a punk for what he did and he deserves to be stripped of the Heisman, but lets not be naive to how much money USC made off his success either—just saying.

But, I digress.

It's all business now at USC and that means there will be a lot less hand-wringing and side-chatter surrounding the program and it's dealings where the athletes and coaches are concerned. Which naturally leads us to new head coach, Lane Kiffin.

I seriously doubt that his "dream job" entailed him having a semi-permanent set of eyes looking over his shoulder. However, that may very well be the case now that J.K. McKay will be appointed the associate athletic director of football.

McKay's primary job will be to act as the liaison between new AD, Pat Haden, and the football program. In other words, Kiffin's freedom just got a whole lot more restrained.

It's no secret that McKay and Haden have a close relationship and that leaves little doubt as to where McKay's loyalty will be.  He will surely scrutinize Kiffin's every move and that could make Kiffin's time on the sidelines a lot less enjoyable.

It doesn't help that Kiffin has already come under fire for his, somewhat, questionable recruiting tactics at USC already.

The first red flag came after he accepted the job. One of his assistants, with Kiffin's blessing, was rumored to have called some of Tennessee's (Kiffin's former employer) best prospects in an effort to get them to switch their commitment to USC instead.

Then came the Seantrel Henderson debacle.

Kiffin was, allegedly, dishonest with Henderson about the severity of the upcoming sanctions. Henderson never did sign with the Trojans due in large part to deception.

Add to that, the recent transfer of a number of junior and senior players to other Division I schools, and Kiffin has already been through the wringer without having called a snap.

If more of these shenanigans continue, I foresee swift and definitive action by Haden to cut Kiffin loose.  After all, USC can undoubtedly find a more experienced, less media-obsessed coach for $4 million.

Either way, I set the over/under on Kiffin's departure at 2-years because his dream just turned into a nightmare.

USC RB Dillon Baxter Should Not Escape Punishment For His Statements

Dillon Baxter (pictured far left), the highly-touted running back out of San Diego, has remained free of any of the negativity surrounding the circus that he is partly responsible for starting.

Just shy of a month ago, the five-star product who was heavily courted by the likes of Florida, Michigan, UCLA, and Oregon stated that he was contacted illegally by some heavy-hitters in the BCS. Those heavy-hitters turned out to, allegedly, be Florida, Fresno State, Alabama, Washington, and Oregon.

The accusation set off a frenzy as many called into question why those schools would have acted so carelessly in going after a kid who was already signed elsewhere. After all, the sanctions that hit USC weren't going to effect their incoming talent, just the juniors and seniors on their roster—by all accounts—Baxter was untouchable.

Of course, the accusations were followed by denials across the board by most every one of the accused schools—all firmly stating that Baxter had not been contacted by anyone inside their program. 

That said, it was already difficult to believe that Nick Saban, Chip Kelly, or Urban Meyer would  blatantly dismiss such a clear violation of the NCAA regulations.

It seemed fishy to me at the time.

True to form, the plot thickened a day or two later when Baxter told ESPN reporter, Joe Schad, that he  lost his cell phone and could not produce any visual proof of contact.

Really? You have a chance to embarrass several big name schools, stick it to a couple of your current school's rivals, and make your head coach look like a choir boy—for a change—and you conveniently lose the one piece of evidence that would have done it?...Okay...sure, I'll buy that.

Not! If I'm Lane Kiffin or Mike Garrett, Baxter's story ends right then and there because there is little hope of a positive ending for USC.

Even still, AD Mike Garrett, took Baxter at his word and wagged a disapproving finger at the five schools that, allegedly, made contact.

Fast forward to the here and now and, again, the Trojans look like the back side of a horse's patoot—sending apologies to those same schools for making false accusations. The immediate consequence has been more calls for AD Mike Garrett to step down or be fired. He was already in hot water after the sanctions but this latest guffaw makes him look incompetent.

Clearly, he should have done more homework before lofting grenades at other programs. He never seemed to even consider the possibility that Baxter was lying. After all, Baxter never met a microphone or a camera he didn't like. He's a flashy young man and could very well have just been doing a bit of posturing for the cameras—unaware of the power of his words at this level.

In any case, Garrett should have known better and the calls for his head are valid.

However, what becomes of Dillon Baxter? Clearly, there needs to be further investigation into his actions as well. Was he outright lying at the time of his statements or was there actually contact? At least one publication, GatorCountry.com, is stating that Baxter was the one who made contact with Florida—not the other way around. If that's true, doesn't that mean that Baxter is in for a little wrist-slapping from the NCAA as well?

Dez Bryant was suspended last season for lying to the NCAA about his relationship with former NFL pro, Deion Sanders—that lie cost him, essentially, his entire year.

