The Land of Terrible Football Players

The Canadian Football League is a lot of fun to watch, but just looking down the rosters its like a list of players that had trouble playing in college or had their own personal troubles. Players like Jonathan Crompton, yes the same player that could not lead the Tennessee Volunteers are collecting paychecks. 

Here is a list of some of the terrible players in the league to our north:

• Brian Brohm, QB, Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Once watched him get chewed out by his brother when he was at Louisville.
• Noel Devine, RB, Montreal: yes the same West Virginia running back that used to a huge weapon in Morgantown.
• Pat Watkins, CB, Toranto: the former Florida State cornerback has found a home in Canada. I wonder why he was not a player in the NFL.
• Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, Calgary: The former 1-AA National Championship QB has found a home in Canada. I love looking at these rosters it like a trip down memory lane. 
• Jonathan Crompton, QB, Edmonton: need a I say more. 
• Tino Sunseri, QB, Saskatchewan: Wow just when you thought that it could not be worst in CFL, the name Tino Sunseri pops up. You can make the argument that Tino was a terrible QB at Pitt and to see him getting paid to play, is just unthinkable.

A year in Tailgating: Video Edition

Its been a long year for the OTWT Tailgating crew. There have been trips to Buffalo to see the Eagles, to Harrisburg for a minor league baseball game and to Washington DC to see Manchester United. Here are some of my favorite videos from our 25 events that we attended.


Nats super prospect Bryce Harper comes to Lakewood
 Manchester United take the field in Washington DC vs Barcelona

 Rutgers Eric LeGrand leads his team out before the West Virginia game
 Philly fans turn on Andy Reid during the Eagles Patriots game

Open for Debate: Top 10 running backs in South Jersey history

A very interesting list of the top 10 running backs in S.J. history on comcast. As a person that lives in the area its great to see all of the great backs that have come out of the area.

The game that could changed everything

Last Saturday TCU beat Bosie State 36-35 albut ending the Broncos chances of qualifiying for a BCS Bowl but will the loss end up creating far reaching effects in college football. Playing in the Mountain West was supposed to increase Boise State chances of being a national title contender, but without an automatic bid a single loss all but kills their chances.Could this loss make the Broncos look hard at joining the Big East in football.where there is an automactic bid for the their conference champion.

Also what impact will the loss have coach Chris Peterson.  With high profile jobs openings at Penn State, Ohio State and UCLA could this be moment that Peterson takes his talents elsewhere. It would be similar to the situation in 2007 when West Virginia, then ranked #2 in BCS lost the Backyard Brawl to a terrible Pitt team 13-9. The loss ended up costing the Mountaineers a shot at the BCS National Title. The game ended up changing college football. Then West Virginia head coach Rich Rod ended up leaving for Michigan and destorying that program.

So one game could me a lot in the college football landscape and I have this feeling that Boise State's loss to TCU is going to be a moment we look back on and think that.

Rutgers: The New Oregon

For the last couple of years, the University of Oregon has set the college football world on its ears with its different combinations of uniforms. You name the shade of green, the Ducks use it. This year Oklahoma State got into the act with a bunch of different uniforms. Now Rutgers seems to be getting into it. With the Army game on Saturday, Rutgers is set to wear their six different uniform in nine games. On Saturday, Scarlet Knights are set to introduce a white helmet with an American flag logo Rutgers logo on it

Here is the break down:

• North Carolina Central State: All red 
• Ohio: red jersey/white pants/red helmets
• Syracuse white jerseys/red pants/red helmets
• Pitt: All black 
• Navy: red jerseys/white pants/red helmets
• Louisville: white shirts/black pants/black helmets.
• West Virginia: all black
• USF: all red 
• Army: white helmets with an American flag "R"

So far the different uniform combinations have been fine, I just hope that the Nike and the school continue to tasteful when it comes to the uniform design.

Professional Tailgating: A real snow game

  There are games that are played in the snow then there are "snow games" and Saturday's West Virginia Rutgers was a "snow game." A freak October storm dropped almost six inches on snow on the Rutgers Stadium and made for some interesting travel and watching conditions. Despite the snow, the result was still the same as West Virginia beat Rutgers again. There was one highlight as Eric LeGrand lead his team out of the tunnel.

The snow was so bad that West Virginia had to borrow someones tailgating tent

Carts clear the field





Eric LeGrand leads Rutgers out of the tunnel

A real winter wonderland in October

A very large snowball

Another Busy Football Weekend

A couple of weeks ago the OTWT Tailgating crew took in the Rutgers vs. Pitt game and then drove to Buffalo for the Eagles and Bills game. This weekend it will be more of the same, as we head to Rutgers for the Knights game against West Virgina on Saturday and then head to Philly on Sunday for the Eagles and Cowboys game. It's going to be another long weekend, lets hope that both of my teams can win, so all of the driving will be worth it.

Blast from the past

While watching the Kentucky/West Virginia game over the weekend, one thing kept going through my head, what ever happened to former uber recruit, Jonathan Hargett.

