Conference Expansion: What Will Happen (Part II of II)

Note: Go back and read Part I to find out how we got here.

Now that news of Nebraska's move has come out, more sources from ESPN say that Colorado - a fellow member of Nebraska's in the Big XII - has officially decided to accept an invitation to join the Pac-10.

These are just the starting dominoes, folks. There is still a TON of movement left, and right here, right now on June 10, 2010, I'm going to tell you exactly how it's going to end up. School by school, each school will be accounted for, and this blog is going to make you the smartest person in the room when it comes to conference expansion and realignment.

The Pac-16 and the Big 16 Come To Life

It's already begun with the Big 10, and it won't stop with just Nebraska. Here is what the "Big 16" is going to look like in five years:

Big 16 Division 1: Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern
Big 16 Division 2: Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Penn State

The Big 10 adds three Big XII members in this scenario. Missouri and Nebraska are no-brainers; these teams have been rumored to be connected with the Big Ten since expansion talk started, and they should come as no surprise. The other new teams are the ones that should raise the most eyebrows - Kansas, Notre Dame, and Cincinnati. This will be explained momentarily.

The Pac-10 has also made initial invitations to other schools, but here is what that conference (which I will call the Pac-16) will look like 5 years from now:

Pac-16 Division 1: Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Cal-Berkeley, Stanford, Southern California, UCLA
Pac-16 Division 2: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech

This comes as no surprise as the beginnings of this have already begun to take shape. With Nebraska's move to the Big Ten (combined with Colorado's move to the Pac-10), the rest of the Big XII senses the beginning of the end of the conference. Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State will all accept their invitations to join the Pac-10, forming the new Pac-16 and substantially crippling the Big XII to the point where it is no longer a viable conference.

With the Big XII essentially dead, the rest of the conference that remains - Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri - start looking for new homes, and quickly. Missouri is at this point almost a sure thing to join the Big 10, who will be forced to expand to 16 rather than sticking at 12 teams to stay competitive with the new Pac-16 super-conference. With Missouri, the Big 10 now faces some tough choices. Teams like Iowa State and Baylor don't fit the Big 10 mold, and as a result I think they are left to find another conference. Kansas and Kansas State is a different case altogether.

Kansas and Kansas State: Friends or Foes

The big hangup between Kansas and Kansas State is their sentiment to stay together if at all possible. What will likely play out is that Kansas will get an invitation to the new Big 16, but Kansas State does not. The reasons Kansas gets an invitation and Kansas State doesn't are easy to understand: Kansas has a better athletic program, more potential revenue for the Big 16, and comes with a Missouri rivalry already in place. Although Kansas football isn't as strong as some other programs in the Big 16 - and without a doubt it's football money that is driving this entire realignment - the opportunities for them in other sports like basketball is too lucrative for the Big 16 to ignore.

With that invitation, the next question that follows is obvious - would Kansas leave Kansas State in the lurch and jump to join the Big 16 super-conference? When faced with a decision to join a super-conference assured of remaining among the nation's elite or staying with a school in your home state just because you share borders, I think it makes too much sense for Kansas to join the Big 16, and they will leave Kansas State to fend for themselves.

Kansas State joins Iowa State in a second-tier conference, like Conference USA or (more likely) the Mountain West.

Notre Dame Swallows A Bitter Pill - And None Too Soon

In case you've been keeping count, you will realize that the Big 16 only has 14 teams at this point. This is where Notre Dame comes into play. All along, the Golden Domers have maintained that they want to preserve their conference independence. For years, the Fighting Irish have valued their position as the exemption to the rule of college football, relying on their wealth (of tradition) and competitive national product as currency for television deals and BCS tie-ins. However, not even Knute Rockney can save Notre Dame from conference expansion.

If Notre Dame stays as an independent, they stand to lose as much as $8M a year in television revenue, and even more with potential bowl tie-ins and other forms of revenue. And that's just in football. For other sports, Notre Dame competes in the Big East Conference, the next target for the Big 16's expansion. If the Big East starts to crumble, the other major conferences left - the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference - will undoubtedly scoop up the remainders (and this is reflected in the plans for those conference, to be addressed later).

Notre Dame is home to a lot of very intelligent people, not the least of which is athletic director Jack Swarbrick. He will see the writing on the wall with the Big East, and understand that in order to continue Notre Dame's tradition of excellence and competition of the highest order, he will make the tough decision to join the Big 16 and sustain Notre Dame's reputation as an elite college athletics power.

The Big East also starts to get nervous, as the Big 16 completes its population with Cincinnati, a program that is competitive in multiple sports including football and adds a natural rival for Ohio State. Cincinnati, arguably the Big East's best current football program remaining, signals the beginning of the end for the conference at the hands of the ACC and the SEC.

The ACC and the SEC Stand Off...Then Think Better Of It

With two super-conferences now fully formed, the ACC and SEC appear to be at odds with each other. By inhabiting similar geographical areas, it makes sense that they would be at each other's throats, ready to kill off the other one, right?

Wrong, and this is where conventional logic will come into play.

Logic states that the SEC - undoubtedly the stronger product on the football field - would have the upper hand in an expansion scenario; with a higher earning potential with a new TV deal (to be negotiated by the calculating commissioner Mike Slive) and an already superior on-the-field product, they should have their choice of ACC schools. However, geography will play a large role in the SEC's decision, and it might surprise you to find out that the SEC does not gain anything substantial from adding ACC schools.

Why The ACC Remains Intact, Despite Potential SEC Interest

The schools that the SEC would reportedly be interested in adding (according to multiple SEC sources) from the ACC are Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Clemson. However, there are multiple reasons why the SEC will think better of trying to add these four teams.

1. ACC's new TV deal. Not substantially worse than the SEC's similar deal with ESPN, and definitely not so bad that teams would be crawling over each other to leave the conference. ACC commissioner John Swofford will be quick to bring this up to anyone who tries to mention that the ACC is not viable, and there is almost assuredly a clause about expansion if that situation arises.

2. SEC's old TV deal. The way their deal with ESPN is currently set up, there is a clause about expansion (as Commissioner Silve pointed to a few weeks back) but chances are if the SEC were to expand to 16 teams they would want to re-up and change some terms of the agreement, which would probably cause ESPN to balk. Furthermore, it's not in ESPN's best interest to take away quality from money they just spent (see #1) to add to money they've spent as well; this isn't a case of re-appropriation for ESPN, but rather product dilution, something that those in Bristol, CT could advise the SEC against looking at the ACC for expansion options.