Granted, Baxter's actions are different but, a lie is a lie, right?

NCAA Bylaw 10.1 addresses "unethical conduct" and specifically regards ""Knowingly furnishing the NCAA or the individual's institution false or misleading information concerning the individual's involvement in or knowledge of matters relevant to a possible violation of an NCAA regulation." as "unethical". Such an infraction warrants a suspension of said player by the NCAA.

With that in mind, will we see the spotlight turn towards Baxter's statements next?

Somehow, it just doesn't seem like this is the end of the story and that means more scrutiny for the Trojans.

Lane Kiffin Is Still Trying To Prove He's Got The Bigger...Uh..Boat

Lane Kiffin has seen his USC Trojans in the news a lot. That would be fine if the news were not always so darn negative lately.

First there was the transfer of linebacker Jordan Campbell—a talented but, likely, dispensable player on USC's defense. Then came the news that Seantrel Henderson wished to try his wares elsewhere—specifically at a school without sanctions.

Next came the karma police who seemed to have no problems transporting defensive end Malik Jackson from the sunny skies of California to the Rocky Tops of Tennessee—the location of Kiffin's former employer.

That last point gave me such a laugh that I found it hard not to give a point to both Derek Dooley and the Vols for being able to exact a little revenge on ol' Kiffy—that was a good one.

Well, not to be outdone, Kiffin decided to let it leak that the Vols were offered the opportunity to play the Trojans in the 2011 Chick-fil-A Kickoff game—they declined the challenge. The hidden message: Tennessee is afraid of USC—end of story—Lane Kiffin wins again, right? Well...not exactly.

Tennessee's 2011 schedule is already top-heavy with quality opponents and if they replaced their current opening opponent, North Texas, with USC they could stand to have one of the toughest out of conference schedules in the nation.

Here is how 2011 would looks with USC added:

vs USC
vs Cincinnati
at Florida
at North Carolina,
vs Georgia
vs LSU

That would be brutal. There would be zero need for the Vols to play the Trojans and I think that Derek Dooley would agree. It's a lose-lose for the Vols.

Sure, it would prove to some that AD Mike Hamilton has faith in the Tennessee football program and, if the Vols won, it would do wonders for the tradition that Kiffin stepped on when he slithered away late last winter. However, other than proving whose band is bigger, the game has absolutely no purpose for Tennessee.

The Vols aren't looking to establish a strong west coast presence in recruiting nor do they have to buoy the strength of the SEC by playing a Pac-10 power. The game would be nice from an ESPN hype standpoint but, in every other facet, it has zero meaning.

Honestly, it wouldn't even be that great a deal if USC's head coach wasn't named Lane Kiffin.

By contrast, Kiffin always feels a need to be in the spotlight and he knows that giving his old team a royal beating, on southern soil, would go a long way towards establishing good public relations for not only his conference but his team.

He could become the new ambassador of the Pac-10—a la Pete Carroll—and could, potentially, set his team up for a slew of big name prospects in 2012.

Even more, it might make the way easier for him when recruiting against the true big boys of the SEC, Urban Meyer and Nick Saban.

Meyer, in particular, gets under Kiffin's skin and he would love nothing better than to keep the Gators from stealing away any more of California's best talent (i.e. Ronald Powell in 2010).  Playing, and beating, Tennessee could open doors on the southern recruiting trail—particularly in Georgia and Florida—where the talent is plentiful.

There's always a motive with Kiffin—always.

In the end, it's just a good story about two programs that suddenly have a very ugly cross-country rivalry. One that, at some point, could find it's end on the football field. For now, the score stands tied—we'll see who casts the next stone.

Tony Basillio, A Knoxville Radio Host, Takes Out Billboard Aimed At Kiffin

According to a report by The Orange County Register, Tony Basillio—a Knoxville radio personality—has started a billboard campaign aimed at Lane Kiffin. The Billboards would be placed in Trojan Country and would read: "got sanctions? Enjoy Your Dream Job, Lane". 

Basillio has started a paypal fund and he's taking donations from any fan or follower of Tennessee football to aid in this project. It's obvious to me that some Vol fans would still like to stick it to Mr. Kiffin.

My take, the best revenge is doing well. Kiffin's slimy ways have trailed him everywhere he's been and there is little doubt that he will step in a big pile of manure at USC at some point as well. I give him 4-years—max—before he's fired or slithers away for something that elevates him even higher than he already feels himself to be.

Either way, he's not long for the college football world.

Man, he's just so darned unlikeable, I can't do anything but root against him—sorry, Trojan fans.



I love how he kept wringing his hands—a sure sign that he knew he was dead wrong. What a guy.

