Possible OC Candidates for the Gators

by Brandon "BKP" Plowden

If I had my choice to choose I would say it would be a tie between:

Kerwin Bell- former Florida QB that has done well with JU and established a lethal offensive scheme. Pros- he's young, proven, and its his alma mater. Cons-cant think of any personally.

Norm Chow- proven coordinator with UCLA and also had some great years at USC. However, he plays in a weaker conference in the PAC 10 and hasnt been relevant as of late. Pros- he's experienced and had a few great years. He has coached some good guys in Phillip Rivers, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, and Ty Detmer. Cons- he's old and the Gators need long term coaches.

Garrick McGee- Arkansas has thrived the past 4 to 5 years with Darren McFadden/Felix Jones and Mitch Mustain/Ryan Mallet. Hard to believe he would leave a rival SEC school just for Florida but hey anything can happen for the right price. Pros- he's proven and he's black, enough said. Cons- he works for the rival.

Paul Petrino- Has thrived in each of his stops that he's made and wanted so desperately to escape his brothers shadow (Bobby Petrino. Pros- his offense has excelled and he isnt that old of a coach. Also he has familiarity with the SEC and its competition and could provide a great rival battle with the brother at Arkansas. Cons- he could become shell shocked if he loses early so it wouldnt make for a good fit for someone to fold under pressure on a big stage.

*article source is from gatorbait.net (rivals)

COACHING HOT BOARD

Steve Addazio

Currently: Offensive Coordinator at the University of Florida

Why: Though he may not be spoken highly of by many of those in the Gator Nation who would judge him solely on his time as Florida's offensive coordinator, Addazio is very highly thought of in coaching circles. There's a reason he basically took over for Urban Meyer over the spring and summer. He is one of the better assistant coaches in the SEC, which is why his name has been thrown around for several head coach openings in the recent past. That doesn't happen by accident. Plus, he is perhaps the best recruiter on the staff.

Why Not: To be frank, the fan base would be in an immediate uproar and most of the good will that Muschamp has felt thus far would quickly go down the drain if Addazio was named the offensive coordinator. That's a shame, because much like John Brantley, he was a square peg asked to fit into a round hole. Before being hired by Meyer, he didn't have a background in the spread option offense. In his lone season as a coordinator, he ran a more traditional offense at Indiana.

The Bottom Line: Muschamp said he is going to use the bowl preparation to evaluate UF's current assistant coaches to see if their style matches his. Addazio is one coach that is sure to catch his attention. Well liked and respected by the team, he has a fiery, 'loud' type of approach to coaching. Looking at his bio, if not for what happened this past season, viewing his total body of work, he would be someone the fans would be excited to land. However, there's almost no chance of it happening, at least not as a coordinator.

Kerwin Bell

Currently: Head football coach of the Jacksonville University Dolphins

Why: It doesn't really need to be explained why Bell is included in the list of candidates. He fits the bill as far as having pro experience - he was the offensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts before taking over at Trinity Catholic and then JU. At his last two stops, his offenses have set records not likely to be broken any time soon. He turned the non-scholarship JU program into a national playoff contender and though he is thought of as 'toss the ball around' type of coach, he actually runs a balanced offense. It's hard to tell how he would be received along the recruiting trail, but he definitely has a good relationship with the state's high school coaches who are always happy (and a little jealous) to see one of their own make it.

Why Not: There really aren't very many negatives to hiring Bell, other than he is still relatively young and the way Muschamp made it sound, he is looking for an older coach with more pro experience.

The Bottom Line: Without Muschamp handing out very many particulars, it really is an open question as to who may be on the board. Basing the choice strictly off of a resume, Bell would have to be in the top couple of candidates.

Al Borges

Currently: Offensive Coordinator of the San Diego State Aztecs

Why: Of all the coaches on this list, he is the one that Muschamp is most personally familiar with, so it wouldn't be a huge jump to assume he is the one he is most comfortable with. Borges has been a college coordinator since the mid-eighties at one place or another, including being on the Auburn staff with Muschamp from 2004 to 2007.

Why Not: Yes he is an experienced pro-style coordinator with a play calling background, but he has never worked on the pro level. Also, after he was unceremoniously dumped by Auburn, the offense has never looked better under the direction of Gus Malzahn (with a big assist from Cameron Newton). This isn't a hire that would excite anyone in the Gator Nation.

