The Biggest of Fishes

During his tenure at Rutgers, Greg Schiano has done a lot of great things including turning the Scarlet Knights into a bowl team every year. But with the success their has been some disappointment one of the most glaring was that he failed to get the top kids in the state of New Jersey to stay at home. But on Friday that all changed when St. Peters Prep running back Savon Huggins committed to be part of Schiano's program.

This is the first time that Schiano or any other Rutgers coach has gotten the top ranked player in the state, the closet anyone has gotten was when Anthony Davis committed to the Knights. This year Schiano has managed to get with Huggins and recieved Miles Shuler two of the top three players in the state. Which is no small feet. That number might increase to three of the top four if DL Marquise Wright picks the Knights on National Signing Day.

Huggins feels that he is going to have an impact right away: “Marcus Lattimore (of South Carolina) did it. Reggie Bush did it at USC. If you stay home and bring the program to different heights, it will be better than if you do it out of state. Yes, it would be nice (out of state). But if you do it in your own state, it has a lot more meaning, ” Huggins told NJ.com

Last year the Knights running game was almost useless but with Huggins on board that could all change. Take a look at what Marcus Lattimore did at South Carolina. Lattimore was a must get for Steve Spurrier, alot of people thought that his job depended on it. Just like Huggins was for Schiano. During his first season at USC, Lattimore, you could make the argument that he was most important running in SEC, lead the Cocks to the SEC Title game.

While I'm not saying that he is going to have the same impact as Lattimore, Huggins is going to make a huge impact both on the field and off the field. Huggins committing to the Knights shows that you can be the top player in the state and stay home. Maybe Huggins commitment will be felt for a long time as more and more top players choose the Knights.

We have been on the Jimmer Train since last season

Today everyone is talking about Jimmer Fredette and his performance against San Diego State last night. It sounds like everyone has just heard of how fun to watch guard out of BYU is, everyone but OTWT. OTWT was riding the Jimmer train last year and here is the proof.  So this is an I told you type of post, So I told ya so.

Everyone hates CBS College Sports

Last night was CBS College Sports time to shine with them showing BYU and San Diego State in the game of the year in the Mountain West Conference, but instead of shining the network laid a huge egg. All over twitter last night college basketball fans were throwing a fit about the telecast.

Here are sampling of some of the hate that was being thrown around CBS College Sports and color guy Steve Lappas last night on Twitter:

• sportsguy33, Bill Simmons: "Szezcerbiak! Abdelnaby! It's the Not Quite March Madness Halftime show on Not Quite CBS!"
• mz734, Andrew: "RT @sharapovasthigh: RT @sportspickle: CBS College Sports is trending. The Internet has reached the peak of its potential."
• TheCoolSub,Jonathan Gold: "This is just marvelous. RT @doctorgc: Steve Lappas increasingly sounds like Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas #SteveLappas"
• EdwardFLewis, Edward Lewis: "OK we're midway through the first half and the only thing Ive learned is CBS College Sports' color commentator is awful. 15-15 tie in Provo."
• AubreyBloom247, Aubrey Bloom: "If Gus Johnson were doing this game the "rise and fire" count would be at about 20 already. Also, terrible job mic'ing up the crowd CBS.''

So in there moment to show the country that they are a legit college sports station, CBS College Sports dropped the ball and ended up being a laughing stock.

You know you have been to alot of events

You know you have been to too many sporting events when your dashboard is covered with parking stubs from different sporting events that you have been to. This is the dashboard of my car and there are a number of parking stubs from the different events I have been to over the last 6 months, just imagine if  I have had this car longer.

Professional Tailgating: Minor League Hockey

Never been to a minor league hockey game, went on Friday night and boy was it bad. The OTWT Tailgating Crew took in the Phantoms (on their return to Philly) take on the Penguins. Was not the greatest show.

Both teams take the ice

 Ice Girls maybe one of the more entertaining aspects of the game

 The weird camera man that sat infront of us

These guys were the best skating guys of the night

Giving Everything a Try

In college you are supposed to give everything a try and Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden is sure trying that. After being a standout on the grid iron this year, Weeden is trying something else. The Oklahoma St. quarterback is walking on to golf team, yes that would be the national ranked Cowboy's golf team. After announcing that hey was returning to QB the cowboys next season Weeden tweeted the following:

“I forgot to mention I'm also the newest member of the OSU golf team!!!! Proud to be part of something special! Football and Golf!!!!”, according to a fox sports story

Weeden is no stranger to trying different things, baseball was his first love. Weeden was drafted in the second round of the baseball draft in 2002 by the Yankees as their first selection in the draft. After the 2003 season, he was traded to the Dodgers as part of the Kevin Brown deal he was selected in the Rule 5 draft following the 2005 season by the Royals His baseball career ended due to an arm injury and then he turned to football.

