Jordan Hill: Part 3, The Finale

          You don't have to go undefeated, have a Heisman Trophy winner, or win a National Championship for your team to be remembered. You just have to stick together, and that's exactly what the 2012 Penn State football team did. Which is why they will go down as one of the best, if not the best, Penn State teams ever. They had the leaders that other teams wish the had, leaders such as; Michael Mauti, Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges, Michael Zordich and Stephon Morris just to name a few. They had a whole community behind them when no one else was. They had 100,000 strong cheering when they ran onto the field at Beaver Stadium. They never listened to the media, who said they would win a maximum of 3-4 games. They had 8. They blocked out the negativity surrounding their situation. They went out every Saturday and gave 100% every snap. They went out every Saturday and did whatever they could to put on a show for the fans. I can't remember coming into a season anticipating that first kick off, the energy was felt on every snap. For 60 minutes on fall Saturday's, you could escape what was happening outside, come into Beaver Stadium and watch those who stayed give everything they could to show why we are still Penn State. This team was lead by a group of seniors who had a choice, either let the obstacles put in front of them keep them down or rise up and show those who doubted them what Penn State was really about. I had the opportunity to get to know one of those senior leaders, Jordan Hill. I not only got to know him and the person he was, but in the process got a learning experience on how to overcome anything. 
          A native of Steelton, Pennsylvania, Hill is a very humble individual which stems from the way he was raised. You won't see him asking for the spotlight, but what will you see is an individual who is quiet, humble, and just loves to play football. You'll also see someone who gives 100% on every snap, and has a non stop motor, which because of that and his play this season he earned All Big Ten and All American honors. He also accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama this coming January. Off the field he is like any other college student, he hangs with friends, he plays video games, watches TV, and just has a good time. He has a great group of people surrounding him who will no doubt support him through everything he does. 
          On the field he was a terror to opposing offensive lines, quarterbacks, and running backs. Just ask Wisconsin. On senior day, Hill saved his best for last and had the game of his life. ESPN announcers who called the game said they had never seen a defensive lineman dominate a game the way Hill did. In that game he ended with a career high 12 tackles (8 solo), 2 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss. It seemed that #47 was in the backfield on every play. On the season the All American accumulated 64 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and fumble recovery. I sat down with him and asked him some questions about the season, his future, and Penn State:

Looking back on the season, how did you do compared to how you wanted to do?
"I compared pretty good to the numbers I wanted. Missed the sacks by 1 and tackles for loss by 1 but overall I was happy."
What was the hardest part of the past year?
"Those first two loses, didn't want to come out like that." 
What are you most looking forward to in the next few months leading up to the NFL Draft?
"The draft workouts and meeting all the people."
What was the best part or your favorite part of the season?
"The best part was the Wisconsin game because of how we went out. My favorite part was the locker room after Northwestern, that was crazy."
If you were a coach out recruiting, how would you sell Penn State?
"You're getting a great coach, a great education, a great place to play football, and a chance to go to the NFL. Easy as that." 

I speak for all Penn Staters when I say this Jordan, thank you. 

My Top 5: Beaver Stadium Games

If you grow up in State College you only know one thing, Penn State football. It takes over your life at a very young age, and if you're lucky enough you can start going to games at that young age. If its professional football you want you'll have to travel to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. Going to a game at Beaver Stadium is as close as you'll get to a professional atmosphere, sometimes it's better. I've been going to games since I was about 5 years old and since then there have been many memorable games at Beaver Stadium, here are my top 5 most memorable games:

1) September 1st, 2001: The #2 ranked Miami Hurricanes come to Happy Valley. 
         If you're a Penn State fan you all ready know where this is going. Penn State lost the game to the eventual National Champions 33-7. That Hurricanes team lead by many potential NFL stand out players, was on of the most dominant teams to step foot on a college field, but the story line behind the game meant more to the Penn State community. Just a year prior to the game, Penn State cornerback Adam Taliaferro suffered a serious spinal injury against Ohio State. Doctors gave him a 3% chance of walking again. A year later in front of 109,313 people, on national television, Taliaferro ran onto the field prior to the game. If you were at the game it's a moment you will never forget. A moment so powerful, so moving, so motivational, it inspired a book to be written about Adam Taliaferro's journey. (Miracle in the Making, a must read). When he ran onto the field, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Taliaferro leads the Nittany Lions

2) October 8th, 2005: #6 Ohio State rolls into State College under the lights.
          This seemed to be "the year" for Penn State. Following 3 straight losing seasons Penn State started off 5-0 heading into this clash against a Troy Smith lead Ohio State Buckeyes team. It was the teams first big test of the season, two weeks prior they got over their first speed bump by beating Northwestern in the final minutes. The season saw Joe Paterno start 4 true freshman: Derrick Williams, Justin King, Jordan Norwood, and Deon Butler. Williams was the cornerstone of the recruiting class that year as he was the number one recruit coming out of high school that year. He brought along King (both 5-star recruits), along with other highly talented players. It seemed to be the "swagger" they were missing to compete with the top teams in the nation. ESPN's College Gameday came to town for the game, which added more anticipation. When Kirk Herbstreit, (Ohio State alum and co-host of College Gameday) said at halftime; "that's the best student section in the country", people really took notice of the students. He hasn't been wrong since then. The Nittany Lions went on beat the Buckeyes 17-10 in front of 109,839. They would finish the season 11-1 with an Orange Bowl victory over Florida State. 

3) November 6th, 2010: Joe Paterno gets win 400. 
          Penn State trailed 21-7 going into halftime. Lead by quarterback Matt McGloin, the Nittany Lions came from behind in the second half and scored 28 unanswered points to win 35-21. The game was more than that, Joe Paterno became the first head coach in FBS history to get 400 wins. It would have been one thing if they had won without coming from behind, but the fact they were down by 14, and just kept scoring made it that much more memorable. Anyone who was at the game will tell you how loud it was when they tied it up, then took the lead. Linebacker Michael Mauti ended the game by sacking Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa. 400 Wins

4) October 29th, 2011: JoePa goes for 409 against Illinois in the snow.
         The game wasn't exciting until the final minutes. Coach Joe Paterno was looking to pass Grambling State's Eddie Robinson to become the winningest coach in Division 1 history. Wide receiver Derek Moye, who had injured his foot earlier in the week, was not expected to play unless it was an emergency situation. The situation called for Moye in the final minutes, as he caught 2 passes and had drew a pass interference on a 4th down late in the game which gave Penn State a first down. Running back Silas Redd scored from three yards out to give Penn State a 10-7 lead. Illinois drove down to the field to attempt what would have been a game-timing field goal. What happened next was one of the most incredible things I've ever been apart of at Beaver Stadium. As Illinois was getting set up for their field goal, the student section at that end of the stadium moved to the center of the stadium behind the goal post and in direct line of the kicker. He missed the 42 yard attempt and Beaver Stadium exploded with excited, by far one of the loudest moments ever at Beaver Stadium. He missed it!