Hargett was John Wall before John Wall was in high school. Hargett was the type of player that was supposed to turn the 'Neers back into a great basketball program.

Hargett was amazing. He attended four high schools in four years, including stops at nationally renowned Mount Zion Christian Academy in North Carolina as a junior and National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Md.



These are the words of The Draft Review on Hargett: "Few guards enjoyed the buzz Hargett received as he entered college. Much of this had to do with his jaw dropping athleticism and spectacular body frame. At 5-11 Hargett’s body resembled a compact linebacker. Many thought his game was tailor made for the NBA; some even thought he would be the first point guard to jump to the pros."

No Suit, No Service

Maybe Huggins should wear this suit instead of his track suit

The Final Four is only a day away. All of the teams are in Indy making sure that everything is perfect for the players that means making sure that their kicks are fresh and for the coaches that means making sure their suits are ready for the big time. Well most coaches do. Bob Huggins is a different matter. For the last couple of years Huggins has been prowling the sidelines in a warm up top and dress pants, not the worst look in the world but not the best. Huggins, who I like, might become the first coach in god knows how long not to wear a suit at the Final Four. If he does not get dressed up for the event maybe he should not take part. Huggins dressing style has the support of his fan base.

According to ESPN.com, Most West Virginia fans seem to want Huggins to stick with the tracksuit, according to an online poll at the Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail. According to the poll, 53 percent of voters want Huggins to stick with the tracksuit. Only 9 percent want him to "totally rock a new, gold, tailor-made suit."

Thirty-eight percent of voters were more optimistic, saying Huggy Bear should wear "the basketball net. Right after he cuts it down."

In England, managers where track suits all of the time, but come an FA Cup Final day all of the coaches are dressed in suits that are designed by the club. Maybe we should have the same deal for the Final Four. No Suit, No Service.

Cover Story: The Final Four

The games have been played and finally we have our Final Four teams. Butler, West Virginia, Duke, and Michigan State. Here is how the newspapers in those towns covered the events.

The Herald Dispatch (West Virgina)

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.

Professional Tailgating: Not the best way to end the season

The OTWT Tailgating Crew made their final trip to Rutgers for their battle with West Virginia and as usual the 'Neers won again. But it was a fun way to end the season including a game of kick about with an orange juice container.

It was so cold that the propane tank could not take it anymore

Our tailgating neighbors were getting ready for the World Cup

The 'Neers fans were out in force

A nice game of kick about with an orange juice bottle.

It did not go well for the Knights on the field.

Its was cold enough for Santa to come out for the game

My Thanksgiving Weekend

The Thanksgiving weekend means a variety of things to a variety of people. For me it means a couple of things: stomach aches from eating too much, trips up and down the Garden State Parkway, and sports lots of it from college football to the NFL to college basketball to maybe a little NHL.

This year has been no different. Starting with the Lions and ending with Josh McDaniels saying "winning Mother Fucking game" and Brian Dawkins playing like an animal. Also on the plate was a sock that had a hole in it as well as watching various college basketball games that featured coaches in camping shirts, for some it was a good look while for others it was a fashion disaster.

Day two of the weekend started in freezing weather on the golf course. Sure I played the whole round in a woolie and under armor, I did not hit the ball that poorly. The rest of the day was more of the same college football. To end the day I listen to Mark Jones call the WVU/Pitt game and I'm dumber for it right now.

Day three has been a little calmer. It Started with the Premier League and then moved on to college football which was good but the only negative is that Matt Millen has followed me again. On Thanksgiving night he called the Giants and Broncos and on Saturday he called Georgia Tech, make him stop. He is the worst.

Day four has been full of stress, mostly from the eagles but it all worked out in the end as they beat the skins. The day started by watching the premier league game between Arsenal and Chelski, thanks gunners for helping me out. The Heels also beat Nevada for Ole Roy's 600 win wrapped up the day.

It's been a long weekend. I have watched so much sports that my eyes hurt. Also my fingers hurt from sending a ton of text messages. Just look at the labels on this post and you can tell how busy a weekend its been. I'm happy to head back to work just so it slows down my sports watching for a couple of days.

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.

It's almost time for College Football

The season is almost here and college football preview magazines line the shelves of Boarders and Barnes and Noble. Here are all of the covers from around the country for the most famous preview magazine, Smith and Street, now run by the Sporting News.

Pacific Northwest

LA Region

Chicago Region

Ohio Valley Region

Great Lakes Region

Prairie Region

Oklahoma Region

Alabama Region

LSU Region

Florida Region

Texas Region

Pittsburgh Region

Virginia Region

Nashville Region

Atlanta Region

Nike Rules College Football

The bowl season, that was just completed, can be described in one word, Swoosh. All over the month long festival of college football, besides the football, the other constant, was that darn Nike Swoosh .

Take a look at the BCS Bowls, the only team that did not sport the swoosh was Kansas who wore the three stripes of Adidas.

