Championship weekend preview

The 2009 regular season is culminating with several intriguing match-ups on championship weekend, and all of the questions will be answered. Which team will prevail in the SEC championship game? Which Oregon school will win the Pac-10 and go to the Rose Bowl? Can Nebraska pull of the upset over Texas? The Legends weighed in on a roundtable discussion.

Who goes to the Rose Bowl?

John Robinson: I think Oregon has played just a bit better all year. And with Masoli, the quarterback for Oregon, you can’t find the ball. It is incredible the coaching job done at Oregon State. They don’t bring in highly wanted guys, but they certainly bring guys who can play.

Mike Riley is an excellent QB coach and his players have flourished under him. I was up there with those Civil War battles. And Oregon is a finesse teams and if Oregon State can force fumbles and create their opportunity, they could win.

Don James: I was really impressed with the Pac-10 with 5 teams in most top 25 polls who have to play everybody. On another note, I wanted to compliment Boise State playing through that weather vs. Nevada. I have been very impressed with that team and how well they are coached.

What does Nebraska do well that could help win the Big 12?

Fisher DeBerry: Defensively they are pretty good, but offensively they are just solid. I think they will be ready and we will just have to wait and see. I think all and all I have to say their defense is pretty good. I was impressed with Texas and offensively they are a darn good football team. I was also impressed with A&M’s growth this season.

Who will win the ACC Championship game?

Vince Dooley: I don’t know how good Clemson is on offense. I said early in the year Georgia Tech was only average on defense. They had no answer for Georgia, and I think they caught Georgia on and all time emotional high and Georgia Tech couldn’t keep up with them. Who knows what Paul Johnson will do versus Clemson.

I think both teams will be ready to play. And Georgia’s offensive line finally played like they were capable of doing and shut down Tech on the inside. I think the line of scrimmage is the key to the game.

I think Clemson can get the penetration on Tech.

Herbstreit joins the legends for a BCS roundtable

Kirk Herbstreit joined the Legends Poll voters on a conference call this week. Herbstreit and the Legends discussed the quandary that the BCS is facing with potential unbeatens: SEC Champion, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State.

The featured roundtable discussion offered a variety of views about No. 4 TCU and their argument to be included in the BCS Championship Game.

LaVell Edwards: I believe TCU is going to come out of this on the short end.  It’s a shame they won’t get a shot at it because clearly they’re the best team I’ve ever seen around here.  They are legitimate in my mind.  We kind of lock into Florida, Alabama and Texas all year long and that’s the way it’s been.   I definitely think TCU could beat Alabama, Florida or Texas, no question in my mind they can.

George Welsh: I saw TCU play Virginia and I was very impressed.  I really like TCU.  I don’t know what they have going for them but they have a lot.  They have a great pass rush; they do a great job on defense.  Now the quarterback who was off to a slow start against Virginia is obviously playing a lot better.  I like TCU also.

John Cooper: I saw Texas play last year.  I went out and watched the Fiesta Bowl.  I like Texas and we all like Mack Brown but Gene Stallings’ right- Texas is one-dimensional.  If McCoy has a bad day, Texas is going to get beat.  Their biggest win all year was over Oklahoma State.  I don’t know about you guys but I watched Oklahoma State last weekend and I was not impressed.

We talk about TCU but TCU went to Clemson and beat a pretty good Clemson team, went to BYU and won that game pretty easily over a pretty good BYU team, they beat Utah who is 9-2.  I would give TCU a slight edge over Texas.  We don’t even need to talk any more about Alabama and Florida.  Those two teams are going to play each other and the winner of that game is going to play for the national championship.  We need to be talking about Texas and TCU and see who should play the winner of that SEC game.  I think if TCU went against Texas right now they would beat them.

Gene Stallings: I’m not sure that Texas will beat Texas A&M.

Pat Dye: Looking at those four football teams, if they all played the best they could play, Alabama’s the only one TCU couldn’t beat.  I just think physically they would beat them.  I think Florida’s got some problems and y’all say Texas has some but I don’t see any problems in Tuscaloosa.

Terry Donahue: I saw TCU two weeks ago play in person.  I’ve seen Alabama twice (in person).  TCU has the best defensive football team I’ve seen all year except for Alabama.  I just thought they were so fast at every position.  They have eight receivers they throw into a game and it’s hard to tell one from another.  I voted them ahead of Texas in the poll because if you consider every facet of the game I believe they could beat Texas or at least deserve a shot at beating Texas.  So I voted them ahead of Texas.

RC Slocum: I have some of the feelings that everyone else has but I think Texas is a good defensive team and an explosive offensive team.  What happens is that we talk about the Boises who beat the people they have to beat and Texas does that too.  I don’t know if we’ve seen Texas’ best game.  They came back in the second half and beat Oklahoma.  They ran the ball some then.  I have the same concern Gene has, you’d like for them to be more balanced.  That’s what they do.  They make so many big plays in the passing game.  They’ll run it in there every once and a while.  I’d be more concerned about their kicking game than anything else.

