SB Nation User Blog: TXStampede

Longhorn D - "Goon Squad"

TXStampede — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:18:02 -0000

Longhorn D - "Goon Squad"

OK, so these guys are not coming up aces in contemporary lit. But if they want to be the "Goon Squad" I am not going to get in their way.

BON'rs, embrace it. Cherish it. What we are seeing is something that only comes around every quarter of a century, give or take.

Laurels for the Longhorn Goonies. Here's my playbill:

ET as Mikey - he's the kid with the faith, guts and brains to navigate the D to the treasure promised land.

Kindle as Brand - gets all the girls...and does it with style.

Gideon as Mouth - he tries, he really tries, and at the end of the day wins the girl.

S. Acho as Chunk - always eating QB's, always.

Houston as Sloth - pure hearted beautiful ugliness.

...and finally, Director BMF - I hear he is working on a championship run sequel.

Big XII Football Championship Ticket Sale Announcement

TXStampede — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:45:00 -0000

Big XII Football Championship Ticket Sale Announcement

Dear Lord, please let it be our year.

Can we start hate week yet?

TXStampede — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:01:41 -0000

Sorry, but if you are reading this for another insightful X's and O's entry then you have come to the wrong place. However, if you have come here to release your inner dahmerjacktherippermrhydemayhemdemonmonger - mismanedangervengeance then this is the place for you.

I appreciate the incredible amount of paralysis of analysis ad nauseum all you BON'rs are throwing around but can we start getting our OU hate on? Don't we remember last year? They stole our championship...just like a bunch of land thieves. You can't convince me otherwise. So don't try.

And, while I'm at it, let's throw a little retribution kindling on the fire. Do ya'll remember the woodshed a** beatings of 2000 and 2003? How did you feel after those games? Feeling the hate-burn yet?

Them over at Crimson and Cream are getting their hate on so we have some catching up to do.

It is time to stow the dry erase board for some karmic mojo and positive reinforcments. All I see from you guys is self loathing, IMHO. Really. It's time to get behind the team. I'm sure you are going to fire back at me but let's get fired up and start some hating. This is the one time of year we can, and should, let loose. No more mamby-pamby friendships and good will. Throw the NCAA sportsmanship crap out the window. This is a damn rival! Let's start acting like it.

OU SUX! THE WHOLE DAMN OU NATION SUX! THEY ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL SO LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND DEAL WITH IT RIGHT NOW!

Alabama jump Horns in latest AP Poll

TXStampede — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:01:16 -0000

Alabama jump Horns in latest AP Poll

Whatever.....

Coaches vs. Computer Polls

TXStampede — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:47:19 -0000

Coaches vs. Computer Polls

Download legendschannel.com interview with Richard Billingsley (computer pollster) and Lovell Edwards discussing BCS and polls.

Billingsley money shot: "Computer is never going to be as good as an informed voter."

Edwards money shot: "Yes I voted as a coach and did not turn it over to an SID. But, I did [rank teams] very quickly, heh heh, whatever I saw in the paper. If I agreed with what I read, then that is how I voted. [My vote] never varied a whole lot from what it was. Where I did vary was the latter part adding a couple of Western Athletic Conference or Mountain West Conference teams that I had been associated with."

Nice. You gotta love the BCS!

BCS Poll draft (by BCS Guru)

TXStampede — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:19:28 -0000

BCS Poll draft (by BCS Guru)

This is a BCS poll "dress rehearsal" including both human rankings (Coaches and Harris). Note that two computer rankings are not included (Anderson & Hester and Peter Wolfe). This is about as close to a true BCS ranking as you'll see for now.

We start off #4 in this simulation due to SOS (as we all have been discussing). So, damn you Mike Leach and your arrogance.

Plus, a little snicker for OU ranked outside the top 10.

The good news....SEC schedule of attrition for teams 1-2-3.

1st Harris CFB Poll Released

TXStampede — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:44:49 -0000

1st Harris CFB Poll Released

Is the panel stacked SEC? Alabama's win over VT hurts us out of the gate. Just like we keep saying: Win and we're in.

