OK, So I'm Not Exactly Unemployed Anymore

Good news, Brian Golden fans! OK, now that both of you are listening...

...I'm not exactly unemployed anymore. I've been able to land steady enough freelance sportswriting work that, coupled with my ongoing quality control position with Catharsis Productions, I'm doing right fine for myself.

In the last couple weeks, I've been to MAC Media Day, Big Ten Media Day, and starting this fall, I'm going to be writing a book on MAC Football. Very exciting stuff. The season starts August 30th in Muncie, Indiana, and I'll be there.

Here's where you'll find all my sports writing, from the following outstanding sites. If you're a fan of any of the teams I'm covering, I'd encourage you to frequent these sites and subscribe where necessary.

www.macreportonline.com
iowastate.rivals.com
illinois.rivals.com
www.beaverblitz.com
www.cougzone.com
www.orangeandbluenews.com
tulsa.rivals.com

Coming soon, I'll post some travel diaries for my tour through the Mid-American Conference this fall. August 30th - Miami at Ball State. It all starts in Muncie.


Thanks Dad, for being the first person that made me think writing was cool.

Pac-10 Preseason Magazine Analysis

(This article originally appeared on oregonstate.rivals.com)

Before the gridiron battles of autumn, another war is waged on news stands across the county. Throughout the summer, in the dead period between spring and fall practice, annual College Football Preview magazines go public, competing with one another to see which can deliver the most accurate prognostication of the upcoming season.

As Beaver fans digest this year’s editions, BeaverBlitz decided to examine five major annuals from the time period 2002-2006 to see which proved the most accurate in predicting the results of the Pac Ten and the Beavers

We’re looking at five of the top college football journals in the country; Athlon, Lindy’s, Phil Steele, Street & Smith and The Sporting News. These five represent the most renowned and respected college football predictions each summer.

First of all, let’s start with the raw data. Here’s a rundown of each team, with their average rating from the five magazines over the 2002-2006 time period:

(A quick note: When two teams tie for 3^rd, they are both given a 3.5 for their finish that year, as they shared the 3^rd and 4^th positions.)

USC
Athlon 1.2
Lindy's 1.6
The Sporting News 1.4
Phil Steele 1.2
Street&Smith 2.2

UCLA
Athlon 4.6
Lindy's 5.4
The Sporting News 5.6
Phil Steele 4.6
Street&Smith 5.6

Washington
Athlon 5.8
Lindy's 5.8
The Sporting News 5.8
Phil Steele 5.3
Street&Smith 5.6

Washington State
Athlon 6.2
Lindy's 5.8
The Sporting News 5
Phil Steele 6.4
Street&Smith 5.8

Oregon
Athlon 4.4
Lindy's 3.6
The Sporting News 4.4
Phil Steele 4.3
Street&Smith 3.4

Oregon State
Athlon 5.4
Lindy's 5.4
The Sporting News 5.6
Phil Steele 5.9
Street&Smith 5.6

Arizona
Athlon 8.4
Lindy's 8.2
The Sporting News 8.4
Phil Steele 8.4
Street&Smith 9.2

Arizona State
Athlon 8.4
Lindy's 8.2
The Sporting News 8.4
Phil Steele 8.4
Street&Smith 9.2

Cal
Athlon 5.2
Lindy's 5.6
The Sporting News 4.8
Phil Steele 4.8
Street&Smith 5.2

Stanford
Athlon 8.8
Lindy's 8.6
The Sporting News 9
Phil Steele 9.1
Street&Smith 7.8

So that’s where the teams were rated, overall. Let’s break it down, now, from most underrated to most overrated. Each team will be listed with three numbers: their average predicted finish, their average actual finish, and the difference between the two. So, the higher the number, the more underrated they are. (Ex: If a team’s predicted to finish 10^th, and they finish first, that’s a score of 9.)

UNDERRATED

1. Cal (5.12, 3.6 = 1.56) – Year in, year out the most underrated team in the Pac 10 since 2002. The Bears made up the most ground in 2003, when they were picked 8.4, but finished 3.5. In 2002, they were picked 9.8 and finished 5.5. The three years since have been pretty on the level, with their first place tie last year earning them a few more ‘underrated’ points. If you want a bad prediction on Cal, ask The Sporting News, who has been off on Cal’s finish by 14 total places in just 5 seasons, almost 3 spots per year. That’s bad.

2. Oregon State (5.58, 4.7 = .88) – That’s right, Beaver fans, this has been the second most underrated team in the Pac 10 in recent years. Only 2003’s 6^th place finish has been worse than expected, the Beavs overachieved by 4.5 spots in 2006, 1.1 spots in 2005, and .7 spots in 2004. Somehow, this team continues to get less respect as the years go on. Phil Steele had the clearest crystal ball on OSU fortunes until this past season, when he picked State to finish tied for 9^th. Ouch. Has he learned his lesson? This year, Steele has the Beavers 6^th, lowest of all the major magazine. Guess not. Don’t worry – they’ve taught this lesson before.

3. Washington State (5.84, 5.3 = .54) – This rating is a bit inflated based on 2002’s run to the Pac-10 co-title, and 2003’s 2^nd place finish. In recent years, Wazzu has actually been a bit overrated, crashing to a T9th finish in 2005 after being predicted 6.6. Last year they were slightly underrated, building on a 7.6 prediction to finish 6.5.

PREDICTABLE

4. UCLA (5.16, 4.8 = .36) – There’s no doubt at all who knows the Bruins Best: Athlon’s Sports. In five years, Athlon has been off on the Bruins finish by 3 total spots – in fact, the mag has never missed the UCLA finish by more than one spot in the final standings, a remarkable accomplishment. This year, Athlon has UCLA 3^rd, which means you can bet the ranch the Bruins clock in somewhere between 2^nd and 4^th.

5. USC (1.52, 1.2 = .32) – As good as USC has been, they’ve still been a bit underrated by the preseason journals. While the other four mags have been awfully close, the folks at Street & Smith’s can’t bring themselves to give the Trojans respect. S & S picked USC 4^th in 2002, 3^rd in 2003, 2^nd in 2006. They finished 1^st or T1st every year.

