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Moving on, Part II...

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 06:06:17 GMT

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2008-09 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPECIAL COVERAGE – PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:39:51 GMT

With a load of playmakers gone from USC, can anyone challenge its stranglehold on the conference title, or will the Trojans again be among the nation’s elite? Will Arizona State, Cal, Oregon or Oregon State take the next step to competing for the conference crown? Can Arizona, UCLA or Washington State finally put it all together? How competitive will Stanford and Washington be? Part 10 of our college football preseason preview series has the answers.

Arizona Wildcats (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Idaho (W)
Sept. 6 – Toledo (L)
Sept. 13 – at New Mexico (L)
Sept. 20 – at UCLA (W)
Oct. 4 – Washington (W)
Oct. 11 – at Stanford (W)
Oct. 18 – California (L)
Oct. 25 – USC (L)
Nov. 8 – at Washington State (W)
Nov. 15 – at Oregon (L)
Nov. 22 – Oregon State (W)
Dec. 6 – Arizona State (L)

Coach Mike Stoops begins his fifth season at the helm of the Wildcats program with a 17-29 record, a far cry from what was expected upon his arrival after a stellar career as a defensive assistant, most recently at Oklahoma, where he won a national championship with his brother, Bob. Stoops has been a solid recruiter but so far has been unable to translate the talent into a winning season. Ten offensive starters return, though only three are back off a defense that had a solid, though not outstanding, season. ‘Zona lost four games by a touchdown or less last year, including defeats at the hands of USC and hated rival Arizona State. The spread offense installed by former Texas Tech assistant Sonny Dykes before the 2007 campaign began to jell late in the year and should be a force this year, with all the returning talent and experience. Senior quarterback Willie Tuitama led the conference last year with 28 touchdown passes against 12 picks. It looks like Stoops needs to take the Wildcats bowling this season in order to keep his job; it also looks like it will again come down to the wire as to whether or not Arizona will get that chance.

Arizona State Sun Devils (last season – 10-3, lost Holiday Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Northern Arizona (W)
Sept. 6 – Stanford (W)
Sept. 13 – UNLV (W)
Sept. 20 – Georgia (L)
Oct. 4 – at California (W)
Oct. 11 – at USC (L)
Oct. 25 – Oregon (W)
Nov. 1 – at Oregon State (W)
Nov. 8 – at Washington (W)
Nov. 15 – Washington State (W)
Nov. 28 – UCLA (W)
Dec. 6 – at Arizona (W)

Seven men return on each side of the ball for coach Dennis Erickson’s Sun Devils, who had a surprisingly good finish last season in the veteran mentor’s first year in Tempe, Ariz. Rudy Carpenter will be back under center after throwing for over 3,200 yards last year, with Erickson’s spread offense now in full effect. Kicker Thomas Weber won the Lou Groza Award in his freshman season last year and nailed 24 of 25 field goals in 2007. The offensive line was brutal last year, allowing 55 sacks, a school record; it gets no easier, as three men off that veteran unit must be replaced. The schedule is tough, with preseason national No. 1 Georgia coming to town and four of five on the road in October and early November, but the Sun Devils have what it takes to compete for the conference title.

California Golden Bears (last season – 7-6, won Armed Forces Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Michigan State (L)
Sept. 6 – at Washington State (W)
Sept. 13 – at Maryland (W)
Sept. 27 – Colorado State (W)
Oct. 4 – Arizona State (L)
Oct. 18 – at Arizona (W)
Oct. 25 – UCLA (W)
Nov. 1 – Oregon (W)
Nov. 8 – at USC (L)
Nov. 15 – at Oregon State (L)
Nov. 22 – Stanford (W)
Dec. 6 – Washington (W)

Cal returns five offensive and six defensive starters from a 2007 squad that started off looking like one of the elite teams in the nation but lost six of its final seven regular season games to nearly fall out of bowl play completely. Moreover, nearly all of the star power from that club is gone, including receiver and return man DeSean Jackson and back Justin Forsett. However, that may not be completely negative, as there were obvious chemistry issues with the Golden Bears as they spiraled out of control down the stretch last year. Senior quarterback Nate Longshore missed most of spring ball with a pectoral injury and will have to fight off sophomore Kevin Riley to keep his job. Zack Follett leads a deep crew at linebacker as the Cal defense transitions to a 3-4 look. The skill positions are largely unproven, and the offense needs a quarterback to step up and be a leader, but a squad with fewer ego issues and an experienced defense can post a solid year to build on in years to come.

Oregon Ducks (last season – 9-4, won Sun Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Washington (W)
Sept. 6 – Utah State (W)
Sept. 13 – at Purdue (W)
Sept. 20 – Boise State (W)
Sept. 27 – at Washington State (W)
Oct. 4 – at USC (L)
Oct. 11 – UCLA (W)
Oct. 25 – at Arizona State (L)
Nov. 1 – at California (L)
Nov. 8 – Stanford (W)
Nov. 15 – Arizona (W)
Nov. 29 – at Oregon State (L)

Six offensive and seven defensive starters are back for coach Mike Bellotti, who is the winningest coach in Ducks history and has only one losing season since he took the head job in 1995. Oregon must replace Heisman candidate quarterback Dennis Dixon and running back Jonathan Stewart, with Nate Costa and Justin Roper leading the field to replace Dixon. Roper posted an excellent start in the Ducks’ Sun Bowl thrashing of South Florida with Dixon and backup Brady Leaf injured, throwing for four touchdowns. The defense, led by the secondary, should be stronger than it has often been in recent years, led by lineman Nick Reed, who led the conference in sacks and tackles for loss, and rover Patrick Chung, who made 117 stops last year as a second-team all-American. Oregon will take a step back after making a run at the national title last year, but will again be a force to be reckoned with in the Pac-10.

Oregon State Beavers (last season – 9-4, won Emerald Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – at Stanford (W)
Sept. 6 – at Penn State (L)
Sept. 13 – Hawai’i (W)
Sept. 25 – USC (L)
Oct. 2 – at Utah (W)
Oct. 11 – Washington State (W)
Oct. 18 – at Washington (W)
Nov. 1 – Arizona State (L)
Nov. 8 – at UCLA (L)
Nov. 15 – California (W)
Nov. 22 – at Arizona (L)
Nov. 29 – Oregon (W)

The Beavers return nine starters to a squad that won seven of their final eight games to close the season strong. Though the number of departures looks ghastly on paper, coach Mike Riley’s brand of football places emphasis on controlling the running game on both sides of the ball and minimizing mistakes, which should make things easier on Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao, who combined for 21 picks against 11 touchdowns last season. The entire front seven is gone for Oregon State, but three senior starters in the secondary have 90 games’ worth of starting experience combined. Sammie Stroughter is back at receiver after a tough 2007 season ended in a medical redshirt, leading a strong receiving corps that should improve the offense. Oregon State is among the youngest teams in the conference, but, much like Cal, is talented and should have the tools to post another bowl appearance.

Southern California Trojans (last season – 11-2, won Rose Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – at Virginia (W)
Sept. 13 – Ohio State (L)
Sept. 25 – at Oregon State (W)
Oct. 4 – Oregon (W)
Oct. 11 – Arizona State (W)
Oct. 18 – at Washington State (W)
Oct. 25 – at Arizona (W)
Nov. 1 – Washington (W)
Nov. 8 – California (W)
Nov. 15 – at Stanford (W)
Nov. 29 – Notre Dame (W)
Dec. 6 – at UCLA (W)

Eleven starters return to coach Pete Carroll’s club, only four of which are from the offensive unit. Quarterback John David Booty is gone, though Mark Sanchez and Mitch Mustain should be more than sufficient to lead the offense. Sanchez led the offense last season while Booty was out with an injury, and Mustain won all eight of his starts as a freshman for Arkansas in 2006. The secondary and linebacking crew are both among the best in the nation, with all-America candidates all over the place, including linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing, who might have to fight each other off for the Butkus Award, and safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays. The offensive line needs four new starters, but since the unit was injury-ridden at times last year, plenty of returning men have some starting experience. USC has a lot of starters to replace, but, given the Trojans’ recent dominance of the Pac-10 under Carroll, it simply seems foolhardy to pick any other team to win the conference.