5) September 8th, 2007: Notre Dame comes to the White House.
          As soon as you walked into Beaver Stadium you couldn't help but think to yourself, "wow, where am I?". In 2005 there was the student White Out, but in 2007, it became the full stadium White Out. Easily one of the if not the greatest scenes in college football. In front of 110,078 Penn State beat the Fighting Irish 31-10. Late in the first quarter, wide receiver Derrick Williams field a punt, made one cut, a juke, and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. In what was one if not the loudest moments to ever happen at Beaver Stadium. 

Jordan Hill: Part 2, Mid Season

After a 0-2 start, the Nittany Lions stormed into Iowa City with a level of confidence that we haven't seen from a Penn State team in a while. They cruised by the Hawkeyes 38-14, the offense looked flawless and the defense looked very much the same as it has all season, fast and dominating. They have a certain swagger about them now, guys are all over the field making plays and it has shown with Lions now having a 5-2 record going into next weeks highly anticipated match up with an Urban Meyer led Ohio State Buckeyes team who is 8-0 and could be without it's Heisman Candidate quarterback Braxton Miller. One of those players who's been making plays is defensive tackle Jordan Hill. I sat down with him for a mid season report on his season and where he thinks the team is.
*The questions were prior to the Iowa game

-Where are you in terms of where you thought you'd be? Stats and overall play?
I started off slow but I'm gaining momentum, I'm two tackles behind where I wanted to be. (He has 28 and wanted to be at 30)
-You guys started off 0-2, what clicked and started this 4 game win streak?
Just not getting down on ourselves and knowing we could do it. 
-What are your goals for the rest of the season individually?
Just continuing to be a vocal leader and play the best I can possibly play
-You play next to DaQuan Jones, he's in the same position you were in last year when you played next to Devon Still. What are you trying to teach him in terms of becoming the leader next season?
Just gotta keep passing the torch down, easy as that. 
-What are you most looking forward to the rest of the season?
Winning out. 
-If you had to tell the fans one thing for these final 6 games, what would it be?
Sit back and watch.

Short answers, but straight to the point. Should be a fun final 5 games.

There are 5 games left on the season and Hill knows that, making the most of each game is what he has been doing the whole year. Through 7 games he has 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 4 tackles for loss. His play on the field has been great but it's what he does off the field that is more important. He has been one of the main leaders on this team. Coach Bill O'Brien turns to guys like Hill, Michael Mauti, Michael Zordich, and Gerald Hodges on defense to keep things together and make sure people realize Penn State hasn't gone anywhere. People were upset a few weeks ago when teammates Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges, along with Hill, didn't get national recognition for their play and were left off a few award list's. They don't seem to care, they just seem to use it as fuel for a fire that's been burning since last November. Next weekend with the Buckeyes coming to town, all eyes will be on Beaver Stadium as they have been all season. The lights will be bright for the 5:30 kick off, but this team has been ready all season.

Reminder for everyone: Largest crowd ever; 110,753
*FULL STADIUM WHITEOUT*

Replacement Refs vs The Actual Game

It was nice to see that the NFL didn't have a lockout this season, well the players at least. There is now the lockout of the officials, which for all of us who have bashed them in the past (I've been on that train a lot) this season has been much worse than recent years, and we've only had two weeks. Mike Tirico of ESPN's Monday Night Football compared the officials to a substitute teacher and the players were doing things they wouldn't normally do with regular officials because they could get away with it. I couldn't agree more with him. Some of these officials seem like guys who have been pulled out of the crowd or as I saw someone say on Twitter last night "I'm pretty sure I saw that guy at Footlocker today". Which also seems like a reasonable assumption. Last nights game between the Falcons and Broncos took 3 hours and 27 minutes, 30 minutes longer than a regular overtime length game. Atlanta held on for the 27-21 win. The story of the game shouldn't have been the officials and how awful they were but how good the Falcons looked offensively and defensive against a Broncos team that had beaten a pretty decent Steelers team the previous week (Pittsburgh beat the Jets 27-10 this week). Denver had four turnovers in the 1st quarter, Peyton Manning throwing 3 interceptions and Knoshon Moreno fumbled, Manning wasn't putting the blame on anyone but himself after the game which he normally does; "I've just got to take care of the ball better". Matt Ryan on the other hand had a good all-around game going 24/36 for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns. His favorite target was Roddy White who had 102 of those 219 yards and one touchdown. 

Those are side stories compared to officiating which like I said before was awful. There were flags thrown then pick up and not even mentioned why they were thrown in the first place, there were officials shoved, players getting into scuffles (which happened in the Eagles-Ravens game), missed calls, and the amount of time it took them to actually give the call was absolutely ridiculous. The best part might have been when the officials would call the Falcons "Red" instead of Atlanta. 

It's most likely going to be a week to week process for these guys, let's just hope it doesn't take them to the Super Bowl to figure things out. I give them some credit because they were just kind of thrown into this situation but still, these officials are slowing the game down and making it very hard to watch sometimes. It'll be interesting to see how things go in the next few weeks because if things keep going like they are, the regular officials will have leverage in making a deal and will hopefully get back on the field soon. We need you Ed Hochuli! 

Jordan Hill: Part 1, off the field

If you know anything about me you know that Penn State is my life, people can say what they want about us and they can write whatever they want about us, but they can't take away the fact that I am Penn State and WE are Penn State. This summer I learned a lot more about what that meant. I had the opportunity to work with Penn State senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill. It's an opportunity I'm very thankful for. I got to know the Jordan outside of football, when the camera's weren't on, when the media wasn't in his face 24/7, and that Jordan is in one word, quiet. I was sitting at home one night and got a call from Jordan, the first thing he said to me was "you wanna move in?". That was when former teammate and roommate Justin Brown decided to transfer to Oklahoma. I quickly said yes because why would I want to pass up an opportunity to better myself by learning from someone who has dealt with so much negativity. To me it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I sat down with Jordan and asked him some questions about everything that's gone on and his mindset going forward. I asked what his initial reaction was to the sanctions, he simply said "here we go again", a reaction he said that many players had. They didn't quite understand what exactly was going on until Head Coach Bill O'Brien broke it down for them. When I asked what he first thought of the hiring of O'Brien he said he didn't know much about him, "once Coach (Larry) Johnson called me and told me who he was I was on board and ready to go". Hill has been on board through and through, asking him why stay at Penn State, "I stayed for my teammates, I stayed to help the University, I stayed because I love Penn State". People have expectations for Penn State this year, some think we might win 8 games, others think we win 5, that's fine with Hill because he has his own expectations for his team and himself; "go out and play as hard as we can, execute our game plan, and win every game. Off the field, graduate. On the field, Big Ten Player of the Year, All Big Ten First Team, and First Team All American". Jordan is poised to have a big year, many project him as a potential first round pick. He isn't worried about that though, he just wants to go out and play. He describes himself as "quiet", "soft spoken, and "humble", which if you didn't know him you might not think it. People give athletes a label that they aren't regular people, I got to hang out with Jordan the night the sanctions were announced and when I came over he was relaxing playing some Playstation, something normal people do. He isn't one to flaunt himself like other athletes, he doesn't care much for the spotlight. Talking to him at work one day he I said "a lot of people don't know who you are, you've kind of been overshadowed in your career", he replied with "that's fine with me, I'll let my game speak for itself". When number 47 runs onto the field I'll be happy to say that's my roommate. Penn State heads into this 2012 season with new things everywhere you turn. This year it's going to matter what the name on the back says because those are the ones who decided to stay and help Penn State get through this beyond difficult time. Bill O'Brien has his hands full this year but Hill said he is the right guy to do it and nothing is going to phase him. The excitement level in Happy Valley is something I've never seen before, the town is standing behind this team every step of the way, and I'm truly honored for have two of these men as roommates. The motto for the season is "One Team" and that will be in full force come Saturday when Ohio University comes to Beaver Stadium. Take a minute and close your eyes, think about what the first "We Are" chant will feel like, got chills? I do.

