Spread Offense: College Football Week 3: A Storm On The Horizon

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta


While week 2 provided us with some stunning games and dramatic finishes, it lacked the overall "star power" as there were no games featuring teams in which both were ranked. Week 3 makes up for that though, as we are treated to not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 games that involve both teams being ranked, one of them being an early season conference game.

This week will start to shape the playoff contenders to the playoff pretenders as we head into a full schedule of conference games in the weeks to come. The storm is definitely coming and it will provide some great games.

SATURDAY SEPT. 17TH

We kick off Saturday's noon slate of games with the game that ESPN's College Gameday will be tailgating for. #2 Florida State at #10 Louisville, in a game where both offenses will be on full display.

Florida State overcame early game woes against Ole Miss to make a big comeback and pull out a win against the Rebels. Redshirt freshman QB Deandre Francois seems to be getting very comfortable in the pocket and Heisman hopeful RB Dalvin Cook is helping by taking a ton of pressure off of him. When they are running on all cylinders, they've shown how unstoppable they can be, and may in fact be the best team in the ACC (Clemson was the preseason landslide favorite in the conference.)

Speaking of what a team is capable of when running on all cylinders, the Louisville Cardinals have turned plenty of heads this season already with their high powered offense. Led by QB Lamar Jackson, who accounts for 13 TD's, the Cardinals have put up 132 points in 2 games. The detractors will say that it was against Charlotte and Syracuse, but Louisville will have home field and a big time chance to prove that they are for real in this game against the Seminoles.

In the 3:30 games, we will see the #22 ranked Oregon Ducks travel to Lincoln to face the unranked(for now) Nebraska Cornhuskers. Oregon always seems to have a lightning quick, score at will offense, and this year seems no different as they have put up 53 and 44 points in their 2 games. Their defense seems to be the question though as they gave up 28 points to UC Davis and 26 points to Virginia. On the other hand, Nebraska has not only been scoring a lot of points but their defense is not giving up many. The Cornhuskers look to make a big statement here by welcoming in the Ducks, if they can slow down that Oregon offense  then this game is very winnable for them.

But the big game at 3:30 that most will be watching intently, will be the #1 team in the country playing their Achilles heel. The Alabama Crimson Tide have only lost 3 games in the past 2 seasons, 2 of those losses have been to the Ole Miss Rebels. The #19 team in the country needs this game big time, as they have already lost 1 game this season and any chance of playoffs will fade away with another loss. In order for Ole Miss to win this one, it will be in the hands of QB Chad Kelly and his offensive line. If Kelly has time then we can see him make some plays happen out there and have Ole Miss in position for an upset bid. The Crimson Tide, looking to exercise their Ole Miss demons, will be keeping pressure on Kelly while getting their offense rolling the way it did against USC. All signs point to the Tide here, but Ole Miss has had their number in the past.

Then we head to 7:30, where we will see non-conference rivals face off as #12 Michigan State heads to South Bend to take on the #17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Spartans had a less than stellar performance in their season opener against Furman, where their defense looked every bit as good as we've come to know from them but their offense looked rather lackluster. Thanks to an oddly timed bye in week 2, MSU has had an extra week to prepare for Notre Dame and work out the kinks with their offense. The Fighting Irish are fighting for their playoff lives in this game, as they have already lost once this season. The 2 QB controversy seems to be past them now as Deshone Kizer has taken the ranks and the offense has flourished under him. Notre Dame will need him to perform at his peak against this defense in order for them to win, a big win in front of their home crowd would put them right on track as a potential playoff team.

In the other 7:30 game, a big clash in Norman will happen with the #14 Oklahoma Sooners welcoming the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes to town. Oklahoma is 1-1 with a loss to the Houston Cougars while Ohio State is 2-0 with wins over Bowling Green and Tulsa. The biggest test for Ohio State is how their young team of first time starters handles the hostile environment that they'll be walking into. Also, early season struggles on the offensive line could be the place that Oklahoma exploits in order to slow down J.T. Barrett and the OSU offense. The Sooners will need to establish the running game, which they are capable of doing, and also get QB Baker Mayfield back into Heisman form in order to put up the necessary points to win this game. Oklahoma is in a "do or die" situation when  it comes to the playoffs as one more loss seals their fate, while Ohio State looks to remain unblemished and staying on course to the playoffs.

While the 1st quarter is finishing up in those 7:30 games, our 8pm game will be set for kickoff. The ABC prime time game features a conference game which has budded into a nice little rivalry as of late. The USC Trojans will be taking on the#7 Stanford Cardinal, an early season Pac-12 game that has the writing on the wall of being a very good showdown. The Trojans are looking to jump back into the rankings after being demolished 52-6 by the Alabama Crimson Tide in week 1. They have the playmakers, but it looks to be another year of preseason hype followed by in-season let down. They could reclaim some of that hype though and play spoiler here, as the Stanford Cardinal are the favorites to win the Pac-12 again and make a strong case for the playoffs. Stanford seems to center around one guy, Christian McCaffrey, as he is that 5 tool player that just does it all for Stanford. They may have also found a solid QB in Ryan Burns to help the offense out even more, making Stanford an even tougher task to defeat. If USC is going to pull off the upset, they'll need to fully utilize their playmakers and get some turnovers on defense, otherwise this Cardinal team looks to be too much for the Trojans to handle.