The Bottom Line: Honestly, he didn't look the part enough at his last stop in the SEC to suddenly be ready to once again be given the reigns of an SEC offense. Not because he isn't capable, but when you get knocked down as badly as he did, you don't just return to the top of the mountain just like that. Based on his bio, he wouldn't be included on this list if not for his ties to Muschamp and it's doubtful those ties are enough to bind, or earn him the UF coordinator position.

Norm Chow

Currently: Offensive Coordinator UCLA

Why: As far as Offensive Coordinators at the collegiate level are concerned, he is in the top half dozen or so. As Muschamp was reading off the qualifications as to what he was looking for in the position, he might as well of been reading Chow's bio. He has coordinator experience at both the college and professional level running a pro-style offense.

Why Not: There aren't many reasons to list here. If there's any at all, it might be because UF isn't known to open their pocketbooks to the extent that it might take to lure a big name such as Chow. Then again, with the increase in football ticket prices combined with the difference in salary between what Meyer was paid and what Muschamp will earn, UF should be sitting on an extra 4 to 5 million. Will they spend some of it on assistant coaches?

The Bottom Line: Unless Muschamp has someone in mind that he is absolutely head-over-heels smitten with, it's hard to believe that Chow or someone close to him won't get at least a phone call to inquire as to his availability.

Paul Chryst

Currently: Offensive Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin

Why: Here's a guy who is on the radar because he so closely fits what coach Muschamp described as seeking in an Offensive Coordinator. He actually started out in the NFL as a coach for the San Diego Chargers and has headed up the Badger offense for the past several seasons.

Why Not: He's never held a job in the south, really recruited the south, and therefore has no ties to what is supposed to be the Gators bread-and-butter recruiting grounds.

The Bottom Line: Yes, UF is considered a better overall football program (and then there's the matter of the weather), but truthfully it's hard to come up with a reason why he would leave Madison for Gainesville.

Scot Loeffler

Currently: Quarterbacks Coach at the University of Florida

Why: For a younger guy, he is building an impressive resume with stops at NCAA powers such as Michigan and Florida as well as a brief stint in the NFL. Though he wasn't actually his position coach (he was a grad assistant), he also gets semi-credit for working with the Patriots Tom Brady. He's been at UF for two years now and has earned the respect and admiration of the current roster. He is known as a solid recruiter who current commits Jeff Driskel and A.C. Leonard speak very highly of.

Why Not: Before this year's draft, the mechanics of his star pupil (Tim Tebow) were widely panned. Then this past year, for the most part Brantley has looked anything but well coached for much of the season. Then again, he spent part of practice teaching them how to handle the option pitch and the other nuances that goes with being an option offense rather than a more traditional pro-style setting like he is accustomed to. Though he has worked in the NFL, he has never held the title of offensive coordinator at any of his stops and has never been burdened with being the man responsible for calling the offensive plays.

The Bottom Line: It is much more likely that he would be asked to remain as a quarterback coach in a pro-style offense rather than as the Offensive Coordinator.

Garrick McGee

Currently: Offensive Coordinator for the Arkansas Razorbacks

Why: After the season Arkansas had, he is understandably one of the hot young up-and-coming names on the offensive side of the ball. He has been an offensive coordinator at both Arkansas and Northwestern as well as a position coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. That's a pretty strong bio for a coach his age. Plus, though we like to think we live in a colorblind society, it never hurts to have an African American as a coordinator when you are visiting high schools and prospects.

Why Not: There aren't many reasons. If you are looking for one, Muschamp wants to be more balanced while McGee's offenses have been tended to be more pass heavy. That's not much, but then again, there's not much not to like about McGee as an offensive coordinator.

The Bottom Line: You would have to think he would be somewhere near the top of any board. Could UF lure him away from a fellow SEC program when they aren't exactly known as being big spenders when it comes to assistant coaches is the question?

