US Nike Football

Super time again

usnikefootball — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:41:08 GMT

NB--

So now we come to the payoff. Super time again. The 43rd edition of the Big Enchilada, and on the surface, it's hard to make a case against the hated Pittsburghers. Let's get it out front--as a devout Cincy fan, I have loathed the black and gold since I was in pantaloons. I've had to eat five championships for the Steel City, and I fear a sixth. Defensively, they are dominant, as good as Baltimore in 2000 or the G-men in 1986. Their pass rush is everywhere and non-stop, their linebackers make plays and are sure tacklers, and the secondary can play press coverage and ballhawk, led by the invincible HairGod at safety.

But I dare to dream, and I'm looking for ways the scrappy, plucky, up from the desert floor Arizona redbirds can pull a second straight Super Upset. Certainly, it isn't impossible. I turn my adoring gaze toward the ageless QB. Of course, this isn't his first rodeo, having split a couple of SB's. And his play in this postseason has been exemplary. No one is quicker at getting rid of the ball under duress--he led the league in QB rating against the blitz. Special K is smart, tough, and won't get rattled either by the stage or the pass rush. Because of that factor, they have a shot.

So why can't he pull this off?
RW

Robert, Robert, Robert. I gotta hand it to you – fan of the people, speaking up on behalf of the underdog. But that’s part of the hilarity surrounding the main event: not only is everyone talking about it, all they’re talking about is Arizona. Lost in the cuddly, rags-to-riches ascension on the Venus Flytraps of Larry Fitz is one simple fact:

They ain’t played anyone quite like Pittsburgh.

It starts with the defense. Notice I’m not singling out any one player – that’s the thing with this incarnation of the league’s best unit. The pressure comes from both sides, from all three levels, from a ridiculous array of looks. And it’s constant for 60 minutes.

Keep a back in to chip on one edge rusher while you play with fire on the other side. Max protect and all the sudden your gluttony of playmakers are fighting double coverage. Empty it out and you’re living and dying with one-on-one match-ups.

I love what Arizona’s done thus far. Beyond the feel-good vibe, we’ve witnessed the ascension of Fitzgerald into the pantheon of all-time postseason greats. We’re seeing the reincarnation of The Edge. And enough guile from Special K for many pundits to punch his HOF ballot today.

But I love Big Ben even more. He learned in his first Super rodeo that it’s not about completion percentage, yards or awards – it’s about leadership and the win-loss column. Roethlisberger has an opportunity to place his five-year resume at the top of football lore – and he’s approaching this week with backward-hat-wearing utter confidence that eluded him in 2005 in Detroit.

We’ll get into the player matchups more in just a second – how do you see the coaching carousel impacting this title tilt?

Newbs,

I'm glad to see these particular coaches match up. You know it had to crush Ken Whisenhunt to get passed over in Pittsburgh, but the Rooneys were solid enough in their conviction to hire an unknown from outside the organization. Mike Tomlin has proven to be just the right man for the job--and Whisenhunt has done the same, just elsewhere.

I suspect a part of Arizona's late-season doldrums was a canny bit of possum by the coaching staff. With the playoffs assured, they pulled back most of their attacking schemes and played vanilla. It looked bad, but the resulting postseason dominance isn't just a matter of "turning it on" when it matters. Most of football success is about deducing tendencies on film--Arizona has continually surprised the opposition, and much of that is because they didn't give things away in the final month during must-win games. Nice to play in a weak division.

On the other hand, Tomlin has raised Pittsburgh's toughness quotient beyond its already high level. But can toughness cover Fitzgerald? Schematically, Whisenhunt is familiar with Pitt's defensive tendencies, knowing where and when Dick LeBeau likes to unleash his formidable zone blitzes. That's a distinct advantage, but the onus is still going to be on K-Dub and the offensive line to make sure the Birds can capitalize.

You really think Pitt can cover Fitzgerald?
RW

Big Rob:

I don’t think anyone can cover him. And I don’t think it has anything to do with him, either. His partner in crime on the other side plus a third legitimate threat in the slot and the playoff push rebirth of The Edge creates the ultimate pick-your-poison for opposing defenses. That’s why I’m so surprised Arizona’s here – and Fitz has broken every imaginable record in the books: Q has been playing on one leg (or not at all) thus far. That’s why his brilliance through three games is so remarkable.

With two weeks to prepare and get healthy, plus your aforementioned familiarity complex, you’d think ‘Zona has the clear edge. But I just don’t – because even if you know what the other team’s going to do, it all comes down to execution. Pittsburgh’s the best team in the league at maximizing their players’ blend of talents by creating one-on-one matchups. They might double (or triple or quadrouple) Fitz on one play – and come like gangbusters the next. But even then, the key won’t be the “what”, it’ll be the “how”. How the Steelers deploy their arsenal. How they’re able to disguise and confuse. How they execute.

I don’t think you can talk about Pittsburgh and execution without mentioning the dramatically improved state of their offensive line. But when it comes down to it, the execution I’ll really have my eyes on is the Steeler receiving corps. The Fearless One says he’s a go, regardless of how the knee feels. And the rest of the troops appear to have cured the severe case of long-ball dropsies. But they fall in line with their leader – Hines’ impact, just by suiting up – will impact this game one way or the other.

