Ranking the Triple-Digit 2012 Schedules
By Paul Myerberg // May 14, 2012
Beyond the other important factors — like the team’s struggles along the offensive line, the defensive line, at wide receiver and in the secondary — Duke has been crushed by the A.C.C. itself, which has handed the Blue Devils a conference schedule you’d save for your worst enemy. Each of the eight teams on Duke’s A.C.C. slate reached bowl eligibility last fall, and the Blue Devils take on another two reigning bowl teams, Florida International and Stanford, over the first two weeks of the regular season. Is this the only reason why Duke is going to finish at or near the bottom of the A.C.C. standings?
Tags: A.C.C., Duke, Louisiana Tech, Texas-San Antonio, WAC
Comments (1)
No. 102: North Texas
By Paul Myerberg // May 12, 2012
As if simply getting another shot – a much-deserved shot, mind you – wasn’t enough. For Dan McCarney, North Texas has become the gift that keeps on giving. There’s another turn as a head coach, five years after his ridiculous dismissal at Iowa State. There’s the new on-campus facility, Apogee Stadium, where the Mean Green have already made themselves at home. Then there’s the new conference affiliation: Sun Belt out, Conference USA in, beginning in 2013. You’re welcome, coach. Not that’s it been anywhere near a one-sided relationship: McCarney has given the Mean Green an identity, a sense of purpose and some much-needed direction. Not bad for the first 12 months of any relationship, right? Well, there was the stroke McCarney suffered in February, but as he put it, that was nothing a little splash of vodka couldn’t cure.
Tags: Aaron Fortenberry, Andrew Power, Antoinne Jimmerson, Brandon McCoy, Brelan Chancellor, Chaz Sampson, Conference USA, Cyril Lemon, Dan McCarney, Derek Thompson, John Skladany, K.C. Obi, Marcus Trice, Mike Canales, North Texas, Sun Belt, Will Wright, Zach Whitfield, Zachary Orr
Comments (4)
No. 103: Duke
By Paul Myerberg // May 11, 2012
David Cutcliffe has already had a better career at Duke than Ted Roof, Carl Franks, Barry Goldsmith and Barry Wilson, even if Goldsmith was responsible for the program’s last winning season, way back in 1994. These coaches, including Cutcliffe, make up the A.S.S. era of Duke — the period After Steve Spurrier, and excuse the vulgarity. Cutcliffe has brought respectability to the Blue Devils, winning games at a better clip than each of his five predecessors, but for this program, respectability comes with an asterisk. Cutcliffe might be 15-33 over his four years with the program, averaging just shy of four wins per season, and in this day and age, that’s marvelous. Is it good enough for Duke — meaning, does Duke think that another head coach might be able to do more? It’s an interesting question, and one only the university can answer. From where I’m standing, however, I’d give a coach who can flirt with five wins every season a lifetime contract.
Tags: A.C.C., Austin Gamble, Brandon Braxton, Brandon Moore, Conner Vernon, David Cutcliffe, Desmond Scott, Duke, Jamison Crowder, Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo, Juwan Thompson, Kelby Brown, Kenny Anunike, North Carolina, Sean Renfree, Takoby Cofield, Walt Canty
Comments (7)
2012 All-Name Team Nominees (May 11)
By Paul Myerberg // May 11, 2012
There’s a preview coming today, but not until later in the morning. For now, while I plug away – and since we’re more than 20 teams down – let’s update the current F.B.S. all-name team. If you hadn’t noticed, the all-name nominee is a new addition to the second-to-last section in this year’s previews. The rules are simple: only one nominee per team. I’ll continue adding players regardless of position through the first 62 teams, I guess, before beginning to search for players who match positions of need. I can already tell that it’s going to be harder to fill spots at quarterback, kicker and punter; looking back, it might have been a better idea to list quarterback Duke DeLancellotti with Texas State instead of safety Brixx Hawthorne.
