People Will Remember The First Miami Beach Bowl

((HT: ESPN/KSL-TV))

For the wrong reason, probably...

The game itself was fantastic.

Memphis scores on a 4th Down and 4 with ten seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime at 45.
Both teams kick field goals in the first, and Memphis holds off BYU with another field goal and interception in the second overtime for the 51-48 win.

But here's what went down afterwards- and it was UGLY!


BYU AD Tom Holmoe took to Twitter to apologize for his team's behavior.

What will come of this...???

Don't know, really...

But the HQ figures that anything that happens will be internal...

UCF's Hail Mary Is A Conference Clincher

So Central Florida earns a share of the American Athletic Conference championship but it was a heck of a way to win it.

Knights quarterback Justin Holman connects with Breshad Perriman on the successful hail mary to lift UCF to a 32-30 win over East Carolina.


"Justin threw the ball."  Perriman said.  "I knew he was coming to our side. It was a perfect ball. I was blessed enough to come down with the catch."

"That was a great last play," UCF head coach George O'Leary said, "That's the second conference championship in a row, that's the first time in school history. That's great for the players and I'm happy so happy for them."

Here's how the voice of the UCF Knights Marc Daniels called it.




UCF shares the AAC title with Memphis giving the Knights claim to back to back conference championships.

It was a gut wrenching loss for East Carolina.

“I’ve experienced games like that before and it doesn’t get any easier. It’s tough." East Carolina head coach Ruffin McNeill said.

Cincy Bearcats Boot ECU Pirates

Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville has full confidence in his kicker Andrew Gantz but was
wondering if the game winner was a bit out of his range on a bitter cold night.

"Kicking almost a 50 yard field goal in that weather is hard." Tuberville said.  "I was more worried about snapping and the hold. I knew he could get it that far and make it, but that’s really out of his range."

With 15 seconds left Gantz nailed a 47 yard field goal with 15 seconds left to put the Bearcats in front for good 48-46.




"Adrenaline was obviously pumping and he made good contact with it." Tuberville said.  "I don’t watch the officials, I watch our fans. The fans told us it was good."

"He came up to me before we went out there and said, ‘hey it’s me and you, so if you get me down there I’m going to hit’ and ‘I told him I got you man, we’re going to do it.’" Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel said.  "Gantz is unbelievable."

Terrell Hartsfield's 20 yard fumble return for a touchdown provided the final score 54-46.


Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel completed 29 of 44 passes for a career high 436 yards and four touchdowns.

East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden for 418 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked four times by the Cincinnati defense.

Nick Montana Has A Brain Fart, Spikes Ball On 4th Down

Tulane quarterback Nick Montana, the son of Joe Montana, lost count of downs Saturday afternoon vs UCF and spiked the ball to stop the clock ON FOURTH DOWN.


Well their was only two seconds left before halftime but Tulane could have kicked a field goal to cut the Knight lead to 7.

Dad would not approve of this.

You Gotta Feel For Houston

((HT: American Athletic Conference))

Thursday night games are ones prone to sneak up on you athletically...

Short week, faster time to get adjusted to your opponent, schemes are a little different to get squared away, injuries are not fully healed... all that stuff...

After a slow start between UCF and Houston last night, the Knights did just enough to get a lead late but Houston had a final chance...


Like the HQ said in the lead, you gotta feel for the Cougs- if only for the idea that a quarterback is trying to make something happen late...

And he fumbles it into the endzone...

How Does North Carolina Give Up 70...???

((HT: WNCT-TV))

Larry Fedora has some 'splaining to do...

How, in the age of trying to improve your defensive stock do you do this...???

Allow East Carolina QB Shane Carden to throw for 438 yards
Allow three second quarter touchdowns, including a pick-6
Allow 789 total yards by the Pirates offense
Allow the most points scored in school history
Allow the most yards in school history

Bottom line was that the Tarheels did and it ended up being a 29-point loss (70-41) that, really, didn't even seem that close...

Here's the highlights- obviously condensed a great deal for television sake
Greenville, NC | News | Weather | Sports - WNCT.com

The American Conference now has its poster child in both Carden and East Carolina. It will be interesting to see what happens in their conference with them and, more importantly, just how much of a leash the coaching staff in Chapel Hill will have going forward.