2009 Harris CFB Poll – Unreconciled

TXStampede — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:09:24 -0000

Still miffed how the BSBCS poll turned out for our Horns last year? I’m sure most of you have moved on so good for you. However, others of us are still feeling the pains of what should have, er, could have been.

No doubt in my mind there was extreme bias in the regular season ballot votes by both coaches and Harris panelists. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but c’mon, how can you really justify voting UT below #3. I don’t care what film you watched or who you consulted for information, that type of vote was blatantly unjustified.

With that said, after the jump, see "who’s in – who’s out – who’s new" in the 2009 Harris Poll roster including final 2008 UT voting.

2008 Harris BCS Poll "Big Block{head}" Promo:

…Pink "Slips" All Out

…Jacked

…Wrecked

And yes, I feel like "dude, you have a hammer in your head."

Let's soldier on.

WHO’S NEW

Name	Resume
Akbar Gbaja-Biamila	SDSU standout; Free agent OAK, SD, MIA; Works for CBS College Sports Network
Charlie McBride	Former NEB DC 1977-1999; Father of the Blackshirts
Chris Carlin	Play-by-play for Rutgers Football
Danny Kanell	Former FSU QB
Darnell Dickson	Provo Daily Herald Sports Editor
Derrick Mayes	Former ND WR; NFL from '96-'01
Don Strock	Former VT QB and famous Miami back-up QB
Drew Pearson	Former Dallas Cowboy "Hail Mary" WR
Eric Bailey	Tulsa World sportswriter
Eric Mizell	*Unknown
Fred Stabley	Former MI ST Sports Information Director
Gary Sanders	*Unknown
George Schroeder	Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) sportswriter (formerly with the Oklahoman)
Glen Mason	Former KU and MN head coach; sports commentator for BTN
Jeff Van Note	Former ATL Falcon legendary center; current play-by-play for GT
Jim Dombrowski	Former UVA all american and NO Saints lineman; college football hall of fame
Jim Oakes	*Unknown
Joe Crowley	*Unknown
Joe Novak	Former Norther Illinois Univ head coach
Mike Prater	Idaho Statesman sports editor
Patrick Stevens	Washington Times sportswriter and blogger "D1Scourse"
Pete Medhurst	*Unknown
Sonny Lubick	Former CSU head coach
Steve Irvine	*Unknown
Terry Shea	Former Rutgers head coach; Oregon QB
Tim Millis	NFL Referees Association head; former referee
Tommie Frazier	Former NU QB; back-to-back NCAA championships
Zach Wiegert	Former NU lineman and Outland Trophy winner

*Chime in if you have resume information for "unknowns" above as I was unable to determine.

WHO’S OUT

UT Vote	Name	Resume
5	Earle Bruce	Iowa State coach 1973-78, Ohio State coach 1979-78, Colorado State coach 1989-92
4	Bobby Aillet	Former Louisiana Tech player
4	Mike Grace	Founder of College Football Radio network
4	Robert Jones	Former East Carolina player
3	Jeff Blake	Former East Carolina player
3	Brian Dohn	Reporter, Los Angeles Daily News
3	Boots Donnelly	Middle Tennessee State coach 1979-2000, MTSU athletic director 2001-05
3	Boomer Esiason	NFL analyst, CBS Sports, Former Maryland player
3	John Minko	Radio broadcaster, WFAN New York
3	Jim Morse	Former Notre Dame player
3	Tim Neverett	Radio host, UNLV/Mountain West
3	Travis Prentice	Former Miami (Ohio) player
3	Jerry Sandusky	Penn State assistant coach 1969-99
3	Thurman Thomas	Former Oklahoma State player
3	Frank Windegger	TCU athletic director 1975-98
2	Trev Alberts	Analyst, CBS College Sports Network, Former Nebraska player
2	Jim Copeland	Utah athletic director 1985-87, Virginia athletic director 1987-1995, SMU athletic director 1995-2006
2	Bob Fredrick	Kansas athletic director 1987-2001
2	Fred Goldsmith	Current Lenoir-Rhyne head coach, Rice coach 1989-93, Duke coach 1993-98
2	Cedric Minter	Former Boise State player
2	Darrell Moody	Reporter, Nevada Appeal in Reno
2	Pat Quinn	Former Oklahoma State sports information director
2	Irwin Smallwood	Former sports writer, Greensboro (NC) News & Record
2	Dick Tharp	Colorado athletic director 1995-2004
1	Lori Dann	Reporter, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
1	George Lapides	Radio host, AM560 Memphis
No Vote	Don Criqui	Television broadcaster, CBS
Not Reported	Charley Scott	New Mexico State faculty member, Former New Mexico State player

