Season WrapUp - Air Force

2008 record: 8-4 (5-3)
4th place finish in the Mountain West Conference.

Best Win: 31-28 over Houston, the Falcons went on the road and beat a Houston team that had two quality wins over a ranked East Carolina and a thumping of Tulsa.

Worst Loss: 44-10 at TCU, with a chance to end the season with a big win over a quality team and get to 9-wins you drop the ball. Big time.

2008 Schedule:

• Southern Utah W 41-7
• @Wyoming W 23-3
• @Houston W 31-28
• #20 Utah L 30-23
• Navy L 33-27
• @ San Diego State W 35-10
• @UNLV W 29-28
• New Mexico W 23-10
• @Army W 16-7
• Colorado State W 38-17
• #17 BYU L 38-24
• @#16 TCU L 44-10

Season WrapUp: All 119 Teams

I am going to be running a season wrap-up for each of the 119 FBS teams.

Mostly this is for my records so if I ever want to check a team's record or see if they beat a particular team it is easy to find that information.

Enjoy.

Again, Kentucky Loses At Home To An Inferior Opponent

Full disclosure: I am a huge Kentucky Wildcat fan. With family from Kentucky, you can't grow up without being a big Kentucky basketball fan. It's just something that you do. Living out here in the Northwest I have never been to a game at Rupp Arena, although I know a ticket is hard to come by. This year I ordered the ESPN FullCourt package which allows me to watch 24 of their 31 games. Tonight was my first opportunity to see the 2008-09 version and, damn it, I wasn't happy.

25 turnovers.

14 3-pointers made by the Keydets.

No extending of the defense when VMI was knocking down jumper-after-jumper.

The result: A 111-103 loss to the Virginia Military Institute.

Tuesday the 'Cats travel to North Carolina to take on the unanimous #1 team in the nation. If they play like they did tonight a 35-point loss is undoubtedly waiting.

Although the Keydets lead the nation in scoring the last two years, giving up a 111-points in ridiculous. During one sequence of the second half, VMI scored 4 points on two layups where there wasn't a Kentucky defender within 15 feet of the player.

They looked confused and disorganized. Maybe even a bit cocky when the game started. Now Billy Gillispie will have to answer questions two seasons in row after a home defeat that just five short years ago would have been unimaginable.

Mariners Trim It Down To Seven Finalists

I don't know what's the bigger surprise: The fact that the Mariners released the names of their seven finalists or that said finalists have managed exactly ZERO major league games.

Thoughts on the list:

-No problem with the lack of experience. Every great manager had no experience at one point. Plus, I'm tired of the retread hires.

-The sentimental favorite among Mariner fans has to be Joey Cora. Not here. Look, 1995 was great but it's over. If he's the best fit for the job, fine. Don't hire him because of his appearance in "My Oh My."

-Brad Mills is an interesting candidate. He has spent a lot of time with Terry Francona, the two-time World Series Champion manager of the Boston Red Sox. As much as I hate Boston, stealing one of their coaches doesn't bother me if it means Seattle success.

-I don't think Randy Ready is ready for a major league manager's role. Let's get somebody who has been part of a big league ball club the last few years.

-There is no doubt Tony LaRussa is a Hall of Fame manager. Jose Oquendo has worked with him for the last nine years. Has he soaked up enough knowledge to lead this team to a championship?

-Whoever Jackie-Z decides to hire, they must be prepared and suited to rebuild. This team is not going to be competitive in the near feature. He needs be able to manage and develop young talent, then once they are ready, lead them deep into October.

The Passion Isn't There

The MNF game tonight: San Fransisco at Arizona. That sucks. Yes, they are both division rivals of the Seahawks but, like all other Seattle sports in 2008, the Seahawks are finished. Therefore, I decided to watch the Portland - Orlando game.

It kept me interested, the Trail Blazers won 106-99 but my passion for NBA basketball was missing. Growing up a Sonics fan, I have absolutely zero connections with Portland. Hence, the disconnect. In fact, I grew up disliking the Trail Blazers and loved it when Damon Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace were too busy smoking pot to be competitive.

With the Sonics gone, I decided to choose a team to somewhat follow closely this season. Not be a fan of, I don't believe you can simply "switch" allegiances, but watch so I have a foot in the NBA.

