The Long Snapper (4/23/10)
Day one of the three-part NFL Draft came to an end and saw three Gators and a Bull go in the first 25 picks. Hats off to
Jason Pierre-Paul
for becoming the highest former
USF
player ever selected. Hats off to
Tim Tebow
for sneaking himself into the first round. And, of course, hats off to
Joe Haden
and
Maurkice Pouncey
as well. It was a good night for the Florida schools (even
FSU
snuck in a pick at the end) and a great day for the Gators and Bulls. Consistently having first round selections only helps Florida when it comes to recruiting and USF continues to improve its name. It’s the whole
“why go to one of the big three and possibly fight for playing time for four years when you can come to USF and maybe get a quicker shot at showing what you can do?”
That might not always be the case (in fact, it definitely won’t always be the case), but for now, it’s certainly something recruits will consider. On to day two.
In case you need a quick recap of exactly what happened last night during the first round of the NFL Draft, EDSBS put together a solid review. It’s easy to understand and covers a variety of points that should be made.
Why does it continue to seem like the Big 12 is doomed if conference expansion eventually occurs? The latest I’ve seen is the possibility of Missouri heading to the Big Ten and Colorado jumping to the Pac-10. To be fair, both of those teams will continue to struggle against the likes of Oklahoma, Texas, and a rejuvenated Nebraska program in the Big 12, but they’ve also both had their moments too. It seems to me the Tigers won’t fare any better in the Big Ten and the same goes for the Buffaloes in the Pac-10. Then again, this isn’t about competing. It’s about money. The almighty dollar. Forget about a jump to boost your program. It’s a jump to boost your bottom-line. In five years, the landscape of college football could look very different than it does today.
The BCS has released its formula for automatic qualification, but it really doesn’t mean much because it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Something about the highest ranked team, regular season computer rankings, and number of teams in the top 25. But that can’t be it. The real reason has to be…wait for it…the almighty dollar. See a theme yet? As much as the Mountain West and the WAC think they belong, they don’t bring with them the fan bases or revenue-generating abilities the other conferences do. Maybe one day that will be different, but it’s not currently the case. During the 90s, you might see a fan in an FSU jersey on the other side of the country. During the 2000s, you could walk by someone in the middle of Times Square wearing a USC hat. Do you really think Boise State fever is going to spread the nation in the 2010s (have we decided if we’re going to go with 2010s or 10s yet?)? It won’t. Those schools don’t have the national appeal the BCS is looking for. Look at formulas all you want, for now, the real reason is money.
The List: In case you can’t tell, I’m a video game player. I’m not an addict (although I may have been pretty close at one point in my life), but I still find time to pop in the occasional sports game. Here are some of my favorites over the years:
1. NHLPA ’93. Obviously.
2. Super Tecmo Bowl. Again, a no-brainer.
3. NCAA 2002. Probably not considered one of the greats, but EA made a leap with the first PS2 release of the NCAA franchise. Today’s game evolved directed from the 2002 version.
4. NFL2K and NBA2K. Dreamcast, living in a fraternity house, Busch Light. That pretty much sums up 1999 and 2000 for me, One Eyed Willy, and KP.
5. College Hoops 2K5. There have been a lot of BAD college basketball games. This was one of the few I was able to stomach.
6. T&C Surf Designs. I guess you have to classify this as a sports game.
7. NHL ’10. Yes, a new one. You could say I’m addicted to this game. First time since NHLPA ’93 I’ve actually enjoyed playing a hockey game.
8. FIFA 2001. The first game I had for PS2 definitely got plenty of play time.
9. RBI Baseball, Bases Loaded, Baseball Stars. Take your pick.
10. Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!!
The Sixth Man: Many got their wish with the expansion of the NCAA Tournament although it probably wasn’t exactly what they wanted. The Big Dance hasn’t gone to a 96-team field (thankfully), but instead will expand to 68. Whoever decided to stop this at 68 deserves a medal. Thank you for not watering down the tourney anymore than it already is. Perhaps more important is a new television deal for the tournament that includes TBS, meaning every game from the second round on will be televised. More tourney on television = more March fun (or madness, would madness be the right word to use there?).