So, you thought all the conference realignment mess was settled for the time being, and you would be wrong. After the Mountain West Conference’s addition of Boise State, it looked good for the WAC’s splinter group, making the move to 12 teams and a potential spot as a BCS automatic qualifying conference. But Utah bolting for the PAC-10 put that on ice, at least for a little while. And with BYU announcement it is going independent in football and placing all other sports under the auspices of the WAC, the Mountain West seemed under assault.
Or not? MWC commissioner Craig Thompson held a late-night conference call saying that he didn’t know anything.
Calling most questions about BYU’s impending withdrawal from the league “hypothetical” and saying reporters would be better served by asking them of BYU, Thompson said that as of 9 p.m. MST Wednesday evening, “BYU is a member of the Mountain West Conference.”
BYU officials issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that they are continuing to explore their options, but neither confirmed nor denied the Tribune’s report, either.
But that’s not stopping the MWC from repairing the dam and inviting other schools to join, namely Fresno State and Nevada, who are — WAC members. The war between these two conferences is approaching incredible proportions. And let’s now review, as the Mountain West turns.
1. The conference ends 2009 with nine teams.
2. Boise State joins.
3. Utah leaves.
4. BYU leaves (allegedly).
5. Fresno State and Nevada join.
In its quest to expand to 12 teams, all the work behind the scenes will end up with the MWC up plus one, to 10. That’s without Utah and BYU, two of its heaviest hitters. Plus, Boise State is probably going to feel a little fucked by the whole situation, since the idea behind moving from the WAC to the MWC was to play tougher competition, and now the Broncos are stuck in a new conference with not only marginally better competition, but with two old conference foes.
It’s hard out there for the non-AQ fellas.
Sports Illustrated, spreading out the cover jinx, went back to the regional covers this year. Of course, last season it was a little more out-of-control, but unless we see something new, it looks like SI will settle with four covers this year, the top four teams in the poll. And being the top four, we begin with the best.
2. OHIO STATE
3. BOISE STATE
4. TEXAS
That’s all she wrote, folks. Major college football, as you knew it from about 1996-2009, is over. The Big XII is done. All that’s left is the finalization of moves from outside the conference and what ends up as some truly bizarre scheduling in the 2012 season. Today, early movements in conference realignment went into overdrive.
Perhaps you heard that the Big Ten and Nebraska are now getting together. Conventional wisdom had previously held that Missouri would go, too, putting seven in the imagined Big Ten West and six in the Big Ten East. Add, say, Iowa State and Pitt and, oh, Rutgers, and you have a 16-team league. Word now is that Missouri and the Big Ten isn’t happening. Iowa State (and Kansas, too) are left in the cold. Any other expansion from the conference is also up in the air.
[Ed. note: Apparently we deleted a whole portion relating to the Pac-10 before publishing on the evening of June 11. Oops.]
Right now, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado are joining the Pac-10. That’s 15, brother. There’s got to be one more in the mix to balance the divisions.
Think it’s Texas A&M? Former Aggies player, coach and national championship-winning Alabama coach Gene Stallings, who is a regent, is reportedly pushing hard for A&M to be the seventh team in the SEC West. Stories coming out have it that A&M has been given a 72-hour deadline to decide if it’s going to make the Pac-10 move. If you can predict what will happen there, you’re a better person than we are.
More word out today is that Miami and Virginia Tech have not been in talks with the SEC, which means that if A&M joins, the best chances for an addition to the SEC East fall to Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and Louisville. If A&M does join, the SEC will likely end expansion at 14 teams. We really doubt there’s any desire to add Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, SMU or TCU to the West. Each of these teams haven’t been that good, consistently, for a while, or bring money to the conference. Except for TCU, which, while small, has the DFW market to bustle in.
Yet, there’s another problem with the Great Gallopin’ Horny Toads. They’re in the Mountain West, with Utah. And another major move happened, with Boise State leaving the WAC for the MWC. As it is, TCU can stick where it is and do well, especially if the MWC absorbs the Big XII leftovers.
