Category Archives: Big C’s Corner

On The Hot Seat – A Look at College Football Coaches Under Fire

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With a number of high-profile college football teams struggling to find wins this season, head coaches are finding out how hot the hot seat really is.  In this “what have you done for me lately” world, the reality is that you’re only as good as your last season (or game in some instances). In these situations, the question later becomes, “How long should a new head coach at a high profile school be given to turn things around?”  There are a lot of schools that may be asking that question pretty soon, and here are four of the most prominent head coaches that may be out the door if they don’t turn things around in a hurry.
 
Derrick Dooley (Tennessee)

Derrick Dooley is UT’s head coach … for at least another couple of days.

With Tennessee’s most recent SEC loss to South Carolina on Saturday, Tennessee is now 0-5 in SEC play.  With a 4-17 SEC record with victories over Vanderbilt twice, Kentucky once, and Ole Miss once, Dooley has yet to beat SEC rivals Florida, Georgia and Alabama.  Tennessee fans in Knoxville are getting tired of mediocrity and want wins, not moral victories with close loses. Rumors around East Tennessee are that Dooley could get fired as early as this week.  Tennessee fans number one candidate for a replacement if Dooley gets canned would be MNF analyst John Gruden who was a G.A. for Tennessee in 1986-1987 and his wife is a former Volunteer cheerleader.
 
Gene Chizik (Auburn)

In the “win now” world of college football, Auburn coach Gene Chizik is on the hot seat after winning the national title just two seasons ago.

Chizik, who is only two years out of a national title for the Auburn faithful, is having a very trying fourth year.  With a 31-17 overall record and 15-15 SEC record including a dismal 0-6 SEC record this season, the War Eagle faithful want a coaching change.  With Chizik’s loss to Vanderbilt earlier this season, he became the first coach in school history to lose to Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Mississippi State all in the same season.  With this Saturday’s 63-21 loss to Texas A&M, Chizik’s future doesn’t look good at Auburn.  Auburn president Jay Gouge issued a letter regarding the state of the Auburn football program.  The letter pretty much says (without actually saying it) that Chizik’s days are numbered.
 
Joker Phillips (Kentucky)

In the midst of another miserable Kentucky football season, Joker’s situation at Kentucky is nothing to laugh about.

With the fierce competition in the SEC, it’s no surprise that this is our third SEC school on this list. At 1-8 so far this season, Kentucky is having a below average season.  Phillip’s SEC record in two and a half seasons is 4-18, exactly the same as Derrick Dooley’s pitiful record at Tennessee. Now Kentucky is no football powerhouse, but winning at least five games a season has been a consistent standard for the Wildcats. In Rich Brooks’s final four seasons, Kentucky made four straight bowls (winning three).  Joker’s overall record of 12-22 is, well, a joke.  It’s not up to any SEC team’s standards in football, even Kentucky’s. For Phillips to digress from a 6-7, 5-7, to now 1-8 record, his time in Lexington may be running out.
 
Frank Spaziani (Boston College)

Spaziani on the hot seat proves that fans don’t care how sweet your mustache is.

Spaziani, like Joker, has degressed each season that he has been at Boston College.  He’s went from 8-5, 7-6, 4-8, and is currently at 2-6 this year.  Anytime a head coach’s record keeps getting worse, it’s obvious their recruiting classes aren’t up to par.  With his first recruiting class entering its fourth year along with third-year starting quarterback in Chase Rettig, a struggling season is not what Boston College fans expected.  Being in his fourth year with an overall record of 22-25 and 13-16 in the ACC, Spaziani’s time in Bean Town may be running out.

By: Craig Emmert

SEC Dominance in College Football

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Every Saturday as I watch college football all day, the biggest and best games consistently come from the SEC.  As of week seven in the AP poll, seven SEC schools are in the top twenty-five.  Four of those teams are ranked in the top ten (Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, LSU).  Based on the natural cycle of attrition within the SEC schedule, some of these teams will drop lower in the rankings as the season progresses. One thing is for certain though; the middle of the road teams playing in the SEC (some not ranked in the top twenty-five) probably would be ranked if they played in the Big Ten or ACC. Tennessee for example, if playing in the Big Ten, ACC, or Pac-12 would more than likely have one less loss than it has now.  

