Sharp, Reesing: A Good Day for KU

KU fans for the most part should be happy with a 49-3 victory on opening day no matter who was on the schedule. Yes, there were some bone-headed plays (see Anthony Davis' three pass interference calls in the first half), but quarterback Todd Reesing adjusted well to a defense that forced him to run the ball, and the 'Hawks came out winners by 46.

Both Reesing and senior tailback Jake Sharp proved once again they are keys to a successful season by accounting for 77 percent of the team's total yards. So the question is: Who had a better day?

(Continue to Inside Jayhawk Nation)

Georgia's Coach Drops the Ball

It’s a question many people have been asking: Where in the world were freshmen receivers Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten in Georgia’s 24-10 loss to Oklahoma State?

Well here’s your answer, and it comes from senior wide receiver Michael Moore (from David Hale’s blog where he grades the game).

“(Wide receiver) coach (Tony) Ball is in the box, so he doesn’t have direct contact with us, and he didn’t realize that until the end of the game,” Moore said. “We didn’t know what the rotation was going to be like and we basically stuck with just the three guys.”

Ball didn’t know? Seriously?

(Continue to The Chapel Bell)

U.S. Open First Week: Ups and Downs

Roger Federer – Not extraordinary, not so bad anyway. He managed his energies on court enough to find his form. Devin broke him twice, he lost a set to Hewitt but Roger defeated the Aussie for the 14th time in a row. He’s the main candidate to win the title. Vote: 6.5

Rafa Nadal – Not so bad. He’s in the third round despite an abdominal injury against Almagro, who has to learn the difference between playing a series of beautiful strokes and playing a match. Rafa was broken five times, really too many, but the Spanish derby was exactly what the new, leaner Nadal needed: a straightforward three-setter that tested him enough ... but not too much. Vote: 6.5

(Continue to ATP Tennis 360)

England Falter for Second Time

Not unlike the first one-dayer, England managed to grasp defeat when victory looked easier, only this time it was even more lamentable after such a solid opening stand between Strauss and Bopara.

Even when England were coasting along at 76 for 0, in reply to Australia's 249, I can remember thinking - 'going well, but it might still be 90-odd for four' - and so it proved.

England's middle order wickets are more contagious than swine flu.

The stop-start run out involving Collingwood and Shah seemed to sum up the team's lack of direction. In fairness to the run-shy Shah, he went on Collingwood's call this time - but the fact Colly stuttered is indicative of a lack of confidence with the Middlesex man.

(Continue to Crick Down the Legside)

So Why Not BYU?

This is admittedly way early, but it is a question we all need to be asking.

If the Cougars run the table from here on out, why not them in the BCS title game?

There is no doubt that the absence of Bradford for the second half hurt Oklahoma’s chances, but as Dr. Saturday points out BYU was handling the Sooners pretty well up until the point Bradford went down.

In fact it was a flaw in the overall Oklahoma team dynamic – their inexperienced offensive line – that led proximately to Bradford’s absence. And when it most mattered the Oklahoma defense failed to keep the Cougars out of the end zone. While last year’s Heisman winner might be the story, BYU won this game.

(Continue to Saurian Sagacity)

Sunday Paper

I'm a little disappointed in the way things played out with the new and improved extra-protective batting helmet that David Wright tried out this week.

I'll admit - the things look silly. Players from the Mets and Rockies apparently called Wright The Great Gazoo, referencing the Flinstones character...I think it brings to mind Michael Dukakis. Regardless, I think they're necessary, and I don't think David Wright helped matters much by deciding to ditch the helmet after one game.


According to Wright, the change was due to comfort rather than appearance, but he took enough ridicule from all angles that I have to think he was somewhat worried about his image.

And that's the problem, because Wright is a star, and his image could have helped garner more widespread use of the product.

(Continue to 200 Miles From the Citi)

Notre Dame Impressive in Opener

Watched the game today with a fellow Notre Dame fan who wanted another touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"Don't want to be greedy," he said, "but 42-0 would have looked a lot better than 35-0."

Oh, well. Some guys are never satisfied.

Maybe Notre Dame's 35-0 win over Nevada doesn't qualify as a true blowout, but it certainly was a decisive, workman-like victory for the Irish.

(Continue to Bob Birge's Irish Eyes Are Smiling)

Knee-Jerk Thoughts on Georgia Loss

I was actually right about something regarding Week 1 of college football: Georgia’s defense stifled Oklahoma State’s offense.

The Bulldogs held Cowboys’ quarterback Zac Robinson to 11-22 and 135 yards. Kendall Hunter only averaged 3.3 yards a carry, and the reason why Oklahoma State finished with 172 yards rushing was the fact the Cowboys wore down a tired Georgia defense that was put into a lot of bad situations.

So what did you see?: Well, nothing good on offense outside of the first series. It looked like that first series was scripted since spring ball opened. And Branden Smith playing that much on offense early and then disappearing? Mike Bobo, my man, you’re behind the times.

(Continue to The Chapel Bell)

Sun Devils Defense Rises Up

The Arizona State University Sun Devils defense walked onto the field Saturday night and stole the spotlight. On a night where most focused on the quarterback position, where senior Danny Sullivan made his first start, the ASU defense became the center of attention as the Sun Devils overwhelmed the Idaho State Bengals 50-3 Saturday at Sun Devils Stadium.

The Sun Devils' most important squad stormed the Bengals' offense and made plays all night.

(Continue to Arizona Sportspage)

Rampage Jackson Scratched from UFC

It appears scheduling conflicts will postpone the heated grudge match between light heavyweights Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-7) and Rashad Evans (18-1-1) at UFC 107 on December 12th.

Jackson, 31, recently landed the role as B.A. Baracus in the upcoming "A-Team" remake and will soon begin shooting according to the Vancouver Sun. The six-week film shooting schedule will apparently hamper Jackson's ability to put in a solid camp in time for the December 12th, UFC 107 date with Evans which was set to take place in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

(Continue to Fighter's Corner)

Season Opens with ... Roast Duck

The first big Saturday of college football is on tap, and wouldn't you know it, the year's first autumn-like breezes blew through the hills of Southwest Germany on Friday night. Actually burned the first fire of the season in the Grill Room.

Football...American style...Ahhh, you can taste it in the air.

And speaking of taste, as we scurry about this morning readying the place for our first big Saturday of the season, here's what's on tap for our customers:

Today's featured entree:
Roast Duck

Well, that didn't take long. University of Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount has been sacked for the year by the school thanks to his starring role in Thursday night's melee (and now feature film) which followed his team's 19-8 loss to Boise State.

(Continue to The Grill Room)

Game of the Weak

Mike Hlas is an award-winning columnist with the Cedar Rapids Gazette and force behind The Hlog. Each week he will break down the biggest mismatch in college football. Considering the increasing number of Bowl Championship Series teams scheduling games against cupcake opponents, Mike's task is more challenging than trying to organize a family picnic involving members of the Oregon and Boise State teams.

There's so much Weakness in the opening week of the 2009 college season that you'd think swine flu set in long ago, at least in the offices of athletic directors across the nation.

With almost everyone in I-A playing nonconference games in Week 1, rare is the region spared by a hideous mismatch. For instance:

Louisiana Monroe (which now apparently goes by the snappy handle of ULM) is at Texas.
North Dakota is at Texas Tech.
Towson visits Northwestern.
Jacksonville State is at Georgia Tech.
Northern Colorado meets Kansas.


(Continue to The Wiz of Odds)

Q&As with Alabama and Auburn

Finally, it’s time for kickoff. And the debates about whether Alabama can win a national championship and whether Auburn can stay out of last place in the SEC West can intensify – if that’s possible.

Both schools enter the 2009 college football season with some intriguing questions and I am here to provide the answers as No. 5 Alabama prepares to take on No. 7 Virginia Tech Saturday night at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, while Auburn plays host to Louisiana Tech.

Let’s begin this top-five question and answer session with …

(Continue to Rue's Rant)

Weis Faces Heat as Fifth Season Opens

Do not count former Notre Dame linebacker Tom Reynolds among Charlie Weis' biggest fans.

According to the "Daily Domer", Reynolds is the man responsible for the following words that appeared on a huge billboard erected earlier this week just outside the Notre Dame campus: "Best wishes to Charlie Weis in the fifth year of his college coaching internship. Linebacker Alumni."

Ouch! Coach Weis could not be reached to comment on the billboard.

(Continue to Bob Birge's Irish Eyes Are Smiling)

Good Seats Left for Miami-FSU Game

There is a lot of chatter on sports-talk radio and Internet message boards in the Sunshine State about Monday night's primetime showdown between Miami and No. 18-ranked Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium.

In this rivalry's prime, no other matchup in the country generated as much media coverage or fan interest. These days? The Virginia Tech-Alabama game on Saturday is the one most of the pundits are excited about.

(Continue to Seminoles Sports Center)