Paul Petrino

Currently: Offensive Coordinator Illinois

Why: In 2009, under his direction Arkansas was 8th in the NCAA in scoring (a total higher than a Tebow led UF team) and 20th in total offense. During his four years at Louisville, his offenses averaged 41.0 points per game. He has extensive college coordinator experience and one year of NFL experience, working with the Atlanta Falcons as their receivers coach. Because of his stints with the Razorbacks and the Cardinals, he is familiar with the southeast and the recruiting wars that take place down here.Why Not: Many almost consider him a product of the system - believing that for much of his coaching career, he rode on the coat tails of his brother Bobby Petrino.

The Bottom Line: He was finally able to get out from under his brother's shadow and did well for himself. Last year the Illini were 8th in the Big Ten in scoring, this year under his direction they moved to 4th in scoring. He has proven to be a top tier offensive coordinator who may be ready for the bigger stage which is Gainesville.

Alex Van Pelt

Currently: Quarterbacks Coach Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Why: Though he is still a relatively young guy he has experience on the NFL level as both a quarterbacks coach and as an offensive coordinator calling plays (Tampa and Buffalo). The NFL background (10 years in the league) and name recognition should help him along the recruiting trail.

Why Not: He doesn't have a strong resume as a play caller and though he should have decent name recognition, working only briefly at the University of Buffalo, he doesn't have much experience on the college level and hasn't been through the recruiting wars at all.

The Bottom Line: If Muschamp is looking for a young up-and-coming name on the offensive side of the ball, he could do a lot worse than Van Pelt. His lack of college experience though has to be seen as a drawback.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES: Noah Brindise (Currently out of football, former UF QB, QB coach Washington Redskins & OC UNLV Rebels) Jeff Jagodzinski (Former BC Head coach, currently Head Coach of the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL), Mark Whipple (Former Miami Hurricane Offensive Coordinator, NFL background) & Brian White (Extensive college background as an Offensive Coordinator, current UF TE Coach)

Muschamp To Coach "Old" Champs

by Brandon "BKP" Plowden

The University of Florida is once again faced with embracing the idea of welcoming yet another new head football coach to their program, after Urban Meyer walked away from coaching the team that he once led to 2 national titles in six years. Newly hired coach Will Muschamp, former Texas Defensive Coordinator, will become the 23rd coach in the history of the Florida football program and the 3rd in 10 years post Spurrier. Muschamp who is known for his tenacious defensive units as we all as his relentless recruiting edge, is facing a huge challenge to succeed at arguably one of the nations premier programs with no prior head coaching experience. Many will ask:

• Did athletic director Jeremy Foley make the right choice?
• Did he pull the trigger too quickly?
• Does this hire give Florida the competitive edge it once had 2 years ago?
• And finally, will this hire help keep Florida’s recruiting class in tact?

Here’s the untold perspective in my opinion:

First when news broke that Urban Meyer was stepping down for the second time in 12 months to retire from coaching, athletic director (AD) stated that he wanted to hit the ground immediately and bring a new coach before Christmas. He also stated that the pre-requisite of prior head coaching experience was not a qualification, and that he wanted someone that could:

“fit within the Gainesville and Florida comunity”
“knows the SEC (southeastern conference)”
“a good recruiter as well as a disciplinarian”

"someone who is an up and coming leader, aka a hot commodity, in the coaching ranks"

Foley found all of what he was searching for and more with Muschamp. After thorough research it appears that the new Gator coach comes with a fairly impressive resume of leading a defensive units that have been in the top 10 in each of the years he served as the defensive coordinator at Texas.

Muschamp, a Univ. of Georgia graduate, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Auburn in 1995 and later stops at Univ. of West Georgia, Eastern Kentucky and Valdosta State, where he later returned to the SEC in 2001 when former LSU coach Nick Saban hired him as linebackers coach. He was promoted to DC in 2002 and helped Saban lead the LSU Tigers to the national championship in 2003. Ironically current Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher was on the same staff as an offensive coordinator which causes ground for “familiarity” on behalf of the Gators. Muschamp will not only have Fishers offensive tendencies in his back pocket but he also renews the Florida/FSU rivalry with the same fire it once had during the 90’s. Saban brought Muschamp with him to the NFL to coach the Dolphins in 2005 and later left to become the DC Auburn in 2006, and Texas 2007-2010.

