Below are the 6 most recent journal entries recorded in rbowlgeorgia's LiveJournal:

Friday, August 18th, 2006
12:05 pm	2006-07 Bowls Dec. 19 Tue. Poinsettia Bowl (San Diego, CA) 8:00 pm ESPN MWC No. 3 vs at-large Dec. 21 Thu. Las Vegas Bowl 8:00 pm ESPN Pac 10 No. 4 vs MWC No. 1 Dec. 22 Fri. New Orleans Bowl 8:00 p.m. ESPN Sun Belt Champ vs CUSA No. 4 or 5 Dec. 23 Sat. Birmingham Bowl 1:00 pm ESPN2 CUSA No. 4 or 5 vs Big East No. 5 or 6 Dec. 23 Sat. New Mexico Bowl(Albuquerque, NM) 4:30 pm ESPN MWC No. 4 vs WAC No. 3 Dec. 23 Sat. Fort Worth Bowl 8:00 pm ESPN MWC No. 2 vs CUSA No. 3/(Pac 10)* Dec. 24 Sun. Hawaii Bowl 8:00 pm ESPN WAC vs Pac 10 No. 6/(CUSA) * Dec. 26 Tue. Motor City Bowl (Detroit, MI) 7:30 pm ESPN MAC No. 2 vs Big 10 No. 7 Dec. 27 Wed. Independence Bowl (Shrvprt, LA) 3:30 pm ESPN Big 12 No. 7 vs SEC Dec. 27 Wed. Emerald Bowl (San Francisco, CA) 8:00 pm ESPN Pac 10 No. 5 vs ACC No. 7 Dec. 28 Thu. Holiday Bowl (San Diego, CA) 8:00 pm ESPN Pac 10 No. 2 vs Big 12 No. 3 DEc. 29 Fri. Music City Bowl (Nashville, TN) 1:00 pm ESPN ACC No. 5 vs SEC Dec. 29 Fri. Sun Bowl (El Paso, TX) 2:00 p.m. CBS Pac 10 No. 3 vs Big East No. 2/Notre Dame or Big 12 No. 4 Dec. 29 Fri. Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN) 4:30 pm ESPN CUSA No. 1 vs SEC Dec. 29 Fri. Champs Sports (Orlando, FL) 8:00 pm ESPN ACC No. 4 vs Big 10 No. 5 Dec. 29 Fri. Insight Bowl (Phoenix, AZ) TBD NFL Network Big 12 No. 6 vs Big 10 No. 6 Dec. 30 Sat. Meineke Car Care (Charlotte, NC) 1:00 pm ESPN ACC No. 6 vs Navy/Big East No. 3 Dec. 30 Sat. Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, TX) 4:30 pm ESPN Big 12 No. 5 vs Big 10 No. 4 Dec. 30 Sat. Peach Bowl (Atlanta, GA) 8:00 pm ESPN ACC No. 2 vs SEC No. 4 Dec. 31 Sun. MPC Computers Bowl (Boise, ID) 7:30 pm ESPN WAC vs ACC No. 8 TBD TBD New Houston Bowl TBD TBD Big East No. 4/Notre Dame/(CUSA)* vs Big 12 No. 8 Jan. 1 Mon. Cotton Bowl (Dallas, TX) 11:00 a.m. FOX Big 12 No. 2 vs SEC West Jan. 1 Mon. Outback Bowl (Tampa, FL) 11:00 a.m. ESPN Big 10 No. 3 vs SEC No. 3 Jan. 1 Mon. Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, FL) 1:00 pm CBS ACC No. 3 vs Big 12 No. 4 or Big East No. 2/Notre Dame Jan. 1 Mon. Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA) 4:00 p.m. ABC Pac 10 champ/BCS vs Big 10 Champ/BCS Jan. 1 Mon. Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ) 8:30 pm FOX Big 12 Champ/BCS vs BCS at-large Jan. 2 Tue. Capital One Bowl (Orlando, FL) 1:00 p.m. ABC Big 10 No. 2 vs SEC No. 2 Jan. 2 Tue. Orange Bowl (Miami, FL) 8:00 p.m. FOX ACC Champ/Big East Champ/BCS vs BCS at-large Jan. 3 Wed. Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, LA) 8:00 p.m. FOX SEC Champ/BCS vs BCS at-large Jan. 6 Sat. International Bowl(Toronto) Noon ESPN2 MAC No. 3 vs Big East No. 4 or 5 Jan. 7 Sun. GMAC Bowl (Mobile, AL) 8:00 pm ESPN CUSA No. 2 vs MAC No. 1 Jan. 8 Mon. BCS Title Game (Glendale, AZ) 8:00 p.m. FOX BCS No. 1 vs BCS No. 2 *conference in ( ) will fill spot if needed (Comment on this)
Friday, August 11th, 2006
11:26 am	2001 Miami Hurricanes "Greatest Team Ever" The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered one of the greatest teams in college football history, and some would argue the greatest. In 2000, Miami was shut out of the Orange Bowl BCS National Championship Game by the BCS computers. Despite Miami beating Florida State head-to-head that season and being higher ranked in both human polls, it was Florida State, and not Miami, that BCS computers selected to challenge the Oklahoma Sooners for the National Championship (Oklahoma would win, 13-2). The experience led to alterations in the BCS rankings system to ensure that the situation would not repeat itself in the future. Nevertheless, Miami was left with a bitter sense of disappointment, believing they had been deprived of a national championship, and stewed over an early-season loss at Washington, 34-29, that was their only slipup in an 11-1 campaign. That off-season, the team resolved to take the matter entirely out of the discretion of the computers by going a perfect 12-0. However, they had to do so under a new head coach, Larry Coker, who was named to the post after Butch Davis left to become head coach of the NFL's Cleveland Browns. University of Miami head coach Larry Coker hoisting the 2001 National Championship Trophy, Miami's 5th in a span of 18 years.Led by quarterback Ken Dorsey, running