Johnny Manziel Gets Headlines; The Monster, Jeremy Hill, Plays On

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel has grabbed headlines for every step he has taken since winning the Heisman trophy eight months ago. From going to the NBA Finals, to becoming friends with the Drake, LeBron James, from being excused from the Manning Passing camp, to attending a fraternity party in Austin at the Aggies rival Texas, Manziel has had his fair share of air time over what seems like the longest college football offseason ever.

While none of these activities were against any NCAA rules, the most recent allegations to come against the redshirt sophomore have him in a real heap of — just for the agricultural school — cow patties.

Johnny Manziel

ESPN is reporting that Johnny Football took a $7,500 exchange for some autographed pictures. If this is true it does not bode well for A&M's title hopes, and due to the NCAA's amateurism rules, you have most likely seen Manziel play his last down of college football if the reports are true.

This story, because of the high-profiles involved — a team on the verge of a run at at a national championship and the current Heisman winner — is easy to sell to the masses, get ratings and viewership, but 366 miles away someone else was given another chance to play this season, after a crime, not some comparatively tenuous NCAA violation.

The news came in a blip across the bottom of your television screen, via a few tweets in your timeline, or perhaps you missed it. LSU's Jeremy Hill was reinstated for the season.

For the second time in his 22-year existence, the sophomore running back was arrested. The first coming in high school where Hill and a buddy committed despicable acts to a girl four years his junior.

Afterwards, LSU head coach Les Miles rewarded the four-star recruit with a scholarship.

This time the 6-foot-2, 235-pound monster attacked a defenseless man outside of a Baton Rouge bar as you can see in the video here. As wild as it may seem, his defense attorney — an LSU alum — convinced the judge — also an LSU alum — that Hill, who pleaded guilty to the charges, deserved probation, not time in prison.

Being what the Louisiana court system is, Hill found his way out of a prison sentence. Instead, he was sentenced to two years probation (of course traveling for LSU away games and playing in night games does not break probation), 50 hours of community service, pay $375 for the victims medical bills and write a letter of apology.

Les Miles

This time Miles awarded Hill with a welcome back to the football team.

Hill's football career, which made him a star in the state of Louisiana, will remain as it was. He was allowed back on the football team he rushed 755 yards and 12 touchdowns for. Why?  Most of all because he will help win football games.

Miles told the press on Monday if it was up to him, Hill would not be allowed but on the team, but Miles allowed the team to vote on it. And big surprise here, Hill's 18-22 year-old buddies let him come back on the team.

Johnny Football wanted some extra cash. For what, who knows? Was it worth the consequences that may arise from his actions? No, but if his allegations are true, Johnny Football's college career will presumably be over. I can't say how, as a 20-year-old, I would handle the limelight. I can't definitively say I would not fall into the same traps. I've never been offered more than about $10 bucks an hour for any skill I possess.

However, I do know what Hill did to a defenseless man outside a Baton Rouge bar in early July is deplorable. I do know that Miles dropped a couple of notches on my scale, a scale he was already low on for the way he has handled situations like this in the past.

Based on his previous handlings of simple battery situations, I should have known better. I should have known that winning football games and keeping the LSU fanbase — including the alums in a defunct court system — is more paramount than developing character, and that the Johnny Football drama is more signigicant to the media than allowing a monster back on campus where other potential victims may be living their lives.

When I Went to the Final Four...

For a longtime college basketball fan, a dream came true. I can remember watching the Final Four with my family when Arkansas was good, way, way back when. Last weekend I was afforded the opportunity to spend Saturday soaking in the sights and sounds of the Final Four in Atlanta.

After riding MARTA into town -- quite an experience when Atlanta hosts major events -- a couple friends and I walked around the Centennial Park where there was a stage featuring Zac Brown Band, Ludacris and others throughout the weekend. It did not take long to grow wary of the general public, who was there for the free concerts. I've seen concerts but never had I been to a Final Four. There was different end goal on my mind, and I was ready to get into the Georgia Dome as quickly as possible.

The most reasonably priced souvenir,
a mile away from the Georgia Dome 

We hung around the CNN Center before I got a call and left my group to meet up with my ticket holders, family friend Chris Peacock and his son. I walked up and down one of the 17 different Peachtree Streets of Atlanta before finding my way onto the roof of Max's Lager House. There I met a couple of different people who made the confusion of navigating Atlanta well worth the adventure.

First was Kevin Blackistone, former sports columnist at the Dallas Morning Star, journalism professor at the University of Maryland and panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption. He's a star in the sports journalism world so I was immediately at a loss for words. Without hesitation and being that sports is his job, he asked me, "What are you doing down here? Who do you pull for?" (the sports' world pleasantry equivalent of "Hi. How are you?)