And finally, if you are a night owl or have some insomnia, there's a pretty good game that kicks off at 10:30 this week. The #11 Texas Longhorns head out on the road to play the Cal Golden Bears. While this Texas team made a big statement by defeating Notre Dame in week 1, many still think the jury is still out on them. They've played well before and have won big games in the past, but have also had many lapses and lost games that they should have won(including last season's game against Cal.) The Golden Bears are still looking for that big leader now that Jared Goff is in the NFL, and new QB Davis Webb could be that guy. So far, Davis has looked the part and has filled the shoes of Goff rather nicely, but Cal's defense has been a big problem for them, giving up 45 points in a loss to San Diego State last week. Cal will need the defense to step up big time, especially against the run, and will look to Davis to lead the offense down for numerous scores. Texas will continue to use their 2 QB system, Shane Buechele as the starter with Tyrone Swoopes coming in for designed run plays. That back and forth system has shown a bunch of positive results so they will keep going with that until it gets stopped (if it does.) Texas will also have to keep an eye on Cal WR Chad Hansen, who has developed into a go-to playmaker and could be the big factor in this game. If Texas continues to do what they've been doing on offense then it looks as though Cal will have no answer for them. A big night crowd in Berkeley combined with Texas' road woes(1-4 last season) could play a role in this late night affair.

TV Weekend 1.1 - 1.2

By @nevaRWilliams

Caught On Camera With Nick Cannon (FRI, NBC, 8pm)
Last Man Standing (FRI, ABC, 8pm)
MasterChef (FRI, FOX, 8pm)
NCIS (FRI, CBS, 8pm)
Dr. Ken (FRI, ABC, 8:30pm)

Dateline NBC (FRI, NBC, 9pm)
Shark Tank (FRI, ABC, 9pm)
Hawaii Five-0 (FRI, CBS, 9pm)

Hawaii Five-0 (FRI, CBS, 10pm)

------

Ash vs Evil Dead (SAT, STARZ, 9pm)

======

NBA
Suns @ Kings (SAT, NBA TV, 5pm)
Magic @ Cavaliers (SAT, FOX Sports Ohio, 7:30pm)
Rockets @ Spurs (SAT, NBA TV, 8:30pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Iowa (FRI, ESPN, 5pm)
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi (FRI, ESPN, 8:30pm)

TaxSlayer Bowl: Penn State vs. Georgia (SAT, ESPN, 12pm)
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Kansas State vs. Arkansas (SAT, ESPN, 3:20pm)
Valero Alamo Bowl: Oregon vs. TCU (SAT, ESPN, 6:45pm)
Motel 6 Cactus Bowl: West Virginia vs. Arizona State (SAT, ESPN, 10:15pm)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
UCLA @ Washington (FRI, FOX Sports 1, 11pm)

DePaul @ Seton Hall (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 11am)
WOMENS: Ohio State @ Maryland (SAT, CBS, 12pm)
West Virginia @ Kansas State (SAT, ESPNU, 12pm)
St. Joseph's @ Richmond (SAT, NBC Sports, 12:30pm)
Butler @ Xavier (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 1pm)

Tennessee @ Auburn (SAT, CBS, 2pm)
Texas @ Texas Tech (SAT, ESPNU, 2pm)
Dayton @ Duquesne (SAT, NBC Sports, 2:30pm)
Michigan State @ Minnesota (SAT, ESPN 2, 3pm)
St. John's @ Providence (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 3:30pm)
Baylor @ Kansas (SAT, CBS, 4pm)
Tulsa @ Cincinnati (SAT, ESPNU, 4pm)
TCU @ Oklahoma State (SAT, ESPNews, 4pm)
St. Louis @ Rhode Island (SAT, NBC Sports, 4:30pm)

Notre Dame @ Virginia (SAT, ESPN 2, 5pm)
Marquette @ Georgetown (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 5:30pm)
Iowa State @ Oklahoma (SAT, ESPN 2, 7pm)
Georgia @ Florida (SAT, ESPNU, 8pm)
LSU @ Vanderbilt (SAT, ESPN 2, 9pm)
Villanova @ Creighton (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 10pm)

NHL
Capitals @ Blue Jackets (SAT, FOX Sports Cincinnati, 7pm)
Islanders @ Penguins (SAT, NHL Network, 7pm)

MMA & BOXING
UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit - Prelims (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 8pm)

SOCCER
Watford FC vs. Manchester City FC (SAT, NBC, 12:30pm)

TV Tonight 10.29

By @nevaRWilliams

NFL
NFL Thursday Night Kickoff (CBS/NFL Network, 8pm)
Dolphins @ Patriots (CBS/NFL Network, 8:25pm)

NBA
Hawks @ Knicks (TNT, 8pm)
Mavericks @ Clippers (TNT, 10:30pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
North Carolina @ Pittsburgh (ESPN, 7pm)
West Virginia @ TCU (FOX Sports 1, 7:30pm)
Oregon @ Arizona State (ESPN, 10:30pm)

=====

Heroes Reborn (NBC, 8pm)
It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm)
Bones (FOX, 8pm)
WWE SmackDown (SyFy, 8pm)
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8pm)

The Blacklist (NBC, 9pm)
Scandal (ABC, 9pm)
Sleepy Hollow (FOX, 9pm)
The Originals (The CW, 9pm)
Party Down South (CMT, 9pm)

The Player (NBC, 10pm)
How To Get Away With Murder (ABC, 10pm)
Haven (SyFy, 10pm)
Benders (IFC, 10pm)
Nathan For You (Comedy Central, 10pm)
Ridiculousness (MTV, 10pm)
Broke A$$ Game Show (MTV, 10:30pm)
The Middle Of The Night Show (MTV, 11pm)

TV Weekend 9.11 - 9.12

By @nevaRWilliams

New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXSTV, 8pm)
Cold Justice (FRI, TNT, 8pm)

Cold Justice: Sex Crimes (FRI, TNT, 9pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXSTV, 9pm)
Strike Back (FRI, Cinemax, 10pm)
Z Nation SEASON PREMIERE (FRI, SyFy, 10pm)

Continuum SEASON PREMIERE (FRI, SyFy, 11pm)
Uncommon Sense With Charlemagne Tha God (FRI, MTV 2, 11pm)
Kingin' With Tyga (FRI, MTV 2, 11:30pm)
------