3. Academic emphasis. Being a part of the Association of American Universities counts for more than people think. Schools like Clemson and Florida State have benefited greatly from being a part of the ACC and the AAU. This is the main reason Miami actually remains a member of the ACC; their chancellor puts a huge emphasis on academic achievement, something that would suffer with SEC membership.

4. History. Clemson is an original member of the ACC, Georgia Tech might as well be, and FSU had the chance to join the SEC 20 years ago and decided not to. Leaving that to go to the SEC is certainly conceivable, but with the current system every one of those schools still plays their rival and benefits from being in a more complete conference. Being a part of those traditional ACC rivalries - particularly for Clemson and Georgia Tech - will go a long way to ensure the ACC remains together, and makes the SEC's job a lot harder to try to pry them away.

5. Fit. The SEC wants to add teams that will really boost the competitiveness of the league, and hypothetically they feel those teams are the four I've mentioned (FSU, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Clemson). They also feel like those teams would jump at the chance to join the mighty SEC. That attitude could turn off these teams - especially Georgia Tech and Clemson - who have been very happy with the ACC, and been happy with the lengths the league has gone through to make sure they are happy being in the conference. Again, this makes the SEC's job a lot harder when trying to add teams from the ACC.

6. New TV markets. Really this is the major reason that will cause the SEC to look outside the normally reported schools. The four schools in the ACC - if a part of the SEC - do not bring any new television markets for the SEC at all. That means little to no opportunity for additional television revenue for the SEC, and an even less likely scenario for the conference to renegotiate a newer, more lucrative television deal.

It is for these reasons that I believe the ACC and the SEC do not end up raiding each other, but rather focus on splitting up the rest of the Big East, which is already teetering on the brink of extinction itself.

The New ACC and SEC Become Realities, and the Big East Loses FBS Football Once and For All

With both the ACC and the SEC possessing a stable detente, both look to raid the remaining members of the Big East to become 16-team super-conferences.

ACC Atlantic Division: Boston College, Clemson, Connecticut, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina State, Rutgers, Wake Forest
ACC Coastal Division: Dook, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech

The ACC moves quickly to add Big East teams that fit their athletic and academic profile, and come away with a strong haul. Expanding with Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Connecticut improve the league's competition in football and basketball, and geographically fit the conference footprint as well.

SEC East: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, West Virginia
SEC West: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Florida

The SEC gains natural rivals for both Kentucky and Florida, as well as expanding their footprint into Texas with Baylor and West Virginia with WVU. Their product in football is enhanced with all four of these teams, while Louisville, West Virginia, and Baylor also substantially improve the basketball product of the SEC.

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And so, after much deliberation and explanation, you now know how this entire college realignment process will turn out. You are now one of the experts in college expansion, and can dazzle your friends with your depth of knowledge into this complex and ever-evolving situation.

And it's all thanks to Hail To The Brightest Star Of All. Don't forget that. Pawn these ideas off as your own, but then direct your audience to this blog...that of course, agrees with you and your infinite wisdom about college realignment.

Week 12 ACC Rankings

1. Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1). The Yellow Jackets learned that their ACCCG opponent will be Clemson, and they are pretty happy about it; the last time these two met this season, it was a thrilling game that came down to the last minute...with Georgia Tech coming out on top. Last Week: 1

2. Clemson (8-3, 6-2). The Tigers clinched the Atlantic Division without even playing a game last week, but apparently head coach Dabo Swinney and the rest of the Clemson team didn't get the memo. The Clemson defense played lights out in the second half against UVA. Last Week: 2

3. Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2). Another easy ACC win for the Hokies as they improve their league mark to 5-2. With Virginia as the last game on the schedule, look for that win total to increase by one after this week. Last Week: 3

4. North Carolina (8-3, 4-3). Easily the hottest team in the ACC right now, the Tar Heels find themselves ranked once again in the top 25. But even with a bowl game in the offings, head coach Butch Davis is focused on avenging back-to-back losses to rival NC State this week and a chance to finish 3rd in the division. Last Week: 4

5. Miami (8-3, 5-3). After struggling with Dook for three quarters, the Hurricanes finally put away the pesky Blue Devils. Miami is playing good football of late, and will be a tough out in postseason play. Last Week: 5

6. Florida State (6-5, 4-4). The bowl streak (barely) continues for head coach Bobby Bowden, but the guy who is the happiest is soon-to-be-retired defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, whose defense gave him a great send-off in his final home game in Tallahassee. Last Week: 7

7. Boston College (7-4, 4-3). Tough loss for the Eagles, and those QB struggles we all expected to see at the beginning of the season were front and center against a very good UNC defense. Finishing against Maryland should send BC into their bowl game on a high note. Last Week: 6

8. Dook (5-6, 3-4). The Blue Devils won't be participating in this year's postseason, but you still have to be impressed with the job that head coach David Cutcliffe has done in two short years in Durham. With his 9 wins, Cutcliffe has already surpassed the career totals of the last two Dook head coaches, Ted Roof and Carl Franks, and already has half the total amount of wins of Fred Goldsmith, the last Dook coach to post a winning record, and almost half the total amount of wins that former Dook coach Steve Spurrier had in his three-year tenure in Durham. Last Week: 8

9. Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). This team has nothing to play for except pride against Dook this season. Senior QB Riley Skinner has been sporadic this year, and his performance mirrors the record of this football team. Hopefully this is not the beginning of the end of great things in Winston-Salem, where the Deacs have been very good under Jim Grobe's leadership. Last Week: 9

10. Virginia (3-8, 2-5). After getting completely shut out in the second half against Clemson, you really have to wonder when - not if - the decision to fire head coach Al Groh will come down. This team showed some flashes in the first half, but less than 50 total offensive yards in the second half won't win any ball games. Last Week: 10

11. Maryland (2-9, 1-6). The Terrapins played tough and almost spoiled Bobby Bowden's chances to continue his bowl streak, but in the end it ended the way almost every game has ended for Maryland this season - with a loss. If you are a Terps fan, you have to wonder: is offensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting James Franklin really that much of an improvement over current head coach Ralph Friedgen? Last Week: 12

12. NC State (4-7, 1-6). State fans continue to wonder what might have been this season with all the injuries in Raleigh. With rival North Carolina coming to town, the only thing the Wolfpack has to play for is to continue their two-game winning streak against the Tar Heels. Last Week: 11

