Former NFL Player Tim Couch To Be Analyst For Fox Sports South
Bust
Tim Couch the one-time University of Kentucky star and former NFL quarterback bust is returning home to begin a weekly gig as an analyst on Fox Sports South’s SEC Gridiron Live, devoted to hitting the topics on Southeastern Conference football. Couch will also work this fall as color analyst for the SEC football games shown on beginning September 4 with Arkansas State at Auburn. Couch’s early view of the SEC is, the West is best and in the East, figures the path to the title runs through Florida.
In 1999 the Cleveland Browns made Couch the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft and now is working in the television industry after lasting only five years in the NFL.
I love how this Sports Illustrated features Couch and Akili Smith and asks if this is the best quarterback class since the infamous 1983 NFL draft class. So I thought I would list the quarterbacks drafted in order for you and ask you to judge for yourself where 1999 compares. Starting with the bust that is Couch, Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith, Daunte Culpepper, Cade McNown, Shaun King, Brock Huard, Joe Germaine, Aaron Brooks, Kevin Daft, Michael Bishop, Chris Greisen, and Scott Covington.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: John Calipari
John Calipari
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to University of Kentucky’s Wildcat’s men’s basketball coach John Calipari who will be losing five of his players to the NBA.
Calipari’s meltdown comes about because he’s losing freshman’s John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton and junior Patrick Patterson all within a day of each others announcement.
Wall and Cousins where assumed to be one and dones with the season and the potential they possessed. Patterson could have gone to the NBA last spring but opted to stick around to expand his game in Calipari’s “dribble-drive” offense. But Bledsoe’s and Orton’s decision to join their teammates in the draft came as a bit of a surprise.
It now leaves Calipari with a rebuilding project on par with the one he inherited a year ago. The departure of Wall and company combined with the graduation of Ramon Harris, Perry Stevenson and Mark Krebs leaves Kentucky with just five players returning next year, only three played any kind of significant minutes this season.
The Wildcats already have commitments from center Enes Kanter and Stacey Poole and players have until May 8 to change their minds, as long as they don’t hire agents but it’s highly unlikely any of the five players will come back for another season with the Wildcats.
Kentucky went 35-3 this season, Calipari’s first as Wildcats coach, winning the Southeastern Conference regular season and conference tournament titles before falling to West Virginia in the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament.
Kentucky Fan Not Happy When You Leave Early For The NBA
Kentucky Jackass
University of Kentucky Wildcats freshman Daniel Orton recently decided he’d test the draft waters, but not hire an agent. Apparently, the thought of losing his 3 points and 3 rebounds per game was just too much for one Wildcats fan to endure.
Mark Hamilton decided that Orton needed to hear about what a terrible decision he was making by writing a Facebook message to him. Hamilton’s logic in pursuing Orton to rethink his decision is to tell him how terrible he is.
My favorite line is without a doubt “quit using your mother as and escape goat.” Wow talk about being dumb.
But the trump card is the class that Orton handles it with his reply of “Thanks mark.”
WTF: John Wall Windshield Wiper
I can say for a fact that is suppose to represent John Wall but judging by the license plate, decals and of course the YouTube tag, I’ll have to assume so.
I’m pretty sure you will never find a San Antonio Spurs Richard Jefferson one, unless the ball ricochets off at the end of its wipe each time.
West Virgina Celebrates Final Four Appearance With John Wall Dance
What is West Virginia doing stealing Daniel Tosh’s “I’m Better Than You Na-na Na-na Boo-boo, Stick Your Head in Doo-doo” segment?
U.S. Secretary Of Education Wants Ban Of Low Graduating Teams
Duke To Win It
Pretty sure that this story won’t get to much attention and if it does will sure cause a lot of debate. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has pushed a proposal to bar men’s college basketball teams from postseason play if they fail to graduate 40 percent of their players. It already hasn’t gone over well with coaches and NCAA officals who are enjoying the college basketball equillant to Christmas, March Madness.
