Even in defeat, UNC continues to prove worthy

There is no such thing as moral victories for true competitors. Morale losses do not exist for those who give their all. However, there is such things as lessons learned. UNC fell to Kentucky in what is the game of the year thus far, 103-100.

The punchlines will come; UNC loves losing on 3pt shots in the final seconds, Roy is an awful coach, yada yada yada. Let those punchlines roll right off your shoulders if you support the Tar Heels. The Heels battled all night trough unfavorable obstacles and still managed to be in position to win the game. Joel Berry, Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks all struggled with fouls and were forced to sit for extended minutes. The Heels didn't flinch, they stuck to the game plan and the next man stood up when called upon. Luke Maye had a career high 11 points, Tony Bradley continued to be Mr. Consistent and contributed in impressing fashion. Had it not been for Malik Monk of Kentucky going off in one of the most incredible performances I've ever seen from a single player, let alone a freshman, shooting 18-28 from the field, 8-12 from 3pt range, Justin Jackson would've been the story. Jackson only needed 17 shot attempts to get 34 points which exceeded his career high. 

Kentucky got the victory, and a congrats is to be had for them, they played well and answered the punches the Heels threw at them down the stretch. But this is about lessons learned. 

The number one lesson learned is that both UNC and UK are in the top 5 teams in the country. Anybody who tries to argue those facts should be immediately tuned out. Lesson two, Monk is an incredible shooter. Everybody likes to live in the moment of course and was crowning Monk a star in the NBA mid game. A great talent he is, and he might pan out to be the player those fans think he will be. I'm not sure how a 6'3 SG fits in the NBA, but we shall see. Lesson three, the Tar Heels have so many pieces and they are still missing the most important one. Theo Pinson has been working out, practicing, and is set to return to action in the upcoming weeks. Theo is an improved scorer and is the best overall defender the Heels have. Which could've been useful to slow down the Monk show. Not only that, but having Pinson allows a favorable rotation, especially defensively. Kenny Williams is starting where Pinson will ultimately be. Pinson and Williams rotating on the opponents besy perimeter scorer is a huge luxury to have. It also allows Berry, Jackson, Britt, amd Woods to play at a fresher pace on offense. Those men can also contribute more on defense and not be focused one guy, chasing him from the moment he steps on the court. Lesson four, Roy Williams is a good coach. His loyalty and trust in his players may blow up in his face a times, but that doesn't discredit his ability to coach. If anything it proves that he is so confidence in his coaching that the game is the players time, it's their time to go and decide the game. It can be debated on whether a timeout should've been called when Monk hit the three to put the Wildcats up 101-100, but Roy saw Berry and trusted his point guard to get his team a winning play. If people want to nitpick on Roy, let me nitpick as well. Jackson missing the and-one free throw attempt was huge. Monk would've tied the game instead of put Kentucky in the lead and the Heels could've held for a final shot. On the controversial play Hicks went up with the shot through the double team when he had Berry wide open on the wing. Since we are still nitpicking, Let's talk about Kenny Williams shot that wedged in between the rim and backboard, that was almost on point. Bottom line is a lot goes into the outcome of the game and besides the loss, UNC has lessons learned to take from this game. Championships are won in December, but championship teams are. 

It came at a price, but the Red Sox made the right move for Chris Sale

Well, it finally happened. After almost a full year of talks and rumors, a failed move this past July, Chris Sale is finally on the Boston Red Sox. Not only is this one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, if not the best, but this makes reigning Cy Young award winner Rick Porcello the third best pitcher on the Sox. However, it does come at a price, not David Price, but a price nonetheless.
In the deal the Red Sox acquired Chris Sale while giving up No. 1 prospect Yoan Moncada (INF), No.5 prospect Michael Kopech (RHP), Victor Diaz (P), and Luis Basabe (OF). So as you can tell there was a lot lost in this trade, but that's what you get when you get arguably the best pitcher in the MLB since he was drafted in 2010. When I first got news of the trade I was like what the hell just happened? The Red Sox got CHRIS SALE. Then I went into the oh my god we gave up two of our top five prospect plus two others to get him. Then I went finally settled on, hell yeah we have 3 of the top 10 pitchers in baseball on our staff, we added a bullpen arm plus we get Carson Smith back after injury. Let's fuckin have it!
Obviously you never like giving away prospects, but when you dive into the Red Sox farm system you see that the Red Sox have VERY LITTLE pitching talent anyways and what type of role would Kopech have now anyways? Because the Sox are in a window where they are ready to win. Hanley and Pedroia have some good years left and the youngsters are about to be in their prime. Also I don't love giving up Moncada and having to pay $30 million of his contract as well, but the Red Sox are loaded with players in the system. Hell the Salem Red Sox (A) team could've won a couple games in the MLB last year. I'm kidding about that, but not really kidding. So alll in all you have the Red Sox making a win win deal with the White Sox. Chris Sale and the Red Sox can win a couple championships while Moncada and Kopech make the White Sox contenders in a couple years. Just look at the AL East, the Blue Jays are about to lose Joe Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, the Orioles are going to lose Trumbo and had no pitching to begin with, the Yankees might be the second best team in division even with their youth and lack of pitching, and the Rays are the Rays. The Boston Red Sox should wrap up the division in June or July.
Oh and just in case you still needed reassurance, we just got Chris Sale, Chris freaking Sale!
Let's fuckin have it.

The NCAA CFP system is flawed

For the first time in 10 days I was finally able to relax and sit in front of the TV all day. Because what else does a recent college graduate have to do on their day off? So as I was sittong lazily in my lounge chair watching the College Football Playoff rankings I became very frustrated. As someone who supported the playoff system being put into place my feelings have absolutely taken a 180 on it. For starters, there is no criteria, none. ESPN and the committee can feed us whatever lingo they want to, but the fact of the mater is that there is no criteria for how teams are ranked. That's the biggest issue.
Let's go with this scenario, say Clemson, Washington, and Penn State all win. Clemson will be third, but who is to say Washington stays at the fourth spot? The committee made sure to point out that there is very little difference in a one loss Washington and two loss Michigan. So what I am hearing is that there is a possibility that if Washington wins, but struggles to win, that Michigan could possibly jump them! Are you kidding me? I'm all for the statement of getting the best four teams in the playoff narrative. But one of the top four teams shouldn't be a top four team if they lose two of their last three games. A top four team doesn't play only three games outside the their own state and lose two of them. Talent wise, Michigan is a top four team. But they haven't earned the right to play in the playoff. What do you tell those kids at Washington? Those kids at Penn State if Washington loses? That you earned the right to play in the playoff but we just think that a team that finished third in their conference division and lost two of their last three games is better? Sorry, but that's wrong. What you're telling me is that this was decided before the last week of the season and you aren't going to waiver. You're telling me that money revenue means more than rewarding student athletes. Michigan is the team that should have to deal with being told, hey you had a great year, but the losses at the end just hurt you in the long run. Penn State losing two games in the first four weeks of the season then winning out including a win over the number two team in the nation and a Big Ten conference title means more. Washington only losing one game to a team that if they had one less loss would be in this same conversations because they have been allowed to improve when others haven't and a PAC 12 conference title means more.
I'm at a state of disbelief. The committee comes off biased, agenda driven and foolish. It's ran by the good ole boys of football with no millennial influence. It's one way of thinking. The whole room. And it's sad. And flawed. At this point I want the BCS system back. At least then teams would be rewarded for scheduling tough non conference games that everyone involved loves. You wouldn't be allowed to improve but at least then we have a set criteria. I hope Washington wins convincingly and my thoughts go out to then if they don't. Because Michigan will jump them. And to the boys at Penn State. Barring a Clemson loss and a Washington blow out, I'm sorry but I think the committee has made up their mind.
So flawed. We need to be better.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are the best team in the country...right now

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 7-0 and have their best start since the 2008-2009 championship team. Not only are they 7-0 but they are an easy 7-0, have yet to be tested outside of maybe Hawaii in which was easily their worst performance of the young season. Right now, on November 24th, 2016, the Tar Heels are the best team in college basketball.

It's early, that's the obvious. But UNC is the most complete team right now and the only team rivaling them right now is the current number one ranked team, the Kentucky Wildcats. I'm nitpicking when I say I think they should be ranked higher, UNC is currently fourth and UK is currently first, so it's not like UNC is being undersold. Or are they? UNC and UK will have their shot to see who is better when the teams meet in a few weeks in Rupp Arena. But let's go back to my question, I believe that before this weekend and probably still, many are shorting the Tar Heels the credit they deserve. In Maui the Heels weren't tested. They went up against a good Oklahoma State team that will win more games than projected in the Big 12 and a preason top 10 Wisconsin team whose only losses are to two top 15 if not top 10 teams. The Heels never trailed on the island and really sent a message to the national stage. In this early season the Heels have been most impressive on the defensive side. Yes you read that right, defense. This word is usually only associated with the Heels if it has rarely plays in front of it. Beside the record being comparable to the 08-09 national title team, the defense is another similarity between the two. Also, keep in mind the Tar Heels have done this without starter Theo Pinson and also without front court depth in Luke Maye. Many have stepped up early on the main one being sophomore Kenny Williams who is arguably the Tar Heels best defender.

