The yellow ball is here, let the season start

Since the start of the EPL season, the pitches have been perfect, the weather has been nice, and the ball has been white. But this week that all changes, the weather gets a little colder and the ball becomes yellow. When United played Arsenal, this morning, the yellow ball with the purple stripes was in full effect.

Once the yellow ball comes on then season really get going and the true champion is crowd. Before the white ball returns, the teams in the league will have gone through the busy holiday period and everyone will have a great idea of who is going to be holding the trophy with the crown on it.

Can a Heisman Winner please stand up?

No one wants the Heisman trophy.

Over the course of the season, Heisman Trophy candidates have fallen as fast as top ten teams.

First it was Mike Hart, then it was Tim Teabow, then it was Ray Rice, then Colt Brennan, then it was John David Booty and now it appears one of the front runners for the Heisman is from the northeast, while another spent the summer playing baseball, and another one is a redshirt freshman who plays in a run and shoot offense.

If I had a ballot here is how my top three would go.

1. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College.
2. Dennis Dixon, QB, Oregon.
3. Micheal Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech.

The State of Talent

While many people look at Texas, California, Louisiana, and Florida as the key states in the recruiting wars. Some people forget about New Jersey and all of the talent that we have produced.

North Jersey has the likes of Don Bosco, St. Joe's, and Bergen Catholic and has been a popular place for the recruiters to visit. A look around college football and you figure out that New Jersey can put a great team with all of the talent that they have, despite being one of the smallest states in the union.

Here is a break down of a State of New Jersey football team:

Offense

QB: Mike Teel, Rutgers.

RB: Knoshawn Moreno, Georgia (pictured right)

WR: Tiquan Underwood, Rutgers

WR: Dorien Bryant, Purdue

WR: Duval Kamara, Notre Dame

TE: Mike Ragone, Notre Dame

OL: Phil Trautwein, Florida

OL: Anthony Davis, Rutgers

OL: Eugene Monroe, Virginia

OL: John Rochford, Miami

OL: Pedro Sosa, Rutgers

Defense

DL: George Johnson, Rutgers

DL: Kade Weston, Georgia

DL: Jonal Saint-Dic, Michigan State.

DL: Dwayne Hendricks, Miami

LB: Brian Cushing, USC

LB:Brian Toal, Boston College

LB: Nick Macaluso, Stanford

DB: Myron Rolle, Florida State (pictured right)

DB: Malcolm Jackson, Ohio State

DB: Anthony Scirrotto, Penn State

DB: Jason McCourty, Rutgers

This is a team that would beat almost all of the states. Just think if most of these kids including Moreno, Cushing, Jackson and Scirrotto went to the State University of New Jersey, they would have the makings of a BCS Bowl team.

Is Derby County the worst ever side in the EPL?

Through 11 games Derby County (pictured above) only has six points and sit bottom of the EPL, while not many experts and hooligans expected the Rams to stay up, they could be headed for one of the worst seasons in the history of the league.

Here is the list of the worst teams in the history of the cosmopolitan league and how many points they finished with.

• 1992-1993: Nottingham Forest 40 points.
• 1993-1994: Swindon Town 30 points.
• 1994-1995: Ipswich Town 27 points.
• 1995-1996: Bolton 29 points.
• 1996-1997: Nottingham Forest 34 points.
• 1997-1998: Crystal Palace 32 points.
• 1998-1999: Nottingham Forest 30 point.
• 1999-2000: Watford 24 point.
• 2000-2001: Bradford City 26 points.
• 2001-2002: Liecester City 28 points.
• 2002-2003: Sunderland 19 points.
• 2003-2004: Wolves 33 points.
• 2004-2005: Southampton 32 points.
• 2005-2006: Sunderland 15 points (record for fewest points)
• 2006-2007: Watford 28 points.

Wow at this pace the Rams could finish with something like 18 points and rank down with 2005-2006 Sunderland with the worst total ever. As for talent this team might be the worst ever.

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.

And you thought Jerry Jones was bad

So the Martin Jol (above) era at Tottenham Hotspurs ended with another loss this time the in the group stages of the UEFA Cup, but all of the blame should not be pointed at the Dutchman. Most of the blame should be pointed at the egomaniac chairman Daniel Levy (right).

Just like Jerry Jones and Al Davis in the NFL, Levy thought that he knew what was best for the team on the field. Every time that Jol turned around Levy was flying somewhere to meet with a manager to replace Jol. First it was Sevilla manager Juande Ramos, then it was former Spurs great Jurgen Klinsman. Besides running off to see different managers, Levy has also spent the first part of the season going on and on about how they have to make the UEFA Champions League. Both Spurs and Levy have to watch it cause Leeds United put all of their eggs in the Champions League basket and we all know what happened to Leeds.