Penn State: Past, Present, and Future

I wrote what it was like to be from State College, that was before the Freeh Report surfaced, nothing has changed for me. I've lived in State College my entire life, I've been Penn State my entire life, and I've loved every minute of it. I'll admit coming to Penn State wasn't my first choice but when it came down to it I couldn't resist being apart of the Penn State family. Being apart of this family is not just going to football games and having a good time on weekends, but learning how to make an impact. If that sounds familiar, it's because when a young Joe Paterno told his dad he wanted to be a coach instead of a lawyer he was asked if he thought he could make an impact, myself and thousands of Penn Staters will tell you he did. I've heard the negativity about Paterno, I've heard it for quite some time. Could he have done more? Yes. Could Mike McQueary have done more? Yes. What about the others? I'm pretty sure they could have done more. People make mistakes every single day, but when you're Penn State and have the reputation of being "spotless", people will wait for the perfect time to tear you down. This is that time. People have been trying and trying to find the right time to find flaws in Joe Paterno. He was a human being like the rest of us, of course he had flaws. Those people have their moment and they aren't holding back. It's easy to kick someone when they're down though, just ask ESPN. I've stood behind Joe Paterno forever, and will always stand behind him. Am I worried what people think of that? No. Why? because I reflect on the fact that he is one of the most influential people in college sports, I reflect on all the good he did for Penn State, his players, and the community of State College. Most people have erased that from their memory but the fact is you can't erase it. The NCAA can hand out whatever, if any, penalties they want, but you cannot just remove Joe Paterno from existence. For me, his name will forever be associated with making sure his players graduated, making sure Penn State students have the best education (his name is on the library in case you didn't know), and making sure he made an impact. People can spin that last one however they want, but I'm referring to the fact that he wanted his players to leave better men and become great fathers and figures in the community. I'm referring to the fact that he made Penn State what it is today by focusing on the importance of graduating. You can hate Joe Paterno, Jerry Sandusky, and all those involved in this horrific and unthinkable situation, but don't hate Penn State. It's times like this where a school needs to show it's not what the media has portrayed it as. Penn State is not all those negative things you hear, and it's not a place where future students and their families should shy away from. It's a place where a 17-18 year-old can come and get a great education, an education that will lead them to success in the future, it's a place where 110,000 people dressed in blue and white can come together on a fall Saturday and say the one thing that every Penn Stater should hold close to their heart, "We Are, Penn State". The future is bright for Penn State, we're moving forward and not looking back. You can say anything you want and write whatever you want about Penn State now; but there is one thing you can write about for the future and that's WE ARE going to continue to be Penn State.

Penn State Football, Never Leaving

This isn't about the university, this isn't about Jerry Sandusky or Joe Paterno, this is about Penn State football. Moving forward is going to be hard yes, but its' going to happen. Penn State football will always be about plain uniforms, home-field advantage, and having the best fans in the nation. When you come to Beaver Stadium and you're about to enter the gate, think about why you're at Beaver Stadium; you came to this game to see Penn State football put on a show in front of 110,00 people screaming at the top of their lungs for the team they love. You didn't come to talk about Jerry Sandusky, you didn't come to talk about what happened when, you came to watch football. You came to see Silas Redd slash and dash into the endzone, you came to see Jordan Hill rip down the quaterback for a big hit. Coming to Beaver Stadium is about seeing those blue uniforms and plain white helmets, hearing four simple words echo throughout the 110,000 seat stadium, "We Are, Penn State", and when you attend a Penn State football game, you know what that means.
The road ahead for Penn State is a steep one, but none steeper than the one the football team faces. The questions are asked by the hundreds; how will they move on without Joe Paterno? what is the team going to look like? will the fans still come out? Jerry Sandusky this and that. Those questions will be answered starting Saturday September 1, when Ohio comes to Beaver Stadium. Success may or may not come right away, but I've said it before and I'll say it before because it is what I believe in and what I've grown accustom to, WE are Penn State. The football team is Penn State, the 45,000 plus student body is Penn State, the alumni are Penn State, and those who bleed blue and white are Penn State. We will come out every Saturday and show the team that WE still have their back. Every Saturday WE will show the nation, the media, and everyone who doubts us that we aren't down and that we will be back stronger than ever because we are one. It's going to be different, the mood might not be the same, but sometimes change can be a good thing. The old saying "don't judge a book by its cover" isn't more true than it is with Penn State. You don't know what we're about and you don't know who we are, but WE do. We know what Penn State is about, and it's not what you're hearing, and come September 1st we will prove to everyone that no matter what is said or written, we won't be knocked down and we will continue to be Penn State.

LeBron: Worlds #1

Ever since entering the NBA in 2003 LeBron James has been at the forefront of conversation when it comes to being the best. During his high school career at Saint Vincent Saint Mary's everyone who watched him play knew he'd be something special, but no one knew he'd be this special. Over time he has gotten bigger, faster, and stronger, which has made him arguably the best player in the world. Some might argue that Thunder All Star Kevin Durant might be the best, but if you watch both of them play there is a clear difference in who is the best. Sure Durant can score at will and make the difficult shots, but LeBron can do it all, and so much better. For someone who is 6'8" and weighs 265 pounds- some have him at 280, which would be even more incredible, but for someone of that size and to have the leaping ability and speed James has, the things he does are out of this world. His ability to get a rebound at the free throw line and sprint down the floor to the other basket and score in a matter of 3-4 seconds is something to rarely see with someone that big. He doesn't have Magic Johnson vision but his knows where his teammates are and how to get them the ball. When driving to the basket he is nearly unstoppable; he can the contact and still get off a shot, if he misses he has the strength to get the rebound and get off another shot. I haven't even mentioned his defense. A 4-time All Defensive First Team, no one really appreciates how great his defense is. When was the last time you saw someone play both ends of the floor like LeBron James? He gets it done on both ends, with great ease. He can guard position 1-5, and shut them down. Michael Jordan was never asked to guard all positions, Kobe Bryant is never asked to do it, and neither is Kevin Durant. LeBron does it, and does it well. In the 2011 Playoffs against the Bulls, LeBron guarded and locked down guard Derek Rose. In the conferecne semi finals this season against the Celtics he guarded Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo, in the same game. His ability to track down the ball in transition and make a play on it, whether it's blocking it or altering the shot, is above everyone else's. He hasn't made all the clutch shots, but did Michael Jordan? did Kobe Bryant? Those guys didn't make every single shot they took and believe it or not, they had bad games too. Just entering the prime of his career at age 27, LeBron has a long way to go in his already amazing career. He is two games away from winning his first championship, which he would be younger than Jordan when he won his first title, and look how he turned out. His focus level is at an all time high and that could spell trouble for the NBA. You have to wait til his career is over to rank him, but for now, you can start placing him in the "All Time" rankings.