I just wonder in a match up with Florida or Alabama… all three of those teams are good defensive teams but how many can make the big explosive plays on offense and I would say Texas.  Alabama’s better at running the football and I appreciate that.  Florida is better at running the ball.  But if you ask which of those three offenses is the most explosive I’m going to say Texas is.  All three are comparable defensive teams.

Everything you hear about TCU is good and deservedly so.  That coach has done a great job.  They’re a speed defensive team that would give anybody problems.  I think that would be a good match up.  I would still take Texas in that match up maybe just for psychological reasons.  They played Texas a year ago and they played Texas for a half.  TCU was TCU and Texas was Texas.  If those two played today, I’d pick Texas.

I think they’re so good at what they’re doing that they’re choosing to throw the ball.  They’re promoting McCoy for the Heisman.  They had trouble in the Oklahoma game and they came out in the second half and gashed Oklahoma running the ball.  I thought it was the difference in the ball game.  I know Mack, way down deep, likes to throw the ball.  They do it by design and man, they do it in such a hurry.  My son’s up in Green Bay coaching and we’ve got guys who coached in the pros.  Coaches there talk a lot about explosive plays.  You can’t line up against those good NFL defensive teams and grind the ball down the field over and over and score enough points to win the game.  You have to make explosive plays.  That’s what prompts my question of which team out of Alabama, Florida and Texas can make explosive plays.

From what I’ve seen, I would take Texas first, Florida second and Alabama third in making explosive plays.  If you ask me who can grind the ball out I would put Texas third.  You get in those games and anybody’s going to have a hard time with those three defenses moving the ball.  It comes down to who can get the big chunks and I think Texas has the ability to do that more than the other two.  TCU is explosive too, they do a good job throwing the ball and they run the ball.  It would be a good match up.

Fisher DeBerry: Having played TCU for many, many years and knowing their background, they can play with anybody — I guarantee you defensively.  The reason I haven’t voted them higher than I have is because I don’t think their offense is that good.  The quarterback has played well the last three or four weeks and it would be a heck of a match up to see TCU play Texas just like it will be to see Alabama play Florida.

Kirk Herbstreit: I’m just intrigued listening to this.  I think the one thing that’s changed with the BCS from 1998 to now is non-automatic qualifier — the perception of the Utah, Boise State, TCU or whoever it happens to be.  I remember in ‘98,’99, 2000 you would never even imagine having this discussion about TCU.  I think the success of Boise and Utah and others of not just getting to a BCS bowl game but what they’ve done when they’ve gotten there, Utah beating Alabama last year in the Sugar Bowl, I think proves that these teams can play one game with these teams.

One coach was talking about the schedule and doesn’t TCU outpersonnel teams they play? I personally feel that the MWC is one of the most underrated conferences in the country because they have a TV program with Versus and nobody sees these teams.  For TCU to go to Virginia, to go to Clemson, to go to Air Force, to go to BYU, and go to Wyoming and beat these teams the way they have…I think that’s a more impressive resume that what Texas has gone through.

Texas hasn’t played anybody outside of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.  They’ve played nobody all year.  It doesn’t mean they aren’t a great team.  We just won’t know how good they are until they play Nebraska for the Big 12 championship and the national championship to play the winner of the Florida-Alabama game.  We can speculate but we really don’t know how good Texas is.

Heisman race not as easy as 1-2-3

Filling out a Top 25 ballot each week is a cinch these days for the 17 voters in the Legends Poll. All but four have a 1-2-3 of Alabama, Florida and Texas in some sequence.

But ask the coaching greats to take a crack at a Heisman ballot and you’re liable to get a half a depth chart’s worth of names.

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	Legends Poll
November 23, 2009 – Week 12

Mock Match-up: No. 3 Texas vs. No. 4 TCU

On this week’s conference call, the Legends discussed what would happen if Texas and TCU met head-to-head.

How would No. 4 TCU match up with No. 3 Texas?

RC Slocum: TCU played a good Texas team a year ago and played them close for a half. Then Texas pulled away.  You know playing Texas, obviously they’re a good team and a lot of it hinges on the quarterback.  If I were playing them I think we’d match up pretty good because TCU is a pressure, quick pressure defense and they’d probably give Texas some problems.  You’ve got to do something to disrupt their quarterback and don’t let him get into a rhythm.  If you affected the production of the quarterback you would greatly slow their offense down.  They’re not a great running team.  The quarterback opens things up.  Shipley is a great player but if you get the quarterback you don’t have to worry much about Shipley except on special teams.  I think it would be a good match up.

