The game package includes round trip airfare for two, three nights lodging, commemorative gifts, admission to a pre-game party, and two tickets to the Championship Game. Even if you don’t win the big prize, you could win a year’s supply of Dr Pepper, a $50 Gift card to ESPNShop.com or UltimateCollegeFan.com, and more.

Image: Dr Pepper

Plus as an added bonus, one lucky EveryJoe reader will win a tailgate package that includes:

• Weber 1520 Propane Gas Go-Anywhere Grill
• Ladder Golf game made of solid hardwood with brass hardware
• Replica football jersey of your favorite SEC, Big 12 or ACC team from collegefootballstore.com
• 12-packs of Dr Pepper!

To enter the sweepstakes, visit Dr Pepper Facebook page.

Be sure to enter the code EVERYJOE to be eligible for the tailgate prizepack. The sweepstakes ends November 16th.

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Dr Pepper College Football Sweepstakes

The number one ranked University of Florida Gators take their score-at-will offense and beat-you-to-a-pulp defense on the road to nationally fourth-ranked Louisiana State University Oct. 10. This may be the first “real” test of the 2009 Gator bite when taking on the also undefeated Tigers in their own cage. In fact, both schools account for the last three national champions with Florida reigning supreme last year and 2006 while the Tigers were on top in ‘08.

Image: Zuma Press

Tebow Hurt

The big question posed is will star gator QB Tim Tebow not only suit up for the game, but will he be under center. Tebow suffered a concussion during Florida’s blowout win against the University of Kentucky Sept. 28 at Commonwealth Stadium in Louisville. Suffering from the flu at game start, Tebow managed to guide the Gators through to the middle of the third period when facing a third-and-six-yard to go from the Kentucky nine-yard line, Wildcat DE Taylor Wyndham nailed the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, hitting him squarely in the chest. As Tebow went down, his head hit the knee of Gator tackle Marcus Gilbert.

He lay motionless for a few seconds, but eventually sat up and was helped off the field. He was transported by ambulance to the University of Kentucky Medical Center where he was held overnight for observation.

“He was dinged a little bit,” Florida Head Coach Urban Meyers said after the game. “They checked his memory and all that, he’s fine.”

“Fine” also translated into 123 yards rushing for the senior from St. Augustine, Fla. He moved into sole possession of second place in the SEC for rushing touchdowns after scoring two solo on the ground in the first quarter, He is one behind SEC record-holder Herschel Walker.

Records Broken

Other records booked at the expense of the Wildcats included Gator RB Brandon James setting new high numbers for return average when he began the contest with a 27-yard catch and run. He surpassed Kentucky’s Derek Abney (3,357) with this play when his total tallied at 3,370 yards returned.

As dominating as the offensive game against the Wildcats was, the Gator defense held Kentucky scoreless until the 8:48 left in the first when the Big Blue mounted a 14-play, 58-yard drive that was capped off by a two-yard TD pass caught by Ross Boque. This was Kentucky’s only score of the game.

Dominating Defense

The Gator defense has been rather stingy in the opening games of the 2009 season holding all opponents to a combined 29 points while the offense has humiliated any opposing “D” scoring a total of 182 winning points in four games. The opener against Charleston Southern was a slap-down win at 63-3. The only Buccaneer points came off junior kicker John Paglia foot as he booted one through the uprights.

The following week the Gators drowned the visiting Toy Trojans in the Swamp with a convincing 56-6 win. Again, the tough Florida defense held the opponent to no TDs. Troy had to settle for a pair of field goals as their only scoreboard points for the day.

On Sept. 19, the Tennessee Volunteers wandered into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to give the Gators their best test of the season to date. However, Florida defeated their SEC rival in a 23-13 win. The win gave UF a new record with 13 consecutive wins.

Daniel Rigdon is a sports writer for www.sportsfantreasures.com. He would like to invite you to check out their Florida Gators Merchandise and Gators Apparel online today!

