ANDREW LUCK STAYING IN COLLEGE, JIM HARBAUGH TO THE DOLPHINS

Two scenarios not many people expected happened today as reports are Andrew Luck has decided to stay for his senior season and skip the NFL Draft as the sure fire #1 pick and Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh will go to the Miami Dolphins.EDIT: NOT GOING TO THE DOLPHINS NOW!
First I got to applaud the Luck decision. Right now on paper it looks sort of dumb to pass up all those millions the Carolina Panthers were going to give him as the #1 pick (probably guaranteed at least $30 million in signing bonus alone) but the kid obviously enjoys playing football at Stanford and has a legitimate shot of not only earning a degree before he goes pro but also a chance to compete for a National Title and enjoy his senior season with his teammates. Plus as an Atlanta Falcon's fan I would much rather go against Jimmy Clausen twice a year than Luck.

"I am committed to earning my degree in architectural design from Stanford University and am on track to accomplish this at the completion of the spring quarter of 2012," Luck said in a statement. The school announced that Luck wouldn't be made available for comment.

His father, former NFL quarterback Oliver Luck, said: "This is a win-win for him. He gets to spend another year at Stanford, be part of team that will be highly ranked again next year, finish his degree and enjoy Palo Alto.

"It's not like the NFL is going anywhere, it's one of the best run leagues in the world. It will still be there when he graduates."

I know Luck is going to get a lot of shit from the blogs and forums but I think he made a great decision. He wants to win at Stanford and earn his degree and like his dad said the millions will always be there. A lot of people think he is the best QB prospect since Peyton Manning. Manning came back his senior season and still was the #1 pick and people tend to forget Sam Bradford came back to Oklahoma last year, got hurt, and still went #1. Don't bring up Jake Locker and Matt Leinart or even Brady Quinn. None of those guys have near the talent of Luck. Luck will still be the #1 pick in 2012.

As for Harbaugh I'm ecstatic he is leaving to go to the Miami Dolphins as a Notre Dame fan. Not only is he leaving Stanford who put an absolute hurting on the Fighting Irish this year but my fear of him possibly going back to his alma mater will never materialize and Michigan will still suck balls. Win/win for all Notre Dame fans today with the Harbaugh decision. Part of me will miss Harbaugh in the college game. The guy is a winner and as much as I detest all things Michigan I have a lot of respect for the way he revitalized the Stanford football program. They won 1 game before he got there. This year they only lost 1 game to Oregon. Pretty remarkable coach if you ask me.

Last year I got to watch up close and in person Luck outplay Clausen in a classic battle that came down to the wire in late November in Palo Alto. It was the end of the Weis era (thank God) and if it wasn't for Luck along with Toby Gerhart Notre Dame might still be stuck with Charlie. Instead the Irish have Brian Kelly and now Florida is stuck with Weis. Fantastic. Next year will be a battle to see if Notre Dame can make it to a BCS Bowl game and if Stanford can possibly stay undefeated and play for a National Title along with Luck trying to win the Heisman when they meet again in late November.

And yes I will be there. I already can't wait for fall 2011.

OAKLAND A'S PITCHER CRAIG BRESLOW DOES HIS BEST REX RYAN PARODY

I feel dirty just watching this. He does in fact have a very pretty left hand. It looks so soft. I just want to put my nose in there and cuddle with it all day.

ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO NEVER LIVE OR VISIT CHINA

Oh you know besides the way they treat their own people how about the fact that they have fucking Tigers killing bus drivers!!!

BEIJING — A rare Siberian tiger attacked and killed a tour bus driver in northern China while the man's horrified passengers watched, Chinese media reported.

The tiger pounced on driver Jin Shijun and dragged him into the forest after he got out to check on his bus, which was stuck in the snow at the world's largest Siberian tiger breeding base in the northern province of Heilongjiang, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The bus was full of tourists visiting the breeding center, and Jin broke safety guidelines by leaving the vehicle, the report said. Park employees tried to distract the tiger with firecrackers and tranquilizer darts, but when they managed to get to Jin, the driver was already dead.

