Tim Griffin's Big 12 Preview

Nothing real exciting here, but it's worth a watch. Besides, anytime ESPN isn't covering the SEC it must be worthy of something.

ESPN's 2009 Preseason All-America Team

Ivan Maisel has selected ESPN's 2009 Preseason All-America Team. As I'm sure you figured from the picture, Ndamukong Suh made the cut. In fact, he was the only defensive tackle named to the team. Also, Tim Griffin selected the All-Big 12 team, which included Suh and K Alex Henery. Out of the 26 players that made Griffin's squad, only 5 came from the Big 12 North.

ESPN's Mock College Football Draft

ESPN.com writers Pat Forde, Ivan Maisel and Mark Schlabach took on the task today of selecting 40 teams out of the 120 FBS schools to 'separate the haves from the have-nots.' LINK. I believe they mean if they wanted to start a 40 team FBS, then these are the 40 teams that are relevant enough to make the cut.

I guess you could say the point of this is really nothing other than this is the end of dead week before fall camp begins and the talking heads from ESPN.com need some face time before Corso, Herbstreit, May, and Holtz hit the tellies and steal some thunder.

1. USC Trojans, selected by Pat Forde
2. Florida Gators, selected by Mark Schlabach
3. Oklahoma Sooners, selected by Ivan Maisel
4. Texas Longhorns, selected by Pat Forde
5. LSU Tigers, selected by Mark Schlabach
6. Ohio State Buckeyes, selected by Ivan Maisel
7. Penn State, selected by Pat Forde
8. Alabama Crimson Tide, selected by Mark Schlabach
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish, selected by Ivan Maisel
10. Georgia Bulldogs, selected by Pat Forde
11. Michigan Wolverines, selected by Mark Schlabach
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers, selected by Ivan Maisel
13. Virginia Tech, selected by Pat Forde
14. Florida State, selected by Mark Schlabach
15. Tennessee Volunteers, selected by Ivan Maisel

ESPN SportsNation Poll

If you feel like getting 'abso-tooting-lutely nuts,' then head on over to the ESPN College Football homepage and vote for the poll, 'Which team will win the Big 12 North?' 48% of the 'Nation likes Nebraska (inlcluding 90% in-state) while 53% of Missourians and 51% of Kansans (Jayhawks) like their state team.



***Check out Sporting News' '50 Greatest Coaches (all sports college/professional) of All Time where Tom Osborne comes in at #34***

Erin Andrews Video Updates; Video Not Shot in Omaha

It's come to my attention that some of you are absolutely bewildered as to why we haven't been all over this Erin Andrews naked peephole saga more. Sure, I've been trying to keep up with this story as much as the next blogger, but the truth is that this is getting uglier and more bizarre by the minute and no groundbreaking news has happened since the video itself first surfaced. With that in mind, let me fill you in on what I know.

First, I've been keeping up with this story through Deadspin - the gold standard for stories such as this. Below is the rundown of the events that have happened since last Thursday.

• Click here for Part II of the EA story. (I believe Part I is in the history books.)
• Click here for Part III.
• Click here for Part IV.
• Click here for Part V.
• Click here for Part VI.
• Click here for Part VII.

Secondly, despite what you might have read or heard through rumor (like from Fox 42 News in Omaha), Omaha police say this video was NOT shot in Omaha during the College World Series.

EA's attorney, Marshall Grossman, will seek criminal charges and file civil lawsuits against the unknown cameraman and anyone who publishes the material. This is why you'd have to look long and hard for the video and this is why if there has ever been anyone to defy lawyers, authorities, or ESPN, it's Barstool Sports (out of Boston) - your go-to blog when everyone else runs and hides.

Where this chain of events leads us to next is anyone's guess. The bottom line is that this kind of publicity has turned into a PR nightmare for ESPN and Erin Andrews. And what makes matters worse is that this pervert that probably went to an online spy shop and bought this video surveillance equipment after he found out Erin was coming to town is proving to be quite the professional criminal. It's been almost 5 full days and still nothing.

The ESPN/ABC College Football Sportscaster Lineup

You know we are beginning to get dangerously close to the college football season when it's time to scout out one of the most important aspects of watching a game. ESPN/ABC released their fall broadcast lineup, which did come with a few surprises.