NB,

Yeah, it really does come down to the Arizona D against #7 and the Pittsburgh offense. For all the talk about the inverse matchup, it's the quieter one that's more pivotal. And for all their clutch play and winning ways this season, the Pitt O hasn't been particularly unstoppable. I think the Desert Swarm can make its mark, and keep the game low scoring enough for even an average day from Fitzgerald and Co. to win the day.

So prediction time? I'll go with the Lombardi Trophy headed to the southwest--Arizona 24-20.

Y tu?

RW:

I’m with the Steel City adding one for the other thumb – 27-21.

Matt Ryan Offensive Rookie of the Year

usnikefootball — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:47:12 GMT

Let’s go back in time to a Saturday in April, draft day in the NFL. The dreadful Atlantans, selecting third, are on the clock. They have a tricky choice—select a mammoth defensive tackle to shore up their porous line (which is what most fans and pundits are recommending/demanding they do); trade the choice to amass extra picks; or stand firm and take a quarterback with smarts, skills, and savvy, but one that some say doesn’t have the Right Stuff to be a franchise quarterback.

Thomas Dimitroff, the newly hired Atlanta GM, stuck to his gut feeling on that defining draft choice, and picked the quarterback. Howls of disgust followed, but they are silent now. That’s because the signal-caller picked that fateful Saturday in April, Matt Ryan, is the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and has led his team into the playoffs with an 11-5 record, a stunning turnaround from the wreckage of 2007.

It’s difficult to overstate how difficult the job of a leagues quarterback is. For a rookie, it’s exponentially harder. The game is faster, longer, more violent. Off the field, it’s even trickier. No longer are you in the huddle with your college buddies, all the same age and of similar background. A rookie pro QB has to lead a team of grown men, veterans, with differing agendas and skill sets and motivations. Just getting them to respond to your leadership is a task that many talented QBs never master.

Ryan had the Dirty Birds at hello. His first NFL pass went for a 62-yard touchdown. That’s a pretty good way to let your teammates, not to mention the coaches and the owner and the fans and the opposition, know that Ryan would be worth watching this season.

His overall numbers were shockingly good—16 TDs to 11 interceptions, an excellent ratio and perhaps the most important numerical measure of a rookie QB. 3,440 yards passing. 87.7 quarterback rating. And most importantly, those eleven wins, including four on the road. There is room for improvement, of course—that 61.1 completion percentage could come up a few points, for starters—but for a newbie, the only word is ‘wow.’

Then there is what the numbers can’t factor—Ryan’s savvy, his unflappable demeanor, his ability to change out of bad plays at the line, his slick ball handling, his control over clock and tempo, his ability to get rid of the ball and not take a damaging sack or throw a damaging pick—you get the idea. If you didn’t know better, just turning on an Atlanta game and watching the quarterback, one would never guess Ryan was in his first season.

Of course, the NFL is the most transitory of leagues—today’s success isn’t easily replicated tomorrow. But Hotlanta fans have to be incredibly optimistic about the future. After all, they get to watch Ryan in his second year, when he will no longer be just a rookie. When you have a franchise QB, you have a chance in every game, and every season is promising, regardless of the rest of the talent—that’s how important the position is. And Atlanta has a building block to build around for the foreseeable future.

Warming Up to the Cold in Green Bay

usnikefootball — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:37:41 GMT

They don’t call it the Frozen Tundra for nothing. What smoke stacks are to steam engines, icy turf is to Green Bay when the second season comes calling. On the field Aaron Rodgers calls home, the elements get down in a four-point stance.

“Growing up in Chico, CA, we might get some 40 degree weather toward the end of the (high school) season. But the worst we’d get is rainstorms. As a quarterback, the weather can be my worst enemy. It makes it difficult to grip the ball, to throw with accuracy. The cold, all by itself, is a pretty tough opponent.”

Commanding the huddle, barking out audibles at the line and executing in the mayhem that rages after each snap comes down to a few simple principles.

“The two most important things are keeping my core body temperature up and my hands warm. When it gets cold, the ball always feel slick – almost like it does when it’s wet. And it also hardens as the temperature drops, so I have to loosen my grip.”

When Mother Nature rears her ugly head, the battle starts long before kickoff.

“Sometimes, there just isn’t really much you can do. I like to go out early on game day, at least two hours before kickoff. I try to get used to the temperature, really feel the weather. I usually get in 30 to 40 throws to see what the air’s doing to the ball – if it’s making it slick, how long it takes my hands to warm up, etc.”

As the action heats up on the field and a player’s body fights to keep pace, the real battle exists between a player’s ears.

“A lot of it’s in your head. You just have to deal with it. For the most part, as long as I can keep my core temperature up and my hands warm, I know I’ll be fine. But if you let the cold mess with you, it’s easy to start having issues. You can’t make excuses.”

Playing football in the league’s version of Siberia presents unique equipment challenges. The tech experts in Nike’s testing labs help him stand up to Green Bay’s extreme forces of nature.

“Nike gear keeps me warm - and that’s really the most important thing. It’s not baggy or bulky, and yet it keeps the heat on my body. It fits tight enough without restricting any movement.”

Nike Cold Weather Gear exceeds the needs of the world’s best football players in the face of their most extreme temperature enemies.