back Clinton Portis, free safety Ed Reed, tight end Jeremy Shockey, and offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, Miami dominated the 2001 season from start to finish. The Hurricanes began the season with a nationally televised primetime rout of Penn State in Beaver Stadium. After the Hurricanes put together a 30-0 halftime lead, coach Coker pulled his starters and Miami cruised in the second half to a 33-7 victory. The 26-point margin tied for Penn State's worst home loss under Joe Paterno. Miami followed up the victory with blowout wins over Rutgers, Pitt, and Troy State University. After building up a 4-0 record, the 'Canes defeated Florida State in Doak Campbell Stadium, 49-27, ending the Seminoles' 54-game home unbeaten streak and 37-game home winning streak. The 'Canes then defeated West Virginia, 45-3, and Temple, 38-0, before heading to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College. Miami was put to the test against Boston College. After jumping out to a 9-0 lead over the Eagles, Miami's offense began to sputter as Dorsey struggled with the swirling winds, throwing four interceptions. The Hurricane defense picked up the slack by limiting BC to just seven points. However, in the final minute of the fourth quarter, with Miami clinging to a 12-7 lead, BC quarterback Brian St. Pierre led the Eagles from their own 30-yard line all the way down to the Hurricanes' 9. With BC on the verge of a momentous upset, St. Pierre attempted to pass to receiver Ryan Read at the Miami 2-yard line. However, the ball ricocheted off the leg of Miami cornerback Mike Rumph, landing in the hands of defensive end Matt Walters. Walters ran ten yards with the ball before teammate Ed Reed grabbed the ball out of his hands at around the Miami 20-yard line and raced the remaining 80-yards for a touchdown, icing an 18-7 victory for the Hurricanes. After surviving the scare from Boston College, Miami played inspired and utterly dominating football, demolishing #14 Syracuse, 59-0, and #12 Washington, 65-7, in consecutive weeks. The combined 124-7 score is an NCAA record for largest margin of victory over consecutive ranked opponents. The final hurdle to the Rose Bowl BCS National Championship Game was at Virginia Tech. Miami jumped on Virginia Tech, leading 20-3 at halftime, 23-10 after three, and 26-10 midway through the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech added a couple of late touchdowns, but it was not enough against a stiffling Hurricane defense and an offense that outgained Virginia Tech by 134 yards, gained 12 more first downs, and controlled the ball for nearly 10-minutes more than Hokies. Miami's 26-24 victory earned the top-ranked Hurricanes an invitation to the Rose Bowl to take on BCS #2 Nebraska for the national championship. Nebraska proved to be no competition for Miami. Miami roared to a 34-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 37-14 rout of the Huskers to capture Miami's fifth national championship and put the finishing touches on a perfect 12-0 season. Dorsey passed for 362-yards and 3 touchdowns, while receiver Andre Johnson caught 7 passes for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Miami defense shut down Heisman-winner Eric Crouch and the Huskers offense, holding Nebraska 200-yards below its season average. Dorsey and Johnson were named Rose Bowl co-MVPs. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes scored 512 (42.6 ppg) points while yielding only 117 (9.75 papg). The Hurricanes beat opponents by an average of 32.9 points per game, the largest margin in the school's history, and set the NCAA record for largest margin of victory over consecutive ranked teams (124-7). The offense set the school scoring record, while the stout defense led the nation in scoring defense (fewest points allowed), pass defense, and turnover margin. Additionally, the Hurricane D scored eight touchdowns of its own. Six players earned All-American status and six players were finalists for National Awards, including Maxwell Award winner, Ken Dorsey, and Outland Trophy winner, Bryant McKinnie. Dorsey was also a Heisman Finalist, finishing 3rd. Among the numerous stars on the 2001 Miami squad were: Dorsey; running backs Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Najeh Davenport, and Frank Gore; tight end Jeremy Shockey; wide receiver Andre Johnson; tackles