For starters, I was not particularly happy when Bonnie Bernstein recently announced on her website that she will be leaving her sideline duties to focus on more studio work and in-depth reporting, which includes NFL Live, Outside the Lines, Jim Rome is Burning, College Football Live, and First Take. On the other hand, I was very extremely happy to see that Paul Maguire is taking a reduced role this season. However, Maguire will work "the occasional game and do some studio shows and radio," according to ESPN.

Also being shuffled around is Craig James, who will move from the ABC booth to one of the ABC Saturday afternoon games along with keeping his ESPN Thursday primetime games. Perhaps the biggest surprise came when ABC announced that Sean McDonough - my personal favorite - will be working with Matt Millen (fresh from his Detroit Lions gig) for ABC's main Saturday afternoon game. Solid.

Not going anywhere is Lou Holtz. Expect more brilliant things such as 'he had shoulder surgery on his elbow (video here)' this fall from the studio and from the booth.

For the studio teams, click here.

Game Telecast Play-by-play Analyst Reporter

• Saturday Night Football (on ABC): Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, and Lisa Salters
• ESPN College Football Primetime (Saturday): Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, and Erin Andrews
• ESPN2 College Football Primetime (Saturday): Mark Jones, Bob Davie
• ESPNU SEC Saturday Primetime: Eric Collins, Brock Huard
• ESPN College Football Primetime (Thursday): Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer, and Erin Andrews
• ABC Saturday Afternoon: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen, and Holly Rowe
• ABC Saturday Afternoon: Mike Patrick, Craig James, and Heather Cox
• ABC or ESPN2 Saturday Afternoon: Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham
• ESPN College Football (Saturday afternoons): Dave Pasch, Bob Griese, and Chris Spielman
• ESPN2 College Football (Saturday afternoon): Pam Ward, Ray Bentley
• ESPNU Saturday Noon: Clay Matvick, David Diaz-Infante
• ESPNU Saturday Afternoon: Todd Harris, Charles Arbuckle
• ESPNU Late Saturday: Carter Blackburn, TBD
• ESPN and ESPN2 Fridays and select ABC Saturdays: Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore
• ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 Saturdays and select Fridays: Terry Gannon, David Norrie
• ESPN and ESPN2 Midweek Games: Rece Davis, Mark May, Lou Holtz, and Rob Stone
• ESPNU Thursday: Charlie Neal, Jay Walker
• ESPN Radio games:; Bill Rosinski, Dennis Franchione, and Joe Schad
• SEC Network (ESPN Regional Television syndicated games): Dave Neal, Andre Ware, and Cara Capuano
• BIG EAST Network (ESPN Regional Television syndicated games): Mike Gleason, John Congemi, and Quint Kessinich
• ESPN Region al Television MAC Syndication: Michael Reghi, Doug Chapman

On a semi-related note, Alex Flanagan will still be doing her part in trying to resurrect Notre Dame's dismal NBC ratings on Saturday afternoons. High five, NBC.

ESPN's College Football Live Tour Stops at Nebraska Wednesday

Be sure to set your DVR to ESPN this Wednesday @ 2:30 CST as College Football Live will be featuring Nebraska. CFL has been running their 50 states tour 'to celebrate the game that unites fans from between the hedges in Georgia to the Coliseum in Los Angeles' as well as 'in search of the best players, best coaches, best games and more from every state in the union.' Also, you can put in your two cents by voting here on Nebraska's finest (fyi to our outsiders, Bill Callahan is not an option for Nebraska's best coach.)

ESPN's "Big 12 vs. Big 10 Mythical Challenge"

ESPN bloggers Tim Griffin (Big 12) and Adam Rittenberg (Big 10) sit down with Ivan Maisel to discuss how the two conferences match-up. They fail to get into any specific games and both of their arguments are generic enough that the average fan could probably spit off about the same information that they provide here. Nonetheless, it's the middle of June and it's college football so why not take a gander.


It's been awhile since I've had this argument with Big 10 fans so I couldn't help but want to dive right back into one. I live for hypothetical college football talk.

