On Monday night, No.3 TCU takes on the reigning champions, No.1 Georgia, in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Nobody is surprised to see the talented Georgia team back on the big stage, but TCU, on the other hand, has experienced a remarkable turnaround that’s leaving fans stunned. They are led by head coach, Sonny Dykes, who in his first year helped the team go 13-1 after the team didn’t win more than seven games in each of the past four years. He’s done an amazing job, but one…
Category Archives: College Football
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He Never Pouted
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Pocket Awareness
Continue ReadingAs sports fans, we understand that the quarterback continues to be the most important position on the field and the best QBs are highly gifted with tangible skills like arm strength, athleticism, and size. However, there are several critical, yet intangible abilities that quarterbacks need, and one of those is having a strong “pocket awareness.” That means they have a keen sense of what’s going on around them and who is near them. They know when the defense is closing in, and where their teammates are, perceive where they need to move, and understand what is…
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Obstacles Facing College Football Teams
Continue ReadingLast Saturday in college football, there was more upheaval and new possibilities for who ends up in this year’s College Football Playoff. Following Clemson’s loss to Notre Dame, LSU’s win over Alabama, and Tennessee’s loss to Georgia, there are changes at the top of the rankings. Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, and TCU are now ranked 1-4 with Tennessee, Oregon, LSU, and USC ranked 5-8. All eight teams still have a chance to get into the Playoff by the end of the year, but with plenty of obstacles in front of them. So what…
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Cheering for UNC and APP State?
Continue ReadingI was in Boone, North Carolina on Saturday to witness an epic and unbelievable college football game between my alma mater, App State, and UNC. Unfortunately, my team fell short, but it was a wonderful experience seeing a 63-61 game filled with exhilarating moments, major momentum swings, and remarkable plays. The fourth quarter alone included 62 total points as App State scored 40 and UNC 22. The 124-point total for the game was the largest combined score between UNC and an opponent in a single game. Believe it or not, it…
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How Many Wins Will Please the Fans?
Continue ReadingWeek 1 in college football begins this weekend and I can’t wait to watch my App State Mountaineers take on UNC in Boone, North Carolina. Across the country, there will be many other entertaining matchups as most fans get a first glance at how their favorite teams look this year. Of all the sports, it’s fascinating how college football fans play such a big role in recruiting and coaches being fired, as well as, creating a home-field advantage and atmosphere that contributes to the perception of a program. (Many fans are also boosters and…
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Not Where You Start, Where You Finish
Continue ReadingCollege football returns to action this weekend with a few games during “Week 0,” while the following week is the official start for most teams around the country. As always, predictions and rankings are made this time of year as to who the best teams will be. Heading into the season, Ohio State, Georgia, Clemson, and Notre Dame are ranked 2-5 in both the AP Top 25 and the AFCA Coaches Poll, while Alabama is once again ranked first in both. Alabama’s soon-to-be 71-year-old coach, Nick Saban (who just signed a lucrative contract…
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Already Secure, But More In Store
Continue ReadingThe sports world has seen LeBron James win four NBA Championships, Steph Curry win four NBA championships, Nick Saban win seven National Championships, and Tom Brady win seven Super Bowls. Most fans agree they have cemented their legacies as one of, or the greatest, in their sports. If each of them retired today, they would be surefire Hall of Famers…statues would be made for them…and their names would be forever entered into the record books. Despite already doing enough to be considered great and their accomplishments secure, they continue to come back year after year…
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Name, Image, and Likeness
Continue ReadingWe have quickly learned that college sports will never be the same now that the door has swung wide open for college athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness. Over the last year, we have seen athletes making pretty significant money through sponsorships, product endorsements, autographs, and appearances. This has led to college athletes being seen in commercials, staying longer in school, and benefiting financially from their social media platforms. There are plenty of gray areas and unintended consequences taking place, especially with the involvement of boosters and…
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Saban vs. Fisher
Continue ReadingCollege football coaches are responsible for leading young men, preparing them for life, and winning games. They’re the faces of their universities and the elite coaches are also the faces of their sport. Unfortunately, this week we saw two of the top coaches and National Championship winners have a public feud that wasn’t a good look for anyone and revealed a lot. Head coaches, Nick Saban, from Alabama, and Jimbo Fisher from Texas A&M used to be on the same coaching staff, so there’s a long history between the two. They’re both highly…
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Are We Committed?
Continue ReadingAs sports fans, most of us are committed to cheering for our favorite teams through the good times and bad times. Lions, Browns, and Jets fans keep showing up regardless of their team’s record. We don’t sign contracts with our favorite teams, but we remain loyal nonetheless. When it comes to players, coaches, and front offices, there are constant concerns and speculation about the commitment level of everyone involved. Is a specific player committed to a team? Is a certain coach committed to sticking around? Are owners committed to doing what…