All of the above isn’t even considering rumors that Conference USA will help finish off the Big East as a football conference. Or that if the SEC goes take a team or two from the ACC, that the ACC will go back and take a few more from the Big East.
Ain’t the off-season fun?
It’s understandable why no one would want to live in the capital of meth and moonshine that is East Tennessee, and the recent troubles with the Tennessee football program scared off any big-name hire that the Volunteers could bring in. So, the UT administration went to option No. 5 (or six, or seven), Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley. Several times today, it went back-and-forth as to whether this was true, but late Friday, ESPN’s Joe Schad and Chris Low reported that it was all but a done deal.
Louisiana Tech spokesman Malcolm Butler says Dooley has resigned from his positions as coach and athletic director to join the Volunteers. A statement by the university was expected later Friday.
The son of former Georgia coach Vince Dooley, Derek Dooley went 17-20 in three seasons at Louisiana Tech.
The Volunteers hired him after a quick search to fill the vacancy created when Lane Kiffin abruptly resigned Tuesday night, bolting to Southern California after 14 months.
Huzzah! An almost Chizik-ian hire. Like Alabama after the Mike Price “It’s rolling, baby!” saga, Tennessee was in a pickle ahead of the beginning of the recruiting season and needed a coach, immediately. According to information passed on by Rivals/Yahoo! writer Tom Dienhart, a press conference is expected from Knoxville around 9 p.m. tonight.
What is there to say about Dooley? He’s a man, he’s 40! He’s also the son of legendary Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, and was an assistant under Nick Saban at LSU. But here’s some things you may not know. He earned a law degree from Georgia (after playing football and getting his undergrad at Virginia) and practiced with Nelson Mullins in Atlanta. The record with Tech, a middling WAC team, is anything but solid. In his three years there, he didn’t win a conference championship.
2007: 5-7 (4-4 WAC)
Key wins
None.
2008: 8-5 (5-3 WAC)
Key wins
Mississippi State, Fresno State, Northern Illinois (Independence Bowl)
2009: 4-8 (3-5 WAC)
Key wins
Hawai’i
The commentariat seems to believe that Dooley is a stand-up guy and will be able to do some things with the talent that is traditionally drawn to Tennessee. However, people said the same thing about Mike Shula, and he only had one winning season in four years at the Capstone.
There are 34 bowl games this year, and we’re picking every damn one of them (probably with 60-70 percent success). You can follow the progress or join up and do battle with us through ESPN College Bowl Mania. We’re in “The League” and “The War Against Tebow.” TWAT (jokes!) is the brainchild of decamped S.C. blogger and good time Johnny, Micah Snead, so go there. But beware — Snead’s dad is a total ringer and will probably take the title by 20 points.