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Number One Gators Score at Will in 2009

Everyone needs to stop knocking on what Ohio State has done on the football field. They have played in seven BCS bowl games this decade. They have wont he Big Ten for four straight seasons. They have a national title while playing for two others. The only games they have lost in the past four seasons have been to teams that finished either in the top 10 nationally or in a BCS bowl. The last time Ohio State lost to a team that didn’t play in the BCS was in November 2004 at Purdue. Everyone gets on their case because they have lost three straight BCS games, two of them being the national title game. Before that, the Buckeyes were 4-0 in the BCS era. Few teams have as much sustained success as the Buckeyes, and they are once again favored to win the Big Ten.

Unfortunately, last year was supposed to be the year. They had a senior-laden defense that struggled against a very good USC team. The offense then couldn’t score against Penn State and any hope of the national title was lost. It is a cruel fate, but because the Buckeyes have had so much success within the Big Ten they unfortunately must win it all or the season is a failure. They no longer have the luxury of middle ground or a rebuilding year, especially since their rebuilding years are so good. Such will be the case this year.

Image: Newscom

Sophomore quarterback Terrelle Prior is talented enough to make sure that Ohio State maintains its 53 game winning streak against teams that don’t play in BCS bowls for that season. There is a reason that teams like Penn State, Oregon, and Michigan tried desperately to woo Prior to campus. He is a difference maker that can do anything he wants to with a football. He came on the scene during a blowout loss at Southern Cal last season and could make a huge difference by playing the whole game against the Trojans in Columbus this year. Dan Herron and Brandon Saine ware good running backs to build around as well. Ohio State’s offense has long thrived on ball control and keeping the other team off the field. The Buckeyes should be able to do while still maintaining a big play element with its receivers.

The defense has a number of holes to fill, but Ohio State always has players that are ready to step in and play. Thaddeus Gibson is the type of defensive end that eats left tackles for breakfast and gives quarterbacks nightmares. The defensive tackles are more than good enough to hold themselves against the run and allow the ends to get to the quarterback. Austin Spitler is the next great Ohio State linebacker, while Chimdi Chekwa is a fantastic cornerback to lead the secondary. Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell are safeties that can play against both the run and the pass. The defense may step back just a bit, but it is still more than good enough to beat most teams.

Aaron Richardson is a sports writer for www.sportsfantreasures.com. He would like to invite you to check out their Ohio State Buckeyes Store and Ohio State Buckeyes Apparel online today!

Post from: EveryJoe

Ohio State Preview

It is not easy being number two. That is where Texas found itself at the end of last season. The Texas Longhorns’ lone loss on the season came on the final play of the game at Texas Tech. Though they beat Oklahoma, they saw the Sooners voted into the Big 12 title game ahead of them. That led to Oklahoma’s subsequent berth in the BCS championship game, while Texas had to settle for a win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. No one knows if Texas was better than national champion Florida last season because they were never given the chance to prove themselves head to head with the Gators.

Image: Newscom

The goals are the same this year. They are a lot like Miami in 2001. In 2000, the Hurricanes defeated Florida State only to see the Seminoles go to (and lose) the national championship game ahead of them. Miami resolved to simply not lose in 2001 and dominated the college football world. Texas is capable of replaying the feat this season in order to win their second national championship in the past five years. Once again, the Oklahoma game will go a long way towards deciding that. In conference games with Texas Tech and Oklahoma State will be difficult as well. Only the Oklahoma State game is a true road game, as everyone else that has a minor chance of beating the Longhorns must come to Austin.

A big reason this team is one of the favorites, if not the favorite, to win the national title is quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy could very well win the Heisman Trophy — he probably should have won last season. He is one of the favorites, although for the first time in college football history two other players that have already won the award will be playing a full season in trying to get a second. While McCoy has been good, he has yet to lead the Longhorns to the Big 12 championship. He will have to elevate his already fantastic game to another level, but he has more than enough talent around him to do so.

The Longhorn defense was solid last season and could be even better this year. If not for one mistake, the failure to cover and tackle Michael Crabtree on the final play of the Texas Tech game, the Longhorns would have been undefeated. Still, that was atypical of a defense that often allowed few points. This defense doesn’t need to be a brick wall either since the Texas offense can score in bunches. Sergio Kindle is a legitimate NFL prospect at both defensive end and linebacker that can cause havoc in the front seven. No team in the country sacked more quarterbacks last season than Texas, and the Longhorns were the third best team in the nation against the run. It is very easy to see that if this team gets better on defense it will make the offense’s job that much easier. Both factors have other teams afraid well before the season starts.