Week 11 ACC Rankings

1. Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1). After (officially) clinching last week, ticket sales for the ACC Championship Game started to steadily increase in the Atlanta area. The Yellow Jackets have looked virtually unstoppable all year (save for a fluke game against Miami). Last Week: 1

2. Clemson (7-3, 5-2). This team continues to do what other Clemson teams had never been able to do under former head coach Tommy Bowden - live up to expectations, win big games, and take care of business. If Clemson wins next week (regardless of what Boston College does at home against North Carolina), they will clinch the ACC Atlantic division. Last Week: 3

3. Virginia Tech (7-3, 4-2). Beating Maryland should not have been hard for this team, and the Hokies proved that they are still a force in the ACC after winning back-to-back conference games. Redshirt freshman RB Ryan Williams is a lock for the ACC Newcomer of the Year, and has been since about Week 4. Last Week: 4

4. North Carolina (7-3, 3-3). In the league's best game last week, the Tar Heels came out with a wild victory over Miami. The win made them bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season (something not done since Mack Brown was the coach), and current coach Butch Davis has yet to lose to his former team since his arrival in Chapel Hill. Last Week: 6

5. Miami (7-3, 4-3). Hurricanes fans have to be disappointed. Although they needed a lot of outside help, going into last week's game they still had an outside shot at a BCS berth. Now they are looking at bowl games like the Music City Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl instead of the Cotton Bowl or the Sugar Bowl. Last Week: 2

6. Boston College (7-3, 4-2). This team needs to get it together. The Eagles pulled out a victory last week, but no one should need a last-second effort to beat a Virginia team who has looked average at best all season. With a hot UNC team coming into town, BC needs to collectively improve if they want to pull out another victory. Last Week: 5

7. Florida State (5-5, 3-4). Head coach Bobby Bowden can hold out hope for one more week that his 27-season bowl streak will continue. The Seminoles play Maryland this week, and barring a cataclysmic collapse they should come out with a victory, which would catapult them into postseason play. Last Week: 8

8. Dook (5-5, 3-3). Definitely a humbling loss for the Blue Devils, but they were up 10-0 early in the game and had it under control. This program has come a long way in two short seasons, and with more talent on both sides of the ball coming in next year, Dook might not be the doormat that everyone has grown accustomed to seeing. They can also still go to a bowl game with one more victory. Last Week: 7

9. Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). Though this team has been eliminated from postseason play, they can still play spoiler to a very good Dook football team, and eliminate them from bowl eligibility if the Blue Devils lose to Miami this week. That could be enough for the Deacs to steal one. Last Week: 9

10. Virginia (3-7, 2-4). Officially eliminated from bowl participation, this Cavaliers program has to be wondering what direction it's going in. They had just one quality win this year (against an injury-depleted UNC), and their only other ACC win was against Maryland. They played well against BC, but in the end this team just could not finish. Last Week: 11

11. NC State (4-6, 1-5). The Wolfpack cannot go to a bowl game this season after their loss last week to Clemson, but they can still make Virginia Tech and UNC look a little worse by winning both remaining games. It's definitely a tall task, but State has been tough to beat in November under coach Tom O'Brien. Injuries have clearly robbed this team of a chance to compete this year. Last Week: 10

12. Maryland (2-8, 1-5). No chance against a more talented Virginia Tech team last week for the Terrapins. I'm starting to run out of things to say about Maryland; they have been so bad all year, it's a wonder that there are little to no rumors about a potential coaching change in College Park. Last Week: 12

Week 10 ACC Rankings

1. Georgia Tech (9-1, 6-1). Back-to-back weeks that the Yellow Jackets have dodged a bullet. For a team that is 7th in the latest incarnation of the BCS rankings, they must play better, no question. However, they clinched the Coastal division with this win, and that deserves a ton of credit. Last Week: 1

2. Miami (7-2, 4-2). This is the Miami team we're all used to seeing. Granted, last week's demolition came against a weak UVA team, but Miami has proved all season that they were worth the preseason hype. The Canes will be out for blood against UNC this week, looking to get their first win against former UM head coach Butch Davis. Last Week: 3

3. Clemson (6-3, 4-2). Down at halftime to FSU had everyone in Tigertown a little worried, but Clemson behind (who else?) RB C.J. Spiller produced a furious comeback and beat the Seminoles to move into sole possession of the top spot in the Atlantic division. Spiller has legitimate Heisman potential, but the Tigers will have to turn heads the rest of the year if that is going to gain any more momentum. Last Week: 2

4. Virginia Tech (6-3, 3-2). Good for the Hokies to get back on track against ECU. RB Ryan Williams especially needed to atone for his game-changing fumble the week before, and his 179 yard performance certainly made up for it. Tech won't win the ACC this year, but there is no reason to think that this season is a failure by any stretch. Last Week: 4

5. Boston College (6-3, 3-2). The Eagles had a bye week last week, but they didn't need any extra preparation to face a struggling Virginia team. What BC does need, however, is to take care of business the rest of the year if they want to make it to the ACC championship game. Last Week: 6

6. North Carolina (6-3, 2-3). This season has been a little disappointing for the Heels this year due to the inordinate amount of injuries, but it is always nice to beat your biggest rival when you have the opportunity. The toughest game left on the schedule is this week when the Hurricanes come to Chapel Hill. Last Week: 8

7. Dook (5-4, 3-2). Tough loss for the Blue Devils, but this season still has to be considered a vast improvement over what they've been watching in Wallace Wade Stadium for the last decade. It doesn't get any easier with Georgia Tech coming to town, but if the Blue Devils are for real an upset might not be out of the question. Last Week: 5

8. Florida State (4-5, 2-4). Seminole Nation: it's time to start worrying about any postseason chances this team might have left. With this loss the Seminoles need to win at least two of their next three to make it to a bowl game, starting this week against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, and remember the Deacs have had FSU's number the last two or three years. And did I mention that QB Christian Ponder is out for the rest of the season with a separated shoulder? Last Week: 7

9. Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4). The Demon Deacons almost pulled out a miracle win last week, but unfortunately it was not to be as they fell to Georgia Tech in overtime. This team has been up and down all season, but it looks as though they will be staying home this postseason unless they can beat both FSU and Dook. Last Week: 9