Playing against the likes of Florida and Georgia already with Alabama and South Carolina yet to come, Tennessee has a tough game very week when it comes to national powerhouses.  South Carolina probably has the toughest schedule in the nation with Georgia, LSU, and Florida consecutively and then ending with a season finale at Clemson.

One may argue that, due to the competitive nature of the SEC, it creates an unfair advantage to the rest of the nation with the BCS system.  Out of the fourteen BCS champions since it all started in 1998, eight of them have been an SEC team.  More amazingly is that the last six national champions have been from the SEC.  Last season’s inter-conference rematch national championship game one could argue was lack-luster and unfair.  

Alabama and the SEC have dominated college football recently, winning the last six BCS championships.

With a four-team playoff coming into effect two years from now, fans across the country will get their wish with undefeated schools more than likely getting into the BCS semi-final game.  Based on strength of schedule I would not be surprised if at least two teams from the SEC will be ranked in the top four to qualify for the four team playoff.  Last season SEC teams were 6-3 in bowl games.  That was actually second to the Big-12 (6-2), but was somewhat skewed in that Alabama and LSU played against each other in the national championship.  With nine out of twelve SEC teams being bowl eligible last year, that number will likely grow to at least ten this year with two more good teams (Missouri and Texas A&M) joining the conference.

Every week in the SEC there are multiple top twenty-five match-ups taking place between each team.  With each passing week, the contenders and pretenders of the nation’s most dominant conference become more and more apparent.  Look for Georgia to fade out of the top tier end of the conference, while Florida, South Carolina, and LSU will all be near the top with Alabama reigning supreme over them all.  Maybe it’s the warm weather that keeps the best recruits down south or maybe it’s the coaching, but the SEC has set the standard for college football’s best conference.  Who do you think has the best conference in college football?  My vote goes to the SEC.

By: Craig Emmert

Is it Wrong To Be a Fair-Weather Fan?

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All summer long, all I could think about was Michigan’s opening game against Alabama at Texas Stadium.  My team upsetting the #1 team in the nation, it was going to be spectacular.  But when that night finally ended about a month ago, all I could think about was how much Michigan sucked and how disappointed I was in their performance against the best team in the land.  The following two weeks, I followed Michigan, but with much less intensity when they beat paltry Air Force and UMass.  Call me fair weather if you want, but once a team loses in college football, it takes a week or two for me to regain that winning type attitude.  Should fans like myself be shunned by “true” sports fans, or should we be allowed to express shame when our beloved teams are struggling?

What fan in their right mind, whether fair-weather or not, wants to cheer for a loser?  Nobody wishes for failure or defeat.  It is a fact of competition that one team will win and one will lose.  The losing team’s fan will leave disappointed, some more than others.  A true fan will continue to cheer and have faith in their team even if they are destined to fall short on their next competition. 

Many of my friends are Kentucky fans.  During football season, Kentucky fans who have to put up with mediocrity at best.  Fans of Kentucky football have to accept moral victories as positives, not necessarily wins.  Take for instance, last year, when Kentucky beat Tennessee in their final game of the season.  Kentucky was already ineligible to qualify for a bowl, but beating the Vols that day ended their twenty-six game losing streak and made their season.  It also caused the Vols to become bowl ineligibible, an added bonus for UK fans. 

In previous years when those two teams played, I witnessed Kentucky fans root for their team, but only leave in defeat and most of the time end their season with a losing record.  I could only think that these people were crazy for wanting to cheer for a losing team.  Maybe these are “true” fans, or maybe it’s just easier for consistently mediocre teams to not seem fair weather.  I mean, after all it’s hard to be “fair weather” when it’s always raining.  I guess we’ll have to wait for UK to be ranked in the top 10 to see if more fans come out of the woodwork.  Since we’re not talking about basketball, we may have to wait for a while. 