Dec. 19, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
Fresno State v. Wyoming
Dec. 19, 8 p.m., ESPN
Central Florida v. Rutgers
Dec. 20, 8:30 a.m., ESPN
Southern Miss v. Middle Tennessee State
Dec. 22, 8 p.m., ESPN
No. 18 Oregon State v. No. 14 BYU
Dec. 23, 8 p.m., ESPN
No. 23 Utah v. California
Dec. 24, 8 p.m., ESPN
Nevada v. Southern Methodist
Dec. 26, 1 p.m., ESPN
Marshall v. Ohio
Dec. 26, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 17 Pitt v. North Carolina
Dec. 26, 8 p.m., ESPN
Boston College v. No. 24 Southern Cal
Dec. 27, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Kentucky v. Clemson
Dec. 28, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Texas A&M v. Georgia
Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
UCLA v. Temple
Dec. 29, 8 p.m., ESPN
No. 15 Miami v. No. 25 Wisconsin
Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
Bowling Green v. Idaho
Dec. 30, 8 p.m., ESPN
No. 20 Arizona v. No. 22 Nebraska
Dec. 31, Noon, ESPN
Houston v. Air Force
Dec. 31, 2 p.m., CBS
Oklahoma v. No. 21 Stanford
Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Navy v. Missouri
Dec. 31, 6 p.m., NFL Network
Minnesota v. Iowa State
Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 11 Virginia Tech v. Tennessee
Jan. 1, 11 a.m., ESPN
Northwestern v. Auburn
Jan. 1, 1 p.m., CBS
No. 16 West Virginia v. Florida State
Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ESPN
No. 13 Penn State v. No. 12 LSU
Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m., ABC
No. 8 Ohio State v. No. 7 Oregon
Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m., Fox
No. 5 Florida v. No. 3 Cincinnati
Jan. 2, Noon, ESPN2
South Florida v. Northern Illinois
Jan. 2, 2 p.m., ESPN
South Carolina v. Connecticut
Jan. 2, 2 p.m., Fox
No. 19 Oklahoma State v. Ole Miss
Jan. 2, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Arkansas v. East Carolina
Jan. 2, 9 p.m., ESPN
Michigan State v. Texas Tech
Jan. 4, 8 p.m., Fox
No. 6 Boise State v. No. 4 TCU
Jan. 5, 8 p.m., Fox
No. 10 Iowa v. No. 9 Georgia Tech
Jan. 6, 7 p.m., Fox
No. 25 Central Michigan v. Troy
Jan. 7, 8 p.m., ABC
No. 2 Texas v. No. 1 Alabama
With two weeks left, and Alabama staring at a trip to Auburn and the SEC Championship Game, Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram still isn’t letting go of first place in the Heisman Trophy race. Against UT-Chattanooga, he was pulled with 10 minutes left in the second quarter, but still put up 102 yards rushing on 11 carries with two touchdowns.
The other major contenders, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, can’t seem to make the jump to force Ingram out of the top spot. Considering the next two games for Ingram are big ones, and Ingram tends to perform on an exceptional level in big games, could spell the end of the race. However, the Tide need to keep winning. A big showing against Auburn on Friday and besting Florida’s tough run defense would sew it up.
HeismanPundit.com
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama, 58 (10)
2. Colt McCoy, Texas, 40 (1)
3. Toby Gerhart, Stanford, 33 (1)
4. Tim Tebow, Florida, 20
5. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, 13
ESPN.com Heisman Watch
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama, 73 (13)
2. Toby Gerhart, Stanford, 47 (1)
3. Colt McCoy, Texas, 32
4. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, 24
5. Kellen Moore, Boise State, 20 (1)
CBS Sports Heisman Watch
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama, 44 (3)
2. Toby Gerhart, Stanford, 34 (1)
3. Colt McCoy, Texas, 28 (1)
4. Kellen Moore, Boise State, 10
5. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, 6
Of course, Sports Illustrated isn’t doing anything to help the matter, laying the dreaded SI jinx by putting Ingram on the cover and giving him a five-page feature in the magazine.
Alabama running back Mark Ingram is moving even closer to becoming the Crimson Tide’s first Heisman Trophy winner, after his performance against Mississippi State during the past weekend. He had 19 rushes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Without a doubt, the totals won’t look as good this Saturday versus UT-Chattanooga. In the other patsy games, Ingram put up 56 and 91 yards, respectively. Also, head coach Nick Saban will want to save his starters for the Auburn game the day after Thanksgiving.
Season totals, through 10 games
Rushing: 194 attempts, 1,297 yards, 10 touchdowns
Receiving: 25 receptions, 225 yards, 3 touchdowns
Both HesimanPundit.com and the ESPN Heisman Watch are giving Ingram more points, but what was a one running back, two quarterback race is more of a mixed affair.