10. NC State (4-5, 1-4). The first conference win for the Wolfpack happens in Week 10. Hardly what coach Tom O'Brien and his staff had in mind for this year, especially with QB Russell Wilson returning and high preseason hopes for the rest of the team. It doesn't look good for the immediate future either, with Clemson, Virginia Tech, and UNC left on the schedule. Last Week: 11

11. Virginia (3-6, 2-3). Coach Al Groh and the rest of the Cavaliers staff should be a little nervous for what is going to happen the rest of the season - and after the season - after getting thoroughly embarrassed by a more talented Miami team. With BC, Clemson, and VT left, UVA could be looking at a 3-9 campaign, and possibly a new head coach. Last Week: 10

12. Maryland (2-7, 1-4). Maryland is the first ACC team to be eliminated from postseason play, and it really should come as no surprise; this team has been awful. There was little to no offensive production for the Terps last week against an injury-depleted NC State team, and Maryland couldn't stop State from racking up over 400 yards of offense. This team will be lucky to win another game all year. Last Week: 12

Week 9 ACC Rankings

Lots of surprises this week (welcome to the ACC, where no one does what they're supposed to) and the race for a berth in the ACCCG just got a lot more interesting.

1. Georgia Tech (8-1, 5-1). Let's face it, Georgia Tech is the class of the league. But what does that say when they went into the half tied with Vanderbilt? Either Vanderbilt is better than their 2-6 record said going into the game, or GT dodged a huge bullet. I'm more inclined to go with the latter. Last Week: 1

2. Clemson (5-3, 3-2). Okay, so Coastal Carolina isn't the most difficult opponent, but the Tigers did what they were supposed to do: go in and dominate a much weaker team, and that's saying something for a program that has struggled to live up to expectations for the last two seasons. Losing DE DaQuan Bowers is a big loss going into this week's game against FSU. Last Week: 3

3. Miami (6-2, 3-2). It wasn't pretty, but the Canes snuck out of Winston-Salem with a win and that's all that matters. This team is essentially mathematically eliminated from the ACCCG, but winning games like the one last week will do a lot to help this program remember how to win (consistently) again. Last Week: 4

4. Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-2). Soul-crushing defeat for the Hokies last week to Carolina. The offense looked anemic, and the defense couldn't stop the Heels when it mattered the most. This is still a very good football team and will likely win out to finish the season, but Tech fans have to be disappointed. Last Week: 2

5. Dook (5-3, 3-1). The Blue Devils are in a great position; they control their destiny in the ACC, and they have a chance to defeat their most hated rival in their building after they are coming off a huge emotional win. If the Blue Devils catch UNC sleeping, they will be in great position for (gasp) a bowl game. Last Week: 6

6. Boston College (6-3, 3-2). Central Michigan hasn't lost in MAC play, but Boston College soundly defeated the Chippewas and became bowl-eligible in the process. If David Cutcliffe wasn't in the ACC, I could make a very strong case for Frank Spaziani for ACC Coach of the Year. Last Week: 5

7. Florida State (4-4, 2-3). It was closer than the experts thought, but the Seminoles still defeated an NC State team that gave them a lot of trouble. This week's game against Clemson is huge for FSU; if they can beat the Tigers, it gets them back to .500 in the league and they will be one win away from becoming bowl-eligible. Last Week: 9

8. North Carolina (5-3, 1-3). Biggest win in the last four years for the Tar Heels. Going into Lane Stadium on Thursday and coming out with a win rarely (if ever) happens, and yet Carolina got the win that absolutely saved their season. If they can get past hated rival Dook this week, they will be one win away from becoming bowl-eligible. Last Week: 11

9. Wake Forest (4-5, 2-3). Tough loss for Wake Forest, as they simply couldn't hold on against Miami. This team has definitely taken a step back this season, albeit a small one, and needs to regroup if they are going to become eligible for postseason play. Last Week: 8

10. Virginia (3-5, 2-2). Losing to Dook is never a good feeling, but Virginia fans had to know that the success this season wasn't going to last forever. The Cavaliers need to win out to go to a bowl, but with Miami, Clemson, and VT left on the schedule it doesn't look likely. Last Week: 7

11. NC State (3-5, 0-4). It was closer than the experts thought (so give coach Tom O'Brien a little credit for a productive bye week) but with half the ACC season gone the Wolfpack still has not tallied an ACC win. If they lose to a putrid Maryland team then they don't deserve to go to a bowl this year, plain and simple. Last Week: 12

12. Maryland (2-6, 1-3). The Terps didn't lose last week because of the bye week, and that's a good thing for Ralph Friedgen. Why? Because it gave him an extra week to clean out his office and put his house on the market. The Terps have been awful this year, and except for a gift from Clemson it is very possible that this team could only have 1 win this year. This week's game against NC State is huge for both teams; a loss for either team eliminates them from postseason play. Last Week: 10

Recap: UNC 20, VT 17

What a great win for the Tar Heel program. The team showed a lot of courage and heart, bounced back from a little adversity in a way that I haven't seen in this program since the early part of this decade, and went into one of the toughest environments in college football in front of a national audience and defeated a Virginia Tech team who Carolina had never beaten before since the Hokies' inception into the ACC.

However, there are a few things I picked up on that I am hopeful that the team will get fixed in time for their Homecoming contest against arch-rival Dook. First and foremost, last night proved to me once again that T.J. Yates is simply not the kind of quarterback who can win you the game. He's a nice player who can come up with some good throws, but overall he is too inconsistent to be considered an above-average quarterback at the collegiate level. Secondly, the defense - despite playing very well all game - gave up too many yards through the air. I understand that was the gameplan (load the box and force VT QB Tyrod Taylor to beat you with his arm) but the soft zone that had become defensive coordinator Everett Withers' calling card during his first year in Chapel Hill made a reappearance last night, and proved to be just as soft and lax as ever. Against a good QB like Dook's Thad Lewis, this team simply cannot allow that to happen.

Overall however this team was exceptional last night. I would count this among the programs five biggest wins this decade without question, and proved to me that this team is ready to be among the ACC's better teams. Though they are fighting for bowl eligibility (the Heels need to win 2 of their next 4 games to become eligible for postseason play), UNC showed that they can win the big game, despite a little adversity, and that they are ready to take the next step as a football program.

