Alabama Recruiting Update

 Team Rankings as of 6-7-2012

• Rivals Class Ranking: 3rd
• Scouts Class Ranking: 8th
• 247 Class Ranking: 2nd
• ESPN Class Ranking: 3rd

Alabama commitments for 2013

• Reuben Foster LB 6'2" 228lbs Stars --> Rivals: 5/ Scouts: 5/ 247: 5 
• Jonathan Allen DE 6'3" 225lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 5
• Altee Tenpenny RB 5'11" 200lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Cooper Bateman QB 6'3" 190 Starts --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Bradley Bozeman OL 6'5" 315lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3  
• Raheem Falkins WR 6'4" 192lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Grant Hill OL 6'6" 315lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• OJ Howard TE 6'5" 221lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Tyren Jones RB 5'8" 185lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Ardarius Stewart ATH 6'3" 190lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts:4/ 247: 4
• Andy Dodd OL 6'4" 324lbs  Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Anthony Averett ATH 6'1" 175lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Deon Johnson ATH 6'0" 170lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Darius Paige DT 6'3" 275lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13 

College Football Expansion = Stronger or Weaker Football?

Two years ago when Nebraska decided to leave the Big 12 for the Big 10 it caused waves across the college football landscape. Since that day the ACC and SEC have grown to 14 teams; PAC-10 became the PAC-12; The BIG 12 only has 10 members; The Big East is not that big; and space has opened up for teams like South Alabama and Texas San Antonio. Now Florida State is thinking about moving to the Big 12 for more money and more freedom (I hope this never happens). The landscape is becoming more lopsided than ever before, think about how much difference there is between Alabama and U-Mass, but yet both schools are supposed to be in the same league. So has all this expansion been good for college football? Yes and no. 

Yes some of the biggest TV deals ever are unfolding before our eyes and millions are left to be made. But on the other hand do we need a 124 teams all apart of the D-1A or what ever they want to call it these days. What does North Texas have to play for? Miami of Ohio will never win a National Championship so why do we have teams in a league who could never win the top goal? I know the answer is money, but looking at the large picture NCAA expansion has made for a weaker brand of football. Example ACC<Big East<U-USA<Sun Belt<FCS and anytime schools form the FCS (D1-AA) are added the Field gets weaker.

Even though expansion has made college football as a whole weaker, it has made some conferences stronger. Here is a break down of the current expansion and if there better off now than they was five years ago.

SEC:

During expansions the SEC has added Texas A&M along with Mizzou. To me the SEC has been the biggest winner of the expansion games adding two decent teams that add some large TV markets to the SEC footprint. Also the state of Texas and Missouri touch the SEC boundaries meaning there connected onto the Southeast United States. It's current 14 members:  

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Auburn
• LSU
• Mississippi State
• Ole Miss
• Texas A&M
• Florida
• Mizzou
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Vandy

BIG 12

So far their major losers in the expansion games, but they was left for dead and now are on the hunt. At one point over the last two year I thought the Big 12 was done. It looked as if some of the teams would be heading to the far West and others to the deep South. Texas kinda took everyone on there back and keep things going, but not before losing Nebraska to the Big 10, Texas A&M and Mizzou to the SEC, and Colorado to the PAC-12. They added Texas Christan which they should have done years ago anyways, and instead of going after Houston (what I would have done) they bounced across the country and picked up West Virgina. Why I would have went Houston over WV? TV market for one no one, and I think the Big 12 should keep it focus on Texas and the mid-west not the far east. Now there going after FSU and maybe someone like Clemson to join in with them to get them back to 12. Current 10 members:

• Texas
• Texas Tech
• Texas Christan
• Baylor
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• West Virgina

BIG 10

I really wish they would change their name to match the fact that they have 12 members now, but besides that they have been winners in the expansion games. They got the ball rolling by adding Nebraska a football power house and with 12 teams they can now have a conference championship game. To be the ones to start the whole super conference talk they have laid low after only getting Nebraska. At one point there was talk of Mizzou, Tennessee, and Notre Dame joining the Big 10. Another thing I like about there expansion is that didn't go out side of there geo. Current members:

• Ohio State
• Michigan
• Michigan State
• Penn State
• Iowa
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin
• Illinois
• Purdue
• Nebraska
• Indiana
• Northwestern

ACC

If they hold on to Florida State then I will say their doing okay. Their now 14 teams strong, but adding Pittsburgh and Syracuse doesn't do much for me. I know that gets you into the state of New York which has a lot of TV sets (mostly pro fans though) and Pittsburgh is a good market, but really doesn't add that much on the football Field. On the other hand the ACC has always been a big basketball league and both of them schools do well on the hardwood. That's why I grade them at so-so, yes its better, but whats really the point. Current members: 

