Mack Brown campaigning against Johnny Manziel?

by Travis Normand

On November 27, 2012, Barry Horn (@bhorn55) tweeted a quote that he claimed was from  Longhorn football coach Mack Brown.

The tweet read:

UT’s Mack hardly endorses #Aggie for Heisman.  “Colt wasn’t ready as a freshman … I’d like it to be best player on best team.”

Mack Brown Tweets against Manziel

I am still trying to track down the original location of this quote (Was it said at a press conference? On a radio show?  Where?).  Until I find it, I will reserve judgment.

Continue reading

The case for Johnny Manziel to win the Heisman (Part II)

by Travis Normand

The following chart shows Johnny Manziel’s stats for the entire 2012 season compared to those of other top Heisman contenders as well as the past ten Heisman winners.

Player Games Played Rush Yds Rush TDs Pass Yds Pass TDs Tot. Off. Rec. Yds Rec. TDs
Johnny Manziel (QB) 12 1181 19 3419 24 4600 na na
Collin Klein (QB) 11 787 20 2306 14 3093 na na
Marqise Lee (WR) 12 106 0 na na 1786 1680 14
Robert Griffin III (QB) 13 699 10 4293 37 4992
Cam Newton (QB) 14 1473 20 2854 30 4327
Mark Ingram (RB) 14 1658 17 n/a n/a 1658
Sam Bradford (QB) 14 47 5 4720 50 4767
Tim Tebow (QB) 13 895 23 3286 32 4181
Troy Smith (QB) 13 204 1 2542 30 2746
Matt Leinart (QB) 13 -44 3 3322 33 3278
Jason White (QB) 13 -56 0 3205 35 3149
Carson Palmer (QB) 13 -122 4 3942 33 3820
Eric Crouch (QB) 12 1115 18 1510 7 2625

Continue reading

Jimbo got ahead of himself as Florida State falls to Florida 37-26

by Travis Normand

Last week I responded to comments made by Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher (click HERE to see my post).

Instead of preparing for the rivalry game with the University of Florida, Jimbo spent his time complaining to the media about how the current method used to select the best teams in college football is flawed.

On November 24, 2012, FSU lost at home to the University of Florida, 37-26.

I wonder if Jimbo still thinks that Florida doesn’t belong in the top six?  I wonder if he still thinks FSU should be ranked number four?  I wonder if Jimbo now realizes that the selection method isn’t as broken as his line of logic and reasoning?  Maybe he realizes that he needs to worry about defeating the teams on his schedule before going-off about how broken the BCS is?

Who knows.

Will the Pac-12 Conference be adding 2 more?

by Travis Normand

Last year, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) added two teams (Texas A&M and Missouri) in order to increase the total membership of the SEC to 14 teams.

This past week, the B1G (or Big 10 Conference) added Rutgers and Maryland in order to increase its membership from 12 teams to 14.

The moves by the B1G and SEC, at least to me, beg two questions:

  1. When will the Pac-12 move from 12 to 14 teams?  (and)
  2. Which two teams will the Pac-12 add?

A few of the Pac-12’s choices, off the top of my head, would be:  Hawaii, Fresno State, Boise State, Nevada, Colorado State, Utah State, UNLV, Air Force, Wyoming, UTEP, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State, to name just a few.

It could get interesting…..!

Johnny Manziel’s stats prior to Mizzou

by Travis Normand

Below are Johnny Manziel’s 2012 stats compared to the last 10 Heisman winners. These stats are current through all games minus the Texas A&M vs. Missouri game which is to be played later today.

Player Games Played Rush Yds Rush TDs Pass Yds Pass TDs Tot. Off.
Johnny Manziel (QB) 11 1114 17 3047 21 4161
Collin Klein (QB) 11 787 20 2306 14 3093
Robert Griffin III (QB) 13 699 10 4293 37 4992
Cam Newton (QB) 14 1473 20 2854 30 4327
Mark Ingram (RB) 14 1658 17 n/a n/a 1658
Sam Bradford (QB) 14 47 5 4720 50 4767
Tim Tebow (QB) 13 895 23 3286 32 4181
Troy Smith (QB) 13 204 1 2542 30 2746
Matt Leinart (QB) 13 -44 3 3322 33 3278
Jason White (QB) 13 -56 0 3205 35 3149
Carson Palmer (QB) 13 -122 4 3942 33 3820
Eric Crouch (QB) 12 1115 18 1510 7 2625

All stats used in the above table where found here: http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs – *Note: If you find any typos or inaccuracies, please let me know by posting a comment below and I will update the table ASAP!  Thank you for the help.

Andy Staples talks Alabama football after hearing Nick Saban

by Travis Normand

I am posting this article a little late, however I just found it and could not have posted it earlier (or I would have).

The article is written by Andy Staples and I found it via SmartFootball.com.  It is an excellent read and touches upon some of the very distinct and subtle dynamics that make the Southeastern Conference so great.

Staples’ article gives his thoughts as he attends and listens to Nick Saban’s interview at Saban’s weekly radio show.

Read the full article HERE.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the article, which was written on October 9, 2012 (the day before Texas A&M upset Alabama in Tuscaloosa).

Someone will eventually create a way to beat Alabama and LSU, and, looking down the road a few years, it just might be the Aggies.

Johnny Manziel plays defense

by Travis Normand

Are you still not convinced that Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel deserves to win the Heisman?  Well if you aren’t convinced by his performance at quarterback this season, then maybe you should take a look at his performance on defense.  What? Manziel plays on offense, defense, and special teams?  Of course!  Okay, not exactly.

Take a look at the following play which occurred against Louisiana Tech on October 13, 2012.  Johnny was in as an offensive player, but due to a fumble by A&M’s Christine Michael, the entire Aggie offense was suddenly playing defense.

Continue reading

[Press Release] ESPN Reaches 12-Year Agreement For New College Football Playoff

For immediate release:
November 21, 2012

ESPN Reaches 12-Year Agreement For New College Football Playoff

All Related Games Including National Championship, Semifinals And More

ESPN and the group that will administer the new college football playoff have reached an agreement in principle to present the playoff games and selected other games for 12 years on an exclusive basis across ESPN’s platforms. The agreement will begin after the 2014 regular season (including January 2015) and continue through after the 2025 regular season (January 2026). It includes the national championship game and semifinals, as well as other bowl games that will be part of the rotation to host the semifinals. Combined with previous deals for the Rose, Sugar and Orange Bowls, the arrangement would provide ESPN with rights to all games that are involved in the new post-season arrangement to determine a college football national champion.

Continue reading

FSU’s Jimbo Fisher is not happy with the BCS

by Travis Normand

Last week, during his weekly press conference, Florida State [FSU] head coach Jimbo Fisher was apparently asked what he thought about the current BCS system.  His response was that he thinks “it stinks.”

He followed up his comment with a short and simple rant on how the whole system is essentially broken and why it needs to be changed.  Does he offer a solution?  Of course not.  Why would he?  Its too easy to just sit there and say that you hate the BCS without proposing a solution.  In fact, offering a solution would require a certain amount of thought.

Continue reading