Riches to Rags: 10 College Football Teams That Will Suffer A Letdown in 2010

College football can be unpredictable. One moment a team looks like a sure thing— unbeatable, untouchable—money in the bank. However, as the saying goes, on “any given Saturday, anything is possible.” Success is not promised from season-to-season.

It doesn’t necessarily matter how many returning starters are on a roster, or, how much experience is had by the quarterback, sometimes it’s about who wants it more and how prepared they are to prove it on the field—period.

So, if the line between victory and defeat can razor thin for a team that’s loaded with talent, what happens if obstacles are introduced (i.e. new coaching, new scheme, new sanctions, or new players)?
Many college football fans view the landscape through a homer-colored pair of glasses but the truth can be a bitter pill.

This article will list a few teams who may see the road to victory marred by more losses this season than the last.

Does that mean said team won’t go bowling or will fail to make an impact? No, it just means that this is a season where expectations should be lower than before because the vibe around the program doesn’t look good based on the mix.

As always, I appreciate the feedback and the intelligence of those who choose to comment and, never fail to recognize this as my opinion—by all means, feel free to express yours.

Oklahoma State—2009 Record, 9-4

Quarterback Zac Robinson is gone—as are both Perrish Cox (DB) and Russell Okung (OT). The Cowboys have little experience to offer at the quarterback spot and, even if they did, the offensive line is going to be young. (four starters are gone).

Kendall Hunter’s return is a positive but that greatly depends on his ability to stay healthy. His lackluster 2009 was forgiven thanks, in part, to the success of Keith Toston. However, with Toston gone, the Cowboys will lean on Hunter again and there is some question as to how effective he will be with the spotlight resting totally upon his 5’8” shoulders.

Also, how will the team do under new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.

Holgorsen coached the Houston Cougars’ offense in 2009—the most potent offense in the nation last season. He is a welcome addition to a Cowboy’s offense that found trouble scoring down the stretch.

That said, the Cowboys lack the signature pieces necessary to make Holgorsen’s spread system a success—a star wide receiver and a gun-slinging quarterback. 26-year old Brandon Weeden is the answer could be the answer but it definitely looks like the Cowboys will be in rebuild mode for 2010.

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 7-5

Potential Upset Alert: vs. Baylor. Robert Griffin is back for the Bears and, if he is healthy, he could be an achilles heel for a Cowboys defense that has some serious questions—both in the secondary and on the defensive line.

Cincinnati—2009 Record, 12-1

The main argument for the continued success of the Bearcats, in light of coach Brian Kelly’s departure, is the fact that Butch Jones has followed in Kelly’s footsteps before—successfully.

Well, no offense to either coach Kelly or his successor but this isn’t Central Michigan and that guy playing quarterback isn’t Tony Pike.

The Bearcats have the good fortune of two quality quarterbacks in both Zach Collaros
And Chazz Anderson, but neither have had to maintain their performance-level for the duration of a season, nor will they have Mardy Gilyard soaring through the air to trap their passes.

Cincy’s new coach will have to navigate the waters of an ultra-competitive Big East that includes a determined Pitt, a legit West Virginia, and a pesky Connecticut team that suddenly has new life at the quarterback spot with Zach Frazer’s return.

Oh, and did I mention, their September schedule includes opening on the road at Fresno State and playing Oklahoma as well?

Expect to see some growing pains for the Bearcats in 2010.

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 6-6

Potential Upset Alert: at Louisville. Aside from a blowout in 2009, these two teams have played some close games over the last four-years—with Louisville taking two. By this point in the season, Charlie Strong could be looking for a signature win for his rebuilding program and this game could prove to be just that.

Tennessee—2009 Record, 7-6

The Vols have been through the fire this off-season.

First, there was the somewhat disappointing bowl loss to Virginia Tech to end their post-season, then came the tsunami that was the Lane Kiffin decision to bolt the SEC for the Pac-10—leaving the team, it’s players, and the fan base stunned and angry.

Derek Dooley has arrived on the scene with calm assurances that he won’t mirror the regime of old and he would set the program back on the winning track. He got well on his way to keeping that promise by securing the Vols 2010 recruiting class—which stopped the bleeding for the Knoxville faithful. That said, there are still questions as to how good Tennessee can be in their first season under Dooley.

Quarterback Jonathan Crompton and leading rusher Montario Hardesty are both gone—so the offense will take a hit. Add to that, defensive playmakers Eric Berry (DB) and Dan White (DT) have moved on to the pro ranks. That leaves some fairly big shoes for Montori Hughes (DT) and Janzen Jackson (DB) to fill next season.

Can they do it?

Tennessee has a very challenging schedule this season and it will take some time for Derek Dooley and his staff to get accustomed to coaching in the SEC. The foundation is being built, particularly with the great defensive talent at the end position, but it’s not quite there yet.

