Monday, January 12, 2009

Final 2009 Rankings

Congratulations to the University of Florida, 2008 York Poll National Champions.

1. Florida (5)
2. Southern California
3. Utah (1)
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma
6. Alabama - Tuscaloosa
7. Ole Miss (1)
8. Texas Christian
9. Pennsylvania State
10. Boise State
T-11. Georgia
T-11. Texas Tech
13. Ohio State
14. Oregon
15. Iowa
16. Virginia Tech
17. Oklahoma State
18. Missouri
19. West Virginia
20. Oregon State
21. Florida State
22. Cincinnati
23. Michigan State
24. Georgia Tech
25. California

Also receiving votes: Brigham Young - 11, Northwestern - 10, Louisiana State - 6, Boston College - 5, Kentucky - 5, Pittsburgh - 4, Nebraska - 2, Rutghers - 2, Notre Dame - 1 

Friday, December 12, 2008

Final Regular Season Poll

1. Florida (5)
2. Southern California (1)
3. Texas
4. Oklahoma
5. Alabama - Tuscaloosa
6. Pennsylvania State
7. Texas Tech
8. Utah
9. Boise State
10. Ohio State
11. Georgia
12. Ole Miss
13. Oklahoma State
14. Georgia Tech
15. Texas Christian
16. Cincinnati
17. Michigan State
18. Oregon
19. Missouri
20. Brigham Young
T-21. Northwestern
T-21. Pittsburgh
23. Virginia Tech
24. Oregon State
25. Iowa

Also receiving votes: Boston College - 8, Ball State - 7, Rutgers - 4, Florida State 1, Nebraska - 1

Monday, November 17, 2008

Week 12 Rankings

1. Florida (2)
2. Texas Tech
3. Alabama (2)
4. Texas
T-5. Oklahoma
T-5. Southern California
T-7. Boise State (1)
T-7. Utah
9. Pennsylvania State
10. Oklahoma State
11. Georgia
12. Missouri
T-13. Ball State
T-13. Ohio State
15. Michigan State
16. Texas Christian
17. Louisiana State
18. Brigham Young
T-19. Cincinnati
T-19. Ole Miss
21. Oregon State
22. Pittsburgh
23. North Carolina
24. Central Michigan
25. Maryland

Others receiving votes: Northwestern - 7, South Carolina - 6, Boston College - 4, Miami (FL) - 4, Western Michigan - 4, Florida State - 2, Oregon - 2, Notre Dame - 1

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Coaches in Star Wars

Jonathan Peeples and I were discussing our favorite coach in all of sports, Mark Mangino, the other day, which led to our realization Star Wars would have ended much differently had Mangino actually been Jabba the Hutt.  Clearly, Han would have been fed to the Sarlac, and he would not have been there to disarm the Death Star's shield generator, giving the Empire the victory.  So that led us to wonder, if college football coaches were the players in Star Wars, who would they be...?
Yes, Steve Spurrier is Darth Visor, but I think we all know those days are long gone.  Saban is the obvious choice here, as the embodiment of evil in its most sophisticated form.
Chris Peterson, a young up-and-comer from the agrarian potato fields of Boise, fits Luke Skywalker, including his credentials of taking down of a powerhouse with essentially no targeting computer.
While technically it was Jango Fett who was cloned, we'll stretch it out here and say that everyone is trying to clone Urban Meyer with the spread.  And like Boba Fett, Urban Meyer is just a badass in general.
Brash attitude? Check.  Credentials as a man? Check.  Both seem to spend too much time on their hair as well.  Mike Gundy = Han Solo.
Les Miles just has wookie-like tendencies. 
If what had happened to Princess Leia's home planet of Alderan had happened to Tubby's home state of Arkansas, few would be too disappointed.  Also, you could imagine Tubby perhaps kissing his sister, as the Princess does with her brother.
Who better embodies the washed-up, used-to-inspire-fear-but-still-is-evil spirit of the Emperor than Dennis Erickson?
Like Greedo, Bobby Johnson gets so close to sealing the deal, but in the end he just can't pull the trigger.
While Charlie Weiss purports himself to be an NFL offensive guru, he has come out with little more than sticks and rocks that barely put a dent in those powerhouse... service academies... last year.
Yoda = JoePa.  This was one of the easiest to pick.  "When 900 years you reach, look as good, you'll not.  Mmm?"
Admiral Ackbar has gills.  Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen has jowls.
Yes, Steve Spurrier has drawn the Vader comparisons in the past.  Perhaps he still has the same attitude he once had, but it has not translated on the field in Columbia.  As a shad of the fighter he once was, Obi Wan Kenobi makes for the best connection here.
All WAC coaches not named Chris Peterson might as well be storm troopers.