The Penn State Way

Growing up in State College can teach you many things. Growing up in the shadows of Penn State can you teach many things. Being a Penn State fan can teach you many things, but what exactly are those things? I've lived in State College my whole life and have grown up bleeding blue and white. My family is Penn State through and through and to me that has been the best part of my life, being a Penn State fan. My family has taught me to treat people the way you want to be treated, to respect people and they'll respect you. Every parent will tell their kids that, but in State College, it means so much more. It's not a very big community, kind of secluded from everything else. There has always been one thing that you'll learn whether you've lived here, or  attending school here, it's to do things the Penn State way. What is the Penn State way? It's doing things with pride, making a difference in the community, and making everything count. None of that would be possible without the vision of one man, Joe Paterno. His dad wanted him to be a lawyer, but he wanted to be a coach. His dad asked him if he could make a difference by being a coach, Paterno answered that question with 60 plus years of difference making. He took Beaver Stadium from a 46,000 seat stadium, to a 110,000 seat cathedral for college football. Yeah he cared about what happened on the field, but he cared a hundred times more what you did OFF the field. What you did in the community, what you did in the classroom, what you did for your school, your family, and your team. Penn State has always had some of the highest graduation rates among its athletes, and that's in part to Joe Paterno's commitment to excellence. He never wanted the stadium named after him, instead he wanted the library in his name. On fall Saturday's the Penn State family gathers in the house that Joe built to show their Penn State pride, and that's never more evident when "We Are....Penn State" is echoed throughout the 110,000 seat stadium. What does "We Are" mean? It means we are one; one family, one community, one school. This community was shocked in November when the Jerry Sandusky story broke, we were shocked that something like this could happen in such a place, a place like State College, where nothing wrong had ever happened. We had to rally around our school and show everyone that we were still Penn State and the actions of one man wouldn't bring us down. We had to rally around our coach when everyone else was bringing him down, breaking his image which he held up high where it should be. Nothing people say can take away from what Joe Paterno has done for Penn State, State College, college football, and everyone involved in this community. The work he did, the amount of time and energy spent making Penn State a successful place, changing the lives of thousands, will never be matched. The Penn State way will never fall, it will be stronger than ever now, and we will carry on Joe Paterno's idea of making a difference. All of this is possible because We Are....Penn State.

One and Done

For years now the one and done rule off college basketball has been put on the back burner but it's time to really look at it and determine the right way of handling it. Up until recently high school basketball players could jump from high school to the NBA; such players as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwight Howard all came straight from high school into the league. Those type of players don't need the college basketball experience because they are NBA ready and can come in and compete with other big time players. In college football you cannot go from high school to the pros, for obvious reasons (kids would die), you have to be three years removed from graduating high school. Many think, including myself, that the "one and done" rule needs to be changed. High school basketball players should have the option of skipping college and entering the NBA Draft. The athlete should be able to enter their name in the draft, attend a pre draft camp and be evaluated by NBA coaches and scouts to determine where in the draft they stand. After being evaluated they will have a deadline to declare whether or not they will remain in the draft or attend college, if they attend college they will remain in college for at least 2 full years. The one and done rule does allow schools to get that prized recruit, but only for a season if they choose. Although you might have a top player for a reason, maybe two, it potentially takes away from having a really good player for 3-4 years. There have been many players recently who, if the rule was changed, could have gone straight to the NBA. Bulls guard Derek Rose and Thunder forward Kevin Durant could have made the leap from high school to pro if the rules prohibited them. Instead, they went to college for a season then went to the NBA;  in the long run it doesn't mean much but for schools trying to build their programs up, wasting a scholarship on one and done players means losing out on potential 3-4 year players who can help build a program for those years. In the latest NBA mock drafts, 5 of the top 10 players are freshman, lead by National Player of the Year and Kentucky center Anthony Davis. Davis is a player who could have gone straight from high school. A year in college is not going to do these players any good by playing against other plays who are a lot less talented (see Kentucky's season and Davis's stats), they might as well play pick up games at their local rec center. And while their skills might not translate immediately, it's a better learning experience by playing against the top players in the world who they can learn from. The rule might not be changed in the near future, but it is something to look at for the future which would help the NCAA, the players, and the NBA.