Fair-weather fans like myself can’t stand to root for a loser.  Growing up a Detroit sports fan, the Lions have forever–until last seaso–been the ultimate loser.  A winless season a few years ago topped off a string of consecutive losing seasons.  After they started 0-3 I really had no reason to cheer for them or even care that they even existed.  A fan deserves to see success from their team and when it doesn’t happen, all that we can look forward to is next year.  It’s the only thing that keeps fair-weather fans like myself continually coming back for more action.  I’ve been lucky enough to hear “next year” when it comes to the Detroit Tigers for eighteen straight years, between 1988-2005. Eighteen straight post-seasonless years of mostly below .500 baseball.  I must admit though, the wait was much worth it come 2006 when they made their run to the World Series.  I can only imagine what Cubs fans feel. 

By: Craig Emmert

College Football: Early Season Rankings and Cupcake Victories Have No Value

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During the last three weeks, college football fans around the nation have seen some pretty amazing football games.  Some fans have been happier with the results than others so far.  For instance, this past Saturday, Tennessee Volunteer fans were expecting a major SEC win (their first in a few years) over the Florida Gators.  What they got instead at a sold out Neyland Stadium was a depressing 37-20 loss.  Fans left after the game–some of them personal friends–as though they were leaving a funeral.  The Volunteers seventeen point loss was their worst to Florida since 2008, when a Tim Tebow led Gator team beat them 30-6.  So much hype was created before the game by Tennessee fans and players, to a team that, although 2-0, hasn’t posted a major win over a good SEC team since 2009 when they beat #22 South Carolina 31-13. 

Are early season cupcake games like Oregon’s 63-14 win over Tennessee Tech good indicators of how good a team really is?  I respect a fan’s love for their school, but staying quiet and humble is a must until a major victory has been achieved.  Arkansas fans must be feeling this right now, as are the sports writers and bloggers like myself who predicted last Saturday’s game to be an undefeated showdown between Alabama as prime time action. Boy were we way wrong, as the Razorbacks got hammered 52-0 and need quarterback Tyler Wilson to get healthy if they have a chance to make a bowl.

Games this week that could cause some fans to quiet their pre-BCS Championship buzz are Michigan verses Notre Dame and Clemson verses Florida State.  Notre Dame has their highest ranking in a number of years looks to stop a three game slide against the Wolverines at home on Saturday.  The Irish faithful, need to stay humble even if the Irish win, as they still must host #9 Stanford, and travel to #6 Oklahoma and #13 USC. 

The Clemson-FSU matchup will more than likely determine who wins the ACC Atlantic Division and thus make it to the BCS title game.  If Clemson can pull off the upset in Tallahassee, their remaining schedule is fairly easy and could run the table.   As this college season continues to unfold before our eyes, the pretenders and contenders will cause us fans to take a deep breath and hope we are on the winning side.

By: Craig Emmert

Top 10 NFL Running Backs of All Time

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With the NFL season less than a week away, players are chomping at the bit to get after it with someone else other than their practice squad.  Fans, (myself included) are ready to see some great Sunday afternoon smash-mouth football.  All thirty-two NFL teams would love to have a great running game, and the reality is, that it all comes down to the quality of your back.  Today, we’re seeing a lot more of the “two back” system, because the reality is, every team doesn’t have a back with all of the qualities of a three-down back such as Arian Foster or Ray Rice.  In honor of the retired greats who have made the running back position so popular, here are my top ten NFL running backs of all time. (*Note: only backs that have played an entire career and are currently retired are in this list).  
 

“The Bus” ran over opponents for 13 seasons and ended his career with a Super Bowl win in his hometown of Detroit.

#10- Jerome Bettis (1993-2005- Rams/Steelers)
“The Bus” is probably the largest running back in NFL history to have the most success.  For thirteen seasons, he used his great footwork and power running to rush for 13,662 yards and 91 rushing touchdowns for the Rams and Steelers.  He ended his career in storybook fashion, by winning Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit. 
 
#9- Tony Dorsett (1977-1988- Cowboys/Broncos)
During Dorsett’s twelve year career he rushed for 1,000 or more yards eight times with his best effort coming in 1981 when he rushed for 1,646 yards.  For his career he rushed for 12,739 yards and 77 rushing touchdowns.  He holds the NFL record for longest run from scrimmage at ninety-nine yards against the Vikings on Monday Night Football in 1983.  He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1994.
 
