This is the first all-time meeting between these schools. Akron is bowling for just the second time ever and they lost their initial appearance, 38-31 (+4) to Memphis in the 2005 Motor City Bowl. Head coach Terry Bowden coached in three bowls while at Auburn, going 2-1 SU/0-3 ATS. This is Utah State’s fifth straight bowl and their third appearance in the Idaho Potato Bowl. In their previous two post season trips here in 2011 and 2012, they went 1-1 SU/ATS & head coach Matt Wells is 2-0 SU/ATS in bowl games.
Utah State entered the season a contender for the Mountain West crown as they returned 15 starters from a 10 win season. 2012 first team WAC quarterback Chuckie Keeton returned, but was again injured versus Washington, but has started the last two games. Kent Myers did well again filling in for him, as they won 3 straight, but have lost four of their last six despite being a favorite in all but one. The Aggies still finished in a four way tie for second in the MW Mountain Division. They held four opponents to either their lowest or second lowest yards on the season and finished with 26 sacks (8.4%).
Akron entered this season with high expectations despite returning just 12 starters. After expected losses to Oklahoma and Pittsburgh to open the season, they then won three of their next four. The Zips were blown out by eventual MAC champ Bowling Green and lost a close gm to Central Michigan, but then won their last four games. Their calling card entering the season was their defense and it lived up to the billing as they held three of their foes to their season low in yards and finished No. 17 in the FBS, holding their foes to 75 yards per game below their average. Over their last four games, Akron averaged 401 yards per game, including 203 (4.5) rushing yards per game, while allowing just 293 yards per game, including 74 (2.7) rushing yards per game in that same span.
Akron quarterback Thomas Woodson came on as the season progressed and led the offense in their four game winning streak to close the season. The Zips haven’t been to a bowl game in 10 years and are excited to be here. Utah State will have the crowd edge as their campus naturally is much closer to Bronco Stadium (258 miles away, Akron 1769). Aggie quarterback Keeeton didn’t play up to his potential in the regular season when he returned from injury, but with extra rest he should be back to his normal All-Conference ways in this game. Utah State needs a win to avoid a losing season, so they will be putting forth a maximum type of effort. In his first two bowl games that Wells coached the total points scored was 35 and 27 points, so look for a low scoring, physical game.
1. I told you last week, to take a Cleveland Browns win, no matter how ugly it is or was. Memo to Browns offensive coordinator Brian Dabol, when you are facing the worst rush defense in the entire NFL, like you were last week, Peyton Hillis has to have more than 21 carries. I know, Hillis had three fumbles, but I’d much rather take my chances feeding Hillis the rock, then relying on Jake Dellhome and his three yard passes. There were two different drives in the second half, in which the Browns went three and out, that drove me freaking nuts. Can you guess what the play calls were for those drives? I’ll fill you in. First down – Pass. Second down – Pass. Third down – Pass. I’ll just fill you in on what happened on fourth down. Punt.
2. Has anyone regresses more rapidly than JJ Hickson of the Cleveland Cavaliers? I mean, at the beginning of the season he was one of the few bright spots on the team. He seemed like a guy that was “untouchable” when talking about players to trade. Now, the guy seems lost on the court and isn’t even making plays on the offensive end. I don’t think the Cavs should give up on him just yet, however. He’s still a young player that is learning a new system. I think he can still be a solid offensive NBA player.
3. Bernard Hopkins will become the oldest boxer to ever win a true championship when he defeats Jean Pascal this weekend for the Lineal Light Heavyweight Championship of the World. The odds are stacked against Hopkins; He’s nearly 46 years old, will be fighting on Pascal’s home Canadian turf, and is coming off a lackluster performance over Roy Jones Jr in April. It doesn’t matter. Hopkins is at his best when people start counting him out. I think this will be his last great performance in the ring. Showtime is televising it.
4. It’s funny that Terrelle Pryor said that if he were playing in the spread offense, he would “dominate.” Here’s an idea Terrelle, stop shot putting the ball, make better decisions, and dominate in a pro-style offense so you can improve your draft status. And while you’re at it, give another Rose Bowl type performance against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. Do that, and many of the “Haters” will start supporting you again.