6. Stanford (8.66, 8.4 = .26) – Just as USC has been predictably great, the Cardinal have been predictably brutal. An average finish of 8.4 over five years is bad enough, but the predicted finish of 8.66 is even worse. Other than 2005’s 4-way tie for 4^th, Stanford has been T8th or worse every year.

7. Arizona (8.52, 8.3 = .22) – Athlon, Sporting News and Phil Steele have been all over the ‘Cats, picking them an average of 8.4, with their average finish of 8.3. Lindy’s has been just as close, with an average pick of 8.2. Street & Smith’s is the journal to avoid, being singlehandedly responsible for ‘Zona’s status as slightly underrated. S & S has picked Arizona an average of 9.2 in 5 years. Jeez, they’re not that bad.

8. Arizona State (4.92, 5.4 = -.48) – The Sun Devils, despite seeming fairly predictable, have been all over the map. 2006 – overrated by 3 spots, 2005 – overrated by 1.8 spots, 2004 – underrated by 2.1 spots, 2003 – overrated by 5.1 spots, 2002 – underrated by 5.4 spots. This is a good team to avoid if you’re looking to have them figured out preseason. Phil Steele has been the best with the Devils, but even he hasn’t been close.

OVERRATED

9. Oregon (4.02, 5.1 = -1.08) – Overrated by over a spot per year, the Ducks have quacked their way to almost the top of the list of consistently overrated Pac-10 squads. They’ve been overrated by 2.5 spots or more 3 of the 5 years. Don’t ask The Sporting News for help: they’ve been off on Oregon by at least 2.5 spots every single year, either up or down. Look for Phil Steele to add even more points to the Ducks’ overrated tally this year; Steele has Oregon pegged for a tie for 2^nd!

10. Washington (5.66, 8.00 = -2.34) – Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Huskies, who started the decade at the top of the Pac-10, have been usurped by the Cougars, passed by Oregon and OSU, and are far and away the most consistently overrated unit on the Pacific Coast. Get this: Steele has overrated Washington by 1 ½, 1 ½, 3, 5 ½ and 2 ½ spots. When will he learn? This year, he’s got the Huskies 8^th, so I guess they’ll finish…12^th?

Now that we’ve seen how each team stacks up, let’s rate the magazines on their overall performance. Here’s how it’s done: for every spot the journal misses a team, whether its over or underrated, that’s 1 point. Low score wins:

1. Athlon – 96

2. Phil Steele – 97

3. Lindy’s – 99

4. Sporting News – 102

5. Street & Smith’s – 107

Well done, Athlon, the Pac-10 accuracy champs!

Big Ten Preseason Magazine Analysis

(This article originally appeared on www.orangeandbluenews.com)

Before the gridiron battles of autumn, another war is waged on news stands across the county. Throughout the summer, in the dead period between spring and fall practice, annual College Football Preview magazines go public, competing with one another to see which can deliver the most accurate prognostication of the upcoming season.

As Illini fans digest this year’s editions, Orange and Blue News decided to examine five major annuals from the time period 2002-2006 to see which proved the most accurate in predicting the results of the Big Ten and your Fighting Illini.

We’re looking at five of the top college football journals in the country; Athlon, Lindy’s, Phil Steele, Street & Smith and The Sporting News. These five represent the most renowned and respected college football predictions each summer.

First of all, let’s start with the raw data. Here’s a chart of each team, with their average rating from the five magazines over the 2002-2006 time period:

(A quick note: When two teams tie for 3^rd, they are both given a 3.5 for their finish that year, as they shared the 3^rd and 4^th positions.)

Ohio State
Athlon 1.8
Lindy's 1.6
The Sporting News 1.2
Phil Steele 1.5
Street&Smith 2.6

Michigan
Athlon 1.6
Lindy's 1.4
The Sporting News 2.4
Phil Steele 1.9
Street&Smith 1.6

Iowa
Athlon 4.8
Lindy's 4.4
The Sporting News 5.6
Phil Steele 4.2
Street&Smith 4.2

Penn State
Athlon 6.6
Lindy's 4.8
The Sporting News 4.8
Phil Steele 5.1
Street&Smith 5.8

Purdue
Athlon 5.4
Lindy's 5.2
The Sporting News 4.2
Phil Steele 4.4
Street&Smith 6.2

Michigan State
Athlon 6.6
Lindy's 6.6
The Sporting News 7.4
Phil Steele 5.1
Street&Smith 5.8

Wisconsin
Athlon 4
Lindy's 5.2
The Sporting News 5.4
Phil Steele 5.7
Street&Smith 6.2

Minnesota
Athlon 7.2
Lindy's 5.2
The Sporting News 5.4
Phil Steele 5.7
Street&Smith 6.2

Northwestern
Athlon 9.4
Lindy's 9.2
The Sporting News 9.6
Phil Steele 9.1
Street&Smith 8.6

Illinois
Athlon 9
Lindy's 8.8
The Sporting News 9
Phil Steele 8
Street&Smith 9.2

Indiana
Athlon 10.4
Lindy's 11
The Sporting News 10.8
Phil Steele 11
Street&Smith 10.4

So, what do all these numbers add up to? By dividing a team’s average finish by their average predicted finish, each team gets a number score. A lower score makes a team traditionally underrated (higher finish than prediction), a higher score makes a team traditionally overrated. Let’s take a look at the Big Ten standings, from the most underrated to the most overrated, over the last 5 years.

UNDERRATED

1. Northwestern (2.18) – No respect for the Wildcats. Over the last five years, this has been the most underrated team in the conference, by a whopping margin. Across the board, underrated by more than 2 standings spots every single year, and it wasn’t just a one year wonder. The Wildcats were massively underrated in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and never overrated. This team hasn’t finished below their predicted finish since at least 2001.

