Flippin' Freak

South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul is a freak.

Just watch him do 13 back flips during a contest with teammate Kion Wilson after a practice for the International Bowl in Toronto.

I thought George Selvie was an amazing defensive end, but Pierre-Paul may have passed him as the most-coveted defensive end in this spring's NFL Draft.

Don't worry, neither the 'Eye or the 'Eer will try to out do them.

(Hat tip: Shootin' the Bull)

Sporting News takes a crack at best players

When you are trying to write about college football in June you find reporters and bloggers coming up with a lot of lists.

Best/worst coaches

Best/worst stadiums

Best/worst concessions

The Sporting News recently posted its Top 25 players for the 2009 season. No major surprises, but interesting to note that there is just one Buckeye (Terrelle Pryor) and no Mountaineers (what, no Noel Devine?).

There is only one other Big Ten player on the list (No. 25 Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois), and just one Big East player (No. 6 George Selvie, DE, South Florida).

Topping the list is University of Florida Superman Tim Tebow, the first of three Gators and eight SEC players to crack the Top 25. The Big 12 has seven representatives, led by Oklahoma QB and last year's Heisman winner Sam Bradford. The Pac-10 has four players, followed by one each from the ACC, Mountain West and Notre Dame.

Bowl Preview: magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl

The magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.
South Florida vs. Memphis
Date: Dec. 20
Time: 4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Line: South Florida –12.5

About South Florida: A mere 12 years ago, the South Florida Bulls didn’t exist. Now, in 2008, coach Jim Leavitt has yelled them all the way into that bowl game down the street. Known as the Ron Zook of west Florida, Leavitt believes no cliché is too worn, no sentiment too tired to motivate his group of players who couldn’t get accepted into actual schools. You had them at “Hey, you!” Jim.

Intangibles:
Home field advantage of Tropicana Field: -1
Beaches: +4
Better than Gainesville: +5
Rays tickets still easy to get: +6

About Memphis: At 6-6 with impressive wins over Nicholls State and Arkansas State, there’s little doubt the Tigers belong in a bowl game. Wait, WHAT? This team lost to frickin’ Marshall for God’s sake. I refuse to watch this game for my own mental health.


Intangibles:
Barbecue: +45
Crime: -21
Graceland: -5
Graceland while drunk: +12
“Walking in Memphis”: -4

Impact player: USF defensive end George Selvie. Think of the last great player named George. My pick? George Rogers of South Carolina. Did you see him at the Heisman ceremony? He wore some kind of giant, plaid tent.

Bowl slogan: “Come for the beaches, stay for the seafood and for God’s sake, skip the football.”

Little known fact: St. Petersburg is to Tampa Bay as Roger Clinton is to Bill Clinton. (There ain’t as much difference as you’d think.)

Watchability (1-5): -4.8

The Pick: South Florida 31, Memphis 4