Hell On Wheels (SAT, AMC, 9pm)
Blunt Talk (SAT, STARZ, 9pm)
Survivor's Remorse (SAT, STARZ, 9:30pm)
Ferrell Takes The Field; Will Ferrell (SAT, HBO, 10pm)
======

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Miami @ Florida Atlantic (FRI, Fox Sports 1, 8pm)
Utah State @ Utah (FRI, ESPN 2, 9pm)

South Florida @ Florida State (SAT, ESPN, 11:30am)
Oregon State @ Michigan (SAT, ABC, 12pm)
Miami, OH @ Wisconsin (SAT, ESPNU, 12pm)
Buffalo @ Penn State (SAT, ESPN 2, 12pm)
Kansas State @ UTSA (SAT, Fox Sports 1, 12pm)
Houston @ Louisville (SAT, STO/Fox Sports, 12pm)

Hawaii @ Ohio State (SAT, Big Ten, 3:30pm)
Notre Dame @ Virginia (SAT, ABC, 3:30pm)
Georgia @ Vanderbilt (SAT, CBS, 3:30pm)
Stephen F. Austin State @ TCU (SAT, Fox Sports 1, 3:30pm)
Fresno State @ Mississippi (SAT, ESPN 2, 3:30pm)
Tulane @ Georgia Tech (SAT, STO/Fox Sports, 3:30pm)
Minnesota @ Colorado State (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 3:30pm)
Middle Tennessee State @ Alabama (SAT, SEC, 4pm)
Iowa @ Iowa State (SAT, FOX, 4:30pm)

Oklahoma @ Tennessee (SAT, ESPN, 6pm)
Ball State @ Texas A&M (SAT, ESPNU, 7pm)
East Carolina @ Florida (SAT, ESPN 2, 7pm)
Arizona @ Nevada (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 7pm)
Kentucky @ South Carolina (SAT, SEC, 7:30pm)
Lamar @ Baylor (SAT, STO/Fox Sports, 7:30pm)
Oregon @ Michigan State (SAT, ABC, 8pm)
South Alabama @ Nebraska (SAT, Big Ten, 8pm)

LSU @ Mississippi State (SAT, ESPN, 9:15pm)
Boise State @ BYU (SAT, ESPN 2, 10:15pm)
UCLA @ UNLV (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 10:30pm)
Central Florida @ Stanford (SAT, Fox Sports 1, 10:30pm)

MLB
Tigers @ Indians (FRI, STO, 7pm)
Blue Jays @ Yankees OR Royals @ Orioles (FRI, MLB Network, 7pm)

Blue Jays @ Yankees (SAT, FOX, 1pm)
Tigers @ Indians (SAT, Fox Sports 1, 7pm)
Astros @ Angels OR Padres @ Giants (SAT, MLB Network, 9pm)

MMA & BOXING
Premier Boxing Champions (FRI, SPIKE, 9pm)
TRUTV Friday Night Knockout (FRI, TruTV, 10pm)

Premier Boxing Champions (SAT, NBC, 4pm)

NASCAR & RACING
XFINITY Series: Virginia529 College Savings 250 (FRI, NBC Sports, 7:30pm)
Sprint Cup Series: Federated Auto Parts 400 (SAT, NBC Sports, 7:30pm)

TENNIS
2015 US Open, Men’s Semifinals (FRI, ESPN, 3pm-11pm)
2015 US Open, Women’s Final (SAT, ESPN, 3pm)

SOCCER
English Premier League: Manchester United FC vs. Liverpool FC (SAT, NBC, 12:30pm)

OTHER SPORTS
Dew Tour: Los Angeles Skateboard Vert (SAT, NBC, 3pm)

On The Mark 1.13.15: #Buckeyes #NationalChampionship Recap

UNDISPUTED CHAMPS!  Ohio State Handles Oregon 42-20 To Win The First CFB Championship
By @MarkW2112

The Ohio State Buckeyes, lead once again by third string quarterback Cardale Jones and running back Ezekiel Elliot, defeated the Oregon Ducks 42-20 to win the first ever College Football Championship.  It was an extraordinary end to an extraordinary season in which the Buckeyes went through 2 young quarterbacks after Braxton Miller had his season end before it began with a shoulder injury.  It was also extraordinary as to the fact that this team had been told that they were too young and year away.  None of that mattered as the Buckeyes dominated the ball game.

It didn't start out that way as the Ducks struck first with a 2:39 touchdown drive lead by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and then a 3 and out for the Bucks.  After the Ducks went 3 and out and pinned the Buckeyes on their own 3 yard line, Jones (242 passing yards, 38 rushing) led the team down the field and ended on a spectacular touchdown run by Elliot to tie it up.

The only downside to the game were 4 turnovers by the Buckeyes on offense.  3 fumbles and an interception off of Jalin Marshall's arms could have doomed the Bucks.  The Ducks got as close as 21-20 in the third quarter after a fumble by Jones led to another Ducks field goal.  With the preceding drive, Jones and Elliot once again led the team down field for a game defining touchdown to make it 28-20 to end the third quarter.  From there, the Buckeyes defense was able to stop the Ducks and the Buckeyes scored once again making it 35-20.  One more touchdown at the end of the game Elliot gave him 4 for the game to go along with 246 yards rushing which made him the undisputed Offensive MVP.  And while Tyvis Powell won defensive MVP, it really belonged to the entire defense.  The rotations that Luke Fickell and Chris Ash came up with were excellent and enough to keep the players fresh.  They proved to be too tough for the Ducks offense to handle.

My take: The Ohio State Buckeyes came in to the season as underdogs and proved every national media member wrong.  Urban Meyer had this team prepared and while the start of the season didn't look promising, he helped led them to the promise land and become National champions.  The entire Buckeyes coaching staff deserves a ton of credit for preparing their players to be the very best.  And while Oregon was a worthy opponent, they were no match for the aggressiveness both on offense and defense.  Cardale Jones and Ezekiel Elliot were able to plow through the Ducks defense when they needed to that extra yard or 2.  And while Mariota was able to make some big plays with his arm, the Bucks defensive line was able to keep him pressured almost the whole game.  It was a thing of beauty, a national championship won by a team that proved to the world they were the true #1 team in the nation.