Answering with "I am a fan of basketball like everyone here, and my team is the Arkansas Razorbacks." He quickly responded with more knowledge of the 1994 National Championship run and 1995 National Championship game than I ever knew. Granted, it was his job to cover these teams back in the day, but how he could know so much about those squads to this day was astonishing. And to know that he could have that conversation with fans of other teams with ease is shocking. I know this because I saw him talk Elon basketball with guys one table over who recognized Blackistone from his ESPN appearances.

Also at the table was David Jackson, who writes for USA Today and has a blog, The Oval, where he follows President Barrack Obama and the happenings at the White House. He has covered the last five presidential elections and could out duel you in a game of "Name Dropping." I promise. Jackson, also a Northwestern graduate, went to the game with us .While there, I was able to have some lengthy discussions about writing and the journalism business with a veteran high up in the industry.

None of this even involved what I was anticipating most, the basketball games.

The benefit of going on Saturday of the Final Four is that you get to see both semifinal games. Of course I spent a fair amount of the games using binoculars looking for different sports writers, columnists, broadcasters and analysts. Nerd alert.

We got lucky. Both games came down to the final minutes, and on Monday as I watched the game I could claim to have seen both teams live (one of those things only I care about). This is where I could transition into how annoying Syracuse fans are, but I will stay away from that topic until the masses call for it. There's also a good story about my run-in with the Georgia Dome's Director of Concessions about a cup if you ever need a good laugh.

We could get into the details of the game but a quarter of the country watched them, and there were no broken legs. Instead, I will take a second to post some pictures and send out an enormous thank you to Chris and his son for letting me tag along. I got to see meet some people (coaches, writers, analysts)  and see some things I had only dreamed about since I can remember watching basketball.

Inside the CNN Center

CBS Sports setup outside at Centennial Park

Chris and his son

Postgame -- I had a hard time leaving.

I watched the championship game  with my official cup,
which might have come at the expense of someone's job. 

National Signing Day 2013

Alex Collins and his father (sans mother) signing his Letter of Intent. Collins said he wore a camo suit "for the fans."

Usually at this point in the game, 24 hours later, writing a National Signing Day column is considered late. Thanks to Alex Collins' mama drama, deadline has been extended. This day seems to get wilder and more unpredictable as the years pass, and as social media continues to grow along with college football's importance nationwide, there is no where but zany for it to go. Here are a few things that stuck out to me looking back at this year's big day:

ALEX COLLINS' MOTHER STOLE THE SHOW- It would not be Arkansas football if there wasn't a circus involved, and thanks to Collins' mother we got a party. Collins, a Miami native, was all set to sign his Letter of Intent to play football at Arkansas, a decision he made on Monday night on national television. It should have been a time to honor the hard work he has put in earning a scholarship and a time to celebrate his decision.

However, as has been well reported, his mother came to the signing ceremony at Collins' school and took the binding paperwork because she wants him to play at Miami University in Florida. What makes this story even more difficult to understand is that Collins does not even live with his mother.

This afternoon he signed official paper work, cosigned by his father, which officially makes him a Razorback. His mother on the other hand has hired lawyers from a Johnny Cochran law firm to try and prevent his move to Arkansas. Her reasoning per her lawyer: "her only concern is Alex's well being." Give it a break, lady.

THE OLE MISS SURPRISE- Don't get me wrong. I loved my experience at The Grove and weekend in Oxford when the Rebels hosted Samford in 2010. But before Rebel fans get too excited about the future, thinking under coach Hugh Freeze you will challenge the SEC West big boys, namely Alabama, let's take a look at what happened in order for you to land the No. 7 class in 2013.

Ole Miss landed the No 1 recruit at the following positions: defensive end (Robert Nkemdiche), offensive lineman (Jeremy Tunsil), wide receiver (Laquan Treadwell), and a top-notch defensive back (Antonio Conner).

Nkemdiche has an older brother already at Ole Miss, who did some serious recruiting, and a mother who made it public that she wanted her boys to play together. Conner is from South Panola High, a Rebel stronghold for years. These two would have made a good class for Ole Miss alone on most years. They also recruited other top players and sold them on the idea that this could be the class to change the Rebel's fortune, instead of going to Alabama and continuing their championship tradition.

It was a perfect storm, but before we crown them Division Champs, know that other schools in the division have been doing this kind of work for five-plus years.To rise to the top it will take more than one class of stars to change the culture. Coach Hugh Freeze applied the full-court press to haul these guys in. SI.com writer Andy Staples reveals one of Freeze's assistant coaches exchanged more than 800 Facebook messages with Tunsil and another 400 with his girlfriend to help culture their relationship which turned into a commitment. Hard work paid off to bring this class (three 5-stars and 9 4-stars) to fruition.

