Sincity Tigers

Knowing the Enemy - Penn State

by Bryan Follins

Game Thirteen
The Capital One Bowl
Penn State
Record: 10-2
Wins:
Akron (31-7)
Syracuse (28-7)
Temple (31-6)
Illinois (35-17)
Eastern Illinois (52-3)
Minnesota (20-0)
Michigan (35-10)
Northwestern (34-13)
Indiana (31-20)
Michigan State (42-14)
Losses:
Iowa (21-10)
Ohio State (24-7)

Catfight

Penn State is probably one of the few college football teams who have not changed the appearance of their football uniforms in over 40 years. They also have not changed their style of play much, either. The Nittany Lions do not have many surprises. Watching a Penn State football game is like going to see one of those kickboxing brawls in a caged ring. Win or lose, against the Nittany Lions, they usually leave some bruises.

Penn State�s defensive teams are usually good, and this team is no exception. The Nittany Lions have a trio of linebackers who finished in the top ten in the Big Ten in tackling. Senior linebacker Josh Hull was fourth in the league with 110 tackles, 40 solos. Junior Navarro Bowman had 84 total tackles, 45 solos, good for seventh in the league. Senior Sean Lee had 80 stops, 43 solos. Bowman and Lee piled up their stats despite each player missing three games.

Bowman has had nine games in his career with double figures in tackles. He was tenth in the nation in tackles for losses, averaging 1.55 per game.

On the Nittany Lion defensive line is 6-5, 296, 2009 All-Big Ten tackle Jared Oldrick. The senior had seven sacks, five unassisted, during the season. Sophomore defensive lineman Jack Crawford had 17 tackles for losses, ten unassisted, during the campaign.

Penn State was eighth in the nation in total defense and tenth in the nation in rushing defense. They were also number one in the country in red zone defense.

The Penn State offensive line is anchored by starting tackle Dennis Landolt, a 2009 All Big-Ten selection. Junior center Stefen Wisiewski is an All-Big Ten performer.

Junior running back Evan Royster ran for over 1100 yards in 2009, gaining him first team all conference honors. Royster averaged 5.87 yards per carry for the season. Royster was third in the league in all-purpose rushing.

All-Big Ten quarterback Daryl Clark is the conference leader in passing efficiency. Clark passed for 23 touchdowns and was intercepted 10 times during the season. He passed for 37.5 percent in a loss to Iowa. He passed for 42.9 percent in a loss to Ohio State. Clark was intercepted three times in the Iowa game. He passed for at least three touchdowns in five games.
Wide receiver Derek Moye averaged 3.75 receptions per game, but he averaged over 16 yards per catch. He had three 100 yard receiving games (Eastern Illinois, Minnesota, and Northwestern).

Hopefully the toughest cats in this contest will be wearing the Purple and Gold.

Links:
gopsusports.com/120409aab.html
gopsusports.com/2009-2010
web1.ncaa.org

Notable Penn State Alumni
Chu T. Ming
roswellpark.org/Chu_T_Ming_PhD

Donald P. Bellisario
Wikipedia/Donald P. Bellisario
IMDB/Donald P. Bellisario

Valerie Plame
CBS News
Wikipedia/Valerie Plame

The Quote
�There are several differences between a football game and a revolution. For one thing, a football game usually lasts longer and the participants wear uniforms. Also, there are usually more casualties in a football game. The object of the game is to move a ball past the other team's goal line. This counts as six points. No points are given for lacerations, contusions, or abrasions, but then no points are deducted, either. Kicking is very important in football. In fact, some of the more enthusiastic players even kick the ball, occasionally.� ~ "Alfred Hitchcok"

Knowing the Enemy - Arkansas

Game Twelve
by Bryan Follins

Arkansas
Record: 7-4

Wins:
Missouri State (48-10)
Texas A&M (47-19)
Auburn (44-23)
Eastern Michigan (63-27)
South Carolina (33-16)
Troy (56-20)
Mississippi State (42-21)