Below I've matched up teams based mostly on what preseason predictions are already out there - not on the 2008 records - and what I think the game that each league would consider fair and most profitable. FYI - the ACC/Big 10 Challenge in men's basketball is determined on a year-to-year basis with the games decided by the league commissioners. Take a look and then decide what you think the outcome of this 'mythical challenge' would be. (Iowa State gets to sit this one out.)

Ohio State vs. Texas
Penn State vs. Oklahoma
Michigan State vs. Oklahoma State
Iowa vs. Nebraska
Wisconsin vs. Kansas
Illinois vs. Missouri (rivalry)
Michigan vs. Colorado
Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Minnesota vs. Baylor
Purdue vs. Texas A&M
Indiana vs. Kansas State

Interesting. Depending on where the game is played would make all the difference. Although the cellar of the Big 10 is weak, I'm not convinced the Big 12 would dominate nearly as bad as some might guess - and I'm obviously a Big 12 homer.

Todd McShay Gets Owned By Mel Kiper (Again)

You could say that our love for Todd McShay here has been kind of bittersweet over the years. On one hand, we hate him. On the other hand, we don't know how we could ever get a good laugh on ESPN without him. In the following video, 'Todd the Bod' takes on NFL draft guru Mel Kiper about who should be the #1 pick in the upcoming draft.



I love this argument: McShay says, "you're going to have pay the quarterback more than you are going to have to pay Aaron Curry at #1. You and I both know that."

Saving money by taking a linebacker or offensive lineman instead of quarterback at #1? Really?

The 2008 #1 pick, offensive tackle Jake Long, signed a 5 year, $57.5 million dollar contract with $30 million guaranteed. The 2007 #1 pick, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, signed a 6 year, $68 million dollar contract with $31 million guaranteed. The 2006 #1 pick, defensive end Mario Williams, signed a 6 year, $54 million dollar contract with $26 million guaranteed. The 2005 #1 pick, quarterback Alex Smith, signed a 6 year, $49.5 million dollar contract with $24 million guaranteed.

As Kiper said, "if you think you are saving a lot of money by taking an offensive tackle or someone else over Matthew Stafford at #1, that's a ridiculous argument."

Secondly, the last linebacker to be taken #1 was Aundray Bruce back in 1988 by the Falcons. I'm pretty sure the Lions don't need the next Aundray Bruce to be the face of their struggling franchise.

ESPN's NFL draft coverage was already crowded enough with one analyst. Now, we have Todd McShay who looks like he needs a fake i.d. to buy beer for his frat buddies trying to argue with a guy who started Kiper Enterprises at the age of 21 and has been consulting NFL teams and agents for almost 25 years. The bottom line is that anytime you are arguing a guy who is referencing 'the late, great John Butler' about the NFL draft, you have problems.

Colin Cowherd Flatters DXP

Over the few years of our existence, we have had some strange and not-so-strange links. For example, CNNSI on Campus and ESPNU all the way down to the Dirty.com and Right Celebrity have given us a hat tip at one time or another. And although it's great that we are given the opportunity to share our idiotic ramblings and pictures of scantily clad women to others that wouldn't normally stop by, we really don't care enough to make that big of deal about it. However, when Colin Cowherd made DXP his 'Website Of The Day' on his February 20th post, it did make us proud. No wonder we agree with almost everything he says! Totally kidding. Nonetheless, this one will go in the DXP trophy case right next to the Poon-per Bowl Trophy that the USC Song Girls have yet to come pick up.

(click image to enlarge)

The Illustrious Nebraska Football Program

The ESPN.com research team has put together their very own 'Prestige Rankings,' which as the name implies determines the most prestigious college football program in America.

Although not quite as elaborate as the DXP judges used for the 'Poon-per Bowl' rankings, the ESPN critics used their own complex point system that basically covers everything from points for National Championships all the way down to minus points for losing seasons and recruiting penalties. They started with the year 1936, which is the year the AP poll began and recognized a true national champion. The contest began on Monday with #21-#119 and finished today with #1-#5. As they rolled into Friday's big finale, two Big 12 teams - Nebraska and Oklahoma - were still left standing.