Listen it's early. There are a lot of games left to played and some big time test coming up for UNC before ACC play arrives. However, it's hard to argue with the fact that the Heels are a legit national title contender this year and maybe the front runner right now. Could this team be better than last years? The only way they could be is by winning it all, but that's their goal. They haven't shied away from the fact that the heartbreaking loss they had in the title game has been fuel and will continue to be fuel. I think that's a sign of determination on their part. I saw some people talking about how they are playing so good that there is no where to go from down, that they are peaking in November. I was told this a long time ago and I believe this to be true, truly great teams don't peak. They stay at the high level consistently. No one is going undefeated and this UNC certainly won't be the first one since Bob Knights Indiana team to do so, but take that statement for what it's worth. Truly great teams, don't peak.

Here is my 16-17 College Basketball preview

The 2016-17 college basketball season is finally among us. After months of worrying about recruiting, hyping up traditional powers, and UNC fans grieving we have finally arrived to another college basketball year that is due to be filled with more great moments and heartbreaking losses. NCAA basketball has held and always will hold a special place in my fandom of sports. The parody that exists in basketball is what makes it my favorite sport. The early season upsets or the mid season number one team going down or the 15, 14, 13 seeds knocking off the higher seeds in the tourney. All provide great entertainment.
This season opens up like always, the traditional powers like Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, UNC, Michigan State, and Indiana all are at or near the top of the food chain. While teams like Oregon and Villanova have built themselves into promising programs looking to continue to knock off the longstanding powers in college basketball.

Here is your current top 25 after 1-2 games played by every team.
Duke
UK
Kansas
Villanova
Oregon
UNC
Xavier
UVA
Wisconsin
Arizona
Indiana
Michigan State
Louisville
Gonzaga
Purdue
UCLA
Saint Mary's
UConn
Syracuse
WVU
Texas
Creighton
Rhode Island
Iowa State
Maryland

A pretty fair assessment for the state of the college basketball world going into the season. However there have already losses by a few of these teams. Kansas and Michigan State went down to the wire with Indiana and Arizona respectively. Both were great games that came down to all four teams having a chance to win. UConn was upset by Wagner in their opening game so they are a team to keep an eye on as one who might've been ranked too high going into the year. Texas was tested as well, but was able to sneak out with a win in their first game.
How about some predictions? We all love to predict way too early so why not?

ACC: Duke should win the regular season and tournament titles on paper and I believe the paper is correct. They won't be unblemished going into the NCAA tournament because they have some tough matchups early on and they are not at full strength right now. Also the ACC is pretty darn good this year so teams like UNC, UVA, Louisville, Florida State, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech could play spoiler on a couple matchups. I don't see them having more than 4-5 losses and honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up with less than that. The ACC will have 1 if not two All American team members come from their league with a chance of more. I see 8-9 teams getting in the NCAA tournament this year. I believe teams like Florida State, Norte Dame,  NC State, and Virginia Tech all have a shot to make it this year. All improved outside of maybe ND but I can't bet against Mike Brey.

Big Ten: The ACC and Big Ten are the best conference and I don't think it's close. Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan State, and Purdue are all loaded at the top much like the top four in the ACC. I believe Indiana or Purdue will come out as the winner of the Big Ten. It's so hard for me to call because I think all four have a chance to get hot and win. Indiana looked great in their win over Kansas. They shot extremely well and have a big man inside to protect the rim and balance be scoring. Purdue is the most slept on of the four and I love Matt Painter. I think Purdue was overhyped last year and was able to get a lot of pieces from last year back as well as adding some. They are huge inside and have solid guards. I think they pose the toughest matchups for the other contending teams in the Big Ten. Gun held to my head today I'm picking Indiana. The Big Ten will have 8-9 teams as well make the tournament, just like the ACC they could possibly have more.

Big 12: This isn't too hard. The Big 12 title runs through Lawrence, Kansas. This conference is similar to the SEC in football. The SEC had absolute dominance in football whereas Kansas has usually been the dominant team with few titles in recent history. However there is often a lot of Big 12 teams picked each year to be true contenders yet it always ends up being Kansas. I believe West Virginia will be the biggest threat to KU this year. They have a good amount of their team returning and who doesn't love Bob Huggins? Their style of play gives Kansas fits as well. Especially with Kansas being a little undersized than we are accustomed to seeing them. Losing 8 year vet Perry Ellis will be something that Kansas will have to figure out, but Bill Self will, he always does. I see 7-8 teams getting in to the big dance.

SEC: Kentucky. Florida and Georgia are  improved, Miss State and Alabama are as well but this is a bad basketball conference. I believe they have already engraved the conference title trophy with Kentucky as well. UK has a guard heavy team but the talent is next level good. The Wildcats should be in the Final Four as long as they play to their potential. I see 3-5 teams making it out of the SEC.

PAC 12: I predict a three team race for the PAC 12 title. Oregon, Arizona, and UCLA all have fire power. All three teams can run it up on the scoreboard. Oregon presents so many matchup problems for teams because they are big and capable of taking their man off the dribble. Very quick team on defense as well. Oregon is my pick to win the conference and end up with a number one seed, but Arizona winning would not be surprising. Arizona has underachieved every year since their upset of Duke a couple years back. Just an opinion of mine. I don't see the development of players that have so much talent coming in. I see 6-7 teams getting in the tourney.

My way too early Final Four is Villanova, Duke, Oregon, Kentucky. Kind of boring I know.
Duke wins it all. (You have no idea how bad this hurts to say),
Enjoy the season!

Time to be honest, the Dallas Cowboys are good

This hurts. I'm almost in a state of depression because of it. I honestly can't believe I'm admitting it, but the Dallas Cowboys are a good football team.... More than that, they have looked like a great football team. My father and his family grew up Redskins fans and when part of the family moved to Florida they converted to Buccaneer fans while my father went with the hometown Panthers in 1995. So growing up although I wasn't around to have reasons to hate the Cowboys, I grew up disliking them. Almost, if not to the point of hatred. You gotta understand, since I have been able to retain the NFL seasons and collective memories from games, the Cowboys haven't been worth a hill of beans. More of a comedy or reality sitcom than anything. So this is new to me, and it hurts. Coming off a season where my team, the Carolina Panthers went 15-1 and made the league look like little school girls, the Cowboys have decided to do that this year. You wanna know the worst part? I actually find myself enjoying them when they play. They are fun to watch. I am someone who appreciates football for the little details about it. Sure Zeke is amazing, best back in the league and will be around for a long long long time, but there is much more that makes them great. Dak and Zeke have had the limelight so I won't be focusing on them. And I honestly don't when I watch them play, you obviously can't ignore the highlight plays made by the two rookies, but that's not what intrigues me. The offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys is something I don't think I've ever seen before. I mean they are special. Dak has forver in the pocket, Zeke seems like he is never touched until he gets at least 6 yards. The OL MOVES people. They pull and slide like I've never seen before. 

Every week I look for reasons and excuses on why the Cowboys will lose, much like people did for the Carolina Panthers last year, but I can't find any. If I do come up with something, I'm wrong. They are a bonehead time management play from being undefeated and they are the best team in football right now. And they have TWO ROOKIES leading their team. Ahh, it's just madness. A bunch of people dislike the Cowboys, they're also plenty who love the Cowboys. Finally those who love them can come and speak out and it's torturing. Make sure you Cowboy fans cherish this. You won't be hearing me say this ever again because it hurts too bad. You guys are good and barring a front office mixup, or loss of players, you won't be like the Panthers and have three successful years. You will be good for years to come. I have to give credit when it's due no matter how badly it stinks to say. I'm sorry NFL fans, the Cowboys are back and here to stay. 

UNC is going to be just fine

UNC opened up in the Bayou of Louisiana against Tulane University with a 95-75 win. I'll be the first one to admit I had so many questions about this team, this program. After coming up short in heartbreaking fashion just a couple months ago in the National Championship game there is so much left to be sorted out. Although it was a game that UNC should win, tonight showed who the Tar Heels will be. The Tar Heels opening up on a road is a cruise control win showed that they are going to keep being resilient. It's no debate that they miss Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige. How can you not miss a First Team All-American and the heart of your heart for the past four years? However, the Tar Heels talked all off season about this being a season fueled by avenging that loss to Villanova. They have spoke all summer and fall about the bad taste they have from that game and how it is going to push them through this season, I can't disagree with the way they looked tonight. Joel Berry II and Justin Jackson looked the part of Paige and Johnson. They need to be for this Tar Heel team to be successful. The duo combined for 50 points and more importantly were the calming forces for the team. Anytime the games momentum went Tulane's way Berry or Jackson was there to make a big shot. Jackson and Berry did what they need to do, what they expect themselves to do, but other Tar Heels made promising contributions.

Tony Bradley for starters. Bradley, the lone McDAA freshman was huge tonight. His first half was great. He plays just like Brice Johnson and looks to be another great big to come through the Tar Heel program. Isaiah Hicks is always overlooked, but he was the most impressive outside of Berry and Jackson. Hicks is going to grab rebounds and be efficient around the rim, that's a given, but what stuck out to me was the way he defended. Hicks has been known as a foul happy player during his career and tonight was definitely a refreshing change in his style of play. He also hit a couple jump shots which will only help UNC's offensive flow. Meeks was his usual self, up and down at times but he always rebound and had a QUIET 15 and 7. Kenny Williams played a great role defensively and on the boards for the Heels as he got his first start of his career due to the absence of Theo Pinson. Nate Britt was Nate Britt, reliable. The freshman all looked well except for Seventh Woods who looked nervous at times but that shouldn't be something to be concerned about. The player that is probably the most of overlooked on this team is Luke Maye, he was a monster on the boards. 

