Saturday, December 20, 2008

2008 - College Bowl Preview - Part 1

Hey, it’s Saturday, what the hell am I doing putting up a post. Well I am stuck at work, only have a couple of things to do in the next 6 hours, so figured, why not procrastinate and do a bowl game preview instead.

This will be your typical Brickinthebox look at college football, we are looking for NFL talent, and where you can see it for yourself, so you don’t have to sound like an idiot quoting Mel Kiper.

This will be a long one, even for me, so lets get right into it.


December 20, 2008

EagleBank: Wake Forest (7-5) vs. Navy (8-4)

We start off with a bang for you draft junkies, as the best LB in college football, Aaron Curry, takes the field. Watch him play, if you can get past the fact he doesn’t play for USC, its pretty easy to see why I say he is the best LB this year. Other than that, Wake has a great corner in Alphonso Smith who could go in the 1st, and a safety with 2nd day potential in Chip Vaughn.

Brick’s recommendation: TiVo it, and just watch when Wake’s D is on the field.

New Mexico Bowl: Colorado St. (6-6) vs. Fresno State (7-5)

Meh, Bear Pascoe, TE, and Tom Branstater, QB, neither excite me.

Brick’s recommendation: There are other things to do on a Saturday afternoon.

magicJack St. Petersburg : Memphis (6-6) vs. South Florida (7-5)

The star here is George Selvie, DE, South Florida. But you should also keep an eye on Tyrone McKenzie, LB, SF and Memphis’s DE Clinton McDonald.

Brick’s recommendation: Tune in for Selvie, and take a nap.

Pioneer Las Vegas: 17 BYU (10-2) vs. Arizona (7-5)

3/5ths of BYU’s offensive line should be drafted, they all look alike to me (6’5”, 330lbs) and Arizona has a WR in Mike Thomas who could go on the 2nd day.

Brick’s recommendation: Watch BYU’s lineplay, expand your football knowledge past the QB and RB.

December 21, 2008

R+L Carriers New Orleans: Southern Miss (6-6) vs. Troy (8-4)

Who am I kidding, your watching the NFL. Your not missing much anyway.

Brick’s recommendation: Skip it.

December 23, 2008

SDCCU Poinsettia: 9 Boise State (12-0) vs. 11 TCU (10-2)

This could be the best non-BCS match-up out there. So you should be watching anyway. If Ian Johnson can run on TCU his draft stock will move up.

Brick’s recommendation: Watch the RB’s on both sides, and TCU linebacker Jason Philips.

December 24, 2008

Sheraton Hawaii: Hawaii (7-6) vs. Notre Dame (6-6)

Remember when their was talk of ND getting a New Years bowl game, then they fell flat on their faces to end the season, good times. Hawaii has a pair of stud LB’s who should go sometime on Day 2. Some ND player will be overhyped and drafted.

Brick’s recommendation: Wait for a full body shot of Weis, and pause the screen, cut out a Santa suit from construction paper and play dress up. Then read Twas the Night Before Christmas, fun for the whole family.

December 26, 2008

Motor City: Fla. Atlantic (6-6) vs. Central Mich. (8-4)

Not even going to bother.

Brick’s recommendation: Skip it.

December 27, 2008

Meineke Car Care: WVU (8-4) vs. North Carolina (8-4)

Three good WR prospects to watch in North Carolina’s Tate and Foster, and WV’s Pat White. To bad Pat is playing QB, so you won’t get a feel for what he can do as a pro.

Brick’s recommendation: Enjoy this one, should be good football.

Champs Sports: Wisconsin (7-5) vs. Florida State (8-4)

Wisconsin is loaded with 2nd and 3rd round talent on both sides of the ball. Florida has Myron Rolle. Pay particular attention to Wisconsin’s LB’s and DE’s.

Brick’s recommendation: Watch it, most draft prospects to date in one game.

Emerald: Miami (Fla.) (7-5) vs. California (8-4)

Watch Alex Mack (C, Cal) and appreciate great center play, I know its hard but it is worth it. Additionally Cal should have at least 4 players from their defensive front seven drafted, so that is a good place to look when Miami has the ball (since you won’t want to watch Miami’s offense). Miami’s defense has some mid to late round prospects as well.

Brick’s recommendation: Alex Mack, nothing more needs to be said.


December 28, 2008

Independence: Northern Illinois (6-6) vs. La. Tech (7-5)

You can watch Northern Illinois LB, Larry English, or you can find something else to do, I will choose the latter.

Brick’s recommendation: Skip it.

December 29, 2008

Papajohns.com: NC State (6-6) vs. Rutgers (7-5)

Some mid to late round prospects here, nothing that excites me, it’s the last day of Hanukkah so:

Brick’s recommendation: Expand your awareness of other cultures, play with a draydle (and learn how to spell).

Valero Alamo: 25 Missouri (9-4) vs. 22 N'Western (9-3)

Jeremy Maclin, William Moore, Chase Coffman, Evander Hood, Chase Daniel; yeah you should be watching Missouri if you are interested in NFL pro prospects.

Brick’s recommendation: Must see TV.

December 30, 2008

Roady's Humanitarian: Maryland (7-5) vs. Nevada (7-5)

The best player to watch is Darrius Heyward-Bey, other than that it’s a forgettable match-up of forgettable teams.

Brick’s recommendation: Never mind.

Texas: Western Michigan (9-3) vs. Rice (9-3)

You probably don’t get NFLN anyway.