2. Indiana (1.32) – It would be hard for a team that almost always gets picked last to be overrated, but there is something strange about the fact that most magazines always pick the Hoosiers for dead last, despite the fact that they haven’t finished there in any of the five years. Indiana shared 10^th place twice, but also has posted finishes of T9th, 10^th and T6th. Lindy’s and Phil Steele have picked them dead 11^th every single year. Where does Lindy’s have them this year? Yep – 11^th.

3. Minnesota (.52) – This is a bit misleading, since the Gophers are still coasting on the wings of 2002’s surprising 7^th place finish, after being picked 9.4^th. Lindy’s is again the worst at predicting Minnesota’s finishes, underrated them by an average of .8 per year. Lindy’s has the Gophers 10^th this year.

ACCURATE

4. Iowa (.4) – Despite finishing slightly on the underrated side of things, the Hawks have been one of the most difficult teams to predict in the Big Ten. In 2002, predicted 6.8, finished 1.5. In 2004, predicted 3.6, finished 1.5. In 2006, predicted 3.2, finished a disastrous 8.5. Its always hard to say where Iowa will finish, but typically they don’t end up too close to where the experts say.

5. Wisconsin (-.2) – Much like Iowa, their overall rating makes them seem an easy team to predict, but look closer: In 2006, predicted 5.8, finished 2.5. In 2005, predicted 7.1, finished 4.5. In 2003, predicted 3.6, finished 7.5. In 2002, predicted 4.8, finished 8.5. It’ll be hard for the Badgers to overachieve this year, as they look to be the consensus 2^nd place choice.

6. Purdue (-.22) – With the exception of 2005, when almost nobody say the Boilers’ decline coming, Phil Steele has been on the money predicting Purdue. He missed their finish by 7 spots in 2005, but in the other four years combined, he’s only been off by a combined 2.5 standings spots – very impressive. Steele has Purdue in a three-way tie for 5^th this year.

7. Penn State (-.28) – When it comes to predicting the Nittany Lions, Athlon has been brutal. Off by an average of 3.5 spots per year, and the worst of all five magazines in 4 of the past five years, Athlon has Penn State 4^th this year.

OVERRATED

8. Michigan (-.72) – Predictably, Michigan has been a bit overrated in 4 of the last 5 season. Street & Smith’s seems to know the Wolverines the best; other than 2005, S & S has been dead on Michigan’s finishes twice, and off by just half a place twice. This information is interesting, because Street & Smith’s is one of the few magazines that doesn’t have Michigan winning the conference this season – they picked Wisconsin.

9. Ohio State (-.8) – If you want originality on the Buckeyes, don’t ask the Sporting News. TSN has picked the Buckeyes first every year since 2001, and they’ve only been completely right once, last year. OSU has tied for first twice in that time period, but they’ve also logged a 6^th and a T2nd. In both years OSU hasn’t finished first, Street & Smith has been the most accurate in foreseeing their decline.

10. Illinois (-.9) – Throw out 2003’s disappointing 11^th place finish, when Illinois was predicted 8^th, the Illini has performed more or less to expectation. Lindy’s wins this one – missing Illinois’ finish by just 2 total spots over 4 years. This is great news for Illini fans; Lindy’s has Illinois higher than any other magazine, putting them 6^th. The magazine has been on the money 4 out of 5 years, and there’s no reason to think this year will be different.

11. Michigan State (-1.28) – Everyone this side of East Lansing probably saw this coming. But it wasn’t just last year’s disaster that did in the Spartans, finishing 10^th after being predicted 6^th. In 2005, they finished 9^th after being predicted 5^th, and in 2002, finished T8th after being predicted 3^rd. That’s a 60% disaster rate – not good.

So, after all this, which magazine actually does the trick the best? We added all the places by which a magazine missed predicting the final standings. For example, if a magazine predicted Illinois 9^th, and they finished 7^th, that’s 2 points. It’s like golf – low score wins.

1. The Sporting News (110) – Consistently the best of the bunch, finishing 2^nd, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 2^nd in predicting the conference, TSN has Michigan winning it this year, and the Illini 8^th.

2. Lindy’s (115) – Lindy’s isn’t too far behind TSN, and despite underrating Indiana and Minnesota, they’ve been great at sorting out the middle of the often-crowded Big Ten pack.

3. Athlon (125) – Athlon was best last year, but has been maddeningly middle of the road before that, finishing 3^rd, 3^rd, 4^th and 4^th amongst the five magazines. With only one finish better than 3^rd in five years, this isn’t the magazine to bet on.
4. Phil Steele (127) – Ouch. Dead last of the five magazines three straight years, from 2003-2005. What’s killed Mr. Steele? An inability to figure out the Spartans, missing them by 4 places 4 of 5 years. Steele hasn’t been great with Iowa either, missing them by 4 places 3 times.
5. Street & Smith (129) – You never know what you’re going to get with the S & S gang. Best of the five twice, last or tied for last three times, its feast or famine with this outfit. Illini fans should hope it’s a famine year – Street & Smith has them predicted for 11^th place.

This article compiled with assistance from data provided by www.stassen.com.

Hokies Have Come a Long Way to ACC Title

(This article originally appeared on www.hokiehaven.com.)

Huge.

That's really the only word to describe the next five days of Virginia Tech basketball. In the catbird's seat for the ACC Championship with two games to play, the Hokies have 80 minutes of basketball to prove they have come full circle since their much-doubted inclusion to the conference just three seasons ago.

For over a decade Virginia Tech has struggled in every conference they have played in since 1995-1996, logging a 58-104 record that has spanned the ACC, Big East and Atlantic 10. After high hopes gave way to a disappointing slide during the 2005-2006 campaign, the Hokies have shown resiliency this season, rebounding strong from big losses, and scoring a triad of big wins: a season sweep of North Carolina, and a road win at traditional power Duke. Greenberg's Gang is just the third ACC school to win at both Tobacco Road powers in the same season.

However, there have been disappointments as well, occasional head-scratchers, baffling outings of lethargy that have left Hokie fans nearly as down as the monumental Tobacco Two-fer left them up. Virginia Tech has been swept by 14-13 North Carolina State, yielding two losses by a combined 36 points in performances that left critics asserting the Hokies were not ready for prime time. A frustrating loss to Florida State and a pair of occasionally listless victories against Miami have made Tech's next performance almost impossible to predict.

