It's been a long summer here on the south shore and/or north coast of Lake Erie with the Cleveland Indians careening toward a hundred losses for the first time since the dark ages of the early 1990s, and so it is a very good thing that the 2010 college football season starts tonight. Thursday night opening games used to be the exclusive province of scrubby teams like my alma mater Kent State, which opens tonight with a home game against the Murray State Racers, but now one of the biggest of the big boys, THE Ohio State Buckeyes, are also opening tonight against the school with the best nickname in college sports, the Marshall Thundering Herd.

In other Big 10+2 news, the conference finally decided how to organize itself in the future. It decided to put Ohio State into one division and Michigan into another, which is a dumb decision, but at least it decided to keep the Ohio State/Michigan game as the regular season finale. There had been rumors that the big wigs were considering playing the Game at some time other than at the end of November,  which to me only goes to show that said big wigs (1)aren't particularly bright and (2) Notre Dame was correct to keep its distance. Having seen how the former Big 12 screwed up the great traditional Nebraska/Oklahoma game, it sure looked like the Big 10 was going to do the same thing to its signature game. (Not that the Illinois/Northwestern game isn't exciting.)

As for my Irish, I'm thinking Brian Kelly sure looks like he knows what he's doing. I've said that before and been wrong - Bob Davies, anyone? - but I think they're going to win 9-10 games and go to a nice bowl. I'm not as optimistic as a fellow Irish alum I met at the Lake County Captains/South Bend baseball game last week, who thought they'd go undefeated this year, but I'm still pretty upbeat. And why not? If you can't be upbeat before the first game is played, when can you be upbeat?

 Well this is my first blog at You Gab Sports. I've been welcomed by a number of the guys here, and already got a little chop busting. Everyone seems really cool here.  For those who don't know me, I started blogging at Sporting News a couple months ago, then the place seemed to fall apart. A number of people were talking about a number of sites. I checked out a few, and You Gab Sports kept coming up. So I took a look this week, and signed up.

If you missed my earlier ramblings, they're still up at Sporting News. http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/SeattleFlannel

I love sports, especially the Seattle Seahawks, Mariners, and my Washington State Cougars. Yes, I know the Cougars have been bad, but they're going to turn around one of these days. While writing about sports, I also like to use my blog as journal, as I'm working through some crazy stuff that has happened in my life recently.

Enough about me, how about some WSU Football!

The key to the Cougars future is that guy righ there. Sophomore Quarterback Jeff Tuel.  Many are comparing him to former WSU QB, Jason Gesser who lead the team to the Rose Bowl in 2003. He has a great football IQ, a strong arm, and excellent mobility. 

 Tuel has good group of receivers, (Daniel Blackledge, Jared Karstetter & Gino Simone) but in the backfield, it will most likely be a running back by committee.  According to coach Paul Wulff, the offensive line is the teams strength. Well, I think I can speak for Tuel and many of the WSU faithful when I say, I Hope So Coach!

What Tuel is to the offense, defensive end Travis Long needs to be the same for the defense. Long has the potential to be a premeire pass rusher. The Cougars are going to have to break in some new linebackers, but the staff feels the secondary should be greatly improved. I should hope so after last year!

Here's WSU's schedule

@ Oklahoma State

Montana State

@ SMU

USC

@ UCLA

Oregon

Arizona

@ Stanford

@ Arizona State

California

@ Oregon State

Washington

I'm not expecting anything crazy when it comes to number of wins, but I do expect a better showing than last years 1-11 record. A win over Washington for the Apple Cup would be great, but I expect them to be really tough this year.

If you were one of those keeping up on the mess in my personal life, here's an update. Things are going well. My son (Adam) spent his first weekend at my place, in his new room we designed together. He was a little nervous at first, but it went well. His mother (Kathy) and I are doing well too. We've actually gone out a couple times without Adam. Things are going well, taking slow dealing with the trust issues, but going well nonetheless.

