NCAA 2011 Road To Glory - Nicholas Thomas (Houston)

[MacroGuru]

Funny, I didn't think I would be doing this. My brother kept his diary (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=41186) on his trials and everything with how he went from High School to big time Division 1 football at Georgia and being one of the top linebackers in the nation.

I have some big shoes to fill there, yet not a person knows this.

I remember sitting in the stands watching my brothers games at Georgia and hearing everyone talk about how he was going to be on the best linebackers ever. He was, I was awestruck by it all and was following his footsteps the entire way.

Then it happened, our move to Clarence, New York. It shocked the family, it shocked us. But most of all, it rocked my football foundations. I was enrolled at Timpview back in Utah, they had won four straight State Championships, had barely lost this past year in the game to make it five.

Now I am attending Clarence High School, a Red Devil to beat and I have probably played the best football of my life and we are in the state playoffs yet my phone isn't ringing, I have had some minor interest but nothing like we experienced with Avery. It could be the fact I haven't attended any camps. They just weren't my thing.

We draw Middletown for the first round of the state playoff.


OOC: I had NCAA 2011 generate the names for my players just to have a little touch.

[MacroGuru]

Well not a bad start for the first round of the state playoffs. We squeak this one out 25 - 14

I come out of it rated as a one star potential recruit.

My stats for the game were


4 Tackles
2 Tackles for Loss
1 Sack


The weird thing were the amount of phone calls my dad and coach received after the game. Looks like some of the coaches were in the stands for the game.

New Mexico State
San Diego State
Marshall
Arkansas State
Baylor
Louisiana Tech

We took names, returned calls and the recruiting process for me is now in full swing. This is definitely what I remember happening for Avery.

[MacroGuru]

Heading into the Quarterfinals against Central Islip we hold them to a shut out.

I have an amazing game but only rate out as a two start.

My stats for the game:


11 Tackles
2 Tackles for Loss
1 Sack
1 Fumble Return for TD (55 yards)


The list grows and we have some top ranked teams calling us now:

#20 Arkansas
#25 Houston
California
Northern Illinois
Indiana
Western Michigan

Right now I am liking what I am hearing and so is my dad.

[MacroGuru]

Our semi-final game against Albany. I have turned into a leader on the team and the guys are listening to me and my instinct on the field.

We hold our second shutout of the state championships as we cruise to a 48 - 0 win.

I rate out as a two star recruit again. My stats:


3 Tackles


My intangibles this past game helped me. I am on Kickoffs, Kick Returns, Punt, Punt Returns. I shut down any receivers coming into the zone, hurried the QB into throwing an interception and I had quite a few decleaters on my blocks.

The schools took notice as well

Washington
UL Monroe
Wake Forest
Troy
Arkansas State
Illinois

Arkansas State is the first school showing some heated interest in me with being at two of the games and they notified dad they are really wanting me there.

[MacroGuru]

Wow, we have made it to the state championship game. We are playing in the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University.

I thought being in the stands for the SEC games were pretty intense, but being out on the field at a major university and walking onto it is pretty amazing. I don't know if I could describe it.

We play Syosset and it was a rough game. All defense in fact and I was exposed and I think my nerves got the better part of me here. I still played well, but I had a few blown coverages.

We end up winning the state championship 10-3, losing our shutout because of a blown coverage on my end. However our touchdown came as a result of me crushing their running back on their ten yard line and forcing the fumble.

The biggest aspect of this game was our goal line stand as time expired to keep them from sending the game into overtime.

I rated out as a four star recruit after the game.

My stats for this game:


7 Tackles
2 Tackles for Loss
1 Forced Fumble


The schools that we heard from after the game were pretty intriguing

#21 Florida State
#25 Houston
#8 TCU
#19 Oregon State
#16 Pittsburgh
#12 Georgia Tech

So all ranked teams visiting me and pushing for me. Houston was another team that has visited me twice, I am confused and have a lot of thought of where I want to go.

[MacroGuru]

Well, the phone has rang non stop, the emails and visits have been hectic and then my trips were pretty crazy as well.

The schools who are recruiting me and my place at their school:

New Mexico State - Starter
San Diego State - Starter
Marshall - Second String
Arkansas State - Starter
Baylor - Second String
Louisiana Tech - Starter
#20 Arkansas - Second String
#25 Houston - Starter
California - Second String
Norther Illinois - Starter
Indiana - Starter
Western Michigan - Starter
Washington - Second String
UL Monroe - Starter
Wake Forest - Starter
Troy - Starter
Illinois - Second String
#21 Florida State - Second String
#8 TCU - Third String
#19 Oregon State - Second String
#16 Pittsburgh - Third String
#12 Georgia Tech - Third String

My five official campus visits were to Florida State, TCU, Oregon State, Houston and Arkansas State.

I took some unofficial visits with my dad to California, Washington, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech and Indiana.

Some great schools with great history and prospects were there. I wanted to start, I know I can help a team win, but I also wanted to play for a chance to win something. Houston fit the mold and they showed the most interest in me out of all the schools. I know, weird choice but it fits me.

[MacroGuru]

I arrive at campus and I am informed immediately my favorite number 20 isn't available but thinking about where I am at on the defensive side of the ball and a linebacker to boot, I take the best linebacker number available to me, 52.

Our team is picked to place 1st in CUSA West and our QB Claude Gray is pegged out of the gates as a Heisman hopeful.

I strap it up for our first week of practice..

[MacroGuru]

Practices building up to this game were pretty intense for me, I want to do well starting out. I want to show that the weak spot for Houston is actually one of their strengths.

We are playing against an FCS School, a great way to cut my teeth on division 1 football.

I thought the game was faster during practice, with the first snap here it was actually faster. I ended up getting a tackle on the first series and they go deep on us for a TD.

From then on, we controlled and dominated the game. I racked up a second tackle. Texas State kept me away from the line of scrimmage and blitzing by spreading us out. I was forced into coverage more than I like. I was exposed initially during the second series until we forced the punt.

I was then in lock down the rest of the game forcing their QB to go away from the TE, WR or RB I was covering.

We win this one 45 - 6

My stats for the game were 2 Tackles and 1 Pass Deflection.

[MacroGuru]

I know coach has asked us to ignore the polls but it has always been something I have had interest in, and I am watching it. I apologize for not recording the preseason polls.

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Boise
4. Texas
5. Oregon
6. Florida
7. TCU
8. Nebraska
9. Iowa
10. Wisconsin
11. Georgia Tech
12. USC
13. Miami
14. Virginia Tech
15. Oklahoma
16. Penn State
17. North Carolina
18. Arkansas
19. Utah
20. Florida State
21. Pittsburgh
22. LSU
23. Houston
24. Oregon State
25. West Virginia

We moved up two spots with our win over Texas State.

[MacroGuru]

Another home game, this time against CUSA opponent UTEP. An instate rival, we are equals in all areas right now although they have a higher offensive output yardage wise than we do.

I go into the game pretty confident thinking I can handle this squad. Boy was I wrong.

They manhandled me pretty much the entire game. It doesn't help that they spread me out and turned me into a CB basically. I was torched over the top twice, and taken away from the run game most of the time because of it.

We ended up posting the win and shutout 27 - 0 but our FS saved us on one drive, getting the pick at our 5 yard line.

My stats for the game were 2 Tackles, 1 Tackle for a loss.

I actually left the game frustrated, I can produce better than I have been.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. Texas
4. Oregon
5. Florida
6. TCU
7. Nebraska
8. Wisconsin
9. Ohio State
10. Miami
11. Georgia Tech
12. USC
13. Virginia Tech
14. North Carolina
15. Florida State
16. Arkansas
17. Utah
18. Iowa
19. Penn State
20. Pittsburgh
21. Oklahoma
22. Houston
23. West Virginia
24. Oregon State
25. Fresno State

Ohio State loses to Miami, Oregon State loses as well. We need a convincing win to move us up...undefeated I don't think we move into the top 5 unless we dominate.

[chesapeake]

Yay, Houston! My father-in-law started for them as a juco transfer in the '60s. Good luck with your dynasty. I'll be following along.

[MacroGuru]

Yay, Houston! My father-in-law started for them as a juco transfer in the '60s. Good luck with your dynasty. I'll be following along.

Awesome thanks! I took Houston because they were the only ranked team that visited me twice and told me I would be a starter.

[MacroGuru]

My first away game and it is one of the most storied places to play, The Rose Bowl. That's right we are heading out to play UCLA.

The game is a slugfest to start and I am going to have to say the coaches see something in me regarding to coverage because they have me out in it a lot.

We end up grinding it out and then opening it up and winning the game 35 - 7.

My stats for the game were 3 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss and 1 sack.

The sack was a blitz from the outside were I shook off the tackle and caught the QB as he slid up into the pocket.

The tackle for loss was me reading a screen play and working under a block and getting to the running back in behind the line of scrimmage.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. Texas
4. Oregon
5. TCU
6. Wisconsin
7. Ohio State
8. Miami
9. Georgia Tech
10. USC
11. Virginia Tech
12. Florida State
13. Arkansas
14. Nebraska
15. Utah
16. Florida
17. Iowa
18. Penn State
19. North Carolina
20. Pittsburgh
21. Oklahoma
22. Houston
23. West Virginia
24. Washington
25. Fresno State

Washington pops into the Top 25 and we dominate UCLA and don't budge...this is not going to be a fun season if we can't move up.

[MacroGuru]

We face one of the worst teams in CUSA and probably the season this week. Coach has pulled me aside knowing I am frustrated with the coverage only schemes for me. He built me up a bit saying they trust me in coverage and that's why they are calling them.

Tulane attacked me this game in the air and on the ground. I was able to shake a lot of the blocks and make some tackles.

We won, but not by what we needed to. Final was 21 - 7.

My stats for the game were 5 tackles. The blitzes that were called for me, Tulane generally went with the audible and ran away from me.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. Texas
4. Oregon
5. Wisconsin
6. Ohio State
7. Miami
8. Georgia Tech
9. USC
10. Virginia Tech
11. Florida State
12. Nebraska
13. Utah
14. Florida
15. Iowa
16. Arkansas
17. Penn State
18. North Carolina
19. Oklahoma
20. TCU
21. West Virginia
22. Houston
23. Washington
24. Fresno State
25. Pittsburgh

TCU ends up losing to TCU and Gary Patterson has to be fuming in Ft. Worth. Honestly, I never realized how big football was in Texas until I arrived here.

[MacroGuru]

If you are following along and want to know any other news...just ask and I will let you know.

[BYU 14]

Some updates on BYU here and there :)

Of course I am disappointed they didn't recruit you!

[MacroGuru]

Some updates on BYU here and there :)

Of course I am disappointed they didn't recruit you!

I will post something here either today before I fly out or when I get back on Thurs AM. I have to fly into Utah for a dumb 1 day training for work.

[MacroGuru]

We have the week off and were told to focus on school and our playbook and be ready for Mississippi State next week.

It was a brutal week for us at practice and school.

I finally took some time to look at a few schools during the week....I wanted BYU to recruit me, they didn't push to hard and I was only in line to walk on and be a 3rd stringer at linebacker.

They sit at 2-3 with wins over AF and USU.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. OSU
4. Miami
5. Georgia Tech
6. Virginia Tech
7. Florida State
8. Texas
9. Nebraska
10. Utah
11. Oregon
12. Iowa
13. Wisconsin
14. Arkansas
15. Oklahoma
16. USC
17. North Carolina
18. Stanford
19. Washington
20. Florida
21. West Virginia
22. Houston
23. Michigan State
24. Fresno
25. Penn State


I think the shocker here is TCU dropping out...losing two weeks in a row..this week to CSU kills them and they are out of the hunt of a bowl.

[MacroGuru]

Wow...SEC football from the field level is much different. Way different than the stands. This place was loud, but it really didn't effect us on defense.

I was way nervous for the game and watching the game film the next day you could tell. I was manhandled all game long and didn't do to much. I need to improve my play. It's a good thing they weren't leaning on me or we would have lost.

We end up taking the win at Mississippi State 21 - 14.

My stats for the game were 1 Tackle, 1 Tackle for Loss.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Miami
3. Boise
4. Georgia Tech
5. OSU
6. Texas
7. Nebraska
8. Iowa
9. Florida State
10. Washington
11. Oklahoma
12. USC
13. Virginia Tech
14. West Virginia
15. Utah
16. Florida
17. Houston
18. Central Michigan
19. Notre Dame
20. Fresno
21. Oklahoma State
22. Arkansas
23. Clemson
24. Stanford
25. Missouri

We see Central Michigan, Missouri and Clemson all join the top 25 this week.

[MacroGuru]

Another one of our three rivals, we head to Rice and are picked to win. They give us a little run for our money at the start.

Teams are starting to run away from me, double team me on blocks and spread me out to coverage to keep me away from the plays.

We take Rice easily on this one, 38-14, and I contributed with a 37 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown!

My stats 1 Tackle, 37 yd fumble return TD

[MacroGuru]

1. Miami
2. Georgia Tech
3. Boise
4. Texas
5. OSU
6. Washington
7. Florida State
8. Alabama
9. West Virginia
10. Oklahoma
11. USC
12. Virginia Tech
13. Notre Dame
14. Nebraska
15. Utah
16. Houston
17. Central Michigan
18. Oklahoma State
19. Iowa
20. Mississippi
21. Fresno
22. Michigan
23. Missouri
24. Arkansas
25. Clemson

We had a major top 25 shakeup this week. Alabama drops to 8 with a loss against Ole Miss while Washington jumps to 6 with wins over Nebraska and USC.

[MacroGuru]

We travel to play SMU. We had talks this week of bringing me up to the line of scrimmage more and that SMU will probably try to run at me.

I was excited and performed quite well at practice this week. Coach was going to take the leash off.

We were concerned with SMU as they managed to knock off TCU earlier this season. But going into the game their QB could not do much and we held them to 10 points. We ended up winning the game 24 - 10.

Turned into one of my better games this year.

5 Tackles, 3 Tackles for Loss and 3 Sacks.

[MacroGuru]

1. Miami
2. Georgia Tech
3. Washington
4. Boise
5. Texas
6. OSU
7. West Virginia
8. Florida State
9. Alabama
10. Notre Dame
11. Oklahoma
12. USC
13. Nebraska
14. Houston
15. Utah
16. Central Michigan
17. Iowa
18. Fresno
19. Michigan
20. Arkansas
21. Oklahoma St.
22. Stanford
23. Mississippi
24. Mississippi St.
25. Penn State

[MacroGuru]

Another away game. This time to Memphis where I have family that get to see me play. My aunt and uncle live in Memphis and they will be coming and watching the game. Hopefully we are able to pull the win out and I can make some plays.

Memphis gave us a run for our money. They were up for the game and we didn't know what to do. It was a tough game and took some 4th qtr heroics on our part to win this game.

We end up pulling out the win 24 - 21.

My stats for the game were 3 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss.

[MacroGuru]

1. Washington
2. Miami
3. Georgia Tech
4. Boise
5. Notre Dame
6. OSU
7. Florida State
8. Alabama
9. Oklahoma
10. USC
11. Houston
12. Nebraska
13. Utah
14. Central Michigan
15. Fresno
16. Texas
17. Iowa
18. West Virginia
19. Arkansas
20. Oklahoma St.
21. Penn St
22. Nevada
23. Michigan
24. Clemson
25. Stanford

And the shocker has happened. Washington takes the #1 spot with Miami at #2. Boise is a victim of their WAC schedule. Looking at us we are a victim of our schedule as well, the big name win for us was Miss St.

