Teams Listed

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The last couple of days, I have thought how nice it would be to mention all 670 teams in ,my website this year, but I have to be a bit realistic in my goal for 2017.  Back in the middle of January, I thought that writing at least once about 500 teams seemed reasonable, and I have decided to stick by it at this time.  Breaking it down a bit more, I should be able to hit 500 if I mention almost all of the FBS and FCS schools (250), and approximately 60% of Division II (100) and Division III (150) colleges.

Since 2017 is almost 50 days old, I might have to take a count as to how far I am at that point in time...

Bear Bryant

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Paul (Bear) Bryant won sixty games at Kentucky in eight seasons (1946-1953) before he left for Texas A&M.  He is still the winningest Wildcat coach after 60+ years.  The average wins per year since Bryant left is just over 4, so a coach would have to last 10-12 years if the won 5-6 games per year.  I don't see that happening at Kentucky - where a coach may last 6 to 8 years.

By the way, Bryant's record at Alabama was 232-46-9.  Nick Saban has now won 116 games as head coach of the Crimson Tide in ten years.  To tie the legendary Bryant, he would have to coach another ten years and average 11.6 wins per year...

Ivy League Mascots

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Three interesting facts/stories that I learned about Ivy League mascots:

1)  The Princeton Tiger was the first collegiate mascot back in 1884.  

2)  The original Handsome Dan, Yale's bulldog, was the first adopted live college mascot

3)  Lastly, Keggy the Keg, the unofficial mascot of Dartmouth College that was introduced as a joke in 2003 to help fill the void of losing their Indian mascot, has become a part of Dartmouth's culture

Mascots

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Yesterday I mentioned Reveille IV, the former mascot of Texas A&M, and her elaborate funeral. Since that post I have done a little digging, and I discovered that there are over fifty (fifty-one I believe) live mascots across three divisions.  In fact, Army has three live mascots - three mules named Ranger, Raider, and General Scott.

My favorite mascots to watch:

1)  Colorado's Ralphie the Buffalo leading her team onto the field

2)  Even though Auburn's War Eagle isn't the official mascot, watching the Golden Eagle do the War Eagle Flight at Jordan-Hare Stadium is exciting

3)  Watching Chief Osceola and Renegade plant a flaming spear at midfield is intimidating

4)  And every USC fan has enjoyed watching Traveler gallop around the track, that has since been replaced, after every Trojan score.

 

Other Mascots that I love to see on the sideline:

1)  Bevo (Texas)

2)  Smokey (Tennessee)

3)  Mike the Tiger (LSU)

4)  Dubs (Washington)

Eligibility

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Surprisingly, two players have been granted a 7th year of eligibility this year.  Bryton Barr, who began his career at Towson, has missed almost three years due to a variety of injuries.  Barr plans to finish his career at UMass as he dreams of a NFL career.  Offensive lineman Tony Morales of Texas Tech will use his 7th year of eligibilty in 2017 after it was granted in November.  He missed four full seasons from 2011-2014. 

Bill Snyder

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The Topeka Capital-Journal has reported that Bill Snyder has been admitted to the hospital for an undisclosed reason.  It is considered serious, but he is expected to make a full recovery and not miss any major football duties this spring.  In 25 seasons, Snyder has 202 of the program's 316 victories that have been accumulated in 99 years of football.  Pretty damn impressive!

My thoughts and prayers go out to this very classy and nice individual.  Get well soon Coach!

Postseason Awards

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Jonathan Allen of Alabama continued his impressive run of awards on Saturday when he won the Lombardi Award.  Given since 1970 to the nation's top interior lineman, this was the first year that all positions were eligible.  In addition to winning this award, Allen also won:  the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, and the Ted Hendricks Award.  He also finished 7th in the Heisman voting.

Looks like he will be one of the first to be picked in the NFL Draft this spring...

American Athletic Conference

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Another conference, the American Athletic Conference has released its 2017 schedule.  A couple of highlights/thoughts:

1)  There are some quality non-conference matchups which include:  Tulsa at Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech at East Carolina, UCLA at Memphis, Texas Tech at Houston, UConn at Boston College (Fenway Park), and of course the Air Force at Navy and Navy vs. Army games

2)  I think that the two teams to beat will be South Florida and Tulsa.  USF will get some competition from Temple and Cincinnati, while Navy and Houston will be nipping at the Hurricanes' heels

3)  Not sure that I am accepting of Navy's alignment with a conference - I miss their independent schedule

4)  I am curious as to whether usa will be a Top 20 team.  They are going to give the Cowboys are run for their money

Now we just need the Mountain West schedule...