Brick’s recommendation: Never mind

Pacific Life Holiday: 13 OK State (9-3) vs. 15 Oregon (9-3)

Best TE in the country vs. one of the better S’s. Pettigrew vs. Chung could be a great match-up. Throw in a little Max Unger, Fenuki Tupou and Jeremiah Johnson and there is plenty to watch when Oregon has the ball as well.

Brick’s recommendation: Get the to thine couch.


That takes us up to the New Year’s Eve bowls. And since a development here at work is going to allow me to leave early, you’ll just have to wait for the rest. And with games like the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl still on the docket, you will definitely want to check back.

Monday, December 15, 2008

7 Things are better than 10 - Walt Coleman as the Grinch

Well, look at that, I have some time to waste, and a blank word document in front of me. Might as well type out a couple pages and see if we get to me having Seven things, because Seven is better than Ten, but something is better than nothing.

1 – How the Fuck is Walt Coleman still employed by the NFL

Walt proved once again yesterday that he has no clue what the words “indisputable visual evidence” mean. IMO, to be an NFL official, you should have a firm grasp on those three words, as at some time you will be required to put your head into the replay booth and make a call that will determine the end of a game.

As a Raider fan, I have been here before with Walt. It seems like ages ago that I froze my ass off in a blizzard and saw the Raiders lose a game to the Patriots. It wasn’t until I sobered up the next day and checked my voicemail that I had any clue as to the call and subsequent reversal. Sure I knew it looked like Brady fumbled, and that the call was overturned. But I could not hear the words “tuck rule” in the stadium, and had no clue that the Raiders had been hosed.

That day, much like yesterday, Walt Coleman was the head official, who poked his head into the replay booth and made an egregious error.

Was the Tuck rule the right call? Who the fuck knows, but there is ample room for debate, it sure as hell looks like Brady touched the ball with his free hand in one angle, thus “tucking” the ball. But it is up for debate.

Was the touchdown for the Steelers the right call, well as an impartial witness, I can’t say for sure that the ball was or wasn’t touching the goal line when Holmes secured it. Once again there is room for debate.

And that is where “indisputable visual evidence” come into play. If there is room for debate, there is no way the call on the field should be overturned. But every week, some NFL official goes into the replay booth, and comes away changing a play that is very much in dispute. The thing is, Coleman has become notorious for this, and just being an overall poor official.

If he has not learned the meaning of “indisputable visual evidence” in the seven years since the Snow Job, than he is unfit to be an official, and should be handed his walking papers.

2 – More on NFL officiating

Maybe I am becoming more aware of it as I grow older, but the NFL officiating seems to be getting worse every year. Maybe the game is just getting faster, and these guys just can’t keep up, but I think it has more to do with a lack of accountability from the league.

Example #1 from yesterday is obviously the Walt Coleman debacle, but he was hardly alone.

Late in the 4th quarter the lowly 49ers were driving on the Dolphins. Facing 4th down, and needing a touchdown the Niners went for it. Joey Porter blew past the RT and sacked the QB, game over… and then in an incredible display of stupidity Porter jumped up and tossed his helmet across the field. This should have been a 15-yard unsportsmanlike, and perhaps a 1st down for the Niners. Instead there was no call. How the fuck do you miss that one?

Needless to say, I could go on and on, but why bother. You can scream about this stuff until your voice gets horse, and Ed Ferera will just go on NFL Network and claim all is well.

3 – D-IA (or whatever you want to call it) Gets it right
Did you check out the Playoff Subdivision playoffs this weekend. If you didn’t please turn in you football fan card on your way out. The gameplay and officiating may not have been spectacular, but the tension and atmosphere blew away the majority of Bowl games, as it does every year.

The results are inconsequential, since average Joe football fan doesn’t seem to care. I can’t wait to watch the number 5 seed take on the number 7 seed next weekend. And I wish that more football fans would follow my lead. Because one thing that would impress the powers that be in big time college football would be huge rating numbers for the lesser division’s championship game.

If Montana vs. East Bumfuck could garnish a huge rating (I.E. huge money) those money grubbing bastards who steadfastly refuse to dump the antiquated bowl system may have a change of heart.

4 – If there is a personnel Hell for everyone, I know what mine will be

I got dragged to the Mall this weekend, not once, but twice. Both Friday night and Saturday afternoon I found myself in a Mall. I hate the Mall. Not just at Christmas time, but all year long. However that hate grows ten-fold in the weeks following Thanksgiving.

If I were the kind of person who believed in Heaven and Hell, I know for sure what my personal Hades would look like. There would be no fire and brimstone; it would be my own groundhog day, where I spent eternity wandering a Mall during Christmas season.

5 – Read a book

How do I know when I am really enjoying a book? I read it at times other when I am hanging a root. Well I picked up a book this weekend that grabbed me immediately, and other than watching football, I haven’t put down.

“I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” by Tucker Max is fucking awesome. So many of the stories remind me of those lost college and early professional years when my entire life revolved around getting drunk and laid. If you can read this and not relate to some of the stories, well then you have lead a boring life, and I feel sorry for you.

6 – The Raiders Suck

Once again I faithfully turned my TV to the Raider game at 4:15 Sunday. Once again the team lowered my expectations.

A coach once said that the Raiders “must be the stupidest team in the NFL” this remark lead him to become a pariah amongst the fans, and hastened his exit from the team. Too bad that looking back on the last 6 years, he looks more like a prophet than an imbecile.

7 – I got nothing

No Seventh thing, I need to get back to work.