Well my friends we have once again reached the end of another College Football Season. No matter where you stand on the BCS, and the decision that was made to have a rematch game as the title game, you have to agree at this point that Alabama was clearly the better team last night. They dominated the game, mostly on the defensive side, but overall there is no doubt that they won that title.
I have heard others say that they thought Oklahoma State, Stanford, or Oregon deserved a shot at LSU. One thing that stands out about those teams to me is the fact that none of those teams seemed to play defense even in their victories. Maybe I am mistaken, but I feel that Bama would have taken any of those teams…
RG3 won the Heisman and I would say deservedly so. He was amazing on the field and off. I spoke with my brother in law Doug Flutie about RG3 and he had nothing but great things to say about him. He said that RG3 is a “class act”. I think if you have heard him speak and listened to him at all you can tell he was raised well and with manners!
All in all I would say that this was a really good season and I am sad to see it end, that being said now we have to wait all these months for the next games to start! Rest up my friends and try to enjoy er um basketball or hockey!

Can you smell that? There is a definite smell in the air, a tactile feeling, a sense of excitement and it can only be one thing….FOOTBALL!!!!!
Yes my friends after this dreaded dead season with no Football we are getting closer and closer to the first games of the season. Teams are back on campus, whistles are blowing, and the sound of pads crunching has resumed!! Is there a better time of the year? A simple NO!
Last year we had to deal with the whole Cam Newton debacle off the field and his amazing play on the field, which culminated in both a Heisman and a National Championship. The off-season saw more off the field garbage the ended up with Ohio State getting rid of the Vest, adios Mr., Tressel!
I think we would all like to see a season without any of those types of charges and scandals, but alas there always seems to be another school getting caught with their collective hand in the cookie jar.
But enough about that! Let the games begin! It is past time for some Football! I heard Bill Meade say that UT is only 26 days away from “teeing it up and kicking it off..” So for many of you it is time to put those Orange goggles on and start making outlandish predictions about them winning 9 or 10 games and the SEC. Please be realistic my friends, I admire your staunch devotion to your team, but please give Dooley the time he needs to build your program back to the respectable state it once had. He is a good man and deserves a fair shake from the big orange nation. He can do amazing things if you don’t expect him to win everything now. Remember that he is taking the place of that idiot that ran off to California, and a once respected coach that kinda quit on you guys and the team. Dooley has a great pedigree and he will be a fantastic coach for you. Nuff said on that point.
Depending on whom you listen to, Oklahoma and Alabama are the best teams in the land, as we get ready to start the season. Who knows really? I think it would be best to hold off on the rankings until at least week 4 or 5, but we are a nation that lives for the numbers and rankings, aren’t we? Oregon should still be strong. Auburn? Well who really knows? Cam is gone, and filling his shoes will be nearly impossible. Stanford has Luck, but will he be enough to get them through the Pac 10 and into the BCS?
Closer to home in the SEC Florida has a new man at the helm, Wil Muschamp! Proud to say he is Georgia Alum, hate that he is wearing the orange and blue, but he will be a really good coach for them. Can he get them to Atlanta in December? Time will tell, he is taking over the Urban mess, but Florida is always strong. South Carolina has Johnson City native and the man so many in these parts still can’t forgive for leaving the hills for Gainesville, both as a player and then when he was at the helm of the Gators. He has some great players, but his quarterback tends to leave a lot to be desired.
My Dawgs look good on paper, but that can always be misleading. Richt has to have a better than good year or he may be looking for a new job. I hate to say that, but much like UT, the UGA fans want to see some positive numbers in the win column and some championships.
LSU still looks tough, but they will trip and fall and not have the benefit of some faulty calls to aid them this time around.
So my friends it truly is Football time in Tennessee and across the land! Let’s get ready to rumble and cheer and yell our heads off for whatever team you cheer for!!!