UTSA Roadrunners Race Past Houston

The University of Houston was all ready to unveil their brand new TDCEU Stadium but the Texas-San

Antonio Roadrunners ruined it by having the audacity to win the game.

And win it in a blowout defeating the Cougers 27-7.


"Everyone has big wins but this being a good Houston team, close to home, and we have 15 players from this city on our team, it feels good to have this win." UTSA head coach Larry Coker said.

UTSA forced six Houston turnovers, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries.





Plus the Cougars had a tough time moving ball on the Roadrunner defense on gaining 208 yards of total offense.

"I give UTSA credit."  Houston head coach Tony Levine said. "They out coached us, they out played us, they out executed us and we have some work to do."

Rutgers Rallies To Defeat Washington State 41-38

Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova finally had a great game over a team other than Arkansas.

Nova threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights in their 41-38 win over Washington State in Pullman.


Nova's opponent Wazzou quarterback Conner Halliday threw for 532 yards and five touchdowns.

The difference was Rutgers has a running game.  Paul James rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns.  James' third late in the fourth quarter was the game winner for the Scarlet Knights.

"To come back out here on the West Coast and win the way we did, it shows how
hard we worked in the offseason camp." Nova said.  "I know the guys are excited but we have to get back to work."

“It’s a great feeling to get this win."  James said.  "Last year, we came over to the west coast and it didn’t end too well. This year it’s just a great feeling to come back here and get that win.”

"For too long around this university expectations have been too low."  Washington State head coach Mike Leach.  "I think we as coaches and as players have to change that. It’s not going to change from the outside. We’ve got to change that and we’ve got to expect more out of ourselves – starting with the coaches.”

It was the first time Rutgers has defeated a Pac-12 team.

If You Had Louisville And 62, You Lose...

((HT: ESPN/NCAA Highlights))

It was just one of those days...

A day where Louisville put the hammer down and Rutgers was in the middle of the lane when the Cardinals car was late for an appointment in the American semi-finals...

92-31...

And that's not a misprint, either...

Here's the less painful version of the highlights...


Rutgers (now 12-21) actually led at 7-6 as the Scarlet Knights hit their first three shots. But they wound up with more turnovers (17) than made shots (seven) in the first half. Rutgers shot 18-percent from the floor in the second half and 24-percent overall. Louisville's bench scored 32 points on their own...

The Cardinals will play Houston, which upset No. 25 SMU 68-64, in the semifinals

Mick Cronin Goes Nuts on TV Ted Valentine

Wow!

College Basketball coaches--and coaches in general can be somewhat testy when they don't like calls in ball games.

But rarely do they get so mad that they have to be restrained...and then start pushing away the people restraining them.

Yet that's what happened today to the University of Cincinnati's Mick Cronin after he disagreed with a call by everyone's least favorite basketball ref, TV Teddy Valentine.

Cronin flys off the bench, but gets intercepted by his players and an assistant coach who tries to pull him away. Cronin shoves the coach and walks away.

By the way, Cincinnati lost a potential conference American Athletic Conference title clinching game vs. UConn 51-45.

5 Top 25's Go Down In One Night...

It was not a night to be a ranked team in the world of college hoops...

Indiana fans wore hard hats at Assembly Hall as Indiana took care of 20th ranked Iowa 93-86
Will Sheehey scored a career-high 30
((HT: BTN))


And Penn State swept Ohio State with their win over the Buckeyes 65-63... and they stormed the court...
Surprising no one...
((HT: BTN))


Arkansas also got their season sweep over Kentucky with their overtime win IN LEXINGTON!!!

Which, the HQ is sure, has sent the entire Big Blue nation into some kind of histrionics
((HT: SEC on ESPN))
Houston's Danuel House scored 19 off the bench as the Cougars knocked off #21 Memphis 77-68 Mark Followill and Chris Walker discuss ((HT: CBS Sports Network))
And, finally, St. Louis' 19-game winning streak came to a screeching halt with their loss to Duquesne...
It was Duquesne's first over a Top 10 team since a 72-68 win over #9 Xavier on February 7, 2009, and it was DU's first road win over a Top 10 team since a 73-72 win at #6 Bradley on March 5, 1962...

