ACC Cupcakes (09/06/08)

It became painfully obvious last weekend that it is a good thing the ACC decided to schedule 14 Division I-AA schools this year. If they hadn't they might have had a hard time filling all their bowl obligations, including the Humanitarian Bowl and the brand new Congressional Bowl.

This week it is more of the same as the powerful Almost College football Conference takes on five more FCS schools. In case you are in the mood to watch the ACC, let us help you learn more, as we continue to introduce you to the cupcakes of the ACC.

Western Carolina

Location: Cullowhee, NC which happens to be 60 miles past the middle of nowhere.
Founded: 1889
Nickname: Catamounts, gazoontite! Wildcats that roam the southern Appalachian mountain region.
Conference: Southern
Size: about 9,000 undergrads
Most well known alumni: Paul Johnson - current head football coach Georgia Tech. Gerald Astin - NFL ref.
Why you might know them: The Catamounts number one rival is Appalachian State as they play each other every year in "The Battle for the Old Mountain Jug."

Furman University

Location: Greenville, SC
Founded: 1826
Mascot: Paladins. The WHAT? A paragon of chivalry; a heroic champion; a strong supporter or defender of a cause; and any of the 12 peers of French emperor Charlemagne's court. (American Heritage College Dictionary) However some how they represent this with a knight on horseback.
Conference: Southern Conference
Size: 2500 undergrads. About 800 students smaller than last week's ACC opponent Charleston Southern
Most well known alumni: Sam Wyche - former NFL head coach. Amy Grant - Contemporary Christian Pop artist and wife of country singer Vince Gill.
Why you might know them: Who didn't go to high school with a kid that rocked the FU hat?

The Citadel

Location: Charleston, SC
Founded: 1842
Nickname: Bulldogs
Conference: Southern Conference
Size: 2000 cadets, 100 civilians
Most well known alumni: Tons of military commanders and Paul Maguire - commentator for ABC college football. Also "that guy that talks about the game from weird places in the stadium."
Why you might know them: On August 15, 1995, after many legal battles and much controversy Shannon Faulkner, became the first female to joined the Corps of Cadets. She resigned after only 4 hours citing physical exhaustion, and emotional and psychological abuse. The male cadets rejoiced!

University of Richmond

Location: Richmond, VA
Founded: 1830
Nickname: Spiders, the only college in the country with said mascot.
Conference: Colonial Athletic Association
Size: 2795 undergrads
Most well known alumni: William K. Howell - former President, Miller Brewing Company. Sean Casey - first baseman, Boston Red Sox.
Why you might know them: On October 15, 1992, candidates George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot came to campus for the first-ever "town hall" televised presidential debate.

William & Mary

Location: Williamsburg, VA
Founded: 1693
Nickname: Tribe
Conference: Colonial Athletic Conference
Size: 5,700 undergrads
Most well known alumni: No one you've heard of, just Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler, James Monroe, Henry Clay. Jon Stewart - host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central. Bill Lawrence - creator of TV show Scrubs. Marv Levy - former head coach Buffalo Bills. Mike Tomlin - current head coach Pittsburgh Steelers. Jaycee Chan - Hong Kong actor/recording artist and son of Jackie Chan.
Why you might know them: In high school you received a rejection letter in the mail from this school. With a acceptance rate of 32% makes it one of the most selective schools in the nation. Also have some interesting traditions and legends.

"ACC's Little Sisters of the Poor." (8/28/08)

This weekend marks the start of college football, FINALLY! It also marks the first weekend of our weekly blog entry, Meet the "ACC's Little Sister's of the Poor."

While we know that most schools schedule programs from the FCS, Division I-AA, ranks the Almost College football Conference takes the cupcake to a new level this year with a collective 14 on the schedule. (This count doesn't include the mighty Hill Toppers of Western Kentucky that still are in a transition between divisions). The next most is the SEC and Big 12 with 10, from there it is the Big Ten with 9, Big East with 7 and the Pac Ten with 2.

It might not be soo bad if it wasn't for the fact that the "leaders" in the conference, Clemson, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are playing 2 a piece (if we count WKU). Compounding the issue is the fact that the conference coaches and AD's said no to playing a 9th conference game.

So in order to help drive some sort of TV ratings and interest the ACC's way allow us to introduce to you this week's "ACC's Little Sister's of the Poor."

Delaware

Location: Newark, DE
Founded: 1743
Mascot: Fightin' Blue Hens
Conference: Colonial Athletic Association
Size: 16,000 undergrads
Most well known alumni: Rich Gannon - NFL Quarterback, George "Bad to the Bone" Thorogood
Why you might know them: Not only do they share nearly the same colors as Michigan, they also have the same helmet look as the Wolverines. Something else they have in common with the boys in Ann Arbor, they couldn't beat App. State last year either.

McNeese St

Location: Lake Charles, LA
Founded: 1939
Mascot: Cowboys
Conference: Southland
Size: About 7000 undergrads
Most well known alumni: Besides TCFG's co-host Ethan Bush, Joe Dumars - guard for the Detroit Pistons.
Interesting facts: The Cowboys played in the inaugural Independence Bowl in 1976. In the early part of this decade the University of Wyoming sued McNeese for having similar looking logos. You can see that the school from Lake Chuck lost that match up.