The roller coaster ride rolls in to Charlottesville tomorrow, and the John Paul Jones Arena will rock. The cross-state Cavaliers have a 10-4 ACC record to match Tech's, and are undefeated in their new digs this season. The contest is one of the biggest in recent memory to hit the Old Dominion State, which is consistently overshadowed by the traditional roundball power of its southern neighbor, North Carolina. But this year, Duke has struggled, and Tech has swept the 'Heels, making Wednesday's derby the biggest ACC matchup of the year.

Here's a look at how the standings shake out right now:

Virginia Tech 10-4 at Virginia, Clemson
North Carolina 10-4 at Georgia Tech, Duke
Virginia 10-4 Virginia Tech, at Wake

If Tech ties for the title with UNC, Tech wins.
If UNC ties for the title with UVA, UNC wins.
If all three tie for the title, Tech wins.
If Tech and UVA tie for the title, after a Tech win Wednesday, Tech wins.
If Tech and UVA tie for the title, after a UVA win Wednesday, Tech and UVA tie.

The ascension from also-ran to the apex of the ACC mountain has been navigated by Tech's trio of super seniors, Zabian Dowdell, Coleman Collins and Jamon Gordon. Under the seniors' charge, Tech has risen from a team some coaches said would lower the talent pool of the ACC, to one with 20 wins, a likely top-five NCAA seed and a dominant home court advantage.

Dowdell's rise has been particularly magical. One of the most underrated guards in the nation, Dowdell has quietly led the Hokies through adversity, and his scoring total of 1700 is currently good for eighth on Tech's career list. With just 105 points in Tech's remaining four games (minimum), Dowdell would rise to fifth all-time. His 18.1 points per game have him poised to be just the third Hokie ever to lead his team in scoring three times.

Ultimately, the legacy of these three seniors and Coach Seth Greenberg will be left for history to judge. Win or lose Thursday, 2007 has been a watershed campaign for Virginia Tech basketball. Several more will be required if the hardcourt is ever to compete with Frank Beamer's squad as the main attraction in Blacksburg. Regardless of the final score in Charlottesville, this senior class has left its mark indelibly pasted on Virginia Tech's basketball fortunes. Gordon, Dowdell, Coleman and Greenberg will and should be legends, celebrities in Blacksburg for years to come. A 20-win season, a dominant home campaign, and a high NCAA tournament seed will be these Hokies' star on the sidewalk. A win at Virginia and, thereby, an ACC title, would be their handprints in the concrete.

Which Big 12 Rival do you most enjoy beating?

(This article originally appeared on www.big12-fans.com.)

Brian #1

Being asked which Big 12 opponent is the most fun to beat is kind of like being asked which of the five straight victories over Iowa was the most fun; the mere question brings back a flood of happy memories, and there are just too many choices.

My colleague Brad has separated schools in to their football and basketball programs, picking Kansas in basketball and Nebraska in football. This is fair, but I’m looking for a global answer here, so I’ve got to rule out schools where I don’t have any ill-feelings toward one of their two programs. This knocks off:

Kansas football: what did the Maneating Mangino ever do to anybody?
Oklahoma State football: kind of like watching Bobby Reid and Adarius Bowman, not gonna lie
Baylor basketball: Scott Drew is related to Bryce and Homer Drew of Valpo fame. That’s enough for me.
Texas football: They’re a lot better than everyone else, and Vince Young is probably the coolest dude I’ll never meet.
Texas Tech basketball: The general always has good teams, and has never thrown a chair at Hilton.
Texas A&M football: 12th man = cool.

So that’s half the league gone, and we’re left with: Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma.

I’m going to throw out Oklahoma and Kansas State, because we just don’t have enough experience beating them in football in my lifetime for them to be seriously considered, and I’m going to throw out Colorado, because they’re typically so bad in basketball, and ISU pounded them at Hilton so many years in a row, that beating them has lost a lot of meaning.

Which leaves Missouri and Nebraska.

The 36-14 slaughter of Nebraska was one of my favorite Cyclone wins ever, as it represented such a watershed moment of the program truly “arriving” has a competitor in the Big 12. Marvin’s Miracle and the 35-27 conquest in 2004 are also high on the list. When it comes to basketball, the Devaney Center is pretty much a big warehouse with a couple rims, so its never been too special to get ‘er done in Lincoln, but who can forget the unreal victory there, when Tinsley inbounded to Martin Rancik with .9 on the clock, helping ISU win their second straight Big 12 Title?

My antipathy toward Missouri goes back to my early childhood. For some reason, in the early-mid 80s, ISU and Missouri got in to several brawls on the gridiron, and it seemed like every time the Cyclones and Tigers were playing, punches ended up being thrown. The teams in general have been bad together, good together, mediocre together, and almost every contest in the series seems to go down to the wire. There’s ISU’s 20-14 goal line stand in Columbia, Mizzou ruining our Big 12 North title, 17-14 in Ames, and of course this year’s epic Dan McCarney send off, 20-16, in Ames. On the basketball side, Brian #2 will chronicle one of the weirdest, longest games in Cyclone history (rest peacefully, Zach Fortune), and two of the most reviled coaches in the Big XII, Gary Pinkel and Quin Snyder. When one of those guys isn’t doing crack with his player’s girlfriend, the other is demanding apologies from officials and pretending like his team won a football game it fairly lost. I’m going with the Tigers here, and cheers to our next victory over that OTHER black and gold enemy.

Brian #2

My first reaction to the question of which Big 12 rival I most enjoy defeating was probably the same as almost any other Iowa State fan’s; Nebraska in football and Kansas in basketball. If I can only pick one between the two sports, though, it has to be Missouri.