Stanford Cardinal (last season – 4-8)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – Oregon State (L)
Sept. 6 – at Arizona State (L)
Sept. 13 – at TCU (L)
Sept. 20 – San Jose State (W)
Sept. 27 – at Washington (L)
Oct. 4 – at Notre Dame (L)
Oct. 11 – Arizona (L)
Oct. 18 – at UCLA (L)
Nov. 1 – Washington State (W)
Nov. 8 – at Oregon (L)
Nov. 15 – USC (L)
Nov. 22 – at California (L)

Seven offensive and nine defensive starters return to a club that has won only 20 games since 2002, but posted four wins last year in a definite step forward in coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season at the helm. Tavita Pritchard, who engineered the now-famous upset of USC as a 41-point road underdog, returns under center but must improve his consistency. Senior safety Bo McNally, who sealed the upset over the Trojans with a late interception, leads the defense and has been named to the preliminary watch list for the Lott Trophy. The schedule is flat-out tough, with TCU and Notre Dame on the non-conference docket. The record will not reflect this, but Stanford is taking steps in the right direction, with strong recruiting classes coming in.

UCLA Bruins (last season – 6-7, lost Las Vegas Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Sept. 1 – Tennessee (L)
Sept. 13 – at BYU (L)
Sept. 20 – Arizona (L)
Sept. 27 – Fresno State (L)
Oct. 4 – Washington State (W)
Oct. 11 – at Oregon (L)
Oct. 18 – Stanford (W)
Oct. 25 – at California (L)
Nov. 8 – Oregon State (W)
Nov. 15 – at Washington (L)
Nov. 28 – at Arizona State (L)
Dec. 6 – USC (L)

Rick Neuheisel takes over after Karl Dorrell’s firing as the head man, an interesting move given that Neuheisel has won consistently as the coach at Colorado and Washington but indisputably left each school in worse shape than he found it, with NCAA probation for both programs after his departure. Seven teams on the 2008 slate finished with at least nine wins last year. Coordinators Norm Chow, who is back in the college game after getting fired as the Titans’ offensive coordinator, and DeWayne Walker, who returns from the Dorrell staff, are both among the best in the business. Five starters are back on both sides of the ball. The quarterback situation is nothing short of chaotic, with Ben Olson having broken his foot on two separate occasions this offseason, Patrick Cowan already slated to miss the entire year with an ACL tear and Osaar Rasshan also fighting injury trouble, leaving JUCO transfer Kevin Craft as the likely opening day starter. It will take Neuheisel some time to get things turned around, with few starters returning, a very-unsettled quarterback state of affairs and the program inconsistent to begin with in recent seasons under Dorrell. It should be a rebuilding year for the Bruins.

Washington Huskies (last season – 4-9)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – at Oregon (L)
Sept. 6 – BYU (L)
Sept. 13 – Oklahoma (L)
Sept. 27 – Stanford (W)
Oct. 4 – at Arizona (L)
Oct. 18 – Oregon State (L)
Oct. 25 – Notre Dame (L)
Nov. 1 – at USC (L)
Nov. 8 – Arizona State (L)
Nov. 15 – UCLA (W)
Nov. 22 – at Washington State (W)
Dec. 6 – at California (L)

Coach Tyrone Willingham enters the fourth year of his tenure in Seattle with an 11-25 mark, with his last two teams considered vast underachievers. Willingham has won at Stanford and Notre Dame but has thus far been unable to put it all together at Washington and probably needs at least a bowl appearance in order to keep his job. Seven offensive and six defensive starters return, including quarterback Jake Locker, who had a strong year as a freshman while setting the conference record for rushing yards from a quarterback, with just under 1,000. Most of the receiving corps and leading rusher Louis Rankin, who ran for nearly 1,300 yards, are gone, along with three-fourths of the defensive line. The start to the schedule is very tough, making a winning season even less likely for the Huskies. Willingham’s job looks to be very much in jeopardy, as the Huskies should have another sub-par season.

Washington State Cougars (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Oklahoma State (Seattle) (L)
Sept. 6 – California (L)
Sept. 13 – at Baylor (L)
Sept. 20 – Portland State (W)
Sept. 27 – Oregon (L)
Oct. 4 – at UCLA (L)
Oct. 11 – at Oregon State (L)
Oct. 18 – USC (L)
Nov. 1 – at Stanford (L)
Nov. 8 – Arizona (L)
Nov. 15 – at Arizona State (L)
Nov. 22 – Washington (L)
Nov. 29 – at Hawai’i (L)

Paul Wulff takes the reins at Washington State after an eight-year stint as the head coach at Eastern Washington. The Cougars return 15 starters to a team that had a bad start to the 2007 season but won three of five to end it. Alex Brink, who started 40 games for Wazzu, is gone after setting team career records in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions. Gary Rogers, a senior, looks to be Brink’s replacement, though Kansas State transfer Kevin Lopina is also in the hunt. The offense will go to a no-huddle look, while the defense will shift to a 4-3 scheme from the 3-4 system of last year. The Wulff era will begin in a harsh way, with a lot of losing between now and regaining relevance in the conference.

Next week – 2008 Big Ten football preview

Some information from The New York Times and ESPN.com was used in this report.

South Korea walks off with win over USA, 8-7

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:29:11 GMT

2008 SPECIAL COVERAGE – 2008 BEIJING SUMMER OLYMPICS
Game played Aug. 13, 2008

BEIJING – South Korea scored two runs in the ninth inning to post an 8-7 comeback win over the United States in the preliminaries at the 29th Olympiad. Jong-Wook Lee’s sacrifice fly scored Taek-Keun Lee for the winning run.

Team USA scored first in its first at-bat. Jayson Nix doubled with one out and scored on a Matt Brown two-out single for a 1-0 lead.

Korea took the lead right back in the bottom of the second frame. Dong-Joo Kim led off with a come-backer single off U.S. pitcher Brandon Knight’s leg before Dae-Ho Lee homered to deep left to take a 2-1 advantage.

Korea added a run in the third. Yong-Kyu Lee doubled down the left-field line and scored from third on a Knight wild pitch.

The Americans tied the score in the fifth. Mike Hessman led off with a single to left and Taylor Teagarden walked. Brian Barden followed with a single through the left side that just got past diving Korean shortstop Jin-Man Park, scoring Hessman. Terry Tiffee then singled to center after a pitching change to score Teagarden to tie the score at three.

Korea then sent eight men to the plate in its next at-bat to take the lead again. Young-Min Ko drew a one-out walk and Jong-Wook Lee dropped down a bunt single ahead of Yong-Kyu Lee, who singled to right to score Ko. Jin-Young Lee topped a ball to the right side, but first baseman Brown fielded the grounder and no one covered first base for the U.S., allowing Jong-Wook Lee to score. Seung-Yuop Lee then doubled to the left-field wall to score Yong-Kyu Lee for a 6-3 lead.

Undeterred, Team USA’s Nate Schierholtz lined the first pitch he saw in the sixth inning from Korea reliever Tae-Hyon Chong just over the right-field wall to cut the deficit to 6-4.

The U.S. took their first lead since the second inning in the top of the ninth. Hessman led off with a jack to left off Korea reliever Ki-Joo Han to cut the Korean lead to one. Teagarden then singled to right and Barden doubled to the right field wall. After Suk Min Yoon came on in relief of Han and Tiffee drew a two-out walk to load the bases, Brown singled to left to score pinch runner Dexter Fowler and Barden to take a 7-6 lead.

However, Korea would not give in. With Jeff Stevens on to shut it down for the Americans, pinch hitter Keun-Woo Jeong led off with a double down the left-field line to the wall. With one out, pinch hitter Taek-Keun Lee’s grounder to second was fielded by Nix, whose off-line throw home could not prevent Jeong from scoring to tie the game.

Taek-Keun Lee then advanced to third after a wild pickoff throw from Stevens got away down the right-field line and scored on Jong-Wook Lee’s one-out sac fly to center to end the game.

For South Korea, Jong-Wook Lee and Yong-Kyu Lee each led the way with two-hit nights. Jung-Keun Bong started for Korea and lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Chong, who struck out the side in the seventh, then worked 2 2/3 frames with six punchouts. Kwang-Hyun Kim pitched a scoreless inning before Han came in and failed to retire a batter. Yoon (1-0) got the win for Korea.

Barden led the way for Team USA’s 12-hit attack with three hits, while Tiffee, Brown and Hessman all recorded two base knocks. Knight also worked 4 1/3 frames, allowing six runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Mike Koplove, Brian Duensing and Kevin Jepsen combined to retire 10 straight hitters out of the bullpen before Stevens (0-1) blew the save.

Both squads are back in action Thursday morning, with Korea facing host China while the U.S. takes on the Netherlands.

