NCAA News, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball

It was the “Tail of Two Quarterbacks” in Columbia, SC on Thursday.  Starting Quarterback Tommy Beecher went 12 for 22 passing  with 4 interceptions and failed to lead a drive for a touchdown in 3 quarters of work (not counting the 3rd Quarter drive that started from the 9 and consisted of 4 consecutive hand offs).  While backup Sophomore Quarterback Chris Smelley went 5 for 5 passing with touchdowns (0 interceptions) and lead 3 touchdown drives during his quarter of work.

To say South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier has some thinking to do would be an understatement.  After standing behind Beecher for the Spring and Summer despite criticisms, Spurrier may have to bench his darling.  “Chris Smelley did come in and play very well. We’ll have to watch the tape, analyze it to see what in the world happened to Tommy,” Spurrier said of the situation.

While the South Carolina offense struggled during the 1st Half; 3 interceptions, 3 punts, and 3 points (last minute field goal), the South Carolina defense flurished causing 3 first half turnovers (including a turnover on downs) and keeping the Wolfpack scoreless.  The Gamecock defense outdid themselves in the Second Half, forcing 2 interceptions and keeping the North Carolina State offense out of South Carolina’s side of the field the entire 2nd Half.

Senior South Carolina Running Back Mike Davis had a good showing, producing 101 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.

Viewers of SEC football and basketball can rejoice, as their conference games will no longer be black balled from much of the ESPN/ABC family of sports broadcasting.  The SEC and ESPN signed a 15 year deal worth more than 2 billion dollars.

The deal gives ESPN the rights to all home SEC matchups not shown on the CBS package.  The deal is the longest contract ever signed by ESPN and certainly marks the SEC as one of the most distributed leagues in college athletics.

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said of the deal, “This agreement makes the SEC the most widely distributed conference in the country.”  The deal will also give SEC basketball a larger spot light as ESPN will air atleast 2 more SEC regular season basketball games a week and ABC will air the SEC tournament semifinals and final.  Raycom Sports loses out, as their affiliation with the SEC will end with the beginning of the agreement for the 2009/2010 season.

The SEC dominance in football will likely continue as this deal only increases their ability to recruit blue chip talent.  Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban reacted to the deal with confidence.  “One of the reasons that this league has developed into one of the top leagues in the country is because we have tremendous exposure,” he said, “I think we had the best exposure from a TV standpoint in our last contract and this one is only going to enhance it more.”

Not only will the increased exposure help the league’s dominance, but finally being in a blockbuster contract with the most trusted name in sports will help their percieved dominance as well.

The beginning of the College Football Season is always one of the most anticipated weeks of the year.  This year in particular we have been blessed with some of the best interconference matchups we will see all year.

Thursday August 28th
8:00 pm NC St. at South Carolina
Starting with Thursday August 28 we have an intruiging matchup between North Carolina State and South Carolina.  Both Teams are looking to rebound from subpar and bottom of the division performances last season.  Given the young defense of NC State and Spurrier mentality of the Gamecocks, I give South Carolina the edge.  Look for Spurrier to rely on his running game with Senior tailback Mike Davis.

Saturday August 30th
3:30 pm #3 USC at Virginia
USC travels to Wahoo country as the Trojans will take on Virginia in an early season test.  Despite returning Sophomore QB Jameel Sewell and running back tandem of Simpson and Pearman, the high powered USC offense will be too much for the Cavaliers.

8:00 pm #24 Alabama vs. #9 Clemson
One of the best Interconference matchups showcases the best of the ACC against Alabama and savior Nick Saban in the Georgia Dome.  I give Clemson the nod in a tight game, because they will control the tempo  with their running duo of Spiller and Davis, and can rely on the play of Senior QB Cullen Harper.

8:00 pm #20 Illinois at #6 Missouri
A primetime mathcup between a revitalized Illinois and a BCS hungry Missouri team will be hard to miss.  Expect a high tempo game at first with Juice Williams handling the Zook Spread, but look for Missouri to answer with a pounding running game from Derrick Washington and key completions from Heisman hopeful Chase Daniel.  Advantage Missouri.

Monday September 1st
8:00 pm #18 Tennesse at UCLA
The Labor day matchup feautures the Pac-10 vs. the SEC.  Tennessee and Phil Fulmer will face UCLA and new coach Rick Neuheisel.  Tennessee will lean on senior running back Arian Foster and expect just the same from UCLA as they will depend on running back Kahlil Bell to guide an Olson-less Bruin offense.  This game could go either way as both teams are relatively young on both sides of the ball.   I reluctantly give the edge to UCLA in Pasadena.

Just when Head Coach Bobby Bowden thought he was out of the woods with injuries and suspensions, starting kicker and punter Graham Gano went down with a serious knee injury during Monday’s practice.

Gano suffered cartilage damage to his knee and will miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery schelduled for Friday.  Sophomore Zach Hobby will replace Gano in the kicking game while Freshman Shawn Powell will likely take over the punting duties.