The report on Monday's attack cited a spokesman at the base, which has about 1,000 Siberian tigers.

Siberian tigers are one of the world's rarest species. An estimated 300 are left in the wild, but more than 5,000 are kept on farms and wildlife parks across China.

Yeah no thanks. I would much rather be here in the good ole United States. I'm thinking the Siberian Tiger thought the bus driver was an Oregon grad. I see how that can be confusing.

BLAKE GRIFFIN IS DISGUSTING

Every fucking night this kid has a highlight dunk.

MICHIGAN FANS REACT TO ATHLETIC DIRECTOR DAVE BRANDON'S PRESS CONFERENCE

The Michigan folks seem to be taking it well. No Jim Harbaugh. Who would have thought he would take double the money to land a cushy NFL job and not his alma mater?

Almost everybody actually.

Don't worry Michigan. You got Brody Hoke possibly walking through that door this weekend to accept the job. As for his interview I'll let you judge yourself...

WAR EAGLE BABY, WAR EAGLE BABY

Not only is Auburn getting a hell of an athlete in Quan Bray but appears the Lagrange, GA product has future Rhodes Scholar written all across his face.

WAR EAGLE BABY! WAR EAGLE BABY!!! Spoken like a true scholar.

"A Sweet Dream or a Beautiful Nightmare"

Image Courtesy of the Athens Banner Herald

After a suffering the worst season under Mark Richt, UGA fans are beginning to lose hope on the future. While the in-state talent in Georgia has been billed as a "Dream Team" by UGA coaches, the talent is not picking UGA and turning the idea of a "Dream Team" into nothing less than a nightmare. At the Under Armor All-American game, Xavier Dickson started the night by picking Alabama and Quan Bray ended the night by selecting Auburn. While I was praying for a surprise saving grace from Jay Rome, the nation's #1 Tight End was informed it was too late to make his college choice during the game.

As a loyal Dawg fan, I'm torn. While I don't believe there is a coach who would A) accept a position at UGA and B) do a better job than Richt currently out there, like a lot of UGA faithful, I'm beginning to doubt Richt can right the ship. It's been proven that UGA has been declining for the last three years. While I think Aaron Murray is a legitimate big time QB, I'm not sure the coaches have the ability to coach up the massive amount of talent UGA has around him. I'm going to ignore the comments regarding the talent not being at UGA because I can guarantee that three separate scouting bureaus combined with a program as tradition rich as UGA, who by the way does put players in the NFL more than most college teams, aren't wrong in saying that UGA does have the talent. What I'm beginning to doubt is that UGA has the staff in place to get the potential out of it's talented roster.

For the last few years, UGA has lacked the discipline and the heart that was ingrained in our program. The leadership of David Pollack, David Greene, DJ Shockley, Greg Blue, Thomas Davis, Champ Bailey, Boss Bailey, and Rennie Curran have yet to be replaced. Granted, Matt Stafford was the #1 pick in the draft ,but he never showed the team mentality that the Dawgs who have graced Sanford Stadium in the last ten years have shown. What UGA needs is players who bleed Red and Black, who show up each and every week, who commit themselves to becoming leaders, who have the desire to bust their butts every single day to make the team better, the integrity to honor the traditions of UGA and to represent the family that they have become a part of. UGA needs coaches who love UGA as much as the fans. The Bulldawg Nation needs leaders who don't just love Georgia, they live Georgia, they breath Georgia, they are Georgia.

Todd Grantham is becoming that, Aaron Murray is becoming that, Christian LeMay is becoming that, the Ogletree twins are becoming that, Jarvis Jones is becoming that, AJ Green is living it, Justin Houston is living it, the team has come together and as much as it pains me to say it, I think we're going to see a whole new Dawg next year.

I'm praying that Greg McGarity makes a difference. He was a superstar in waiting at Florida and is being given his shot to over take the Gators on top of the SEC Eastern Division. He's saying the right things, he's giving Richt every chance to win. I believe in McGarity and I believe in UGA.

Dawg Nation, I challenge you to unite, to stand up again, as one. I implore you to stand behind the decisions McGarity makes and to show up, just like we ask our boys in the Silver Britches to do. I ask you to believe in the Red and Black. Georgia is more than an institution, it's our home. Instead of continuing to tear it down, we have to learn to build it up, to help UGA get back on track and back where we belong. UGA may be down, but the Dawgs aren't dead.

THE 100 GREATEST MOVIE INSULTS OF ALL TIME

AGAINST ALL ODDS I'M TAKING OHIO STATE TO COVER THE -3.5

I know all of my bowl picks have been right on the money and I've probably made you more than the winning Mega Millions ticket tonight but you got to trust me on this one: Ohio State will not only beat a SEC team in a bowl game but cover the spread. Stop laughing. I'm being dead serious.

Look Arkansas is not that great of a team. Sure they are out of the SEC and from everything we have seen in the past the SEC completely dominates and embarrasses the Big Ten when it comes to football. SEC > Big Ten. We know this. What we don't know is how good Arkansas really is especially when it comes to a BCS Bowl game. They have never played in one and the Buckeyes play in one every year because of the shitty Big Ten conference. Maybe I'm over thinking it but I don't think Arkansas can hang with Ohio State. If Arkansas had Andrew Luck or Cam Newton I would take them straight up. But instead they got Ryan Mallett. A Michigan transfer. Yep. Michigan never beats Ohio State and Mallett won't be the first.

Prediction: Ohio State 31 Arkansas 20

TYROD TAYLOR PULLS TECMO BOWL MOVE

This was basically the one highlight for the Hokies last night. In a close game at halftime (Stanford led 13-12) was quickly turned into a blowout as Andrew Luck went off and the Stanford defense led by Shane Skov shut down Tyrod Taylor. Stanford crushed 40-12 and now Luck and head coach Jim Harbaugh can ride into the NFL sunset.

So let the rumors begin for Harbaugh.

Carolina in a package deal with Luck who have the #1 pick?

Stay in the Bay Area and coach the 49ers?

Go to Denver to help Stanford grad John Elway revitalize the once proud Broncos franchise?

Or maybe just stay in Miami the site of the Orange Bowl to coach the Dolphins?

We should find out within the next 3 days.

RICH RODRIGUEZ IS OUT AT MICHIGAN, BRADY HOKE TO BE NAMED HEAD COACH ON FRIDAY

I will have more on this later but it appears the University of Michigan has called for a 2pm press conference today to announce the firing of Rich Rodriguez. It has been as plain as day from the beginning that DickRod was never going to work in Ann Arbor. It appears the 52-14 bowl shellacking was the final straw.

Current San Diego State Brady Hoke will be the new head coach. Hoke is a "Michigan Man" and I believe will do an excellent job at Michigan. If you can make the Aztecs and Ball State winners there is little doubt he can succeed in the Big Ten. In case you were wondering Stanford head coach and former Wolverine QB Jim Harbaugh was their #1 candidate but he is going to the NFL along with Andrew Luck.

END OF THE SEASON SPECIAL: NOTRE DAME GAME DAY FOOTBALLS FOR $80

The regular retail price on these official Wilson Notre Dame Game Model Authentic f1003 GST footballs are $199. I usually sell them for half that price but now that the season is over I'm selling them for even lower: $80. I got 5 left in stock so order quickly before they are gone.

LIBERTY BOWL PUNCH-OUT!!!

Not all was glorious for the SEC so far in the bowls. In what was easily the most boring and predictable game so far, Central Florida won their first bowl game ever by knocking out Georgia with a left cross. Georgia fans immediately rationalized the loss by calling for offensive coordinator's Mike Bobo's head.

