UB What's Next

So the Gill Era is over what's next?

1) Coach

Coach Gill proved that one can win in Buffalo...however, we still lack tradition, and facilities to really compete in D-1 football.  We have too much momentum however to start from scratch so I argue we stay in house and promote Offensive Coordinator Danny Barrett to coach.  He has 6 years professional Head Coaching experience in the CFL and has been the most successful Offensive Coordinator in UB history.

Heisman OUTRAGE

Being in the West Coast, I am outraged that Alabama's Mark Ingram won the Heisman over Stanford's Toby Gerhart.  And that's saying something because I usually criticize the Heisman for using any excuse to give the award to a white player.

Turner Gill is a Jayhawk

Gasp...we knew this day would come, but it still hurts...because we are selfish, and we don't know where our program will go without Turner.  However, before I talk about us...lets talk about the man.

In 2006, I met the man, who was quiet down to earth, and genuine.

Some coaches you know are out for money, legacy and fame. Turner was a man who was baffled when he was forced to pick a new design for UB football..."I'm a football coach and now I have to do fashion design"  he said something to that effect.  I know me as a coach would take the opporutnity to do something iconic, Turner, just picked colors and went back to teaching and coaching.

College Playoffs Game 1: Troy (Sun Belt) at Alabama (SEC)

The Tide Rolls on Against In-State Foe, Advances to the Sugar Bowl.
December 19, 2009.

Two weeks after dominating the Gators in the SEC championship game, the Crimson Tide continued to dominate shutting out Troy.  Mark Ingram ran 40 times for 173 yards and scored all three of the games touchdowns.

Alabama started slow, fumbling on their first drive.  The tide defense recorded two interceptions in the first half, but the offense could only put 9 points up against a Trojan defense determined to keep Troy in the game.


However the Troy offense could not stimulate any offense.  Late in the second quarter McElroy connected with Smelley for a 40 yard pass down to the 15.  Three plays later Ingram punched in a touchdown that gave Alabama a 16-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, a steady diet of Ingram wore down the Trojan defense.  The Alabama defense continued to stymie the Trojan offense who were forced to punt 12 times in the game.

In the playoff system, the top 4 seeds that advance to the second round get to select which of the four major bowls they will play at.  Coach Nick Saban chose to play at the Sugar Bowl, the traditional bowl for SEC champs and only 4.5 hours away from the Tuscaloosa campus.  That game will be played in two weeks on New Years Day.

Playoffs Brackets Finalized

Round 1:

#16 Troy (Sun Belt Champs)
at
#1 Alabama (SEC Champs)
Story: Alabama's mid-major Troy, battles the historic University of Alabama.  Troy will look for local rivalry to fuel a shocking upset.

#15 East Carolina University (C-USA Champs)
at
#2 Texas (Big XII Champs)
Story: After escaping Nebraska in Dallas, Texas returns to Austin to fight off the dangerous ECU Pirates.

#14 Central Michigan (MAC Champs)
at
#3 Cincinnati (Big East Champs)
Story: Brian Kelly's former team travels to Cincy to spoil their undefeated season.  Senior QB's Dan Lefevour and Tony Pike will provide plenty of offensive fireworks.

#13 Penn State (At Large #5)
at
#4 TCU (Mountain West Champs)
Story: The BCS busters de jour finally have the opportunity to take it all the way, unless the winning-est coach in NCAA history can earn a win in Fort Worth.

#12 LSU (At large #4)
at
#5 Florida (At large #1)
Story: A SEC rematch pairs the last two National Champions.  A humbled Gators team returns to The Swamp for Tim Tebow's last game in Gainesville.

#11 Virginia Tech (At large #3)
at
#6 Boise st (WAC Champs)
Story: Beamer Ball travels to Big Blue as the pride of the WAC begin their quest for a national championship at home where they are nearly invincible.

#10 Iowa (At Large #2)
at
#7 Oregon (Pac-10 Champs)
Story: Iowa heads to the Autzen Zoo and tries to stop Oregon's Spread Offense.

#9 Georgia Tech (ACC Champs)
at
#8 Ohio st (Big 10 Champs)
Story: The Buckeyes face Ga Tech's Triple option attack.

Monday Morning Hindsight: Fantasy Football

There is nothing worse than leaving points on the bench. 

- Me after benching T.O. last week and putting Rice in over Harvin this week.

In Hindsight, good move of the week for me, trusting the Bills.  Big points for Fred Jackson and TO 23 and 15 respectively.

In Hindsight, bad move of the week for me, drafting Steve Slaton, his fumbles drops and will he won't he get carries drama has crushed me again.  If only they had a back they could run out those huge leads on the Colts...oh wait you do have a back, GIVE SLATON THE ROCK!

Week 12 Fantasy Leaders (before the Monday Night Game)

QB - Brett Favre, Minn           27 pts
RB - Chris Johnson, Tenn        24 pts
RB - Justin Forsett, Sea           25 pts
RB/WR Fred Jackson, Buf      23 pts
WR Donald Driver, GB           20 pts
WR Miles Austin, Dal             20 pts
WR Percy Harvin, Minn         20 pts
TE - Antonio Gates, SD         23 pts
D/ST - New York Jets          24 pts

All Season Fantasy Team
QB Aaron Rodgers              207 pts
RB Chris Johnson                196 pts
RB Maurice Jones-Drew     182 pts
RB/WR Adrian Peterson     172 pts
WR Reggie Wayne             138 pts
WR Randy Moss                137 pts
TE Vernon Davis                105 pts
D/ST New Orleans Saints   133 pts

College Football PLAYOFFS??

If I ran college football, I'd have 11 conference winners and 5 at large bids in a 16 game playoff.
The teams would be seeded by BCS rankings, and the top seeds get a home game in round 1 unless they are an at large.  At large teams playing conference champions play the game at the home of the conference champion.  At large teams playing At large teams play at the home of the higher ranked teams.  With a week left in the season, it would look like this:

First the people who get screwed:  BYU, Pittsburgh and Oregon st.  These teams are 14, 15, 16 in the BCS, but get leap frogged by the champions of the C-USA, MAC and Sun Belt.  No crying though, Pitt and Oregon st can win their conference with wins this week over Cincy and Oregon respectively and get into the tournament.