Hopeless Notre Dame

This video cracks me up. Notre Dame is a joke.

replacement. They didn't get that guy from Utah, A lot of ND fans are saying "Can Charlie" just like they demanded Tyrone Willingham'suhhh.... think his name is Urban something... you know that guy who won the championship last year. Him. Instead, their second choice, the Big Guy, Charlie Weis. Let's compare Charlie's first 3 years to Tyrone's to see if these ND fans have a point.

First Year
Both coaches had 10 win first season. Tyrone started out 8-0 before losing to Boston College at home. He finished 10-3 and was 4-2 against ranked opponents including a win over Michigan. Charlie also beat Michigan in his first year but lost to an unranked Michigan State the next week. He ended up going 9-3 and he was 3-2 against ranked opponents (losses to USC and Ohio State).

Second Year
Tyrone hit a speed bump in his second year. They were 5-7 and went 1-4 against ranked opponents with those losses being by 38, 13, 31 and 37 points. Bob Davie's below average recruiting was to blame and rightfully so; but with expectations being elevated the previous year, Ty's second year was a disappointment. Charlie's went 10-3 in his second year at Notre Dame but when you actually look at who he beat, it's not that impressive. He was 1-3 vs. ranked opponents and his losses to ranked teams were by 26, 20 and 27. But there is something to be said about beating who you are supposed to. He did this with the recruiting class Tyrone brought in after his 10 win season. That class consisted of all the seniors and redshirt juniors on the team. That's what good football teams do.

Third Year
Tyrone went 6-6, beat Michigan and went 2-2 against ranked opponents. He lost his last 3 games of the year though, including a 31 point loss to USC and a 17 point loss to Oregon State. Losses like that on national television were just another reason ND's AD gave when firing Ty after his third year even though the players who he brought in after his 10 win season were just redshirt freshmen and true sophomores. Charlie Weis is currently in his third season and he is having by far the worst season of this millennium for the Irish (okay, really this decade). They are currently 1-7 and are averaging only 10 point per game while they are giving up close to 30 points per game. Luckily, they have only Navy, Air Force, Duke and Stanford left on their schedule.

I cannot really say that Charlie should be fired, but this is a program that has set a standard of giving coaches only 3 years to perform. It would be unfair to Tyrone Willingham if Weis is the head coach next season. Ideally, I would love for ND's Athletic Director to say this...

"I know we only gave Tyrone Willingham 3 years but that was a mistake. We are big boys, we can say we were wrong. With that being said, we are deciding to keep Charlie on board even though the product he put out on the field this year was unacceptable. We are not going to make the same mistake twice. We look forward to better days in the future. Go Irish"

What do you think?

This Weekend - 9/1 & 9/2

A new weekly feature on our blog will be predictions of upcoming football games. Check 'em out.


Georgia Tech (BM) at Notre Dame (JA)
Wake Forest (JA) at Boston College (BM)
Washington State at Wisconsin (BM) (JA)
Oklahoma State at Georgia (BM) (JA)
Tennessee at California (BM) (JA)
Florida State (JA) at Clemson (BM)

We refuse to predict NFL Pre-Season games. Next week we'll have all the NCAA and NFL matchups.

Brandon: 0-0 Overall (0-0 NCAA, 0-0 NFL)
Justin: 0-0 Overall (0-0 NCAA, 0-0 NFL)

We are also bringing in a sports betting expert to give you some advice too. We are glad to introduce the newest member of the Beef About Ballin team, The Truth. Since he is here to help everyone make a little money while watching sports, he will be the GREEN FONT. Here are his "Money in the Bank" picks for this week:

Take Tennessee +6 at Cal
Take Georgia -6.5 vs. Oklahoma State
Take Navy -21 at Temple
Take Rutgers -33 vs. Buffalo


The Truth: 0-0 Overall (0-0 NCAA, 0-0 NFL)

All "Ask About Me" American Team

Everyone knows about Darren McFadden, Pat White, Steve Slaton, Percy Harvin, Colt McCoy, John David Booty, etc. I'm here to tell you about the guys who you might not know about (unless you're a scout or your name is Ryan Simmons) but these are the guys you will probably know by the end of the year.

QB - Andre Woodson - Kentucky

He'd be the front runner for the Heisman at a solid BCS school. This 6'4 220 pound QB can hurt you with his arm or his legs. He'll battle with Brohm to be the first QB taken in next year's draft. Sept. 15th he'll go head-to-head against Brohm and on Oct. 4th he'll matchup against Spurrier's Gamecocks on ESPN. Check out highlights vs. Clemson last year in the Music City Bowl.