Writer and editor, Freddie Brister, is a former high school football coach of 25 years. His love of the game of football is reflected in his words and memories of growing up in the South and playing football in the back yard with his brothers, cousins and neighborhood friends. His biggest thrill is watching former high school players he has coached play at the college level. His favorite pastime is watching college football on TV and attending games in person every chance he gets. Freddie Brister is a huge fan of the Texas Longhorns. Check out his Texas Longhorns Store or his Texas Longhorns Apparel.

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Texas Longhorns Season Preview

But he’s more than just a coach. This summer, he showed the world that he is also a humanitarian. Harbaugh spent a week in Peru helping to buil shelters for the poor. He also helped fellow humanitarians buil a new roof for an orphanage and packed food bags that will be distributed to families who really need them. Each bag should feed a family for a month.

Jim Harbaugh, Image: Newscom

Of course, it wasn’t all hard work. Harbaugh also played football with the locals, and he says that the game turned into what he calls “Peru Ball.” He plans to return next year with the whole family.

You can read more about his trip from Mercury News.

Post from: EveryJoe

Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh Volunteers in Peru

Steve McNair, Image: Newscom

Here are the highlights from his time playing NCAA Football:

• McNair played for Alcorn State after being recruited from Mount Olive High School in Mississippi.
  
• He was the third pick overall in the 1995 NFL draft.
  
• In 1992, McNair ran the ball in for a game-winning touchdown against Grambling, even though he had a leg injury.
• In his senior season, McNait had around 6,000 yards passing and rushing, as well as 53 touchdowns.
  
• McNair won the Walter Payton Award as the highest-ranked I-AA player in 1994.
  
• He broke more than a dozen records his senior year.
  
• McNair finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1994.
  

He was a great player, and from all accounts I’ve heard, a great father. The circumstances may be a bit hazy right now, but no matter what, my thoughts are with his family. RIP.

Post from: EveryJoe

Steve McNair in College

1. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Florida
2. Beaver Stadium – Penn State
3. Tiger Stadium – LSU
4. Ohio Stadium Stadium – Ohio State
5. Gaylord-Oklahoma Memorial – Oklahoma

You can see the rest of the list here . Of course, I’m happy to see Beaver Stadium on the list. If you’ve ever been there, you understand why it’s #2. The crowd is intense and it is LOUD. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to play there. I’m assuming others on the list are similar.

Image: Newscom

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Hardest Places to Play in NCAA Football

Image: Newscom

After it was rejected, David Frohnmayer, BCS presidential oversight committee chairman, said:

“There was no overall support for the proposal, although some conferences were interested in considering certain elements of it in the future — particularly those related to revenue, access and governance of the BCS arrangement.”

According to Frohnmayer, all of the conferences and Notre Dame wrote reports in support of keeping the current post-season system. However, a large part of that may be wanting to fulfill televison contracts. Frohnmayer says that the current post-season arrangement is the best that has ever existed.

Right…

Post from: EveryJoe

BCS Rejects MWC’s Playoff Plan

How much will the schools save? That depends on the division, but dues range from $900-$1,800. Every little bit counts in this economy.

Combined, the schools will save $1.3 million. The NCAA is making changes in their offices to deal with this lack of income, and these cost-efficient changes will reportedly make up for about $500,000 of that loss. They’re also reviewing Division I governance structure change proposals which, they report, could have a direct benefit for schools involved.

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No NCAA Membership Fees for 2009-10

Bobby Bowden, Image: Newscom

FSU admits that the cheating occurred and they aren’t challenging the the loss of scholarships in 10 sports and a four-year probation for the dirty deeds. However, they are challenging the part of the sanctions that would strip coach Bobby Bowden of 14 of the school’s wins.

Normally, that may not be a big deal, but Bowden is neck-and-neck with Penn State’s Joe Paterno for the title of “winningest coach in college football.” Both coaches are expected to retire within the next few years, so there’s not time to make up those 14 wins.

Paterno has gone on record as saying that he hopes the NCAA allowed Bowden to keep the wins. I’m glad to see that he wants a fair fight.

Leave a comment below – should Bowden be allowed to keep his wins or should the games be declared losses?

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FSU Sanctions Response Kept Secret