Here is the list of the bowl games and the shoes and uniform deals they were wearing:

• Poinsettia Bowl: Navy vs. Utah: both Nike schools
• New Orleans Bowl: Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis: both Nike schools
• Papajohns.com Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Southern Miss: Both Nike schools
• New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico vs. Nevada: New Mexico Nike, Nevada Adidas
• Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. UCLA: BYU Nike, UCLA Adidas
• Hawaii Bowl: East Carolina vs. Boise State: both Nike schools
• Motor City Bowl: Purdue vs. Central Michigan: Purdue Nike, Central Michigan New Balance
• Holiday Bowl: Texas vs. Arizona State: both Nike schools
• Texas Bowl: TCU vs. Houston: TCU Nike, Houston Adidas
• Champs Sports Bowl: Boston College vs. Michigan State: Boston College Reebok, Michigan State Nike.
• Emerald Bowl: Oregon State vs. Maryland: Oregon State Nike, Maryland Under Armour
• Meinke Car Care Bowl: Wake Forest vs. UConn: both Nike schools
• Liberty Bowl: South Florida vs. Mississippi State: South Florida Adidas, Mississippi State Russell Athletic
• Alamo Bowl: Penn State vs. Texas A&M: Penn State Nike, Texas A&M Adidas
• Independence Bowl: Colorado vs. Alabama: both Nike schools
• Armed Forces Bowl: California vs. Air Force: both Nike schools
• Sun Bowl: South Florida vs. Oregon: both Nike schools, but South Florida will be becoming Under Armour next year.
• Humanitarian Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Fresno State: Georgia Tech Russell Athletic, Fresno State Nike
• Music City Bowl: Kentucky vs. Florida State: both Nike schools
• Peach Bowl: Clemson vs. Auburn: Clemson Nike school, Auburn Under Armour
• Insight Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Indiana: Oklahoma State Nike, Indiana Adidas
• Outback Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Tennessee: both Adidas schools
• Cotton Bowl: Missouri vs. Arkansas: Missouri Nike , Arkansas Adidas
• Gator Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Virginia: Texas Tech Under Armour, Virginia Nike
• Capital One Bowl: Michigan vs. Florida: both Nike schools
• International Bowl: Rutgers vs. Ball State: both Nike schools
• GMAC Bowl: Tulsa vs. Bowling Green: Tulsa Nike, Bowling Green Adidas

BCS Bowls

• Rose Bowl: USC vs. Illinois: both Nike schools
• Sugar Bowl: Hawaii vs. Georgia: both Nike schools
• Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Kansas: Virginia Tech Nike, Kansas Adidas
• Fiesta Bowl: West Virginia vs. Oklahoma: both Nike schools
• BCS Title Game: LSU vs. Ohio State: both Nike schools

Of the bowl games that were played only two games did not feature the swoosh. In college football its all about the swoosh.

I love New Years Day!!!!!!!!!!!

For college football fans there are two special days on the calendar, opening day and New Years Day. After a hard night of celebrating, nothing beats getting up and seeing two middle of the road teams in the Big Ten and SEC do battle in the Outback Bowl. Some traditions are so hard to break.

Here are some New Years Bowl Game Predictions

• Outback: Tennessee 24, Wisconsin 10
• Cotton: Missouri 31, Arkansas 21
• Gator Bowl: Texas Tech 42, Virginia 21
• Citrus: Florida 35, Michigan 21
  
• Rose: USC 35, Illinois 17
  
• Sugar: Georgia 42, Hawaii 41 in overtime. This is the game that I can not wait for. Hawaii head coach June Jones goes for two in the first overtime and dawgs defense stops the warriors.

Some of the other BCS bowls that are not played on Jan. 1

• Fiesta: Oklahoma31, West Virginia 17
• Orange: Virginia Tech 35, Kansas 10
• BCS Title Game: LSU 31, Ohio State 14

Professional Tailgating: Singing in the Rain Edition

So it poured for 20 straight hours, Rutgers lost by four touchdowns, and they wore all black uniforms, but besides that Saturday was not a total loss for the Only Time Will Tell tailgating crew. Some of us even met our long lost soul mates.

Thanks to JP Losman's Potential and his tent the day was not a disaster.

JP Losman's Potential shows the perfect New Jersey breakfast.

Its lonely working in the rain when everyone else is drinking.
Endy in the Outfield shows off his dance move in the rain.

Endy in the Outfield and Joe Wolf's Vertical Jump do their best Underwood and Britt impressions minus the dropped passes in big spots.

The enemy has arrived and they brought beer.

Our new friends give their view on how to pullout of Iraq.

JP Losman Potential has found one of his long lost brothers.

Does any one else think that JP Losman's Potential family is really in West Virginia?

Joe Wolf's Vertical Jump get some hunting tips from a new friend.

It was such a big game that even part of the midget population showed up.

After the game Rutgers fans wanted to destroy anything with a West Virginia logo on it.