TIE-DYE SCREAMS SWAG- There was nothing this year that compared to Isaiah Crowell pulling out a bulldog puppy to declare he would attend Georgia a couple of years ago. There was some impressive fashion from some commitment ceremonies though:

WR Stacey Coley (above) commits to Swag U. The only way this gets better is if a Vanderbilt or Stanford commit had donned a "Nerd" hat at their commitment ceremony.

DL Montravious Adams (above) commits to Auburn and proves tie-dye is alive and well. And yes, that is a picture of himself on his shirt. Love his humbleness.

ONE CONFERENCE IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER- Not that long ago the Big 12 was being compared to the SEC. There were some who thought it might be able to challenge the SEC for dominance in college football. Hindsight is 20/20 and we know that thought is comical. Thanks to conference realignment (Texas A&M and Nebraska leaving), Texas and Oklahoma's steady decline, and now recruiting we know who stands above the other.

Not one 5-star prospect according to Rivals.com chose to play football in the Big 12, meaning the Big East, the conference just waiting its demise, had more top players commit to it than Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and the like. Kentucky--yeah that one--would have had the fourth-best class in the Big 12. These are signs your conference no longer has the gravitas it once did.

The SEC went out and collected seven of the top 11 spots in the team rankings, according to 247sports.com. Which means what former LSU receiver Russel Sheppard tweeted may be all the more true:

From the looks of the recruiting classes the #SEC will win the next 4 National championships again !!!!
— Russell Shepard Jr.. (@LSUShep10) February 6, 2013

Clemson RB coach Tony Elliot

Speaking of other conferences, Clemson does some serious recruiting, taking prospects from Florida and Georgia just like the big boys year in and year out.

Coach Dabo Swinney knows what he is doing in getting high schoolers interested in his program. Is running backs coach Tony Elliot the secret into their minds? Notice the Twilight posters surrounding him:

It was a great day, and one that started early for this college football fanatic. I made sure to go to bed early the night before and was up at 5:30 a.m., waiting for the first faxes to be sent.

Yes, they still use fax machines which is a whole other issue: The NCAA at its finest, only 20 years behind the curve.

Column from National Signing Day 2012

The Five SEC Players I Would (And Would Not) Hang Out With

I recently had a conversation with a college friend of mine of a college quarterback's, now thanks to the internet  infamous tattoo. It led to the idea for this post. Without further ado, here is the list of players in the SEC, given the opportunity, I would like or would not to hang out with in no particular order.

The "Woulds":

Even Nick Saban likes Barrett Jones

Barrett Jones, Alabama center- A 2011 unanimous All-America selection and Outland Trophy winner, Jones is not only a beast on the field at 6-foot-5, 311-pounds; but he also holds a 4.0 at Alabama, while working on his masters and preparing for the CPA exam. The over-sized nerd, once finished 15th in his age division at a Scrabble competition. Oh and he has played violin continuously since age three. 

Jordan Rodgers, Vanderbilt quarterback- The community college transfer followed began the 2011 season as the No. 2 quarterback on the Commodore depth chart before taking over the starting job and topping Jay Cutler's freshmen year in total yards gained. I would hang out with Jordan on the outside shot he would bring his brother Aaron along, Super Bowl MVP and champion for the Green Bay Packers.

Knile Davis, Arkansas running back and Tyler Wilson, Arkansas quarterback- I went with a combo here for the same reason no parent wants to choose their favorite child. Davis and Wilson are arguably the top players in the SEC at their respective positions. In addition, reports came out that the duo had conversations with former Razorback coach, and poor motorcycle-driving connoisseur, Bobby Petrino over the summer. Wouldn't you like to know exactly what was said?

T.J. Moe, Missouri wide receiver- In my last post, I wrote how Moe stole the show at SEC media days with his comments of how the SEC is better than the Big 12. Other than that,  I do not know much about the No. 1 wideout on the Tiger's depth chart. However, I do know if we were to hang out there is a strong possibility I would have more one-liners to add to my arsenal, which is enough to make the list.

Johnson, stud on and off the field.

A.J. Johnson, Tennessee linebacker- Would I be a fan of his had I not moved to Gainesville, Johnson's hometown two years ago? Probably not, but after doing so and hearing some of the local lore I would like to talk to this kid and get the his full story. I have watched him on some YouTube highlights, and the more I watch the more I wish I could have seen the then Red Elephant in person. Locals here say he is a great all-around person.

Honorable Mention-

Bacarri Rambo, Georgia safety- He was called Fudge before he changed his name in grade school. I would ask for the full story.

Barkevious Mingo, LSU defensive end- The name game again. What is its origin?