If put into practice this year, a dozen teams in the NCAA tournament would be ineligible. Which includes No. 1 seed Kentucky, which graduated 31 percent of its players.
Duncan emphasized the troubling disparities between graduation rates for black and white players. Of the NCAA tournament field 45 teams graduated 70 percent or more of their white players, up from 33 teams last year. But only 20 teams graduated at least 70 percent of their black players, the same as last year. Maryland and California graduated none of their black players who started school from 1999 through 2004.
However graduation rates for black basketball players are 18 percent higher than for male black students who are not athletes.
The men’s basketball teams that would barred from postseason play this year if Duncan’s idea were adopted: Maryland (8 percent graduation rate), California (20 percent), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (29 percent), Washington (29 percent), Tennessee (30 percent), Kentucky, Baylor (36 percent), Missouri (36 percent), New Mexico State (36 percent), Clemson (37 percent), Georgia Tech (38 percent) and Louisville (38 percent).
For those that agrue that you can’t hold a school responsible if players jump to the NBA to what many believe as a high paying job, those schools that have such players wouldn’t be penalized for those players that move onto the NBA are in good academic standing at the time.
Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl said his program is “disappointed and apologetic in many, many ways to be on that list.”
Pearl also said Duncan should concentrate his efforts on secondary education, saying the real problems lie in under-equipped schools beset with budget issues.
Whether you are or disagree it sure is one hell of an argument that would spark up a great debate.
More Former Players Join In On Ed O’Bannon’s Lawsuit Against NCAA
The Former Players Will Have Their Day In Court
Former college basketball players spanning many eras have joined a lawsuit filed by ex-UCLA star Ed O’Bannon against the NCAA for profiting from the use of their images without permission.
In an amended complaint filed in U.S. District Court, four players involved in the 1966 national championship game that pitted a Texas Western team with five black starters against an all-white Kentucky team joined in the suit. The game was documented in the 2006 movie “Glory Road.”
Those players include Harry Flournoy, who was team captain for Texas Western which is now UTEP, teammate David Lattin, Kentucky players Thad Jaracz and Bob Tallent joined the suit as plaintiffs.
The lawsuit states “during broadcasts of the yearly NCAA tournament, the NCAA has run commercials featuring the Texas Western team. The NCAA also prominently features the 1966 Texas Western team in connection with products for sale.”
The lawsuit also alleges video game maker Electronic Arts Inc., and NCAA partner Collegiate Licensing Co. unlawfully profited from player images without compensating the athletes.
Players from other famous games joined the suit include Alex Gilbert, who played on the same Indiana State team as Larry Bird in the notable 1979 championship game and Eric Riley, a member of the University of Michigan’s “Fab Five” teams in the early 1990s.
Back on February 9 a U.S. District Court judge in San Francisco denied the NCAA’s motion to dismiss a class-action antitrust lawsuit brought on by UCLA’s O’Bannon over the use of their images and likenesses in video content and memorabilia. On thay Judge Claudia Wilken’s did combine O’Bannon’s case with that of former Arizona State and Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller, who has made similar claims.
Guy Morriss Praises His Team For Theft
Overall Career Record 32-59
Former Kentucky and Baylor head football coach Guy Morriss now currently at Texas A&M University–Commerce Lions admitted to police that his team was responsible for the removal of student newspapers distributed on campus.
The student paper the East Texan, which is awarded dozens of journalism awards annually, and in 2006 was named the best small collegiate weekly newspaper in Texas by the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, published a story detailing the recent arrests of two players in a drug bust which caused the team to steal all available papers around campus. Asked about the situation Morriss said
“I don’t read that crap,” and went on to say praise his team for their actions.
“I am proud of my players for doing that,” Morris said. “This was the best team building exercise we have ever done.”
Morriss approval of his team committing theft was extreme but when Athletic Director Carlton Cooper says that the football team was not smart enough to do this on their own says a lot for their institution and who they recruit to come there.
