WATCH OUT BIG EAST FOOTBALL!

You may remember Greg Paulus as a three year starting point guard at POWERHOUSE Duke.  The  6"1" baller will not be drafted into the NBA, but instead will go to one of Duke's basketball rivals and play some Quarterback for Syracuse.  

When I first heard about this kid's ability to play football I was SUPER IMPRESSED!  I mean to be named Gator-Aid's Player of the Year, to have a 42-3 record as a starting quarterback in high school and to finish his Sr. year at 13-0, and then decide not to accept scholarships to play basically anywhere he wanted to go, but instead he decides to go to one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the nation and kick it with guys like Coach K that is how sport legends are born.

Here are some other names of athletes who played in multiple sports:

1) Of course everyone remembers Bo Jackson!  Bo knows football, Bo knows baseball... and Cooking?  Bo don't know that!  This stud running back for the Raiders also played Left Field  and DH for the Royals, White Sox, and the Angles.  (Quick side note do you remember the Big Hurt #35 Frank Thomas?  Yeah, he was also the starting Full Back at Auburn  blocking for yep you guessed it the running back Bo Jackson.)

2) Prime Time Neon Deion Sanders!  So Deion what's it gonna be offense or defense? Both! football or baseball? Both!  The Niners or the Cowboy's? Both!  Prime Time himself is the first athlete to start a professional football game and be in the starting line-up for a professional baseball game all in the same week. 

3)Michael Jordan? Yeah remember that one year when everyone found out about his gambling habits?  Yeah the basketball commissioner kept it quiet because of Jordan's ability  to market the NBA world wide.  Many assume this was a year suspension cleverly covered up by a sudden desire to play baseball.  They even made a movie to show how much his dad loved baseball.  Remember that little blurp at the beginning of Space Jam?

4)Lebron James was heavily recruited to play wide receiver for the Vols, so who knows perhaps some day he will strap on the shoulder pads again.

Ok I am way off the topic now back to Gregory.  What a stud!  We'll see if he can win a starting position for the Big Orange.  Coach Marrone hasn't made any promises of Paulus's chance to start but with Syracuse passing yards per game being ranked dead last in Division I schools and in passing yards per attempt also ranking in last place I don't think they are too picky on who they get to throw the ball.   

 

     

MY LETTER TO THE SCROLL (What do you think?)

I think football in it's pure unadulterated form is the greatest thing since peanut-butter meeting jelly.  I have played flag football in the BYU-Idaho rec sports program for most of my time here at school.  It's a lot of fun, and I have made a lot of friends playing.  If I had to do college all over again I would defiantly play flag football again, like I said its been a lot of fun.  I just feel that there needs to be two major changes with the program.  

The first change is with the referee's.  The referees are so inconsistent from week to week, one will say you can or you can't do this particular thing and the next week another official will say something contradictory, and we as participance are expected  to adjust with out questioning the wisdom of the referee.  Keep in mind how hard that is sometimes with some ref's not all but some have this Napoleon Complex where we have to bow down to and be chill with them and take what they say as the gospel truth.  

I have tried to help avoid this confusion by bringing a laminated copy of the rules which we can review on-line.  More then one time even though I had highlighted main points that are apparently vague and not direct the referee has told me that their superior has told them something different.  I have requested that the referee's all meet together on a regular basics so that the rules can be correlated and everyone can be on the same page, but I was informed that they all ready do that.  (So, why in the world is there so much confusion on the field?)  

My second complaint is the fact that they have taken athleticism out of an athletic event!  Seriously, when I first started playing the line-men could block with elbows locked out where the arms are strait, or the hands had to be close into the body.  There could be no going back and forth like in a pushing motion and you know what I am cool with that!  Over time they have changed it to where you can't use your hands to block just your body, now they tell us that we can make zero contact with the opponent wither on offense or defense.  So, imagine having to block using a magical force field around you to keep the  guy on defense from getting to your quarterback.  Oh and I almost forgot when a defender does hit you and you fall the referee will tell you not to insult his intelligence by “flopping.”  WHAT! It doesn't matter if I flopped or not the fact of the matter is that he broke my magical force field and made contact with me when this is not a contact sport!  

Something else that irritates me to no end is how they misinterpret the no hurdling rule.  As outlined in the on-line rule book for player, (perhaps there is another rule book for the ref's), but the one that we read states that jumping over a player who has both feet planted on the ground is illegal, so therefore according to some officials this includes any type of jump, skip, or hop out of the way of a would be flag getter.  We can't stiff arm or swat their hand out of the way and now we can't do the smallest hop to the left while in the pocket to avoid losing our flag.  As previously stated they are taking athleticism out of this athletic event which I love.  

Brigham Young is reported to have said that the greatest fear he had was that members of the Church would take what he said as the mind and will of God without first praying and obtaining a witness of the same for themselves.  We did the same things a missionaries we never wanted people to just say oh ok if that is the way then I will just go with the crowed.  No, we challenged them to question everything taught to them research, ponder, and prey.  Now I understand that our Heavenly Father has more pressing issues then Flag Football, but the point that I am trying to make is that it is Ok no wait it's expected to challenge the norm, to ask questions, to want to make changes when we feel that something is wrong!  

Brother's and Sisters there needs to be some changes made and the time is now!  I invite everyone everywhere within the sound of my pen to pick up a writing utensil of your own write into the REC Sports Program to let your voice be heard about problems you see within the program.  This is the only way to  make any changes.  Let it be known that the Officials are separate from REC Sports, but if we let the REC know then they will make things happen! 

Arm Chair Quarterbacks are BACK!

     What has two thumbs and can't wait for college football to start?  This guy!  (You can't see but both my thumbs were pointing at me.)  Anyways, I can't wait seriously I am super excited!  Some notable games to look for in the first week of September is...Oklahoma vs. BYU, Oregon vs Boise State,  Missouri vs Illinois, and Georgia vs Oklahoma State! 

     I'll start off with my favorite game BYU vs Oklahoma this game will be played at a neutral site in Texas and will be televised on ESPN.  I know that my friends with in the Rocky Mountain Range know that I am pulling for a Sooner win and my gentile friends in the Sooner State probably assume that I am going to be cheering for the for the Stormin' Mormons but at the risk of sounding apostate I think that Max Hall will fold like a beach chair in a rain storm just like he did any time the Cougars played any team that was worth a dime!  Honestly, look at his stats against the U and against TCU and compare that to lets say Wyoming or UNLV.  He can't handle the pressure!  But, who knows he is a year older now and I guess we'll see...NO WAIT I am sticking with what I originally said LONG LIVE THE SOONERS!!!

     BIG GAME IN THE BIG CONFERENCES Missouri vs Illinois are to play at 2:30 on the 5th in St. Louis.  The Tigers are not the same team as they were last year, but we'll see how Mizzuo can do with out their "OVERRATED" Quarterback Chase Daniels, and go to wide out Jeremy Maclin.  Keep in mind that the fighting Illini still have Juice Williams at QB and the explosive receiving corps and returning a stud running back committee.  Shoot I think they might even beat Ohio State this year.  (Just kidding for the exception of Michigan and Joe Paterno I don't think that anyone can beat the Buckeyes with in the BIG TEN)  

     Oregon and Boise State actually this game is to be played on Thursday the 3rd which is good because then they don't have to compete with anyone for attention that day.  Last year those of the Smurf Turf beat the mighty Ducks 37 to 32 in Eugene Or.  But to honest Oregon was having Quarterback issues at the beginning of the season so this could prove to be a very exciting game to watch.

      At the same time as the Missouri Illinois game on ESPN will be the Cowboys of Oklahoma State and the Bigdawgs of Georgia on ABC.  I know that this sports fan will be flipping between the games this Saturday afternoon.  Does anyone recognize the name Kendall Hunter?  I'll give you a hint he was the leading rusher in the BIG 12 and he is fast, really fast.  Dez Bryant is a stud and did you know that Zac Robinson can throw for over 3,000 yards and run a 4.5 forty.  Georgia on the other hand will be missing what is that Quarterbacks name I think Matt Stafford...yeah he will be gone and do you remember Knowshon Moren yeah he's gone too.

     In closing it is going to be a rad week of play and I encourage everyone ever where to load up on chips and root beer claim your spot on the couch and enjoy the opening week of COLLEGE FOOTBALL!   