Kiero Small, Arkansas fullback- The 5-foot10, 255-pound Small is a willing block seeker in the second and third level. He broke more than ten opponent's helmets and at least eight of his own in 2011.


The "Would Nots":

Tyrann Mathieu, LSU cornerback- If an explanation is necessary, just Google is name. The Honey Badger is a good ball player but has a number of character issues.

Da'Rick Rogers, Tennesee wide receiver- Yet another prima donna wide receiver, who tweets about hanging out with high school kids in hot tubs when he goes home to Calhoun, Georgia. Rogers is talented receiver who used his five-star ranking to shortchange Georgia. He switched his commitment in the last hour to the Volunteers by finagling a scholarship for his high school quarterback. A season later, he publicly announced that he was going to transfer to Georgia State after a disappointing season. These plans never worked out, and now he is still giving his all -- if that possible -- for Tennessee today.

Hard to believe the guy on the right has the art on the right inked on his chest.

A.J. McCarron, Alabama quarterback- Though he is not the reason this blog was created, he comes in a close second because of his tattoo. When one decides to go through with a terrible permanent marking on their body, they prove to me of their poor decision-making skills, which would make hanging out with him not so fun. McCarron's tattoo does just that (and he strives to be just like John Parker Wilson, Bama Bangs and all).

Brad Wing, LSU punter- Football players do not generally respect the masters of special teams (kickers and punters). Sure it was a good play, and another gutsy call by LSU coach Les Miles, but taunting the opposing team after scoring your only career touchdown (which was called back) as a punter is a quick way to find yourself on this list. Cocky punters? Nah.

Bray needs no nameplate on his jersey. He
already has a permanent one on his back.

Tyler Bray, Tennessee quarterback- The Volunteer signal caller is the proud owner of the star tattoo which brought this whole post to life. Since telling the press at SEC Media Days how proud he is of his star back-branding, Bray has thrown a temper tantrum after allegedly being told he would be evicted from his apartment complex. With his cannon-like right arm, he threw beer bottles and golf balls at a neighbor's car. Although he apologized and is paying for the damages, I am not up for a night of taking out anger through vandalism of private property.

Dishonorable Mention- 

Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn tight end- He added to the myth that white men can't dance with The Lutzie against Alabama in 2010.

Thoughts and opinions of my list? Or others you would want to add? Comment below.

Should Joe Go, or Should Joe Stay Now?

I am sure the masses have been patiently waiting and  anxiously checking each and every day, if not more often, to read what I think should be done with the Joe Paterno statue at Penn State University. Sorry I have been busy with a research paper last week and traveled to lower Alabama -- the only "LA" I recognize -- for a week at the beach with the family. Now that I have a few free minutes, here is what should, and if Penn State has any sense, will be done with the JoePa statue. 

If you have not heard what happened in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2009, get out of your mobile home every once in a while and watch the news. On second thought, you may be better for never having heard these tragedies. 

Sandusky being hauled off to his final earthly home,
the Centre County Correctional Facility.

With the aid of a high-profile football program the Nittany Lions defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, lured young men, who lacked male role models, and sexually abused them time and time again. Some incidents took place in the basement of his house, while his wife was upstairs!


Sadly, even more molestation happened in the football locker rooms, where Sandusky would rape these boys in the team showers. Sandusky's reign is over. 


He will now rightfully die in prison, or serve 442 years in prison first, after being found guilty on 45 of 48 counts against him.

Paterno, the most powerful man in the state of Pennsylvania, along with officials at the university knew what was happening and turned a blind eye to the horrid acts taking place only feet away in order to protect their precious football program and its once revered cleanliness. Now we know otherwise.


There is a statue of Paterno leading his team on to the field at Beaver Stadium. Some, like iconic former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, want the statue torn down, as to not bring up the memories of what happened under his watch. Others would prefer the statue remain standing as a reminder of what happened, and how we should all be more aware of like situations around the country.

Here's your middle-of-the-ground solution, and to be quite honest, the most sensible one. Take the statue down... from its current location. Remove the wall behind the statue as well, so whenever I watch a Penn State game in the next 30 years (let's be honest, I never watch Big 10 games, unless Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt is the only game on television), I do not have to be reminded of Paterno's filth and total disregard for human lives, children's lives at that.

Take said statue, and erect it in a room on campus where you can, with unbiased writing tell the story of Paterno. There is no doubt he did a lot of very good for Penn State, donating millions and raising millions more so that thousands could be educated. However, now we know of his despicable secrets, which should be brought to light as well.

Even better, put the statue in a room in the campus library, which is currently named after JoePa. Take out a few of those now useless bookshelves and place the statue where all can come of his life, the good and the bad. And where the statue once stood, place some sort of tribute to those all around the world who are victims of emotional, verbal, physical and sexual child abuse.


