College Football Guru

See the future

2006-01-27T08:35:00.000-06:00

The Senior Bowl is tomorrow, and over the past six years, an average of 10 first-round picks have played in the game.

A top-five selection in each of the past five drafts has played in the Senior Bowl, and that may happen again this year. While none of the projected top three picks was here (Reggie Bush and Vince Young were juniors and Matt Leinart did not attend), potential top-five picks, such as D'Brickashaw Ferguson, DeMeco Ryans and Tamba Hali, are here.

A look at the top-five picks from recent Senior Bowls:
2005 - Cadillac Williams - Fifth pick, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2004 - Phillip Rivers - Fourth pick - New York Giants (Traded to San Diego)
2003 - Carson Palmer - First pick, Cincinatti Bengals
2002 - David Carr - First pick, Houston Texans
2001 - LaDainian Tomlinson - Fifth pick, San Diego Chargers

Tom Brennaman on the air for BCS

2006-01-26T10:49:00.000-06:00

FOX has recently announced that Tom Brennaman will be its lead announcer for the BCS. That means he will work the National Championship game, and likely one other.

I have interacted with Brennaman a few times over the last couple of years, as he called the AT&T Cotton Bowl. He is a great guy, and a true professional. More importantly, he is intelligible.

Text messaging and recruits

2006-01-25T09:14:00.000-06:00

Interesting article in today's issue of The Dallas Morning News. I didn't know this, but text messaging isn't considered the same thing as a phone call in terms of recruiting. With that, they are unlimited, even in dead periods. So, when a coach is forbidden from calling a recruit, why not just have the recruit call you. How do you get their attention? Send them a text message asking them to call.

The Powers that Be consider a text message the same as an e-mail, saying they are not intrusive since you can choose to ignore them. I don't know about you, but I ignore plenty of phone calls if I don't want to talk to the caller. They can leave a message, and I can choose to call them back. With a text message, that process is even quicker. Someone sends me a message, and if I want to call them back I can. Same with a recruit. How many high school football players are going to ignore a message from JoePa or Bob Stoops?

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

2006-01-24T13:54:00.000-06:00

After a little pause, caused by craziness in the real world, here's hoping we're back to regular blogging. It is Senior Bowl week, so there should be some news coming out of Mobile to keep me busy.

Quarterbacking the Senior Bowl’s North team will be Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler, Clemson’s Charlie Whitehurst and Penn State’s Michael Robinson, while the South team will feature Alabama’s Brodie Croyle, UAB’s Darrell Hackney and Georgia’s D.J. Shockley.

Full rosters can be found here.

Early signing period?

2006-01-13T08:32:00.000-06:00

Buried in this story about the American Football Coaches Association meeting in Dallas is an item on coaches being surveyed about a potential early signing period in football. It couldn't hurt. While there are always those who can't make up their mind or are swayed at the last minute (Emmanuel Moody, Mitch Mustain), there are also those who will be enrolling in school next week so they can take part in spring practice (Texas' Sergio Kindle and Georgia's Matt Stafford). What is the harm in allowing those committed to make it official?

Draft eligible - Reggie Bush, USC

2006-01-12T13:59:00.000-06:00

It is official.

Reggie Bush is not the next Barry Sanders

2006-01-11T14:12:00.000-06:00

Now that the Vince Young love-fest is fading, we can get back to the debate over how quickly Reggie Bush will break all of the NFL rushing records. Please. He is a good player. Maybe even very good. But not the next Gayle Sayers. Not even the best running back on his team. Give me LenDale White at the end of the first round over Bush at the top pick.

Bush reminds me of the once-great, can't-miss Peter Warrick. He was so amazing, so unbelievable, that he was taken #4 overall in 2000. He hasn't exactly become the next Jerry Rice.

Draft eligible - LenDale White, USC

2006-01-11T09:30:00.000-06:00

A person close to LenDale White has said the star running back plans to declare for the NFL Draft today. The announcement is expected to come in an interview with ESPNEWS.