This Is Just Damn Cute- Jack Meets Blue

((HT: Georgetown Today))

Butler traveled to Georgetown to play some hoops Saturday...

It became the first time that Jack met Blue III...

Bulldog cuteness and touring ensued...

And Kevin Ollie Was Hot, Too...???

((HT: ESPN))

UConn head coach Kevin Ollie wasn't too long for the floor in the second half tonight in the game against Louisville...

Here's the outburst...


The technicals were way quick...
And, apparently, Ollie went all big-eyed over the quickness and had to be restrained...

Should be interesting if Ollie gets really suspended over this one...

Petrino Is Heading Back To Louisville

HT: Yahoo Sports.com

It looks as if Bobby Petrino is leaving Western Kentucky and returning to Louisville to become the Cardinals head coach.

Yahoo sports is reporting that Petrino's agent David Dunn is meeting with Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich Wednesday night to finalize a contract.

Louisville has been down this road before.  Petrino was the Cardinal head coach for four years and compiled an impressive 41-9 record.

Back then though Petrino must of thought the Louisville gig wasn't such a great job.  First he had a secret meeting with Auburn officials about their head coaching position that was still occupied by Tommy Tuberville, denied it and then admitted it.

Five days after accepting an extension with Louisville Petrino interviewed for the LSU job.  Later that year he interviewed for the Notre Dame job and even had a conversation with Ole Miss before finally bolting the Cardinals for the Atlanta Falcons (and we know how that worked out.)

Now after leaving Atlanta and Arkansas in disgrace and rehabbing his career at Western Kentucky Louisville looks like a destination rather than part of the journey.

If any one feels Bobby Petrino has truly repented for his sins Tom Jurich would be a good judge.  Jurich put up with Petrino's dalliances the first time around.  Reportedly the interview between the two parties lasted nine hours and was described by a Yahoo.com source as "very intense."

With the immient Bobby Petrino hiring at Louisville he and men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino will be reunited too.

Nothing like having a pair of Italian head coaches in your marquee sports each with extra martial issues.

Blake Bortles Nails His NFL Audition, If He So Chooses

You've got to think Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles might be thinking about going pro.

Especially after his performance Wednesday night in front of a national TV audience in the Fiesta Bowl.

Bortles completed 20 of 31 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a career high 93 yards and a touchdown in UCF's 52-42 Fiesta Bowl win over Baylor.

Thanks UCF Knights




"It's awesome to be a part of this." Bortles said. "We came in together.  We're all within one year of each other.  We weren't highly touted guys out of high school.  We came to UCF on a mission."

Bortles would win Fiesta Bowl MVP honors.

"I think he came back and made some big plays with his legs and also turned some plays that could have been very bad for us, into really good plays getting the ball downfield." UCF head coach George O'Leary said.

"He [Bortles] deserved it [Fiesta Bowl MVP Award]." O'Leary added, "I think he played very well."

What was important about Bortles performance against Baylor was that he was able to keep pace with Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel (should he choose to go pro) in jaw-dropping performance's in the collegiate finale's.

Those who evaluate talent for the NFL Draft (and those of us in the OSG HQ tend to stay out of that business) see a work in progress with Bortles.

Blake Bortles' conflict: media/mock drafts = top 10, NFL advisory panel = 2nd RD. 5th pick = 4yrs/18M, 40th pick = 4yrs/4M. #toughcall
— Phil Savage (@SeniorBowlPhil) January 2, 2014

Bortles is a special talent at quarterback and UCF Knight fans would love to see him stay for one more year.

The NFL lure might be to great though.

ND's Tommy Rees Has A Heck Of A Final Game In Pinstripe Bowl, Offensive Lineman Wins Game MVP

Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees is know as "The Closer" because many times Rees has come off the bench to rally the Irish to victory.

In his final game as the Notre Dame quarterback Rees faced a Rutgers defense that's 122nd our of 125 NCAA FBS teams defending the pass.

Let's just say Rees took advantage of that completing 27 of 47 passes for 319 yards and to lead Notre Dame to a 29-16 Pinstripe Bowl win over Rutgers.