It is a horrible situation and one no one saw coming except for those on the inside of the pedophile ring at Penn State. Now they face criminal charges. Paterno, who lived a lie until his dying breath, is lucky to be dead or he too would have suffered the fate of Sandusky.

The new-look CDC thanks to the folks at Nike.

More: Other entities have, or still have to, make decisions of what to do with things that bear Paterno's name:

Mentioned earlier, do you leave the library named after a man who has marred the very name of your institution? No. Follow the lead of Nike CEO Phil Knight below. 

Nike spoke quickly by taking down Joe Paterno's name off the child development center at their Oregon headquarters. Good call by Phil Knight.

The NCAA has been called upon to enforce the death penalty on Penn State football. Keep it away. It ruined  the Southern Methodist program the one time is was used in football and effects kids who had nothing to do with the football staff's dreadful decision-making. Instead, remove Paterno's 409 wins from the record books, effectively making him the all-time wins leader no more.

Have a better suggestion? Share in the comment section.

The State of Samford Basketball

Early success was not enough for Tillette

Samford's recently fired coach, Jimmy Tillette after 15 seasons at the university. While at the helm, Coach T led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament in 1999 and 2000, recoreded 229 wins, and by all accounts he ran a squeaky clean program.

Tillette experienced no problems with the NCAA in his recruiting or a pay-for-play scheme. He handled the death of one of his grittiest players--and the campus' favorite --three-year letterman Jim Griffin, with grace and class. His students graduated and served in the community. However, in the ever-competitive world of mid-major basketball, Coach T's good could not outweigh the program's decline on the court.

Along with his 229 wins, the school's winningest coach lost 219 games, a win percentage of 51 percent--the number 229 is not as impressive now. Those losses began to stack up towards the end of Tillette's tenure at Samford. This season included a 11-19 mark, the team's sixth straight year with a sub-.500 record. Mediocrity should not be tolerated in any profession. Ask former Illionois coach Bruce Weber who took his school to the national championship game in 2005 and, like Tillette was fired this year.

Luckily, the Samford athletic program has recently handed over management to the former head of basketball operations at the University of Kentucky, Martin Newton.  It is by no accident that Samford President Andrew Westmoreland hired the Samford alum, who has basketball knowledge and tremendous connections. Newton held most of the interviews for the new coach AT THE FINAL FOUR, for goodness sake!

Newton and Westmoreland are well aware that Samford possesses some of the finest facilities around for a small school. The basketball program will attempt to emulate the Gonzagas, Belmonts, and Davidsons of the world to get Samford back to the dance in March. The duo also knows that with a concentrated effort to raise the basketball standards will take a formidable effort, but it could return huge dividends for the school as a whole, not just the athletic department.

Martin (right) made history by hiring Seltzer, the
first black coach in any sport at Samford.

There is no doubt this will be a tough task. As any diehard Bulldog fan will tell you, academics are much more of a priority than athletics (though I have heard from current students this attitude is starting to change). There is a winning tradition, but alums my age were around to experience it. And finally... JanTerm: the bane of a rowdy basketball crowd, or any crowd to speak of, during the month of January.

Sure, as any school in the South dreams, it would be fun to have football as the staple of the athletic program, but the Bulldogs could become the fourth best football team in the state at best. The past three BCS National Championship teams have come not even two hours from Birmingham. Not to mention a UAB program which has seen its better days, but is a Division I school in all sports in Conference USA, nonetheless.

Lets be honest Bulldog fans, the football program is on the up-and-up with a former Heisman trophy winner leading the way. Now it is time focus our attention towards basketball.

Newton hired Bennie Seltzer who has served as the top assistant on Tom Crean's staff at the University of Indiana and Marquette University. Seltzer has learned from Crean how to build a program. Crean inherited a depleted Hoosier team coming off of NCAA sanctions in 2008, and led his team to the Sweet 16 before being bumped out in the most entertaining game of the tournament by eventual champion Kentucky.

I still dream of a packed Pete Hanna. Except in my dreams my
 favorite player makes the shot that would have sent the game to overtime.

Do any of you remember that magical Saturday afternoon when 5,116 of us joined in record fashion to watch our beloved Bulldogs take on Stephen Curry and Davison? The original White-Out game? What if that was real life and every basketball game was like that dream in 2010? Hopefully, thanks to foresight from Westmoreland and Newton, that day is soon.




NOTE: This is my 100th post. Thanks to all of you for reading my posts (or at least looking at the pictures) and providing feedback. Here's to 100 more. Cheers

I Was Wrong. You Were Right, Jeff Long

If it is not too much to ask, I would like to rescind my last blog post. Try and watch the first 7 minutes and 50 seconds of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long’s press conference after firing former Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino and tell me Long does not care about the university and its students. Even when answering the press’ questions he demonstrates his passion as the leader of the Arkansas athletic program. 