Officer Lt. Jason Bone told Morriss that inside the paper there is a statement explaining that the first issue is free, but every issue after that costs 25 cents. Morriss said he was not in agreement with the policy stated in The East Texan.
“I guess I will be the first one out of the door in handcuffs then,” Morriss said.
Morriss later told President Dan Jones that he would not make any apologies for the team.
Now only if Morriss could ever get his players to show that much unity on the football field and win some games.
The Official Song Of The John Wall Dance
It’s definitely Friday because that’s gotta explain why I’m helping kill hip hop by posting this stupid video by Raleigh, North Carolina artist Cash. The problem with these dance video songs is that they get played out so quick. Quicker than it takes me to eat a piece of cake. Are you still doing the Ricky Bobby, no. How about the Stanky Leg, not unless your name is Bobby Hebert. Halle Berry ain’t even doing the Halle Berry anymore.
There corny and won’t go away. But I’ll tell you who will be going away and that’s Cash, just like those Ed Hardy tees. The both will be played out and a thing of the past by end of 2010.
WTF: Kentucky
Really Kentucky......Really
How does the University of Kentucky suit up its best player freshman John Wall in a misspelled jersey? What makes it worse is that its not the players name or the university that is spelled wrong but the state, sure that’s gonna help dispense any stereotypes one might have about Kentucky.
Primetime College Football: Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
TALENT
The 11th annual Music City Bowl will feature the Kentucky Wildcats of the SEC taking on the Clemson Tigers of the ACC from Nashville, Tennessee.
Kentucky finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, and all five losses came against SEC opponents. The Wildcats opened the season with a 2-3 mark, but five of their last seven outings resulted in victory but lost the finale against Tennessee. Despite that disappointing ending, Rich Brooks did a tremendous job keeping the Wildcats on track despite numerous injuries. The team won at least seven games for the fourth consecutive season, the first time that has been done at Kentucky in nearly a century, since 1909-12. Also, the club set the school record for consecutive non-conference wins with 18, the nation’s second-longest active streak.
Kentucky figures to have quarterback Mike Hartline available for this game who has been sidelined since October 10th when he injured his knee against South Carolina. In the six games that he has played this season, Hartline has completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 802 yards and 6 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. Morgan Newton has played in Hartline’s absence, and he has connected on 55.4 percent of his attempts for 608 yards with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. But it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is because Randall Cobb is the man. Cobb is an all-around player that has 37 catches for 427 yards and 4 touchdowns and rushed for 537 yards and 10 touchdowns. Derrick Locke leads the team in rushing though with 843 yards and 6 touchdowns. Kentucky is generating 27 ppg and 336.1 total ypg.
Defensively the Wildcats are limiting opponents to 22 ppg on 362.9 total ypg. The Wildcats have allowed 16 rushing scores and 16 passing touchdowns and will be without top linebacker Sam Maxwell cause of shoulder surgery.
Dabo Swinney’s Tigers won the ACC’s Atlantic Division with a 6-2 record and are 8-5 overall. Three of the five losses have come by five or fewer points to a team ranked in the current top-10, proof that the club has been competitive all season.
Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker has guided the Tigers to eight wins this year as the starter, tied for the most among freshman signal callers nationally. He has set freshman records at the school for touchdown passes, passing yards and completions. His favorite target is Second Team All-ACC wideout Jacoby Ford, who has 53 catches, while First Team All-ACC tight end Michael Palmer has 41 grabs, a Clemson record for a tight end.
Still all of those players are complimentary to ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member C.J. Spiller, who very well may be the best all-around offensive player in the nation. Spiller, the 2009 ACC Player of the Year, enters bowl season with 7,416 all-purpose yards in his career, third best in NCAA history. He needs 349 yards to become the all-time NCAA leader. He has 50 touchdowns in his career, second only to the 56 accumulated by Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. A threat as a runner, receiver and kick returner.