Here are the highlights, Thanks WatchND:



"He's so smart." Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said of Tommy Rees.  "You can go in and run a system with him. He's so bright.  He just has the ability to pick up all of the things that we can do offensively."

With that performance Rees did not win the game MVP award.  That honor went to Irish offensive tackle Zack Martin.

"I was giving Tommy a hard time," Martin said.. "I think he got snubbed a little bit."

Here's coverage from WNDU-TV, South Bend, Indiana with sound bites from Tommy Rees.

Louisville's Kevin Ware Bored With Kentucky Rivalry: "...we really don’t care that Kentucky exists.”

[HT: Louisville Courier-Journal]

It looks like the Louisville/Kentucky men's basketball rivalry might heat up.

The 'Cats and "Cards mix it up on December 28th at Rupp Arena in Lexington in one of college basketball's best rivalry but Louisville's Kevin Ware finds it boring.

"It gets old; it's boring." Ware said.  "It's just another game," Ware said. "Nobody's from here except a couple guys on the team. We really don't get into the whole UK-Louisville rivalry. It's just another game for us. A lot of people take it to that further extent, all the UK and U of L bashing each other. And even with a lot of stuff that they put on us this year, we really don't care that Kentucky exists. We just look at them as another school."

I wonder who the UK fans in Rupp Arena will target in a week and a half.

Just another game, really.  Boring, ridiculous. Kentucky another school, BS.

I know these rivalry games are more for the fans and alumni for bragging rights but please, a late December game against and in-state rival should have some meaning.

ICYMI: Temple Unversity Drops 7 Sports

And the non-big time BCS schools continue struggling to stay competitive.

Temple University announced on Friday the school would drop 7 sports in an effort to control costs.

Baseball, men's crew, men's gymnastics, men's outdoor and indoor track and field and women's softball and rowing are the sports impacted by the cuts. 150 athletes and 9 coaches are left without a program at the Philadelphia area school.

For their part, Temple says they don't have the money to upgrade their facilities in all their sports facilities, so they decided to concentrate on the ones they considered the most important. The school is a member of the American Athletic Conference.

Read more from the school's press release RIGHT HERE

Temple's football and basketball programs are the biggest programs. The football team has struggled mightily over the past few seasons and to Temple's defense, the cost of maintaining a top flight program is pretty steep.

But this is an indicator of an oncoming problem in college sports. Football is very profitable for SOME, but not most Division 1 schools. If you are a lower tier program in a smaller FCS conference that doesn't get the mega-TV deal, you struggle. And eventually it takes a toll on the school, it's budget and the athletics department.

You will see this happening more and more over the next few years....

One of Temple's athletes attending the announcement posted this video:

J.J. Whorton With The Catch Of The Year For Central Florida

Central Florida was trailing Temple 36-29 with two minutes left and then J.J. Whorton did this.



"Honestly it's a blur right now to me," Worton said. "Everyone is talking about it. I'll have to see if on film to remember it. I remember I caught it and after that everyone else was yelling and crazy. All glory to God right now. I couldn't be more happy with the team right now. It's a great day for UCF."

Whorton's touchdown just tied the game.  It took this Blake Bortles to Rannell Hall 64 yard completion....



To set up Shawn Moffitt's game winning field goal.



The Knights escaped Philly with a 39-36 win over Temple.

"I told the players when they go to church tomorrow, make sure they're in the front pew,"  UCF head coach George O'Leary said. "Somebody's looking out for them. That's why you never, never give up. That's the resiliency of the team."

One Bee-Cee-Ess Crasher's Dreams Smashed As Louisville Loses

((HT: ESPN))

And the big guys can thank...

Central Florida...???

A 31-7 run by the Knights and Blake Bortles' 11-play, 75-yard drive put his team up 38-35 with 23 seconds left gave Teddy Bridgewater little chance to do anything other than a Hail Mary to resurrect their season.

Here's the highlights...


"I said, 'Let's get some 2-minute calls ready,'" Bortles said after the game. "We knew we were going to have to go 2-minute. ... Our offensive line did a great job, and our receivers did a great job of getting yards after the catch."

Bortles finished 21-of-32 passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns while Storm Johnson rushed for 109 yards and a TD on 18 carries...