According to Carp

The College football season is nearly complete. It has been an exciting bowl season as it usually is, but not its time for the main event. The College Football Playoff is here. With Alabama vs. Washington and Clemson vs. Ohio State, fans get to see some of the biggest brands in the sport. The only problem is both the Peach and Fiesta Bowl are on New Year’s Eve.   Grayson Allen   Duke has long be one of the NCAA hoops Blue Bloods. Coach K runs a clean program and while you may not like them, Duke is always good. However, the Grayson Allen kicking situation has caused me to scratch my head and wonder why more hasn’t already been done to this kid.   Alabama v. Washington   With how Washington looked against the USC defensive line, they have very little chance to win this game, unless their offensive line has improved considerably. Alabama is tough, fast and physical upfront and will wear down the Huskies if Washington cannot control the clock.     Clemson v. Ohio State   The Clemson Defensive front and Wide Receiving groups are the strength of their squad. Yes, Deshaun Watson is good, but he looks a whole lot better when WR Mike Williams is winning every 50/50 jump ball 30+ yards down the field. However that plays into the Buckeyes’ strength, with four solid corners and 2 ball hawking safeties, Ohio State is equipped to handled the Tiger’s weapons. The Defensive Line is a different animal, with the Buckeyes’ struggles up front this season it could be a long day. There are a couple of solutions the offensive staff could use to remedy this problem.       Topics:   Grayson Allen   Skipping Bowl Games   Fiesta Bowl   Peach Bowl   College Football Semifinal

What a wild and wonderful weekend in college football. Sure, outside of THE GAME there really weren’t any terrific games, but sometimes that happens. Nearly every favorite won over the three day college football feast, that started on Thanksgiving and poured long into Saturday night. The status quo was preserved on the final weekend of the regular season, but now it is Championship Saturday and the real fun begins.     Alabama, Clemson, and Washington   The three amigos hanging around in the top 5, none were expected to lose and they did not disappoint. Alabama looked particularly impressive in their Iron Bowl win over rival Auburn. Auburn might be the second best team in the SEC, and that game displayed whom far the conference has fallen. Three years ago this would have been a slugfest, but it is now clear that the SEC is Alabama and then everyone else.   The Clemson Tigers have been a difficult team to figure out this season, but were able to easily dismantle a rebuilding South Carolina squad that has been searching for offense all season. With the departure of Steve Spurrier, it could be a long time before this in-state rivalry could be competitive again.   Washington did the most to help their cause this weekend among the teams ranked from 3 to 7. Michigan lost a double overtime game to their archrival, but Washington smoked a ranked Washington State team in the Apple Cup. The Huskies looked very impressive are dominating the 1st half with a final score that was much closer than the actual game.     Jabrill Peppers   Peppers won the B1G Defensive Player of the year award, and while he may have been the most electrifying player in the conference he wasn’t the best on defense. He was exposed a number of times by Curtis Samuel and other Buckeyes in the their biggest game of the season. Make no mistake about it, Peppers is a dynamite playmaker with the ball in his hands, but he has some serious limitations in man coverage.     THE GAME   Very few experiences in life live up to their perceived hype. The 2016 Edition of THE GAME was a terrific exception. It was an old fashion slugfest that would have made Woody and Bo proud. In an era where rarely less than three wide receivers are ever seen on the field; Michigan deployed two and three tight end set nearly every play. While Ohio State lines up in the spread, there was no debate over their game plan. Quarterback JT Barrett carried the ball 30 times himself with the Buckeye offense rushing it 50 times as a unit.   It was a defensive battle that featured two of the nations best defenses, and it was a defensive score that allowed the Buckeyes to crack the goose egg on the scoreboard. Both lines defensive lines are stacked with future NFL talent and each won their share of battles.   However, in the end it was Jim Harbaugh who lost his composure and it affected his team in the fourth quarter.       Topics:   Week 13 College Football Wrap Up   Week 14 Preview   The 5th CFP Rankings   THE GAME

Michigan   The Wolverines were able to fend off a tough Indiana team under a blanket of snow Saturday afternoon. However it was a game that left much to be desired. John O’Korn filled in for the injured Wilton Speight, but it couldn’t have been encouraging for the Michigan faithful. Outside of a few throws and a terrific 3rd and long scramble, O’Korn was largely ineffective and relied on a heavily on De’Veon Smith to power the offense. Will Speight play this week? Harbaugh would like everyone to believe so, but it is doubtful it will happen. He may even enter the game to take a few snaps, but if he has a crack clavicle or even a separated AC joint, one week off will not be enough.   Colorado and West Virginia   Colorado faced their first big test since early in the season. A Mike Leach coached Washington State team was scoring points seemingly at will. However the Buffalos are for real. Their quarterback, Sefo Liufau, is maybe the most underrated signal caller in the nation. He is more athletic than expected and has great poise. With a win this week against Utah, Colorado will seal their spot in the PAC 12 Championship Game.   West Virginia finally lost, and lost in a terrific fashion. Oklahoma has always been the best team in the Big 12, and now it is looking to come to fruition. The Mountaineers ‘ defense has been suspect all season and it finally was exposed big time on a prime time state. Oklahoma has looked much better after starting the season 1-2, but that’s what happens when schools schedule tough non-conference games.     Ohio State v. Michigan State   It was supposed to be easy and a 17-16 win is about as rough as it could get in East Lansing. Sparty did everything we talked about last week. Shifts, motions, unbalanced sets, all to run the same handful of plays. Dantonio knew OSU had the better team, that’s why he wanted to move the pocket for their quarterback and keep the Buckeye defense off balance. The LJ Scott affect wasn’t overrated either, he came to play and we will break down is long screen TD reception from early in the game.   Offensively the Buckeyes struggled late. After a nice opening drive pounding Mike Weber down the field, the Bucks went away from him and then began to struggle. JT didn’t throw the ball particularly well, but I will cut him a small amount of slack due to the wind. He needs to play better, but the offensive line protected him fairly well on four man rushes and only had some issues on blitzes.   The Game   This will be a classic OSU/ Michigan slugfest. Two great defenses, squaring off against offenses that love to run the ball. The X Factor will be Peppers, he will be the guy that can provide the Wolverines explosive gains on offense. For OSU, it will rest with JT Barrett. If he can get his arm going and make a throw or 2 down the field? Game for OSU, if not it will be a long game.     Topics:   Week 12 College Football Wrap Up   Week 13 Preview   The 4th CFP Rankings   Ohio State v. Michigan State: Survive and Advance   Ohio State v. Michigan

