Tuberville right choice for Tech

It certainly is a new day at Texas Tech.

Something just doesn't seem right watching Tommy Tuberville being introduced as the Red Raiders coach. We have questioned this hire, but his initial impression is solid. It was like watching the anti-Mike Leach.

Tuberville is a more traditional coaching choice for Texas Tech, especially since he is a defense-first guy. But he says he embraces the wide-open offense that was employed under Leach. We'll see how long that lasts, especially if you remember how well the Tony Franklin experiment went in his final season at Auburn.

Tuberville can build on Leach's success and that could mean more good days in Lubbock.

Bonus for Tuberville: It appears he found a way to re-use his Auburn sport coat and tie.

Podcast: Episode 55

This is actually the first time we recorded a podcast while games were actually being played. First it was Bowling Green and Idaho in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl and then we finished just about the time Arizona and Nebraska were getting started in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.

Now what's on this week's show. Just when we thought Urban Meyer would be the lead topic for this week's podcast, Mike Leach and Texas Tech had to create all of this drama before playing Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. Leach is always called a genius, but he's not looking too smart now that he's been fired. Of course, we delve into the Meyer situation in Gainesville. The 'Eye doesn't think Urban Meyer will coach another down for Florida, while the 'Eer believes after a few months of relaxation he'll be ready to return to the sidelines.

We also look ahead to this week's bowl action and we both like the Rose Bowl matchup, but think the Jan. 2 bowl games are atrocious. Both of us also agree that Wisconsin's win over Miami was huge for the Big Ten, but we couldn't believe how the Badgers bullied the Hurricanes. Enjoy this week's show.

ESPN remains ignorant about conflict of interest

According to a few other folks in the blogosphere, ESPN analyst Craig James has been pulled from the broadcast booth for the Alamo Bowl following allegations that his son was disrespected by Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.

But why was he ever scheduled to be part of this broadcast team?

For some reason, ESPN doesn't grasp the concept of a conflict of interest. Having James provide analysis for a game that includes his son is simply wrong. The WWL has ignored this simple contest many times, including allowing Lou Holtz to broadcast his son's games at East Carolina.

Leach has been suspended for the game, but his lawyer is fighting to get him back on the sidelines for Saturday's game against Michigan State.

James was supposed to work with play-by-play man Mike Patrick and sideline reporter Heather Cox. ESPN made the right call, just a little too late.

Picks of the Week: No. 3

If Stanford hadn't buckled in the second half, and if Texas didn't sleep walk through the first half 'Eer would have been 4-1. Instead the week wasn't as good as I had hoped. So this week I have to prove my mettle. Here we go.

Ohio State (-20.5) over Toledo
Jim Tressel is not known as a guy who runs up a score. But after last week's near-win against USC and the heat he's taken all week from the fans, Coach Tressel will try to show he can still call an effective game. This should be like a home game for the Buckeyes as most of the crowd in Cleveland Browns Stadium will be rooting for No. 11 OSU. Just Toledo will get the huge gate receipts.
Pick: Ohio State 42, Toledo 13

Texas (-17.5) over Texas Tech
How bad does No. 2 Texas want to avenge its only loss of 2008? Watch this game and you'll see. Colt McCoy and Mack Brown want payback and to keep the Longhorns on track for a BCS Championship showdown. Beside, Mike Leach and the Red Raiders don't fare well in Austin. Another interesting fact is since 2000, the Red Raiders have lost all four games played against ranked teams in August and September.
Pick: Texas 45, Texas Tech 21

Tulsa (+17.5) over Oklahoma
The 12th-ranked Sooners will win this game, but it's going to be much closer than 17.5 points. The Golden Hurricane are 2-0 and one of the top teams in Conference USA. This is Tulsa's best chance to win this in-state battle. Don't overlook the fact that Tulsa is road-tested this season with wins over Tulane (37-13) and New Mexico (44-10).
Pick: Oklahoma 38, Tulsa 28

North Carolina (-7.5) over East Carolina
The Pirates were everyone's early season darling in 2008. This year Skip Holtz' defense is a bit more porous as is evident in ECU's opening games against the Mountaineers (35-20 loss to West Virginia and 29-24 win over Appalachian State). Butch Davis' boys struggled at UConn last week, but returning to Chapel Hill and a focused week of practice is all the 24th-ranked Tar Heels need to win this week.
Pick: North Carolina 32, East Carolina 14

Upset of the Week
Georgia (-1.0) over Arkansas
Something doesn't seem right about this one. UGA is the underdog at Arkansas? OK. I'll bite. The Bulldogs got the offense going against South Carolina last week (wish I could say the Dawgs' defense looked better). QB Ryan Mallett is a nice player and could light up Georgia, but I'm going with the more talented team ... that's Georgia.
Pick: Georgia 32, Arkansas 24

Last Week: 2-3
Season Record: 5-5

Insensitive or too PC?

So who at Third Tier University decided this program cover was acceptable? Maybe they had a good reason, but neither 'Eye nor 'Eer would have signed off on it.