All in all it's just game one and the optimism from me will  likely fluctuate more than the Dow Jones after a Trump election. But this team will be fine. They will struggle at times but come ACC play they should be close to getting Pinson back and will be a top 15 to top 10 caliber team. This team can make another run and try to get redemption. Also, it is great to have College Basketball back, one of the better time of the year in sports. Judging by the games on opening night, it should be a good one.

Let's revisit my CFB preview

At the end of August I was one of many who wrote a piece previewing and predicting the outcome of the College Football season. I want to preface this piece by saying one thing. Man was I wrong on so many fronts, but I am not ashamed by it one bit. This is proof that sports are unpredictable and the imperfections prove to be pure. This season has three weeks left, THREE! It has already been an incredible year and we still have three weeks of what could be filled with an enormous amount of chaos.
Jumping right into it here is where I was wrong. I was wrong for picking Dalvin Cook as the Heisman winner for more than the obvious reasons. The obvious being that while FSU may be a good team, they aren't amongst the elite and have no shot at the title which I think you need to have. Whether that is fair or not is another discussion. Also, Clemson is running the table which is the speculation I put on Cook winning the Heisman. Finally, another reason I was wrong is due to the fact that we finally know what type of coach Jimbo Fisher is, he is a quarterback first coach and he is going to ride his guy to the end. FSU had the perfect opportunity this year to ride Cook over and over again. Instead of taking their poor OL and focusing on run blocking and riding your horse, you have depended on a redshirt freshman in Francois to lead your team behind a terrible passblocking OL. So that's that and I was wrong on that. I already put out my take on this but I'll reiterate, Lamar Jackson should win the Heisman and it shouldn't even be a debate.
I was also wrong in the ACC. While my UNC pick for the coastal is a hurricane played game away from absolutely being a reality, the Tar Heels are still not dead even though I believe they will not get lucky enough to make it to the ACC title game. However FSU being a little less than what I thought they would be has led to me missing the prediction as the ACC winner. Clemson will win out and go to be college football playoff.
The next wrong prediction of mine was the Pac 12. I will admit I downplayed Washington going into the year, I completely overlooked them and I'm so happy they've proven me wrong. Washington is an exciting team to watch. It's Boisie State in purple and gold while also having better personnel. They are fun to watch. The are currently sitting at number four and barring an upset, should win out and go to the playoff.
Finally, I was kinda wrong of the SEC. While technically my picks are still in place I was still wrong. First of all Florida will not and does not deserve to win the East. I hope somehow UT or even UK make it into the SEC title game. While all three will be walking into an absolute blood bath my gators do not deserve to win and over the next three weeks of the season will prove this true.

Now let's talk about where I was right. My Big Ten and Big 12 prediction were almost perfect. OU is going to end up winning the Big 12 and my Michigan over Ohio State is still in play. Ohio State could definitely shake things up and knock off Michigan but I think the Wolverines will run the table.

We have three weeks left in he regular season and just like the rest of you I can't wait to see what unfolds. At this point I'm rooting for absolute chaos. The way the world is going right now it all but seems inevitable.

Florida is in trouble

The fan in me is coming out and I am going completely against my hot takes article from a couple weeks ago. I honestly don't care. Many of you probably could care less, but here it is, the Florida Gators are in trouble and downward spiraling in a hurry. Coach McElwain was brought in to change one thing, the offensive level of play for Gators football. None would care about the facilities, or the culture of the program, or even losing if the Gators would just be able to score. Problem is, the offense hasn't improved at all. Okay I take that back, with Will Grier this offense looked amazing, very complex, moving the ball at will, and all other things considered to be needed for a good offense. But Grier is gone, we can argue til the cows come home about that situation, but the problem is, is that he is never coming back. Until this past Saturday Coach McElwain had won every game with HIS starting quarterback so it was hard to argue with the ugly wins. All that has changed. This team lost its first game with their QB and the problems can no longer be ignored. They have stepped up and beat one good team in his tenure so far and it just so happened to be a night game, in the swamp, with Grier. They have yet to win a meaningful game on the road, they have looked poor in every game this season outside of Kentucky and Missouri, every game. They lost the last four out of five games to end the season last year and guess what, I fear the same will happen this year. If I am being quite honest, I predict the gators will lose the next three games of the season which will put them at 6-6 heading to a terrible bowl, where they could even lose that one. The defense is next level, they have studs all over the field, but they have been bit by injuries and stay on the field too long to have the energy to be lock down. The Gators are in trouble and as a fan it is sad to see. Even if they do muster up a win this weekend they will lose to LSU and FSU, miss out on the SEC title game and lose their bowl game. I believed in McElwain, last year he took risks and at least went out swinging, this year he seems in over his head, he says the right things, but even he seems worried. The offense is terrible I don't care how you want to spin it, you have to be able to put a better product than Muschamp did and right now he hasn't. Outside of the six games with Grier this team has been 10-6 post Will Grier and could easily be 6-10 since then, maybe worse. To top it off, he is starting Austin Appleby at QB this weekend against South Carolina. I've already seen that, he looked terrible agaisnt Tennessee, and below average in his win the week after agaisnt Vanderbilt. I understand that him and Del Rio "have experience," but their experience stinks and every one knows it. It seems to me like he is in over his head and is making safe decisions so that he can explain himself after he has a terrible year next year and gets canned. He came in with confidence and has since lost it. The program has lost it already. When you have one job to do being hired you better do that one job, because it is not going over well in Gainesville. I hope for the best, but it seems as if all is lost.

One of the Heisman candidates is stealing votes from those who have a shot.

Here it comes again, every year the Heisman race becomes more and more of a JOKE. It's like a broken record on repeat and the hype surrounding it keeps it continuing. If you have been keeping up with most college football media outlets the four Heisman front runners are as followed; Jake Browning, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, and Jabrill Peppers.
I'll go ahead and be the one to say it. It's not a popular nor a well received take by me, but Jabrill Peppers is not a Heisman candidate. I understand where everyone is coming from with this pick, but the days of a defensive player winning the Heisman are longgg gone. The game is offensive friendly and football is better for it. By no means am I discrediting Jabrill Peppers as a football player.  He is a first round draft pick with elite and unique talents. A Heisman trophy winner, he is not. Yeah he has scored some touchdowns on offense, yeah he returns punts for touchdowns, you know who else did? Devin Hester, minus the offensive touchdowns, and had Miami put him in goal line/red zone situations I would bet his speed and athletic ability would've correlated to him scoring some offensive touchdowns. Most recently, Sammy Watkins. I understand he wasn't a defensive player first, however here me out. Watkins return kick off returns and punts just like Peppers, if we want to get into so did CJ Spiller. Both were given the recognition they deserve, but not Heisman winners. Oh, and keep in my mind, those were offensive studs on great teams and they still didn't get it. Even with the bias being on offensive players.
Want more?
Okay, Jabrill Peppers is a defensive back/safety/linebacker, in fact, this year he has lined up at linebacker and safety more so than last year. I'll go ahead and spit some facts really quick. Michigan plays a zone defense. Which is why Jabrill Peppers has a high number of tackles. He is there at the second level as a fourth and fifth linebacker on running plays and short route passes. That's not arguable. Here comes the fun part. Call me a homer but I'm going to use Jalen Tabor as my argument. Let me finish it first please.
Defensive Career Stats
Jabrill Peppers:
2014- 8 tackles, 0 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR(3 games played)
2015- 45 tackles, 0 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR(12 games played)
2016- 44 tackles, 0 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR(through 8 games)
Jalen Tabor:
2014- 31 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 2 FR
2015- 40 tackles, 4 INT (2 for TD), 0 FF, 0 FR
2016- 12 tackles, 3 INT (1 for TD), 0 FF, 0 FR

Jalen plays in a man to man scheme being left 1 on 1 80%+ of the time he is on the field. I get this isn't a career long achievement award but for a man who is a defensive player first while also keeping in min the defensive schemes they play in, his numbers don't match those of Tabor who even missed a game this year. Tabor has put up a 1/4 of Peppers point total without having the benefit of his coach letting him return punts or line him up inside the 10 and run jet sweeps or have a wildcat package for him. Tabor is a first round draft pick as well and I'm not going to go as far in saying Tabor is a better overall football player than Peppers, but I will say is Tabor isn't even close to being thought of to be a Heisman candidate and his team has one loss. (Nor should he be a Heisman candidate). I understand Peppers is playing mainly LB this year but the argument is still valid. For him to have an argument for the Heisman his defensive numbers HAVE to be godly, and they aren't. So why Peppers? I get it guys, the Heisman isn't supposed to go to the best offensive player on one of the best teams, it's meant to go to the best football player. While in theory that sounds good, it's simply not the case. Football is just like any other sport. You score more than the other team, you win. If Peppers was taking balls to the house on defense and playing more than 10% of the snaps at RB for Michigan.  I might start considering it. It's a sexy and different choice for Heisman which is why some people have jumped on, but it's not practical or correct. Lamar Jackson, Jake Browning, Deshaun Watson have a much better argument and case than Peppers. Take Lamar off Louisville, are we even talking about them? Browning at Washington, does Washington beat Utah without him? Watson does nothing but win and has better numbers this year than he had at this point last year and many thought he should've won. What about Fournette? If LSU keeps winning it will be because of him and the numbers will be there with him missing 2-3 games. What about Jalen Hurts from Bama? Dude is a freshman and leads his team with great numbers. Want a defensive guy? How about Jonathan Allen from Bama, god-like numbers as a DL with points put up. And turnovers forced.
Moral of this rant is simple. Peppers is a phenomenal, franchise turning player. However, he is not a Heisman candidate, let him win all the other awards for special teams and the Butkus award, but don't let him steal votes from those who actually need them. Can we please stop this before he wastes a seat in New York.