BCS Reaction: Week 2

I'm a little shocked over the BCS rankings this week. Quick points:

- Florida is still ripe for the picking at that #1 spot. Sure, the Gators won this week against Mississippi State in a more convincing fashion that Alabama's high-drama blocked field goal finish against Tennessee, but something about the Gators just isn't right. Tim Tebow hasn't been Tim Tebow, and having MLB Brandon Spikes out seems to really hurt this defense.

- Why Cincinnati is not getting more love baffles me. I know they play in the Big East and that it's not perceived as strong a conference as the Big 10 or the Big XII, but they are the best team in Ohio and have been going through their schedule without missing a beat, including last week when their backup QB still tore apart South Florida.

- Texas continues to be the favorite to go to the national championship game against the winner of the Alabama-Florida matchup. QB Colt McCoy bounced back in a big way after struggling against Oklahoma and put up a great game against Missouri. This team looks ready to prove that they belonged in the game last year, and they will have every opportunity to get into this year's game if they can run the table.

- Iowa has a legitimate shot at sneaking into the BCS Championship Game if they can win the rest of their games on the schedule. Fortunately for them, three of the four at at home, but their toughest test by far is away at Ohio State. If they win that game, they will undoubtedly win the Big 10 and be poised to participate in the national championship game.

- Don't look now, but as I said last week USC is climbing up closer to national championship contention. They are 5th in this week's BCS rankings (up from 7th last week) and if they run the table they could be the 1-loss team that makes it into the BCS championship game.

- As painful as that Miami loss to Clemson was, there is no way they should have fallen from 10th all the way to 19th. That team has some quality wins (Oklahoma, a ranked FSU team, Georgia Tech) and should undoubtedly be no lower than 15th. If I'm a Canes fan, I am furious at this week's rankings.

Week 8 ACC Rankings

Lots of crazy games in the ACC this week, and as a result the rankings have been shaken up.

1. Georgia Tech (7-1, 5-1). Is there any doubt that Paul Johnson's offense can work in the BCS? It may not be pretty according to some college football fans, but the Yellow Jackets are now the favorite to go to the Orange Bowl. Last Week: 1

2. Virginia Tech (5-2, 3-1). The Hokies got a week to stew over their loss to Georgia Tech that very well may cost them a chance at a third consecutive ACC championship and a BCS berth. Expect them to take their anger out on the reeling Tar Heels this week on Thursday night. Last Week: 3

3. Clemson (4-3, 3-2). In arguably the most important win of their season thus far, Clemson showed up and proved that they can take the ACC Atlantic division title away from Boston College. RB C.J. Spiller has been my pick for ACC Player of the Year since Week 3, and he keeps proving me right every single week. Last Week: 5

4. Miami (5-2, 2-2). The loss to Clemson ruined any shot the Canes had at a BCS berth, and their loss to Virginia Tech looms large now in the ACC Coastal division race. Unless Georgia Tech slips up somewhere on their schedule, Miami looks to be the third-best team in the division this year, an improvement from last year's campaign. Last Week: 2

5. Boston College (5-3, 3-2). The loss to Notre Dame doesn't look as bad on the scoreboard as it did when you actually watched the game. The Eagles made a valiant effort, but simply couldn't get past a very talented Irish team. This week should prove a little easier as they go against Central Michigan at home. Last Week: 4

6. Dook (4-3, 2-1). The Blue Devils won back-to-back ACC games for the first time since 1994, and are three wins away from becoming bowl-eligible. Wow. If there is a hotter coach at a non-powerhouse school than David Cutcliffe, let me know; there is no doubt that the Dook head man should be the ACC Coach of the Year. Last Week: 9

7. Virginia (3-4, 2-1). It's a slight step back to reality for the Wahoos with their lopsided loss against Georgia Tech, but let's be honest here: Virginia had been playing with house money the last four weeks. They still control their own destiny with games against Dook, Miami, and Virginia Tech. Last Week: 6

8. Wake Forest (4-4, 2-2). Humbling loss to Navy last week for the Deacs. They simply could not stop the triple option and couldn't get anything done on offense until it was too late. This is an average team (as demonstrated by their .500 record), and they need to find a way to win close games if they are going to go to a bowl game this year. Last Week: 7

9. Florida State (3-4, 1-3). The Seminoles finally got their first ACC win last week on a huge stage by posting a 24-3 comeback and stealing a win in Chapel Hill. Florida State has NC State this week, and I would look for Bobby Bowden to further silence his critics by getting his 2nd ACC win and getting back to .500. Last Week: 11

10. Maryland (2-6, 1-3). This team looks completely lost. Losing to Dook in football is no easy task, despite the momentum that the Blue Devil program has right now, and the Terps are easily one of the worst teams in the ACC. This bye week is crucial for this team to find some way to be competitive the rest of the season. Last Week: 10

11. North Carolina (4-3, 0-3). Perhaps this is dropping the Heels a little too low, but let's be honest: this team had the game in the bag on Thursday night and choked it away. Unless there is some grand recovery plan in the offing for this team, it is very conceivable that they could go winless the rest of the season. Last Week: 8

12. NC State (3-4, 0-3). The Wolfpack didn't play this week, but they still have lost two games by more than 20 points in back-to-back contests. With the way FSU QB Christian Ponder played last week, NC State should have a lot to worry about as they travel to Tallahassee. Last Week: 12

Instant Recap: UNC 27, FSU 30

...

What can you say? UNC had the game won; 24-6 in the 3rd quarter, only to let the Seminoles go on a 24-3 run to close the game. FSU QB Christian Ponder channeled his inner Johnny Unitas, going 33-40 for a career-high 395 yards and 3 TDs, and the lauded UNC defense could not stop FSU from scoring again...and again...and again.

As much as I hate knee-jerk analyses (it usually ends up in hasty remarks that you would later come to regret), I'm going to go against my better judgment and make a bold prediction here: the season is over for Carolina football.

Yes, I said it. You can all start looking forward to basketball season.

Though there are some positives to take away from this game - UNC RB Shaun Draughn had 120 yards on the ground, and the Heels had over 300 yards of total offense - there is simply no way this team can come back from an effort like this. To lose on the first-ever Thursday night game in Chapel Hill by squandering an 18-point 3rd-quarter lead accompanied by the amount of injuries on this football team is simply a killer; UNC will struggle to finish at .500 this season, and I highly doubt that this team will return to any form of postseason play this year.