While Clemson is scoring 31 ppg and gaining 366.5 total ypg, the club is limiting opponents to 21 ppg and 317.2 total ypg. The Tigers are led by Brandon Maye, who has posted 103 total tackles, seven of which have been tackles for loss. Ricky Sapp has 15 tackles for loss to his credit, including five sacks, and Clemson has posted an impressive total of 21 interceptions, helping to overshadow the 19 touchdown passes that the club has allowed. The play against the run has been strong, as foes are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry.
The Wildcats hold an 8-4 series lead over the Tigers, which includes a 28-20 victory in the most recent meeting back in 2006.
PICK: Clemson University Tigers
Most Viewed College Football Season On ESPN Since 1994
All For This
ESPN averaged a 1.9 U.S. rating and 2.9 million viewers for college football coverage during the 2009 season, up 12% in ratings and viewership from last year 1.7, 2.6 mil, and the most-viewed college football season on ESPN since 1994 which turned out 3.1 million.
The top game of the season on ESPN was USC/Ohio State on September 12, which drew a 6.3 U.S. rating and 10.6 million viewers. USC/Ohio State ranks as the most-viewed college football game ever on ESPN, regular season or postseason.
Meanwhile, ESPN2 averaged a 1.0 U.S. rating and 1.5 million viewers for its college football coverage, up 11% in ratings and viewership from last year 0.9, 1.4 mil, and the most-viewed college football season ever on the network.
ESPN2′s top game was Pittsburgh/West Virginia on the day after Thanksgiving, which drew a 2.5 U.S. rating and 4.1 million viewers. The game stands as the most-viewed college football game ever on ESPN2.
In addition to the records set by USC/Ohio St. and Pittsburgh/West Virginia, ESPN and ESPN2 set other milestones during the 2009 season including the third-most viewed game ever on ESPN Miami/Florida St., 8.4 mil, the most-viewed Thursday night game ever on ESPN Texas/Texas A&M, 6.7 mil and the most-viewed Saturday game ever on ESPN2 Florida/Kentucky, 3.6 mil.
Primetime College Football: Vols vs Wildcats
TALENT
The Tennessee Volunteers will attempt to post their 25th consecutive victory over the Kentucky Wildcats as the SEC foes meet this weekend in Lexington.
Tennessee has never played a night game in Lexington, and it will be interesting to see how the club reacts to the enemy crowd and crisp weather. The Vols have won three of their last four games to move to 6-5 overall, and the most recent outing resulted in a 31-16 triumph over Vanderbilt last weekend. Lane Kiffin’s Vols have been competitive even in defeat this season, as four of the five losses have come by 10 or fewer points.
As for Kentucky, it has improved to 7-4 overall and 3-4 in SEC play with three consecutive victories. The Wildcats showed a great deal of heart and toughness last weekend by knocking off Georgia in Athens. Rich Brooks remains rather anonymous among SEC coaches, but he continues to field a quality product at Kentucky.
Tennessee is a solid offensive team that is averaging 30.6 ppg and 391.0 total ypg. The Vols are led by quarterback Jonathan Crompton. He has completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 2,345 yards and 25 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions. Montario Hardesty paces the ground attack with 1,127 yards and nine touchdowns. In the victory over Vanderbilt last weekend, Hardesty pounded out a career-high 171 yards and a touchdown on 32 attempts, while Crompton threw for 221 yards and two scores.
With the exception of a few rough outings, Tennessee has played tremendous defense this season, especially considering the difficult schedule Kiffin’s group has faced. The Vols are yielding 20 ppg while holding opponents to 313.2 total ypg. Tennessee has been tremendous against the pass, limiting opposing quarterback to 9 yards per completion with a collective total of five passing scores in 11 games. There are a couple of tremendous performers on the defensive side of the ball, including safety Eric Berry, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the nation at his position. Berry has record 75 tackles, including 5 tackle for losses, to go along with 2 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries. Hard-hitting linebacker Rico McCoy has 99 tackles to his credit, and he has forced 4 fumbles.