I do like seeing some of the traditional programs pick it up here this season.

[MacroGuru]

We are set to play UCF this week. It's a bend but don't break weak. We are starting to see hurry up offenses to keep us in disarray and it is working on me.

There is a certain theme here lately to what our offense can drum up in points. We still manage the win, 24 - 11. We need to score more than 24 to make ourselves look good to the voters.

My stats for the game: 2 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss, 1 Sack

[MacroGuru]

1. Washington
2. Notre Dame
3. Georgia Tech
4. Boise
5. OSU
6. Alabama
7. FSU
8. Oklahoma
9. Houston
10. USC
11. Miami
12. Nebraska
13. Central Michigan
14. Utah
15. Fresno
16. Texas
17. Iowa
18. West Virginia
19. Arkansas
20. Oklahoma St.
21. Nevada
22. Penn St.
23. Maryland
24. Michigan
25. Clemson

And we finally crack the top 10. Our schedule is still holding us back but the wins shouldn't.

[MacroGuru]

Another fast paced, spread out the defense type team. They also sit as one of our three rivals.

We control the game from the 2nd qtr on, I say that because Tulsa caught us napping and marched down the field and scored on their first possession.

Again, taking me out into space sucks and combine that with running away from me doesn't give me very many chances to show what I can do.

We end up winning 41 - 7.

My stats for the game: 3 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss.

[MacroGuru]

1. Washington
2. Boise
3. Alabama
4. Houston
5. Notre Dame
6. Miami
7. Georgia Tech
8. USC
9. Utah
10. Central Mich
11. Nebraska
12. OSU
13. Fresno
14. Florida State
15. Iowa
16. Oklahoma
17. Oklahoma St.
18. West Virginia
19. Arkansas
20. Penn St.
21. Texas Tech
22. Clemson
23. Maryland
24. Michigan
25. Texas

It's been weird not seeing Florida in the Top 25. But with the bowl projections out right now it's looking like we might be heading to the Rose Bowl. That will be the case if we win out. I do not know where we will go if a loss happens.

BYU is predicted to go to the Independence bowl, but that can change too.

[MacroGuru]

Another away game in Mississippi, this time against the Golden Eagles. I didn't realize that Conference USA had adopted the spread offense as the primary offense. It's pretty solid, but as a linebacker it sucks to play against. I do not get to do the things I want to. They pretty much dictate where I am going to be on the field.

A bit tougher game than we expected it to be. I end up getting my first interception of the season, which was at the Southern Miss 10 yard line and their WR promptly knocked me down as we landed.

But that is all I was able to generate in our 37 - 20 win.

[MacroGuru]

Right now we are on the cusp of an undefeated season and we are doing facing a ranked Texas Tech team at Lubbock.

What a loud and obnoxious place to play. I have picked up a new nickname playing here in Texas and a lot of the southern teams..they like to call me Yankee, because of me being from New York.

Texas Tech has an amazing QB that is in the Heismann chase right now and he will pick us apart if we are not careful.

We start the game out promptly giving up 14 points to Texas Tech and this game was going the way of a blowout, then we kicked it into gear on the defense to sway the momentum getting an INT for a TD. Then I recover a fumble on the next series and we score. We slug it out in the 4th quarter to pull off the win 26 - 21.

Now we can only hope Washington or Boise lose to get us into the National Championship.

My stats for the game: 7 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss, 1 Fumble Recovery

[MacroGuru]

I apologize for not posting the Week 12 Top 25, coach found out I wasn't focusing on schoolwork as much and clamped down on me...I had to get the GPA the past week.

1. Washington
2. Boise
3. Houston
4. Notre Dame
5. Alabama
6. Central Michigan
7. Nebraska
8. Florida State
9. Oklahoma
10. Miami
11. Georgia Tech
12. West Virginia
13. Fresno
14. Oklahoma St.
15. USC
16. Utah
17. Clemson
18. Iowa
19. Georgia
20. Arkansas
21. Missouri
22. Nevada
23. Mississippi St.
24. Penn St.
25. Michigan

New Mexico Bowl - Colorado vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - UCF vs Ole Miss
New Orleans Bowl - UAB vs Mid Tenn State
Las Vegas Bowl - Arizona vs Utah
Poinsetta Bowl - Boston College vs TCU
Hawaii Bowl - SMU vs Louisiana Tech
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Wisconsin vs Ohio
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida State vs Oregon
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs Oregon
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs Virginia Tech
Independence Bowl - BYU vs North Carolina
EagleBank Bowl - Kent State vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Clemson
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Rutgers vs Nevada
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs USC
Brut Sun Bowl - Stanford vs Maryland
Armed Forces Bowl - Southern Miss vs San Diego St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Tennessee vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Michigan State vs Texas A&M
Insight Bowl - Texas Tech vs Minnesota
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Georgia vs Miami
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Arkansas vs Penn State
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Iowa vs Houston
Fiesta Bowl - Nebraska vs West Virginia
Alamo Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Oregon St
Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Notre Dame
Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs Central Michigan
GMAC Bowl - Temple vs Texas
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Miss St. vs Oklahoma
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Indiana

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Washington

If everything pans out this season it looks like the Non-AQ's really blew the doors off this season with Boise going to the NC, we play in the Rose Bowl and Central Michigan playing in the Sugar....I don't think big brother is two happy right now.

[MacroGuru]

1. Washington
2. Boise St
3. Houston
4. Central Michigan
5. Notre Dame
6. Alabama
7. Nebraska
8. Florida State
9. Oklahoma
10. Miami
11. Georgia Tech
12. West Virginia
13. Oklahoma St.
14. Clemson
15. Iowa
16. Georgia
17. Arkansas
18. Missouri
19. Nevada
20. Mississippi St.
21. Penn St.
22. Michigan
23. Fresno State
24. Stanford
25. Wisconsin

New Mexico Bowl - Ole Miss vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - UCF vs Northern Illinois
New Orleans Bowl - UAB vs Mid Tenn State
Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon vs Utah
Poinsetta Bowl - Indiana vs TCU
Hawaii Bowl - SMU vs Kansas State
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Wisconsin vs Ohio
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida State vs Buffalo
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs Arizona
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs Virginia Tech
Independence Bowl - BYU vs North Carolina
EagleBank Bowl - Kent State vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Rutgers vs Clemson
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Boston College vs Nevada
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs Stanford
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon State vs Maryland
Armed Forces Bowl - Southern Miss vs San Diego St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Tennessee vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Michigan State vs Texas A&M
Insight Bowl - Texas Tech vs Minnesota
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Georgia vs Miami
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Penn State
Capital One Bowl - Arkansas vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Michigan vs Houston
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs West Virginia
Alamo Bowl - Oklahoma St vs USC
Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Central Michigan
Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs Notre Dame
GMAC Bowl - Temple vs Texas
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Miss St. vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Colorado

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Washington


I italicized all the projections that changed. Ours definitely did, to a storied Michigan team where I feel we have a chance...Iowa was a better fit for us, but I think we can do this.

Central Michigan is now looking like they will play in the Orange Bowl.

[MacroGuru]

1. Washington
2. Boise St
3. Houston
4. Central Michigan
5. Notre Dame
6. Alabama
7. Nebraska
8. Florida State
9. Oklahoma
10. Miami
11. Georgia Tech
12. West Virginia
13. Oklahoma St.
14. Clemson
15. Iowa
16. Georgia
17. Arkansas
18. Missouri
19. Nevada
20. Mississippi St.
21. Penn St.
22. Michigan
23. Fresno State
24. Stanford
25. Wisconsin

New Mexico Bowl - Ole Miss vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - UCF vs Northern Illinois
New Orleans Bowl - UAB vs Mid Tenn State
Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon vs Utah
Poinsetta Bowl - Colorado vs TCU
Hawaii Bowl - SMU vs Louisiana Tech
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Wisconsin vs Ohio
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida State vs Kansas St
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs Arizona
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs Virginia Tech
Independence Bowl - BYU vs North Carolina
EagleBank Bowl - Kent State vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Rutgers vs Clemson
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Boston College vs Nevada
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs Stanford
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon State vs Maryland
Armed Forces Bowl - Southern Miss vs San Diego St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Tennessee vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Michigan State vs Texas A&M
Insight Bowl - Texas Tech vs Minnesota
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Georgia vs Miami
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Penn State
Capital One Bowl - Arkansas vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Michigan vs Houston
Fiesta Bowl - Nebraska vs West Virginia
Alamo Bowl - Oklahoma St vs USC
Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Central Michigan
Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs Notre Dame
GMAC Bowl - Temple vs Texas
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Miss St. vs Oklahoma
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Colorado

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Washington

Bowls in italics have changed since last week.

We also get the invite to play in the CUSA Championship game this week against Southern Mississippi. Basically, our Rose Bowl hopes are on this game. It's a must win for us.

[MacroGuru]

Well, our road block was here and it was painting out to be that way in the first half as we slugged it out until 30 seconds left and our offense kicked it into gearing scoring a TD going in at the half.

They also came out of the half on fire and we are up promptly 14 - 0. We locked down on defense and held them to a shut out taking the win 27 - 0.

I was active all game, getting to the RB and my receiver not allowing the YAC.

My stats: 6 tackles.

[MacroGuru]

1. Washington
2. Boise St
3. Houston
4. Nebraska
5. Notre Dame
6. Alabama
7. Florida State
8. Miami
9. Clemson
10. West Virginia
11. Central Michigan
12. Oklahoma St.
13. Iowa
14. Oklahoma
15. Georgia
16. Arkansas
17. Missouri
18. Georgia Tech
19. Nevada
20. Mississippi St.
21. Penn St.
22. Michigan
23. Fresno State
24. Stanford
25. Wisconsin

New Mexico Bowl - Ole Miss vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - UCF vs Kansas St.
New Orleans Bowl - Southern Miss vs Mid Tenn State
Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon vs Utah
Poinsetta Bowl - Colorado vs TCU
Hawaii Bowl - SMU vs Louisiana Tech
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Wisconsin vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Maryland vs Northern Illinois
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs Arizona
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs North Carolina
Independence Bowl - BYU vs Boston College
EagleBank Bowl - Temple vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Rutgers vs Miami
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Kent St vs Nevada
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs Stanford
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon State vs Virginia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - UAB vs San Diego St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Tennessee vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Michigan State vs Texas A&M
Insight Bowl - Texas Tech vs Minnesota
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Georgia vs Georgia Tech
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Arkansas vs Penn St
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Iowa vs Houston
Fiesta Bowl - Nebraska vs West Virginia
Alamo Bowl - Oklahoma St vs USC
Orange Bowl - Clemson vs Notre Dame
Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs Florida State
GMAC Bowl - Ohio vs Texas
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Miss St. vs Oklahoma
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Indiana

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Washington

Central Michigan played themselves out of a BCS game...how disappointing would that be? BYU is going to face off versus Boston College.

To me the most intriguing games besides ours and the obvious NC game is the Chic-fil-A Bowl where it's going to be nasty, Georgia vs Georgia Tech? Homes divided...I can't wait to see how that one pans out.

[MacroGuru]

Nothing major on my end...

I do end up with

1st Team All CUSA ROLB
Freshman All NCAA ROLB

My final season stats before the bowl game.

40 Tackles
10 Tackles for Loss
17 Assisted Tackles
5 Sacks
1 Int
1 TD
1 Pass Defelction
2 Fumble Recoveries

Washington's QB takes home the Heismann!

[MacroGuru]

New Mexico Bowl - Ole Miss vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - UCF vs Kansas St.
New Orleans Bowl - Southern Miss vs Mid Tenn State
Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon vs Utah
Poinsetta Bowl - Colorado vs TCU
Hawaii Bowl - SMU vs Louisiana Tech
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Wisconsin vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Maryland vs Northern Illinois
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs Arizona
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs North Carolina
Independence Bowl - BYU vs Boston College
EagleBank Bowl - Temple vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Rutgers vs Miami
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Kent St vs Nevada
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs Stanford
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon State vs Virginia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - UAB vs San Diego St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Tennessee vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Michigan State vs Texas A&M
Insight Bowl - Texas Tech vs Minnesota
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Georgia vs Georgia Tech
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Arkansas vs Penn St
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Iowa vs Houston
Fiesta Bowl - Nebraska vs West Virginia
Alamo Bowl - Oklahoma St vs USC
Orange Bowl - Clemson vs Notre Dame
Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs Florida State
GMAC Bowl - Ohio vs Texas
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Miss St. vs Oklahoma
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Indiana

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Washington

Winners are marked in bold.

Boise State breaks the BCS with their win over Washington. what a great game!

[MacroGuru]

We have been to the stadium earlier this year so the intimidation factor wasn't there for us. But dang did Iowa exploit us with their play action.

They did what a lot of teams couldn't this year. They ran on us. We were able to stop them though after the first quarter.

We ended up tight going into the 3rd, but the 4th qtr we opened it up and took the lead for good and managed to hold on for the win! 20 - 10

WE WIN THE ROSE BOWL!

Nothing I have experienced, not even the high school state championship we won in New York compared to this. We won one of the oldest bowl games out there and we did it against a "superior" opponent.

[MacroGuru]

Heading into the Sophomore season I am tagged as a Preseason CUSA 2nd Team ROLB.

We are not even ranked in the Top 25 coming into this next season. Hard to blame them because of who we play.

Our schedule for 2012

UCLA
@ LTU
FCS SE
@ UTEP
@ Tulsa
@ Tulane
ECU
@ Navy
Marshall
SMU
@ UAB
RICE

Not that strong of a schedule but there are teams that can beat us. Especially with a new QB this season.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. Nebraska
4. Miami
5. Washington
6. Penn St
7. Wisconsin
8. Florida State
9. Clemson
10. West Virginia
11. Oklahoma St
12. Oklahoma
13. OSU
14. Notre Dame
15. Iowa
16. Georgia Tech
17. Arkansas
18. Michigan
19. Miss St
20. Texas
21. Georgia
22. Oregon
23. Missouri
24. Virginia Tech
25. Texas A&M

[MacroGuru]

We welcome UCLA into our house and they are a lot better than last year...On top of that our team is different. We have a new QB, new FS and a new CB on the left side. Our defense is still ranked as a C+ even with the new incoming players.

I am more active on the team playing on all special teams now on top of starting on defense. It allows me to get into a more natural flow of the game.

This game was a back and forth affair up until the final 2 minutes where we were able to pull out a TD and the lead, winning the game 24 - 21.

My stats for the game...6 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. Nebraska
4. Miami
5. Washington
6. Penn St
7. Wisconsin
8. Florida State
9. Clemson
10. West Virginia
11. Oklahoma St
12. Oklahoma
13. OSU
14. Notre Dame
15. Iowa
16. Georgia Tech
17. Arkansas
18. Michigan
19. Miss St
20. Texas
21. Oregon
22. Missouri
23. Virginia Tech
24. Texas A&M
25. Stanford

I think it's going to be hell to crack the Top 25 this season and even a bigger pain to crack the Top 10. I don't think this team will do it. If the UCLA game is any indicator we will lose 2 to 3 games this season.

BYU wins their first game of the season @ Oregon State.

[MacroGuru]

We head to Louisiana Tech for our first away game for the season. David Keyes our QB needs to pull his head out of his ass and focus on the game. He is worried more about what kind of car he drives or how he looks than playing the game. The team isn't gelling with him to well.

