Iron Dragon's Tulane Green Wave Dynasty

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1025/tulane.png

UCF (4-2, 2-1 C-USA) @ Tulane (5-2, 3-0 C-USA)

NEW ORELANS -- Ah yes, Tulane football. Where were we? That's right, on our way to a West Championship, I hope. We can take a mulligan any week and still make the Championship game. But, if we want to do it, we'll have to contain a dangerous UCF team, that will be even more dangerous next year (2011, my homer pick to win the conference next year). Anyways, it's been a week, so am I rusty? Let's find out..


1ST QUARTER


UCF won the toss and said, "Let's show them some offense", and they chose to recieve. And show their offense, they did. Brynn Harvey caught a 20 yard pass from Clabrese, before getting 11 yards on the ground, but three incomplete passes after two first downs ending UCF's drive.


We'd copy the end of UCF's drive, in a a way. Barnett would take an outside handoff. Nothing. Inside handoff. 2 yards. Kemp to Mitchell. 4 yards. Punt.


The Golden Knights offensive train warmed up, Clabrese hit Nissley for nine, then Brynn Harvey gets back-to-back thirteen yard gains, then catches a six yard pass, then runs for three, and then Clabrese would be pressured, throw across the field to the endzone..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...gon/UCF1-1.jpg

.. where Jackson makes the 7 yard TD. 7-0 UCF.


Joe Kemp and the Green Wave would try to fight back. Barnett got six yards, then Kemp hit Banks for 11, Barnett got seven more, Duplessis got one, then Kemp hit Figaro for 18 on 3rd & 2, then Mitchell for 7, and Barnett for 11, as the Gunslinger warmed up his arm. He then hit Figaro for four more, Barnett went back to work for eight, and then this next play is presented by Staples:


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...gon/UCF2-1.jpg

.. you can't get any more wide open than that. Easy TD pass, 2 yards, to Antoine Duplessis. 7-7.


UCF gets a first down, the quarter ends.


2ND QUARTER


Welcome to the second quarter! Let's recap:


UCF punt

Tulane three first downs, missed field goal

UCF punt

Tulane punt

UCF punt down to our 2 yard line


So we'd have to get it out of there. And we couldn't. On a play action from our own 4 yard line (yes, PLAY ACTION), Joe Kemp is murdered in the endzone by three players. Genius play calling by me. Safety.. the first of the dynasty. 9-7 UCF.


UCF missed a long field goal.


Halftime. 9-7.


3RD QUARTER


We'd get the ball first and kneeldown in the endzone for a touchback. We'd get our offense train moving. Barnett would get twelve, we'd pass four straight times, Barnett and Duplessis gained some more, Kemp got fourteen, and then Barnett..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...gon/UCF3-1.jpg

.. gets a four yard TD. 14-9 TULANE.


UCF would get two first downs, then go for it on fourth and five and Kristifer Rhymes would break up the pass at our 35 yard line.


We'd go back to the ground game. Barnett got two, Kemp got 11, but after that first down, we could only gain three yards in three plays. Punt.


UCF ends the quarter with a first down.


4TH QUARTER


UCF would get another first down riding Brynn Harvey, then would lose four yards, and have two incomplete passes. Punt.


Barnett time. Barnett would get four. False start on second down. Second and 11. He would get seven. 3rd & 4. Barnett on a toss to the right, he had some open field.. spun away from one tackler, and took the carry THIRTY FIVE yards to the UCF 33. First big run of the day on a critical third down.


Barnett would then get 6 more, McDonald would get the first with a 5 yard gain, Barnett got 7 more on two more carries, then McDonald got the first down with a 3 yard carry as Tulane ate the clock up. Barnett would lose one, then get 7 yards on 2nd down, putting us at the UCF 7.. third down, and we need a score to put this defensive struggle to an end. Barnett would get the toss to the left with two wideouts to the left to block. He'd get back to the line of scrimmage, looked for the hole inside.. and then HE WOULD BREAK IT OUTSIDE.. TOUCHDOWN TULANE!


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...gon/ucf4-1.jpg

.. Super Barnett leaps in celebration. The extra point is good with 1:38 to go. 21-9 Tulane. Nice defensive struggle. UCF still had time and needed to find it's first half offense.


After two incomplete passes, Clabrese hit Nissley for seven, and then they would hand it off to Harvey on fourth and three and he got twelve. Not so fast my friend. Clabrese got seven more through the air and it was fourth and three (and game), again.. Clabrese looked, he had a man..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...gon/UCF5-1.jpg

.. but Tulane got to him first. Ballgame.

FINAL SCORE: 21-9 TULANE

What looked like it could have been an offensive shootout turned into a defensive struggle. We allowed Clabrese to have almost 200 passing yards and Harvey to have over 100 yards on the ground, but we stopped them when we needed it most (3rd, 4th downs). The "Gunslinger" who had less than double the yards in a full game than he had last week, but we ran a more ball control style offense this week. Barnett had a slow first half, but got moving, increasing his 3.1 ypc first half into a 4.9 ypc game with two TD's. Next week we have Marshall.. if we win that game, that puts us at 5 conference wins. We just need seven.


PLAYER STATS


Joe Kemp: 132.6 QB Rating, 17-for-25 passing, 153 yards, TD, 0 rushing yards


Stephen Barnett: 31 rush att, 153 yards, 4.9 avg, 2 TD, 11 yards rec

Antoine Duplessis: 2 rush att, 4 yards, Rec TD


Alan Mitchell: 6 rec, 62 yards / Devin Figaro: 4 rec, 35 yards

D.J. Banks: 2 rec, 19 yards / Casey Robottom: 1 rec, 9 yards / George Harrison: 1 rec, 9 yards


Kristifer Rhymes, JJ Black: 6 tackles each

Darryl Farley, Alex Wacha: 5 tackles each

Cody Leford, Devin Williams: 4 tackles each (Williams one tackle for loss)

Oscar Ponce De Leon: 4 tackles, 2 sacks

Dezmen Moses: 3 tackles, 2 TFL

Gregory Hallinsworth, Sammy Bourdeaux: 2 tackles each



UP NEXT: Week Eight Around the NCAA

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png

WEEK EIGHT AROUND THE NCAA

Last week, which was last week, number two and number three lost, last week. Anyways, this week's version is a little smaller and quicker.


C-USA SCORES

Marshall 42, UTEP 39 OT... Marshall 6-2, 4-0 | UTEP 3-4, 0-4

Southern Miss 34, UAB 10... USM 3-4, 3-1 | UAB 3-5, 2-2

Michigan 35, Rice 14 ... UM 3-3, 1-2 Big Ten | Rice 0-7, 0-3

Memphis 34, ECU 14 ... Memphis 5-2, 3-2 | ECU 2-5, 2-2

Tulsa 28, SMU 13 ... Tulsa 3-4, 2-3 | SMU 0-7, 0-5


NCAA (NOTABLE) SCORES

#1 Oklahoma 41, Colorado 31

#12 Nebraska 43, #5 Texas 41

Oregon State 23, #13 USC 16

UNLV 21, #3 Utah 20 (UNLV TD pass with :16 left)


THE TOP 10

BCS

1. Oklahoma (7-0)

2. Boise State (6-0)

3. Nebraska (8-0)

4. Florida (5-1)

5. TCU (8-0)

6. Virginia Tech (7-1)

7. West Virginia (6-1)

8. LSU (6-1)

9. North Carolina (6-1)

10. Ole Miss (5-1)

11. Notre Dame (7-0)

14. Western Michigan (7-0)


HEISMAN: Helu, Washington, Dalton, Bradford


UP NEXT: IT'S A TRAP. On the road at Marshall (6-2, 4-0).. hey that's our record! Marshall is a C+ OVR.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1025/tulane.png

Injury update: Richardson upgraded from Doubtful to Questionable for Marshall game


NEW ORLEANS -- Donny Richardson will travel with the team and could play Saturday in West Virginia at Marshall. Richardson's season has been small but productive. Richardson has played in three games, with 9 carries for 59 yards (6.6 avg), with one rush TD.


Richardson has been out for a few weeks and is up to Questionable for this week's game. Team doctors said that he is back to 80% percent and is starting to practice a little bit again. Earlier this season, Stephen Barnett was injured earlier this season and played a full game after being docked with "Probable" and ended up having a pretty good game.


Richardson would like to play this upcoming week but may be held out because coach Ron Draggo does not want Richardson to re-injure a lingering MCL sprain.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1025/tulane.png

The Mid-Season Championship Game: Tulane (6-2, 4-0 C-USA) @ Marshall (6-2, 4-0 C-USA)


Huntington, West Virginia --- This is Marshall's best start to a season since 2001, when they were in the MAC, when they started 10-1 before dropping the MAC Championship Game to Toledo, and then beat ECU in the GMAC Bowl 64-61 (which is a bowl record for points, I believe), and finished 11-2. (Marshall's lone "regular" season loss was at Florida). And crapfully enough, this is Tulane's best start since 1998, when they went 12-0 and finished #7. Tulane and Marshall lead their respective divisions. These two teams could meet again in West Virginia or New Orelans in just a few weeks if things continue to go for each team. ANYWAYS, onto the game..


Donny Richardson: will not play


1ST HALF


Yes, first half, combining the first and second quarters.


Marshall had the ball first, drove into Tulane territory, stalled, went for a puntrooksie and failed. Tulane went three and out. Marshall got one first down, but not a second. Then here came Tulane. Barnett got 14 yards on three carries, Kemp hit Mitchell for 16, Barnett got 17, Kemp to Harrison for 23, then to Figaro for 9.. and then Barnett:


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...agon/Herd1.jpg

.. got a 5 yard walk-in TD. 7-0 TULANE.


Marshall got a first down thanks to a facemask, then didn't get another and punted. The quarter ended on a 19 yard punt return by Jordan Sullen.


The Tulane train got going again. 8 yards for Barnett, Kemp found him then twice for 15 yards, Duplessis got 10, McDonald got 7, Barnett got one. Third down. Incomplete pass. Ubekista would try a 40 yard field goal from the left hash mark. It went down the middle, and off the bottom crossbar. Damn.


Marshall got two first downs and then punted after they couldn't get a fourth. They pinned us to our own six. McDonald got 5 to get us to the 11 for a 3rd down, where, Kemp hit Banks for 10, then Figaro two plays later for 34, Robottom for 5, then he'd go for Robottom again who got 37 yards after breaking free from his defender. Almost got six. The very next play..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...agon/Herd2.jpg

... and there's the Robottom TD. 3 yards. Rule 1: Never let him get open, rule 2: NEVER EVER let him get open in the endzone. Marshall broke both of these rules. 14-0 TULANE.


That'd be the score at the half.


3RD QUARTER


Three and out Tulane. Marshall started to drive, then on a backwards pass to Darius Marshall from Anderson, Marshall broke free:


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...agon/Herd3.jpg

.. for a 32 yard TD run (or a 37 yard TD pass, the game says it's a TD run, which it is). 14-7 Tulane.


And then we come back out:


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...agon/Herd4.jpg

.. and Kemp gets picked off. If he had some more strength behind that pass, that would have been a LONG TD pass.


Marshall gets into field goal range, stalls, and kicks a 30 yard field goal. We'd then get one first down. And then Stephen BARNETT goes down. He would not return. And to make things better, we would not get another first down, but we pinned Marshall to their own 6. Tulane would call a heavy crash blitz. Darius Marshall got a carry, broke a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, then another. At this time, Ron Draggo preceded to notice the huge area of open field. Here is Marshall inside his own 20.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...agon/Herd5.jpg

.. needless to say, we got eaten alive by one player. That would be a 94 yard TD run. Shit. 17-14 MARSHALL. 17 unanswered. Well.. let's just drive down the field.. right? Right??


Wrong. Joe Kemp after a 17 yard run by McDonald got picked off. Oh great. Marshall luckily went three and out and punted for a touchback.



4TH QUARTER


McDonald now has to take the load. 2 yard run. Kemp hits Robottom for 4. McDonald got 6 more, then 5 more, then broke a 17 yard run, then got 5 more, then four more, Nathan Austin checks in and gets nine. Then McDonald loses 5 on a toss. Now we'd pass, heavy blitz by Marshall, Duplessis is wide open.. breaks a tackle.. and THERE HE GOES!


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...agon/Herd6.jpg

.. and that is a 33 yard TD pass to Duplessis, the fullback. 21-17 Tulane.


Marshall went three and out. Sullen's 18 yard punt return put us just yards out of field goal range. We'd get there and we would stall. Ubekista hits a 38 yard field goal. 24-17 Tulane.


deRochement then skanks the kickoff, and it's returned to the Marshall 48. 2:23 to play. Marshall lost two. Anderson passed for 10, Marshall got six. Anderson hit Spann for 19. Marshall got five more. Third down from our sixteen yard line.


Anderson overthrows his man. Fourth down. Anderson throws to Spann.. we go for the swat and miss.. he's got a catchable ball...


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...agon/Herd7.jpg

.. DROPPED! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! He catches it and he could have scored. Someone took their mind of the football. Tulane will hold on after getting two first downs. Whew.


FINAL SCORE: Tulane 24-17


What a game. Kemp and company had a great first half, let Marshall get the lead with 17 unanswered, then Kemp shook off two INT's and threw a great TD pass to Duplessis and then we hung on from there. Marshall could have tied the game with a minute left and Spann, their top reciever makes a foolish mistake and drops the probable TD. Stephen Barnett went down in the 3rd, after a rough day besides his TD run. McDonald with one less carry hit 101 yards, while Barnett had 18 carries and only got 67. Barnett should be good to go for the Rice game since we have a BYE. Kevin Moore will most likely be probable for the game, so he could be ready to go or he could be back on week 12. Two more wins.. one mulligan to spare as of now.


PLAYER STATS


Joe Kemp: 155.2 QB Rating, 15-for-22, 197 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, no sacks


Stephen Barnett: 18 rush att, 67 yards, TD, 15 rec yards

J.T. McDonald: 17 rush att, 101 yards, 3 rec yards

Antoine Duplessis: 2 rush att, 17 yards, 1 rec, 33 yards, TD


Casey Robottom: 4 rec, 49 yards, TD

Devin Figaro: 2 rec, 43 yards


Gregory Hallinsworth: 9 tackles

Tony Bryant: 7 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 Sacks

Darryl Farley: 7 tackles, TFL

Kristifer Rhymes: 4 tackles

Dezmen Moses: 4 tackles, TFL

Samuel Brooks: 3 tackles

JJ Black: 2 tackles

Sammy Boudreaux: Tackle


Jordan Sullen: 21.0 avg on kick returns, 14.5 avg on punt returns


[Darius Marshall: 23 rush att, 176 yards, 2 TD, 2 rec yards]


UP NEXT: Week Nine Around the NCAA

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png

WEEK NINE AROUND THE NCAA

Last week #3 Utah lost to UNLV on a late score. USC also lost.


C-USA SCORES


Rice 39, UTEP 36 ... Rice gets it's first win on the year. UTEP is 0-5 in C-USA play.

Houston 31, Southern Miss 6... USM might miss a bowl game. Houston up to 6-1. Keeping the pressure on us.

NC State 29, Tulsa 21 ... Tulsa was in it but they never led the game.

Memphis 35, #8 LSU 21 ... What is it with Memphis and upsetting teams from the SEC?? Jordan Jefferson's 4 INTs certainly did not help LSU.

UCF 45, ECU 10 ... ECU is definitely not going to make a bowl.


NCAA SCORES

UConn 35, #13 Western Michigan 13 ... [glare]. Oh Western Michigan. WHY NOW.

Nothing else major happened.