“Nothing can top Chicago last year - not even the (NFC Championship) playoffs. In Chicago, we played in 40 mph winds. They said it was three degrees outside, but it felt like negative thirty. If the championship game was negative twenty-five, then Chicago felt even colder than that. I’ve played with guys who’ve worn equipment that’s given them all kinds of problems on the field - especially in the cold. But we’ve played in some of the most miserable conditions of my sports career, and with Nike I’ve never had any problems.”

Check Out Cold Weather Gear >>

Week 16 Roundup

usnikefootball — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:53:01 GMT

Incredibly, LaDainian Tomlinson and the Bolts are a home win away from the playoffs. Once 4-8 and left for dead, San Diego only needs to take down Denver to get the division title. And remember, they would have won the game in Colorado way back in week two but for an inadvertent whistle from the referee. So SD has to like its chances.

As for LT, he spent his Sunday afternoon diminishing the hopes of another playoff hopeful, Tampa. He banged out 90 yards on 21 carries to become only the third player in league history to reach 1,000 ground yards in his first eight seasons (he’s now at 1,014 yards on the season). Toss in another 20 yards through the air, and LT’s game becomes even better. But the big one is straight ahead, Sunday night in southern California.

It will come down to next Sunday for Minnesota as well. Adrian Peterson, the league’s leading rusher, had 76 yards, but it was an afternoon to forget. In addition to the loss, AD coughed it up three times, losing it twice, contributing directly to Atlanta’s 24-17 win at the Metrodome.

"I'm hurting right now. It's killing me," Peterson said. "We had a chance to win the NFC North, and we did everything to screw it up today. Including me. Turnovers and things like that. We can't have that. So I'm very disappointed right now."

The Purple now need a win against the league’s best team, New York (NFC version), or a loss from Chicago, to get to postseason play.

The Oakland-Houston tilt, won by the silver-and-black 27-16, was of only marginal interest on a Sunday full of playoff-impactful contests, but big ups to Amobi Okoye, finally (mostly) healthy after an injury-plagued campaign, who had a sack and five solo tackles in the game. And Darren McFadden racked up 87 total yards as he continues to improve. Heads up next year to the defenses on the Oakland schedule.

And Steven Jackson keeps playing hard for St. Louis, piling up 108 tough yards on 32 carries in a 17-16 loss to San Francisco. The Arch City crew let another one slip away, blowing a 13-point lead. Jackson sounded deflated afterward, saying "I don't know if we're cursed, but you know, I mean, it hurts. It hurts when you feel like you've outplayed your opponent literally for almost eight quarters going back to last week."

Week 15 Roundup

usnikefootball — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:57:33 GMT

It was pretty much a must-win situation, and that meant Adrian Peterson came up big. 165 yards worth of big. 35-14 stomping of playoff-bound Arizona big. Holding on to first place in the division big.

Big.

All Day ran over, around, and through the Desert Birds en route to his ninth straight 100+ yard game. Peterson now has 1.581 yards, a Vikes franchise record and tops in the league. Now the Purple are a victory away from wrapping the division and a home playoff game in the DeafeningDome. The final two games for Minny won’t be easy ones—Atlanta and the defending Super Bowl champion G-Men. But with Peterson running the way he is, you have to like their chances.

Speaking of records, LaDainian Tomlinson struggled for much of San Diego’s thrilling comeback against KC, but broke off a 6-yard TD run that jumpstarted the Bolts, and in the process tied LT with the great Marcus Allen for second on the all-time TD list. Tomlinson has hit paydirt 123 times in his illustrious career. San Diego worked an onside kick to perfection and scored twice in the final minutes to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive.

St. Louis coughed up a lead as well, to Seattle, but Steven Jackson was instrumental in building the lead. Jax piled up 91 yards and a touchdown, but with no one else to key on, Seattle slowed him in the second half, and came back to win, 23-20.

Another week, another loss for Detroit—that’s 14 and counting, as you know—and another excellent performance by Calvin Johnson in defeat. This week in Indy, MegaTron had nine grabs for 110 yards and a superb 33-yard touchdown, which saw Johnson twist and stretch and will himself into the end zone. It had to be frustrating in that locker room, but Detroit can think ahead to next season with the knowledge that they have a game-changer to build around.

And let’s give a shout out to T.J. Housmanzadeh and my Bengals for winning for the second time in 2008, 20-13 over Washington.

Nike Enforcer. Battle Tested, Team Approved

usnikefootball — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:05:34 GMT

So what if there was a group of major college football players who could honestly say:

“Football is the easiest part of my day.”

Yesterday, you witnessed two complete rosters full of ‘em.

The Army-Navy game, an annual gridiron battle between our nation’s ground and sea forces, defines pageantry. Forget cheerleaders and 100,000 seat stadiums full of fraternity boys - give me a couple thousand cadets repping synchronized pushups following every score.

The first Saturday in December serves as a reminder that you’re probably a slacker.

Because these college kids are balancing a full football load with a classroom and professional training schedule that would make most scholarship ballers at the BCS powers crumble. These fellas define “student-athlete,” playing solely for the love of the game.

Words like honor. Country. Pride. Commitment. They exemplify those, too.