The point system was as follows:

• National title: 25 points (AP, UPI, or Coaches Poll)
  
• Berth in one of the major bowls : 10 (major bowls are every Rose, Orange, and Sugar Bowl from '36, every Cotton Bowl from 1940-'94, and every Fiesta Bowl since '86)
• Major bowl win: 10
• Best win/loss record in conference regular season: 10
• Final AP top-5 finish: 10
• Heisman winner: 8
• Final AP top 6-10 finish: 6
• Conference title championship-game bonus: 5 (only given to a team if not already given points for the conference's best record)
• Final AP top 11-25 finish: 4
• Bowl appearance: 3
• Bowl win: 3
• 10-win season: 2
• Week as AP No. 1: 2
• Win over AP No. 1: 1
• Each consensus All-American: 1
• First-round NFL draft pick (since '70): 1
• Losing season: minus-2
• Each year of television ban: minus-1
• Each year of postseason ban: minus-2
• Each year of overall probation: minus-1
• Each year of financial-aid penalty: minus-1
• Each year of recruiting penalties: minus-1
• Each penalty of "show cause action:" minus-2

The Top 5:

1. Oklahoma Sooners
Total points: 1,968

2. USC Trojans
Total points: 1,897

3. Ohio State Buckeyes
Total points: 1,655

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Total points: 1,579

5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Total points: 1,553



For an overview of the Top 5, click here.

The rest of the Big 12 teams rank as follows:

7th - Texas (1,494 points)
20th - Texas A&M (584 points)
22nd (T) - Colorado (486 points)
36th - Missouri (314 points)
42nd - Texas Tech (267 points)
63rd - Baylor (129 points)
65th - Oklahoma State (115 points)
69th - Kansas (86 points)
76th - Kansas State (66 points)
114th - Iowa State (minus 53 points)

Amazingly, Nebraska was in 35th place when the 1950s began according to the authors. It was the run of Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne that clearly catapulted us to the Top 5. Nebraska' big score came from being ranked in the top five in numerous categories such as major bowl appearances (30, T-2nd), 10-win seasons (23, 3rd), bowl appearances (45, 4th), conference titles (26, T-4th), weeks at AP No. 1 (70, 5th) and major bowl wins (14, 5th).

And like many of the other schools in the Top 5, we certainly had our problem years. The Huskers had 17 losing seasons in a 21-season span between 1941 and 1961. More recently, Nebraska has produced only two first-round picks this decade, while finishing the season unranked in four of its last five seasons.

Like any arbitrary ranking system, this one certainly has its flaws. For one example, starting in the year 1936 skews the rankings significantly for some programs. Sure, the Associated Press Poll has been going strong since 1936. However, the AP took their final poll prior to bowl games from 1936 - 1964 and in 1966 and 1967. They took their final poll after the bowl games in 1965 and from 1968 - Current.

With that in mind, I believe that defining the 'modern-era' of college football and using that year instead of 1936 would prove a more accurate assessment of this ranking system. However, the 'modern-era' of college is a heated debate for most fans. I'll argue that it began as late as the 1967 game between Notre Dame and Michigan State that brought about unprecedented television ratings and future television/bowl contracts, and as I just mentioned, the first year the polls were completed after the postseason.

Now, if only the authors at ESPN.com would follow-up these rankings with this more accurate/fair timetable, then I would be satisfied.

Even with that being said, Oklahoma still deserves that #1 spot.

Stuart Scott Live and Unplugged

ESPN's own Stuart Scott has just kicked off his music world tour in Bristol, CT.


Notice how his shirt says "born on the street?" For some reason, I am pretty sure he never grew up anywhere near the hood when we was younger. In fact, I bet he was getting his ass kicked plenty of times during his childhood from kids in the hood. Also, take notice in how serious he is taking this. # of times he has practiced this song in his dressing room or in front of his mirror at home: approximatley 3,698 times.

Our buddy Jerry from barstoolsports says it best, (his) "singing is like gravy on a biscuit, it's all good. He's as hardcore as the Wu-Tang Clan on steroids. Just call him butter cuz he's on a roll. He's doin' it and doin' it and doin' it well. Don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind. He's got his mojo workin' and he's breaking him off a little somthin' somethin'. And so as not to miss the obvious, Stuart Scott is cooler than the other side of the pillow."