Many Gator fans remember the lone loss suffered in 2006 against Auburn thaat stopped Chris Leak and Tim Tebow from creating any offense- guess who was behind that masterpiece defensive unit of Auburn: you guessed it, Will Muschamp.

The Southeastern conference is as complex, difficult, and competitive as they come and Muschamp has his work cut out for him. However, the greatest part about this challenge is that he now gets a chance to coach against his former colleages in Saban (Alabama), Fisher (FSU), and Derek Dooley (Univ. of Tennessee). Many Gator fans are a little indifferent on their feelings about a former Georgia Bulldog leading the ranks of Florida but Im sure Jeremy Foley took his coaching credentials into play over the institution listed on Muschamp's degree.

Now did Foley pull the trigger too quickly and not give enough consideration to the likes of Boise State’s Chris Petersen, TCU Gary Patterson, Houston’s Kevin Sumlin, Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops all of whom were rumored to be in the running to consideration? I will personally say no. Foley stated that he wanted to get a coach in the doors quickly and he has already faced this position once before when Meyer attempted to walk away during the last bowl season. I personally believe that Foley did his due diligence the first time around and came up with a plan in the event Meyer resigned again. If you are a decision maker in any line of work and you face a threat of a resignation from one of your top employees then you would be unprepared and shell shocked if you failed to do your homework on potential replacements (key words) “in the event” you become short handed. I believe Foley created a a list of prospects last January when the Urban Meyer news first broke. I believe he had certain targets and also wanted to go after the individual who could keep the competitive edge flowing. Also for critics that are throwing the move out the window must not know the history of Florida football. What do I mean you ask? I’ll share it briefly:

• Charlie Strong, former Florida defensive coordinator, was hired as the head coach of Louisville in 2009. He had no prior head coaching experience after coaching for 20 years and was finally granted his first shot where he led his squad to a 6-6 record in the Big East, while also being named coach of the year in his conference. Sounds impressive yet? If not I have another former coach that’ll knock your socks off
• Bob Stoops, a Steve Spurrier assistant for 3 years from 1995-1998, was the defensive coordinator for Florida with no prior head coaching experience. He was hired to Spurriers staff out of Kansas State in 1995 after the Gators gave up 62 points to Nebraska in the 1995 national championship game. A year later he gained immediate spotlight for his obliteration of the Florida State Seminoles in the 1996 Sugar Bowl national championship game holding them to only 20 points. He was later hired as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners in 1999 where he has a .805 winning percentage. Now tell me after “learning” and getting your history lesson from me if you still think its not a reputable hire?! Now its Muschamp's turn!

With the hiring of Muschamp it gives Florida the competitive edge it needed for its recruits. Without a quick hire it would have given fellow SEC opponents and rivals a chance to steal the attention of recruits which could've destroyed the momentum that Florida once had before the Meyer news broke.

Now the pressure lies on the staff that he will bring in most namely the offensive coordinator. The OC will be key for the determination of how quarterback commit Jeff Driskel will be used as well as the effect it will have on the current offensive roster. As we all witnessed, the Gators offense struggled badly this year and many blamed Steve Adazzio for the downfall. I personally believe it was Adazzio along with Meyer's weak offensive scheme of which showed signs of struggling even when Tebow was taking the snaps. If I were Muschamp I’d keep Adazzio and make him in charge of a different position because along with a few other assistants he was personally responsible for signing top recruiting classes year after year. I would take the risk to keep him on the staff and use his fiery motivating tactics. Why not have the best recruiters on your staff? He’d be worth keeping, but Im anxious to see who will be on staff soon.

The great Muhammed Ali once said, “Its not bragging if you back it up”, and right now Muschamp has been charged with leading the nations premier team in the toughest conference in the land. If he succeeds then Gator nation can continue to brag, but if he fails, which I doubt, he will be ousted quicker than Ron Zook in a pit full of blood thirsty Gators. The verdict is still out but I personally like the pick for now. Remember if you're not a Gator, then you're GATOR BAIT!

NBA Eastern Conference Predictions 2010-2011

by Brandon "BKP" Plowden

2010-2011 NBA Power Predictions

We are on the verge of anticipating what could be one of the most exciting NBA seasons since the second retirement of Michael Jordan in 1998, where he led his Chicago Bulls to their 2nd 3-peat and 6th title by knocking off the Utah Jazz. We all knew at the time that it was arguably one of the most well crafted seasons marked with a phenomenal finish. The following year teams were finally able to breathe a sense of relief knowing that their chances of winning a title increased with the retirement of MJ himself.