TOP 25

BCS

1. Oklahoma (1.000)

2. Nebraska (0.994)

3. Boise State (0.989)

4. TCU(0.980)

5. Florida

6. Virginia Tech

7. Notre Dame (0.964)

8. West Virginia

9. North Carolina

10. Ole Miss

11. Texas

12. Wisconsin

13. Minnesota

14. Alabama

15. Utah

16. LSU

17. aTm

18. Northwestern

19. USF

20. Ohio State

21. USC

22. Iowa

23. Oregon State

24. Arizona

25. Cincinnati

Lingering Teams: Western Michigan, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Cal, Memphis, Rutgers, Colorado, Louisville


Heisman: Roy Helu, LaTravis Washington (QB, Nebraska), Sam Bradford, Scotty McKnight, Jeremy Kerley


UP NEXT: Probably Week 10 Around the NCAA, since we have a BYE.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png

WEEK TEN AROUND THE NCAA

Western Michigan lost last week. We have a BYE.


C-USA SCORES


Navy 37, ECU 6 ... ECU is now offically not going to a bowl. Navy gets it's second win of the year.

Memphis 41, UAB 17 ... Memphis ran for four TD's and kicked four field goals.

UTEP 34, Tulsa 30 ... UTEP gets it's first conference win, thanks to a 24-8 second half run.

Rice 30, SMU 14 ... Rice gets it's second straight win, while SMU falls to 0-8.

Southern Miss 36, Marshall 30 ... And just like that, Southern Miss takes the East lead. USM held a 30-10 3rd quarter lead.

Houston 14, UCF 10 ... Houston keeps the pressure alive on us. Keenum's TD with 5:38 left gave Houston the close victory.



NCAA SCORES


#22 Iowa 32, #12 Wisconsin 0 ... The 8-1 Hawkeyes should move up a bit.

#2 Nebraska 59, Missouri 13 ... The #2 Cornhuskers put up 59 points on Missouri in just 42 minutes. Latravis threw for 5 TD's.

Virginia 52, #18 USF 14 ... Oh my.

#20 Ohio State 33, #13 Minnesota 14 ... The Buckeyes are returning to usual form thanks to Pryor's 4 TD day.

#25 Arizona 33, #21 USC 28 ... How long has it been since USC has been unranked?

#14 Utah 29, Wyoming 28 ... Utah needed 23 points in the second half to beat the Cowboys.

#1 Oklahoma 40, #15 aTm 20 ... Total offense: 386-174 in favor of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma State 40, #11 Texas 19 ... The sub .500 Cowboys beat up on Texas. Cate had 5 INT's for Okie State, but Texas had 4. Dez Bryant had 2 TD's.

Tennessee 31, #10 Ole Miss 7 .. Oh my.

Eastern Michigan 30, Western Michigan 10 ... Where did things go wrong so fast?



- Tulane nabs two commits including a 2-star punter and that elusive four-star player..


TOP 25 - BCS

1. Oklahoma

2. Nebraska

3. Boise

4. Notre Dame

5. Florida

6. TCU

7. Virginia Tech

8. WVU

9. North Carolina

10. 'Bama

11. tOSU (up NINE spots)

12. LSU

13. Utah

14. Iowa (up EIGHT spots)

15. Wisconsin

16. Minnesota

17. aTm

18. Ole Miss

19. Arizona

20. Oregon State

21. Cincy

22. Texas

23. Georgia Tech

24. USC (unranked in Coaches, AP, computers saved them)

25. Northwestern

The Lingering Teams: Oregon, Memphis, Rutgers, Colorado, Houston (WHAT!!!!), Tennessee, Illinois


HEISMAN: Latravis Washington, Sam Bradford, Roy Helu, Scotty McKnight, Andy Dalton


AWARD LEADERS

Maxwell: Latravis Washington

Bednarik: Zach Brown, UNC

O'Brien: Latravis Washington

Walker: Roy Helu (Barnett 12th)

Best WR: Scotty McKnight

Mackey: Eric Mensik, Oklahoma

Best OL: Donald Stephenson, Oklahoma

Rimington: Keenan Stevens, Colorado

Lombardi: Jason Worilds, VT

Best LB: Garrick Williams, TAMU

Thrope: Blake Gideon, Texas

Groza: Ross Evans, TCU

Best P: Ryan Peterson, Virginia Tech (FR)

Best RET: Sidney Stewart, Northwestern


UP NEXT: Rice (2-7), C- OVR. Rice's lone wins are over UTEP and SMU, coming in the last two weeks. Rice has lost FIVE games by under 12 points.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1025/tulane.png

Ponder moves back to QB, possibly moves to third string QB to finish season


NEW ORLEANS -- D.J. Ponder like many speculated is going to compete for the QB starting job next year. And this week he moved back to QB after switching to WR prior to the 2009 season. Ponder found his time at WR to only work out on kick returns, but he now knows the wide receivers better than he probably would if he were playing QB.


That could give him an advantage in 2011. Ponder's speed could really open up Tulane's offense if he plays in 2010 and if he were to start in 2011. He'll definitely challenge for it.


Ponder may see time this year if any games turn ugly in the 2nd half. However, with Kevin Moore's return, Ponder will not have a shot at being Tulane's no. 2 QB for their upcoming game against Rice.

>>TULANE FAST FORWARD>>


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...on/Riceum0.jpg

Casey Robottom's TD catch set the standard for today's game versus Rice.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...on/Riceum1.jpg

D.J. Ponder as our new third string QB scores.

TULANE 45, RICE 0


The lowly Rice Owls rolled into town as 28-point underdogs. Rice's turnovers and the return of Kevin Moore sunk the Owls early as Moore only needed to play one half to leave his mark on Rice. Rice's first possession went into Tulane territory but Tulane forced a stop on fourth down and a handful of plays later Moore found Casey Robottom wide open for a TD. Alex Wacha recovered a fumble and Kristifer Rhymes had an INT in the first quarter. Tulane on the opening play of the second quarter, Moore found Robottom again for TD #2. After Leford's pick of Fanuzzi, Moore finds a wide open J.T. McDonald for a 28 yard strike. Tulane took a 24-0 halftime lead with a 52 yard field goal by Darren deRochement (which had the distance from 60).


Tulane rolled in the 2nd half, as well. Joe Kemp found Wilson Van Hooser for a 67 yard gain to the three, and the very next play Stephen Barnett scored. After a poor drive by Rice, Jordan Sullen had a great punt return, and J.T. McDonald had a 34 yard TD run right up the gut where he somehow managed to go untouched to the house to give Tulane a 38-0 lead.


Tulane played ball control offense for mainly the rest of the game and D.J. Ponder saw time at QB. He led Tulane down the field and then on an option keeper he went 15 yards to the house to the left side (very similar to Ryan Griffin's WTF TD run in 2009 against McNeese State.). Tulane pulled a shutout and improved to 8-2, 6-0 with a possibility of receiving votes in the polls this upcoming week.


Kevin Moore threw for 179 yards going ten out of fourteen with 3 TD's. D.J. Ponder went 2-of-2 for 13 yards, and 28 yards rushing and a TD. Stephen Barnett and J.T. McDonald also scored TDs on the ground. McDonald had a recieving TD along with Robottom's pair of TDs. Devin Williams led the defense with 7 tackles and four, yes FOUR sacks. Rhymes and Leford had INT's while Wacha forced and recovered a fumble.

___________________________

TOP TEN

1. Nebraska

2. Oklahoma

3. Notre Dame

4. Boise State

5. Florida

6. TCU

7. Virginia Tech

8. West Virginia

9. North Carolina

10. Alabama

(Coaches: Tulane #30, AP #32)


UP NEXT: Road night game on TV at Tulsa (3-7, 2-5).. a win gives Tulane a berth to the CCG. Tulane is also going for win #500 in school history..

Tulane headed for C-USA title game, cruises to 42-0 lead, celebrates...
...then uncelebrates as Tulsa scares Tulane but falls short, 42-28

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/10Tulsa1.jpg
D.J. Banks first Q TD catch.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/10Tulsa2.jpg
Leford INT.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/10Tulsa3.jpg
Who needs to see to score?

Tulane headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take on the 3-7 Golden Hurricane, and expected somewhat of a fight. Tulsa can score points, but on this day, they could only do it with players like Alan Mitchell (3rd WR) as our 3rd CB in the 4th quarter as Tulane's third string secondary penciled in out of position players. Darryl Farley should not play safety.

Kevin Moore returned and tied his career best against Army last year, with similar numbers.. 5 TD's and 1 INT. His 5th TD, he didn't realize he had thrown, as it came on an option play where he somehow managed to throw it forward behind the LOS and it counted as a TD pass to Donny Richardson.Moore's four other TD passes went to D.J. Banks, 22 yards in the 1st.. Brock Sanders, 65 yards in the 1st.. almost all of it YAC (video here!) an 8 yarder to Figaro in the 2nd, and a 47 yarder to Robottom in the 2nd.

Tulane cakewalked to a 42-0 lead thanks to Nathan Austin's TD run, but DeMaris Johnson kept it interesting with 3 4th quarter TD's, two recieving and one returning. Tulsa's lack of covering onside kicks cost them a potential comeback as Tulane's offense went flat and so did their defense. However, their win over Tulsa does mean one thing - they are going to be playing for the C-USA title at home - since they will finish with the most conference wins despite their game against Southern Miss yet to be played - at 7-1, they would still lead the conference.

Moore's statline: 317.6 QB Rating, 12/14 passing, 214 yards, 5 TD, INT .. Barnett got 131 on 16 carries .. Austin ran for 52 and a TD. Richardson ran for 14 and had a TD reception. Boudreaux led the tacklers with 7. Farley and Leford (in position) had INTs on Tulsa's QB.

With the win, Tulane improves to 9-2 (7-0), and nine straight wins.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png

WEEK TWELVE AROUND THE NCAA

C-USA NEWS

>> Tulane headed for C-USA title <<

Southern Miss falls to Memphis, 35-33.

>> East Title Game: Memphis (8-3) at Marshall (7-4), winner faces Tulane. Tulane beat Marshall 24-17 earlier this season, and did not play Memphis. <<

Recruiting update: Tulane gets three commits, five soft commits.


NCAA NOTES & POLLS

Top 5 unchanged and still undefeated: Nebraska, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Boise State, TCU

Ranked teams left to play for those teams (minus CCGs), NU 1, Oklahoma 1, ND 2, Boise 0, TCU 1

Houston (9-1, lone loss to the Green Wave) jumps into the AP at #24, while Tulane sits at #30 in the AP. Houston is 26th in the Coaches, and Tulane is 29th.

- Sam Bradford leads the Heisman race, after a 633 yard performance at Baylor.

- The Big XII holds all the top 5 spots in the Heisman race right now.

Tulane's current bowl projection: Arkansas (5-5, Arkansas needs to beat LSU or San Diego State to be bowl elligible).



UP NEXT: Tulane takes on Southern Miss (4-6, 4-3) at home in the battle for the Bell. If Tulane loses, they hold the tiebreaker over Houston in the C-USA West, and will play Memphis/Marshall for the C-USA. A win gives Tulane their first ten win season since 1998.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5233/newbannerh.png

The twelve club


http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/...n/2096517.jpeg



NEW ORLEANS -- Tulane after it's 0-2 start wondered if they would see a bowl game again this season after last year's surprising Texas Bowl bid season which ended in a loss to Missouri.


Since then, the Green Wave have rolled out 9 straight wins - none over BCS opponents which has most likely kept them out of the top 25 for now which they have not been in since their no. 7 ranking in 1998.


Twelve years ago. That team had twelve wins. Twelve straight wins.


This year, the Green Wave have a chance to match the twelve-win season that the Green Wave did twelve years ago. Tulane has to get through Southern Miss, then the C-USA Championship and then their bowl game. Which could be a hard task. In 1998, Tulane played BYU in the Liberty Bowl. If Tulane does win out, they'll have to get through a BCS opponent to get that elusive twelfth win.


Twelve years after their lone 12-win season. Can the Green Wave repeat the 12-win season in 2010, 12 years after the original?


The twelve club is waiting if they do.

There you go TGT, some more Tulane action for you all.

Some of the greatest dynasty games are just around the corner..

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5233/newbannerh.png

THE BATTLE FOR THE BELL


I'll just tell you now, Southern Miss can put up the points and if your a fan of defensive battles, this isn't going to be a game you like. Iron Dragon's unoffical over/under line was 52 points. Over. Way over. And if you like passing, you'd like this ballgame. There was alot of it. Now onto the action..


Southern Miss would lose the toss and got it first. On the first play out, Kristifer Rhymes sacks Austin Davis for a six yard loss and USM could not get the first down, just four yards in the Birds' next two plays.


Moore started up the passing attack.. 14 yards to Mitchell, some runs by Barnett, including an 18 yard one, too, but in the end going a perfect 5-for-5 on the drive, Moore throws to the endzone..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/101.jpg

.. and George Harrison makes a nice catch for six. 7-0 TULANE.


USM three and out. Tulane three and out. Two drops.


USM would find their way down the field, converting a fourth and short, then on a quick pass Davis hit Pierce for a 20 yard score. 7-7.


Tulane looked like they were going to go three and out until a pass interference gave the Wave a first down.


That kept the offensive train a'moving and Stephen Barnett found the endzone two minutes into the second quarter from 4 yards out.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/103.jpg


14-7 Tulane.


USM and their offense responds. After two runs of nothing, Davis throws on third down.. JJ Black gets the deflection and celebrates..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/102.jpg

... and that's why your a true freshman. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BALL! Or maybe it's just a great catch. Two plays later, Davis hits his RB Duckworth and Wacha epic fails on the TD-saving tackle and he quacks his way into the endzone. 14-14.


We'd get one first down but not another.


We'd hit a terrible punt of just 35 yards, and USM would return it 19 yards down to midfield. Duckworth got 14, then Davis hit Duckworth for 13, then a loss of 2, then hits Rue for 22.. then JJ Black would cover the corner route into the endzone..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/104.jpg

.. and that's why your a true freshman. JJ Black thinks it's headed out of the endzone, and Southern Miss bites him again with another great catch. 21-14 SOUTHERN MISS.


Now, with 1:22 left.. we can A) run out the clock, B) try to get downfield. What are we, losers? B it is. Barnett runs for 13, Moore hits Robottom for 13, then Figaro loses one, and then Robottom drops one. Damnit. Fourth down. Ah well, a little trickery never hurt.. we'd fake the punt and throw it, and GEORGE HARRISON brings the pass in for a 19 yard gain to the 25 yard line. What are we, Boise State?


That momentum-changing catch led to this dumbfounded move by USM's secondary..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/105.jpg

.. never leave the other team's best wide receiver open. 21-21. 25 yard TD for Robottom.



... AT THE HALF: 21-21


Three and out. Tulane. USM wouldn't, they'd stall but Estes, the kicker with a leg to hit 50 yards. He hit a 41 yarder. 24-21 USM.


The passing train opened.. 10 to Mitchell, 2 to Banks, 11 to Figaro, 20 to Mitchell. Harrison for 11. And then a fade route after a couple runs..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/106.jpg

.. and Robottom's got it!! Touchdown Tulane! 10 yard strike. 28-24 TULANE. Three and out USM. This was our game now, after runs and a first down, Tulane would fail to convert a third down as the clock struck 0:00. One quarter to go.


Now to hold USM, they need 65 yards to get to the endzone. And they would get 43 of it on the first play. Shit. After a 7 yard sack, Davis hits DeAndre Brown for a 29 yard TD. Double shit. 31-28 USM. 6:18.


Barnett got six yards twice, Moore then broke off 12 yards, then one more yard. Incomplete pass on second, but a 25 yard pass to George Harrison on third. Clutch freshman TE. Duplessis got eight. Another pass to Harrison and dropped. Damn. Barnett got one. 4th and one. We could kick the field goal, but coach Draggo has balls and goes for it. Duplessis got seven. Barnett got 8 more to the six yard line. Quick pass is called..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/107.jpg

.. and FB Duplessis is wide open for six. 35-31 TULANE. 3:27 to hold the Dirty Birds.