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 6-6

Potential Upset Alert: at Vanderbilt. The Commodores won’t be better than Tennessee in 2010. There are holes in their offensive line and no guarantee that quarterbac Larry Smith will be any better. However, Vanderbilt has a good run game in Warren Norman and some fairly decent receivers for Smith, or JUCO player Jordan Rodgers, to throw it to. If the Commodores come out with purpose, they could steal a win from the Vols.

Penn State—2009 Record, 11-2

Joe Pa is like the Energizer bunny, he just keeps coaching….and coaching...and coaching. However, this could be the season that finds the legendary icon of the Big Ten taking a step back to reevaluate just how much longer he intends to patrol the sidelines in Happy Valley.

The Lions managed to skate through 2009 by steamrolling the, mostly unworthy, competition and despite hiccups against Iowa and Ohio State, Joe Pa’s program ended a good note—defeating LSU in the Capital One bowl.

However, with senior quarterback Daryll Clark out of the picture and six spots to fill on the defense—including the entire linebacking corps—Penn State may find their dominating ways a bit less evident in 2010.

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 8-4

Potential Upset Alert: vs. Michigan. Whether it’s Tate Forcier or Devin Gardner, the Wolverines may have one of the better, if not the best, offenses in the Big Ten this coming season. If Penn State can’t find some new playmakers to bolster their depleted linebacking corps, it could be a long day for the Lions.

Stanford—2009 Record, 8-5

The popular opinion seems to be that the arm of Andrew Luck can lead Stanford to a Pac-10 Championship in 2010. That seems like a good bet on the surface; especially given the probable parity in the Pac-10 this coming year.

However, in making such a bold prediction, some dismiss the major reason the Cardinals, and Luck for that matter, were so exceptional last season. I’ll give you a hint: his name was Toby Gerhart. He didn’t just run the ball—he ran over the river and through the woods with the ball.

His consistency was a huge factor for the Cardinals in time of possession. They held the ball, on average, six minutes longer than their opponent. That ability to control the clock kept games within reach and, if the Cardinals had been able to win the close ones, there is no doubt 2009 could have been a championship one.

So, riddle me this, how on earth is Stanford going to be better without Gerhart? I’m simply not buying the logic.

Luck may be outstanding but Stanford needs a little more than Luck to duplicate their 2009 success.
Even more, despite the return of six players, on a defense that trended toward awful on more than one occasion, the Cardinals are making the transition to the 3-4 this fall—uh huh.

Jim Harbaugh did great things with this team last season but a step back is more likely than a step forward in 2010.

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 6-6

Potential Upset Alert: at UCLA. Despite the issues the Bruins have faced over the last two seasons under Rick Neuheisel, this is a matchup that has been close and could end up swinging towards the home-field advantage. With no Gerhart (he rushed for 134-yards and 3 TD’s in 2009) to take advantage of what may be a soft defensive front by UCLA, Stanford could lose this early Pac-10 contest.

Florida Gators—2009 Record, 13-1

The Gators have had a stranglehold on the SEC East over the last three seasons as they made fools of just about every team they played. However, with Tebow now gone, the team suddenly seems less other worldly than in years prior.

John Brantley is the new phenom at quarterback and, although talented, he has not been tested in the SEC (particularly on the road). Furthermore, he will enter 2010 minus the offensive presence of either Aaron Hernandez (TE) or Riley Cooper (WR)—the team’s two leading receivers in 2009.

Add to that, the loss of defensive coordinator Charlie Strong along with the NFL departures of Joe Haden, Carlos Dunlap, and Brandon Spikes, and you have a team that isn’t rebuilding but definitely readjusting in 2010.

If some of the hungrier teams in the East want to take advantage of a, possibly, hungover Gator program, this will be the best year for doing so because the reload beckons.

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 9-3

Potential Upset Alert: vs. South Carolina. Look for the requisite bumps along the way as a new team of Gators get acquainted with playing in the SEC without No. 15 leading the way. This could be Steve Spurrier’s last year in Columbia and nothing would please him more than to come away with a big win over the Gators in Gainesville.

California—2009 Record, 8-5

Will Kevin Riley be able to right the ship?

He wasn’t blowing the doors off anyone last season, but he was consistent and didn’t make costly turnovers. However, as the season wore on, he seemed to regress and fall into an annoying rut of inconsistency—throwing six interceptions in his final five games (he only threw 2 in his first eight). He needs to fix whatever ailed him and get his game back on track if he’s going to be of any value to his team.

The presence of an experienced offensive line will help, but the loss of Mike Tepper cannot be discounted. Also, there is some question as to the depth at running back if Shane Vereen gets injured. There is little depth at this position for 2010.