Video credit – NBCOlympics.com

Dodgers take series opener over Philadelphia, 8-6

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:13:21 GMT

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Game played Aug. 11, 2008

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers knocked off the Phillies, 8-6, to win the first matchup of a four-game series. Derek Lowe got the win for L.A., while Philadelphia got the potential winning run to the plate in the ninth inning, but Jonathan Broxton pitched out of trouble to earn the save.

Los Angeles drew first blood by batting around in a six-run third and never trailed. Manny Ramirez’s one-out, two-run double scored Matt Kemp, who had singled and stolen second base, and Andre Ethier, who walked. James Loney’s single to right scored Jeff Kent, who was hit by a pitch from Philadelphia starter Kyle Kendrick, and Ramirez. Then, with two down, Casey Blake homered to dead center, scoring Russell Martin, who had singled to right, for a 6-0 lead.

The teams traded runs in the fourth. Philadelphia got on the scoreboard when Shane Victorino led off with a single to center and scored on a Ryan Howard groundout. The Dodgers got that run back when Kemp singled, took third base on a throwing error on Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz and scored on a Kent single through the left side, making the lead 7-1.

Philadelphia drew closer with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh. In the sixth frame, Jimmy Rollins led off with a single to center and scored on another Howard groundout.

In the seventh, Jayson Werth hit a leadoff double to center and stole third before scoring on pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins’ single through the right side. Jenkins then scored when Rollins hit a triple to right field that fell to Ethier’s right, cutting the deficit to 7-4.

The Dodgers got an insurance run in the eighth. Pablo Ozuna led off with a single through the left side and scored on a Loney double down the left-field line.

With Broxton, the Dodgers’ fill-in closer, on in the ninth, the Phillies made things interesting. Greg Dobbs singled up the middle to lead off, and Ruiz drew a free pass. Then, with two down, Chase Utley concluded a seven-pitch at-bat by lifting a bloop single to left, scoring Dobbs and Ruiz to cut the deficit to two. With Utley and Victorino, who had beat out an infield single, aboard, Howard grounded into the shift to end the game.

Kemp, Kent and Loney led the way for Los Angeles with three-hit nights. Ramirez and Blake also recorded two hits each. Lowe (9-10) pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, with a walk and three strikeouts, running his lifetime record against Philadelphia to 4-1. Chan Ho Park and Joe Beimel each went two-thirds of an inning before Broxton came on and registered his eighth save.

Utley was 3-for-5 for the Phillies, while Rollins and Victorino each chipped in two hits. Kendrick (10-6) lasted 3 1/3 frames, yielding seven runs on nine hits with three walks. Les Walrond and Clay Condrey pitched the rest of the night for Philadelphia.

The Dodgers, who are 59-59, continue a 10-game homestand Tuesday night by sending Clayton Kershaw to the mound to face 64-54 Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels.

Los Angeles, which has won nine of 12 at home, drew to within a game of idle Arizona in second place in NL West. The Phillies, unable to take advantage of the Mets’ and Marlins’ losses Monday, remain two games ahead of New York and 2.5 up on Florida in the East lead.

Video credit – ESPN2

2008-09 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPECIAL COVERAGE – BIG EAST CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:43:22 GMT

With defending co-champions West Virginia and Connecticut, Cincinnati, Rutgers and South Florida all in the mix to win the Big East, who will represent the league in the BCS? After tough 2007 seasons, are Louisville and Pittsburgh ready to re-assert themselves in a strong conference? Can Syracuse stay in single digits in the loss column this year? The 2008 Big East football preview is here.

Cincinnati Bearcats (last season – 10-3, won PapaJohns.com Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – Eastern Kentucky (W)
Sept. 6 – at Oklahoma (L)
Sept. 20 – Miami (Ohio) (L)
Sept. 27 – at Akron (W)
Oct. 3 – at Marshall (W)
Oct. 11 – Rutgers (L)
Oct. 25 – at Connecticut (L)
Oct. 30 – South Florida (W)
Nov. 8 – at West Virginia (L)
Nov. 14 – at Louisville (W)
Nov. 22 – Pittsburgh (L)
Nov. 29 – Syracuse (W)
Dec. 6 – at Hawai’i (W)

Fall practice begins with the question of who will take the snaps under center for the Bearcats in 2008 still unanswered. The NCAA has ruled that Ben Mauk, who won the starting job last year, has exhausted his eligibility after applying for a sixth year because of a medical hardship, having redshirted a season and missed another year after breaking his arm. Mauk is currently in an appeals process, but time is running out; should he not be reinstated, former starter Dustin Grutza and Notre Dame transfer Demetrius Jones lead the field to replace Mauk. Seven offensive and six defensive starters are back, though the three leading running backs, Butler Benton, Bradley Glatthaar and Greg Moore, are all gone. Cincinnati is a trendy pick to make a lot of noise in the Big East, but the unsettled situations at quarterback (assuming for now Mauk’s appeal does not go through) and in the backfield will keep the Bearcats from winning the conference, though another solid season should be in store for coach Brian Kelly’s charges.

Connecticut Huskies (last season – 9-4, lost Meineke Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – Hofstra (W)
Sept. 6 – at Temple (W)
Sept. 13 – Virginia (W)
Sept. 19 – Baylor (W)
Sept. 26 – at Louisville (W)
Oct. 4 – at North Carolina (W)
Oct. 18 – at Rutgers (L)
Oct. 25 – Cincinnati (W)
Nov. 1 – West Virginia (W)
Nov. 15 – at Syracuse (W)
Nov. 22 – at South Florida (L)
Dec. 6 – Pittsburgh (W)

Seventeen starters, nine on offense and eight defensively, return to a squad that shared the conference title in only its fourth season in the Big East and reached the AP rankings for the first time in program history. Senior quarterback Tyler Lorenzen returns to lead an offense that statistically improved dramatically last year, with a strong quarterback rating and a sparkling 13-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The sturdy running game is led by Andre Dixon and Donald Brown, who each rushed for just over 820 yards last season. Both lines are experienced and tough, and freshman All-American Scott Lutrus moves to middle linebacker after registering 107 tackles last year. With tremendous experience and leadership returning on both sides of the ball and a fairly easy non-conference slate, look for another big season for coach Randy Edsall and company.

Louisville Cardinals (last season – 6-6)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 31 – Kentucky (W)
Sept. 6 – Tennessee Tech (W)
Sept. 17 – Kansas State (W)
Sept. 26 – Connecticut (L)
Oct. 10 – at Memphis (W)
Oct. 18 – Middle Tennessee (W)
Oct. 25 – South Florida (L)
Nov. 1 – at Syracuse (W)
Nov. 8 – at Pittsburgh (L)
Nov. 14 – Cincinnati (L)
Nov. 22 – West Virginia (L)
Dec. 4 – at Rutgers (L)

Nine starters return to a Cardinals squad whose 2007 season has to be considered among the most disappointing in the nation, with senior all-world quarterback Brian Brohm and receivers Harry Douglas and Mario Urrutia, all of whom left for the NFL, leading the country’s sixth-best unit in total offense; the defense, however, finished 93rd in the nation in scoring defense, notably yielding 38 points in a stunning home loss to league bottom-feeder Syracuse en route to a 6-6 finish a year after winning the Big East and the Orange Bowl. Senior Hunter Cantwell will take over under center after spending three years as Brohm’s backup. The receiving corps was absolutely decimated by graduations, early defections to pro riches and offseason dismissals and injuries, and Cantwell, who has shown talent, has little experience in game action. Former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English should shore up the unit, given time; he has little to work with this season. With a home-heavy schedule, coach Steve Kragthorpe, who is a proven and talented coach facing an impatient fan base, should be able to squeeze an average season out of a very average team; the question is, will that be enough to keep his job?