Well my friends, we are just under 5 months until they t it up and kick it off all around the country. I hate the off-season with no football. I love sports don’t get me wrong, all sports, but when there is no football it can be boring at times. I have always loved baseball, but I cannot follow it with the same fervor as I do football. Basketball, well let’s be honest except for tournament time and the playoffs it is just too monotonous. Hockey is a great game but once again the season is too long and until you get to the playoffs it really just can’t hold my interest. Even though I love Soccer with a passion, there just isn’t much chatter about it here in the states. I follow my team Roma religiously on line, talking with folks from across the pond, but again it is not the same as our true National Sport…FOOTBALL! I am to the point that I cannot wait for the CFL to get started so I can actually see some live football.
All this being said the off season does give us time to look at recruiting, possibly NCAA sanctions (gotta love Ohio st being in hot water), and it gives us time to dream of how our teams will do this year. So what games are you looking forward to? How do you expect your team to do this year? Who is your Heisman favorite before the season even starts? Let’s get some talk going now and have it build our excitement over the next several months, I mean what else do you have to do, cut the grass?

There are a lot of things that could be said about the National Championship game, it was a defensive game, or so it seemed, low scoring considering the two teams playing, and yawn for 58 minutes. I watched with anticipation to see these two talent laden teams light up the score board, but that just did not happen. As an SEC guy I am happy to see Auburn win for the conference, but as a fan of football, I was really hoping that the Ducks would put up a better fight. I know the game came down to a field goal at the end, but in truth Auburn really dominated the game from start to finish, probably more so at the finish than any other time in the game. When the Ducks scored on that shuffle pass and then converted the two pointer I really thought we might be seeing some free football in overtime, but Auburn came out and ran the ball right down the Ducks throat. Oregon just could not stop Newton and Dyer. Dyer was amazing throughout the game, but that last drive cemented him as a PTPer. A true freshman, Dyer ran for 143 yards on the biggest stage. He stole the spotlight from Newton, which I am certain many were happy to see!
All in all Auburn really dominated the game and that is not just my opinion, check out Doug Flutie’s analysis of the game in this video from his Behind the Mic series on SI.com…
Doug Flutie Behind the Mic

We all have to deal with the Good, the Bad, and the truly unable to listen to sports announcers every time we watch a sporting event on the tube. Sometimes we are blessed by those like John Madden and Al Michaels, while other times we have to deal with those like John Sterling or Craig James.

In my life time I have really enjoyed listening to the likes of Madden, Michaels, Gowdy, and Musberger. I even loved and hated Cosell during his time on the tube. Bob Costas and Jim McKay both exemplified what a studio host should be, and the Great Harry Carey brought joy to my life even though I was never a Cub fan.

These guys weren’t perfect but they always painted a picture for us of what was happening, even though we could see it for ourselves on the tube.

Some of my earliest memories of sport are of Mckay at the 72 Olympics and his amazing coverage of the events in Munich. And who can forget Al Michaels and his great call of the Miracle game in 1980?

As a Baseball fan I have always loved to watch and or listen to the game on the radio if I am driving. At night I would pick up games on kmox or wfan out of St. Louis and New York respectively or I would listen to Skip, Pete, Ernie, and Don as they broadcast the Braves games. Skip was brash and sarcastic and I love every minute of his commentary on the games and what might be happening in the stands or on the roadways around Atlanta.

As much as the above mentioned gentleman have brought joy to my life, there are those guys that think they know it all, or screw up the easiest names, or just plain miss the game that we are watching that ruin sporting events for me, well for all of us.

As an announcer one of the most basic things they have to know are the names of the players, I mean really shouldn’t that be the easiest thing to If you are not sure how to pronounce the guys name ask someone before you go onto the air and make sure you know it so you don’t butcher it during the game.

And if they are watching the same game we are don’t you think they should be able to get the numbers right when they call them out?

I guess the reason for this blog, and for my ire right now is because as I have watched games this fall I have been continually let down by people that should know better. Case in point would be Saturdays FSU vs Boston College game. Craig James, the self proclaimed genius (okay I might be stretching that a little) could not get names or numbers right throughout the game. Numerous times he called out #54 Mark Herzlich, Herzlich wears 94m and it was really obvious what the number was since it was right in front of him on the monitor, just like it was on my TV.