Louisiana Tech gives us a run for our money, destroying our offense. Our saving grace, and not trying to sound conceited was my play and leadership on defense. We end up holding them from the end zone all day long as our offense turned the ball over 7 times. We won 14 - 7, but did not solidify the win until the 4th qtr.

I ended up capturing Player of the Game and CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honors.

My stats: 8 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss, 1 INT, 36 yard fumble return for a TD.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. Nebraska
4. Miami
5. Washington
6. Clemson
7. West Virginia
8. Oklahoma St
9. Oklahoma
10. Penn St
11. Michigan
12. Georgia Tech
13. Arkansas
14. Miss St
15. OSU
16. Texas
17. Wisconsin
18. Oregon
19. Notre Dame
20. Missouri
21. Virginia Tech
22. Florida State
23. Texas A&M
24. Stanford
25. Houston

And that is us cracking into the Top 25 on Week 2. We need to dig down as deep as we can and get as close to that top 10. Another game from like that from our offense and we are done for good.

BYU: They lost to Texas in Austin 30 - 14

[MacroGuru]

Lowever FCS schools come into town. We are always on edge with this and coach must have gotten after the offense, they played a flawless game. Our defense did too...It was in all intense purposes a perfect game.

I racked up another Player of the Game and CUSA Player of the Week honors with the 55 - 0 shutout. My Stats: 7 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack and 1 Forced Fumble.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. Washington
4. Miami
5. Clemson
6. West Virginia
7. Oklahoma St
8. Oklahoma
9. Penn St
10. Michigan
11. Nebraska
12. Arkansas
13. OSU
14. Texas
15. Oregon
16. Virginia Tech
17. Georgia Tech
18. Missouri
19. Notre Dame
20. Florida State
21. Texas A&M
22. Stanford
23. Miss St.
24. Auburn
25. Houston

Auburn comes in above us. We needed to win by more, I thought it was a dominant win that would have helped us.

BYU: Pulled off a 45 - 20 win over FCS NW and their record is at 2-1

[MacroGuru]

Another game were ere playing a rival. A win is much larger.

We started against them and really didn't turn the gas off until the end. Totals score was 31 - 7/

My stats weren't to impressive: 3 Tackles, 1 25 yard Fumble Recovery

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. Miami
4. Clemson
5. Penn St
6. Michigan
7. Nebraska
8. OSU
9. Texas
10. Oregon
11. Oklahoma
12. Virginia Tech
13. Oklahoma St
14. Washington
15. West Virginia
16. Florida St
17. Georgia Tech
18. Arkansas
19. Missouri
20. Baylor
21. LSU
22. Notre Dame
23. Texas A&M
24. Stanford
25. Miss St

We loses the ranking to "popular teams" I will figure this out soon

BYU loses to TCU at their place 37 - 14.

[MacroGuru]

Another game away but this time it was our defense that just couldn't handle the movement and shift of the Tulsa offense.

We were able to grind this one out and hold them to 10 points. Our offense generated 3 more points for us to hold on to this one and win 13 - 10.

My stats: 9 Tackles, 1 FF

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. Miami
4. Michigan
5. Penn St
6. Nebraska
7. Texas
8. Oklahoma
9. West Virginia
10. Florida State
11. Clemson
12. Georgia Tech
13. OSU
14. Missouri
15. Baylor
16. Oregon
17. Texas A&M
18. LSU
19. Washington
20. Virginia Tech
21. Oklahoma St
22. Notre Dame
23. Texas Tech
24. Michigan St
25. Stanford

I don't know what it's going to take..but then again, I don't think we deserve a top 25 spot yet.

[MacroGuru]

What a weary stretch of road games. I do not know if I have been so worn out in my life. It's been tough going the travel, school and practice.

Tulane was supposed to be a better team this year than they have been. Needless to say that wasn't the truth.

We moved the ball pretty much at whim against them. As for defense, they had some lucky plays that managed to set them up for their scores.

I had two memorable plays this game.

First, I was playing man up on the running back and they were coming out on my side with a speed option, I stepped up to take the running back and the QB pitched it right to me, I snagged the ball and took two steps before the running back took me down.

Second, I was covering their TE man to man and he separated from me. Their QB threw it and it was a great pass. Their TE snagged it and ran about 4 yards, he did not see me closing as I leveled him and I detached the ball from him. He was out cold and the ball bounced right into the arms of our free safety.

and finally, I came on an outside blitz and just crushed their QB dropping him like a rock. The ball flew out of his hands and out DT pounced on it.

My stats for the game: 5 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss, 1 Sack, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery.


My play ended up earning me Player of the Game and CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honors.

That's twice this season!

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Michigan
3. Miami
4. Boise
5. Penn St
6. Oklahoma
7. Nebraska
8. West Virgina
9. Florida St
10. Clemson
11. Georgia Tech
12. LSU
13. Texas
14. Texas A&M
15. Oregon
16. Stanford
17. Missouri
18. Auburn
19. OSU
20. Notre Dame
21. California
22. Michigan St
23. Minnesota
24. Cincinnati
25. Houston

We crack back into the Top 25 as does Cinci, Minn, Cal and Auburn.

Also Utah is undefeated and BYU has 2 loses (Texas and TCU0

[MacroGuru]

Our homecoming game is against ECU. We grade out better than they do on everything.

For some reason this season our offense struggles in the first half, but then adjustments are made and we turn it on in the second half.

It was an interesting game as ECU ran away and threw away from me for most of the game. I did my best to get around to the ball. We take the win here, 30 - 17.

My Stats: 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Michigan
3. Miami
4. Boise
5. Oklahoma
6. West Virginia
7. Clemson
8. Stanford
9. Texas A&M
10. Georgia Tech
11. Auburn
12. Texas
13. Oregon
14. Florida St
15. California
16. Nebraska
17. Penn State
18. Minnesota
19. OSU
20. Notre Dame
21. Michigan St
22. LSU
23. Missouri
24. Oklahoma St
25. Houston

So a 3 -3 Oklahoma St is in the top 25? A 2-3 OSU? Come on guys we are sitting at 25 and 7-0 on the season...At least show us some love!

[Izulde]

Dare I ask how bad UNLV has been?

[MacroGuru]

We are a tired team. We have been traveling all over, wore out and are now getting ready to face the triple option. It's a very disciplined defense we have to run.

Our offense must be gelling and Keyes had to have a wake up call as he has been almost perfect in the past 3 games. The wins are needed to build his confidence and our offense.

We shut out Navy, 38 - 0. I do have to hand it to them, they took a beating from us and kept on coming after us.

My stats: 5 Tackles, 4 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Michigan
3. Miami
4. Boise
5. Auburn
6. Oklahoma
7. West Virginia
8. Clemson
9. Minnesota
10. Texas
11. Oregon
12. Nebraska
13. Florida St
14. Georgia Tech
15. Texas A&M
16. Stanford
17. Penn State
18. Notre Dame
19. Pittsburgh
20. Missouri
21. Houston
22. Oklahoma St
23. Michigan St
24. Oregon St
25. California

13 teams that are ranked higher than us have worse records than we do. A lot of one loss teams and a few two loss teams in there. We have moved up four spots.

As for some of the other schools:

Utah is sitting at 6 - 0 and not ranked yet

BYU is at 5-2

UNLV is sitting at 1-6 with their only win coming against Wyoming in OT. They really haven't played any of their opponents tight.

Next week we welcome Marshall to Houston before our Bye. Hopefully we can pull out the win and jump in the rankings.

The other thing I am disgusted with is the Boise ranking of 4. They are undefeated still and reigning National Champs...can you say DISRESPECTED!

[MacroGuru]

Well we entered the game with little care and fan fare. It's on of those games you enter before a bye. A trap game so to speak.

I am no longer concerned about our offensive output, just the offense. We managed to hold them, figuring they would be coming after is. We shut them down pretty good. 27-10

My Stats for the game 9 tackles, 3 Tackles for Loss and 2 Sacks.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Miami
4. Boise
5. Oklahoma
6. West Virginia
7. Clemson
8. Texas
9. Michigan
10. Oregon
11. Florida St
12. Texas A&M
13. Pittsburgh
14. Stanford
15. Minnesota
16. Penn State
17. Notre Dame
18. Houston
19. Michigan St
20. Nevraska
21. Georgia
22. Iowa
23. LSU
24. OSU
25. Baylor

We move up, but not what I was thinking. Hope fully next week will help out.

[MacroGuru]

We have a bye week and nothing much is going on. I am thinking of getting involved with her and her family more than ever.

The Top 25

1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Boise
4. West Virginia
5. Clemson
6. Texas
7. Texas A&M
8. Oregon
9. Oklahoma
10. Minnesota
11. Stanford
12. Miamia
13. Michigan
14. Hiuston
15. Penn St
16. Notre Dame
17. Pittsburg
18. Nebraska
19. Georgia Tech
20. Iowa
21. Louisville
22. OSU
23. Baylor
24. Utah
25. Florida State

We move up, but not what I was thinking. Hope fully next week will help out.
__________________

[MacroGuru]

SMU has proven to be giant killers the past few seasons and we knew that last year and we definitely know that this year.

We go into the game and it's a back and forth game, heading into the fourth down by two, we had a couple of big things happen. We lost our big DT Nick Robinson, Bruised Shoulder.

Then it's when I felt it, that little twinge on the hammy, It was as I was planting to come up and make a tackle, I fell and grabbed my leg. I couldn't even stretch it. The finally got me up and I hobbled off the field.

That left out back ups in at DT and at ROLB. I love our guys, but SMU was no longer scared, they had the lead and they had us down two top players on defense and they just on the gas.

It was hard sitting on the sideline not being able to do anything. I could not generate any pressure on the leg.

I just sat on the bench, a towel over my head and me hanging it low.

My Stats: 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble.

I was sent out of the game at the start of the fourth and missed the rest of it due to a strained hamstring.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Boise
4. West Virginia
5. Texas
6. Stanford
7. Oklahoma
8. Minnesota
9. Miami
10. Michigan
11. Clemson
12. Oregon
13. Penn St
14. Texas A&M
15. Nebraska
16. Georgia Tech
17. Iowa
18. Pittsburgh
19. OSU
20. Florida St
21. Utah
22. Houston
23. Notre Dame
24. Michigan St
25. Oregon State

Looks like we got some sympathy from our voters knowing our injuries. I was expecting to fall out of the Top 25 completely.

Stanford edges Oregon to jump up, Oklahoma knock #23 Baylor out of the top 25 with a 47-39 win. Missouri shocks A&M and FSU stuns Clemson.

Next up, we head to UAB.

[MacroGuru]

My leg is still sore, it does tend to get tight at times and weak at the other. It is definitely hampering me. But as I am a game time decision, I will be begging coach to let me go.

UAB was a loud obnoxious place and the team was very physical. That could be the fact I am not at full strength as well.

Our offense struggled in the 1st qtr just getting a field goal. Managed to score 3 TD's in the second qtr. We held on with a few field goals and earned the win here, 29 - 8

My stats: 2 Tackles, 1 tackle for loss.

Rough game for me.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. West Virginia
4. Texas
5. Stanford
6. Oklahoma
7. Auburn
8. Miami
9. Michigan
10. Penn St
11. Oregon
12. Clemson
13. Minnesota
14. Iowa
15. Georgia Tech
16. Pittsburgh
17. Florida St
18. Utah
19. Houston
20. Baylor
21. Notre Dame
22. Texas A&M
23. Oregon St
24. Nebraska
25. TCU

New Mexico Bowl - Northern Illinois vd Nevada
St. Petersburg Bowl - MArshall vs Akron
New Orleans Bowl - SMU vs Troy
Las Vegas Bowl - UCLA vs Utah
Poinsetta Bowl - Syracuse vs TCU
Hawaii Bowl - Southern Miss vs Utah State
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - OSU vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Kent St
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs California
Music City Bowl - Cincinnati vs Boston College
Independence Bowl - BYU vs Wake Forest
EagleBank Bowl - Ohio vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Louisville vs Virginia Tech
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Rutgers vs Hawaii
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs Oregon
Brut Sun Bowl - USC vs Florida St
Armed Forces Bowl - Houston vs Colorado St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - North Carolina vs UCF
Texas Bowl - Illinois vs Notre Dame
Insight Bowl - Texas A&M vs Michigan St
Chic-fil-A Bowl - South Carolina vs Clemson
Outback Bowl - LSU vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Kentucky vs Minnesota
Gator Bowl - Mississippi St vs Wisconsin
Rose Bowl - Iowa vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Auburn
Alamo Bowl - Baylor vs Oregon St
Orange Bowl - Miami vs Texas
Sugar Bowl - West Virginia vs Penn St
GMAC Bowl - Temple vs Pittsburgh
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Florida vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - Mid Tenn St vs Ball St

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Alabama

Do we really want to play in the Armed Forces Bowl? Hopefully some wins throughout here changes that for us.

Looks like Boise is going to control their destiny and have a chance at becoming a two-time national champion. They just have to win out.

We have one more regular season game, and if we win, onto the CUSA Championship Game.

[MacroGuru]

Not much to say here, we need to win out so we can play for the CUSA Championship again, and hopefully move on to a bigger bowl.

Rice is how they were last season and honestly we were expecting it to be an easy game. Still I had to make up for the last game.

We shut them out and scored 26 points in the meantime. Our offense is hit or miss at times and it gets frustrating.

Defensively, we took any semblance of a drive from them when they started to get the flow going.

My stats: 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. West Virginia
4. Oklahoma
5. Miami
6. Penn St
7. Clemson
8. Stanford
9. Texas
10. Iowa
11. Florida St
12. Pittsburgh
13. Notre Dame
14. Houston
15. Texas A&M
16. Baylor
17. Michigan
18. Minnesota
19. Oregon
20. Auburn
21. TCU
22. Nebraska
23. Utah
24. OSU
25. Kentucky

New Mexico Bowl - Air Force vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - MArshall vs Akron
New Orleans Bowl - SMU vs Midd Tenn St
Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon St vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Ball State vs Utah
Hawaii Bowl - Houston vs Western Michigan
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - OSU vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Georgia Tech vs North Texas
Emerald Bowl - Nevada vs Notre Dame
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs Wake Forest
Independence Bowl - BYU vs North Carolina
EagleBank Bowl - Ohio vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Syracuse vs Florida St
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Louisville vs Fresno St
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs California
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Boston College
Armed Forces Bowl - Southern Miss vs Colorado St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - LSU vs UCF
Texas Bowl - Michigan St vs Rutgers
Insight Bowl - Texas A&M vs Wisconsin
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Virginia Tech
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Auburn vs Minnesota
Gator Bowl - Tennessee vs Illinois
Rose Bowl - Iowa vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Penn St
Alamo Bowl - Baylor vs USC
Orange Bowl - Miami vs Texas
Sugar Bowl - West Virginia vs Clemson
GMAC Bowl - Temple vs Pittsburgh
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Kentucky vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - Troy vs Cincinnati

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Alabama

Bowl games listed in italics are indications the projections have changed.

And we stepped up to a fun bowl game, to Hawaii...I would love to go to that game. We will see where we end up here after the Championship game.

[MacroGuru]

I really wasn't to concerned about the awards and such this season. I didn't even bother to open letters from people talking about them. It wasn't until I got called into coaches office and he had me sit down.

He basically informed me I am a finalist for the following rewards:

Bednarik
Nagurski
Best LB

I sat there kind of dumbstruck...

"What do you mean coach? Have I played that well?"

"Son, there hasn't been any other linebackers in the nation matching you in the number of tackles. So far you have almost doubled your output from last season"

There you have it...I haven't paid any attention to them and I am nominated for three of them this season.

Coach handed me a sheet with a breakdown of my stats for the season..

71 Tackles
19 Tackles for Loss
13 Assisted Tackles
5 Sacks
1 Interception
1 Defensive TD
5 Forced Fumbles
3 Fumble Recoveries

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. West Virginia
4. Oklahoma
5. Miami
6. Penn St
7. Iowa
8. Stanford
9. Texas
10. Notre Dame
11. Florida St
12. Houston
13. Clemson
14. Baylor
15. Michigan
16. Minnesota
17. Oregon
18. Auburn
19. Pittsburgh
20. TCU
21. Nebraska
22. OSU
23. Kentucy
24. Virginia Tech
25. Rutgers

Looks like BYU took one away from Utah and dropped them out of the Top 25.

New Mexico Bowl - Air Force vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - MArshall vs Cincinnati
New Orleans Bowl - SMU vs Midd Tenn St
Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon St vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Louisville vs Utah
Hawaii Bowl - Houston vs Western Michigan
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - OSU vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Northwestern
Emerald Bowl - Nevada vs Washington
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs Wake Forest
Independence Bowl - BYU vs North Carolina
EagleBank Bowl - Ohio vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Rutgers vs Virginia Tech
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Fresno St
Holiday Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Oregon
Brut Sun Bowl - California vs Boston College
Armed Forces Bowl - Southern Miss vs Colorado St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - LSU vs UCF
Texas Bowl - Michigan St vs Missouri
Insight Bowl - Texas A&M vs Wisconsin
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Clemson
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Auburn vs Minnesota
Gator Bowl - Tennessee vs Illinois
Rose Bowl - Iowa vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Penn St
Alamo Bowl - Baylor vs USC
Orange Bowl - Miami vs Texas
Sugar Bowl - West Virginia vs Florida St
GMAC Bowl - Temple vs Notre Dame
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Kentucky vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - Troy vs Ball St

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Alabama

Bowl games listed in italics are indications the projections have changed.

Now the major question we have to ask ourselves now is, how many spots would the win in our CUSA Championship game move us. Would it be enough to get us into a BCS bowl?

UNLV ended up getting a 2nd win, last game of the season versus Hawaii.

BYU went 9-3, 6-2 in conference with loses from TCU and Utah and placed 3rd.

Utah also went 9-3 but had losses to 3 ranked opponents. Pitt, TCU and Boise.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. West Virginia
4. Oklahoma
5. Miami
6. Penn St
7. Iowa
8. Stanford
9. Texas
10. Notre Dame
11. Florida St
12. Houston
13. Clemson
14. Baylor
15. Michigan
16. Minnesota
17. Oregon
18. Auburn
19. Pittsburgh
20. TCU
21. Nebraska
22. OSU
23. Kentucy
24. Virginia Tech
25. Rutgers

Looks like BYU took one away from Utah and dropped them out of the Top 25.

New Mexico Bowl - Air Force vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - Marshall vs North Carolina
New Orleans Bowl - SMU vs Midd Tenn St
Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon St vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Ball St vs Utah
Hawaii Bowl - Houston vs Western Michigan
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - OSU vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida St vs Northwestern
Emerald Bowl - Nevada vs Washington
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs Boston College
Independence Bowl - BYU vs Wake Forest
EagleBank Bowl - Ohio vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Louisville vs Virginia Tech
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Rutgers vs Fresno St
Holiday Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Oregon
Brut Sun Bowl - California vs Georgia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - Southern Miss vs Colorado St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - LSU vs UCF
Texas Bowl - Michigan St vs Missouri
Insight Bowl - Texas A&M vs Wisconsin
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Clemson
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Auburn vs Minnesota
Gator Bowl - Tennessee vs Illinois
Rose Bowl - Iowa vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Penn St
Alamo Bowl - Baylor vs USC
Orange Bowl - Miami vs Texas
Sugar Bowl - West Virginia vs Notre Dame
GMAC Bowl - Temple vs Pittsburgh
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Kentucky vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - Troy vs Cincinnati

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Alabama

Bowl games listed in italics are indications the projections have changed.

Heading into Championship week and we play UCF!

[MacroGuru]

So coach telling me about the awards and being an awards finalist turned me into a beast. All I could think about this past week was impressing the judges to assure my spot.

UCF was not prepared for the our defense. We may have been graded at a C+ for the season but we had our A game coming at them all day long.

I was able to get it started when their future NFL running back hit the hole, I filled it quickly crushing him and separating the ball from him. We recovered the fumble. Our offense promptly marched down what bit of the field they had and scored.

The next was when our MLB Craig Pleasant crushed the same running back, I scooped up the fumble and was promptly tackled. Again, our offense marched down the 20 yards and scored.

We ended up dominating the game.

My stats: 8 Tackles, 3 Tackles for Loss, 3 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble and 1 Fumble Recovery.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Boise
3. West Virginia
4. Oklahoma
5. Miami
6. Penn St
7. Iowa
8. Stanford
9. Texas
10. Notre Dame
11. Florida St
12. Houston
13. Baylor
14. Michigan
15. Minnesota
16. Oregon
17. Auburn
18. Pittsburgh
19. TCU
20. OSU
21. Clemson
22. Virginia Tech
23. Rutgers
24. Utah
25. USC

New Mexico Bowl - Air Force vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - Marshall vs North Carolina
New Orleans Bowl - SMU vs Midd Tenn St
Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon St vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Ball St vs Utah
Hawaii Bowl - Southern Miss vs Western Michigan
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - OSU vs Temple
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida St vs Northwestern
Emerald Bowl - Nevada vs Washington
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs Boston College
Independence Bowl - BYU vs Wake Forest
EagleBank Bowl - Ohio vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Louisville vs Virginia Tech
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Rutgers vs Fresno St
Holiday Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Oregon
Brut Sun Bowl - California vs Georgia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - UCF vs Colorado St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - LSU vs Houston
Texas Bowl - Michigan St vs Missouri
Insight Bowl - Texas A&M vs Wisconsin
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Clemson
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Auburn vs Minnesota
Gator Bowl - Tennessee vs Illinois
Rose Bowl - Iowa vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Penn St
Alamo Bowl - Baylor vs USC
Orange Bowl - Miami vs Texas
Sugar Bowl - West Virginia vs Notre Dame
GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan vs Pittsburgh
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Kentucky vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - Troy vs Cincinnati

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Alabama

Bowl games listed in italics are indications the projections have changed.

Alright, we head to the Liberty Bowl versus LSU. We will be going up against some talent. We need the win to start us out right for next season, and to set the tone!

[MacroGuru]

Well, heading into the week, all the award winners were announced. I was shuttled to banquets, press junkets and the like. I had my Mom, dad and brother with me.

Needless to say, I was able to pull off what my brother did at Georgia in the same amount of time...but I brought in an extra award!

2011 Bednarik Award Winner
2011 Nagurski Award Winner
2011 Best LB Award Winner
1st Team NCAA All American
1st Team CUSA

What a great season it has been. I want to take this team into another BCS game, we can do it next season!

[MacroGuru]

We were excited to get a team that had prestige for a game.

After the first series, we weren't so sure about that. LSU was rough, they brought it out of the gates and we were not prepared for it.

Having LSU come out and run a no huddle offense on us killed us. We were all over the place. Our offense could not get going.

Our special teams hindered us the most, and not necessarily the team, it was our punt returner, he tried to run a punt back from our 1, our 10 and our 15. He ended up fumbling two of them.

A TD and a FG is all we generated all game while LSU generate a TD and a FG. We won this game because LSU missed the extra point. 10 - 9

My stats: 5 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss

[MacroGuru]

New Mexico Bowl - Air Force vs Hawaii
St. Petersburg Bowl - Marshall vs North Carolina
New Orleans Bowl - SMU vs Midd Tenn St
Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon St vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Ball St vs Utah
Hawaii Bowl - Southern Miss vs Western Michigan
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - OSU vs Temple
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida St vs Northwestern
Emerald Bowl - Nevada vs Washington
Music City Bowl - South Carolina vs Boston College
Independence Bowl - BYU vs Wake Forest
EagleBank Bowl - Ohio vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Louisville vs Virginia Tech
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Rutgers vs Fresno St
Holiday Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Oregon
Brut Sun Bowl - California vs Georgia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - UCF vs Colorado St.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - LSU vs Houston
Texas Bowl - Michigan St vs Missouri
Insight Bowl - Texas A&M vs Wisconsin
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Clemson
Outback Bowl - Florida vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Auburn vs Minnesota
Gator Bowl - Tennessee vs Illinois
Rose Bowl - Iowa vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Penn St
Alamo Bowl - Baylor vs USC
Orange Bowl - Miami vs Texas
Sugar Bowl - West Virginia vs Notre Dame
GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan vs Pittsburgh
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Kentucky vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - Troy vs Cincinnati

BCS National Championship Game - Boise St vs Alabama

Alabama takes home the championship!

It's hurts a bit to think if we would have pulled our heads out and won the SMU game if we would have been in a BCS game this season. We need to go undefeated next season to make it.

[MacroGuru]

I realize I forgot to mention our incoming freshmen last season..

This season we have the following new recruits:

QB Joshua Francis
RB John Brown
DE Lee Nance
OLB Justin Williams
MLB Aaron Peterson
SS John Parker
FS Tony Triplet
SS Greg Thompson

Triplet, Thompason and Peterson are all starting. Peterson is the only true MLB we have on the depth chart.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Penn St
3. Stanford
4. Texas
5. Miami
6. Oklahoma
7. OSU
8. Michigan
9. Florida St
10. Iowa
11. USC
12. Pittsburgh
13. West Virginia
14. Virginia Tech
15. Notre Dame
16. Auburn
17. Georgia
18. Boise
19. TCU
20. Minnesota
21. Rutgers
22. Georgia Tech
23. Wisconsin
24. Oregon
25. Arkansas

Of course we aren't ranked and will have to run the tables to get where we want to be. It's definitely interesting to see Boise sitting at 18, TCU at 19. Penn St at 2nd is a bit of a shocker too.

[MacroGuru]

@ NIU
LTU
@Illinois
Tulsa
Tulane
@ECU
UTEP
@Marshall
@SMU
UAB
@Rice
GT

If we can run the tables we are in a BCS game...1 loss keeps us in the Top 25...anything else and we are done for the season.

[MacroGuru]

We have a BYE for week 1, which gives us more time to prepare but we have a long season ahead of us.


1. Alabama
2. Penn St
3. Stanford
4. Texas
5. Miami
6. Oklahoma
7. OSU
8. Michigan
9. Florida St
10. Iowa
11. USC
12. Pittsburgh
13. West Virginia
14. Virginia Tech
15. Notre Dame
16. Auburn
17. Georgia
18. Boise
19. TCU
20. Minnesota
21. Georgia Tech
22. Wisconsin
23. Arkansas
24. Michigan St
25. Ole Miss

[MacroGuru]

Northern Illinois is the first stop for us.

Our question mark is more on defense than anything else as we have 3 freshmen starting.

We come out a little slow on offense, but our defense is lock down this game. They try and run everything away from me and are met by our other all american LB.

We get an INT this game but it's just pure shutdown on our defense. Locking their WR's, they only attacked us a total of 3 times deep. Their QB just didn't have the time.

We shut them out and win this one 27 - 0

My stats: 8 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Penn St
3. Stanford
4. Texas
5. Miami
6. Oklahoma
7. Michigan
8. OSU
9. Iowa
10. USC
11. Virginia Tech
12. West Virginia
13. Auburn
14. Georgia
15. Boise State
16. Piitsburgh
17. TCU
18. Minnesota
19. Georgia Tech
20. Notre Dame
21. Wisconsin
22. Arkansas
23. Michigan St
24. Florida St
25. Ole Miss

Florida State loses to USF and drops to 24.

Nebraska crushes Tennessee @ Tennessee while Alabama plays Western Kentucky and destroys them..

Notre Dame falls due to a loss to Michigan in South Bend.

[MacroGuru]

Louisiana Tech is heading into an upset, disrespected juggernaut of a team at Houston. The guys are not happy and they have stated so in the locker room. We have posted a 25 - 1 record for the two seasons I have been here and we do not start out ranked.

Louisiana started out moving the ball on us with the hurry up offense, a proper time out to slow them down helped stop them, and then we began.

Moved the ball down the field, kicked a FG. On the ensuing kickoff we force a fumble, recover it. They stall us and we kick a FG.

On that kickoff I break down the field, crush the return man and force the fumble. We recover and take it down to their 2. We score a TD and like that we are up 13 - 0 in the 1st half.

We score another 13 points in the second half to end the game 26 - 0.

My stats this game: 7 Tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Penn St
3. Stanford
4. Miami
5. Oklahoma
6. Michigan
7. OSU
8. Iowa
9. USC
10. Virginia Tech
11. West Virginia
12. Auburn
13. Georgia
14. Texas
15. Boise State
16. Piitsburgh
17. TCU
18. Minnesota
19. Notre Dame
20. Wisconsin
21. Arkansas
22. Ole Miss
23. Georgia Tech
24. Houston
25. Nebraska

Welcome Houston to the Top 25! That was faster than I thought it would be.

Texas loses to Ole Miss 48 - 17 and is shocked while Michigan plays an FCS cupcake and gets the win.

OSU takes Cincinnati down 33 - 7 at home and Notre Dame beats Michigan St.

[Izulde]

Congratulations on the awards sweep!

[MacroGuru]

Congratulations on the awards sweep!

Thanks!

I was honestly shocked, I didn't think I played to that level but the stats summed it up and set me so far above the others.

[MacroGuru]

This week was all about setting the tempo, and statement that we will be heard. We are the "tiny" CUSA school taking on a Big 10 school.

We came out of the gates with our foot on the pedal and then applied it to their throat. They ran it away from me all day long and in coverage I shut down their TE or RB so my stats weren't as glorious as the game score shows.

We won this game 42 - 20, they scored their last 14 points in the 4th qtr as we put in our backups to give them game time.

My Stats: 4 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss, 2 Forced Fumbles

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Stanford
3. Penn St
4. Miami
5. Oklahoma
6. Michigan
7. OSU
8. Iowa
9. Virginia Tech
10. Georgia
11. Texas
12. Boise
13. Pittsburgh
14. Minnesota
15. Ole Miss
16. Wisconsin
17. Auburn
18. West Virginia
19. Georgia Tech
20. Houston
21. Florida St
22. Notre Dame
23. Nebraska
24. USC
25. Arkansas

USC drops from 9 to 24 with a 35 - 21 home loss to Washington State. Who loses to Washington State?

Boise wins over Utah State at home.

North Carolina outpaces NC State 20-17 in ACC action.

Oregon St triumphs over UCLA in a PAC-10 game, 21-18

Washington gets clobbered in conference play by Arizona State 42-13

BYU sits at 2-2 with wins against Hawaii and AFA and loses against Oregon St and Boise State.

UNLV is 0-3 right now losing to Minnesota, Washington State and TCU

[MacroGuru]

Tulsa, one of our rivals and I have grown to hate them. I hate their fast paced spread, they usual spread me out and away from the play. It hasn't helped them in the past so I hope they do it again.

Our offense was very sluggish, they couldn't move the ball that well. But the thing that shocked me the most was the ran it at me, threw at me...forcing me to make mistakes. I made 2 all game.

When I first saw their running back cut against the grain and head back to me, I smiled. It was a shot that left him rolling on the ground and the ball in our arms. The backup rb managed to do the same thing and paid for it as well.

WR's running in front of me with the ball didn't know what to think...I just hit a zone, a level I have never been to and it felt good.

Tulsa's coach found me after the game and told me he had never witnessed a performance like that in his years coaching. I thanked him, but didn't think nothing of it until coach handed me the game ball.

My stats: 19 Tackles, 9 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack, 3 Forced Fumbles.

I garnered Player of the game, CUSA Player of the Week and NCAA Player of the Week honors.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Stanford
3. Penn St
4. Oklahoma
5. Michigan
6. Iowa
7. Virginia Tech
8. Georgia
9. Miami
10. Pittsburgh
11. Minnesota
12. Ole Miss
13. OSU
14. Auburn
15. West Virginia
16. Florida St
17. Houston
18. Texas
19. Wisconsin
20. Notre Dame
21. Baylor
22. Nebraska
23. Boston College
24. Boise
25. Michigan St.

Florida State wins 20-14 over Miami

OSU loses against Michigan State 17 - 10 giving up 10 points in the 4th quarter.

Kentucky beats Florida at the Swamp in front of 91,585 fans.

San Diego State has a 4-1 record and 1-0 in conference play.

BYU is 3-2 and UNLV is sitting at 0-4.

[MacroGuru]

A Friday game it means we are on ESPN. Hopefully I can have another career night.

Tulane plays smart and takes everything away from me. They run away or even double team. I fought through multiple double teams all game long or was forced into coverage and taken out of the picture as they threw under.

Our offense didn't start moving the ball well until the 2nd qtr. Once they took off, they were hard to stop.

We shutout Tulane for our 3rd game this season, 37 - 0.

My stats: 5 Tackles.

I was honestly disappointed in this game for me personally but ecstatic for our team with the win.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Stanford
3. Penn St
4. Michigan
5. Iowa
6. Oklahoma
7. Virginia Tech
8. Minnesota
9. Ole Miss
10. Miami
11. Pittsburgh
12. Georgia
13. West Virginia
14. Houston
15. Florida St
16. Baylor
17. Nebraska
18. OSU
19. Notre Dame
20. Auburn
21. Boston College
22. Boise
23. Vanderbilt
24. Arkansas
25. Wisconsin

We welcome Vanderbilt to the Top 25 for the first time since I have been in the FBS Ranks.

Oklahoma notches a conference win against Texas behind the arm of Carter.

For all the pre-game hype, Georgia didn't hold up their end of the deal and lose to Alabama by a bunch, 37-7

LSU rolls on, this time against SEC opponent Florida, 31 - 10.

Boise State Broncos put away WAC rival Nevada in OT thriller.

BYU is 4-2 on the season, 2-0 in conference play and leads the MWC right now. UNLV is sitting at 0-5.

[MacroGuru]

We head to East Carolina and hold our perfect record up to them and show them how we are winners.

It starts out a little foreboding as my man Vincent Jones keeps fumbling his punts and turning the ball over. Tonight it happened on our 20. Set them up for the first score of the game. Our shutout chances were ruined.

They picked on me a few times, once I messed up on, the others I was able to stop. We ended up winning this game outright and with style. 34 - 13.

My Stats: 5 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Iowa
3. Michigan
4. Oklahoma
5. Penn St
6. Georgia
7. Stanford
8. Florida St
9. Nebraska
10. West Virginia
11. Houston
12. Ole Miss
13. Virginia Tech
14. Minnesota
15. OSU
16. Notre Dame
17. Auburn
18. Boston College
19. Pittsburgh
20. LSU
21. Baylor
22. Boise
23. Miami
24. Wisconsin
25. USF

Vandy promptly gets knocked out and replaced by USF.

All is well in Lincoln as Cornhuskers down Big 12 rival Baylor.

Oklahoma stays unbeaten with a 29-10 win vs conference rival Kansas State.

Alabama still sits at #1 after beating #9 Ole Miss.

Cole is disgusted with Miami's performance against unranked Virginia, a 35-19 loss.

Hunter's play leads Florida State to a 45-21 win over Virginia Tech.

The Hawkeyes prevail against a great Penn State team 13-10.

A Visit to Los Angeles knocks the #2 Cardinals back to earth with a 17-6 loss.

BYU is now 4-3, 2-1 in conference with their conference loss coming to TCU.

UNLV is 0-6 and every team that they have played is posting a winning record.

[MacroGuru]

This was supposed to be a battle and it didn't turn that way until the 4th qtr where we had to place the heel on their throats to get them to quiet down a bit.

It was a quick paced fun game. Our offense was pretty much clicking most of the game. Defensively we got our stops and turnovers needed.

We won this game 34 - 13.

My Stats: 8 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss, 1 Forced Fumble.

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Iowa
3. Michigan
4. Oklahoma
5. Penn St
6. Nebraska
7. Georgia
8. Stanford
9. Florida St
10. Houston
11. Ole Miss
12. LSU
13. Virginia Tech
14. Minnesota
15. Notre Dame
16. Boston College
17. Pittsburgh
18. West Virginia
19. USF
20. Boise
21. OSU
22. Wisconsin
23. Auburn
24. UCF
25. Georgia Tech

Nebraska rolls on, this time against Big 12 Opponent Kansas State.

Georgia Tech notches a conference win against Miami behind the arm of Edwards.

Dukes is disgusted with West Virginias performance against unranked USF, a 54-21 loss.

Alabama destroys Tennessee in their own backyard.

BYU is now 4-4 and 2-2 in conference play. The two loses came against TCU and Utah.

UNLV is 0-7 and looking pretty helpless here.

[MacroGuru]

We are Marshall! Is a cry I hope I never hear again. It's a great place to play. Has some serious history around it.

They played us tough this season. Again my guys Vincent Jones fumbles a punt and ends up giving the ball right back to them where they score first. It forces our defense to go into a lockdown mode.

We held them until the 4 qtr. It was a solid game with interceptions and fumbles.

My Stats: 6 Tackles, 3 Tackles for Loss, 2 Sacks.

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Nebraska
5. LSU
6. Iowa
7. Georgia
8. Stanford
9. Houston
10. Florida St.
11. Ole Miss
12. Minnesota
13. Boston College
14. USF
15. Notre Dame
16. West Virginia
17. Boise
18. Virginia Tech
19. Penn St
20. OSU
21. Wisconsin
22. UCF
23. Georgia Tech
24. Pittsburgh
25. TCU

#5 Penn State loses a shocker to Big Ten opponent Purdue 14-7

The Sooners remain unbeated as the knock of conference foe Oklahoma State.

Michigan looks unbeatable after their 30-27 win against #2 Iowa

Gibson and Boston College knock off ACC opponent Virginia Tech, 17-3

Georgia Tech beats rival Clemson, but Archer will be sidelined for 9 weeks.

Simmons shows Washington the lost something good when he transferred.

BYU sits at 5-4 and 3-2 in conference play.

Colorado St is sitting at 8-1 with their only loss against a ranked TCU team.

UNLV is 1 - 7 and their lone win comes up against the likes of AF

[MacroGuru]

We have a bye for week 10.


1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. LSU
4. Oklahoma
5. Nebraska
6. Georgia
7. Houston
8. Stanford
9. Florida St
10. USF
11. Boston College
12. Notre Dame
13. West Virginia
14. Boise
15. Virginia Tech
16. Minnesota
17. Penn St
18. UCF
19. OSU
20. Wisconsin
21. Iowa
22. Georgia Tech
23. Ole Miss
24. Pittsburgh
25. Central Michigan

We are now in the Top 10 officially and hope to stay there.

Cornhuskers remain unbeaten as they knock of conference foe Iowa State.

Michigan notches a conference win against Minnesota behind the arm of Adams.

Indiana's upset of Iowa raises some eyebrows around the league.

Arkansas refuses to lose as the Volunteers unravel let.

[MacroGuru]

It's the giant killers from last season. We know we will be in one of our toughest games of the season going into this game. They just match up with us to well. Their schemes keep us guessing.

They kept moving at will. They had our schemes down pat and we eventually were down 14 - 0.

We go in at halftime confused, upset and some of us feeling like last season all over again. Except for me. I grab the defense and pull them to a corner before the coaches get in the room.

I tell them flat out, we need to stop this team. We have to generate turnovers and give the ball back to the offense in favorable positions. I know we are tired, I know we are worn out. We are almost there. We can do this!

And it happened. My brothers on defense stepped up! We managed an interception on their side of the field, marched it down for a TD.

Then the next play I was able to force a fumble on their 20. We take that one in for a TD and the game is now tied.

Our offense then took over and racked up a TD and 2 FG's while we kept stuffing their O.

We rounded it out with 2 more FGs and ended up with the win. 33-14.

My Stats: 8 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack and 1 Forced Fumble.

I end up with Player of the Game and CUSA Player of the week honors

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Michigan
3. Oklahoma
4. Houston
5. Georgia
6. USF
7. Stanford
8. LSU
9. Florida St
10. Nebraska
11. Boston College
12. Notre Dame
13. West Virginia
14. Virginia Tech
15. Penn St
16. UCF
17. OSU
18. Iowa
19. Central Michigan
20. Pittsburgh
21. TCU
22. Colorado St
23. Boise
24. Minnesota
25. Wisconsin

We say goodbye to Vanderbilt and hello to Colorado State in the top 25.

Boise State falls to #23 following their 30-28 defeat at the hands of Louisiana Tech.

The Penn St campus is buzzing after a victory over #20 Wisconsin.

Oklahoma notches a conference win over OSU behind the arm of Carter.

The Wolverines remain unbeaten as they knock off conference foe Illinois.

Alabama rolls over LSU. Alabama takes down their bitter rival #3 LSU 44-20 earning the #1 spot again.

Offenses go wild as Florida outscores SEC foe Vanderbilt 42-39.

Also looking at the top 25 we see USF, UCF and Central Michigan in the top along with us.

We finally get a series look at 1 first place vote that moves up to the #4 spot.

[MacroGuru]

Alright, I thought I better log on and see where our everyone sits for the awards this season.

Bednarik
Nicholas Thomas

Nagurski
Nicholas Thomas

Lombardi
Pedro Brooks (LOLB Sophomore)
Doug Williams (LOLB Senior)

Best LB
Nicholas Thomas

Looking at this, we have to have one of the top linebacking corps in the country right now.

[MacroGuru]

UAB comes into town to challenge our perfect record. For us, it's getting stressful, we know each and every week we are going to be a bullseye. We know it's their shot for ruining our chances and building up their own.

It's a chance to say look...we did this.

This week wasn't any different, and our offense is not able to do a lot. Plus UAB made a lot of "safe" plays. They also caught us in a few blitzes. This time, I was double teamed all the time. When I say double team, they had wr's on me when I was spread out in coverage. It's crazy and I let it get to me mentally and had probably my worse game of my career here at Houston.

We won, 24 - 10, but it does not feel like it.

My Stats: 1 Tackle

[MacroGuru]

1. Alabama
2. Michigan
3. Oklahoma
4. USF
5. Houston
6. Georgia
7. Stanford
8. LSU
9. Florida St
10. Nebraska
11. Boston College
12. Notre Dame
13. West Virginia
14. Virginia Tech
15. Penn St
16. Iowa
17. Central Michigan
18. Pittsburgh
19. Colorado St
20. Boise
21. UCF
22. Texas A&M
23. Michigan St
24. Georgia Tech
25. OSU

Damn, USF jumped us to 4 and we fell to 5. If we could have shut out UAB, I think we keep our 4 spot.

Oklahoma keeps their perfect record with a conference win against Baylor.

Iowa improves to 5-2 in Big Ten play with a 26-14 win over #17 OSU.

A dominant win by Oregon St in their trip to Los Angeles defeating USC 31 - 7.

Oregon holds conference rival Arizona to a goose-egg on the scoreboard.

Miami drops NC State, Increases it's ACC record to 4-4.

LSU explodes for 56 points against SEC rival Ole Miss.

BYU is 6-5, 4 - 3 in conference play with loses against Oregon St, Boise, TCU, Utah and Colorado St.

UNLV can't catch a break and are sitting at 1-9.


Bowl Projections


New Mexico Bowl - Syracuse vs Louisiana Tech
St. Petersburg Bowl - MArshall vs Bowling Green
New Orleans Bowl - UAB vs UL Lafayette
Las Vegas Bowl - Washington St vs Colorado St
Poinsetta Bowl - Cincinnati vs TCU
Hawaii Bowl - Memphis vs Hawaii
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Minnesota vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Temple
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs Oregon St
Music City Bowl - Vanderbilt vs North Carolina
Independence Bowl - Utah vs Wake Forest
EagleBank Bowl - Miami (OH) vs Clemson
Champs Sports Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Virginia
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - West Virginia vs Boise St
Holiday Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Washington
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Miami
Armed Forces Bowl - SMU vs BYU
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - OSU vs UCF
Texas Bowl - Wisconsin vs Kansas
Insight Bowl - Kansas St vs Northwestern
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Arkansas vs Virginia Tech
Outback Bowl - Ole Miss vs Penn St
Capital One Bowl - LSU vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Florida vs Michigan St
Rose Bowl - Houston vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Florida St
Alamo Bowl - Texas vs UCLA
Orange Bowl - Boston College vs Nebraska
Sugar Bowl - USF vs Georgia
GMAC Bowl - Western Michigan vs Notre Dame
AT&T Cotton Bowl - South Carolina vs Texas A&M
Papajohns.com Bowl - Arkansas State vs Texas Tech

BCS National Championship Game - Michigan vs Alabama

We have the potential to visit the Rose Bowl or the second time in 3 years. I am pretty excited by that, although I would like the cards to fall to get us into the NC.

[MacroGuru]

The top 3 players for each award were announced this week. The following Houston Cougars are in the top 3

Bednarik
Nicholas Thomas

Nagurski
Nicholas Thomas

Lombardi
Pedro Brooks (LOLB Sophomore)

Best LB
Nicholas Thomas

For all intense purposes it looks like we will be bringing us 4 individual trophies home on top of whatever team trophies we can earn.

[MacroGuru]

The battle for the Bayou Bucket..It's the rivalry game, almost the last game of the season and this one has been heated all week. Words have been exchanged in the press. Rice is feeling really sure of themselves and picked on. This point makes them scary.

We start the game off rough. They march down the field easily on us. We have no answer for them. The score a TD on a deep pass. We turn around and make a time clock chewing drive and score tying it up.

They then put up 10 unanswered on us. Our offense continues to screw up into the 4th where we finally save the game by getting an INT for a TD. We then stuff Rice with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game. We march down the field and kick the FG, tying the game at 17. We leave them about 40 seconds to score and are able to hold them sending this game into OT.

Not only does it go into overtime, we send it into Triple OT and end up pulling the win out, 39 - 31.

It was a rough game, a lot of anger, pushing and shoving to start but ended up just being a focused affair in the end.

My Stats: 9 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Houston
5. Stanford
6. LSU
7. Florida St
8. Nebrask
9. Boston College
10. Notre Dame
11. West Virginia
12. Georgia
13. Virginia Tech
14. Central Michigan
15. Iowa
16. USF
17. Boise St
18. Michigan St
19. Georgia Tech
20. Penn St
21. Utah
22. Colorado St
23. Texas
24. SMU
25. Texas A&M

Michigan is tops in the rankings after blanking OSU 38 - 0.

USF is still in shock after losing their first game of the season to UConn 31-26.

Porter and Texas knock off Big 12 opponent Texas A&M 22-16.

Michigan State wins big at University Park against Penn St.

Buffalo barely edges out conference foe Ball State in 25-23 thriller.

Louisville improves its conference record to 3-4 with a shutout of Syracuse.


Bowl Projections


New Mexico Bowl - Mid Tenn St vs Louisiana Tech
St. Petersburg Bowl - Miami (OH) vs Ohio
New Orleans Bowl - UAB vs UL Lafayette
Las Vegas Bowl - Washington St vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Arizona State vs Utah
Hawaii Bowl - Memphis vs Hawaii
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Minnesota vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Florida
Emerald Bowl - Boise State vs Oregon St
Music City Bowl - Cincinnati vs Wake Forest
Independence Bowl - Colorado St vs Clemson
EagleBank Bowl - Bowling Green vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Virginia
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - West Virginia vs Fresno St
Holiday Bowl - Kansas St vs Washington
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Miami
Armed Forces Bowl - SMU vs BYU
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - OSU vs UCF
Texas Bowl - Wisconsin vs Kansas
Insight Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Northwestern
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Arkansas vs Virginia Tech
Outback Bowl - South Carolina vs Michigan St
Capital One Bowl - Georgia vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Vanderbilt vs Penn St
Rose Bowl - Florida St vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs USF
Alamo Bowl - Texas vs UCLA
Orange Bowl - Boston College vs Nebraska
Sugar Bowl - Houston vs LSU
GMAC Bowl - Western Michigan vs Notre Dame
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Ole Miss vs Texas A&M
Papajohns.com Bowl - Arkansas State vs Iowa St

BCS National Championship Game - Michigan vs Alabama

And if we can beat Georgia Tech and secure our conference championship we should be heading to the Sugar Bowl. Our hope now is someone else plays the role of spoiler and takes out either Michigan or Alabama.

[MacroGuru]

Our first ranked opponent all season. It's Georgia Tech and their option attack coming into Houston. We are bound and determined to not lose this game.

It starts out well as we start out stuffing them and then on a 3rd and 2, their QB drops back. I am blitzing from the outside, and wrap him up. As he is going down the ball pops lose. I get up, scoop the ball and run the 7 yards in for the first score of the game.

We then hold them and move down and kick a FG. They then rattle off 17 points unanswered. We in turn hold and counter and score a TD.

They then march straight down the field and score again. We duke it out back and forth into the 4th quarter where we tie the game.

With less than a minute remaining, they run their option sweep to my side. I step up into the space between the back and the QB and pick the ball in mid stride and take it to the house scoring the game winning TD! This one is probably the highlight play of my career!

We hold them and force the 4 and out and end up walking away with a 31 - 24 win.

My Stats: 7 Tackles, 5 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble, 2 Fumble Recoveries, 2 TD's.

My play earns me Player of the Game, CUSA and NCAA Player of the Week honors. I was bound to not lose this game.

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Houston
5. Stanford
6. Florida St
7. Nebraska
8. Boston College
9. Notre Dame
10. West Virginia
11. LSU
12. Central Michigan
13. Virginia Tech
14. Iowa
15. USF
16. Michigan St
17. Utah
18. Penn St
19. Colorado St
20. Georgia
21. Texas
22. Texas A&M
23. Boise St
24. Fresno St
25. Pittsburgh

Utah leaps to #17 after their victory over Boise St.

Oklahoma passes a major test against the #6 Tigers

UCLA travels to hostile Colosseum and takes out USC in OT.

Alabama shows just how dominant they can be at home spanking Akron 50- 7.

Washington State suffers a collapse against Pac-10 adversary Washington.

Syracuse improves to 6-6 and is bowl eligble after win over NC State.


Bowl Projections


New Mexico Bowl - BYU vs Louisiana Tech
St. Petersburg Bowl - Clemson vs Iowa St
New Orleans Bowl - UAB vs Arkansas St
Las Vegas Bowl - Washington St vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Nevada vs Utah
Hawaii Bowl - Memphis vs Hawaii
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Minnesota vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Texas Tech
Emerald Bowl - Boise State vs Oregon St
Music City Bowl - Arkansas vs North Carolina
Independence Bowl - Colorado St vs Wake Forest
EagleBank Bowl - Bowling Green vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - OSU vs Virginia
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Fresno St
Holiday Bowl - Kansas St vs Washington
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Miami
Armed Forces Bowl - SMU vs New Mexico
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Vanderbilt vs UCF
Texas Bowl - Wisconsin vs Kansas
Insight Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Northwestern
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Virginia Tech
Outback Bowl - Kentucky vs Michigan St
Capital One Bowl - LSU vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - South Carolina vs Penn St
Rose Bowl - Florida St vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Notre Dame
Alamo Bowl - Texas vs UCLA
Orange Bowl - Boston College vs USF
Sugar Bowl - Houston vs Nebraska
GMAC Bowl - Western Michigan vs West Virginia
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Georgia vs Texas A&M
Papajohns.com Bowl - UL Lafayette vs Cincinnati

BCS National Championship Game - Michigan vs Alabama

One more game to help determine our fate!

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Houston
5. Stanford
6. Florida St
7. Nebraska
8. Boston College
9. Notre Dame
10. Central Michigan
11. West Virginia
12. LSU
13. Virginia Tech
14. Iowa
15. USF
16. Michigan St
17. Utah
18. Penn St
19. Colorado St
20. Georgia
21. Texas
22. Texas A&M
23. Boise St
24. Fresno St
25. Pittsburgh


Bowl Projections


New Mexico Bowl - BYU vs Louisiana Tech
St. Petersburg Bowl - Clemson vs Iowa St
New Orleans Bowl - UAB vs Arkansas St
Las Vegas Bowl - Washington St vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Nevada vs Utah
Hawaii Bowl - Memphis vs Hawaii
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Minnesota vs Central Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Texas Tech
Emerald Bowl - Boise State vs Oregon St
Music City Bowl - Arkansas vs North Carolina
Independence Bowl - Colorado St vs Wake Forest
EagleBank Bowl - Bowling Green vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - OSU vs Virginia
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Fresno St
Holiday Bowl - Kansas St vs Washington
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Miami
Armed Forces Bowl - SMU vs New Mexico
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Vanderbilt vs UCF
Texas Bowl - Wisconsin vs Kansas
Insight Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Northwestern
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Virginia Tech
Outback Bowl - Kentucky vs Michigan St
Capital One Bowl - LSU vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - South Carolina vs Penn St
Rose Bowl - Florida St vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Notre Dame
Alamo Bowl - Texas vs UCLA
Orange Bowl - Boston College vs USF
Sugar Bowl - Houston vs Nebraska
GMAC Bowl - Western Michigan vs West Virginia
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Georgia vs Texas A&M
Papajohns.com Bowl - UL Lafayette vs Cincinnati

BCS National Championship Game - Michigan vs Alabama


Based upon projections and the championship games, it looks like we will be heading to the Sugar Bowl.

[MacroGuru]

This game here is the one we can not lose. We have to win this finish out the season undefeated and UCF has been a good time, bouncing in and out of the Top 25 all season long.

This will be tough, but I think we can do it.

We start out sputtering on offense, unable to generate anything. Our defense was in a bend but don't break mode.

The last few games we have given up the deep pass and it wasn't going to be any different this game.

We score first, they follow up with a FG. We then score again. They do not score until the 4th qtr with about 2 minutes remaining. They go for the onside kick and we are able to recover it and hold out for the 14-11 win.

My stats: 9 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss.

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Houston
5. Stanford
6. Florida St
7. Central Michigan
8. Notre Dame
9. Virginia Tech
10. West Virginia
11. Nebraska
12. LSU
13. Boston College
14. Iowa
15. USF
16. Michigan St
17. Utah
18. Penn St
19. Colorado St
20. Texas
21. Texas A&M
22. Boise St
23. Fresno St
24. Pittsburgh
25. Georgia Tech

[MacroGuru]

New Mexico Bowl - BYU vs Louisiana Tech
St. Petersburg Bowl - Cincinnati vs Clemson
New Orleans Bowl - UAB vs Arkansas St
Las Vegas Bowl - Washington St vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Nevada vs Utah
Hawaii Bowl - Memphis vs Hawaii
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Minnesota vs Western Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Georgia Tech vs Iowa State
Emerald Bowl - Boise State vs Oregon St
Music City Bowl - Arkansas vs North Carolina
Independence Bowl - Colorado St vs Wake Forest
EagleBank Bowl - Bowling Green vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - OSU vs Virginia
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Fresno St
Holiday Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Washington
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Miami
Armed Forces Bowl - SMU vs New Mexico
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Vanderbilt vs UCF
Texas Bowl - Wisconsin vs Kansas State
Insight Bowl - Texas vs Northwestern
Chic-fil-A Bowl - South Carolina vs Boston College
Outback Bowl - Kentucky vs Michigan St
Capital One Bowl - LSU vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Ole Miss vs Penn St
Rose Bowl - Florida St vs Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Central Michigan
Alamo Bowl - Texas A&M vs UCLA
Orange Bowl - Virginia Tech vs USF
Sugar Bowl - Houston vs Notre Dame
GMAC Bowl - Miami (OH) vs West Virginia
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Georgia vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - UL Lafayette vs Kansas

BCS National Championship Game - Michigan vs Alabama

Wow, we get to take on the Golden Domers! We get history and a large fan base to watch us at the Sugar Bowl. I think we should be playing Oklahoma but thats another story altogether.

Teams in Bold won their Bowl Game.

Michigan is brought back to national prominence while Alabama is playing for the 2nd straight.

[MacroGuru]

Well, traveling back and forth while practicing, talking to the media and starting to listen to NFL agents. It might be my time to jump to the pro's, I am not sure about it yet.

I picked up the same hardware as last season. And our Sophomore DT Pedro Brooks picks up the Lombardi!


Bednarik
Nicholas Thomas

Nagurski
Nicholas Thomas

Lombardi
Pedro Brooks (DT Sophomore)

Best LB
Nicholas Thomas

[MacroGuru]

I do not know how we end up being the visiting team for this game but it's ok. With that being said it might of well been a home game for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame sure as hell watched some of our game film at the end of the season. They attacked us deep and succeeded all day long. We were playing catchup the entire game. Our offense was not able to generate anything.

We lose the Sugar Bowl 27-21

My Stats: 7 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Oklahoma
3. Stanford
4. Alabama
5. Notre Dame
6. Houston
7. Central Michigan
8. West Virginia
9. Nebraska
10. LSU
11. Florida St
12. USF
13. Boston College
14. Virginia Tech
15. Utah
16. Penn St
17. Iowa
18. Texas
19. Texas A&M
20. Fresno St
21. Georgia Tech
22. Miami
23. Colorado St
24. TCU
25. OSU

[MacroGuru]

The 2012 season was a great season. I wish we could have pulled off the win in the Sugar Bowl. Our offense will click next season, I know it.

My final Stats for the season:

102 Tackles
33 Tackles for Loss
16 Assisted Tackles
9 Sacks
0 INT's
2 Defensive TD's
0 Pass Deflections
9 Forced Fumbles
2 Fumble Recoveries
0 Blocks
0 Safeties


My total career stats so far:


229 Tackles
66 Tackles for Loss
49 Assisted Tackles
22 Sacks
2 INT's
4 Defensive TD's
1 Pass Deflections
15 Forced Fumbles
8 Fumble Recoveries
0 Blocks
0 Safeties

[MacroGuru]

What to do. The phone has been ringing off the hook. The press has been calling me, NFL Agents, friends, family...everyone.

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay both have me valued as late 1st round / 2nd round in the NFL. I talk with my brother, who is in the NFL and my parents plus my coach. My brother made the leap now, I want to finish it out. I want to finish what I committed to, and I have made my decision to stay at Houston and finish out my senior season.

[MacroGuru]

We have the following freshman on the team this season:

QB Jeff Mullins
HB Quincy Williams
LG Marcus Wilcox
LG Anthony Dennis
C Kyler Williams
DT Tim Vinson
OLB Maurice Hall
SS Luke Wilson
K Heath Clark
P Joel Watkins

Quincy will platoon and end up being our 2nd HB, Kyler is our starting C, Heath and Joel are our kickers everyone else will be 3rd or lower on the depth chart.

[MacroGuru]

Our schedule for this season is:

FCS E
@ EMU
@ UTEP
@ Tulsa
@ Tulane
Memphis
Army
USM
@UCF
SMU
Rice
Idaho

Not a tough schedule as far as teams, but brutal with 4 away games right up front. We aren't ranked and will have to go undefeated again to get anywhere.

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. LSU
5. Stanford
6. Notre Dame
7. Nebraska
8. Florida St
9. Penn St
10. OSU
11. Texas A&M
12. Boston College
13. West Virginia
14. Texas
15. Virginia Tech
16. Iowa
17. Miami
18. Georgia Tech
19. Arkansas
20. Michigan St
21. Wisconsin
22. Georgia
23. Utah
24. Ole Miss
25. Central Michigan


This is crap, it goes to show you who controls college football now. All BCS schools until Utah @ 23. We are ranked 26th, right behind Central Michigan. I guess it pays to be in an AQ Conference.

[MacroGuru]

We have a BYE for Week 1.


1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. LSU
5. Stanford
6. Notre Dame
7. Nebraska
8. Florida St
9. Penn St
10. OSU
11. Texas A&M
12. Boston College
13. West Virginia
14. Texas
15. Virginia Tech
16. Iowa
17. Miami
18. Georgia Tech
19. Arkansas
20. Michigan St
21. Wisconsin
22. Georgia
23. Utah
24. Ole Miss
25. Central Michigan

No movement in the Week 1 polls

[MacroGuru]

Not much to say here. We were prepared to come out and prove that we are wanting to be one of the top teams in the nation.

We put on a defensive clinic this game with 2 interceptions, 3 Forced Fumbles, 3 Fumble Recoveries and just plain old stopping this team at every point.

Our offense has yet to gel, but it should be a very potent passing attack this season.

We won 38 - 0.

My Stats: 5 Tackles, 3 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery

My play ended up getting me Player of the Game and CUSA Player of the Week honors.

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. LSU
5. Stanford
6. Florida St
7. Nebraska
8. Penn St
9. OSU
10. Texas A&M
11. Boston College
12. Notre Dame
13. Texas
14. Virginia Tech
15. Iowa
16. Miami
17. Georgia Tech
18. Arkansas
19. West Virginia
20. Michigan St
21. Georgia
22. Utah
23. Central Michigan
24. Houston
25. Texas Tech

Texas Tech jumps to #25 after beating Wisconsin 24-10

No other game was bigger in than Michigan's 40-7 win over Notre Dame

Wesley is all smiles after Miami hands his old team a 40-20 loss

Aztecs win their conference opener against Colorado State

[MacroGuru]

I didn't know what to expect going into this game as EMU hasn't been on the radar for the past few years. They run a single back, run and shoot type offense.

Again defensively we wanted to pitch a shutout and also prove the deep ball isn't going to beat us this season. Well one of them proved true.

We managed to put on another clinic defensively, their starting QB was injured in the 1st qtr and from then on it was just make life hell for the backup.

We ended up shutting them out and tormenting their QB all game long. The score was 30 - 0.

I am getting slightly concerned about our boys on offense, we handed the ball to them several times deep in Eastern Michigan territory and we came away with nothing.

My Stats: 8 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 2 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble.

For the second week in a row I take Player of the Game and CUSA Player of the Week honors!

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. LSU
5. Stanford
6. Florida St
7. Penn St
8. OSU
9. Texas
10. Georgia Tech
11. Iowa
12. Miami
13. Nebraska
14. Boston College
15. Michigan St
16. Notre Dame
17. West Virginia
18. Virginia Tech
19. Utah
20. Central Michigan
21. UCLA
22. Houston
23. Arkansas
24. Texas A&M
25. Washington

Now before I break down some of the top headlines this week, I have to question the sanity of the coaches. Really, an 0-2 Notre Dame team is still ranked? HOW THE HELL?

Home field couldn't help #7 Nebraska overcome a lackluster performance against UCLA.

Yellow Jackets are confident after a ACC victory over Virginia Tech.

The 31 - 7 loss to FIU proves Texas A&M did not deserve to be ranked at #10.

The SEC season begins on a high note for Alabama as they took Arkansas to the woodshed, 66 - 28.

Oregon edges Tennessee, keeps the power of Autzen Stadium alive.

BYU sits at 2-0with wins over Akron and UNLV

UNLV is at 1-1 with a win over FCS E. They play #8 OSU this week.

[MacroGuru]

Our 2nd road game in the 4 road game stint. UTEP has a wide open offense with motion to confuse the defense.

They did it properly for the entire game and even attacked us deep. I don't know what our issue is other than we are to aggressive.

We were barely able to pull this one out, 31 - 28.

My stats: 4 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. LSU
5. Stanford
6. Florida St
7. Penn St
8. OSU
9. Texas
10. Georgia Tech
11. Iowa
12. Miami
13. Nebraska
14. Michigan St
15. Notre Dame
16. West Virginia
17. Utah
18. Central Michigan
19. Houston
20. Virginia Tech
21. Texas A&M
22. Washington
23. Boise St
24. Boston College
25. Kansas

[MacroGuru]

Tulsa and their high powered offense hit a meat grinder in today.

We took it to them from the get go and in the 1st half our offense looked like it should be scoring 31 of our 38 points. Coach dialed them back in the 2nd half and we stood pat on defense allowing a fluke TD in the third qtr.

I had to bruising hits this game, taking their QB and their RB out of the game with a sprained ankle and a separated shoulder.

I walked over to their RB at the end of the game to make sure he was ok, their QB hobbled up to and said nice hit at the end.

My Stats: 6 Tackles, 3 Tackles for Loss, 2 Sacks

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. LSU
5. Florida St
6. Stanford
7. Penn St
8. OSU
9. Texas
10. Miami
11. Nebraska
12. Michigan St
13. Notre Dame
14. Georgia Tech
15. West Virginia
16. Utah
17. Iowa
18. Central Michigan
19. Houston
20. Virginia Tech
21. Boise St
22. Arkansas
23. Boston College
24. TCU
25. Pittsburgh

So we and Central Michigan sit at the same spots at 4-0 while others move and shift ahead of us. I honestly hate this.

BYU is at 2-2 with loses to #21 Boise St and Wyoming (ACK!)

UNLV is 1-3 with loses to #8 OSU, #24 TCU and BYU

[MacroGuru]

Tulane was tough and held on tight for the first qtr and half of the second. Our offense then started rolling and hitting the home run plays that we need in order to succeed.

Three and outs demoralize us on defense, it's almost like, do we really have to go back out, we just got here.

We stopped Tulane and pitched the shutout while we were at it 41-0.

My Stats: 5 Tackles, 3 Tackles for Loss

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. LSU
4. Stanford
5. Penn St
6. OSU
7. Texas
8. Miami
9. Oklahoma
10. Nebraska
11. Georgia Tech
12. Florida St
13. West Virginia
14. Michigan St
15. Iowa
16. Central Michigan
17. Houston
18. Boise St
19. Wake Forest
20. Pittsburgh
21. Arkansas
22. California
23. Texas A&M
24. Utah
25. Oregon

2 spots and Central Michigan is still ahead of us...guess the 41 - 0 drubbing wasn't enough of a statement win.

BYU is now 3-2 with their win coming against #24 Utah!

UNLV drops to 1-4 with them losing this week at Nevada

[MacroGuru]

Our homecoming game is against Memphis who does everything in their power to destroy our night and it comes close to it.

Even though we won 13 - 0 it feels nothing like a win. An amazing performance from our Sophomore MLB is the only reason we won this game. He had a pick at the end that stopped a drive that was entering into our territory.

Memphis took me away from the play most of the time and when I blitzed I was double teamed a lot. I got into it with their center as he tried to chop block me while I was tied up with their left tackle.

My stats: 6 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble

[MacroGuru]

1. Michigan
2. Alabama
3. Penn St
4. LSU
5. Stanford
6. Miami
7. Texas
8. Oklahoma
9. Georgia Tech
10. OSU
11. West Virginia
12. Michigan St
13. Iowa
14. Central Michigan
15. Wake Forest
16. Houston
17. California
18. Boise St
19. Florida St
20. Nebraska
21. Baylor
22. Texas A&M
23. Utah
24. Oregon
25. Notre Dame

A 3-3 Notre Dame team ends up ranked. 8-13 all have 1 loss and then we have us, Central Michigan and Wake undefeated.

BYU had a BYE week while UNLV had another loss.

[MacroGuru]

This is a game that I have been pretty excited to play. I know that the history behind the Army football program is unique and storied. I was also interested in the military growing up and Army was honestly a thought process for me as walking on to the team, but my parents talked me out of it.

As usual, this game was a slow start offensively for us. We were keyed up on defense, we tend to be against an option team. We shut them down on the run and they really weren't able to do much against us in the air.

Our offense scored 21 in the 2nd qtr and scored another 21 in the 2nd half. Defensively, we shut them out winning the game 42 - 0.

My stats: 6 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack and 1 Interception.

I ended up earning Player of Game honors and CUSA Player of the Week.

[MacroGuru]

1. Penn St
2. Alabama
3. LSU
4. Stanford
5. Miami
6. Texas
7. Michigan
8. Oklahoma
9. OSU
10. West Virginia
11. California
12. Wake Forest
13. Central Michigan
14. Iowa
15. Houston
16. Georgia Tech
17. Boise St
18. Florida St
19. Michigan St
20. Nebraska
21. Oregon
22. Notre Dame
23. Auburn
24. Baylor
25. Virginia Tech

Penn State ends up taking down Michigan and leaping to the #1 spot. We are unable to garner any respect and it's our schedule that is the cause.

BYU is 3 -3 with their last game an OT loss to TCU.

UNLV is now 2-5 with their 2nd win coming at the expense of Air Force.

[MacroGuru]

We don't have a ton of games left before I am done playing ball in the college ranks. USM has always been a tough play for us since I have been here, I know this game will not be different.

We come out just slugging them in the jaw but they fight back. We scored a FG initially and they march down to get into FG position, 4th and 11 and we lineup. I jump the snap, a little to early. They miss the FG but I get flagged for offsides, they lineup to kick it again and they miss! It will go to show you the kind of day USM.

We rounded the game out nicely with our offense doing the bulk of the work. USM played a pretty clean game as far as turnovers.

My stats: 6 Tackles, 4 Tackles for Loss, 3 Sacks

Player of the Game and CUSA player of the week honors were earned again!

[MacroGuru]

1. Penn St
2. Alabama
3. LSU
4. Miami
5. Texas
6. California
7. Oklahoma
8. Wake Forest
9. OSU
10. West Virginia
11. Iowa
12. Central Michigan
13. Stanford
14. Houston
15. Michigan
16. Boise St
17. Georgia Tech
18. Michigan St
19. Oregon
20. Notre Dame
21. USC
22. Virginia Tech
23. UCLA
24. Auburn
25. Nebraska

The PAC-10 is seriously over-hyped this season with UCLA, CAL, Stanford and Oregon in the Top 25. I have given up on us catching a break. Hell, Wake Forest is in the ACC a BCS conference and they have barely cracked the Top 10.

BYU is 4-3 with a win over Colorado State this week.

UNLV is 3-5 with a 52-21 win over Wyoming. If they win 3 out of their last 4 games they become bowl eligible. They can do it with CSU, UNM, Utah and ULM.

[MacroGuru]

The Golden Knights always play us tough and we are on the road. We need to win and keep on winning in order to move up.

UCF plays us tough for the game. Our aggressive defense keeps them on their heels though and we keep on taking out starting QB's. It was a rainy game and the ball was all over the ground.

Offensively we score just enough to win, 17-7.

My Stats: 6 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack and 2 Forced Fumbles

I am awarded Player of the Game honors.

[MacroGuru]

1. LSU
2. Penn St
3. Miami
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma
6. Alabama
7. OSU
8. West Virginia
9. Central Michigan
10. Iowa
11. Houston
12. Boise St
13. Michigan
14. Georgia Tech
15. Michigan St
16. Oregon
17. Stanford
18. UCLA
19. Notre Dame
20. USC
21. California
22. Wake Forest
23. Auburn
24. Nebraska
25. Texas A&M

The papers complain Boise St is getting the shaft, but what about us? We are poised to crack the Top 10 with a win this week.

Wake Forest fall for the first time this season against Virginia.

LSU crushes Alabama in Tuscaloosa 51-21.

Cal drops one to Oregon St in OT.

BYU is now 5-3 with a win over UNM

UNLV is 3-6 with a loss to Colorado State

[MacroGuru]

The following Houston Cougars are on award lists:

Bednarik
OLB Nicholas Thomas
DT Pedro Brooks
LE Lee Nance

Nagurski
OLB Nicholas Thomas
DT Pedro Brooks
LE Lee Nance

Rimington
C Kyler Williams (He is a FR to boot!)

Lombardi
DT Pedro Brooks
LE Lee Nance
RE John Rosario
DT Wayne Carlton

Best LB
OLB Nicholas Thomas

Groza
K Heath Clark (Another FR!)

[MacroGuru]

SMU, our bane, the one team that took us out last season and has a chance to do it this season. We can not let this happen again.

It was a back and forth affair for most of the game. We scored a FG first, they then rattled off 10 points and then we take and add 10 more points to our tally.

After that, we trailed most of the game, including the last 1:30, when I came in on a blitz on 3rd and long and forced their QB to throw it up and Triplett managed to get a pick 6.

We added 2 additional FGs in the waning seconds to win this one 34-28.

It was a rough game I am happy to get through...next week will be nice as we have a BYE.

My Stats: 10 tackles, 1 Forced Fumble

[MacroGuru]

1. LSU
2. Penn St
3. Miami
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma
6. Alabama
7. OSU
8. West Virginia
9. Houston
10. Iowa
11. Boise St
12. Michigan
13. Georgia Tech
14. Michigan St
15. Oregon
16. Stanford
17. UCLA
18. Central Michigan
19. Notre Dame
20. USC
21. Wake Forest
22. Nebraska
23. California
24. Tennessee
25. Utah

We crack the Top 10 and Central Michigan drops a game to Western Michigan. We are now down to two non-aq schools left for a chance to get into a BCS game.

BYU is 6-3 with a win over SDSU and have now become bowl eligible.

UNLV is 4-6 with a win over UNM. They must win at #25 Utah and ULM to become bowl eligible.

[MacroGuru]

1. LSU
2. Penn St
3. Miami
4. Oklahoma
5. Alabama
6. Houston
7. OSU
8. West Virginia
9. Iowa
10. Boise St
11. Texas
12. Michigan
13. Michigan St
14. Stanford
15. UCLA
16. Notre Dame
17. USC
18. Tennessee
19. Nebraska
20. Georgia Tech
21. Oregon
22. Wake Forest
23. Florida
24. Virginia Tech
25. TCU

We jump 3 spots without playing a game because Tennessee beat Texas to move to #18. Central Michigan loses again and drops out of the Top 25 altogether.

BYU is 7-3 with a win over Air Force

UNLV had a BYE week but plays a Utah team that just lost to TCU.

[MacroGuru]

The following Houston Cougars are Finalists for the award lists:

Bednarik
OLB Nicholas Thomas
DT Pedro Brooks

Nagurski
OLB Nicholas Thomas
DT Pedro Brooks
LE Lee Nance

Rimington
C Kyler Williams (He is a FR to boot!)

Lombardi
DT Pedro Brooks
LE Lee Nance

Best LB
OLB Nicholas Thomas

[MacroGuru]

I thought I would separate the projections from the Top 25 this season..

New Mexico Bowl - Eastern Michigan vs Nevada
St. Petersburg Bowl - Memphis vs Temple
New Orleans Bowl - UAB vs UL Lafayette
Las Vegas Bowl - California vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Western Kentucky vs BYU
Hawaii Bowl - UTEP vs Fresno St
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Rutgers vs Western Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida St vs UConn
Emerald Bowl - Boise State vs Washington
Music City Bowl - Arkansas St vs North Carolina
Independence Bowl - Utah vs Duke
EagleBank Bowl - Kent State vs Clemson
Champs Sports Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Georgia Tech
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - USF vs San Jose St
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs UCLA
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Virginia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - Tulsa vs San Diego St
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Toledo vs Marshall
Texas Bowl - Louisville vs FIU
Insight Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Illinois
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Wake Forest
Outback Bowl - South Carolina vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Florida vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs Michigan St
Rose Bowl - Oklahoma vs USC
Fiesta Bowl - Texas vs West Virginia
Alamo Bowl - Texas A&M vs Stanford
Orange Bowl - Miami vs Houston
Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs OSU
GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan vs Notre Dame
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Tennessee vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Cincinnati

BCS National Championship Game - LSU vs Penn St

I don't mind keeping where we are at unless we play in the National Championship..

[MacroGuru]

My final rivalry game, my final Battle for the Bayou Bucket. I knew growing up around my dad how intense rivalry games could get, but I didn't know how bad they were when you play in them.

Last season Rice played us very tough, but some key injuries to them this season I do not think they will.

Prophetically they didn't as we practically scored every time the offense touched the ball. We punted twice all game and missed 1 FG.

Rice could not generate anything against us offensively. We shut them out and did it in dramatic fashion 55 - 0.

My Stats: 6 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack

[MacroGuru]

1. LSU
2. Penn St
3. Miami
4. Oklahoma
5. Alabama
6. Houston
7. West Virginia
8. Boise St
9. Iowa
10. Michigan
11. Texas
12. OSU
13. UCLA
14. Notre Dame
15. USC
16. Tennessee
17. Nebraska
18. Michigan St
19. Wake Forest
20. Stanford
21. Florida
22. Virginia Tech
23. TCU
24. Washington
25. Oregon

We sit at 6 and have a 1 loss Oklahoma and Alabama ahead of us and an undefeated Boise St.

BYU moves to 8-3 with a win over Ball State.

UNLV shocks Utah and moves to 5-6, a win over ULM next week and they are bowl eligible.