Because I live in Austin, to many college football fans throughout the country; I am a greedy shit. I have watched the conference power struggle the past 10 days or so and I am dizzy and confused. Perhaps I am wrong, but this is what I think happened. Missouri made inquires to the Big 10 about joining. The Big 10 blows them off, but uses the confusion created by the media to grab Nebraska. Colorado becomes afraid of being left behind, so they jump at the PAC 10's offer to join their conference. Everyone goes bonkers at the chance for a complete reshuffling of the deck. PAC 10 fans are ecstatic with the opportunity to add Texas and Oklahoma. Texas A&M says screw the west coast, we feel more comfortable going to the SEC. The remaining schools not being included in the PAC 10 move...(Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor) were left wondering what the hell they would do.

At the 11th hour, the Big 12 commissioner  laid out what the future TV contracts would mean to all conference members. With only 10 teams to split the money, the revenue was significant for all schools. Texas was also able to keep alive the possibility of having it's own TV package.

I am mystified at the venom and hate that has been directed at Texas."Greedy shits...all that is wrong with college sports. The league will never work with Texas holding the remaining teams hostage." What?? Why should Texas be the villain because they did what was best for Texas and the Big 12. There is an old saying about not having a dog in this fight...as in mind your own fucking business. Forgive me if I am a tad defensive, but it gets real old reading PAC 10, Big 10 and SEC fans saying that your team and conference suck...because they want to stay the course?

College football is the sport that pays the bills, but it is not the only sport. Basketball and baseball are important as well. Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Texas A&M have value. So many don't realize the fast track that Baylor and A&M are on in football. This will be a competitive conference in all sports. With 10 teams, now all teams will face each other each and every year...what a concept.

Am I missing something? If I am, please fill me in...
 

Back on May 14^th, I tried this and while I’ve proven to be no Kreskin, I’m gonna give this a second shot and see what shakes out.  I have five BCS leagues here.

1.  Pac 10.  Of course, they’ll believe that they’re too good for Hawaii, but why not try to lift a school up to your “educational level”, Pac-10?  Sacrifice a little and help ‘em out.

3.  Big Ten.

5.  SEC.  Do the rich get richer? 

Does anybody truly doubt that none of this would have happened if the Mountain West wouldn’t have rose up like they have?  So thank you Mountain West, we might just get some meaningful change in CFB!!!

 I'm a Notre Dame fan...I can't believe I'm gonna do this...I may kind of defend USC...BRB, I have to puke...

Okay, the NCAA's punishment for USC is harsh...While I hate the Trojans, and that stupid song of theirs...I like the Song Girls, but how California is that? They're fucking cheerleaders! Why are you calling them Song Girls?



Anyway, back to the harsh NCAA ruling...It does no good...It doesn't punish the offenders...Instead it punishes kids that are there now, or were planning on going there...If they want to transfer, they lose a year of eligibility, more unjust punishment...Unlike a douche bag coach who picks up and leaves when ever he wants...'To hell with my contract!' At first i thought I would like seeing Kiffin getting screwed over...But I don't, because it was Pete Carroll's mess, and he got away scott free, as did Reggie Bush and many others...This isn't the first time this has happened, and sadly it won't be the last...


So it looks like there are some new faces in the Big Ten...



Nebraska joins the Big-10...Colorado is going to the Pac-10...Now the rumors of who's next are going strong...I have to say, I don't like seeing the NCAA sitting there just letting the Big-12 get ripped apart...I'm not Johnny Big-12, I just see this screwing up the BCS more then it already is...But if it's gonna happen, then let's make it worth it...

1. The Big-10 and Pac-10 need to get up to 16 teams each...2. As I said, I'm a Notre Dame fan...The Fighting Irish need to join a conference, even if that means the being forced by the BCS...Take away their ability to get to a BCS game unless they are in a conference...Geogrphically it would make sense for them to join the Big-10...They already have traditional matchups with Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue...They could also Join the Big East...They play all their other sports in the Big East...Except Hockey which they play in the CCHA...The CCHA is a mix of Big-10 schools, MAC schools, and Alaska. (that makes sense) If the Irish join the Big East, it could help to keep teams there that may be thinking about jumping ship...Notre Dame as a program has been down, but they still bring some power and money...And this gal...



I'm sorry Notre Dame, but it's time...

What you think?

Later, The Beeze.