Let me tell you, there is a definite change in viewpoint when you aren't a fan of either team and don't have any team to follow. I knew this was going to happen once the Sonics left, but it's different when it actually happens.

I loved living in a city that had all three major American sports. Losing one of them makes me feel belittled, second-class. I truly hope the NBA returns to Seattle soon. I know that passion can return, I will feel emotionally invested again. Until then, I'll follow Portland with Seattle natives Brandon Roy and Martell Webster and former Sonics player and coach Nate McMillian.

I know exactly when the passion will return: The day the Oklahoma City Thunder come to Seattle.

Ryan Leaf's Career Still Causing Him Pain

Even six years after retiring from the NFL, Ryan Leaf still suffers from his four disastrous years in pro football. He has taken a leave from his position as Quarterbacks Coach at West Texas A&M because he asked a player for a pain pill. Allegedly, he needed the pill for pain in his wrist caused while playing football.

I'm not sure of the exact pill he asked for but if it was Viacaden, Percocet, or Oxycotton those are the same pills I took while painfully watching his NFL career. In fact, with the amount of Leaf jokes told by UW fans you practically need pain pills at the mere mention of his name.

Leaf is also the men's golf coach at West Texas. I can already picture practice: Take a couple pills, down three beers, then play golf all afternoon under the warm Texas sun. And to think he gets paid for that.

What Do You Do With Raul Ibanez?

The Mariners had three players file for free agency: Miguel Cario, Willie Bloomquist, and Raul Ibanez. I know, I know, the thought of losing both Cario and Bloomquist might be too much for Mariner Nation to handle. (Yes, Mariner Nation. If the Red Sox can call themselves a nation, then so can every other MLB team.)

Coming off a 101-loss season, with a new general manager and probable field manager, this team is in no place to even think about contention in 2009. So, what do you do with your best offensive weapon from a team who's offense stinks? He is going to want a multi-year deal, worth more than a team rebuilding should spend on a 36 year old leftfielder. Add in the fact that you don't have a major-league ready prospect waiting in the wings.

The other part to this question is whether or not Ibanez even wants to resign with Seattle. He has never played on a playoff team and the desire to win a ring and go out on a winning team has to pull him toward leaving the Mariners. Losing 23 home runs and 110 RBI off a team that was offensively anemic in 2008 is not a desirable thing for M fans, but it does then give you an opportunity to plan for the future out in left.

So, I ask you: What do you do with Raul Ibanez?

Is Jake Locker Going To Play Baseball?

Apparently there's a controversy brewing over at Montlake started by the voice of the Huskies' Bob Rondeau. According to USC play-by-play man Pete Arbogast, Rondeau told him that Jake Locker "may not be back" next year, instead choosing to play baseball professionally.

This is the same Locker who is currently out with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. For him to switch over to baseball at this time seems unlikely, if not ridiculous. The guy had an opportunity to sign a baseball contract right out of high school. Instead, he chose to go to Washington and play for a struggling football program.

The kid is all-world classy, always saying and doing the right thing. It is not in his character to turn his back on his teammates and commitment to UW for his own monetary gain. Don't expect Jake Locker to running around a baseball diamond this summer, unless of course, its for the Bellingham Bells once again.

Laying the Points in So Cal, Taking the Points in the Bay Area

USC is a 46-point favorite over the University of Washington today. Stanford is a 30-point favorite over the Washington State Cougars. A combined spread of +76 has to be, or damn close to, the biggest combined point spread against the State of Washington teams. Ever.

I'm laying 46 to USC and taking the Cougars plus 30. While USC will hold the score down and the Huskies will put some points on the board, Carroll knows that the computers and voters are looking for style points. With Penn State winning last Saturday, more than likely one of the two National Championship slots is filled.

No matter what Texas and Alabama do, as long as Penn State goes undefeated they will be in the National Championship game. Now, I'm not saying that if Texas and Alabama both go undefeated Penn State would jump over them. What I am saying is that one of the slots is already filled because even if both Texas and Alabama lose, Penn State will fill that position. That means that USC needs to win out, and win out big, to have even a chance at the NC game. Oklahoma has the "better" one loss but they might not even play in their conference's championship game, therefore eliminating them from contention in most voters' eyes.

I expect USC to win big today, something like 66-10.

On the other hand, Stanford cannot throw the ball. Tavita Pritchard ranks 8th in the conference in passer rating and has thrown more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (7). Stanford is going to pound the ball with Toby Gerhart. This lends well to the Cougars covering for two reasons: One, running the ball will eat the clock, and two, the Cougars are sure to have 8 guys, maybe even 9 on first down in the box. Stanford is going to have to work hard to earn those yards on the ground.

Do I think the Cougars are going to win? No, but a score like 31-17 is what I expect to see.

The Next Coach at the University of Washington

Now that Ty Willingham has been relieved of his duties as head football coach, although he is still in charge for the next five weeks, the big question surrounding Montlake is who will be the next head coach?

Every columnist, beat reporter, and yay-hoo has offered up their lists and choices for who they want to get the job. So following in their footsteps, and doing the blogly thing (we just made up a word, blogly) I will name who I think will be the next coach.

I believe Dave Christensen, the offensive coordinator at Missouri will be the next head coach at the University of Washington.

Here's why:
-Gary Pinkel is not going to leave Missouri for the mess that is the Huskies. So what they he coached here under Don James, he has roots in the Midwest, his children and grandkids live nearby and he has great facilities.

-Pinkel will recommend Christenesen for the job and UW will listen. Christensen played at UW, was an assistant coach under James, and is from Everett. He has roots here in the NW, unlike his boss.

-Some of the other candidates being mentioned: Lane Kiffin, Will Muschamp, Jeff Tedford, Mike Riley already have or will have better jobs that UW. Either Kiffin or Muschamp will be heading to Tennessee. Auburn might have an opening, therefore creating another more appealing opportunity for someone.

-Pat Hill, Chris Petersen, and Todd Graham will probably get looked at but ultimately will not be what the Huskies are looking for. Frankly, Hill has only won the WAC one time, ONE TIME, in 12 seasons. Yes, he has been to bowls in eight of the last nine years, but with the ridiculous amount of bowls these days that isn't good enough for a Pac-10 program. Petersen knows that he is the big fish in a small pond. He rules the WAC every season and has his team primed to go to their second BCS bowl in four seasons. It's not like he's missing anything at Boise State. Todd Graham doesn't have any ties to the Northwest, making recruiting here difficult. He has only two seasons as a head coach at the FBS level. While he has been impressive, it doesn't give him the needed experience to make him a serious candidate.

So, I believe that Husky fans can look forward to a press conference where Dave Christensen is introduced as the next head football coach of your Washington program.

And.......We're Back!

After a six-month sabbatical, longer than that if you count the sporadic, few posts the last few months of existence, we are back.

Blogging is hard. Actually, blogging isn't hard but creating a popular, well-commented-on blog is. After some long consideration, I have decided to start up the blog again. But, there will be a difference this time.

This go-around, building a readership is not a priority. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have lots of loyal readers that come here to talk sports. There's nothing better than arguing about something you love. My goal for this blog is to be a place where I can go to vent my thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

It will provide me with a record that will last, a place where I can check back on what I said to either pat myself on the back or cringe when I was way off-base.

So, A Sideline View is back. Be ready for some opinions.

The End is Here

This officially marks the end of A Sideline View. It was a great start to blogging. We learned a lot and will take this experience with us in the future. Blogging is hard. You have to have good content, a solid voice, and get a break or two.

Till next time, so long.

Redskins Hire Jim Zorn As Head Coach

Wow! Just 3 weeks ago he was hired as offensive coordinator, now he is named their head coach. I guess the Redskins are really desperate for a coach since they just hired a former quarterback coach who has no head coaching experience.

Redskins owner Dan Synder is turning the Redskins into a joke of an organization. Hiring both coordianotrs before his head coach, overpaying for free agents, and, now, striking out on finding a head coach so promoting his OC that has been on the job less then 3 weeks.

Jim Zorn is a great QB coach, a great guy, and great football mind. But is he ready to be an NFL head coach? We say no.

Ex-Seattle QB Zorn hired as head coach for Redskins [ESPN]

Bedard Deal: Good Move

The Mariners finally completed the Bedard-for-Jones deal today. A lot of Mariner fans are upset over the deal, especially the boys over at U.S.S. Mariner. We love those guys' work and we read them weekly, but we have to disagree with them on this one.

The M's just acquired the top left-handed starter in the Amiercan League. Match that with Felix Hernandez and the Mariner's have the best lefty-righty combo in the league. Last season the M's starting pitching was bad, now it looks like the strongest part of the team. The bullpen broke down because the starters couldn't pitch deep into games. Gone now are the days of Jeff Weaver, Horacio Ramieriz, and Cha Seung Beak. The guys at U.S.S. Mariner found that in games started by those three (plus Ryan Feierabend) the M's went 32-36. We gotta believe that they will go 40-28 in those games this season. Add into that the fact that the bullpen should be better rested and the offense won't have to score as many runs, based on the improved pitching, and the Mariners are better off.

What's the most important thing in MLB? Starting Pitching! Did the Mariners pay a price to get it? Yes, they paid a hefty price. Adam Jones most likely will be a star in this league, but he isn't a start yet. Bedard is a proven commidity, someone that is a potential Cy Young canidate every season. The fact that the Mariners not only traded Jones but a quality lefty reliever and their top minor league pitcher in 2007 shows the worth of Bedard. They traded a lot but the Mariner's didn't trade away the farm.

Compare the Mariner's 1-2 guys with other teams in the American League. Other than Detriot's Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman, Bedard and Hernandez are tops. It might just be our personally perference, but we love the thought of having a solid 1-2 punch better than the good chance of a quality rightfielder.

M's acquire Erik Bedard from Baltimore [Seattle Times]

Looking For Roommate: Puts Rubbing Alcohol In Contact Lenses

WSU football player Grady Maxwell has a hell of a roommate. Fellow Cougar teammate Xavier Hicks put rubbing alcohol in his contact lenses because he was upset over a bill. That seems like a pretty extreme step for not paying the cable bill.

Luckliy, Maxwell didn't put them in his eyes because he would have been in a lot of pain if he did. Hicks is suspened indefinitely, which along with his credit card fraud charge, is amazing he isn't kicked off the team.

How is this guy ever going to get a roommate again? He might steal your credit card, buy some rubbing alcohol, then put it in your contact lenses. Next time he might just want to steal his roommate's credit card and pay the cable bill with it.

WSU safety Xavier Hicks charged with contact-lens tampering [Seattle Times]

The Giants Beat Who?

Has a team ever gone from the brink of greatness and history to meaningless so fast? All it took was an Eli Manning-to-Plaxico Burress TD pass and the Patriots were no more important than the Jacksonville Jaguars. Nobody remembers second place. Florida beat who to win the NCAA basketball championship last year? Who’d the Chicago Bears beat in Super Bowl XX? Yesterday, the New York Giants made the 18-0 Patriots meaningless. A team that dominated the NFL this season couldn’t close the deal.

Hello 1935 and 1942 Chicago Bears! We’re the 2007 New England Patriots and we’re here to join your exclusive club: Undefeated teams who couldn’t win the Big Game.

Think about this: A team coached by Tom Couglin and quarterbacked by Eli Manning beat a team coached by “mastermind” Bill Bellichick and quarterbacked by the Greatest QB Ever* Tom Brady. The Patriot offense was confused and frustrated all game, except their go-ahead drive in the 4th quarter. The offensive line that is sending 3 players to the Pro Bowl couldn’t stop the Giant’s front four. The Patriots didn't lose the game, the Giants won the game.

Wasn’t it great to watch Peyton Manning cheering on his brother and hating the Patriots? To see Bill Bellichick leave the field with 1 second left? To hear Rodney Harrision say the Giants made more plays than the Patriots and how if he could have taken some more HGH the Patriots would have won?

31 NFL teams, including the Patriots didn’t bring home the Vince Lombardi Trophy this year. We here in Seattle know about being the best during the regular season but not bringing home the championship. Anyone remember the 2001 116-win Seattle Mariners? Unless your from Seattle you remember Luis Gonzalez and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

So take your rightful place in history New England and tell George Halas hello.

Oh yeah, in Super Bowl XX the Bears beat the same team the Giants beat yesterday. Who was that again?