[MacroGuru]

New Mexico Bowl - Utah vs Fresno St
St. Petersburg Bowl - UAB vs Arkansas St
New Orleans Bowl - Memphis vs UL Lafayette
Las Vegas Bowl - California vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Temple vs BYU
Hawaii Bowl - Tulsa vs Western Kentucky
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Rutgers vs Western Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida St vs Toledo
Emerald Bowl - San Jose State vs Washington
Music City Bowl - Louisville vs Duke
Independence Bowl - Wyoming vs Clemson
EagleBank Bowl - Kent State vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - USF vs Georgia Tech
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - UConn vs Nevada
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs Stanford
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Virginia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - Marshall vs San Diego St
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - North Carolina vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Illinois vs FIU
Insight Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Michigan St
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Wake Forest
Outback Bowl - South Carolina vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Florida vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Oklahoma vs USC
Fiesta Bowl - Texas vs Boise St
Alamo Bowl - Texas A&M vs UCLA
Orange Bowl - Miami vs Houston
Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs West Virginia
GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan vs Notre Dame
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Tennessee vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Eastern Michigan

BCS National Championship Game - LSU vs Penn St

Bowl games in italics means their projection has changed

We are still sitting at the Orange Bowl and Boise is in the Fiesta..

[MacroGuru]

Senior day. My last day playing at home, in front of this crowd. I have been here for four years and the emotions I am feeling today are crazy. I want to perform, I want to play well. I want this game to be the best game I have ever played.

Idaho comes out running and throwing away from me. I could not become part of the play. I was getting frustrated, angered almost. It was the right thing to do for them though.

Our offense again, nothing. In fact we went in at halftime down 3-0. It wasn't until late into the 3rd qtr when they decided to string some plays together to score. We then tacked another TD on in the 4th qtr and held on to this game to win 14 - 3.

It was a win, but a disappointing one for me.

My stats: 6 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss.

[MacroGuru]

1. LSU
2. Miami
3. Oklahoma
4. Houston
5. Alabama
6. Boise St
7. Iowa
8. Penn St
9. Michigan
10. Texas
11. OSU
12. USC
13. Tennessee
14. Michigan St
15. West Virginia
16. Wake Forest
17. Stanford
18. Florida
19. UCLA
20. Oklahoma St
21. TCU
22. Washington
23. Oregon
24. Notre Dame
25. Central Michigan

Central Michigan makes it back into the Top 25 while Penn St loses and drops themselves out of the National Championship.

We move up to the 4 spot. LSU and/or Miami have to lose in order for us to get in.

BYU ends up 8-4 with their last game being a loss to Central Michigan.

UNLV finishes the season at 6-6 and they are bowl eligible, I hope they get an invite.

[MacroGuru]

New Mexico Bowl - UNLV vs Nevada
St. Petersburg Bowl - UAB vs North Carolina
New Orleans Bowl - Memphis vs UL Lafayette
Las Vegas Bowl - Washington vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Temple vs BYU
Hawaii Bowl - Tulsa vs Western Kentucky
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - FIU vs Western Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida St vs Toledo
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs California
Music City Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Duke
Independence Bowl - Wyoming vs Clemson
EagleBank Bowl - Kent State vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Louisville vs Georgia Tech
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Utah vs San Jose State
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs UCLA
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Virginia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - Marshall vs San Diego St
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Maryland vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Illinois vs USF
Insight Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Michigan St
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Wake Forest
Outback Bowl - South Carolina vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Florida vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Penn St vs USC
Fiesta Bowl - Texas vs West Virginia
Alamo Bowl - Texas A&M vs Stanford
Orange Bowl - Houston vs Alabama
Sugar Bowl - Oklahoma vs Boise St
GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan vs Notre Dame
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Tennessee vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Rutgers

BCS National Championship Game - Miami vs LSU

Bowl games in italics means their projection has changed

Bring on Alabama...but I would like to end my career in the National Championship.

Also, it looks like UNLV will more than likely get the invite!

[MacroGuru]

1. LSU
2. Miami
3. Houston
4. Oklahoma
5. Boise St
6. Alabama
7. Penn St
8. Iowa
9. Michigan
10. Texas
11. OSU
12. USC
13. Tennessee
14. Michigan St
15. West Virginia
16. Wake Forest
17. Stanford
18. Florida
19. UCLA
20. Oklahoma St
21. Washington
22. Notre Dame
23. Central Michigan
24. Nebraska
25. Fresno St

Wow, we just hit #3...We play Marshall for the conference championship while LSU plays Florida for the SEC Championship and Miami plays Wake Forest for the ACC Championship.

If one of them lose, we are in the National Championship game if we win against Marshall.

[MacroGuru]

New Mexico Bowl - UNLV vs Nevada
St. Petersburg Bowl - UAB vs FIU
New Orleans Bowl - Memphis vs UL Lafayette
Las Vegas Bowl - Washington vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Temple vs BYU
Hawaii Bowl - Marshall vs North Carolina
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Wisconsin vs Western Michigan
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida St vs Western Kentucky
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs California
Music City Bowl - Louisville vs Duke
Independence Bowl - Wyoming vs Clemson
EagleBank Bowl - Kent State vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Georgia Tech
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Utah vs San Jose State
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs UCLA
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Virginia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - Tulsa vs San Diego St
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Maryland vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Illinois vs USF
Insight Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Michigan St
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Wake Forest
Outback Bowl - South Carolina vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - Florida vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Penn St vs USC
Fiesta Bowl - Texas vs West Virginia
Alamo Bowl - Texas A&M vs Stanford
Orange Bowl - Oklahoma vs Boise St
Sugar Bowl - Houston vs Alabama
GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan vs Notre Dame
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Tennessee vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Rutgers

BCS National Championship Game - Miami vs LSU

Bowl games in italics means their projection has changed

I like Boise in the Orange, we move to the Sugar and play Alabama...I hope LSU loses...

[MacroGuru]

Not much to say here. Win and you are in a BCS game. Win and LSU or Miami loses and you are in the National Championship game. We know what we have to do.

1st qtr - Not much to say here, we were able to score a FG and hold them scoreless

2nd qtr - We go off for 21 points, unfortunately Marshall goes off for 13.

3rd qtr - we are both scoreless in the third

4th qtr - We add another TD for a 31 - 13 victory

My Stats: 5 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss

Not a great game again, but that is what happens when they run and pass away from me.

[MacroGuru]

1. Miami
2. Houston
3. Boise St
4. Oklahoma
5. Alabama
6. LSU
7. Penn St
8. Iowa
9. Michigan
10. Texas
11. OSU
12. USC
13. Tennessee
14. Michigan St
15. West Virginia
16. Florida
17. Stanford
18. UCLA
19. Oklahoma St
20. Washington
21. Wake Forest
22. Notre Dame
23. Central Michigan
24. Fresno St
25. Georgia Tech

OMG! LSU drops the game to Florida! WE ARE GOING TO THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! WE MADE IT!

We ran off the field and watched the LSU/FLORIDA game from the locker room. When the game ended we went wild. The chant of BCS! BCS! echoed throughout the locker room.

Not one of us could walk anywhere on campus after the games or we were mobbed by everyone, even professors.

I am elated, shocked, surprised and excited all wrapped up into one...this game is big time and will determine my draft status for the NFL, not to mention set history here at Houston and for the conference, this is major.

[MacroGuru]

New Mexico Bowl - UNLV vs Nevada
St. Petersburg Bowl - UAB vs FIU
New Orleans Bowl - Memphis vs UL Lafayette
Las Vegas Bowl - Washington vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Temple vs BYU
Hawaii Bowl - Tulsa vs North Carolina
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Wisconsin vs Kent State
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida St vs Western Kentucky
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs California
Music City Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Duke
Independence Bowl - Wyoming vs Clemson
EagleBank Bowl - Western Michigan vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Louisville vs Wake Forest
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Utah vs San Jose State
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs UCLA
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Virginia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - Marshall vs San Diego St
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Maryland vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Illinois vs USF
Insight Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Michigan St
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Georgia Tech
Outback Bowl - South Carolina vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - LSU vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Penn St vs USC
Fiesta Bowl - Texas vs Alabama
Alamo Bowl - Texas A&M vs Stanford
Orange Bowl - Boise St vs Oklahoma
Sugar Bowl - Florida vs West Virginia
GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan vs Notre Dame
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Tennessee vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Rutgers

BCS National Championship Game - Houston vs Miami

UNLV makes a bowl game and will play their rival, Nevada.

And if you haven't heard by now....the 2013 HOUSTON COUGARS are going to the BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

[MacroGuru]

The following Houston Cougars have brought home some hardware:

Bednarik
OLB Nicholas Thomas

Nagurski
OLB Nicholas Thomas

Lombardi
LE Lee Nance

Best LB
OLB Nicholas Thomas

That's three straight seasons of winning the awards for me! It's a historic achievement and has never been done before, the press won't stop blowing my phone up. The agents won't quit and everyone is starting to bother me. I have a game to focus on.

[MacroGuru]

New Mexico Bowl - UNLV vs Nevada
St. Petersburg Bowl - UAB vs FIU
New Orleans Bowl - Memphis vs UL Lafayette
Las Vegas Bowl - Washington vs TCU
Poinsetta Bowl - Temple vs BYU
Hawaii Bowl - Tulsa vs North Carolina
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Wisconsin vs Kent State
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Florida St vs Western Kentucky
Emerald Bowl - Fresno State vs California
Music City Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Duke
Independence Bowl - Wyoming vs Clemson
EagleBank Bowl - Western Michigan vs Navy
Champs Sports Bowl - Louisville vs Wake Forest
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Utah vs San Jose State
Holiday Bowl - Missouri vs UCLA
Brut Sun Bowl - Oregon vs Virginia Tech
Armed Forces Bowl - Marshall vs San Diego St
AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Maryland vs UTEP
Texas Bowl - Illinois vs USF
Insight Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Michigan St
Chic-fil-A Bowl - Ole Miss vs Georgia Tech
Outback Bowl - South Carolina vs Michigan
Capital One Bowl - LSU vs Iowa
Gator Bowl - Auburn vs OSU
Rose Bowl - Penn St vs USC
Fiesta Bowl - Texas vs Alabama
Alamo Bowl - Texas A&M vs Stanford
Orange Bowl - Boise St vs Oklahoma
Sugar Bowl - Florida vs West Virginia
GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan vs Notre Dame
AT&T Cotton Bowl - Tennessee vs Nebraska
Papajohns.com Bowl - North Texas vs Rutgers

BCS National Championship Game - Houston vs Miami

Teams in bold are the winners of their bowl game.

[MacroGuru]

What a feeling, the National Championship game is at the Rose Bowl this season. I thought it was loud when we have played there in the past, this was deafening. There was a constant hum all night and it was basically earth shaking when anything big happened.

I feel surprisingly at ease, I talked coach into letting my brother on the sideline for the game and he was able to get the pass, I think it helped to have someone that had been in this situation before next to me.

Coach didn't say much before the game other than he was truly proud of us and how we came together as a team and didn't let adversity get in our way this season.

I grabbed Pedro, Lee and Anthony and pulled them aside. These three are brothers to me. The bond we created over the past two years has been amazing. We talked about how awesome it would be to win this one. We know it's a battle and then them carrying on the legacy for the next few years and relaying that to the incoming freshman.

We run out on the field and the crowd erupts, Boise set the precedence for non-aq schools we are going to perfect it.

1st QTR - Miami is in control on defense as they shut our offense down. Their first series they march down and score a TD on us with me blowing my coverage, I bit on the play action. Miami is up 7-0

2nd QTR - Just after the second quarter begins we punt it. I am breaking down the field at full speed and their return man catches it without a fair catch signal and I smile as I unload on him. He fumbles the ball and Scott scoops it up and runs the 10 yards into the end zone for a TD. 7-7

3rd QTR - It's back and forth for most of the qtr, then our offense takes advantage of a few mistakes and ends up scoring a TD through a nice march down the field with two deep attacks. 14 - 7

4th QTR - Miami comes out in the 4th with a solid attack and quickly ties the game up. We take the kickoff and move the ball down the field scoring on a deep attack taking the lead 21-14. Miami starts from their 15 and we stuff their first play, Second down they run a draw play and gain six yards. Third down I blitz from the outside and get the critical sack and setting them at a 4th and 15.

There is a trade of punts and then Michael Hartman breaks a 60 yard TD run for us with a minute left in the game basically securing the win as we move to 28 -14. We play a prevent defense holding them, but they do manage to score a TD as time almost expires.

We win! WE WIN! 28-21

The field is chaos and everyone and their dog swarm it. Pedro and I give coach a Gatorade bath and he hugs me and says he can't wait to watch what I do in the NFL. My brother and I hug and he pushes me out to the field and sits on the sideline like this is old hat for him.

I run out with my team mates and we celebrate. The trophy presentation was amazing, holding that crystal egg and hoisting it in the air.

The other shocker was the announcement of the MVP. I don't know what the committee was smoking but naming me MVP of the game was crazy I thought. But watching Erin Andrews and Herbstreit talking about my play later that night, I don't think it was far fetched. Hoisting that trophy up was an amazing feeling.

My Stats: 12 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble


My 2013 final stats

92 Tackles
25 Tackles for Loss
16 Assisted
12 QB Sacks
1 Interception
0 TD
1 Pass Deflection
8 Forced Fumbles
1 Fumble Recovery

[MacroGuru]

1. Houston
2. Oklahoma
3. Alabama
4. Miami
5. Iowa
6. Boise St
7. Penn St
8. Michigan
9. LSU
10. OSU
11. Texas
12. Tennessee
13. Florida
14. Oklahoma St
15. USC
16. Wake Forest
17. West Virginia
18. Notre Dame
19. Michigan St
20. TCU
21. Florida St
22. San Diego St
23. Clemson
24. Missouri
25. Central Michigan

[MacroGuru]

What now? I think we all pretty much know I am going to the NFL, right now I am projected as a top 10 pick and some of the pundits imagine me starting as a rookie as well. I do not have that much faith, I watched my brother play and saw what he had to do.

Take what we went through in college and crank it up about two to three times more and we have the NFL. In fact, he was talking about retiring already due to the demands it calls upon his body.

As I sit back and think about how fortuitous we have been as a family and how much football has meant to us and what it provided has been pretty amazing.

Looking back at my career in college I wouldn't change a thing, not even what school I went to. I know my dad wanted me to go to BYU but they showed zero interest in me and I didn't want the family to pay for school.

My career achievements have been thrown around for the past few weeks as we lead up to the combine.

My Career Stats

3 INTs
2 PD
321 Tackles
65 Assisted
34 Sacks
91 Tackles for Loss

3 time Nagurski, Bednarik and LB of the year award recipient...

[MacroGuru]

That concludes this dynasty, I am more than likely going to get Madden 11 and port Nicholas over to it and will continue Nicks career into the pros.

[law90026]

This was a fun read, thanks for doing it

[Izulde]

Fantastic finish. Sweet way to end the senior season. :)

I'm proud of UNLV for making a bowl game, even though we lost to those asshats from Reno.

[MacroGuru]

This was a fun read, thanks for doing it

Thanks for reading...I truly enjoyed it.

[MacroGuru]

Fantastic finish. Sweet way to end the senior season. :)

I'm proud of UNLV for making a bowl game, even though we lost to those asshats from Reno.

The finish was awesome, seeing the other players on the team with me as award finalists were cool.

The championship to be honest was unexpected.

I was slowly rooting for UNLV and may coach them in the game...

[chesapeake]

This was a fun read; thanks for writing it. What a storybook finish!