Offensive player(s) of the game: Ezekiel Elliot and Cardale Jones once again were outstanding.  Elliot will definitely be a Heisman candidate next season.  Jones may decide to perhaps go pro.

Defensive player(s) of the game: the entire defense.  They all worked together as one unit to keep Marcus Mariota and his offense mostly at bay. 

Play of the game: the Buckeyes defense keeping the Ducks out of the end zone at the goal line.

So this is it.  The end of the 2014 season.  And what a season for The Ohio State Buckeyes!  Congratulations to them on their National Championship!   And the scary thing is most of this team will be back for next season.  They should be fun to watch once again.

TV Tonight 1.12

By @nevaRWilliams

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
College Football Playoff Pregame Show (ESPN, 8pm)
2015 National Championship: Ohio State vs. Oregon (ESPN, 8:30pm)
2015 National Championship: "Off The Ball" Broadcast (ESPNews, 8:30pm)
2015 National Championship: "ESPN Voices" Broadcast (ESPNU, 8:30pm)
2015 National Championship: "Film Room" Broadcast (ESPN 2, 8:30pm)

NBA
Pelicans @ Celtics (NBA TV, 7:30pm)

NHL
Lightning @ Flyers (NHL Network, 7pm)

======

WWE Raw (USA, 8pm)
The Celebrity Apprentice (NBC, 8pm)
The Bachelor (ABC, 8pm)
REPLAY: Empire (FOX, 8pm)
Mike & Molly (CBS, 8:30pm)

REPLAY: Sleepy Hollow (FOX, 9pm)
Major Crimes (TNT, 9pm)

Eye Candy (MTV, 10pm)
State of Affairs (NBC, 10pm)
Castle (ABC, 10pm)

On The Mark 1.12.15: #Buckeyes National Championship Game Preview

By @MarkW2112

This is it.  My last On The Mark preview for the Ohio State Buckeyes 2014 season.  And what a season it was.  And still is as the Buckeyes are playing in the first ever NCAA Football National Championship game, held at AT&T Field in Arlington, TX.  Their opponent, the offensively explosive Oregon Ducks, led by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, who will probably be playing in his last game of college football.  

The Buckeyes have had a long, hard fought road to this day.  Starting with losing their starting quarterback Braxton Miller before the season began and ending with the injury to J.T. Barrett, who had himself a Heisman worthy season before that.  Yet somehow the almost impossible happened.  Cleveland's own Cardale Jones, the third string QB for the Bucks, led them to a blow out win against Wisconsin and even more amazing upset against number 1 ranked Alabama.  This time, however, Jones and Buckeyes will be on the biggest stage.

My thoughts: the Buckeyes have had an incredible season.  It comes down to the last game against a very explosive Oregon offense.  While the Ducks will be without their 2 leading receivers, Marcus Mariota has many other weapons at his disposal.  However, the Ducks have not faced a physical defense like the Buckeyes.  It will be intriguing to see how this plays out.  On offense, the Buckeyes, lead by Cardale Jones and Ezekiel Elliot, will look to keep the turnovers to a minimum.  If they do, they should be able to move down the field against the Duck's defense.  It will be an offensive battle until the end.

Prediction: As much as it pains me to say it, Oregon will win 45-42.  The Buckeyes will put up one heck of a fight though.

What: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon Ducks at the NCAA National Championship
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Time: 8:30 PM EST
TV: ESPN

Leadoff with Lee 1.10.15

By @cleeverizon

- It's unknown if Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will practice today. Earlier this week, it was discovered that the Green Bay starter has a torn and strained calf muscle. Despite his injury, he will make the start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. One team official said Rodgers won't be 100%, the bigger question is whether he will be 50% or 95% on game day. I expect the Cowboys to blitz more in this game than any other because of Rogers limited mobility.

- The NFL is investigating the Browns for allegations of using electronic devices on the sidelines for play calling. The rules prohibit smartphones and cellphones from being used in team areas, including sidelines and coaching booths from 90 minutes before kickoff and in locker rooms after kickoff. The restrictions on the devices end after games end.

"We are reviewing internally and will fully cooperate with the NFL on this matter.”, said a Browns spokesman on Friday.

- Former Browns head coach and current 49ers tight ends coach Eric Mangini will interview with the Washington Redskins for their open defensive coordinator position. Mangini was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator in 2005 after several years as a defensive backs coach and then was hired as the Jets head coach the next year. Randy Lerner then hired Mangini in 2009 after the firing of Romeo Crennel. Mangini spent time with ESPN a few years then, he joined the 49ers staff in 2013 as an offensive assistant and then moved to the tight ends job for the 2014 season.

- Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington has reportedly been suspended for failing a drug test, and he will miss the National Championship Game against Ohio State, Carrington reportedly tested positive for marijuana. In the voice of Stephen A. Smith, "Stay off da weeeeeeeda!" The Ducks will be missing their number 1 and 2 receivers for the game as Devon Allen is out with a knee injury.

- NCAA basketball official Karl Hess has resigned as a official in the ACC after allegations the official used an ethnic slur during a game between Wake Forest and Louisville. Hess' removal from ACC basketball games will not affect his ability to officiate games for other conferences, including the Southeastern Conference, American Athletic Conference and Colonial Conference.

Here is a copy of the tweet that Hess used to Mit Shah who is a former chairman at Wake Forest board of trustees and now a hotel mogul: Karl Hess to me at the Wake-Louisville game tonight..."When I'm older, I want to sit in your seat & watch your Egyptian ass ref a game" #Wow

- Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill has requested and been granted his release from the program and can transfer to any school of his choice. Hill replaced former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and was a early Heisman hopeful with a 511-yard, three-touchdown victory of fellow SEC opponent South Carolina to open the 2014 season. Hill started off the season 5-0 then was benched and suspended from the team for two-games for a violation of team rules and athletic department policy. Prior to the season beginning Hill also was suspended for the final part of spring practice in 2014 after an alcohol-related arrest.




