Brian McCann says goodbye to Hot'Lanta, signs with the Yankees

No, YOU'RE the man, Brian. (Photo courtesy NYPost.com)

ATLANTA--The New York Yankees are once again in the business of spending money...LOTS of money...to try and win a championship.

The Pinstripes jumped right off the train and signed silver slugger Atlanta catcher Brian McCann to a five-year, $85 million contract. To be fair, the deal is pending a physical, but it's all but sealed. All said and done, the contract does include a possible sixth season, which would push the total upwards of $100 million.

There's even word the deal includes a full no-trade clause.

“[This is] a bittersweet day for him,” McCann’s agent B.B. Abbott told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He has a special place in his heart for Atlanta.”

The Yankees believe McCann's power will fit right into the new Yankee Stadium, with it's shallow porch in right field. He's a career .277 hitter, and has hit at least 20 home runs every year, including 2012-13 after missing the first month of the season due to surgery on his shoulder.

The Braves are at least getting something out of this deal, because they did make a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer to McCann. They will now receive a compensatory pick, somewhere between the first and second rounds, when MLB holds their June draft.

When the best hitting catcher in Braves history leaves Turner Field, Evan Gattis is the number one option still in the dugout. Gerald Laird and Christian Bethancourt are also on the roster.

It's The Pirate Way In North Carolina, East Carollina Has State Bragging Rights

My hats off to East Carolina since they own bragging rights in the state of North Carolina and made sure everyone knew it.  Following the Pirates 48-28 win over NC State Saturday this billboard appeared.

East Carolina beat NC State and already has a pirate-themed billboard up http://t.co/x0meWdJaY0 via @dennisglasgow pic.twitter.com/PE1UWNXmY1
— SB Nation (@sbnation) November 23, 2013

East Carolina is rubbing it in a little to NC State since the Wolfpack have been going with a "This Is Our State" campaign for a few years now.

 Pirate fans have a right to brag.  East Carolina defeated North Carolina and NC State this season.

A pirates life in North Carolina.

Reality Check: Baylor Humbled By Okie State

So much for the BCS bound Baylor Bears.

Baylor ran into a buzz saw Saturday night in Stillwater, Oklahoma and walked away losers after Oklahoma State dropped a 49-17 smack down on them.

And no, the game was never that close.

The Cowboys rode 370 yards passing and 3 TD's by QB Clint Chelf and stout defense that created 3 turnovers to hand Baylor the loss.

The Bears came in neck-and-neck with Ohio State for the #3 spot in the BCS and were a heavy favorite in the game despite Okie State only having one loss.

The win puts the Cowboys in the drivers seat to get to the Big 12 Championship game. Win that and they'll be the team playing in a BCS bowl game.

Your highlights from EPSN:

Navy's Keenan Reynolds Sets NCAA Record In Triple OT Win Over San Jose State

To say Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds has a nose for the end zone would be stating of obvious.

At least on a Saturday night in San Jose, California.

Reynolds rushed for 240 yards and an NCAA record seven rushing touchdowns including all of the Midshipmen's three overtime touchdowns as Navy defeated San Jose State 58-52 in triple overtime.


“I just come out to play." Reynolds said. "Coach calls the play and I try to execute. Hats off to the O-Line, they played well."

Reynolds has been coached up by the Naval Academy's media relations department.  Always thank you offensive line.

“We talked with our defense and we had a good plan but with a triple option, you have to stop three
people." San Jose State head coach Ron Caragher said. "Reynolds just evaded our grasp and got away from us.”

For the season Reynolds has 26 rushing touchdowns, one shy of the NCAA record for a single season.

I can't wait to watch this kid in a few weeks against Army.

Derek Carr Has A Senior Day To Remember

Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr won't forget his senior day and neither will the fans who attended the game at Bulldog Stadium.

Carr complete 27 of 37 passes for 527 yards and seven touchdowns which broke the school record for touchdown passes in a single game and tied the Mountain West Conference record.