Wulff, Cougs Steal One From Dawgs

Cougars new football coach Paul Wulff got a late start on recruiting, but stated in his opening press conference that he would be talking to players who have already committed to other schools to gage their interest. Well, he found one willing to change his mind.

Cory Mackay is trading his purple-and-gold for crimson-and-gray. Mackay is big, 6'4" 215 lbs., and wants to play TE for the Cougs. With the loss of Jed Collins, Mackay may have a chance to play as a freshman.

Now Wulff needs to get Prosser's Cody Bruns to change his mind and stay on that side of the mountains.

Huskies lose recruit to WSU [Seattle PI]

Bedard Looks Like A Mariner In Next 24 Hours

The Seattle Times is reporting that the Mariners have traded Adam Jones to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Erik Bebard. Jones would not be the only Mariner in the trade, possibly George Sherril or Brandon Morrow could also be going to Baltimore.

We are very excited about this trade right now, but we don't know all the details. We could change our mind if the M's traded away the farm. We were never big Jones fans, he never seemed to perform in the majors, albeit in limited action.

Getting Bedard gives the M's a solid 1-2 punch with Felix Hernandez. That lefty-righty combo could help the Mariners compete with the Angels in the West. Right now it looks like the rotation would be Bedard, Hernandez, Batista, Silva, and Washburn.

The trade isn't final, so we'll have to wait and see.

Jones-Bedard trade in works [Seattle Times]

2000 Huskies: Criminal

The Seattle Times ran this story about the 2000 UW football team that went 11-1 and won the Rose Bowl. It uncovered information that wasn't available at the time about the corruption and criminal activity involving Husky players.

We all knew that Jerramy Stevens has had his many run-ins with the law, including the alleged rape mentioned in the article. What we didn't know is that a safety had a warrant out for his arrest, yet he played and a linebacker got special treatment by not being charged till after the season.

These are very disturbing details about how much a group of people can get away with because of what they do. There is no way a normal, everyday 8-5'er would ever be allowed to go to work with an arrest warrant when the police knew where he'd be at. The fact that supposed responsible adults who were in charge of these young men allowed them to run wild is even more disgusting. If your a parent and Rick Neuheisel comes to your home, how can you respect him knowing he doesn't care if your kid beats his wife as long as he picks off passes on Saturday?

UW has been called Probation Nation by many, including PI columnist Jim Moore. It was always taken as a funny jab at the big school on the lake, now it may seem that it has a darker, deeper meaning. One that maybe even Rick Neuheisel may now be ashamed of.

The disturbing story behind the last great UW team - and how its legacy still casts a shadow on the Huskies [Seattle Times]

NBA Draft Net: Weaver, Low Get Drafted

Looking at NBA Draft Net 2008 mock draft, they have both Kyle Weaver and Derrick Low getting drafted. Weaver goes #33 to, guess who?, the Seattle Sonics. Low goes #55 to the Lakers.

We are surprised by this. All season we've heard about how the Cougars are a team of role players, they play well together in the system, but not as individuals. Then we read that out of the Top 60 players, 2 of them are Cougars.

Question: Should UW PF Jon Brockman turn pro? He's averaging a double-double and is the only reason why UW is winning some games. A lot of people are dubbing the Huskies as a team built for 2009, but does Brockman hang around to find out. Right now, he's not on anyone's draft board so we think we stays. What if he goes to some draft camps, grades out well, and realizes that he can't improve anymore in his senior season?

What we do know is he's a hardworker who gives him all every night. The NBA could use some more players like this, in its individual, highlight reel dunk league.

Seahawks May Play in England

The NFL's new tradition of playing one regular season game in England may include the Seahawks in 2008. The two opponents being discussed are the Jets and Patriots, both of which are a Seahawk's home game.

The Seahawks don't want to play in this game. Not only do they lose a home game, which as we know, is very valuable, but they also have to endure more travel. As the team that travels the most every season anyway, a trip across the big pond would tax this team even more. We don't know if a team can deny the NFL's request to play in the game, we assume they cannot, then the Seahawks may be playing a home game against the defending Super Bowl champions 4,800 miles from Qwest Field.

The league will announce the teams Friday, February 1.

Jets Could Possibly Play in England [Jets Central]