This season brings about the same excitement but also presents a new unique challenge with a couple of interesting never before scene scenarios:

• Kobe Bryant and the Lakers looking to seal another 3-peat while staking their claim as the kings of the west.
• Boston and the “Big 3 plus 1” quest to return to the title with new additions of Shaquille O’Neal.
• Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and the Orlando Magic searching for a new identity in their quest for their 1st title after 2 failed attempts.
• Miami Heat brings a new “super team” to South Beach in LeBron James, D.Wade, and Chris Bosh.

The following scenarios alone provide a prelude that Hollywood movie directors cant match even if they provided free movie tickets to see Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz gone wild, crazy, and nude.....well on second thought the nude part may work but I’ll let you be the judge. With that I give you my personal predictions for the top 8 teams (seeds) in each conference starting with the eastern conference:

EAST

1. Orlando Magic: After finishing poorly in the the playoffs last year against the Boston Celtics they have a renewed sense of belonging to show the nation why they are the hottest offense in the regular season. They finished in first place and home court advantage only to later fall to the Boston Celtics. Newcomer Vince Carter is in search of a new role with the team that will allow him to be more effective, and Dwight Howard has been rumored to have gained some new moves, however with loss of Matt Barnes will the Magic have enough defensive talent to make it all the way to the finals? Coaching adjustments, frontcourt play, and simply making their regular season record look just as impressive in the playoffs will be the biggest challenge. It’ll be important for Jameer Nelson to be more of a pure PG instead of a shoot first PG, Vince Carter transforming back into Vinsanity and attacking the basket, Rashard Lewis playing his natural SF position, and for D12 to expand his offense. GM Otis Smith may entertain trades at allstar break if the first part of the season doesnt pan out in the way he expects it to. Look for them to win between 59-63 games .

2. Miami Heat: This team are loaded with 3 big stars, two of whom are arguably the top 2 players in the league. Never before has there been such a pairing of perennial all stars than that of the work of Pat Riley. Their unique challenge will be developing chemistry between LeBron, Wade, and Bosh while relying on their role players, coach, and bench. Their bench play could be their achilles hill and observers are also eager to see if James can become only the 2nd player to average a regular season triple double while also winning a title. Will Eric Spoelstra have what it takes to coach the all stars, will the big 3 gel, will the bench be reliable, and will they have enough production from their big 3 to compensate for their lack of size in the frontcourt. Their key is adding size and production to their frontcourt. Bosh, Big Z, Joel Anthony, and rookie Dexter Pitman may not cut it when it come to facing the Celtics and Magic or even the Lakers. Look for them to win in the range of 58-62 games.

3. Boston Celtics: I’d like to refer to them as “Team Geriatric” and I believe you may already know why. The defending eastern conference champs are just as hungry and surprisingly more talented than they were last year. They bring in new additions of Shaquille O’Neal (the big Diesel aka the Leprucaun) , Jemaine O’Neal (no relation), and Delonte West (instant offense aka the MILF king). This team is old but even at their senior age they can still run with the best. With the new additions I think they are poised to make another trip to the finals if healthy. They may not have a great regular season record but their experience and leadership will prove to be their greatest asset. The difference maker for their advancement will be the frontcourt combinations of KG, Shaq, Glen Davis, Perkins, and Jermaine O’Neal. That alone may be the key to adding another title banner to their rafters when its all said and done in June, but I’m not here to make finals predictions only regular season. Win range will be between 51-58.

4. Chicago Bulls: With the addition of Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Brewer to go along with Derek Rose and Joakim Noah they appear to be very dangerous. First year coach Tom Thibodeau is looking to make an immediate impact along with a renewed sense of excitement that the Bulls have not experienced since the MJ days. Look for them to make a strong finish after the all star break and an even stronger performance during the playoffs. If healthy, they can make a run to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Look for a win range of 51-54.