Pittsburgh Panthers (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Bowling Green (L)
Sept. 6 – Buffalo (W)
Sept. 20 – Iowa (W)
Sept. 27 – at Syracuse (W)
Oct. 2 – at South Florida (L)
Oct. 18 – at Navy (W)
Oct. 25 – Rutgers (W)
Nov. 1 – at Notre Dame (L)
Nov. 8 – Louisville (W)
Nov. 22 – at Cincinnati (W)
Nov. 28 – West Virginia (L)
Dec. 6 – at Connecticut (L)

Eight offensive and six defensive starters return from last year’s club, which was expected to compete for the Big East crown but was injury-riddled again finished under .500. Running back LeSean McCoy will be the story on offense after rushing for over 1,300 yards, the most by a freshman in conference history, and 14 touchdowns, the most for a Pittsburgh freshman ever. Quarterbacks Bill Stull and Pat Bostick lead a four-man competition for the job under center. The defense under new coordinator and former SMU head man Phil Bennett will again be strong after finishing fifth in the nation last year in yards per game allowed. Many prognosticators are suggesting that the talented Panthers are finally ready to make another run at the BCS after representing the conference in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, falling to a Cinderella Utah BCS-busting club. However, Pitt under coach Dave Wannstedt has always been inconsistent and underachieving. With this in mind, a 7-5 season is about where Pitt should fall this season, with a lower-end bowl bid likely, but a far cry from competing for the conference title.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (last season – 8-5, won International Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Sept. 1 – Fresno State (L)
Sept. 11 – North Carolina (W)
Sept. 20 – at Navy (W)
Sept. 27 – Morgan State (W)
Oct. 4 – at West Virginia (L)
Oct. 11 – at Cincinnati (W)
Oct. 18 – Connecticut (W)
Oct. 25 – at Pittsburgh (L)
Nov. 8 – Syracuse (W)
Nov. 15 – at South Florida (L)
Nov. 22 – Army (W)
Dec. 4 – Louisville (W)

Coach Greg Schiano has taken the Rutgers program a long way in a short time, with three straight bowl trips in seven years after only one in 130-plus years of history before his arrival. Ray Rice, who finished his career at Rutgers as the career rushing leader, is gone, but seven offensive and eight defensive starters are back. Senior quarterback Mike Teel and a strong receiving corps lead one of the best passing units in the conference. Wideouts Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt became the first teammates in Big East history to finish with over 1,000 yards receiving in the same season in 2007. The schedule is unfortunate, as the Scarlet Knights face three of the other four serious conference contenders away from New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers has the tools to compete for the league title, and will continue to build credibility as a contender with a fourth straight postseason appearance. Look for about a third- to fifth-place finish in the conference.

South Florida Bulls (last season – 9-4, lost Sun Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Tennessee-Martin (W)
Sept. 6 – at UCF (W)
Sept. 12 – Kansas (W)
Sept. 20 – at Florida International (W)
Sept. 27 – at NC State (W)
Oct. 2 – Pittsburgh (W)
Oct. 18 – Syracuse (W)
Oct. 25 – at Louisville (W)
Oct. 30 – at Cincinnati (L)
Nov. 15 – Rutgers (W)
Nov. 22 – Connecticut (W)
Dec. 6 – at West Virginia (W)

Ten offensive and six defensive starters return to a club that reached the dreaded No. 2 ranking in the nation last year at one point and becoming a national darling. The red zone attack last year was not strong, due in large part to a sub-standard running game, with quarterback Matt Grothe usually the best running option and the overall team rushing leader. However, sophomore runner Mike Ford has improved greatly and gotten in better shape over the offseason and looks ready to shoulder more of the load. This, coupled with the fact that four O-line starters are back, will only help Grothe and the passing game. Tyrone McKenzie is the nation’s leading returning tackler after racking up 250 stops the past two seasons and should fill the middle linebacker spot vacated by the departed Ben Moffitt. Though they must avoid a late-season slide like they endured last year, the Bulls look like a team that can win the conference title and compete for national glory.

Syracuse Orange (last season – 2-10)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – at Northwestern (L)
Sept. 6 – Akron (L)
Sept. 13 – Penn State (L)
Sept. 20 – Northeastern (W)
Sept. 27 – Pittsburgh (L)
Oct. 11 – at West Virginia (L)
Oct. 18 – at South Florida (L)
Nov. 1 – Louisville (L)
Nov. 8 – at Rutgers (L)
Nov. 15 – Connecticut (L)
Nov. 22 – at Notre Dame (L)
Nov. 29 – at Cincinnati (L)

Coach Greg Robinson enters his fourth year at the helm of the Orange with nothing short of a disaster on his hands, sporting a 7-28 overall mark with two 10-loss seasons in three years. Remarkably, Syracuse was outscored 418-197 in 2007, with eight losses by at least three touchdowns. Seven offensive and six defensive starters will be back, including junior quarterback Andrew Robinson, who threw for 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions, not bad given how often he was running for his life last year. Mike Williams tied a team record with 60 catches last year. The rushing game must get better after recording 753 yards as a team last year, good for last in the country. Unfortunately for Syracuse, it just does not look good this season. Fortunately (perhaps), it does look like Robinson will be on the way out the door at some point in the near future, barring a miracle.

West Virginia Mountaineers (last season – 11-2, won Fiesta Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Villanova (W)
Sept. 6 – at East Carolina (W)
Sept. 18 – at Colorado (W)
Sept. 27 – Marshall (W)
Oct. 4 – Rutgers (W)
Oct. 11 – Syracuse (W)
Oct. 23 – Auburn (L)
Nov. 1 – at Connecticut (L)
Nov. 8 – Cincinnati (W)
Nov. 22 – at Louisville (W)
Nov. 28 – at Pittsburgh (W)
Dec. 6 – South Florida (L)

Eight offensive and four defensive starters return for longtime assistant Bill Stewart, who got the head coaching job after winning the Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma as the interim. Steve Slaton, who largely underachieved last season after beginning the year amidst Heisman talk, is gone, but quarterback Pat White, who upstaged Slaton most of the year in the running game, is back. Speedster Noel Devine also returns and figures to be the feature back. The offensive line remains strong, which will help the transition in the running attack. Only one starter return on both the defensive line and in the secondary, though leading tackler Reed Williams headlines a sturdy linebacking corps. The offseason has seen plenty of turmoil with the messy divorce from former head coach Rich Rodriguez, who left for Michigan after a stunning loss to rival Pitt in the regular season finale cost the Mountaineers a shot at the national title. The offense under White will be among the best running games in the nation again, but the defense just lost too much to compete for the national championship again, though a conference title is not out of reach.

Next week – 2008 Pac-10 football preview

Some information from The New York Times and ESPN.com was used in this report.

Legends earn comeback win over Lake County, 3-2

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:44:29 GMT

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL -- SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE
Game played Aug. 4, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Lexington Legends scored two runs in the eighth inning en route to knocking off the Lake County Captains, 3-2, winning their first game in the third meeting of the four-game set.

Trailing 2-1 going into the eighth inning, the Legends took their first lead of the night. With Captains reliever Garrett Rieck on for the eighth, Craig Corrado walked to lead off and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Eric Taylor. Corrado then stole third base and scored when Doug Pickens threw the ball down the left field line trying to get him at third, tying the score.

Brian Pellegrini then singled to left field and scored on a two-out single to left from Jonathan Fixler for the 3-2 advantage.

Lexington reliever Carlos Ladeuth then retired the Captains one-two-three in the ninth to earn the win.

Lake County took the first lead of the game in the top of an interesting sixth inning. Adam White reached on a fielder’s choice after Ladeuth made a spectacular play to throw Pickens out at third. White then scored when Mark Thompson’s fly ball to right dropped in for a two-base error next to Russell Dixon, who appeared to lose the ball in the lights.

The Legends got that run back in the bottom of the frame. Taylor singled to left-center to lead off against Captains reliever Josh Judy and scored on Fixler’s single to left.

The Captains then took the lead back in the seventh. Back-to-back doubles to right field to begin the inning by Roman Pena and Richard Martinez scored Pena, giving the Lake County a 2-1 lead heading into the eighth inning.

For Lexington, which was no-hit by Lake County starter Ryan Morris for five innings, Fixler led the way at the plate with a 2-for-4 night. On the hill, starter Jeff Icenogle worked five innings of six-hit scoreless ball, walking four and striking out eight. Ladeuth (6-9) got the win, yielding two runs on four hits over four innings, with a walk and three punchouts.

Karexon Sanchez, Pena, Martinez and Ron Rivas all recorded two hits for the Captains. Morris struck out seven with two walks over five innings before Judy and Rieck (0-1) each blew saves, each allowing two hits and one walk, with Judy working two innings and Rieck the final frame.

With the win, Lexington climbs to 17-26 in second-half play in the South Atlantic League Northern Division, 12.5 games back of first-place West Virginia in sixth place, while Lake County at 19-25 is in fifth, 11 games behind the Power.

The series finale is Tuesday night, with Lexington seeking a split and the Captains going for the series win.

2008-09 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPECIAL COVERAGE – BIG 12 CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:41:22 GMT

Is this the year Texas Tech finally matches its preseason hype? Will perennial conference leaders Oklahoma and Texas rule, or can upstart powers Kansas and Missouri repeat their conquests of 2007? Will Colorado, Oklahoma State or Kansas State challenge for the conference title? Can Texas A&M or Nebraska win under new coaching leadership? Where will Iowa State and Baylor finish?