• North Carolina 
• North Carolina State
• Clemson
• Florida State
• Miami 
• Wake Forest
• Maryland
• Duke 
• Georgia Tech
• Pittsburgh
• Syracuse 
• Virgina Tech
• Virgina 
• Bostion College

PAC-12

At one point they looked like they would become the first "super conference" as they was trying to go to 16/18 teams. Texas decided to stay put and they ended up with only two new members, and it's really not an improvement. Utah I can see, they have had some really good seasons and they bring the Salt Lake market with them. BYU should have been the other team they added because it would have been a natural rivalry to Utah and they play a good brand of football. Colorado has a history of being a good program at times and gets you into a new time zone along with Denver market, but it's really not a good fit. I thought Boise would fit in well with the PAC-12 sure they wouldn't give you much as far a TV market goes, but the Boise St gives you a solid football team upping the level of computation in that league. So I'm not sold on what Scoot has done so far in the expansion games. Current members:

• USC
• Cal
• UCLA
• Stanford
• Utah
• Colorado
• Arizona
• Arizona State
• Washington
• Washington State
• Oregon
• Oregon State

Big East

Much like the Big 12 the Big East was raided for teams, but we've seen this before. Now the Big East which looks like its on life support sometimes has gone after some mid level schools to try and get back some of what it lost. Pittsburgh and Syracuse left for the ACC and West Virgina bolted for the Big 12 and Louisville has been putting its name out there as well. There rebuilding by adding Memphis, Central Florida, SMU and Houston from C-USA. Temple will be joining full time as well. Then to help them stay relevant in football they added Navy, Boise State and San Diego State yes that's right Boise Idaho and San Diego in the Big EAST ugh. The Big East looks to survive the expansion games, but much weaker and less organized now. Current Members:

• Rutgers
• Cincinnati
• Louisville
• U-Conn
• South Florida
• Memphis
• Central Florida
• Houston
• SMU
• Temple
• Navy (football only)
• Boise State (football only)
• San Diego State (football only)
• Marquette (no football)
• Georgetown (no football)
• Notre Dame (no football)
• DePaul (no football)
• St Johns (no football)
• Seton Hall (no football)
• Providence (no football)
• Villanova (no football)

Moves by other conference during the expansion games: U-USA lost Memphis, UCF, SMU, and Houston. There was talk of them merging with the Mt West, but that never happened so they added some more teams to fill the gap. New full time members will be Louisianian Tech, North Texas, Florida International, North Carolina Charlotte, Texas San Antonio. The Sun Belt lost three teams and is adding two with Georgia State and Texas State.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Wake up call to Jim Delany

The Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany doesn't hold the 2011 National Champions in high regard. Talking to the AP earlier this week he talked about his plain for a college football playoff. His system calls for a four team play off that only consist of conference champions and you must be ranked in the top six. Under his plain Alabama the winner of the 2011 National Championship wouldn't get a shot at a rematch. Then he decided to take a shot at Alabama "I don't have a lot of regard for that team". What Delany is missing is the main point on what the National Champion is ---> The BEST team in college football let me say that again the BEST team. Alabama was the BEST team in 2011 and thats why they have/had a crystal ball.

I love the idea of a four team college playoff, and only a four team (I don't want to water down the regular season), but it should be a system to make sure the winner of the National Championship is the BEST team in college football. If USC and Organ are both in the top four at the end of the season then they should be in, If Michigan and Ohio St are both there then put them in. Its all about finding the BEST team.

The bottom line is if Delany wants one of his schools to hold the crystal ball again then they will have to beat the SEC. He can try to give all advantages in the world for his teams to avoid playing two SEC teams, but there always be a SEC team in the final four, and thats something he can't fix. 

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Kentucky Preview

14. KENTUCKY

Every Firday until the season kicks off I will be unviling my SEC power rankings and previewing that team. Frist up is the Wildcats of Kentucky. Joker Phillips was supposed to take what Rich Brooks had built and at least stay on par, but Phillips has lost all the momentuim that Brooks gained. I think in order for him to keep his seat from really heating up after the season he will have to take the Cat's to a bowl game. So the question is can they win at least six games in the new SEC? I say no.

The Facts

They return: 13 starters

6 on Offence

6 on Defence

1 on Special Teams

Projection

• @ Louisville   L
• VS. Kent St  W
• VS. Western Kentucky W
• @ Florida L
• VS. South Carolina L
• VS. Miss St ?
• @ Arkansas L
• VS. Georgia L
• @ Mizzou L
• VS. Vandy ?
• VS. Samford W
• @ Tennessee L

                                                          Dominate365 Projection 4-8

If Kentucy can get impoved play from there QB Max Smith and better offencseive production then they will have a shot at beating Louisville, Miss St, Vandy and Tennessee which I see as there swing games, but it will take winning at least three swing games to get to a bowl game.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13 



Ranking the top 15 coaches in college football

I'm continuing with my college football list and rankings to help you get past the worst days of the year for college football fans. The other day I gave you the top 14 SEC football stadiums link: Dominate365 and also the top 14 coaches in the SEC link: Dominate365 . I wanted to expand on the coaches and take it nation wide and include all of college football

Dominate 365 Top 15 Coaches in College Football



1. Nick Saban: Record 146-54-1; 3 National Tiles; 3 SEC Titles. He's built a dynasty at Alabama and there are no signs of that changing anytime soon. He's the best recruiter in college football and demands a lot from his coaches.