Long got it right on Tuesday night

As proven through his decision-making, Long truly has the Razorback student-athletes as his number one priority. Long owned this press conference and has received nationwide praise for his excellence in this tough choice.

My original thoughts were full of frustration. Frustrated as to why Long would fire Petrino, who led the Hogs to unprecedented success on the gridiron, because of a personal matter. I expressed my disinterest in letting Petrino go in my previous blog post, but as more details come out about the situation with Jessica Dorell, it is easier to see that Long acted with the appropriate decision.

I was lucky enough to have a church league softball game to take my mind off of the situation, along with a condolence call from my mother to make sure I was ok after the termination of the Razorbacks most successful coach in the BCS era. After the game, I came back to see Twitter beaming with praise of Long and his delivery of the news in his press conference. Once I watched the presser in its entirety, I was proud of Long and even more to be an Arkansas Razorback fan.

Long knows that his actions very well may lead to the end of his tenure as the University of Arkansas Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. Everyone in the South knows: as the football team goes, so goes the athletic department, which made the firing of Petrino especially difficult for Long, who became emotional to the point of tears when discussing his decision. He knows Petrino brought immeasurable amounts of interest to the Razorbacks and millions of dollars to the program. Long realizes that unless the Arkansas football can reach these heights again, he may be gone after a few mediocre seasons.

The Razorback nation must remember that Long has made big hires before and has been commended by many columnists for paying big sport coaches high-dollar (Mike Anderson for Men’s basketball being the other). Long will try to bring in a character of high morals and a winning pedigree. There is no one else I would have making these decisions based on the quality Long expects and his own high character. He has proven time and time again that he will do the right thing.

The most significant message from Long’s press conference was a line at 7:19 in the video below. He said, “No one person is bigger than the team.” He proved this true in his decision to terminate Petrino, who began to think he was bigger than Arkansas football  and became an insufficient role model for Arkansas’ athletes. This powerful message should be placed on a plaque somewhere in the new football complex.

Be Smart Jeff Long, Keep Petrino

Many problems remain for Petrino

As Yahoo! Sports columnist Dan Wetzel put it in on Twitter last week: Love image of Petrino, stuck at home due to "administrative leave", banged up and in pain. "Honey, can you get my pain meds?" "No"

No matter how tough last week was for you, I will go out on a limb and bet that Arkansas Razorback football coach Bobby Petrino's was a little worse. Petrino is posted up on his recliner at home, bruised and scraped from from skidding on asphalt, banned from going to work, and trying to explain to his wife and kids why a 25-year-old graduate assistant was joyriding with him on his motorcycle through the northwest Arkansas Ozarks.

Until last week when he admitted an "inappropriate relationship" with Jessica Dorrell, whom Petrino hired to help with recruiting, Razorback fans were convinced he had been on a Sunday ride and Dorell needed a ride to church. Petrino being the strong-moralled, God-fearing man he is tried to help his new employee with a ride to church and crashed. We now know his reasoning may have been a far cry from the previously proposed version.

Petrino's asphalt-ridden face with nice product
placement from his BCS berth.

Hopefully at this point you realize the Sunday School theory was mentioned in jest. As any Arkansas fan knew before last week, Bobby Petrino was not hired because he is a good man, always looking to do the right thing. He has a history of cheating. First he cheated on Louisville with Auburn, then Atlanta with Arkansas, and now his wife with an employee. (It is important to note Bobby has not been in trouble for cheating with the NCAAs.) Arkansas Athletic Director has plenty of just evidence to fire Petrino because the play-caller broke his contract's moral clause. However, if Long has his head on straight, and he has proven he does as an AD, he will not fire Bobby Petrino.

It is pretty simple. Petrino has brought Arkansas to heights it has not seen since the 1960s, when it won its last national championship. The current Razorback job is not a top-10 job, but because of Petrino's work they have a top-10 team with a top-10 college football coach. His record is 21-5 in the past two seasons. He has earned two bowl game victories, a berth in a BCS bowl, and earned a season-ending ranking of No. 5 since arriving in Fayetteville four years ago. With his success, Petrino has effectively brought in millions of dollars to the university.

If Petrino was coming off of 7-5 and 8-4 seasons with a Liberty Bowl win, he likely would be gone, but he did not. He has won and become the most well-liked coach in Arkansas since Frank Broyles was calling the shots on the field. More so, Long has to realize with Petrino and the talent currently assembled on the Razorback squad, they are a legitimate contender to raise the crystal football and dance around in confetti at the end of the season.