RB - Damion Fletcher - Southern Miss
Almost 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns as a true freshman last year and is looking to boost those numbers up even more this year. He'll have the chance to go up against Ian Johnson and Bosie St on ESPN on Sept. 27th.

RB - Ryan Torain - Arizona State
When you think of runningbacks in the Pac-10 most of the time you think of the two superstars in Oregon ( Stewart, Bernard) or the 9 studs at USC, but this JC transfer wouldn't allow ASU coaches to keep him off the field. He only started the second half of the season but he still ran for over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. He'll have the chance to prove himself on the big stage 11/22 when the Sun Devils host USC on ESPN.

WR - James Hardy - Indiana
This part-time Hoosier Hooper is 6'7 but he's also 220. He uses his frame very well would probably get a jump ball over every else in the nation. If you have ESPNU and want to check him out, Sept. 8th they play Western Michigan and he should have a field day.

WR - Adarius Bowman - Oklahoma State
Anyone in the middle of the country knows about this 6'4 220 WR and I guarentee all the pro scouts will be keeping a close eye on this Cowboy. He can catch everything and is a surprisingly good route runner for his size. He's also a hooper so you know when the ball is up there he can go get it. He starts the season in Athens against Georgia on Sept. 1st so check it out on ESPN.


TE - Travis Beckham - Wisconsin
This former #1 DE prospect in HS has made the smooth transition to tight end in college. In a run happy offense he still managed to catch 61 passes, over 900 yards and 5 touchdowns.

OFFENSIVE LINE - At their, and probably your request too, we'll keep them under the radar.

DEFENSIVE LINE - Let's be honest, just like the O-Line, you'll forget all these names and you'll never take the time out to watch them either.

LB - Xavier Adibi - Virginia Tech
Vince Hall will get a lot of attention (deservingly) this year but Xavier Adibi will be the one making tackles on every inch of the field this year. This 6'2 225 pound speedster shines well in the pass defense too!

LB - Ian Campbell Jr. - Kansas State
Dominated the Big 12 last year (17.5 for loss, 11.5 sacks) as a DE but will move outside as a hybrid DE/LB which shows his versatility and will help his draft stock.

LB - Aaron Curry - Wake Forest
Big, Strong, Fast, Blah, Blah, Blah... but he can hit too. Ignore the first two girlie takedowns on this clip and watch him end someone's night.

CB - Aqib Talib - Kansas
Size, speed, cover skills. You name it, this Jawhawk/Ballhawk has it. Check out Bowman's stats on 11/10 and we'll know how well Talib played.

CB - Jack Ikegwuonu - Wisconsin
Malcomb Jennings and Brandon Flowers might be the pre-season All-American CBs and Kenny Phillips is the best DB in the nation but this Badger is the real deal. He's has the perfect combination of size (6'1 and 193 pounds) and speed (ask Darren McFadden - below) and scouts will be drooling over him next year. He is one of, if not the best, player in the Big Ten. His Oct. 13th showdown vs. Penn State's Derrick Williams should be a good one on ABC.

S - Tyrell Johnson - Arkansas State
Bigtime player at a small school. Easily the best defensive player in the Sun Belt conference.

S - Tyrrell Herbert - Toledo
One of those guys who just steps up when needed. This PA product and his partner in crime Barry Church will anchor the best defense in the conference.

IF YOU KNOW OF ANY ATHLETES THAT ARE UNDER THE RADAR LET US KNOW! EVEN IF IT'S YOU.

I'm Anti-Pro SEC, Not A West Coast Bias

You guys think I have a West Coast Bias, I kind of do, but it's more of an Anti-Pro-SEC bias. I wake up and click on ESPN in my favorites bar and this is what I see...


Here is a link to the article if you want to read it (what I'm saying will make more sense after you do).

First off I'd like to say, I have never bashed the SEC. It is the best college football conference. Hands down.

Okay, now that's out the way...

Yo Les Miles... you need to chill out on bashin' USC. You don't have my respect yet because you are winning with Nick Saban's athletes. Are you mad because USC continues to out recruit you?

The ESPN article hints to it but I'll make the point they were alluding to...

JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE OUT WEST DON'T LIVE AND DIE ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND EVERYONE DOWN SOUTH DOES - DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MAKE THEIR TEAMS BETTER.

This year, when you play a South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Mississippi St., please don't get confused because they are schools with FOOTBALL HISTORY and they are schools where football is their number one program... The are still bad football teams that you should easily beat.

That's one thing about the SEC. There is only one basketball (KENT) school and one academic (VANDY) school. In the Pac-10 there are two basketball (UCLA and ARIZ) schools and two academic (STAN and CAL) schools. Cal and UCLA could hang in the SEC. Don't be fooled because they are better known for something else. Also, don't be fooled by SEC teams because football is their #1 sport and their fans live and die on the success their home team.

You also can't hold it against the Pac-10 for not having the 12 teams required to have a conference championship.

And Les, don't try to go at USC. They beat the team (Arkansas) that represented your division of the SEC in the SEC Championship by 36 points in their own stadium last year. They have been, and are a better team than yours, and you might think it's sad since you think the whole world revolves around SEC Football, but they will continue to be better than you.

I'd like to also tell the whole world this... just because USC makes their competition look like they aren't competition, doesn't mean they aren't competition, make sense? Good.

LSU has four tough (VTech, Florida, Arkansas, SEC Championship) games this year. USC has four tough (Nebraska, ND, Cal, UCLA) games this year. I'll even admit I rather play USC's four tough games, but regardless, both teams will be challenged.

I can't believe no one has called out Les Miles for already giving excuses on why his team won't make the National Championship this year. This was Miles' thought process when his team was ranked pre-season #2.

"Damn, that means people think we are going to make it to the national championship. Damn, that means I'm going to have to actually win this conference. Damn, what if we don't? How about this, let's focus everyone's attention of how hard we have it here in the SEC so people won't expect us to make it to the championship and people get off my back. That's a great idea, now people won't want to fire me if I can't do more than get 10 wins and fail to win the big games. Job security baby, job security! Great thinking Les"

So my Ivy league educated brain starts to think... Why won't this guy pick on someone else? Why not the Big Ten or the Big 12? Conferences who both have a losing record in bowl games over the last six years.

So I look this dude up on Wikipedia and I find my answers. He won't talk about Michigan (and the Big Ten) because that's where he went and he'd probably have to bring up that USC beat them by two touchdowns last year. He won't talk about the Big 12 only have two good teams in it because before he started coaching at LSU he was a coach of one non-Texas/Oklahoma teams Oklahoma State. It all makes sense now.

Okay, you can go back to the rest of your lives now. I just had to vent, shed some light on this SEC bias world and expose Les Miles for giving excuses.

P.S. BoDog has LSU an 8/1 to win the national championship and a 1/1 to win the SEC championship game.

For those of you who have an extra $$$, I'd double up and bet against LSU winning the SEC championship. Just think of it like this... Les Miles is handing you a 50% off card on you next shopping spree.

Thanks Les!

Play Someone!

I can't believe some of these non-conference schedules in college football this year. Look at the Pre-Season Top 10.

1. USC (IDAHO, at Nebraska, at Notre Dame) - I like it. Go play in some environments where you might face some adversity.

2. Texas (ARKANSAS ST, TCU, at UCF, RICE) - I had so much respect for the UT-OSU games the last 2 years but this schedule looks more like Brown Universities non-conference schedule than an elite college programs.

3. LSU (VIRGINIA TECH, MIDDLE TENNESSEE, at Tulane, LOUISIANA TECH) - Adding VTech to an already brutal SEC schedule is tough, I like it.

4. Wisconsin (WASHINGTON STATE, at UNLV, THE CITADEL, NORTHERN ILLINIOS) - Only 1 of 4 teams will require watching film to win. They won't be prepared for OSU and Michigan back to back in Novermber.

5. West Virginia (WESTERN MICHIGAN, at Marshall, at Maryland, EAST CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI STATE) - Playing two major conference teams, but bad ones. Rutgers and Louisville back to back will determine if they go BCS or BUST.

6. Florida (WESTERN KENTUCKY, TROY, FLORIDA ATLANTIC, FLORIDA STATE) - Damn they like playing at home huh? And I guess they wanna play 2 JV teams before Tebow has to throw his first pass of his career. Adding Florida St at of the year makes me feel a little better.

7. Oklahoma - (NORTH TEXAS, MIAMI, UTAH STATE, at Tulsa) In a weak Big 12, you have to play more than just Miami to get my respect. Miami isn't what they used to be either. So it looks like both Oklahoma and Texas decided to just practice all year before their one game season for a BCS bid.

8. Michigan (APPALACHIAN STATE, OREGON, NOTRE DAME, at Eastern Michigan) - Job well done. 2 solid non conference games. I think Michigan is going to do big things this year, especially with Ohio State being at home too.

9. Virginia Tech (EASTERN CAROLINA, at LSU, OHIO, WILLIAMS & MARY) - I wonder how they picked these games. Did someone say... "let's just play one good game so people don't say we didn't play anyone, then schedule teams with any HS All-Americans". I have mixed feelings about this schedule even though they go down south.

10. Rutgers (BUFFALO, NAVY, NORFOLK STATE, MARYLAND, at Army) - Why do we give big east teams an automatic bid to a BCS game. Their "good" teams refuse to play anyone and their conference is weak.