5. We will get to see just how good Cleveland State is when they go on the road to take on West Virginia on Saturday. This will be the best team that Cleveland State will have played this season and it is on the road. Head coach Gary Waters will have his team ready and in years past, where Cleveland State has sometimes gone into games like this with “Big Eyes,” I don’t think that will be the case. The most significant matchup will be in the paint between Aaron Pogue and Kevin Jones. If Pogue can control that matchup, CSU will remain unbeaten.
6. When Cleveland Indians and Major League Baseball great Bob Feller was taken into hospice care last week, I knew the time was coming, but didn’t want to think about it. After learning of Fellers passing last night I was in shock. This is a man that I’ve personally spoken to before and is a living legend. Please go and read all of the articles on this great man. Go to every major sports website and read about him. He’s an all time great who lost nearly four years of his prime while serving America during World War II. A great pitcher, but an even greater American. And he had to pass away while Larry Dolan owned the Indians. Damn you Larry Dolan. Damn you.
There isn't a better player that will ever put on a Cleveland Indians uniform
7. I still think it’s crazy that freshman are for the most part the best players in college basketball. Ohio State’s Fabulous Frosh Jared Sullinger earned his second Big Ten Player of the week award in the first four weeks of the season. He leads the second ranked team in the nation in scoring and doesn’t seem to mind the adjustment from high school to college ball. He will win the Big Ten Player of the Year award.
8. Arrive to Christmas concerts and recitals early. If you are just a tad late, you are stuck in the back and won’t see anything. My son had his Christmas concert last night at St. Anthony’s and I got there about 5 minutes before it started. I was stuck in a pew in the back of the cathedral and missed out. Couldn’t even see him.
9. Colt McCoy should be the starter for the rest of the season and I’m happy to see that Eric Mangini has listed his as such. Despite improvement in the team, it appears that Mangini is going to be on the outside looking in when the coaching reviews happen after the season. Mangini should be coaching the Cleveland Browns after this season. The team is headed in the right direction and this organization needs some stability in the worst way.
10. There are some Cleveland Boxers in action. Raynell Williams and Terrell Gausha are fighting tonight in World Series of Boxing matches. Both won their first bouts two weeks ago. Heavyweight Ray Austin is going up against former Olympic Gold medalist Odlanier Solis from Cuba on Saturday in Miami. The winner gets a shot at titlist Vitali Klitschko. Michael Moore improved to 6-0, 4 KO’s after a first round knockout Tuesday night in Texas.
11. Go see “The Fighter” which hits theatres this week. It’s the true story about “Irish” Mickey Ward and the struggles he had to endure while also being a damn good professional prizefighter. You will be amazed if you don’t know the story behind this man. The only bad thing about it is it doesn’t go into the epic trilogy that Ward had with the late Arturo Gatti. SMDH. Why are you still reading this? Go see it!!
12. Amir Kahn and Marcos Maidana put on what essentially will be voted as the fight of the year this past Saturday on HBO. What an epic back and forth battle featuring everything you look for in a prizefight; knockdowns, drama, blood, and of course excitement! If you missed it and have HBO, go check it out on the HBO On Demand channel. Hopefully it will turn you into a boxing fan, if you aren’t one already.
13. Congrats to The University of Akron Zips soccer team as they won the College Cup and were crowned National Champs!! Ohio featured the High School National and College National Champions in Soccer this year!! If you have kids, you understand my excitement for soccer.
1. When the Cleveland Browns win a game, no matter what it looked like, take it. Don’t complain about it. Don’t say they didn’t deserve it. Don’t say they were lucky. Again, take it. The Browns have lost so many games over the years that left us fans in disbelief so just take a deep breath and enjoy the fact that the Cleveland Browns won a game.
2. The Cleveland Cavalier fans have more heart than any of the players that play on the squad. What a bunch of bitches those players are. Every single one of them. Instead of playing grab ass with players on the opposing team, mix in a physical foul once in a while. The Cavs are obviously one of the less talented teams in the NBA, so they have to make up for it in heart and playing physical. The problem is they have no heart, and the players don’t know how to be physical. There is a difference between being physical and being dirty. I’m saying to play physical.
3. Wladimir Klitschko was set to defend the Heavyweight Championship of the World this weekend. That was until he tore a pectoral muscle earlier this week. Reports say he tore it while working the punching mitts. I don’t buy it. I’m going to say that he and his girlfriend Hayden Panettiere were practicing cheers to revive her Hollywood career and he hurt himself after they did some crazy acrobatic maneuver.
These two don't look akward together do they?
4. The biggest surprise players on The Ohio State University Buckeyes this football season were Boom Herron and Brian Rolle. Sure, both players were well-known coming into the season, but had underachieved in prior years. Herron proved to be a tough player inside the tackles and was the most consistent offensive player of the season. Rolle, an undersized linebacker, stepped up and showed the playmaking abilities that the Buckeyes were looking for when they recruited him out of Florida. Herron will be one of the top running backs in the country next season. The most disapointing players? Terrelle Pryor and Cameron Hayward. Pryor continued to be inconsistent as a quarterback and didn’t capitalize on his near perfect Rose Bowl game from last year. Heading into the season he was the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, however, he failed to even make first or second team quarterback in his own conference. Cameron Hayward passed up first round riches to play in the NFL last year to come back and play his senior year. A commendable act no doubt, but he should have dominated this year. There were games when you didn’t even hear the announcers mention his name. Sure, he was double and triple teamed much of the year, but if your Cameron Hayward, you’ve gotta find a way to make plays. I’m being extremely critical here, because Heyward still had a solid year, but a player of his stature didn’t have the type of dominating season that was expected.
5. I’ve said it before, and i’m going to continue to preach it. THE BEST BASKETBALL IN THE CITY CONTINUES TO BE PLAYED BY THE CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS! They are 11-0 and are on the cusp of being ranked in the top 25. Don’t get caught up in their ranking. Just know that head coach Gary Waters and his staff are concentrating on getting them ready for postseason play. Also Norris Cole, who has already been named athlete of the week twice in the Horizon League this season, is more fun to watch than anyone on the Cleveland Cavalier roster.
6. It’s great to be a Cleveland Indians fan right now. I mean, while Boston is picking up Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, and the Yankees on the verge of signing Cliff Lee, the Indians are promoting Snow Days at progressive field and getting close to signing Nick Punto. Nick Punto!! Punto is a stud at 33 years old and coming off a monster year in which injuries limited him to playing 48 games, but he hit an astounding .238!! I’m camping out for my Tribe tickets already. Damn you Larry Dolan. Damn you.
7. While Jared Sullinger, Jon Diebler, and William Buford get most of the attention and accolades for The Ohio State University Buckeye basketball team, the heart and soul of the team is David Lighty. The Cleveland native leads the team in scoring, and is averaging career highs in assists and steals. What you won’t see in the box score is the defensive intensity he brings as well as the hustle plays that he makes on the court by tipping balls and frustrating opposing players.
8. If you have a bad lower back like I do, get an inversion table. The thing works wonders. Takes every ounce of pressure and removes it from your back. Simply amazing.
9. I know its early, but TJ Ward and Joe Haden remind me an awful lot of the Frank Minnifield and Felix Wright combination. What a backfield. Keep it up guys.
10. There are two Cleveland boxers that are participating in the World Series of Boxing. For those that don’t know, the World Series of Boxing is an amateur boxing league that follows professional rules. There is no headgear, no shirts, and rounds are scored on a ten point must system. The fights last five rounds. The two Cleveland boxers are Raynell Williams and Terrell Gausha. They both participate on the Team from Memphis called the Memphis Force. Both were victorious in their opening bouts. The bouts are televised on Versus.
Raynell Williams during his first bout with Memphis.
11. I heard that there is going to be a new Top Gun movie coming out. Please say it isn’t so!! First The Karate Kid was remade, and now Top Gun? SMDH.
12. There is excellent boxing on this weekend. Both Showtime and HBO are giving fans their money’s worth. Showtime is showing its Bantamweight tournament bouts, featuring four of the top six bantamweights in the World against each other, while HBO is focusing on the Jr Welterweight division, with three of the top ten Jr Welterweights in action.
13. The University of Akron Zips soccer team has made it to the Final Four of the College Cup. They are on their way to back-to-back National Championships!
Castro's Kingdom 