I will go ahead and set the odds of Petrino coaching at Arkansas at 5/21; that is how much confidence I have in Long. If you are a fan of the band Old Crow Medicine Show or songs that make light of a situation enjoy this gem.

We All Are Wrong, Yet We Continue to Try...

Every year millions of my Americans complete an enjoyable process, in which we write team names in series of lines and boxes. Then we sit back and watch in angst as 18-22 year old men play a child's game in which they try to throw an orange ball into a metal circle that is suspended ten feet above ground more times than the other team does for 40 minutes.  Many Americans like to think they have the correct combination of teams to create a perfect bracket, though the actual odds of that happening are 1-in-100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. For those of you who were not math whizzes, that is 1-in-100 million trillion.

International affairs come in second place to March Madness.
Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

But not me. No, filling out the bracket is a miserable process. I overthink lay-up picks and underthink the halfcourt shots. I become enamored with a team solely because every one in my bracket pools and the experts have a popular choice. Instead of picking a mid-major like VCU, Butler or George Mason that completes their Final Four journey, my dark horse pick is usually gone by the end of the first weekend. It is a agonizing process to fill out my bracket every year, which is why I limit myself to only one bracket--as you should to if you have any integrity. 

I like to think I know basketball. I do my homework, and follow it closely (though I rarely write about it), but there is no way to know what team will go on to the next round in a single-elimination tournament like the NCAA Tournament. It is because said zaniness and no-sense order that those like myself, who pay attention to the game, are just as lost as everyone else from from the middle of March to early April in the realm of college basketball.

John Calipari's Kentucky team is the early favorite, but we all know what
that means... nothing.

So here's to you casual fan who will win the office pool because you picked Loyola (Md.) because you picked the team that would win if the mascots raced that a greyhound would dominate the competition. And to you casual fan who wins a lump sum of money between old college friends because you had a Wichita State-St. Louis-Harvard-Purdue Final Four because you had no idea what a Shocker, Billeken, Crimson or Boilermaker is or does. 

Here is my bracket, open to humiliation for all of the world to see. I know my picks are bad and do not be afraid to call me out on them if you please. Regardless of how you came to your Final Four, it has to be more correct than mine, thus closer to that 1-in-100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

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.

Jailbirds take LSU To the Championships

Arkansas lost again to a group of players that might should have been suspended, in jail or kicked off the team for offenses committed during the offseason and this season, reminiscent of their game with Ohio State in the 2010 Sugar Bowl.

Pryor's tattoo sleeve

In the Razorback's game with the Buckeyes in January, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, receiver DeVier Posey and running back Daniel 'Boom' Herron scored touchdowns. Up by seven points, linebacker Soloman Thomas sealed the OSU victory with an interception on Arkansas' last drive of the game. These four players and one other, a starting offensive linemen, were allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl after the NCAA found the five guilty of selling championship rings, jerseys, awards and receiving improper benefits from a tattoo parlor. The NCAA did suspend the players for the first five games of this season but there was very little support behind its decision to let the five player play in the bowl game last season.

Jefferson's mugshot from his arrest on Aug. 28


  Similarly, without LSU's Jailbirds' points on Friday the Bayou Bengals would have tied the Razorbacks 17-17 -- that score includes the Tigers extra points scored after four Jailbird touchdowns-- and forced no turnovers if the the Jailbirds had not played.

The Jailbirds are led by the starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson (1 rushing TD, 1 passing TD), who was arrested during the offseason for his involvement in a bar fight, where he stomped a man's face into the ground. The other three members of the gang are defensive backs Tyrann Mathieu (1 punt return for touchdown and 2 forced turnovers), Tharold Simon (multiple pass breakups) and running back Spencer Ware (1 rushing TD), who all tested positive for marijuana earlier this season.

Do not see a bitter fan writting away in his living room as you read this. I am not complaining about the 41-17 thrashing the Tigers handed the Razorbacks.  LSU is the best team in the game and deserves to go to the BCS National Championship no matter the result of next week's SEC Championship against Georgia. It was a fair played beat down where LSU proved to be the far superior team. Instead, look at the game from a different perspective. Is college football actually developing young men as is its purpose?

Miami Wishes It Was Not 'All About The U'

The above video is the introduction for ESPN's 30 for 30 series film named "The U," documenting the Hurricane teams of the 1980s that were known for their brash style on and off the field. Directo Billy Corben should have known to end the film with a "To be continued..."

If you were tired of the generic "Players Were Payed X Number of Dollars" or "Player X Was Given Cars, Tattoos" college football headlines of the past year, this story blows them away. Miami did it big, as they usually do, and topped everyone else.

Sure their story includes the usual pay for play, but it also includes jewelry, booze, VIP club access, paid prostitutes, an abortion, coaches across two sports, and an AD who was the NCAA Head of Infractions during the USC and Reggie Bush debacle.