Enough with the hot takes, NCAA football fans

Alright, pay attention! We have a HUGE problem in this country! Oh, no I'm not talking about our country's politics, I'm talking about our sports. We live in a society where not all teams are treated equally, where one loss can mean you're overrated or where one win can catapult you into the week 7 playoff standings. It is an issue that is in desperate need of fixing. I have a solution, stop living in the moment as a sports fan! I'm not innocent on this either, I often find myself going back and forth (especially for my teams). If this season has taught me anything it's that we cannot be prisoners of the moment.

Here are some examples and allow me to follow these examples with some reasons why people need to chill out on labeling every team. 

Remember Les Miles? While LSU has looked like a better, more cohesive unit since his departure I think they win all the games they have won so far with Miles. the point I'm getting at is the name Tom Herman. He was the hot name and overwhelming choice to be the head coach at the end of this year. I don't want to challenge his coaching ability because I have absolutely no credibility to do so, however, since then Houston has lost two games they had no business losing. Maybe it is because he is planning to leave, but can it also be that he can't motivate from week to week? Or maybe he doesn't have all the answers to college football like we thought? I don't know those answers, but right now I'm staying away from Herman if I'm LSU. He needs different personnel than what is at LSU right now anyways. He needs a fast offense line that can pass block well, not a slow run blocking O line. A quarterback would also help. 

How about Auburn? Three weeks ago they were a terrible team and Gus Malzahn was probably out the door. Now they at least look the part of a top 10 team and have been considerably better. Plus how bad were they to begin with? Their two losses are to Clemson and Texas A&M, granted both were at home but both are also at least top 15 teams. Again another example of living in the moment. Those are just two examples off the top of my head that show how we as fans can be prisoners of the moment far too often than not. 

Let me hit you with some reality and reason on why you again need to stop crowning champions and playoff teams after seven weeks. 

First of all I'm not buying that there will be a two loss team in the playoff, many analysts who get paid to talk about this sport and fans have already marked it down that a two loss team will get in and its easy to see who they are talking about. LSU, Auburn and Tennessee. It won't happen. LSU has the following left on their schedule in this order, Bama at home, Arkansas away, Florida home, and Texas A&M away. They have looked great the past three games, but remember who they have beat. Missouri, Southern Miss and Ole Miss; Ole Miss might be consider a good win, but I am saying no its not, two weeks ago I made the mistake saying Ole Miss is the second best team in the SEC and an outside playoff contender, but that loss at Arkansas ended their season. So Saturday night you had a deflated Ole Miss team who is playing for nothing against a rejuvenated LSU team who had their horse back. I won't take away from them that they have looked great, but let's be rational about their wins. Then you have Auburn. Auburn looks better than anyone in the SEC outside of Bama. They have two losses though and have this as their remaining schedule, Ole Miss away, Vandy at home, Georgia away, Bama A&M home and Bama away. All look to be relatively easy outside of Bama. Auburn has the best chance out of anybody if their is a two loss team to get in. Tennessee has the easiest schedule of the three two loss SEC teams, but they could possibly not win their division. However, as bad as the fan in my thinks Florida winning out, reality is different. Tennessee's chance to make it in is that A&M continues to win, Florida loses one more game, and they somehow pull off an upset in the SEC title game. 

The biggest reason why I don't see it happening is that only an SEC team can get in with two losses and all of these scenarios would have Bama losing at least once. It won't happen. LSU would have to win out and hope Bama also loses to Auburn. Auburn would have to win out, and I just gave you the scenario for Tennessee, who I even think is losing one more game, but that is for another conversation. 

Here is another reason why it won't happen. Unless absolute chaos happens it is looking more and more like the PAC 12 is going to have an undefeated team, the Big 12 has two teams undefeated right now that could make the possibility of having an undefeated team possible. The ACC has Clemson playing their biggest game of the year this week against FSU and if they are to get past that, they will win out and go. The Big Ten has Michigan and Nebraska right now and both look like they are headed for an undefeated title game barring a loss by either one. Look, I know it sounds cool, but it won't happen, no way a two loss team gets in. Ohio State could end up with a Big Ten title and one loss, Bama could have one loss and an SEC title if the cards fall right if they slip against LSU, Louisville needs Clemson to lose twice, but they could have one loss and an ACC title. Sorry but too much has to happen and I don't care how great they look right now, it just isn't enough for me to say that its almost certain there will be a two loss team. 

There is SO MUCH that is still going to happen before November 30th comes around. The top ten, hell the top 25 is going to be dramatically different. Can we just agree to enjoy and take the wins and losses for what there worth? They are apart of an overall resume that can be debated on after the regular season and conference championships are decided. For now, stop being a prisoner of the moment.

NBA is almost back...I'm here for it

MLB postseason is starting to reach its end, the NCAA and NFL football seasons are in full swing, so why not get ready to add another sport to the already full plate of a sports fan. The NBA season begins October 25th and I for one could not be more excited. The NBA is often looked at as boring and methodical. Lack of defense and too heavy leagues are the reasons I usually get from the uninterested. This is not for those people. This is for those who appreciate the profound skill of these professional basketball players.
Let's see where do I start?! There are so many storylines going into this particular season. Kevin Durant is on the Warriors in case you haven't heard! (sarcasm). The West is deep, but due to a spread of good teams, few elite teams. The East is a lot more interesting and gradually getting deeper as a conference. Two of the leagues big market teams project to be "interesting" in the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. Oh and that guy named LeBron James, he is and his team are poised to defend the title with NO pressure whatsoever on them.

So let's have some predictions shall we? I'll give you my predictions for the upcoming NBA season. If these are anything like my college football or NFL predictions go ahead and start laughing.

Western Playoff Teams (not by seeding):
Warriors
Clippers
Thunder
Spurs
Trail Blazers
Grizzlies
Rockets
Jazz
Eastern Playoff Teams (not by seeding):
Cavs
Raptors
Celtics
Pacers
Knicks
Bulls
Hawks
Pistons/Bucks/Heat
Western Conference Finals:
Warriors vs. Spurs
Eastern Conference Finals:
Cavs vs. Celtics
NBA Finals:
Warriors vs. Cavs Round 3
NBA Champion:
Cavs

MVP: LeBron James
Coach of the Year: Brad Stephens/Bill Donovan
Scoring Title: Russell Westbrook
Comeback Player: Blake Griffin
Rookie of the Year: Kris Dunn

The popular pick for MVP is Westbrook but I'm not buying it. His team will be a low seed and I think  a secocnd round exit on the playoffs. LeBron hasn't held the MVP trophy in a while and he is playing with NO pressure at all for the first time in his whole career, that's frightening.
Go ahead and call me bias on the Celtics, I know they haven't made it out of the first round the past two years but this isn't about experience. They have a deep roster and added veteran talent and have one of the top 5 coaches in the league. I have been wishing the past two years for a playoff birth from them and now I am expecting a 2 or 3 seed.
Westbrook will barely win the scoring title while also having a terrible FG percentage. Harden was my next pick for that title and I think he now goes from one of the best SG to one of the best PG. the Rockets may give up 100 points every night, but they will score 115.
Kris Dunn is my pick for ROTY only because Jaylen Brown won't get the minutes to as well as Brandon Ingram. I did not agree with the Jaylen Brown at number 3 for the Celtics, but man was I wrong and the world will soon see why. This kid will be around for a long time. He might end up being the best one out of this whole draft. By the way, the Timberwolves will be good but I don't see them beating out the Jazz and Rockets for the final two spots. I wouldn't be surprised if they make it in though.
Finally, the Warriors will have bumps and chemistry issues. The shots are going to come from KD and Curry plain and simple, I want to see how that sits with Draymond and Klay as time passes. But they will find their way and make it to the Finals again. That's where the Cavs show how and why they won last year. It's about size and pace of play. LeBron is going to again dictate the pace of game and punish them in the paint even more so than he did last Finals. They have no answer. If the Warriors are hot shooting throughout the series then I could see them winning it all but I think the Cavs play too good of defense for that to happen. The Cavs have no pressure at all even though they are the ones defending the crown. The Warriors have everything to lose, including KD. Here is my theory, take it as you may, but if the Warriors lose, KD will leave. If they win, he will stay and take less money for Curry to resign as well. A lot of intriguing storylines heading into this season to say the least. Can't wait to see how it plays out.

The SECOND BEST time of the year in sports is happening right now

In case you are misinformed or late to the party. Sports are at one of its two peaks right now. It's obvious that sports go on all year long, but there are two primetime periods for the sports world and one is happening right now. Baseball is in its postseason and about to begin their version of the final four which are the league championship series. You have both college football and the NFL in the middle of their respective seasons. One is halfway over and one is a week beyond a quarter of the way over with. Finally, in roughly two weeks the NBA is back which will be followed by college basketball.

So many good storylines going on in each of the big three respective sports as well. In the MLB postseason you have the dominant Cubs continuing to grow and pursue a title, the Blue Jays have let go of a horrible September and can't lose, the Indians battling injuries just manhandled the favored Red Sox, and no one really cares about the Dodgers/Nationals series because the winner will have to lose to the Cubs. In college football the playoff picture is starting to come to frutition; however I believe the top 25 will look completely different come the first week of November. In the NFL you have only one undefeated team that remains where this point last year we still had what? 4-5 teams still undefeated? And then in basketball you have two seasons about to begin where you arguably just had the best NBA Finals to recent date happen as well as the best national championship game in NCAA. I know what some of you are saying. Umm Kyle, how does it get better? It's simple, March. March through May is by far the best time for sports and if you disagree then we'll just have to agree on disagreeing even though you're wrong. Be excited sports fans and enjoy. Unless your teams suck like mine. Then just try to live vicariously through others.

