Sideline Warning

The Pep Rally is, more-or-less, a link dump of things I found over the past week or so that didn’t merit whole posts, but deserved linkage nonetheless.

• FanHouse :: I’m not ashamed. I’m going to plug my own series at FanHouse detailing the Ten Dirtiest NCAA Football Programs.
• Georgia Sports Blog :: Paul Westerdawg is doing a bang-up job covering the headlines from SEC Media Days.
• Bruins Nation :: UCLA WR Coach Eric Scott was arrested this week and it’s come out that maybe his job app wasn’t properly vetted.
• TideSports.com :: Alabama and UTEP mutually decided against playing each other in 2008.
• SI.com :: Looks like the Big Eleven Ten is looking to add a twelfth member.
• Fanblogs :: Notre Dame went and scheduled Baylor… still no time for Alabama.
• Her Loyal Sons :: In related news, Notre Dame blogger domer.mq fired the Irish’s AD.
• FanHouse :: Georgia Tech’s Ramblin’ Wreck might not be ready for opening day. Uh oh.
• The Big Lead :: Leinart’s baby-momma Brynn Cameron might be hot, but she’s also craaazy. $30,000 a month in child support? Paging Kanye West… Paging Mr. West.
• Burnt Orange Nation :: You’re kidding, right? The “TexasFan” from the EA Sports commercials is a Baylor Alumnus?
• Track ‘em Tigers :: Auburn Blogger and former FanHouser Jay Coulter is now writing for SBNation over at Track ‘em Tigers.

Wait, wait, wait… I thought Notre Dame didn’t have time for Alabama’s shit, but now they’ve dumped Michigan for a few years and they’re scheduling new games with Oklahoma to fill in the blanks?

That’s not quite as conspicuous as scheduling another cupcake, but still… why not Alabama?

A bit of a delayed post for this week.

Game of the Week

Auburn at LSU — A top 5 pre-season pick versus a perennial SEC West contender.

Blow-out of the Week

Mississippi State at West Virginia — WVU is probably overrated, but they can’t be nearly overrated enough to make this a game.

Rivalry Special

Tennessee at Alabama — No love lost here. Should be a hell of a ball game, too.

Morbid Curiosity

Vandy at South Carolina — Two teams that look stellar half the time and like high school players the other half. You just never know what you’re going to get.

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The Pep Rally is, more-or-less, a link dump of things I found over the past week or so that didn’t merit whole posts, but deserved linkage nonetheless.

It seems pretty clear that even the PLAYERS are getting bored. And all of the playoff nay-sayers insist there’s not time for playoffs. Nonsense. Some folks clearly have too much time on their hands…

• Paging Jim Shikenjanski :: Minnesota CB Dominic Jones was charged with sexual assault after… well… just go read it yourself.
• The Big Lead :: Michael Vick was indicted on (duh) dog-fighting related charges.
• FanHouse :: Two unrelated arrests hit Georgia football.
• FoxSports.com :: A Rutgers Assistant Coach pled not guilty to an assault charge.
• Wisconsin State Journal :: Badger’s RB Lance Smith was charged with robbery, battery, and false imprisonment.
• EDSBS :: Three Alabama players are arrested for getting a little rowdy outside a Tuscaloosa bar.
• Indiana Daily Student :: Two IU players stiffed a cabbie and got arrested for it.

In news unrelated to arrests…

• FanBlogs :: The Big East is looking for someone who doesn’t suck to join the conference.
• Burnt Orange Nation :: BON’s Peter Bean edited what looks like an awesome book on Texas Football.
• FanHouse :: Notre Dame added three neutral-site home games. Two of them in Orlando. One in San Antonio. WTF?
• Capstone Report :: After raising their eyebrows in an accusatory manner at Alabama’s reporting three minor violations, Auburn bloggers will need to tuck their tails, as a the Tigers reported thirteen minor violations.

Did I miss any arrests?

Game of the Week

Auburn at Arkansas — This game should have some serious SEC West implications.

Biggest Blow-out

LSU at Kentucky — I don’t care how good Woodson is. He cannot complete passes from his back, and that’s where those big monsters on LSU’s defensive line will keep him.

Morbid Curiosity

South Carolina at North Carolina — The OBC and Butch Davis? I will watch this game.