Seriously, is that Mike Leach with some mascots chasing a frightened Native American riding a horse? I guess if you play the North Dakota Fighting Sioux it's OK. I'd love to see that program cover when TTU plays Grambling.

We are not the only bloggers/reporters who find this depiction of Native Americans to be insensitive. There are others who think it is much ado about nothing.

So are we being too politically correct with this one? Leave a comment and let us know.

Go vote

The Orlando Sentinel blog, College Gridiron 365, is excellent. I read it every day and the writing staff is always on top of the latest news in college football. What I love even more is their understanding that college football doesn't stop in the offseason.

Popped over there this evening and saw where they had a new poll for the top pot-stirring college football coaches.

The list is impressive:

Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
Lane Kiffin, Tennessee
Mark Richt, Georgia
Urban Meyer, Florida Gators
Pete Carroll, Southern Cal
Rich Rodriguez, Michigan
Mike Leach, Texas Tech
Mack Brown, Texas
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
Jim Leavitt, USF
Rick Neuheisel, UCLA

As much as I would like to encourage everyone to vote for RichRod or Leavitt, I think Leach, Kiffin and Spurrier are the top three choices. The Gridiron guys and gals gave their top agitators a few days ago and Spurrier topped the list, followed by Kiffin and Richt. Go vote and voice your opinion.

The PR Pirate

Texas Tech and it's bizarro lawyer/pirate/six plays in my offense coach, Mike Leach, are in a contractual showdown that is reaching new depths of silliness.

As of Tuesday night, Leach still hadn't signed his extension. That's important because it was the deadline Texas Tech set for Leach to sign the contract offer.

Leach and Tech don't disagree over money, but over compensation if Leach were ever fired.

Tired of getting bad press, Leach responded by hiring a PR agency and having a rally - for, uh, himself. Does the band show up for that one?

This reminds me of one of those many games when Leach decides to go four a fourth and long in his own territory early in the game and it comes back to bite him in the ass.

Finally some sanity

College football and reality usually don't mix well.

There was the recent revelation the University of Tennessee is paying overhyped wunderkind Lane Kiffin and his bloated staff more than $5 million. There is Texas Tech giving Mike Leach a take or leave it ultimatum on a contract extension that includes something like $12 million more for college football's most overrated coach.

Did anyone at these universities realize we're experiencing an economic meltdown?

Well, finally news that some programs are acknowledging what the rest of us are experiencing is encouraging. The Associated Press reported today that the University of Miami will trade in flights for charter buses and in other story that the three largest schools in Mississippi are preparing for rough times.

This is just the start. No university is immune to the recession. Except maybe Notre Dame, who flew coaches to Hawaii like every day to get linebacker Manti Te'o to commit to the mainland.

Podcast: Episode 20

The BCS Championship Game is tomorrow night, so it's time to provide a little analysis of the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners, and of course, make our predictions. We also spend some time reflecting on the other BCS Bowl games, including Texas' come-from-behind win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Other topics include Boston College's Jeff Jagodzinki (can you still call him the BC coach?), split national championships, Steve Spurrier, Mike Leach and the announcing during the bowls.

Late-Night bowl links

While watching Utah shock 'Bama, thought I'd do some random scanning of blogs around the nation. Here are some interesting posts that I have found this evening.

• Tom Kirkendall at Houston's Clear Thinkers hits on something that both Phil and I have been saying all season about Texas Tech's Mike Leach. Kirkendall says Leach is more PR genius than coaching savant.
• Is Houston Nutt a better coach than everyone has given him credit for? That's the question Matt Hinton at Dr. Saturday asks after watching Ole Miss take down Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. He also has a very funny post about Pat Summerall broadcasting the Cotton Bowl.
• Larry Brown Sports stops just short of calling LSU's Les Miles a douchebag for running a fake punt in the fourth quarter of the Tigers blowout win over Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-a Bowl. I've been looking for video of this since I saw it, but haven't had any luck.
• Tony Barnhart at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says Matt Stafford will probably leave for the NFL and Knowshon Moreno will return to Athens for another year with Georgia.
• Iowa could have easily fallen apart this year, but according to Mike Hlas over at The Hlog Coach Kirk Ferentz stuck to his "old-school" values and that's why Iowa rebounded after a 3-3 start. In case you missed it, the Hawkeyes totally schooled South Carolina and Steve Spurrier
• It appears Randy Shannon has a heart after all. According to the Miami Herald's Manny Navarro, the U has partially lifted the SEC ban on former quarterback Robert Marve.

Good night.

Wow

Now that was a great game.

I'm referring to Texas-Texas Tech.
In case you missed it the Red Raiders pulled off the biggest win in program history when Graham Harrell hit Michael Crabtree on a touchdown pass with :01 left to upset the top-ranked Longhorns.

But this came just after Colt McCoy led Texas on a tremendous 11-play drive to finish the game.

After two unsportsmanlike penalties on the TT crowd, they kicked off from the 7 1/2 yard line with :01 left.

Great finish. I have a feeling this is just the start of the annual November BCS madness.