2005 CFB Guru Offensive Player of the Year

2006-01-11T06:31:00.000-06:00

Vince Young, QB, Jr., University of Texas
212-325 (65.2%), 3,036 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
155 carries, 1,050 yards, 12 touchdowns

2005 CFB Guru Defensive Player of the Year

2006-01-11T06:30:00.000-06:00

A.J. Hawk, LB, Sr., The Ohio State University
121 tackles (69 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss
9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 1 interception

Young men of Troy

2006-01-10T08:21:00.000-06:00

According to the Los Angeles Times, Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush met with Pete Carroll and agent David Dunn for an hour on campus yesterday. Bush said he was still undecided about turning pro.

Also of note in the article, RB LenDale White has indicated he will make his announcement on Thursday, Jan. 11.

Rivals.com All-Bowl Team

2006-01-09T20:30:00.000-06:00

Rivals.com has released their 2005-2006 All-Bowl Team. Texas places the most players on the team, with five. And the Big Ten leads the way for conferences, with seven, followed by the Big 12 with six.

Ron Mexico's little brother is a model citizen

2006-01-09T15:04:00.000-06:00

Marcus Vick has been arrested, after three people accused him of brandishing a firearm. Barry Switzer would be proud.

Bush coming out on Thursday

2006-01-09T13:24:00.000-06:00

A reliable source is telling us that USC's Reggie Bush will declare himself draft-eligible on Thursday, Jan. 12.

USC/Miami is the new Kennedy/Lincoln

2006-01-09T12:37:00.000-06:00

Going through my notes, I just realized the similarities between the '02 Miami and '05 USC teams. Here's hoping Vince Young has a better life than Maurice Clarrett.

USC '05 vs. Miami '02
1) 34 game winning streaks
2) The first year of the streak both teams had one loss to a pac-10 team (Wash/Cal)
3) The second year both teams dominate, and both teams destroy other Big 12 teams in national title game (Nebraska and Oklahoma)
4) In the third year both dodge some bullets, but get to championship game to play other undefeated teams as heavy favorite (media induced)
5) Ohio State no national title since 1968....Texas no national title since 1969
6) Ohio State heavily reliant on one player: Maurice Clarett....Texas heavily dependent on Vince Young
7) Classic national title games where some questionable calls (the phantom interference for Miami, and the 'no fumble for USC) played a key role in ou
8) Dorsey #11, Leinart #11....both who will probably end up better college quarterbacks than NFL quarterbacks
9) Both quarterbacks will be replaced by Louisiana Evangel Christian QB's (Brock Berlin and John David Booty)

Early Entries

2006-01-09T11:35:00.000-06:00

CollegeFootballNews.com has a rundown on the early entries for the 2006 NFL Draft. The big names so far are Vince Young, Santonio Holmes and Laurence Maroney, although Reggie Bush should join that group in the next few days. Marcus Vick is on the list, but he didn't really have a choice.

Sitting down with Ron Prince

2006-01-08T20:35:00.000-06:00

I just had the pleasure of speaking with Ron Prince, the new head coack at Kansas State. Extremely personable, he is. He said he won't be looking at any game film from last year, which suprised me a bit. He wants to evaluate his talent on his own. Good luck with that...

Draft eligible - Vince Young, Texas

2006-01-08T15:57:00.000-06:00

Vince Young has declared himself eligible for the 2006 NFL Draft. Top 3 pick. My guess is Tennessee, where his mentor, Steve McNair, can help him along.

Conference Bowl breakdown

2006-01-05T22:10:00.000-06:00

It's all over, folks. The Big 12 and ACC have come out on top, with 5-3 records. A lengthier breakdown can be found over at FanBlogs.com.

National Champs!

2006-01-04T23:53:00.000-06:00

The University of Texas Longhorns