Michigan   The blood letting in college football finally happened… it wasn’t pretty for the top three or the top five in the CFP rankings. Michigan was upset to an Iowa team that has greatly underachieved this season. In the midst of the loss it appears the Wolverines lost their quarterback Wilton Speight for the season. A three point road loss on the road didn’t appear to have much of an effect on their CFP Ranking.   Clemson and Washington   Clemson and Washington suffered much tougher losses, Clemson’s loss being particularly since they lost to an unranked Pitt team in Death Valley. Dabo Sweeny was able to avoid a last second loss against NC State, but the Tigers’ luck finally expired against the Panthers. It has been a curious season for the Tigers, one where they have never really seemed to regain their 2015 form except against Florida State and Louisville. They have consistently played down to the level of their competition and that has shown through.   Washington now looks to be what most critical college football pundits thought they were throughout much of the season, a Paper Dragon. Chris Peterson’s team is loaded with talent, but they’re are young and most likely a year away from being a true contender. The USC defensive line exposed the youth and inexperience of the Huskies up front and they severely inhibited the performance of signal caller Jake Browning. His inexperience showed on a prime time stage against a very talented Trojan defense. Washington and the PAC 12 are still in the CFP hunt, but now it is going to take some convincing wins to prove they belong.   Ohio State’s New Offense   The Ohio State Buckeyes appear to have regained their offensive prowess from early in the season. After the Nebraska shellacking, some in Buckeye nation were curious to see if the offense put together successive performances. JT Barrett has been under center again and now the playbook is beginning to expand. There was a classic play action pass play that led to a shot down the field. The shifts and motions have increased in frequency leading to better matchups with some of the best skill players of the Buckeye offense. It has particularly helped Curtis Samuel allowing him to line up as a true #1 wide receiver in a variety of sets. This forces the defense account for him in more than just the slot and backfield and limits defensive play calls.   The College Football Playoff   The CFP Playoff rankings didn’t change as much as anticipated. With Bama holding on to the top spot and Ohio State taking control of number two. Michigan and Clemson rounded out the top four slots with Louisville, Washington, Wisconsin and Penn State. Two take things to take away, there are four Big Ten teams in the top eight and the reasons Kirby Hocutt gave for every team’s location. They are fascinating.       Topics:   Week 11 College Football Wrap Up   Week 12 Preview   The 3rd CFP Rankings   Ohio State v. Maryland: A Growing Playbook   Ohio State v. Michigan State

The College Football Playoff   After the first CFP rankings came out, everyone was left scratching their collective heads. How could a one lost Texas A&M team be ranked ahead of an undefeated Washington squad, who had been destroying the entire PAC 12? The Aggie experiment was short lived as they were knocked off by Mississippi State and lost their quarterback, Trevor Knight, in the process.   Under the old AP and Coaches Polling system Washington would have naturally slid into the #4 spot and Ohio State at #5. This logic appeared to be flawed due to the heavy emphasis on the strength of schedule metric that kept the Huskies out of the Top 4. After the most recent ranking Ohio State did not jump Washington. It begs the question, why? Ohio State has played a much tougher schedule and their non-conference opponents aren’t close to the level of the Washington’s. The short answer is, the CFP Committee makes it up… and they can continue to do this until they have to submit their final four teams.   BIG 12 & PAC 12   Across the nation the Oklahoma Sooners have continued to look strong. I thought they would win the Big 12 and despite their early losses, the Sooners are in the driver’s seat after handling Iowa State. Colorado might be the biggest surprise out west. After beating up the Bruins they control their destiny in the PAC 12 South, even though they will be outmatched in the title game.   Top 10 Action   Alabama survived a motivated LSU squad in Baton Rouge, but the offense looked like more of the same under former coach Les Miles. The Big Ten looks extremely impressive with 4 teams squaring in the top 10. Michigan rocked Maryland, Penn State surprisingly drubbed Iowa 41-14 and James Franklin may have finally turned the corner.   Ohio State v. Nebraska Wrap Up   Ohio State looks to have rebounded nicely after a two week hangover from their loss in Happy Valley. The offensive line has played much better the past two games, it has allowed Barrett to hang in the pocket and in turn has improved his mid-range accuracy. There were still plays to be made deep, but the offense keeps taking shots. The creative play calling was better than it has been since early in the season, but the formation variation and player location within those formations is making the difference. Moving around Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown will pay huge dividends as the Michigan matchup approaches.   The scoring Silver Bullets are back and it’s been a joy to watch. Enough said about the Defense.     Topics:   Week 10 College Football Wrap Up   Week 11 Preview   The 2nd CFP Rankings   Ohio State v. Nebraska: The Offense Everyone has been waiting on   Ohio State v. Maryland

Northwestern was supposed to be the game that put the Buckeye offense back on track. It looked like that would be the case. With the 1st drive Ohio State drove down quickly down the field for a touchdown. However the rest of the game wasn’t that easy and while the offensive line played much better; some of the same issues arose in the passing game.   The Silver Bullet Defense   Even though the Buckeye defense yielded 17 points against the Wildcats, it was a solid performance as usual. Northwestern did a few things to help stop the Buckeye pressure:   Moved the pocket Quick passing game Effective play action   The College Football Playoff Selection Committee   The 1st rankings are out and there was only one large surprise. It was collectively accepted that after Alabama there next three spots would contain some combination of Clemson, Michigan and Washington. Two of the three were in, but the PAC 12 leader was replaced by Texas A&M. It was a curious move to say the least, but does it really matter? And what evidence did the committee see to justify placing the Aggies and the Huskies?     Topics:   Week 9 College Football Wrap Up   Week 10 Preview   The 1st CFP Rankings   Ohio State v. Northwestern: The offense is improving   Ohio State v. Nebraska

Ohio State ran into the Penn State buzz saw in the 3rd quarter on Saturday night. After going up 14 points and having the ball twice on their own 40 to start drives, the Buckeyes had a chance to put the Nittany Lions away. They didn’t and were rewarded with a four quarter game. Where one play could shift the balance of momentum and it did.   The offensive line struggled on the edges and the wide receivers couldn’t separate. Penn State didn’t do much, but they were highly effective at pressuring JT Barrett.   Penn State Special Teams   It was the worst Special Teams performance under Urban Meyer. It is his baby, that’s why the Buckeyes special teams are loaded with starters and front line players. Here’s what happened:   -Blocked punt -Blocked FG for TD -Missed PAT -Muffed punt (that was recovered) -Critical Kick Off return to the 10 yard line -Kick Off team gave up a long return   That pretty much covers all of the special teams being complicit in the struggle. It won’t happen again because Urban Meyer will assure that is fixed.   Bama Rolls Again & Louisville Snaps Back   The #1 ranked Crimson Tide dominated the #6 A&M Aggies at home on Saturday. Trevor Knight made a nice push to tighten up the game 13-7 in the 2nd quarter, but ran out of gas in the 2nd half.   Lamar Jackson bounced back after a subpar performance against Duke. He took out his frustrations against and NC State squad who most recently squandered away a win against Clemson. The Wolfpack bottled up Deshaun Watson, but had no such luck against Lamar.     Topics:   Week 8 College Football Wrap Up   Week 9 Preview   Louisville’s Wolfpack Domination   Ohio State v. Penn St. What went wrong?   Ohio State v. Northwestern

