The Blog Hawgs

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Archive for September 8th, 2009

Multimedia Tuesday

Posted by Brett Kincaid on September 8, 2009

We usually appear on The Jon Williams Morning Show (93.3 KIGL-FM) in Fayetteville  each Monday, but thanks to the Labor Day holiday we got pushed back a day like the rest of the garbage.  We covered the President’s speech to school children and lots of football.  Here’s a link if you need to waste some time.

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment »

BlogHawgs Week 1 Picks Revisited

Posted by Adam Butler on September 8, 2009

Standings After Week 1: Adam Butler (9-4) Brett Kincaid (7-6)

Road                                                 Home                                    AB’s pick                         BK’s pick                       

South Carolina                             (-4) NC State                      South Carolina              NC State                      

AB’s Comment: It’s moving time in Columbia for the ‘Ole Ball Coach.  He either has to get USC-E out of neutral, or he will probably be moving out of at season’s end.

Why AB Was Right: The USC-E Defense is legit.

Why BK was wrong: Where’s Lorenzo Charles when you need him?

#12 Oregon                                   (-5.5) #14 Boise State           Oregon                              Oregon

AB’s Comment: This should be a great matchup, so I’ll take the points.

Why AB & BK were both wrong: In such hostile territory, the Ducks didn’t even have a puncher’s chance.

#15 Georgia                                  (-5.5) #8 Ok St.                         Georgia                             Georgia

AB’s Comment: Ok St. is set up for the win (unveiling stadium renovations, UGA is breaking in a new QB) but this will be a dogfight.  UGA lost Stafford and Moreno, but has a ton of talent.  New QB Joe Cox is better than people realize and the Cowboys’ Defense is worse than people think. 

Why AB & BK were both wrong: UGA couldn’t muster enough offense against T. Boone’s former gusher of a D.

Nevada                                             (-12) Notre Dame                    Notre Dame                     Notre Dame

AB’s Comment:  With everything that is going on with Michigan on and off the field, this could be a tougher early matchup for the Irish than the Wolverines.

Why AB & BK were both right: Nevada just wasn’t a safe bet against Touchdown Jesus.

BYU                                                   (-21)#3 Oklahoma                        BYU                                      BYU

AB’s Comment: Oklahoma should have its way with the Cougars, but 21 is a ton of points on a (sort of) neutral field (Jerry World) against an explosive offense led by the QB with the Private Eye’s name, Max Hall.

Why AB & BK were both right: Bradford’s AC Joint and the Mormons’ surisingly stiff defense (notwithstanding the injury)

(-5.5)#4 Alabama                         #9 Virginia Tech                         Bama                                    Bama

AB’s Comment:  When I initially tried to type in the “4″ for #4 Alabama, I accidentally held down the shift key, and typed a $ by Alabama.  I thought that was ironic.  Julio Jones and Mark Ingram have been deemed eligible by the NCAA after taking a free fishing trip from a “non-booster”.   Bama is no joke–just ask Tommy Bowden, who is vacationing on Clemson’s dime right about now.

Why AB & BK were both right: Bama is that good, and McElroy isn’t much of a drop off (if any) from SJP Wilson.

Maryland                                              (-21.5 )#13 California                 Maryland                           Maryland

AB’s Comment: Remember when Cal’s Jeff Tedford was the next big thing in college coaching?  Cal fans do, and they are ready for the results.  That’s too many points to pass on the Turtles, though.

Why AB & BK were both wrong: The Cal offense made the Terps look as slow as, well, turtles.

(-15.5) #10 LSU                                    Washington                               Washington                        Washington

AB’s Comment: This is the year that LSU fans find out whether Les Miles is more like Nick Saban than Gerry Dinardo. They should win, but I love double digit home underdogs against the spread, particularly when the road team has to travel across time zones.

Why AB & BK were both right: Time zones.

(-16) #11 Mississippi                            Memphis                                  Mississippi                          Mississippi

AB’s Comment: The Tigers hope to steal a signature win Sunday, while folks that are heading to the Liberty Bowl just hope their cars don’t get stolen.

Why AB & BK were both right: Memphis High’s QB did his best Pete Burks impression.

Colorado State                                       (11.5)Colorado                     Colorado St.                      Colorado St.

AB’s Comment: This is an odd line to me.  The Rams always seem to play the Buffs tough in this series.

Why AB & BK were both right:

The nepotism being shown by Dan Hawkins in starting his son is making St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan blush.

Cincinnati                                                 (-6)Rutgers                             Rutgers                                Rutgers

AB’s Comment: I guess Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano knew what he was doing when he passed on the Michigan job a few years ago.

Why AB & BK were both wrong:  Maybe Schiano should have gone to Michigan, after all.

Miami (FL)                                             (-3.5)Florida State               Miami (Fl.)                         Florida St.

AB’s Comment: This used to be college football’s version of “must see TV”. Now, it’s about as intriguing as a Lifetime Movie marathon.

Why AB was right (and wrong): Miami QB Jacory Harris was phenomenal…..and this WAS must-see TV.

Why BK was wrong: FSU’s clock management late made you wonder whether having a figurehead approaching his 80s as your head coach might have put a kink in the ‘Noles 2-minute drill.