It’s why we designed the Nike Enforcer jerseys to the exact specifications of our armed services' technology needs. You know, the guys who solve nuclear physics equations long before they even think about Football 101.

You saw it on display if Philadelphia yesterday. Now be the first to gear up your team for next fall.

Nike Enforcer. Battle Tested, Team Approved.

BCS vs. CFB Playoff firestorm

usnikefootball — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:25:16 GMT

hey tried, they really did. It even started out as a discussion – civil, unlike Oregon’s border war. But as Rob and Newbear tried to come up with a pros and cons list for the BCS vs. CFB Playoff firestorm, they just couldn’t seem to agree. About anything.

Dear Mr. Weintraub,

Prominent head coaches, talking heads in the media and just about everyone with a thread in the blogosphere has an opinion. The acronym, BCS, has become a caricature of “creative” whimsy, with malicious fervor growing to fever pitch in recent weeks.

The catch-all has always been this: a lot happens in the weeks after the first BCS standings are released. And usually, it’s enough to sort out the top two contenders. But with nationally televised love spread to mid major programs on weeknights, spread offenses and the 85 scholarship limit, it’s simply a different ball game.

This year – with the three-way tie in the Big 12 South and near algorithmic title game computer variations pending the outcome of this weekend’s games – the BCS discussion has reached new heights, as even the president elect weighed in.

In the most simple terms I can state: because of the BCS, every week matters, creating an ENTIRE SEASON of “Game 7s”.

Newbie--

See, I always argued against a playoff for the reason you state--it would detract from the "every week is critical" nature of college football. But I changed my mind. For starters, if you had a 4 or 8-team playoff, that wouldn't change anything about every game mattering. A loss could very well send a team spiraling out of the top group that would achieve playoff status. Teams that lose a game (or even two) nowadays are still afloat, as we've seen. That wouldn't be any different under a playoff system, especially if there was a caveat stating that a conference title was a prerequisite for entry.

I mean, the very nature of sporting competition is head-to-head results. That's what should matter, and thanks to the BCS and a three-way tie in the Big 12 North, it doesn't. The Okies got some cyber-love, and therefore a straight-up loss on a neutral field to the Hook 'Em gang doesn't count? Ridiculous. A playoff ends all debate, which would give sports talk radio something else to talk about for once.

RobWein,

So what does that say about tradition? One of the things that I love the most about Saturdays in the fall is that it’s unlike anything else. Fact: no other major sport is NOT decided by playoffs. That makes CFB unique. Each bowl brings something special to the table. It’s something kids never forget, something that lives on forever.

Nowhere in the world of sports do you find the pageantry that exists in college football towns and I believe a large part of that is because my first point rings so true. EVERY week matters. Doesn’t matter if you’re playing an overmatched I-AA (I continue to eschew the FCS/FBS monikers) squad or your highest-ranked heated big conference rival. If we had playoffs, big-time programs would have even more incentive to avoid high-profile cross-sectional matchups and load up on bottom-feeding programs. And “David slaying Goliath” goes completely out the window.

When you start talking playoffs, that doesn’t just mean more games – it means more weeks of action. Weeks that happen to fall on Christmas break and semester’s end final exams. Most of the big-time powers struggle to graduate half their players – now we’re going to take them out of MORE school prep time?

I think we’ve got to face facts here: the NCAA isn’t going to start paying these kids anytime soon. And until they do, we’re not getting any more games. More than that, no one’s going to give up any, either, skirting a few regular-season contests in case you might get eligible for the playoffs.

Newbs,

Sorry, the whole "student-athlete" concept ship sailed many moons ago. The BCS schools are all about the dough, not calculus. Clearly, weeks wouldn't have to be added--the games could be played the last weeks of December through the first week of January, just like they are now. Only two schools are playing all the way through anyway, and I doubt you'd find anybody on either side who wished they were back on campus instead. The schools we are talking about, as you mention, are football factories, in the main. They recruit based on the prospects of playing in big games and getting prepped for pro ball. Not academics. So let's end the hypocrisy about graduation rates. And the holiday argument is likewise undone by the fact that 34 bowl games occur during the season, including all the ones on X-mas and NYD itself.

I don't advocate getting rid of the bowl. The rest of the college footy universe should have them to play for, and you're right, they offer a great, memorable experience. But so would a playoff, for the few schools involved. I see no reason why they cannot co-exist.

As for the scheduling, one positive element the computers have added is rewarding wins over a tough schedule. Adding cupcakes isn't going to help anyone come number-crunching time. Anyway, who is to say what an "easy win" looks like anymore? No one is a walkover, which makes the game that much more compelling. Skeds are made years in advance--today's creampuff is tomorrow's upset special. And it's conference play that is most determinative--just ask the Men of Troy.

RW,

Solid point: dough, not calculus. So do you realize that major conferences are already sharing hundreds of millions of dollars annually? It’s often how the conference afterthoughts continue to hang on financially despite struggling on the field. Total profits of all, divided amongst the entire conference. So it’s obviously especially beneficial for the schools (and their conferences) who make it to the BCS. Now think about this: those schedules that are made so many years in advance? Well, when the current deal expires and 2014 rolls around, don’t you think the heavies would find ways to cut the collective chord of the BCS wannabees and mid-majors? Florida and Georgia may hate each other, but they’d help each other for the sake of the SEC – and all that green.

