Bowden plants his spear

We are always talking about the traditions of college football are what make it the best game played. Watching outgoing FSU coach Bobby Bowden plant the flaming Seminoles' flag at midfield before the Gator Bowl today was an emotional moment. Wasn't real pleased with the outcome of the game, but a great moment.

Poor ol' Bobby

Poor ol' Bobby. It seems everyone realizes it's time for him to retire, but .... himself.

Picks of the Week: No. 10

Next year I’ll flip a coin on each pick. Not sure I could do much worse than I am this season. I feel good about this week. Calling it now ... This is my first 5-0 week (you see how well my predictions have been all season).

Louisville (+20.0) over West Virginia
Anyone who has followed this Big East rivalry over the years realizes the Cardinals and Mountaineers always play close games ... No matter how much a team is favored. The Mountaineers have more talent and have home-field advantage, but lame-duck Steve Kragthorpe will pull a few magical tricks and keep this much closer than 20 points. Expect Noel Devine to have a monster game against a Louisville defense that struggled with Utah, Pitt and UConn.
Pick: West Virginia 34, Louisville 21

Notre Dame (-11.0) over Navy
The Irish defense will have its full with Navy’s triple-option, but No. 22 Notre Dame is at home and has plenty of momentum and one of the best rushing defenses in the nation. QB Jimmy Clausen has played like the top prospect from a few years ago, including a three-touchdown performance in last week’s 40-14 victory over Washington State. The Irish also get Michael Floyd back at receiver after a five-game absence. This one should never be in doubt.
Pick: Notre Dame 31, Navy 18

Fresno State (-8.0) over Idaho
After a rough start to the season, Pat Hill’s Bulldogs went 4-0 in October to improve to 5-3 and 4-1 in the WAC. The Vandals have been one of the biggest surprises of 2009 sitting at 7-2 and bowl-eligible. This one will be at the Kibbie Dome, where Idaho is 4-0. As much as I’d like to go with Robb Akey’s Vandals, Fresno is more accustomed to playing in big games so the Bulldogs get the edge this week.
Pick: Fresno State 44, Idaho 33

TCU (-24.5) over San Diego State
The Aztecs under first-year coach Brady Hoke are 4-4, but all four victories are against weak competition. Enter the No. 6 Horned Frogs, arguably the best non-BCS team in the nation and probably one of the top eight teams in the country. TCU senior DE Jerry Hughes will harass San Diego State QB Ryan Lindley all afternoon at Qualcomm Stadium.
Pick: TCU 48, San Diego State 10

Upset of the Week
Florida State (+8.5) over Clemson
Since I struggle to pick ACC games why not try one out for the upset of the week. If Clemson’s defense can apply plenty of pressure to Christian Ponder the Tigers will win this game easily. However, FSU seems rejuvenated and with only one Bowden in the stadium and on the heels of DC Mickey Andrews announcing his retirement, the Seminoles are going to find a way to slow C.J. Spiller and Clemson. The ‘Noles will put pressure on freshman QB Kyle Parker to win the game and force him into a crucial turnover late in the game.
Pick: Florida State 36, Clemson 31

Last Week: 3-2
Season Record: 23-22

JEFFYBOY, IS THAT YOU? DADGUMMIT, I'M SORRY I FIRED YOU.

The remainder of the Bobby Bowden era got the ol' "CLEAR!" chest paddle treatment tonight, as the 'Noles rallied to beat UNC in Chapel Hill. (Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl here we come!)

Earlier, Bobby Bowden let some reporters know that he was well aware that he was in the last year(S) of his coaching career.

Oh Bobby, you're 80 buddy, you're in the last years OF YOUR LIFE. Rent an RV, see one of your 348 grandchildren. Buy a condo. But quit pretending that you're coaching a college football team.

Baffling the Bowden

Poor Bobby Bowden. With all of the heat he's been taking lately you'd think he'd be pleased with a 35-28 halftime lead over Georgia Tech. Instead, the ol' man seems confused and displeased with the Noles. Maybe he knew his team would blow another game and fall to 0-3 in the ACC. Watch his confusion here:

T.K. Wetherell - King of England?