The introduction of a new defensive coordinator means a new defensive approach for the Bears and that’s a good thing. The Bears had trouble containing the pass last season (they were ranked 7th in the Pac-10) and in a conference where throwing the ball around is akin to running it in the SEC, that’s a bad deficiency to own.

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 6-6

Potential Upset Alert: vs. Arizona State. The Sun Devils played the Bears down to the wire last season. Kevin Riley played one of his best games of the year in leading the Bears to the victory in Tempe. The Sun Devils offense isn’t likely to make any major improvements but, if the defense can play up to expectation and the offense makes few mistakes, this game could fall the Devils way.

BYU—2009 Record, 11-2

With Max Hall gone, it will be either Riley Nelson or, incoming phenom, Jake Heaps taking over the quarterback role. The most pressing factor will be how quickly Heaps can learn the playbook.

Nelson, a junior, has the most experience with the system, but his limited snaps make him just as green as Heaps where taking the lead is concerned—either guy could assume the job come fall.

Another glaring question is who will replace Harvey Unga (RB)? He was set to be one of the signature pieces of the offense again this season, but his dismissal has left a hole at the tail spot—JJ Di Luigi and Bryan Kariya will have their hands full trying to replace his production.

The defense lost a bit of its luster with the loss of both Jan Jorgensen (DE) and Coleby Clawson (LB).

Jorgensen led the team in both tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (6.5), while Clawson was key in a linebacking corps that produced more than 240+ tackles, 7 sacks, and 19.5 tackles for loss—leading BYU to the 2nd ranked rush defense in the conference.

Also gone is Dennis Pitta (TE); he led the team in receiving last year with 811 yards and 8 touchdowns.

BYU has work to do to find replacements for the playmakers they saw depart.

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 9-3

Potential Upset Alert: at Air Force. You have to figure Air Force is due a win, right? After all, they dismantled the Houston Cougar’s high-powered offense in the Armed Forces Bowl and Tim Jefferson will be back at quarterback. They have a lot of momentum coming into 2010 and if BYU is still sorting out personnel chemistry, particularly on defense, by the time the two meet in week two, this game could be interesting.

Houston—2009 Record, 10-4

The Cougars won five game last season by a total of 21-points—two by just one point. Their defense was something shy of horrendous and most of the components of that defense will return in 2010.
Who wants to place a bet that there will be just as many last-possession games this coming season as there were in the last?

Houston has a great quarterback in Case Keenum but he cannot be expected to continue pulling out last-minute victories. The defense has got to get better and, in the future, there is hope that they will.
That said, the Cougars are moving to a 3-4 this season and transitioning what was a bad defense into a new one, using a new scheme, doesn’t come without a price—in this case, more losses.

Offensive coordinator, Dana Holgersen has moved on and new coordinator, Jason Phillips (who spent last season as the receivers coach) will have to transition seamlessly into his new role. Can he do so without disrupting the high-powered scoring prowess of this team?

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 8-4

Potential Upset Alert: vs Tulsa. The Hurricanes are feeling good about 2010. G.J. Kinne makes his return (2,732 yards, 22 TD’s, 10 INT’s, and 399-yards rushing) along with Damaris Johnson (WR) and DeAundre Brown (DB). All were members of a team that nearly went bowling last season. The one-point loss to the Cougars all but sealed their fate. Don’t think they won’t remember that when they square off again, this time in Houston, this year. This game could be one of the biggest shoot-outs of the season for these two teams and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Tulsa come out on top.

USC—2009 Record, 9-4

The Trojans will win at least nine games this season. Anything less would be surprising.

Their schedule is fairly uncomplicated, their coach is endlessly determined, and there is enough talent in USC’s cupboard to handily beat the pants off almost any team the Pac-10 has to offer in 2010.
That said, outside of Southern California, Lane Kiffin’s name is castor oil—the guy just leaves the worst taste in your mouth. He’s great for a sound bite and is one of the most competitive coaches west of the Mississippi.

On the other hand, he’s arrogant, pushy, and talks way too much.

Why does this matter?

For one, every team that plays the Trojans this season will do so with an eye towards making Lane Kiffin look bad—call it an added bonus of a victory. Furthermore, how well will this team of young men respond to both the scrutiny and the expectations heaped upon them following the sanctions?

USC may be primed for greatness but that in no way means they will be great.
Both the team and its coaches have huge targets on their backs and the pressure of having that much expectation, in the post-Carroll era, may prove to be the hardest obstacle to overcome.

2010 Regular Season Prediction: 8-5

Potential Upset Alert: vs. Notre Dame. The Trojans have some question marks in the secondary with the loss of Taylor Mays and, one might think, that by the time these two hit the field, Brian Kelly’s crew could have a handle on the spread. The game in South Bend was decided by a score in 2009 and this game could be every bit as close. If USC gets caught sleeping, the Irish could leave with their eyes a’smiling.