To make matters worse, James commented on how Herzlich was just not himself and didn’t have his football legs under him. Well Mr. James, maybe you missed it, Mark was out all last year as he battled Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. The fact that he is alive is a miracle, and the fact that he is even on the field at all is nothing short of one of the best stories of the year in College Football and Sports in general. Mark has battled through Chemo treatments, a stress fracture in his foot, and most recently a broken hand, and yet he is playing, and doing extremely well. At one point during the game James had the audacity to say “If it weren’t for bad luck, Herzlich wouldn’t have any luck at all.” One word says it all for Craig James….Moron!

As you can tell I don’t really care for James much, but he is not alone. There are many announcers that really shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a microphone and yet they get paid to pontificate and screw up each week. I am sure each of you have your own favorites and least favorites…let us know who they are and why?

Fantasy Football has been growing in popularity over the past several years. It seems like more and more Men and Women are getting in on the action. Every year there is a great debate on how Fantasy Owners should draft their teams. Some people prefer taking 2 Running Backs first. Others just can’t pass up the great QBs like Manning and Brees. There is also a new wave of owners wanting to secure the elite Wide Receivers in the league. It is tough to make some decisions, especially during the later rounds of your draft, but if you need some help in the future, some of these NFL players have put together a “Campaign Video” to try to help make your mind up.

The stunts get better as the video progresses. Let me know which one is your Favorite.

We all watch sports for many different reasons. We have our home town favorite teams, we pull for underdog feel good stories and we love to be WOW-ed. Basically, sports is entertainment to us all and that is why we watch. Where else can you witness a record-breaking performance or a once in a life-time highlight reel play at any given time? All of the soap operas and reality TV shows combined, can’t compare with the edge of your seat entertainment that sports can provide.

Sometimes the after game interviews can be just as entertaining as the game itself. It’s easy to act right and say the politically correct thing after a win, but it’s not as easy after a tough loss. Sports bring out so much emotion in us as fans, but imagine how much more magnified that emotion would be if your job depended solely on the Wins and Losses. Just because the main event of the game has come to an end, you may want to stay tuned because sometimes the 2nd act can be just as entertaining….

Courtesy of the talented DJ Porter, Enjoy

As a college football nut I am sure that you and I both often suffer from the delusions that our team is much better than they actually are. It is really hard to be a die hard fan and be realistic about the teams true outlook for the season. We all have those before the season unrealistic expectations and we all want to support our team no matter what. But how do we draw the line? How can we be both realistic and a true die hard?

As a Georgia and Boston College fan I have not always had Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie to cheer for. Yes there have been great players at both schools and both have had their success, but sometimes there have been lean years too. I always want to pick them to win, but then I know that sometimes it just isn’t going to happen.

Living here in North East Tennesse, I have had a truly unique opportunity to witness some of the most die hard fans I have ever seen. The UT fan is a unique breed. They are as staunch and die hard as any fan in the country, and at the same time they are demanding and at times (often) unrealistic in their view of their beloved Vols. Let me also say that UT fans by and large are some of the nicest people I have met and watched a game with. The atmosphere at Neyland Stadium is unlike any other place I have ever been.

Even this year I heard Vol fans calling into the Monster making predictions of 8 or 9 wins. I was astonished! Thankfully Bobby, Bud,  and Kenny kept their heads and really kept it real by giving dire predictions of anywhere from 5-7 wins. Many fans were undaunted and unabashed and still thought that the Vols would win just because they are the Vols. Sadly for them, they have been brought back to earth over the last few weeks with losses to Oregon and Florida, and the close call in overtime with UAB. I would imagine that some Vol fans are realizing that this is a real rebuilding year or more likely years, but there will still be some die hards that will expect them to win every Saturday.