North Division

Colorado Buffaloes (last season – 6-7, lost Independence Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 31 – Colorado State (Denver) (W)
Sept. 6 – Eastern Washington (W)
Sept. 18 – West Virginia (L)
Sept. 27 – at Florida State (Jacksonville, Fla.) (W)
Oct. 4 – Texas (L)
Oct. 11 – at Kansas (L)
Oct. 18 – Kansas State (W)
Oct. 25 – at Missouri (L)
Nov. 1 – at Texas A&M (W)
Nov. 8 – Iowa State (W)
Nov. 15 – Oklahoma State (L)
Nov. 28 – at Nebraska (L)

The Buffs return seven offensive and eight defensive starters for coach Dan Hawkins’ third season. Surprisingly, Colorado finished 10th in the conference in both total and scoring offense, and must replace three-time leading rusher Hugh Charles. Sophomore Cody Hawkins, the coach’s son, calls the signals under center and threw for over 3,000 yards with 22 touchdowns last season, but must throw fewer interceptions after tossing 17 last year. Despite losing three starters to graduation, the O-line is strong and deep, helping Hawkins and a number of young backs. The non-conference slate is tough, but not unmanageable, with a couple of breathers. Look for a solid but ultimately average season for Colorado.

Iowa State Cyclones (last season – 3-9)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – South Dakota State (W)
Sept. 6 – Kent State (W)
Sept. 13 – at Iowa (L)
Sept. 20 – at UNLV (W)
Oct. 4 – Kansas (L)
Oct. 11 – at Baylor (W)
Oct. 18 – Nebraska (L)
Oct. 25 – Texas A&M (L)
Nov. 1 – at Oklahoma State (L)
Nov. 8 – at Colorado (L)
Nov. 15 – Missouri (L)
Nov. 22 – at Kansas State (L)

Coach Gene Chizik begins his second season at the helm of the Cyclones with seven starters on each side of the ball back from a team that improved drastically as the season went on last year, after starting the season with a home loss to FCS opponent Northern Iowa. Brett Meyer, who started 40 games for Iowa State under center, and Todd Blythe, the team’s career leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches, are both gone, with Austen Arnaud the heir apparent at quarterback. Chizik’s charges continue to rebuild, with the long-term goal of bowl eligibility and competing for the conference title still a ways off but growing closer by the year.

Kansas Jayhawks (last season – 12-1, won Orange Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Florida International (W)
Sept. 6 – Louisiana Tech (W)
Sept. 12 – at South Florida (L)
Sept. 20 – Sam Houston State (W)
Oct. 4 – at Iowa State (W)
Oct. 11 – Colorado (W)
Oct. 18 – at Oklahoma (W)
Oct. 25 – Texas Tech (L)
Nov. 1 – Kansas State (W)
Nov. 8 – at Nebraska (W)
Nov. 15 – Texas (W)
Nov. 29 – Missouri (Kansas City, Mo.) (W)

Six offensive and nine defensive starters return to a squad that dropped a close contest to Missouri in last year’s regular-season finale that possibly prevented the Jayhawks from reaching the BCS title game. The schedule is tougher than last year, and KU will not sneak up on anybody this season, but quarterback Todd Reesing is back after a breakout 2007 campaign. The defense will miss Aqib Talib, who left for the NFL, but was greatly improved last year and has continued to get better this offseason. The offensive line and running game will be the keys after each lost manpower from last year’s club. Kansas should have the pieces in place for another big year; the de facto division title game with Missouri could determine just how big.

Kansas State Wildcats (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – North Texas (W)
Sept. 6 – Montana State (W)
Sept. 17 – at Louisville (L)
Sept. 27 – Louisiana-Lafayette (W)
Oct. 4 – Texas Tech (L)
Oct. 11 – at Texas A&M (L)
Oct. 18 – at Colorado (L)
Oct. 25 – Oklahoma (L)
Nov. 1 – at Kansas (L)
Nov. 8 – at Missouri (L)
Nov. 15 – Nebraska (L)
Nov. 22 – Iowa State (W)

Seven offensive and five defensive starters return to Kansas State, which lost its final four games of 2007 by a combined score of 198-112, the worst part of which came in a 73-31 loss to underachieving Nebraska. Quarterback Josh Freeman leads an offense that played well last year but could not overcome an atrocious defense. Freeman threw for over 3,350 yards, a team record, and 18 touchdowns while completing over 60 percent of his throws. The secondary must replace three starters, not a good sign for an already-weak unit. The offense will be fine, but the defense will again be the Achilles’ heel of a team that looks like it is headed for another sub-.500 year.

Missouri Tigers (last season – 12-2, won Cotton Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Illinois (St. Louis) (W)
Sept. 6 – Southeast Missouri State (W)
Sept. 13 – Nevada (W)
Sept. 20 – Buffalo (W)
Oct. 4 – at Nebraska (W)
Oct. 11 – Oklahoma State (W)
Oct. 18 – at Texas (W)
Oct. 25 – Colorado (W)
Nov. 1 – at Baylor (W)
Nov. 8 – Kansas State (W)
Nov. 15 – at Iowa State (W)
Nov. 29 – Kansas (Kansas City, Mo.) (L)

The Tigers return six offensive and 10 defensive starters from a 2007 squad that finished one game shy of playing in the BCS title game after a Big 12 championship loss to Oklahoma. However, Mizzou bounced back in a big way with a blowout victory over Arkansas in bowl play. Quarterback Chase Daniel should be a leading Heisman candidate after throwing for over 4,300 yards and 33 scores against 11 interceptions last year, the receiving and running games will be deep. The defense also should be strong, led by a linebacking corps that had issues with injuries during the spring. Look for Missouri to be in the hunt for the Big 12 North title; if they can survive a neutral-site contest with fierce rival Kansas, they could again be in the national hunt.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Western Michigan (W)
Sept. 6 – San Jose State (W)
Sept. 13 – New Mexico State (W)
Sept. 27 – Virginia Tech (L)
Oct. 4 – Missouri (L)
Oct. 11 – at Texas Tech (L)
Oct. 18 – at Iowa State (W)
Oct. 25 – Baylor (W)
Nov. 1 – at Oklahoma (L)
Nov. 8 – Kansas (L)
Nov. 15 – at Kansas State (W)
Nov. 28 – Colorado (W)

The Huskers, who last year posted their second losing season since 2003, return six starters on each side of the ball for former Nebraska defensive coordinator and interim head coach Bo Pelini’s first season at the helm. Pelini, who last year was LSU’s defensive coordinator en route to the Tigers’ BCS championship, has been hugely popular in Lincoln, Neb. since his first stint there and is nearly an exact opposite of former coach Bill Callahan – defensive-minded, passionate, motivational and loved universally by Huskers fans. Pelini and the defense have a lot of work to do after the unit surrendered 49 points to USC, 41 to Missouri, 45 to Oklahoma State, 65 to Colorado in the season finale and an unreal 76 to Kansas last season. Senior running back Marlon Lucky, who cracked the 1,000-yard mark last season, and quarterback Joe Ganz return to lead the offense. Nebraska should return to bowl play with a solid initial season under Pelini.

South Division

Baylor Bears (last season – 3-9)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – Wake Forest (L)
Sept. 6 – Northwestern State (W)
Sept. 13 – Washington State (W)
Sept. 19 – at Connecticut (L)
Oct. 4 – Oklahoma (L)
Oct. 11 – Iowa State (L)
Oct. 18 – at Oklahoma State (L)
Oct. 25 – at Nebraska (L)
Nov. 1 – Missouri (L)
Nov. 8 – at Texas (L)
Nov. 15 – Texas A&M (W)
Nov. 29 – at Texas Tech (L)

Coach Art Briles takes the reins at Baylor looking to turn around a once-proud program that has been far and away the worst team in Big 12 history, with a 13-43 league record since the conference’s 1996 formation, including last year’s 0-8 mark. Nine offensive and six defensive starters return. Both corners and last year’s leader in rushing and receptions are gone, but a strong group of linebackers are the defense’s core. Incumbent quarterback Blake Szymanski threw for 22 yards and over 2,800 yards last year but is being pushed for the job by Miami (FL) transfer Kirby Freeman and dual-threat freshman Robert Griffin. This is a team that is in full rebuilding mode but has what it takes to at least compete with, if not upset, some contenders.

