Thursday, January 2, 2014

The New Sugar Bowl Arrives a Year Early

Today's News Links:

In the wake of Bill O'Brien's departure from Penn State to the Houston Texans, Penn State Athletic Director Dave Joyner, according to CBS Sports, has said that "a number of prominent head coaches" have inquired about the head coaching vacancy.  Full story here.

Both Penn State Wide Receiver Allen Robinson and Texas A&M Wide Receiver Mike Evans have declared for the 2014 NFL Draft. 

The University of Central Florida's Diversity and Ethics in Sport released a study showing that the top leadership positions at all 125 FBS-level schools and conferences are predominately filled by white men.   This lack of diversity is unacceptable.  Full story here.

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has agreed to a new contract, as well as a raise. 
Full story here.

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Today's bowl schedule only features one game, but it should be an exciting match-up nonetheless.  The 2014 edition of the ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL features #11 Oklahoma (BIG XII) versus #3 Alabama (SEC), two teams that have played in multiple BCS-level bowls and appeared in at least one BCS National Championship game since 2000.  While Alabama's Nick Saban has won three National Championships in a span of four years (2009, 2011, and 2012), Oklahoma's Bob Stoops has received the nickname "Mr. BCS" because this year's Sugar Bowl will be his ninth BCS bowl appearance in fifteen years.  Indeed, a National Championship is not on the line in tonight's game, which begins at 8:30 PM on ESPN at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.  Rather, what Coach Saban and Coach Stoops are playing for tonight is arguably the success of the future post-season partnership between the SEC and The BIG XII.  Starting on January 1st, 2015, the new Sugar Bowl will feature the champions of both conferences, unless one or both qualify for the inaugural four-team College Football Playoff.  The new game will be known as the "Champions Bowl," and it seems appropriate that tonight's Sugar Bowl, which will lay the foundations for the new BIG XII-SEC partnership, features coaches and programs that have fielded championship teams.  

As for the game itself the main concern, if you are a Crimson Tide fan, is whether Alabama is motivated enough to win.  The Sugar Bowl is more or less a consolation prize for a program accustomed to playing in the National Championship.  Despite their loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl, I am sure Saban has found a way to keep his players focused on the task ahead of them.  After all, the last time Alabama played in a Sugar Bowl was the 31-17 loss to Utah back in 2009.  This time, the Crimson tide will face an Oklahoma team that won their last three games.  Two were wins in which the Sooners scored more than forty points, and the third one was the memorable upset over then-ranked #6 Oklahoma State (at Stillwater) in the Bedlam Series.  Both Alabama and Oklahoma have stout defenses.  Oklahoma has only allowed 187 passing yards per game and 15 touchdown passes in 12 games while Alabama's defensive line is second in the country in terms of points allowed per game, which is 11.3.  How the Sooners will overcome this perceived Crimson Tide roadblock depends on how well they run the football.  The Sooners offense is 17th in the country in rushing yards with 235.8 yards per game while their passing yardage only averages 186.7 yards (99th in the country).  As for Alabama's offense, tonight's game is the last one for their star quarterback A.J. McCarron.  ESPN's Mark Schlabach gives Alabama a 17-point advantage over Oklahoma with a final score of 38-21.    Enjoy tonight's game, Everybody!




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