Just as Han Solo and Dash Rendar narrowly escaped capture by IG-88 at Ord Mantel, so Georgia and Alabama barely escaped Rich Brooks.


In the universe of the original Star Wars Trilogy, we were introduced to vast array of different characters, and Lando Calrissian was amazingly the only black man in all of the galaxy.  Sly Croom can certainly relate with this status as the SEC's sole African American head coach. 



If you saw Boston College Head Coach Jeff Jagodzinski's reaction to his team's thrilling defeat of Florida State last year, you will understand why he draws the C-3PO comparison.


And of course the crown jewel of college football and the inspiration of this post.  Coach Mangino and Jabba the Hutt, both dynamic and powerful though portly.  Both command our fear, respect, and admiration.



Monday, November 10, 2008

Week 11 Rankings

1. Florida (2)
2. Texas Tech (1)
3. Alabama - Tuscaloosa (2)
T-4. Texas
T-4. Oklahoma
T-4. Southern California
7. Boise State (1)
8. Utah
9. Pennsylvania State
10. Georgia
11. Oklahoma State
12. Ohio State
13. Missouri
14. Ball State
15. Michigan State
16. North Carolina
17. South Carolina
T-18. Brigham Young
T-18. Louisiana State
20. Texas Christian
21. Florida State
22. Ole Miss
23. Pittsburgh
24. Georgia Tech
25. Oregon State

Also receiving votes: Cincinnati - 8, Kentucky - 4, Virginia Tech - 4, Wake Forest - 4, California - 3, Miami (FL) - 3, Tulsa - 3, Boston College - 2, Western Michigan - 2, Central Michigan - 1, Arizona - 1

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Week 10 Rankings

1. Florida (2)
2. Texas Tech (1)
3. Alabama - Tuscaloosa (2)
4. Pennsylvania State
5. Oklahoma
6. Texas
7. Southern California
8. Oklahoma State
9. Boise State (1)
10. Utah
11. Georgia
12. Louisiana State
13. Texas Christian
14. Ohiio State
15. Missouri
16. Brigham Young
17. Michigan State
18. Ball State
19. Georgia Tech
20. South Carolina
T-21. North Carolina
T-21. West Virginia
T-23. California
T-23. Florida State
25. Ole Miss

Also receiving votes: Maryland - 14, Northwestern - 11, Pittsburgh - 4, Kentucky - 3, Virginia Tech - 2, Miami (FL) - 1, Notre Dame - 1

Monday, October 27, 2008

Week 9 Rankings

1. Texas (2)
2. Alabama-Tuscaloosa
3. Florida (1)
4. Pennsylvania State
5. Georgia
T-6. Oklahoma
T-6. Texas Tech
8. Oklahoma State
9. Utah (1)
10. Boise State
11. Southern California
12. Louisiana State
13. Texas Christian
14. Minnesota
15. Missouri
16. Ball State
17. Ohio State
18. Florida State
19. Tulsa
20. Michigan State
21. South Florida
22. South Carolina
23. Notre Dame
T-24. Georgia Tech
T-24. Virginia

Also receiving votes: Maryland - 10, North Carolina - 9, Ole Miss - 7, Oregon -4, West Virginia - 1.