The whole Bobby Bowden fire/retire/stand idly on sideline for another year issue continues to swirl in Tallahassee.

Any way you look at this thing, it's a mess.
And then erstwhile Florida State University president T.K. Wetherell added nothing to this conversation with today's statement to the media.

Essentially, Wetherell says FSU isn't going to decide anything until the season is over. Of course, since he's the president of a university that gives away diplomas and everything, he couldn't say it in such a simple way.


"FSU does not make coaching changes in the middle of the season," Wetherell said. "… To quit on a team or coaches in mid-season is not the Seminole way — not the 'Unconquered' way.

"What message would it send to anyone — friend or foe — to do that at this time?"

Is that a press release or a Tennyson poem?

End of the line for Bowden?

This can't be the way Bobby Bowden wanted to wrap up his career as a coaching legend. By now Bowden figured he'd have about 20 more wins than Joe Paterno and he'd just collect ACC championships and wins without doing much work. Watch this video and you'll see he's none too happy and he's feeling the pressure, much like he did in the mid-1970s as WVU's coach.




Check out the poor attempt at a joke when he talks about women. Coach Bowden, or as one of my childhood friends likes to call him, The Old Liver Spot, isn't looking too good these days.

Miami-FSU highlights

No matter who you root for, last night's Miami-FSU game was truly a classic and a real treat for any college football fan. What a way to end the long weekend. Above are some highlights from the game.

I'm not sure the Hurricanes are all the way back to being considered a national title contender, but Jacory Harris and the rest of the Young Canes put on a show. I'm not sure FSU has much to be embarrassed about either.

That was by far the best-played Miami-FSU game in the past decade. Maybe Randy Shannon will save his job this year.

Podcast: Episode 31

Time to dissect Phil and Tom's preseason conference rankings (Phil totally trashes Tom's ACC picks). We also take a look at the potential of BCS busters joining BCS conferences and does that make sense, as well as the most over-rated and most under-rated coaches today. We also think the NCAA will uphold its decision to take away victories from Bobby Bowden, and that Our Boy Lane Kiffin may actually be crazy. Enjoy.

Dadgummit, y'all are just mean

Shockingly, Bobby Bowden thinks the NCAA's recommended penalty of taking away past victories from his FSU program is "too stiff." Bowden, who is one game behind JoePa in all-time victories in Division I, could lose as many as 14 wins under the ruling. FSU athletes across all sports apparently cheated in an online music history class.

Online music history. And there was cheating? Get out.

"Does the punishment fit the crime? I think that's the thing, that's the thing we gotta find the answer to right there," Bowden said.

Uh, Bobby, I think when the NCAA hands down a punishment, they do it specifically with the crime in mind. In fact, I'd say that is EXACTLY WHAT DETERMINES THE PUNISHMENT. HENCE THE ENTIRE CRIME AND PUNISHMENT FACTOR.

Podcast: Episode 25

Now for some questions. If the NCAA really makes Florida State vacate a number of victories because of the latest scandal is this the beginning of the end for Bobby Bowden? Is there anyone more exciting for college football right now than Lane Kiffin at Tennessee? Do we really need spring football games? What was UT-San Antonio thinking when it hired Larry Coker? These are just a few of the topics that Phil and Tom discuss this week on their College Football Podcast.

Even FSU has standards

Even though it involved notorious rules-breaker Florida State, and the very lenient Bobby Bowden (damn he's getting tougher in his old age), it comes as no surprise that Seminoles wide receiver Preston Parker was dismissed from the team.

Parker was arrested Saturday morning and charged with DUI after police found him passed out behind the wheel of his car at a McDonald's, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Even FSU couldn't let Parker stick around any longer. This had to be a tough decision since the Seminoles are thin at receiver. In 2008, Parker led all wide receivers with 40 catches.

Punter and actor

Florida State put up 42 points in crushing Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl Saturday. But Seminoles punter Graham Gano was named the game's MVP. If you watched the game (or just watch the highlights below) and you'll see why.

Not only is he an excellent punter (and he'll probably get his name called during the spring NFL Draft), but a pretty good actor as well. Check out the great performance at around the 2:10 mark. There's no way the Wisconsin defender touched him.

Bowl Preview: Champs Sports Bowl

Champs Sports Bowl

Citrus Bowl, Orlando

Wisconsin vs. Florida State

Date: Dec. 27

Time: 4:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Line: Florida State -5.5

About Wisconsin: The Badgers had a long overdue implosion this year, splitting into a thousand pieces after losing to Michigan (Michigan!), Ohio State and Penn State in consecutive weeks. That sound you heard was not Barry Alvarez’ offspring microwaving another parrot, though, it was the crushing weight of expectations falling on Bret Bielema’s ginormous head.

Intangibles:

Darrell Bevell at QB: +2

Jump Around: -4

Wisky marching band hazing: -5

Wisky marching band hazing by having chicks make out with each other: +9

About Florida State: Rumors abound that Bobby Bowden is still coaching this team. We call bunk on that one, unless you count wearing a letterman’s jacket and answering sideline reporter questions as “coaching.” Other than that, same old FSU. Can’t run or throw. On defense, stick 13 guys in the box and blitz.

Intangibles:

Tallahassee: -5

Burt Reynolds: +6

Lee Corso: -2

Chief Oscewhatshisface and flaming spear: +9

Impact Player: FSU quarterback Chris Rix. What’s that? Rix isn’t there anymore? Oh whatever, they all play like they’re Chris Rix. I’m still picking Rix.

Bowl slogan: “Orlando: the only reason to be in Florida and not be near an ocean.”

Little known fact: FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher didn’t get the Auburn job because he has a $5 million buyout as the “coach-in-waiting” for the Noles. I don’t even have a $12 buyout.

Watchability (1-5): 3

The Pick: Florida State 18, Wisconsin 16

Slippery when wet

Clearly Florida State didn't do anything well last Saturday. The football team struggled to get the ball in the end zone, while Tim Tebow may have won the Heisman Trophy again with his one-man show.

Field conditions didn't just impact the players. It seems FSU's band, especially the tuba players, had trouble with their footing.

ACC Report

Special Report

Retired Coach Rick
ACC Correspondent

The ACC will be watched in 10 bowl games if the bowl sponsors get it right. Ten out of 12 teams qualified. Virginia and Duke are the two who are definitely staying home.

Maybe the ACC figured out the bowl system way before everybody else did. They believe in sharing. The recruiting season is going to improve for every school as a result of this exposure.

Boston College and Virginia Tech in the championship game again is a blessing for these two teams. BC will win the Championship.

Everyone talks about the young talent of VT. The Hokies are not the team with the best young talent in the ACC. Miami, Florida State and North Carolina have the best young players.

The defenses will catch up to Georgia Tech's offense over the offseason. They will have the time to get it done. North Carolina State surprised me the most. Will Virginia start a new trend with short quarterbacks who can run. It makes sense. The best running backs are short and can hide behind their offensive line. Why can't a quarterback?

The ACC should be very proud of their teams and their accomplishments. This was a coming out year (party) for ACC and their members. We are ready for the bowl season. I am going to make a prediction at this time and say the bowl teams from the ACC will win 80 percent of the bowl games they play. The ACC is two years away from playing in the BCS Championship.

I'll make bowl predictions after they are announced

ACC Report

Special Report

Retired Coach Rick
ACC Correspondent

Maryland is at it again. Win one they shouldn't. Win two they should and lose one they shouldn't. Miami is the beneficiary. They could now be in the ACC championship game now that North Carolina has three league losses.

The winner of the Florida State/Maryland game this week will represent the Atlantic Division. As long as it is not Wake Forest. Miami has to take care of business. The 'Canes close the season with back-to-back road games. First they face nemesis Georgia Tech on Thursday and then go to North Carolina State the following Saturday.

A Florida State vs. Miami championship game could be big. The game is in Tampa and when they played each other earlier in Miami it was a shoot out.

The next couple of weeks will provide a lot of minor bowls a choice of bowl starved alumni out of the ACC the chance to spend their money on a nice trip to warm weather before basketball kicks in. I think two of the ACC bowl recipients will pull major upsets in their bowl games.

There are two potentially great games this week. FSU vs. Maryland and the Miami vs. Tech. I think one of them will be a blow out. I am not saying which one. All other teams are watching these two games.

