College Confidential

Could TCU Win the Big East?

My lack of love for Big East football is pretty well documented as much as it has been ignored, but the thought of TCU playing a schedule against this conference got me thinking. In a word - the Big East is an overrated pack of basketball schools that was handed a BCS bid because it knows the right people. Maybe that was more than one word.
How would TCU football fair against The Big East?

By matchup ...

TCU vs. Syracuse. Have no idea why the Orange are so bad for so long, but this would clearly favor TCU. Maybe Jim Brown could suit up against for Syracuse and they could play TCU in the Cotton Bowl again. Brown is probably in good enough shape to do it.

TCU vs. West Virginia. If Rich Rodriguez was coaching in Morgantown, I would say this is a toss-up. But Bill Stewart doesn't exactly strike fear into opponents the way R-Rod did.

TCU vs. Rutgers. All depends on the year. Coach Greg Schiano has made something out of nothing, but this a rebuild, not reload, team.

TCU vs. South Florida. If the Bulls ever get their junk together they can be a serious threat; there is talent a plenty in state to recruit from.

TCU vs. Connecticut. This is a basketball school, and although it has poured money into football establishing itself as a legit football power remains elusive.

TCU vs. Louisville. Since Bobby Petrino left, the program has slumped badly.

TCU vs. Pittsburgh. Coach Dave Mustasche gets players, and then promptly does nothing. Have no idea how this program is not the class of the conference every season.

TCU vs. Cincinnati. The Bearcats have become a program that can be a threat every few years.

It is safe to conclude that should TCU actually go to The Big East, which is probably still a reach, it would almost immediately be at or near the top of the conference in football. There will be a feeling out process, much like there was for the previous conference transitions.
The program that would immediately take a hit would be men's basketball. The Big East is a men's basketball power, and although TCU coach Jim Christian is making strides in improving his roster and should be competitive this season, a move to the Big East would take another new round of highly-ranked recruits.
But this is a football world, and football gets what football wants.

- Mac Engel

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@MacEngelProf

TCU To Big East? Really?

Take this with a bag of salt, but the NY Post is reporting The Big East is targeting TCU to add to the conference. I don't know if I buy it, but it's interesting. And given the fluid nature of the conferences these days, I rule zero out. As TCU AD Chris Del Conte said a few weeks ago, every rumor is in play.

As much as the geography sounds silly, it should be no more silly that TCU is in the Mountain West.
The Big East has an automatic BCS bid, and would be a step up in visibility for football and men's basketball, among other sports.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/football/big_east_has_interest_in_tcu_6GTZTxC9I2fssdAib7x6KK

- Mac Engel

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@MacEngelProf

A&M Caught by T. Boone Pickens? What the &^%$>??!!

Writer Bill Haisten of The Tulsa World makes a pretty compelling case that Oklahoma State has caught up with Texas A&M in football. What a total and complete drag. Yes, you can understand if OU or UT has done it and surpassed the Aggies, but Okie State? Really? Really? 

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OSU/article.aspx?subjectid=93&articleid=20100928_93_B1_INTEXA329441

If this is indeed the case it's time for The Sherminator and his buddies to go up to Stillwater and gently remind the Cowboys of their place in the world on Thursday night. And no matter how much cash T. Boone Pickens can spend on ... well, whatever, they aren't ahead of Texas A&M. 

- Mac Engel 

Mark Schlereth Calling College Games? Throw a Brick Through Your TV

I didn't watch his first telecast, but if I see four-lettered NFL analyst Mark Schlereth providing commentary on a college football game I come across I will turn the channel. Then I will turn off the TV. Then I will throw the TV set out the window. After which I will go to my car, start it, and back over my TV.
I'd rather listen to my dog snore and burp.

He is the last thing I need to be hearing when listening to a college game. 
I didn't watch his first telecast, but my gut tells me it went something like this ... 

"If you look at the formation by the offense on the football field here inside the football stadium, you can see that the player who plays the quarterback position drops back to throw the football with a tight spiral. He throws the pass, and the player who plays the wide receiver position catches the football in front of the defensive back along the white paint, that is the sideline. That is an excellent catch by that young man who plays wide receiver in a football game here in the Southeastern Conference that is a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
"If that young man who plays wide receiver continues to grow, mature, develop, evolve and age he should one day be able to play in the National Football League."

Schlereth was a guard on those Super Bowl-winning Denver Brocnos teams in 1997 and '98. He was a member of an offensive line that took a "We're too cool for school" and didn't talk to the media. Pretty cool, huh? They did it under the guise of "We're just a bunch of no names not looking for recognition"; that is a cute way of saying, "Don't bother me, loser."
I get it. A member of the media approaching you can sometimes be like walking through a mall when you see someone holding a clipboard and realizing "All they want is a few minutes of your time to complete this survey."
Is it hypocritical for these Mr. No Comments to become a member of an organization that he reviled as players? You do the math.
But give props to Mark. He's a good looking dude who played in the National Football League for quite a while, made a lot of cash, and extended his National Football League relevance by using a few million words to make simple points, i.e. the team that scores the most points will win.

- Mac Engel

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@MacEngelProf 

 

Longhorns to practice with campus lockdown edict lifted

Texas officials have moved today’s football practice to the team’s indoor facility and cancelled a scheduled post-practice media session with players in light of a shooting in a campus library that kept the school on lockdown until early afternoon.

The shooting occurred in the morning. The Longhorns will practice in the afternoon. Although university officials cancelled all classes today, the campus lockdown edict was lifted by afternoon for all locations except for the immediate crime scene area.

Texas coach Mack Brown has not issued a statement but has scheduled a news conference at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Austin. Brown will be the only person to speak for the football program at Wednesday's news conference.
_ Jimmy Burch

Even Dominant Non-AQers Can't Look Ahead

TCU coach Gary Patterson said he plans to dump the method of inspiration he used last week in preparation for SMU. He thought his team came out flat, hence the reason a game against SMU that wasn't thought to be very interesting was into the second half.
Now, he's going the way of Crash Davis - boring, who once said, "Of course it's boring - write it down."
"I said a little of 'In the future' last week and you can see how well it worked out for us," Patterson said. "We're going back to the Gary Patterson philosophy of the seven-day window. We're only talking about the people we need to talk about. I tried to find a way to motivate them after an emotional game against Baylor and changed my philosophy a little bit; and it's kinda like trying to get an extra 10 minutes at the driving range when I was supposed to be doing something else. It just didn't work very well. So we're just going to worry about Colorado State this week."
The Rams are 1-3.

- Mac Engel

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@MacEngelProf 

 

Don't Look For TCU To Go For Style Points This Week, or Ever

People, like me, are probably going need to stop screaming at TCU and head coach Gary Patterson to run up the score when possible to ensure the team won't get jobbed should the Horned Frogs go undefeated. He's not doing it. At all.
If TCU goes for an additional score in a game that is already decided, it won't be obvious, if the Frogs actually go for it at all.
"I don't think I'll change. There have been a lot of positives about playing the right way, saying the right things as far as nationally," GP said today. "We have a very small alumni population. And I think there are a lot of people who adopted the TCU Horned Frogs because we play hard, we play the right way, and we continue to do that. ...
"In the end, someday like I said the year before, we're going to keep knocking on the door and get into a BCS game. We got into a BCS game. Keep winning and someday we'll get a chance to play at the top of that pyramid. If we're deserving. I have to believe that's why we live in this country, and that's why I do the things I do - I believe that people will allow you to do that."
It is the right way, no doubt. There is no point in winning 52-10 as opposed to 45-10.
But this system isn't fair, and it prefers the 52-10.
Just don't expect GP to go for the late touchdown if it's unneccesary.

- Mac Engel

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@MacEngelProf 

 

Big 12 Championship Game tickets on sale Thursday

Ticket sales begin Thursday for the 2010 Big 12 Football Championship Game, set for Dec. 4 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Fans can purchase tickets at the Cowboys Stadium box office, at Ticketmaster outlets in Dallas-Fort Worth or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also can be purchased by calling 800-745-3000.
Prices range from $50 to $120 per seat, depending on location. Tickets are not sold through the Big 12 office.
_ Jimmy Burch

If the Aggies Lose Thurs., Don't Put Your Feelings in a Newsletter

The last time the Aggies played on a Thursday night that wasn’t Thanksgiving it didn’t go well: at Miami on Sept. 20, 2007. The Aggies entered the game 3-0, but left Miami with their first loss, 34-17, against the Hurricanes. It was last season under coach Dennis Franchione. Remember all the good vibes going into that game, and how quickly they immediately faded? People were OK with Fran' at that point, and then all H broke loose after the Aggies were exposed by The U.
There are members of this Aggies team who were there that night, but it’s not a point of discussion for this Aggies team as they prepare to play this Thursday at Oklahoma State on the four lettered.
“Their defense was really good, and our defense wasn’t stopping them,” Aggies linebacker Von Miller said. “We came back and it was a horrible experience. Finally we get a chance to go back on a Thursday night, on ESPN, it’s a different team. It’s kind of the same thing, but this team doesn’t remember that. We have freshman and sophomores this year and they don’t remember anything like that.”
Okie State is currently favored by 3, which means Vegas thinks it's an even matchup. Home teams always get 3.
A word of advice to The Sherminator - should the Aggies lose, don't write about it in a newsletter.

- Mac Engel

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@MacEngelProf

UT Follower Thinks Gilbert is More McCoy Than Simms

Have to admit, I was one of the masses who was so impressed by UT QB Garrett Gilbert's considerable spunk he displayed against Alabama in the title game in January I thought his transition this season would be pretty seemless.
But a lack of veteran receivers, a run game that remains ish and pass blocking that may not be the world's best has Gilbert looking very OK thus far.
He has completed 87-of-139 passes for 885 yards, four touchdowns and four picks. His yards per pass attempt, something I was told to pay close attention to by a pretty famous football coach, is only 6.37. That number needs to be over 7.
I have a few theories on Gilbert thus far.
No. 1. He's only a sophomore. That should account for a lot.
No. 2. He's learning the difference between a receiver being open in high school and college is different. The window is much tighter in college, and he may not be comfortable with it yet. Hence, checkdown city.
No. 3. The receivers he is working with don't totally "get it" yet. As good as Mike Davis is, he's only a freshman. I've about given up on Malcolm Williams, as I am sure a lot of Hornheads have as well.

Austin-American Statesman columnist Kirk Bohls believes Gilbert has "more McCoy than Simms".

http://www.statesman.com/sports/longhorns/time-will-tell-about-garrett-gilbert-but-clock-941065.html

- Mac Engel

Follow me on Twitter

@MacEngelProf