National Signing Day

Throughout this world wide web, there is an abundance of places where you can find who "won" signing day. Was it Alabama, or was it Texas? Which university was able to lure that particular recruiting site's number one high school player to a certain school? Was it Missouri, or was it Florida State? Not here boys and girls. Here we will take a closer look at the fanfare that has become signing day and some schools successful days. But in no way am I declaring a winner or, even worse, as some claim a national championship. For you NFL junkies that do not understand a crazed college football fan's obsession, imagine the free agency period and the draft all in one day. Here are a few news and notes...

Let it be known that I try hard to not get entangled in the web of rankings built by sites such as Rivals.com, Scout.com, or 247sports.com about certain prospects. These sites try to project an 18 year-old's football abilities three years in advance. It is an inexact science and impossible to predict. This is not to say that I, just like many of you, do not drool over YouTube videos of their top prospects' skill levels (Johnathan Gray everyone) , but I know that just because a website gives a young man who is 6-foot-7, weighs in a 270, runs a 4.8 second forty-yard dash, and physically dominates top high school competition only  "two-stars" that not much stock can be taken their celestial rating system. Spend some time. Watch some film. And wait to see if the coach of your beloved team can do with the prospect's skills.

Saban "bought" a heinous diamond sweater,
but he can sell his program.

That being said, based on this star rating system, Alabama signed more four and five stars than I ever have in my dynasty on NCAA 2009. (I still play the 09 version because Darren McFadden adorns the cover). They signed more than twice as many prospects from ESPN's top 150 athletes than any other SEC school. With the talent accumulated during his tenure at LSU and now Alabama, the Crimson Tide's coach has shown why he has many changing the acronym NSD from National Signing Day to Nick Saban Day.

The University of Georgia was able to come away with the top player in four different states, thanks to a late fax from the nation's top outside linebacker and Valdosta, Georgia resident, Josh Harvey-Clemons. The poor kid came on national television to announce his intentions to become a Bulldog. His grandfather and legal guardian had other plans. With Valdosta being closer to Florida, most of Harvey-Clemons' family wished to see him as a Gator come fall. After a little embarrassment, the kid won out and will run out in Red and Black in August.

The famed "Chick-fil-a" recruit, McKinzy

In as much preparation he did for the day, calls, texts, emails, official and unofficial visits, in-home visits and more, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney could have done nothing more to convince Cassanova McKinzy to become a Tiger. Well, maybe Swinney could have done one more thing, built a Chick-fil-a on the Clemson campus. The best named recruit in the country said he chose Auburn over Clemson because, "they (Clemson) have no Chick-fil-A on campus."

Stanford signed three consensus five-star prospects to their offensive line. Andrew Luck's presence carries on though he will be in the NFL. However, if you are a big boy that wants a physical run game, where better to go than to block for Barry Sanders Jr., who also signed with the Cardinal.

Not to be confused with that above school out west, Samford added 18 new players for the 2012 team. Much praise was given to the Bulldogs in Southern Conference circles by guys that pay attention to recruiting much more closely than you and me. If you have not been paying attention to what coach Pat Sullivan, the 1972 Heisman trophy winner, has been doing with my alma mater in Birmingham, which chances are you haven't, you should. The Dogs are going places... hopefully.

The Weekend That Will Be: Championship Saturday

Georgia vs. LSU- People here in Georgia are trying so hard to convince themselves that Georgia stands a chance. As much as I would love for my sister and her friends to be able to celebrate on Broad Street in Athens until the wee hours of the morning after a Bulldog win, it is just not happening. The only way UGA comes away with a win is if LSU is looking forward to their date with Alabama in the national championship. The Bayou Bengals are too good and wear down opponents.  With their larger-than-NFL-lines offensive line that Georgia will look like they have a chance until halftime, but the depth of the LSU running backs and strength of their defense will be too much for the Dawgs.

 Wisconsin vs. Michigan State- The inaugural Big Ten Championship will feature a rematch of a game that was decided by a controversial Hail Mary pass from the Spartans as time expired. This loss was the first of two losses of the Badgers have suffered by way of the last-drive variety. The second loss came on the road against Ohio State. If not for these two passes Wisconsin would be looking at a possible trip to the BCS National Championship. There is plenty of fire in the belly of the Badgers this week and they will take care of MSU easily at a neutral site and the Badgers rein as B1G Champions for the second straight year. How about that Rose Bowl coming on the First of January? Oregon vs. Wisconsin. Also of note, Badger running back Montee Ball is now 5 touchdowns short of former Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders' record of 39 scores in a season. Ball has is playing in his 13th game. Sanders did it in 11.