Tags: All-name team, Brixx Hawrhorne, Bronco Mendenhall, Duke DeLancellotti, Major Applewhite, Maxx Forde, Rob Blanchflower, Sir'Vegias Steele, Texas State
Comments (11)
“Work Hard, Eat Well, Sleep Well, Play Well”
By Paul Myerberg // May 10, 2012
Via Roll Bama Roll, perhaps the most popular Alabama blog in the business, a letter from Bear Bryant to a yet-to-be-discovered player – first name of Chris – at some point during the early 1980s. How do we know the general time frame? As Roll Bama Roll notes, “the letterhead includes the 1979 National Championship, so it would have to be for a player on the team between 1980 and 1982.” Their guess? One Chris Meadows, a Birmingham product who played defensive end for Alabama from 1980-82. Per the experts at Roll Bama Roll, the letter seems legitimate: it is on then-customary Alabama stationary, writes Kleph – who is a walking encyclopedia of Alabama lore and a human calculator when it comes to football sabermetrics, by the way. The full text, since the picture doesn’t read well:
Tags: Alabama, Bear Bryant, Chris Meadows, Roll Bama Roll
Comments (4)
Comparing Lembo to MAC’s Recent Past
By Paul Myerberg // May 10, 2012
A brief history of the MAC. As it pertains to quick turnarounds, to be more specific. Pete Lembo went 6-6 in his first season at Ball State, matching the Cardinals’ combined win total over the previous two years — a period otherwise known as the Stan Parrish era. If this sort of development continues, it stands to reason that Ball State will at least make a strong challenge for the MAC West title in 2012. But rarely does this sort of progression occur in the MAC; instead, it often takes at least two full seasons before a once-moribund program can surpass the rest of the pack.
Tags: Al Golden, Brady Hoke, Brian Kelly, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Frank Solich, Jerry Kill, MAC, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Pete Lembo, Temple
Comments (1)
No. 104: Ball State
By Paul Myerberg // May 10, 2012
It shouldn’t be so easy. Look at Ron English and Eastern Michigan, for example. While the Eagles won six games last fall, it was the end result of many years of painful and unsteady progress: English went 2-22 over his first two seasons with the program, and before that, you’d have to go back another 13 years to locate Eastern Michigan’s last six-win finish. Perhaps Ball State, which won the MAC West in 2008, was closer to regaining its past competitiveness. Nevertheless, the ease with which Pete Lembo led the Cardinals to the cusp of bowl eligibility last fall was remarkable for its… ease. True, Ball State beat only one team of any consequence, two if we count Eastern Michigan. And true, all but one of the Cardinals’ six losses came by 10 or more points. But is it supposed to be this easy? And if the first step is the hardest, how good can Ball State be under Lembo in year two, year three, year four?
Continue Reading »
Tags: Ball State, Brian Jones, Chris Pauling, Dan Manick, Jahwan Edwards, Jamill Smith, Jonathan Newsome, Jordan Hansel, Keith Wenning, MAC, Nathan Ollie, Nick Miles, Pete Lembo, Travis Freeman
Comments (6)
Five Transfers to Watch in the Big 12
By Paul Myerberg // May 9, 2012
Charlie Weis’ first recruiting class at Kansas included five F.B.S. transfers, including three from his old stomping grounds in South Bend. The remaining pair will sit out this coming season: Jake Heaps and former Oklahoma wide receiver Justin McCay will be key to K.U.’s success a year down the road, but neither will contribute to the Jayhawks’ cause come September. The three Notre Dame transfers, however, will serve in major roles for K.U. in Weis’ first season.
Tags: Anthony McDonald, Baylor, Big 12, Charlie Weis, Dayne Crist, Daytawion Lowe, Jarred Salubi, Kansas, Lache Seastrunk, Mike Ragone, Oklahoma State, Shamiel Gary, T.C.U., Tayo Fabuluje, Texas Tech, Tyson Williams
Comments (1)
Follow us
RSS | 
Twitter