It seems like there are a thousand reasons to hate Missouri. Gary Pinkel, them keeping us out of the Big 12 title game, their colors, Gary Pinkel, Quin Snyder in his day, and just the face that they come out in the shotgun on the goal line. In basketball, Missouri just pisses me off because they seem to have one of their average players go off against us every year. Marshall Brown, Thomas Gardner (before he blew up), and others just start bombing in threes with no abandon when the Cardinal and Gold are on the other side of things.

Missouri is also fun to beat because we have so many dramatic games against them. There is the goal line stand with the knockdown by Atif Austin, the 4 OT loss where Leonard Perry almost had to go in to play point guard, and this year’s basketball game at Missouri, where a last second Wesley Johnson tip-in won the game. The two teams seem to play close, fairly matched games more times than not, and those games are always more fun.

Don’t get me wrong, I certainly hate Nebraska and Kansas. Missouri, however, is a game that I always love winning because it is generally close to a measuring bar for our season, and they run in the middle of the Big 12 in football and basketball most seasons, meaning that a win over Missouri usually means that we will be going to a bowl game, or have a decent chance at the basketball postseason. So my reasons to love beating Missouri are not as emotional as my reasons for loving to beat some others teams, but Missouri is my favorite Big 12 Rivals to beat. It is not quite my Super Bowl, but it is always a pretty big game.

Brad

The question of which Big 12 rival I enjoy beating the most is a difficult one, and is dependent on the sport we are talking about. When it comes to basketball, nobody is more fun to beat than Kansas. During the fall on the gridiron, watching the Huskers to the west cry themselves to sleep is a victory in itself.

I had the privilege (misfortune) of living in Omaha, Nebraska during the 2004-2005 year. Don’t get me wrong—Omaha is a nice city with a lot to offer and, overall, the people are exceptionally friendly. But the utter arrogance and stupidity that permeates its college sports fan base is unavoidable.

First of all, the people aren’t loyal to a school—they are loyal to a winner. To be sure, 99% of the population cheers for Nebraska in football. When it comes to the second biggest Division I sport, basketball, they are all over the map. Creighton, North Carolina, Duke, and yes—KANSAS. So, it’s about the worst combination of teams that any single population could cheer for.

Of course, Nebraska football has a rich tradition that is to be admired. Lincoln, Nebraska claims to be the third most populated city in the country on a Husker game day. However exaggerated that is, there is no denying the passion of Big Red faithful. That doesn’t stop me from hating them—doesn’t even do anything for that cause, really. Nebraska has always been a winner, and a big one against ISU. During the 90s it had no trouble pouring it on until Jim Walden and Dan McCarney called for mercy—and then the Fuskers would score some more.

This all changed in 2002 when, due to the running ability of Seneca Wallace and a stout defensive effort, ISU outscored Nebraska 36-14. This prompted one of my all-time favorite Pete Taylor quotes: “This may not be the Nebraska of old, but it’s certainly the Cyclones of new.” That pretty much sums up the triumphant feeling we all had that day.

As for basketball, it boils down to the same arrogance of the KU faithful but, of course, arrogance is usually backed up. Kansas basketball has a tradition that is unquestionably in the top five nationally, with names like Fog Allen, James Naismith and Roy Williams. ISU has had considerable success against the Jayhawks and it feels oh so good. Early in the decade, Larry Eustachy guided ISU to five straight victories against KU, which would have seemed impossible. Roy Williams even remarked, “You know when you go up against Larry, you aren’t going to out-coach him”

Kansas basketball fans and Nebraska football fans are from the same breed. That breed is one we ISU fans would love to pummel into extinction, wishing them an infinite streak of losses.


Brian #1 is a freelance writer living in Chicago, and a regular contributor to Rivals.com and his website, briankgolden.blogspot.com. Brian #2 is a sophomore at Iowa State University majoring in finance and Spanish. Brad is a junior at Notre Dame, majoring in Economics and Philosophy.

MAC Recruiting Analysis

(This article originally appeared on www.macreportonline.com.) Composite MAC Recruiting Rankings (Composite Ranking) Team MAC Report Online Rivals Scout 1. Miami 1 3 2 2. Akron 3 2 3 3. Toledo 4 1 4 4. Ball State 2 4 6 5. Western Michigan 7 5 9 6. Eastern Michigan 10 6 8 7. Ohio 9 7 11 8. Central Michigan 11 8 12 9. Temple 6 9 1 10. Kent State 5 10 5 11. Bowling Green 8 11 7 12. Buffalo 13 12 12 13. Northern Illinois 12 13 10 Signees By Position Team QB RB WR /TE OL DL LB DB K/P ATH TOTAL Temple 1 5 3 3 6 4 7 0 0 29 Eastern Michigan 2 4 6 4 4 1 5 0 0 26 Ball State 0 1 4 3 6 5 3 1 1 25 Kent State 1 2 5 4 5 4 2 0 2 25 Akron 1 0 3 5 5 5 4 0 1 24 Miami 1 1 5 4 3 4 5 0 0 23 Ohio 2 3 2 5 4 3 2 0 1 22 Western Michigan 0 0 5 4 4 2 5 1 0 21 Bowling Green 1 3 2 1 5 4 2 2 0 20 Buffalo 2 1 3 3 3 3 3 0 2 20 Toledo 2 5 4 4 2 1 0 1 1 20 Northern Illinois 3 1 3 3 2 4 2 0 1 19 Central Michigan 0 1 6 2 2 2 2 0 1 16

2007 All-MAC Signee Team Offense QB Travaris Cadet Toledo RB Morgan Williams Toledo RB Mark Woolridge Bowling Green OL Paul Simkovich Akron OL Brandon Brooks Miami OL Darrell Davis-Budanauro Eastern Michigan OL Anthony Parker Western Michigan OL Mike Fay Kent State TE Chris Starkey Central Michigan WR Schneider Julien Western Michigan WR Landon Cox Northern Illinois Defense DT Renee Perry Ball State DT Josh Allison Central Michigan DT DJ Pirkle Northern Illinois LB Zac Clark Ohio LB Tommie Witherspoon Temple LB Paul Stefanik Kent State CB Da'Von Moore Akron CB Daryl Robinson Temple S Michael Baker Miami S Bryan Williams Akron ATH Simeon Kelly Ball State

