American Football (NFL, College, etc.)

shin2 wrote:The 2010 football season is upon us and, coincidentally, I just finished reading two football books: Horns, Hogs, and Nixon Coming: Texas Versus Arkansas in Dixie's Last Stand (Terry Frei, 2002)

The former focuses on the 1969 finale between two undefeated teams--Texas and Arkansas--Southwestern Conference rivals who played for the national championship in the 100th year of college football before President Nixon and a national TV audience. I am actually old enough to have watched the game (on a black and white TV LOL), and revisiting that event and that era through reading this book was an interesting experience.

I also vaguely remember watching this game on TV, seeing Nixon sitting amongst the unwashed masses trying to convince everybody he's just a regular guy.

A book I've picked up but haven't started yet is The Little League that Could by Ken Rappaport. It's about the good old AFL. Like all things AFL related it's got the obligatory picture of that quarterback of the Jets who won a grand total of two playoff games in his career on the cover. :shakehead:

Should be interesting though. Looks like it focuses more on how the AFL perserved in spite of the best efforts of the NFL to bury them rather than specific games, stats, etc.

There's no "D" in UCLA and they lose to Kansas State, 31-22... It doesn't help that the Bruin receivers can't catch a ball to save their lives, either. :shakehead:

There's no "D" in UCLA and they lose to Kansas State, 31-22... It doesn't help that the Bruin receivers can't catch a ball to save their lives, either. :shakehead:

gaijinmark wrote:

A book I've picked up but haven't started yet is The Little League that Could by Ken Rappaport. It's about the good old AFL. Like all things AFL related it's got the obligatory picture of that quarterback of the Jets who won a grand total of two playoff games in his career on the cover. :shakehead:

Should be interesting though. Looks like it focuses more on how the AFL perserved in spite of the best efforts of the NFL to bury them rather than specific games, stats, etc.

If you're interested in the old AFL, there's a richly informative book entitled Remember the AFL: The Ultimate Fan's Guide to the American Football League, written by Dave Steidel (2008). In it, there's a year-by-year examination of each season which includes separate chapters of how each team did that year along with players' individual stats (passing, rushing, receiving, scoring). In addition, this 400+ page book is chock-full of photos and illustrations, including many pictures of player trading cards. There's also sections at the back of the book which contain a couple hundred trivia questions about players and teams and many "best of" and "worst of" lists. I had lots of fun reading through this exhaustedly researched, very entertaining book which was written by a high school counselor who happens to be a huge fan of the AFL.

Another interesting book about the AFL is entitled Going Long: The Wild 10-Year Saga of the Renegade American Football League in the Words of Those Who Lived It, written by Jeff Miller (2003). As the title infers, most of this book is comprised of the recollections of many (around 200 individuals are quoted) who were part of those times: players, coaches, owners, sportswriters, announcers, clubhouse attendants, businessmen, trainers, TV personnel, front-office employees, etc. There's even a few cited who were not directly involved with the AFL but had a connection to someone who did. Lots of revealing behind-the-scenes info and very candid talk.

^ Thanks for the heads-up!! I had heard of the first book, but not the second one. Guess I'll head over to EBay to try and find a "pre-owned" copy.

NFL season starts on Thursday... Vikings at Saints on NBC... NFC Championship rematch to open the season. :applaud:

Go Vikings. :victory:

Woof. Okay, Tomato Can Weekend is finally over. UCLA, San Jose State, UC Davis and the like, took their lickings, collected their fat paychecks and it shouldn't be much longer before there are actually some watchable games out there.

In the mean time... everyone's saying the 49ers are a lock to win the NFC West this year... simply because the Cards, the Seahawks, and the Rams are going to be so gawdawful. But a team with Alex Smith at QB... with two rookie starters, and a first time replacement at Center manning the O-Line??? Sheesh!

Will a 7 & 9 record really win the division and get the Niners back into the playoffs?

Stay tuned.