NFL Draft Review

The 2012 Draft has come and gone with some obvious picks and some surprise picks. Before we look ahead to rookie camps and training camps, let's look at some of the picks round by round by that made sense and those that made you scratch your head.
1st Round:
Best Pick- Arizona picks Notre Dame WR, Michael Floyd 13th overall. This is a steal in the first round for the Cardinals, Floyd is a big body who has good speed and will go up and fight for the ball. Playing with Larry Fitzgerald will only make him better and those two will be a nightmare for opposing corners. The Cardinals need to have a quarterback first.
Worst Pick- Kansas City picks Memphis DT, Dontari Poe 11th overall. I get the fact that Poe had great numbers at the combine for someone his size, but that doesn't mean you're going to produce at the next level. Poe played in Conference USA and had only 1 sack this past season. I'm not saying he's going to be a bust but his film does not show how dominant he should be. At 6'4" 345lbs Poe has a chance to be long time pro if he can produce.
2nd Round:
Best Pick- San Francisco picks Oregon RB, LaMichael James 61st overall. This is a sleeper pick in a way, James had a very productive career while at Oregon including being a Heisman finalist. He has great speed and quickness and once he gets in the open space, not too many people can catch him. Frank Gore has been injured and you don't know how long he can remain an every down back so having a back up like James will be very beneficial. He can also be key on special teams.
Worst Pick- St. Louis picks North Alabama CB, Janoris Jenkins 39th overall. This is more of a questionable pick rather than a bad pick. This could go two ways, either Jenkins gets his act together and plays like the top 15 pick he could have been, or he brings all the baggage he had in college and you never hear his name. Jenkins got kicked off the Florida squad but still had an impact on the field. Keep an eye on this one.
3rd Round:
Best Picks- This round had two picks that were very good. First, the Houston Texans pick Ohio State WR, DeVier Posey 68th overall. Posey had one of those careers that might have gone unnoticed to some people. He has great hands, good size, and good speed. He can play the slot along side Andre Johnson. Second, the Pittsburgh Steelers pick Miami OLB, Sean Spence 86th overall. Spence is one of those players who's numbers at the combine don't show how good he really is. He is quick and is strong. He had an up and down career while at Miami. Playing behind James Harrison will be very good for Spence who is only 5'11" and Harrison has shown that you don't have to be the biggest guy to be the best.
Worst Pick- Philadelphia Eagles pick Arizona QB, Nick Foles 88th overall. This is not a bad pick because Foles is a bad player, it's a bad pick because the Eagles need to address other things before a quarterback. They need to address their offensive line so they can protect their starting quarterback Michael Vick, who could be one hit away from being on the shelf.
4th Round:
Best Pick- Miami picks Miami RB, Lamar Miller 97th overall. Miller is in my mind one of the steals of the draft. Miller has great speed and good size for a running back. At 5'11" and 212lbs and running a 4.40, Miller can make an immediate impact for the Dolphins. He is very good in open space and can break tackles, he does have some fumbling issues but if he takes care of that he has the chance to be a top back.
Worst Pick- Houston picks Nebraska DL, Jared Crick 126th overall. Crick was considered a top 10 pick before he got hurt early in the season. It's a concerning pick because we aren't sure how healthy Crick is going to be coming into rookie camp. He has the potential to be dominate like he was in college, but it's a waiting game now.
5th Round:
Best Pick- Washington picks Iowa OG, Adam Gettis 141st overall. Gettis might not start right away but he has the chance to make the team in camps and be a back up. He has good size and strength for a guard. Having started for 3 years in a run first, zone blocking team at Iowa, Gettis could come in and make a name for himself and surprise people.
Worst Pick- Denver picks Tennessee DE, Malik Jackson 137th overall. Jackson started off at USC then transferred to Tennessee and got more playing time. He did produce but he is the type of the player who should produce more for how good he can be. Can you get the productivity from him where he can constant threat to free up Von Miller? Or will he take plays off? Another waiting game player
6th Round:
Best Pick- Kansas City picks Texas A&M RB, Cyrus Gray 182nd overall. This is a team player. Who also is very fast, which people tend to look past. Very compact with a big upper body. The Chiefs do have two backs already but Gray can come in and compete while giving a leadership type role, always motivating his teammates is a great attribute he has.
Worst Pick- Cincinnati picks Ohio State RB, Dan "Boom" Herron 191st overall. Not necessarily a bad pick, but another one of those players who comes in from college with baggage. Suspended for the first 5 games of his senior season while at Ohio State, Herron does display good attributes. He is a strong kid who has decent speed, finds the hole very well. If he's put his college days behind him, can be a solid back.
7th Round:
Best Pick- San Diego picks Michigan State RB, Edwin Baker 250th overall. Baker had a very solid career while in East Lansing, a small back in size but is strong for being 5'8" 204 and is deceivingly fast. The Chargers do have Ryan Matthews, but he has not been the back they were hoping he was going to be. Baker might not come in and start but he has the chance to compete. San Diego was pretty successful with Darren Sproles who was only 5'6".
Worst Pick- Indianapolis picks Northern Illinois QB, Chandler Harnish 253rd overall. They took a quarterback with the first pick, and they take one with the last. Both the Colts and the Redskins took two quarterbacks, which might not have been needed. If you're the Colts, you helped Andrew Luck a little bit on offense, but you need to help him more on defense so he doesn't have to be on the field all the time. A little questionable, but then again, I'm not an expert so what do I know.

There was also my most disappointing player. Arizona State LB Vontaze Burfict. Projected a first round pick coming into this past season, but he has a lot of baggage and takes a lot of plays off. He has all the talent which could have made him a top 10 pick. Burfict didn't crack the 5.00 at the combine, he signed by the Bengals as an undrafted free agent. Lets hope Marvin Lewis can make him realize he should have been a first round pick.

Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis- QB, Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. Washington- QB, Robert Griffin III, Baylor
3. Minnesota- WR, Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
4. Cleveland- RB, Trent Richardson, Alabama
5. Tampa Bay- CB, Morris Claiborne, LSU
6. St. Louis- OT, Matt Kalil, USC
7. Jacksonville- DE, Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
8. Miami- QB, Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
9. Carolina- ILB, Luke Kuechly, Boston College
10. Buffalo- CB, Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
11. Kansas City- OT, Riley Reiff, Iowa
12. Seattle- WR, Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
13. Arizona- DE, Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
14. Dallas- CB, Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
15. Philadelphia- OLB, Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
16. New York Jets- DE, Quinton Coples, North Carolina
17. Cincinnati- DT, Dontari Poe, Memphis
18. San Diego- DT, Michael Brokers, LSU
19. Chicago- OG, David DeCastro, Stanford
20. Tennessee- OT, Cordy Glenn, Georgia
21. Cincinnati- DE, Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
22. Cleveland- DE, Chandler Jones, Syracuse
23. Detroit- OT, Jonathan Martin, Stanford
24. Pittsburgh- DT, Devon Still, Penn State
25. Denver- ILB, Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
26. Houston- OLB, Shea McClellin, Boise State
27. New England- RB, Lamar Miller, Miami
28. Green Bay- DE, Nick Perry, USC
29. Baltimore- RB, Doug Martin, Boise State
30. San Francisco- TE, Coby Fleener, Stanford
31. New England- S, Harrison Smith, Notre Dame
32. New York Giants- QB, Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

Everyone will question this but that's what makes it a "mock" draft. You can make changes and get it right so when it comes time for the draft you look smart. I feel pretty confident with the first 2, after that, its anyone's guess.

NFL Draft Preview

Now that we all know the Colts will draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck number one overall, that means Robert Griffin III will go second for those of you who were confused, we can focus on picks 3-254. Right now we'll focus on the top 10. Who will go to Minnesota at number 3? They could go out west and take USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, or they can snag Oklahoma State All American wide receiver Justin Blackmon. They could even go down south to Baton Rouge and take LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. That pick is way up in the air which makes the draft better, the suspense is always the best part. After Minnesota comes Cleveland, who could take one of the two guys that the Vikings do not take. Or they could take Alabama freak of nature running back Trent Richardson, they do need a running back since Peyton Hillis is now in Kansas City. Next comes Tampa Bay who has been reported to be interested in Richardson, although Legarrette Blount doesn't like that, so they could go in that direction. Maybe they'll take a corner if Claiborne is still on the board. Their first round pick from a couple years ago and starting corner Hakeem Talib hasn't been what Buc's fans have wanted. That brings us to St. Louis, they need to give Sam Bradford some help. If Matt Kalil is still on the board, not likely, but if he is that would be a huge get. If he is gone, they can hope that teams somehow missed Justin Blackmon so they can give Bradford a legit wide receiver. Now on to Jacksonville. They didn't win the Tim Tebow sweepstakes, which isn't surprising because they have quarterback in Blaine Gabbert. A sleeper in the top 10 could be Mississippi State defensive end Feltcher Cox, so look out for the Jags to pick someone unknown. The Miami Dolphins are in an interesting spot; should they draft a quarterback? Should they draft another wide receiver to help their starting QB Matt Moore? Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd would be a great choice if that's the case. If they do decide to go with a quarterback, Texas A&M receiver turned quarterback Ryan Tennehill could be a good pick. He hasn't had a lot of experience in college calling plays, but you go to the NFL to learn and become great. The Carolina Panthers have the 9th pick and might look to boost their defense and take Cox if he is still on the board. A sleeper at this pick could be Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly who was a stud in college while at Boston College and has great size at 6'3" 235. He might not be the "safest" pick, but really no one is safe pick. He will certainly be a player who can contribute. Closing out the top ten are the Buffalo Bills. The Bills got a huge gift over the off season when they signed free agent star Mario Williams. They could draft someone to help him on defense or they can try and help their offense first. If Floyd is on the board, I'd look for them to pick him. If he is gone, they could help that defense by taking Memphis mystery Dontari Poe. He blew away scouts at the combine but his film doesn't match up to what he showed in Indianapolis. He could very well surprise everyone but I wouldn't spend a top ten pick on him. With all that said, here's how I predict the top ten to shape out.
*Note: I am NOT an expert
1.  Indianapolis: QB, Andrew Luck (Stanford)
2. Washington: QB, Robert Griffin III (Baylor)
3. Minnesota: WR, Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State)
4. Cleveland: RB, Trent Richardson (Alabama)
5. Tampa Bay: CB, Morris Claiborne (LSU)
6. St. Louis: OT, Matt Kalil (USC)
7. Jacksonville: DE, Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State)
8. Miami: QB, Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M)
9. Carolina: WR, Michael Floyd (Notre Dame)
10. Buffalo: LB, Luke Kuechly (Boston College)