Cougars - Aztecs

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Former WAC and Mountain West foes, BYU and San Diego State, have agreed to a home-and-home series in 2019 and 2020.  The two teams have met 36 times dating back to 1947, and even though BYU has a big advantage in the series, 28-7-1, it has been a very competitive series.  When they meet in three years, it will be the first game between the two teams since 2012.

I am looking forward to the return of the series, with part of the reason being the locations of the two schools:  sunny San Diego and mountainous Provo...   

Jaqwis Dancy

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Jaqwis Dancy, a sophomore running back from Louisiana Tech, received some great news - he is now cancer-free.  He was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma back in October, but was told on Thursday that his body is free of cancer cells.  Dancy is now able to set a new goal, since he is healthy again, so he would like to return to the game he loves.  Jaqwis played in 2015, but missed last year due to an ankle injury and his cancer diagnosis.

Congratulations Jaqwis!  Hope you are on the field next September!

Illinois

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The Illini are a part of three trophy rivalries:

Ohio State:  The Illibuck Trophy is the centerpiece of the rivalry between Illinois and Ohio State.  It is a carved wooden turtle – and ten wooden replica Illibucks have been carved, each marked with the scores from games on its back.  The trophy was originally a live turtle when it began in 1925, and it was picked for its expected long life as a symbol of the anticipated long life of the rivalryIt is the second oldest trophy in the Big Ten – The Little Brown Jug is the oldest (created in 1903).

Purdue:  The Purdue Cannon is presented to the winner of the game.  In 1905 a group of Purdue students took a cannon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it in celebration of a Boilermaker victory.  It was discovered in a culvert by Illinois supporters, and they took it before Purdue students could start their celebration.  The cannon was moved to a farmhouse where it survived a fire and gathered dust until it was suggested to use it as a trophy when the rivalry resumed in 1943 after an 11-year lapse.

Northwestern:  The Land of Lincoln Trophy is presented to the winner starting in 2009, replacing the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk – which was used from 1945 until 2008.  The original trophy was a carved wooden “cigar store” Indian, but it was stolen and replaced by a replica of a tomahawk.  The NCAA mandated that all Native American imagery deemed hostile and abusive must be removed from college athletics.  Northwestern is the trophy’s permanent resting place.  The Land of Lincoln Trophy derives its name from the official state nickname and depicts a bronze replica of a stovepipe hat famously worn by Abraham Lincoln. 

Home Field Advantage

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These Division I teams have posted the longest winning streaks at home:

Miami (FL):  58 (1985-1994)

Alabama:  57 (1963-1972)

Harvard:  56 (1890-895)

Michigan:  50 (1901-1907)

Nebraska:  47 (1991-1998)

If Yale hadn't lost to Princeton at home in 1903, they would have won 75 consecutive games at home.  It was their only home loss from 1900-1908, so they have two streaks of 37 straight wins at home...

Maranatha Baptist

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Maranatha Baptist University has announced the end of the Sabercats football program, effective immediately.  The decision to discontinue the program was made following the resignation of coach Nate Spate, which triggered an evaluation of the program.  Maranatha started this past season with 54 players in training camp, one of the smallest rosters in Division III football. In 2014, the program cancelled a number of its scheduled games because it could not field a team.  The school was also removed from the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference following the 2012-13 school year and has been struggling to compete as an independent ever since.  Not having 8 or 9 games built into their schedule was an obstacle that they just couldn't hurdle.

Rudy

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Former Notre Dame walk-on, Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger, who was the inspiration for the 1993 movie "Rudy", auctioned off his helmet and jersey for $241,500.  These items, which were in possession of his father until his passing, were sold in Houston over the weekend with a part of the proceeds going to NFL charities.

The leading actor in "Rudy" was Sean Astin, who would go on to a significant role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Ruettiger would actually get a cameo in the movie, playing a fan behind Rudy's father and brother in the final scene.

I am a big fan of the game and the movie - but I can't see paying that much for those two items...