Liberty Bowl

I didn't have a horse in this race but this was a great game. If you missed it, you missed one of the most exciting bowls this season. Louisville won but Boise State certainly proved that they are legitimate. Hat's off to both teams in this one.

So far, My Football Instincts are Right

The PAC-10 is beginning to look like the over rated conference I've been suspecting they are. UCLA lost to Wyoming in the Las Vegas Bowl last week. I won't say that this game alone says much about either conference on whole, but it's worth mentioning.

It gets interesting after seeing California getting spanked by Texas Tech 45-31 in the Holiday Bowl tonight. Texas Tech was ranked 21st going into this game. Cal was ranked 4th and they were whining about how they didn't get into the Rose Bowl (Texas is in the Rose Bowl, they beat Texas Tech 51-21 in the regular season). After their performance in this game, I'd say they're lucky they made the Holiday Bowl. Going into this game, Cal's defense was giving up an average of 292 yards per game. Texas Tech put up over 300 passing yards in the first half. By the end of the game, Tech had laid the wood to Cal with 594 yards of total offense.

Compare the Holiday Bowl stats to the stats from the only other game Cal lost this year (at USC). Cal statistically dominated every measurable aspect of the USC game except the one that counted (the scoreboard, my favorite). Now, consider for a moment, the fact that Texas Tech is in the same conference as Oklahoma (Big 12) and Cal is in the same conference as USC (PAC-10).

Memo to USC: be afraid, be very afraid.

Personally, I think Auburn could beat USC and Oklahoma.

Nick Saban to Coach the Fish

I found this article which echoes some of my thoughts on Nick Saban's decision to leave LSU. It also touches on some of the reasons why college football is superior to the NFL. I'd write my own little diatribe but I stayed up until 1:30 AM last night working on a proposal for work. I am thus too tired and lazy to do my own writing tonight.

James Wolcott: Christmas Kvetchers

I was gonna blast James Wolcott for this Christmas post but Lileks beat me to it (and did a much better job). Never mind.

Santa Not Welcome at Junior High Dance

I can't believe this actually happened.

"'It was a holiday party,' said Muscara. 'It was not a Christmas party. There is a separation of church and state. We have a lot of students that go to Hampton Academy Junior High that have different religions. We have to be sensitive to that.'"

So you are sensitive to all religions by crucifying the kid who came dressed as Santa? Memo to Santa: Don't even leave this guy a lump of coal.

I feel so much better about our educational system after reading this. Condoms may be handed out upon request, abortions may be performed without parental consent, our kids may be exposed to violence and drugs, but they sure as hell shouldn't be exposed to Santa Claus! No sir! You let one Santa in and the next thing you know the whole school is praying in tongues and handling snakes! We don't need those closed minded Christian bigots in our schools now do we?

A Belated Merry Christmas to You...

...or Happy Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or Festivus. I hope you all had a nice time with family and friends.

Subjective AP Wants Out of BCS Formula, Good Riddance

How do you like this? Last year, the AP whined like little girl with sand in her panties about USC being "their" champion, thus fanning the flames of BCS hatred. The BCS responds by giving the polls more influence than ever before over the team rankings. Now that their increased influence has all but destroyed the credibility of the BCS, they want to pull out. They are worried that the bad press the BCS is getting will spill over onto them. It's YOUR FAULT the BCS sucks worse than ever! Along with all the other polls! I hope all the polls pull out! Then we'd be left with the one true measure of performance. The SCOREBOARD!

Is Santa a Republican?

Looks like a toss up to me. Read this and tell me what you think. Either way it's funny stuff.

Catholics for a Free Choice

I just visited the web site of what may be the most dangerous group of self proclaimed Catholics I've ever seen. I say that not because their ideas are so completely off the wall that only a handful of people would take them seriously. In fact, it's just the opposite. It is a group of religious radicals that seeks to replace the authority of the Church with their own liberal doctrine. I am talking about the CFFC.

What makes this group so dangerous is that they are passing themselves off as real Catholics. To be a Catholic, one must recognize the authority of the Church. These folks do no such thing. These people are wolves in sheep's clothing luring many uninformed Catholics into a false sense of security by preaching the gospel of the culture of death (contraception is OK, abortion is OK, etc.) as if it were part of the catechism. This false doctrine is all too readily accepted by our liberal brothers and sisters who see themselves as "forward thinking progressives." I fear for the future of the Catholic church if people like this are not dealt with publicly and decisively (i.e. censure and/or excommunication).

Nuke the Moon

I saw this and had to post a link. Too funny.

Saban Looking to Leave LSU?

Nick Saban always seems to be on everyone's short list for filling coaching vacancies. Thus far, he's remained at LSU. However, I hear that there is more to this story than rumors. Saban recently met with the Miami Dolphins (upon their invitation) to discuss their coaching vacancy. When you consider the fact that Saban is the highest paid coach in college football (as the result of last year's BCS Championship and certain stipulations in his contract), you can logically conclude that this is not an attempt to hype himself and boost his salary. If he's meeting with Miami, he's genuinely interested.

The unofficial rumors I'm hearing are that Miami has offered $4 mil per year (I think he's making $2.5 mil per year now, not sure) and virtually complete control of the team. I've also heard that Nick is asking for $6 mil per year, but that figure is negotiable. Control of the team is the clincher.

Unofficial rumor # 2 is that Butch Davis (Cleveland Browns) may replace Saban if all of this conjecture comes to pass.

I guess Nick has to ask himself, "Do I want to continue to be the head coach of one of the best college football teams in the nation, or do I want to take my chances in Miami?"

Personally, I think pro football is crap, but I'll save that rant for another post.

"Don't Listen to Your Conscience," Says Pope

The Pope has declared that the Catholic laity must follow authoritative church teachings. Translation: All that crap about one's own conscience being the measure of morality flies right out the window when one considers the fact that the vast majority of Catholics in the US have consciences that are formed in front of the secular monstrance (television). As a Catholic, your conscience is only useful if it has been properly formed by the study of solid Catholic teachings. The Pope is in essence saying, "America, your conscience no longer functions properly. Here, use mine." 90% of Catholics are lost like geese in a fog. If the US bishops don't present a unified message to American Catholics, most of the laity will continue to seek the path of least resistance by adopting the most liberal (and heretical) interpretations they can find.

Iran's Space Program - Nothing to See Here, Move Along

Lets take a look at this. They are developing nuclear technology as a source of energy. I find this odd since they have more oil than they could ever use. Now they are launching missiles into space under the guise of developing communications satellites or some such nonsense. Gimme a break! You want a communications satellite? Buy one from France! They'll launch it for you and everything! There is no R&D required here, just hand over some oil money and you're done. But they're not doing that. Hmmm. Nuclear power... Missiles in space... What could they be up to?

More Election Results

Looks like LA will be sending one Republican and one Democrat to the US House of Representatives. I think Tauzin could have beaten Melancon if he hadn't run such a vicious campaign. I like to hear all the dirt on all the candidates before the election so mudslinging doesn't really bother me. I actually like it. In Tauzin's case however, it was done in such a tactless and condescending manner that I think it may have backfired on him. I personally didn't care for him blasting fellow Republican, Craig Romero, in the general election.

The BCS is Waaaaaaaay Off This Year

After a quick review of the NCAA strength of schedule stats, there is no way anyone can tell me that USC and Oklahoma should be ranked ahead of Auburn. Oklahoma's strength of schedule is ranked 22nd for division IA teams. USC is a pitiful 31st. AUBURN HAS THE 9TH TOUGHEST SCHEDULE OF ANY DIVISION IA TEAM AND THEY ARE UNDEFEATED!!!

All of this subjectivity with the polls has got to go. Everyone is crying for a playoff system in the interest of fairness but I think the BCS could handle the process fairly. The thing that makes the playoff system (NCAA basketball or baseball for example) fair is that the subjectivity of these stupid polls is almost entirely removed. Sure, you have to have some at large bids since no system is perfect, but for the most part you earn your way into the playoffs and you earn the championship. Why is college football the only sport where the polls decide who the champions are? Are the World Series teams decided by a poll? How about the Super Bowl teams?

Auburn getting shut out of the Orange bowl will be nothing short of a travesty. These guys busted their a**es to remain undefeated against the toughest teams in the nation and they're going to get passed over by a couple of teams with the same record but weaker schedules. That being the case, where is the incentive to perform if your performance won't get you into the championship? I've never had a very strong opinion either way about the BCS until now. With the introduction of even more subjectivity this year, the BCS has gone downhill.

Save the subjectivity for finger painting and figure skating. This is football. Wins & losses, margin of victory, and strength of schedule are what counts. Championships should be determined by the scoreboard, not the polls.

UPDATE: The travesty is official and Auburn will be playing Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Auburn has everything to loose in this game and almost nothing to gain. They got shafted.

Cultural Diversity Often Means Anti-Christian

Read this and tell me there isn't an anti-Christian bias developing in this country.

Kojo Annan Disgraces Father

Fox News is reporting that Kofi Annan is very disappointed in his son, regarding the recent oil for food scandal. I'm guessing his disappointment stems from the fact that his son only managed to make $30k a year off of a deal that made Saddam Hussein over $21 billion.