I really feel that as an outsider, with no stake in the Vols at all (until they play Georgia), I can look at the Vols situation without those orange colored glasses. Derek Dooley is a fine man, and I believe a very good coach. I think if given time by the Vol nation, he will turn their program around and back into the contender they have been in the past. The fact is that between Fulmer’s demise and the debacle that was Kiffin, the cupboard in Knoxville is bare. UT has virtually no depth and that has shown the last two weeks. I feel that Dooley will bring in the recruits that UT needs to return to prominence or at very least competitiveness in not only the SEC east but also the country.

I can empathize with the Vol fans due to the state of the team down in Athens. My Dawgs are facing tough times as well. The days of  Matt Stafford, and Knowshon Moreno are long gone and Dawg fans are facing a real tough season. Meanwhille BC has also been forced to come back to reality. Matt Ryan is gone and BC hasn’t had a really decent QB since he left. BC has struggled the last few years but still been in the thick of things in the ACC.

I am sure that fans all over the country face the same type of anticipation each year for their respective teams, and I am sure that in their own way they face some of the same unrealistic expectations that the Vol fans do.  My hope may not  be realistic, but I hope that the Vol fans give Dooley time.

I mean that in every sense of the word. We are blessed to live in East Tennessee. We have beautiful mountains, lakes, and streams. And we have a great Sports Radio Station…The Monster!! I have been a fan of Bill Meade’s since I moved here in 94 and have listened to the Morning show since it’s inception. I am sure that many of you like me don’t get to listen to the entire show in the morning, nor all of Bill’s show in the afternoon.  But I know that each day I look forward to that ride from home to work and back again so I can hear what Bobby, Kenny, Bud, and Bill have to say, and what the other sports fans in the area are thinking, even Claude!

These guys bring us a daily dose of reality, well mostly that is. They allow us to talk about our teams, and our sports, and the goings on from all over the world of sports! We owe them a huge thank you. I know that we don’t always agree with them, why would we? But they give us the chance to voice our opinions and they share theirs!

Much respect to the WXSM crew for all they do for the sports fans of this area!!

In light of the excitement we just experienced, I am bringing back an old post. Share your story with us.

Do you remember when you fell in love with college football? I do. I was in 5^th grade when it all came together for me. I had always loved football, but the game took on new meaning in my life on November 23, 1984.

Until then, I had thoroughly enjoyed playing football. It seems that most of the pictures my family took of me in my first 10 years of life included some combination of a helmet, shoulder pads and/or a football. I also enjoyed watching NFL football with my father, but that was more about spending time with him. At this time in life, I knew very little about college sports. I did sense, however, that bowl games were somehow more important than the others. So, I decided to watch the Orange Bowl. I was glued to the TV the entire time. It was a high energy game with Miami’s Bernie Kosar and Boston College’s Doug Flutie passing for well over 400 yards each. Miami had just driven down the field and scored to take the lead 45 – 41. Many fans and half the players began to celebrate Miami’s victory. However, there were still 28 seconds left to play when BC got the ball at its 20 yard line. Two passes and 22 seconds later, the ball was just past midfield. At this point in the game, I still didn’t realize that my pre-teen hero was on the verge of taking that prestigious and impressionable position in my life. Until now, a Hail Mary had something to do with Catholicism and nothing more. Flutie takes the snap, scrambles around for a couple of seconds and slings the ball toward the goal line with everything his 5’9” frame has to offer. The ball sails into a crowd of 6 clashing jerseys. Amazingly, Gerald Phelan comes down with it secured in his hands! Suddenly, the score was 47 – 45 in favor of BC. An odd moment of silence followed in the stands and my living room. After just a few seconds, we all realized what had just happened. What a game!

In looking back, I think of those last 6 seconds of the 1984 Orange Bowl as a countdown to the beginning of a lifelong experience. I believe this was the topic of every playground and lunchroom conversation that Chris Morelock, Denny Maxwell and I had until school let out for Christmas break. And when we weren’t talking about it, we were reenacting the greatest football play in history over and over again. I am forever thankful to Doug Flutie for being the catalyst to my love affair with college football and all the positive relationships that have ensued among the fellowship of those who are consumed with the sport since that time.

Here’s to you – short man with a good arm.

I would love to hear about your favorite college football play of all time. Share your love story here.