Slingin' Sammy Bardford is BACK!

So, I have been wondering for a while if Sam was going to the Draft, and I was pretty sure he was I mean he had over 50 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions and a Heisman Trophy! I mean what more could a QB want? Apparently, he wants to gain more experience, perhaps a degree, and oh yeah A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! Keep in mind sports fans that Sam is not alone the six foot six 260 pound Tight End Jermain Gresham who is not only a monster but has the athletic ability to split out wide to catch passes there as well has also turned down the chance to join the NFL Draft. At wide outs we have pretty much the same corps of recievers for the exception of number 9 Juaquin Iglesias, but it ain't no thing we have the red-shirt freshman number 85 Ryan Broyles to fill the void. Broyles was the 4th ranked athlete in the nation right out of high shcool, and I think he will do just fine as he matures. At running back oh baby are we stacked at running back. Let's see we got Demarco Maurry, Chris Brown, and Mossis Madu. Not too shabby boys!

2009 NCAA National Championship

I don't want to talk about it

BOOMER SOONER!

So, the Oklahoma Sooners are headin' to Florida tomorrow for the third time this year to play on a neutral field which conveniently enough is the home state of the opponent. Dag Gum I'll tell you what I would give anything for a big win for the Sooners. To go on a 4 year BCS Bowl losing streak SUCKS MAN! But, I don't know something tells me that they are going to win big tomorrow. I am not sure if it's inspiration or desperation but I think they are going to win! I've bet all 34 points that the Sooners are gonna do it! 64 to 28 is what I think the final score is going to be. Even with injuries which seem to plague OU I don't think will hender them too much, so maybe I should change my pick to 57-34. Meh what's done is done. Did I mention that I am number one in College Pickem'

The above photo was an actual billboard in Texas and yes it is true OU has had it's fair share of problems with the NCAA. But, that was due to decades of NCAA infractions finally coming down on us. But honestly what else would you expect bored oil men to do with their money. I think Texas is just jealous

So, with this year's bowl season winding down I am sad to say the the Big-12 is not undefeated Oklahoma State and Texas Tech has lost!  I am not going to lie ESPN is really bothering me by talking about how the Big-12 has been overrated this year.  WHAT!  Overrated?  Because our 3rd and 4th teams lost please, both those games big name players received injuries.  Names like Dez Bryant and Michael Crabtree!  For crying out loud people the best defense is to have a great offense out on the field.  If you can control the clock then you limit the amount of snaps the other quarterback takes.  The less snaps he takes then that limits your opponents chance to score.  And, taking away heavy hitters like Bryant and Crabman allows defenses to focus more on other aspects of the game because your deep threat has been taken away.  I mean honestly what do you think would have happen if Michael Jordan randomly got hurt during the NBA finals.  Is it possible that The Jazz could have won a championship?  Now, I don't want to play the What If game but I don't want the Big-12 to be dumped on because two teams have lost games. 

The Pac-10 is 5 and 0 this Bowl Season and the "experts" are saying that perhaps we have been too hard on them this year.  I am not going to lie going undefeated is great and getting half the conference in a bowl is also impressive but lets take a look at who they beat.  We'll start off with the University of Arizona.  They beat BYU but on paper shouldn't a BCS school beat the third ranked Mountain West school.  Cal, they had a struggling go around this year and they beat Miami from the weak sauce ACC.  This is seriously not the Atlantic Coast year, their conference champ was like 5-3 this year and so many other schools deserved to be in a major bowl instead of them.  Oregon...We already talked about them.  Oregon St. vs Pitt the score was 3 to 0 wanna talk about a boring game.  USC winning the Rose Bowl just goes to show how weak the Big-10 really is.  Now, I am sure that there are those who are reading this and saying Whoa Wayne Bass how come when the Big-10 losses a big game it shows how weak there conference is but when the Big-12 loses two bowl games the Big-12 is still ok.  I explained earlier about how losing key players affects the game and besides they didn't get man handled like Penn State did.

Congratulations to the University of Utah for winning their second BCS Bowl.  I really didn't think it would have happened but I wanted it to so on college pick em' I picked em' and they got me like four points