5. Atlanta Hawks: Many teams made moves in the offseason but Atlanta pretty much stayed the same. They enter the season with a new coach in Larry Drew-former assistant to Mike Woodson-and a heavy loaded new contract for all star Joe Johnson, who by the way has a lot of pressure on his shoulders after a near ousting from the hometown fans. After being blown out in the playoffs in one of the most embarrassing series in history by the Orlando Magic it’ll be interesting to see if coach Drew can keep the same momentum going and keep Josh Smith’s temper under control. They may present 3 all stars for the February ballot in Johnson, Horford, and Jamal Crawford the reigning 6th man of the year. Look for a win total in the range of 51-54.

6. Milwaukee Bucks: A healthy frontcourt will prove to be very valuable for the Bucks in the long stretch. When they lost Andrew Bogut right before the post season it appeared that they would have an early exit from the playoffs, however, they took the Hawks-a 3 seed at the time-to the end of the road behind the leadership and fiesty play of Brandon Jennings. Coach Scott Skiles has done a great job developing the talent in Milwaukee and appears to be headed for another run to at least advance past the 1st round. Win total range: 44-49.

7. Charlotte Bobcats: Obviously the leadership of Larry Brown is the is the total difference maker in the advancement of this team. They lose their best PG, Raymond Felton, to the Knicks and are forced to rely on DJ Augustine as a full time starter for the first time in his career. Stephen Jackson is the leader of the team and provides great stats for fantasy league owners but will that be enough for the real season is the question. Depth at PG and C will be the downfall of their progression but owner Michael Jordan will surely address the issue at the all star break. Win total range: 42-44.

8. [2 Way Tie] Washington Wizards and New Jersey Nets: In my personal opinion I believe the moves that were made by the 2 respective clubs were very critical and will pay off immediately. The Nets added a new coach in Avery Johnson who is no stranger to developing talent. Its time for PG Devin Harris to showcase his talent otherwise he will be on the trade block soon. Win total range: 36-41

Washington Wizards: Between the Wizards and the Nets I believe the Washington has more of a chance to make it as the eigth seed in the playoffs. Veteran Gilbert Arenas is looking to rid himself of the bad reputation that he has created with the addition of John Wall. Arenas will no longer be the sole playmaker for the Wizards but instead serve as the starting SG next to Wall. I see the two of them creating fireworks together, IF and on if their frontcourt can give decent results night in and night out. Javale McGee isnt a reliable threat in the post nor is Andre Blatche but with the electricity sparked between the play of Wall and Arenas will probably make htese guys better. Win total range: 36-41

Honorable Mention- New York Knicks: Mike D’Antoni is steadily trying to turn this teams fortune into gold after years of disappointing exits. Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, and 2nd yr player Tony Douglas out of Florida State will make a strong push to knock Washington and New Jersey off the block. Their weakness, as all eastern conference teams face, will be their frontcourt. Stoudemire cant do it all but he will surely try. This is the year of the big man! Who will win the battle, I am not sure, but it will definitely be the deciding factor. Happy ballin!

*Be sure to re-visit this blog in April of 2011 to see how I did with the predictions!

College Football Feature: Auburn Quarterback-Cameron Newton

by Brandon "BKP" Plowden

This year I will begin to host what I like to call the College Football Feature where I showcase an up and coming football player from the Southeastern Conference. We are already one week in which means we are one week late on the feature, so without further ado I present tonight’s showcase of Auburn vs. Mississippi St. The featured player this week will be the starting quarterback for Auburn, Cameron Newton:

Newton, an Atlanta native and former Westlake High School star, has emerged on the football scene once again as the starting quarterback for Auburn University. He was a highly coveted player coming out of high school in 2007 rushing for over 1000 yards as well as passing for and additional 1400 during his senior year at Westlake. He eventually signed with the University of Florida in 07 where he served as a backup to Tim Tebow. He was later dismissed from the team after an alleged report of a stolen laptop being in his possession which Newton says that he had no idea the device was stolen when he purchased it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e60_8ln-MgE.

Two years later after attending JUCO he’s back and appears as if he hasnt lost a step.

His size and athleticism made him an instant prodigy to Tebow, not to mention that he was 6’6 250lbs, about 3 inches and 10 more pounds than Tebow. Newton has a knack for picking the right times to scramble and having all the necessary moves to make a play even when nothing is there, which was evident in Auburn’s season opener against Arkansas St. He rushed for a school record 171 yards and added an extra 186 in the air.