Bryant McKinnie and Joaquin Gonzalez; defensive linemen Jerome McDougle, William Joseph, and Vince Wilfork; linebackers Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams; and defensive backs Ed Reed, Mike Rumph, and Phillip Buchanon. Additional contributors included future stars Kellen Winslow II, Sean Taylor, Antrel Rolle, Vernon Carey, and Eric Winston. In all, an extraordinary 16 players from the 2001 Miami football team were drafted in the First-Round of the NFL Draft (5 in the 2002 NFL Draft: Buchannon, McKinnie, Reed, Rumph, and Shockey; 4 in 2003: Johnson, Joseph, McDougle, and McGahee; 6 in 2004: Carey, Taylor, Vilma, Wilfork, Williams, and Winslow; and 1 in 2005: Rolle). The Scores From The Miami Hurricane's 2001 National Championship Season 9-1-01 at Penn State WON 33-7 9-8-01 RUTGERS WON 61-0 9-15-01 WASHINGTON** **postponed (due to 9/11) 9-27-01 at Pittsburgh (Thur.) WON 43-21 10-6-01 TROY STATE WON 38-7 10-13-01 at Florida State WON 49-27 10-25-01 WEST VIRGINIA (Thur.) WON 45-3 11-3-01 TEMPLE (HC) WON 38-0 11-10-01 at Boston College WON 18-7 11-17-01 SYRACUSE WON 59-0 11-24-01 WASHINGTON** WON 65-7 12-1-01 at Virginia Tech WON 26-24 ROSE BOWL @Pasadena, CA 1-3-02 Nebraska WON 37-14 (Comment on this)
Thursday, August 3rd, 2006
6:21 pm	This Will End Well Being an NFL rookie can be a daunting task. That is why it's important to have strong leadership from veterans who have been there before. Guys like Adam "PacMan" Jones. Yes, it seems that Pacman Jones has decided to take Young under his wing and show him the ropes. No word on when Pacman will give Young a tour of the Nashville PD holding facilities. Young, according to some dude on the radio today, will be hosting a party with Jones and LenDale White. That's a group you want your franchise quarterback to hang out with. Young is reportedly close to signing a $50M deal with the Titans and White will likely make a good chunk of change, too. You would think somebody on the management team would want to separate Jones from all of the rookies. Unless, of course, they are going for some sort of "scared straight" type of deal. Things have gone downhill for Young following his victory in the Rose Bowl. From criticism for his limp-wristed throwing motion, hiring Major Dad as his agent, the wonderlic test and the media-whoring reality television series, things haven’t been so rosy for Young who looks to be come the second coming of Jeff George. And really, you know that contract is bound to surpass Ricky Williams for most ill-fated rookie contract in NFL history. You could see those negotiations going the same way Kramer's negotiation went with that coffee company on Seinfeld. Floyd Reese: "Vince, we are ready to offer you five…" Vince Young: "I’ll take it!" Floyd Reese: "Five… hundred thousand over five years." Not that it would matter. If Young couldn’t afford a car, Jones would easily teach him how to steal one. (Comment on this)
Monday, July 31st, 2006
10:19 pm	Chad Henne: Year-by-Year The popular notion is that junior QB Chad Henne suffered a sophmore slump last season and that he needs to bounce back in 2006. However, a comparison of his statistics from his first two seasons as U of M's signal caller reveals that Chad's performance in his sophmore season rivaled if not equaled that of his freshman season. Although the Wolverines as a whole did much better in 2004 (9-3 overall, Big Ten co-Champs, trip to the Rose Bowl) than they did in 2005 (7-5 overall, 3rd place tie in Big Ten, trip to the Alamo Bowl), Henne's performance was rather consistent during the two seasons. Just take a look: 2004: 240/399 60.2% 2,743 yds. 25 tds. 12 int.2005: 223/382 58.4% 2,526 yds. 23 tds. 8 int. Henne's Passer Efficiency Rating was 132.6 in 2004 while it was a very similar 129.6 in 2005. Thus, I do not believe the hype that Henne suffered a "sophmore slump" and, consequently, I do not believe he has anything from which he has to "bounce back." I do believe that Henne can have a break-out year in 2006 if Mike Hart can stay healthy and establish the running game. My prediction is that with the help of new Offensive Coordinator Mike DeBord that Henne will set a new single-season record for touchdown passes with thirty. The current record is 25 which he co-holds with Elvis Grbac (1991). It should be noted that although Chad is starting only his 3rd season, that he is only 24 touchdown passes away from tying the career record for touchdown passes (72) by a Michigan player which is currently held by John Navarre. In fact, Henne will own most, if not all, the major passing records at U of M by the time he is finished. Henne has been consistently very good during his first two seasons but I think he is poised for greatness this season. Let's just hope he can stay healthy and the receiving corps can catch what he is throwing their way. Go Blue! (Comment on this)