After the announcement of Jol leaving, Spurs fans sent e-mails and text messages to Sky Sports saying that Jol was not the problem and Levy and the board were the problem. During the Premier league era Jol lead Spurs to their highest finish ever in the league.

For years Spurs was looked at like a club that spent a lot of money on older players and under achieved. But under the direction of the Tony Soprano look- a-like Spurs bought younger players like Gareth Bale and Tom Huddleston and played some of the best soccer in the EPL. But now that will all change because an egomaniac thinks that he knows more about what happens on the field then the coach.

Pumpkins have taken over recruiting

First it was picking a hat up and putting on your head to signal where you were going spend the next four years playing your football. But one high school player in the Dirty South has decided to take a different way to announce his college commitment.

Dontavius Jackson (right), a running back from Georgia, is scheduled to make his college announcement on Halloween night, but not by picking a hat or a shirt, but by picking a carved pumpkin. Jackson is down to Clemson, Georgia and LSU.

"One of the coaches’ wives carves pumpkins,” Jackson said. “I’ll be choosing a pumpkin.”
The logo or mascot of Jackson’s finalists will be carved into the three pumpkins, according to a Atlanta Journal Constitution story.

Wow, that is a new one, I can not wait for a fan of cars to make his college choice by picking a car and driving off. You can not help but love college recruiting.

The Power of the Gameday Shirt

One of the best things about college football is the tradition of trash talking on a t-shirt and like the Rutgers football program, their trash talking t-shirts are getting better and better each week. Some Rutgers fans have come with a classic for the West Virginia game.

I know its not politically correct but you know what it is funny and that is all that matters.

Free Riquelme

Someone please help.

Someone needs to allow the world to see the magic of Juan Roman Riquelme. After a falling out with the manager at Villareal last season he was sent to his home country of Argentina and played with his childhood club Boca Juniors. But after the year was over, he has been on the sidelines and has not played a game of club soccer this year. Not having him play is like the NFL missing Tom Brady or the NBA missing a floor general like Chris Paul.

His only appearance so far this season has been with the Argentine national team in World Cup qualifying. During his first game for the most entertaining side in the world he scored two goals on free kicks.

His game is like no other in the world he can control the game without running all over the place. His pin-point passing is something to behold.

So can a club in Italy or England come and return one of the worlds best players to the stages that he deserves. Sven and the blue side of Manchester have a ton of money to spend in the December transfer market, so why not go for the best pure play maker in the world. Or maybe Riquelem could be wearing the red and black of the European champions. Can anyone imagine him and Kaka in the same midfield.

$3.5 Million per win not bad work if you can get it

College football colleges might be the most overpaid employees around, but some are really not pulling their weight when it comes to earning their money. This year there are approximately 55 coaches that are making more then a million dollars a year.

Here are some coaches that are not making a return on their salary:

• Charlie Weis, Notre Dame: So far this season one win at a salary of $3.5 million a year, that is a good return on a private schools investment.
• Bill Callahan, Nebraska (pictured above with Wannstedt): Wow this situation has gotten out of hand already. First lost to USC, then get beaten to death by Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M. At $1.75 million and having your AD fired that is not a good combination.
• Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh: He might be the worst coach in the coaching. Over the years he has made millions doing a job that he is terrible at. He had two coaching jobs in the NFL and then another in college. At this point I would not trust him to coach my sons pop Warner team. By the way he is also making $1.5 million for being this bad.
• Guy Morris, Baylor: I would have never guessed that he made $1.1 million. I can not remember the last time that they were even in a bowl game

Professional Tailgating: The Air is not out of the Balloon

On Thursday afternoon, Mike and the Mad Dog said that a Rutgers loss to South Florida would let all of the air out of the balloon, well I guess the balloon is still flying high after their dramatic win. Of the course the Only Time Will Tell Tailgating Crew was in their usual spot in the parking lot and seats in the stadium, section 116 Row 27, to rush the field for a second straight year. As usual Endy in the Outfield chronicled the days events.

Quincy Carter's Coke Habit now thinks that he is Tigers Woods


Endy in the Outfield really loves his sour cream and cheddar chips

Endy in the Outfields gives some constructive criticism on grilling to Quincy Carters Coke Habit.

The home tailgating office.

Joe Wolfs's Vertical Jump talks to Qunicy Carter Coke Habit about what South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe uses to make his Mohawk look so nice.

Our shrine to a person that can not hit a curve ball during a game seven of the NLCS.

You can tell it was a big game, there were tailgaters three hours before the game started.

Joe Wolf's Vertical Jump and Endy in the Outfield throw gang signs.

Alumni get some food for the big game.

Hopefully the tailgating fun will continue when the masters of the burning couch come to town.

The Gayest Football Shirt Ever

On Thursday night there were some South Florida fans in the stands at Rutgers, but one of them had the gayest football shirt ever. On the back its said Beef Studs, yes beef studs. South Florida is not the Studs they are the bulls so I have no idea where all of this stud stuff comes from.How can any football fan where a shirt like that, I guess his I love Tim Teabow shirt was in the wash.

A Tale of Two Cities

There are two sides to every story and that is no difference when it comes to front pages of newspapers. Rutgers victory over South Florida Thursday night, was celebrated by the New Jersey press, while in Tampa it signaled the end of a dream.

Tampa Tribune on Friday

The Star Ledger on Friday

Bad Day on the British Isles

It was not a good day for the British Isles yesterday in Euro 2008 qualifying. Both England and Scotland had chances to move closer to qualifying for next year tournament, but were denied in former parts of USSR.

The Scots crashed out to Georgia 2-0 and I do not mean the University of Georgia.

While England let a 1-0 lead slip away against the Russian and lost 2-1. The three lions are going to need some help in order to make it to the big show.

Rugby Players are going to take over the NFL

Both Darren Bennett and Sav Rocca have made the switch from Aussie Rules Football to the NFL, now a Rugby World Cup hero might be making the same type of move. England Rugby hero Jonny Wilkinosn might be coming to the NFL as a kicker in the coming months, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

"An NFL source said: "Scouts have been sent out to watch Jonny at the World Cup and obviously they have been very impressed.
"There were major doubts over his fitness but he's looking stronger than ever. There is no shortage of money in the NFL and the financial side of any deal would be no problem,'' the Daily Mail story said.

Are kickers in the NFL that are hard to fine, that NFL teams have to go oversees to find a kicker.

Wow what is next having Wayne Rooney sign with the Philadelphia Eagles to play full back.

Boom goes the Camera

For years John Madden has been destroying football games and now his employer, NBC, is trying to destroy football, literally.
During their Sunday night game between Seattle and New Orleans the NBC camera that was above the field fell to the floor, I hope that John Madden said "Boom.'' No one was hurt during the accident except the expansive camera.

The Scarlet Knights new fashion statement

Teams that win games usually have more choices in uniforms. Last weekend, Rutgers unleashed their new black pants against the 'Cuse. Maybe this is leading to an introduction of an all black uniform for a big game in the future. All black with the red helmets would be a super look for the knights.

Some people love the new pants, while for me it does not look like the State University of New Jersey and will take some time to get used to.

SEC Football Coaches, South Park Style

Surfing the Internet can lead to gold, and this photo of SEC coaches as South Park characters is no different.

My personnel favorites are Ole Miss Ed Orgeron and the ole Ball Coach.

It's that Time of Year Again

Dick Vitale has been sleeping for the last couple of months getting is vocal chords ready for tomorrow night, Midnight Madness the official start of the college basketball season. So before long Joe Lunardi will be running around talking about bubble teams, Jay Bilas will be breaking down the high pick and roll, and Digger Phelps (pictured) will be trying to pick out highlghter that match all of his great looking ties.

Here are my Top Five teams as the practice gets started.

1. North Carolina: Only the Heals can have a lottery pick and still be the top team in a America.
2. Memphis: Here is the deal, enough is a enough for Coach Cal. Every year we hear all about how good they are and every year they crash out in late March. So this has to be the year.
3. Louisville: Pitino has all of the tools to have the best team in the Big East and when the coach gets to March few are better.
4. UCLA: I hate UCLA, they bore me to death, but they should be one of the best teams in the West.
5. Kansas: Talent: check. Great home court: Check. Coaching: no check. Last year, North Carolina and Kansas had the best talent in American, but in the end they lost. I'ts now or never time for Coach Self.

So everyone sit back and get ready, the real games are only a couple of weeks away.

Another Elway might scare the Browns

Two decades ago, John Elway made the lives of Cleveland Browns fans hell, but Browns fans should still be worried, cause another Elway might be coming for them. John's son Jack is a junior at Cherry Creek and has already started to get some major college offers. The Junior has already gotten scholarship offers from LSU and Oregon and heavy attention from USC, Cal, and Stanford, his dad's old school.

“Dad always wanted me to do what I wanted to do,” Jack Elway said. “If it’s football, then that’s great. If it’s something else, then that’s great also. I really didn’t watch much college football growing up. I have to blaze my own path and do what’s right for me,” according to a MSNBC story.

So by the year 2012 Browns should be very scare when a team with an Elway comes rolling into town.