Oklahoma Sooners (last season – 11-3, lost Fiesta Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Tennessee-Chattanooga (W)
Sept. 6 – Cincinnati (W)
Sept. 13 – at Washington (W)
Sept. 27 – TCU (W)
Oct. 4 – at Baylor (W)
Oct. 11 – Texas (Dallas) (W)
Oct. 18 – Kansas (L)
Oct. 25 – at Kansas State (W)
Nov. 1 – Nebraska (W)
Nov. 8 – at Texas A&M (W)
Nov. 22 – Texas Tech (L)
Nov. 29 – at Oklahoma State (L)

Eight offensive and five defensive starters are back for the Sooners, who lose a lot on offense, defense and special teams from last season’s conference champions but return quarterback Sam Bradford, who will be turned loose this year with a new no-huddle offense. Some question has been raised about OU’s ability to win big games, after dropping four straight BCS contests. The Sooners will be strong again – there is no doubt about that. However, the defense is too young to be up to its usual lights-out standard and will not be what it needs to be to win the conference title again.

Oklahoma State Cowboys (last season – 7-6, won Insight Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – at Washington State (Seattle) (W)
Sept. 6 – Houston (W)
Sept. 13 – Missouri State (W)
Sept. 27 – Troy (W)
Oct. 4 – Texas A&M (W)
Oct. 11 – at Missouri (L)
Oct. 18 – Baylor (W)
Oct. 25 – at Texas (L)
Nov. 1 – Iowa State (W)
Nov. 8 – at Texas Tech (L)
Nov. 15 – at Colorado (W)
Nov. 29 – Oklahoma (W)

Eight offensive and six defensive starters return to a very balanced offensive club that finished seventh in the nation last year in total offense. The schedule, as usual for a Big 12 South team, will be brutal; eight of their 2008 opponents were bowl-eligible last season. Quarterback Zac Robinson, who took the job from Bobby Reid amongst the controversy of coach Mike Gundy’s now-infamous tirade, threw for over 2,800 yards and rushed for over 800. Look for the Cowboys to compete for the division title and continue to improve in years to come.

Texas Longhorns (last season – 10-3, won Holiday Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Florida Atlantic (W)
Sept. 6 – at UTEP (W)
Sept. 13 – Arkansas (W)
Sept. 20 – Rice (W)
Oct. 4 – at Colorado (W)
Oct. 11 – Oklahoma (Dallas) (L)
Oct. 18 – Missouri (L)
Oct. 25 – Oklahoma State (W)
Nov. 1 – at Texas Tech (L)
Nov. 8 – Baylor (W)
Nov. 15 – at Kansas (L)
Nov. 27 – Texas A&M (W)

Ten starters overall return to a club that, despite a 10-win year last season, is widely seen as having underachieved. Nine bowl teams from 2007 are on the Longhorns’ 2008 slate, including Kansas and Missouri, two teams that reached the No. 2 national ranking, from the Big 12 North, in addition to the renewal of annual rivalries with Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Quarterback Colt McCoy returns under center after throwing for over 3,300 yards last season. The running game will be a question after Jamaal Charles’ departure; Chris Ogbonnaya, Vondrell McGee and Fozzy Whitaker will compete for carries. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp joined coach Mack Brown’s staff after coming over from Auburn; he will have to decide between playing young talent or experience in several cases. Texas will still be a force, but not what it has been in recent years.

Texas A&M Aggies (last season – 7-6, lost Alamo Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Arkansas State (W)
Sept. 6 – at New Mexico (W)
Sept. 20 – Miami (FL) (W)
Sept. 27 – Army (W)
Oct. 4 – at Oklahoma State (L)
Oct. 11 – Kansas State (W)
Oct. 18 – Texas Tech (L)
Oct. 25 – at Iowa State (W)
Nov. 1 – Colorado (L)
Nov. 8 – Oklahoma (L)
Nov. 15 – at Baylor (L)
Nov. 27 – at Texas (L)

New Aggies coach Mike Sherman is not really new to the College Station, Texas scene after having served there as the offensive line coach under former head man R.C. Slocum from 1989-93 and 1995-96 before spending 12 season in the NFL, including a stint as Green Bay’s head coach and, more recently, Houston’s assistant head coach. The offense will look different under Sherman’s pro-style, I-formation running attack, as will the defense, which used a 4-2-5 look most of the time last season but will go to a more traditional 4-3 scheme under new coordinator Joe Kines, who led a strong Alabama unit from 2003-06. Six offensive and five defensive starters return. Senior quarterback Stephen McGee was an excellent fit for former coach Dennis Franchione’s offense, leading the team in rushing with nearly 900 yards, and will have to learn a while new system. Mike Goodson and Jorvorskie Lane will lead the running game. The team is talented but young, and will have to learn two whole new systems, so look for a bit of a transitional period.

Texas Tech Red Raiders (last season – 9-4, won Gator Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Eastern Washington (W)
Sept. 6 – at Nevada (W)
Sept. 13 – SMU (W)
Sept. 20 – Massachusetts (W)
Oct. 4 – at Kansas State (W)
Oct. 11 – Nebraska (W)
Oct. 18 – at Texas A&M (W)
Oct. 25 – at Kansas (W)
Nov. 1 – Texas (W)
Nov. 8 – Oklahoma State (W)
Nov. 22 – at Oklahoma (W)
Nov. 29 – Baylor (W)

Ten offensive and eight defensive starters are back from a squad that was very young last season but still mustered a nine-win year. Quarterback Graham Harrell, who threw for over 5,700 yards last year, and Michael Crabtree, who as a freshman recorded nearly 2,000 yards receiving, return to lead the offense, which under coach Mike Leach has always thrown the ball early and often and been among the national leaders in most non-rushing-related offensive categories. The Red Raiders have been a trendy pick to break out in more than one recent year, but with a talented, experienced squad, Tech looks ready to finally challenge for the conference, and possibly national, title.

Conference championship game: Kansas makes a return trip to the Bowl Championship Series with a thrilling win over Texas Tech, which then will be firmly planted on the BCS bubble.

Next week – 2008 Big East football preview

Some information used from The New York Times and ESPN.com in this report.

Six-run sixth inning gives Angels win in Boston, 7-5

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:16:10 GMT

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Game played July 28, 2008

BOSTON – The Los Angeles Angels scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to continue their dominance of the Red Sox, 7-5, in the opener of a three-game series. Los Angeles is now 6-1 against Boston this season, having won the past six meetings, including a three-game sweep from July 18-20.

Trailing 2-1, the Angels sent 10 men to the plate in the sixth inning en route to taking a commanding lead. Chone Figgins led off the inning against Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka with a walk and stole second base. Casey Kotchman then homered to right field to take a 3-2 lead.

The inning continued when Maicer Izturis doubled to right and Vladimir Guerrero singled to right before Torii Hunter’s homer to left. After Howie Kendrick reached on a fielder’s choice, Jeff Mathis sent him home on a squeeze play for a 7-2 advantage.

Boston drew closer, scoring one run each in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings to stay in the game. In the sixth, David Ortiz led off with a walk and scored on Jed Lowrie’s ground-rule double to right. J.D. Drew doubled to left and scored on a Jacoby Ellsbury single to left in the eighth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Manny Ramirez hit a two-out solo homer over the Green Monster in left field off Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez to cut the score to 7-5. However, Rodriguez got Mike Lowell to fly out to deep left to end the game.

The Angels drew first blood in the second frame. Guerrero led off with a single to the right-center field gap and scored on a Juan Rivera bases-loaded one-out sacrifice fly to right.

The Red Sox took their only lead in the fourth. Kevin Youkilis walked to lead off against Angels starter Jered Weaver and Ortiz doubled off the left-center field wall before Ramirez’s two-run single to center gave Boston the 2-1 lead.

For the Angels, Guerrero and Hunter were each 2-for-4. Weaver (9-8) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. Jose Arredondo, Scot Shields and Rodriguez, who recorded his majors-leading 44th save, finished the game out of the bullpen.

Drew was 2-for-3 for Boston, while Ortiz and Ramirez each also registered two hits. Matsuzaka (11-2) worked five innings of six-run, seven-hit ball, with two walks and three strikeouts. Justin Masterson, Craig Hansen and Javier Lopez also pitched for the Red Sox.

Los Angeles is now 34-19 away from home, the best road record in the majors.

The Angels, who have MLB’s best record at 65-40, go for the series win Tuesday night with John Lackey on the mound against Clay Buchholz of Boston, which stands at 61-46.

Los Angeles stands atop the AL West with an 11.5-game lead over Oakland and Texas, while the Red Sox and a game behind Tampa Bay in second place in the East.