INCUMBENTS

UT Vote	Name	Resume
6	Bill Arnsparger	Florida athletic director 1986-92, LSU coach 1984-86
6	Scott Johnson	Fresno State athletic director 2001-05
5	Bobby Leach	Former SMU player
5	Lance McIlhenny	Fomer SMU player
5	Corky Simpson	Former columnist, The Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen
5	Hugh Yoshida	Hawaii athletic director 1992-2002
5	Pat Richter	Wisconsin athletic director 1989-2004
4	Brenston Buckner	Former Clemson player
4	Chris Carlin	Radio host, WFAN New York
4	Al Del Greco	Radio broadcaster, WJOX Birmingham, Ala., Former Auburn player
4	Roy Kramer	SEC Commissioner, 1990-2002
4	Jesse Kurtz	Reporter, KKTV Colorado Springs
4	John Mallory	Former West Virginia player
4	Loren Matthews	Former ABCSports Senior Vice President
4	Mike McGee	Duke coach 1971-78, Cincinnati athletic director 1979-84, USC athletic director 1984-93
4	Craig Morton	Former Cal player
4	Denny O'Brien	Reporter on East Carolina for Bonesville.net
4	Allen Pinkett	Radio analyst, Notre Dame, Former Notre Dame player
4	Gene Ponti	Radio host, KMLB in Monroe, La.
4	Max Urick	Iowa State athletic director 1983-93, Kansas State athletic director 1993-2001
3	Mike Bartrum	Former Marshall player
3	Dick Bestwick	Georgia administrator 1986-88, South Carolina athletic director 1988, Virginia coach 1976-81
3	Joe Biddle	Columnist, The Tennessean
3	Blaine Bishop	Radio analyst, Nashville, Former Ball State player
3	Bob Casciola	National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame president 1995-2005
3	Tony Collins	Former East Carolina player
3	Gene Corrigan	Notre Dame athletic director 1981-87, Virginia athletic director 1971-80, ACC commissioner 1987-97
3	Pete Dawkins	1958 Heisman winner at Army, former CEO of Primerica Financial Services
3	Mark Dienhart	Senior Vice President, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota athletic drector 1995-2000
3	John Dorsey	Green Bay Packers director of college scouting, Connecticut player 1980-83
3	Chuck Ealey	Former Toledo player
3	Robert Gagliardi	Reporter, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
3	Bob Grim	Radio Analyst, Oregon State radio network, Former Oregon State player
3	Lee Grosscup	Former Utah player
3	Clarkston Hines	Former Duke player
3	J.J. Joe	Radio analyst, Baylor; Former Baylor quarterback
3	Joe Kearney	Washington athletic director 1969-76, Michigan State 1976-80, Arizona State athletic director 1980, WAC Commisoner 1980-84
3	Larry Keech	Former sports writer, Greensboro (NC) News & Record
3	Blair Kerkhoff	Reporter, The Kansas City Star
3	Jim Lachey	Radio analyst, Ohio State; Former Ohio State player
3	James Lessig	Bowling Green athletic director 1978-82, MAC Commisioner 1982-90, Sun Belt Commissioner 1990-91
3	Mike Lucas	Reporter, Capital Times of Madison, Wis.
3	Mike Lude	Auburn athletic director 1992-93, Washington athletic director 1975-91
3	Cindy Luis	Reporter, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
3	Joe McConnell	Radio broadcaster, Purdue
3	Bill McLellan	Clemson athletic director 1971-85, Southern Miss athletic director 1985-99
3	Ray Melick	Columnist, The Birmingham (Ala.) News
3	George Perles	Michigan State trustee, Michigan State coach 1983-94; Founder Motor City Bowl
3	Harvey Schiller	CEO of GlobalOptions Group, SEC Commissioner 1986-90, Former VP at TBS, former CEO of YankeeNets
3	Joe Smigiel	Former Arizona player
3	Budd Thalman	Former Penn State sports information director
3	Ron Thulin	Radio host, Oklahoma City; TV announcer (Vs. network)
3	Charlie Trotman	Former Auburn player
3	Tommy Vardell	Former Stanford player
3	Jim Vruggink	Former Purdue sports information director
2	Sammy Batten	Reporter, The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
2	Gil Brandt	NFL.com analyst, Former Cowboys director of player personnel
2	Charlie Cavagnaro	UNLV athletic director 1995-2001, Memphis athletic director 1982-95
2	Michael Cleary	Executive director, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
2	Fran Curci	Miami coach 1971-72, Kentucky coach 1973-81
2	Kevin Duhe	Former Louisiana-Monroe player
2	Rondo Fehlberg	BYU athletic director 1995-99
2	Chad Hennings	Former Air Force player
2	Tommy Hicks	Columnist, Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register
2	David Housel	Auburn athletic director 1990-2004
2	David Lawrence	Radio analyst, Kansas
2	Jim Mandich	Radio host, AM560 in Miami, former Michigan player
2	Jack Moss	Former Sports Editor, Kalamazoo (Mich.) Gazette
2	David Paschall	Reporter, Chattanooga (Tenn.) Free-Press
2	Steve Preece	Former Oregon State player
2	Earle Robinson	Radio Host, AM870 East Lansing, Mich.
2	Kenny Roda	Radio host WKNR 850 in Cleveland
2	Dr. Terry Schmidt	Former Ball State player
2	Paul Schneider	Radio host, 670 KBOI in Boise
2	Jackie Sherrill	Washington State coach 1976, Pittsburgh coach 1977-81, Texas A&M coach 1982-88, Mississippi State coach 1991-2003
2	Ron Stephenson	Big Sky Conference Commissioner 1981-95
2	John Toner	Connecticut athletic director 1969-87
2	Roger Valdisierri	Former Notre Dame sports information director
2	Jack White	Former Louisiana-Lafayette assistant coach, director PGA Tour's ShotLink
1	Denn Aldridge	Former college assistant, Texas player
1	Bob Dunlevy	Former West Virginia player
1	Mike Kern	Reporter, The Philadelphia Daily News
1	Tom Luicci	Reporter, Newark Star Ledger
1	Bob Wagner	Hawaii coach 1988-95
1	Jim Walden	Iowa State coach 1987-94, Washington State coach 1978-86
1	George Wine	Former Iowa sports information director