Looking ahead it doesn't look any better. Virginia Tech will crush this team. Dook has a legitimate chance to beat Carolina for the second time this decade. Miami should win handily against UNC. Boston College is a better team than Carolina is at this point in time. NC State will look to continue their recent streak of dominance against the Heels, and they'll have momentum on their side playing at home. Frankly, it wouldn't be completely out of the question for UNC to go 0-5 to close out the season. Granted, I don't think it will happen, but the fact that it's not outside the realm of possibility is enough for me to declare this season a wash.

Move on, UNC football fans; it's time to look to next year for this program to once again try to live up to their "potential" or any expectations placed on them prior to the season.

And I'll leave with a thought that hadn't crossed my mind until tonight: what if what happened against FSU is as good as it ever gets in Chapel Hill?

First BCS Rankings: Reaction

So the first BCS rankings were released last Sunday. You can see them here. A few notes:

- Was there any doubt that an undefeated Florida team was going to be 1st? I mean seriously; the team throttled Oklahoma in the national championship last year, hasn't lost a game this year (albeit they have looked somewhat ho-hum in doing so), and their quarterback Tim Tebow is a god amongst men. Hell, I want to be like Tim Tebow. No surprise here.

- I will say this about Alabama - if they keep playing like they have been all year, they will win the national championship this year. Florida, despite being #1, has looked unimpressive in doing so, and Alabama has just looked unbelievably good in defeating sound opponents. If quarterback Greg McElroy can become an effective weapon in the passing game, I predict an Alabama-Texas BCS Championship game.

- Boise State is high for me. I know, I know, they have some great wins, including against an Oregon team that looks very dangerous, but a WAC team at 4th in the BCS when other teams like Cincinnati and Iowa are there just doesn't make sense to me.

- Don't sleep on the Trojans. USC plays in an underrated Pac-10 and has an outside chance of shocking everyone and making it to the BCS championship game. They're sitting pretty at 7th in the first BCS rankings.

- Since I'm admittedly an ACC homer, I'll say this about Miami: if they can win the rest of their games (completely likely given the soft schedule ahead) they will be in a BCS bowl. If Georgia Tech clinches the Coastal Division (like I think they will), then the ACC could have two BCS teams this year. How's that for surprising?

Tar Heel Football: What's To Come

Getting an early morning to talk about what is yet to come for the gridiron Tar Heels this year, and give a sneak peak of what's yet to come.

I'm going to be honest (perhaps brutally so) with you guys: this season has essentially 3 must-win games left: FSU tomorrow night, Dook at home for Homecoming, and at NC State to finish out the season. If Carolina wins those games, they will go to a bowl game. The only other game that might be considered "winnable" for the Heels on the remaining schedule is at BC, but in Boston in late November it is going to be tough to win a football game against the home team. I think 7-5 is a good estimate of where this team will finish this season given certain injuries and possible returns (most notably TE Zach Pianalto and possibly C Lowell Dyer), and Carolina becomes bowl-eligible for back-to-back seasons for the first time since Mack Brown was the head coach.

Past this season, I think Tar Heel fans still have a lot to look forward to. I know a lot of people were expecting big things from this team THIS year, but (in continuing with the honesty theme) when injuries decimate a team like they have Carolina this season, it is so hard to come back from something like that. Critics will view this as an excuse, but to be honest there is no way this team could have been as competitive as they wanted to be without a healthy offense; even if the offense was healthy enough to be in the top 50 nationally this team might still be undefeated with the defense that has been assembled on the opposite side.

Next year (and no, it's not too early to start talking next year with this team) looks very bright. UNC recently picked up their 5th offensive line commitment for this class (obviously a huge need given the attrition over the last 3 months at that position), and are in the hunt nationally for some other big-name recruits, most notably South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore and Pennsylvania defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd. If either of those players commit to the Tar Heels, this recruiting class will be considered a sure-fire success. Add that to the majority of players returning healthy next season with added experience from this year, and I'm not sure that the Tar Heels don't have a legitimate shot to make some real noise in the ACC next year...and possibly win the league.

Final note about this season and next season: if the offense can find any way to consistently produce, I fully believe that team will be successful given what is on the other side of the ball. That is truly the bottom line for this UNC program; if Carolina can run the ball consistently and complete good passes down the field, even if they are 4- and 5-yard completions, I don't see any reason why this team cannot be an elite ACC football team.

Week 7 ACC Rankings

Now that every ACC team has played at least 6 games, these rankings reflect the true halfway point of the ACC footbal season. However, we can already start to see a few trends for this year: some teams (North Carolina, NC State, Florida State) were overrated at the beginning of the season, while some teams (Boston College, Miami, Virginia) might have been underrated a little bit. One thing is for certain: it's going to be very interesting to see how everyone does the second half of the season.

1. Georgia Tech (6-1, 4-1). Say what you want about Paul Johnson and his "gimmick" offense, but make no mistake about it: more than halfway through their ACC schedule, the Yellow Jackets are sitting pretty in the conference standings at 4-1. Beating VT last week is a huge boost for their BCS stock as well. Last Week: 3

2. Miami (5-1, 2-1). This team continues to be a bright spot for the league. If they can run the table (which seems likely given that the hardest part of their schedule is behind them), they could give the ACC (gasp!) a second BCS team. Last Week: 2

3. Virginia Tech (5-2, 3-1). So there's no reason why this team cannot still be a fantastic two-loss team. In fact, I would expect this team to have a legitimate shot to finish the season at 10-2 (remaining schedule: UNC, @ECU, @UMD, NCSU, and @UVA) and possibly play their way into the Chick-fil-A Bowl provided Miami does not slip up. Last Week: 1

4. Boston College (5-2, 3-2). You never know what you're going to get with BC, but one thing is for sure - Montel Harris is a legitimate star at RB. It looks as though it could be down to the Eagles and Clemson to take the ACC Atlantic Division crown - if either of them really wants it. Last Week: 5

5. Clemson (3-3, 2-2). This team has been hovering in the middle of the pack in the ACC all year, but last week they looked impressive against a surprising Wake Forest team. If the Tigers can get a big win in Miami this week, they control their destiny for Tampa Bay and the ACC Championship Game with a win over BC already. Last Week: 6

6. Virginia (3-3, 2-0). After starting the season 0-3, the Cavs have come back to actually be in position to control their own destiny in the ACC. Problem: they haven't played Georgia Tech, Miami, or Virginia Tech yet, and all of those teams are better than the Maryland team UVA saw last week. Last Week: 8