Croom-Watch 2007: Round 2

Tennessee at Miss. State — Like it or not, Fulmer is on the hot-seat. A loss to Croom and the Bulldogs could make things a little toasty in Phil’s shorts.

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The Pep Rally is, more-or-less, a link dump of things I found over the past week or so that didn’t merit whole posts, but deserved linkage nonetheless.

• FanHouse :: A few posts ago, I said that Quinn and Bomar should’ve gotten stiffer penalties. FanHouse’s Brian Cook found a video that basically proves my point. Quinn, while being a snotty little asshole, tells a reporter to “get a real job” when he’s asked about the sanctions.
• Snarktastic :: Some “new math” that perfectly illustrates the mindset of Pete Carroll’s fans.
• SI.com :: Sports Illustrated tells us that one of the Auburn signees who had their grades “mysteriously” changed was cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse. If the tables were turned, you’d see the glut of Auburn bloggers crying foul. I haven’t seen anything like that in Alabama blogs this week. Wonder why.
• Ladies… :: No, it’s not college football, but the All-Star Game Bingo Board is hilarious. They need to do one for CFB.
• Fanblogs :: Some company named RedShirted.com is buying up a bunch of fire your coach domain names. It’s a little tacky that they still have Coach Hep’s domain listed.
• Tide Druid :: An Alabama Blogger found a picture of a “small” gaffe made by Saban in one of his books. Saban makes reference to “Alabama’s Jordan Hare Stadium.”
• FanHouse :: In the wake of an SI.com columnist getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar, FanHouser Matt Ufford writes the seminal piece in sourcing blogs for the MSM.

So there you have it. Good luck to everyone on this “unlucky” day.

Game of the Week

Florida at LSU — This game could very easily have huge national championship implications, and it’s the second week in a row for Florida getting a taste of potential challengers for their possible trip to Atlanta.

Biggest Blow-Out

Alabama vs. Houston — The score would be less lopsided if Houston Nutt was coming to Tuscaloosa. By himself. I guess if you’re going to schedule a cupcake, might as well go all out.

The ‘No Love Lost’ Game

Georgia at Tennessee — Nothing keeps us going mid-season like a good rivalry game. This is a good time to realize that Tennessee has a very nice schedule: tough, easy, tough, easy, tough, etc…

Morbid Curiosity

Miss. State vs. UAB — If you like watching High School ball, this game is probably right up your alley.

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The NCAA handed down penalties today for the Bomar/Quinn incident. Now, really, the penalties are pretty minor. They must vacate (not forfeit) their wins from 2005, but as Pete Fiutak points out, the NCAA can’t really take the wins away. They also lose two scholarships in each of the two upcoming seasons. All in all, not too bad.

But there’s a huge problem here. Two of them, in fact.

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Game of the Week

Auburn at Florida — Some folks have Auburn in the hunt for the SEC championship game. Many have Florida there. Could this be a preview?

Biggest Blow Out

LSU at Tulane — On the plus side, at least it’s a road game for the Tigers.

The Pretty Big Outdoor Cocktail Party?

Alabama vs. Florida State (in Jacksonville) — A must-see out of conference game for everyone in the country. Alabama will have a chance to back-up Les Miles’ big talking.

Morbid Curiosity

Kentucky vs. Florida Atlantic — This might not be as horrible a game as it would be most years, but it’s probably going to be the least interesting of the week.

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The Pep Rally is, more-or-less, a link dump of things I found over the past week or so that didn’t merit whole posts, but deserved linkage nonetheless.

• The Advocate :: Lots of nancies got all flummoxed about a quote from Les Miles. They are worried about the hurt feelings of those poor Pac10 fans. Nonsense. Call it like you see it, Les.
• SI.com :: SI.com used the words “recruiting power” and “Pitt” in the same sentence. Weird.
• FanBlogs :: Apparently Michigan State QB Brian Hoyer is eating 6,000 calories a day.
• Boi From Troy :: USC Quarterback John David Booty looks a little preggers, according to Boi From Troy.
• Montgomery Advertiser :: A reader from the Montgomery Advertiser is speaking the truth about Saban’s salary, regardless of what the ignorant commenters on the site might think.
• The FanHouse :: Georgia State Senator Eric Johnson gets points for a snarky letter he sent the Revenue Commish over a proposed UF license plate.