Here’s what I’d like to see:

Re-seeding of the conferences at the conclusion of the season so the top two teams play each other for the right to play for the chip. Then we’d eradicate both the 11-1 teams sitting at home this weekend AND rid the BCS of the potential for teams that don’t even win their conference to sneak in to the title tilt.

The BCS is flawed, admittedly. And too often, the fixes are retroactive.

But a playoff system would make college football just like everything else. And that’s not a stadium in the sky I’d want to root for.

Newbs--

Hey, I'm all about compromise. Realistically, a playoff is just a plus-one or two, so we could keep much of the current system, and just add a single game to the end. We wouldn't even have to call it a playoff, so that college ball retains some uniqueness. But the vague and empty endings to just about every season have got to go.

RW

Robert Weintraub and Newbear are regular contributors to the NikeFootball.com blog.

Saban Leads, Tide Rolls Toward Title

usnikefootball — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:57:24 GMT

At his first head coaching stop, Nick Saban captured a MAC Co-Championship. After a stint in the NFL, he helped lead Sparty to its best season in more than 30 years. In his second year at LSU, Saban’s Tigers won their first outright SEC Championship in 15 years - and their first Sugar Bowl in 34. He topped that two years later, adding a bookend SEC title on the way to the 2003 BCS National Championship. 45 years had passed since LSU last stood atop the college football world.

Simply stated, Saban has experience turning programs around, and the evidence in the previous paragraph is only the beginning of the story. From yearbooks to web pages that reference statistical achievements, it’s easy to find sources that catalog Saban’s success.

And if you shell out a few bucks for a trip to Toledo, East Lansing or Baton Rouge, you could even get up close and personal with the trophy cases that house the tangible proof. But there’s no trophy case, no “Wall of Fame”, and no almanac – nothing, really – that can measure the culture shift Saban brings to each program he leads, the influx of athletes that change the playing landscape for years after he leaves.

He preaches discipline, effort and assignment accountability. Through every segment of his teams, speed is the most constant theme. And on Saturdays in the fall, Saban-coached squads would run through a wall for their leader. Because after a week in his grueling practice blender, Saturday feels like a smoothie. Game time simply becomes their release. But Alabama was supposed to be the college test Saban would finally fail.

This wasn’t a middling MAC program struggling to fill a 30,000 seat stadium. In Tuscaloosa, 80,000 folks show up for “A-Day” - the glorified scrimmage at the conclusion of spring ball.

This wasn’t a forgotten Big 10 sorta-almost-super power, appeased annually by lower-rung bowl games and a run at the conference title every fourth year. In Crimson Tide country, they’ve done the former more than 50 times; the latter, 25. And this wasn’t a school without it’s own way of doing things. For better of worse, Alabama remains wholly defined by houndstooth head ornaments - the headgear of choice Bear Bryant donned on the way to six national championships.

But more than rabid fans, a ridiculous history of success and the ghosts of coaching legend past, Saban walked into a program with a disillusioned sense of self. A truth that few could even summon the courage to discuss. A drought Bama ball had scarcely seen since its 1892 inception. A low that saw one scandalous coach get fired before he coached a single game.

A reality Saban refused to accept.

Scholarship limitations and disproportionate expectations be damned, Saban and his reforming Crimson Tide battled through a wild 2007. They started 3-0. They lost four straight, including an embarrassing home defeat against UL-Monroe. They earned a hard-fought Independence Bowl victory that marked just the second winning season in five years.

And then Saban hit the road. He found Junior College gems and kept the No. 1 overall high school player in the country from fleeing the state. The end result? A Top 3 recruiting class.

Over the summer, Saban and his staff transformed a record-setting but maddeningly inconsistent senior QB into a true field general, capable of managing games without committing back-breaking mistakes. And they made sure the heavies in charge of keeping his jersey clean got an attitude adjustment. Led by a trio of prospective All-SEC performers, the offensive line set a season-long tone in Alabama’s Week 1 demolition of Clemson.

An instinctive, hard-hitting defense led by blue chip members of his 2007 class and former walk-ons alike can take matters into their own hands when the offense stalls.

And game-changing special teams units complete the third facet of the nation’s top-ranked team.

The fact that a 400lb. nose tackle has become nearly unblockable, gobbling up opposing ground games for the nation’s No. 5 scoring defense is no surprise. The fact that a true freshman’s body of work is NFL-ready required less than a single collegiate season to verify. That it’s all come together in less than two seasons under Saban is the only shock value.

There are teams that run and pass for more yards or score with greater frequency. There are teams that allow fewer yards or produce greater margins of victory. There are even teams with multiple bronze stiff-arm candidates and more future pros on their respective rosters than the Crimson Tide.

But the simple fact is: Alabama is the most complete team in the country. And Nick Saban is the only coach in America that controls his own destiny.

GORDON AND STRAWN: SHOWING UP AT THE SHOWDOWN

usnikefootball — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:28:23 GMT

It'll be Number Two Vs. Number Four, when the Gordon Longhorns and the Strawn Greyhounds strap it on this Saturday night in the quarterfinals of the Texas six-man state playoffs.

Gordon (11-1) advanced by taking down Greenville Phoenix 66-0, while Strawn
(11-1) beat Saint Jo 60-8. So far in the playoffs, Gordon has allowed only one TD, while racking up 122 points on offense.

Gordon coach Tye Adams says it will take a "little luck and a lot of guts"
for his Longhorns to beat their arch rivals. The two teams met on the district level only a few weeks ago, with Gordon taking a 60-30 win.

"It was a lot closer than that," assured Adams. "We were only up by four late in the third quarter."

What makes the matchup so unique is that the towns of Strawn and Gordon are located only eight miles apart! "It's one of the best six-man rivalries around," said Adams. "A lot of braggin rights go on after this game."

The game will be played down the road from the two towns in Mineral Wells, Texas. An estimated 5,000 fans are expected to show up.

To learn more about Texas six-man football playoffs check out www.lonestarfootball.net and click on six-man, or the "bible" of six man football, www.sixmanfootball.com.

The winner of the Strawn-Gordon matchup will meet either Number one Calvert
(9-0) or Number 3 Abbott (12-0) in the state semifinals. Many believe this will be the state championship game. However, Fort Davis is making plenty of noise out in West Texas. FDHS ran over Northside last weekend 64-42 to go to 12-0 for the season.

In Division 2 of the six-man playoffs, Star, Texas has been putting up some impressive offensive numbers. Star beat Valera Panther Creek 98-66 in the opening round and Leverett's Chapel 101-56, to move into the quarterfinal round against Walnut Springs.

THE HISTORY OF SIX MAN FOOTBALL

usnikefootball — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:19:49 GMT

Back in the 1930’s, when six-man football originated, Richland Springs, Texas was a booming town. And while Main Street may not be as bustling as it once was, the spirit that first brought the town folk out to watch a game of six-man lives on. The vast majority of high schools playing six-man football in Texas are located in rural towns like Richland Springs, communities with small populations but big hearts. On any given Friday night, more than 2,000 fans gather at the local football field to watch the Coyotes. There’s an old saying in Richland Springs, Texas, “On Friday night, you can rob every house in town and never get caught....cause everybody’s at the football game.” When the Coyotes play an out of town game, folks have been known to say, “Would the last person leaving town turn out the lights?”

Contrary to popular belief, the game of six-man football was not conceived in the Lone Star State. Fact is, a fella named Stephen Epler invented the game in 1934 while coaching in Chester, Nebraska. Epler came up with the idea because there weren't enough students at CHS to form an eleven-man team. So eleven-man football became six-man football and rest is football history.

Four years later, the governing body of Texas high school sports, the University Interscholastic League, said okie dokie and six-man football came to Texas. That first year, 55 schools played the game. Now about 125 high schools in Texas play this unique brand of football.

Other states such as Colorado, New Mexico and Montana play six-man football as do Nebraska and Kansas. However, Nebraska and Kansas leagues are not sanctioned by the governing body of the state. Oklahoma? If you know about Oklahoma six-man football, let us know.

Here's another little known fact: Only high schools with less than 126 students can play six-man football on the varsity level. So mostly, the teams that compete are from tiny rural communities such as Follett in the Texas panhandle, Fort Davis in the Big Bend and Calvert in East Texas.

By the way, check out www.sixmanfootball.com for more Texas Six Man football info. Click on maps and see the names and towns of all the schools that play in Texas.

6 Man Football: The Rules

usnikefootball — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:18:24 GMT

You gotta love Texas six-man football. It is one heckuva game. It's like watching a bunch of road runners chasing a rattlesnake up and down the football field.

One minute a team can be down 20 points. Then a couple of minutes later up a couple of TDs. It never over 'til it's over. That's one of the many reasons it's not unusual for fans to travel hundreds of miles for a game.

First, for those who don't know it, high school football is big in Texas. Not just big...gigantic. Even the smallest schools in Texas, the ones that play six-man have been know to draw 2,000 fans on a Friday night. It's these schools, usually located in rural Texas towns with populations under 300, that play this unique brand of football.

Six men on offense. Six men on defense.

The game differs a bit from the eleven-man version. First, it's played on an 80 x 40-yard field. It takes 15 yards to make a first down. A touchdown gets six points. Run or pass a PAT and you get a singleton. Kick a PAT and you get two points. Make it over the 8-foot high goal post with a field goal attempt and a team racks up four points. Kicking the ball in six-man football is very difficult.

The other big difference is this: everyone is eligible for a pass. However, the quarterback has to either pitch or pass the ball before he can run with it. A thousand yards of offense is not uncommon.

"It's like indoor arena football," said one fan. "Except we're outside."

It is a run 'til you puke, hit 'til you collapse kinda game. Maybe that's why country boys play it so well. They're a tough bunch. They grow up on ranches and farms. And come from towns like Richland Springs, Calvert, Lometa, Fort Davis and Marathon. Towns so small that without a GPS unit, you couldn't find them.

While there are usually about 10-20 players on a team, it's not uncommon to see the same six on both offense and defense. It's also not uncommon for these small schools to start the season with seven or eight players and end the season with only six. There is a rule that at least six players have to suit up before a game can start. Games have often ended with only four or five on a team.

