Professional Tailgating: Rutgers 2014 Football Season

Its uncharted water for the Rutgers Football program as they head to the Big 10 this season. While some think that they will not win games, I can see them going .500 and making a bowl game.

Here are my predictions:

• At Washington State: Rutgers 21, WSU 17
• Howard: Rutgers 35, Howard 10
• Penn State: Rutgers 21, PSU 28
• At Navy: Rutgers 24, Navy 20
• Tulane: Rutgers 28, Tulane 17
• Michigan: Rutgers 17, Michigan 35
• at Ohio State: Rutgers 10, Ohio State 45
• at Nebraska: Rutgers 17, Nebraska 35
• Wisconsin: Rutgers 17, Wisconsin 35
• Indiana: Rutgers 35, Indiana 28
• at Michigan State: Rutgers 10, Michigan State 35
• at Maryland: Rutgers 21, Maryland 20

Record 6-6 and a berth in the a bowl game. Now that would be the perfect start the season.

Rutgers could care less about AAC

So Rutgers can't get to the Big Ten fast enough. Even thought they are still in the AAC there are signs in the RAC that they will be on their way. A showcase is dedicated to the Big Ten. There is nothing dedicated to AAC.

The good and bad of the NY Times

While the New York Times hit a home fun with its college football preview stories today, it was not with its issues. The historic paper messed up photos with Heisman Trophy candidates Yeldon, Miller and Boyd. But it did hit a home run with its preview of South Carolina star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and its story about ESPN controlling scheduling. 

The Bad: Messing up photos with Yeldon, Miller, and Boyd

The Good: Awesome graphic 

One of the biggest recruits in program history: Blacknall commits to Rutgers

Rutgers might not be moving the Big 10 till next year, but it appears that its already paying off.

On Saturday Saeed Blacknall, a wr from Manalapan, committed to Rutgers. The best thing is that Rutgers beat national powers like LSU, Alabama, and Ohio State for the explosive four-star pass catcher. Its a great day to be Rutgers season ticket holder.

Greg Schiano had Anthony Davis, Blacknall is Kyle Flood's Davis. A highly recruited instate player that he was able to keep at RU.

It's tourney time

After months of waiting the NCAA Lacrosse tournament is set to start. Here are our picks for the opening round of the tournament:

• Lehigh (12-4) at No. 5 North Carolina (12-3): North Carolina 
• Yale (11-4) at No. 8 Penn State (12-4):  Yale 
• Detroit (5-9) at No. 2 Notre Dame (10-4): Notre Dame
• Albany (13-4) at No. 4 Denver (12-4): Albany  
• Towson (10-7) at No. 3 Ohio State (12-3): Ohio State 
• Loyola (Md.) (11-4) at No. 7 Duke (12-5): Loyola 
• Bryant (8-10) at No. 1 Syracuse (13-3): Cuse 
• Cornell (12-3) at No. 6 Maryland (10-3): Cornell  

Cover Story: The Final Four

Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio State and Louisville are headed for the Big Easy for the Final Four this weekend. Here is how some of the newspapers around the country cover the Elite Eight this weekend.

Is there such a thing as college sports reporting anymore

Have major universities and colleges made it too hard to cover college sports? Around the country it's becoming harder and harder to cover sports at the college level. Programs have started to restrict access to players and coaches. The journalism site, When Journalism Fails, take a look at what is happening around the country.

TNT will never let Trailblazer fans forget

So the Thunder hooked up with the Trailblazers on Thursday night and that can mean only one thing Durant vs Oden, the top two picks from the 2007 NBA Draft. Oden was the top pick, while Durant was the second. So far their careers have been totally different. Durant has become the face of the young NBA, while Oden career has been hit by knee injuries.