Shapiro with former Hurricane Kellen Winslow Jr. Yesterday, Abercrombie and Fitch started paying "Jersey Shore" cast members to not wear their clothes. A&F is getting some real positive press here in the sleazy Shapiro. 

Nevin Shapiro told Charles Robinson of yahoosports.com he gave benefits to several current and former Hurricane football and basketball coaches (Watch out Alabama fans. Two coaches now coach the Crimson Tide) and players. Shapiro's interviews had to take place in jail because he is already locked up for running a $930 billion ponzi scheme.

In an ironic twist of fate Miami will play the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are up to their heads in an NCAA investigation, in week two of the regular season. Names for this game between two troubled programs? The Pro(bation) Bowl, Tats vs. 'Tutes, or my favorite, The Inelegibowl.

No script could be this good.

Spending Money for Tim Tebow? Give Me a Break.

Talk about the possibility of paying players participating in NCAA sports is starting to heat up. The argument of paying players is heating me up. A legal pay-for-play scheme will not work in college sports. The recent wrongdoings of USC, Alabama, even a little further back, the entire Southwest Conference, and the current allegations against Ohio State have not shown the NCAA to learn form its mistakes. If a system is ever set up to allowing players to receive “spending money,” there will be no way to control it. May the floodgates be opened and may the highest bidder get all the top recruits and national championships.

There is not enough money to go around. If the NCAA is going to pay players only participating in the money making sports, good luck. I am sure Title IX, the bill that makes sure women athletes and their programs are given the same opportunities as men, will have something to say about the salaries.  Football and Men’s basketball are the only money making sports and allow for the rest of the programs to exist, but imagine having to pay a backup volleyball player as much as the star quarterback, not happening. The proposed system is flawed.

I am sorry the 100% free education you receive when you sign a scholarship is not enough. Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow was on the Daily Show with John Stewart and he was talking about the hardships he and his teammates had to go through while at the University of Florida.

“It would be nice to have a little extra money so we could buy scooters to get around campus. The kids in school now don’t even have enough money to go eat at Outback.”

Timmy, I am so sorry you are going to have to walk to class amongst the commoners as you are worshiped for being a national champion and Heisman Trophy winner. (You should have signed at UGA. All of their players are given free scooters to get around campus.)  I am sorry the $500 or $1000 handshakes are not enough to get you from week to week. You can’t go eat at Outback with your buddies? The money you do not have to spend on tuition, books, or anything else for school is not enough? Welcome to being a normal college student.  Go in the already paid for cafeteria and live in the already paid for on-campus apartments. In my experiences athlete housing is usually far superior to the mortals housing.

For me and my buddies, going to Cracker Barrel was a real treat. When it wasn't a big night out we frequented Waffle House or McDonald’s. Outback was only an option when parents came to town or you wanted to impress a date. It is part of the experience. Living on nothing and joking about being broke is part of learning to appreciate the first real paycheck you get, especially when the first paycheck is $9.7 million from the Broncos.

The NCAA Has Done It Again

What happened to using precedent as means to decide the penalty of a case? I am utterly confused by the NCAA’s ruling on the fiasco going on in Columbus, Ohio today. I do not want to hear the Ohio State athletic director and coaches say the players did not know better. Come on… I know the lawyers said to say these lines for the appeal, but no one really believes you.

Five Ohio State football players (including their starting quarterback, leading rusher, second leading receiver, and starting left tackle) are being punished for selling their autographed Big 10 Championship memorabilia (rings and game worn jerseys) in exchange for services at a tattoo parlor. The estimated amount paid for the goods was around $1,200 per player. All of the players are suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, but their eligibility for the upcoming Sugar Bowl versus Arkansas on January 4^th has not been affected.

There is no consistency in the way that the NCAA punishes. Georgia WR A.J. Green, widely to be considered the most talented receiver in the nation, was suspended for the first four games of the season because he sold his game worn jersey from the 2009 Independence Bowl for $1,000 to an agent this summer. That means that the first four games Greene would have been able to play in he was suspended from doing so.

The same is also true for Alabama DL Marcell Darreus who was suspended the first two games of this season because of his involvement with an agent this summer, too.

Not the kids from OSU. No, they will be playing in the Sugar Bowl. Let’s assume they all forego senior seasons, which is becoming the general consensus, none of the five will receive punishment for their wrongdoings. I have to agree with ESPN’s Mark May. I can hardly believe that would be the case if Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet had sold his jerseys. I am sure he would be sitting out the Sugar Bowl because of the NCAA’s unfair treatment towards the SEC in these situations.

As for the Cam Newton saga and the penalties, or lack thereof… don’t get me started.