Jim Leavitt, Image: Newscom

Says the special teams player,

“I don’t think anything should happen to him. Me and Coach Leavitt are fine. People can say different things but he only grabbed my shoulder pads to motivate me, because he’s a passionate guy. He never apologized because he had nothing to apologize for”

Allegedly, Miller’s father went to see Leavitt at his office, and inappropriate, somewhat threatening comments about Leavitt’s power at the school were made. It was also reported, though, that the coach apologized.

To me, this sounds like a case of an angry soccer mom. You know, the sports parent who is a bit overprotective and wants to see the best for their kid. Did Leavitt yell at Miller with a lot of passion? Probably. Did he grab him? Probably. Did he step over a line? The school is looking into the matter, but it sounds like he didn’t really do anything wrong. I just hope an overzealous father hasn’t affected his son’s position on the team.

Post from: EveryJoe

Miller says: Me and Coach Leavitt are Fine

Really, who watches Thursday games? I always forget they’re on unless I’m channel surfing and pass ESPN. This week was no exception, but when I saw the game’s score, I was sad I had missed it. Unranked North Carolina topped #13 Virginia Tech 20 – 17, proving that the Hokies really were ranked too high (something I had muttered to a friend last week). Both teams are now 5 – 3, but this wasn’t just a lucky win for the Tar Heels. The UNC defense SHUT DOWN Virginia Tech, holding them to less than 100 yards rushing during the entire game.

The real hero of the night, however, was Casey Barth. With the last seconds running off the clock, he kicked a 21-yard field goal to win the game and the crowd at Lane Stadium began to file out to the parking lot with long faces.

Nobody knows the kicker's name...until you need him. Image: Newscom

Although they’ve lost some key games, I think UNC is better than most people think. Have they done enough to warrant a ranking in the AP top 25? Maybe. After all, Oklahoma was in the mix at #22, even though their record of 4 – 3 is less than mind-blowing. I think we’ll know more when the Tar Heels go up against Miami in two weeks, so I’ll look forward to that game.

A game that I did catch was last night’s #21 West Virginia at South Florida. Even though South Florida was unranked coming into Week Nine, I had a suspicion this would be an interesting game. Ultimately, the Bulls won 30 – 19, and once again, this game was all about defense. Noel Devine, the Mountaineers’ golden child in the world of rushing, couldn’t do anything the entire game. On the other hand, South Florida’s quarterback B.J. Daniels finishing the game breaking person records with 232 yards throwing, 104 rushing, and three touchdowns. There’s no doubt in my mind that this team should be ranked going into Week Ten. They may not be BCS bowl game contenders, but they’re a solid group who deserves some recognition.

Today, all eyes will be on the USC – Oregon game to see who will rule the Pac-10. Let’s not forget the other games, though. Week Nine has already show us that the ranked teams can fall, and with the lower have of the Top 25 being so shaky, it’ll be interesting to see who else tumbles and how it changes for next week.

Post from: EveryJoe

Two Top Teams Fall Before Sat during Week 9

Undefeated:

• Alabama
• Boise State
• Cincinnati
• Florida
• Iowa
• Kansas
• South Florida
• TCU
• Texas

Winless

• Ball State
• Eastern Michigan
• Florida Atlantic
• Miami (OH)
• New Mexico
• Rice
• Western Kentucky

Really, I think the big surprises here are that there are no major surprises. Few people would have put Iowa on the undefeated list when predicting records at this point in the season, considering that they played Penn State, but once again, the boys at Happy Valley choked.

I guess South Florida on the list is a little surprising too. They haven’t had a totally easy season. Cincinnati has (sorry, I know ya’ll love ‘em, but I’m not sure they aren’t totally overrated). Next week, they play one another, so that will end for one team.

WR Mardy Gilyard has been important for the Bearcats so far this season. Can they continue to charge ahead as they meet harder opponents on the field? Image: Newscom

I’m hoping that Cincinnati proves they deserve to be ranked so high, but I don’t think South Florida will just roll over.

As for the winless list…well…let’s just say that Michigan is happy to not be on it.

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 Midseason Undefeated and Winless

Cincinnati 24, #23 South Florida 10

• What To Make Of South Florida Free Fall at U of L Card Game
• Cincinnati takes down reeling No. 23 South Florida at World Sports Breaking News

West Virginia 35, #25 Connecticut 13

• West Virginia Remains Alone In First Place With Win At Connecticut at Big East Football Headline News

Pittsburgh 36, Notre Dame 33

• The Irish manage to finally lose in 4th OT to Pittsburgh! at Michelchiasson’s Weblog
• Pitt Is It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at Backwoods Presbyterian

Syracuse 28, Louisville 21

• Louisville Falls To Syracuse, 28-21 at Louisville Cardinals News

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 10: Blogging about the Big East

Not only is he indestructible, it seems, but he also is a damn good quarterback. Cincinnati is 6-2 overall, and 2-1 in the Big East. Admittedly, that’s not exactly what I’d call a strong conference, but the Bearcats run a fast-paced, no-huddle, spread offense, and that’s not easy to do. In Thursday’s game against South Florida, he was 20-of-28, throwing two touchdowns…you can’t scoff at that.