Don't worry Georgia fans. There are brighter days ahead. It's only about 240 more days till you get to play Boise State in the Georgia Dome. Oh fuck. Nevermind.

ESPN'S HANNAH STORM AND ADAM SCHEFTER HIGH FIVING OVER ERIC MANGINI GETTING CANNED BY THE CLEVELAND BROWNS

You gotta love the professionalism that ESPN displayed here over Eric Mangini getting fired. They obviously didn't think they were on air because they quickly changed their mood from pure joy to seriousness. Schefter even checks his phone in the "oh shit there goes a contact within the Brown's organization."

TERRELLE PRYOR AND KIRK HERBSTREIT SOUND LIKE JILTED EX-LOVERS

As if the Big Ten wasn't a big enough disgrace after New Year's Day (Michigan and Michigan State got absolutely smoked, Wisconsin losing to TCU in the Rose Bowl, Penn State looking slow and old versus Florida) now we have the she said/she said battle of barbs from Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor and former Buckeye and current ESPN College Football commentator Kirk Herbstreit.

Herbie was upfront about his thoughts on Pryor. He doesn't think he is a leader and has shown poor judgement ever since he stepped foot in Columbus. He basically said losing Pryor would be "addition by subtraction." Of course the Buckeyes won't be losing Pryor for the Sugar Bowl because they would get embarrassed on National TV versus another SEC team in Arkansas. They still might get embarrassed.

Pryor was asked about what he thought of the comments made by Herbie.

"I don't worry about what Kirk Herbstreit says, to be honest with you."

After a pause, he added, "Has he beat Michigan?"

Zing! Yes Herbie went 0-4-1 vs. Michigan and Pryor is undefeated vs. Michigan. But Michigan didn't have RichRod as their coach in the late 80's. In fact they were a competent powerhouse so to speak. Now they just get blown out 52-14 in bowl games to the likes of Mississippi State.

Listen I have no dog in this battle of words. But both of these guys are obviously embarrassed by their words. They need to just confront each other and hug it out like all Buckeyes do.

BLAKE GRIFFIN WITH JUST ANOTHER HO-HUM DUNK

While watching the Hawks win yesterday over the Clippers (great weekend for an Atlanta fan's perspective: Thrashers win 2, Falcons clinch home field) I couldn't help but be impressed by power forward Blake Griffin. This kid would be the face of the NBA if he didn't play for the Clippers. Every night he has a highlight reel dunk. Every single night. In just his first season after coming back from a broken kneecap that wiped away his whole rookie season the young Griffin is averaging 21.7 points and 12.5 rebounds. He still needs to work on his free throw shooting and he has the ability to hit from beyond the arc but once he gets it down we might be arguing about Blake Griffin as the best NBA player instead of the usual Lebron-Kobe-Dwight talk.

CHARLIE WEIS BRINGING HIS DECIDED SCHEMATIC ADVANTAGE TO FLORIDA. WAIT A SECOND. SERIOUSLY?

Taking a cue from the Trojan's department on "how to demolish an elite football program" it appears the University of Florida has decided to not only go with a first time head coach in Will Muschamp (Ron Zook worked out well the first time) but now they have hired the ultimate arrogant asshole in Charlie Weis. No worries Gator fans since along with his healthy appetite and perfect SAT score he brings his "decided schematic advantage." So SEC fans and foes you better get your laughs in now because Weis will have the Gators offense rolling with fade passes into the endzone in no time.

Here is what the Gators get with Charlie Weis:

1) A target for ridicule
2) Charlie Weis Jr. (apparently this is the reason why Sr. took the job, to help get his son into Florida and coaching, sounds like BS)
3) John Brantley will now emerge from his season of god awful shittiness and be a Heisman contender who gets sucker punched in bars. Mel Kiper will also tell us Brantley is the second coming of Tom Brady only to see the guy fall flat on his face on Draft Day.
4) Piccadily and Ryan's Steakhouse stock just went up two fold in Gainesville.
5) An offense that besides 2007 when it reached the depths of unholy hell will be scoring at least 30 points a game.
6) No drive sustaining running game of any kind.