Video credit – ESPN

Pettitte, Yankees win eighth straight, top Boston, 10-3

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:04:54 GMT

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Game played July 26, 2008

BOSTON – Andy Pettitte (12-7) worked six innings of three-run, five-hit ball with seven strikeouts, and the New York Yankees used a four-run sixth inning to blow open a 10-3 win over the Red Sox to win their eighth straight game, remaining undefeated since the All-Star break and securing a series win in the three-game set.

Already leading 3-2, the Yankees sent eight men to the plate in the sixth, scoring four more runs. Xavier Nady led off the inning with a walk against Boston starter Tim Wakefield. After Melky Cabrera doubled off the Green Monster in left field, Johnny Damon’s fielder’s choice scored Nady. After a pitching change, Derek Jeter singled to right, scoring Cabrera. Bobby Abreu’s double to center scored Damon before Alex Rodriguez singled to left to score Jeter for a 7-2 lead.

Boston took a 2-0 lead in their first time at the plate. Dustin Pedroia reached base to lead off on a Rodriguez error and scored on David Ortiz’s single. Kevin Youkilis, who had walked, then scored on a Manny Ramirez forceout.

New York cut the deficit in half in the third. Jose Molina walked to lead off, took second base on a Wakefield wild pitch and scored on an Abreu single to right.

The Yankees took the lead in the fourth inning. Robinson Cano led off with a homer to dead center to tie the game. Cabrera then reached on a bunt single, stole second and scored on a Damon single up the middle to take a 3-2 lead.

The Red Sox got a run back in the sixth on J.D. Drew’s one-out jack to deep right.

However, New York salted the game away with a three-run eighth frame against Boston reliever Craig Hansen. With the bases loaded, Jason Giambi walked to force in Molina, who had walked and taken third base on a wild pitch. Cano then hit a two-out double off the Monster to score Abreu, who had walked, and Rodriguez, who reached after taking a Hansen fastball after his left arm.

Cano led the Yankee offense with a 3-for-4 afternoon. Jeter, Abreu, Rodriguez and Cabrera all added two hits to the cause. In relief, Jose Veras, Damaso Marte and Edwar Ramirez worked a combined two innings and David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth.

For Boston, Youkilis and Ortiz each had two hits. Wakefield (6-8) lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Justin Masterson, Javier Lopez, Hansen and Mike Timlin also saw time on the mound.

Nady and Marte were playing in their first game for the Yankees after coming to New York in a trade Friday from Pittsburgh.

Jed Lowrie’s career-long six-game hitting streak and Pedroia’s nine-game streak both came to an end for the Red Sox.

The Yankees (58-45) will pitch Sidney Ponson in the series finale Sunday night, while Jon Lester is slated to throw for Boston (60-45).

With the win, the Yankees temporarily drew to within 2.5 games of AL East-leading Tampa Bay in third place, with the Red Sox 1.5 back of the Rays in second. Tampa Bay’s Saturday night contest at Kansas City ended too late for this edition.

Video credit – FOX

2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPECIAL COVERAGE – ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:32:23 GMT

Can Virginia Tech seal up another conference title, or will perennial underachiever Clemson or new power Wake Forest step in the way? After the success of last year, what’s next for Boston College? Can Georgia Tech, Virginia or Maryland finally break through on the national stage? Will Florida State or Miami resemble the powerful squads of the early part of this decade? Can Research Triangle neighbors Duke, NC State and North Carolina make some noise? Answers follow in our 2008 ACC preseason preview.

Atlantic Division

Boston College Eagles (last season – 11-3, won Champs Sports Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – at Kent State (Cleveland) (W)
Sept. 6 – Georgia Tech (W)
Sept. 20 – UCF (W)
Sept. 27 – Rhode Island (W)
Oct. 4 – at NC State (W)
Oct. 18 – Virginia Tech (W)
Oct. 25 – at North Carolina (W)
Nov. 1 – Clemson (L)
Nov. 8 – Notre Dame (W)
Nov. 15 – at Florida State (W)
Nov. 22 – at Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 29 – Maryland (W)

Eleven starters return from a squad that finished with 11 wins, the most in Chestnut Hill, Mass. since 1940, and won BC’s eighth straight bowl game, the longest active FBS streak. Star quarterback Matt Ryan, the 2007 conference player of the year and the Unitas Golden Arm Award winner, and free safety Jamie Silva, who was a first-team All-American and recorded 125 tackles and eight interceptions last year, are among a strong crop of last year’s seniors that laid a strong foundation but will be sorely missed this season. Chris Crane, a three-year backup, looks to be the leading candidate to replace Ryan under center. Another solid season is in store for the Eagles, who will be ready to challenge for the conference title again in the near future.

Clemson Tigers (last season – 9-4, lost Chick-fil-A Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Alabama (Atlanta) (W)
Sept. 6 – The Citadel (W)
Sept. 13 – NC State (W)
Sept. 20 – South Carolina State (W)
Sept. 27 – Maryland (W)
Oct. 9 – at Wake Forest (L)
Oct. 18 – Georgia Tech (W)
Nov. 1 – at Boston College (W)
Nov. 8 – at Florida State (W)
Nov. 15 – Duke (W)
Nov. 22 – at Virginia (W)
Nov. 29 – South Carolina (W)

The Tigers are perhaps the poster child for underachievers everywhere, with an 8-8 record in their last 16 games as a favorite. With the talent at Clemson, there is no reason why it should not be among the best teams in the conference or even the nation. However, coach Tommy Bowden and the Tigers have not finished with a better conference record than 5-3 since 2000. Seven offensive and eight defensive starters return, including running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller, who prognosticators to a man believe could be better utilized, and quarterback Cullen Harper. Clemson has all the pieces in place to make a run at the league title and is capable of competing for BCS glory, but there will be plenty of opportunities for the Tigers to lose games they should win. Is this the year they can finally put it all together? Bowden, who presumably is already on a short leash, needs his veteran squad to deliver.

Florida State Seminoles (last season – 7-6, lost Music City Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Sept. 6 – Western Carolina (W)
Sept. 13 – Tennessee-Chattanooga (W)
Sept. 20 – Wake Forest (L)
Sept. 27 – Colorado (Jacksonville, Fla.) (L)
Oct. 4 – at Miami (FL) (W)
Oct. 16 – at NC State (W)
Oct. 25 – Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 1 – at Georgia Tech (W)
Nov. 8 – Clemson (L)
Nov. 15 – Boston College (L)
Nov. 22 – at Maryland (L)
Nov. 29 – Florida (L)

Seven offensive and seven defensive starters will be back for the Seminoles. However, seven starters will be ineligible for at least the first six games due to either the academic scandal that struck at the end of last season or other legal issues. Drew Weatherford, who has been inconsistent at best under center, returns but will be pushed for the starter’s job by redshirt sophomore Christian Ponder. Amidst on- and off-field turmoil, Coach Bobby Bowden will have to watch the once-proud program he built continue to slowly spiral back to mediocrity.

Maryland Terrapins (last season – 6-7, lost Emerald Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Delaware (W)
Sept. 6 – at Middle Tennessee State (W)
Sept. 13 – California (L)
Sept. 20 – Eastern Michigan (W)
Sept. 27 – at Clemson (L)
Oct. 4 – at Virginia (L)
Oct. 18 – Wake Forest (L)
Oct. 25 – NC State (W)
Nov. 6 – at Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 15 – North Carolina (L)
Nov. 22 – Florida State (W)
Nov. 29 – at Boston College (L)

Nine offensive and five defensive starters return under coach Ralph Friedgen, who is statistically one of the best coaches in Maryland history but has seen his squads finish under .500 three of the last four years. The Maryland squads in the Friedgen era have been notoriously difficult to predict, with the more recent editions falling short of lofty objectives. Jordan Steffy, who won the quarterback job last year, has had five concussions and must fight off Chris Turner, who started the last eight games of 2007 while Steffy was out with an injury, not a good sign for a team that needs a clear, defined leader with a tough slate down the stretch. As always, take any Terps football predictions with a grain of salt, but this team just has the look of an underachiever; they look like they will have to struggle mightily just to reach bowl eligibility.