During the game, I hit the info button to see what it said and boy did it rub it in Blazers fans face. Durant has played 200 something games while Oden has yet to hit a 100. Its not like Blazer fans don't know the difference between the two players but to make it the info graph is just not right.
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Monster Saturday = Monster Waist Line

The biggest day of the college football can mean one thing eating too much. Georgia/South Carolina, Ohio State/Miami, Florida State/Oklahoma and Alabama/Penn State are great games to watch and eat with.
With all of these games a lot of food is sure to follow. Doritos, cookies, pizza rolls, buffalo tenders and other assorted junk. All of them found the bottom of my tummy.
So the day is ending and boy is my stomach full. Thank god their is one day on the schedule like this, if there was another I would have to get a couple of pairs of bigger pants.
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Cover Story: College Football Previews

In less then  a week, the first games of the college football season will be over. In honor of that here are the various college football previews magazines from all over from Sports Illustrated to The Sporting News to Phil Steele

They're no Cinderella

OK lets put a stop to this before it start, Butler is not a Cinderella. If you call them a Cinderella then you know nothing about college basketball. This is a good team. During the regular season they beat UCLA, Ohio State, Xavier, and Siena. So during the regular season the Bulldogs beat two teams that where in the Sweet 16. Then in the tournament add Syracuse and Kansas State. Now those are quality wins. Hey when was the last time a top 10 team was considered a Cinderella.

The Tournament has lost something

On Sunday night the Big Ten Network was showing the Regional Final between St. Johns and Ohio State from a bunch of years ago. While it was fun seeing Scoonie Penn, Michael Redd, Eric Barclay, and Ron Artest play again in college something really stood out to me.

The game was played at Thomspon Boling Arena at the University of Tennessee and you knew this because the court was orange and had all of its marking. But this weekend while watching the games, I kept forgetting what venue the games I was watching was being played at.

A couple of years ago one of the highlights of tournament was seeing all of the different colored courts. Like the one at the Huntsman Center in Utah and Boises State. The one thing that having those different courts was that everyone knew what site they were at , now its hard to tell where they are unless you read the baseline. A couple of years ago the NCAA decided to introduce universal court designs to the tournament and the blue and black courts are kind of cookie cutter and lack any character. That move started to take a little fun away from the tournament.

It seems that a little of the character of the tournament has been taken away by going to these standard courts.
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The Front Pages: Selection Sunday

The bids have been handed out and some teams are happy while others are not. Here is how some newspapers around the country covered Selection Sunday.

Would it be the right move?

The rumor wheel has been spinning in college football this week. One of the largest rumors floating around is about the Big Ten expanding to 12 teams and then being allowed to play a conference champions game in college football, which is a cash cow.

Among the schools that have been mentioned for the expansion are Missouri, Pitt, Cuse, and Rutgers. As a Rutgers season ticket holder the idea of being in the Big Ten is both exciting and scary.

Sure seeing Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State make trips to Rutgers Stadium will be exciting and a ton of fun.

But the negative is this question: Is the Rutgers football program ready to play at that level? If they go to the Big Ten fans can forget about seeing a BCS Game for a while if they stay in the Big East there is that chance in the next couple of years they could be in a BCS games. If they head to Big Ten Rutgers might be group with Minnesota and Indiana teams that struggle with the rigors of the conference.

The decision to move to the Big Ten , if the offer is made, will not be made just on football. The AD will have to look at other sports and see how they will fit in their new conference.

If the offer is made they have to take it but if that happens people can not get mad when the results are not the same for the football program. Hey, if they make the switch, there is always the dream of Rutgers in the Rose Bowl.
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Professional Tailgating: The Defending National Champs

On Thursday the Only Time Will Tell Tailgating Crew headed for the big city, New York to see their beloved North Carolina Tar Heels. Good seats and cheap tickets led to a good night.

Everyone knew the Heels were in town

The great popcorn spill of Endy in the Outfield make for a mess

The Heels are introduced

The Heels and Bucks prepare for battle

Dickie V Shoot foul shots

Going to be a busy next couple of days

This is the best time of the sports season. College Basketball is just started, College Football is coming to an end. The NHL, NBA, NFL are all going. With all of these options, the OTWT Tailgating crew can not help but head to some games. On Thursday the gang will be at the Madison Square Garden for the Coaches vs. Cancer events which features 'Cuse vs. Cal and North Carolina vs. Ohio State. Then on Saturday, the gang will be making the trip from home base in New Jersey to see Rutgers take on 'Cuse in football. A couple of big events in a couple of days, should be a lot of fun. Check back later in the week to see all of the sites and sounds from the events.