Michigan was off and Clemson received manna from heaven. Those 2 events were apparently enough to help the Wolverines jump to third in the AP rankings. Not that it matters anyway, but now the Saturday after Thanksgiving is shaping up to be the Game of the Century Part Deax. Which will be a win for everyone in the College Football world. On the other hand Clemson must be living right. To watch NC State push a 35 yard game winning field goal as time expired absolutely took years off of Dabo Sweeny’s young life.   Spartan and Irish Issues   Michigan State is not only done in the Big Ten, but now there are serious concerns about their ability to make a bowl game. Mark Dantonio has always been able to right the ship, but this season he hasn’t been able to find a quarterback. This week’s loss to Northwestern leaves him with nowhere to turn.     Notre Dame is reeling worse than the Spartans. Has Brian Kelly lost his magic touch or have injuries and a tough schedule taken their toll on the Irish. Kizor has played fairly well, but he hasn’t had anytime to throw the ball. Combined with a lack of a running game, the Irish offense has played nearly as bad as their defense.   Nebraska: The forgotten Big 10 Team   Nebraska is undefeated and coming off of a nice win against a much improved Indiana football team. Mike Riley has the Cornhuskers playing as well as anytime in recent memory. With looming matchups with against Ohio State and Wisconsin can they even make the Big Ten Championship Game.   Buckeye Breakdown   Ohio State played in the toughest and loudest environment of the season. Until the Michigan game, Wisconsin was stoutest opponent the Buckeyes will see. The Badgers were able to control the line of scrimmage at times against the Buckeyes and once again limited JT Barrett’s ability to connect on deep passes. That is something that will need to remedied in the next couple of weeks to avoid issues later in the season.   The Beave will be a similar environment to Camp Randall, but the competition will be a different story. Shaq Barkley is a terrific running back and Trace McSorley is running the spread offense that James Franklin loves. These guys can make plays and will excite the fans. So it will be important to stop the Penn State offense early to keep the fans out of it. If not this will be a four quarter game that could look a lot like 2014, however I don’t see that happening.     Topics:   Week 7 College Football Wrap Up   Week 8 Preview   Is Nebraska for real?   Can Brian Kelly survive?   Ohio State v. Penn St.

Michigan embarrassed Rutgers to the tune of 78-0. It’s a score you rarely seen in college football and even more scarce between conference opponents. Jim Harbaugh is trying to send a message to the rest of the college football world. Maybe it’s that his Wolverines are good or maybe it’s that is he partially crazy. Both are true, but beating a team 78-0 generally comes back to haunt a coach.   The PAC 12 is officially a mess. The conference powers of the last few seasons and in their place has arose the Washington Huskies. The Huskies are looking good, smashing the Oregon Ducks. It now to the point at Oregon where they are officially done for this season and need to start making decisions about whether Mark Helfrich is the coach for the future. Stanford was supposed to walk away with the conference crown this season. That train has completely left the tracks. Washington State hammered David Shaw’s squad despite having one of the best players in the country. Shaw is still the right man for the job, but it appears there is a serious talent drain in Palo Alto.   The Ohio State Buckeyes struggled against the Indiana Hoosiers. It is a team that has given Urban Meyer trouble during his Buckeye tenure. While never losing, the Buckeyes have had issues stopping the Indiana offense in the past. This game was different. It was the Hoosier defense that stepped up to slow the Ohio State offense. The offensive line needs to step up their consistency. JT Barrett was under too much pressure.   The Wisconsin defensive front seven is the real deal. They come to play every game and while they may not have the elite athletes, they are tough, physical and play sound football. The little Watt on the edge doesn’t hurt either. For OSU to win it will come down to JT Barrett and the offensive line.       Topics:   Week 6 College Football Wrap Up   Week 7 Preview   Oregon & Stanford are done   Ohio State v. Wisconsin

Week 5 in College Football season was a wild one. There were terrific games all across the county, huge upsets and classic matchups that will determine the fate of the College Football Playoff. Clemson outlasted the Louisville Cardinals in the ABC prime time contest. It was a game that did not disappoint. However the down marker on the final play of the game led to a controversial ending. Despite the win, Lamar Jackson outplayed Deshaun Watson and is now firmly in the driver seat for the Heisman Trophy.   Michigan State and Stanford have been steady forces in the Top 10 over the last five years. Both teams play with a simple run first approach and try to win at the line of scrimmage. It is a formula that has worked extremely well. This weekend with Stanford’s drubbing from Washington and Michigan State’s overtime loss at Indiana, it fair to wonder were they go from here. I think Michigan State can recover, but it won’t be easy.   Ohio State smacked Rutgers and now takes on Indiana. It will be a much tougher game than it’s been in the past, but it isn’t a game that should be in jeopardy. Its one of the many great games in the College Football lineup, LSU has their last stand at Florida. Can Tennessee keep their momentum rolling against the Aggies? The best the SEC matchup will be the Razorbacks welcoming the Crimson Tide to Fayetteville. It is going to be a nice weekend.     Topics:   Week 5 College Football Wrap Up   Week 6 Preview   Can Louisville still make the playoff?   Ohio State v. Indiana

  The Week 4 College football slate was solid to say the least. There were some great games and some unexpected outcomes. LSU couldn’t get a much needed win to save their head coaches job. The loss to Auburn was a microcosm of Miles’s tenure at LSU. Play well enough to keep it close, but commit costly errors at the end of the game that end up in a loss. LSU was more talented than Auburn, but not better coached and because of the archaic offense it was finally time to move on.     Ohio State was off after a big win against Oklahoma, but it doesn’t mean it was a big day in the Big Ten. Wisconsin strolled into East Lansing and made a well coached Michigan State team look pedestrian. Mark Dantonio couldn’t have been happy after allowing the Badgers to roll up 30 points, while turning over the football.     Can Rutgers challenge Ohio State? I don’t think so, but there are a number of areas continuous improvements that must be worked on for the Buckeyes to beat better teams in November.     Topics:   Week 4 College Football Wrap UP   Week 5 Preview   The LSU Mess   Ohio State v. Rutgers