Questions to explore:

1) Why only a 23% churn in participants? Should there be participant "term limits"?

2) Should Harris Interactive provide more transparency in the selection process (ie. qualifications, affiliation, etc.)?

3) Should conference championship game weekend count toward BCS ranking (In 2005, Texas poll points after beating A&M were 2,725 and 2,726 after demolishing CU in the Big XII championship. In 2008, OU poll points after beating OSU were 2,569 and 2,699 after beating Mizzou in the Big XII conference championship)?

4) Do you think the fact that so many participants remain on the panel who voted UT above #3 in last years final ballot will affect our Harris score this year (31 returning participants voted UT #2 or higher and 21 participant incumbents voted UT #4 or lower)?

5) Should taking or giving "pay to play" money automatically disqualify a candidate from the panel (ie. Bobby Leach, Lance McIlhenney)? HUMOR, PEOPLE ... HUMOR

Men from Mars (er, 2009 Harris Poll)

TXStampede — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:52:31 -0000

Men from Mars (er, 2009 Harris Poll)

Harris Poll has released the 2009 BCS panelist list. Well, a little later this year (9/17/08 was date for last years release). Can't wait to reconcile the lists and find out who is in and who is out.

big12sports.com

TXStampede — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:28:48 -0000

big12sports.com

Well, we do not yet have a conference network station a la Big X, but this is getting closer.