Charleston Southern

Location: Charleston, SC
Founded: 1969
Mascot: Bucky the Buccaneer
Conference: Big South
Size: 3,300
Most well known alumnus: Terry Mooney - You don't know who he is? Well he is one heck of a golfer because he won a "spiffy pre-owned Saturn sports coupe" at the 15th Annual Buccaneer Club Corporate Cup Golf Tournament.
Interesting fact: CSU's enrollment is just about 1000 undergrads smaller than ACC member Wake Forest. At 4,300 the Demon Deacons have Division I-A's (FBS) smallest student body.

Jacksonville State

Location: Jacksonville, AL
Founded: 1883
Mascot: Gamecocks
Conference: Ohio Valley
Enrollment: 9,000
Most well known alumni: Randy Owen - lead singer for the country group Alabama. Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey - Co-hosts of the "Rick and Bubba: Morning Show"
Why you might know them: On August 30, 2001, Ashley Martin became the first female football player to score a point in a Division I kicking 3 extra points in a 72-10 drubbing of Cumberland University. School set in the Appalachians of Alabama also happens to be the new school of former LSU QB, Ryan Perrilloux.

James Madison

Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Founded: 1908
Mascot: The Dukes, Duke Dog
Conference: Colonial Athletic Association
Size: 16,000 undergrads
Most well known alumni: Charles Haley - LB/DE won 5 Super Bowls for Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. Scott "wide-right" Norwood - K, Buffalo Bills. Elliott Sadler, NASCAR driver.
Why you might know them: Became a co-ed school in 1966 only 19 years after ACC member Florida State. In the fall of 2006 the JMU Board of Visitors received much attention and criticism for cutting 10 sports to comply with Title IX. Even a letter from the US Olympic Committee. Objectors felt it was unfair that football wasn't touched. Maybe they shouldn't have invited the boys to school in the first place?

"Take Me Back in Time!"

Press play below and continue reading...



The 2008 college football preview magazines are starting to hit shelves at a store near you! Of coarse this college football guy had to be the first person in town to buy Lindy's College Football 2008 Preview. While thumbing through the glorious, full color, glossy pages and reading the predictions of the upcoming season it made me think, just how accurate are these magazines?

It occurred to me that there was just one way to find out. So I slipped on my red and white Nike's, threw on my jean jacket, cranked up Huey Lewis & The News, hopped into the stainless steel Dalorean, put the pedal to the metal until that speedometer reached 88 miles an hour and went back in time to May 2007. There I found a copy of Lindy's 2007 Preview and want to share these actual, 2007, predictions with you. (I couldn't make this up if I tried.)


Lindy's Rose Bowl Pick - Cal vs. Michigan

Ohio State at Michigan - If Wolverines don't win, it's gonna feel like Chad Henne, Mike Hart and Jake Long came back for 'nuthin.

We wish...that Navy, doing so well under coach Paul Johnson, could finally end a 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame that dates to the Roger Staubach era.

Why is the ACC ranked No. 2 (best conference)? What the league has is amazing depth that rivals or surpasses the SEC.

Kansas - Sophomore QB Todd Reesing will continue to compete for the starting spot, but likely will be a backup.

Oregon at Michigan - Trying to slow down RB Jonathan Stewart will prepare UM for Big Ten.

Oklahoma at Colorado - Couldn't CU officials have picked an easier homecoming foe?

Michigan brought in a solid class that included star playmaker Ryan Mallett at quarterback.

Ohio State at Washington - Huskies' schedule still reads like the school is a powerhouse.

And the favorite to win the 2007 Big 12 Conference championship is....Nebraska? That far-fetched prediction is brought to you by the Committee to Save the Big 12 North.

Notre Dame at UCLA - Bruins might want to shelve the prevent defense this time around.

Louisville - The defense should be fine, but if the Cardinals have to win in a shootout, so be it. Just like last season, Louisville should be in the hunt for the national title.

Stanford at USC - Only big in seeing how much Carroll runs it up on Harbaugh.

South Florida at Auburn - QB Matt Grothe and Bulls will be thinking upset.

Appalachian State - Dare we say "dynasty?" ASU reloads to take a shot at FCS' first three-peat.


BTW - If some dimwitted slime ball starts winning a lot in Vegas and turns Hill Valley into a gang infested slum it means Biff stole my 2008 preview while I was back in 2007.

What a difference a year makes!

Blue in the Face!

Here is Kevin Borseth, women's basketball coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Maybe he should have been considered for the UM football coaching position, or maybe he should have gave the pregame speech before App. State. Forget about Russell Crowe! Do you think Lloyd Carr would still have his job?

We now know why the Big Ten Network was created...

LSU, watch out! Is it your turn?

The defending BCS Champion LSU Tigers have scheduled the three time defending FCS Champions Appalachian State to begin next season. If App. State pulls the upset, again, will that make App. State the outright National Champions?

LSU don't forget, Appalachain is Hot, Hot, Hot!