Is the SEC is over rated?

SEC (2)

NOTE: On NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discussed the news of the day and previewed the Browns/Jets game.

For years the SEC has been riding on the coattails of the University of Alabama. But if you haven’t noticed the SEC has failed to win the last two national championships. In fact the lowly ACC and Big 10 (sorry that the colleges can’t count) have won the titles recently.

Going into the 2015 season the SEC had 7 teams in the AP top 25. How much of those rankings are based on talent vs. reputation? My answer is a lot on reputation and a little on talent. The Coaches Poll is not votes of the coaches at all. The people usually voting are from the communications department of most schools. The problem is that once a team is ranked it is easier to stay there.

But so far some of the teams have been struggling playing the Sisters of the Perpetually Miserable. But because the teams are part of the SEC, they tend to stay in the top 25. Other conferences that lose tend to fall out of the ranking. Maybe the voters will pay more attention next … Read more at FryingPanSports

The Big10 has developed a new sport—WreslingBall

NOTE: Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday, Thursday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on or the archive of the shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. On Monday Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discuss the Browns and the results of the weekend. On Friday Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York joins Samantha and me to preview the upcoming games.

Our Thursday shows alternate between NFL Draft and basketball talk. On Dec. 9 Kelron Sykes, NFL scout, joins me to talk quarterbacks. On Dec. 16 David Kay of watlerfootball.com joins me to talk college and pro basketball.

The first couple of league games have been played and two things stand out.

(1) The refs are far more interested in getting free drinks at the local bar after the game than in calling a fair game. They are homers. I am not sure if they are getting influenced by the crowd or just in fear for their lives. Either way the home team is getting WAY too high a percentage of the calls.

(2) WreslingBall is alive and well in the Big10. Part of the reason that the middle and lower level teams in Read more at FryingPanSports

It is time for Oho State to put a muzzle on Dr. Gee

Brutus 

Dr. Gee and I have a little history.  During his first stint as the President of OSU he would take calls during half time of the football games.  I called. Despite just accepting a nice salary bump for himself and tenured professors, Dr. Gee had just asked for more tax payer money.  I suggested that he and the others donate some of the large salary increases to offset the request to the legislature.  THAT was the last call that he ever took.  After that, the call in segment was dropped from the half time festivities.

 

For the second time in less than three years, Dr. Gee said something stupid for which he had to apologize.  Both times involved insults to the Catholic community.  His first was the “Sisters of the poor” comment.  This last one not only insulted the University of Notre Dame and its leadership but the entire SEC as well.

 

I have experience being a conservative in the liberal OSU.  I was told point blank that if I completed my graduate studies at OSU in political science, I would never get tenured.  My views were “too far out of the norm for this university.”  I … Read more at FryingPanSports

Tonight on News, Notes and Rumors

Tonight on News, Notes and Rumors

 Brent Sobleski of ESPN joins us to preview the Browns Colts game.

Doug Upstone of Sports-Watch.com joins us to preview the top college games.

Tony Williams Giants and Knicks beat writer for Metro New York Paper joins us to talk NFL.

Tim Bielik OSU and Browns beat writer for the Loraine Morning Journal joins us to talk Buckeyes.

Samantha Bunten joins us to talk Browns.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com.  He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.

He edits . Also listen to the best Sports Talk anywhere on the Internet and hear his sports show Monday-Thursday 6-7:30 PM EST on or http://mooheadradio.com/2.5/?page_id=21.  You can catch any interviews you missed on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

Read more at FryingPanSports

Tonight on News, Notes and Rumors

Evan Silva of Rotoworld/PFTalk NBC Sports

Evan Silva of Rotoworld/PFTalk NBC Sports joins us to talk about the first quarter of the NFL season in terms of fantasy football.

Brent Sobleski of ESPN & Draftinsider.net joins us to talk about the top 15 teams and the OSU win at Michigan State.

Dave Kay of Walterfootball.com joins us to preview the Big 10 and Big East basketball seasons.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com.  He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.

He edits . Also listen to the best Sports Talk anywhere on the Internet and hear his sports show Monday-Thursday 6-7:30 PM EST on or http://mooheadradio.com/2.5/?page_id=21.  You can catch any interviews you missed on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

Read more at FryingPanSports

What did we learn from week 4 of the College Football Season?

football

The Big 10 (+1) knows how to schedule pre-league games.

Whether it is #2 Ohio State vs. Directional (Eastern) Michigan or #18 Iowa vs. Ball Corporation State, with just a few exceptions the Big 10 has played mostly easy opponents. Even so, a few teams had problems with the sisters of the poor. Northwestern struggled to defeat another Directional Michigan (Central) 30-25. Worse yet Purdue lost badly to Toledo of the MAC.

A few good games

#1 Alabama went to #10 Arkansas and came from behind in the 4th quarter to win 24-20. The game may have hurt QB Mallett’s pro prospects because he suffered 3 picks only one of which was not his fault.

#3 Boise St. beat #24 Oregon State 37-24. Except for a game against the current #25 Nevada, this was Boise’s last chance on a national stage to impress the voters and the computer of their case for inclusion in a National Championship game. Their win over Virginia Tech looked good until VTk lost to James Madison. The computers are killing Boise due to the “strength of schedule” factor to the point that I don’t think Boise can get into the Big Game.

#5 Oregon looked … Read more at FryingPanSports