Brian Golden's Team Breakdown & Rankings:

1. Miami
Like Akron, the Red Hawks got a big add to their class when a powerful BCS squad didn't pay a kid the kind of attention he wanted. Brandon Brooks, an athletic OT from Milwaukee, is the keystone of Miami's 2007 class, and a former commit to Wisconsin. It's not every day a struggling MAC school is going to steal an OL/DL prospect from the defending Capital One Bowl champs, and Brooks could definitely make an impact on either side of the ball. The 'Hawks went in to St. Louis and, with Illinois making big national strides, found it a bit easier to recruit the Gateway City, coming up with three of their best 2007 prospects. Michael Baker is a big, strong safety from Cardinal Ritter HS that picked Miami over offers from Houston and Wake Forest. RB Thomas Merriweather just looks like a high-quality RB. Alex Kaufman is an Ohio LB that, like so many other top MAC signees, stayed close to home when BCS schools underwent coaching changes. Offers from Minnesota and NC State were pushed aside, and Kaufman makes a very nice defensive addition to the group.

Best Player: Brandon Brooks, OL
Could be Underrated: Michael Baker, S
Didn't Get Enough: No position other than K/P went completely unsigned, and the across the board balance makes this the best class in the conference. If I were running a program, I'd try to sign two RBs every single year, but the one Miami got is pretty good.
Grade: A-

2. Ball State
The Cardinals don't have as many splashy signees as some of the other schools, but the overall balance makes this a very good class for a program that has, quietly, improved a lot the last couple seasons. Indiana just doesn't have the horses Illinois, Ohio and Michigan do, so Ball State is consistently a couple steps behind the rest of the conference as far as having a natural base of interested athletes. Renee Perry is a wide DT from Lake City, FL that saw early interest from Louisville, and Frank Edmonds is a fascinating RB prospect from Ohio. If signing day were a year earlier, Ball State wouldn't have had a chance at nabbing Edmonds, but some Big 10 schools backed off with increased concerns about his size (5-foot-6), and the Cardinals ended up getting the ink, and the endorsement of one of the best players from one of Ohio's best teams. To inspire Edmonds to pass up in-state schools with more recent success has to be considered a nice coup, and if the 5-6, 180 lb. bowling ball continues to work on his vision and flexibility, he's the kind of player that could cull a lot of national exposure if things break right. The Cardinals also scored commits from three OL, none of which have done much yet, but all three are at least 6'2 and 270, and at least one of the class will probably emerge as a solid MAC player.

Best Player: Renee Perry, DT
Could be Underrated: Frank Edmonds, RB
Didn't Get Enough: Starting to sound like a broken record here, but zero QBs and one RB, who's barely tall enough to ride the Tilt-a-Whirl. Edmonds has talent but is a gamble, no doubt. I respect the effort to seriously attack weaknesses in the trenches and on defense, but you've got to bolster the offensive backfield every year.
Grade: B+

3. Akron
The Zips raided Pennsylvania, tapping the Keystone State for 9 signees altogether. Top top pluck from the Pennsylvania haul is WR Bryan Williams, who was dissed by Pitt on a late January visit, and promptly committed his services to Akron. Williams is a JUCO, and will be an impact player the second he sets foot on campus. Paul Simkovich, a big OG from from Latrobe, had previously committed to Michigan State before John L. Smith was run out of town. In both cases, JD Brookhart swooped in when a bigger program dropped the ball, and deserves credit for his patience and persistence in maintaining strong pursuit. Miguel Graham, from Coffeyville JC (KS) is pretty small to play major college corner, but is an absolute burner, and if the Zips can find the right way to use his speed, he could be an exciting player. Almondo Sewell, from Hargrave Military (VA), could be a major player on defense. The Zips went in to Virginia and supplied a safety net for the 6-foot-2, 235 lb. ILB as he struggled with his test scores. If he ultimately can pass the academic checkpoints, he could apply his ACC size and strength in the MAC East, and the results could excite Zip fans.

Best Player: Bryan Williams, QB
Could be Underrated: Marquinn Davis, DE
Didn't Get Enough: Akron is the anti-Toledo. 15 of the 24 signees are on defense, and of the 9 offensive players, 5 are on the line. Akron made a nice haul on the line, with a couple prospects that could be All-MAC players sooner rather than later. But how do you sign 24 players, and not a single RB and only one QB, who was just barely considered a top 40 player in Pennsylvania? You've got to load the offensive backfield every year.
Grade: B

4. Toledo
Travaris Cadet made one of the biggest splashes in MAC recruiting this year, spurning offers from Tennessee, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Minnesota and South Florida and ending up in Toledo...how exactly? Did one of those schools pull an offer late? That seems unlikely, since Cadet's commitment to the Gophers came only last week. Regardless, Cadet is a big-time get for the Rockets, and is easily one of the biggest snags for MAC teams this year. WR Kuanda Hancock doesn't have great speed or great size, but did get some additional notice due to offers from a couple Big Ten schools, so his development will be interesting to watch. The Rockets also got two-time Ohio D-I player of the year Morgan Williams, who logged over 5,000 rushing yards in high school. Mike VanDerMeulen was a major under-the-radar OL from Marshall (Mich.), who told me a couple weeks ago that he was making a late decision between Toledo and CMU. At 6-foot-7, 290 lbs., the Michigan prep has the potential to have great size, especially for a MAC OL. Does he have the nastiness to get ugly in the trenches at the college level? Time will tell, and time will be taken - VanDerMeulen is likely to grayshirt in the 2007 season.