Best Sporting Events

If you ask any sports fan I'm sure they have their top sporting events they'd like to attend before they die. Here are some to think about if you're creating a bucket list (Not in any particular order)
- Summer Olympics. Every four years the best athletes in the world come together in and compete to bring home the gold medal for their country. For 17 days, athletes put everything they have into competition with literally the worlds greatest athletes. A different city every time it is sure to be the trip of a lifetime.
- The World Series. Baseball is America's past time, and what better way to celebrate that with a trip to a world series. It doesn't even have to be your team, although most of us would like to see that, just being around that atmosphere is enough to make you want to be there. You can go for a game 1, or hope for a game 7 and witness a winner take all event you'll remember forever.
- Ohio State/Michigan. It is THE game in the college football season. No two teams hate each other more than Ohio State and Michigan. Watch the game from either The Horseshoe or inside the Big House. Over 100,000 fans decked out in their scarlet and gray or their maze and blue. Records don't matter, although fans on both sides would tell you otherwise sometimes, it is sure to be an amazing old school Big Ten battle.
- North Carolina/Duke. You either wear dark blue or light blue in this game. Much like Ohio State/Michigan, this is the ultimate game in the college basketball season. The teams, separated by 8 miles, play twice a year with the winner usually being the ACC regular season champs. Take a seat inside the Dean Smith Center, or travel down to Durham and witness Cameron Indoor. A National Title is nice, but beating the other shade of blue is that much better.
-The Masters. Simply put, a tradition unlike any other. Played on the beautiful Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia, this 4 day event is the biggest golfing event of the year, it is the Super Bowl of the PGA Tour and sees the top golfers in the world compete for the famous Green Jacket. If you're able to get one of it not the toughest tickets to get in sports, enjoy the drive down Magnolia Lane leading up Augusta National. You won't forget it.
- NCAA Final Four. March Madness, simple at as that. A bracket full of top programs, cinderella teams, and everything in between. Those 64 teams are fighting for a chance to go to the Final Four and cut down the nets for a National Title. Grab a seat and watch the magic of March Madness.
-Stanley Cup Playoffs/Finals. Probably the most action packed event you can attend. Whether its the first round or the finals, there will never be a shortage of big hits and amazing goals. Often referred to as the best athletes on the planet, these superstars go 100 miles an hour every night in hopes of raising Lord Stanley's Cup.
-A night game in College Football. If you love college football, this is a must.There are few things like the atmosphere of a night game between to college football teams. There are certain places where you have to go for this one; Tiger Stadium- home of the LSU Tigers, The Horseshoe- home of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Beaver Stadium- home of the Penn State Nittany Lions, Bryant Denny Stadium- home of the Alabama Crimson Tide, The Swamp- home of the Florida Gators. Just one of those things you have to see to believe.
-Red Sox/Yankees Game. Need I say more?
-Tailgating at any event. This is a must. You can be the average sports fan and show up 20 minutes before the event and just enjoy it for a couple hours. Or you can show up hours before, fire up the grill, grab a beer, and have a good time. You might want to head to a college football game for the best experience. The schools mentioned above are GREAT places to go.

Others to attend: World Cup (every 4 years), Super Bowl; I'd rather stay home and watch the commercials and have a party but that's just me, NBA Finals, Kentucky Derby, NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Home Run Derby, WWE Wrestlemania.

NBA Fantasy Draft

There is always debate as to who is the best player in the league, and people always want to debate who they would take first to build their own "dream team". Do you go with a point guard first? Or do you go with a big man in the middle? Maybe a wing player? There are so many players to pick from each position that it's hard to pick a starting five, but if I had to do so, it would look something like this.
-Point Guard (PG): Chris Paul, LA Clippers, Paul is the best PG in the league, hands down. He's averaging 19.6 PPG, 8.5 APG, and 2.3 SPG and is shooting 44% from three. He is the second best passing PG behind Steve Nash but when he is on his game and playing at the all star level we are so used to seeing, there is no one better. He is the reason why the Clippers are in the position they are. He's the reason why Blake Griffin is an all star and the reason why the Clippers could make a run in the playoffs.
-Shooting Guard (SG): Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers, this one is a no brainer. Bryant is putting up amazing numbers despite having a new coach, a new system, not the best supporting cast and a nagging wrist injury. He's averaging 28.5 PPG (leads the league), 5.0 APG, and 5.5 RPG. Bryant is a very underrated defender as well, he is a 9-time all defensive first team. He is the second best player in the last 20 years and hits the toughest shots in the NBA. If there is 3 seconds left and I'm down 1, I'm putting the ball in number 24's hands.
-Small Forward (SF): LeBron James, Miami Heat, hands down the best player in the NBA. The numbers speak for themselves; 27.7 PGG, 8.2 RPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 STG, and he is shooting an incredible 54% from the field. He is the best at the rim finisher in the and when he gets out in transition either by himself or with Dwayne Wade no one can stop him. LeBron is also great on the defensive end, he is big and very athletic and can guard a quicker point guard. In the 2011 playoff series against Chicago, James would guard Derek Rose who is one of the faster players on the floor. He can also track the ball down in transition and get a play on the ball. Yes there are the people who will say he can't win a title because he can't finish in the fourth quarter but he is on a mission this year to prove everyone wrong and so far he is doing so with the way he is playing.
-Power Forward (PF): Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves, this might come as a surprise to some people, but those are the people who haven't seen Kevin Love play. The kid is going to be a star for years to come. He is a beat on the boards on both ends and can has an inside game and an outside game. He is a tough, big, physical guy at 6'10" 260lbs and has a pretty sweet beard. He's averaging 25.4 PPG (4th in the league), 13.7 RPG (2nd in the league), and is shooting 36% from three which isn't bad for a power forward. Love commands the most double teams in the league, more than Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum. Last season he had 55 straight games with a double-double, which is quite impressive going up against guys who might be a little more athletic than you. All-in-all, Love is only going to get better. Watch out.
-Center (C): Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, this is another easy choice. Standing 6'11" 265lbs, Dwight Howard creates many problems for opposing centers. One of if not the most athletic centers of all time, his size and strength along with his freakish athletic ability makes him the most dominant center in the NBA. Throwing up 20.7 PPG, 15.0 RPG, and 2.2 BPG, Howard has it all. He doesn't shoot free throws well (48%) most centers don't. How is a force on both ends which makes him by far the most dominant big man, and the only true dominant big man in the NBA. There is no argument for who is the most dominant center, Andrew Bynum is the closest one to the argument but he isn't consistent enough. Howard dominates Bynum in their match ups. Dwight has the potential to be a 20-20 type of guy. At the tender age of 26, Howard hasn't hit his prime which is scary. When he does, look out. We could be looking at the most dominant center of all time.