7. Wake Forest (4-3, 2-2). Big loss to Clemson last week, and it definitely puts the Deacs in a hole for any chance at an ACC title with losses to both BC and now the Tigers. However, don't sleep on coach Jim Grobe; this team still has Miami and Georgia Tech on its schedule and they could be a huge spoiler going forward this season. Last Week: 4

8. North Carolina (4-2, 0-2). Even though the Heels didn't play a game last week, they still lost two more players for the season in RBs A.J. Blue and Jamal Womble. The Heels' game against FSU this week on Thursday night is an absolute must-win for both teams. If Carolina wins they are still in the hunt for a bowl game; if not, this season is essentially over with a brutal schedule remaining. Last Week: 9

9. Dook (3-3, 1-1). Suddenly, the win over NC State doesn't look as large for the Blue Devils, who enjoyed a bye week last week. This team has some talent, and if they can put it together on both sides of the ball, they could actually become bowl eligible. Last Week: 7

10. Maryland (2-5, 1-2). Though this team lost to UVA last week, they were in a position to win until a costly late 3rd-quarter interception return for a TD. It seems as though the Terrapins are always just a little bit short in close games, and in the end that simply doesn't get the job done. Last Week: 11

11. Florida State (2-4, 0-3). With a bye week to prepare for Thursday night's game against UNC in Chapel Hill, the Seminoles are faced with an absolutely desperate situation. If they win, there is still some hope left in the season with Clemson, Wake Forest, and Maryland still on the schedule; if not, it could be the (actual) end of the Bobby Bowden era in Tallahassee. Last Week: 12

12. NC State (3-4, 0-3). Back-to-back losses by more than 20 points to conference opponents has a way of getting a team absolutely demoralized. Luckily for the Wolfpack, they have a bye this week. Otherwise, we could be talking about another soul-crushing, lopsided demolition of a team once thought to be on the verge of breaking out. Last Week: 10

Bye Week For The Heels

Thank God for bye weeks.

This could not have come at a better time for Carolina. Between the onslaught of injuries from the start of training camp, to the offense simply not being able to execute, this team needed a break to recooperate, and understand what is yet to come this year.

The coaching staff will be using this break as a final opportunity to take a deep breath before the last half of the season, and with a daunting schedule this Carolina team will absolutely need it. Florida State comes to Chapel Hill next Thursday in the first-ever weekday game in Chapel Hill, then the Heels travel to Blacksburg to play Virginia Tech a week later. Home contests against Dook and Miami follow on back-to-back weeks, and UNC closes out the season traveling to both Boston College and NC State.

There's little doubt this season has not gone as planned for the Tar Heels. Before the injuries and bad execution, there were high hopes of 10 wins (still a possibility, albeit highly unlikely), an ACC title, and possibly taking the next step under coach Butch Davis towards becoming a perennial ACC power in football. With most of those dreams dashed by the wayside and/or put on hold until next year, it's time for the coaching staff and the players to show what they are really made of. Will this team quit and finish the season in the same anemic fashion that they did last year, or will they finally show their fans that they have learned to finish not only games but seasons?

We will all find out next Thursday night in Chapel Hill against the Seminoles.

Recap: UNC 40, Citadel 6

Note: As the football season gets underway, I think it's only right for me as a UNC fan to give my take on how the Tar Heel Football Team does throughout the 2009 season. I'll be doing this for every game as the season goes on, discussing the positives and negatives of the Heels' performance. This is a recap of their first game against the Citadel, which took place last night in Chapel Hill.

Great win for the Tar Heels last night as they crushed the Citadel 40-6 behind a great effort from RB Shaun Draughn, who rushed for 118 yards on 20 carries. Carolina rushed for over 250 against an over-matched Citadel squad who physically could not keep up with the more talented UNC team.

A few impressions from being at the game last night in Chapel Hill. First, the crowd was absolutely great. This is probably the first time I could actually say this about the crowd since I first started going to UNC football games my freshman year in 2004. The crowd knew when to cheer, when to be quiet, was well-organized on a few chants throughout the game, and was attentive throughout most of the game, leaving only when the game was 37-0 in the 4th quarter (which is more than I could say in years past). Kudos to those in attendance last night who made the atmosphere in Kenan Stadium one of the best in a long time.

Second, the offense has to start playing better. The running game was there all night, and Draughn, Ryan Houston, A.J. Blue, and Jamal Womble were very impressive running the football all over the field last night. But the passing game has to get in gear if the Heels are going to have a legitimate shot at winning the ACC this year. Too many dropped passes and poor reads led to unnecessary turnovers and missed opportunities all night. These problems will fix themselves as time goes on, but there had better be an added emphasis on pass-catching in practice this week as the team prepares for the Connecticut Huskies on September 12th.

One other thing I'd like to quickly note for people to watch as time goes on is the prevent defense played in the final two minutes of each half. Only when this scheme was employed by defensive coordinator Everett Withers was the Citadel able to move the football with some level of consistency. This was a common problem for the Heels last year (see games against Virginia Tech, Miami, Notre Dame, and Virginia in 2008) and it was the same story yesterday. It did produce a turnover (an interception by junior CB Charles Brown), but better teams will be able to exploit this scheme with more frequency if the prevent continues to be executed the way it has been for the last 14 games by the Heels.

My Take: NFL or NCAA?

Having been actively involved in college and professional athletics over the course of the past three and a half years, I've had a chance to see both sides of this argument. Each of the levels have their advantages; in college, the game seems more fun and is definitely a more emotional experience, while in the pros there is definitely a feeling that the players are some of the best athletes in the world. It's a very tough call, but I'm going to have to go with the NFL.

Look, college football is great. You can't beat some of the rivalries that just permeate through some fan bases - Florida-Georgia, Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Auburn...these guys just HATE each other. Not to mention that anyone can pretty much beat anyone on any given Saturday. But you can't beat the NFL when it comes down to it. You have 16 games to prove your point, then you go to the PLAYOFFS (hint, hint, BCS Committee) in a sudden-death scenario where you have a chance to go to the Super Bowl, the biggest football game in the world. Hard to top that.

Hopefully this year is great for both college football and the NFL (and it is definitely shaping up to be a classic year), and there will be a ton of memorable moments.

The Case for College Football

The last entry was of course devoted to why the NFL is better than college football. In fairness, now it's time to evaluate why college football is better than the NFL.