Red Sox play 10 innings of actual baseball in a series that only had 27 innings

The Boston Red Sox had their 2016 campaign come to an abrupt end after being swept by the Cleveland Indians. In Game 1 the Red Sox showed some heart and fight only to be out coached and played in the end. Porcello gave up three homeruns in one inning however the Sox fought back only to have their manager John Farrell bring in Drew Pomeranz who immediately gave up and RBI which all but put the nail in the coffin for the Red Sox. In Game 2 the Red Sox dressed and went through BP and then decided to not play and were embarrassed in all aspects of the game. Price continued his playoff issues by giving up a three run homerun to a lefty that had not hit a homerun off of a lefty all season. Then Corey Kluber decided to remind the baseball world that he won a Cy Young Award and shoved it against the Red Sox. However, the Red Sox obliged his effort by helping him in not swinging the bat or working counts or even remotely trying to play the game of baseball. Balls were going through the legs, off of gloves. Let's just say it wasn't their night. Then in game 3 the Red Sox decided to show up just enough to give the fans hope, but ultimately were a base hit away from at the very least tying the game and sending it into extras. So the Indians aka the Red Sox of Ohio completed the three game sweep and are now set to take on Toronto in the ALDS.
Okay the gloomy and frustrating reality of the situation is over. Besides the fact that the Red Sox lost the ALDS and Big Papi all in one night and besides the fact that they were out coached by their former coach, and besides the fact that they didn't play 1/4 as good as their capable of all is not lost. There are some things that obviously need tweaking and pulled/plugged within the roster but the core of this team is solid and here to stay. Pedro is barring the injury bug has some quality years left in the tank along with Hanley as well. Outside of those two position players, there is extremely talented youth throughout the roster. Mookie, who may or may not be MVP this year, Xander, JBJ, Shaw, Benintendi, Moncada all form a great nucleus moving forward. Another bat is needed to replace Papi.  We will get to see what the Red Sox front office is leaning towards more when the World Series ends, but don't be surprised if Edwin Encarnacion is in the Red Sox uniform by Opening Day. There are some interesting names to consider also, Matt Holiday is another name. With the position players not being to big of an issue I think you have to focus hard on what you have in your starting rotation and bullpen. You have a closer and you have 2 quality starters. You have a young lefty starter who will continue to grow and learn from Price and Porcello as well. I think you have to sure up the bullpen at the very least. Kimbrel, Smith, Kelly, Barnes, Ross and Uehara (who is old and needs to be monitored) all are fine, but would it really hurt to add another arm or two? If you want to make the smartest move, you sure up the bullpen and then go for another quality starter, either a number 2 or number 3 guy. Price and Porcello you can count on, but how much can you count on Buchholz, Rodriguez, Pomeranz, Wright? You can't. They proved all year long you can't. Last but not least, the manager situation needs to be addressed. Look I know I'm not an MLB manger or executive, but Farrell continues to pull the wrong strings or fails to pull any at all. This team was out coached and out prepared time and time again this year and without question in these three games. Francona made Farrell look like an idiot. It wasn't even close. I'd like Dombrowski to look at that situation more. I realize that players play and coaches coach, and he didn't lose the series for the Red Sox, but he sure as hell didn't help. Go back and look at the one run losses this year or the ultimate late inning collapses this year. That's not players to an extent, that's coaching. That's not being able to manage the game in front of you. It obviously didn't end the way myself and other Red Sox fans would have liked, but there is so much to be proud of this year. Won the AL Easy after being dead last, saw our very own legend have an amazing final season, had a cy young and MVP candidate on our team. Saw the birth of the new Red Sox era with the killer B's. It was a great year for the Red Sox no matter the outcome and the future looks even brighter.

The Boston Red Sox and Carolina Panthers seasons ended on the same night

October 10, 2016
This is the night where two teams from two different professional sports organizations had their season end on their home fields. But that's just the problem, they are from two completely different sports. I'm admittedly a fan of both of these teams, it's no secret and I'm proud to support both of through the good times and the terrible times. The Red Sox's season ended tonight by the score of 4-3  in what was David "Big Papi" Ortiz's last game to the hands of Coco Crisp and the Cleveland Indians/former Red Soxs. That hurts, but I can move past this knowing they made the playoffs after finishing in last place in the AL East the year before. They have a young team, money to spend, and hopefully will move on from a lackluster MLB manager in John Farrell. Am I upset that they got swept and didn't show up all series? Hell yes, but at least they put themselves in position to have a chance. That leads me into the Panthers.
I was so far off on this team, this coaching staff, this whole organization. That's my fault, I bought into the hype. They have proven to still be searching for who they are and have proven that they have overachieved in a god awful division for the past three NFC South titles. I can understand injuries, which they have had a lot of. I can even get past the fact they didn't resign the best corner on their roster, possibly top five in the league, to a max contract. However I can't ignore the arrogance. What you saw last year was not arrogance, that was pride and confidence. From the front office to the coaching staff, to the players there is a disgusting and disturbing level on entitlement. I will put most of the blame on the coaching staff. Yes, Ron is a two time coach of the year, but guess what, so are the likes of  Mike Smith, Lovie Smith, and Marvin Lewis. That means nothing. Defensively, I can't put too much blame except for the fact that they can't get a stop when needed to save their life. The secondary is terrible, but that's to be expected when you lose your backbone of that group over cap room that isn't being used to be productive somewhere else. The problem is on the offense. The offensive line is terrible, actually it's not terrible for Derek Anderson which is perplexing, but the wide receivers are underwhelming (yes even Kelvin Benjamin), and Mike Shula Jr. is awful. In the past 6 games he has been absolutely out coached and has looked unprepared comepletely. So I sadly state to my fellow Panther fans again, this season is over. Get Cam healthy, keep playing the rookies in the secondary so they can hopefully learn from being punished every Sunday, get Jonathan Stewart healthy and finally cut back on Luke and Thomas Davis's snaps. Davis has two more good years left if that and Luke is the only competent one outside of Davis on our defense. Maybe, just maybe the front office and coaching staff will take this reality check and cash it in by getting actual needs. Like offensive linemen, a defensive end, and an offensive weapon. I'm not going to hold my breath. Last years draft was a fail, the whole offseason was. Sorry to tell it like it is and add insult to injury, but the 2016-17 season is a wrap. Keep Pounding, or Keep Losing.

Who are the Carolina Panthers?

Tomorrow night is the beginning of the 2016-2017 NFL season. The Carolina Panthers hope that this one brings redemption in the form of a Super Bowl win. The Panthers are one of the 4-5 teams that have themselves in great position to contend for the Lombardi trophy. But as a fan, even with the certainty from almost every expert that the Panthers will be in the position to compete for a Super Bowl title, I can't help myself from having doubt. I do believe that outside of the Patriots and maybe a random team like the Steelers or Bengals the AFC is all but a lock. The NFC however, is the cream of the crop in the NFL. It's almost like the NBA, but backwards. The Patriots are whatever team LeBron plays on and the Western Conference is the NFC. The Spurs are the Seahawks, the Warriors are the Panthers, and the Clippers/Thunder are the Cardinals/Packers. Not sure which one is which on the last comparison. Not to say that the AFC is bad or the Eastern Conference is bad, but there is a heavyweight/all-time great that dominates that side of their respective league.
So anyways, the gist of the argument is that the Panthers have a much harder path to go through in order to seek redemption. Packers are for some reason everybody's favorite which I don't understand. Rodgers is an all-time great QB in his own right, but I never see the pieces around him even with Jordy Nelson being healthy. But they are a great team and pose a threat. Same with the Cardinals, although I have my doubts with Carson Palmer. I am not sure how he will bounce back from the shellacking he and his team took from the Panthers in the NFC title game last year. Plus, can he really repeat his year he had last year at his age? Then you have the Seahawks, who I believe are the biggest threat to dethrone the Panthers in the NFC, not the Packers. What scares the hell out of me is that they drafted very well, have a great QB, great coach, great defense, and have a revenge factor against the Panthers as well. Also, no one is talking about the Seahawks. Do we forget that they are three years removed from a Super Bowl title, two from being an incredible interception away from going back-to-back? Oh, and they almost made one of the biggest if not the biggest comebacks against the Panthers in the playoffs. So yeah, let's respect them okay?
Here is my prediction. I truly believe, barring injuries, that the Panthers will win the NFC again and go back to the Super Bowl. They have the fourth easiest schedule in football this year, which is extremely lucky. Given that fact I believe that they will be able to finish the season anywhere between 14-2 to 12-4. Personally I'm thinking 13-3 which should get them the number one seed over the Packers and Seahawks along with home field advantage, which is huge.
Panthers Schedule and W/L prediction:
@ Broncos W
vs. 49ers W
vs. Vikings W
@ Falcons L
vs. Buccaneers W
@ Saints W
BYE
vs. Cardinals W
@ Rams W
vs. Chiefs W
vs. Saints W
@ Raiders L
@ Seattle L
vs. Chargers W
@ Redskins W
vs. Falcons W
@ Buccaneers W