Best Player: Travaris Cadet, QB
Could be Underrated: Mike Vandermeuelen, OL
Didn't Get Enough: Defense. Where is the defense? 15 offensive signings make this easily the best offensive class in the league. But 2 DL, 1 LB and not a single D-back as of last notice? It doesn't matter how confident you are in your current talent, three defensive players is not enough.
Grade: B-

5. Kent State
The Golden Flashes held off early interest from Michigan, a late push from Notre Dame, and offers from Akron, Temple, Buffalo and Marshall to obtain the commitment of Paul Stefanik, a fast ILB who, with a few more pounds, will be one of the best MAC players in 2010. Stefanik told Rivals.com reporter Matt Dorsey that he should grow in to a 240 pounder, and if he does, he could be an absolute animal in the middle. High school stats can't always be trusted, but 15 sacks from an ILB spot show an ability to get after QBs, and the speed to chase them down. If Darrius Carter is the DE that Kent coaches hope he can be, there will be plenty of QBs facing heat when they visit the Flashes. OL Mike Fay will have to block the two pass rushers in practice, and the Pennsylvania product seems like a workhorse that could play a nice role in Kent's OL future. As I said above, high school stats aren't extremely trustworthy, but Andre Flowers put up 3200 yards and 42 high school TDs with 4.5 speed and a strong frame.

Best Player: Paul Stefanik, LB
Could be Underrated: Mike Fay, OL
What They Didn't Get: The Flashes didn't do much at QB, getting only Giorgio Morgan, who only had offers from I-AA schools. That being said, this is a great class for a team with Kent's recent results. There's balance, there are one or two marquee players, and this has to be the most underrated class in the MAC.
Grade: B-

6. Temple
Daryl Robinson is an oddity. 95% of the dual-position athletes I talk to on recruiting calls begrudgingly mumble that it doesn't matter where they play, but that they'd rather see action on offense. Robinson actually turned down an offer from West Virginia because they wanted him at RB, and he saw himself as a college corner. Whether or not he has college corner size remains to be seen, but Robinson's play-making high school career and commitment to playing the position has to put him in the conversation for most compelling MAC signee of the year. Robinson might make the biggest impact at KR, with his elusive moves and top level speed (he ran a hand-held 4.38 at one combine). If California JC ILB Tommie Weatherspoon is sound academically, he will make a lot of tackles in Philadelphia. The 6-foot-2, 245 lb. man-child caught pursuit from half the Big 12 before a nearly unanimous back-off in November. I honestly don't know what the story is here; grades, re-evaluation, or nothing. Regardless, the Midwest's loss will be Temple's gain, assuming the academics are in order.

Best Player: Daryl Robinson, CB/KR
Could be Underrated: Michael Campbell, WR
Didn't Get Enough: When you've been as bad as Temple has lately, there's not a lot of room to complain about a recruiting class like this, which features 29 players total, and 17 on defense. A team that has made a habit of giving up points by the truckload is right to focus on stopping teams before loading up their offensive apparatus. With 29 signees, I think the Owls could have landed another OL or two, because the young skill players will develop much more quickly if they have protection and blocking.
Grade: C+

7. Western Michigan
The Broncos' snag of JC WR Schneider Julien from the likes of Kansas State, Colorado, Minnesota and Oregon State was borderline eye-popping. It isn't clear if Julien, a transfer from Los Altos CC (CA) who frequently told reporters he "wasn't thinking about recruiting" and cancelled a couple visits elsewhere, really loved Kalamazoo or just didn't find another place that sounded better. Of course, for Bronco fans, it doesn't matter one bit - Julien will easily be in the mix for a top 3 WR spot this season. Like Ball State, the Broncos recruited some very nice size on the OL, and the best prospect is probably Anthony Parker, a 6-foot-5, 280 lb. OT from North Miami Beach (FL) WMU held off late interest from Florida Atlantic and an early offer from Baylor to secure the services of one of Dade County's best linemen. WMU managed to beat Brian Kelly twice in the same recruiting season for S Keith Dixson of Harmony Prep (MI). Dixon committed to Kelly at CMU, recommitted at Cincinnati, then eventually opted out of that agreement, and signed on to head to Kalamazoo.

Best Player: Schneider Julien, WR
Could be Underrated: Anthony Middleton, TE
Didn't Get Enough: Just a matter of opinion here, obviously, but 1 player a class from the state of Michigan isn't a good pattern to establish for the Broncos. Yeah, there's intense competition in the state for a limited number of prospects. But this is a case, unlike Ball State, where I think WMU has to establish solid footing on familiar turf, and force EMU and CMU to look elsewhere. In a year where Michigan State and CMU both underwent coaching changes, there should have been more than one body for the taking, especially when that one was a Cincinnati decommit.
Grade: C+

8. Bowling Green
BG obviously placed a priority on injecting some home-run capability in to the program, and they landed two sub-4.5 RB prospects, Mark Woolridge and Eric Ransom. Woolridge looks to have a slight edge, having landed several other offers, and being a bit stronger at this early juncture. QB Nate Brown might be one of the most underrated prospects in the class. Brown flirted with an offer from UCONN, and got one from Temple. Great thing about Brown is that he doesn't have to do much to radically transform his body - he's already 6'3, 224 pounds and runs a very solid 40, at 4.59. Can he throw? If he can, in time, he could make an impact sooner than people think. Sinisa Vrvilo, of Trinity Village (TX) isn't really built like a K, but at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, he's a K that won't look stupid trying to tackle a KR on a breakaway. He might hurt somebody. Coffeyville JC (KS) product Jerrson Davis could start at LB very soon if he makes it to school.

Best Player: Mark Woolridge, RB
Could be Underrated: Nate Brown, QB
What They Didn't Get: One offensive lineman? Are you kidding me? One offensive lineman? I want to rank this class higher, because of the exciting RB signings, and Nate Brown, but there is just one offensive lieman. I don't care how, or why that happens, but getting one OL in a class when you've been struggling in the trenches is a disaster.
Grade: C

9. Ohio
While EMU's Budanauro is the heaviest MAC signee, Ohio boasts the lightest, in 5-foot-8, 148 lb. CB Kenny Jackson. On the whole, the class is faster and smaller than most of the other MAC classes, and includes 6-foot-1, 166 lb. WR Riley Dunlop and 5-foot-10, 172 lb. WR Lavon Brazill. With high school kids like Dunlop, it is almost impossible to know before you shake the kid's hand if he is going to be skinny for life, or truly has the potential to add 20-25 pounds to his frame. Dunlop can scoot, but just has to add weight. A schollie offer from the Air Force Academy is a nice endorsement, so I'll give Dunlop the benefit of the doubt, for now. LB Zac Clark is almost prototype size right now, and with 4.8 speed, should have every chance to make some tackles in the middle of the field. Clark had an early offer from Minnesota. Last year's MAC title game is going to be a constant recruiting turf war now that Brian Kelly is at Cincinnati, but Frank Solich got a nice pull in OL Joe Flading, getting him from right under the nose of Kelly and the rest of the MAC East.