In high school, Weeden led Edmond Santa Fe High School to an appearance in the state semifinals in the school's first-ever playoff appearance, where he was eventually named team MVP and offensive player of the year. He finished second in Oklahoma in passing yards with 2,863. He also contributed 29 touchdowns. After leaving baseball, enrolled at OSU to baseball.

At this rate, Weeden will be trying out as a point guard for the Cowboys basketball team in the next couple of weeks.

Crazy Enough to Work

With the NFL possibly going to an 18 game schedule, could the idea of rotating quarterbacks every other game work for the Eagles, PTI host Mike Wilbon thinks so.


During his show today Wilbon said that the Eagles would be the perfect team to try it out with Kevin Kolb and Mike Vick. Wilbon compared the rotating of qbs game by game to a pitching staffs in baseball, sounds like it could work. Could you imagine Big Red not announcing his starting qb till friday and making teams prepare for both of them. It could just work right.

Professional Tailgating: One and Done Again

For the second year in a row, the Eagles made the playoffs and went out as quickly as they came in. Here are some of the sights from around the Linc yesterday.

This guy is a big Vick fan, I wonder what he thought of Vick's final pass of the game

This years theme Heart 

 Hats are nice way to celebrate a division title, but nothing beats an ice sculpture

 Balloon Eagle that got in my way all night

 You know its a big game, when there is a flag like this on the field

I hope Vick acts like a Super Hero tomorrow

I saw this on the net and could not help but post it. Mike Vick needs to be a video game hero tomorrow in their playoff game against the Green Bay Packers

Beadle Loves them Russian Boys

The recently completed World Junior Championship attracted a record number of fans, but one person caught World Junior Championship Fever big time during the dramatic final between Russia and Canada. ESPN SportsNation host Michelle Beadle lost her mind on her twitter as the Russian team erased a 3-0 Canada lead and won  the game 5-3.

The following post are from Beadle's twitter account during the final on Wednesday night:

• They will break us. RT @Siwicki4: wow Russia going to pull this insane comeback off....
• Do svidaniya homies! Russians crush Canada...#WJC
• Dear Lord...Russian boys are screaming at me in my living room....I thought it was the wine...but it's happening! Make. It. Stop.

Just when I thought she was done with the World Junior Championship love, she addressed the issue the next day on the show. Somewhere in Russia, a member of the team is reading her messages think that he has a shot with America's favorite female sports host.

Ask him! I'm fighting for hockey...#WJC RT @leemorreale: @ESPN_Michelle Any chance you can get @BizNasty2point0 on sportsnation?

The Front Page Story: A National Humbled Agained

Last year, Canada was humbled by the Americans in the World Junior Championship finals, this year the Canadians were rolling up 3-0  nothing on the Russians, then it all fell apart as the Russians scored 5 unanswered goals to win the gold medal game 5-3. Back to back terrible loss in the finals now for Canada. No matter the language of the newspaper, Canadians are taking the loss hard.

The Front Page Story: Canada gets their Payback

 Last year the United State beat Canada in the World Junior Championship Final and for the last year a nation has waited for its revenge as last night they got it as Canada beat United States in the semi-finals in Buffalo. In Canada the game was on the front page of all newspapers.

The Year that was for Only Time Will Tell

Its been a big year at the home offices of Only Time Will Tell from baseball games to football game to soccer matches, its been a year of tailgating and enjoying what the fabulous world of sports has to offer. During the past year the home office has grown with the birth of my wife and I's son, he will be starting as a contributor in the coming years. Here are some of my favorite sporting moments that I was able to experience live.