(This article appears courtesy of the The Lady Sportswriter—Check it out!)

Charlie Strong Is Doing Whatever He Can To Make Louisville A Contender

The Louisville Cardinals were once a program on the rise.

Bobby Petrino took over the reigns in 2003 and led the Cardinals to four straight winning seasons—including a Big East Championship and an Orange Bowl win in 2006.

That was then, this is now.

Charlie Strong was named head coach of the Cardinals program in December 2009 and he's been hard at work trying to make the team competitive again (they finished 4-8 last year)—he's got plenty of work to do.

The Cardinals were ranked near the bottom of the Big East in nearly every offensive and defensive category last season and need help everywhere. As a first-time head coach, Strong doesn't seem shy about bringing in that help—no matter how character flawed—if it means his team could benefit.

His first major pick-up was Demar Dorsey.

The former four-star defensive back who signed with Michigan this past February, failed to qualify for entry into the Wolverines program and was released from his commitment. Charlie Strong, who recruited Dorsey while he was the defensive coordinator at Florida, was more than willing to swoop in and claim the cast-off.

He will be a nice addition to a Louisville secondary that was respectable in 2009 but lacked any significant playmakers. It was a big grab for Strong and his staff as Dorsey will make the secondary considerably better and is likely to start immediately.

He will be joined by Jordan Campbell, a former linebacker for the USC Trojans.
He appeared in six games for the Trojans last season, netting nine tackles.

His decision to transfer to Louisville had a little to do with his familiarity with the defensive scheme. The Cards run a system similar to that of USC. Plus, he won't be required to sit out a year due to the sanctions imposed on the Trojans—he will have two years of eligibility left.

Campbell was rated a four-star linebacker out of California and will add game experience to a Louisville corps that lost both of its starters to graduation.

However, he doesn't come without baggage.

Like Dorsey, Campbell also has not been a stranger to trouble. Just this past spring, he got into hot water with new head coach, Lane Kiffin, after he missed some tutoring sessions. He was given a warning and told to get his act together—to no avail.

After a second violation of team rules, it was thought that Lane Kiffin might even consider kicking Campbell off the team. Enter the sanctions and Campbell was ready to fly the coup. 

He decided on Louisville after looking at both Cincinnati, West Virginia, and Ole Miss—among others.

It is clear that Strong is making a statement about how serious he is taking his goal to rebuild Louisville into a Big East powerhouse.

If his gambles pay off, he may very well have the last laugh.

Seantrel Henderson Isn't Doing Himself Any Favors With His Latest Dramatics

I hate to say it, but, Seantrel Henderson is trouble—with a capital, italicized, and bolded 'T'.

The highly-touted, highly-sought after, five-star recruit from Minnesota has again decided to hold the college football world hostage while he decides where he wants to start his college career. 

The 6'8", 300+ pound, offensive tackle prospect out of St. Paul did not report to USC for a scheduled orientation last week—prompting Lane Kiffin and his band of merry men to hop on a private plane to go talk to the phenom.

The supposed reason for Henderson's decision to skip the university function were his second thoughts about signing with the Trojans.

Reports are stating that Henderson may have been misled by coach Kiffin (wow, that's new) when he was told that USC's sanctions wouldn't be nearly as harsh as implied. Taking Kiffin at his word (mistake), Henderson decided to give his commitment to the Trojans. However he put off signing a letter of intent with the school until the results of the NCAA investigation were released.

Well, obviously USC was given a tad more than just a slap on the wrist and now Henderson is thinking of bolting the program.

While I have no problem with seeing Lane Kiffin squirm like the weasel I think he is, I'm a little sick of Seantrel Henderson and his prima donna ways. After all, if he was smart enough to hold off on signing his letter of intent, then why isn't he man enough to just say the following, "I'm not coming to USC...next school please"?

Honestly, the attention-seeking behavior leaves a bad taste in my mouth and if the college football world were smart, it would let Seantrel go to an FCS school and languish in obscurity for the next 3-4 years of his care.


Some might say that his father is every bit the blame for this madness as Seantrel. Especially given the rumor that he's looking to use his son as his ticket to rap stardom. However, at some point, a program has to cut their losses with a guy and say they aren't going to deal with all the drama just to get his ink.

Seriously, Henderson was great in high school and the scouts think he could be a once-in-a-lifetime prospect at left tackle but there are no guarantees. He could become the biggest bust since Willie Williams—another spotlight hog who prompted some serious changes to the recruiting landscape.

Henderson isn't worth this madness, that much is truth, because who's to say that his behavior ends with this most recent madness. This blatant need to be coddled and looked upon as important could manifest itself in his approach to playing the game, his ability to lead on the field, and his day-to-day dealings with his coaches?