Week 4 of the College Football Season did not disappoint. All of the big games lived up to the drama, except one and everyone stayed locked on Florida State at Louisville because of the disbelief in what they were seeing. Lamar Jackson absolutely undressed the Seminole defense and that’s what Petrino’s Cardinals are ranked 3rd in the nation.   Ohio State strolled into Norman about a three point favorite, they rolled out with over a 20 point lead. It was a result that shocked most across the college football landscape, but not the Buckeye players. They were prepared and imposed their will upon the OU line until they quit. Find out how OSU was able to dominate OU on both sides of the ball.     Topics:   College Football Week 3 Wrap up   Week 4 Preview   OSU v OU Recap

College football has been on a roller coaster ride through 3 weeks. Week 1 was packed with terrific matchups; Week 2 left something to be desired as far as matchups go, but still had some solid games. Week 3 promises to be a gem. There are 4 great games with the 1st game kicking at noon. Louisville v. FSU kicks off the day, Ole Miss v. Bama at 3:30 and the evening entrées of MSU v. ND and OSU v. OU Saturday promise to keep your day as unproductive as ever.   Ohio State and Oklahoma looked to be the premier week 3 matchup this summer. Two preseason top 10 blue bloods, what’s not to love about that? With OU stumbling in there opening to Houston it pushed the Sooners into a corner. This is essentially a must win for Bob Stoops whose team went from a 10 point favorite to a 3 point dog in less than a month. Can Baker Mayfield and Co. rally the Sooners against a young Buckeye squad? I can’t wait until Saturday night   Topics:     OSU v. Tulsa Breakdown   Week 3 CFB Preview   OSU v. OU

Week one of CFB lived up to its billing. Rarely when something is called “the best ever” does it meet expectations. Week 1 did, but Week 2 will disappoint. With a dynamic AP Poll, very little should change this week given that there are no Top 25 matchups. It’s a barren wasteland and thus time to only watch the games you care about.   OSU looked great in their shredding of Bowling Green, but it didn’t tell us much. Tulsa is better than BG, but by how much? I don’t think Buckeye Fans should expect the same outcome, but OSU needs to be sharp.   Fifteen years ago the United States was changed for good. It has been more than two centuries since the United States had seen their mainland attacked. 9/11 rocked the sports world the following weekend and now we can commemorate those terrible events.     Topics:     OSU v. BG Breakdown   Tulsa Preview   CFB Week 2   Remembering 9/11

Football is back… and I for one am excited. The opening weekend has some of the best matchups in recent memory. Top 25 matchups like USC /Alabama, Wisconsin/LSU, and Houston/Oklahoma will be a treat to take in. College football fans will be able to benchmark teams against tough competition in the opening weekend.   Urban Meyer release Ohio State’s depth chart for the 1st time this season. Typically there are 22 starters between the offense and defense… OSU has nearly 30. It’s due all of the “OR” starters due to the immense youth on this football. Urban wants to see who the playmakers are and the only way to find out is to see it live. According to Carp will take you inside to see who will emerge and where are OSU’s strengths.     Topics:     Ohio State Depth Chart   Bowling Green Break Down   Big Games of Week One   Heisman hopefuls

Kurt Coleman’s road through the NFL hasn’t been an easy one. From his humble beginnings at Ohio State that began with a tragedy, to a rough third season; Kurt has been a consummate professional. He managed to keep a positive attitude through the entire process. Not an easy feat, he’s now on top, so what’s next?   Topics:   Time at OSU   Relationship with Tyson Gentry   Rocky Road of the NFL

Cleveland hadn’t won a title in over 50 years, so it seemed fitting that their Championship parade would run long. Lebron poured his heart on the stage and it was littered with profanity. It bothered some and excited others.   NBA free agency here and owners are throwing around cash like drunken sailors. Mozqov got paid big $$$ by the Lakers, he is only one example. The problem is for me is now many young players under 30 are declining to represent the USA in the Olympics. It bothers me   The Best season yet of Game of Thrones. Period.   Topics:   A Cleveland Parade   The Olympic Dream   NBA Free Agency   Game of Thrones

All hope seamed lost. The Cavs fell apart late in Game 4 and blew seemingly any chance of a NBA. However, an improbable win in Game 5 changed the paradigm. Although the “Nutcracker” Green didn’t play, the Cavs have a home game to force a seventh and decisive game. It’s not how many planned it, but there still is hope. How can the Cavs find a win? There is a path.   OJ Simpson is one of the most intriguing sports characters in American history. His rise from the slums of San Francisco to national fame was that of a fairly tail. Although it ended in a nightmare, how OJ developed into the man he became is extremely interesting.   Game of Thrones Episode 8 is over. Now the its time for the most exciting show of the season “THE BASTARD BOWL.” We will break down all you need to know for the next episode.       Topics:   NBA Finals Game 5   OJ Simpson: Made in America   Game of Thrones

The term “must win” in sports is used almost to the point of nausea. However, if the Cavs were going to have any hope of winning a NBA Title Game 3 was a “must win.” There was no way to expect Cleveland to reel of 4 straight against the best regular season team in NBA history. They turned in a performance for the ages and not a moment too soon.   The House that Harley built had been around for nearly a century, however there has never been beer sold through the entire stadium on game day. It is going to happen and it will be glorious (to me), but there will be some detractors.   Game of Thrones season 6 has been filled with surprised and revivals. Old characters have popped up everywhere. Episode 7 is especially revealing. I break it all down on this edition of According to Carp. For the Night is dark and full of terrors.   Topics:   NBA Finals Game 3   Beer in the Shoe   Game of Thrones

Former walk-on LB Joe Burger may hail from Cincinnati, but he still loves one Cleveland team. The La Salle alum joins According to Carp to describe what “Patriot Week” means to OSU Football team and how Coach “Mick” keeps “The Grind Fresh” with a number of specialty themes throughout the offseason training program. What would be more appropriate heading into Memorial Day Weekend than Patriot Week.   The Cavs now have control of the Eastern Conference Finals and seemed poised to head to the NBA Final. OKC appears to be the their foe, but is that the best matchup? And is  that the team the Cavs and their fans would like to play? Joe and I tackle all of those questions.   Episode 5 of season 6 is done. It is the halfway mark of the Game of Thrones. There are many interesting theories of who is related, how the wall was built and many other mind bending thoughts. We air them all out on According to Carp.   Topics:   Buckeyes Offseason Training   Cavs Final Predictions   Game of Thrones Theories

The NBA playoffs are in full force and the Cleveland Cavs are rolling, but who will they play? The East appears to be garbage, but who do they match up with best? Beau and I discuss the potential matchups and if the Cavs can bring an NBA banner home to Cleveland?   Jim Harbaugh has set the college football world on fire with his spring ball road show. With NCAA lifting the Satellite Camp ban, it has opened up the entire world to him. UM is hosting camps all across the U.S. and even one in Australia. But it was is his attempt to partner with Chris Ash and Rutgers that fueled the Ohio v. Michigan boarder war. Ash called his former mentor and now OSU and Rutgers will be forging a camp alliance.   Season Six of Game of Thrones has been intriguing to say the least. It appears to be the season where many of the larger story line questions will begin to be answered. I credit Beau for turning me onto this unbelievable gem.   Topics:   Cavs in the NBA Playoffs   Rutgers & OSU Satellite Alliance   Game of Thrones

The 2016 NFL Draft was filled with excitement and trades. Very few years will see a 1st round with the level of team movement what was witnessed this year. After an uneventful 2015, this year’s draft started off with a bang. Two blockbuster trades for two quarterbacks before a single second had ticked off the clock. That type of aggressive behavior set the stage for a 1st round that saw the Browns move twice, five Buckeyes drafted and three in the top 10. Overall 12 Buckeyes were drafted in the top 150 picks, a very impressive feat (even if they fell short of the overall record). We will take a look at some of the best landing spots for Buckeye draftees, I answer a few twitter questions and we put a nice bow on the draft.   Satellite camps were banned by the NCAA after many of the southern schools deemed that it was an unfair recruiting advantage. It takes years to get any legislation passed with the NCAA, but they were able to make this ruling in only a few months. There was no reason given and the public outcry was strong. However, the NCAA without reason caved to social pressure and abruptly reversed its ruling. They dumped the story out a few hours before the start of the 1st round of the NFL draft. Why did it happen? We will take a look in this edition of According to Carp.     Topics:   2016 NFL Draft   The Ohio State Draft Class   NCAA Satellite Camps

Spring football is finally over. Every year the Spring Game punctuates the 15 practices over the previous 6 weeks. There are players who will have breakout performances in the Spring Game, but does that carry over to the fall? Often times no, but that doesn’t mean that is can’t. Michael Thomas has proved to be the spring exception. Who else stepped up this year? Did Joe Burrow solidify his hold on the backup QB job?   The Tennessee Titans made the trade of the draft with the LA Rams. The Rams gave up a bounty for the right to pick their next franchise QB. On the surface this looks like it hurt the Browns, but I think it was really a blessing in disguise. Find out why on this edition of According to Carp.   Topics:   Spring Game Wrap Up   Remembering Will Smith   NFL draft trade updates

Ohio State’s spring ball is nearly half over, but there are still many unresolved issues. Urban Meyer and the Buckeye staff are still looking to solve some of the position problems that occurred with the departure of 16 starters from both sides of the ball. The only way to determine who can handle the pressure is to turn up the heat and that is exactly what Urban has been doing to the O Line, Wide Receivers and QB’s. Even though JT Barrett is the incumbent starter, a back up must still emerge. Find out how these positions battles are playing out.   Thad Matta is the most successful coach in OSU Hoops history. Outside of a National Title, he has achieved everything imaginable during his tenure. However with 4 of 5 freshman transferring after only a single season there is a sense of worry. What are the problems most freshman face and how tough a freshman year can be will be answered in this edition of According to Carp.     Topics:   Spring Ball Update   OSU Hoops Transfer Issue

I am always curious how a kid from southern California, with no Ohio ties, ends up at OSU. Michael Thomas had every reason to stay on the west coast. He is the nephew of NFL legend and former USC Trojan Keshawn Johnson, but some how ended up in the Buckeye state. Maybe it was his one year stint at Fork Union Military Academy that led to his love for Ohio State or maybe it was his future college QB Cardale Jones, who convinced him to join him in Columbus? Michael answers why he came and who his dream NFL team would be. We discuss what makes him a special player and how he helped hone his skills through a tough couple of years to start his collegiate career. It wasn’t the tradition path to the NFL that many people think.       Topics:   From Cali to Fork Union   Learning from a Red Shirt   What makes Michael Thomas a great WR   Who he wants to play for in the NFL

Pro Day has come and gone, but did any former Buckeye help their draft stock? Or more importantly did anyone damage their professional future. We will break down every player performance and did they meet the expectations laid out before them.   It was a spectacular sight on the turf at the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility. Both NFL Network and ESPN were broadcasting live during the duration of Pro Day, while BTN televised most of the drill work from their elevated position on the catwalk. What effect did it have on player performance and is the biggest event in OSU history?   Week One of Spring Ball is in the books. With two practices officially under their belts, what has stuck out during this brief period?   Topics:   OSU Pro Day Review   Spring Ball Week 1 Recap

Pro Day is always an eventful experience and it is especially true this year at OSU. With the 2016 OSU draft class poised to potentially break the 1st Rounders and the total players drafted records, it is a safe assumption to say the Woody Hayes will be packed with scouts. More than just scouts, there will be a plethora of GM’s and Head Coaches in attendance to get a first hand account of what players could be sculpting the future of their respective franchise. There will be stress for the players, but who needs a strong performance coming on the heels of the combine? What drills will require their best performance? Every Buckeye has a different game plan.   Peyton Manning retired from the NFL. He started his NFL career before I began at OSU and finished after I was done. His impact on the NFL could not be understated and I will tell you why.   Topics:   OSU Pro Day Preview   Who needs to right their combine wrongs?   Peyton Manning’s legacy

The NFL Combine is the first major test of every future NFLer. The experience will differ for every player depending on position and prospective draft status. However, one thing remains constant; the long stressful days that lead to sleep deprived nights. It’s a test that can challenge even the most mentally tough men. More than the physical on field testing, it is the evening interviews that challenge players the most. Tough, invasive questions will force a player out of his comfort zone and into a land where he must react to the most inappropriate personal attacks. The reaction is what coaches and front office personal are looking for from players. Can he handle tough coaching and hostile road environments? They want to find out. Take a look behind the scenes in this episode of According to Carp.   Topics:   Combine stories   Players falling in Pools   Uncomfortable Questions

Recruiting can be a tough business and Jake Ballard knows it the story all to well. It would be easy to assume a successful player like Jake had an early offer from OSU. What I found out might shock you. His road to Ohio State was far from perfect, but it’s safe to say he made the right decision. The decision eventually led him to the New York Giants and even after a long successful tenure with the Buckeyes, he was back at square one in the NFL.   The NFL transition wasn’t smooth for Jake and there were many hurdles along the way. The life of an undrafted free agent isn’t a glorious one. A camp injury almost derailed his dreams, but Jake fought to keep them alive and became a Super Bowl Champion.     Topics:   The Recruiting Process   Back to Back National Championship Losses   Rose Bowl Champions   Super Bowl Champions

James Laurinaitis’s journey to Ohio State was as unusual as they come. The son of a professional wrestler, “The Animal” was a legendary member of the Legion of Doom. Joe, his father, raised him in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where hockey, not football dominated the sports landscape. James’s hockey skills were so legendary, that had he chose hockey, many of his coaches thought he would be a 2nd or 3rd round NHL draft pick.   James instead elected to focus on football and became the hidden gem of the 2005 recruiting class. Doc Tressel, brother of Jim, was credited with his discovery and Luke Fickell was the position coach who sealed his commitment. He was forced into duty his freshman year against Michigan and the rest was history. 3 All American nods and a Butkus Award later, the kid from the Twin Cities had etched his own line at Linebacker U. Find out his thoughts on his time with Coach Tressel? How he developed into the player he became? Did Cam Newton handle the Super Bowl Press conference the right way? All that and more on this episode of According to Carp.   Topics:   Journey to OSU   Losing back to back National Championship Games   How Jim Tressel recruited him   His relationship with Luke Fickell

 The Denver Broncos pulled the only of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history. A 6 point underdog found a way to win by double digits. It was a sloppy game, filled with penalties, turnovers, and offensive miscues. The seemingly unflappable Cam Newton wasn’t able to carry the offense to victory without any semblance of a rushing attack. The loss wasn’t all on Cam’s shoulders, much of the credit should be given to the Denver defense. Wade Phillips utilized his personal brilliantly. Maximizing the rush of Miller and Ware, while leaning on Roby, Talib, and Harris in coverage; it allowed the Broncos to have a devastating performance. The Gucci Cowboys weighs in on all of it and more on this episode of According to Carp.   Topics:   Super Bowl 50 Breakdown   Buckeye Super Bowl Performances   Peyton Manning’s Next Moves

There are very few offseason sporting to events that rise to the level College Football Signing Day. The first Wednesday in February has nearly risen to the level of a national holiday throughout the college football faithful. It should come as no surprise that most of the teams competing in New Year’s Day Six Bowls finished in the top 25 by nearly every major recruiting agency. The Big Ten has followed up their two solid seasons with 5 teams in the top 25 with OSU and Michigan in the top 10. This bodes extremely well for the future of the conference and we shall find out who filled their needs?   The Super Bowl is quickly approaching and there seems to be a strong public sentiment on who will emerge as the champion. I have been incredibly impressed with Cam Newton’s growth since his rookie campaign. However, even though Cam and the Panthers are nearly a touchdown favorite; I will tell you why and how the Broncos hoist the Lombardi and Peyton will ride off into the sunset.   Topics:   2016 Recruiting Wrap Up   Ohio State’s recruiting class   Super Bowl 50 Preview

After leaving the state of Florida to attend Ohio State, Jeff Heuerman slowly became a star. It wasn’t necessarily for all of the attention he garnered in the passing game, but rather for his elite blocking skills. He became a captain and a corner stone for the 2014 National Championship and ultimately a 3rd round draft pick on the way to the Super Bowl. However his road wasn’t that simple. The trials of 2011, 2012 and 2013 helped shape the identity and focus of not only the team, but also Jeff. We go inside the intensity of the Buckeyes’ offseason training program and difficulty of the rehabbing a torn ACL during his rookie season. Most importantly I find out why he chose to leave the state of Florida and how he escaped Urban Meyer and the Gators.   Topics:   2014 National Championship   The most talented Buckeye   A rookie season like no other

Playing for a variety of coaching through my NFL tenure has allowed my to gain a unique perspective into many of the NFL matchups throughout the season… None more so than this weekend’s AFC Championship game. After spending three seasons with Wade Phillips and a season with Belichick, I now look at this game in a different light. How do the Pats try slow the Broncos’ running attack? What has Wade Phillips tried against Brady in the past? I’ll let out how I think both coaches will attack their opposing quarterbacks and if it has any chance of success.   As the sun is setting the NFC Championship will be kicking off and it couldn’t feature two more different teams. The Cards want to air it out with Palmer and the bunch, while Cam and Carolina would love low scoring, ugly football game. What happens when these two ideologies collide? Find out on this edition of According to Carp.     Topics:   AFC Championship Game   NFC Championship Game   Manning v. Brady the last hurrah?

Jack Mewhort is a native of Toledo, Ohio, which puts him on the front lines of the greatest rivalry in sports. Jack and I discuss how he came to choose Ohio State over the “Team up North” and who were his main recruiting influences. After arriving at OSU, his career took off after his redshirt season, becoming a starting tackle. However, after the resignation of Jim Tressel, he and his teammates endured one of the most difficult stretches in school history. Three coaches in as many seasons, capped off with 6-7 finish in 2011 and a bowl ban the following season. Jack has been through it all and was able to garner a 2nd round pick from the Indianapolis Colts. What’s it like to protect Andrew Luck? Who is the most talented player he played with at OSU? Find out on this edition of According to Carp.     Topics:   The OSU transition from Tress to Fick to Urban   How tough were the 2011 and 2012?   Comparing Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer   Hitting the Rookie Wall

  The College football season is finally over. For the fourth time in seven years Bama again reins supreme. How were they able to do it? And even though most of the world hates Lane Kiffin, how must credit does he deserve? I thought his play calling was a crucial piece of Alabama’s success and will expand more upon it.   Deshaun Watson is a full grown man. The Vince Young comparisons were abundant on Twitter throughout the course of the game and for good reason. He was almost able to put together one of the great all time performances against the seemingly unbeatable team. How high is his ceiling and should we be surprised by his success?   The WAY TO EARLY Top 25 for 2016 our out. We take a peak inside the rankings and whether they will stand firm come this August? Find out my take on this According to Carp.       Topics:   Alabama v. Clemson Wrap up   How good is Nick Saban?   How important was Lane Kiffin?   The Way to Early Top 25 for 2016

  Once again the Gucci Cowboy himself, Beau Bishop, joins the show from Cleveland. As the dust settles on the College Football season we try to define the 2015 season for the Ohio State Buckeyes. What were his feelings watching the Fiesta Bowl romp that could have been far worse had Joey Bosa not been ejected. What are Zeke Elliot’s NFL prospects and will he end up being the first running back taken in the draft? Raekwon McMillan had some kind words for Defensive Coordinator Luke Fickell after the game via Instagram. How will the arrival of new Co-Coordinator Greg Schiano affect the dynamics within the defense room and does Beau like the hire?   The College Football Playoff powers that be forced us to consume the semifinals on New Year’s Eve. We discuss how that wrecked the whole feeling of the New Year’s Day games. Why did they do it? Beau will tell you his thoughts.   Cleveland is a mess and the Browns are firing coaches like most people change socks. How does Jimmy Haslam plan to succeed? Who will take the job? And is a job worth taking?   Topics:   Ohio State v. Notre Dame Fiesta Bowl wrap up   The future of the Ohio State Defense   Why the CFP Semi Finals were changed to December 31st and was it a good move?   Cleaning up the Cleveland Browns

We are in the thick of College Football Bowl season and New Year’s Day is quickly approaching. That means the biggest games of the college football season will be commencing with the “New Year’s Six” Bowl games. Two national semi finals in the Cotton (Michigan State v. Alabama) and Orange (Oklahoma v. Clemson) will take center stage on New Year’s Eve. A development I strongly dislike, but that’s when they will be played and I can’t change it. We talk the Peach, Rose, Sugar…. And of course the Fiesta. With the classic matchup between Ohio State and Notre Dame looming, which team will be more motivated after having their National Title hopes destroyed. What are strengths of Notre Dame? How can Ohio State neutralize their offensive speed? Find out.   Watching Johnny Manziel the last few games of the season has me rethinking my evaluation of him. Can he be a top tier NFL? I still don’t believe so, but there is another QB in his draft class that has fairly comparable skills, and it is leading his team to the playoffs. Find out who Johnny’s ceiling could be….IF he takes football and life seriously.     Topics:   Fiesta Bow Preview of Ohio State and Notre Dame   New Year’s Six bowl matchups and predictions   Johnny Football’s new professional ceiling

New Albany native Darron Lee played quarterback his entire football career, but when OSU Linebacker coach Luke Fickell came calling, he decided he would be able to switch positions. Darren and I discuss his redshirt year in 2013 and how tough the transition was for a skinny athletic kid to come in and play the type of physically demanding football it takes to earn your keep as a member of the Silver Bullet defense. He talks about the difficulties many of the young players faced during the 2014 season. After suffering difficult loss early to Virginia Tech, Darren discusses how the night game in Happy Valley defined both JT Barrett as a starter and the 2014 OSU squad as a whole.   Topics:   Ohio State 2013-2015   How tough it was for a RS Freshman to play   Playing with other terrific linebackers in Josh Perry and Raekwon McMillan   How the tough it was to redshirt during the 2013 season

Ohio State Linebacker Josh Perry joins the show to discuss his time at Ohio State. Not just the good times, but also the bad. How a Big Ten Championship and Orange Bowl loss in 2013 helped catapult the 2014 team to the 1st Undisputed National Title in College Football history. We discuss his recruitment and development as a Buckeye and how he transformed from a “soft suburban kid” into a three-year starter, captain and All Big Ten Linebacker. It is a remarkable conversation from a kid who I didn’t know if he would last a season at OSU, let alone need a trophy case for his awards.   Out of all of the great players on OSU’s roster, find out who Josh Perry thinks is the best and what it has been like to play for Coach Meyer. We also share stories about Coach Fickell and how vital he has been to the defense.   Topics:   Ohio State 2012-2015   The most talented Buckeye as per Josh Perry   Playing with other terrific linebacker in Darren Lee and Raekwon McMillan   How the defeats in 2013 made 2014 a possibility

Every season the NFL draft comes near the end of April or beginning of May. Every year there are scores of collegiate players who forgo their eligibility to try their luck in the NFL. Some of those players go undrafted, but some are selected in the 1st round. It is an inexact science to say the least. I believe Ohio State has potentially 10 players, from a variety of positions, who could leave early. We tackle the 5 players on offense and 5 on players defense and whether it would be better for them to stay another season and if I think they will. Some on the list are obvious, but some may surprise you.   Topics:   NFL Draft   Ohio State   Underclassman and whether they should leave early?

College Football Championship Saturday is final over and the projected chaos never happened. Sure, there were plenty of good games (sans Bama v. Florida), but there would be no drama for the top four teams in the College Football Playoff. The only drama would be the matchups. As always we will deconstruct the statements made by Jeff Long to see the true meaning of his words. Also we will breakdown the awful ending to the ACC Championship game. The Tar Heels were robbed. Not of the game, but of the OPPORTUNITY to win it. Given the struggles of the their QB Williams, it would have only been fitting for him to have the opportunity to tie it up on the final drive.     Tiger, Peyton, and Kobe are all at near the end of the road. Tiger acknowledged that his best days are probably behind him. Peyton has been sidelined with a foot injury for the last few weeks and even prior to this absence, his play was struggling. With how the Broncos are playing, it is safe to wonder whether he will play again? Lastly, Kobe is a shell of his former self and has announced his retirement at the end of the season. Of those three legends, whom would you like to see in their prime one more time? I lay out the their careers and make the case for my choice.   Topics:   College Football Playoff Rankings   College Football Championship Saturday   Jeff Long’s weekly comments and what do they mean?   Tiger, Peyton, and Kobe who do you want to see one more time?

The College Football regular season is finally over and the rankings are in. Three Big Ten teams sit in the top 6 (Iowa, Michigan State, and Ohio State), but can only one of them get in? History says “YES,” but history is only a year old. The Big 12 champ Oklahoma is a lock, but what about the ACC and Clemson or the SEC and Bama? If either of them loose are their conferences represented? Each Tuesday Jeff Long, the Playoff Committee Selection Chair, sits in front of Reece Davis and answers question after question about the process and how movement within the rankings occurs. Each week Jeff seems to give a slightly different answer. I have been monitoring is comments each week and will break them down for you.   College coaches get fired every single year, but this year the firings seem to be quicker and more frequent than in years past. Do openings at “second tier” schools matter? Or even school outside of your favorite conference? Yes the do and I’ll tell you why and how they can affect your team in an unexpected way.     Topics:   College Football Playoff Rankings   How can Stanford or Ohio State join the Final Four?   Jeff Long’s weekly comments and what do they mean?   Coaching Openings in College Football and their unintended consequences

Back by popular demand, Beau Bishop joins the show once again. If it all works out, the guy will be on as much as he can handle it. We talk about the Michigan State loss and how does Ohio State respond? Urban Meyer has dominated the Big 10, but his two conference losses have come to the same coach. How good is Mark Dantonio?   After a devastating loss THE RIVALRY is heating up with this years addition of Jim Harbaugh. The guy is crazy, but he’s crazy like a fox and has brought passion back to THE GAME. Since the Big 10 has added a conference game and with the beginning of the CFP, does it still have the same meaning? To the fans? There are more national recruits now, do they feel the same passion for the game? We tackle those tough questions and more. Also who can slide into the CFP and does it mean anything week to week? Can anything be read into Jeff Long’s comments?   There are coaching openings around the country. Which gigs are the best and will Les Miles get fired? Should he? Or is LSU about to pull a Nebraska?   Johnny Maziel has finally appeared to eliminate his final chance at a career in Cleveland and probably the NFL. Beau weighs in on how the Browns have handled this situation. Also Manning is possibly done in Denver, but Beau believes he may have a final act left.       Topics:   OSU vs. MSU breakdown and the play calling situation   Urban Meyer and Mark Dantonio   College Football Playoff Selections   Les Miles and CFB coaching openings   Peyton Manning and Johnny Football are nearing the end

My former Linebacker mate and former OSU Football Strength Coach Anthony Schlegel joins the program to talk about Ohio State’s performance against Illinois. We breakdown the strengths and weaknesses of this OSU team and why they tend to start slow against lesser competition. Anthony uses his experience as a former coach to diagnose some of the teams issues and what it’s like to play and coach in Champaign, Illinois and if this Silver Bullet defense is title worthy?   It was a wild weekend in College Football. Upsets were abundant. With Baylor losing to Oklahoma can Oklahoma State carry the torch for the Big 12? Or can a one loss Oklahoma find a way to slide in? The PAC 12 is a mess with both Stanford and Utah losing. How does that affect Notre Dame’s chances of getting in? With all of the movement, does the Big 10 have four teams in the College Football Playoff Top 10? And as always I predict the College Football Playoff Top 10 Rankings.   The Heisman race is coming down the home stretch. We discuss who is in the lead and who has the best opportunity to showcase their skills? Is for Fournette out of the race with LSU’s 2nd loss? Has Henry locked it up? We dive in on According to Carp.   Topics:   Anthony Schlegel’s take on this OSU Squad   Ohio State vs. Illinois Game breakdown   College Football Playoff Selection Committee (PREDICTED) Rankings   The Wild Week in College Football   Heisman Hopefuls

The legend Beau Bishop returns to talk about the most recent College Football Playoff Rankings. With Clemson alone at the top, we tackle how the decisions are made? Should OSU own the #3 spot? The B1G coming in with a league leading 6 teams, an event that no one would have been able to predict a few seasons ago.   Beau gives his take on the JT situation and whether his suspension was just. Is the CFP Committee simply banking on what OSU did last season? The OSU offense has shown promise with JT Barrett at the helm, but will that be enough down the stretch?   OSU announced beer and wine sales throughout the entire Schott for this upcoming winter sports season. How does that play in Columbus? Is this a trial balloon for expanding sales in the Shoe in 2016? Will OSU lose the collegiate experience?   Daily Fantasy is growing at a rapid rate. The attorney general for the state of New York recently declared it gambling and declared it illegal there. We define Daily Fantasy and talk about whether or not is should be permitted throughout the country.       Topics:   College Football Playoff Selection Committee Rankings   JT Barrett and his recent suspension   Urban Meyer’s commitment to Braxton Miller and Cardale Jones   Alcohol at College Sports Venues

(see Alabama v. LSU), some were close (see FSU v. Clemson) and some turned into upsets that no one expected (see Michigan State v. Nebraska & TCU v Oklahoma State). With everything that happened we will break down all the big games and what they mean for the College Football Playoff Selection Committee this Tuesday. From the ACC to the PAC 12, all the big games from every conference will be discussed and how they can affect the race to Glendale. The big games for next Saturday are lined up and how did the Heisman hopefuls perform.   OSU took on Minnesota with Cardale Jones at the helm. The Buckeyes came away with a 28-14 win, but was that enough in the committee’s eyes to keep a spot in the final 4? We will breakdown Cardale’s performance and if he did enough for him to keep the job against Illinois?     Topics:   Week 10 College Football Breakdown   Heisman front runners   Who will be in the new CFP Final 4?   Ohio State v. Minnesota

On November 3rd the College Football Playoff Selection Committee issued their first rankings. We will breakdown the 1st four in (Clemson, LSU, OSU, & Alabama) and who can play their way in? Are the four teams deserving, or are they the best? What criterion is being used to rank the teams? There are so many questions to be answered and we will tackle them all. Find out who I think will move up and who will slide down?   The NFL Quarterback carousel is always spinning. The most recent victim was 49ers Colin Kaepernick, but why is he struggling? Has Matthew Stafford regressed or is he a product of a struggling organization and a makeshift Offensive Line? With a potential glut of young QBs on the market in 2016 are any of them worth the risk?       Topics:   College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s 1st Rankings of the 2015 season   The top four teams in the College football playoff   Alabama v. LSU matchup on Saturday

Imagine the man who may have been the greatest influence in your sport’s life suddenly passes away prior to the biggest game of your life. That is the situation that faced Royals Ace Edison Volquez prior to Game 1 of the World Series. He is pitching against Matt “The Dark Knight” Harvey and the weight of the world was about to be placed upon his shoulders. Except his family asked that Manager Ned Yost withhold the info until after the game. He respected the family’s wishes, except some in the media felt it was their “DUTY” to inform the public via social media.   Greg Hardy escaped prosecution and is signed by the Dallas Cowboys. Since he completed suspension he is playing exceptional, but has he learned anything from his terrible mistake? And athletes will never cease to amaze me with the things they say and the decisions they make.   Topics:   Edison Volquez and his memorable WS Game 1 performance   Has Greg Hardy learned his lesson? It doesn’t seem like it.   Athletes acting foolish.

College football is constantly changing and at the 8 week mark there has been a lot of movement within the polls. Many truths that college football fans thought they knew have been proven wrong. With the 1st College Football Playoff Selection Committee rankings on the horizon, who is set up to make a run? Coaches who have already been ousted, who are the leading candidates for the Miami job? Can Lenard Fournette hang on to his Heisman hopes? We will tackle all of these questions and provide some provoking thoughts on how the season will shape up.     Topics:   Coast to Coast recap from the ACC to the PAC 12 with everything in between   Coaching Vacancies   College Football Playoff Projections   Heisman Projections