HeismanPundit.com
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama, 59 (10)
2. Colt McCoy, Texas, 35 (1)
3. Toby Gerhart, Stanford, 33 (1)
4. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, 23
5. Tim Tebow, Florida, 16
ESPN.com Heisman Watch
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama, 72 (12)
2. Toby Gerhart, Stanford, 42 (1)
3. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, 37
4. Tim Tebow, Florida, 24
5. Colt McCoy, Texas, 23
CBS Sports Heisman Watch
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama, 47 (4)
2. Toby Gerhart, Stanford, 34 (1)
3. Kellen Moore, Boise State, 21
4. Dion Lewis, Pitt, 12
5. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, 9
Nike’s bizarre, “tradition ain’t shit” uniform policy will befoul a number of teams for the rest of the month. Alabama, thank God, has been limited to the swoosh, the NCAA-mandated conference pennant and the script A, through there was that houndstooth collar mess for the 2006 Ole Miss game.
It appears the garish ensemble will come out for the Florida State game (but there hasn’t been a definitive statement). The Seminoles will also be wearing the misfit creation, with a black helmet. Don’t drink too much, as you might not recognize who’s on the field. We haven’t found a picture of the side of the Florida helmet, but unless it’s got the old-school F on that white melon case, it’s going to be even more strange. Throw a blue helmet on there, and you’d swear it’s Kentucky.
The other ones are even weirder. LSU’s look like a direct rip from Washington. The helmets are gold. TCU’s entry has pants that look like scales and red stripes on the helmet. Horned frogs, you see, shoot blood out of their eyes. Miami has two-tone numbers, but the only tradition there is thuggery and fairweather fans, so that’s no big deal.
Alabama running back Mark Ingram is still on pace to win the Crimson Tide’s first Heisman Trophy as the team prepares to claim its 10th win of the season, a 7 p.m. ESPN tilt against Mississippi State. In his game versus LSU, Ingram ran for 144 yards on 22 carries for 6.5 yards-per-carry. It was his third-best YPC game of the year, behind North Texas (11.4) and Carolina (10.3). Ingram also caught five passes for 30 yards. He would be the second sophomore to win the award, following Florida quarterback Tim Tebow in 2007.
HeismanPundit.com
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama — 55 (9)
2. Case Keenum, Houston — 29 (1)
3. Colt McCoy, Texas — 28 (2)
4. Tim Tebow, Florida — 24
5. C.J. Spiller, Clemson — 16
ESPN Heisman Watch
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama — 65 (10)
2. Case Keenum, Houston — 40 (1)
3. Tim Tebow, Florida — 31 (1)
4. Colt McCoy, Texas — 28 (1)
5. C.J. Spiller, Clemson — 26
CBS Heisman Watch
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama — 54 (4)
2. Case Keenum, Houston — 46 (2)
3. Colt McCoy, Texas — 22
4. Toby Gerhart, Stanford — 9
5. Ryan Matthews, Fresno State — 7
It’s been a long-standing defense among Southeastern Conference teams that scheduling “cupcake” non-conference opponents is OK because the conference schedule is so absolutely brutal. Alabama managed to get through last regular season undefeated, but conference champ and national title winner Florida got beat by Ole Miss. It happens.
Today, it was announced by the Mercury News that San Jose State of the WAC has been added to Alabama’s 2010 schedule. The Tide will shell out a cool $1 million to the Spartans to make the trip from the Bay Area to Tuscaloosa. But, before you start complaining about Bama, it was SJSU that went looking for a suitor.
The problem was massive cutbacks in the California State University system, and San Jose State, by backing out of its game against Stanford, will pick up about $750,000 more by playing Alabama.
ALABAMA
2008 wins
Clemson, Tulane, Western Kentucky, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Arkansas State, LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn
2008 losses
Florida (SEC Championship Game), Utah (Sugar Bowl)
SAN JOSE STATE
2008 wins
Cal-Davis, San Diego State, Hawaii, Utah State, New Mexico State, Idaho
2008 losses
Nebraska, Stanford, Boise State, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, Fresno State