And by hold them, did you mean allow a 93 yard kick return? Why yes, DeAndre Brown makes our special teams look like epic fail shit and takes the kickoff back to the house. 38-35 USM.


Kevin Moore now needed heroics and no drops. Tulane had dropped six passes already. Moore should be at 30+ completions and he's not.


Van Hooser takes the kick back to the 36. Barnett got the first on the ground. Moore then throws a PA pass to Robottom.. and he's got his man beat.. DROPPED. Shit. 7 drops today by the WR core. Not good. Barnett lost a yard. Third and ten-and-a-half. Moore runs for 6 with NO one open. 4th & 4 it's marked.


"This is where legends are made", said Coach to Moore.


And Moore made a play. He broke a tackle and threw a nice strike to D.J. Banks for a ten yard gain and a first down. But oh so soon it was third and nine. Once again, he breaks through a sack, plants his feet and this time Robottom doesn't miss it. 26 yard gain inside the ten. First and goal. 59 seconds left.


Barnett gets three, Richardson gets five. Play action pass. Moore fakes the handoff, then would find Barnett.. who cannot break the tackle and is dragged back for a loss. Shit. Maybe not the best play inside the five. Tinzen Ubekista now has to tie it up. Five seconds left. USM ices him three times.


Good snap, good hold, the kick is up from the right hash mark.. and he nails it! Overtime. 38-38.


END OF REGULATION: 38-38.


We won the toss and went on defense. And this is how we started OT:


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/108.jpg

.. not the best of starts. 45-38 SOUTHERN MISS.


Moore hits Barnett who uses his RB skills to go for 22 yards. Good start. Moore then takes it up the middle for a 3 yard TD run. Ubekista onto kick the XP.. and he almost misses it. Whew. 45-45. 2OT.


Incomplete pass. 5 yard gain. One yard pass. Fourth and four. Draggo goes for it. Moore doesn't see that Robottom is open in the endzone and throws to Mitchell and it's knocked down. Oh shit.


USM passes for a 17 yard gain. Oh shitcakes. Next play, USM passes it.. Davis is brought down and HE FUMBLES IT!! USM would recover it but that is a loss of 15 yards! Not so fast my friend!! USM ran for five yards, then would pass on third and very long goal.. and Davis would be sacked again for a 7 yard loss on the RIGHT hashmark. Oh my. John Estes on to kick the game winning field goal. 41 yards. His first was an easy one down the middle. This one, not so much.


The snap was good, the hold was good...











and the kick had the length....




















... and it looked good...




















... but it bounces OFF THE RIGHT CROSSBAR!! HOLY SHIT!! NO GOOD!! Three overtimes, here we come!


USM would have to score now. They wasted no time to get to our two yard line. Duckworth runs up the gut, loss of one. Again up the gut, loss of one. 3rd and goal. Pitch to Duckworth, he picks up yards, fights for the endzone and does not make it! Three yard gain to the one. This time Estes makes it from 18 yards out. 48-45 USM.


After eight drops on the day, Kevin Moore had this statline: 34-for-48 passing, 296 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 16 yards rushing, TD. That's quite a statline, if I say my self.


Barnett got nine. Duplessis got eight. Barnett got one. Second and goal, Moore steps back to throw.. looks...

Spoiler: show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrk8Nbv4pcw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDy4tKGqg0A












http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/109.jpg

.. TO ROBOTTOM WHO MAKES AN AMAZING CATCH AND HE SCORES TULANE WINS IT TULANE WINS IT IN THREE OVERTIMES DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?????? Holy shit. That's all I got to say. D.J Banks made a miracle own tipped catch against Hawaii in the clutch to set up OT, and today Casey Robottom somehow makes a backhanded grab for the game winning touchdown. Ten and two baby. Ten and two!


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/1010.jpg


What a catch. What a play.


FINAL SCORE: 51-48 TULANE 3 OT's


Kevin Moore: 157.3 QBR, 35-for-49 passing, 305 yards, 5 TD, Rush TD (8 drops by core)

Stephen Barnett: 25 rush att, 129 yards, TD (surpasses 1500 yards), 35 rec yards

Casey Robottom: 6 receptions, 93 yards, 3 TD

George Harrison: 5 receptions, 72 yards, TD

Antoine Duplessis: 34 rush yards, TD catch

Alan Mitchell: 6-54 / D.J. Banks: 5-37 (10 different players with a catch)

Darryl Farley: 9 tackles, TFL

JJ Black: 7 tackles

Gregory Hallinsworth: 6 tackles

Tony Bryant: 5 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 Sack

Kristifer Rhymes: 4tackles, 3 TFL, 2 Sack

Samuel Brooks: 4 tackles, TFL

Sammy Boudreaux: 2 tackles

Tinzen Ubeksita: 1/1 FG, 6/6 XP

Jordan Sullen: 142 ret yards


USM: Austin Davis 20/27, 305 yards, 5 TD / Duckworth: 36 rush yards, 47 rec yards, TD / Quentin Pierce: 2 rec TD / DeAndre Brown: 36 rec yards, TD, 198 return yards, TD / Josh Johnson (true freshman): 13 tackles (TFL)


UP NEXT: The final weeks of the regular season wrapped up, who does Tulane face in the C-USA title? Do we crack the top 25? Find out..

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png

NCAA FINAL WEEKS WRAP-UP

WEEK 13


C-USA NEWS:

• Memphis topples Marshall 42-35, team's QBs combine for 9 TD's. Memphis takes TD deficit into 42-28 lead and holds off Marshall's offense in final minutes.
  
• Houston gets it's tenth win over ten loss Rice, 41-27.. Not as close as the score looks, UH held a 41-10 lead in the 4th.
  
• The June Jones era in SMU ended last week with a mid-season boot and the interim head coach gives SMU's it's first win over UTEP, 38-17. UTEP slips from a bowl game most likely.
  
• ECU finishes with a win over UAB, but has a 4-8 (4-4) season. Not expected.
  

NCAA NEWS:

• The Rich Rod era ends in Ann Arbor with a 27-21 loss to the Buckeyes after blwoing a 21-0 lead. Michigan is 3-8, OSU 10-2.
  
• #1 Nebraska, #2 Oklahoma perfect 12-0 seasons with wins over top 20 teams (Oklahoma beats #8 UNC on the road 45-21)
  
• #3 Notre Dame held scoreless against USC, national title hopes gone
  
• #6 Florida falls to Florida State, 10-9
  
• #7 WVU escapes PITT, 7-3 .. teams combined for 241 offensive yards, 21 punts and 7-of-35 on third downs.
  

>> Tulane gets six more commits. <<

>> Tulane also ranked for the first time in twelve years, at #24 in the Coaches / Houston #21 <<


WEEK 14


C-USA NEWS:

• #20 Houston rolls up 62 on SJSU, Keenum with 5 TD passes
  
• Interim HC 2-0: SMU stuns Tennessee, 31-24
  

NCAA NEWS:

• Notre Dame football, ur doing it wrong: 9-0 to 9-2: #12 Utah upsets #7 Notre Dame 44-31.
  
• Beavers BCS bound: #13 Oregon State beats Oregon, 28-16, Oregon State 9-0 in Pac-10
  
• Boise State escapes: #4 Boise State 40, Virginia (4-8) 34 2OT
  
• Navy beats Army
  

>> Tulane gets another commit, gets another four-star commit to soft (first one did commit), Tulane up to #21, Houston #19 <<


WEEK 15

Dead week. No major games.



PRE-CCG TOP 10 & NOTABLES

1. Oklahoma(37)

2. Nebraska(23)

3. TCU(1)

4. Boise State

5. West Virginia

6. Alabama

7. Ohio State

8. Iowa

9. Utah

10. Wisconsin

19. Houston (#21 BCS, #18 AP)

21. Tulane (#22 BCS, #22 AP)

27. Memphis

28. Rutgers


HEISMAN WATCH:

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

LaTravis Washington, QB, Nebraska

Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

Roy Helu, RB, Nebraska

(whoever plays the best of these four in the Big XII will win the Heisman probably. Broyles will probably need 200 rec. yards and 2 TD's though.)


Tulane currently projected for Liberty Bowl vs Arkansas.


CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS


C-USA: #27 Memphis at #21 Tulane (New Orleans, LA)

ACC: #24 USF vs #15 Virginia Tech

SEC: #14 Florida vs #6 Alabama

Big XII: #2 Nebraska vs #1 Oklahoma

MAC: Akron vs Western Michigan (9-3)


UP NEXT: C-USA CCG preview and other stuff, I'd suppose

C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...AA/cusa_cg.pnghttp://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...AA/memphis.png


Time: 5:00pm Eastern


Stadium: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana


TV: ESPN


Match-up: Memphis at #21 Tulane


Memphis Overview


Memphis put up a 9-3 (6-2) season and found it's way into the CCG thanks to wins over Southern Miss and Memphis by less than a touchdown in both games. Memphis looked to be on a roll with a 4-0 start until a crushing 31-14 loss at the hands of UCF and then a 38-0 blanking at home against now #19 Houston. The Tigers recovered with 3 straight wins including a stunning victory over LSU, 35-21 (the Tigers may not make a bowl game), rolled to two more conference victories and then dropped one to Tennessee, 28-22. Then they beat USM and Marshall to finish with a 9-3 effort.


Memphis is led by first-year duel-threat QB Tyler Bass. Bass has passed for an impressive 2920 yards and 25 TD's along with 13 INT's, but leads the Tigers with 10 rushing TD's and 839 yards. Bass averages over 300 yards a game of offense.


When not running it with Bass, they give it off to Lance Smith who has 848 yards and 4 TD's this year. Brandon Ross also has decent carries for the Tigers. Memphis also starts a true freshman in Jon Ginn at FB but he only has 10 carries this year.


Lance Smith, however, also lines up at receiver. He has 28 catches and 7 TD's, a team-high, so we need to look for him both ways. Also on the recieving core for Memphis is Cam Baker, who has 80 catches for 961 yards this year with 6 TD's. Marcus Rucker also has 6 TD's recieving. Memphis will also pass it to Billy Foster who has 45 catches this year, and Devan Onarheim, the team captain who is the TE and has 34 catches and 4 scores this year. Memphis' offensive line is led by senior Brad Paul at RT who has 31 'cakes on the year.


Memphis' defense is led by their three linebackers: Winston Bowers (SR), Jamon Hughes (FR), and Corderick Govan (SR). Bowens has a team-high 69 tackles, Hughes has 60 tackles and Govan has 58 and is tied for second for INT's on the team. The defensive line is led by David Adams, a TRUE freshman RE who has 57 tackles, 14 for loss, and 7 sacks this year.


Memphis on special teams has Tony Walton (true freshman), who is 17-for-28 on field goals this year, with a long of 50 yards. However, his leg can be a bit inaccurate at times as he's missed two field goals from inside thirty yards, and six between 30 and 39, he's 4/6 from 40 to 49, and 2/3 from 50. Jimmy Jackson, also a true freshman is the punter and kickoff specialist. He averages 42.9 yards a punt and has 13 touchbacks on 72 kickoffs.


Lance Smith also returns kicks, he has 740 yards on KRs, and 567 on punt returns. Cam Baker also helps with returns.

__________________________________

http://williams.prestosports.com/ima...os/GameDay.jpg

COLLEGE GAMEDAY ANALYSIS


Desmond: Well, I gotta tell you.. Tulane is on a roll, they are in the top 25 for the first time in a long time, they are on a hot streak. This game is a home game for them and they'll take the C-USA title here. I like Tulane by two scores.


Kirk: Well, Desmond.. I disagree, I think Memphis is gonna come in fired up. They have a great team, everyone forgets about how they beat LSU and almost beat Tennessee, because people look at the losses to UCF and Houston. I think Tyler Bass beats Tulane with his arm and his legs, they'll come in upset-minded and take this one by a field goal.


Lee: Not so fast my friend! Tulane is the #21 team in the nation, and they should be higher, the only home game they lost this year was against LSU on week 1 when this team was looking for it's identity, and they found it, and Tulane will win the C-USA title by a touchdown. Kevin Moore played the game of his career against Southern Miss and he'll keep it going today.


UP NEXT: The C-USA Championship Game

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png

THE C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP: Memphis (9-3) at #21 Tulane (10-2)


Tulane is back and fights for the C-USA title for the first time (there was no conference championship game in 1998.) and they get to do it at home. Basically, Senior Saturday version II. This is Kevin Moore, Casey Robottom, Alan Mitchell, Andrew Neirman, Pete Hendrickson, Alex Wacha, Justin Adams, Dezmen Moses, Tony Bryant, Oscar P.D.L and Darren deRochemont's last games at home. And this one means more than any game they've ever played. This is the first time we're playing Memphis under Ron Draggo's tenure at Tulane.


1ST QUARTER


Memphis won the toss and took the ball, and they wasted no time whatsoever. As on their second play, Tyler Bass found star WR Cam Baker on a 23 yard TD pass.. that's not the last we'll here out of Baker today..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG1.jpg


7-0 Memphis. Kevin Moore came out firing, hitting Brock Sanders who was mismatched with a end playing linebacker and got 33 yards. Then he hit Mitchell for 6. Then Harrison for 14. Duplessis got eight, Barnett got three on the ground and then five more as he scored on a TD. 7-7. Not too shabby, I'd say.


Memphis punted after two first downs, Moore hit Harrison for 12 and Banks for 10 and then hit Memphis' SS Davis for a pick. Memphis would drive down and MISS a 38 yard field goal.. that's not the lass we'll here out of those kicking woes today.


2ND QUARTER


A minute into the 2nd quarter at Memphis' 40 yard line.. Moore dropped back and looked deep for Robottom..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG2.jpg

.. who made a great grab for a 40 yard touchdown. 14-7 TULANE. Too bad Memphis didn't care and Tyler Bass went 5-for-5 for 64 yards and a TD on their ensuing drive. 14-14. Then we got a first down and then didn't get another and punted for a touchback.


Then Bass hits Cam Baker..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG3.jpg

.. can you say blown coverage? 80 yard TD. Damn. Speaking of kicking woes, Memphis misses the extra point. 20-14 MEMPHIS.


It's like Kevin Moore didn't even care. He hit Banks for 18, Harrison for 13. Barnett got 22 on the ground and then Moore goes for six again..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG4.jpg

.. and D.J. Banks is there to get the 26 yard TD. 21-20 TULANE. Tulane's defense came alive and Bass threw a perfect pass to Cody Leford. Barnett got 20 (16 recieving), Moore hit Robottom for 8. Then with fifteen seconds left in the half..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG5.jpg

.. he hits Banks in the corner of the endzone who drags a foot for six. 28-20 TULANE on the 27 yard TD.


3RD QUARTER


Memphis kicked a field goal. That's all I got. 28-23 Tulane.


4TH QUARTER


.. And so did we. Ubekista hits a 28 yarder. 31-23 Tulane. Memphis would start to drive but Devin Williams 2nd sack of the day pushed them back to a 3rd & 20 and Bass threw two incomplete passes. 4:42 to play.


With 3:09 to play, deRochemont punts for a touchback. Bass then hits Rucker twice for 41 total, Smith got six, Bass hit Foster for 11, then McKenzie for 4, then an offsides on Tulane, Smith got ten more, and then backup RB Ross rumbles it in for Memphis. 31-29. Two point conversion..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG6.jpg

.. look who it is. 31-31. 1:42 to play.


And this is where legends can be made. Sullen returns the kick to our 34. Barnett got 11, then 10, then 1, then Richardson got 11, then Barnett got three, Richardson got seven more and keeping the ball on the ground, we got to Memphis's 23-yard line. Timeout. :04 to play. Ubekista comes on. This can be a chip shot for him. All he has to do is get this and we win it. Memphis calls not one, not two but all three of their timeouts. A true freshman kicker. From fourty yards.. for the ballgame.


The snap was good. And the hold was good. And the blocking, well, it was good. The kick was a great one. It had the distance. It looked good! Ubekista was going to win it!! Tulane was ready to run and celebrate.








And then it hooked right.


No good.


Overtime. Here we go.


OVERTIME


Memphis loss the toss and we went on defense. I think they watched the Southern Miss game. Memphis ball..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG7.jpg

.. and that's what you call a 25 yard TD. That's Baker's 4th catch in the endzone and third for six. 38-31 MEMPHIS. Well, it was the second play this time, actually.


No problem for Tulane. Moore hit Robottom for 15, Barnett got 5, Richardson got two..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG8.jpg

.. and then three more on the next play for six. Ubekista hits the XP. 38-38.


2OT


It's like one wasn't enough. Moore went back to pass and hit Donny Richardson who was at the fifteen, ten, five.... taken down at the one yard line. That was easy. Barnett punches it in for six. 45-38 Tulane.


Now it's Tyler Bass and Memphis' turn. Bass would throw.. and it's incomplete. Flag. Pass interference. Defense. 1st and Goal. Incomplete pass. Four yard loss. 3rd and goal. Devin Williams wants to end this. He sacks Bass before he can find anyone. His fourth of the day. Yes, his fourth sack of the day. Fourth and game and 18 yards to go. Tulane once again kneeled on the sideline and hoped and prayed that this time they can run and celebrate.


Bass had plenty of time.. and he had a man open. He threw it to #9, WR Jermaine McKenzie. He was on a WR screen. He had speed and he had room. And he got to the ten. Wacha for the game winning tackle. Missed. To the seven. To the six. To the five... inside the five...









http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG9.jpg


... TACKLED BY DAVID PHILLIPS AT THE TWO!! LET'S PARTY TULANE!!! 45-38 in double overtime, the Green Wave hold on and beat the fiesty Tigers from Memphis!


FINAL SCORE: #21 TULANE 45-38 2OT


Oh my god.


Kevin Moore: 199 QB Rating, 22/29 passing, 328 yards, 3 TD, INT

Stephen Barnett: 27 carries, 100 yards, 2 TD

Donny Richardson: 11 carries, 70 yards, TD, 24 rec yards

Casey Robottom: 8 catches, 127 yards, TD

D.J. Banks: 4 catches, 81 yards, 2 TD

George Harrison: 3 catches, 39 yards

Lawrence Abrams: 5 pancakes (r-FR)

Darryl Farley: 8 tackles

Devin Williams: 8 tackles, 5 TFL, 4 SACKS

Gregory Hallinsworth: 7 tackles

Kristifer Rhymes: 6 tackles, TFL

Samuel Brooks: 6 tackles

Cody Leford: 4 tackles, 2 TFL, INT

Oscar P.D.L: Sack


Memphis: Bass 22/32-359-4 TD-INT / Baker 3-128-3 TD, 2pt catch / Darius Davis 14 tackles, INT


>> UP NEXT: Conference Championship, Heisman, Awards Wrap-Up .. bowl games etc. <<

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png

PRE-BOWLS WRAP-UP


MAC Championship: Akron (8-4) vs Western Michigan (formerly ranked, 9-3)

>> WMU held a 15-7 lead on the Zips thanks to two Amheim TD passes, until Akron's QB Wackerly went off on the Broncos and threw 6 TD's as he led the Zips to a 43-33 win over Western Michigan. Even wackier is that WR Brown caught 19 passes, for 220 yards and 4 TD's. That's pretty good if I do say so myself.


ACC Championship: #24 USF (9-3, 5-3) vs #15 Virginia Tech (10-2)

>> USF is already in the ACC's title game in just their second year. Virginia Tech took care of business with QB Clayton as he threw 3 first half TD's to give the Hokies a 21-0 halftime lead. The Bulls fought back with a safety in the 3rd (21-2), and then two TD passes for Landi to Mitchell which got the bulls only down 21-15 in the mid-4th. But the VT defense held and kept the 21-15 mid-4th score and made it the final score.


SEC Championship: #14 Florida vs #6 Alabama

>> John Brantley led the Gators to a 14-3 halftime lead in this SEC defensive fest, both to Debose, as the Gators held Alabama to 198 total yards. Florida won it 14-9 thanks to holding Greg McElroy to a 8-for-31 passing day, which isn't what you'd call good.


BIG XII Championship (AKA this season's national title as the winner will play TCU and probably win): #2 Nebraska (12-0) vs #1 Oklahoma (12-0)

>> Nebraska came out fired up with a 17-0 run to start the game with two LaTravis Washington TD passes as he looked to hoist the Heisman. However, Sam Bradford led Oklahoma on a charge with a TD pass and a Mossis Madu TD run along with a 23 yard field goal tied the game. Nebraska's Henery hit a 30 yard field goal to make it 20-17 in the 4th, and then Oklahoma would need to stop Nebraska once they got the ball back late in the fourth up 3. They couldn't. Roy Helu broke a 80 yard TD run with 2:22 left as Nebraska would win it 27-17 and will probably play TCU in the National Title. Congrats on 14-0, Nebraska.


Despite losing conference title, Sam Bradford becomes second two-time Heisman winner


2008: Heisman


2009: Injury.


2010: Heisman


2009 was not a good year for Bradford but the years around his injury last year are two Heisman trophies, joining Archie Griffin of Ohio State as the NCAA's only two time heisman winners. Bradford beat out LaTravis Washington of Nebraska, Scotty McKnight of Colorado, Roy Helu of Nebraska and his own Ryan Broyles in the all-Big XII Heisman ceremony. Bradford had 336 1st place votes and 1627 total, as Washington had 1297. Bradford's season stats: 312/470, 4153 yards, 395 rush yards, 40 Total TD's


Tulane headed for Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2nd against 7-5 Arkansas


Arkansas (7-5, all losses to bowl teams) will take on C-USA champion #22 Tulane (11-2) in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2nd at 4:30pm on ESPN. The Razorbacks lost to 5 bowl teams and beat LSU while Tulane lost to LSU and Rutgers in their first two games of the year. Arkansas averages 25.2 points a game, and has the nation's 44th best defense via total yards.


#2 TCU (12-0) and #1 Nebraska (13-0) to meet for national title


Other BCS Bowls

Rose: #6 Iowa vs. #13 Oregon State

Sugar: #8 Florida vs. #5 West Virginia

Orange: #15 Virginia Tech vs. #4 Oklahoma

Fiesta: #3 Boise State vs. #7 Ohio State


Boudreaux, Sullen make Freshman AA team


CB Sammy Boudreaux made the Freshman All-American team at the DB position along with CB Jimmy George out of UTEP. Jordan Sullen as Tulane's kick returner.. despite only playing returner for a few games.


All C-USA honors

1st team: Stephen Barnett, Harris Howard, Andrew Neirman, Devin Williams, Tony Bryant

2nd team: George Harrison, Darryl Farley



UP NEXT: Liberty Bowl Preview

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...A/arkansas.pnghttp://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...ls/liberty.png

LIBERTY BOWL PREVIEW


- Arkansas: 7-5 record (4-4 SEC, t-5th)


- Key Wins: LSU (31-12)


- Key Losses: at Texas A&M (24-42), at #12 Alabama (28-35), at Georgia (28-35)


- Season overlook: After a rough start at aTm and an OT win over 2-10 Purdue, the Razorbacks looked like crap. They fell to 2-4 but rebounded with a 5-1 record to close the season but almost lost to 2-win San Diego State at home (only won by 5). The Razorbacks did not have to play Florida, another reason they managed to make a winning record.


TEAM PREVIEW


Arkansas should have a great offense. The key word is SHOULD. Instead, they have the #23 ranked defense and the #57 ranked offense. You'd think those would be the other way around. The good thing is.. Tulane is pretty crappy at pass defense and is #2 at rush defense. However, Tulane can basically outscore you. But so should Arkansas.


Ryan Mallett is the QB for Arkansas, the former transfer from Michigan. Mallett has thrown for 23 TD's and 12 INT's this year. His completion rating is 46 percent and normally throws about 38 passes a game.


Arkansas also has a good rushing game. Broderick Green ran for 1115 yards and 5 TD's this year, at 4.3 yards a carry and 93 yards a game. However, he's broken one run of more than 20 yards, and that was an 87 yard TD.


Jarius Wright is Mallett's main target. He has 1078 recieving yards and 13 TD's. 514 of his yards are YAC and gains 13.3 yards a catch. If it's not Wright, it's Carlton Salters who has 52 catches, 585 yards and 8 TD's this year. If it's not him, it might be Arkansas' top rated player D.J. Williams, a TE, who has 48 grabs for 637 yards and 3 TDs. He's not your normal TE. He has 86 SPD, 91 AWR, 87 CTH, and 86 BTK. Those are Mallett's main targets but a dumpoff to Green or backup RB Dennis Johnson isn't unlikely.


DeMarcus Love is the workhouse of Arkansas' O-Line at 97 OVR, he's all around o-lineman greatness with 36 pancakes this year. Arkansas' o-line has a sack problem up the middle (center and guards have allowed 22 sacks this year).


The leader of the Razorbacks defense is linebacker Jerry Franklin who has 77 tackles (20 for loss), 7 sacks, a pick, 8 deflections, a FF and 2 FR's along with one TD. He is everywhere on the field. Jelani Smith, another linebacker has 58 tackles, 14 TFL, 4 sacks and 3 INTs. Their defense is a sack-happy group, with 37 sacks on the year.


Alex Tejada is Arkansas' kicker who is 19/26 on FG's this year, but has not kicked one from 49+. He's 5-for-7 from 40-49. Tejada also punts for the Razorbacks and averages 40.7 yards a boot. He also has 13 touchbacks on 64 kickoffs this year. Jarius Wright returns kicks and punts for Arkansas and has not found the endzone this year. His long on either kick or punt returns is 40 yards.

____________________

THE LINE: Tulane by 3


The game could go many ways.. Tulane could dominate, Arkansas could dominate or it can be a close game going either way. However, the chances are this one's going to have some points.. my points forecast is: 77 total points.


Kirk and Lee from College GameDay believe Tulane will win.


UP NEXT: The Liberty Bowl <<

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas (7-5, 4-4 SEC) vs #22 Tulane (11-2, 9-0 C-USA, Champions)

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE -- Tulane can get win number 12 today, and that'd be the first time in twelve years. Yada yada yada. Tulane's last two games have been settled in more than one overtime, including hometown to Memphis, Memphis, obviously in the C-USA title game. This is Kevin Moore's time to shine, along with Casey Robottom. These guys have to shine if they want to play on sundays next year and beyond. Can they? I hope they can. A national stage against a pretty dangerous SEC team. Time to put up or shut up.

1ST QUARTER

Arkansas won the toss and took the ball. Mallett and company went to work. Mallett went perfect on the team's opening drive up to the 3 yard line of Tulane.. Mallett stepped back, Tulane with heavy pressure, Mallett fires a nice one..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/L1.jpg
.. but JJ Black intercepts the ball as Jarius Wright misruns his route into the corner of the endzone, the freshman has some speed though...

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/L2.jpg
.. and he will take it 101 yards for the touchdown. 7-0 TULANE.

Mallett and Arkansas went back to work on a 3rd & 5 he throws a 34 yard pass, then they'd battle into a 1st and goal situation but three handoffs to Broderick Green could not reach the goal line. Tejada's 21 yard field goal is good. 7-3 TULANE. More than half of the 1st is gone, Tulane leads by 44 and they have 0 total yards.

A great return by Van Hooser gets Tulane to it's own 40. Moore went to work.. a 13 yard pass to Barnett, Barnett then runs for 7, two pass plays for less than two yards and deRochement is called on to.. kick the field goal? Yes, we'd go for the 57 yard field goal. deRochement hits this one long enough for 63 or 64 but it bounces off the right upright. Ugh. Arkansas at our 40.

2ND QUARTER

It then became the Broderick Green show and a minute and a half into the 2nd he finds the endzone..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/L3.jpg

4 yards out. 10-7 Arkansas. Tulane goes three and out. So does Arkansas. Moore would then hit Duplessis for 13, Harrsion for 17, but the next three plays go for a loss of 3 yards. Punt. The punt goes to Arkansas' 4 yard line. Green loses one, gains two. Green then gets 11 for the first down. Mallett then fires a 12 yard pass, and then a 42 yard pass thanks to blown coverage. Uh oh. Three plays later, Mallett hits Jarius Wright for a 9 yard TD. This time, he makes the right route. Arkansas, however, misses the XP. 16-7 Arkansas.

First play out for Tulane.. 23 yard run by Barnett. 4 more on the next 1st down. Two incomplete passes. Fourth and six. 12 yards to Robottom. Another incompletion. Loss of two. Moore to Barnett for six. Fourth and six again. We'll go for it. Robottom makes the 11 yard first down grab. Twenty seconds to go. Moore goes for the home run..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/L4.jpg
.. and D.J. Banks grabs the 19 yard TD pass with :14 to go! 16-14 Arkansas with the XP. Halftime.

3RD QUARTER

Sullen with a good return, Tulane's offense is not there, deRochement hits an ugly punt. Childs gets 20 for the Razorbacks, Mallett and Green get the Razorbacks inside our ten for first and goal. Incomplete pass. Dropped TD. Loss of one. Field goal from 23 yards...

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/L5.jpg
no good! Tejada misses it.

Barnett gets 16, Moore to Robottom for 10, incomplete pass, loss of two, 7 yard gain. Punt. Barnett goes down. He will NOT return.

Arkansas would chew their way down the field and this time Tejada makes a 41 yard field goal. 19-14 Arkansas. 1:55 to play.

Kevin Moore and McDonald run the option and McDonald misreads the pitch..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/L6.jpg
.. and the Razorback defender reads the pitch and picks it off. Two plays later.. Mallett to Jarius Wright TD. 26-14 Arkansas.

We'd get our running game going, we got 18 yards on four runs. Moore hits Harrison for 17, then a deep ball to Robottom.. got him. 31 yards.

4TH QUARTER

10 yards to go. McDonald gets two. Second and goal..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/L7.jpg
.. and it's an easy TD catch for the senior Alan Mitchell.. an 8 yard catch and run. 26-21 Arkansas. We're not done yet...

... unless Mallett has something to say, and he does. 3 passes, 46 yards. Damn. They get to our twelve yard line like it's nothing. 3 plays, 8 yards. Arkansas should try the field goal here and go up by eight.. and they won't. 4th and 2. Mallett will throw it..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/L8.jpg
.. and he puts way too much into this one. Incomplete. Turnover on downs and Tulane is 96 yards away. McDonald gets 11. Then a dump pass to McDonald for 5. McDonald gets 8. Robottom catches one for two. McDonald for seven, Duplessis pounds it for three. Robottom gets the 18 yard catch. McDonald for 6 more, Moore hits Sanders for ten.. hall of fame drive, here.. then to Banks for 2. Then a facemask on Arkansas to put us at the 12. Duplessis grabs one for seven. Then four more on the ground to the one.. and then from the one..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/L9.jpg
.. and Antoine Duplessis scores. Easy TD. Tulane leads it!! 27-26 Tulane! We'd go for two.. the pass is complete to Robottom to the one yard line. Darn. 1:32 to play.

Jarius Wright gets a 39 yard return on an awful kick and it's into Tulane territory. Arkansas pounds the rock, and is stopped and kicks a 30 yard field goal with :47 left. 29-27 Arkansas. Tulane with one timeout and :47 seconds.