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson- Here is another rematch in a conference championship game as the Tigers try to execute the same plan to perfection they did earlier this season in a 23-3 win over the Hokies in Blacksburg. The difference in this game and the previous matchup will be the play of Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas. In his last seven games he has thrown for 14 touchdowns and only two picks. Add his 10 rushing scores, and the Hokies have a new weapon to unleash against the Clemson defense. Also watch the VT defense, who held the electric Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins to 38 yards in their previous meeting. The Tiger offense has cooled down tremendously, scoring 17 points per game in their last four games of which Clemson has lost three. The Tigers are pulling a Clemson down the stretch and lose to a driven Hokie squad. No worries Tiger fans. Your team is young and has a bright future.

Other picks (winners in bold)
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State- The de facto Big 12 Championship game will the Cowboys take advantage of their one chance every eight to ten years to beat their big brother Sooners. Do not be surprised if they Pokes rack up as many points as they can against their hated rival.

Southern Mississippi at Houston- Coach Kevin Sumlin, quarterback Case Keenum and their Cougar team get the W and head to a BCS bowl game for the first time in school history. Hey coach Sumlin... it will never be this good again. Take your money (reportedly $3 million at possible new schools) and a new job where ever that may be.

Texas at Baylor- When was the last time the Bears were favorites over the Longhorns? Enjoy it while you can Baylor. P.s. How can you not love Robert Griffin III? Give him the Heisman and Go Bears!

Breaking Down the Weekend

1. It is clear that I am not a professional. I know my grandmother said she wrote my picks down and was going to see how I did. I would not be offended if you lost that piece of paper. I mean really Graham. Could you have been more wrong? Yes I could have I nailed the Kentucky upset and the Alabama win. Steve Spurrier… Was imitating Les Miles and risking the game worth losing the game? Other than that it was a rough first week. I clearly need more practice. Kudos to those teams that I did not pick, especially a Mississippi State team that will have something to say about who wins the SEC West.

2. Watching the games this weekend was not as much fun as last week. Missed the family surrounding me as we cheered on one of the most boring Arkansas wins. Which leads me to my next point. Can Arkansas win an important game on the road. This Cam Newton character is legit. He does what he wants when he wants. I was very impressed and am now a believer in his abilities. Does Arkansas win the game if Mallet stays in? Not sure. Tyler Wilson looked as good as most any quarterback in the country in a back-up role, except his counterpart on the other team.

3. It is clear that Gary Daneilson and Vern Lundquist are still not over Tim Tebow. Their obsession is sickening and I had to mute them in the fourth quarter to stop hearing the comparisons of Cam Newton to Tebow. The only thing worse during that broadcast was the officiating from SEC officials. It's bad guys. Some of the calls that were made, on both sides of the ball mind you, were just poorly made. Both of the fumble calls against Arkansas and the pass interference call against Auburn were poor excuses for officiating.

4. I am pretty sure I could write another page about what happened in that game (cheap blocking, the Bobby Petrino-Gene Chizik relationship, or the lack of defense), but I digress... We now know that Nebraska is just not quite ready for the big stage and that showed in the shellacking they got from Texas. It was clear that Texas is used to the big game atmosphere and Nebraska simply has not been there enough. Maybe next year in the Big Ten when you can still recruit Texas speed and play the Ohio power.

5. Speaking of the Big Ten, there was a classic in Madison, Wisconsin. That looks like a fun place to watch a game and outside of the SEC and the classics (Michigan, Notre Dame, Rose Bowl, etc.) I am adding it to my "Stadiums To Go To" list that Pops and I will conquer when he doesn't have to work on Sundays and I am old and rich. Sounds like a dream...

6. Does anyone want to win the ACC? You still get a BCS payout to win the conference and your best team probably wouldn’t go .500 in the SEC West, where 5 of 6 teams are ranked in the AP top 25. Maybe the ACC and the Big East can get an all-star team together and play State.

7. It was worth being tired in church this morning to watch the overtime game between Washington and Oregon State. Gutsy, but understandable, call to go for two and the win.

8. Every game I watched there was mention made of the beautiful weather. Come to think of it every where in the country had perfect football weather.