- Former Dallas Mavericks center Roy Tarpley, whose star fizzled due to drug and alcohol problems, died Friday afternoon. He was 50. Cause of death was not immediately known although when the Mavericks arrived in Los Angeles for their game Saturday against the Clippers, several members of the traveling party had been informed that liver failure was at least partly to blame. 

The 6'11" Tarpley was the seventh pick in the 1986 draft by the Mavericks out of Michigan. In his second season, he was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, before drugs and controversy clouded the rest of his six seasons in the league. Tarpley would spend most of his career battling personal problems. He was suspended by the NBA after five games in the 1989-90 season after being arrested for driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. In 1991, he drew another suspension after a second DWI arrest and, a few months later, had a third violation and was banned from the league for violating the NBA’s drug-use policies. He returned to the Mavericks briefly in 1994 but then was permanently barred in December, 1995, for violating terms of his aftercare program. Tarpley’s abilities on the court were never a problem. In 280 games, he averaged 12.6 points and 10 rebounds. In the 1987-88 season, he averaged 17.9 points and 12.9 rebounds in 17 playoff games before the Mavericks lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals in seven games.

And last but not least the inductees of the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame were announced yesterday, led by former Ohio State couch Jim Tressel. 


Here is a full list of inductees:


Youngstown State and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth
Kansas State coach Bill Snyder
Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts
Arizona State linebacker Bob Breunig
Millsaps defensive end Sean Brewer from Division III
Pittsburgh offensive tackle Rugen Brown
Florida split end Wes Chandler
Notre Dame split end Thom Gatewood
Yale running back Dick Jauron
Michigan state halfback Clinton Jones
Washington offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy
Michigan running back Rob Lytle
Marshall quarterback Michael Payton
Texas Tech linebacker Zach Thomas
Kentucky defensive lineman Art Still

Around the B1G with K8 - CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION

By @ClvlndK8

Somebody pinch me! I still can't believe the Buckeyes are playing for the National Championship! It seems like only a few weeks ago (and it was) that we didn't think they'd even make the Top Four! Then, it was all about 'Bama... Could Urban beat Saban..... would the Cinderella Season end and the hands of his Nemesis.... Well, maybe this season should be compared to movies like Rocky instead of Cinderella. The Buckeyes keep taking hit after hit and they still get up and conquer! It's just been an amazing season so far and the final test, the final battle is on Monday Night against Marcus Mariota and the high flyin' Oregon Ducks.

First, a pronunciation lesson for you.  I worked for many years with an Oregon Alumni who got me watching Duck Football back in 2001. Oregon is pronounced Ory-Gun. If anyone who cares hears the dreaded Or-a-gone, you may get slapped, so be careful!

Second, all northeast Ohioans should be familiar with Duck QB Marcus Mariota. He was on our Browns QB Watch-list in 2013 and I for one was very sad that he went back to school instead of
heading into the draft last year. While it's been great for the Ducks, we all know what happened (again) to my Browns QB Situation. Sadly, I don't think the Browns have the ammunition needed to make a run at him in this year's draft, but that's beside the point. What I'm saying is that most of us knew this kid was the real deal before he won the Heisman. At 6'4" 220 lbs he's the picture perfect QB... 50 TDS vs just 6 Turnovers in his career. Damn. You gotta admire that, but it doesn't mean he's unbeatable....

Who To Watch - Oregon, we won't have to worry about WR Devon Allen who injured his knee in the game vs Florida. Leading the team with 7 TD receptions and 684 yards, he's one weapon MM won't have to use against us. Don't get too excited now, they still have six other guys with 4 or more TDs so there are still weapons, but Allen was also a return team threat. I do like the big guys and at 6'5" WR Dwayne Stanford should be watched very carefully!  As for their rushing game, with all the QB Hype, you might not have noticed that they had 42 rushing TDs this season.... vs 42 receiving TDs. For those of you who struggle with math, that's pretty damn even. RB Royce Freeman has 18 TDs but - whoa! what is this? QB Mariota has 15! Yikes!  Better keep him contained or he'll hurt you on the ground!

Buckeyes Who Have To Step Up: Ok so yeah Cardale Jones needs to have a good game. I like the way he bounced back vs 'Bama after some early struggles. And my boy Joey "Beast" Bosa has been hot and cold at times so he'll need to make his presence known. And obviously the #BellyShirtMafia of Ezekiel Elliott and Devon Smith will get their chances as well. This will have to be a complete team effort, all three sides of the ball, for the Buckeyes to win this game. But it's totally doable. 7-point underdogs? Pish Posh. Urban has been an underdog six times since coming to The Ohio State and guess what.... he's 5-0 so far. I say we make it a perfect 6-0 on Monday!

And now what you've all been waiting for: The Uniforms! Ok so maybe not all of you but there will be no green on the Ducks. I'm not sure why they are forgoing their signature color but my sources are reporting all White for the Ducks and Scarlet for the Buckeyes. I like the White. It'll be so much easier to see the dirt and grass stains from being pounded by my boys all night long. :)

Good luck Buckeyes and Stay Classy Fans as you watch and tweet and Smack-Talk all those lowly SEC Fans who are just lost without one of their teams playing in the Big Game. That alone makes me happy, regardless of the outcome!

O-H!