Three of Carr's seven touchdown passes were of 50 or more yards,

Oh by the way Fresno State crushed New Mexico 69-28 to give the Bulldogs there first 10 win season since 2001.

(Thanks KMPH-TV)


KMPH FOX 26 | Central San Joaquin Valley News Source
"I couldn't have scripted it better," Carr said  "It was really fun. The best feeling is when you prepare so hard and you go out and execute at that kind of level. That's the most fulfilling thing football-wise."

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/11/23/3627419/fresno-state-football-pregame.html#storylink=cpy

"He's as good as there is in the country and that is why I think it is very well deserved that he should be in the Heisman discussion," Fresno State head coach Tim DeRuyter said. "He has led us to a 10-0 record, which is the most important thing for a quarterback."

Carr just might lead Fresno State to a BCS bowl game.

Fresno State, who is 15th in the BCS rankings will need to defeat San Jose State next week and then win the Mountain West Championship Game to get it done.  

Then hope so stay ahead of Northern Illinois and Central Florida in the BCS standings.  Should the Bulldogs stay ahead of the Huskies and the Knights and remain in the top 16 they will get a bid.

Here's a Fresno State senior day feature worth watching (Thanks KFSN-TV)

Oklahoma State Bad News For The #3 Baylor Bears, Cowboys win 49-17

Lets see how many college football fans drop off the Baylor Bears bandwagon now.  

Oklahoma State's 49-17 win over #3 Baylor have killed Baylor's chances to win a BCS National Champion.

(Thanks Newsok.com)

Cowboy quarterback Clint Chelf assured it would be a long night in Stillwater for the Bears.  Chelf threw for a career high 370 yards and three touchdowns and even rushed for a touchdown too.

“I'm happy with the groove he's in." Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy was quoted in Daily Oklahoman. "We just want to let him keep going.”

The Cowboy defense held the potent Bear offense to just 453 yards of total offense.  We say just 453 yards because Baylor's offense averaged 684.4 yards per game.

“Oklahoma State played extremely well and had a lot of energy and made plays when they needed them,” Baylor head coach Art Briles said. “We did things you can’t do at home or on the road, and you dang sure can’t do them against a good team on the road. They’re a good football team, and that’s why you had the outcome that happened tonight.”

“This loss won’t define our team,” Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty said. 

Petty had career highs in had career highs in passing attempts (48) and completions (28) for 359 yards and two touchdowns but is wasn't enough.

“This is a great team, a special team."  Petty said. "But us not finishing drives wasn’t fair to our defense, and that’s on my shoulders. I have the ball on every play, and I have to execute.”

Baylor has TCU at Ft. Worth next week before closing the season at home against Texas.Oklahoma State has a week off before taking on Oklahoma December 7th in another edition of the Bedlam game.

FSU Drops 80 on Idaho; Takes Fun Out of It

This game should never have been played. And it certainly shouldn't have a "Laugher" headline attached to it, because if you are a fan of competitive college football, it really wasn't very funny. Your final score: Florida State 80, Idaho 14.

The Seminoles ignored the hoopla surrounding star QB Jameis Winston and returned 2 interceptions for TD's, and nearly returned a 3rd.

Winston threw for 4 TD's, Devonta Freeman ran for 129 yards and a touchdown in a game that was more like a scout team matchup than a Division 1 (FCS) level football game.

While we understand there's a certain pecking order in College Football, some teams exist solely to be practice fodder for the bigger schools, it doesn't make this any more galling. No, we aren't claiming FSU ran up the score or was trying to pile it on, rather it just isn't fun to watch.

And it's not fair to the Idaho kids who showed up to get embarrassed.

If there was ever a call for a separate division for the "High Budget" FCS schools, this would be it. And as excited as we are that FBS Georgia Southern beat Florida, the fact remains, things like that almost never happen.

Anyway, enough soapbox, this isn't anything I haven't rambled about before.

Here are your highlights from ESPN: