Read the debate intro and the arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan about whether or not league affiliated cable networks are beginning to come into their own.
I am really partial to these media debates (as you may have noticed since I seem to draw the judging straw for the majority of them). I am extremely fascinated by how and why fans choose to consume sports content. The development of so-called “niche” sports networks – those dedicated to a single sport or league – carry forward the immersion perspective to sports fandom. As the popularity of these networks grows within the diehard fan community (and make no mistake – popularity is increasing), ESPN viewer attrition is a plausible reality. Fans are beginning to shift their focus from a holistic perspective on all sports to a concentration only on the sports and leagues they like the best. Before these networks existed ESPN owned 100 percent of sports fans’ eyeballs. The only possible outcome is for ESPN to no longer own 100 percent of the market. Thus, competition.
The argument from Loyal Homer leads me to believe ESPN viewership will be replaced by the most diehard of information-hungry fans. Therefore, the debate victory is awarded to Loyal Homer.
The first paragraph of Loyal Homer’s argument won me over. The exclusive immersion of content is a tremendous advantage these networks have over what is now becoming a general sports aggregator in ESPN. For ESPN to compete with these exclusive networks they would need to serve almost every conceivable sports master. It is an impossible task, even for ESPN and its many distribution touch points.
Loyal Homer also proved that “niche” networks have improving reporting and are capturing a larger share of the all-important live events. League-affiliated networks also provide access to previously inaccessible events for fans. As Loyal Homer pointed out, NFL junkies love understanding what is happening at the pre-draft rookie combine. The NFL Network provides exclusive access and content never before seen for even the most enthusiastic of fans.
Bleacher Fan made some interesting points, specifically about specialization. While the argument is correct in pointing out these specialist networks’ singular focus, it is precisely the enthusiast audience the content is designed to appeal to. Live events will draw bigger ratings, but the diehard fans are the ones that watch the analysis and other network content on any network, including ESPN. The specialization of each network is designed to appeal to an audience that has previously not been catered to by ESPN’s more holistic sports approach.
Bleacher Fan is correct that the league-owned networks are unable to carry live events year ‘round that draw big ratings. However, as previously stated, that goal is the not the stated purpose of these networks. They are designed to appeal to the 365 day fan of a single league or sport, not the occasional seasonal fan that only watches when their team is doing well. Competition is well-defined and relative in this case. Is the MLB Network looking to displace ESPN? No. But the minds behind the MLB Network have recognized that the diehard 365 day fan is not well served, so they are providing a product to serve the need.
Bleacher Fan is correct that the not every sports fan NEEDS a 24-7 view of MLB’s Winter Meetings. However, if some do (and Loyal Homer points out how value that content is), what’s the harm in filling that void? Passionate fans are a highly sought after crowd for advertisers because they buy the products that sponsor their passion. Those purchases are viewed as if the viewer is giving to a political cause or a charity. If the sponsors are happy the content lives on. And the exclusive networks are now better at attracting these types of fans than ESPN is.
The basic differences I have with Bleacher Fan’s argument boil down to the comparison between shopping for specialty food items and watching sports television. One requires a great deal of effort, the other requires a flip of the channel. Also, those seeking 10 varieties of milk and 50 choices of cereal prefer two separate stores for the depth they seek. Depth trumps efficiency. Therefore, both stores exist for a reason and serve an audience, just not as big of an audience as a general store. Bleacher Fan’s so-called “snob” audience is a real, valid, money-spending audience deserving of content they wish to see. To define the audience for sports as singular is not only invalid, it misses the huge money-making opportunity locked within the enthusiast.
Taking the MLB Network example ever farther, the content, guests on shows, and personalities on the network are all solid. The reporting is solid. The bar was set high in these pillars of sports broadcasting from the start, and that foundational philosophy allowed the network to also be very aggressive in how it penetrated markets. Rather than the soft launch approach many of these channels have used – a few homes while trying to cut sweetheart deals with the various carriers and cable companies – the MLB Network sold minority ownership stakes in the network to all of the big broadcast distributors like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and DirecTV. Instead of launching in a few million homes as many of the other networks have, MLB Network launched in 53 million homes – including Sports Geek’s home – from day one. For perspective, the MLB Network was in as many homes on day one of its broadcast life as the NFL Network was after six years on air. The MLB’s updated and more aggressive model is better for its stakeholders while also providing a blueprint for the success of present and future niche networks.
That long-winded example is essential to prove a point – these networks are competing with ESPN in every way shape or form, and the viewer attrition just beginning will hit light speed as more networks adopt the successful MLB Network model (keep an eye out for the NHL Network in most homes in 12-18 months). I know when I want baseball news or scores at night during the season I no longer turn on Baseball Tonight – I go for the MLB Network to get stats on the scroll, highlights, and live look-ins at games that are not in my market (this is key for an Indians fan… especially late in the season). The MLB Network is a better baseball product than ESPN, and fans will slowly wake up to a new sports information/broadcast reality – ESPN is no longer mandatory viewing.
The truth is, the more ESPN tinkers with formats, lets columnists clumsily anchor Sportscenter (yes that is YOU RICK REILLY, STOP IT!!!!), and takes credit for reporting done by competitive organizations, the more fans will turn away. ESPN is still a primary destination for the holy grail of sports broadcasting – live events – but it is losing the battle in analysis. Live events are the next target from the networks (see the NFL Network’s model and MLB Network’s Thursday Night Baseball for two examples). Because of the close league ties, getting the live programming will not be an issue, as the league’s sensitively dance around the current but temporary structure of potentially airing competing live content on two networks.
ESPN will always fulfill the needs of the devoted sports fan who desires broad coverage of every sport. But that all-inclusive sports fan has been taken for granted by ESPN. Fan fragmentation is the new reality of sports content, and competitive niche channels are popping up to prove the point. The 100 percent share of eyeballs the network enjoyed for the majority of its life is gone. The answer to the fundamental question – Could ESPN be replaced by viewers? – is yes.
Stay tuned – the next time ESPN must renew rights to a major sports league’s games, the deal will look different. And that is a positive trend for diehard fans.
Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan about whether or not league affiliated cable networks are beginning to come into their own.
Smart fans – like the kind that read informative and fascinating debates on modern sports – demand information. Well, check that. Smart fans demand GOOD information from reliable sources. Historically sports fans have become extremely reliant upon ESPN. For better or worse, whether we agree with all of the editorial decisions or not, ESPN has been the most reliable, easily accessible source for immediate sports news and information for more than two decades.
But, the way fans are accessing and consuming information is changing. ESPN was the primary information source. Now league-owned and powered networks are beginning to create an alternative to ESPN.
Competing with ESPN requires insightful commentary, solid non-news programming, instant information, access, and great reporting. ESPN has been a champion in each category in recent years. Now niche networks are creating competitive content. The MLB Network is showing it can attract top talent like Harold Reynolds and Peter Gammons. The NFL Network has exclusive rights to very important games like the upcoming games for the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts as those teams attempt to preserve undefeated seasons. The NBA Network and the NFL Network also have exclusive content that diehard fans want to see.
The number of households a network has penetrated does not matter in this situation. Network growth sometimes comes after the content is proven to be solid. For example, the Big Ten Network was kept out of the majority of households in its first year of existence in much of the Midwest despite the ownership of exclusive content. While not the primary driving force in negotiations, when the non-event related content improved the cable companies and the network did manage to strike a deal that fans benefitted from.
MLB Network is an excellent example of a cable station that is coming into its own. It employs excellent analysts ranging from Harold Reynolds to Al Leiter to Barry Larkin to Sean Casey to Billy Ripkin to some former general managers – former GMs with much better luck staying away from interns. The non-event programming is excellent, too. While Bob Costas is not a personality everyone finds appealing, his show, Studio 42, is widely acclaimed as an excellent interview show. The purpose build, baseball-diamond shaped studio is ideal for creating atmosphere and giving the former players ample space to demonstrate the finer nuances of the game. The lengthy, in-depth documentaries are ideal for the baseball fan that appreciates history and statistics. It is a themed network in the same way Disney is a themed park. Down to the details, MLB Network is appealing to the baseball fan.
So, why would a baseball fan bother with ESPN any longer for baseball content? Sure, Baseball Tonight is a great program, but MLB Network has an hour of pregame for the night’s games, then live look-ins and analysis of each of the night’s biggest moments. In short, ESPN no longer offers any type of content that makes it a destination for baseball fans.
With league-owned networks creating competitive content and reporting to ESPN, will ratings follow? Will these series of networks supplant ESPN as the go to source as fans begin to favor depth over a cursory overview? Fortunately the world has a gift. That gift is called The Sports Debates.
Today’s debate topic: Are league-affiliated networks finally coming into their own?
Loyal Homer will argue that league-affiliated networks are starting to come into their own, citing moves like the MLB Network’s recent announcement that former ESPN baseball reporter Peter Gammons is leaving the worldwide leader for the MLB Network. Bleacher Fan will argue that the niche league-affiliated networks are not coming into their own and ESPN will remain the supreme source for sports news and information.
Now, begin the debate. I’m going to flip on the MLB Network and watch Hot Stove.
Golf Channel, Tennis Channel, NHL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network – when will it all stop?!
Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed many different programs on these various sport and league-affiliated networks. Does that mean that there is a need for 24-hour coverage of each sport individually, or that these networks should be considered viable competition for more established sports-themed networks such as ESPN or Fox Sports? Absolutely not.
Too much specialization
I give the MLB Network a great deal of credit for being able to sign Peter Gammons, a HIGHLY respected baseball reporter who will bring credibility and outstanding insight to the MLB Network. What Gammons will not bring, however, is a noteworthy increase in viewership. Sure, there are fans out there who seek out Gammons’ opinions and reports, and they will hungrily seek out his input and analysis no matter where it is housed. The ‘Gammons Army’ is not, however, so great that it will single-handedly propel a niche network into legitimate competition against major networks.
The problem that the MLB Network faces (as well as other league-specific networks) is that it is a network based solely on events, and those events do not run year-round. While MLB Network may be able to provide occasional programming that is noteworthy, it will not be able to provide ENOUGH programming to sustain a full-time network that can effectively COMPETE with those major networks. There is just not enough baseball to talk about 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Eventually, the repetitive and excessive over-analysis of the same events becomes overkill. While I may want to know the details about the pending trade that would involve Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, I don’t need to hear about what seven different people think about it over a period of four hours tonight, and then another ten opinions on it tomorrow!
Each sport separately makes for great headlines from time to time, and when a big story breaks it is nice to be able to utilize the league-specific networks as ONE of the resources at our disposal to find out more about a situation. Where ESPN or the Fox Sports Network holds an advantage, though, is in not restricting reporting only one sport. Instead, they can focus on those sports and events that are most relevant REGARDLESS of the sport the event occurs in. That flexibility allows those major networks to report any news that happens from any sport, rather than try to create news even in times when nothing truly newsworthy is happening. Honestly, do we REALLY need 24-hour a day news coverage of winter meetings?
Think about specialty-food stores. There are going to be times where you as a consumer are looking for a specific product, and you know that the best quality product you can find is at one of those specialty food stores. However, it is foolish and wasteful to go to the milk store, then the bread store, then the egg store, pasta store, etc, EVERY time you go grocery shopping. More often than not, the practical (and nonetheless effective) choice is to go to a one-stop shop where you can get everything you need in a quick and efficient manner.
The Power of the Masses
Separately, each league-affiliated network offers certain programming that is worth tuning in for. As Sports Geek pointed out, the NFL Network has exclusive rights to very important games. The problem that these specialty networks face is that there are very few fans exclusive to their sport. MOST fans of baseball are ALSO fans of football, or basketball, and vice versa. You cannot expect the average sports fan to segment out and schedule when and how they get sports news and updates from separate locations when there is a viable product already in place that provides COMPREHENSIVE coverage of the collective sporting world. It would be like opening a shoe store that sells only left shoes. Sure, there will be people out there who need a left shoe, and the quality of that left shoe may be unsurpassed, but those same people are also interested in purchasing a right shoe. If you can’t provide it, they will probably go somewhere else for their shoe needs.
There will always be aficionados (the term snob also comes to mind) who laud the merits of specialized products. Food-aficionados (snobs) swear by organic products and natural foods. For movie-aficionados (snobs), they will insist upon the merits of “indie films” and swear off the big-budget, no-story-having, mass-produced, over-commercialized, under-performed movies of the major studios. While those aficionados (snobs) may be correct when they swear that the specialized product they love is of a higher quality, it does not change the fact that their product does not appeal to the population at-large.
The target demographic for specialized products is very important, and should not be overlooked. However, they represent only a small portion of the population at-large. As much as aficionados despise major corporations for pandering to the masses – and will curse the masses for being under-informed, mindless sheep – it is the masses that hold the power of determining success or failure in the marketplace. The masses hold all the cards, and the masses like having a single resource to provide them with the information they desire.
For the same reason that a Farmer’s Market should not strive to compete with Wal-Mart, niche-based networks should not strive to compete with ESPN… they will NEVER win!
I absolutely love Hot Stove time in Major League Baseball. I was eating up all on the information last week during the Winter Meetings. Outside of maybe the NFL draft, it’s my favorite non-game related sporting event of the year. One day I am going to be in the same town as the Winter Meetings just so I can feel the buzz from possible trades and free agent signings. Being a huge fan of baseball I am constantly looking for information. I often need a baseball fix 24-7, even during the off-season. Having a cable channel focused fully on baseball is a dream come true. Unfortunately, I do not have MLB Network on Dish Network. Bleacher Fan and Sports Geek both have it, and they often like to rub that fact in just a tad (Editor’s note: It is more than a tad. We rub it in a lot.). I have a fever, and the only prescription is MLB Network! The point is that it is a huge benefit to have a channel devoted exclusively to a sport. Exclusivity is a tremendous advantage to over other sports networks like ESPN.
As Sports Geek stated in the intro, MLB Network has recently hired Peter Gammons, who was employed at ESPN for twenty years. You will not find many more credible people in sports media than Peter Gammons. He is well respected in the business by players, front office personnel, and by other members of the media. You may recall that Gammons is the journalist Alex Rodriguez chose to interview him back before the 2009 season began when it was deemed that A-Rod tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. By leaving ESPN, Gammons leaves a void there, and fills a void at MLB Network.
As you can probably tell from my previous articles I am also a huge fan of the NFL. Finally, after switching from cable to satellite two years ago, I have access to the NFL Network. I did not have the channel for quite some time… and it aggravated me because I wasn’t able to watch the Thursday night NFL games and the Saturday night December games. In fact, the network has a big game this Saturday night featuring the undefeated New Orleans Saints against the Dallas Cowboys in a huge game for Dallas. The network obviously also has ‘round the clock coverage of games from the previous week, analysis, classic games, and much more. It is the perfect channel for NFL junkies like me
I do not have to wait for NFL Live to come on ESPN. I do not have to listen to the latest developments on Tiger Woods. I can just watch a show that is 100 percent football and get the in-depth knowledge I crave. I know ESPN covers professional football heavily, and I have no problem with its coverage. But if, in the middle of the day, and I want to watch football I am turning the channel to the NFL Network. I also change the channel in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, as the NFL Network provides hours and hours of coverage, even televising the scouting combines. ESPN does not do that.
My point is not to diss ESPN. My point is that the niche networks are able to carry exclusive content and are able to focus solely on one sport, year-round. ESPN has several sports to cover and obviously cannot go as far as NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, or the NHL Network with its coverage.
Now, excuse me while I go call Dish Network to complain again about not having the MLB Network.
Read the arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer about which non-BCS bowl game will be the best of this postseason.
The Bowl Championship Series is supposed to feature the “Best of the BEST.” That means that the non-BCS bowl games are intended to feature the “Best of the REST.” But with so many non-BCS bowl games on the docket nowadays, it can be hard to determine which games are truly worth watching. Allow The Sports Debates to assist! The best of the rest are those teams that WOULD HAVE been playing in BCS games, but were thwarted along the way by the ACTUAL BCS competitors. Essentially, if you remove the top ten teams from the BCS equation, who are the NEW teams at the top of the heap?
One such team this season was the surprising Miami Hurricanes. Miami started off its 2009 campaign in very aggressive fashion, facing ranked opponents in each of the first four games and winning three of those games (including a win against BCS-bound Georgia Tech). As a result of that impressive start to the season, Miami managed to climb as high as ninth in the top-25 rankings, and seemed to be on course for its first conference championship since winning the Big East in 2003.
Unfortunately, a strong start to the season can only account for so much (just ask the USC Trojans). After kicking-off in impressive fashion, the Hurricanes faltered against two conference rivals (Clemson and North Carolina), costing them a bid for the ACC crown. The fact that Miami was able to play so well early on cannot be denied, though, and by all accounts head coach Randy Shannon appears to have Miami on the path back towards national relevance. Thanks to a very impressive 9-3 finish to the season (and a ranking of 15 in the final BCS standings), the Hurricanes landed an invitation to the Champs Sports Bowl on December 29th, where they will take on the Wisconsin Badgers.
Like the Hurricanes, Wisconsin finished off its 2009 season with a record of 9-3. Unlike the Hurricanes, whose season was defined more by the wins in their record, it was the losses that Wisconsin suffered which have ultimately defined its season. After starting the season off 5-0, Wisconsin faced the daunting task of back-to-back games against Ohio State and Iowa (both teams that ultimately ended up in BCS games). Not surprising, Wisconsin lost both games. Four weeks later Wisconsin lost again in a nail-biter against a greatly improved Northwestern team that had already snapped Iowa’s unbeaten streak in a shocking upset earlier in the season.
There is a lot at stake for both teams coming into this matchup. Miami is on a quest to prove that 2009 was a positive indication of even better things to come, rather than a fluke. A win against a school from the Big Ten will surely help position them favorably when the 2010 preseason rankings are announced next summer, and it will provide a sunny close to a season that started out with so much promise. Wisconsin, like Miami, is seeking justification for its season. The Badgers will also have to deal with the added expectation of trying to disprove the current trend of Big Ten struggles during bowl season. Each Big Ten bowl loss further detracts from the credibility of what has traditionally been considered an elite conference, and a Wisconsin victory over Miami could go a long way toward preserving the integrity of the entire conference.
Both players on both teams have a great deal to prove to themselves AND their fans… as both could be on the cusp of returning to BCS contention next season. Conference pride and season redemption are on the line for both teams in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl. It will be a showcase for two teams among the best of the rest!
Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan about which games they believe are the best of the upcoming pre-BCS bowl calendar.
Bowl games mean a great deal to football programs. While much of the national complaints about bowl games revolves around the relative irrelevance of various games, My chief complaint is that they are not shown on one day, allowing me to bask in the glory of so much great college football. Instead, the games are spread out over weeks to maximize ratings and exposure. This design while unfortunate for the diehard is good for sponsors, TV, and, of course, the actual football programs.
Many games come to mind when determining the best Pre-BCS bowl game. Loyal Homer picked the always entertaining Chick-Fil-A Bowl (a game I still call the Peach Bowl in conversation). The Holiday Bowl usually is the conveyor of spectacular offense, but is a matchup between defensive minded Arizona and Nebraska this year. I am seeking out a bowl game that features a can’t-miss matchup between to powerhouses, one that may be more subdued this season because of various difficulties the teams encountered on the path to the bowl game (see injuries, last second losses, etc.).
Enter the Sun Bowl, the BEST of the pre-BCS games by far. These are not the two most glamorous teams with the most glamorous players. Sure, Stanford has Heisman Trophy hopeful and running back Toby Gerhart, but he goes not play a glamorous style of football. He plays tough.
Gerhart’s toughness will be matched – and tested – by an extremely gifted defensive line at Oklahoma, a line that features All-American defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. Gerhart – and Stanford – prefer to run the ball up the gut. Against teams like Southern Cal and Notre Dame this strategy proved effective as it exploited one of the weaknesses of the team. Gerhart’s downhill running style benefits from having some holes in the line, and the Stanford line will be tested in this game more than in any other. Oklahoma’s rushing defense ranks seventh in the nation allowing just over 1,000 yards (1,063) in 12 games.
Stanford’s rushing offense ranks twelfth in the nation having racked up 2,692 yards rushing on the season with 36 touchdowns and 5.4 yards per carry. Gerhart is of course the focus of the offense. Gerhart also plays big in big games, leading his team to three wins against ranked opponents. Only three times this season have the Cardinal played ranked opponents, and Gerhart surpassed 175 yards per game in each game, including notching two 200 yard outputs.
Against Washington, a team that was ranked 24th at game time, Gerhart churned out 200 yards on 27 carries, finding the end zone once. Against the seventh ranked Oregon Ducks Gerhart toted the pill a whopping 38 times for 223 yards and three touchdowns. The Cardinal’s last game against a ranked opponent featured the then-eleventh ranked Trojans from Southern Cal. Gerhart ran for 178 yards on 29 carries and scored another three touchdowns. When the game is big, Gerhart plays his best. The offense, and freshman quarterback Andrew Luck will need his impact and leadership, too, against what is still one of the better defenses in college football, despite the five losses.
Oklahoma is a hot team defensively right now, too. The team played poorly against Texas Tech is the second to last game of the season, but the defense turned around the next week and put up a goose egg, holding one of the better offenses in the nation – Oklahoma State – to zero points. The Cowboys were playing for a BCS bowl bid, and Oklahoma completed dominated them in all aspects of the game, holding the offense to a total of 109 net yards – only 62 of which were rushing. Oklahoma has shown that it can control a game on defense even if the offense is not up to the same level.
Stanford has a freshman quarterback. It also has a questionable defense, just as Oklahoma has a questionable offense with a young, inexperienced quarterback and a cobbled together offensive line. While important, this is not the matchup fans tune in for. The big matchup is Gerhart v. McCoy/Oklahoma’s defensive line. The winner gets respect – and maybe even chosen in the top ten of next year’s NFL draft.
Plus, it’s the SUN BOWL. It’s not the Pepsi-Fritos-Snickers-Hungry Man-Bush’s Chili-Cisco-Charmin Bowl. It is the Sun Bowl. How nice is that? Sure, sponsors are present (Brut is actually the title sponsor), but they are not the awkward focus of the action. Brut’s name is in the title, but it is tough to find a website or television program listing that has the game as The Brut Sun Bowl. It’s just the regular old Sun Bowl – for now. It’s even played at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. Since 1935. It’s even older than the Sugar Bowl!
The game’s title is befitting of its classic style. Woody Hayes would watch this game with great interest, and so will I. Afterall, it is the BEST game of this pre-BCS bowl season.
Bowl season is quickly approaching. Can you believe it actually begins this Saturday with the New Mexico Bowl featuring Fresno State and Wyoming?
I know many are critical of the bowls. I have the same reservations, but I’m actually a big fan of the bowls. It’s fun to watch all the different matchups. After looking at the bowl schedule, I realize there are some non-BCS bowl matchups that are unappealing to the common football fan. I really don’t remember the games being like that. But, if I had to pick one non-BCS game as one that I thought would be the best game, I would have to pick the Chick-Fil-A Bowl featuring the Tennessee Volunteers and the Virginia Tech Hokies.
The SEC had six teams finish the season with a 7-5 overall record. The bowl representatives decided to take Tennessee out of that group, and I think it was a wise decision. The Volunteers made progress in Lane Kiffin’s first season as head coach. It may be hard to like the guy personally since he definitely knows how to ruffle feathers and often seems to be receiving the wrath of the SEC commissioner’s office or the NCAA for its recruiting practices. But it’s hard to question what he has done on the field as a coach. I would say most of the passionate Tennessee fan base is fairly pleased with the turnaround this season.
The big reason for the turnaround is the strong play from Monte Kiffin’s defense. Lane’s dad made his name as a defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his “Tampa 2” defense. He brought that approach with him to Knoxville and has done quite well. Quarterback Jonathan Crompton was awful at the beginning of the season, but even he showed progress throughout the season. The running back tandem of Montario Harvesty and Bryce Brown really stabilized the offense.
Virginia Tech makes its third trip to Atlanta this New Year’s Eve after suffering two of its three losses in the Peach State earlier this season, with those losses coming against Alabama and Georgia Tech. The Hokies suffered a third loss at midseason to North Carolina, but then closed the season strong with four consecutive wins. This team is built seemingly like all other Hokies’ teams are – on defense. A high standard has been set for Bud Foster’s defense and every season he seems to put a strong defense out on the field. This season, the Hokies gave up less than 16 points per game, while the offense quietly scored over 31 points a game.
SEC fans like to scream that their conference is the best. I have been one of those who have screamed that the SEC reigns high atop the college football world. Last season, a 7-5 LSU team put an absolute whipping on a 9-3 Georgia Tech team in the Chick Fil-A Bowl. It’s going to be interesting to see if another 7-5 SEC team could duplicate the success of LSU in this year’s game.
Read the arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer about which will be the best game of THIS weekend.
They say that you will never understand a person until you walk a mile in their shoes. Well, today I am going to try that approach by taking a page out of Loyal Homer’s book. Hopefully, this will help me understand all you Loyal Homers out there a little bit better…
Because the ACTUAL best game of the weekend has already taken place, with the Browns ending the Steelers hopes (HA!!!) for a repeat run at the Super Bowl, I have decided to shift my focus elsewhere for this weekend’s excitement.
The best game that will be taking place this weekend is not just one single match, but actually a series of three matches that will begin tonight and end Sunday afternoon, culminating in the crowning of a national champion. The event is the 2009 College Cup, which will feature the Final Four in NCAA Division I Soccer.
The Loyal Homer in me will be watching because my alma mater, The University of Akron Zips, are entering tonight’s semi-final matchup against the Tar Heels of North Carolina as the favorites not only to win the game, but to actually win the Cup, and they could make NCAA history in the process (more on that in a moment). As a fan of the Zips, it is not very often that I get to celebrate my school’s athletic prowess, but there can be no denying the domination that the Zips have displayed on the pitch this season. The Loyal Homer in me is just busting at the seams to see the Zips as they strive claim the first National Championship for a MAC program since 1965!
The Zips have played as a team of destiny this season. Consider the following statistics:
Akron has outscored opponents in 2009 by a combined score of 58-7
Akron has allowed an average of only 0.30 goals against (the fourth best result in NCAA history)
Akron has outshot opponents 4:1
Akron has not given up a single goal in the NCAA Tournament to this point
Akron has already tied an NCAA record by winning 23 consecutive games within the same season, and, if they finish off the championship run, will become the most successful team in the 51-year history of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship
Akron’s head coach, Caleb Porter, is no stranger to this situation, though. As captain of the Indiana Hoosiers soccer team in 1997, Porter actually led the Hoosiers on to set the 23 consecutive game win streak that the Zips have tied this season. It was at this point in the 1997 tournament, however, that Porter’s Hoosiers were upset by UCLA in their semi-final match, and Porter is determined not to let his 2009 team repeat.
His path to the championship will not be an easy one. With very little happening in the way of upsets during the 2009 tournament, the Final Four truly is a collection of the best teams from the season! The three teams that round out the Final Four, each from Division I’s most dominant soccer conference, the ACC, will pose some of the toughest opposition that the Zips have faced all season.
Akron’s first test will be against the fifth-seeded UNC Tar Heels, a team that will essentially be playing in front of a home crowd in Cary, North Carolina. As last season’s tournament runner-up, the Tar Heels are on a quest of their own to take that final step they fell just short of in 2008. The winner of that match will be set to square off against the winner of the other semi-final match between the second-seeded Virginia Cavaliers and the third-seeded Demon Deacons from Wake Forest.
With competition like that, the team which ultimately emerges as the 2009 National Champions will have undoubtedly proven they truly are the best of the best! Putting all personal bias aside (GO ZIPS!!!), the 2009 College Cup will feature competition from the best programs in college soccer, complete with all of the emotion, drama, and intensity that is found in any national championship tournament.
We are at the point in the NFL season now where every game is critical for those who want to be playing in the playoffs. Last night was an absolute must-win for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the team laid a serious egg and lost to the hapless Cleveland Browns, which – trust me – absolutely made Bleacher Fan’s night. At 6-7, the Steelers have essentially been eliminated for playoff contention. Another must win game, for both teams really, takes place down in Jacksonville this weekend as the Miami Dolphins come to town to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game with HUGE playoff implications.
The Dolphins are coming off a thrilling come from behind win over the New England Patriots last weekend and now are not only in contention for the Wild Card at 6-6, but are also just a game back of the Patriots in the AFC East race. Showing how little I know sometimes, I believed the Fish were done when Ronnie Brown was lost for the season a few weeks ago. I thought, “How could a team without Brown and with Bleacher Fan and Sports Geek favorite Chad Henne (sarcasm!) do much of anything?” All the Dolphins have done is rebound from an 0-3 start. Obviously, “the Wildcat” has not been working without Brown. In fact, the Dolphins did not even use the Wildcat last week against the Patriots – coincidentally the team they were playing when using the Wildcat the first time. But who needs that gimmick when Henne is shredding opposing defenses to the tune of 335 yards, as he did in last week’s game against the Patriots?
Meanwhile, the Jaguars are quietly having a solid season and would be in the playoffs if the regular season ended today. Not that anyone in the Jacksonville area has noticed, with an average attendance of 45,500 per game. Yikes! Even this week’s game is blacked out locally. Surprisingly, though, that has not stopped the Jaguars from going 5-1 at home so far this season. The Jags really do not have any stars on the team outside of Maurice Jones-Drew and his 13 touchdowns… and perhaps receiver Mike-Sims Walker, who is one of the best young receivers you have probably never heard of. With a Thursday night game against the Colts and a cold December road trip to New England looming, this game is huge for the Jaguars.
This game is really big for both teams, though. A loss, which would put them at 6-7, likely eliminates the Dolphins from playoff contention. A win, however, improves the Dolphins’ chances and gives the team a key head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jaguars. A win by the Jaguars secures an 8-5 record and, just as importantly, gives the team an impressive 7-2 record against AFC opponents. That conference record plays a huge role when determining playoff teams in a three-way tie.
If you are a resident of northeastern Florida you are not going to get to watch this game. But, to the rest of the country, I advise you to keep an eye on this game. While the teams playing are not the most glamorous teams in the league, they are still good football teams. Everyone loves December football with playoff implications. That is what we get with this game!
Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan about which games they believe are the best of the upcoming weekend.
Welcome to December, that magical time in the NFL season that separates the good teams from the okay teams, and the okay teams from the bad teams. And, apparently the same time of year that separates the former Super Bowl champs from logic. One game, more than any other, features two teams with a great deal to prove. When the San Diego Chargers visit the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon both teams are under pressure to perform and prove they belong among the elite teams building momentum into January and playoff time.
Here is a fun fact… that is not particularly fun for Tony Romo. Did you know that Tony Romo’s non-December/January record in the NFL is 31-8? Did you further know that his December/January record (including playoffs) as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys is 5-11?
Now the Cowboys are coming off a tough interdivision loss to the New York Giants last Sunday. For once, this team failure cannot be laid at the feet of Tony Romo. Romo led a furious comeback on the road completing 41 passes for 392 yards, three touchdowns – and no turnovers. While Romo’s arm and decision making appear to be locked in during the first part of December, the running game and defense are not stepping up. The Cowboys ran for a mere 45 yards last weekend and lost a fumble, forcing Romo to shoulder the majority of the team’s offensive production.
The Cowboys defense is also struggling, giving up several big plays to what was an out of sync Giants offense. Eli Manning threw one long touchdown pass – a 74 yard pass to Brandon Jacobs – and the special teams gave up a crucial 79 yard punt return for a touchdown to Domenik Hixon.
The problem with the 2009 Cowboys is that every aspect of the team does not show up for every game. One game Romo plays well, the next he doesn’t. One week the defense is a top tier defense, the next week it isn’t. And, there is no team in the NFL more opposite of the Cowboys than the Chargers. The Chargers are in sync weekly and making continuous improvement.
While the Chargers are a decent middle of the pack group on defense giving up 20 points a game, the offense has NO problem scoring more than 20. The Chargers have the third best defense in the NFL averaging nearly 29 points per game. One reason the Chargers perform so well on offense? The team does not cause self-inflicted wounds. The Chargers are the fourth least penalized team in the NFL, having been called for just 61 penalties. Also, those penalties are not killers, as they have been penalized the LEAST amount of yards in the NFL this season. This achievement is in stark contrast to Sunday’s opponent. The Cowboys are the fifth most penalized team in the league. Is this the game where the Cowboys turn the corner and stop making unforced errors? It must be, or the separation between the playoff-ready Chargers and the fledgling Cowboys will never be more stark.
Because the Chargers continue to get better, and the Cowboys continue to perplex, the Cowboys need to win this game to prove to the fans, the management – and each other in the locker room – that the team is able to compete in high pressure situations as the weather becomes colder.
Cowboys must prove they are an elite team worthy of a playoff appearance. They are constantly fighting the well-earned reputation of a good team out of the gates, but a terrible team at closing. For the franchise to return to post-season prominence it MUST establish itself as a strong team in December, and a strong team against other good teams. Make no mistake – this is a statement game for the Cowboys. It is a must win.
But, that must-win for the Cowboys could not come against a more difficult opponent than the San Diego Chargers. Man, are these Chargers good. As a result, this game promises to be outstanding. Expectations are through the roof for both teams, and it is a must win for both teams – making it the best game of THIS weekend.
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