Kentucky is scoring 27 ppg this season to go along with 342.9 total ypg. There are two dynamic play makers in the fold for the Wildcats in Derrick Locke, a tailback, and Randall Cobb, a converted quarterback who does a little bit of everything. Locke has rushed for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns while making 22 catches for 221 yards and two scores. As for Cobb, he has run for 436 yards and 9 touchdowns, and his 33 catches for 403 yards and four scores leads all receivers. In addition to his 80 receiving yards, Lock rushed for 80 yards as well. Cobb had a pair of rushing scores but was limited to only 59 combined rushing and receiving yards.
The Wildcats are not a dominant defensive team, but they have played fairly well in most games. Opponents are posting 22 ppg and 355.4 total ypg against Kentucky, which has room for improvement against both the run and the pass, as foes are gaining 4.6 yards per rushing attempt and 13.6 yards per completion. Micah Johnson continues to lead the Cats in tackles with 84, and Sam Maxwell is tops with five interceptions.
Twenty-four straight wins over Kentucky has enabled Tennessee to stretch its advantage to 72-23-9 in the all-time series between the teams.
PICK: University of Kentucky Wildcats
Primetime College Football: Wildcats vs Bulldogs
TALENT
Kentucky (6-4) has won four of its last five games to move to 6-4 overall. A closer look reveals that three of those victories have come over Vanderbilt, Eastern Kentucky and UL-Monroe, three rather weak opponents. Last weekend’s 24-13 triumph over Vandy marked just the second SEC win for Kentucky in six tries.
Georgia is 6-4 overall, but the Bulldogs have a more impressive 4-3 conference record. They have won their last two outings, including a 31-24 decision over Auburn last weekend. Of the five home games that Georgia has played this season, four have resulted in victory.
Georgia owns a 49-11-2 series advantage over Kentucky, which includes victories in 11 of the last 12 meetings.
Rick Brooks Wildcats are scoring 26.8 ppg this season to go along with 351.2 total ypg, solid numbers for a team with some dynamic offensive weapons. Randall Cobb, a versatile performer who now lines up at receiver and tailback after beginning his collegiate career as a quarterback. Cobb has 32 catches for 384 yards and 4 touchdowns, and he has also rushed for 396 yards and 7 scores. Derrick Locke is the team’s top ground gainer, as he has rushed for 741 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Kentucky is a fairly solid defensive team that is allowing 21. ppg and 343.2 total ypg. The Wildcats have permitted 25 touchdowns to opposing offenses, 13 of which have been of the rushing variety. The fact that they are surrendering 4.6 yards per rushing attempt and 12.7 yards per pass completion suggests that there is some room for improvement in both areas. Still, it should be pointed out that Kentucky has held opposing quarterbacks below a 50 percent completion rating with more interceptions than touchdowns. Micah Johnson has registered 74 total tackles for the Wildcats, and DeQuin Evans has 10.5 tackles for losses to his credit.
Georgia is scoring 27 ppg this season, and the team is generating 344.0 total ypg. The Bulldogs have scored 30 offensive touchdowns, including 18 through the air. Joe Cox is responsible for all 18 of those scoring strikes, and he has completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 2,059 yards with 12 interceptions. A.J. Green is one of the best receivers in the nation, and he has made 47 catches this season for 751 yards and six touchdowns but has an injured shoulder and isn’t expected to play. Washaun Ealey has rushed for 379 yards and 3 touchdowns on 373 carries for the freshamn this season.
Opponents are scoring 25.9 ppg while gaining 334.1 total ypg against a Georgia defense that can best be described as mediocre. Mark Richt’s Bulldogs are tough against the run, yielding just 3.4 yards per carry. Unfortunately, they have allowed 19 passing scores with only seven interceptions and are surrendering 12.3 yards per pass completion. Rennie Curran continues to lead the Bulldogs with 94 total tackles, 41 more than his closest teammate. As for Justin Houston, he has 11.5 tackles for losses to his credit.
PICK: University of Kentucky Wildcats