• Dr No Roy Halladay's no-hitter against the Reds in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. It was the first baseball playoff game that I had every been to and boy did it work out well
• Strasmas in Philly: As a Nats fan it might be the highlight of the baseball year, seeing Strasburg in person, little did I know that it would be the final time that he pitched all season and maybe next. 
• Glory, Glory, Glory Man. United: Manchester United visited Philadelphia to take on the Union this year and of course we where there. It was great to see Berba in person and if all goes well I got to see the Premier League Champions before the season even kicked off.
• Don't Tread on Me: There is nothing better then seeing your national soccer especially if its their last game before they head over to the World Cup. Singing the National Anthem that day is something that I will never forget.
• MLS Here We Come: First trip to the new Red Bull Arena, simply amazing. A world class facility. 
• Doctor is in the House:  First time seeing Roy Halladay pitch in person, as per most of the season, he was simply fantastic.
• Rutgers Spring Game: It was the first game for the Little Guy. It could be the day that he falls in love with football.
• The Legend of Chas Dodd Grows:  It was my first time at the New Meadowlands Stadium and boy was I not impressed.
• Eli Learns how to slide again: First time seeing a Eagles/Giants game in person and we learned again that Eli still has no idea how to slide. 

It's been a busy year both in sports and in our lives for the Only Time Will Tell Family, so from the home office Happy New Years to all.

Ok Enough is Enough

Nothing positive came out of the Eagles loss to the Vikings, but one thing became increasing clear when it comes to the Birds this season, the play of DeSean Jackson as a wide receiver. I know what people are thinking, what say a bad word about DJ, I know its hard but sometimes your best offensive players have to take the blame for what happens.

Against the Giants, Jackson made on of the most memorable plays in Eagles history with his punt return, but against the Vikings, Jackson's faults as a receiver came to light. For all of his talents Jackson is not a big time receiver, he is a big time play makers and there is a huge difference between the two. During the Vikings game, Jackson failed to get across the defensive backs several times almost leading to several interceptions. Another thing that became clearer during the game was when Mike Vick started to get flushed from the pocket Jackson never worked his way back to the Vick, like you are taught to do when your quarterback takes off. At one point during the game, Vick was talking to the Jackson and being really animated, I could only guess it was about the same issue.

Something is also becoming clear, when Vick needs to convert a big third down he looks for one man and its not DJ10, its Jeremy Maclin and the reason is simple. Maclin might be on the best route runners in the leagues and always gives Vick a good target to throw and the yardage that is needed.

Maybe over the next couple of years Maclin can teach DJ how to be come a big time receiver and not just a big time play maker.I know some people will never say anything bad about DJ, because of his play making ability, but the time has come for him to develop into the player that everyone thinks that he can be.

Professional Tailgating: Was that a regular season game

The Eagles fresh of their clinching of the NFC East title took on the Vikings in a Tuesday night game last night. It had the look and feel of a preseason game.

The cold makes you wear weird hats just ask former Eagle Ike Reese

 The cart cam was in front of us, not good

 The crew at the Linc did a great job in making sure all of the snow was gone, could you imagine if snow was around, Andy and the gang would have been ducking snow balls the whole night.

The introductions of the NFC East Champs  

An Epic Shootout

In honor of the World Junior Championships starting, I take you back to the 2007 shootout between the United States and Canada in the semifinals. Just a classic as Canada won on the way to the gold medal. The interesting thing about the shootout was that players that were involved. 

World Juniors Championship's in Newspapers

In Canada the start of the World Junior Championships is a big deal from Toronto to Calgary its a huge event no matter its location. Across the country, front pages were dedicated to the event. Here are some: 

It must have happened there is a shirt for it

It's Official

A year that started with a lot of question has given the Eagles a NFC East Division title, I hope this is the first of more championships to come our way.

Something is missing

This time of the year can only mean two things college bowl games and the World Junior Championships. Last year the World Junior Champions were fantastic with Team USA winning the gold medal on Canadian soil. While the event continues to be great, its lacking something.

When the NHL decided to go with a salary cap a bunch of years ago it had a huge impact on the World Junior Championships. Now when an under 20-year player can play at a NHL level, they are put on a NHL roster because they have a low entry level salary that works with the cap. In the past no matter the skill level, playing the WJC was part of a players development. Its like two different views of player development.

Just look at the rosters of the United States and Canada. In the past players like Tyler Seguin of Canada and Cam Fowler of the United States would be playing in tournament but now they are playing minor minutes in the NHL. While the quality of the players has dropped a bit, the passion and love of the tournament has not.