College football can cut a nice size slice of humble pie for a prospect who thinks he's got big-time talent. That slice can be a bitter bite if you aren't prepared for the taste. That said, Henderson could be in for a rude awakening in his first season—no matter where he plays—and I now have some serious doubts as to how he will handle the realization that there are some guys who will be better than he.

No matter what happens, the magnifying glass on Henderson just got bigger and, whether he realizes it or not, that's not necessarily a good thing.

Sunday Clickables: A Few Links To Make You Think

Congressman Barton says that the recent expansion madness is all about the money. Oh yeah? Well, in other news, water is wet and the sand in Saudi is hot. Barton has long since been a proponent of a playoff and thinks that the Big XII's demise is due to the lack of one. Actually, Congressman, the Big XII's demise has a lot to do with the conference dropping the ball on sharing the wealth.

This article points out the exact reasons the Big XII has fallen like a house of cards.

I read this section and had to pick myself off the floor: "Another party that this is inherently unfair to is the current coaching staff at USC.  Yes, the current head coach Lane Kiffin was on the coaching staff during those Reggie Bush teams, but to say he had a hand in any of this would be a huge stretch. "--is that supposed to be a joke. Kiffin was involved with the offense almost as intimately as Carroll. You think that slimeball didn't know something?...Please. 


In keeping with a post I read early last week from T Kyle King of DawgSports.com the Texas A&M Aggies are looking into a move to the SEC. 

Boise State will be an official member of the Mountain West Conference (MWC) this time next year. That's great for the MWC exposure but not so much for its members as Boise has routinely beat up on them too—go figure. 


USC running back, Dillon Baxter, has stated that both Alabama and Florida contacted him about transferring to their school in light of the sanctions. Baxter reached out to an ESPN reporter to send the following message: leave me alone. I guess, despite the presence of both Mack Brown and Jeff Demps, the Gators are still in need of a good tailback—shrugs. 


No offense to the Auburn team of 2004, but, do you really want a trophy that everyone will still consider USC's at the end of the day? Just sayin'.


The Baylor Athletic Director thinks the Big XII is still viable with 10 schools. It could be, if four of those schools weren't Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Baylor.

Jarvis Jones Is Giving Georgia Half A Chance To Win His Services In 2010

Jarvis Jones, the former USC Trojan, has reportedly narrowed his choice of where to finish his career down to two schools—Florida State and Georgia.

Reports out of Tallahassee, if you believe what you read on message boards, is that he will be playing for the Seminoles in 2010—possibly at defensive end. However, my experience in reading message board fodder it that you have to take it for what it's worth as it typically falls under one of three categories: truth (20 percent), innuendo (20 percent), or hogwash (60 percent).

Even so, there is one bit of information that is making the rounds on more than one board in light of the recent USC sanctions. Some Trojan fans are saying that the hesitancy in the medical staff's decision to clear Jones had more to do with their coming scholarship hit than his inability to play.

Jones was given clearance by the doctor(s) he saw outside of the program, but the doctors at USC refused to do so—as Lane Kiffin would later put it—there was a "a serious concern that hits or a number of hits could lead to permanent damage.”,

Now, the thought that a player's injury could be detrimental to his quality of life would be a scary realization for any coach. Who would want that on his conscience?

On the other hand, if it were that serious, wouldn't doctors outside the program be able to make the same assessment? Yet, Jones has been cleared time and again by those away from USC.

That said, a person could see where the explanation of scholarships and taking chances on a, potentially, injury-prone player has some legs.

Was USC simply scared to risk it due to the sanctions? Or was there some truth to the medical staff's initial assessment?

The questions have no answers until Jones gets on the field, but, here is what we do know: 1) Jones will play in 2010 if the NCAA lets him, 2) he will be evaluated medically by Georgia prior to any decision to accept him into their program—should he decide to accept, and 3) every doctor he has seen since leaving USC, has cleared him to play again—successfully.

So, draw your own conclusions; if you dare.

As for the here and now, Jones is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks but there is no indication that he has given either Florida State or Georgia anything more than a 50/50 chance to win his services.

Georgia would love to sign Jones for obvious reasons, he's a beast on the field and could do wonders in the new 3-4. However, has the Carver High School connection, once severed by the decision of the Georgia coaching staff to rescind a scholarship offer, been repaired enough to get the approval of Dell McGee, Carver's football coach? After all, he did ban Georgia coaches from recruiting his players at one time.

Why does this matter, you may ask? Well, Jones has been in very close contact with McGee during this process and much of what is learned of Jones' status has come from McGee's mouth—not Jones. So, that says a lot about who Jones trusts and who has his ear in this matter.