Losses:
Georgia (52-41)
Alabama (35-7)
Florida (23-20)
Ole Miss (30-17)

The Tigers end their regular season at home against Arkansas, a team that likes to put the ball in the air. Ryan Mallet, a transfer from Michigan, is the Razorback quarterback. Mallet has gaudy passing statistics. He is sixth in the nation in total passing yards (3195), third in the country in passing efficiency (165.18), and eighth nationally with 290 passing yards per game. Mallet threw for over 400 yards in a game earlier in the season against Georgia, but Arkansas lost the contest.

It is interesting to note, however, that Mallet has not done very well against solid defensive teams. In a loss to Alabama, he was 12 of 35 for 160 yards (one touchdown, one interception).

In a defeat to Ole Miss, Mallet was 12 of 34 with one touchdown. He did throw for 254 yards. In a loss to Florida, he was 12 of 27 for 224 yards and one touchdown. His completion percentage drops drastically against good defenses.

The disturbing note is that the Purple and Gold is eighth in the SEC in pass defense.

Mallet spreads the ball around. Six of Arkansas� players are in the top 100 in the SEC in receptions per game. All six average in double figures per catch. Wide receiver Greg Childs is seventh in the league in receptions per game (3.65), as well as third in the SEC in receiving yards per game. Childs averages 18.45 yards per reception. Another wide receiver, Jarius Wright, averages three receptions per game. He averages 16.09 yards per reception. D.J. Williams, a good tight end, averages 2.82 receptions per game at 12.87 yards per catch. Arkansas� receivers are dangerous catching the ball and dangerous running with it after they catch it.

Offensive tackles Ray Dominguez and DeMarcus Love anchor a solid Razorback offensive line.

In case anyone forgets about the rushing game, Dennis Johnson is a pretty good all purpose runner. He is ninth in the league, averaging 111 all-purpose yards per game. Broderick Green, a 6�2, 248 pound bruiser, averages 4.4 yards per run on the season. He has 10 touchdowns on the year.

Arkansas knows what to do when they get the ball in the opposing team�s red zone. They lead the nation with a .98 red zone efficiency rating.

The Hogs are not good defensively. They are last in the conference in total defense, last in the conference in pass efficiency defense, last in the SEC in pass defense, and eighth in the league in rushing defense.

Arkansas comes to Tiger Town bowl eligible. They have won four games in a row. However the teams they have beaten in that streak (Eastern Michigan, South Carolina, Troy, and Mississippi State), do not exactly strike fear into an opponent.

It is a big game, however. If the Purple and Gold can figure out that a football game runs by a clock, they could come away with The Boot.

Links:

http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com//pdf5/626744.pdf?SPSID=30726&SPID=2419&DB_OEM_ID=6100
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/mainpage.jsp
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&KEY=&SPID=2419&SPSID=30726
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/pdf5/657850.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=6100

Notable Arkansas Alumni

J William Fulbright
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Fulbright

George Howard, Jr
http://www.lincolnu.edu/Files/Alumni/Honorable%20George%20Howard%20Bio.pdf

Pat Summerall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Summerall
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/18/sports/football/18sandomir.html?_r=1
http://www.nfl.com/players/patsummerall/profile?id=SUM191673

Knowing the Enemy - Ole Miss

Game Eleven
by Bryan Follins

Ole Miss Record: (7-3)

Wins:
Memphis (45-14)
Southeastern Louisiana (52-6)
Vanderbilt (23-7)
Alabama Birmingham (48-13)
Arkansas (30-17)
Northern Arizona (38-14)
Tennessee (42-17)

Losses:
South Carolina (16-10)
Alabama (22-3)
Auburn(33-20)

Stretch Run

The Purple and Gold travel to Oxford, Mississippi to face a Mississippi Rebel football team playing good football. Both teams are bowl eligible, and in a fight to be playing somewhere on the first of January.