Saturday, July 29th, 2006
5:10 pm	Rose Bowl Spills Down Under Needless to say, took this pic in Australia. We made the Aussie Open the anchor of a 2-week vacation that I will prattle on about at great length if you care to write me about it. Never did find the Hook'Em guy in this picture. But you know I couldn't run up a UT flag without throwing some USC-salute at it. That same night, on our side of the stadium, I spotted a guy maybe 10 rows ahead of us. Maroon tshirt, with yellow lettering on the back: “Tommy Does Miami.” Well, there’s your Orange Bowl. The night rolls along (I think this was a Lindsey Davenport match), and I get up to walk out for a break. So does USC guy. From the stairs above him, I give him a ‘V’ and “Fight On.” He smiles and stops. He’s mid-to-late 40s, skinny in a nervous kind of way. Maybe a little jumpy. Kind of guy who, well, would wear a football t-shirt to a tennis match in Australia. He waits for me at the exit: I say: “Hel-“ “I had cancer.” He just says it. Just like that. Whammo. Which, I figured, bought him an extra turn talking. “After that, I decided if I was going to do it, I was going to do it right. Since then, I’ve been to three straight Australian Opens here, and every USC football game.” Through my astonishment, I’m proud to report I managed to ask: “Home and away?” “All of them.” So I guess he wins. By the way – no “Hi”, no “What’s your name?”, no “j’go’da SC?” nonsense. Apparently this guy does conversations-with-strangers like he does sporting events – no time to kill. We’re walking now, down the steps, out of the tunnel. I go for it: “What did you think of the Rose Bowl?” He stops smiling. He shakes his head once. Then he shrugs and nods, like someone had just said something he agrees with. “I’d rather watch the Rose Bowl 100 times than get radiation therapy.” Fastball, fastball, curve – have a seat, rook. He’s been here before (Comment on this)
Thursday, July 27th, 2006
11:14 am	I've been personally trained - to destroy myself. Today was my first meeting with my personal trainer (don't get too many ideas of grandiosity - five sessions were included with the membership package). The initial encounter began with "Don't look so scared," which then progressed to "Oh, you're so tiny!" and was capped off with "If no one else in your family is overweight, you've probably been asking yourself, 'Why me? Why my body?' You know, I'm really concerned about your weight." Yeah. She oh-so-tactlessly informed me that I am 7-8% over the average for overall body fat - which is 19%-22% - although 35% is considered obese. Um, excuse me, what do we classify that gap between 23%-34%, then? On the way to a heart attack? Stop eating anything besides grass and twigs and you'll get there? She proceeded to tell me that if I don't start making a dent in that 7-8% in the next two weeks, we were going to have to take "drastic measures" to get my body fat percentage down, i.e., non-stop running around the Rose Bowl, scaling Mt. Everest in an hour, or resorting to the old standby of throat-meets-finger purging, for example. Okay, I exaggerated. Scaling Mt. Everest in two hours. I stand corrected. Dude, my confidence is totally shot. I was just telling my mom the other day how, when I put my hands on my hips, I was beginning to feel smaller, and I can feel a muscle in that area that I wasn't particularly aware existed. I thought I was making progress! I was feeling good about the last four weeks at the gym! However, in one evening with a 181-pound trainer with 18% body fat (who, if I saw her walking down the street, I would silently cluck, "That girl should probably work out more often!"), the budding gym rat in me has jumped off the motivation wheel. Instead of increasingly svelte, all of the sudden, I feel like my insides are full of (soy) lard. I'm sure you can imagine what my head feels like. Boo. (Comment on this)