The Defending National Champs

The OTWT Tailgating Crew will be headed to the Big City in a couple of weeks to see the defending National Champions, North Carolina. The group will be headed the 2K Sports Classic to see 'Cuse vs. California and North Carolina vs. Ohio State. The tickets for the event came on Friday and I can not wait. Should be two really good games and we will have a full report after the event.

It's never to early to look at next season

So all of the underclassmen have declared for the NFL draft and schools are in the process of wrapping up their recruiting; so that means its time for the first 2009 College Football Top 10. Some of the names in the top 10 will be the normal ones, while other will surprise, listed in predicted order of finish.

1. Oklahoma: So they lost again in a BCS game, but no team made out better when it comes to players heading to the draft.
   
2. Florida: Superman returns, but it will not be that easy to replace Harven. It might be possible to see a OH/UF rematch in the BCS National Championship Game next year.
   
3. Texas: I know its more of the same in the top 3. But Colt McCoy returns and they could challenge OU again. The running game should be a little stronger with Nate Newton son coming aboard.
   
4. LSU: After a terrible season last year, the Tigers could be on their way back and if they get uber recruit Reuben Randle there offense could be more explosive.
5. Virginia Tech: With an ACC that is still trying to find its self it would be no shock to see the Hokies back in the national championship picture.
   
6. Oregon: I know this sounds crazy but could this be the year that USC is not the best team in the Pac 10. I think that it might be.
   
7. USC: A whole new defense, well almost. Replacing a starting quarterback. It could take a couple of weeks for the new edition of the Trojans to get going this year.
   
8. Oklahoma State: Ok so the Holiday Bowl did not go the way that they wanted, but with an offense that returns almost everyone it could be a break out year for the Cowboys.
9. Ohio State: TP. enough said.
   
10. Boise State: All of the key parts return and now Broncos have the rep around the country to do something.
    

I'm sure this will change after spring practices are completed, so check back after the spring season for updated rankings.

Jim Tressel: A Mans Man

In honor of another bowl game loss, I offer this T-Shirt, found on the Internet, to all of the Ohio State haters up there. Sweater vest and wine coolers, now that is a mans man.

Winners and Losers of the Bowl Season

Wow the Bowl Season has finally ended and what a season it has been. From the TCU vs. Boise State game early in the season to the Ohio State vs. Texas Fiesta Bowl, there have been a ton of ups and downs. Here are the winner and losers from the bowl season.

Winners

• Non-BCS Leagues: With Boise and TCU playing a high quality game early in the bowl season and Utah's win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl teams from non-BCS leagues showed that hey can be a major part of the bowl season.
  
• The Pac-10: For years the league was looked at as being soft. A bad national TV deal leads many in the media to think that they are less of a conference, but during the course of the bowl season they showed that they are force from Oregon's win over Oklahoma State to USC bitch slapping of Penn State.
• Senior Big East QBs Pat White and Mike Teal: Two of the more successful players in the history of the Big East, both ended their careers with bowl win. White over North Carolina, Teal over North Carolina State. It was great to see White fathers singing after is son's bowl win, while Teal, who was the laughing stock of the conference at the start of the year, showed the class he had by bounding back and leading his team to another bowl win. As a season ticket holder at Rutgers, I can only say one thing to Mr. Teal, "Thank you."
• Tulsa: They are the little school that could. Every year they do a great job in developing a great offense and this year was no different. With Todd Graham, the Golden Hurricanes will continue to grow.
• Ole Miss and Vandy: Two of the lower SEC teams each won bowl game and the future looks bright for both teams.
  

Losers

• The Big 10: No shocker their. Every year they look slow and not at pace with other teams it was no different this year. Outclassed in the Fiesta and Rose bowls. They need to go back to drawing board.
  
• Miami: As a fan of the U, this was a hard bowl season from the loss to the California to the mess with QB Robert Marve and the firing of Offensive Coordinator Patrick Nix. It was not fun at all.
• The Sun Bowl: 3-0, no it was not a game from the Barclays Premier League, it was a bowl game. Oregon State and Pitt played one of the worst bowl games in years.
  
• The National Media: So an impressive win over Hawaii has made Notre Dame a national program again. Be careful what you wish for.