The Johnny Rebs are fresh off of a 42-17 dismantling of Tennessee, in which running back Dexter McCluster had a game for the ages. McCluster rushed for 282 yards and ran for four touchdowns, as Ole Miss beat the Vols for the first time since the 1983 season. McCluster, who is 5’9, 170 pounds ran at, through, and around Tennessee for the entire game. His longest scoring jaunt was 71 yards. He had 324 all-purpose yards for the contest. He has rushed for 755 yards on the season.

The Rebel offense has other weapons. Sophomore running back Brandon Bolden has rushed for 569 yards and four touchdowns on the year. Bolden has led the Rebels in rushing four times this season.

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A Letter from Joe Aleva

The following statement is excerpted from the the November 12th issue of LSU sports net.

"SEC OFFICIALS
We have received numerous e-mails about the LSU vs. Alabama game and the performance of the officials in that game. Please be assured that there is a mechanism within our conference that allows coaches and administrators to voice their opinion about the performance of officials in SEC athletic contests. We will continue to refrain from making public comments about officials, but that does not mean we do not speak out loud and clear as an institution to the league office when appropriate."

LSU Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director, Joe Aleva.

Knowing the Enemy - Louisiana Tech

Game Ten

by Bryan Follins

Louisiana Tech

Wins:

Nicholls State (48-13)

Hawaii (27-6)

New Mexico State (45-7)

Losses:

Auburn (37-13)

Navy (32-14)

Nevada (37-14)

Utah State (23-21)

Idaho (35-34)

Boise State (45-35)

Louisiana Tech comes to Tiger Stadium with a 3-6 overall record on the season. They have not won a road game all year. On paper, it seems like the ideal game for the Purple and Gold after a war with Alabama. The Bulldogs are in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), home of Boise State.

Tech has played one team that LSU has played this season. That was Auburn. They lost to Auburn 37-13 back in September. Things have not gotten much better for them since that time.

It is hard to say Louisiana Tech is good, even when they finish high in a statistical category. For instance, the Bulldogs are third in the WAC in total defense. That figure is misleading. They give up an average of 387.78 yards per contest on defense. Their defense allows an average of 5.69 yards per play. So, even though they are fourth in the WAC in total defense, they are 80th in the nation in total defense. Not good.

In their three wins they have averaged over 40 points per game. However those wins were over Nicholls State, Hawaii, and New Mexico State. Those three teams have a combined record of 7-20 on the season. Not good.

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Knowing the Enemy - Alabama

Game Nine

by Bryan Follins

Alabama

Record: 9-0

Wins:

Virginia Tech (34-24)

Florida International (40-14)

North Texas (53-7)

Arkansas (35-7)

Kentucky (38-20)

Ole Miss (22-3)

South Carolina (20-6)

Tennessee (12-10)

Losses: None

Time left of the Tricky Nick Era at Alabama

2 years, ?? months, ??days, ?? hours, ??minutes, ??seconds

All Hands On Deck…

It is not hard to see why Alabama is undefeated. They control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. When a team’s offensive and defensive line controls the line of scrimmage, that team will win more than it will lose.

The Tide is second in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 65 yards per game. The Tide is fifth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 11 points per game. Alabama is fourth in the country in total defense, allowing 241 yards per game.

Tricky Nick plays a three-four defensive set. The three down linemen are key to the Tide defense.

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Knowing the Enemy - Tulane

Game Eight

Tulane

by Bryan Follins

Record (2-5)

Wins:

McNeese State (42-32)

Army (17-16)

Losses:

Tulsa (37-13)

Brigham Young (54-3)

Marshall (31-10)

Houston (44-16)

Southern Mississippi (43-6)

Tulane comes to Tiger Town this week sporting a 2-5 record. They are winless in league play. The Greenies play in Conference USA (C-USA). So far, this has not been a good team. In their losses, the Green Wave has given up an average of 41 points per game. Out of 23 statistical team categories, in a league of 12 teams, Tulane is above eighth place in only two categories. They are pass defense and passing efficiency.