What is your impression of TCU?

Slocum: I think TCU is a very good football team and over the years they’ve lined up and played Oklahoma and played Texas and teams like that.  This year they went to Clemson and beat Clemson.  That impresses me because I think Clemson is pretty good.  When you look at Boise or someone like that, you don’t see the same caliber athletes that you see at some of the big time SEC schools and other schools like that…and that’s where I think the matchup is significant to me, that a team like TCU, who you might question their talent and say they’re just a Boise, you know they went into Clemson against one of those big physical teams.  TCU, to their favor, played that kind of team and matched up pretty well.

Don James: That’s their last tough game — Utah this week.  If you look at their schedule there’s not much left

Fisher DeBerry: Having played TCU for many, many years I think it would simply boil down to the fact that Texas’ defense would make a lot of difference because I don’t think that TCU’s got quite the offensive people on that side of the ball that they have on the defensive side of the ball.  Like R.C. said, they’ll put some pressure on McCoy and if his offensive line can hold up and he can hold up because they’re a defensive pressure blitzing team, they’ve got people who can run on defense and keep up with anybody in country and I guarantee you that.  But I think Texas would eventually wear them down, and I think the difference would be at the quarterback position.

Would Texas would wear down TCU?

Pat Dye: Texas has got to be good.  Even though their schedule has been in their favor.  They’ve got to be good.  You can build up all kinds of statistics against weak football teams.  Top-ranked defense, tops in passing and the quarterback can stand back in the pocket and hold the ball all day long.  Auburn’s quarterback against Furman Saturday was 17 for 18 and he ain’t that good.  So your competition percentage has a lot to do with the way you look.  But I think they would wear down TCU.

A tough road test in Stillwater for No. 2 Texas

Texas may have moved up to No. 2 in the Legends Poll this week, but their ranking will be tested as they travel to Stillwater to play No. 13 Oklahoma State. On the conference call this week, RC Slocum and Fisher DeBerry broke down the game.

Do you think Oklahoma State has a chance at Texas?

Slocum: It will be tough without their wide receiver (Dez Bryant) but they’re playing there at Oklahoma State, and they always play well there against Texas. But Texas always finds ways to beat them.

If I were picking this game, I’d say Texas would beat them.  I just think they’re a better overall team, a better defensive team.  And offensively, Texas always seems to move the ball pretty well on them.  I don’t think it’s as big of a match-up as people are making it out to be.  I know going in there it’s going to be a great atmosphere, but I just think Texas is better.

DeBerry: Well, their quarterback (Zac Robinson) is really playing better now.  He was hurt at the beginning of the year and they’ve had a lot of adversity. They lost their best running back (Kendall Hunter), and now they might get him back.  He suited up the other day but didn’t play. He’s the real deal.  Then of course they might get Bryant back, but it’s an NCAA issue and you know how long it takes them.

At the same time, the quarterback played great last week.  He was 23 out of 27 with no interceptions and three touchdowns.  He’s broken all their records over there now.  I thought this week (against Baylor) was their most complete game yet, mostly because they didn’t get but five penalties.

What is the key to the game?

DeBerry: I do think they’re playing better defense, and I think that’ll be the key to the ball game.  So, we’ll know about Oklahoma State after they play Texas.

Do you think Texas deserved to jump to No. 2 this week?

DeBerry: I think we have to look at the schedule of the first three too.  Alabama plays Tennessee, and gosh Tennessee is still a good football team. They’ve got good players.  Then Florida playing Mississippi State over there, they hadn’t beaten them (in Starkville) in a long time. So, I was kind of surprised that we had Alabama going to third (in the Legends Poll) because I think Alabama could be the best team in the country.

Legends Rapid Fire Q & A – Week 4

1. How do you explain all the highly ranked teams losing – in some cases badly? Are there just fewer good teams this year?

Bill Mallory – Parity is spreading. More teams are stepping up.

Don Nehlen – Nobody can really explain it. Florida, Texas and Alabama are on top. Everybody else is at a lower level.

Fisher DeBerry – Parity that the average fan doesn’t see.

John Ralston – Underdogs are getting more motivated every week.

2. Most pleasant surprise team this past weekend?

Bill Mallory – Oregon really stepped up and played lights out against Cal.

Don Nehlen – South Florida looked awfully good in completely demolishing Florida State, especially with a freshman quarterback.

Fisher DeBerry – Oregon was a big surprise to me.

John Ralston – Mississippi State could have won that game with LSU. They are really improved

3. Most disappointing team this past weekend?

Bill Mallory – Penn State. I thought they would be the best team in the Big Ten this year.

Don Nehlen – Florida State. A yo-yo team.

Fisher DeBerry – Ole Miss. It looks like they were overrated big time.