Geezer wrote: Tomato Can

Isn't that what Howard Cosell called George Chuvalo? :hehe:

Mark,

Jeez, I'd forgotten about old George.

I forgot about it, but yeah, "tomato can" is a boxing expression (from long before Howard and George.) It's from the days when kids would play "kick the can".

Good boxers often fight "tune-ups" against opponents who have no chance... (the can doesn't kick back) to get ready for a real fight down the line.

College football doesn't like to call its early games a pre season... or practice games for the good teams. But a tomato can is a tomato can. San Jose State vs. Alabama??? Ah well... 'bama got their feet wet, and SJ St. got their million bucks for the athletic dept.

The two college football games played on Labor Day were highly entertaining contests coming down to the last minute. A satisfying cap to the first weekend of college football. With the NFL starting up for real this week, a host of intriguing match-ups at the college level this weekend, and the high school season in full swing, it's a great time to be a football fan.

Bush to lose Heisman

The Heisman Trophy Trust is expected to strip former University of Southern California star running back Reggie Bush of college footballfs top honor by the end of September, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Bush would become the first player in the 75-year history of the award to have the trophy taken away. The NCAA found major violations in the Trojansf football program in June and levied serious sanctions against the school.

Two sources close to the Heisman trust said the bodyfs investigation is coming to a close, and will ultimately concur with the NCAAfs determination that Bush was ineligible during his Heisman-winning season in 2005. Because of that independent conclusion, sources said the trust will relieve Bush of the award and leave the honor for that season vacant. The sources said Bush met with Heisman representatives last month at the New York law offices of Emmet, Marvin & Martin. The sources would not reveal details of that meeting.


Along with Leinart getting cut by the Cardinals, not a good week for 'SC fans.
I wonder if they'll start talking about "The Curse of Pete Carroll" pretty soon.

This was inevitable:

Randy Moss feels 'unwanted' in New England

Story here: http://tinyurl.com/24uy3hl

gaijinmark wrote:Bush to lose Heisman

The Heisman Trophy Trust is expected to strip former University of Southern California star running back Reggie Bush of college footballfs top honor by the end of September, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Bush would become the first player in the 75-year history of the award to have the trophy taken away. The NCAA found major violations in the Trojansf football program in June and levied serious sanctions against the school.

Two sources close to the Heisman trust said the bodyfs investigation is coming to a close, and will ultimately concur with the NCAAfs determination that Bush was ineligible during his Heisman-winning season in 2005. Because of that independent conclusion, sources said the trust will relieve Bush of the award and leave the honor for that season vacant. The sources said Bush met with Heisman representatives last month at the New York law offices of Emmet, Marvin & Martin. The sources would not reveal details of that meeting.


Along with Leinart getting cut by the Cardinals, not a good week for 'SC fans.
I wonder if they'll start talking about "The Curse of Pete Carroll" pretty soon.

The news last night was refuting the story... It'd be nice to see it happen though. :twisted:

bmwracer wrote:This was inevitable:

Randy Moss feels 'unwanted' in New England

Story here: http://tinyurl.com/24uy3hl

He's been saying the same thing since February.

Jav_sol wrote:He's been saying the same thing since February.

Another athlete that should see Ron Artest's shrink. :beaten:

bmwracer wrote:NFL season starts on Thursday... Vikings at Saints on NBC... NFC Championship rematch to open the season. :applaud:

Go Vikings. :victory:

yea LEts Get it on ..
Go VIKINGS !!!!!!!!!!!! :victory:

bmwracer wrote:This was inevitable:

Randy Moss feels 'unwanted' in New England

Story here: http://tinyurl.com/24uy3hl

Oh boohoo... so I guess he leave then and go to a team that wants him :hehe:

Vikings-Saints in 15 minutes! :victory: :woot: :dancing:

Go Vikes!

Saints win a defensive battle over the Vikings, 14-9.... Boo. :(

bmwracer wrote:Saints win a defensive battle over the Vikings, 14-9

After the first drive it looked like NO was going to roll over the Vikings, but later the defenses stepped up.