Tulane returns it to the 41. Incomplete pass. Moore to Banks for 19. Timeout. :24. Incomplete pass. To Robottom to the middle of the field for 7. No timeouts, tick tock tick tock.. Spiked with :03 left. deRochement will kick this 52 yard field goal. For the game. Ubekista won't kick it, he doesn't have the leg and our 50+ kicker does. Here we go.. for the win.

The snap was good.

The hold was good.

The blocking was good.

The kick was up, it had the distance from 60-ish again.






http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/L10.jpg
... but the kick was not good. WIDE RIGHT. Arkansas wins. The winning streak is over. Fiddlesticks.

Can't blame this loss on deRochement. Arkansas is a great team and better than Tulane. Couldn't get the victory and we drop to 0-2 in bowls.

FINAL SCORE: Arkansas 29-27
SENIORS in bold

Kevin Moore: 133.1 QB rating, 24/38 pass, 238 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

J.T. McDonald: 10 rush, 45 yards, 5 rec yards / Barnett: 9 rush, 49 yards (inj.), 26 rec yards / Duplessis: 13 yards rushing, TD, 20 rec yards

Casey Robottom: 8 catches, 86 yards / Alan Mitchell: 3 rec, 17 yards, TD
D.J. Banks: 3 rec, 40 yards / George Harrison: 3 rec, 34 yards
(Remember: Jarmon Forston will be elligible next year as a r-JR.. that's a name we haven't talked about)

Darryl Farley: 12 tackles
Samuel Brooks: 10 tackles
Cody Leford: 8 tackles (TFL)
Alex Wacha: 7 tackles (Kristifer Rhymes also with 7 tackles)
Dezmen Moses: 6 tackles
Gregory Hallinsworth: 6 tackles
Tony Bryant: 5 tackles (TFL), Sack
JJ Black: 4 tackles, INT, Def TD
Sammy Boudreaux: 2 tackles

Darren deRochment: 0-2 FG (52, 57), 4 punts, 152 yards, 2 inside 20

ARK: Mallett 27/34, 368 yards, 2 TD, INT / Jarius Wright 7-73-2 TD

UP NEXT: The Season Wrap-Up.. who wins the BCS bowls and the BCS Championship?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png

2010 WRAP-UP

(I had originally typed up a full bowl report and Firefox crashed (damnit!)


NOTABLE & BCS BOWL RESULTS


New Orleans Bowl: UCF 45, Troy 14

Hawai'i Bowl: #20 Houston 31, Hawai'i 21

Liberty Bowl: Arkansas 29, #22 Tulane 27

Texas Bowl: Kansas 44, Marshall 24

GMAC Bowl: CMU 30, Memphis 27

Rose Bowl: #7 Iowa 31, #12 Oregon State 24 [Ricky Stanzi 3yd TD run with 1:11 left]

Sugar Bowl Yawn-Fest 2011: #11 Florida 6, #5 West Virginia 2 [311 combined yards, 8 combined points]

FedEx Orange Bowl: #4 Oklahoma 24, #15 Virginia Tech 17 [Sam Bradford 9yd TD pass with :38 left]

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: #3 Boise State 34, #6 Ohio State 33 [Boise State miracle in the Desert, pt. 2: After falling behind 33-19, Kellen Moore throws an early 4th Q. TD pass to Potter (58 yards), and then with :10 left he throws a 53 yard TD pass to Potter, the Broncos only need one to tie or two to win it, they go for it all and Moore runs for two and the Broncos flex their muscle again.]


BCS NATIONAL TITLE: #2 TCU completes perfect season, rallies to beat #1 Nebraska 34-30.. TCU trailed 23-7 at the half, got the ball first in the second and used two 3rd qtr. TD passes to cut the lead to 23-21, Nebraska takes a 30-21 lead, Dalton runs for a 6 yard TD, then throws a 40 yard TD pass with 1:52 to play as the Horned Frogs STUN Nebraska 34-30, many people did not believe that TCU should have been here and they proved that the BCS busters reigned in 2010. Andy Dalton goes an impressive 29/41 for 405 yards, 4 TD's, 0 INT's and a rushing TD. What a year for TCU.


Draggo says 'no' to Michigan, signs 5-year extension with Tulane


FINAL TOP 25: Rise of the non-BCS schools

1. TCU(61) (13-0)

2. Boise State (13-0)

3. Nebraska

4. Oklahoma

5. Iowa

6. Florida

7. West Virginia

8. Alabama

9. Ohio State

10. Notre Dame

11. Wisconsin

12. Georgia Tech

13. Oregon State

14. Utah

15. Houston

16. North Carolina

17. Virginia Tech

18. Texas

19. Washington (beat #9 Utah)

20. Colorado

21. Texas A&M

22. Florida State

23. Rutgers

24. LSU

25. USC

27. TULANE (12-2)


UP NEXT: A look at the final stats, goodbye to seniors, the start of the off-season yada yada yada

Alrighty. Two seasons in the books here, and I'm mid-way through season six as it stands as I'm hurrying to get that season done before the drop of '11.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png
2010 FINAL STATS

SENIORS = BOLD

PASSING

Kevin Moore (Player of the Year): 221-for-345, 2859 yards, 28 TD, 9 INT, 64% comp. pct (started 12 of Tulane's 14 games (missed two due to injury), started season with 1 TD, 7 INT)

>> Moore put up great numbers after a horrid start to the 2010 season.. missed two games due to injury .. finished season with 27 TD, 2 INT .. led Tulane to a 9-3 record as a starter this year.

Joe Kemp: 41-for-59, 490 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT, 69% comp. pct (started 2 of Tulane's 14 games)
D.J. Ponder: 3-for-3, 32 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 100% comp. pct (played in two games)

>> Kemp started two games .. won both games .. rallied Tulane in second half after Moore's injury at UTEP .. Ponder played vs Rice and at Tulsa in limited action

RUSHING

Stephen Barnett: 313 carries, 1698 yards, 5.4 average, 14 TD, 32 broken tackles, 11 runs of 20 yards or more

>> Barnett started 13 games .. left a couple games with injuries which lingered here and there .. great runner .. YPC went down from 5.6 as a backup last year. Hopes to return as a much improved 3rd-year player next year

J.T. McDonald: 71 carries, 441 yards, 6.2 average, 3 TD
Antoine Duplessis: 40 carries, 200 yards, 5.0 average, 2 TD
Donny Richardson: 28 carries, 151 yards, 5.3 average, 2 TD
Nathan Austin: 33 carries, 124 yards, 3.7 average, 2 TD
D.J. Ponder: 14 carries, 55 yards, 3.9 average, TD
Kevin Moore: 57 carries, -124 yards, -2.1 average, TD, long of 14

>> McDonald played well when needed, Duplessis was the power fullback who was an easy five yards each time, scored a TD in the Liberty Bowl .. Richardson missed half the season with an injury, hopefully will be 100% as a sophomore .. Austin was our second halfback in a few games when Barnett went down or McDonald went down .. saw alot of playing time against Tulsa.

RECEIVING

Casey Robottom: 51 catches, 849 yards, 16.6 average, 11 TD
Alan Mitchell: 48 catches, 551 yards, 11.4 average, 4 TD
Stephen Barnett: 40 catches, 328 yards, 8.2 average, TD
D.J. Banks: 38 catches, 522 yards, 13.7 average, 6 TD
George Harrison: 31 catches, 372 yards, 12.0 average, 3 TD
Devin Figaro: 25 catches, 347 yards, 13.8 average, 2 TD
Antoine Duplessis: 14 catches, 114 yards, 8.1 average, TD

>> Robottom became the go-to guy after the graduating of Jeremy Williams. Stepped it up majorly in the final three games of the year surpassing double-digit TD grabs .. Mitchell was our possession guy who had 28 catches and 0 TD's last year and 48 catches and 4 TD's this year, including one in the Liberty Bowl and 2 against Houston .. Barnett was a viable option out of the backfield or motioned into a WR spot .. Banks turned into our no. 2 guy later in the year, should be really promising fighting for the no. 1 spot next year .. Harrison put up great numbers for a TE as a true freshman .. Figaro's numbers should improve as a junior next year, and Duplessis was another backfield dump-off pass guy.

Also with TD catches: J.T. McDonald, Brock Sanders, Donny Richardson
Longest pass of the year: Joe Kemp to Wilson Van Hooser, 67 yards

BLOCKING

Lawrence Abrams: 25 'cakes, 8 SA
Harris Howard: 18 'cakes, 4 SA
Joey Ray: 13 'cakes, 6 SA
Pete Hendrickson: 9 'cakes, 9 SA
Andrew Neirman: 7 'cakes, 1 SA
George Harrison: 7 'cakes, 1 SA

>> Abrams had one heck of a freshman season .. Howard and Ray are seniors next year, and the lesser of the 'cakers are leaving. Hendrickson's SA went up majorly as a senior, and his 'cakes went down, Neirman's pancakes went down as a senior.

DEFENSIVE

Darryl Farley (Defensive Player of the Year): 100 tackles, 8 TFL, Sack, 3 INT, FF
Cody Leford: 76 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 INT
Gregory Hallinsworth: 65 tackles, 2 TFL, INT, FF, 2 FR
Samuel Brooks: 64 tackles, 3 TFL, INT, Def TD
Devin Williams: 63 tackles, 21 TFL, 12 Sacks, FF
Kristifer Rhymes: 51 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 Sacks, 2 INT
Alex Wacha: 48 tackles, TFL, INT, FF, FR
Dezmen Moses: 46 tackles, 13 TFL, Sack, FF, FR, Def TD
Sammy Boudreaux: 43 tackles, TFL, FF, FR
Tony Bryant: 42 tackles, 19 TFL, 9 Sacks
JJ Black: 41 tackles, 1 TFL, INT, Def TD
Oscar Ponce De Leon: 32 tackles, 17 TFL, 7 sacks, FF
Jordan Garrett: 23 tackles (mainly 90% special teams)
David Phillips: 17 tackles
Justin Adams: 15 tackles

>> Farley hits 100 tackles, our 2nd and 3rd leading sackers depart, Wacha was a solid secondary man, Moses was a great d-lineman, along with Bryant. Phillips and Adams were good tacklers. Hallinsworth, Black and Bourdeaux all have great freshman seasons.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Tinzen Ubekista: 15/23 FG, 58/58 XP, long of 52
Darren deRochement: 2/4 FG, long of 56, 40 punts, 1746 yards, 43.6 average, 10 inside 20, 7 touchbacks, long of 56 punting, too

>> Ubekista, the walk-on, was an excellent kicker. deRochement had quite the leg.

Devin Figaro: 21 KR, 492 yards, long of 30, 14 PR, 85 yards, long of 14
Jordan Sullen: 16 KR, 325 yards, long of 30, 15 PR, 124 yards, long of 19
Wilson Van Hooser: 13 KR, 212 yards, long of 32, 12 PR, 48 yards, long of 13
D.J. Banks: 12 KR, 263 yards, long of 29

>> We couldn't find a return man this year.

UP NEXT: Senior Sendoff, Transfer news, who's going pro..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png

SENIOR SENDOFF


Justin Adams

#6, OLB

OVR: 67

Stats: 15 tackles, TFL

Notes: Moved positions as a senior and provided depth to the linebacking crew and played alot of special teams and also played in the 4-4 and goal line formations.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ENSHOT_sNU.jpg

Helm in 2009 versus Army

Tyler Helm

#88, TE

OVR: 70

Stats: 2010; Drop, 2 tackles 2009; 28 rec, 275 yards, 3 TD

Notes: As a senior, Helm fell from starting TE to #3 TE after George Harrison came and Brock Sanders shined over Helm in the spring. Helm's lone stats from 2010 is a drop and two tackles, but in 2009 he was a good TE.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/CCG9.jpg

David Phillips

#13, CB

OVR: 75

Stats: (2009): 25 tackles, INT (2010) 17 tackles

Notes: Phillips is known for the game-winning tackle in 2OT against Memphis but was a sure tackler at the CB position.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/UH3.jpg

Dezmen Moses

#51, DE

OVR: 76

Stats: (2009) 26 tackles, Sack, FR (2010) 46 tackles, 13 TFL, Sack, FF, FR, TD

Notes: Defiently a workhorse on the D-line.. top play was 2010 at Hawai'i with a forced fumble, then the recovery and then a defensive TD. Moses never really got to the QB, but he sure put pressure on him.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ragon/lsu5.jpg

Alex Wacha

#8, CB

OVR: 78

Stats: (2009): 51 tackles, INT (2010) 48 tackles, INT, 11 PD, FF, FR

Notes: Became the master of the deflection going from 1 in '09 to 11 in '10. Shared some time with FR Sammy Bourdeaux at CB, but started 27 straight games. INTs came against LSU in 2009 and Hawaii in 2010.



Tony Bryant

#96, DT

OVR: 79

Stats: 2009: 52 tackles, 21 TFL, 6 sacks, 2010: 42 tackles, 19 TFL, 9 sacks

Notes: Was another workhouse on the D-line.. played in the middle of the line and broke through for 15 sacks in the last two years. Defiently had the strength to get through anyone.


Oscar Ponce De Leon

#62, DT

OVR: 79

Stats: 2009: 36 tackles, 14 TFL, 5 sacks, 2010: 32 tackles, 17 TFL, 7 sacks, FR

Notes: P.D.L is known for having a long last name and like Bryant, was a strong and quick lineman who brought out the sacks from the DT position.


Kevin Leary

#63, C

OVR: 81

Stats: Nothing

Notes: Who? Sat behind Andrew Neirman.. which he wasn't previously redshirted.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/H3.jpg

Alan Mitchell

#87, WR

OVR: 82

Stats: 2009: 28 rec, 385 yards 2010: 48 rec, 551 yards, 4 TD

Notes: Possession WR, played a bit of #2 and #3 reciever throughout the 2010 season. Had a pair of TD catches against Houston and one in the Liberty Bowl after having none in '09.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/UH8.jpg

Darren deRochemont

#40, P/long FG K

OVR: 82

Stats: 44.4 avg punt (2009+ 2010), 20 career inside 20, 2/4 FG, all from 53+

Notes: Had a huge leg. He made the kick against Hawai'i which started our run of 11 wins in 2010.


Pete Hendrickson

RT, #58

OVR: 84

Stats: 2009: 18 cakes, 3 SA / 2010: 9 cakes, 9 SA

Notes: Not sure what happened to him in 2010 but the wrong stats went up and down for him. Was a good blocker.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ENSHOT_SiQ.jpg

Kevin Moore

#2, QB

OVR: 84

Stats: 2009: 178/317, 2453yds, 25 TD, 11 INT / 2010: 221/345, 2859yds, 28 TD, 9 INT

Notes: Led Tulane to 18 wins as a starter, had a great senior season after a dismal start (finished year with 26 TD, 2 INT).. was a leader and a game winner. First proved himself in 2009 against SMU as those things said before with a rushing TD that won the game.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/109.jpg

Casey Robottom

#19, WR

OVR: 87

Stats: 2009: 31 rec, 537 yards, 5 TD / 2010: 51 rec, 849 yards, 11 TD

Notes: He caught everything. High. Low. Short. Long. One-handed. Two-handed. One foot in bounds, two feet in bounds. Robottom was a playmaker and a gamechanger. His best catch was the game winner against USM at home on Senior Sunday. He had a great career and was Moore's favorite target and his no. 2 target in '09.


Andrew Neirman

#68, C

OVR: 91

Stats: 18 career 'cakes, 2 career SA

Notes: Didn't allow sacks often, but didn't really pancake anyone, but he pushed and pushed and didn't let them through. Dynasty's first player to reach 90 (or more) OVR and was the O-line leader.

___________________________________

TRANSFERS OUT: NOBODY / TRANSFERS IN: NOBODY


NOTABLE TRANSFERS

Zach Mettenberger, QB, UGA, 85 OVR to Eastern Kentucky

Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida, 85 OVR to Mid Tenn State

Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor, 84 OVR to Mississippi

Austin Fuller, WR, VT, 85 OVR to BC

Andrew Sweat, LB, Ohio State, 88 OVR to BC

Kody Spano, QB, Nebraska, 84 OVR to BYU

(there were many others)


NOTABLE PLAYERS GOING PRO

Jeff Demps, RB, Florida, 99 OVR

Nigel Bradham, OLB, Florida State, 98

Julio Jones, WR, Bama, 98

'Quizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State, 97

Caleb King, RB, UGA, 97

Jeremy Brown, CB, Florida, 97

Malcolm Williams, WR, Texas, 96

Earl Thomas, FS, Texas, 96

Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma, 95

-----

DC Jefferson, QB, Rutgers, 89

Brynn Harvey, RB, UCF, 90

Daniel Herron, RB, Ohio State, 94

Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas, 86

Iron Dragon's second annual WTF why did you go pro award goes too...

Nick Saenz, SS, Houston, 82 OVR


And with that.. goodbye to the seniors, and to some sophomores and juniors.. here we come off-season..


UP NEXT: Recruiting!

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png

Recruiting a success for Tulane


Tulane's 11-3 season pulled them to a surprising 38th best class in the nation, rated better than national champion TCU's class, and the best class in the C-USA.


Florida reloaded with a record class: 9 5-stars, 11 4-stars, and 5 3-stars including the #1 and #2 players in the nation. Ohio State, Texas, Oklahoma and Miami FL rounded out the top 5.


4-8 Michigan had the 10th best class. 2-10 UCLA had the 16th best class. Fresno State had the best class of the mid-majors at #29, with 5 four-stars. #2 Boise State struggled with recruiting, missing out on the #1 recruit and had the 50th best class. Southern Miss was 64th, Marshall 68th, UCF 70th, ECU 73rd, Memphis 80th, UTEP 84th, Rice 92nd, and stunningly Houston 105th .. the Cougars had a recruiting disaster despite their top 15 ranking. Tulsa had 111th best class, SMU 117th rounding out the C-USA.


TULANE RECRUITING CLASS OF 2011

(by position)


:r3star: QB Marcus Minor from Arkansas .. 6'3, 208lbs.. 73 OVR, 82 SPD, 84 THP, 73 THA

:r2star: JUCO FB Eric Jones from Church Point, LA .. 6'0, 208lbs.. 72 OVR, 79 SPD, 81 ACC

:r2star: TE Chad Flowers from Florida .. 6'4", 243lbs ... 72 OVR, 73 SPD, 81 CTH, 76 CIT

:r2star: G Reggie Ross from Arkansas .. 6'6", 296lbs ... 71 OVR, 86 IMP, 83 RBS

:r4star: G Michael Landry from California .. 6'4", 280lbs ... 77 OVR, 89 RBS

:r2star: C Ron Daniels from California .. 6'3", 316lbs ... 71 OVR

:r2star: C Rashaad Harris from Texas .. 6'2", 278lbs ... 69 OVR

:r2star: JUCO C Bo Mason from Montana .. 6'4", 291lbs ... 69 OVR

:r2star: T John Williams from Mississippi .. 6'2", 330lbs ... 72 OVR, 79 STR

:r2star: DE Dustin Peterson from Georgia .. 6'5", 209lbs ... 66 OVR

:r2star: DT Melvin Dickson from Mississippi .. 6'1", 270lbs ... 72 OVR, 81 BS, 79 STR

:r2star: DT Joe Childs from Louisiana .. 6'4", 266lbs ... 69 OVR, 50 SPD, 81 STR

:r2star: DT Jared Fields from Texas .. 6'6", 298lbs ... 67 OVR

:r2star: OLB Jason Nolen from Florida .. 6'1", 194lbs ... 72 OVR, 81 SPD, 86 ACC

:r2star: OLB Jason Thornton from Tennessee .. 6'1", 210lbs ... 71 OVR, 80 SPD, 77 ACC

:r2star: MLB Ralph Hall from Iowa ... 6'4", 246lbs ... 73 OVR, 85 HPW

:r2star: MLB Derek Larson from Louisiana ... 6'2", 254 ... 72 OVR, 79 STR

:r2star: OLB Lamont Coleman from Texas ... 5'11", 220 ... 70 OVR, 82 SPD

:r2star: OLB Mark Jackson from Louisiana ... 6'0", 203 ... 68 OVR, 77 PLY

:r4star: CB Erik Madison from Louisiana ... 6'4", 208 ... 78 OVR, 81 SPD, 86 ZCV, 89 PUR

:r3star: CB Keenan Tate from Louisiana ... 5'10, 180lbs ... 74 OVR, 83 SPD, 83 MCV, 82 ZCV

:r2star: P Jason Fountain from Oklahoma ... 6'3", 213lbs ... 68 OVR, 71 SPD, 73 KPW, 65 KAC


POSITION CHANGES

D.J. Ponder: WR to QB

Anthony Patterson: LT to C

Harry CiGar: LE to RE

Emanuel Eluko: MLB to DT (back to DT, that is)


CUTS

OLB Peter Morreale

OLB Sule Osagiede

QB Mike Bell

FB Kasey Stelly

LG Byron Herrell

C Bo Mason

DT Jared Fields

CB Joe Howard


UP NEXT: Onto the 2011 Preseason..

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1156/...0a765a56dc.jpg
Tulane will visit the Buckeyes on week 3
2011 SCHEDULE


Tulane has no "tune-up game" again this year as another ranked team visits on week 1, this time Rutgers. Rutgers is not the same team we saw last year.. they look very different and they are weaker. Navy's triple option attack is now led by SR Kameron Smith, they only have one player over 85 OVR. Ohio State is Ohio State. They are good. If we can win, it'd be huge. The C-USA luckily is weak this year, and a win over Houston could easily sail us to a 8-0 C-USA record. LSU ends the season on the road, this year could be the year we get 'em if LSU is beat up like they were last year on week 14.

I hope we beat at least one of those ranked teams, if not two or maybe all three. We'll see. We could also lose a game we shouldn't. You never know.

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/3857/espnv.png

2011 SEASON PREVIEW

http://kwtv.images.worldnow.com/images/11130346_BG1.jpg

Fear the 'stache! Landry Jones has to fill Sam Bradford's shoes this year.


PRESEASON TOP 25 & OTHERS

1. Oklahoma(40)

2. Florida(21)

3. Ohio State

4. Alabama

5. Nebraska

6. West Virginia (B+ OVR)

7. Georgia Tech

8. Texas

9. Notre Dame

10. Iowa (B OVR)

11. Wisconsin

12. North Carolina

13. Boise State (B OVR)

14. USC

15. Oregon State (B+ OVR)

16. LSU

17. Florida State

18. Georgia

19. Washington (B+ OVR)

20. Virginia Tech

21. Texas A&M

22. TCU (B OVR)

23. Miami (FL)

24. Rutgers (B OVR)

25. California

26. Utah

27. Houston

42. UCF (A- OFF, oh crap!)

47. TULANE

62. Memphis

65. Marshall

74. Southern Miss

84. SMU (New head coach)

89. ECU

97. UTEP

107. Tulsa

108. UAB

112. Rice


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...gon/boise1.jpg

HEISMAN WATCH

QB Kellen Moore, r-SR, Boise State (38 TD, 11 INT last year)

WR Andre Debose, JR, Florida (15 rec TD last year)

WR Tyrone Carrier, r-SR, Houston (14 rec TD last year)

QB Aaron Corp, r-SR, USC (23 TD, 12 INT, 7 rush TD last year)

WR Sean Fitzgerald, JR, Utah (13 Rec TD last year)


TULANE ALL-AMERICANS & ALL-CUSA

1st-team AA: Stephen Barnett (RB)

2nd-team AA: None

1st-team C-USA: Stephen Barnett, Devin Williams (LE)

2nd-team C-USA: George Harrison (TE), Darryl Farley (MLB)



UP NEXT: 2011 Conference USA preview

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/cusa.png

2011 C-USA PREVIEW


EA'S OUTLOOK



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/rice.png

RICE OWLS - Probable finish: 10th-12th

Key Games: 8-27 at #8 Texas, 9-10 at Baylor, 11-19 at Houston

>> Rice will probably struggle this year with 7 of 12 games on the road, including at Texas, Baylor and Northwestern OOC. Nick Fanuzzi will start for his third straight year and needs to improve on his 18 TD, 17 INT season from a year ago. Shane Turner and Sam McGuffie can carry the running game, but Rice's defense does not have a player over 78 OVR. Not a good thing.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...s/NCAA/uab.png

UAB BLAZERS - Probable finish: 10th-12th

Key Games: 9-3 at #2 Florida, 9-10 at Marshall, 10-22 Western Michigan, 11-12 Houston

>> UAB has an interesting schedule. They start out in the Swamp, then they play at Marshall and Tulsa, then they have a 6 of their next 7 at home, before finishing out with two road games. Like Rice, UAB does not have a defense. They have an 85 OVR MLB in JR Danny White, but then it's a dropoff into the 70s. They have two QBs over 82 OVR, two RBs over 81, but no recievers over 76 OVR. Their offensive line is bad, with an all-CUSA performer in 90 OVR in Greg Calhoun, but then they have 3 true freshman under 67 OVR starting. Not good.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...NCAA/tulsa.png

TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE - Probable finish: 6th-9th

Key Games: 8-27 at #1 Oklahoma, 9-10 Okie State, 11-19 #20 V-Tech

>> Tulsa's OOC schedule is hard. They maybe can beat Troy, so don't be surprised to see Tulsa 0-3 when they play UAB. Tulsa is not a 10th place team, but they aren't a top 5 team. GJ Kinne no longer has to deal with Bower, while Shavodrick Beaver waits now. If Kinne and 94 OVR DeMaris Johnson can hook up, Tulsa can score. However, they start two freshman on the o-line, and their linebackers are weak. Get around these issues and Tulsa could get four wins in conference play.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/utep.png

UTEP MINERS - Probable finish: 10th-12th

Key Games: 8-27 at Kansas (then two BYEs), 9-17 Houston, 9-23 UCF, 10-08 at Tulane

>> UTEP has to play the "big three" in four weeks, but get Houston and UCF at home. However, UTEP doesn't look like a ninth-place team. UTEP's best player is a kicker. Mike Scott, at 83 OVR. They have an 80 OVR QB in Tim Curry, an 80 OVR RB in Vernon Frazier, three WRs at 82 OVR. Oh did I mention that their o-line is 4 freshman and a sophomore? UTEP isn't bad, they just aren't good.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...t_carolina.png

EAST CAROLINA PIRATES - Probable finish: 6th-9th

Key Games: 9-10 #12 UNC, 10-08 at Houston, 10-22 UCF, 10-28 Tulane

>> ECU has a challenging OOC game with North Carolina and have the "big three" to play. QB Rio Johnson will start for his second year, and look to find Joe Womack, Jacobi Jenkins and Michael Bowman through the air. He can also give it off to Marquan Brown who returns from injury. ECU's linebackers are pretty weak, but they have speed.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...s/NCAA/smu.png

SMU MUSTANGS - Probable finish: 6th-9th

Key Games: 9-03 Baylor, 9-17 Tulane, 10-08 at #22 TCU, 11-05 at Houston

>> SMU booted June Jones after a 0-10 start to 2010 and now Tommy Bowden comes in and takes the helm after leading SMU to a 2-0 finish including a stunner at Tennessee. SMU will start to lean away from the pass, dropping to 60 percent pass this year. Braden Smith still has targets in Terrance Wilkerson, Cole Beasley and Bradley Haynes. But Bryce Lunday should improve majorly on his two sub-400 yard rushing seasons and sub-90 carries seasons. JJ Di Luigi should see carries too. SMU's d-line is the stronghold of their defense. Their offensive line has no starters worse than 80 OVR, and they have a few backups at 80 or 81 OVR.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...thern_miss.png

SOUTHERN MISS MUSTANGS - Probable finish: Bottom of the top 5 **SLEEPER TEAM**

Key Games: 9-10 at UVA, 10-08 at UCF, 10-22 at Miss State

>> Southern Miss has an easy schedule. Two road games OOC at Virginia and Miss State, but they don't play Tulane or Houston. Austin Davis is back, and is now at 91 OVR, and DeAndre Brown is back, now at 98 OVR. Brown, how would you say, is an absolute beast. He has 95 SPD and 98 ACC and 88 CTH and 94 SPC and 92 CIT. If he stays healthy, he could put up some huge numbers. USM's weakness is a couple spots on the o-line and at safety. Another thing is that they start two true freshman at K and P. Neither with a huge leg. That is a weakness.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...A/marshall.png

MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD - Probable finish: Bottom of top 5

Key Games: 9-17 at UCF, 10-08 at #6 WVU, 10-15 at #17 FSU, 10-22 at Houston

>> Marshall has four tough road games, two OOC and two in-conference. Darius Marshall is gone. So what? Martin Ward, Terrell Edwards and Demetrius Thomas are all 83+ OVR RBs for Marshall. Marshall has a new QB in Chris Smith, and has a good WR in EJ Wynn to find. Marshall's o-line is good. Marshall's defense isn't great, but it doesn't lack anywhere. They do start a freshman kicker who doesn't have a huge leg.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...AA/memphis.png

MEMPHIS TIGERS - Probable finish: 6th-9th

Key Games: 9-10 #4 Bama, 10-1 at UCF, 10-22 at Tulane, 11-12 at USM

>> Memphis doesn't have to play Houston and I could be wrong about Memphis but I don't think they are a fourth place team. Tyler Bass is gone, their RB is gone, but Cam Baker is back. However, they are missing a defense. They have no starters over 78 OVR and in a league with big offenses and if they are projected to be fourth, that won't help them.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...CAA/tulane.png

TULANE GREEN WAVE - Probable finish: Top three

Key Games: 8-27 #24 Rutgers, 9-10 at #3 Ohio State, 10-01 Houston, 11-26 at #16 LSU

>> Tulane has an interesting schedule. They don't play UCF, but they have three tough OOC games and get Houston at home, who as underdogs in 2009 and 2010 are 1-1 against. The question is.. who is Tulane's starting QB? Joe Kemp, D.J. Ponder or "out of nowhere in the spring" Ryan Griffin? Stephen Barnett is back, so is J.T. McDonald and Donny Richardson is now a sophomore. Whoever the QB is, Jarmon Fortson is here, and he's a 92 OVR. D.J. Banks is back, too. Tulane's O-line is good, and all their starters are 81+, their d-line improved well in the spring, and the three starters at linebacker who were freshman in 2009 are still starting in 2011. Tulane's true freshman secondary was a success last year, and now they are now sophomores with the addition of 6'4" Erik Madison to take Alex Wacha's spot. Tinzen Ubekista will handle K and P duties this year, and this team does not have a weak spot. They are locked and loaded and depth-filled. If their schedule was easier, they could go 12-0, since it's hard, they could go as bad as 8-4.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...al_florida.png

CENTRAL FLORIDA - Probable finish: Top three

Key Games: 9-03 at #8 Texas, 9-10 at FIU, 10-08 at USM

>> UCF is going to go at least 11-1. That's right. They don't have to play Houston or Tulane and they are loaded. This offense is better than some teams in the top 10. They can beat Texas. Joe Weatherford knocks Rob Clabrese off the starting job at QB, and he's 91 OVR. Brynn Harvey is gone but Chris Rainey is here.. and he has 98 SPD, 99 AGI and 99 ACC. Oh shit. Even better, 99 ELU and 99 SPM and 99 JKM. If I know anything, when you have 99s in a non-BCS conference, you are going to dominate. Thearon Collier is elligible to play too, and he's 97 OVR. 93 SPD, 87 CTH, 90 SPD, 88 CIT, 80 AWR and 90 BTK. Oh shit. UCF's O-line is amazing. 88+ starters. Needless to say, we're screwed. And their defense is good. Oh boy. UCF could bust the BCS.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...AA/houston.png

HOUSTON COUGARS - Probable finish: Top three

Key Games: 8-27 UCLA, 9-03 at #16 LSU, 10-01 at Tulane, 11-26 at #24 Rutgers

>> And then you have Houston's offense. They have three tough OOC games and don't play UCF. If they did, the over/under would be 100 points. Maybe a 62-59 game or something. Houston starts a new QB, Drew Hollingshead, a 78 OVR QB. Around him he can give it off to Bryce Beall at 93, or throw it too Heisman candidate Tyrone Carrier is a 97, Patrick Edwards is a 93, and James Cleveland is a 90. Houston's O-line is good. Their defense is probably the best or second best in the C-USA, led by 95 OVR Marcus McGraw, he has 89 SPD. Basically he's got 85+ everything and he's dangerous. He's quick enough to return kicks basically. Speaking of quick, Tyrone Carrier is another player with 99 ACC. Not good for everyone else. If Hollingshead can find his groove quickly, Houston will be a top 25 team again.


KEY QUESTION FOR THE CONFERENCE: Can we have three teams ranked at once? Last year, Houston and Tulane were ranked at the same time.


Three teams have a good shot to go undefeated this year.. Tulane, Houston and UCF. I think UCF has the best shot. Can they get past Texas? If so, watch out! What if Tulane gets past Rutgers and Ohio State? How much momentum will they have? We'll just have to wait and see.


UP NEXT: Tulane 2011 roster

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png

WR/RET Van Hooser out for season; granted medical redshirt


NEW ORLEANS --- Today in preseason camp, JR wide receiver Wilson Van Hooser who is competing for the no. 3 spot has had a "lingering injury" since the end of last season and has not gotten better through spring and will undergo foot surgery later in August and will has been declared out for the season and has been granted a medical redshirt.


Van Hooser accounted for 260 return yards throughout about five games last year and in his lone catch last year of 67 yards scored a touchdown from Joe Kemp.


Van Hooser was competing with Chandler Davis, Devin Figaro and Jordan Sullen for the team's no. 3 WR spot. Hooser will have two years of eligibility remaining starting in 2012.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png

2011 ROSTER


New faces, new starters, old faces in new places can sum up any roster.


We are redshirting 13 freshman and Wilson Van Hooser gets a medical redshirt.

2011 REDSHIRTS




ACTIVE ROSTER


QUARTERBACKS



We still don't have a starter named yet, but Ponder is the current front-runner and is penciled in as our starter in practice right now. He's not in sharpie yet.


Ponder Positive: Great speed, dual-threat. Negative: <80 THA, only three passes (all complete) thrown in career in mop-up duty

Kemp Positive: Starting experience, equal THP and THA. Negative: Low speed, hardly any ability to keep the play alive

Griffin Positive: Good arm, 73 ACC. Negative: No career passes, only playing time is against McNeese State in 2009.


RUNNINGBACKS




Barnett ran for 1698 yards and had 328 receiving, at a smooth 5.4 yards a carry. Barnett is quick on his feet to make moves and that's why he still has his starting job. J.T. McDonald is still Barnett's backup as more of the "up the gut" kind of guy, who had 6.2 yards a carry last year. Donny Richardson is 100 percent again and should improve on a 151 yard season last year, we're still looking for some awareness improvements from him though. Jason, Austin and Thomas are just all there. Austin did run for 2 TD's last year.


Duplessis who is our powerback is a whopping 268 pounds and had 5 yards a carry last year, but has still not run for more than 11 yards on a carry. He's pretty consistent and he's a pretty good short yardage receiver too.


RECEIVERS




No Casey Robottom? No problem. Jarmon Fortson has sat out his year and is now here and ready to play for us after leaving Florida State. Fortson has two years of eligibility unless he has some amazing numbers and goes pro after this year. D.J. Banks is now the lone no. 2 man and there is no splitting time with anyone at that spot (last year it was Alan Mitchell). Figaro slips into the no. 3 spot, Davis into the no. 4 spot, Jordan Sullen who looked to be the 7th WR is actually in the 5th spot and is basically here if an injury occurs. Echols sits 6th but I believe takes our no. 3 TE spot.


Harrison is back at TE along with Brock Sanders. Harrison will probably sit around his same numbers from last year: 31 rec, 372 yards, 3 TD's. Brock Sanders disappointingly only has 8 catches in two years but has three TD's in those eight catches. Hopefully he sees double-digits this year.


O-LINE




Patterson and Jones are the new starters on the line this year, replacing Andrew Neirman and Pete Hendrickson. Our O-line is big and strong and great at blocking. This line averages about 315lbs and everyone is over 6'2". We have quality backups too, Michael Landry and Rio Mares are movable around the linem both are solid backups, along with Eric Hall.


D-LINE




Our D-line has three new starters with the only one returning is Devin Williams who had 12 sacks including a 4-sack game last year. Eluko moves back from LB where he was just not fast enough to be, Wilson has great speed for a DT. Harry CiGar doesn't have any strengths or weaknesses, which is good. We lose 3 active players at the end of this year on this line, but we have capable redshirts, too.



LINEBACKERS




Rhymes, Farley and Leford will all make their 28th consecutive start against Rutgers. These three have lined up beside each other since they were freshman. Farley is now in the role of defensive leader, after a 100-tackle season last year, his 95 block shredding defiently helps. We're planning to switch to a 3-4 after this year, and our lot of freshman (active or redshirting) will fight over the 4th spot next year. Jeremy Minor is the lone senior of this bunch and has the no. 4 LB spot.


SECONDARY




Our true freshman secondary are now sophomores and Alex Wacha is gone but Erik Madison, the 6'4" true freshman is here. Our secondary is young and highly experienced. Brooks' man coverage is one of the top 10 in the nation at safety. We expect good things from our Utopian secondary this year. Erik Madison and Jordan Garrett should also see time, along with Shakiel Smith. The other guys are special teams.


SPECIAL TEAMS

K/P/KOS: #12 Tinzen Ubekista, SO, 84 OVR, 87 KPW, 87 KAC

Returners (as of now): (KR) Figaro, Shakiel Smith (PR) Jordan Sullen


UP NEXT: Offical starting QB announcement and Rutgers preview

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png

Notes from the practice field: "Wild Wave" could make appearance this year


NEW ORLEANS --- The Wildcat could get a New Orleans twist with the "Wild Wave".


The formation would feature Jarmon Fortson, who yes, can has throwing power and accuracy, and it would put D.J. Ponder in Forston's spot as Ponder, a WR/QB the last two years on the roster is now a full-time QB looking at the starting job.


The formation would feature Jarmon at the QB position and D.J. Ponder out in Jarmon's spot out wide. "It's more like a double QB formation in a way. We're just working on it, I don't think we'd run it more than one or two times a game, if at all."


The plays could be considered a "Fortson Option", where Fortson could throw it to any of the recievers - possibly even D.J. Ponder (or maybe most likely). There might be a way for him to hand it off in a sweep or run a QB draw.


"There's not many plays we have ready right now. Or maybe that's what we want you to think.", Draggo said.

2011, Game 1


http://my.newegypt.us/JacobsS/rutgers%20logo.gif


#24 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0, Big East)


Date: August 27th


Time: 8:00PM


Stadium: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana


The Line: Tulane by 2


Picks: Kirk: Tulane | Lee: Tulane


Coverage: ABC Regional


NEWS & NOTES:

D.J. Ponder has been announced as Tulane's starting QB for the Rutgers game.


Rutgers Starting Lineup

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: #24 Rutgers at Tulane

New Orleans, Louisiana -- Primetime, on national television. There aren't any "great" matchups this opening week, but Tulane's game is in the night and it features two top 50 teams. Last year, Rutgers cruised to a victory in the second half thanks to the offense's struggles in New Jersey. This year, Tulane comes to the big easy, N.O. Rutgers is ranked 24th, we're ranked 47th. A win could put us with votes next week. We have to make sure Ponder makes good decisions.

Brent Musburger cued off the night, "You are looking live... at the Superdome in New Orleans.."

1ST QUARTER

Rutgers lost the toss and we deferred to half no. 2. The start of the season would feature a wobbly kick by Ubekista, only to the Rutgers 24 and Martinek ran it to the 42. Savage then hits Wright for 20 (2 plays), Brooks falls back to make it third and seven, and then Rutgers runs it again and they get two back. They bring on Te and he tries a 56 yard field goal.. and he misses it wide right.

Ponder's first throw of the season would be a 17 yarder to Figaro. Barnett got 7, and Ponder ran for 9. Another pass..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/1R.jpg
.. and Abreu picks it off, intended for Jarmon Fortson.

Rutgers would indeed answer, on an third and 13 in our territory, they got fourteen. Third and ten, a 13 yard gain. Next play..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/2R.jpg
.. and we leave Harrison open. 7-0 Rutgers, 24 yard strike.

Barnett picked up 16 on three carries, then Ponder throws to Duplessis who makes some good moves and gets the first down but fumbles the ball and Rutgers recovers. Rutgers would stall and Te misses another field goal, from 48 yards, wide left.

Final two plays of quarter 1: Ponder hits Fortson for a 28 yard gain and Barnett runs for 9.

2ND QUARTER

Ponder got the first on the ground with a 5 yard gain, then fired to Chandler Davis for a 24 yard strike putting Tulane at the three.. next play...

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/3R.jpg
.. Ponder finds senior WR/TE Taylor Echols for his 1st career TD. 7-7.

We hold Rutgers next time out and they punt for a touchback. But we would punt too. And then they would again after failing to gain ten yards from their own 4 yard line. We had good field position after a return to the 42 of Rutgers. Barnett got 14, Ponder ran a draw for 12, Barnett lost three, then Barnett..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/4R.jpg
.. goes untouched for a 19 yard TD with prime blocking. 14-7 TULANE.

We'd sack Savage twice (both by Devin Williams) and Rutgers would punt and we'd run out the clock.

3RD QUARTER

We start from our own 23, Ponder hits Duplessis for 19, Barnett gets 8, Duplessis gains 16 through the air again. We're going now, just until Ponder and Barnett's option is fumbled and Rutgers recovers. Rutgers would punt for a touchback.

We would then put on a third-quarter ending drive. Barnett caught a 9 yard pass. Then ran for 3 and 1. Then Davis gets 13 through the air. Barnett runs for 2, Ponder to Fortson for 10, Barnett gets 3, Ponder gets 1, then an incomplete pass. Fourth down and we gamble and go for it. Ponder finds no one open and goes up the gut for a 14 yard gain breaking a tackle. Barnett got five and then Harrison makes a 3 yard gain on a tipped pass.

4TH QUARTER

And our drive would continue, Barnett got three. From the thirteen, Ponder steps back.. throws to the endzone..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/5R.jpg
.. caught by D.J. Banks! 13 yard strike! 21-7 TULANE. Rutgers would take less than a minute to do this..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/6R.jpg
.. throw for a 20 yard TD. 21-14 Tulane.

We would chew up the clock again. Barnett got 1, Ponder got 11, Barnett lost four, Ponder hit Banks for 6, then Davis for 27, Barnett got 3, Duplessis got three. Then an incomplete pass and Ubekista kicks a 40 yard field goal. 24-14.

But here came Rutgers again. Thanks to a PI call, they were down in our territory in no time. After gaining 51 yards from starting at our 36, they'd look to go to the endzone..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/7R.jpg
.. but Williams gets his 3rd sack of the day, Savage would get hurt and fumble it but Rutgers would recover. In comes Raymond Howard. Howard hits Brooks on a 18 yard screen pass and that'd be a first down. Brooks got two to get to our one.. then Howard..

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/8R.jpg
.. would run it in himself. 24-21 Tulane. 1:45 left. They'd go for the onside and would not get it. They have all three timeouts left however.

Barnett gets the first down after two carries of 7 yards and gets three for the first. Three more runs but only for six yards. Field goal from 40 yards out is good with :08 to play. 27-21 Tulane.

Rutgers gets the ball with four seconds left at our 41. Savage was back after getting the wind knocked out of him, and it was hail mary time..










http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/9R.jpg
.. and JJ Black seals the game with the INT.

FINAL SCORE: 27-21 TULANE

Well, the experts knew something, we were favored to beat a ranked team at home, College GameDay was behind us and so where the fans. This team played great despite the fumbles. What if Rutgers hadn't missed those field goals in the first quarter? Ubekista's kick would have been a game tying one. But we wouldn't have been pounding the ball then anyways. But it doesn't matter, we won, we're 1-0 and we've got confidence.

PLAYER STATS

D.J. Ponder: 180.2 QB Rating, 17-for-22 passing, 215 yards, 2 TD, INT, 57 rush yards
Stephen Barnett: 30 carries, 143 yards, TD, 9 rec yards
Antoine Duplessis: 7 rush yards, 45 rec yards
D.J. Banks: 2 catches, 19 yards, TD / Taylor Echols: TD catch
Jarmon Fortson: 3 catches, 38 yards / George Harrison: 2 rec, 20 yards
Devin Williams: 9 tackles (5 TFL), 3 Sacks, FF
Darryl Farley: 9 tackles
Cedric Wilson: 6 tackles (TFL)
Emanuel Eluko: 6 tackles (3 TFL)
Harry CiGar: 4 tackles (TFL)
JJ Black: 3 tackles, INT
Sammy Boudreaux: 3 tackles
Samuel Brooks: 3 tackles
Gregory Hallinsworth: 2 tackles
Tinzen Ubekista: 2/2 FG, 3/3 XP, 1 punt, 42 yards

RUTGERS: Tom Savage 12/20 passing, 175 yards, 2 TD, INT / Brent Parker (yes, that guy, FS): 12 tackles / Manny Abreu: 12 tackles, INT / Lance Payne: 7 tackles, TFL

UP NEXT: Week One Around the NCAA

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png

WEEK ONE AROUND THE NCAA

And welcome to the 2011 college football season. About half the NCAA doesn't play this week.


C-USA SCORES

North Texas 19, Southern Miss 9 .. DeAndre Brown was held to six yards receiving. The sleeper team is still jamming out with MC Hammer.

Memphis 41, Mid Tenn State 28 .. Beyah caught 11 passes for 163 yards and a pair of TD's.

Kansas 16, UTEP 13 ... UTEP only put up 186 offensive yards and had less than a yard a carry.

South Carolina 30, ECU 3 ... Rio Johnson threw 2 picks and fumbled it once.

UCLA 15, Houston 0 ... QB Problems: Hollingshead 9/20, 94 yds, Guidry: 6/13, 121 yards, 2 INT.

#1 Oklahoma 40, Tulsa 7 ... The 'stache attack threw for 439 yards and 3 TD'. G.J. Kinne's 3-yard TD run was Tulsa's lone score.

#8 Texas 49, Rice 23 ... Rice put up a fight in the first half, taking a 17-14 lead on the Longhorns until Cody Johnson had a 3 yard TD run to end the half and then the Longhorns ran up the score with 3 4th-quarter TD PASSES.


OTHER SCORES

Friday Night Kickoff: Buffalo 28, UConn 10

Two Ranked teams last year: Northwestern 20, USF 13

PITT 31, #10 Iowa 21

#22 TCU 34, Baylor 31

#3 Ohio State 38, Akron 7 [Buckeyes took first lead, 9-7 with 0:54 left in 2nd quarter]

BYU 25, #19 Washington 24


TOP 25 UPDATE: Tulane up to 29th with 41 votes.


UP NEXT: Navy preview and who is out for 7 weeks on Tulane that I forgot about??