John Ralston – Cal. Oregon stopped Best. Cal couldn’t run at all.

4. Who do you like better right now – USC or Cal? (The two play this weekend)

Bill Mallory – USC – the quarterback is improving.

Don Nehlen – I’m going out on a limb. I’ll take Cal.

Fisher DeBerry – USC, no question.

5. Who do you like better – Penn State or Ohio State?

Bill Mallory – Ohio State – their defense is real good and Pryor is getting better.

Don Nehlen – Ohio State – they’re better up front.

Fisher DeBerry – Ohio State – although neither has beaten any great competition.

6. Is VA Tech the class of the ACC?

Bill Mallory – yes, they just locked their jaws and took Miami apart.

Don Nehlen – it looks like it. The rest of the league looks mediocre or poor.

Fisher DeBerry – no question.

7. What do you make of the job Brian Kelly is doing at Cincinnati?

Bill Mallory – he’s a good football coach. He’s gotten some good athletes there; they’re a big strong physical team.

Don Nehlen – he’s doing a great job – especially in recruiting.

8. Who do you like to win Miami vs Oklahoma?

Bill Mallory – Oklahoma. They’re playing pretty well, even with the new quarterback.

Don Nehlen – Oklahoma should win if Miami’s injured players are not back; otherwise it’s a real tussle.

National title contenders starting to take shape

If Sam Bradford is healthy and Oklahoma’s defense continues to dominate, then Miami is in trouble.  The whole nation could be in trouble.

With nearly everyone picking Florida, Alabama, and Texas to vie for the national title, Oklahoma finds itself playing underdog for the first time in a long while.

“Oklahoma is in the national title race as much as any other team right now,” Legend Fisher DeBerry said. “They are a solid, well-coached football team.”

As long as the Sooners take care of their own business, DeBerry could be right. Their first chance to prove they have righted the ship comes this weekend when Oklahoma takes on a Miami team that is coming off an embarrassing loss at Virginia Tech.

Oklahoma also has its shot at revenge for last year’s loss in two weeks against Texas.  If the Sooners can win out — a schedule including five ranked opponents — then they will have a great shot to head to Pasadena.

Other one-loss teams looking to join the Sooners in the early national title talk are USC and Virginia Tech.

The Hokies sent a clear message that they weren’t going anywhere in the ACC in their 31-7 win over Miami.

“Virginia Tech has proven that it will be a very difficult team to beat [this year] in the ACC,” said former Virginia head coach George Welsh — a man with experience in the league. The Hokies are looking to earn a chance for another shot at an Alabama-quality team in a BCS match up.

USC — another one-loss team — has a chance to pounce on a demoralized Cal squad and regain momentum heading deeper into the conference schedule this week. Cal was on the cusp this year until they were handing a demoralizing 42-3 loss at Oregon.

The Trojans and Hokies are familiar with the national stage and hope that they can make everyone forget their early losses.

Still, undefeated teams remain and are making their case in the national title debate.  All reigning from the Midwest: Iowa, Michigan, and Cincinnati have tough enough schedules to make a case for inclusion to the big game if they can win out.

Cincinnati enjoyed its first BCS berth last year and is poised to make another run.

“Cincinnati has been impressive over the past couple years,” Legend John Cooper said. They are a team deserving of our attention.”

Michigan and Iowa might be long shots but they have both showed they can come back in the 4th quarter against big-time programs.

“There are still some unanswered questions at Michigan, but they have an opportunity this year to answer those questions,” Cooper said.

Don’t forget about Ohio State, either. The Buckeyes’ lone loss was to a gritty USC opponent on a last-minute drive. They find themselves in a familiar situation and are sure to make a statement in the Big Ten once again.

With the first third of the season behind us, coming away with a loss after this week could prove devastating.

So, the question looms: Which of these teams can keep their composure through to the end?  Or will Boise State, TCU, or Houston crash the party?

Tide gain ground on No. 1 Gators

Florida is No. 1. Alabama is No. 2. Texas is No. 3.

And Then?

“Everybody else is on a lower level,” former West Virginia Coach Don Nehlen said.

Another wild weekend brought a shakeup Sunday in the second Legends Poll of the fall. Boise State cracked the top five, Cal tumbled 18 spots…

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	Legends Poll
September 28, 2009 – Week 4

Protection and penalties cost Oklahoma

Legend Fisher DeBerry pointed out the problems that Oklahoma had protecting quarterback Sam Bradford which eventually led to his shoulder injury.  Also, the penalties by Oklahoma played a major role in their demise.

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Air Force Legend DeBerry on SN Radio

Coaching Legend Fisher DeBerry reviews the Legends Poll for week 13 on the SNR Post Game Show with host Peter Brown.  They discuss who the best one-loss team after Oklahoma totally takes apart Texas Tech and much more!