2. Urban Meyer: Record 104-23; 2 National Tiles; 2 SEC Titles; 14-0 season at Utah. Meyer took Florida higher than Spurrier in a shorter amount of time, but he left them in a very crappy situation down in the swamp. Meyer speed spread attack will work well in the Big 10, and I look for him to get the Buckeyes back in the title game very soon. 

3. Bob Stoops: Record 139-34; 1 National Title; 7 Big 12 Titles. "Big Game Bob" has not been so "Big Game" lately, but you can't look past what he's done over the last 12 years in Normand, Ok. His 2011 team was bitten all season by the injury bug, but if they can get past that they will have a shot at playing for it all once again. 

4. Frank Beamer: Record 251-121-4; 3 Big East Titles; 4 ACC Titles. He's been at VT since 1987 and most known for "Beamer Ball" basically he transformed the way teams use special teams. It's hard to think of him as one of the greatest with out a National Tile, but how many coaches can win 10+ games for 8 straight years at VT?  

5. Chris Peterson: Record 73-6; 4 WAC Titles; 2 BCS Bowl Victories. Peterson is the only two time winner of the Paul "Bear" Bryant award. I would love to see him move from Boise St, and take a power house type job just to see if I'm right by putting him in my top 5. Maybe Boise will have there shot when 2014 and playoffs come around.

6. Chip Kelly: Record 34-6; 3 PAC-12 Titles. Kelly only has three season under his belt, but during them seasons Kelly has done nothing but win. He has won three straight PAC 12 championships and took the Ducks to the 2010 National Title game.

7. Gary Patterson: Record 109-30; 1 U-USA Title; 4 MWC; In 8 of Patterson 11 years at TCU he's had 8 different 10+ win seasons including a 2nd place finish in 2010. Much link Peterson I would love to see him at a power house school, but what he's done at TCU is amazing. I mean over the last 4 or 5 years they have been a better program than Texas. TCU will now be joining Texas in the Big 12, and will soon start having a shot at getting to the title game.

8. Steve Spurrier: Record 197-75-2; 1 National Title; 1 ACC Title; 6 SEC Titles. In the 90's the Gators became the most feared team in the SEC under Spurrier with his fun n gun passing attack. It's taking some time but finally Spurrier has it going at South Carolina winning there first ever East Division Title. But as an always reminder that Spurrier has a place in the top 10... he won at Duke.

9. Mike Gundy: Record 59-30; 1 Big 12 Title. Oklahoma St is the little brother to Oklahoma, but over the past four season little brother has won more games, and gave big brother a beat down in 2011. The reason for this --> Mike Gundy becasue he's a man and he's now 44. Five years ago and Gundy is not even a top 50 coach, but going 41-11 over the last four years and just missing out on the National Title game this year is a heck of a coaching job.

10. Les Miles: Record 103-39; 1 National Title; 2 SEC Titles. If he would have beaten Alabama in the title game then I think Miles would be in the top 5, but he did such a bad job coaching that game that its hard to keep him even this high.

11. Bill Snyder

12. Brain Kelly

13. Bret Bielema

14. Mark Dantonio

15. Mack Brown

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp04

How a legend should leave the game

UPDATE

  This just out from Mariano Rivera: "I'm coming back. Write it down in big letters. I'm not going out like this."



Chuck Solomon/SI.com

There comes a time in every legendary athletes carrier where it's time to hang up the cleats. In a perfect world it would always go the way of John Elway who retired after winning back to back super bowls. Micheal Jordan had it right during his second retirement from Basketball and was all set to go out on top, but ruined that by coming back to the Wizards and went out on a low note. It seemed to be what Brett Favre was chasing and came close with the Vikings, but his carrier ended badly. Other sports legends have been taking out before they could retire. Bo Jackson was on his way to become maybe one of the greatest athletes to ever walk the earth, but an injury ended it all. Dale Earnhardt a true racing legend was taken off the earth by the sport that gave him everything in a tragic life ending wreak. 