But there is a rule called the 'mercy rule." If a team goes up by 45 points or more after halftime, the game is over. No mas! It's called "getting 45'd." "My Kid 45'd Your Kid" is a t-shirt often seen in the stands at six-man games.

The governing body of Texas High school football, the University Interscholastic League, set up two divisions to make things more competitive. Division I consists of high schools with an average daily attendance of 66-125. Division II high schools have less than 66 students in the entire school. But rest assured - smaller numbers have never stopped these teams from going out and leaving it all on the field. That's what six-man is all about.

Week 9 Roundup

usnikefootball — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:42:14 GMT

Running backs get paid by the yard, and the great ones by the touchdown. That’s the first thing we ask about any back on Sunday—how many yards did he get? But yards gained are often a number that screams for context. Did the back roll up some stats in a blowout? Did a single run account for the bulk of the total? Or did the back serve as a bellcow for his team, and grind out important, clock-killing, chain-moving yardage in the second half of a close game?

That last description describes Adrian Peterson’s performance on Sunday in Minnesota’s 28-21 win over a hot Houston team. All Day got his sixer early on, banging in for the game’s first score from a yard out. But it was in the second half, especially the fourth quarter, that AD earned his paycheck. He ground out several first down runs, including big chunks of 40, 22, and 21 yards, as the home team protected its 7-14 point lead. The Purple Pounder finished with 25-139 and the TD, but forget the fantasy stuff—it was an impressive afternoon of physical dominance.

Looking for more of an aerial approach? Check out the TD catch Braylon Edwards turned in for Cleveland. The swing state wideout went vertical in the end zone and yanked the ball away from a pair of Baltimore DBs for the score. It wasn’t enough to yank victory away from the Birds, who won 37-27, but it was a sensational play. Edwards had four grabs for 86 yards in the game.

(OK, in the interest of keeping it real, Braylon also dropped what looked to be a sure TD late in the game)

Another Award for Excellent Performance by a Wide Receiver in a Losing Effort goes to…Calvin Johnson of Detroit. Yes, MegaTron & Co. are struggling through a nightmare, winless season in Motown, but CJ is keeping up his end of the bargain. A slick over-the-shoulder TD grab was part of an eight catch, 94-yard performance in a tough loss to Chicago, 27-23. An out-of-work QB is coming to Detroit to perhaps provide some deep balls for Johnson, who deserves a good hurler at the other end for once.

Also on the receiver tip, let’s give credit for a solid game in a win—Larry Fitzgerald and his Arizona crew pummeled the team from their former home city of St. Louis, 34-14. Fitz hauled in 6 balls for 81 yards, although he didn’t crack paydirt. The win solidifies the division lead, and makes it more likely a post-season game will be played in the Valley of the Sun.

Week 8 Roundup

usnikefootball — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:16:07 GMT

His dad finished his career with 91.5 sacks, although the 7.5 he had in his rookie were unofficial, as the league didn’t count them in 1981. Coming into Sunday, Chris Long was a mere 89.5 QB takedowns behind his father Howie, but after the St. Louis game against New England, it’s 87.5—Long took down Tom Brady’s replacement twice in a hard-fought 23-16 loss to the Pats. The Arch City gang are much more spirited of late, and almost took their third straight win. With Long coming into his own, look for opposing QBs to be wary, and opposing offensive coordinators to gameplan with Long in mind.

Two other defenders who have played well in a nightmarish season this far are Julian Peterson and Marcus Trufant of Seattle. Injuries have brutalized the ‘Hawks, but those two have been a pair of stalwarts. That was obvious in Seattle’s 34-13 road whipping of San Fran. The two combined for thirteen tackles, and Peterson had a sack, as Seattle’s D controlled the game by making big plays when it counted. Seattle players often toil in obscurity, even when they are playing well, due to the city’s relative remoteness and the Birds’ few appearances on national TV. Give Peterson and Trufant extra credit for working their tails off despite the team’s poor play so far, and doing it in the shadows of the league.

Speaking of remoteness, New Orleans and San Diego traveled across the pond for the leagues annual game in London, at Wembley Stadium, home to many fabled soccer matches. Now, add a “real” football thriller to the list, as the Big Easy bunch edged the Bolts 37-32. Don’t blame LaDainian Tomlinson for the loss, though—his hobbled toe hurting less than it has all season, LT looked pretty spry on foreign soil. Rushing for 105 yards on 19 carries, and catching five passes for 65 yards and a touchdown, for a combo 170 yards, it was vintage Tomlinson. The TD was LT’s 134th of his magnificent career, good for 6th on the all-time list, and his 47th career 100-yard game. Over 83,000 fans turned out for the game in England, proof that our favorite sport here in the States has some worldwide appeal.

So much for the easy to predict college football season...

usnikefootball — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:18:40 GMT

Newbie,

So much for the easy to predict college football season, huh? We’ve reached the
rough midpoint (choking back sobs) and it's just like last year – upsets a plenty, no one looks particularly dominating, and just when you think you have a handle on things, three of the top five go down in an afternoon.

Te-jas has played exceptionally well, and the Austinians deserve their #1 spot for the moment, but are you convinced that will last? I can make an equally strong case that we'll get a USC-Ohio State rematch in the title game as anything else (not predicting that, but it could easily happen). OU and Florida and UGA and all the other powers who lost in the last few weeks are still very much alive, and if a 2-loss team makes it to the Big Show, like LSU last year, I won't even blink.