Cam, you're not LeBron

Today one of my favorite sport talks shows Speak For Yourself on FS1 opened up the show with several hot topics as they always do, one being about Cam Newton. The discussion was Cam's recent video produce and released through the Player's Tribune. Several big times athletes are doing this nowadays such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant so that isn't the issue. The issue is what came from Mr. Newton's mouth. I'm admittedly a life long Panther fan and have been a fan of Cam since his computer days at Florida. Okay sorry that was low. But in all seriousness, I am a believer and supporter of Newton. However, his message about his offseason and early days as a Panther rubbed me the wrong way much like it did Jason Whitlock, a host on the show SFY. Newton repeatedly was about himself and showed some of that immaturity that Panther fans as well as critics have grown to hate. It was all about him, not about the team. Whitlock broke it down and I believe the ballpark number of times Newton said "I" was in the twenties or thirties compared to five or six times of him mentioning "we." Now, I do think that he doesn't mean anything bad when he talks like this, but at some point I as a fan cannot get over how he keeps backtracking on his road to mature, Hall of Fame QB status. A man who just recently embarrassed himself in a press conference after also being embarrassed on the field in the Super Bowl needs to show growth. Not boast about personal accomplishments and goals. Newton is a great talent and the reigning MVP. He is the best player in football, but instead of feeling himself, he needs to keep proving himself. Who knows? Maybe I am jumping the gun and looking too far into the situation. And no matter what I say or feel, it has no affect on Cam and will not effect his play whether he is underachieving this year or continues to produce. It is something worth being concerned about. One way or the other. I'll just hope for the Panthers sake and for Cam's sake this was a marketing ploy to further his brand and doesn't effect the organization in anyway.
Some food for thought, though!
Keep Pounding! Go 'thers!

College Football Preview

Unless you live under a rock or literally puke at the thought of sports, in which case I am sorry for you, then you just like myself and everyone else are preparing for the start of the NCAA football season. Along with the beginning of what will be another season filled with surreal endings yet more moments that embed themselves in history, you also have the hot takes from every analyst, coach, and fan there is. So why not join along?
The popular preseason topic are the preseason rankings and whether or not they are hurting college football or not. I absolutely have my "hot take" on that, but first I want to discuss some other takes I have going into this season. For starters, let's go with the premature Heisman race. According to CheatSheet.com the odds-makers list the top five in this order Deshaun Watson (9-2), Leonard Fournette (5-1), Christian McCaffrey (7-1), Dalvin Cook (14-1), and a three way tie at the 5th spot with Mayfield/Kelly/Barrett all at 16-1. Not bad. I have to be logical in making these picks because so many scenarios go involved. I thought the old Heisman voters had finally gone away from the old ways in selecting the best player on best team as the Heisman, but as we all know Derrick Henry won last year and quite frankly it was very disappointing from a fan's view.
Anyways, going off the notion that the best player on best team will winit again this year then I believe the Clemson vs. FSU match up is HUGE. Whoever loses that will not be in Final Four thus eliminating either Watson or Cook and yes, I know Watson is the media darling and they have all but etched his name of the trophy. That game just has so much riding on it this year per usual. McCaffrey is great, but Cook is arguably the best back in college football which might I add is LOADED at the running back position this year. Watson is the overwhelming favorite and rightfully so, but something tells me Clemson loses to FSU this year. Fournette is great and I don't mean to be underwhelming or disrespectful to him, but him and Cook are neck and neck. LSU is on the hype train this year again, but unless a formidable QB emerges I think they fall short of expectations again this year, thus hurting Fournette's chances. My final option is McCaffrey unless McCaffrey 2.0 emerges from a cinderella team those are your four contenders. Miss me with Mayfield, Kelly and Barrett because that isn't happening. Listen, McCaffrey should've been the Heisman last year, no questions asked, it was honestly poor on the Heisman committee and all of college football voters to have not had him take his rightful crown. Which could very well have been his only chance. He still plays on the west coast, so half 2/3 of America will have to see him on the highlight reel the next morning before NFL Sunday starts. And can this man really top what he did last year? I mean go look at the stats for yourself, college football hasn't seen that type of impact player on both offense and special teams in years. I don't know, anything less will just come off as poor which will not be the case because he could still have Heisman numbers. Plus Stanford has to be good, they have to make Final Four or at least a big bowl. So after going back and forth I came up with this as my "Final Four" for the Heisman trophy. Again, wins and losses play a huge factor.
4- Fournette (I trust him, just not his supporting cast, cough cough...QB play)
3- Watson (He probably will win it, and I love him as a player, but I think FSU beats Clemson as well as runs the table in the ACC)
2- McCaffrey (He has another great year with eye popping plays/numbers, but he plays on the West Coast and Stanford doesn't win Pac 12 or have enough wins)
1- Dalvin Cook (Cook is a Seminole and I love the Gators so this hurts, but it's just life. Cook and FSU will run the table because of Cook and defense and make it to Final Four. They must go undefeated for him to win though otherwise I think Watson wins it.)
So there you have it, my shot-in-the-dark picks for the final Heisman rankings. Didn't go to far out on a limb and there are so many reason for that, the media being the biggest one.
Next lets talk about rankings, conference winners and Final Four. The AP Top 25 from ESPN.com is as followed:
Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, FSU, LSU, Ohio State, Michigan, Stanford, Tennessee, ND, Ole Miss, Michigan State, TCU, Washington, Houston, UCLA, Iowa, UGA, Louisville, Southern Cal, Oklahoma State, UNC, Baylor, Oregon, Florida. This issue in preseason has been how these rankings are bad for college football and I agree to an extent. We need a starting point but I think the voters should completely wipe the slate clean and vote on a new one 3 weeks before conference championship games take place. Do not update the rankings week to week, stop showing rankings on the screen beside the team name, professional sports don't it, neither should the NCAA. Do all the power rankings you want I don't care because I've never really understood the point in those, but eliminate rankings until the last 3 weeks of the season, so that bias from preseason rankings can be thrown out the door. Okay? Yeah, sounds logical to me as well.
Quickly here are my winners by conference and Final Four pool, with the WAY TOO EARLY champion. No worries I'll follow my plan and give you a revised decision with 3 weeks left in season.
ACC:
Best two teams are in the Atlantic which sucks. So I go FSU to win Atlantic. Coin flip between UNC and Miami in the coastal, think UNC finds way to win Coastal again.
FSU beats UNC easily to win ACC
Big 12:
Thank god the Big 12 finally gets their title game back next year, but until then I will reluctantly pick a winner. Baylor will be awful, don't even understand why they are ranked. Texas will be better but still not relevant. Comes down to OU, OSU, and TCU. Want to see what Kenny Hill does with his second chance at TCU, but I think OU wins, but with a loss.
Big Ten:
I want to like the Big Ten, but until they realize that restructing the divisions within the conference is okay if it means it brings your fans and viewers a better product, I can't get on board. You can keep it the same in basketball and other sports, but having Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State all in the same division is bad for business. They can still play each other. Anyways, love Meyer, but he lost A LOT, still think OSU is top 15 team. MSU lost a lot as well still think they are top 25. Michigan wins the East and Harbaugh strips on the field after beating Ohio State. Umm, the West stinks, but I'll go with Iowa. Michigan beats Iowa. Harbaugh is in Final Four.
Pac 12:
LOVE the balance in this conference. Great races in each division, but I go with Stanford out of the North and its a three way race between Utah, USC and UCLA in the South, but I go with Utah. Utah beats Stanford in a close game to win conference title.
SEC:
Bama wins the West. Sorry, I gotta see it happen to actually go against them. LSU is hyped up, Ole Miss doesn't have enough. I think it comes down to UT vs UF in the East. Crazy that a game the fourth week of the year will probably determine the division winner. UT WILL NOT beat Bama, UF WILL NOT beat FSU. UGA will eventually be good under Smart but not with starting a true freshman in the SEC. UF beats UT to win East. Surprising from me right? Bama beats Florida by 10 to win SEC title game.
Final Four:
Bama
Michigan
FSU
Utah
First two out:
Clemson
Stanford
Championship game:
Bama vs. Michigan
Bama wins, Saban retires after season, Harbaugh wins in it 2017

Cant wait to see how wrong this is! Thanks for reading!

Baseball: The Game That Shaped Me

The journey is over. A part of my life is over. This is almost the degree of pain I have felt from losing a loved one. After roughly 17 years of my life, the game that shaped me is no longer apart of my day to day life. Sure there are adult leagues, yes I will be playing slow pitch softball, but the competitive game of baseball is over for me. I thought this day would never come. Even at the beginning of this year, my senior year of college, I never thought it would materialize to what it has.

I have never been destined for the big leagues. I'm an overpowering five foot six inches with average to below average speed, very little pop in my bat, with a solid glove in the field. Nothing special, nothing elite. So I knew I was playing for more than that. I was playing for my love of the game. I was playing for the little kid who was the bat boy at every one of his father's high school games. I was playing for the kid that was the 12 year old hero to his peers. I was playing for the kid who was lucky enough to win a national championship. I was playing for the kid who lived it up under the lights on Friday nights in high school. I was playing for the kid who just wanted four more years of baseball in college. From all of that I became the man who gave his heart to the game he loved. 

This blog/venting memoir/sappy post, whatever you want to call it, isn't just for me. It's for those just like me who had a part of their livelihood taken  away from them. It is for those who are about to approach this point in their life. I can only tell my story, share my feelings, and send my thoughts to you.  