Missouri St.                                           (-35.5) Arkansas                    Arkansas                             Arkansas

AB’s Comment: If the Hogs struggle against the directionals this year like they did in ‘08, it will be a long year.  They should roll, even though Missouri State QB and Rogers, AR, native Cody Kirby is a very solid signal-caller.

Why AB & BK were both right:  Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson may be the best UA quarterbacks on campus at the same time since, well, I can’t remember….and don’t give me Matt Jones & TJack.  That won’t fly.

Posted in Commentary | 2 Comments »

SEC Power Rankings

Posted by Brett Kincaid on September 8, 2009

ESPN.com’s SEC blogger Chris Low released his power rankings today.  Not surprisingly Florida is on top.  A big surprise to many, though, is Arkansas sitting at #4 after the first week.

4. Arkansas: The Hogs make the biggest move this week, thanks in part to how impressive they were offensively in the opener and the fact that LSU wasn’t very impressive at all. Arkansas has a week off before Georgia comes to town on Sept. 19, but this definitely appears to be a team on the move in Bobby Petrino’s second season in Fayetteville.

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Bloghawgs’ Own, Brett Kincaid, Appeared on KTHV

Posted by Adam Butler on September 8, 2009

in Little Rock this a.m. to discuss President Obama’s unbelievably controversial pep talk to America’s children.  Here’s the video.

BK shared the set with Alice Stewart, who, per her bio, is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and national political commentator who has appeared on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC. 

Although I disagree with her on this and many issues, I have to say Ms. Stewart  seemed extremely nice and rational for someone who regularly appears on Fox News. That said, while it was a pretty tame debate, I would have to give it to BK on points.  In fairness, Ms. Stewart was dealt a tough hand.   

 

Posted in Commentary | 2 Comments »

Select Seventeen — Week 2

Posted by Brett Kincaid on September 8, 2009

What a great weekend of college football!  There were plenty of good games, capped by a thriller last night between Florida State and Miami.  The Hogs looked dominant in a game they were expected to dominate, and the rest of the SEC flexed (with the exception of Georgia).  The big news of the weekend comes from Dallas, Texas. 

BYU beat Oklahoma.  They may not have as good a starting 11 on each side, but they lined up and won.  Losing your starting QB hurts, but they lost the game.  With two 1,000-yard backs and a D-Line that is supposed to be the best in the nation, OU still should have won that game if they are in deed better than BYU.

I say all that because a number of my fellow pollsters disagree.  I’ll release my ballot in a comment on this post. 

1 Florida (7)
2 Texas
3 Alabama
4 USC
5 Oklahoma St.
6 Penn St.
7 LSU
8t Mississippi
8t Oklahoma  
10t California
10t Ohio St.
12 Boise St.
13 BYU
14 Virginia Tech
15 Georgia Tech
16 Nebraska
17 North Carolina

Dropping out:  Georgia, Oregon, Utah

Posted in Sports | 10 Comments »

Sports Page

Posted by Brett Kincaid on September 8, 2009

OU quarterback Sam Bradford could be back in just a couple of weeks according to news released yesterday.

More heartbreak for FSU fans at the hands of Miami.  It will be hard to find a more entertaining game than this one.

Melanie Oudin is the taste of New York this week.  Who is Melanie Oudin you ask?  A former Georgia Bulldog.  (That’s for you, Alice.)

Chris Carpenter did not labor too hard on Labor Day, pitching a one-hitter against Milwaukee.

Oakland is still waiting on Richard Seymour to arrive in camp after this weekend’s trade from New England.

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SEC Links

Posted by Brett Kincaid on September 8, 2009

London Crawford is offiicially out 4-6 weeks.  He had surgery yesterday to repair is broken collarbone.

Harry King says what many are thinking:  It will be a long 2 weeks waiting on the Hogs to play Georgia.

Alabama has to guard against a let down this week again Florida International.  I think they’ll be okay.

News and notes from Auburn

Georgia suffered a big injury loss on Saturday, but they expect to have some players return this week.

The Mississippi head football coach has already found a good excuse for poor play:  swine flu.

Tyson Lee expects to be back at 100% for Mississippi State’s game against Auburn this weekend.

Lane Kiffin knows a thing or two about this week’s Tennessee opponent — UCLA.

A pre-season with defensive questions started very nicely for Kentucky and cornerback Trevard Lindley.

South Carolina hopes to see a few more players jump in the OL rotation this week.

LSU knows full well about the dangers of playing Vanderbilt early in the season.

The Florida Gators have Troy this week, a team that stumbled out of the gates on opening weekend.

Vanderbilt running backs need to make decisions quickly against LSU.

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Morning News

Posted by Brett Kincaid on September 8, 2009

Could the state fair end up in Saline County?  Organizers there sure hope so.

Wrightsville residents go to the polls today to elect a new mayor.

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced here in Arkansas.  At least one major institution seems to realize its benefits.

I’m pretty sure this guy is a member of MENSA.

Well, it’s about time.

In a surprisingly candid interview, former First Lady Laura Bush has plenty of praise for the Obamas — including the President’s speech to the nation’s school children.

Posted in News | 2 Comments »