Bowling Season is Here

Hey Longhorns, why don't you sit this one out...

OK, so before I get into this, let me just say I know it's weird that I've gone damn-near 3 weeks without a post, especially in this, the pinnacle of the sports year (bowl games, tightening NFL playoff picture, NBA doing everything it can to remind folks the season has in fact started, etc.). Well, I have no excuse. Busy, busy, busy - but here we go....

Well friends, the bowl schedule is official and we've all had time to take a peek, pick our favorites and make our big proclamations. If you follow yours truly on facebook you know where I stand in a little bowl we call the Granddaddy of them all, but I'll get there.

But first, since there's no Texas bowl game to talk about (that sounds weird), let's talk about what else may be going on in and around the Austin area. If you ask some Longhorn die hards (and I have, trust me), you may think that the world is pretty damn close to coming to an end. Needless to say, Texas fans are a bit on edge - after all we're in uncharted waters for this team.....but not as much as you may think. I'm sorry, did someone ask what I thought. Well, here you go....

• I'll say it again and again and again - I love Will Muschamp: his energy and passion and his Xs and Os most of all. BUT, if you'll remember, replacing Defensive Coordinators at Texas is nothing new to Mack and this program. Since Mack has taken over, here are the names of the D-Coordinators he's employed: Carl Reese, Greg Robinson, Duane Akina/Larry McDuff (co), Gene Chizik and Will Muschamp. If you count the co-coordinator debacle as 1, that's five coordinators. And guess what, with exception to Akina and McDuff (and maybe the latter Carl Reese years) it's worked out pretty well. So let's all relax. And besides Texas fan, did you really think Muschamp was going to stick around for, literally, who knows how long to take over this program? I didn't.
  
• I'm shocked Florida made this hire. SHOCKED. Not because I think he'll fail, but because this is Florida and you don't just abruptly announce that your next coach happens to have zero head coaching experience. There's nothing wrong with starting somewhere, but at Florida? Really? This is a prime example of SEC people jerking off about the fact that they are SEC people and that automatically makes them better at everything football than everyone else. But this is a bit of a shock. I hope he does well because I genuinely like him, but this is a gamble, no question.
  
• Muschamp would have been stupid to turn this down. Don't freak out on him. Hmmm, I can have this Ferrari in 3-5 years (maybe) over here, or I can have this one right now. I'll take this one right now, thank you. These coaches HAVE to strike while they are hot commodities because that's how you make your money. Look at RichRod up in Michigan - you think his shine has worn off just a bit? But he struck while he was hot and cashed in.
  
• The Offensive Coordinator hire is still a MUCH bigger deal. Remember that list of D-coordinators we've employed in Mack's tenure above? I don't need to tell you the offensive side of that list is one. Just one.
  
• Do you really doubt Mack Brown at this point? They just approved ridiculous salaries for the next hires at both positions and I'll take his track record on coach evaluation any day of the week.
  
• Who I like for D-coordinator: Randy Shannon. Who I like for O-coordinator: not too sure on this one yet. But if they hire Gilbert's old coach at Lake Travis I'm going to puke. They won't.
  
• PS- if they name Applewhite co-coordinator, don't freak out. I truly believe they will (and should) bring in a seasoned coordinator who has proven track record. They want to keep Applewhite, slowly give him more responsibility and get him a raise and this "title raise" is one way to do it. He won't be developing game plans or calling plays, I'm confident in that.
  

Bottom line is settle down Texas fans. Most programs go through something like this far more regularly than we do, but it's ok. It will all be fine and I would almost guarantee Texas will be bowl bound next year.

Bowl Games and what I think...
Let's take a quick peek at some of the better bowl games (and some of the crappier ones), shall we?
National Championship Game - Gotta have this on the top of the list. I mean, who isn't extremely pumped about watching this one? Two teams that have been challenged and pushed throughout the year, but have come out unscathed. Love that. And please spare me your this schedule was tougher than that schedule - they went through without a loss. That's impressive. Definitely making plans for this one.

Cotton Bowl - What a wonderful match up this is. Both teams are coming in playing pretty damn good football. I give LSU a slight edge here because they have definitely been more battle tested, and come out the other side of those battles, but don't sleep on the Aggies. They are playing well, but you can't help but to wonder if they are that dreaded and rare position where the time off may really hurt them. The way they were coming on you couldn't help but to wonder if they wouldn't prefer to just keep playing games each week leading up to the bowl game. I think this will be good, but I'd be stupid not to give the Tigers a slight edge here.

Rose Bowl - Outside of the good folks in Fort Worth, I may be the only one who thinks TCU is going to take this one and take it bigger than anyone imagines. I know Wisconsin has been steamrolling teams, but I believe in TCU and I think they'll have a much bigger chip on their shoulders than will the Badgers. I can't help but to wonder if Wisconsin feels a bit screwed because they'd rather be playing a Pac 10 team...I hope they're ready because believe it or not, I think they're about to take on the best opponent they've faced all year. Same goes for the Horned Frogs though. This will be a good one.

Capital One Bowl - Right up there with Cotton as the best non-BCS bowl game of the slate. Put me down as someone who thinks Michigan State is going to be pissed and wipe the field with Bama's team. The Spartans were royally screwed here: 1 of 3 Big 10 teams to finish the year with 1 loss, only to see the other two teams go to BCS games. I'd be pissed too. Meanwhile, Bama will be wondering what the hell happened in that Iron Bowl (STILL) and won't be focused. I'm taking Michigan State big here. 8+ points.

Fiesta Bowl - Really? Congrats OU, now you get to play 8-4 Connecticut. Of course, remember the last time OU came into a Fiesta Bowl against a "lesser" team and was favored big? Probably one of the best games any of us have seen in a long, long time. In case you've forgotten, they lost. Oh wait, they always lose BCS bowl games, don't they? This is an awful game here. I mean, terrible.

Sun Bowl - Just because don't you know the folks in El Paso (and the cartels in Juarez) will LOOOOOVE to see Notre Dame and Miami play there....when the hell will that ever happen in that city again? I think this one sold out in less than a day.

Orange Bowl - Sort of a sleeper game here. Two teams that have quietly had great years. Virginia Tech was left for dead after their opening day loss to Boise State followed by a loss to James Madison...the team, not the person. But in typical Virginia Tech fashion, they close out the year on a 10-game winning streak. I don't care who you're playing, that's impressive. Meanwhile, Stanford's lone loss was to title game-bound Oregon. This Stanford team is a hell of a team that is very well coached. I'll take Stanford in a close game here, but definitely tune in for this one as it will be a hum-dinger.

NFL Extravaganza
Every year I'm reminded more and more why the NFL is so much better than college football. I'm to the point now where I can literally watch any match up of NFL teams and will watch every second of it. And sports with playoffs is pretty awesome too. With one week remaining in the 2010 season, let's take a looksy, shall we....

• I've never been a huge fan of the Patriots, but my gosh, does Belicheck have a reliable and proven system or what? Look at the names on that roster and tell me how many you recognize. Now take out Brady and Welker and tell me....they're good. And they may be playing better right now than the 2007 16-0 team was playing during this time. That's a scary team.
  
• And speaking of - with all due respect to the renaissance of one Michael Vick, Tom Brady is the MVP. It's close....but not that close.
  
• Curious, interesting Sunday evening....with no game on. I find it oh-so odd that the NFL (a league that prides itself on playing in all kinds of weather) would postpone a game because of snow and wind...but here we are. The good news is we get an NFL game on Tuesday night.
  
• Seattle is 3 games under .500....and if they win next Sunday will win their division. Wow.
  
• Another note on that - look for the league to look at tweaking the "if you win your division you get home field in the playoffs" rule. Let's say Seattle wins, they'll be 7-9 and playing a playoff game at home against Tampa Bay, Giants, Packers or Saints....really? Wow.
  
• Weird year for coaches - after Singletary's departure today I believe that's 4 coaches who have lost their job in mid season. Niners had to let him go - love Big Mike, but he was losing it quickly. And for crying out loud, just stick with a QB and end it.... Other coaches likely out - Sparano (Miami), Mangini (Cleveland...although this is iffy), and Kubiak (Houston). Kubiak absolutely must go. I'll say it again - he belongs in College Station.
  
• Remember when the Bears were horrible this year and Cutler was going to lose it...oh, and Lovie Smith was certain to lose his job? They just locked up the NFC north and I don't think anyone wants any part of that juggernaut during the playoffs, especially in Chicago.
  
• What a gutsy performance by Drew Brees in Atlanta last night. I mean, after he threw that horrible pick six to that defensive end in the fourth quarter, I thought they were done. But nooooo.....Brees really nutted up and proved why he's one of the best in the business....and why the defending super bowl champs are again a force to be reckoned with.
  
• Guess what? Tuesday night football tonight. Woo Hoo! As Peter King wrote this week, this is a very dangerous precedent for the NFL in postponing games because of weather. As someone who loves, but is yet still a wuss with cold weather, let me just say the game will probably be a bit more exciting tonight vs Sunday night. After all, the wind chill will only be about 10 tonight so that's pretty warm for Philly this time of year.
  
• The playoffs are going to be incredible this year, especially when you get out of the wild card round. Just think...we could see Vick make his return to Atlanta, Baltimore and Pittsburgh in a rubber match, Jets and Pats part 3....it's going to be a damn good NFL postseason this year. Can't wait.
  
• As much as this pains me to say as a Longhorn fan (and Sooner hater), Sam Bradford is going to be a very special QB in this league for a long time barring injury. He is as solid as you can be at this point in his career and on a team like this. And give Spags credit - he truly came in and turned things around in St. Louis. And how happy is Stephen Jackson? As he enters the twilight of his career (I'd say he's got about 2 really good years left) he's got to be thrilled with the turnaround and the fact that defenses now have to pay attention to someone other than him for a change. Nice story there in St. Louis.
• If Belichek is the coach of the year (and he kind of has to be) than Todd Haley is 1b. Any doubts folks had about him as a head coach have to be gone. They're better than folks think they are, but still not likely to make a surprise run. I'll give them a home win in the playoffs this year (depending on the draw), but that's it. Even though, what a hell of a turnaround.
  
• Sad, sad deal for Sergio Kindle. I'm not sure this guy will ever play a down in the NFL and that is a damn shame. He's a ridiculous, rare talent. And boy, he really could have been a huge rebuilding block for that Ravens defense as the core begins to age (although Ray Lewis is like Castro and Dick Clark...he'll never die).
  

Non-Sports Thoughts for the Week
Happy New Year - I've got all sorts of cute Ella stories and crazy sh*t she says, but it's late and I'm beat.