Stuart is now officially the only dude ever to karaoke "I'll Be" while wearing a "born on the street" t-shirt. And to top if off, check out the cougar in white shirt in the left on the screen. Stuart is singing the whole song to her. Somehow, he manages to walk off into the night without her. Beautiful dude.

And ESPN’s TitleTown USA is…………..Valdosta?

In case you haven’t been watching ESPN for the past month, they held a “contest” called TitleTown USA, comparing different cities and their respective “championship pedigree.” A special panel of ESPN experts determined the 20 finalists and fan voting determined the winner. Contesting towns included such sports meccas as Massillon, Ohio and Parkersburg, West Virginia, along with virtual unknowns like Boston and Los Angeles. After heavy fan voting, the winning town was……….Valdosta, Georgia. When the winning city was announced, I said to myself, “Valdosta….Valdosta....how do I know that place?….isn’t that where the actor who played Lamont Sanford on Sanford and Son was from?”

Actually, I found that little fact on Wikipedia, as well as the demographics of this supposed “TitleTown.” Again, according to the greatest source of information ever assembled (other than DXP), Wikipedia tells me that Valdosta, a town of 124,000 people is home to Valdosta State University, which has won two Division II national championships in football, as well as dominating the high school football ranks with Valdosta High winning 23 state titles, and cross-town rival Lowndes adding another four. And according to voters, these D-II and high school titles are sufficient to earn Valdosta the moniker of TitleTown USA.

Like many, I was a little perplexed on several fronts. First of all, when did Comcast start installing cable in trailers so Georgians could watch ESPN? Secondly, where the hell was I when Georgians learned how to use the Internet? And finally, how do high school and D-II titles trump professional sports championships? If I were handing out the banner of TitleTown, I don’t think I could overlook an NBA title, three Superbowl rings, and two World Series wins in this decade alone. But somehow Boston came in 5th in the voting. Differentiating Boston and Valdosta on “championship pedigree” is like comparing Kathy Bates and Gisele Bundchen in a Victoria’s Secret audition. Let me try and explain the difference here. Winning ONE Superbowl, just one, has no NCAA Division II equivalent, but if it did it would be around 80 consecutive D-II titles combined with every high school football title in state history. So with that, I have decided Boston is TitleTown USA, with its 6 major pro sports titles this century already, and received a little help with my argument from the lovely Patriots and Celtics cheerleaders. The guys at Barstoolsports have already printed up the T-shirts.

Congratulations Valdosta. Now you can add more hardware to the trophy case that already includes titles in such competitions like missing teeth, unintelligible English, high school dropouts, percentage of population wearing overalls, and most concentrated Dukes of Hazard re-run demographic.

One quick note from the DXP Pick ‘Em contest ...

Brandon Vogel from the great Hi Plains Drifter is dominating not only our DXP pick ‘em contest, but rather every college football fan as well. He is currently ranked ahead of everyone who dared to challenge him at ESPN.com. Well done – you told me that I would have to hit 70% to beat you, but come on, now we are all gunning for 99.9% to have a chance. Here is the top 10 list from the first 2 weeks….

1. HiPlainsDrifter: 100%
2. Jeffie Husker: 99.3%
3. Siffring: 97.9%
4. Timmy Rose: 97.9%
5. Sammy Vegas: 96.9%
6. TX Cornhead: 95.8%
7. Thiele: 94.6%
8. justmp: 91.5%
9. Mead: 89.6%
10. Fish-Slapping Dance: 87.5%

This obviously shows why we are the most knowledgeable fans in the country. Note - The percentages indicate where we rank nationally in the contest and not how many games we have hit.

HiPlainsDrifter… this one is for you. You earned it.

Kirk Herbstreit Hates Nebraska

In case you missed it last night on ESPN's All-time Greatest College Football Playoff, Kirk took issue with the voting that produced a championship game match up between the 1995 Huskers and the 1971 Huskers. I'm not sure what ESPN thought would happen when they opened the voting up to the public. Nebraskans are going to vote for the Huskers in any kind of contest. We live for this stuff. Behold the Power of Red Kirk. Husker Nation rules the internets.

Truth be told, I actually felt kind of bad for Herbie, as it was clear he thought it was going to be a serious discussion about fake match ups. He probably spent time preparing for it while he could have been boinking Erin Andrews. I'd be bitter too.