Now another legends carrier maybe over as Mariano Rivera the greatest closer of all time tore his ACL doing some batting practice. When asked if he would ever pitch again an emotionally upset Rivera didn't know the answer to that question. It makes you sick to your stomach to see that for any player, but you never like for an injury to end the carrier of a legend. He's earned the right to end it on his terms, not on one of life's crazy curve balls. Maybe he can get back for one more year and go out on top, at least I'm hoping for that.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13  

Top 14 SEC Stadiums

The other day I read an article on bleacherreport.com ranking the 124 top college football stadiums from top to bottom. It was a very good read and I highly recommend it, but I felt like a few of the stadiums were missed ranked. Now I'm not going to take the time to try to redo all 124 stadiums, but I thought I would give a shot at the 14 top in the SEC.

Top 14 SEC Stadiums

Vanderbilt.edu

14. Vanderbilt Stadium: Vanderbilt

It only seats 39,790 but Vandy is in the process of adding a small grass hill to the open end zone, which will give it a more welcoming family feel.

(Bleacher Report ranked it 11th best in the SEC)



Vaughthemingway.com



13. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium: Ole Miss

Seats 60,850 and is almost fully in closed. If you was ranking tailgating at a stadium then Ole Miss might be number 1 with the grove, but the stadium is not very intimidating, and Ole Miss has never had much of a home Field advantage. 

(Bleacher Report ranked it 9th best in SEC) 



Collegegridirons.com



12. Faurot Field: Missouri

seats 68,349 it has a grass hill end zone with a signature block M painted on it. I don't know a lot about the atmosphere here, but they seem to get loud when playing teams like Oklahoma. 

(Bleacher Report ranked it 14th best in the SEC) 



Overthepylon.net



 11. Commonwealth Stadium: Kentucky

 Built in the 70's it's one of the newer SEC stadiums, and it holds 67,606 which isn't bad, but it lacks anything special; very cookie cutter

(Bleacher Report ranked it 12th best in the SEC)



Hailstate.com


10. Davis Wade Stadium: Mississippi State
Only seats 55,082 but can sound much louder because of the cowbells. I've always thought of it as a glorified high school stadium, but the cowbell tradition pushes Davis Wade up into my top 10
(Bleacher Report ranked it 13th best in the SEC)








wikipedia.com


9. Williams-Brice Stadium: South Carolina
It's a large stadium holding 80,250 and under Spurrier has seen some upgrades and has started becoming a real home field advantage, but from my understanding it still shows it's age.
(Bleacher Report ranked it 10th best in the SEC)






Arkansasrazorbacks.com


8. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium: Arkansas
the 76,000 seat stadium might be one of the most unique stadiums in college football, with the large field house and huge 50 yard wide video board. It's known to be a very loud, and rocking place. The only thing keeping it out of the top 5 is it's size.
(Bleacher Report ranked it 5th best in the SEC)

Aggieathletics.com

7. Kyle Field: Texas A&M
It's on the upper end of the SEC in seats at 83,002 and is known as "Home of the 12th Man" Kyle Field with it's 3 huge decks always looks massive and loud.
(Bleacher Report ranked it 8th best in the SEC)





Bushwood.org


6. Neyland Stadium: Tennessee
It's the biggest in the SEC at 102,037 and beautifully sits right on the river home of the Vols Navy. It is double enclosed and if I was making this list in the late 90's Tennessee would be in the top 3 SEC stadiums, but over the past few years the Vols have lost there home field advantage.
(Bleacher Report ranked it 7th best in the SEC)




Ballparks.com


5. Sanford Stadium: Georgia
It's a very large 92,746 seat stadium where games are played "Between the Hedges", but at the end of the day I've always felt that Sanford wasn't a place to be feared.
(Bleacher Report ranked it 2nd best in the SEC)

4. Jordan-Hare Stadium: Auburn
"The Jungle" holds 87,451 and is known as a very loud place to play. It's very tradition rich with the Tiger Walk and the Eagle flyover. Over the past few years HD video boards have been added.
(Bleacher Report ranked it 6th best in the SEC)







Goufsbull.com


3. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium: Florida
AKA "The Swamp" which at times can be the most feared place to play in the nation. The 88,548 stadium has lived up to it's nickname.
(Bleacher Report ranked it 4th best in the SEC)







SportsNOLA.com


2. Tiger Stadium: LSU
AKA "Death Valley" and at night Tiger stadium can be deadly for any team that enters it. Its no secret that the fine people of Louisiana like to have few drinks before the game, and can get extremely rowdy and at night the 92,400 can well cause an earthquake.
(Bleacher Report ranked it 3rd best in the SEC)

1. Bryant Denny Stadium: Alabama
Ten years ago Bryant Denny wouldn't have even cracked the top ten on this list, but 100's of millions of dollars and a few national titles later and it has climbed up to number one. The 101,821 seat stadium has four large video boards and is almost double enclosed.
(Bleacher Report ranked it 1st best in the SEC)