Best Player: Zac Clark, LB
Could be Underrated: Riley Dunlop, WR
Didn't Get Enough: Every position group is important, obviously, but signing only one quality DB in a class has to be considered a let down. Each position is very unique, and you need options in the defensive backfield. In Solich I trust, but the lack of pass defenders is surprising.
Grade: C

10. Eastern Michigan
The Eagles whipped the Broncos in Michigan, snagging 13 commits from in-state. Whether that was by design or concession remains to be seen. Darrell Davis-Budanauro was one of the many ex-Michigan State commits looking elsewhere, and his 370 lb. frame made him hard to miss. If Shawn Knight can pack on a few pounds to go with his speed, the Trotwood (OH) native could make a quality FS in a few years. S Marcus English and RB Aeric Clay were high school teammates of Knight's, and each of the trio has the pedigree to be good MAC performers. EMU landed a host of players with very few other offers, and that usually isn't a very good sign. Dan Youssif has the build to be the best of that bunch, at 6-foot-3, 240 lb., the Birmingham (Mi.) native has 4.79 speed, and seems like the type of prospect that could be moved around to OT or DE until he finds the right spot. Assuming the athleticism is as good in the flesh as it is on paper, he'll get a chance to play.

Best Player: Shawn Knight, FS
Could be Underrated: Dan Youssif, TE
What they Didn't Get: This is a pretty vanilla class. It doesn't seem too depressing, but there aren't a whole lot of reasons to be thrilled. Both Rivals.com and Scout.com consider this a class that is better than the Eagles have been on the field the last couple years, so that is a good sign. Budanauro could turn in to a beastly pro-prospect, but at nearly 4 bills, health and fitness are major questions. There's only 1 LB in the group, which is at least a couple too few.
Grade: C

11. Central Michigan
The Chips caught the least amount of ink on signing day amongst the MAC schools, but the fault doesn't lay at the feet of the new coaching staff. Brian Kelly was mentally out of town even before accepting the Bearcat job. Linking his name with several other coaching offers, and jumping, no leaping at the chance to leave Mt. Pleasant, has to at least raise suspicions that recruiting for next year wasn't his top priority in his final months. Josh Allison is a Minnesota leftover that might end up at DT or DE. The 6-foot-2, 246 lb. frame could go either way, but the 4.86 speed is exciting. Rocky Weaver and Chris Starkey present a formidable pair of TE, both boast appropriate frame and hands, and one of the two, if not both, will be a major contributor in CMU's future fortunes. While he may not look like an athlete, ATH Nick Bellore was one of Kelly's first commits of this campaign, and can play a number of positions.

Best Player: Josh Allison, DT
Could be Underrated: Chris Starkey, TE
Didn't Get Enough; Bodies. Warm bodies. More bodies, even if they aren't top players, means more teaching moments, more tackling dummies, more competition. In the MAC the margins between each team, save Buffalo, might be tighter than anywhere else in the nation. Inking a class that has 7-8 less members than the rest of the league will catch up with the Chips down the line.
Grade: C-

12. Northern Illinois
Every kid I talked to this season that mentioned Joe Novak commented on how nice a guy he is. Maybe Novak is getting too nice, because this Huskie program doesn't have the teeth it did a few years ago. Garrett Wolfe, though talented, turned out to be wearing sheep's clothing as far as being a top-level national back, and it almost seems like that blow to NIU confidence permeated to recruiting this year. There really aren't any splashy signings to report from this year's class. The Huskies took QB Chandler Harnish out of Indiana, as well as speedy WR Nathan Palmer. NIU beat out three other MAC schools for Chicago DB Patrick George, but then, they should be winning the Chicago recruiting wars. WR Landon Cox might have the best upside of the group, with very nice size and the skills to draw early interest from Illinois and Purdue.

Best Player: Landon Cox, WR
Might be Underrated: D.J. Pirkle, DT
They Didn't Get Enough: The quantity is low, and so is the quality, across the board. The most glaring shortage is at DT, where NIU only got two prospects, and one of them is 218 pounds. You don't see many 218 pound kids wreaking havoc on the D-line, so this group has to be looked at as a big disappointment. The Huskies need to reclaim their attitude as giant-killers, and that starts up in the ugly trenches.
Grade: D+

13. Buffalo
One of the worst teams in college football, the Bulls have been bad early and often, and they should get a bit of help everywhere with this class. Derrick Brown had some other offers at OT, coming from the same part of Harrisburg (PA) as Bowling Green QB Nate Brown. Matt Ostrowski, at 6-foot-6, 299 lbs., gets an A+ for size, but that 5.6 40 doesn't make him sound fearsome coming off the ball. If he can improve his footspeed, he could be a sleeper in this class. Another prospect from this group I kind of like is Aaron Connacher, a fast TE from upstate New York. Buffalo has miles to go in the recruiting derbies just establishing their relevance, but planting roots in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania is a must. With Syracuse positively brutal, and Pitt floundering, this is an important time for Buffalo football to pick off a couple more solid recruits than they typically might. It will be decades before they can hope to be on even-footing with those BCS programs, but establishing themselves as a credible option for an athletic high school player just has to happen. Signings like Connacher can't hurt.

Best Player: Derrick Brown, OL
Could be Underrated: Matt Ostrowski, OL
What They Didn't Get: I'm not going to pile on here. The Bulls got some of everything, and got D-I players at every position. Loading up on defense or offense would be stupid, and I like the strategy of trying to get quality in every position.
Grade: C-