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Knowing the Enemy - Auburn

by Bryan Follins

Game Seven

Auburn

Record: 5-2

Wins:

Louisiana Tech 37-13

Mississippi State 49-24

West Virginia 41-30

Ball State 54-30

Tennessee 26-22

Losses:

Arkansas 44-23

Kentucky 21-14

Fourth Weekend of Deadly October

The Auburn Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen come calling to Tiger Town with a 5-2 overall record, and 2-2 mark in the SEC. They have lost their last two games to Arkansas and Kentucky. Like the Purple and Gold, the Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen are fighting to stay alive in the SEC West.

The Auburn first year head coach is Gene Chizik, the former head coach at Iowa State. Chizik was also formerly a defensive coordinator at Auburn.

The Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen are seventh... (click Read More)

Knowing the Enemy - Florida

by Bryan Follins

Game Six

Florida

Record: 4-0

Wins:
Charleston Southern (62-3)
Troy (56-6)
Tennessee (23-13),

Kentucky (41-7)

Losses: None

The Chop comes to Tiger Town undefeated and on top of the college football world.

On the defensive side of the ball:

The Chop leads the nation in total defense. It only allows 3.4 yards per play to opponents.

The Chop is tied for fourth in the country in passing defense, allowing 120 yards per game through the air.

The Chop is tied for fourth in the nation in rushing defense, giving up 29 total points so far.

Senior Jermaine Cunningham anchors a Chop defensive line. Cunningham is a senior defensive end. Carlos Dunlap, a 6-6, 290 pound junior, is the other defensive end.

Brandon Spikes is the middle linebacker for it. He has 21 total tackles for the season, and is as good as they come. Spikes had 10 total tackles in his last game against Kentucky. Linebacker Ryan Stamper, who like Spikes is a senior, has 20 total tackles on the year.

Sophomore cornerback Janoris Jenkins has two interceptions on the season for the Chop. Junior three year starting safety Major Wright also has two interceptions. Junior cornerback Joe Haden is a three year starter for it.

On the offensive side of the ball:

Will Tim Tebow play? He will if:

He is medically cleared to play.
He knows what day it is.
He can walk.

Tebow averages 67 yards per contest rushing, at almost five yards per carry.

If Tebow does not play, the quarterbacking nod could go to John Brantley. Even though Brantley does not present the running threat Tebow does, that will not be his primary function. His job will be to get the football into the hands of running backs like Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, and Emmanuel Moody. For the season, Demps averages 10.86 yards per rush, Rainey averages 8.42 yards per carry, and Moody averages 10.44 yards per rush.

Brandon James is back for one more season. James is averaging 35 yards per kick return. He averages 104 yards per game in all-purpose running. James, the ultimate wild card, is adept at playing a receiver or a running back, and he is equally as deadly at each position.

Riley Cooper is a senior wide receiver for the Chop. Aaron Hernandez is the starting tight end. Cooper and Hernandez are no Percy Harvin or Louis Murphy (who are in the NFL), but they get the job done.

On the offensive line, the Chop is anchored by the Pouncey twins (Maurice and Mike), who are 6-5 and 320 pounds each. They lead a veteran offensive line that was on last year’s national championship team.

As a matter of fact, most of the players mentioned above saw significant action on last year’s national championship team.

So, how does the Purple and Gold beat the Chop?

Hopefully, find a way to run the football. They did not do that well against Florida last year. It was not until the second quarter of that game did the Tigers get a first down. By that time, Florida was in the wind. Maybe the Tigers can look at the film of this year’s Florida-Tennessee game. The Vols rushed for 117 yards against the Chop, and it was actually done against their first string defense.
Play a nearly perfect game. Make one or less turnovers, and three or less penalties.
Coach a nearly perfect game.