Rolle putting scholar in Scholar-Athlete

In the very near future, Florida State's Myron Rolle could face this dilemma:

a) Choose a career in the NFL as a high draft pick;
b) Become a Rhodes Scholar, go on to medical school and pass up the glamor and riches of professional football.

What choice would you make?

Rolle, a standout safety with the Seminoles, hasn't completely made up his mind. But what he's doing Nov. 22 may give you a hint. Instead of traveling with FSU to College Park, Md., to face ACC rival Maryland, Rolle will be in Birmingham, Ala., to interview before the Rhodes selection committee. Later that day the Rhodes winners will be announced, when Rolle may be on a plane (if the NCAA permits and ESPN schedules the game at 7 p.m.) to hopefully play in the second half.

"The more I do mock interviews here at school and think about what I want to say [to the committee], I have grown to really want to be a Rhodes Scholar," said Rolle in an article in USA Today. "If it takes missing a game, that's what it takes."

It appears everyone involved supports Rolle, including legendary coach Bobby Bowden. "We couldn't be more proud of this happening for one of our players. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance and you wouldn't dare deny him that. I just hope he wins it," the coach said in the same article.

The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the most prestigious academic honors an American undergraduate can receive. Each year, the Rhodes Trust affords 32 students from across the country the opportunity to study at England's Oxford University.

When Rolle was one of the most highly recruited defensive players in the country no one was talking to him about being a Rhodes Scholar. But Rolle became so intrigued by the idea that he has put as much effort into building the right resume as he has put into the weight room.

I don't know if he's one of the 32 most deserving undergraduate scholars, but the committee's decision can't be tougher than the one Rolle potentially faces.

ACC Report

Special Report

Retired Coach Rick
ACC Correspondent

The race for the championship became a crap-shoot after this weekend.

Florida State and Georgia Tech played a great game. If FSU beats Maryland and Tech finishes strong we could have a Florida State/Georgia Tech replay in Tampa.

Wake Forest pulled one out against Duke. Miami with their two quarterback system won in OT against Virginia. Virginia is in their third season. The first third they were horrible. In the middle third they beat everyone. The final third is going to be one of mixed success.

Maryland needs to start their final swing hot. The FSU and Maryland game looks like the best game in the future. Wake, Boston College, Clemson, North Carolina State, Duke and Virginia Tech are all relegated to playing the role of spoiler this month.

North Carolina is hoping for a miracle.

The ACC could end up with as many as six teams being a part of the bowl makeup this year. Georgia Tech has been the biggest surprise to me. The Seminoles, Hurricanes, Tar Heels and Terrapins will rule the conference over the next five years.

Georgia Tech has to show me more than a new coach and a new system. The good coaches will catch up to what they are doing.

Other thoughts: Could Skip Holtz be in line for the Clemson job? How close is Frank Beamer to retiring. Will Duke's coach stay one more year then head to Tennessee? If Fulmer doesn't leave the Vols at the end of this year then there may be a deal in the year for next year.

ACC Report

Special Report

Retired Coach Rick
ACC Correspondent

I owe Wake Forest an apology. They are not as bad as I thought. But we can forget the Demon Deacons after Maryland beats them.

Now that East Carolina was beaten by Virginia will the Game Day experts get off the kick about Skip Holtz being the next great coach. He is average at best. Injuries are the excuses of losers. Make adjustments.

North Carolina, Florida State and Miami are going to decide who wins the ACC. I am not mentioning Clemson until it wins an important game. Wait. Make that any game.

Georgia Tech is now doing just enough to win. That's not bad. It just won't get you mentioned in the newspaper. Virginia Tech has rested and gotten healthy just in time to lose to Boston College. BC has been a little bit of a surprise. They will continue to do that until they play my top three.

I want to start a top 20 of SATHAPASTG (Student Athletes That Have A Plan And Schedule To Graduate). Vanderbilt, Duke, Navy, Army, Air Force, Stanford, Northwestern and any other Division I school that has an overall GPA of 3.0 in real classes.

The UNC win over Notre Dame was great. A few more losses for the Irish and we won't have to look and listen to Charlie Weis.

Big week for ACC. The real conference games begin.