So what has caught your eye in the first seven weeks of action?

RW

Weiner:

Beyond impact freshmen. Or another super sleeper upset loss for the Men of Troy. Beyond Saint Nick and the rolling Crimson Tide. And even the serial face planting among the Preseason Top 25.

There’s the Real McCoy. Say what you want about the Horns’ staying power – you can no longer question their talent under center. Yeah, he set freshmen records, but he also wasn’t really asked to carry the weight of Longhorn Nation. Translation: his instant success was refreshing, almost a blessing in disguise. Great expectations produced a fabled cliché: sophomore slump of epic burnt orange proportions. His bounce-back ability is based on true grit – and he deserves mad love for it.

I’ll see your two-loss title preview and raise you this: would the college football universe end if we have multiple undefeated non-BCS squads come season’s end? Or if the conference wars of attrition leave no one undefeated? Several “little brothers” of the NCAA could run the slate; a dozen or more monster BCS squads could finish with a single loss.

Leaving the voters to decide.

NB--
I for one would love to see the winner of the Utah Holy War take on Boise or Ball for the championship. It's already been a strong season for the "mid-majors" who got left out of the big dollar party, and it can only go up. I am hyperventilating over the potential clash of unbeatens in Salt Lake City in late-November. I'd love to see one of those teams force the hand of the voters to put them in the title game, and against a 2-loss team no less.

Meanwhile, in terms of individual performers, how about the bruiser from East Lansing? Sparty has been off the radar for a while, except as underachievers. But JR's giving them a shot at a Big Ten title, something that hasn't happened since Hector was a pup. Nick Saban has done a great job in lifting the Tide, but don't overlook the interior line All-Americans in Tuscaloosa--they have been the most physical team in the nation. And it isn't just the Texas QB--at least six signal-callers in the Big 12 are having seasons worthy of post-season honors.

Any forecasts for the second half?
RW

Weiner:

Holy War? More like “holy cow” – when the winner emerges unblemished, yet gets no title shot. I really do think a non-BCS team (or two) will run the table, I just don’t see any of them playing for the chip. Coaches, voters – even you and your drool – will watch this happen. And it will be the correct decision – with potential for a zero-loss Happy Valley squad to join them as well. Then we’ll witness the greatest championship game in modern day history: Big XII vs. SEC heavyweight brawl.

For the eighth time in nine years, a QB will stiff arm his way into the record books and take home that little bronze statue.

Other than that, how can I predict ANYTHING?! Experts keep saying ’07 was the most unpredictable season in CFB history. The second half of ’08 is going to rewrite the books.

Newbs—
Well, so much for the Holy War being a precursor to a title shot, at least for the bunch from Provo, who went down hard against a surly group of Horned Frogs on Thursday night. I’m with you though—some little guy is going unbeaten, but it might not get them a shot against the big boys.

It will be fascinating, and we’ll be watching closely and passing our opinions along as it plays out.

Barreling toward state playoff glory

usnikefootball — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:15:26 GMT

Time to check in on our favorite high school teams as they barrel toward state playoff glory, and enjoy the heck out of every hour in those 5 Days 2 Friday.

The Byrnes Rebels of Duncan, SC continue to roll, now 8-0 after a 39-3 romp over this overmatched in-state rival. This week, Chris Miller’s bunch go for W #9, at home against a squad from Simpsonville, SC. The Rebs are still ranked #1 in USA Today’s national poll, #3 in MaxPreps.

The #1 team in MaxPreps’ poll is the ever-potent St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Their latest humbling of an overmatched opponent came last week, a 55-0 shellacking. STA shoots for its sixth win this week, against these guys, who beat St. Thomas last season and also gave Miami Northwestern a real struggle. They are 5-0 as well, but graduation has lessened their strength. Not so STA. The Raiders have yet to be held to less than 35 points in a game, thanks in large part to this sizzling wide receiver, whose father, Cris, you may be familiar with from his Hall of Fame-worthy career and now his work in broadcasting. Like father, like son—the current high school superstar is heading to Columbus to be a Buckeye next season. Check out this grab for a hands display!

Out west, Long Beach Poly (#6 in MaxPreps) engaged in a defensive battle with a non-league opponent, a bonnie group of Seraphs from up the coast who were ranked #11 by the Preps folks. The Jackrabbits won 12-7, with the decisive 5 points coming on a fourth quarter safety and a field goal. It was a bruising battle won in the trenches. Things should get a little easier this week for the 5-0 Rabbits, as their opponent comes in at 2-4, and look a bit overmatched.

Mission Viejo of California is rated #16 by MP, and its explosive offense continues to put up points at a furious pace. The Diablos are averaging 45 points a game, after a 42-21 win last week to get them to 5-0. Halfway through its sked, MV is looking to bounce back strong from last season’s surprisingly poor play.

And my fellow Georgians from Winnersville, Lowndes, won their annual in-town grudge match with the school named for the city, Valdosta, GA, and continued the recent trend of stripping the hated rival of its claim to town supremacy. The Vikings emerged with a hard-fought 14-7 win, and now looks to coast to the state playoffs, the brutal stage of its schedule mostly behind them.