With Gano out of the Seminoles lineup until atleast the Colorado game, Florida State looks to be in four down territory on their side of the field for a while, barring a miraculous comeback.

2008 NCAA Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll

1. Georgia (22)
2. USC (14)
3. Ohio State (14)
4. Oklahoma (3)
5. Florida (5)
6. LSU (3)
7. Missouri
8. West Virginia
9. Clemson
10. Texas
11. Auburn
12. Wisconsin
13. Kansas
14. Texas Tech
15. Virginia Tech
16. Arizona State
17. BYU
18. Tennessee
19. Illinois
20. Oregon
21. South Florida
22. Penn State
23. Wake Forest
24. Michigan
25. Fresno State

Below are the ACC preseason media picks;

ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. Clemson (59) 383
2. Wake Forest (5) 304
3. Florida State (1) 265
4. Boston College 154
5. Maryland 147
6. N.C. State 112

COASTAL DIVISION

1. Virginia Tech (58) 383
2. North Carolina (4) 288
3. Miami (1) 253
4. Georgia Tech (1) 195
5. Virginia (1) 161
6. Duke 85

Tommy Bowden’s team could certainly “run” the table with returning thunder and lighting backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller.  Another key for the Tigers is returning senior QB Cullen Harper who last year threw for 27 Touchdowns and an even more impressive 65% completion percentage.  The main obstacle in the way of the Tiger’s ACC Championship hopes are mid season road games against Wake Forest (October 9th), Boston College (November 1st), and Florida State (November 8th).  However barring a late season chokefest Clemson is the most likely candidate to win the ACC

Former Top 10 prospect Brandon Jennings signed with the Italian professional team, Pallacanestro Virtus Roma on Wednesday.  Jennings had alluded to possibly signing with a European professional team after multiple attempts to pass the SAT had not made him eligible.   The top point guard in his class, Jennings had originally committed with Arizona, but throughout the recruiting process was never academically eligible. 

The deal will be in the two to three year range and will include an option for Jennings to leave if the NBA Drafts in 2009.   Pallacanestro Virtus Roma is considered a middle of the pack team in the Italian Pro League.  Jennings will prove to be an experiment in how High School Basketball blue chips consider the European leagues during the recruiting proccess.  If successful, Jennings may have ushered in the era of young talent jumping the NCAA ship for European currency. 

The Gator defense was looking to replenish and get better during the offseason coming off one of their worst seasons in recent memory.  Instead, their secondary, the worst in the SEC a year ago has been plagued by injury.  Reserve defensive back John Curtis already had been out with an ACL tear, when starting safety Dorian Munroe fell victim to the injury bug.

Munroe tore his ACL and will miss the entire season following reconstructive surgery on the ligiment.  With the loss, the Gators will look to start incoming freshman and standout recruit Will Hill alongside veteran safety Major Wright. 

While Florida’s offense is looking to be nothing less than spectacular this year, their defense may again be what keeps this high powered Gator football team from another National Championship.   

Florida State was handed another crippling blow this weekend, when it was discovered that their starting Left Guard, Evan Bellamy would miss up to six months with a blood clot in his leg.   The Seminoles’ offensive line was already decimated by the scholastic scandal that suspended 2 other lineman for the first 3 games of the season.  Bellamy played in 10 games last season and was the starting Left Guard for the Seminoles’ bowl game.   The Seminole’s will not only miss the sophomore, but will also be without any senior leadership on the offensive line.  Advantageously for Florida State, the offensive line will not be tested until September 20 against Wake Forest. 

On Wednesday Tennessee insured that their football and basketball programs would have a strong figure at the head coaching position at least through 2014.  That is the year they signed both football coach Phillip Fulmer and basketball coach Bruce Pearl until.

Fulmer’s deal includes an average salary of around $3 million with incentives for winning National and SEC Championships.  If he wins an SEC Championship he will recieve a $350,000 raise.  If he wins a National Championship he will recieve an $850,000 raise.  The deal also includes a yearly $100,000 raise for every year he remains head coach of the Volunteers.  Other incentives on the deal include a $350,000 BCS Bowl bonus, a $1,000,000 bonus for reaching his 20th year with the school, and added years on the contract for every 8 win season he produces.

Bruce Pearl’s contract was upgraded making his average salary $2.3 Million.  The deal includes a $250,000 bonus for retaining the position, and a straight up $1.5 million bonus.  In order to protect themselves from NBA teams, Tennessee also added a buyout clause.  If Pearl were to leave the team within the next five years he would owe $2.5 million, which would decrease each year to an end total of $1 million.

Tennessee looked to secure their basketball and football programs with these deals.  With Phillip Fulmer’s impressive .766 winning percentage and Bruce Pearl’s ability to bring the Tennessee Basketball Program to the national forefront, it indeed looks like they have secured a bright future through 2014.