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png

From the clipboard: Safety Samuel Brooks out for seven weeks



NEW ORLEANS -- Samuel Brooks left the Rutgers game in the fourth quarter with "chest pains", all it seemed like was a bruised rib or a small chest injury, instead it's an abdominal tear. Brooks is expected to miss 7 weeks, which would possibly make his return to the football field against ECU on Friday, October 28th.


Erik Madison slides into Brooks' starting spot at FS, which moves Shakiel Smith up to no. 3 CB and moves Smith off of the return game and puts Jordan Sullen into the no. 2 kick return spot. Madison, a true freshman four-star recruit had just one tackle in his opening game, but said he's ready to fill in as a starter.


Echols finally breaks through


Taylor Echols reached the endzone for the first time in his Tulane career last Saturday against Rutgers. The fifth year 6'2" senior who has only recorded 2 catches for 41 yards previously made his first TD grab of three yards as Tulane's no. 3 TE.


"I don't think I was the go-to guy on the play, really, I beat out the guys who were on me to the corner of the endzone and Ponder through a perfect pass. It was really cool to score my first TD in my final opening game of the season as a Green Wave. It took awhile for it to happen, but I'm glad it finally did. Now to work on the second TD.", said Echols.

2011, Game 2


http://boudicca.mu.nu/archives/navygoat350.jpg


Navy Midshipmen (0-0, Independent)


Date: September 3rd


Time: 8:00pm


Stadium: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana


The Line: Tulane by 15


Coverage: CBS College Sports


KEYS TO THE GAME:

NAVY - Slow down D.J. Ponder's 77% completion rating, protect the ball

TULANE - Watch the option pass, watch Alex Teich (FB), and DON'T LOOK AHEAD


Naval Academy Starting Lineup

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png
The NCAA (Around it), week 2

Iowa and Washington lost as half the NCAA played and half didn't. Blah.

C-USA SCORES
Arkansas State 37, Memphis 27 - Arkansas state scored 17 points in the final five minutes after trailing 27-20.
#2 Florida 44, UAB 14 - The Blazers Actually held a 7-3 lead in the 1st and only trailed 21-14 at the half. Bolden ran for 124 yards and 3 TD's.
ECU 37, Southeastern School College of the Mimes 9 - Mime school led 9-6 at the half. Oh pfft, ECU. The Mimes' kicker booted FGs from 47, 42 and 48. Rio Johnson threw 3 2nd-half TD's.
Tulsa 17, Troy 10 - Singleton's 93 yard return of a Gurerrero pass led Tulsa to a narrow victory
Marshall 27, Ohio 24 - Bates had 3 TD's, all in the second half.
Baylor 17, SMU 16 - R-Griff's 33 yard TD pass in the 4th with 2:20 left led Baylor to a win.
#15 LSU 27, Houston 14 - Houston had it and lost it. They had a 14-10 4th quarter lead and Russell Shepard throws 2 TD's. Hollingshead did not throw an INT.
Purdue 28, Rice 20 - Purdue scored a TD with :36 left and then went for two for some reason and got it. Purdue trailed 17-7 early.
#8 Texas 38, UCF 21 - So close but yet, so far. Chris Rainey had a TD run, and Collier had 2 TD's but Texas outscored UCF 24-7 in the second half.

NCAA SCORES
Duke 28, #18 Virginia Tech 19 [laugh]
#3 Ohio State 35, Tennessee 24 (at UT) [Pryor: 10/17, 164 yards, 3 TD | Berry: 116 rush yards, TD]
#7 Georgia Tech 30, #11 North Carolina 3
#9 Notre Dame 27, Michigan 19 [ND outscored Michigan 21-3 in the fourth quarter.. Dayne Crist throws two TD's in final three minutes]
#12 Boise State 28, #24 Utah 10
#14 Oregon State 28, #10 Wisconsin 16
Texas Tech 38, #20 TCU 26 [TCU's 15-game winning streak snapped as 2010 national champions upset]

College GameDay headed for Columbus, Tulane at #3 Ohio State game of the week, yes seriously.

TOP 25 UPDATE: Top 9 unchanged, Oregon State up to 10th. PITT, Oregon and Colorado all join the poll. Tulane up to 27th.

UP NEXT: Ohio State game preview

2011, Game 3


http://www.richardgonnella.com/sport...s/osu_logo.jpg


at #3 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)


Date: September 10th


Time: 3:30pm


Stadium: Ohio Stadium, "The Horseshoe", Columbus, Ohio


The Line: Ohio State by 9


Coverage: ABC


KEYS TO THE GAME:

OHIO STATE - Get going early, make Tulane turn the ball over

TULANE - Find Ohio State's weaknesses, be aggressive


Ohio State starting lineup



http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...ameday.600.gif

College GameDay


Chris: And now on to the game right here in the Horseshoe, the fiesty Green Wave from New Orleans, Tulane comes in with their 2-0 record and Ohio State has a 2-0 record as well. Tulane is upset-minded and Ohio State is a 9-point favorite and many people think that that's way too low because they don't see what everyone else sees in Tulane. The fan vote is a very high 94 percent for Ohio State. What do you think about the game, Desmond?



Desmond: Well, Chris, I think Tulane is out to prove themselves, they want to be the premier team in the state of Louisiana, and they want to break the top 25. Can they beat Ohio State? I think they can. Will they? No. But I do think they'll keep it close, closer than the 9-point spread but I like the Buckeyes.


Kirk: The key for me in this game is if Tulane can come into a hostile 105,000+ fan environment and win. They've played in Death Valley but they haven't won. This team is good, Ron Draggo is one of the most suprising coaches to come out of nowhere and he's a great one at that. However, I don't see the Green Wave coming out of here with a win, I like the Buckeyes by a touchdown.


Lee: Well, Kirk, you might be right! But first, let's get the Herbstreit kids up here! How can I pick against the Herbstreit kids? Look at them! How can I pick against these guys? But Tulane.. I can't pick them! The Buckeyes are going to flood the Green Wave right out of Columbus! Go Buckeyes! [lots of cheers]


http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._5769518_n.jpg



UP NEXT: Tulane at #3 Ohio State

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ANNERnew-1.png

[#27] Tulane (2-0) at #3 Ohio State (2-0)


COLUMBUS, OHIO --- The first of this two-game series, next year, the Bucks come to New Orleans, but this year, Tulane heads to the Horseshoe. If Tulane pulls this one of, they become BCS-hopefuls and could jump well into top 25. If Ohio State wins, they take the dirt off their shoulders and get Miami (FL) next week. The Buckeyes play Tennessee, Tulane and Miami in three straight weeks. The Buckeyes out to prove something. So is Tulane. Let's go.


1ST QUARTER


Perfect weather, mid-60s, and sunny, no rain. We win the toss and defer.


The Buckeyes first drive was too easy for them. Way too easy. People in the stands thought, "HA! Tulane??" Jamaal Berry ran for a gain of 18, then broke a run of 39 and then found the endzone on the Bucks' 3rd play on a 3 yard score. Oh jeez. 7-0 Ohio State.


Tulane didn't let down though. Richardson got seven on two carries, then Ponder hits Fortson for 15, then for 13, Richardson then breaks through the Buckeyes with a 24 yard run, McDonald pounds ahead for two, Ponder hits Fortson for a third time already for 8 more, and then Richardson..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/O1.jpg

.. pounds it in for a 6 yard TD. 7-7.


The rest of the 1st quarter: Ohio State punt, Ubekista misses a 54 yard field goal off the right upright, Ohio State gets a first down, not another, Richardson runs for 22, Ponder loses 2, Richardson gets it back, then catches a pass for a 10 yard gain. First down.


2ND QUARTER


We ride the running train down the field inside the three, then a play action pass fools the Buckeyes..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/O2.jpg

.. and Jarmon Forston gets the 2 yard TD from Ponder. 14-7 TULANE. But here comes Ohio State. FB Jermil Martin gets 16 (RB/FB actually in real life), Berry gets 19, Pryor hits Posey for 21, but he goes down (Posey) and would not return. Didn't matter though..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/O3.jpg

.. as Jake Stoneburner makes this 22 yard TD grab. 14-14. But here comes Tulane. Richardson gets 7 on two carries, Duplessis gets a 14 yard gain on a pass from Ponder. Then Richardson gets 11 from Ponder. 6 more yards on the ground. Third down, to Fortson for 19. Banks for 9. Richardson gets one, to the four yard line. Endzone....


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/O4.jpg

.. and D.J. Banks with the TD catch. 21-14 Tulane, 1:15 left. On the Bucks second play out, Darryl Farley recovers a fumble. Uh oh, Ohio State. Ubekista kicks a 39 yard field goal to end the half..


.. but it's off the right upright, again. Damn. Halftime.


3RD QUARTER


Tulane moves down the field and punts for a touchback. Ohio State would punt. Then we would again. Ohio State returns the favor and punts. We drive down the field, stall AGAIN in Buckeye territory, touchback. Pryor then hits Duron Carter, who breaks through the Tulane defense, and speeds past everyone for a 67 yard TD. Well shitcakes. 21-21. Two incomplete passes for Tulane and a 12 yard pass to Fortson ends the quarter.


4TH QUARTER


Ponder hits Figaro for 11. Then Banks for 22. Richardson gets eight. Dan Thomas checks in and gets 8, but he left the game and would not return. Richardson gets 1. Third down. Pass to McDonald who drops the sure TD. 24 yard field goal is good. 24-21 TULANE.


Here comes Ohio State. A great return by Travis Howard puts Ohio State in Tulane territory. Berry gets two. Pryor to Jackson for 24, and then Stoneburner gets his 2nd TD of the day. 16 yards. Buckeyes lead it 28-24.


0 yards for Richardson. Incomplete pass. Third and ten from our own 27. Ponder flushed out of the pocket and takes off up the right hashmark for a 16 yard gain. Richardson gets three, Duplessis gets the first. McDonald for two. Handoff to Richardson.. AND HE'S GOT OPEN FIELD.. FOURTY, THIRTY, TWENTY-FIVE, TWENTY down inside the 15 yard line!! A 35 yard run! Incomplete pass. Richardson doesn't get a yard. Third and ten. Judgment down right here. Ponder throws and it's caught by Figaro who fights and gets the first down to the one-yard line!! Next play..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/O5.jpg

.. and Donny Richardson takes it in!! 31-28 Tulane!! 1:50 left to go!


Kick returned to the 41. Pryor steps back to throw...

Spoiler: show

.. to Duron Carter..







http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/O6.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/O7.jpg


OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGGGG


HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!! 38-28 TULANE!! DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES??????

Holy shit. Tulane stuns the Horseshoe and has a 10-point lead with 1:35 to go! Ballgame, right? Right? Right?


Wrong.


Terrelle Pryor comes out of nowhere and he's furious and hits Duron Carter for gains of 29 and 36. Next play..


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/O8.jpg

.. Pryor hits Berry for a TD. Buckeyes keep all three of their timeouts. 38-35 Tulane. 1:11 left. Hold everything. Onside kick recovered by George Harrison. We gotta get a first down. Richardson loses 3, timeout, Richardson loses 2, timeout. Shit.


3rd and 15. 1:00 left. Now we have to pass. Ponder to Davis, well short of the first down. Timeout. 4th & 8. Draggo keeps his offense on the field. Fourth and game, fourth and miracle, fourth and risktaking, fourth and Buckeyes need a stop. Eight yards. All they need.


Ponder in the shotgun. Buckeyes bring the blitz with three guys. Ponder rolls right.. throws..

Spoiler: show

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nDragon/O9.jpg


CAUGHT BY JARMON FORTSON FOR A TWELVE YARD GAIN. THERE ARE NO FLAGS ON THE FIELD. TULANE WILL STUN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL WORLD AND BEAT THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES!!!!!! Do you BELIEVE in miracles???

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...Dragon/O10.jpg


Ballgame. Upset city.


FINAL SCORE: TULANE 38-35


Oh yes. Tulane, your the best around, no one ever gonna keep you down. Let's just not lose to SMU next week. Why did we go for it at the end of the game? It was a: make the field goal, kick it to the Buckeyes great returners, b: miss the field goal, Bucks only need 3 to tie and a TD wins it with a short field, c: grow some balls and go for it and win it on fourth down.


Which option worked? C.


PLAYER STATS

D.J. Ponder: 137.5 QB rating, 25-for-38 passing, 246 yards, 2 TD, 40 rush yards

Donny Richardson: 30 carries, 158 yards, 2 TD, 20 rec yards

Jarmon Fortson: 9 rec, 88 yards, TD / D.J. Banks: 4 rec, 50 yards, TD

Devin Figaro: 3 rec, 36 yards / George Harrison: 2 rec, 17 yards, 2 drops (big hits), 3 pancakes

Erik Madison: 9 tackles

Darryl Farley: 8 tackles, 2 TFL, FF, FR

Kristifer Rhymes: 5 tackles, TFL, INT, Def TD

Devin Williams: 4 tackles, TFL

Cedric Wilson: 4 tackles, 2 TFL

Gregory Hallinsworth: 2 tackles

JJ Black: 2 tackles

Harry CiGar: Tackle


OHIO STATE: Pryor 16/21 passing, 280 yards, 4 TD, INT / Berry: 100 rush yards, TD, Rec TD / Duron Carter: 4 rec, 145 yards, TD (80 YAC) / Jake Stoneburner: 4 rec, 54 yards, 2 TD


UP NEXT: Week 3 A.t.N

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44.../NCAA/ncaa.png

AROUND THE NCAA, WEEK 3

C-USA SCORES

UCF 30, FIU 10 [Chris Rainey 174 rush yards / Collier: 10 rec, 150 yards, 2 TD]

SMU 52, I've run of names for these teams 7 [Smith 20/29, 297 yards, 4 TD, rush TD | Lunday: 100 rush yards, TD]

Marshall 28, UAB 9

#4 'Bama 38, Memphis 10 [Bama 21-0 1st q. lead]

Houston 48, FCS Crap 13 [Johnson 34 rush, 180 yards, 3 TD / Carrier: 9 rec, 132 yards, 2 TD]

ECU 21, #17 North Carolina 9 [Rio Johnson 2 TD passes]

Virginia 25, Southern Miss 10

Baylor 38, Rice 28 [R-Griff: 24/36, 300 yards, 4 TD]

Tulsa 20, Oklahoma State 14 [Singleton gets another pick six]


NCAA SCORES

#16 Wisky 26, Eastern Kentucky 16

#9 Notre Dame 30, Michigan State 23 OT [Game was 10-3 entering the fourth]

Buffalo 39, #23 PITT 27 [Buffalo off to a 3-0 start, PITT had a TD with :03 left]

USF 20, #14 Florida State 10

#21 Cal 27, #25 Colorado 14

South Carolina 24, #15 UGA 19

Washington 26, #5 Nebraska 21 [Washington's Fouch scores a 1 yard TD run with 1:13 left]


TOP 25

1. Oklahoma(39)

2. Florida(21)

3. 'Bama(1)

4. WVU

5. Georgia Tech

6. Texas

7. Notre Dame

8. Oregon State

9. Boise State

10. USC

11. Ohio State

12. LSU

13. Nebraska

14. Wisconsin

15. aTm

16. Miami (FL)

17. Iowa

18. California

19. Northwestern

20. TULANE (#14 AP)

21. Washington

22. Florida State

23. Oregon

24. NC State

25. USF


INJURY UPDATE: Samuel Brooks 5-6 weeks, Stephen Barnett 1-2 weeks


UP NEXT: SMU game preview

2011, Game 4 (C-USA opener)

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/spor...SMU%20logo.jpg

SMU Mustangs (1-1, 0-0 C-USA)

Date: September 17th

Time: 3:30pm

Stadium: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas

The Line: Tulane by 20

Coverage: ESPNU

Keys to the Game
Tulane: Don't be overconfident, don't overthink, don't make mistakes
SMU: Surprise Tulane, take risks, slow down the run

SMU Mustangs Starting Lineup