North Carolina State Wolfpack (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – at South Carolina (L)
Sept. 6 – William & Mary (W)
Sept. 13 – at Clemson (L)
Sept. 20 – East Carolina (L)
Sept. 27 – South Florida (L)
Oct. 4 – Boston College (L)
Oct. 16 – Florida State (L)
Oct. 25 – at Maryland (L)
Nov. 8 – at Duke (W)
Nov. 15 – Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 22 – at North Carolina (L)
Nov. 29 – Miami (FL) (L)

The Wolfpack return six offensive and seven defensive players for coach Tom O’Brien’s second season. Injuries were an issue last season, and the depth is better this year, though a good old-fashioned quarterback controversy may be brewing, with incumbent Daniel Evans, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, Russell Wilson and Mike Glennon, the brother of Virginia Tech’s Sean Glennon, all fighting for the job. The schedule early is brutal, with a tough slate altogether, and the Wolfpack will have to cut down on turnovers are throwing 23 interceptions last year. The team is getting better and becoming more accustomed to O’Brien’s system, but it looks like another rebuilding year is in store for NC State.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (last season – 9-4, won Meineke Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – at Baylor (W)
Sept. 6 – Ole Miss (W)
Sept. 20 – at Florida State (W)
Sept. 27 – Navy (W)
Oct. 9 – Clemson (W)
Oct. 18 – at Maryland (W)
Oct. 25 – at Miami (FL) (W)
Nov. 1 – Duke (W)
Nov. 8 – Virginia (L)
Nov. 15 – at NC State (W)
Nov. 22 – Boston College (L)
Nov. 29 – Vanderbilt (W)

Fourteen starters return for the Deacs, including nine on defense. Quarterback Riley Skinner, who threw for over 2,200 yards last season with the best completion percentage in the nation, is back to try to lead the offense to its third straight bowl game and another ACC title after winning the conference and playing in the Orange Bowl two years ago. The offensive line in particular is deep, which will help Skinner, 2007 leading rusher Josh Adams and a relatively-inexperienced offense. Look for Wake Forest to post another surprising record and challenge for the conference crown again under coach Jim Grobe.

Coastal Division

Duke Blue Devils (last season – 1-11)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – James Madison (W)
Sept. 6 – Northwestern (L)
Sept. 13 – Navy (W)
Sept. 27 – Virginia (L)
Oct. 4 – at Georgia Tech (L)
Oct. 18 – Miami (FL) (L)
Oct. 25 – at Vanderbilt (L)
Nov. 1 – at Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 8 – NC State (W)
Nov. 15 – at Clemson (L)
Nov. 22 – at Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 29 – North Carolina (L)

As the old saying goes, hope springs eternal. Never has that felt truer in Durham, N.C. than now, as David Cutcliffe, heralded as the savior of the Blue Devils, arrives to take the helm of what has unquestionably been among the worst few power-conference programs of the BCS era, with only 10 wins so far this decade. The defense was nothing short of atrocious last year, yielding over 40 points six times. Ten starters are back from that defense, along with seven offensive starters. Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and deep threat Eron Riley, who led the ACC in yards per catch with 20.8, are back and should excel under Cutcliffe. The success of the 2008 Duke football team cannot accurately be measured in wins and losses; the record will not look good, but expect a foundation to be laid for the Blue Devils to become competitive in the future.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (last season – 7-6, lost Humanitarian Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – Jacksonville State (W)
Sept. 6 – at Boston College (L)
Sept. 13 – at Virginia Tech (L)
Sept. 20 – Mississippi State (L)
Oct. 4 – Duke (W)
Oct. 11 – Gardner-Webb (W)
Oct. 18 – at Clemson (L)
Oct. 25 – Virginia (L)
Nov. 1 – Florida State (L)
Nov. 8 – at North Carolina (L)
Nov. 20 – Miami (FL) (W)
Nov. 29 – at Georgia (L)

The Paul Johnson era begins this season in Atlanta with a couple of questions. First, can the triple-option attack the Navy and Georgia Southern offenses ran so well under Johnson work in the ACC, where the competition will be significantly stronger? And secondly, can Johnson lead the Yellow Jackets to play their best week in and week out, which Chan Gailey often could not do? It will help if Johnson can win bowl games and beat bitter rival Georgia; Gailey was 2-4 in bowls and 0-6 against the Bulldogs. Quarterback Taylor Bennett, less-than-thrilled with the idea of running the triple option, left for Louisiana Tech, with Josh Nesbitt and Calvin Booker set to do battle to replace him. Tashard Choice, the two-time conference leading rusher, also is gone due to graduation. Only four starters return on each side of the ball, making the transition to Johnson’s offense and new defensive coordinator Dave Wommack easier, though wins will be hard to come by. The Yellow Jackets will have to rebuild this year, but expect them to be right back in the ACC picture next year.

Miami (FL) Hurricanes (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – Charleston Southern (W)
Sept. 6 – at Florida (L)
Sept. 20 – at Texas A&M (L)
Sept. 27 – North Carolina (L)
Oct. 4 – Florida State (L)
Oct. 11 – UCF (W)
Oct. 18 – at Duke (W)
Oct. 25 – Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 1 – at Virginia (L)
Nov. 13 – Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 20 – at Georgia Tech (L)
Nov. 29 – at NC State (W)

Year two of the Randy Shannon era will begin after a down year, but with expectations sky-high as always. Unfortunately, only four offensive and six defensive starters are back, with quarterback Kyle Wright among the departures. Robert Marve will be the new starter under center. Shannon has notably underscored the importance of discipline in his new program, but fans are going to have to become patient for at least another year to see the fruits of that discipline begin to show on the field and in the win-loss record.

North Carolina Tar Heels (last season – 4-8)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – McNeese State (W)
Sept. 11 – at Rutgers (L)
Sept. 20 – Virginia Tech (W)
Sept. 27 – at Miami (FL) (W)
Oct. 4 – Connecticut (L)
Oct. 11 – Notre Dame (W)
Oct. 18 – at Virginia (L)
Oct. 25 – Boston College (L)
Nov. 8 – Georgia Tech (W)
Nov. 15 – at Maryland (W)
Nov. 22 – NC State (W)
Nov. 29 – at Duke (W)

Butch Davis begins his second season at the helm of the Tar Heels program with 10 starters back on offense and eight on defense, with plenty of depth on both sides of the ball. Ten offensive and eight defensive starters return to a squad that also finally has some depth behind them. The Tar Heels must play better in close games; they lost six games by a touchdown or less last year. Quarterback T.J. Yates will lead the offense, with Hakeem Nicks providing a big-play threat at receiver. The non-conference schedule is not ideal, but a late-season run will be enough for the Tar Heels to break out with a solid season.

Virginia Cavaliers (last season – 9-4, lost Gator Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Southern California (L)
Sept. 6 – Richmond (W)
Sept. 13 – at Connecticut (L)
Sept. 27 – at Duke (W)
Oct. 4 – Maryland (W)
Oct. 11 – East Carolina (W)
Oct. 18 – North Carolina (W)
Oct. 25 – at Georgia Tech (W)
Nov. 1 – Miami (FL) (W)
Nov. 8 – at Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 22 – Clemson (L)
Nov. 29 – at Virginia Tech (L)

Five starters are back on each side of the ball from a club that rode its lights-out defense to a nine-win year. Chris Long, among the nation’s best defensive players, is gone. The toughest stretch will come late in the year, so improving as the season progresses will be key. Virginia continues to assert itself as a consistent ACC contender with another solid season, quite an accomplishment given all the talent lost.

Virginia Tech Hokies (last season – 11-3, lost Orange Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – East Carolina (Charlotte, N.C.) (W)
Sept. 6 – Furman (W)
Sept. 13 – Georgia Tech (W)
Sept. 20 – at North Carolina (L)
Sept. 27 – at Nebraska (W)
Oct. 4 – Western Kentucky (W)
Oct. 18 – at Boston College (L)
Oct. 25 – at Florida State (W)
Nov. 6 – Maryland (W)
Nov. 13 – at Miami (FL) (W)
Nov. 22 – Duke (W)
Nov. 29 – Virginia (W)

The Hokies’ defense, which was third in the nation in scoring last season, lost seven starters, but still should be loaded with young talent. Six men are back on offense, including quarterback Sean Glennon. The offense will be weaker, which should not affect things too much, as Tech has always relied on its defense under coach Frank Beamer and defensive coordinator Bud Foster, who is renowned for his ability to mold young defenses into outstanding units, to win games. The Hokies will lose at least a couple of games because of a weak offense, but they will win a lot more because of their defense and will again be a force in the ACC.

Conference championship game: Clemson knocks off surprising North Carolina to keep its dream season alive and, depending on how other outcomes shake out across the country, perhaps advance to its first BCS title game.

Next week – 2008 Big 12 football preview

Some information used from The New York Times and ESPN.com in this report.