1. Fan loyalty. This isn't a slight against the loyalty of NFL fans, but you would be hard-pressed to find fan bases that are more loyal than your average college football fan base. The NFL has some crazy fans (Hogettes, anyone?), but the fan bases in college football are some of the most backwardly loyal people on the planet; they will blindly follow those teams off a cliff if their head coach is charismatic enough (see Weis, Charlie). Logically speaking, it makes sense that college football would have more loyalty as well; the alumni of that university are more likely to have stronger feelings for their team because they feel like they are a part of it. Unless you're one in a couple hundred thousand, I strongly doubt you'll ever have that kind of a connection with an NFL franchise.

2. Emotion. Loyalty also breeds rivalry, something that you don't see enough of in the NFL. When an Auburn fan encounters an Alabama fan, usually it goes beyond a few crude insults; can't really say the same thing for some of the NFL's biggest rivalries. Fan bases genuinely hate each other, and aren't afraid to say it (or demonstrate it, as the case sometimes may be). That emotion translates into attendance, and when you have over 100,000 people screaming at you in Happy Valley or Neyland Stadium, you tend to notice the electricity in the air. There's also something about college football that seems more pure; you don't have the bargaining agreements or salary disputes with college players because, well...they don't have a salary (and don't give me that corruption bullshit...that is NOT the norm in college athletics). A lot of these players won't make it to the NFL, and they're playing football because they love to play, not playing for the money. Hard to make that argument when you've got players who haven't even played a down for an NFL team arguing with front office personnel about signing bonuses and escalator clauses.

3. The parity. Arguably the greatest thing - and in some cases, the worst thing - about college football is how level the playing field is. Recent NCAA regulations that limited the number of scholarships available for NCAA teams has allowed a greater proliferation of talent to some of the non-BCS schools (most notably Utah, BYU, TCU, and Boise State) and greatly equalized the amount of talent on each team. Upsets are the norm now - Appalachian State over Michigan, Navy over Notre Dame, Stanford over USC...all the result of the phenomenon that is college football, where anyone can beat just about anyone. The NFL has free agency, and college football has upsets - that's just the way it is.

4. The playbooks. Though the NFL does not reject innovation, it definitely has a hard time embracing it. A lot of that has to do with the elite athletes on both sides of the ball, but occasionally a scheme will come along (West Coast Offense, for one) that changes the way NFL football is played. However, in college, those elite athletes are juxtaposed against each other in a variety of exotic and creative schemes every single Saturday, and new trends are created seemingly each week as teams attempt to exploit their opponents' major weaknesses. The "Wildcat" formation is en vogue right now in the NFL...but its origins were in college football. The triple option, the spread formation, the 3-3-5 defense, the Maryland I-formation...all collegiate ideas implemented on the collegiate gridiron. When is the last time any NFL coach had a really good idea that changed the way the game is played? It happens every day in college.

So now that both arguments have been laid out, I guess a decision can be reached. So next time I'll tell you which one I think is better: the NFL or college football.

The Case for the NFL

When answering the question "Which is better - the NFL or college football?" I think that making the argument for each side is probably the best way to go about reaching a conclusion. This entry is the case for the NFL; the case for college football will follow in the next entry.

This is why the NFL is better than college football:

1. Competition level. There is no doubt that the NFL is the highest level in American football that any one athlete could reach. Some of the greatest athletes of all-time played football - Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders - with Deion Sanders and Jackson also competing at a high level in other sports as well. The NFL is home to some of the greatest coaches of all-time regardless of sport - Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, and George Halas to name a few. It takes a special skill set to play football, and there is undoubtedly a bevy of great talent in college football throughout history, but only the best of the best of the best make it to the NFL.

2. League stability. Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, no league has been more successful at appealing to its fan base while expanding its product like the NFL. Since 1970, the league has grown to 32 teams and has solidified its place in the American consciousness. Few labor disputes between the team owners and the NFL Players' Association have helped the league maintain its popularity within the American sporting realm, and productions like the Super Bowl and Monday Night Football are as much a part of Americana as rock music and the Happy Meal. Although baseball will forever be known as "America's Pastime", I think it's safe to say that football - and more specifically the NFL - is without question the most popular sport in America and has been since the mid-1990s.

3. The fans. College football has some incredibly loyal fans (to be discussed at a later date...stay tuned), but no one goes all-out, balls-to-the-wall, bat-shit-crazy like NFL fans. The Terrible Towel in Pittsburgh has become a symbol that transcends sports altogether, and is a frequent marketing tool at other sporting events today. Raider Nation is one of the craziest fan sections ever; these are grown men dressed up like KISS or the Grim Reaper crawling on top of each other just to get to the TV camera for 5 seconds of fame. In Washington, they have enormous men - grown men with wives, children, and an income on which they pay taxes - who dress like women in dresses and sun hats while also adorning pig noses to their faces and call themselves "The Hogettes." Shit, Philadelphia Eagles fans booed SANTA CLAUS...that's just ridiculous.

4. The Super Bowl. No other sporting event in the world - save the FIFA World Cup - has the kind of impact that the Super Bowl has. The world literally stops for that entire weekend while an entire country consumes their weight in cholesterol and alcohol while huddled around the television for 5 straight hours - at least. The game is broadcast across the world via satellite in multiple languages, and the halftime show has been graced by acts like Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen - in the last 5 years. Other halftime acts have included the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald, KISS, Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Aerosmith and Stevie Wonder to name a few. Some of the most iconic advertising campaigns have come from Super Bowl Sunday - "Mean" Joe Greene drinks a Coca-Cola, the Budweiser frogs (and iguanas later), the Godaddy.com smoking-hot women, and Michael Jordan and Larry Bird play an impossible game of H-O-R-S-E for a McDonald's Big Mac. Can you remember one commercial from last year's BCS National Championship Game? Me neither.

Next time, the argument for why college football is better than the NFL.

Less Than 1 Week

So I'm sitting at home watching high school football on ESPN, and I realize that the college football season isn't that far away. In fact, it's only 5 days until NC State opens the college football season against South Carolina. As a football fan, there is nothing better than having meaningful football on television again; sure, the NFL preseason is nice and high school football brings back memories of underage consumption in a gravel parking lot, but for the most part there is nothing like seeing two teams lay it all on the line on Saturdays and Sundays and try to get the win.

But leads me to an interesting question - which is better: college football or pro football? I think I'll make an argument for each in my next two entries, and then readdress it before Thursday's game. Until then, feel free to answer the question for yourself - college football or the NFL?