For those who don't already know me. My life was baseball. My time outside of school and friends was baseball. My weekends, baseball. This game has always been a huge factor in my life. 

My father was a high school baseball coach from when I came into this world until I was roughly 8 years old. If I wasn't at school I was either at his school at a practice or game, playing at my little league, or just spending all weekend at his field imitating his team's lineup while he did field work. After the games I would run the bases (my favorite part was sliding into home). 

From that point my father became my coach. From the time I was eight years old, to when I was 14, our relationship was more than just father and son. These were the best years of my baseball career, which should tell you a lot. The memories of travel ball and little league will never fade. What I would do to drive to Concord one more time and play 4-5 games a weekend (sometimes more). What I would do to play one more game on Field #3 at Southwest Forsyth Little League. What I would do to suit up in a Clemmons Middle School uniform and win another middle school championship. Those are the memories that only baseball can bring you. Without baseball, I have no idea what Kyle Humphrey would've been doing today and where his life would've gone. Then there was High School Baseball. Ahh, nothing can compare to playing with your childhood friends, classmates, teammates under the lights. During high school season it seemed impossible there could be any bigger stage than that. Every team you play is your "arch rival." State playoffs were bigger than the actual World Series. Every year you thought you would make a run, you looked at the bracket and saw a path for you. We would lose before ever getting to the championship, the farthest we made it was third round. But that didn't matter because there was always next year and "oh, I have summer ball coming up." Until the day I didn't. 

It was now time for college baseball. A place where I learned more about life than baseball. A place where I learned there was more to life than baseball. I went to a Division III school with no chance of me moving on to the next level, but the chance to play four more years. What I would give for four more. I never made All-Conference. I never was that "dude." I wasn't the player that I was in high school. I was playing with guys just like me and better than me now. And yes it was tough to swallow in the moment, but as I reflect, I wouldn't want it to be any other way. 

This beautiful game gave me so much. It gave me great times and it gave me heartbreaks. It gave me trophies and it gave me injuries. I always loved the game even though it may not have always loved me back. I owed it that much because what Baseball gave me is something you can't quantify. So I say goodbye, just like some like me are and like others will soon do. I challenge every player, baseball or any sport, to remember why you play. Remember why you love it so much. For the baseball guys and softball girls I have a quote for you. 

"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time."- Jim Bouton

I Love You, Tar Heels GDTBATH

Everyone who knows me, close or not, knows the emotions going through my body right now. I want to start off by saying congrats to Villanova for winning the national championship. I will never watch that shot again, but that was one of the best plays, if not the best, that has ever occurred in a sporting event at that magnitude. I have do give credit where it is due. As much as it hurts me to do so. 

Now I want to focus on the team that lost. Mine and many others beloved Tar Heels. Every national championship game has to have a loser and unfortunately Carolina was the loser. So many emotions entered my body when that shot went in. Anger, Sadness, Depression, Numbness come to mind. My heart along with probably every other true Tar Heel player and fan has been ripped out for the time being. But time will pass and one day this loss will lessen in pain. It will never be forgotten, but the best thing about being a fan of a team is that no matter the ending, there is always going to be another game. As I settled down after the initial heartbreak all I could think about was Marcus, Brice and the other seniors on the team. The ABC fans and Nova fans will disagree, but those guys deserved and earned the right to capture the national title. They have been through so much and given so much to the program. I cannot begin to express how proud I am of them give us their heart and hustle game in and game out. I realize Nova and their seniors have done the same thing so I want to say that while taking nothing away from them. So thank you Marcus, thank you Brice, thank you Joel, and thank you to the rest of the seniors. I know you wanted this even more than the fans and supporters wanted and I am sorry you came 4.7 seconds short of your dream. 

As for my fellow Tar Heel fans, take time and let the emotions settle. The jokes, the memes, the tweets, and other slander will come, AS IT SHOULD. If roles were reversed for any other rival of ours we would do the same. You may initially disagree, but you're kidding yourself if you honestly believe you would not react the same. As hard as it is take it as a compliment, without being in the position to capture a title that ridicule would not come, the attention would not be on the Heels. 

Lastly, I want to send a message to the people like me, not saying I am more of a fan than anyone else because I'm not, but this is for the ones that believe in something bigger than yourself. The Tar Heels are bigger than my every day life, when a UNC game is on I become consumed by what is going on. To some, that is crazy, but I call it passion and belief. Belief in something that is bigger than myself. For those that can relate to myself especially the others that eat, sleep, drink, breath, and bleed Carolina Blue, better days as well as more heartbreaks will happen. Take it as they come, but make sure to never ever lose the love for the Tar Heels. They love you and sacrifice so much for not only themselves but for us that support them game in and game out. Thank you Heels, I love you and will always be proud to be a fan of the best university there is. And don't forget, it is always a GDTBATH.  

Thank You... *hits dab*

Now that I have had over 24 hours to get over what happened this past Sunday night I want to give my thanks to the Carolina Panthers. So here it goes...

I was born in 1994 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and the Carolina Panthers were my first true sport love. Way before the Red Sox and just barely before the Tar Heels printed themselves into my heart forever the Panthers were truly my first team I rooted for. I can remember getting the full Panther uniform as a kid for Christmas. I wore those grey football pants with the blue curved piping outlined, the black jersey with the white letters/number outlined in blue, and the plastic over-sized grey helmet for the following week. I had my parents hold poster paper after poster paper at the end of our hallway so that I could run through it pretending I was a Panther myself. I remember Kerry Collins being our QB, I remember Rodney Peete, Rocket Ismael, Mike Minter, Dan Morgan, Wesley Walls (first player jersey), Sam Mills, Musin Muhammed, Ricky Proehl and the list goes on. I remember 2003 Super Bowl heartbreak against the Patriots as well as the 2-14 that landed us our current QB and league MVP, Cam Newton. Why am I restating things that most of you reading may remember as well? To put things in perspective.

What this team accomplished this year was nothing short of great. Is the goal to win the Super Bowl? No shit it is. Should the PLAYERS be upset with finishing short? Hell yeah they should. But I'm speaking to my fellow Panther fans and our "haters." This Panther season was special. You had a team that all year until the final game pretty much dominated every single opponent. You had a quarterback who was drafted to be a franchise player grow and lead the team like he was expected to do. You had a defense full of youth up front combined with gritty veterans in the secondary be a backbone to everything our team went through. You had a group of "no-names" catching passes and exceeding expectations all year. There is so much to be proud of. Critics will talk, jealous fans of opposing teams will troll, let them. What that shows me is relevancy, it says we are feared. They want to be in our shoes now. They wanted to be dabbing all season. A team that has been around for less time than I have been alive is already being being scrutinized with some of the historically great organizations like the Steelers, Cowboys, Patriots and so on. Maybe its just season, maybe we won't continue to be great. But there is nothing to be upset about from this year. The common fan doesn't look at organizational structures and plans, it doesn't look at long-term potential. Panther fans, let people say we won't be good after this year, that we had our chance to finally get one. My money is on that those people are wrong. We have won three consecutive NFC South Division titles. Who is challenging us in the division with the nucleus we have? If you look at the big picture it shows nothing but optimism and more opportunities to capture that Super Bowl title that Charlotte and the rest of the Carolinas deserve. This team gave both of the states that it embodies life this year, put us on the national stage. They showed us that there is a plan in place to achieve that ultimate goal.

So thank you Jerry Richardson, Dave Gettleman, Ron Rivera, Cam, Luuuuke, TD, JNo, Greg, and the rest of the players/organization. Thank you for the number one seed, thank you for letting everyone know the NFC title was running through Charlotte. What you gave us fans this year was nothing short of fulfilling. Thank you for the memories this year, hell, thank you for the memories every year. Just like the saying goes in Panther land, KEEP POUNDING!

Rapid Sport Rundown

The amazing thing about sports is that they never fail to provide for great conversations. Forget the actual game, we just want to skip ahead and get into conflict-filled discussions that are sure to follow. So I'm going to do my best apply the everyday conversations into this sports rundown. There are several topics I could obviously choose so I did my best to narrow it down.

To start off let me discuss the topic that is driving all sport fans' conversations, the Super Bowl. How compelling is this match-up? You have the potential of Peyton Manning riding off into the sunset if the Broncos are able to win the game. There is also the possibility of Cam Newton completing his own storybook ending to what has so far been the year, or season, of "SuperCam." Another story line, however there are many more, is that you have the number one offense versus the number one defense. So as you can see or may already have known, there are many interesting plots arising from this Super Bowl match-up. I've decided that there since there is nothing closet about my fandom socially, I will no longer be closet about my fandom in my writing. That being said, I am obviously rooting for a Panther win, and at that a blow out. I understand it's the Super Bowl and the majority of fans, viewers, the league, and the TV people want a close game for its entirety. Nope, screw that. I want a blow out, runaway, behind-the-woodshed beat-down in favor of my Panthers.
There are two reasons on my I feel so strongly about having that outcome. The first one being this, Peyton Manning. Don't even try to sell me the cop out statements on how he is old, washed up, can't win his team the game. Because I'm not buying. Go ahead and put me Around the Horn for that topic on the Buy or Sell segment. I'll give Tony Reali a lesson. Okay anyways, my thinking and honest belief is that this game is the Panthers game to lose. So if the game is close the more nervous I will become and the more likely my phone will be going through my wall. I do believe in Cam's growth that he would be able to lead a Super Bowl winning drive, but I'm also equally confident (or respectful) in Manning. I mean how could you not be afraid of a Hall of Fame lock having a chance to break your heart? As for the second reason on why I want a pounding from the Panthers is the fact that so many experts and Twitter coaches have had nothing but hate for a potentially all-time great team. I won't say that if they win they are the best team to ever win a Super Bowl. However if you want to test me, I'm fairly certain I could make a pretty strong argument. I want a convincing win to put the icing on the proverbial cake that all Panther fans can throw into the face of all the doubters. Plus, it would be epic for Riverboat Ron to have a Coach Yost moment with a "Cam, leave no doubt!"
All kidding aside this Super Bowl has great potential. It's early and this prediction is being made with over a week away from the game, but I'll obviously be taking the "thers" by the score of 30-17. I know may have gone a little high with the over/under total and I know defense wins championships, but I also know that a great offense beats a great defense.