Pike is a junior, and is only playing after senior Dustin Grutza broke his leg in the second game of the season. Pike broke his arm two games later, giving the starting spot to Chazz Anderson, a redshirt freshman. Although Pike returned last week against Connecticut, he only played during the first half because his hand went numb. Oddly enough, since then, Anderson has been dropped from backup status to emergency only status because he’s having problems with a knee injury.

Maybe I’m just in a Halloween mood, but Cincinnati might be cursed.

I’m just sayin’.

But they won against ranked South Florida 24-10, so how cursed can they be, right?

Oh, and if you actually want to read about the game, not my ramblings about Pike and curses and such, you can do so here.

Pictures via Newscom.

Post from: EveryJoe

Tony Pike is a Bad Ass; Cincinnati is Cursed

West Virginia 34, Auburn 17

• West Virginia 34, Auburn 17 at Arkansas Razorback Sports Network
• White, Devine Rally West Virginia Past Auburn at Big East Headline News

Connecticut 40, Cincinnati 16

• Brown Runs For 150 Yards; UConn Beats Cincinnati at Courant.com

Louisville 24, #16 South Florida 20

• Gameday Final: Louisville 24, USF 20 at South Florida Headline News
• U of L-South Florida key stat comparsions at the Courier-Journal

Rutgers 54, #17 Pittsburgh 34

• The offense we’ve been craving at Bleed Scarlet
• Welcome back Rutgers offense! at WCTC’s RU Crazy Blog

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 9: Blogging about the Big East

#19 South Florida 45, Syracuse 13

• COL FB: South Florida 45, Syracuse 13 at Times of the Internet
• 4Q – South Florida 45, Syracuse 13 at Orange Football Blog

Rutgers 12, Connecticut 10

• Rutgers defeats UConn, 12-10 at Rutgers Football News
• Ciaravino’s 3 Field Goal Misses Huge In 12-10 Loss To Rutgers at Sox & Dawgs

#23 Pittsburgh 42, Navy 21

• Pittsburgh Wins Fifth Straight, Downs Navy 42-21 at Big East Headline News
• PITT 42, NAVY 21 at The Birddog

Louisville 42, Middle Tennessee State 23

• Louisville Defeats Middle Tennesee State, 42-23 at Louisville Cardinal News

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC 

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 8: Blogging about the Big East

This week, we saw not one but two rather frightening injuries during games – to Dante Love (#85, see right) of Ball State and Brouce Mompremier of South Florida. After collisions that had these players on the ground and not moving, both look like  they’ll make full recoveries. Spinal injuries are scary, so it is definitely good to hear that bother players will likely be ok.

Love was injured when he collided with Indiana’s Chris Adkins after making a catch. He was taken immediately to Bloomington Hospital and then transferred to Methodist Hospital and admitted into the critical care unit. He had surgery, which took five hours, to stabilize a spine fracture and spinal cord injury. The good news is that he is reported moving both arms and legs today.

Mompremier’s injuries were less severe, but appeared just as serious on the field on Saturday. After colliding with teammate Carlton Williams, Mompremier (#53, see left) fell to the ground, where he lay motionless for more than 15 minutes. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, but has now been cleared to go home after being monitored overnight. He can reportedly move his limbs, though still have tingling in his neck and shoulders. He’ll miss at least two games.

What I’d like to note is the awesome sportsmanship we saw on the field while medical teams attended to these patients. Players from both teams joined in prayer. It is just a reminder that football might be competitive, but there are things in life more important.

Well wishes from BCS Frenzy to both players!

Pictures via Newscom.

Post from: EveryJoe

Update on Two Scary Injuries

I don’t know what Coach Jim Leavitt said at half time, but the Bulls we saw in the second half looked nothing like the calves we saw in the first half. Kansas didn’t exactly play like shit, but suddenly, they were playing a top-ranked team.

Fast forward to the end of the game…suddenly, the score is 34-34. USF was forced to kick away the ball with a little more than two minutes left in the game, and after a few good drives, it looked like the Jayhawks were going to at least be in great field goal range.

And then, Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing made his only real major mistake of the night…he threw an interception. They ran it back into field goal range with under a minute on the clock, ran the ball until the clock down to just two seconds. It all came down to the true freshman kicker Maikon Bonani.

With his whole world watching, Bonani came through.

I didn’t think it was going to be good. Bonani must have got a gust of wind from god, because it almost didn’t make it. But he did, and Kansas fell, which may push them out of the top ten this week. Manginao is not pleased.

But Bonani? In the words of my roommate,

“He is so getting laid tonight.”

Picture via Newscom.

Post from: EveryJoe

Nobody Knows the Kicker’s Name until you Need Him: Maikon Bonani Wins it for USF

Football uniforms have always been a hot topic. It makes sense – if I’m going to shell out the cash for a fan jersey, I don’t want to look like a douche. There are quite a few teams getting new uniforms in 2008, so I thought I’d compile a list of links to show you. If your team is getting new uniforms and you don’t see them on this list, leave a comment to let me know!

Hawaii

Kentucky (rumored, but I couldn’t confirm)

Miami

Minnesota (not yet revealed at time of this post)

South Florida

Utah

Post from: EveryJoe

New NCAA Uniforms for 2008