Respectfully Submitted,
Cleveland Kate

TV Tonight 1.1

By @nevaRWilliams

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Rose Bowl: Florida State vs. Oregon (ESPN, 5pm)
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Ohio State (ESPN, 8:50pm)

===

The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm)
The Taste (ABC, 8pm)

Party Down South (CMT, 9pm)
Bad Judge (NBC, 9pm)
A to Z (NBC, 9:30pm)

Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory (MTV, 10pm)
Ridiculousness (MTV, 10:30pm)

TV Weekend 12.5-12.6

By @nevaRWilliams

Haven (Friday, SyFy, 7 PM)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Friday, SyFy, 8 PM)
Girl Meets World (Friday, Disney Channel, 8 PM)
How Murray Saved Christmas (Friday, NBC, 8 PM)
Last Man Standing (Friday, ABC, 8 PM)
The Amazing Race (Friday, CBS, 8 PM)
Cristela (Friday, ABC, 8:30 PM)

A Football Life: Roger Staubach (Friday, NFL Network, 9 PM)
Grimm (Friday, NBC, 9 PM)
Shark Tank (Friday, ABC, 9 PM)
A Very Grammy Christmas (Friday, CBS, 9 PM)

A Football Life: Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers (Friday, NFL Network, 10 PM)
Constantine (Friday, NBC, 10 PM)
Z Nation (Friday, SyFy, 10 PM)
------
It's A Wonderful Life (Saturday, NBC, 8 PM)
Atlantis (Saturday, BBC America, 9 PM)
Black Dynamite (Cartoon Network, 10:30 PM)
Saturday Night Live, James Franco, Nicki Minaj (Saturday, NBC, 11:30 PM)

======

NBA
Thunder @ 76ers (Friday, NBA TV, 7 PM)
Cavaliers @ Raptors (Friday, FOX Sports Ohio, 7:30 PM)
Pacers @ Kings (Friday, NBA TV, 10 PM)

Warriors @ Bulls (Saturday, NBA TV, 8 PM)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Texas @ Kentucky (Friday, ESPN, 7 PM)
Wyoming @ SMU (Friday, ESPNews, 7 PM)
Florida @ Kansas (Friday, ESPN, 9 PM)
Missouri @ Oklahoma (Friday, ESPNU, 9:30 PM)

La Salle @ Temple (Saturday, ESPNews, 12 PM)
Oklahoma State @ South Carolina (Saturday, ESPNU, 12 PM)
Wisconsin @ Marquette (Saturday, CBS, 12:30 PM)
Saint Joseph's @ Villanova (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 1 PM)
Virginia @ VCU (Saturday, ESPNU, 2 PM)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Michigan State (Saturday, Big Ten, 2:15 PM)
Kansas State @ Tennessee (Saturday, ESPN 2, 3:15 PM)
Colgate @ Ohio State (Saturday, Big Ten, 4:30 PM)
Northwestern @ Butler (Saturday, FOX, 4:30 PM)
Gonzaga @ Arizona (Saturday, ESPN, 5:15 PM)
St. John's @ Syracuse (Saturday, ESPN 2, 5:15 PM)
Wake Forest @ North Carolina State (Saturday, ESPNU, 7:30 PM)
Bradley @ Memphis (Saturday, ESPNU, 9:30 PM)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
MAC Championship: Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois (Friday, ESPN 2, 7 PM)
PAC-12 Championship: Arizona vs. Oregon (Friday, FOX, 9 PM)

Iowa State @ TCU (Saturday, ABC, 12 PM)
Houston @ Cincinnati (Saturday, ESPN, 12 PM)
C-USA Championship: Louisiana Tech @ Marshall (Saturday, ESPN 2, 12 PM)
SMU @ Connecticut (Saturday, CBS SportsNet, 12 PM)

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 3:30 PM)
SEC Championship: Alabama vs. Missouri (Saturday, CBS, 4 PM)
SWAC Championship: Alcorn State vs. Southern (Saturday, ESPNU, 4 PM)

Temple @ Tulane (Saturday, ESPN 2, 7:30 PM)
Kansas State @ Baylor (Saturday, ESPN, 7:45 PM)
ACC Championship: Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (Saturday, ABC, 8 PM)
Big Ten Championship: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin (Saturday, FOX, 8 PM)
Mountain West Championship: Fresno State vs. Boise State (Saturday, CBS, 10 PM)

MMA
UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II, Prelims (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 8 PM)

NHL
Blue Jackets @ Lightning (Saturday, FOX Sports Ohio, 7 PM)
Rangers @ Red Wings (Saturday, NHL Network, 7 PM)

GOLF
Hero World Challenge, Third Round (Saturday, NBC, 2:30 PM)

SOCCER
English Premier League: Liverpool FC vs. Sunderland SFC (Saturday, NBC Sports, 10 AM)
English Premier League: Manchester City FC vs. Everton FC (Saturday, NBC, 12:30 PM)

TV Weekend 11.28-11.29

By @nevaRWilliams

Haven (Friday, SyFy, 7 PM)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Friday, SyFy, 8 PM)
Girl Meets World (Friday, Disney Channel, 8 PM)
The Amazing Race (Friday, CBS, 8 PM)

Grimm (Friday, NBC, 9 PM)
Shark Tank (Friday, ABC, 9 PM)
Frosty The Snowman (Friday, CBS, 9 PM)
Yes, Virginia (Friday, CBS, 9:30 PM)
Constantine (Friday, NBC, 10 PM)
Z Nation (Friday, SyFy, 10 PM)
------
The Flight Before Christmas (Saturday, CBS, 8 PM)
The Story Of Santa Claus (Saturday, CBS, 9 PM)
48 Hours (Saturday, CBS, 10 PM)
Atlantis (Saturday, BBC America, 9 PM)
Black Dynamite (Cartoon Network, 10:30 PM)
Saturday Night Live Classic, Ben Affleck, N.E.R.D. (Saturday, NBC, 10 PM)
REPEAT: Saturday Night Live, Chris Rock, Prince (Saturday, NBC, 11:30 PM)

======

NBA
Clippers @ Rockets (Friday, NBA TV, 8 PM)