#8- Eric Dickerson (1983-1993- Rams/Colts/ Raiders/ Falcons)
During Dickerson’s eleven seasons, he rushed for 13,259 yards and 90 rushing touchdowns.  He made six Pro Bowls from 1983-1988 and was a four time NFL rushing champion between 1983-1988.  During his first year of eligibility in 1999, Dickerson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  He still has the single season rushing record in the NFL during the 1984 season at 2,105 yards.  
 
#7- Curtis Martin (1995-2005- Patriots/Jets)
During Martin’s eleven seasons in the NFL, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of them up to his final year.  His 14,101 rushing yards is fourth most all-time in NFL History.  He was a five time Pro Bowler between 1995-2004, and became the oldest leading rusher in a single season at thirty-one years of age in 2004 with 1,697 yards.  He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past August.
 
#6- O.J. Simpson (1969-1979- Bills/49ers)
O.J Simpson’s five 1,000 yard rushing seasons and six Pro Bowl selections were just some of the highlights of his eleven year pro career.  In 1973, he became the first pro player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season by gaining 2,003 yards.  From 1972-1976 Simpson won the NFL rushing title four times.  For his career Simpson  gained 11,236 yards and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985.  Simpson’s legal issues have highlighted his post football life, highlighted by his acquittal in the 1994 murder of his late ex-wife and her boyfriend.
 
#5- LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-2011- Chargers/Jets)
“LT” holds numerous records that he established during his eleven year pro career.  His 13,684 rushing yards ranks fifth all-time.  He holds NFL records for total touchdowns in a single season (31), rushing touchdowns in a single season (28) and most points scored in a single season at 186.  There are plenty more to list, so hit up NFL.com’s stat link, and LT’s more specific career records can blow you away.  He led the NFL in rushing twice and made the Pro Bowl five times between 2002-2007.  On June 18th, 2012, LT signed a ceremonial contract with Chargers to retire with the team he played the majority of his career with.
 

Smith’s 18,355 yards is the set standard for today’s running backs to aim for someday in their careers.

#4- Emmitt Smith (1990-2004- Cowboys/Cardinals)
Smith is the NFL’s all-time rushing leader with an astounding 18,355 yards.  He also holds the NFL record for career rushing touchdowns at 164.  Smith’s longevity at playing fifteen seasons helped him break Walter Payton’s previous record.  Smith’s rushing style wasn’t flashing, but his field vision to follow blockers, leg strength, and stamina made him hard to stop on the field.  For his career, Smith had eight Pro Bowl selections and four NFL rushing titles.  He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 2010.
 
#3- Walter Payton (1975-1987- Bears)
“Sweetness” is the NFL’s longest holder of having the most career rushing yards.  Payton rushed for 16,726 yards, taking the record from Jim Brown in 1984, and held it until 2002 when Emmit Smith broke it.  He was the 1977 NFL MVP, and also was a nine time Pro Bowl selection between 1976-1986.  In February of 1999, Payton died from complications of the bile duct cancer that he had.
 
#2- Barry Sanders (1989-1998- Lions)
Sanders retired ranked second on the NFL’s all-time rushing list behind Walter Payton with 15,269 yards.  Growing up a Lions fan, I may be a bit biased, but if Sanders would have played five more season, like Emmit Smith did, there is no doubt I feel that he would have the all-time record for total rushing yards.  Like Jim Brown, Sanders was a Pro Bowler all ten seasons he played in.  He also led the league in rushing four times between 1990-1997.
 

Brown played in 26 fewer games compared to today’s running backs who play in 16 games per season, but still managed 12,312 yards in 9 seasons.

#1- Jim Brown (1957-1965- Browns)
Jim Brown’s 12,312 yards is ranked ninth all-time.  When Brown retired in 1965, he was still on the top of his game rushing for 1,544 yards, the second most of his career.  The most amazing figure of Brown’s statistics, is that he only played in twelve game seasons between 1957-1960.  The NFL season then expanded to fourteen games for the remainder of his career.  Based on those numbers, Brown missed out on twenty-six games compared to later running backs who had sixteen game seasons. That is almost two seasons of rushing yards that could have been added to his numbers.  Brown was a Pro Bowler every season during his nine year career, and led the league in rushing eight times.

By: Craig Emmert