The fact that Georgia has made the cut is a good sign that the Bulldogs have made  a good impression but, again, nothing is promised.

During his initial recruitment, back in 2008, Jones made it clear that the coaching staff at his school of choice was a primary factor in making a decision. The new defensive staff at Georgia, with it's NFL compliment, has to look intriguing to Jones as a player and, possibly, future pro prospect—giving Georgia an excellent opportunity to land him.

In the meantime, it's a waiting game so, stay tuned.

(This article was originally found on The Lady Sportswriter—check it out)

Forget Pac-10 Expansion, USC's Sanctions Just Altered The Landscape of College Football

The NCAA has released its report on the USC Trojans and the findings have netted the following sanctions:

1. USC is banned from post-season play for two seasons. 
2. They will lose 10 scholarships per year over the next three (30 total)
3. The team will have to forfeit all games in which Reggie Bush appeared, starting from December 2004 to the 2006 Rose Bowl. This includes the national championship win over Oklahoma.

Reggie Bush was said to have been "disappointed" with the outcome and he "disagrees" with the findings. Those findings were, in short, that Bush and his family accepted more than $300,000 in gifts and monies from an agent while he was enrolled at USC.

The money was given to Bush in order to secure a spot as his agent once his college career was over.

In light of the sanctions, coach Lane Kiffin was quoted as having said the following:

"I don't think it's going to have an impact on our recruiting," Kiffin said. "We've talked to a lot of people from our team, to our signees, to recruits, and we have not felt an impact at all, because USC is still USC. We're still going to play an extremely high level of football. You can still get a great education if you come to USC. I don't feel an impact at all so far today, talking to a lot of people, talking to our staff, a lot of different kids." (USA Today, 6/10/10)

Let me just say that whatever Lane Kiffin is drinking, give me a sip, because he is clearly wasted in LA LA land.

He thinks it won't have an impact?...Of course it will have an impact. Very few players on that USC roster are there for academic reasons. So, it doesn't matter how great the education opportunities are at USC.

If education were the primary goal of every top notch football player in the nation, then both Stanford and Notre Dame would be more relevant each year, Duke and North Carolina would rule the ACC in more than just basketball, and Vanderbilt would be the SEC Champion on a regular basis.

In truth, these guys go to school to play football. The education is a lovely perk but, at the end of the day, they are trying to make dollars.

How do you make dollars? You go to a winning program with a national reputation, you dominate in conference play, and you make an appearance in the best bowls that the post-season has to offer—period.

That said, USC and Lane Kiffin are screwed for the next two years as the Pac-10 just became an equal opportunity employer. Stanford, UCLA, and Cal have to be salivating at the possibility of netting some of the guys who may now reconsider their interest in USC.

Even more, the NCAA will allow any junior or senior who wishes to transfer from the program, in light of this decision, to do so without imposing their traditional one-year ban on play. I don't know that any player will necessarily do so, but the option is there and it may prove to be tempting.

It's got to be a sad day for the Trojan fan, but the Tennessee fan has to be laughing his collective backside off. Lane Kiffin finally got a little visit from the karma fairy and, for once, the joke appears to be on him.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

Nash Nance is Still Talking About Georgia....And The AJC is Still Listening!

Today, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution (AJC) saw fit to run a "story" on current University of Tennessee enrollee, Nash Nance.

In the article, Nance alledges that Da'Rick Rogers change of heart had something to do with some 'bad dealings' with the UGA coaching staff. He even states that he had no idea that Rogers was going to sign with the Vols until signing day.

First of all, I'm over the Da'Rick Rogers saga. I was over it the day after signing day because he wasn't a Georgia Bulldog. I still wish him well at the University of Tennessee and I do hope to see Georgia get the best of that match-up this season when the two teams meet 'Between The Hedges'.

That said, I was a little confused as to why 1) The Atlanta-Journal Constitution was interested in anything Nash Nance has to say about Georgia—nearly six months after the fact, and 2) Why this story is, curiously, cropping up after the signing of Georgia's tenth commitment.

The AJC has not endeared itself to Georgia Bulldog fans because of stories like this; they seem filled with nothing more than bogus fiction—masquerading as fact—and that seems to serve no other purpose than to "stir the pot".

In my opinion, the Nance-Rogers saga is over and it has been over for those in the Bulldog Nation for a very long time. Perhaps the AJC should write about something other than the rants of a kid who, more and more, it sounds like is just a bit upset that he didn't get an offer from Georgia—despite his relationship and connection to Rogers.

Plus, not for nothing, but is he really implying that the Georgia coaching staff was any shadier than that of Lane Kiffin? I'm just saying...because, well, ya know....if anything sounds shady, that does.