I know I left a lot of guys out who might deserve to be in the starting five, but this is just my opinion. Compare your five and my five and see how it goes.

NBA Dunk Contest

If the dunk contest is going to be like it was this past weekend, you might as well get rid of it. There were some shining moments, but for the most part I was scratching my head. Jeremy Evans of the Utah Jazz was your winner for those of you who didn't watch. If you didn't know who he was going into it, you weren't the only one. And if you still don't know who he is, once again you aren't the only one. When you dunk two balls at once, the chances of you winning are very good. The dunk contest is at times the highlight of the NBA All Star Weekend, but in recent years that hasn't been the case. Last year was by far the most exciting contest with Blake Griffin's performance since Dwight Howard's "superman" dunk in 2008 simply because Griffin was in it. We all knew he could jump out of the building, and he didn't disappoint anyone (see link above). I'm sure not many people could name the participants other than Griffin, mainly for the fact no "big name" NBA players want to be in it anymore or be in it at ll. Griffin did have some quality dunks though, like jumping over a car. This year you had Minnesota's Derrick Williams jumping over a motorcycle, which was very phasing because if you're going to jump over a motorcycle when someone jumped over a car the year before, the motorcycle better be on fire. Then there was Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, who's dunk you couldn't see all too well because he turned the lights off, then had black lights on, and a glow in the dark jersey. That one was also puzzling to me. People used to get excited for the dunk contest because the dunks were unique and the guys would show off their athletic ability, not their ability to use as many props as they can. I'm not saying what their doing isn't athletic, because I myself along with many Americans couldn't do these things without the help of a trampoline. It just doesn't get me to jump out of my seat like Vince Carter did in 2000 and like Dwight Howard in 2008. If you ask any NBA fan who they would like to see they would choose players like LeBron James, Derek Rose, Blake Griffin, and Dwight Howard; and they would like to see them do it more than once or twice. Hopefully next year the big time players will get involved and show us what a true dunk contest is about. And to the NBA, when the three point contest is more exciting than the dunk contest, you have a problem.

Upcoming Players to Watch

The NFL Combine starts tomorrow and there are the names you know like Stanford Quarterback Andrew Luck, Alabama Running Back Trent Richardson, and Baylor Quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. Those are the the first round guys that you know, and then there are the guys who will be in the first round that when their name is called you won't know as much, but they can have the same impact as those names you do know; those are the players to watch. Here are 5 players to keep an eye one during this weeks combine, April's NFL Draft, and the upcoming season:
-Miami Running Back, Lamar Miller: 5'11" 212lbs. Miller had 227 carries for 1,272 yards and 9 touchdowns. He is downhill runner who is patient and waits for the hole to open and then explodes to the next level. He has good vision and will be good back in the NFL. Miller's name could be called mid to late first round somewhere between 18-26.
-Mississippi State Defensive Tackle/Defensive End, Fletcher Cox: 6'4" 300lbs. Cox had a very productive season having 56 total tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss. He can play both the 3 technique and 5 technique, he has the speed to come off the edge but also has the upper body strength to create the push right up the middle. Look for his name to be called in the middle of the first round.
-Clemson Defensive End, Andre Branch: 6'5" 260lbs. Branch had 77 total tackles, including 10.5 sacks for the Tigers. He has natural speed coming off the edge and has great closing speed for someone of his size. He hasn't shown the consistency that you'd like to see from someone with ability. He can break down in space and can stop a smaller, quicker back. He is going to have to put on 10-15 pounds to be an effective NFL pass rusher, if he can do so, you'll be hearing his name a lot on Sunday's.
-Arizona State Linebacker, Vontaze Burfict: 6'3" 252lbs. Burfict is a big kid who has a lot of natural ability. He can stop the run and loves sticking his nose right in the middle of the play. He is also a strong kid who can shed a blocker and get downhill, for someone of his size he has great speed. People know who he is, but people shy away from him because he sometimes takes plays off in a row, doesn't give 100%, and who might have a lot of "baggage" but is a first round talent who has the potential to dominate anyone who he is put up against.
-Nebraska Cornerback, Alfonzo Dennard: 5'10" 203lbs. Dennard is the type of corner that once the wide receiver gets off line he will stick with him. He is very physical and is tough to get off the line against. He has great speed for deep routs and has the ability to come up and stop the run but doesn't always show that ability. He can turn his hips and run with anyone. Often overshadowed by former Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara, he had his chance to shine during the 2011 season. Dennard was First Team All Big Ten having 31 total tackle and 6 pass breakups on the year. If he has a strong combine he could end up going late first round.

Be sure to check out 2012 NFL Combine, February 22-28. Get updates on all players and all drills right here at NFL.com.

The Fab Five: Changes in Basketball

Jimmy King, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson, and Juwan Howard changed college basketball forever. I recently re-watched ESPN's documentary the "Fab Five" of these five Michigan Wolverine freshman and it made me realize how much these guys changed the game of college basketball and how we look at it today. If you watched college basketball before these guys came along you would have thought that things were never going to change and that the guys would be wearing short shorts for years to come. When the five freshman got to the Ann Arbor campus before the 1992 season, they had the idea of changing things. It started when Detroit native Jalen Rose wanted some longer basketball shorts to wear during practice and games, that started what would be a revolution for the game of basketball. Next to come were the all black Nike shoes, and the high black Nike socks, then the loose jerseys, the attitude they played with, the style they played with. The Fab Five had it all. The first big test they would have would be a match up against Duke, the defending National Champions lead by what Jalen Rose would describe as "the guys teams like Duke wanted to recruit", such as Grant Hill and Christian Laettner. Although they lost to Duke in overtime, the five freshman were able to hang around with the Blue Devils. It was the first time the nation had the chance to see what was happening at Michigan and it caught everyone's eye because no one had seen the swag, style, and attitude these guys played with before. Then on February 9, 1992 against Notre Dame, Michigan started five freshman, those freshman scored all the points for the Wolverines. The team went onto the National Championship game against North Carolina and eventually lost to Dean Smith and the Tar Heels, but the impact of that starting five has been felt since that season. If you look at the game now and the way it's played, and he swagger guys play with, that wouldn't have been possible if those five freshman didn't have that idea of change. That 1992 Michigan Wolverine basketball team was one of the most influential teams in college sports history, they changed college basketball the way the Miami Hurricanes of the 1980's changed college football. The basketball shoes we lace up today, the style we see and play with wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the Fab Five. As Jalen Rose put it, "I bet you couldn't tell me who was on that North Carolina team that beat us". Change can be good, just ask every basketball player playing today.