Listen I'm probably one of the few people who actually liked Charlie Weis. Sure he is not a joy to look at and his bull shit bravado talk can get unnerving especially when Notre Dame was getting smacked around by the likes of Syracuse and Navy but I always felt he tried his hardest to succeed while he was the head coach. The same couldn't be said for Davie and Willingham. The big guy will be the first one to the office and the last to leave. He will give everything he can to Florida in order for them to get blown out in a bowl game. I feel the same way I did three years ago when Michigan hired Rich Rodriguez. It just doesn't fit. Weis and Florida are polar opposites. The man is going to need an air conditioned golf cart just to survive Gainesville.

No worries though Florida football players. With Weis you also get a packaged extra helping of Bruce Springstein and Jon Bon Jovi blaring over your PA system as you practice every single day. Because it's all about you the kids and not what the big guy likes to jerk off to.

When I first heard the news "Weis to Florida" all I could do is shake my head and wonder why he would take a demotion and leave the NFL once again. Now all I can do is laugh. Florida is stuck with him. Awesome.

THE SUN BOWL AKA SNOW BOWL TODAY PREDICTION

Picture courtesy of Matt Cashore

Here is the weather report from IrishIllustrated.com's Pete Sampson...

Up in the pressbox at the Sun Bowl looking down on a snow-covered field, which is being "cleared" by a golf cart pulling some kind of plow. Other officials are clearly the yard lines by dragging their field the width of the field to show every 10-yard mark. Notre Dame officials have taken matters into their own hands on the sidelines, scraping away snow with folding chairs, card tables and rakes. I spy one shovel in the whole crew.

By halftime the field should be cleared off. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

That's right folks, we got some snow in El Paso. Clearly Notre Dame decided to bring the arctic blast with them in order to freeze out the tropical Miami Cocanes. According to Vegas Da U is a 3 point favorite. They have no head coach and their quarterback blows and they will be playing in the snow against a hot Notre Dame team. Yeah. You know who I'm fucking taking here.

The Catholics will be bringing a steady dose of Cierre Wood and Robert Hughes all game and try to shove it down the Canes throats. Notre Dame's defense will be relentless and cause at least 3 picks from Jacory Harris. Miami will dig themselves to big of a hole to get out of and the Irish will cruise despite a late scare.


Prediction: Catholics 21 Convicts 17

Go Irish!!!

EVERETT GOLSON'S SENIOR FILM IS OUTSTANDING

I can't wait for this kid to be competing in South Bend this spring.

Elusive runner: Check.

Rocket arm: Check.

Throwing accuracy: Check.

Proven winner: Check.

Everett Golson brings back memories of Charlie Ward ripping it up down in Semenhole Country. He's 6 foot at best but the way he moves around the pocket and keeps his head down field even when under pressure is reminiscent to Ward when he was winning a Heisman. Golson will be the perfect fit for Brian Kelly's spread offense. He's extremely accurate and quick with his decisions. I'm not going to go out on a limb and say he starts next season as a true freshman but I do believe one of the other quarterbacks (sophomores Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix, and Luke Massa) will transfer due to Golson jumping ahead of them.

TIME TO RISE UP AND CLINCH THE HOME FIELD FOR THE FALCONS

No more posts after this one. I'm already wrapped in four layers of clothing getting ready to head down to the Dome to see the Falcons beat the shit out of the Saints. The tailgating gear is packed. The beer is cold. I won't be able to feel anything since it's in the 20's down here in "Hot"lanta but I could care less. It's time for the Atlanta Falcons and Matty Ice to clinch home field for the eventual NFC Champions Atlanta Falcons. You got that right folks. The Falcons will be going to Dallas in early February and yes we are going to fuck up Tom Brady. Mark it down. Put it in stone.

Falcons Fever Bitches!


Image courtesy of AJC.com