SN: I think Newton would outshine Ohio St. quarterback Terrell Pryor if they ever played in a head to head matchup. Thats just my “BKP opinion”.

Many may say that he reminds them of Jamarcus Russell with his size but I personally think thats an insult. The only thing they have in common are height and weight, other than that Russell was always a bum and Newton is a budding star on the rise with a Warren Moon/Tim Tebow/Usain Bolt esq style of play. The dude is a beast and will be making his name known in the world of college football this year.

Dont be surprised if he ends up knocking off Alabama to advance to the SEC championship game in Atlanta, but hey I already know what you’re gonna say- “Im going over board”, LOL! So stay tuned to the game tonight on ESPN to see a glimpse whats to come, but before I do that I wanna leave you with a few highlights of Newton putting in work on the gridiron:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Jij3_ogGA

Football 1101: The Basics For Women

by Brandon "BKP" Plowden

I want to attempt to help women understand the nature of the sport of football in the most basic aspects accompanied by a hint of real life relevance/humor. Too often do women moan, groan, complain, and gripe about the fellas getting together to watch a sport that she cant seem to catch on to, so I feel that if you understand it more you will eventually learn to like it. With that idea in mind I have created the basic guidelines of what certain terms mean, who does what on the field, and the course of actions that take place during game time. First up lets start with the players:

* Each team can only field 11 players at a time on both offense and defense (substitutions are allowed).

Offense-

• Quarterback {QB}: the team leader. The most important person on the field. He controls the entire game from the snap of the ball, directs the players on the play, and is the main signal caller from start to finish. Depending on how good he is will depend on how good your team does. (the vocal leader of the team. Usually a smart well put together dude. He’s also referred to as the arrogant dude or the douche bag, i.e- Chris Rix, Ryan Leaf, Brady Quinn, or Jamarcus Russell all douche bags)

• Running back/Half back/Tail back or Fullback {RB, HB, TB, FB}- the ball carrier responsible for running the ball across the line of scrimmage (the line that the ball is hiked from). The fullback is in front of the running back (RB) in certain formations. He mainly does a lot of blocking and is a little heavier in weight than a RB. The RB stands 5 yards behind the QB when he’s under center or right next to the QB when he’s in shotgun formation, while the FB stands about 3 yards from the line of scrimmage. (muscular dude with good speed and is probably that cat on your Facebook or Myspace page taking pics of himself on his camera phone with his shirt off. He also could have the “short man” syndrome. So short you can see his feet in his drivers license picture)

• Wide Receiver {WR, Flanker, Slot back, Slot receiver, Split end}- runs down the field to catch the ball from the QB. They are the only players able to catch a forward pass because only players positioned on the end of the line or in the backfield are allowed to catch forward passes. (Flashy cats that talk a lot of smack. Has the most confidence on the field).

• Tight End {TE}- mainly a tall muscular player that does both blocking and catching. He is able to catch the ball because he is at the end of the line when the ball is snapped. (probably used to play defense and switched over to offense to catch passes. He also may be a former basketball player, mainly a former SG, SF, or PF).

• Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard, and Center {OG, NG, T, C}- better known as the offensive line or the large guys in front of the QB They are responsible for protecting the QB from the defenders. The Guards lead the way for the RB on running plays, and the Center hikes the ball to the QB and is the main blocker in the middle. (the tall fat dude. Usually about 6’4 300 pounds and lacks a mean edge and always wears knee braces).

• Place Kicker, Punter {PK, K, P}- the individual that kicks the ball through the field goal post for points[PK]. The Punter [P]

Defense:

• Cornerback/Defensive Back {CB, DB}- responsible for keeping the ball away from the WR. (he too engages in the same off field activity as a RB. See desciption above).

• Defensive End {DE}- Responsible for rushing the QB and protecting any runs that come to the outside being that he is on the end of the defensive line. (the former basketball player that probably wasnt good enough in bball so football was his way to shine. Could also be the bouncer at the club or your neighborhood doughnut eating police officer).

• Defensive Tackle {DT}- the pass rusher and run stopper. Positioned next to the DE and he too is responsible for rushing the QB and trying to break up the offensive play. Could be 1 or 2 of these on the field at a time, depends on the type of play. (You may call him a “playa hater” in the streets or he may be the bouncer at the club you like to go to on Friday nights. Could also be your neighborhood police officer or correctional facility officer, i.e-Rick Ross. Many of them have the Ike Turner mentality and may have a criminal record of assault and battery charges).

• Linebacker {LB}- responsible for reading the play and monitoring the QB’s eyes to see if he can depict what he is about to do. He stops the run if it advances past the line of scrimmage and also tries to keep the ball away from the WR or anyone that comes across the middle. There could be 3 or 4 of these on the field at one time, but never more than 4. (He also is referred to as a mule slapper. Usually a dude that’s well respected and will be the last person anyone will rub the wrong way. * See running back description to identify what this guys other activities may be).

• Free Safety, Strong Safety {FS, SS}- also reads the QB eyes to see the play develop. He roams the field to help the cornerback in the event he loses the WR. Creating interceptions *(to be defined later) and helping the cornerback are his main tasks. (cool, athletic dudes that probably play more than one sport. They just like to kick it and get crunk when needed).

Now on to a brief list of terms that you may hear throughout the course of a game:

Holding: self explanatory. When a player holds another player in an attempt to keep him from making a play on the ball.

Equivalence- When you deposit a check in the bank and they hold it, thus keeping you from making important purchases.

Fumble: anyone with the ball in their hands can “fumble” the ball. The ball is hiked from the player in the center position to the QB. The exchange can be mishandled causing the ball to fall to the ground, hence the creation of a fumble. A fumble can also occur with a bad exchange from the QB to the RB (running back as mentioned earlier), or it can also occur when a WR catches a pass and the ball is exposed and not securely gripped in his hands which leads to a potential fumble when he’s tackled.

Equivalence- When you’re involved in the act of sex and during the course of action we as men are pumping and running during the “play” trying to get that “touchdown”, when all of a sudden one hard thrust causes the condom to break leading to massive spillage which would be equivalent to a “fumble”. (Also known as a “oh shit” moment)

False Start: a player that is lined up on the line of scrimmage moves or flinches before the ball is snapped. The only persons allowed to move on the offensive side before the ball is snapped are the TE (tight end), RB (running back), WR (wide receiver) or the QB.

Equivalence- when you experience an unexpected “quickie”= FALSE START!

Flag on the Play (yellow handkerchief): this is a yellow flag thrown by the referee when an illegal infraction occurs. Penalties can range from roughing the passer, chop blocks, illegal formations, delay of game, unnecessary roughness, block in the back, false start, offsides, or illegal man down field.

Equivalence- When a man calls you out of your name= FLAG ON THE PLAY!

- When your baby daddy forgets to send the child support check= FLAG ON THE PLAY!

- When you scratch your weave and a track falls out= FLAG ON THE PLAY!

-If you wear body magic and we can clearly tell or see it= FLAG ON THE PLAY!

- A Morehouse man in womens clothing= MULTIPLE FLAGS ON THE PLAY!

Offsides: When a player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. This can occur on both offense and defense.

Equivalence- seeing someone you like and/or are attracted to only to later find out that they’re gay. OFFSIDES buddy!

Interception: occurs when the defensive player takes the ball away in mid air during the QB’s pass attempt.

Equivalence- You notice me noticing you from across the room, we catch eye contact, you play hard to get, then right before you begin to let up and make your advance towards me another girl swoops in to grab my hand and my attention, thus causing an interception.

Touchdown {TD}: when the player with the ball advances it across the white plain for 6 points (the total worth of a TD). An extra point is then allowed in the form of 1 point or 2 points depending on the circumstances in the game.

Equivalence- 2 dikes that look Christina Milian like, that are both down for the pound= touchdown!

(Picture of Christina Milian)

This concludes the basics of Football 1101 for Women and I hope this brief lesson will help you to foster better relationships with the men in your circle. As always, if you need to gain more understanding just ask the nearest guy next to you and Im sure he will “fill you in”. Til then, enjoy the games with a coke and a smile (and dont forget that you’re still in charge of making the sandwiches). Be eaaaaaasy!