Linsanity vs. Tebowmania

They both have caught our eye as a "feel good" story, they both have their own segment on ESPN, the puns are out of control, they both trend on topic when their name is mentioned. The question seems to be which one is bigger? The answer, you can't answer it because they are two completely different stories. If you asked 80% of sports fans who Jeremy Lin was a two weeks ago they would have no idea who you were talking about, unlike Tim  Tebow who coming out of high school everyone wanted, and once he got to Florida, everyone wanted to be him. Tebow won a Heisman Trophy, and two National Titles while in Gainesville. Arguably one of the greatest college football players of all time, coming out of senior year Tebow had everyone wrapped around his finger whether you liked him or not. It started even before that when people questioned whether he was going to be a quarterback or a tight end or a H-back or all of the above, can he change is throwing motion, can he run an NFL style offense, who's going to want to draft him. The questions were asked and answered by Tebow when he got drafted as a quarterback in the first round by the Denver Broncos, when he did change his throwing motion and while he didn't run a typical NFL pro style offense he did make plays when needed, such as the playoff game against the Steelers in overtime. He proved the doubters wrong, like myself. Will his success continue into next season? That's another question that will have to be answered. Now onto Jeremy Lin. The kid is ballin' like we haven't seen in someones first 5 starts. He is putting up number left and right. Here are those numbers, and the teams he's done it against; Nets (25), Jazz (28), Wizards (23), Lakers (38), Timberwolves (20), Raptors (27). Those teams have a combined record of 59-85. None of which are great defensive teams, I'm not even counting the Wizards as a "team". His last five games he's averaging 27.2 points, 8.8 assists and a whole lot of tweets. On Tuesday he did his best "Tebow" impression by hitting a three with .5 seconds left. How many of you knew Jeremy Lin before he went off against the Nets? Not many probably. He showed himself his senior year at Harvard, yes Harvard, against UConn. He was with the Warriors then got cut, he was with the Rockets then got cut, was in the D-League not that long ago which your hardly ever see guys come up from the D-League and have above average careers. He was about to get cut by the Knicks before that game, so I'm sure they're glad they didn't. I'm happy for the kid and hope he keeps going and just does his thing and I'll be rooting for him. Notice I didn't bring religion into the discussion, that's because it has nothing to do with the discussion. I'm not going to bring religion into it because its not my place to do so. That's all on you guys.

Penn State Football: The road ahead

In an instant the Penn State community was shocked, hurt, angry, upset, confused, at the situation that unfolded before their very eyes every minute of every day. One man, Jerry Sandusky, and the horrible crimes he committed, tore down a tradition of excellence that had stood for the better part of 60 years under another man, Joe Paterno. It was like a bad dream many said, something you never thought you'd see from such a strong university. A place that stood for nothing but the best, a place that whenever you heard its name you heard nothing but positive things. Doing things the right way, showing everyone what it meant to be great, on and off the field. In the blink of an eye, that was all gone. People forget all about that and now when they think of Penn State, the negative thoughts come racing out of peoples minds. The road ahead for Penn State University is going to be the biggest challenge any school has ever had to overcome. No one could have predicted what was going to happen, and no one could have imagined that Joe Paterno, the man who built Beaver Stadium from a 30,000 seat stadium to a 110,000 seat cathedral for college football, could be fired with the snap of a finger it seemed. A man who had so much power, so much love for the school he coached at, a man who he and his wife have donated countless dollars to the school to ensure that doing well in the classroom and graduating the student-athlete was the number one goal. On January 7th, 2012, the school introduced its new head football coach, Bill O'Brien. O'Brien knows the task at hand, and that the road ahead and the rise to greatness for a fallen program is not going to come overnight. He has assembled a staff in which he hand-picked guys who he feels will benefit the university and Penn State community. "He is a Penn State guy without being a Penn State guy" runningback Silas Redd said after meeting Coach O'Brien. The fact is that Penn State has a long road to travel before they can reach the top and regain its status of being the school known for everything good you want to see in a university. Yes things might be different, yes there is a new head coach, yes there will be new faces, but the fact remains that "We Are...Penn State" will still ring through every seat at Beaver Stadium. Penn State will not fall, Penn State will overcome the obstacles placed in front of them, and Penn State will be back at the top because We Are...Penn State.

Blake Griffin or Dwight Howard

We all know Dwight Howard wants to be traded, and we all know he wants to go somewhere he can win. Recently, Howard has said that the Las Angeles Clippers are now on his list of teams. Yes the Clippers, the other team in LA. Howard's list now includes the Nets, Lakers, Mavericks, and the Clippers. Now you're probably thinking, if Dwight goes to LA (to play with the Clippers) that would be "Lob City" to the max with Chris Paul tossing oops to Blake Griffin and Howard. However, that's not the case. The trade would have to be, and there is no way around this, Griffin for Howard. I was listening to the Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio the other day and the question was; Would you trade Blake Griffin for Dwight Howard? The amount of people that said was mind boggling, I'm not sure of the exact number but I believe it was around 63% of people said they would not trade Blake for Dwight. My question is why? The reasons I heard; age, Blake has a higher ceiling, he is "cooler", ticket and jersey sales. The only one I slightly agree with is the ticket and jersey sales. The others are just ridiculous. Here are the numbers on each guy; Dwight Howard vs. Blake Griffin . Yes Blake might have more points, but Howard is a bigger presence all around. He is the best rebounder in the game, shot blocker in the game, gets MORE dunks. If you had a #1 overall pick in a draft and could choose any player in the NBA, you wouldn't take LeBron, D-Rose, or Kobe, you would take Dwight Howard. You build a team from the inside out. He is the overall (offensive and defensive) center in the game, and at the age of 26 (3 years older than Blake) he has a long way to go and is only going to get better. So there is no reason why anyone should say "I would take Blake Griffin over Dwight Howard. If there is, I would love to hear it.

BCS National Title Game

I don't even know where to begin with Alabama vs. LSU part 2. It was the most lopsided title game I've ever seen. I'm not against the whole thing about both teams being in the same conference, but I would much rather have seen Oklahoma State play LSU. I guess that might be contradicting? Oh well, most things writers say are. Look at the stats; LSU only had 93 total yards, they crossed the 50 ONE TIME and then proceeded to go backwards. Jordan Jefferson was rattled from the first time he touched the ball. The speedy Crimson Tide defense lead by defensive MVP Courtney Upshaw were all over him and never let him get his feet wet. The Tigers defense, which was just a shade below Alabama's in most people's mind, couldn't stop AJ Mccarron on first down. Or any part of the game for that matter. Trent Richardson only had 96 yards but had the only touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter to put the game away. What about the Honey Badger? (Tyrann Mathieu for those of you who don't know) Alabama attacked him and did so very well. They punted to him a few times and he did no damage, and he had no effective plays. Most everyone on ESPN after the game agreed that Oklahoma State would have scored "some" points. Some? They would have scored 30+ against LSU, but they would have needed to score a lot more cause they have the opposite of the Tiger's defense. No reason to mention Bama in this part cause they wouldn't have made it. At the end of the day it is what it is and they played the game and Alabama game out with their second crystal ball in three years. Expect both teams to be back next year and expect both to be good. I'd give the edge to LSU in the race next year but never ever count out a Nick Saban coached Crimson Tide. I'll admit that I was rooting for the Les Miles lead Tiger's but in the end, Roll Tide.