Okay moving on from football. Let me talk about the other sport going on right now which is basketball. I'll start with college basketball because let's be honest, the NBA doesn't reach full national attention until the NFL has ended.
 Alright, so in case you haven't been tuned into the college basketball season, Oklahoma is the best team in the country. Plain and simple. Not only are they ranked number in the country according to the Associated Press, but anyone who understands what it takes to be a great team in basketball knows Oklahoma has it all. They have size, depth, and they can shoot you right out of the gym. Oh, not to forget, they have the best player in collegiate basketball right now in Buddy Hield and he shows up to play EVERY game. My man is averaging 26/6/3. NEWS FLASH, that's pretty good. I won't go as far to saying go ahead and give them the trophy, because this is college basketball, upsets happen almost as much as Stephen Curry hitting a three-point shot. On top of that, there are other good teams lurking behind them, not as many as the media makes it out to be, but still a few that can steal that title from them. One being my Tar Heels. Yep that's right, don't act like I'm not going to leave them out of this blog. The Heels currently sit in the number two spot and it's an absolutely fair ranking, because they are not the number one team right now. Arguably the deepest team in college basketball and if they are to ever start completely clicking, could very well be the best team in country. Right now, even with posting an 18-2 record, there are concerns. Label me as the nitpicking, unappreciative fan, but there are serious hesitation factors looming with the Tar Heels. Ah, lets see, two of their STARTERS are weak spots right now. Marcus Paige and Justin Jackson. Right now Paige would have a hard time shooting himself out of a paper bag. Hell, forget the three-pointers going in how about we start with making wide open layups. It almost seems like he hasn't scored since his 30 point game at FSU. I really feel sorry for him recently because he can't make ANYTHING right now; its tough seeing a senior who has given so much and has had so much success struggle like he is. As for Jackson, he has always been so hard to figure out. I say always yet he is only a sophomore, but he is just too inconsistent. He hasn't found his outside shot at all this year and if it wasn't for his awkward floater he might not have any scoring besides put-backs. You're probably thinking, man with fans like these who needs rivals, but those are just the ugly truths of this team. Of course as a fan and supporter of the Tar Heels AND their players I have the utmost confidence both will turn it around. They are both too talented not to. However, the slightest possibility that these two do not turn it around will sadly (or not so sadly, depending on your fandom) lead to this team coming up short of their potential.

Moving on from my college basketball rant, you have the NBA. The NBA is struggling this year as a whole. Outside of four teams there is NOTHING and I mean NOTHING. No intriguing story lines and certainly no competitiveness. You have the Warriors, Cavs, Spurs, and Thunder as the only teams who can save the NBA from absolute boredom and quite frankly those last three teams I listed are all playing for strictly relevancy. The Warriors are flat out making a mockery out of the rest of the league. I will go as far as saying that the league just needs to cut the season short and go ahead give them the trophy. I am hope I'm wrong for entertainment sake, but I don't see them not repeating. The Golden State boys are literally hurting the league through their greatness right now. Curry will never get old though, he is someone aspiring players can relate to and on top of that his cerebral shooting is an absolute show to watch. Honestly, the only hot topic outside of the masterful performance that is Warriors basketball was the recent firing of David Blatt.
Bare with me here because the stance I have on the situation is one I would imagine most basketball will not agree with. The problem with the Cavaliers is Lebron James and there are issues on both fronts. Let me start with the "King." James is hurting the Cavs by ego, brand, and posse. I don't believe James is intentionally being a dictator towards the organization, it simply his stardom and power that cause this to happen. Do I believe he flat out said that he wanted Blatt fired? My belief in the goodness of man tells me no, but that is something that could be debated over and over again. James has literally blackmailed his hometown team. He has signed back to back one year deals which business savvy for Lebron, but also puts a handcuff on the organization. It is pretty much telling them we have to keep Lebron happy by any means necessary so that he re-signs. Meanwhile, it causes the organization to not fully focus on winning. Also, look at Lebron's career, from the early years in Cleveland to Miami and now back to Cleveland he has had issues with his involvement and the coaches there. Does the media make stories to drive the drama? Of course they do, but I won't completely excuse James from this glaring problem. To quote Lebron's boy Stephen A. Smith,"if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it ain't a damn mongoose!" Well lets hold that same standard for Lebron James. Now, the same can absolutely be said for the Cavs, Dan Gilbert who runs the organization is a successful businessman, but his actions towards James when he first left is biting him in the ass now. The Cavs have handcuffed themselves into having to cater to Lebron. Listen, am I reaching when discussing this issue? Possibly. But do not be ignorant to the fact that these underlying problems could lead into the Cavs coming up short of their goals. A peace meeting and delegation of powers needs to be had by the Cavaliers organization and Lebron, because at the end of the day Lebron is a player and management is management. It's time to act like it. I would love to see Lebron give his team the championship they have been longing for, but his actions, as well as others, are holding the process back when it comes to reaching that goal.

Thanks for taking the time to read, I have more work already lined up and plan on posting blogs closer together. Thank you for your support and feel free to leave comments or suggestions! My goal is to provide entertainment to my readers, even if it just means I'm your bathroom reading!
Take Care!

Why this is the WORST bowl season in a very long time...

Ah, bowl season, usually a great ending to the college football season whether your team wins or loses. Key word there? USUALLY. Work with me here and really think about what is about to be said regarding the absolute garbage that came from this particular bowl season. Before I tell you exactly why this is the case go ahead and bash me for my saltiness over the absolute butt-whooping's that both UNC and Florida got and deserved in their respective bowl games. Okay, hope that was fun, now that that's out of the way let's be realistic about how awful this bowl season was.

Aside from the first week of the bowl season which had a few good performances there was nothing that the average college football fan could get excited about. The bowls were terribly matched up, the scheduling of the games was embarrassing, and the actual games were just miserable to sit and watch. Of course I say this as I sit here and watch the Christian McCaffrey show, but use this game for example. I understand why these two were matched up in the Rose Bowl; tradition, Big Ten vs. Pac 12, yadda yadda you can save that for someone else.

This game proves that the College Football Playoff Committee and bowl selection committee simply dropped the ball instead of letting it happen on its own for New Years. This match-up should be Ohio State vs. Stanford. Be honest, everyone had enough of Iowa after the Big Ten Championship game that more than likely put the viewers into a comatose state of living. College Football tried to be politically correct and "reward" Iowa for their year instead of looking at the actual material that was going to be put on the field. It wasn't smart from a business perspective and obviously not from a football persepctive. I could honestly make the argument that this is should be Michigan State vs. Stanford, but I will spare you from that. 

That is my one and only example that I will elaborate on regarding the undesirable match-ups, but for fun my other examples would be San Diego State vs. Cincy & LSU vs. Texas Tech. Just really think back and look at the match-ups, I'm certain you will find it depressing. 

Then you have the scheduling... Who in their right mind thought it was good idea to have the College Football Playoff games on New Years Eve? I agree sports run most of society and definitely education, but NYE is a day where you can never change tradition. People are simply not around their TV's on NYE, the only time they are is when the ball drops and even then people are too drunk to really acknowledge what is going on. Last year the CFB Playoffs were on January 1st and had ratings that can only be topped by the Super Bowl, but no, let us put it on NYE so we can dilute the many traditions that the people of this great country have had for many years. The College Football Playoff executive Bill Hancock even had the gall to say this, "I really feel like we're going to change the culture of New Year's Eve in the country." Really dude? You might be able to change a couple NYE cultures, but you aren't ending the NYE parties, you aren't ending the family gatherings and you certainly are not ending the amount of alcohol consumed. When people drink, they do not want to sit in front of a TV, drinking is a social activity and NYE provides people the one day where getting highly intoxicated to the point of embarrassment is socially acceptable. So best of luck to you Mr. Hancock, money talks so I'll look forward to going back to my original New Years tradition. By waking up hungover and watching the best college football games of the year on the first of January.
The final piece to the travesty that was the college football bowl season is the quality of play by the teams themselves. I already addressed the performance of both of my teams, UNC and Florida, but there were other poor showings throughout the bowl season. I don't know I might just be nitpicking or just bitter on how my teams did, but this year felt like a disappointment on the overall product. There were bright spots, very far and in-between, but bright spots nonetheless.
Now, I understand that bowl season is not yet over with and who knows, maybe we get a national championship that people will talk about for years. But for now, we have to settle with a below average bowl season. Many aspects of this bowl season can be fixed, the actually play of the teams cannot, but simple marketing and business strategies will fix the poor fan experience from this years forgettable bowl season. I understand that hindsight is 20/20 however, we have these professionals making these decisions, let us at least get it right. Anyways, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a great New Years, because through it all, those are what matter the most this time of the year. Get ready for a blog reviewing this college football season as well as providing some predictions for next season!