Pelicans @ Wizards (Saturday, NBA TV, 7 PM)
Pacers @ Cavaliers (Saturday, FOX Sports Ohio, 7:30 PM)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NIT Season Tip-Off, Final (Friday, ESPN 2, 7 PM)
Orlando Classic, Second Semifinal (Friday, ESPN 2, 9 PM)
Rutgets @ Vanderbilt (Friday, NBC Sports, 7 PM)
Bradley vs TCU (Friday, CBS SportsNet, 7 PM)
Las Vegas Invitational, Consolation (Friday, FOX Sports 1, 8 PM)
La Salle vs. Virginia (Friday, NBC Sports, 9:30 PM)
Las Vegas Invitational, Final (Friday, FOX Sports 1, 10:30 PM)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Virginia @ Virginia Tech (Friday, ESPN, 8 PM)

Michigan @ Ohio State (Saturday, ABC, 12 PM)
South Carolina @ Clemson (Saturday, ESPN, 12 PM)
Cincinnati @ Temple (Saturday, ESPNews, 12 PM)
Illinois @ Northwestern (Saturday, ESPNU, 12 PM)
Kentucky @ Louisville (Saturday, ESPN 2, 12 PM)
West Virginia @ Iowa State (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 12 PM)
Purdue @ Indiana (Saturday, Big Ten, 12 PM)
Georgia Tech @ Georgia (Saturday, SEC Network, 12 PM)

Grambling State vs. Southern (Saturday, NBC, 2:30 PM)
Michigan State @ Penn State (Saturday, ABC, 3:30 PM)
Notre Dame @ USC (Saturday, FOX, 3:30 PM)
Mississippi State @ Mississippi (Saturday, CBS, 3:30 PM)
Florida @ Florida State (Saturday, ESPN, 3:30 PM)
Rutgers @ Maryland (Saturday, ESPNU, 3:30 PM)
Baylor @ Texas Tech (Saturday, ESPN 2, 3:30 PM)
Minnesota @ Wisconsin (Saturday, Big Ten, 3:30 PM)
San Jose State @ San Diego State (Saturday, CBS SportsNet, 3:30 PM)
Connecticut @ Memphis (Saturday, ESPNews, 4 PM)
Kansas @ Kansas State (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 4 PM)

Wake Forest @ Duke (Saturday, ESPNU, 7 PM)
Pittsburgh @ Miami (Saturday, ESPN 2, 7 PM)
Auburn @ Alabama (Saturday, ESPN, 7:30 PM)
Oregon @ Oregon State (Saturday, ABC, 8 PM)
Utah State @ Boise State (Saturday, ESPN 2, 10:15 PM)

NHL
Canucks @ Blue Jackets (Friday, FOX Sports Ohio, 7 PM)
Jets @ Bruins (Friday, NHL Network, 7 PM)

Capitals @ Maple Leafs (Saturday, NHL Network, 7 PM)
Blue Jackets @ Predators (Saturday, FOX Sports Cincinnati, 8 PM)
Blackhawks @ Kings (Saturday, NHL Network, 10 PM)

SOCCER
English Premier League: Sunderland AFC vs. Chelsea FC (Saturday, NBC, 12:30 PM)

The Raven Report 10.3.14

By @neveRWilliams

-UPSET CITY! Last night, the Arizona Wildcats went up to Eugene, Oregon and shocked the No. 2 Oregon Ducks, 31-24. The Wildcats were 24-point underdogs. Arizona freshman running back Nick Wilson had 2 touchdowns to go along with 92 yards, while quarterback Anu Solomon went 20/31 for 287 yards and 1 TD. Heisman hopeful and potential top-5 NFL draft pick Marcus Mariota threw for 276 yards and had 2 passing touchdowns. Personally, I don't think the loss will hurt Mariota's draft status at all. The win puts Arizona at 5-0 and 2-0 in the Pac-12. The Ducks are now 4-1 and possibly may have seen their hopes of a National Championship fade away. But there is plenty of games to go, and you never know what kind of craziness the college football season could bring.

-The Green Bay Packers just flat out bullied the Minnesota Vikings 42-10 last night in Green Bay. "Best quarterback in the NFL" Aaron Rodgers had an easy night, going 12 for 17, for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns. Eddie Lacy showed up big with a season high 105 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. Christian Ponder got the start for the Vikings with Teddy Bridgewater being out with a sprained left ankle. Things didn't go well for him at all. Ponder had a 6-yard touchdown run and threw for 222 yards, but had 0 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions and took 6 sacks. The Packers Julius Peppers become the NFL's first player ever to record 100 sacks and 10 interceptions in the game. Next week, the Vikings will host the Detroit Lions while the Packers will head to Miami to play the Dolphins.

-The NFL has announced that the 2015 NFL Draft will be held in Chicago from April 30 to May 2. This will be the first time the draft has been in Chicago since 1964.

-Speaking of records, the Baltimore Orioles laid a beat down on the Detroit Tigers 12-3 in Game 1 of the ALDS. The 12 runs set a postseason team record for the O's. The game was quite close in the top of the 8th inning when Orioles led 4-3, before exploding for 8 runs in the bottom of the 8th. Max Scherzer took the loss for the Tigers after going 7.1 innings with 5 earned runs. Game 2 is this afternoon at 12:07 on TBS.

-The new "America's Team", Kansas City Royals, pulled out another late inning miracle in Game 1 of their ALDS series, besting the LA Angels 3-2 in the 11th. Mike Moustakas sent a high shot into right field in the top of the 11th before reliever Greg Holland came in to get the save. Danny Duffy picked up the win for the Royals after pitching the 10th. Jered Weaver went 7 innings for the Angels giving up 2 earned with 6 strikeouts. It should also be noted that Angels superstars Mike Trout and Albert Pujols both went 0-4 with 1 walk apiece. Game 2 of the series is tonight at 9:30.