It is just that simple. E=mc2

Links:

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/mainpage.jsp?year=2009

http://www.gatorzone.com/football/

Notable Florida Alumni
John Vincent Atanasoff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vincent_Atanasoff

Faye Dunaway
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faye_Dunaway

Emmitt Smith
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmitt_Smith

Knowing the Enemy - Georgia

Game Five

Georgia

Wins: South Carolina (41-37), Arkansas (52-41), Arizona State (20-17)

Losses: Oklahoma State (24-10)

by Bryan Follins

Welcome to Deadly October

This Saturday marks the Purple and Gold’s initial strike into Deadly October, in the first of three straight games against very tough opponents. First stop: Between the hedges in Athens, Georgia against the Georgia Bulldogs.

Statistically Georgia is next to last in total defense in the SEC. Their rushing defense is not bad. They give up an average of 112 yards per game, which ranks sixth in the conference. Defensively, the Bulldogs are led by linebackers Ronnie Curran, Daryl Gamble, and Marcus Dowtin. Curran leads the team in tackles with 39, 23 unassisted.

The pass defense is not good. Georgia ranks eleventh in the SEC in pass defense (one spot below the Purple and Gold). The Bulldogs give up an average of 243 passing yards per game on defense. They have allowed 10 touchdowns through the air. They gave up only 116 yards through the air against Arizona State last week. In their conference games they have given up 313 yards in the air to South Carolina, and a mind boggling 408 yards by pass against Arkansas.

On offense, Joe Cox is the quarterback for Georgia. Cox has completed 60 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns. He has also thrown five interceptions. Cox has a bunch of targets in A.J. Green, Orson Charles, Michael Moore, and Tavarres King. Green has 25 receptions on the year for 428 yards and four touchdowns. He has had two straight good games with 137 yards receiving with two touchdowns against Arkansas, and 153 yards in catches, with one TD against Arizona State last week .

The Bulldogs have the top rated kicker in the country in sophomore Drew Butler, who averages 50 yards per punt.

Georgia has an All-SEC type in offensive tackle Clint Boling, and a center named Ben Jones, a 2008 freshman All-American, anchoring the offensive line.

Note: Conference games seem to bring out the best in the Georgia offense. On the other hand, league play seems to bring out the worst in the Georgia defense. At first glance, this game looks as though it will be a shootout. But as we know, in the SEC, things do not always look as they seem.

This is the first weekend in Deadly October. In this month we get to see who the good teams really are. Frauds are exposed. We see teams who were not given much thought, step out of the shadows and cause chaos. Some teams go through Deadly October with barely a loss, but they wind up so physically and emotionally run down, that they have a nasty November. Deadly October can do this to you. Below is the AP Top Ten going into Deadly October. Will this poll look like this going into November? Do not bet on it.

Team

Oct 3

Oct 10

Oct 17

Oct 24

Oct 31

Florida

Idle

@LSU

Arkansas

@ Miss State

Georgia

Texas

Idle

Colorado

Oklahoma

@Missouri

@Okla State

Alabama

@Kentucky

@Ole Miss

South Carolina

Tennessee

Idle

LSU

@ Georgia

Florida

Idle

Auburn

Tulane

**Boise State

UC Davis

@Tulsa- Oct 14

@Hawaii-Oct 25

San Jose State

Virginia Tech

@Duke

Boston College

@Georgia Tech

Idle

North Carolina Oct 29

USC

@Cal

Idle

@Notre Dame

Oregon State

@Oregon

Oklahoma

@Miami, Fla

Baylor

Texas

@Kansas

Kansas State

Ohio State

@Indiana

Wisconsin

@Purdue

Minnesota

Idle

Cincinnati

@Miami, Oh

Idle

@South Florida-Oct 15

Louisville

@Syracuse

**Possible BCS buster.

Links:

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2009/Internet/conf%20stats/DIVISIONB.HTML

http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=743122