-LeBron James will be bring TWO shows to TV this month. "Becoming" debuts on Disney XD October 26 and will chronicle athletes lives before they were the stars people know and love today. The other show "Survivor's Remorse" will debut on STARZ this Saturday. "Survivor's Remorse" focuses on fictional basketball star Cam Calloway and his life with friends and family while handling success and fame. James and his business partner and friend Maverick Carter are producers.

-Opening in theaters today are the horror movie "Annabelle" and Ben Affleck's thriller mystery, "Gone Girl". Will these movies push "The Equalizer", "The Maze Runner" and "The Boxtrolls' down to 3-5? I believe so. Go check out some movies this weekend.

TV Weekend 9.19.14 - 9.20.14

By @neveRWilliams

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Connecticut @ South Florida (Friday, ESPN, 8 PM)

Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech (Saturday, ESPN, 12 PM)
Western Illinois @ Northwestern (Saturday, ESPNews, 12 PM)
Iowa @ Pittsburgh (Saturday, ESPNU, 12 PM)
Bowling Green @ Wisconsin (Saturday, ESPN 2, 12 PM)
Eastern Michigan @ Michigan State (Saturday, Big Ten, 12 PM)
Troy @ Georgia (Saturday, SEC, 12 PM)

Florida @ Alabama (Saturday, CBS, 3:30 PM)
Utah @ Michigan (Saturday, ABC, 3:30 PM)
Virginia @ BYU (Saturday, ESPN, 3:30 PM)
Texas A&M @ SMU (Saturday, ESPN 2, 3:30 PM)
North Carolina @ East Carolina (ESPNU, 3:30 PM)
Louisville @ Florida International (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 3:30 PM)
Rutgers @ Navy (Saturday, CBS SportsNet, 3:30 PM)
Texas State @ Illinois (Saturday, ESPNews, 4 PM)
Massachusetts @ Penn State (Saturday, Big Ten, 4 PM)
Indiana @ Missouri (Saturday, SEC, 4 PM)

Mississippi State @ LSU (Saturday, ESPN, 7 PM)
Northern Illinois @ Arkansas (Saturday, ESPNU, 7 PM)
Miami (Ohio) @ Cincinnati (Saturday, CBS SportsNet, 7 PM)
Oklahoma @ West Virginia (Saturday, FOX, 7:30 PM)
Clemson @ Florida State (Saturday, ABC, 8 PM)
Miami @ Nebraska (Saturday, ESPN 2, 8 PM)
Oregon @ Washington State (Saturday, ESPN, 10:30 PM)
San Diego State @ Oregon State (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 10:30 PM)
Louisiana-Lafayette @ Boise State (Saturday, CBS SportsNet, 10:30 PM)

MLB
Indians @ Twins (Friday, STO, 8 PM)
Tigers @ Royals (Friday, ESPN 2, 8 PM)
Giants @ Padres OR Rangers @ Angels (Friday, MLB Network, 10 PM)

Tigers @ Royals (Saturday, FOX, 1 PM)
Phillies @ Athletics OR Blue Jays @ Yankees (Saturday, MLB Network, 4 PM)
Indians @ Twins (Saturday, STO, 7 PM)
Reds @ Cardinals (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 7 PM)
Rangers @ Angels OR Giants @ Padres (Saturday, MLB Network, 10 PM)

NFL
A Football Life: Brandon Marshall (Friday, NFL Network, 9 PM)

MMA
Bellator MMA Live (Friday, Spike, 9 PM)

SOCCER
MLS: Colorado Rapids @ Real Salt Lake (Friday, NBC Sports, 10 PM)
MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps FC @ Portland Timbers (Saturday, NBC Sports, 5 PM)
MLS: Seattle Sounders FC @ New York Red Bulls (Saturday, NBC Sports, 7:30 PM)

NASCAR
Nationwide Series, VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (Saturday, ESPNews, 7:30 PM)

======

Girl Meets World (Friday, Disney, 8:30 PM)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Friday, SyFy, 8 PM)
Big Brother (Friday, CBS, 8 PM)
Utopia (Friday, FOX, 9 PM)
The Knick (Friday, Cinemax, 10 PM)
Z Nation (Friday, SyFy, 10 PM)

Doctor Who (Saturday, BBC America, 8 PM)
On The Run Tour: Beyonce and Jay Z (Saturday, HBO, 9 PM)
Hell On Wheels (Saturday, AMC, 9 PM)
Outlander (Saturday, STARZ, 9 PM)
Intruders (Saturday, BBC America, 10 PM)

Leadoff with Lee 6.2.14

-Michael Bourn brought his broom and the Indians got a sweep! Michael Bourn hit his first walk off homerun of his career to give the Tribe a 6-4 win over the Rockies. The hit came in the bottom of the 9th with 1 on and 1 out, off of Adam Ottavino. Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin had a quality start going 5 2/3 innings, giving up only 2 earned runs while recording a career best 8 strikeouts. Despite the solid start by Tomlin, reliever Scott Atchison got the win for the Tribe. Josh Tomlin has been on fire his last 5 starts and has a 3.06 era and at least 6 strikeouts. Tomlin's pitch count got to him as he was over 100 pitches in the 6th inning. The Tribe are now on a 3 game winning streak with the day off tomorrow. They open a series at home Tuesday against Terry Francona's former team, the Boston Red Sox. Cleveland Browns running back Ben Tate will throw out the first pitch.

-The Florida Gators advanced to the National Championship of the Women's College World Series with a 6-3 win over Baylor. This will be Floridas 3rd trip to the WCWS They will face Alabama tonight at 8 PM on ESPN 2!

-With Alabama's 2-0 win over Oregon yesterday, they have set up the first all SEC WCWS championship. The first of the best out of 3 games will be shown at ESPN2 at 8pm. This will be Alabama's 2nd trip in 3 years to the WCWS.

-Over in the NHL, the L.A. Kings outlasted the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7, 5-4 in overtime. The Kings will host the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday.