Fans25.com Articles

Thanks For Another Great Season!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:01 EST

2012 was the sixth season on Fans25.com. I just wanted to send out a thank you to all of the folks who read and/or participate on this site. We had another great year here on Fans25 - our sixth season since we first gave this a stab back in 2006 - and I am still glad that I decided to start this up many moons ago. I hope that everyone will continue to post in the forum throughout the offseason, discussing other sports, as well as the little tidbits of college football news that happen through the months from now until August. Signing Day is coming up on February 6th, and spring practices take place in March, but after that I really hope to keep the chatter going - as we have in past years - with talk of the NFL playoffs, college basketball, the NBA, golf, the College World Series, MLB baseball and anything else sports related!

Again, as we move into the much slower offseason, thanks to everyone for being a part of the site. It is truly appreciated and I look forward to the future and a great 2013 season!

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Final Poll

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:01 EST

The Crimson Tide finish on top. I know, I know, the two major polls have been out for three days now, and mine is just now going up...Well, for those that do not know yet, I work a "real job" outside of this site, and this is the first chance I have had to sit down and type up my version of the final Top 25 poll for 2013. The upside of this three-day wait is that I have had lots of time to think about how I feel in ranking the teams...

If there is one word (or one acronym) to sum up the 2013 season - like it or not - it would be "SEC." Yes, for the seventh-straight season the national title comes home to the league rooted in the South. The conference also brought home the Heisman Trophy and a record in bowl games of 6-3...

The Bear Has Company

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 7 Jan 2013 00:00:01 EST

Alabama - 42 Notre Dame - 14

The Alabama Crimson Tide win the 2013 BCS National Championship. If you have ever heard the words "college football," and you are from the South, then you know what those words mean in the most sincere of ways. But despite the fact that thousands of games have been played against foes from across the regions, no game clearer beats home the point of "don't mess with Southern football," than Notre Dame's complete and total embarassment to Alabama a few hours ago...

And here is why:

You see, I am a not an SEC fan. I am an ACC fan, and the SEC messes with us, too... I happen to not like the SEC so much to be totally honest. But what I dislike worse than the SEC, are Notre Dame folks who put out t-shirts that say "Catholics vs. Cousins" in a play (knocking poor Southerners), or "Catholics vs. Convicts" from back in the 80's (when Miami had a bunch of renegades playing ball), or - best yet - "Holy Bible" vs "Honey Boo Boo" (or "Holy Bible" vs "Hillbillies", I saw both shirts in last night's game)...

Official Bowl Schedule

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 3 Dec 2012 00:00:01 EST

Complete college football bowl schedule - keep up with the bowls right here!

NEXT UP

BCS National Championship Game - Miami - January 7th, 8:30 - ESPN

#1 Notre Dame (12-0) vs #2 Alabama (12-1)

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Final Regular Season Rankings

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 2 Dec 2012 00:00:01 EST

Alabama and Georgia put on an unbelievable show from the Georgia Dome yesterday afternoon, with the Bulldogs falling just short as time expired. A completed pass to Chris Conley with less than :05 to go sealed the game for Alabama, who will now move on to play Notre Dame in the BCS Championship Game in Miami. The game went back and forth throughout the night, with Alabama relying heavily on the running of Eddie Lacy who had a brilliant game (20 carries, 181 yards, 2 TDs).

1. Notre Dame (12-0)

Championship Weekend Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

The games of Championship Weekend are probably the toughest set of games to pick all season. You have the best of the best busting helmets as six league title games will go down, and three more games will decide the fate of other conference titles. Not only will we find out who wins what conferences by late Saturday night, but we will also know our 2012 Pick'em Contest winner! Right now we have a group of six players at the top in a really close race. For the final time of the regular season 2012, here are my weekly picks...

#2 Alabama vs #3 Georgia - 4:00 - CBS - SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - The official college football playoffs do not start until 2014, but this is a playoff game in the truest of fashions. The winner of this game will move on to Miami to play Notre Dame in the BCS Title Game, and the winner of that game will hoist a crystal football. In this one, I think......

Louisville Set to Join ACC

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

Addition of Cardinals is welcome news to ACC fans. The presidents and chancellors of the Atlantic Coast Conference voted via conference call on Wednesday morning to invite the University of Louisville to become the 14th member of the conference. The Cardinals will begin competition in 2014 and fill the vacancy left by the University of Maryland's departure from the league two weeks ago. Louisville brings a strong tradition of basketball, and an up-and-coming football program, to the ACC. After another rocky season on the gridiron, and with rumors flying that the conference would begin to break up with the departure of charter member Maryland, the ACC showed that - like it or not - it is here to stay.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Thirteen

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

Rivalry week was hard on me. My squad, Clemson, took one on the chin - at home - to rival South Carolina, 27-17. The Gamecock victory marks the fourth straight win for the bad guys over the Tigers, something that had not happened in over 50 years. Needless to say, I am struggling a bit today to type this article. Clemson sits at 10-2, which would normally be a proud record. But when the ten wins include zero victories over current top 25 teams and one of the two losses is to an arch-rival, the shine of reaching the double-digit win mark is tarnished just a bit.

1. Notre Dame (12-0)

Rivalry Weekend Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

Rivalry week is here. This is the week where things get a little more serious than normal. Injury reports are checked daily, the weather webpage at the stadium has been added to your favorites list, your gameday attire is being cleaned a day earlier in the week than usual, and the dog has on the team collar. You get my point...Rivalry week is what it is all about, folks - it is stress and excitement rolled into one big turkey-stuffed emotional roller coaster. Here are my picks for the games of week 13....

#12 South Carolina at #11 Clemson - 7:15 - ESPN - In the long and hateful history of this in-state rivalry game, this is the biggest of them yet, ranking-wise. The game features a high-profile offense (Clemson) against a high-profile defense (South Carolina) in what is sure to be a battle royale. The teams have been nationally ranked coming into this game many times before - but never at the same time such as this. This year, with both at the edge of the BCS top 10, the game takes a step up in intensity...All eyes are on QB Tajh Boyd of Clemson against a very talented USC defense led by DL Jadeveon Clowney. Honestly, that is a huge chunk of the game. If Clowney and crew get in Boyd's face, the Clemson offense may sputter......

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Twelve

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

A lot of teams had impressive wins over the weekend only to not move up in my poll. UCLA and Oklahoma had nice wins over USC and West Virginia, respectively, but remain at 15 and 16 in my rankings. Of course, up top, there was some movin' and shakin' as #1 and #2 were both defeated in the same weekend. Here are my rankings following the games of week twelve...

1. Notre Dame (11-0) - The Irish have done it. Say what you will, but with two losses by the two teams in front of them, ND has recaptured the top spot in college football. Now, barring catastrophe, the Irish will play for the national championship.

Week Twelve Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

As we creep near to the end of the regular season, the Pick'em Contest is heating up! DanceswithBeers2010 and MPG96 lead the way at 77% for the season. But close behind is Wadefake16 at 76%, and then Woody26, BeatWesAss, DarkCornerDawg and Scooby10672 at 75%. Another 14 players are sitting at 73% or better and within striking distance with three weekends of picking to go (http://fans25.com/pick_standings.cfm) Folks, this year's version is going to go down to the wire once again! As for me, well, I went 11-4 a week ago, but my 68% score for the season so far is not something I really want to talk about! Here are my picks for the games of week twelve...

#13 Stanford at #2 Oregon - 8:00 - ABC - Here is the marquee game of the weekend. If Oregon is to lose in the regular season, this game right here offers as good of a chance as any (yes, Beavers, I know you're out there). The Cardinal have been about as disciplined and hard-nosed as any team in the nation since .......

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Eleven

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

For the first time in almost two seasons we have a new number one. Yes, Johnny "Football" Manziel and the Texas A&M Aggies went into Tuscaloosa and dethroned the king, Alabama! The national title talks are going to be as crazy and complex as ever with this new happening as Alaama was the clearcut unanimous choice to make it to Miami. Now though, instead of wondering who the Tide will play, Alabama must hope it can even reach the national title game. Ah, college football! Here is my Top 25 following the games of week eleven....

1. Oregon (10-0)

Week Eleven Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 8 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

Wow, week eleven is here. The sound of that - "week eleven" - makes me think of late-season key games and BCS implications. This year has flown by, and in just a couple of more weeks the regular season will wrap up. I haven't picked nearly as well this year as I have in Pick'em Contests of the past, and I am not sure why that is. Maybe the game is just as unpredictable now as it ever has been! Anyway, the law of averages says I will finish strong, bringing me up closer to my career average of roughly 71%....So with a mission to rock out these last three weeks, here are my choices for the games of week eleven...

#11 Oregon State at #14 Stanford - 3:00 - FOX - This could be the toughest pick of the day. With Oregon running away with the Pac-12 North, it is highly unlikely that this game will factor much on that. But it is a football game between two fine teams who have a 14-3 combined record coming in. The two teams ride their defenses, both ranking in the top 20 nationally in points allowed.....

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Ten

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 4 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

Alabama still holds on to the top spot after a road win at LSU, Notre Dame stays unbeaten after Pitt misses a FG in OT that would have taken them down, and TCU celebrates the gutsiest play of the day as they went for - and made - a two-point conversion in triple OT to beat West Virginia. Here is my top 25 following the games of week ten...

1. Alabama (9-0)

Ten Things - Week Nine

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Fri, 2 Nov 2012 00:00:01 EST

What kind of world are we living in? Notre Dame is national title contender? Undefeated Florida losing to Georgia? Kansas State is the prohibitive Big 12 favorite while Texas and Oklahoma are also-rans? At least we know that college football can still provide that shock factor. And really, isn’t that what we all love? As bad as the feeling of your heart plummeting to your stomach is, the pure exuberance that comes from a well-timed fumble recovery, watching your underdog team shine in the spotlight, or watching a potential rival collapse under the pressure more than compensate. Last weekend saw all three of these happen and for every fan who sank into his or her seat, there was another who was walking on air. And as heart-wrenching as those losses were for the fans, nothing they experienced will come close to what Marcus Lattimore experienced as he ended his second straight season in injury. Even in the bad, there is good, though. And we’ll see it all in the best of the week that was…

Week Ten Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

Alabama and Oregon - two top five teams thinking national title - face what could be their toughest tasks of the regular season. Yes, LSU and USC, respectively, await, wanting nothing more than to make their impact on the 2012 college football season. Here are my picks for the games of week ten:

#4 Oregon at #17 USC - 7:00 - FOX - Oregon knows it must not only win its games, but win 'em big to impress both human and computer voters. While USC has home-field advantage and a decent team, Oregon is one of the nation's elite squads and will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. In this one, I see....

Choo-Choo!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

We are set up for a train wreck at season's end as four teams have a legit shot to finish the regular season undefeated. Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame are now staring a perfect regular season in the face. Then what? Who plays who for the title? Here we go again.

With Bama steamrolling Mississippi State, 38-7, they will not lose any votes. The defending champs are firmly planted as the nation's top team. But after that it is a mess....

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Nine

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

College football was as entertaining as ever yesterday. From last second punt returns for TD's to a major upset in the SEC to a huge road win for ND, the games of this weekend provided plenty of plays to keep me glued to the TV all day long. In the end, one top five team, Florida, was eliminated (probably) from the national title race with a loss to Georgia. The other teams in the top five held on to move one step closer to the BCS national title game. Here is my Top 25 following the games of week nine:

1. Alabama (8-0)

Week Nine Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

As I look at Saturday's games, I see a ton of upset potential for this weekend. #2 Florida and #3 Kansas State need to be on super alert as #10 Georgia and #14 Texas Tech, respectively, would love to shake up the top five. #9 USC also has a tricky game, hitting the road to play unranked, but dangerous, Arizona. And - believe it or not - #1 Alabama even gets a test this weekend, facing #11 Mississippi State at home. Here are my picks for this week's games:

#14 Texas Tech at #3 Kansas State - 3:30 - FOX - Do I pick an upset here? Wow, it is hard not to. TTU has played some lights-out ball as of late, pounding West Virginia and then winning on the road in an OT shootout at TCU. But KSU is led by probably the best player in the game in Heisman candidate QB Collin Klein. A dominant player, I expect Klein to save the day in Manhattan, keeping his team in the top five while doing it. This game will probably be high-scoring in typical Big-12 fashion.....

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Eight

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

The Top 10 stayed exactly the same as a week ago, but after that, many changes went down. The #1 team in the nation, Alabama, cruised once again, rolling past Tennessee, 44-13. West Virginia and South Carolina both lost for the second week in a row, this time to Kansas State and Florida, respectively. And the top five has too many good teams and not enough spots for them all. Bama, Oregon, Florida, Kansas State and Ohio State are all unbeaten and think they should be numero uno (and let's not forget Louisville, Oregon State and Mississippi State). Here is my Top 25 following the games of week eight.

1. Alabama

Week Eight Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

We are getting towards crunch time, now! Division races are starting to get heated, and those thinking national title know they have some huge games coming up. Once again the SEC leads the way, as the league features three games this weekend that have national title implications. Here are my predictions for the games of week eight...

#7 South Carolina at #2 Florida - 3:30 - CBS - A year ago, folks were wondering if Will Muschamp was the right choice for the Gators as head coach. He started out 7-6 (3-5 SEC) and had folks in Gainesville twiddling their fingers just a bit. But, wham! Just ten months later his second Florida team is unbeaten and ranked second in the BCS rankings - the rankings that count. But it might not last long. In come the Gamecocks of South Carolina and they are going to give Florida all they want and then some. I see South Carolina's defense limiting the Gators, while Shaw and company (RB Marcus Lattimore not playing) score just enough to stay right in it. That said, the Gators are good - and at home. This is the game to take the lead in the SEC East, and I think.......

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Seven

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

The Top 25 was shaken up yesterday as South Carolina and West Virginia, two top five teams, lost. Texas, who was #20 in my poll a week ago, gave up a whopping 63 points to Oklahoma to fall out of my list as they now have two losses. Kansas State is all of the sudden the team to keep your eye on. KSU has moved up to the #3 spot with teams ahead of them going down. Here is my Top 25 following the games of week seven:

1. Alabama (6-0) - The Tide took care of business on the road at Mizzou, 42-10. In typical Bama style as of late, they went up 21-0 early and then cruised to victory. Up next for the nation's top-ranked team is a rivalry game: Tennessee in Knoxville.

Week Seven Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

As the weeks go by, the closer and closer I get, climbing my way slowly up the Pick'em Contest standings. Will my glacier-like progress let me finagle my way to the top by season's end? Probably not. Regardless, here are my picks for week seven:

#15 Texas at #13 Oklahoma - 12:00 - ABC - I cannot imagine that any two current head coaches have played each other face-to-face as many times as Bob Stoops and Mack Brown have. As we go into the 14th meeting between these two coaches at these two schools since 1999, Stoops and Oklahoma lead 8-5....As for the 2012 version of the Red River Shootout, I will turn to straight up facts to predict my winner. The Texas offense ranks 6th nationally against an OU defense that is 20th nationally in points allowed. From what I read around the www, Texas must be able to run the ball to win. Although QB David Ash has turned into a solid passer, the key to UT's success is the running of Joe Bergeron (9 TD's) and Malcolm Brown (3 TD's). Kansas State ran the ball on OU, and they left with a win.....

Ten Things - Week Six

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

With the season already half over, it’s right about the time to start sorting out the serious contenders. LSU, Georgia, Texas – thanks for playing. While there seem to be a few more teams in the top ten with more to prove (we’re looking at you Florida and Kansas State), the meat of conference schedules is certainly not disappointing thus far. Surprises abound from South Bend to the Happy Valley and Columbus, while road trip of disappointment begins in Fayetteville, with pit stops in Lincoln, Ann Arbor, and Baton Rouge before returning to Arkansas. We still have what seems like a two horse race, with Alabama and Oregon sharing the top two spots in both major polls for the third consecutive week. Spots 3-5 have seen a total of nine teams since the preseason, and the rest of the top ten has been even more erratic. But with everything coming into a clearer picture, let’s salute the best Ten Things of the week that was…

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Six

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 7 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

With the week off, the Crimson Tide of Alabama remain on top, with Oregon at number two. But after that, things really get to shaking up! South Carolina had one of the more impressive victories of the day, stomping Georgia at home in Columbia, 35-7. West Virginia looked good on the road in beating Texas, and Notre Dame and Ohio State looked strong at home, beating Miami and Nebraska, respectively.

We now go in to the second half of the season and the excitement is off the charts for schools trying to make the BCS championship. Here is my Top 25 following the games of week six:

1. Alabama (5-0)

Week Six Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 4 Oct 2012 00:00:01 EST

I am scratching and clawing my way back up the ladder. I went 13-2 a week ago, which is definitely a step in the right direction. This week, with a plethora of great games, I will look to climb a few more spots. Here are my picks for the games of week six:

#5 Georgia at #6 South Carolina - 7:00 - ESPN - This is the biggie this weekend, the must-see game. Georgia. South Carolina. The Border War (as it is now being labeled)...Columbia, SC will be the scene of ESPN's College Gameday morning special, and all of the hoopla and shenaningans that come with that. The most highly-anticipated game in years for South Carolina will see their Gamecocks tangle with a UGA squad that is loaded with talent, including freshman running back Todd Gurley, who is on a mission to join the all-time great Bulldog backs. Gurley has sparked UGA on offense, as the Dawgs rank eighth in points for at 48.2 ppg. They will need all of that and then some as South Carolina's defense is one of the nation's best, ranking sixth in points against at 11.2 ppg.......

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Five

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

Alabama, LSU, Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Florida, Texas and Ohio State are all teams that are traditionally known as "big-name" schools, and after five weeks of football, all are undefeated and thinking national title. And a national title is something that those schools above have all won in the modern era of the sport...2012 is shaping up to be a wild and crazy season, as those teams, as well as teams who have come into recent success, such as Oregon, TCU, South Carolina, Kansas State, Louisville and West Virginia, see the national title race WIDE OPEN!

1. Alabama (5-0) - The top-ranked team in the land did not blow Ole Miss out of the water like many thought they would. Instead, a respectable enough 33-14 home win sees the Tide remain unbeaten. A couple of road trips are now on deck: Missouri and Tennessee.

Week Five Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

Still in the midst of my worst performance ever in the Pick'em Contest, it is time to hunker down! I still have nine weeks of games to work back up towards the top. There are another group of exciting games for this weekend, and lots of hot players to keep me down the list. Here are my choices for the games of week five...

#12 Texas at Oklahoma State - 7:50 - FOX - Longhorn sophomore QB David Ash is starting to prove that he is the man for the job. Many thought Case McCoy would be the one in the spotlight this fall, but Ash won the starting role.....

Ten Things - Week Four

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

After a week off, it seems the college football world has turned upside down. Since the preseason polls were released, four teams have already suffered a loss – three of them were upsets. It seems the field is still littered with teams who want their shot, and maybe one or two of them will break through. Nevertheless, September is nearing an end, autumn is in the air and this season of football is just heating up. Join me as we relive the week that was in this week’s Ten Things…

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Four

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

The top teams are beginning to seperate themselves as we move into the middle part of the season. Oregon, Florida State and South Carolina were three teams that really caught my eye this weekend with impressive wins. Here is my Top 25 poll following the games of week four:

1. Alabama (4-0) - The Tide defeated Florida Atlanatic 40-7 to stay unbeaten and atop the polls. AJ McCarron has thrown for 810 yards and ten scores so far, and the Alabama defense is second in the nation in ppg at 5.3.

Week Four Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

I have to find a way to claw myself back into the Pick'em Contest. After a horrid start of 28-17 (including 7-8 in week two), I studied a bit harder this week and thought about the games a bit longer. Here are my picks for the biggest games of week four:

#10 Clemson at #4 Florida State - 8:00 - ABC - When FSU came into the league back in 1991 (began competing in football in 1992), this was the kind of game that ACC fans were thinking would be a regular thing between these two. Finally, 21 years later, it materializes. A meeting of two top 10 ACC teams will go down Saturday from Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee...As for the game, the main event will feature the Clemson offense against the FSU defense. That, my friends, should be fun to watch! But another maybe more important storyline concerns the Clemson defense against the FSU offense. The Tigers have struggled against the run and the Seminoles feature a solid running back in Chris Thompson...This should be a dandy (and for me a stress-fest royale). I am......

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Three

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

A couple of top ten teams - USC and Michigan State - fell victim this past weekend, shaking things up. Here is my Top 25 for this week:

1. Alabama (3-0) - The Crimson Tide are clearly the best team in the land. A 52-0 win over Arkansas on the road should attest to that. Two easy home wins are next (FAU and Ole Miss), so the Tide are basically 5-0 before the season has even settled in.

Week Three Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

The games of week three are among us. Here are my predictions as I struggle to get back into the thick of things in the Fans25 Pick'em Contest:

#18 Florida at #23 Tennessee - 6:00 - ESPN - Here is your game of the day, folks. I know Michigan State-ND is a big'en, but this is the most intense war of the day in my opinion. Both teams need a big season - especially the home Volunteers. Ole' Smokey hasn't shown much growl in a while, but a special player named Cordarelle Patterson could change all of that. The Gators have talent galore, but are still trying to make an impact under Will Muschamp. This one will be a classic.........

Ten Things - Week Two

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

And the hits just keep on coming. Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Nebraska drop out of the ratings after horrible upsets. Missouri is playing Old Man football these days. PAC-12 teams are looking better than ever. Week 2 is in the books, folks, and the scandals of the offseason are a distant memory as upsets abound and the play on the field trumps everything off it. Join us as we venture through the best and worst Ten Things the week that was…

1. Warhawks Stun Razorbacks: It’s not every day it happens. In fact it never happened before. A Sun Belt team beat a ranked opponent for the first time since 2004. And not just a ranked opponent, but a top 10 SEC team. It’s been a tough year for the Razorbacks, who lost head coach Bobby Petrino to scandal during the offseason. It was an even tougher game, as starting QB Tyler Wilson....

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Two

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 9 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

The games of week three are just around the corner, and we are starting to get a glimpse of who really has what. A whole heap of teams from my poll a week ago lost this past weekend, making room for new teams to move in. Here is my Top 25 for week three....

1. Alabama (2-0) - I was actually a little surprised that Bama only put 35 points up in this win over Western Kentucky. But, throw in a goose-egg to go with it, and it was a nice way to send the opposition packing.

Week Two Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 6 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

And just like that, not only is the season amongst us again, but we are now into the games of week two. A couple of SEC newcomer matchups highlight the slate this week as Georgia travels to Missouri while Florida travels to Texas A&M...I had a so-so score of 12-3 in week one of the Pick'em Contest, a week where 53 players equaled or bettered me. It will take a stronger performance this week if I am to start moving towards being in the group that will compete for this year's Pick'em Contest crown...

Here are my picks for week two:

#7 Georgia at Missouri, ESPN2, 7:45 - I see Mark Richt's boys hunkering down for a game that is desperately needed as the SEC welcomes Missouri into conference play. UGA fans are on the fence with Richt in year twelve, and a big road win over a good Tiger program would be just what the doctor ordered. That said, it will be tough. Missouri features junior QB James Franklin who is very talented, and more importantly, experienced. This has been a true top 25 program for several years now. Add to that a home crowd like Faurot Field has never seen.....

Ten Things - Week One

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 5 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

It’s been a long and trying offseason. More scandals, more sanctions, more bad press. But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel – a playoff was born. Never before have the games of the regular season been such a formality, a necessary event to progress to the next step of the game. That’s two years away though, and we have a lot of football to play between now and 2014. Join in for another season as Ten Things kicks off this year with the rundown of the best and worst of the week that was, with a watchful eye towards the future…

Any Questions?

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 2 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

Top teams across America blew things wide open at an incredible rate this past weekend. In the top five, blowouts were the norm, as Alabama, USC and Oregon all brought out a can. But it was the performance of the Crimson Tide that stood out the most. Bama went up 31-0 on a good Michigan team...in the first half! From there they set it on cruise control for a 41-14 win. Across the top 25 scores went well into the 50's and 60's...

A Long Time Coming

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 2 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

With a 26-19 win over Auburn Saturday night from the Georgia Dome, Clemson finally gets some respect back for themselves and their league. I realize as I write this that bigger wins have gone down in the history of college football. No title was won here, and, honestly, it wasn't even the biggest game on TV at the time. That honor would have to go to Alabama-Michigan over on ABC. But Clemson's win over Auburn was one that had a tremendous amount of importance for a group of people known as Clemson fans - a group I happen to belong to.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week One

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 2 Sep 2012 00:00:01 EST

It is easier to rank the teams after seeing them play. This week's poll has a good bit of moving and shaking as I certainly know a lot more about them now than I did a week ago. For instance, Michigan fell back 15 spots and three new teams enter the rankings: Tennessee, North Carolina and Notre Dame...Here is my top 25 for week two.

1. Alabama (1-0, 0-0) - The Tide thoroughly dismantled Michigan, going up by 31 in the first half. Does anyone want a piece of Saban in a big OOC game? I didn't think so.

Week One Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:00:01 EST

The season is back. Enough said!

#9 South Carolina at Vanderbilt - 8:00 - ESPN - This could be a tricky game for the Gamecocks. Vanderbilt always fields a decent team, there is sure to be rain with Hurricane Isaac parked a couple hundred miles to the South, and it is a road game to start the season. But I think USC has enough manpower and weapons to get through this. I see Vandy putting a real scare in South Carolina early on, but then Marcus Lattimore and crew will get rolling, and by the time it is over, the Gamecocks prevail. South Carolina 30, Vanderbilt 20.

Washington State at BYU - 10:30 - ESPN - This is the debut of Head Coach Mike Leach at Wazzu. He is one of the better coaches out there in my opinion and will do big things for the Cougars. But

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Preseason

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:00:01 EST

The defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide will debut at number one in my poll for 2012. The Tide have become a force to be reckoned with, and until they get beat, they will occupy the top spot....

1. Alabama Crimson Tide - As long as Nick Saban is the coach here, you can expect the Tide to be among the nation's elite teams. He has had success everywhere he has coached, from Michigan State to LSU to Alabama, and he seems to be firmly planted in Tuscaloosa. He has recruited plenty well enough to keep his team in the national title race in the years to come. His 2012 version - the defending national champs - will feature AJ McCarron at QB behind a very good offensive line. The defense has some question marks, but if I were an Alabama fan, I wouldn't be overly concerned there. I look for Alabama to once again be in the middle of the national title talks all year long.

Major College Football to Start Playoff in 2014

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:01 EST

A major college football playoff is set to begin in 2014. Today is a new day for college football. Well, rather, January 12, 2015 will be a new day. On that day – or night – college football, for the first time ever, will crown a champion through a traditional playoff - a playoff style that exists in nearly all other major sports on the face of the planet. For the first time ever, four teams will battle on the playing field for the right to undisputedly be called the national champion.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Final Rankings

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:01 EST

Another season has come and gone, and with it the Southeastern Conference claimed its sixth straight national championship....here is my final top 25 for the 2011 season....

1. Alabama (12-1) - my preseason rank: 2 - The #1 team dominated the biggest game of the season to win it all (even though I think they weren't the team worthy of that opportunity).

2. Oklahoma State (12-1) - my preseason rank: 22 - Once more, I feel the BCS let us down. OSU should have been able to challenge LSU. A great season for the Cowboys.

3. LSU (13-1) - my preseason rank: 5 - Should LSU still get #1 votes? I think so....

Alabama 2012 National Champions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 9 Jan 2012 00:00:01 EST

The Crimson Tide will bring home national championship number 14 with a 21-0 victory over SEC West rival LSU. Ironically, the Tide kicking game was the difference, with Jeremy Shelley going 5 of 7 on field goals for most of the scoring....

Fans Debate: LSU vs Alabama

SpiffyGuitarMan and The Top Fan — Wed, 4 Jan 2012 00:00:01 EST

The main event is Monday night from New Orleans. Here, a couple of folks debate the points of the LSU-Alabama game. One represents a Bama point of view. The other tells why LSU will win. In a couple of days, we will know the truth and our 2012 national champion....

Question 1: Why will LSU win?

SpiffyGuitarMan: Because they have proven themselves to be the better team throughout the season, including winning at Bryant-Denny Stadium earlier this year. LSU has navigated one of the most difficult seasons of any national title contender in recent years, and they have emerged unscathed. A rematch against the Tide in the Tigers’ backyard is a recipe for a repeat result.

The Top Fan: LSU will win behind the craziness that will be the New Orleans Superdome. Yes, Bama will have plenty of support there also, but

Fans debate: West Virginia vs. Clemson

The Top Fan and CooperWVU — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:01 EST

CooperWVU graduated from West Virginia. I graduated from Clemson. Neither of us has ever played a down of football in our lives, but - trust me - we know our stuff. Here, 10 questions were presented to each of us. Who will win the Discover Orange Bowl? Read on to find out.....

Question 1: Why will West Virginia win?

CooperWVU: Because WVU will have more points at the end of the game. I see this game (on paper) as two teams with high-powered offenses capable of scoring points and putting up a lot of yards/stats. WVU has some special teams players (Tavon Austin) that can give us good field position (I believe he's top 10 in the country in kickoff returns and has 2 kickoffs returned for TDs this year), and Clemson's always had those type of players/good special teams. So, we both have potent offenses and weapons on special teams, but our defenses can be suspect at times

Fans debate: South Carolina vs. Nebraska

Dsuddeth and SkullandBones and Husker Ed — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:01 EST

The SEC's Gamecocks and the newest member of the Big Ten, Nebraska, square off in Florida in the Capital One Bowl. Here, we have a couple of Nebraska fans and a South Carolina fan give their answers to what will go down in Orlando...

Question 1: Why will South Carolina win?

SkullandBones: If I had to be complete honest I'd give the edge to SC, a fast defensive with an elusive QB have proven a bad combo for us this year.

Husker Ed: Speed kills. The speed on defense will limit Nebraska's potent offense.

Dsuddeth: USC will win,… if their defense can cause multiple turnovers. USC’s defense must put 8 in the box and shut down Nebraska’s run game. They must force (QB) Martinez to throw the ball…USC must force Nebraska in 3rd and long situations.

Bowl Schedule

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:01 EST

Here are the basics. The times. The dates. The teams. The channels. Nothing fancy. Just where to see what game is on TV when your Holiday company is making you want to step in front of a train....

2011 Fans25.com Fan Awards

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 9 Dec 2011 00:00:01 EST

The fans have spoken. And I want to stress that they spoke before Thursday night's awards show on ESPN. Votes for these results have been coming in for over a week and a half. Tonight folks, we debut the first annual Fans25.com Fan Awards! These awards were voted on by members of the Fans25.com forum and were tallied by ASJTimm - a forum regular and a professional journalist - who contributed to this article....Without further delay, here are who the fans of Fans25.com see as the best of the best for the 2011 season!

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Regular Season Final

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 00:00:01 EST

LSU remains the top team in the land. The college football season is exactly long enough. Exactly. I ran out of gas somewhere around the end of Saturday night's games, and this short break between now and the bowl games could not have come at a better time. You see folks, as much as I would love to sit here and type about how Fans25 is this big, huge company that has all week open to research and report on college football, I cannot. Several super-rad volunteers help me monitor the site, but I work a pretty solid week each week at my real-world job and at times I just have to put driving home from work and sleep first.....All lame excuses aside, here are how I see the teams falling into place as the regular season of 2011 has come to a close...

Tigers Win ACC Championship

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 00:00:01 EST

#20 Clemson 38, #5 Virginia Tech 10. In a roller-coaster of a season, the Tigers of Clemson are back on a roll. After playing dismal football the last four weeks, Clemson showed up in major fashion at Bank of America Stadium Saturday night, whipping the Hokies for the ACC crown. A trip to the Orange Bowl now awaits Clemson - their first appearance in that event in exactly 30 years. This championship is the Tigers' first ACC title in exactly 20 years.

Who Gets LSU?

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 00:00:01 EST

#1 LSU 42, #14 Georgia,10. Now that the Tigers of LSU have whipped UGA to win the SEC Championship, the talk is about who will be fortunate enough to get a piece of them in New Orleans for the national championship. Oklahoma State and Alabama are in a dead-heat to get that coveted #2 ranking in the BCS standings, with both schools having one-loss. LSU cruised through the season with no losses, and will be the favorite in the title game, regardless of whether they face the Tide or the Cowboys. Sunday will be a day of nail-biting for fans in Tuscaloosa and Stillwater.

Championship Weekend Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:01 EST

For the fifth consecutive season, I have picked well, but not well enough. Yes, I have all but eliminated myself from winning the Fans25 Pick'em Contest this year as I am 4% off of the lead with just one weekend to go. My 73% would have won the thing in 2007 and 2008 (the winners were at 74% the following two years), but not in 2011 - where our winner will be at at least 77% - maybe even better. Seven players (those at 76% or better) still have a chance as we head into the final ten games...It has been a great regular season here on Fans25 and here are my picks for week 14's games...

FRIDAY

UCLA (6-6, 5-4) at #9 Oregon (10-2, 8-1) - PAC-12 Championship Game, Eugene, OR - 8:00 - FOX - The reason that UCLA is in this game at all is because USC is on probation and isn't allowed to play in it. The Trojans just beat UCLA 50-0 and have the best record in the PAC-12 South. But in reality, the Bruins are making the trip up to Eugune to face Oregon. With college football being so much about emotion, you have to think UCLA will play with a spark as a BCS game is on the line. You would guess they would also want to win it for Rick Neuheisel, who has just been fired as coach but will be on the sidelines one last time Friday night....Oregon will win this game. Big. The Ducks are also drooling to go back to the BCS, and a win here would do it. Home crowd. Major offense. I'm going with the Ducks. Oregon, 45-20.

Mirror Images?

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

UCLA and UNC seem to be whistling the same tune when it comes to football. While one school brings forth images of palm trees, California beaches and the whole West coast easy-going feel, the other school brings forth images of the Appalachian Mountains, Carolina beaches and Southern charm. They share many things in contrast, but unfortunately for the two of them they share something non-contrasting that they probably wish they didn't: a lack of real success in college football. Honestly though, I get the feeling that neither one of them cares all too much....

Take That

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

South Carolina 34, Clemson 13. At the moment, Tiger fans can grasp for anything they want to pretend that USC isn't in control of the rivalry. We can bring up all-time records, last 20-year records, even last 10-year records. But the fact is, after USC's dominating win in Williams-Brice Stadium tonight for win three in-a-row, Clemson has fallen behind South Carolina in football. Period. The very reality of this paragraph is hard for me, as a Clemson alumni, to write. But it is true. The Gamecocks are currently in complete control of this rivalry.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week 13

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

LSU is clearly the top team in the land after their 41-17 dismantling of Arkansas. In the AP poll, the Tigers received all 60 first-place votes. They are eight tough quarters away from their third national title in eight years.

1. LSU (12-0, 8-0) - Defeated Arkansas, 41-17 - Last week: 1 - As we head into the postseason, there is no doubt that LSU was the class of the regular season. The Tigers finished the regular season second nationally in points against at 10.6 ppg, and 13th nationally in points for, at 38.6 ppg. LSU scored over 35 points in all but two games. Next: SEC Championship Game versus Georgia.

Week Thirteen Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

Rivalry week is upon us here in the Fans25 Pick'em Contest. Intense games that are nearly impossible to pick fill the lineup. Here are my predictions for week thirteen's games:

#3 Arkansas (10-1, 6-1) at #1 LSU (11-0, 7-0) - 2:30 Friday - CBS - A trip to the SECCG is on the line here as LSU looks to remain the top candidate to win the national championship. Arkansas has won seven in a row and would love to be the team to knock the Tigers off. The Razorbacks can score, averaging 39.3 ppg. But LSU has the nation's second best defense (10 ppg) and I will take that and the home crowd for the win. LSU, 27-21.

Top Five Shaken Up

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

Teams ranked second, fourth and fifth go down in an upset-filled college football weekend. The Trojans of USC went into Oregon's Autzen Stadium and took away any chances of the Ducks playing for the national title again this year. Baylor did the same thing to Oklahoma, only they had the Sooners at home. And on Friday night, Oklahoma State suffered a loss to Iowa State ending their hopes of making it to New Orleans. Three top five teams with national title aspirations now see those dreams gone.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Twelve

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

This poll will look drastically different from the one a week ago as teams throughout my top 25 fell over the weekend. It happened up top, in the middle, and down at the bottom. Here is my top 25 following the games of week 12:

1. LSU (11-0, 7-0) - Defeated Ole Miss, 52-3 - Last week: 1 - The Tigers are three wins away from another national title. But all three of these upcoming games will be games as hard as LSU has ever played. Arkansas is hot, Georgia is hot, and if they make the BCSCG, that opponent will be hot. A crystal football is there for the taking, but it must be done. Next: Arkansas.

Oklahoma State Falls

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

Loss opens door for Alabama, Oregon and others to move up. The Cowboys have been knocked from the ranks of the unbeatens by perhaps the most unlikely opponent on their schedule, Iowa State. A 24-7 third quarter lead saw the Cowboys cruising towards 11-0. But the Cyclones scored 17 unanswered points to force OT, and then won it in extra time.

Iowa State37 31 Oklahoma State

Week Twelve Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

This has been a very, very busy week for me, so I apologize ahead of time for not being able to do the full predictions article as normal, complete with capsules. But for the sake of getting my picks in for the Pick'em Contest, I will at least list the games and my winners. We are getting down to the nitty-gritty in the Pick'em Contest, and I need a huge week if I am going to stay up there with the big boys...

#16 Nebraska (8-2, 4-2) at #18 Michigan (8-2, 4-2) - 12:00 - ESPN.....Michigan, 36-27

The Quack Attack is Back!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

The very first weekend of the season we saw LSU play Oregon in a dome. We may see that again in the last week. With the Ducks 23-point trouncing of Stanford to move back into the top five, Oregon has put itself right back in the national championship talks. Oklahoma State remains the last unbeaten challenger to LSU (putting 66 on Texas Tech) as #5 Boise State fell to TCU at home...

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Eleven

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

There was some shaking up in the top 25 this week as teams were falling all over the place. Georgia is probably the hottest team in America right now as they ride an eight game winning streak including this weekend's 45-7 thrashing of Auburn. Here is my top 25 following week eleven's games:

1. LSU (10-, 6-) - Defeated Western Kentucky, 42-3 - Last week: 1 - The Tigers had a bit more of a low-key game this weekend compared to their game a week ago that was built up beyond belief. LSU made easy work of Western Kentucky to remain unbeaten and numero uno. In two weeks they get Arkansas at home. An Ole Miss team with no identity is the next task. Next: at Ole Miss.

Paterno Out, Bradley In

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

Legendary coach Joe Paterno has coached his final game. In news that continues to develop, Paterno has been fired effective immediately. Tom Bradley, who was the current defensive coordinator and is another person who has been involved with Penn State University for over 30 years, takes over as the interim head coach. Penn State faces Nebraska at home Saturday.

Week Eleven Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

It is getting towards crunch-time, and several teams put their top-five ranking on the line this weekend. #2 Oklahoma State has a tricky game at Texas Tech, #5 Boise State hosts TCU, #3 Alabama visits Mississippi State, and #4 Stanford faces the stiffest test of Saturday hosting #7 Oregon...

#2 Oklahoma State (9-0, 6-0) at Texas Tech (5-4, 2-4) – 12:00 – ABC Regional – Wow. This has upset written all-freakin-over-it. Texas Tech has already taken down Oklahoma, but that win was sandwiched between four losses. This team is dangerous, and can put points on the board (36.8 ppg), but they are struggling on D (105th nationally in ppg at 34.2). Oklahoma State will light up TTu no matter how many the Raiders are able to put up. Oklahoma State, 55-40.

Paterno Set to Step Down?

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 8 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

Penn State, Joe Paterno may be in final days together. It is too early to tell what the outcome will ultimately be, but it appears that the long, storied, successful career of Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno will end in the most surprising and disappointing of ways. The legendary coach apparently did the very bare minimum in reporting a 2002 sexual abuse allegation concerning former Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky, and the leaders at the university are reportedly calling for his dismissal based on morals. If this is indeed true - and it appears so to be - Paterno and his 409 victories will mean nothing to the college football community.

Best in the (SEC) West

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 6 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

College football brought us another thrilling Saturday, as upsets and wild finishes filled the day. The game everyone had been talking about, #1 LSU vs #2 Alabama, was as close as predicted, with the Tigers needing OT to get the 9-6 win. #3 Oklahoma State will move up to #2 in the polls today, but received a massive scare at home from #14 Kansas State, having to score 18 in the 4th quarter to get it done. And two top ten teams fell, #9 Nebraska and #10 South Carolina, opening the door for two other teams to jump in.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Ten

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 6 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

My top 12 matches up nearly exactly with the AP top 12, but then my poll strays away. I have Kansas State as the top 2-loss team at #13, and I left off a Southern Miss team that the AP has ranked #25. The Golden Eagles have no big wins, but lost to Marshall in week two. There are a few other variances between my poll and that of the football media. Here is my top 25 following week ten's games...

1. LSU (9-0, 6-0) - Defeated Alabama, 9-6 - Last week: 1 - With the win on the road at #2, there is no doubt that LSU once again is atop this poll. The offense isn't going to break any NCAA records, but the defense is basically an NFL defense as most all of those guys will get a shot to play on Sundays. Next: Western Kentucky.

Week Ten Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 3 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

The matchup we have been waiting for all season long has arrived, and it will be the showcase event, airing prime-time on CBS. The Tide host the Tigers for supremacy in the SEC West, the division that has given us the national champion in three of the last four sesons. LSU vs. Alabama. Let's get it on! Oh yeah, there are a bunch of other good games, as well...Here are my predictions for week ten:

#15 Michigan (7-1, 3-1) at Iowa (5-3, 2-2) - 12:00 - ESPN - Michigan plays good defense. I think that is what folks overlook about this Denard Robinson-famed team. And when you face a tough road test as this one will be, you will need that. Iowa's QB James Vanderberg has had a decent junior season, but will throw a pick if he is pressured hard. He had two INTs against Penn State, who I consider a strong Big Ten defense similar to UM's. This will be a heck of a game, but I think the visitors take it when the smoke clears. Michigan, 30-27.

Ten Things, Week Nine

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:00:01 EST

Another month is in the books, and what a wild October it was. Some undefeated teams fell by the wayside (Kansas State, Clemson), some stood strong in the face of adversity (Stanford), and some continued to mow over opposition (Oklahoma State, Alabama, LSU). The Heisman picture is starting to come into focus, as well, as a few names have solidified their position at the top of the ranks. As we begin the home stretch in this year’s season, let’s look back on the best of the week (and month) that was…

Stung

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

#5 Clemson loses to Georgia Tech, 31-17. The city of Atlanta has been a nightmare for Clemson over the years, and last night was no different. The Tigers potent offense was held in check, and any shot at a national championship is almost certainly now gone. QB Tajh Boyd's hopes for Clemson's first Heisman Trophy is also probably now history with this poor showing on prime time TV. GT, coming off of two straight losses, should bounce back into the top 25 with the win. The key to this win for Tech was time of possession, as the Yellow Jackets had the ball 39 minutes to Clemson's 21.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Nine

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

Clemson and Michigan State went down, but the rest of my top ten looks about the same as it did a week ago. The game of the season (so far, anyway) awaits us this coming weekend as #1 LSU and #2 Alabama will face off. Here is my Top 25 following week nine's games:

1. LSU (8-0, 5-0) - Idle - Last week: 1 - The Tigers had the weekend off as they prepare for the huge showdown with Alabama in six days. It might take me all week to predict my winner in this one. Next: at Alabama.

Week Nine Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

We are down to just five weekends to go, and the competition at the top of our Pick'em Contest is fierce. 24 players are above 75%, including Your's Truly at 76%. But everyone is trying to catch Pshaugh - who is unconscious! Dude checks in at 82%....Here are my picks for week nine:

#11 Michigan State (6-1, 3-0) at #14 Nebraska (6-1, 2-1) - 12:00 - ESPN - Here is the main appetizer for the day as the Spartans could cement themselves as a legit BCS type of team with a win here. They are basing their success on defense, where they rank 7th nationally at 13.7 ppg allowed, which is usually Nebraska's specialty. But the Huskers are 54th there. Still, NU has won two straight, and I think the Memorial Stadium crowd will have them in the mood for a win. Nebraska, 33-26.

Ten Things - Week Eight

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

After a week off, Ten Things just couldn’t resist to get the early jump this week. For the first half of the season, it seemed like we were headed towards BCS bedlam with the most undefeated teams at season’s end. With the top teams sleepwalking through first early round cupcakes and even conference games, this weekend put an end to all that. Two monumental upsets shook the foundation of the game when two of the most talented and complete teams (Oklahoma and Wisconsin) lost. The SEC showdown in two weeks will continue to loom over the realm of college football, but let’s bask in the glory of all in the week that was…

Badgers, Sooners Go Down

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

It was a crazy day in college football - especially in the top five. #3 Oklahoma and #4 Wisconsin lost, opening the door for others to move up. In a back and forth game, the Badgers went down to Michigan State, 37-31, on what will go down as one of the all-time craziest plays in college football history. Texas Tech, meanwhile, went up big on OU and then held on for the win. The rest of the teams in the top ten brought home victories yesterday.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Eight

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

There was some crazy shaking up at the top this week as Oklahoma and Wisconsin lost. Most of the top ten teams won big, but many teams in the bottom half of my top 25 lost. Here is how I see the rankings following week eight's games:

1. LSU - (8-0, 5-0) - Defeated Auburn, 45-10 - Last week: 1 - There is no doubt this is the best team in America at this point. Besides having a brick-wall defense, they can score, too. They put 45 on a decent Auburn team. Next: At Alabama (two weeks).

Clemson Gets Closer

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

ACC Atlantic Division Title within close reach for the Tigers. With the defense surrendering more than would be desired for the second straight week, the Tiger offense scored 59 to make up for it. Tajh Boyd at QB wasn't on top of his game, but he was good enough (27-46, 367, 5 TDs, 0 INTs) to get the job done. WR Nuke Hopkins proved to be an excellent go-to choice with UNC putting focus on Sammy Watkins, and Clemson (8-0, 5-0) heads to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech in six days looking to put the ACC Atlantic out of reach...

Week Eight Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

Here we go again. Week eight of the season is upon us, with teams beginning to jockey for title runs and bowl eligibilty. I put my 77% winning percentage on the line trying to climb to the top of the Pick'em Contest standings. As we all get ready to see what another weekend of exciting games will bring us, here are my predictions for week eight:

#4 Oklahoma State (6-0, 3-0) at Missouri (3-3, 1-2) – 12:00 – FX – At 49.2 ppg scored, Oklahoma State is one of the most powerful offensive teams in the nation. Led by Brandon Weeden's 2,098 yards and 14 scores, the Cowboys don't plan on being outscored anytime soon. Mizzou has a decent defense, but I expect OSU to ....

Top Ten All Wins

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

The top ten teams in the AP poll went unbeaten yesterday as teams 1-9 scored victories and Arkansas was idle. When the new poll comes out later this afternoon, things probably will not look much different up top! But in the bottom 15 spots, six teams lost - including Illinois and Georgia Tech, who lost to unranked opponents. LSU should remain the top team in the nation when the new polls come out, as they went into Knoxville and beat Tennessee by 31 points.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Seven

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

Although the top ten teams in my poll all won (Arkansas was idle), there was some shaking up this week. And if you are a Boise State fan, you aren't going to like it. I sent three teams - three unbeaten teams that have proved something - in front of the Broncos. Sorry, BSU, but you guys fell from 5th to 8th this week despite scoring 63 points. The biggest beneficiary of this movement was Oklahoma State, who jumped up three spots after beating Texas in Austin...

1. LSU (7-0, 4-0) - Defeated Tennessee, 38-7 - Last week: 1 - After a decisive win over the Volunteers, LSU remains at the top of this poll. A tough two-game stretch is up next for the Tigers as they face Auburn and then Alabama - both at home. Next: Auburn.

Week Seven Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

Another great batch of games awaits us Saturday as we move deeper into the season. I am still near the top of the Pick'em Contest standings at 80%. A victory in that event still eludes me as we battle it out in the fifth version. Here are my predictions for week seven...

#11 Michigan (6-0, 2-0) at #23 Michigan State (4-1, 1-0) - 12:00 - ESPN - To me, this was just about the toughest game of the 15 games to pick this week. Michigan is on a roll with QB Denard Robinson and company off to an incredible start. But the Wolverines haven't won this game since a player referred to MSU as "Michigan's little brother" in 2007. The Spartans took that to heart and are now trying to beat UM four straight times for the first time in 50 seasons...

Ten Things - Week Six

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

A little late in the week, I know, to be looking back to last weekend. Guess it’s only fitting that week has been so busy. Many other teams have been feverishly busy trying to figure out how their season to date unraveled right before their eyes (we’re looking at you, Texas and Florida). And while a few teams are hitting panic buttons, the majority of the nation’s top teams coasted to easy wins and have their eyes fixed firmly on future games. In any event, here’s the last chance to reflect on the week that was…

1. A Tale of Two Stoops – The soon-to-be legendary group of brothers took a slight hit over the weekend as Arizona coach Mike Stoops lost to a winless Oregon State team....

B1G Win!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 9 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

Nebraska opens Big Ten home play with a stunning second half come behind victory in the rain. The Cornhuskers looked down and out. It was raining in Lincoln and Ohio State was leading the home team by 21 points, 27-6. But then QB Taylor Martinez - who had been booed the week before as well as the thiry minutes before - came to life. Over the final 22:37 Martinez engineered the biggest comeback in Nebraska history.....ALSO, Oklahoma laid a beat-down on Texas, Arkansas is looking good after beating Auburn, and Florida State is looking like they have real problems.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Six

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 9 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

The Top eight teams went unchanged, but after Texas dropped from their number nine spot in my poll, a lot of teams moved up, down, out and in. Here is my top 25 for week six...

1. LSU (6-0, 3-0) Defeated Florida, 41-11 - Last week: 1 - The Tigers took care of Florida in convincing fashion. With the offense rolling, and the sick talent on defense, there are few teams in the country that belong on the same field as LSU. Next: Tennessee.

Week Six Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 6 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

Several huge games go down once again this weekend. Here are my predictions for week six...

#11 Texas (4-0, 1-0) vs. #3 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0) - 12:00 - ABC - From Dallas, TX - We all know this is the big game with the funny name. The Red River Shootout, er Rivalry, whatever. Basically, it is a huge game between two undefeated, storied programs. OU is receiving most of the attention entering this matchup because they have been #1 for several weeks this year. But Mack Brown isn't among the highest paid college football coaches for nothing. He will have his team ready for a piece of the national spotlight. I think the

Ten Things - Week Five

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

October is upon us. The appetizers have been done away with. Now, it’s time for the main course, and the first weekend of the new month did not disappoint. Four games involved Top 20 teams and all four involved statement wins, three by domination and one by an encore performance of the worst second half collapse of the season. Buckle up, fans. There are four more weekends left and it’s only just begun. Here is the best of the week that was in the latest Ten Things…

1. Bogged Down in the Swamp – Alabama put on a clinic in defense Saturday night in Gainesville (after the first play of course). The Tide ceded a 65-yard touchdown on the games opening play, then held the Gators to just 157 total yards the other 59 ½ minutes. Perhaps, the biggest loss, though, wasn’t on the scoreboard....

ACC/SEC Top Ten

Dana Mitchell - Charleston, SC — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

A look at the top teams in the ACC and SEC.

1. LSU - I kept them at # 1 here. They pounded Kentucky, as they should have, but man-o-man did Alabama look good. And yes, I'm aware that the Tide did what they did in the Swamp. Beyond impressive. If Alabama and LSU were playing this week in Tuscaloosa (their game in Nov. is at Alabama), I'd have to go with the Crimson Tide. My line on that game would be -4 Alabama. But, LSU was #1 on this list last week and their performance against the Cats keeps them here...for now.

Top Ten Once Again

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 2 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

Clemson to be ranked in top ten for first time since preseason 2008. With a decisive 23-3 victory on the road at Virginia Tech, Clemson will move into the national top ten when the polls are released later today. At 5-0, and with wins over three solid teams in Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech, there are but a couple of teams in the country with resumes better than the Tigers.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Five

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 2 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

My top 25 has a lot different look this time around as six ranked teams went down. Other teams, such as Michigan and Clemson, made major jumps after big wins. Here is my top 25 following week five's games:

1. LSU (5-0, 2-0) - Defeated Kentucky, 35-7 - Last week: 1 - The Tigers are ninth nationally in points against, at just 12.8 points per game. LSU now enters the meat of their schedule, with Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama in the next four weeks. The game at Alabama to.....

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

This morning, as I was preparing for work, I heard on my local sports talk station Jay Barker and Antonio Langham – former Alabama Crimson Tide players – reminisce on the inaugural SEC Championship game of 1992. That game featured eventual national champion Alabama facing off against a tough Florida team. It also, for me, was an introduction to college football as a whole. But more than anything else that year marked the beginning of nearly two decades in what would become one of the most important and underrated rivalries in the Southeastern Conference. As the former players recalled the days of yore, I also found myself drifting back to that year…

#3 Alabama at #12 Florida - 8:00 - CBS

For Tigers, Time Is Now

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 00:00:01 EST

I will go ahead and say it in this opening sentence: I picked VT to win this game. Yes, in our weekly contest of 15 games, I took the Hokies. But deep down, in the bottom of my heart, I feel I may have chosen unwisely. Gameday is here, and all of the sudden I am seeing everything in orange. No, not orange accompanied with maroon, but orange accompanied with purple. My mind is telling me to stick with my pick of the Hokies, but my heart is telling me this year's Clemson team is different. But, even if the Tigers are different, winning in Blacksburg is still a tough task...

#13 Clemson at #11 Virginia Tech - 6:00 - ESPN2

Week Five Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Twelve top 25 teams are involved in our 15 games of the Pick'em Contest this week. Here are my predictions for week five's games:

Mississippi State (2-2, 0-2) at Georgia (2-2, 1-1) - 12:00 - ESPN3.com - The battle of the Bulldogs features two teams that aren't bad, but aren't upper-echelon SEC right now, either. UGA bounced back from two early defeats to win at Ole Miss a week ago. They look to start a new winning streak. MSU, who has already lost to two West Division foes, looks to get...

ACC/SEC Top Ten

Dana Mitchell - Charleston, SC — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

A look at the top teams in the ACC and SEC.

1. LSU - Tough to choose between the Tigers and the Tide, but I'm going with LSU for now. They impress me as much as any team out there. Their ability to go on the road to tough environments and take care of business makes me quite jealous.

2. Alabama - A coin flip between these guys and LSU. Their game....

Ten Things - Week Four

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

In the blink of an eye, we are now done with September – and good riddance. Suffice to say, it’s been a rather tumultuous month in college football with realignment rumors, officiating gaffes and coaches yelling so much they literally turn read (Brian Kelly). In the spirit of looking on the bright side, this week’s Ten Things looks for the best of the month that was. Here are the best things that happened in September, with a hint of what’s in store for the coming month…

1. Best Team, Overall – LSU. No question. The Tigers started the season with more questions than they’d ever had in the tenure of Les Miles....

Sooners Roll On

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Oklahoma will continue to be the top team in the land in the major polls following their defeat of Missouri. Quarterback Landry Jones went 35 of 48 for 448 yards and three touchdowns to lead his team to a 3-0 start. Oklahoma will have a true challenger in the #1 votes department, though. LSU went on the road to West Virginia and showed some muscle - offensively. A team based on defense scored 47 on the Mountaineers. And Texas A&M - as predicted here - lost in their first big game of the season.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Four

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Five teams in my top 25 lost this past weekend. Two of those teams - Arkansas, West Virginia and Florida State - hang on to stay in the poll at 21, 22 and 25, respectively. The other three - Texas A&M and USC - fall out. Here is my top 25 following the fourth weekend of games...

1. LSU (4-0, 1-0) - Defeated West Virginia, 47-21 - Last week: 1 - The Tigers used offense (and a little D, as well) to put on a very strong performance against West Virginia on the road. There is no doubt this team has the ingredients to be a true national title contender. The November 5th game against Alabama gets bigger each week. next: Kentucky.

The Big 12 Movie Monster

Ed Thiel - Omaha, NE — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

The Big XII is the movie monster that, no matter how many times it seemingly meets it’s demise, lives on to torture unsuspecting victims in the sequel. The latest word is that Commissioner Dan Beebe is out and the surviving pieces are talking nice. A seismic shake up in conference realignment doesn’t appear to be on the horizon, although we have once again experienced small tremors with the movement of Pittsburgh, Syracuse and presumably Texas A&M.

Week Four Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

As we enter the fourth week of games, the Pick'em Contest here on Fans25 begins to really heat up. 31 players currently have a record of 73% or better - a mark that would have won the contest in two of the four seasons. Your's Truly is among those near the top, sitting at 80% after three weeks. Here are my predictions for week four:

UNC (3-0, 0-0) at #25 Georgia Tech (3-0, 0-0) - 12:00 - ESPN - With the kind of trouble these two teams faced in the offseason, who would have thought that the Heels and Jackets would be a combined 6-0 and receiving plenty of votes in the national polls? Probably not many,

More Likely to Go Winless: Boston College or Oregon State?

Anthony Capobianco - Tucson, Arizona — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

College football is designed for every team in a BCS conference to have at least one win. They get to schedule mid major teams from the Sun Belt, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West, Conference USA and the WAC. They can even schedule an FCS team.

Every team should have at least one victory under their belt. Yet there are some that have failed to do so by now. Both Boston College of the ACC and Oregon State of the Pac-12 have yet to win a game.

Conference Confusion

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Sometimes mass confusion leads us to the simplicist solution. As I sit and watch my beloved Atlanta Braves flush a perfectly good season down the toilet, I have begun thinking about all of this conference expansion stuff in major college football (basketball, if you are an ACC fan). It has become ridiculous. It is crazy. It is going too far. And the reason, like most everything else in life, is because of the Benjamins, baby. It is about money, and very little else. Everyone is jockeying for the best chance to make the BCS (or the Final Four) and to have their conference in the biggest "TV market," a term that goes with conference expansion like cold goes with winter. School names are thrown around everywhere, and you have to wonder if anything will ever be an advantageous move for anyone with so much switching and changing. But if this shake-up that is underway gets us closer to a true playoff of some sort, then I will just sit back and watch and see what happens...

Ten Things Week Three

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

In a wild weekend that featured half of the ranked teams in the country travelling into hostile territory to prove themselves. Meanwhile, school officials all across the country are doing their best to lose us in the shell game that is conference expansion/realignment/clustermess. Thank goodness the season is here, and conference play is getting up and going to take us away from the drama that occurs the other six days a week. Speaking of which, here is the best (and worst) of the week that was in the sport we hold so dear…

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Three

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

The Top 25 was shaken up some this week as Auburn, Florida State, Arizona State and Ohio State all lost. LSU moves into the top spot as they have a couple of nice wins already. Here is my top 25 following week three...

1. LSU Tigers (3-0, 1-0) - defeated Mississippi State, 19-6 - Last week: 2 - Auburn's loss is LSU's gain as the Bayou Bengals and their tenacious defense claim the top spot in my poll. They dominated Mississippi State in a low scoring road game last Thursday night, with the defense limiting the Bulldogs to just 52 rushing yards.

Clemson Comes to Life

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

The Sun comes out in the second half for Clemson. The Tigers of Clemson overcame a large early deficit to even things at the half, and in the second half - as the clouds cleared - the Clemson offense and defense came to life, outscoring Auburn 31-3 over the final 36 minutes. The win breaks a national best 17-game winning streak for Auburn, and allows Clemson fans the opportunity to celebrate a quality win for the first time in several seasons.

Week Three Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Another great slate of games await us this Saturday with the ACC taking center stage for a change. Four out-of-conference games for that league go down starting at noon. Florida State tangles with top-ranked Oklahoma, Clemson hosts Auburn, West Virginia visits Maryland, and Ohio State travels down to Miami. In two of these games, both schools have new head coaches...Here are my picks for week three...

#18 West Virginia (2-0, 0-0) at Maryland (1-0, 0-0) - noon - ESPNU - Both of these teams have new head coaches in 2011, and both are off to nice 2-0 starts. This is an incredibly tough game to pick because...

The Mystery of NC State

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

An early season loss to Wake Forest is all too familiar for the Wolfpack and their fans. In Raleigh, NC exists a program bursting at the seems to be a college football factor. Year in and year out they sell out their stadium. Their fans are passionate, and the money seems to be there. But for whatever reason, NC State cannot seem to take the next step to be an ACC contender. This year, Coach Tom O'Brien's fifth, the Pack were ready again to go after big things. But after a super early division loss to a team they were supposed to beat, the Pack have already put themselves in a tough spot to win the ACC Atlantic - and it is only week three.

Ten Things - Week Two

Wes Mewbourne, Birmingham, AL — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Normally, the second week is the least interesting week in all of college football. It’s too early for losses to really count in the grand scheme of things (unless there are two of them), many national powers are still munching on cupcakes, and this year’s week 2 seemed particularly bleak with only one game featuring two ranked teams (Alabama at Penn State). But this past week may have been the best ever for football fans. Saturday’s games began with many tributes to and reminders of the men and women who serve in various capacities to secure our freedoms, and ended with a beautiful example of everything that is right with the sport. Join me in reflecting on the marvelous week that was…

One For The Ages!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Michigan and Notre Dame played one of the most exciting fourth quarters in college football history Saturday night from the Big House. In front of an NCAA record 114,804 fans, the Wolverines scored 28 points in the final period to pull off the amazing 35-31 victory, capped off by quarterback Denard Robinson's 16-yard touchdown toss in the final seconds. In all, 21 points were scored in the last 72 seconds...ALSO, South Carolina defeated Georgia thanks to several big plays from a surprising source.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Two

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Week Two's games brought us mad excitement. Michigan and Notre Dame scored three times in the final minute, while South Carolina and Georgia combined for 39 points in the fourth quarter. Wisconsin and Michigan State pitched shutouts, while Auburn used a goal-line stand to stay unbeaten - and #1 in this poll. There wasn't a whole lot of shaking up in the top 25 this week...

1. Auburn (2-0, 1-0) - defeated Mississippi State, 41-34. Last week: 1 - I still am dumbfounded that Auburn was unranked in the AP poll last week (jumped back in at #21 this week). This team - once again - found a way to win...

Week Two Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 8 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Another great group of games await us this Saturday. Here are my picks for week two...

Arizona (1-0, 0-0) at #9 Oklahoma State (1-0, 0-0) - 8:00 Thursday - ESPN - A pair of ranked Big 12 schools tangle with a pair of unranked Pac 12 schools from Arizona to kick off the weekend. In Thursday's opener, the Wildcats will travel from the desert to the heartland to take on the Cowboys. I don't think this will be a ....

Ten Things - Week One

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 7 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

After severe weather caused multiple game delays on opening weekend, it’s only fitting that power outages delay the first week of Ten Things. Fret not, though, as not even a local blackout can’t keep me from delivering the best nuggets of the week that was. Are you glad football’s back? As my friend Stacy would say, “Of COURSE!”. So without further delay, here are the highlights of Week 1.

Rain, Rain, Go Away: As stated before, weather played quite possibly its biggest role in a weekend of football ever. All total, five games were delayed...

Contenders and Pretenders

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 6 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Now that a week of games have been played, we have something to go off of - even if just a hint. Here we will look at a few teams that seem to be for real, and a few teams that are built-up aplenty, but may or may not be worth their weight in media gold. I am talking about the teams that are too hyped for a national title, or are just right for a national title. This article could possibly be better in a few weeks, so we will do it again then!

Contender: LSU. The Tigers have dudes across the field that will....

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week One

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 5 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Now that nearly every top 25 team has played a game, we know more about them. It will be a little but tougher to leave Auburn number one this week following their close victory at home over Utah State, but hey, a win is a win for the defending champs - even if in the last minute and with an onsides kick...LSU and Boise State both scored nice victories, so those two teams will make a little improvement, moving up to 2nd and 3rd, respectively...Although Miami and Maryland are still scheduled to play their opener tonight, they will not have an impact on my poll unless one of them wins by 50. So here is my top 25 as we head towards week two...

1. Auburn (1-0) - defeated Utah State, 42-38. Last week: 1. Well, this ranking right now has me under the gun! Auburn needed two late 4th quarter

Once Again

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 4 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

Fans were treated to two big-time games on college football's opening Saturday night. #5 Boise State once again last night showed that they are among college football's elite, traveling 3,000 miles and defeating #19th ranked Georgia in what was basically a road game. While Boise will take another shot at busting the BCS, the Dawg nation is in rough shape as Coach Mark Richt came into this season already feeling the heat...Meanwhile, in Dallas, #4 LSU lit up #3 Oregon. Nobody expected the Tigers to score 40. But as predicted here, the LSU defense was the difference, forcing 4 turnovers, leading to 20 of those points. Once again, LSU will be a contender on the national level...

Week One Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:00:01 EST

After staring at these games all offseason, it finally dawned on me that I need to pick my winners. Just 13 hours from now the season will kick off. We made it back.

Wake Forest (0-0, 0-0) at Syracuse (0-0, 0-0) - 8:00 Thursday, ESPN3.com - The Demon Deacons take 17 returning starters on the road to face a Syracuse team that is bouncing back. The Orange went from two wins in 2009 - Doug Marrone's first season - to seven wins a year ago. Marrone brings back 13 guys, eight of which are on offense. Quarterback Ryan Nassib threw for 2,334 yards last year, and will add a few hundred more against Wake Forest. The Deacs will put up a fight, but it gets loud in the Carrier Dome and this team will have the full support of the...

Show Me

Wes Mewbourne, Birmingham, AL — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:01 EST

After the most dramatic offseason in recent memory, the college football season returns. Just like every year, most teams have high aspirations, though only two will ultimately have the honor of playing for the top spot. As we survey the landscape of new conference line-ups, resurgences of old powers, and look for the needle in the haystack that is this year’s dark horse, I present to you a list of teams with many differences but one thing in common – something to prove. For each team on this list, I want them to show me something, and prove once and for all they really belong in the upper echelon of college football.

2011 Preseason Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:01 EST

Auburn will start the year on top as they are the defending champs. Just behind Auburn is their in-state rival, Alabama. LSU is also in the top five. In total, eight of the teams in my preseason top 25 reside in the Southeastern Conference. With the streak of national championships the SEC has going, it is hard not to pick them highly going into 2011...It is time for someone else to step up and take the crystal football! Who will it be?

1. Auburn Tigers - SEC West - Head Coach: Gene Chizik (22-5 at Auburn) - I start off every season by having the defending champion number one in my top 25. Until they lose, they are the champ. And it isn't like Auburn has a bunch of slouches on their 2011 version just because Cam Newton and Nick Fairley now play on Sunday. This school recruits in the top 10 annually, and new guys can't wait to show what they've got. Do not be the least bit surprised if Auburn challenges for the SEC West crown once again this season. Taking over for Newton is Barrett Trotter, a junior, who we know very little about. He has nine career passing attempts. But the Auburn

Back Like Cooked Crack!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:01 EST

After a hiatus, I am ready to give Fans25 and the 2011 football season my undivided attention. Cory Boyd, a former player of my beloved rival, the South Carolina Gamecocks, once so elonquently stated, "I'm back like cooked crack!" as he was speaking to the TV cameras following a touchdown reception. And while I have never even seen in real life the substance just mentioned, nor mean in any way to bring humor to a serious matter, I do find the quote quite entertaining.

Eleven Burning Questions for 2011

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00:01 EST

College football is six painful months away from coming back around. Here are eleven questions to ponder as we face this long stretch until toe meets leather once again...

1. Will the SEC continue to be dominant?

As everyone from here to Neptune knows, the SEC has the last five BCS champions, as well as the last two Heisman Trophy winners (and three of the last four). In 2011, several teams again appear to be primed for the national spotlight. Auburn, the defending champ, loses all-world quarterback Cam Newton, but has recruited just about as well as anyone nationwide across the board. Expect the Tigers to be strong again, despite a new signal-caller. War Eagle's hated

National Signing Day Review

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 2 Feb 2011 00:00:01 EST

Fans 25 combined recruiting rankings.....Inked up! Across America Wednesday, young men signed National Letters of Intent to play college football. Growing up, at the playground or in the backyard, we were all a part of neighborhood football games. And usually, whichever team landed the neighborhood bully would win the game. College football recruiting is similar, only there are more defined rules (er, sorta). Whichever teams land the best players - the bullies between the white lines - are usually the teams you see in the major bowls a couple of years later....I wrote that paragraph a year ago. 2011 is no different.

Absurdly Early 2011 Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

It's never too early. We have lived all but one full day without college football, and already I'm wondering what next season holds. When your favorite team had a horrendous season - such as mine did - then "next season" offers hope, redemption, and (hopefully) a higher win total....This article is somewhat written in fun, please take note of that. But having said that, this is a true gut-feel of how I see teams stacking up in 2011 when the season kicks off. Yeah, I have a surprise team or two in here, but for the most part, the regulars will be back. Folks, with eight months, three weeks and a few days left until the 2011 season arrives, here is my preseason top 25...

Number One!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

Auburn 22, Oregon 19 - Auburn wins national championship. It was a fitting ending for the Tigers of Auburn. In a close win, Wes Byrum - a kicker who has had a stellar career for War Eagle - blasted through a 19-yard field goal as time expired in his final college kick, and will leave town with a national championship. In a colorful game featuring neon green socks, bright yellow pon-poms, silver helmets and huge masses of orange, this was another instant classic, game-for-the-ages. In dramatic fashion, the Tigers did what they did all year long: found a way to win.

BCS National Championship

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

#1 Auburn (13-0) vs. #2 Oregon (12-0) - BCS National Title Game - Glendale, AZ - 8:00 EST - ESPN - Line: Auburn giving 1.5 - After weeks and weeks of waiting, folks in Auburn, Alabama and Eugene, Oregon can finally wake up to say once again, "It's gameday!" Between these two schools, not a loss exists. Tonight, with the nation watching, one of these two teams will go down in history as the class of the 2010 season. Will it be the Tigers with memorable quarterback Cam Newton? Or will it be the Ducks, and their high-powered offense? The wait is over, it's time for the answer. Let's get it on!

Ohio State Wins Sugar Bowl

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 5 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

Ohio State 31, Arkansas 26. In a thrilling game, the Buckeyes held off the Razorbacks to save what was almost a disaster of epic proportion. After a late blocked punt, Arkansas was in prime position to score for the win, when Ryan Mallett's season - and probably college career - ended with a crushing INT. Solomon Thomas intercepted the junior's pass on second down from the 18-yard line with a minute to play, and Ohio State broke its string of defeats to SEC teams in bowl games.

Wanted: Jim Harbaugh

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 4 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

Stanford, 40, Virginia Tech 12. With their convincing win over the Hokies of VT in the Orange Bowl, Stanford and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh proved they are a true, legit top-5 team this season. The Cardinal were a well-oiled machine in 2010, and this was due to the attention to detail provided by Harbaugh. Now, the coach who just turned in the best season in school history will be courted by other teams in other cities, and even in another league. The NFL is calling from a couple of different angles for this talented coach. And the NFL isn't the only place you will find his name swirling around. Even without an opening for the head coach position at this time, some feel Michigan - Harbaugh's alma mater - may also be calling his name.

Feelin' Froggy!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 2 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

TCU 21, Wisconsin 19. Outside of the BCS Championship Game, this was probably the most anticipated bowl of them all. Across the nation, people wondered if TCU could remain unbeaten once they played one of the hottest teams in America, Wisconsin. The Horned Frogs answered that question with a resounding "yes!" as they completed a perfect season at 13-0. Behind a stout defensive effort, TCU and linebacker Tank Carder shut the door on the potent Badger attack. With the win in this prestigious event, the Horned Frogs are the latest team to expose the problems with the BCS system. In the twelve years of this system, eight teams have had perfect seasons and did not get the chance to play for a national crown.

No Sunshine

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:01 EST

Tigers and Gamecocks fall to teams from the Sunshine State to close out 2010. Clemson and South Carolina had different types of seasons this year. USC won its first SEC division championship and was nationally ranked for most of the campaign. Clemson finished fifth in its division and never reached the rankings. The vibe around the Palmetto State was that Carolina had a good year, while Clemson had a bad year, and this was proven on the Death Valley field to the tune of a 29-7 Gamecock win in November. Yes, between the two, this year went to the boys from Columbia. But yesterday, these two teams were on equal footing as they both lost bowl games to teams from Florida.

Bowl Predictions: Part Two

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

I sit down to type these predictions with wounded confidence after a rough first round of bowl games (5-6 through eleven games as this hits the main page). My confidence has not improved after looking over these second round matchups for a few seconds. In fact, my stomach now aches. These are tough games to pick! Every single game comes across as a toss-up, so I guess that means we are in for some great games to close this season out. Trying to remind myself that I had an excellent regular season at 74%, here are my predictions for the second 15 bowl games...

Sun Bowl - Notre Dame vs Miami - 2:00 - CBS - A decade ago, this would have been one monster of a game! But the Irish and Hurricanes have struggled to remain in the national scene...

2010: The Year In Sports

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

A look at the 2010 sports year through my eyes. Yeah, yeah, I know, the year is only 35/36ths complete. We still have another whole nine and a half crazy days of sports happenings left to amaze us. But with family get-togethers planned, many miles on the highway ahead, and an uncertain schedule looming of when I will have a keyboard in my lap, I decided to go ahead and give this a shot. A lot went down in the world of sports in 2010, and sitting here trying to recollect it all is proving to be quite tricky. As "The Top Fan," I try to attend as many sports events as is reasonably possible, and here is how the season went for me...

Bowl Predictions: Part One

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

The postseason has arrived. Saturday there will be three bowl games, followed by four more bowls over the course of the week. All in all, there are 35 bowls in this year's slate between now and January 10th, and 30 of those bowl games are a part of our Bowl Pick'em Contest on Fans25.com. This article features my predictions on the first 15 of those matchups...

New Mexico Bowl - BYU vs UTEP - 2:00 - ESPN - The Cougars of BYU (6-6) enter this game coming off of a heartbreaking one-point loss to rival Utah. BYU is not the BYU of usual where they throw it all over the field. This team averages ...

There is Hope...

Brett Haynes - Greenville,SC — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

Those who support a playoff hear good news. I have to admit, I am a little bored with college football. No, not bored in a way that I won't watch the bowl games or that I will quit checking this site forty times a day. But just bored in a way that I know great teams - and great games - are going to waste because of the game's postseason setup at the top level. As the years pass by and our fragile bodies slowly, but surely, grow older, we are missing unreal exciting action due to a soap-opera called the BCS. I am bored with the fact that if a team loses a game during the course of a long, tough twelve or thirteen game season, they are all but eliminated from national title contention. I am bored that teams like this year's Stanford and Wisconsin and TCU and Ohio State do not get a chance to play for number one on the actual playing field because they committed the unthinkable sin of losing a single game or playing an inferior schedule. Mainly, I am bored with the national title race for college football because it eliminates the chances for so many darn good teams on a yearly basis simply because of losing a single game in a tough regular season...But there is hope to cure my boredom. This hope comes in the form of a renegade businessman from Texas...

College Football News and Notes

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

This void between the regular season games and the bowl games is killing me! Luckily, the first bowl game of the season is just three nights away...Here are a few thoughts on the hiring of Al Golden at Miami, the Big Ten division names and layouts, and the award for best and worst first-year head coaching jobs for 2010...

Al Golden hired at Miami. I'm going to give this guy a shot before just saying this was an average hire by the Hurricanes. But Miami - once the premier coaching stop in college football - has now resorted to looking to Temple for their head men. Miami can say ...

College Football News and Notes

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

Auburn's Newton wins Heisman, Texas' Muschamp now a Gator. This time of year always brings interesting stories. From awards to coaching changes to controversies, the time between the regular season and the bowls often sees the landscape of college football change. 2010 has certainly been no exception. Last night we had an unreal, yet controversial talent win the Heisman, just as a major coaching change was taking place.

Ten Things, Season Recap

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Thu, 9 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

Hope you didn’t blink. If you did, you just missed another great season of college football pass you by. This season had everything a college football fan could ask for – upsets, domination, controversy, and a national championship game matchup that couldn’t be beat. Of course, Auburn and Oregon put stamps on what looks to be the best in either school’s history, but the rest of the nation has its own compelling storylines, as well. Here are the top ten things from the week - and season - that was.

1. Showdown in Tempe

After 14 weeks, the game is finally set. The whole college football world will descend upon Glendale, AZ as the Ducks and Tigers square off for their school’s first BCS national championship.....

Better Off Without You

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 8 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

11 bowl games we could do without. My team is a bowl team this year. They shouldn't be. At 6-6, and coming off of an embarrassing home loss to our rival, in no way do I feel the Tigers of Clemson belong in a bowl. My friends and I have joked (er, griped) for several weeks now about the problems of this 2010 team. There are no wide receivers. The kicking game is horrible. The play calling is questionable. The quarterback's play has degressed. Yet, with all of these things telling me this is the worst Tiger squad in recent memory, here they sit in a bowl game just an hour and a half from campus. It's not right.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - End of Regular Season

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 6 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

Bowl season is now upon us. It has been fun to make out my top 25 poll each week. The discussions and debates it has created have been a good way to get each week going here on Fans25.com. Now, the final regular season games have been played, and here is a look at who I see as the strongest teams heading into bowl season. I am a huge proponent of a playoff - that has been well documented on this site over the years. But with no playoff in place right now, I look forward to the games that are ahead. All five BCS games are intriguing games, I just wish the winners of those games got to keep playing somehow until they lost. But enough about our postseason setup, here is my top 25 at the close of the regular season.

It's Oregon. It's Auburn. It's On!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 5 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

Auburn to play Oregon for the national title. For the better half of the season now, these two teams have been ranked 1-2 in all of the major polls. In my mind, as well, these are the top two deserving teams in the nation. Finally - and I do mean finally - the BCS has presented us with a game that will make us feel like we have a true national champion. But even with this great matchup ahead, there is the potential for 2010 to have an eternal asterisk. The unbeaten TCU Horned Frogs will almost certainly get a crack at one of the big-boys, Wisconsin, in a BCS game of their own. Win that one, and the BCS is once again exposed....

Christmas Gift Idea

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 4 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

Last year I made several of these paintings for friends and family for Christmas. Though they would never say otherwise, they all seemed to like them!

This year, I was going to see if anyone wanted one made as a Christmas gift. Any subject matter will work just fine! Whether it is a family picture at the big game, or simply granddaughter and grandmother in the park, these paintings make a very simple Christmas gift...If interested in having one made, please email me for more information at TheTopFan@Fans25.com.

Championship Weekend Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 1 Dec 2010 00:00:01 EST

It's money time. Rivalries. Conference crowns. National title berths. This 14th weekend of the college football season is the one where you leave the wife and kids at home. It gets nasty now. At stake in this final weekend for Auburn and Oregon are the chance to play each other for a national title. If one or both are to slip, though, unbeaten TCU and an army of one-loss teams (Auburn and/or Oregon would be among them) wait to debate who belongs in Glendale. We are all worn down from a long season, but let's suck it up one last time fans as this weekend is what it is all about!

They'll Be Back

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

In 2010, the names Auburn and Oklahoma and Ohio State and LSU are all quite familiar. But so are the names of TCU and Oregon and Boise State and Nevada. The top 25 of today has welcomed in plenty of new faces. As these new faces have entered into the mix, some other teams have slipped, and the purpose of this article is to look at some programs who are used to the top 25, but at this time are clawing to get back in it.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week 14

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

As always, ranking these teams is not only next to impossible, but also controversial. On top of that folks, let's not forget this is also just for fun. For some reason this week I feel I have to include a disclaimer of sorts for my top 25. So note: This poll is just for good times. The BCS didn't ask me!

1. Oregon (11-0) - After an average first half saw the Ducks tied with Arizona, they won the second half 35-10. This team can erupt for points at any minute. Next: Oregon State.

2. Auburn (12-0) - Auburn fans will be watching replays of Saturday's Iron Bowl for decades to come...

Gamecocks Make a Point

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

South Carolina 29, Clemson 7. The Top Fan has had better football seasons. As much as I claim to be the ultimate college football fan, from time to time it is hard to be hard-core. One of those times is now. After a long season of seeing my favorite team and conference underachieve, accompanied by several road trips and two weddings, I am exhausted with the collegiate gridiron. Last night's loss to South Carolina was the nail in the coffin for a 2010 season that I hope to forget...But fear not, despite the troubles of Clemson and the ACC, I will be ready with full enthusiasm for the championship games six days from now - I may just need to regroup....

A Day to Remember!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

The college football world is treated to a special day. It almost felt like New Year's Day Friday as I flipped channels watching multiple college football games. Early in the day, West Virginia announced that they were back in the BCS picture by whipping Pitt in the Big East. Midday we saw Nebraska beat Colorado to wrap up the Big 12 North. Also midday we saw Auburn come back from the dead to beat Alabama, thus staying alive for a national title. And last night, things really got crazy as Boise State lost for the first time all year, and Oregon needed a huge second half to beat Arizona at home....

Ten Things, Iron Bowl Preview

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

#2 Auburn at #11 Alabama - 2:30 EST - CBS - Throw out the records and tear up the stat sheets, my friends. We have a barn burner in Tuscaloosa as the 11th ranked Tide play host to undefeated and #2 Auburn Tigers. You better believe it doesn't take any extra hype to convey the importance of this game. Auburn looks to finish it's second undefeated season of the decade and this time parlay that into their first trip to the BCS National Championship. The Tide, coming off their first BCS Championship, looked to repeat, but have now been relegated to the spoiler role. No matter, though. It was in the same position a year ago headed to Atlanta against favorite Florida and walked away to a 32-13 beat down of the Gators. Surely this game won't be that wide open in either direction, but it certainly has the makings of one of the all-time greats. It was 1994 when these teams last met with such high expectations, when both teams were undefeated and played to a 21-14 Alabama win in Birmingham. Get your game faces on; it's gonna be war.

Week 13 Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

A Thanksgiving feast - rivalry week is upon us! Year after year this week produces games that become memories we never forget. This coming weekend should be no different...I am still alive in the Fans25 Pick'em Contest, but will have to really show-out to make up the three game difference between the leader and myself over these last two weeks and last 30 games. Here are my picks for week 13....

#17 Texas A&M at Texas - 8:00 - ESPN - Year after year I have watched A&M stumble when they are just on the verge of doing something good. This game offers the perfect setup for them to do it again. They have risen into the top 20, and have thoughts of a major bowl and ...

Let's Try This Again

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

If you are a fan of the ACC, this season has been a painful wait for redemption...but the chances are now back. Everyone knows that the anchors of the ACC - Florida State and Miami - have performed lower than their standard the last several seasons. And as the two most storied programs in the conference have slipped, the league has slipped with them, and received a black-eye. Starting 2010 with a dismal out-of-conference showing following a weak 2009, this league is taking heat on a national scale. But several teams in the conference have shown signs of life, and there is nothing the ACC needs more right now than a shot at redemption.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week 13

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

Wisconsin and Stanford have made really strong impressions on me and are the biggest movers in the latest version of my poll. We are getting down to the nitty gritty, and here is my top 25 for week 13...

1. Oregon (10-0) - The Ducks are on the verge of making history, but it won't be easy. Arizona visits Autzen, and the Ducks also head to Oregon State. If they are truly national title contenders, they will have to win both to get there. Next: Arizona.

2. Auburn (11-0) - Auburn had the week off, and it was well-timed Besides a grueling schuedule, Auburn is also worn-down from this ....

Saturday Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

Once again yesterday, the college football world brought us lots of excitement. It also brought us a few things that left us scratching our heads! Here are some thoughts on yesterday's action....

* Andrew Luck stiff arm. There are a few teams in America that strike fear into me, but Stanford is one of them. If Michigan doesn't offer alum Jim Harbaugh a zillion dollars to come home and coach them, I have serious doubts about UM. Harbaugh has Stanford at 10-1, with their only loss coming to Oregon (away) six weeks ago. He is getting his success through the play of his....

Week Twelve Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

With just three weeks left, I find myself still in the hunt in the Fans25 Pick'em Contest, just three percentage points behind our leader. Picking up those three percentage points will be tough, but 45 games remain to give us the answer - including the 15 for this week. Here are my predictions for week twelve...

UCLA at Washington - 8:00 - ESPN - UCLA has been an up and down mess this year. Washington is a bit better than normal, but still pretty bad. With this pick though, I'm going to go with a Husky team that will be fired up to play on national TV. If nothing else, the uniforms in this game will be nothing sort of grade-A. Washington, 30-20.

Ten Things from Week Eleven

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

Filling in for Wes again this week (poor guy is deep into his studies right now), we will look at ten things that caught my eye from the college football weekend....

1. Wisconsin throws down 83! I have always kind of liked the Badgers. I think it is because they seem to play an old-school style of play where you just line up and go at it. Well, that old-school style went out the window Saturday as Wisconsin racked up 598 total yards (really not all that much considering 83 points) and threw for four touchdowns in a thrashing of Indiana. Six different running backs got carries, and eight different receivers got receptions. Throw in a pick-six for a score and a kicker that was 2 for 2 on field goals and 11 for 11 on extra points, and that is what you call a good day!

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Twelve

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

The top two teams in the land remain unbeaten and in the same position as a week ago. As we get near the end of the season, the BCS is once again ready to let us down big time as there is a jumbled mess of very good teams at the top. Here is my top 25 for week twelve of the college football season...

1. Oregon Ducks (10-0) - On the road at Cal, Oregon didn't put up one of its 50-point specials, but rather had to win a close game. A win is a win, and the Ducks hang onto the top spot. Next: at Arizona (Nov 26)

Gamecocks Win the East

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

The South Carolina Gamecocks will play for their first SEC title. With a 36-14 win over Florida in The Swamp, USC will play for its first league crown in 18 years of league membership when they face the Tigers of Auburn in the Georgia Dome, December 4th. The Gamecocks won with convincing fashion, leaving little doubt that they are the team most worthy to face the West champ. This win - or rather this season - will long be remembered in Columbia as among the best ever. And there is more to come...

Steve Spurrier has been carried off of this field before, but it came from the opposite sideline. Returning to his alma mater and the school he coached to a national title in 1996,

UConn Opens Big East Door

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

The Big East is wide open after a UConn 30-28 victory over Pittsburgh brought the Panthers back to the pack. Now, with Big East teams having four or five league games remaining, and a only a one loss difference between every team in the conference, every single program has a chance to make a run at the Big East crown and a BCS berth. The Big East race got a whole lot more interesting after last night's game!

Pitt came in undefeated in league play at 3-0. As the preseason favorite and still unbeaten in conference, it looked like a Pitt win would send them well on their way to ...

Week Eleven Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

There are just three weeks left in the Fans25.com regular season Pick'em Contest for 2010. As of right now, clloyd is in the driver's seat at 76% for the season. But he has lots of folks trailing just behind. One of those folks is me, The Top Fan, at 74%. Here are my predictions for week eleven...

Pittsburgh at Connecticut - 7:30 - ESPN - I'm going to start things off with an upset of sorts. Pittsburgh has the better record in this game, but three losses concern me. Utah beat them, and I have a totally different view of the Utes following the TCU game. Miami stomped

Ten Things from Week Ten

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 9 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

Filling in for Wes this week, I will take a look back at the weekend that has just passed with ten things that caught my eye....

1. 67-65 Michigan! Things are just kinda wacky right now in Ann Arbor. With another mediocre season in progress, and everyone knowing deep inside that UM just really isn't that good, the Wolverines won one of the most entertaining games of the season. This past Saturday in three overtimes, the Illinois Fighting Illini and Big Blue went at it head to head, toe to toe. But in ...

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Eleven

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 8 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

TCU and LSU did their parts to shake up the top 25 this past weekend. Utah slid way, way down in my rankings, and Arkansas made a big jump up. Here are my rankings as we head into week eleven of the college football season...

1. Oregon (9-0) - The Ducks continued their explosive offensive ways by putting 53 on Washington. A trip to Berkeley is next to face the Cal Bears.

The BCS: Bust It!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 7 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

TCU and LSU register the biggest wins of the day as we brace for another BCS nightmare. It is still too early to tell for sure, but it looks right now as if the BCS will once again face major scrutiny in 2010. As I type this, four teams are still unbeaten as we scoot closer and closer to the end of the regular season. These four teams are followed by several very, very good one-loss teams. Of course anything can happen in these final weeks, but as of right now Oregon, Auburn, TCU and Boise State all seem primed to enter the postseason unbeaten. If that happens, the BCS will present us yet again with an unacceptable finish to the college football season.

Two Surprises

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 7 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

College football never runs short in the surprise department, but here in the Palmetto State, two things yesterday have me in a bit of disbelief. With both of these surprising situations involving divisional races, Clemson and South Carolina both amazed me in different ways Saturday...

South Carolina can never again play a "meaningless" game. On facebook, I see comments all of the time from folks who are friends of friends of friends. Many times, I have never met these people, nor have the slightest clue who they are. But one...

Week Ten Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 4 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

Well folks, we have made it to week ten, and I am still right in the thick of winning the Pick'em Contest here on Fans25.com. With that said, it could all fall apart in any one disastrous weekend! Once again, there are many, many tough games to pick. South Carolina versus Arkansas jumps out to me as one of the toughest picks of the week. This is a night game in Williams-Brice Stadium, and the Gamecocks have SEC East title on the brain. The crowd should be crowing in Columbia! But Arkansas comes in with a mighty fine team, as their two losses are to two top five teams - and both games were still close in the 4th quarter. This should be a doozy from kickoff to the final whistle, and to see my pick, read on...

Pick'em Contest Update

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 3 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

Our 4th annual Pick'em Contest is in a heated race to the prize - and for pride in general! I went main page with this update because there are a few notes concerning the contest that I wanted to clear up....

1. Wednesday Game. There is a Wednesday game this week, but not on purpose! The Top Fan goofed. When entering the games this week, I thought that Rutgers and South Florida played Thursday, so I threw them in as game one of the fifteen - oops! So everyone that is paying attention gets a freebie! If you enter your picks on Thursdays, you will know the score already. And I will make sure everyone gets a "W" in the game if they picked before tonight's game! If you pick tomorrow and still miss this first game, you don't care enough to win, anyway! As normal, the Pick'em Contest will close for the week Thursday night at 7:30.

Ten Things from Week Nine

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Tue, 2 Nov 2010 00:00:01 EST

Distraction Saturday proved too much for some of the new players on the scene (Missouri, Michigan State), while the teams who kept their focus in tact have their national title hopes still alive. Everyone must keep their wits about them, though, because this week could be no different. As many places across the country will have elections this week, it seems appropriate that this is also about the time that teams start their campaigns for a place in the BCS. Here’s Ten Things from the week that was and the week that will be…

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Ten

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Oregon hung on to keep the top spot, but several other teams in the top 25 were not so lucky. Michigan State and Missouri really got spanked, opening the door for other teams to move up. Here is my top 25 as we head into the tenth week of the season...

1. Oregon (8-0) - The Ducks unleashed the offense once again, scoring 35 points in the middle part of the game on the way to the 52-35 win over USC....

It's Gameday!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Whether your favorite team is 8-0 or 0-8, there is still something magical about the day of the game. This week the question has to be about the number one team falling for the fourth straight week. Alabama (Oct 9th to South Carolina), Ohio State (Oct 16th to Wisconsin) and Oklahoma (Oct 23rd to Missouri) all held the number spot and all lost it on the road here in October of 2010. Now, Oregon faces USC down in Los Angeles. It's funny how quickly things change. Just a few years ago, Oregon would have been the underdog in this one!

Atlantic Division as Open as the Ocean

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Four teams remain alive in division race. With the ball at the NC State 4-yard line and just under a minute to play, FSU was in prime position to all but seal the ACC Atlantic Division on Thursday night. Still unbeaten in league play, the Seminoles could have made it nearly impossible for any of their division foes to catch them in the standings...if they could have just punched it in. But when quarterback Christian Ponder and tailback Ty Jones collided during a handoff - causing a fumble that FSU lost - the entire division was turned on its side. Now, with the 'Noles having a division loss, Clemson, NC State and even Maryland have new life.

Week Nine Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

It's that time of year when teams start jockeying for position. Division crowns and major bowl games are still way up in the air, though, as several big weekends are ahead. One of those big weekends is just two days away. I am in ninth place out of 85 still-eligible pickers (just four percentage points behind our leader, Clloyd4), and I am ready to make up the difference. Here are my predictions for week nine...

#16 Florida State at NC State - 7:30 -ESPN - Raleigh will be alive as Jimbo Fisher brings his 6-1 Seminoles into Carter-Finley Stadium. In the preseason, it looked as if this game might be a battle of two of the league's best quarterbacks. But ....

Ranking the Tailgates

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Through the years, I have been fortunate to have visited many of the college football towns throughout the South. While I haven't visited them all, I have been to most. And while many factors go into what some would call a great tailgating place, I just went with my overall vibe of the gameday feel of that place. It is impossible to check out every single situation at a given school, as I'm sure some places are better than others surrounding these stadiums. But here are the overall impressions I've gotten from the places I have been...

Ten Things from Week Eight

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Ten Things returns from a week off with utter chaos currently in the polls, and even more on the horizon. How in the world did Oregon and Boise St. get jumped twice in consecutive weeks for the top spot? How much longer can the new Superman continue his superhuman performances? Two sets of Tigers are sitting undefeated, but only one controls its own destiny. The defending champs, even with a loss, are still not out of the picture. With so much happening the past two weeks, the best thing to do is just shift our focus on the future. Ten Things looks at the state of the sport, and offers a glimpse into the that very future...

Newton's Laws of Motion

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Auburn Quarterback Cam Newton has become the Heisman frontrunner. In 1687, famed English physicist, mathematician and scientist Sir Isaac Newton stated in his Laws of Motion that a body will remain at rest until acted upon by an outside force. That I can understand. But what I can't understand is the way Cam Newton's body continuously eludes tacklers who would love to become that outside force. Quite frankly, Newton defies Newton's laws!

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Nine

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Unbelievably, for the third straight week, the AP number one went down as Oklahoma lost to Missouri. But in my poll, Oregon has now been number one for two weeks, and will take that ranking again for the third straight week. Boise State and TCU are eagerly waiting for chances to show off their stuff, and Michigan State and Auburn are thinking national title. Here is my top 25 as we head into the ninth week of the season...

1. Oregon (7-0) - The Ducks steamrolled UCLA, 60-13, on national TV last Thursday. This team has it going on in all phases right now.

Week Eight Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Once again, we have college football tonight! The Oregon Ducks will put their #2 ranking on the line when unpredictable UCLA comes into town....I am still in the mix for the Pick'em Contest title, but I need a big week. I have lost a bunch of games the past few weeks, and need to get back to my dominating ways of the first few weeks if I am going to be a factor. Again this week there are many games that are very tough to pick. Can Nebraska bounce back? Can LSU keep winning in odd fashion? Can Oklahoma survive as the nation's top team? Can Iowa jump back into the national picture? We will soon find out - here are my picks for week eight!

Palmetto State Update

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

A week ago, it appeared as if the Gamecocks of South Carolina were on the road to a huge year. They had just defeated the number one team in the country, Alabama, putting themselves in great position to win the SEC East. A week ago, it appeared that Clemson might be on the edge of disaster, having lost at North Carolina to make it three Ls straight. The play-calling was being seriously questioned in Tiger Town. A week later, college football showed us why you have to take things one week at a time...

South Carolina. We will start with the Gamecocks, who seem primed for the big-time, but are having trouble making that last step in the East. Florida, Georgia and Tennessee - the three-headed monster of that division - each are having down years. This is a once-a-generation type of happening. This is the year, Gamecocks! But you have to go out and get it.

Wedding Weekend Survived

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Nothing can take the place of college football on a Saturday in the fall - except maybe the wedding of a family member! As any of you that read the site know, I am a little over the top when it comes to college football. So to think that a whole day of games just went by and I hardly saw a play is crazy. But by being a groomsman in the wedding of my sister, Katie, to her longtime boyfriend Chuck, I wasn't able to take in the action this past Saturday. But I wouldn't trade it for the world, as this was a weekend I will never forget...

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Eight

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

For the second straight week, number one in the AP poll went down. But in my poll, they stayed the same. Oregon is again the top team in the land, at least to me. After the Ducks, it gets really messy, really quickly! Here is my top 25 as we head into the eighth week of the season...

1. Oregon (6-0) - The Ducks were idle this week, setting up a Thursday night game with UCLA. Oregon plays six Pac Ten games in a row to finish the season.

2. Auburn (7-0) - What a season of football in the state of Alabama, with Auburn leapfrogging the Tide....

Week Seven Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

After starting the year by going 14-1 twice and losing just eight games of the first 60, I have had a couple of rough weekends as of late, losing seven games last week, and six games the week before that. But I am still determined to win our Pick'em Contest this year! I just have a few people to catch and pass now...Once again, the games this week are tough. Can I get back to my dominating ways of the first two weekends? Or will I fall closer towards the middle of the pack? We cannot know until Saturday has come and gone, but here are my picks for week seven!

Ten Things from Week Six

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Well, it took six whole weeks, but finally a little shakeup is upon us in the rankings. The unstoppable force that was Alabama met the immovable object that is South Carolina. Denard Robinson is human after all. Conference play is in full swing and the games truly could not get any better or any more important. From the bonehead who wins (Les Miles) to boneheads who win (Texas Tech). Non-AQ teams who moved up and those who moved down - all after winning. Here are Ten Things from week six...

1. A Long Way Home

The shortest distance between Columbia, SC and Tuscaloosa, AL is approximately 413 miles. For Alabama, they may as well have a detour through Siberia. Saturday showed just how hard it is for a team to go back-to-back seasons undefeated. It also shows how difficult it is to stay focused week ...

One of Those Days

Matt Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

I made a post on the message boards Friday at lunchtime that i had just had one of the most memorable mornings of my entire life. Little did I know that I would also have one of the most memorable afternoons of my life.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Seven

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

With the fall of Alabama, Oregon now takes over as number one in my top 25 poll. I have simply been more impressed with the Ducks than Ohio State so far this season. The Buckeyes check in at number two before a jumbled mess involves the next six to eight teams. Boise State and TCU remain right in the mix, though I wish I was seeing both tested more regularly. And check out the big names that are not in the top 25 at this time: Texas, Penn State, USC, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia...Those are six time-tested programs that are currently working to straighten things out. Nevada is the newest BCS buster to emerge, but they too will not be tested until later in the season...Here is my top 25 for week seven:

Gamecocks Uncrown The King

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

A recap of week six's action. There will be a new number one later this afternoon. The Gamecocks of South Carolina used a balanced offensive gameplan and a hard-nosed defense to defeat Alabama in Columbia, SC before 82,933 fans. The win means that for the first time since 2008, there will be a new team sitting at the top of the polls when they are released later this afternoon. The Alshon Jefferey, Marcus Lattimore show was fired up for the nation to see and South Carolina suddenly appears to be a real threat to win the SEC.

It's Gameday!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 9 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

This is what fall is all about! Beautiful weather, burgers and hot dogs (Carolina Pride, of course!) on the grill, and good football on the TV all day are what is on the menu here at Fans25 headquarters! Yes folks, October and football were a match made in the Heavens, and today looks to be a devine day of pig-skin glory...

It starts at 12:21, when Tennessee and Georgia - both desperate for a win - kick off from Athens. This game will have little impact on the SEC East, but both teams have good ...

Week Six Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 7 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Last week I lost my spot at the top of the Pick' Em standings. No Biggie. I'll just have to wreck house this week! From dawn to dusk the games will again be aplenty, so folks, without further ado, here are my picks for the sixth weekend of college football play, 2010...

#7 Nebraska at Kansas State, 7:30, ESPN - So far, I have been able to keep Nebraska in my top 25 simply on wins and the fact that they hold a seat at the college football round-table...

Nebraska - Kansas State Preview

Russ James - Firth, NE — Thu, 7 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Top Fan said something in his weekly poll I hadn't given much thought to; people outside of Nebraska may not have seen us play this year! Unthinkable to those of us who get a daily overdose of the Scarlet and Cream. So I thought why don't I and the rest of us NU fans here give our opinions of what an outsider should be looking for as we take center stage on Thursday night.

NU:
Running Backs. We have two backs that are fun to watch, Roy Helu jr. and Rex Burkhead. Two very different styles, Helu is the classic NU tailback with great speed and a ...

So Far, So....

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 6 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

A quick look at the first-year head coaches of 2010. More than 20 coaches are in their first season at their respective schools this year. Now that we are five games into the season, let's take a look at what coaches are having an immediate impact, and what coaches are going to need a few recruiting classes to turn things around. I wrote an article in the preseason where I predicted how each coach would fare. Please feel free to find it in our story archive (link above) titled New Coaches for 2010.

* Brian Kelly, Notre Dame (2-3) - The Irish are not setting the world on fire, but they are - to me - better already. They won their opener, then lost to three pretty good teams in Michigan State, Michigan and Stanford. Then they beat BC on the road. I still think this team will ....

Ten Things from Week Five

Brett Haynes and Wes Mewbourne — Mon, 4 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Our friend, Wes, had a crazy past weekend, so I thought I was filling in for him in our "Ten Things" weekly article. Turns out he wrote one himself after all, so fans, this week you get a double version! The college football world can bring bliss and heartbreak, and with that, here are ten observations from this past weekend of play...

1. Tennessee loses gut-wrencher at LSU. On a goal-line, 4th-down play with just seconds to go, LSU and Tennessee were both substituting players all over the place. After it appeared ...

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Six

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 3 Oct 2010 00:00:01 EST

Alabama solidified its number one ranking, but the Ducks of Oregon were nearly equally as impressive. Some other very good teams are in the mix, but as of right now, I would like to see the Tide play Oregon to see who is the king of the college football mountain. Here is my top 25 for week six...

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0) - Except from those folks in the Northwest, most everyone's opinion would be in agreement that the Crimson Tide are the best team in college football. They looked sharp in all phases of the game in making Florida look ...

Week Five Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Another week has flown by, and it is time for football once again. Tonight, Texas A&M takes on Oklahoma State from Stillwater. That will be followed by another Saturday of great games. Once again, I will put my first place standing on the line. Here are my predictions for week five...

Texas A&M at Oklahoma State, 7:30, ESPN - In all of my years of watching college football, I have noticed many things. Among them is that Texas A&M comes up short in big-games as much as any team out there! With this game on national TV and away from home, and with A&M once again....

Conference Rankings

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

A lot of people put weight into conference ratings. Personally, I'm kind of in between. While I like my ACC brethren to do well, I am much more concerned with my own team. Regardless, like I said, many folks feel like conference rankings are very important, so here are mine...

1. SEC - This seems to be getting old, but it is what it is. One day the SEC may not be ranked number one, so while they are, I have to give them all of the props. For quite a while, the East division was stronger. But this year, the West is

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Five

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Finally, some shaking up went down in the top 25. The biggest name to fall was Texas. The 'Horns were slaughtered at home by unranked UCLA. Number ten Arkansas also lost, albeit to the number one team in the nation. To me, the most impressive team was Florida. The Gators made quick and easy work of Kentucky, showing that they have weapons all over the field. Here is a look at my top 25 as we head into the fifth week of play...

Week Four Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

After being on the road for the first three weekends of the season, yesterday I was able to sit back and watch college football all day long. In this week's Pick'em Contest, I missed two of my fifteen picks, but would consider the fourth weekend a success. Here is a look at what happened in the latest 15 games of our Pick'em Contest...

Ten Things from Week Four

Wes Mewbourne — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Survival Saturday finally arrived, and the resolve of many a team was tested. The champions survived, while the pretenders fell by the wayside. The SEC was the epicenter, with two pairs of ranked teams squaring off in duels to the proverbial death. The Big Ten showed us just what cupcakes taste like. All this and more in this week's Ten Things...

Week Four Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Well, here we go, another forecasting of the impossible to forecast. It's like predicting the weather - even more difficult. In the three years of the Pick'em Contest, a picker picking a perfect 15-0 record does not come to mind. It may have happened, I honestly can't remember. What I do know is that I have not scored a perfect weekend yet. But I do find myself in first place after three weeks in this year's version, and I look to keep that standing or pull my hair out trying. Here are my predictions for week four...

Early Season Notes

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

After three weeks of games, we can now kind of start to get a feel for what teams are going to be good, and what teams have serious work to do. Here are some of my observances from the early part of the college football season.

* Notre Dame - Preseason, I picked the Irish at number 19 in my top 25 poll. While I was halfway trying to get some chatter going, I really did (and still do) think Notre Dame was going to be fairly good under Brian Kelly right away. This is coming as the Irish are on the verge of a 1-3 start. Yes, after .....

Ten Things from Week Three

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Well, the first quarter of the season is done, and I do believe we are no closer to finding the best teams in the country than we were when the season started. While there was just one game featuring two ranked teams, there were plenty of road trips and games with conference title implications. Some have still yet to master the center-quarterback exchange, and the real season (read:conference play) is picking up. We say hello for the first time for the reigning Heisman champ, while one team said goodbye to its undisputed leader. All this and more in this week's Ten Things...

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week 4

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Alabama is your number one team again this week after pummeling Duke, 62-13. The Tide scored 45 points in the first half. Ohio State also cruised and the rest of the top ten will look very similar to the top ten of a week ago. Iowa fell on the road at Arizona, and thus are the only team to fall out of this week's top ten. Here is my top 25 for week four...

1. Alabama (3-0, beat Duke, 62-13) - This game resembled a backyard football game when it was a bunch of high school kids playing a bunch of middle school kids....

Off to Auburn!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Clemson vs. #16 Auburn - 7:00 EST - Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL - The Fans25 crew is up and rolling at 6 am getting the truck packed up for the trip over to Auburn, AL. Still dark outside, the anticipation level is through the roof in this household! The four hour trip over (we hope) will lead us to a day of great tailgating and a great game between two schools who share many common roots in their history's. Auburn and Clemson - both Tigers, both orange, both agriculture and engineering schools, both with a passion for football - are set to meet for the first time in the regular season since the 1970's...

Week Three Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

In my mind, there is little question that the games of week three are going to be tougher to correctly pick than the ones of the previous two weeks. And while there are still a few inter-conference games going on this week, most of these games see conference mates going head to head. At 28-2 on the year, my confidence should be high. But these games are tough! Here are my choices for week three.

#12 Arkansas at Georgia - Noon - ESPN - To me, this game is all about UGA Head Coach Mark Richt. I have to believe that those in Athens are starting to put pressure on the man who has led the Dawg program the last nine years with no national title contention....

The White Flag is Out

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

It isn't being flown just yet, but the ACC has its surrender flag out on deck. I have been a fan of this conference for many, many years, but never before has it been this hard to support the conference publicly. This past weekend, four of the top teams in the league were defeated in out-of-conference play, and the league is catching heat like never before. I still believe there is good football in the ACC, but that statement is getting tougher and tougher to explain to outsiders - and rightfully so.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week Three

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

The top half of my top 25 poll did not change much this week. However, the bottom half of the poll looks a lot different from the week before. The ACC had a disastrous weekend, with four teams ranked 10-20 losing, and now just two teams from that league are worthy - in my opinion - of holding a ranking. Alabama looked very strong at home against Penn State, proving early in the season that they are indeed the team to beat nationwide. Here is my top 25 poll as we enter the third week of the college football season...

Ten Things from Week Two

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Last Saturday was a great day if you are a fan of Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, or just college football in general. My condolences if you’re favorite school is, well, anywhere in the ACC. Super Saturday certainly lived up to its billing, with the top two teams in the country distancing themselves, and the huddled masses under them vying for one of the top spots, as the top four teams stayed constant, but 5-10 were the same teams in a different order. Here are the 10 Things that are, were and will be in the realm of college football...

My Crazy Saturday

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

I will never forget my first trip to Neyland Stadium - and it wasn't because of the football. College football never ceases to amaze me. From crazy plays to the antics of fans, I thought I had pretty much seen it all. Then, in the blink of an eye, I was part of an experience that I never could have imagined and will not soon forget. Fun and games flew out the window when I was caught in a rain and lightning storm with 103,000 people - surrounded by metal bleachers...

The Buffet

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

For college football fans, it's all you care to eat! Saturdays like this only come around once every now and again, and for those of you who live in the now, you are in Heaven! There are six games today that are glued-to-your-TV worthy, starting at noon with an SEC battle between Georgia at South Carolina. The day will then see ACC vs. Big 12, ACC vs. Big 10, SEC vs. Big 10, SEC vs. Pac 10, and Big 10 vs. Independent. It's kind of like the heart of bowl season in early September. Fans, grab yourself a big plate, and prepare for a feast!

Week Two Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 9 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Last week I went 14-1 in our Pick'em Contest. In order to keep that kind of record going this week I will have to think hard and dig deep. In my opinion, this week's games are much trickier and harder to pick than those of the opening weekend. Some folks are calling this the biggest weekend of college football in years, with as many as six big-time, nationally important high-profile games set to go down. Yes, if you love college football, week two of the 2010 season is what it's all about! Here are my predictions for this week's games.

Ten Things from Week one

Wes Mewbourne, Birmingham, AL — Wed, 8 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

Well, the college football season is back, and what an opening weekend. For the second straight year, two different BCS conference schools lost to FCS opponents. Some of the top teams in the country were tested by unranked and overmatched opponents. The BCS and Heisman pictures are just as cloudy as they were before, and will need at least a few more weeks before coming into focus. Without further ado, here are 10 things from the first week of college football...

Pick'em and Poll

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 6 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

With a killer Monday night game this evening, the Fans25 top 25 poll for week two will come out on Tuesday morning this week rather than today. Third ranked Boise State will tangle with tenth ranked Virginia Tech from Landover, Maryland at 8:00 tonight on ESPN. That game will have such an impact on the poll, that it would be best to release it in the morning...Also, be sure to get your picks in for week two! I am 13-0 so far this week, with two games today. Two other Fans25 pickers - LEO and Bubt - are also at 13-0. Two-time defending champ 92CitadelGrad is off to a good start at 10-3, and will certainly be a factor again in 2010.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week 2

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 6 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

My top 25 poll did not change a whole lot this week as hardly any teams in the top 25 lost. LSU dropped a few spots after nearly losing late against a UNC team who was playing with second and third teamers, Oregon moved up a couple of spots after hanging 72 points on New Mexico in just 45 minutes of play, and Virginia Tech dropped a few spots as they were unable to close the deal with top five Boise State. All in all, it was a fairly uneventful weekend as far as poll rearranging goes. However, week two's games approaching will be loaded with huge contests that could go either way! This poll will look very different next Monday - I can assure you all of that much!

You Have to Be Ready

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 5 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

No matter how "ready" we think we get for football season, we are never quite ready enough once it arrives. Yesterday, our group was so excited for the game that we nearly pulled out of the driveway without our tickets, tent, chairs or table. No big deal. Just everything. As the day rolled on, we realized a few other things that told us we weren't quite as ready for the season as we thought we were. But we made it through - with flying colors I might add - and weekend number one of the college football season is now history...

Week One Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

It's Gameday. As I type those two words, a huge exhale leaves my lungs. I have waited and waited and waited for this moment for months now - as we all have - and it is now here. Tonight will see my TV screen filled with images of Steve Spurrier and Williams Brice Stadium as the Gamecocks host Southern Mississippi. It will also be filled with images of Pittsburgh and Utah - a game featuring two top 25 teams. All in all, there are 18 games tonight between 6:30 and 11:00 EST, so this should be a great evening of college football!...Last year in the Pick'em Contest here on Fans25.com, I scored in at 71% for the season. Not bad, just three points behind our winner. But I have yet to win the event going into our fourth version, and I am out for blood! Here are my predictions for week one.

10 Things, Preseason

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

This year, I've decided to change it up a bit. Instead of the SEC Rundown, every Tuesday I'll have the top ten games, players, and story lines from the previous weekend in all of college football - not just the SEC. Feel free to voice all comments, suggestions, etc because that's what it's all about. Without further ado, I present you the preseason edition, which gives the top ten story lines to watch this season. Enjoy...

1. Will the champs repeat?

Ever since the Tide held up their first BCS trophy, and their first national title in 17 years, the Bama Nation and football fans across the country wanted to know the same thing – will they do it again? It’s asked every year, but in actuality, there has

The Conference Playoff

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 1 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST

The battle for conference supremacy will be decided on the field. If there is one thing I have learned in the nearly five years of running this site, it is that almost every message board topic has the potential to evolve into a debate over which conference is the best (or more accurately, which conference sucks the worst). So while beating my head against the wall to help pass the time until kickoff Thursday night, I got an idea. What if there was a conference playoff? What if there was a playoff where each conference fielded an all-star team, and those guys battled it out on the gridiron for conference supremacy? The more I thought about, I thought "this could work." Then the more and more I got into it I thought, "this is genious!" All of the aspects we love about college football would exist in this postseason event - hype, pride, elite athletes, rabid fans, media frenziness, and most importantly, money.

Spurrier or Swinney? The Choice is Yours.

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

Clemson and South Carolina fans love to feud, and here is another topic in which there is no shortage of disagreement. These two coaches could not be more opposite, and that's what makes ths debate fun. As a head coach, 65-year old Steve Spurrier has been head coaching for 23 years at three different schools, has won a national title, six conference titles (one at Duke, five at Florida), coached a Heisman winner (Danny Wuerfell, '96) and has earned his own nickname: "Dark Visor." Swinney is just 40-years old, has coached a year and a half at one school, and has yet to be in a national title hunt (won one as a player in '92 with Alabama). However, he did coach a Heismanesque player (I'm joking, but look what Spiller is doing already for Buffalo), and has himself had a nickname long before Spurrier had one: "Dabo." So which one of these two men would you want leading your team?

Since You've Been Gone...

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

College football has been gone for six months. But now, it is just a few days from being back. Here is a look at all of the things the sports world has given us to pass the time. And while it has been fun to keep up with all of the other great things in the world of friendly competition, as soon as this article is complete, we are back to college football and nothing else!

The Winter Olympics from Vancouver, BC got us through the colder months. The United States finished first in the medal count, with 37 medals. But Germany (30 medals, second place) had more golds, with ten to our nine. Along with the X Games just before, there is now .....

Preseason Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

I really do believe that polls should not come out until the fourth weekend or so, but since they are fun, and we all like to know where our favorite team stands in the minds of others, here is my 2010 preseason top 25 poll! Some may wonder what the basis of my first poll is, and the answer is a number of things. It is a combination of how good I think the teams are (mainly), followed by where I think they will be around that fourth week I mentioned above. The most weight is given to who I really do think are the best teams out there. This poll won't match up super close to the AP or Coaches' poll (honestly, I wrote mine before the Coaches' poll came out the other day), but in my mind is the order of the toughest teams in college football...

The Reason

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

Unless your favorite team is a member of the Southeastern Conference, chances are you are sick and tired of hearing about how great it is. Yes, there is certainly no shortage of media praise for the league that spans the Southern states. But it is mostly deserved. The SEC lays claim to the last four national championships, and seven of the last 14. On top of that, they bost a long list of out-of-conference wins over the last five years. Nothing lasts forever, but as of right now, this league is king. Here is the reason.

South Carolina Gamecocks 2010 Preview

Damian Thorpe - Aiken, SC — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

(Fans, this article was submitted by "Gamecocks235." We would love to hear you preview your favorite team - just email me!)

In a little less than three weeks, the South Carolina Gamecocks will take the field in what will be their sixth year of the Steve Spurrier era. While the past five seasons mark the winningest five-year stretch in the history of the program, it hasn't exactly been what you would call a "Cinderella Story". Ask any Gamecock fan where they would have envisioned the program to be after five seasons under Spurrier, and most would tell you that they would have at least expected to be able to tell you what the inside of the Georgia Dome looks like. Instead, it's been a disappointing five-years to say the least, with more up's and down's than ...

Struck Gold

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

The luck of the Irish has changed for the better. I am not a Notre Dame fan. I repeat, I am not a Notre Dame fan. And while I have no beef with ND, I need it to be known from the start of this article that I am not a fan of the Irish. Why do I feel the need to so emphatically make this declaration clear? Because after you read this, you will swear that I grew up in South Bend, graduated from the fine institution that is home to there, and have posters of Touchdown Jesus and Tim Brown in my room. No folks, I am not a fan of Notre Dame, but I am hear to say that they will be the biggest surprise of the 2010 college football season. That's right folks, ND is back.

The Next Five

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

My teams ranked # 26-30 could make a run at # 1-5....Tuesday morning I was very fortunate to be a guest on a radio program out of Tennessee. And while everything went just as well as I possibly could have hoped for, the hosts' questions got me to thinking even deeper into the top 25 that I came up with just days before the interview. I still like the preseason top 25 I discussed on air, and I stand behind it. But in this article, I will look at the five teams that were oh-so-close to making my top 25. You see, one of the radio hosts was a UNC fan, and he had some very good questions for me as to why they weren't included. Here I discuss the Tar Heels, and four other teams that very well could make a run at some big-time hardware in 2010...

College Football Preseason Special

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 7 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

The 2010 season is just around the corner! Fans, I was going to put this up around the 20th, but I am so darned anxious for the season that I couldn't help myself and went ahead and put this on up tonight! If nothing else, it will give us more stuff to talk about as we come down the home-stretch here and back into college football. Thanks so much for being a part of Fans25.com, and I hope you will stay with us throughout the year!

2010 Heisman Candidates

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 7 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

This list will shrink and expand and lose players and add players as the season goes along, but for right now, here are the guys that I see will be front and center in the chase for the Heisman Trophy...

Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State - The media will be pumping Pryor all year long. He is the veteran Heisman-type player, and he plays for a top two team in Ohio State. Like most every other candidate, much will do with OSU running the table.

Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia - Devine could be the real candidate in the group. WVU has a strong o-line back, and a managable schedule. If they stay in the top 15, and Devine scores some points, he could very well get a long look in New York in December....

New Coaches for 2010

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 7 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

There are no shortages of first-year head coaches in 2010! A whopping 22 men will be pacing their teams' respective sidelines for the first time this September. Here, I rate what I see as the best hires from one to ten. I also listed the other twelve coaches that were hired to put a spark into things as the new boss...

1. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame - Besides catching stop-lights when in a hurry, nothing is guaranteed. But Notre Dame hired about as good of a coach as they could to right the ship. The pressure is tremendous, but if he can put Cincinnati in the BCS, he can win with blue-chippers.

2. Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech - The Red Raiders got a steal in Tubberville. He is a solid coach with a proven background and will have TTU back in the top 25 quickly. Two weeks after he signed on with the Red Raiders, the Tennessee job popped open. That would have been an even better fit...

The Games You Can't Miss!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 7 Aug 2010 00:00:01 EST

For each and every fan, the "big-timeness" of a game has a lot to do with your interest level in the teams involved. But regardless of who your favorite teams are, whether it is on TV or in person, if you do not at least see the detailed highlights of the games below, you are not really the fan you claim to be.

Week 1:

* Purdue at Notre Dame - The house will be rockin' for Brian Kelly's debut as head coach, and Purdue is no slouch. This will be a hard-fought war in a crazy environment.
* Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (Monday night, Landover, MD) - College football fans are treated to a Monday night feast in a great inter-regional matchup featuring two teams with outside national title hopes.

The Dog Days of Summer

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

This summer heat - and downtime in sports - is insane. We have all heard this phrase, but hardly ever has it been more true than right now. In South Carolina, where this article comes from, the heat index has passed 100 degrees countless times over the last month. Couple that blazing heat with some of the worst humidity you can find, and the Palmetto State is ready to bring you to your knees. And as if that isn't bad enough, the sports world has come to a virtual standstill. Major League Baseball is the lifeline to late August. Yes folks, the Dog Days of Summer are in full effect.

Parker to Return to Clemson...For Now

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

Kyle Parker will be back to lead the Tigers in 2010. The Colorado Rockies and Clemson two-sport athlete Kyle Parker were unable to come to a contract agreement, and the quarterback and right fielder will be back wearing orange and purple again this fall in Death Valley. However, talks are still underway, and this situation could possibly change. The chances look strong though, that Parker will return...For Tiger fans across the land, this is the third straight season they have seen a football player decide to return to Clemson rather than turning pro. As football season is just around the corner, Clemson's chances at a big season just took a major step back towards reality.

MLS Comes of Age

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

The MLS plays a key role in soccer's advancement in the USA. After a summer of thrilling World Cup soccer, followed by Major League Soccer hosting a very intriguing "Summer of Soccer" against some of the best sides in the world, the United States has finally accepted futbol as a major sport. For the first time perhaps in my whole life, I watched a soccer game in its entirety last night when I didn't have a serious dog in the fight (my club team, my high school, Team USA or Clemson). Yes, I sat down and watched the MLS expansion team the Philadelphia Union take on the famous Manchester United, and I was entertained the full 90 minutes. Now that America has shown it can consistently compete on a world level, the sport is set to take off across the States. If you have "heard this before," or have shunned the sport up until now, I cannot blame you completely. However, now might be a good time for you to open your mind to this game.

MLB at the Break

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

Home Run Derby - Monday Night - 8:00 est - ESPN...All-Star Game - Tuesday 8:00 est - FOX - Both from Anaheim, California...The Major League Baseball season has come to the halfway mark as the All-Star break has been reached. And while I have been derailed lately from my normal watching due to the World Cup and the world of Lebron, the second half of the season should be very interesting to keep up with. After all, the Braves are in first place, and as long as they are in the mix for a world title, I'm into it! Here is a quick glance at the first half of the season.

LeFraud!

Ashton Williams - Clinton, SC — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

Fraudulent Person

LeBron James has had a pathological ego problem ever since he was in high school. He, himself, has admitted that all the attention that he got coming out of St. Vincent-St. Mary, breeded an ego virus within him. Well, not much has changed since high school, if you ask me. Within the past several days, he has shown that his ego towers over anyone else's in the league. He has the worst kind of ego because he tries to hide it behind some type of lovable childlike persona. In that case, makes him a fraud.

James, the Ego King

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 9 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

LeBron James chooses the Miami Heat. I love Fans25.com. It is a way for me to vent, it is a way for me to interact with other fans, and it is a way for me to keep the dream alive that one day I may cover sports for a living. And I love our fans that we have on the site - not only in our forum, but also our daily readers. So when I go on a rant here in this article (my second rant on the subject this week), I know I will be making angry more than a couple of folks. But I just don't care. I know our loyal readers will continue to read, and I am ready to hear the responses of those who won't like this. That is the beauty of Fans25 - your opinions are heard...

World Cup Final: Spain vs. Holland

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

Spain vs. Holland - 1:30 est Sunday - ABC - An all European final of the World Cup will see one of these two most deserving nations win its first ever World Cup...My preview coming toniite!

World Cup Final Preview

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

The Netherlands vs. Spain - 1:30 est - Sunday - ABC - For the second time in two World Cups, we have an all European final. Also, we have a final featuring two nations that have never won the Jules Rilet Trophy. The stakes have never been higher as we count down to Sunday afternoon as the match to determine the best in the world will go down in Soccer City in Johannesburg. I am no geography teacher, but here is a quick look at the two countries about to go at it in the 2010 final. I was able to visit both of these countries on a 2003 trip to Europe, and can tell you that either would be a great place in which to live!

World Cup - The Final Four

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 4 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

Of the six World Cups that have taken place during my comprehinsible lifetime, this 2010 version has surely been the most captivating. I know the US was knocked out before we all would have liked to have seen them knocked out, but still, this event has been a treat to keep up with. I want to name a favorite country to follow from here on out, but as of right now, it is tough. I have a good reason to go with each team still alive! Every four years we are fortunate enough to expreience this global Kum By Ya, and this year thankfully is one of those four.

I. Don't. Care!!!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 2 Jul 2010 00:00:01 EST

This LeBron James talk makes me want to throw up.

Would someone please remind me again who the current world champs are? That's right, it's the Lakers. And the year before that? Ah, the Lakers again. And the year before that? Hmm, Celtics this time. What about in 2007, 2006 and 2005? It was the Spurs, the Heat, and the Spurs. 2004? Pistons. 2003? Spurs again...Are any of these teams named the Cleveland Cavaliers? No, I'm afraid they are not. Did LeBron James play for any of the previously mentioned world champs. No, again he did not. Does any human on planet Earth deserve the amount of attention that LeBron is getting right now. Once more, and quite loudly, no!

South Carolina Wins National Championship

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

South Carolina 2, UCLA 1. In what might have been the finest pitched game in the long and storied history of Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium, the USC Gamecocks won game two of the national championship series, and along with it, a national championship. The two teams went 1-1 most of the night until a RBI single from Whit Merrifield in the bottom of the 11th scored Scott Wingo for the game winner. Jackie Bradley, Jr was awarded the series Most Outstanding Player after hitting .345 for the CWS. For South Carolina, this is its first ever national championship in baseball.

The History of the World Cup

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

It is funny how nations around the world tend to look at America as if we are the newbies to soccer. The international community finds our "football" to be the wrong name, and folks around the globe just refuse to see the USA as a futbol nation. It is as if these countries believe that their ancestors have been heading goals and half-vollying shots since the dawn of time. Wrong. I did some research on the World Cup, and what I found is that soccer itself is not nearly as old as people think, and the USA actually won the first World Cup game ever played!

Gamecocks Win Game 1

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

Game 1 - South Carolina 7, UCLA 2. The South Carolina Gamecocks have won the first game of the national championship series of the College World Series, and are now just one victory away from the school's first ever title. UCLA threw their ace - Gerrit Cole - but USC had no problem with him, scoring seven runs in the game. Mike Roth again came up big for USC on the mound, surrending zero runs while in the game. Fans across the Palmetto State will be glued to their TV sets Tuesday night to see if the Gamecocks can bring home college baseball's ultimate prize.

Up For Grabs!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

WORLD CUP - Ghana vs USA - 2:30 pm - ESPN - The round of 16 is underway...and no more ties!

College World Series - 2:00 and 7:00 pm - ESPN2 - TCU, UCLA, Clemson and South Carolina are baseball's final four teams fighting to get to the national championship series....

Great Sports Day....Stay Tuned!

Black Saturday

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

Instead of watching the end of the Clemson-USC baseball game and immediately typing my review, I decided to give things a few minutes (and a walk around the neighborhood to settle down) before hitting the keyboard. I was filled with emotions that I could do without, and I didn't want to carry those feelings from my head straight to the Fans25 main page. This day has sucked, but only on TV and sports-wise. Outside of the tube, I had a nice day gardening and jogging in the woods with my dog, Quarter. But on the tube - and in the sports scene - it was a day that I would like to have start over from scratch...I am a fan of Team-USA soccer and Clemson baseball, and both saw their season's come to an end tonight...

Omaha Showdown!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

South Carolina (2-1) vs. Clemson (2-0) Friday Night, ESPN, 9:00 est - South Carolina pulled out an amazing, dramatic, come from behind, 12-inning win over Oklahoma late Thursday night to stay alive in the College World Series from Omaha. With the 3-2 win, the Gamecocks set up a showdown with Clemson, where both teams are so close to playing for a national chamipionship. For Clemson fans, the first thought is that of 2002, where a nearly identical situation saw the Gamecocks win twice, and keep CU from playing for all the marbles.

We're Alive, Baby

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

"We're Alive, Baby" - Landon Donovan...

The United States is through to the next round. A 91st minute goal from Landon Donovan defeated annoying Algeria 1-0, and the Unites States - along with England - advance out of Group C to the knockout stage of the World Cup in South Africa. With the win on the late goal, not only did the USA advance, but they won their group. Constantly being cursed with questionable calls, the United States extended a middle finger to the refs, and to Algeria, and put home the difference maker late for the win and the advance. It cannot be put into words how big of a goal that was. It was the difference in going home and staying to compete for a World Cup title. It was the difference in US soccer being taken seriously worldwide or not. It was huge. The chants of "USA! USA! USA!" are bouncing off of the icebergs of Antarctica right now!

Tigers, Bruins in Charge in Omaha

Brett HAynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

Clemson defeated Oklahoma 6-4 Wednesday afternoon to remain unbeaten in Omaha. With the victory, Clemson must simply take care of business in one of two games at the end of the week to play for its first ever national championship. The Tigers seem to be on a mission, and after a shaky season, are one of two teams with an inside track to play for it all. The other is UCLA.

World Cup and Omaha Update

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

For me, the summer of 2010 will be remembered by two sporting events: the World Cup and the College World Series. With teams now beginning to be eliminated from both, here is a quick look at who is doing well and who is being sent home. College football season is still 84 days away, but with action like this to hold us over, what's the rush, right?!

At the World Cup in South Africa, there have been some surprises and some non-surprises. Among the non-surprises is that Brazil has already advanced to the knockout stage of the event. The Brazilians have the most World Cup titles ever with five (last in 2002), and won their...

World Cup - 9:30 AM!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

USA vs Slovenia - 9:30 AM Eastern, Friday- ABC - After a thrilling Game seven, the Lakers and Celtics have closed the door on the 2010 NBA season with LA taking home their second ring in as many years. Now we can focus on the World Cup and Omaha, with the World Cup being up next (CWS gets underway Saturday)....The United States takes on Slovenia in the USA's second game out of three in Group C play. This is a most important second game as the group is in a jumbled mess. A win would give the Americans the group lead. A loss would spell almost certain elimination following group play. For those of you that did not know, Slovenia is in Europe...

Stayin' Alive!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

WORLD CUP - GROUP C. The United States rallied from down 2-0 to get two second half goals to force a draw with Slovenia, and thus stay alive in the World Cup. On one hand, the good news is that the US is still alive and will simply need to beat the fourth seed in the group. On the other hand, my stomach is turning over what might have been due to some questionable happenings in this match...The World Cup is getting hot!

College World Series Preview

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

COLLEGE WORLD SERIES - OMAHA, NEBRASKA - June 19 - 30 - ESPN - The Road to Omaha has come to an end as all eight teams have made the trek and are set to begin play on Saturday from Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska. This is the final year the event will be held in this park, so it will hopefully go down as a classic! The field is diverse with two left coast teams, two heartland teams, and four teams from the Southeast. Here is a glance at what is to come in the eleven days ahead as college baseball will crown its newest national champion!

The Field Is Set

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

The Field is set for the College World Series from Omaha, Nebraska. The final two teams to hit the road towards Rosenblatt Stadium were Clemson and Oklahoma, who had to take care of some final business today in deciding game threes. With the Tigers and Sooners now on their ways, the national championship for America's favorite pastime is about to really heat up!

World Cup and Omaha Update

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

The Road to Omaha is really getting some traffic now as TCU, South Carolina, Florida State and Florida have all put it in drive and hit the freeway towards the heartland! Yes, college basbeall's postseason is great to keep up with, as I love the structure of its playoff. It isn't true single-elimination playoff, but it makes you win on the field, and that is all that really matters. It is fact, not opinion, on who our national champions is.

Super Sports Saturday!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

Saturday, June 12th 2010: An awesome sports day. On Saturdays that do not fall between August and December, you will see me out and about doing just about anything other than watching TV. But on this non-football Saturday, things will be different. For on this Saturday, which is now five minutes old, I will be glued to my tube, entranced by the competition of sports at three different levels, in two different sports, with most of the action being PLAYOFF ACTION. Bliss, my friends. Bliss.

The Day Tradition Died

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

June 11th, 2010. That is the projected date for Nebraska to leave the Big 12 Conference and join the Big Ten. Sure, the move might not seem like a lot on the surface, but consider this: Nebraska is currently in a conference with teams from the original Big 8 conference, one that was created in 1907! Nebraska has been with the virtually the same teams for over 100 years. In a sport dominated by tradition, it doesn’t get much more traditional than that.

Super Regional Preview

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 7 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

The sweet 16 teams of college baseball for 2010 are now set (eh, well except for the Texas A&M/Miami game last night which was suspended due to weather) and ready to play ball. And before the tournament even really heats up, I have already lost my national title prediction in LSU. Yes, the defending champs - and my pick to win it all again - were defeated out in Los Angeles, and will not make the super regional round in 2010...

Hotlanta!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 2 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

If you are a Braves fan (which I happen to be), then you will have to admit these are some of the better times in recent memory. Atlanta is 18-4 in their last 22 games, and have gone from 6.5 games back in the NL East, to leading the division by 1.5 games over defending NL champion, Philadelphia. Last night's 7-3 win was the eighth in a row for the Braves, and we all must wonder just how long this can last...

I think We've Met

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 2 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

The 2010 NBA Finals - LA Lakers vs. Boston Celtics. We have all said it once before in our lives to someone we were being introduced to: "I believe we've met before." And though it is indeed a popular saying, there will be no need for the use of that phrase when the Lakers and Celtics tip it off from LA tomorrow night. These two teams are the most recognizable in the game of basketball, and here in 2010, they collide once more to see who is the best in the world on the hardwood.

NCAA Baseball Tournament Preview 2010

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 1 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST

In three days, the excitement of the Road to Omaha gets underway. Here are a few storylines as the teams look to dogpile at Rosenblatt Stadium...

Can the ACC break its drought?

In basketball and the olympic sports, the ACC does just fine. National championships are common from soccer to lacrosse to swimming and diving. But in my two favorite sports - football and baseball - the ACC has not won a national championship in over a decade (FSU '99 in football). On the diamond, this drought is even more depressing than on the gridiron. That's right folks, in college baseball, the ACC has not won a national championship since Wake Forest brought it home in 1955, the league's third year of existence. That hurts.

100 Days....

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:01 EST

I will admit that watching the NBA playoffs does not get my blood boiling the same way that college football does. And yes, I really enjoy the MLB, but not to the point of painting my face or wearing special boxers on gameday. And even college baseball, as much as I love it, does not hold a candle to what goes down on a Saturday night in the fall...You see, it takes an extra bit of emotion to get to the point of wanting to go public with your thoughts, and thus I apologize as of late for not blogging on a daily basis. I did my best through the spring, writing about the PGA, baseball getting rolling, etc. But as of late, my mind has really hit a road-block. As we all know, college football is what drives this website, and fans, I am happy to say it is just 100 days away!

Orlando Taps Out

Ashton Williams - Greenville, SC — Sun, 23 May 2010 00:00:01 EST

Boston is so good, to the point that they make teams quit. Remember the final game of the 2008 NBA Finals? Boston made the Lakers quit. Remember the final game of round 2 of this season's Eastern Conference playoffs? Boston vs. Cleveland? The Celtics made the Cavaliers quit! Now, just look at this crap of a product that Stan Van Gundy is sending out on the floor. The Magic's performance in Game 3 showed how much they wanted to win this series. They don't. This is the Conference Finals! This is suppose to be the defending conference champions! We've already drawn the conclusion that Boston is darn good, but can I get a little more effort?

Summer Sports Update

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:01 EST

With the college football season still just over three months away, let's take a look at what are some of the other things going on in the world of sports. The MLB Season is heating up (literally) and the NBA playoffs are getting down to the nitty gritty. The PGA guys are still out there knocking it around, and the US World Cup squad is getting its gear together to get ready to jet off to South Africa. Here are my thoughts on this early summer sporting day...

Where There is Smoke, There is Fire

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:01 EST

Conference shake-ups are coming. In the last couple of weeks, rumors have been swirling rampantly about the conferences of major college sports being realigned and/or expanded. The latest talks, which include actual invitations to four major universities from a major conference, have the discussions to a heated boil. There is certainly no guarantee that anything will happen. But usually when there is this much smoke, there is bound to be a fire.

Sports Update

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 4 May 2010 00:00:01 EST

With college football still a few months away, we lean on the other sports to get us through. I love the World Cup, and that revs up next month. But for right now the main things are the NBA playoffs and the PGA Tour. The Major League Baseball season is also heating up with a few teams starting to already seperate themselves from the pack. Here are my thoughts on what is going on here in late spring in the world of sports...

PGA Tour

Phil. Being the Tour groupie that I am of late, here is a quick glance inside the PGA going-ons. I was able to attend the Sunday action from Quail Hollow, and it was very exciting. For years, I have never been able to become the Phil Mickelson fan that I knew....

Off to Quail Hollow

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 2 May 2010 00:00:01 EST

Thanks to a good buddy of ours, a friend of mine and I are will be spending Sunday traversing the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte watching some PGA golf action live. I look forward to a great day where Billy Mayfair leads Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, and a field of others that is dotted with big names. Mayfair - at ten under par - has played very consistent golf over this tournament with rounds of 68, 68 and 71. Mickelson, fresh off of his win at the Masters two weeks ago, will surely have the largest galleries today and will be toughest to get close to. At stake in this tournament are 500 FedEx Cup points and a 6.4 million dollar purse...Please look for my article tomorrow as I write about my experience today at the Quail Hollow Championship!

Just Plain Cool...

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

Sometimes the writings I do for this main page do not have much of a point, and this very well may be one of those times! With about enough NFL Draft in me to last a year, I decided to watch the Braves and Mets for a while. During the game, they were showing the bullpens of the two teams, and it got me to thinking about things in sports that I like. Each sport has its cool and tough places to be, and in baseball, that place is the bullpen...

NFL Draft 2010

Brett Haynes with Ashton Williams - Greenville, SC — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

The opening day of the 2010 NFL Draft is history, and historical it certainly will be! Oklahoma grabbed three of the top four picks - surely some kind of first - and Tim Tebow did, indeed, become a first-round draft pick. Ndamukong Suh, the Nebraska defensive linemen who is feared by all, went second to the Detroit Lions after OU''s former quarterback, Sam Bradford, went first to the Rams. The big news around my parts revolved around CJ Spiller, the Clemson running back who was chosen ninth by Buffalo. This year''s draft has no doubt been shaken up a bit with ESPN moving the event to prime-time.... (We have an apostrophe issue we are working out. Thanks for looking past.)

Elin Jets Home...

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

I will admit, the only news I have heard about what I am about to write about came on a local sports radio station last night, and a Yahoo news story this morning. But the issue at hand here is that of Elin Woods leaving the country with the couple's two young children, Sam and Charlie. Apparently, if the story is true, Elin and the two children are already in Sweden. The question now is whether Elin is simply visiting her home country, or trying to pull some sort of full custody move to keep her kids in Sweden. This may not be a story at all, but I have a hunch that it is...

What's Goin' On....

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

I have had a whirlwind week, and apologize for not keeping the site as updated as usual. But I am back home now, and without a particular story to zero in on, here are my thoughts (for what they're worth) on what is going on in the world of sport...

NFL Draft - The NFL Draft is finally almost here. It seems like we have been hearing about this non-stop since the Super Bowl, and I cannot wait to get it going. Yes, I am full of anticipation of where these superstars of the future will land, but mainly I am just tired of looking at Mel Kiper Jr's hair....

The Heritage Heats Up

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

The Verizon Heritage Classic is underway in round two today after some very low scoring took place yesterday in round one. Jim Furyk and Mike Weir have taken the lead temporarily at seven under. I was fortunate to be able to take in the happenings of the opening round of play from Hilton Head Island's Harbour Town Links. Here is my experience at Sea Pines over the last couple of days.

History in the Making

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

The Masters Final Round - 2:00 - 7:00 CBS

Watch your TV today, that's all I have to say.

Deserved

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

Phil Mickelson won his third Masters championship, and secured himself among the greats of all-time. He most-likely will never become a challenger for the major record held by Jack Nicklaus, but he is as popular as they get. I could go on and on about his wife, Amy, being there by his side on the 18th green, but this story is more about someone who has an incredible game, and more specifically an incredible short-game. This Masters had it all, and in the end, the right man won.

A Battle Looms on the Horizon

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 9 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

Two English players and two South Korean players are included with four Americans and a Dane as we enter the third round of play from Augusta, Georgia Saturday. Tom Watson and Fred Couples remain in contention, but have slipped just a hair off of the lead. Couples had the worst day of the leaders, dropping three shots with a round of 75. This tournament is one of the more competitive in recent memory, and this weekend we should all get ready to take in history.

They Want It!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 8 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

Ten players are within two shots of the lead, and thirty-one players are under par entering round two of the Masters. The weeks and days leading up to this 2010 Masters have been filled with anticipation unlike any before as one of the greatest of all-time would be making a return to the game. But after the opening round of play, there are many other storylines that top the Tiger Woods saga. 1992 champion Fred Couples is atop the leaderboard at six under par. Right behind him are five more players, including some of golf's biggest names in Tom Watson (1977 champ) and Phil Mickelson (2004 and 2006 champ). This has the feel of a classic in the making...

INSIDE THE ROPES: OUR SUNDAY AT AUGUSTA

Paul Elder - Charleston, SC — Wed, 7 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

To kick off Masters Week 2010, we're posting a fans25.com classic. Last year two fans25.com regulars got to spend Masters Sunday with full access to the Augusta National Clubhouse. What a day. Originally posted April, 2009.

Devil of a Good Time!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 5 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

Duke won its 4th national championship since 1991 - all under Coach K - in a thrilling game with Bulter. Gordon Hayward's shot from half court rimmed out as time expired and the Devils have won it all. After watching arch-rival UNC cut the nets down a year ago, what a way to respond! The Devils proved that they were the top team in the land by doing something that 25 straight teams could not: beat the Butler Bulldogs.

Final Four Preview

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 3 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

Michigan State Spartans vs. Butler Bulldogs - 6:07 pm - CBS - Well, Butler has the home-court advantage, but I am not sure what that means, really. These are the kind of games where you can throw all of that out the window because both teams will be playing so fiercely, anyway. I honestly do not know as much about these two teams as I do the teams in the other game, but I think I will give the edge to Michigan State. I think Tom Izzo is one of the best coaches in America, and he will find a way to send his team to the championship game...

See Ya Monday Night!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 3 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

HAPPY EASTER! I hope every one of our viewers has a great day! ......Butler defeated Michigan State 52-50 in a great game one of the Final Four Saturday and will face Duke, who won in the second game, 78-57. This matchup will set the spotlight on the ACC trying to bring home back-to back-championships. But it will be tough, Butler is for real.

Irony At Its Finest

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 2 Apr 2010 00:00:01 EST

The NCAA is strongly considering expanding the field of teams for its postseason basketball tournament from 65 to 96. It has been publicly said - by several people - that money is the driving factor. So I find it ironic beyond words that this same group will not even consider a playoff for college football. And you know this must certainly be a done deal. Otherwise, why would they make such a strong public announcement about it? Sometimes I wonder about this world that I live in, and this is certainly one of those times.

Break Time

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

If you have now had an overdose of college basketball, well, I cannot really say that I blame you. Between the winding down of the regular season a month ago, conference tournaments, Selection Sunday, and finally this past three weekends of NCAA March Madness, well, that is a heck of a lot of college hoops! We now - thankfully - get a five-day break from the action before the Final Four. But first, before you go, you need to read this: my thoughts on the NCAA tournament thus far.

Elite 8 Sunday

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

West Virginia and Butler secured berths in the Final Four yesterday. Today, the great basketball continues as veterans Duke and Michigan State look to reach their 16th and 8th Final Fours respectively against Baylor and Tennessee, respectively. The Bears have reached the national semis twice - but not since the 1950's. Tennessee is in uncharted waters, as this is the first Elite 8 game in their history today.

TENNESSEE vs MICHIGAN STATE - 2:20 - CBS

DUKE vs BAYLOR - 5:05 - CBS

Elite 8 Saturday

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

This tournament is turning out to be one for the ages, and it picks back up today with two games to go the Final Four in Indianapolis...Kentucky may be the best team playing right now, but the bad news for them is that West Virginia might be the second best! And Kansas State and Butler will square off in a battle between two more teams that have scratched and clawed through three wins already. It should be a fantastic Saturday!

BUTLER 63, KANSAS STATE 56

WEST VIRGINIA 73, KENTUCKY 66

Game On!!!!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

NCAA tournament gets fired back up! After five days of no NCAA men's championship basketball, it is game back on today as the sweet 16 games get going. At stake are trips to the elite 8, and one step closer to cutting down the nets in Indianapolis. Two of the top teams in the tournament - Kansas and Villanova - have already learned the hard way about the brutally even playing field this year's tourney presents. Today, we will find out who else is ready to take on the challenge, and who will succomb to the pressure.

College Baseball Update

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

At 20-0, the Arizona State Sun Devils are the top college baseball team in the land as the month of March nears its end. But that is in just one poll - the USAToday poll. In the Baseball America poll, Virginia is in the top spot, and they have a huge ACC battle looming towards the weekend as Clemson (#5 and #12 in the two mentioned polls) will make the journey to Charlotesville for a three-game series starting Friday. The Sun Devils finished the week 5-0 after sweeping Houston and Cal St. Fullerton. Florida and LSU appear to be the two programs ready to carry the SEC flag.

Do We Really Need the Seed?

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

As I watched these games the last couple of days (and certainly will all day today and tomorrow if possible), I have noticed one thing: we don't need to seed the teams!

Ok, maybe award the best teams in the land with a bye or something in round one. But as for seeding, forget it. In the opening round of this year's tournament, there were eleven "upsets" where the lower seeded team won. Eleven. Eleven out of thirty-two games. Folks, that means in one-third of the games played, the committee missed on who they thought was the stronger team.

March Mascot Madness

Jason Cooper - Charleston, SC — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

Everyone got their bracket ready? I do. In fact, I have five of them: my gut picks, favorites, upsets, a “what if WVU won” bracket, and a mascot bracket. The latter one is kind of interesting because it’s just based on whether or not a team’s mascot would win in a fight. And you would think that it would be easy to fill out a bracket like that, but I had some difficulty. I’ll go through some of the match-ups region by region and show you what I mean.

NCAA Tournament Challenge on Fans25.com!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

Please join us in the Fans25.com hoops challenge! Ok fans, it's time to play the NCAA hoops challenge here on fans25.com for the 2010 tournament! Unlike some big fancy sites, we do not have a bracket you can fill out (remember, we were born in college football, and until they have a playoff, then, well....). However, we use the same points system as most bracket challenges, so just email me your picks, and you are in! There is no entry fee, and you could win a $100 sports memorabilia item or a fans25 t-shirt! Just click below to learn more about how to be in our contest!

Your Top Moments in Sports

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

They are the moments that you never forget, and there is no reason that you would ever want to forget them, anyway. I am talking about your very own personal greatest moments in sports - the ones you saw go down, at the very time that it went down. These aren't the ones that the TV stations pick for you as the great ones, these are yours. They are moments that happened in the clutch, and had some drama to 'em. These are moments that made the crowd lose itself in pandamonium....And it's weird how when times like these happen, you not only remember the moment of the sport, but you remember where you were when you saw it go down. Maybe you were at the event, but probably not. So whether you were in your living room, or in a sports bar, or listening to it on the radio driving down the road, you remember exactly where you were when your personal favorite sports moments happened. Here are mine.

Championship Sunday

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

WEST VIRGINIA won their first ever Big East Championship Saturday with a thrilling win over Georgetown, 60-58, in Madison Square Garden. They will be an outside shot for a number 1 seed depending on what DUKE and KENTUCKY do in their games this afternoon against GEORGIA TECH and MISSISSIPPI STATE, respectively, in the ACC and SEC title games. Also, KANSAS will surely be a number 1 seed after defeating rival Kansas State to win the Big 12 title. Out West, WASHINGTON defeated Cal to to take the Pac-10 title. And in the Big 10, OHIO STATE will play MINNESOTA for the crown.

No More Excuses

Ashton Williams - Clinton, SC — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

Recently, I have been excited about getting to see a fully healthy Detroit Red Wings roster on the ice for the first time in what seems like an eternity. This has been an injury plagued season in Hockeytown, and the Wings spent much of the past months hanging on by a thread to that last Western Conference playoff spot. On Tuesday night, the Wings played the Calgary Flames, in a game that was suppose to show the NHL what the Wings can do with a full arsenal. It would be the first time the Wings would field three scoring lines for the for the first time since week 1.

Just Wait

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

If you thought Tiger Woods was big before, you ain't seen nothin' yet! I am not about to begin to even try to discuss the morality side of this Tiger Woods saga. I honestly am not interested in his love life, and I - nor do any of us - have the facts needed in entirety to make such a decision. Heaven knows what the media has kept from us or fed to us too much. Yes, it is often neat to know the personal side of an athlete, but privacy is more important to some folks than others. Right or wrong, Woods will continue to be on the front page of websites and newspaper sports pages until he retires.

National College Basketball Update

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

As I sit and watch the Seinna-Fairfield game for the MAAC Championship, I realize just how little I know about the college basketball world. But I am going to try, anyway, to give the average fan an update as conference tournaments go down. If you are here looking for insight or trying to get some top secret news about college hoops, you are in the wrong place. But if you are looking to get a quick glance to get you up to speed on who could win the national championship, this might help...Latest team with ticket punched: Wofford!

National College Baseball Update, Tigers Take Series in Game 3

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

ACC the center of national college baseball scene...for now. I have to be honest, it is definitely more difficult to make a fair assessment of college baseball teams, compared to college football teams, as we simply do not get to see them in action as much. So therefore, with the long season that it is (around sixty games, then tournaments), I trust that the good teams and the bad teams will sort themselves out by season's end. This is a parallel of sorts to what happens in many sports; play enough games, and the best teams will eventually stand out. So now that the NCAA major college baseball teams have played around ten of those sixty-something games, let's take a look at who is starting to pull away, and who is not.

Tigers Take Game 1

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 6 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

Friday: Clemson 4, South Carolina 3 - Clemson leads series 1 to 0 - GAME TWO: Saturday, 2:00, Flour Field, Greenville, SC - On Monday morning, I will be posting a college baseball update of where we stand as teams are now ten games or so into the season. As for now, I will tell you that it is still COLD for baseball - even in South Carolina! My brother and I braved the 45-degree weather, and went to Clemson Friday night to watch as the Tigers (10-0) defeated USC (5-3) 4-3 in game one of a three-game series that continues today at 2:00 from Flour Field in Greenville. The series finale is tomorrow in Columbia. Both teams are NCAA mainstays, and favorites to reach the field of eight in Omaha.

Gamecocks Take Game 2

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 6 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

Saturday: South Carolina 7, Clemson 5 - Series tied 1 to 1 - GAME THREE: Sunday, 2:00, Carolina Stadium, Columbia, SC - It was the hardest ticket in town - trust me I found out the hard way! I was left on the outside looking in, and listened to the game on the radio. However, my brother and a couple of friends were able to go and snap a few photos for us here at Fans25. South Carolina was the team that was able to rally late this time, scoring three runs in the top of the 9th and taking the game, 7-5, to even up the series at one to one. Game three is from Columbia tomorrow....As I mentioned, Monday morning I will have a national college baseball update prepared to get everyone up to speed on what is going on with the collegiate diamond.

Spring Practice Reports

Intro by Brett Haynes, Main Article by Josh Morse — Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

Fans, we want to hear about your team's spring practice! We are lucky enough here at Fans25 to have fans from all different regions, and we would love to get a report of what is going on at your local school. Getting us kicked off with this is "Throw-Them-BoNes" (Josh Morse) of Kearney, NE, who is a die-hard Husker fan. I know BoNes has already purchased his spring game tickets, and also made the journey to Lincoln last March. I will follow up tomorrow with a write-up on Clemson, and may cover South Carolina in the coming days, as well. But yeah fans, don't hold back, just email me at thetopfan@fans25.com and we will get your report on the main page here!

The Cornhuskers Spring Looks To Be Interesting:
A Preview of What to Watch for This Spring

Josh Morse, Kearney, Ne - If you've lived in Nebraska for any length of time, you already know that football season never really ends. You go from the regular season to the post season to the recruiting season to the spring practice season. That's what is just ahead now - the spring practice season. The talk about spring practice is already heating up with the news that the Husker quarterbacks won't wear green jerseys this spring.

NFL Draft 2010: Two Fans' Views

Russ James (firth, NE) and Josh Morse (Kearney, NE) — Wed, 3 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

With the NFL draft quickly approaching (April 22nd - 24th), two of our most knowledgable fans on Fans25.com offer their opinions on the matter. Ndamukong Suh is obviously a hot topic, and in the second portion, you will get a breakdown of why. The first part is a breakdown of who will likely go 1-5. And, as always, please feel free to join us on the message boards to discuss the NFL draft and many other topics...

Interview With: Steve Taneyhill

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 2 Mar 2010 00:00:01 EST

If you are a sports fan in the Palmetto State, then you have probably heard of Steve Taneyhill. And what likely comes to mind upon first hearing his name are thoughts of him (and his long hair) causing pain to the Clemson nation with two wins in Death Valley - 1992 and 1994. But there is more that needs to be known about this man. For example, he is now the proud recipient of five South Carolina state championships at the high school level in just ten years of coaching....

College Football in the Big City

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:01 EST

I guess with my being from the South, and being somewhat accustomed to college football being played in small towns and medium sized cities, I guess I have this impression in my mind that this is a sport whose true heart belongs in the un-metropolitanized. But I got myself to thinking about this, and college football is every bit as present in out nation's largest cities as it is in the small towns of the South. Let's take a look:

New York City (pop 8.3 million). The Big Apple is not home to a team in downtown Manhattan. However, just fifty miles away....

February Baseball in South Carolina

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:01 EST

Every now and again, it is nice to enjoy the simple things that living in Greenville, South Carolina affords. One of those things is college baseball in February, in 65 degree weather. Today, I was able to drive a simple nine and a half miles to watch my favorite team, Clemson, take on Michigan State at Flour Field in downtown Greenville. The Tigers won big, I got a little sun, and all is good...

Vancouver Update, Fans25 Update

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:01 EST

Well, a lot has happened in the sports world over the last ten days, and a lot has happened with Fans25.com, as well. Let's recap...

The 2010 Olympics

The Current Leaders: USA (14 medals, 5 Golds), Germany (10 medals, 3 Golds), France (7 medals, 2 Golds), Canada (6 medals, 2 Golds)

Most importantly, the Winter Olympics from Vancouver got kicked off. And while the games have turned out to be as fun to watch as most hoped they would be, they got started on a somber note with the unfortunate death of Georgian luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili. This accident showed just how daring and dangerous this sport is, and the risk these guys take by going 90 mph on frozen ice, around turns, and in this case, with unwanted consequences. This truly was a tragic event that will sadly be a conversation point for all times concerning these games.

What?!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:01 EST

13.

Yes, 13. The University of Southern California Trojans and Head Coach Lane Kiffin have offered a football scholarship to a 13-year old kid from Delaware - and he accepted it. This story is crazy in so many ways that I nearly thought it was fake. So I looked into it, and sure enough, a 13-year old kid is now verbally commited to one of college football's most succesful programs not only of recent season, but of all-time.

Awesome.

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:01 EST

Traditional sports are great, but the extreme sports are definitely the real thing, too.

I have been very lucky to have been snow-skiing out West several times in my life, including visits in recent years to Whistler Mountain, Canada (where the Winter Olympics are about to go down) and the Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado area (where the 14th Winter X Games just went down last week). These places are beyond words in beauty, but are now not just resort get-a-ways. These places are now also home to some of the top athletes in the world - the extreme sports athletes of snowboarding, skiing and snowmobiling.

Signing Day Review

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 4 Feb 2010 00:00:01 EST

Growing up, at the playground or in the backyard, we were all a part of neighborhood football games. And usually, whichever team landed the neighborhood bully would win the game. College football recruiting is similar, only there are more defined rules (er, sorta). Whichever teams land the best players - the bullies between the white lines - are usually the teams you see in the major bowls a couple of years later.....This year, with all of the coaching changes and controversies going on, recruiting had many storylines. How would Lane Kiffin do at Southern Cal? How would Urban Meyer do with limited health at Florida? How would Derek Dooley do at Tennessee with such short time? How would Tommy Tuberville do recruiting the Midwest for Texas Tech rather than his familiar Southeast?

Fans, We Want to Hear From You!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

Fans, do you have some sports thoughts that you would like to get out for all to see?! Email me your story to thetopfan@fans25.com to see it on the main page! Whether it is college football, college basketball, NBA, Olympics, Winter X-Games, or anything else, let your voice be heard here!

This, That, and the Other

Brett Haynes - Greenville - SC — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

If not for the fact that we have an entire Winter Olypmic Games to experience, I would say that Old Man Winter could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, the spring time sports are getting cranked up and ready to lead us into warmer months, but first we will be treated to an event that only comes around every four years. I enjoy very much watching the Winter Games, and this year they come from a place I have been to and really like: Whistler Mountain and Vancouver, BC....

Super Bowl is Set

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

Super Bowl XLIV - New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

With Indianapolis defeating the NY Jets, and New Orleans finally hitting Brett Favre enough to put him and the Vikings away, we know now who will be in Miami for the biggest game of the year. This is the Saints' first appearance in the NFL's showcase event, while the Colts won a title just a few years back. Peyton Manning looks to cement himself as one of the game's all-time best quarterbacks with a win in two weeks.

AFC Title Game Preview

Michael Flecha - East Providence, RI — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts - 3:00, Sunday. Yesterday I did a preview of the NFC Championship game and I went with the New Orleans Saints, and now here is my preview of the AFC Championship game between the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts.

Let's start with the New York Jets. Now it's been a long time since the Jets have been in the AFC championship game since they lost to the Denver Broncos in 1998. Now the Jets have a new Head Coach Rex Ryan and drafting rookie Quarterback Mark Sanchez. It was an interesting thing that was happen but now a really strong Defense that is considered....

NFC Title Game Preview

Michael Flecha - East Providence, RI — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints - 6:40, Sunday. Here is my preview of The National Football Conference Championship game between The Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints.

For the visiting Minnesota Vikings. Like there were any doubts they were going to be here at the end. I mean seriously if you would have told me that Brett Farve was going to join a team that already had a good defense and in my opinion one of the best running backs in the game today in AD Adrian Peterson like many Vikings fans felt that Farve is the final piece of the puzzle to get you to the Super Bowl.....

NHLers in the Olympics and Team USA Roster

Ashton Williams - Clinton, SC — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

With the NHL Olympic Break right up the road, we can take a look at some NHL players and who they will represent in the Olympics, and the teams they play for in professional hockey. Seven Detroit Redwings have been selected to their countries Olympic rosters. Whether all seven of them playes or not will be determined, as several of them are still nursing injuries. Seven is certainly not the most of any teams. It is actually the 2nd most. The San Jose Sharks have 8 Olympians. Lets take a look at a couple of teams of interest.

Weekend Forecast

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

Here in the Upstate of South Carolina, the forecast is for typical wet and cold winter weather. But on the sports tube, things will really be heating up. The NFL, college basketball and the Australian Open highlight the sports weekend ahead.

College Basketball Saturday Buffet. 20 (yes, 20!) of the top 25 teams in college basketball will be taking to the floor to defend their rankings Saturday. This includes number 1 Texas, who will be playing at number 21 UConn. At the same time that the Longhorns put their undefeated ranking on the line, the Wildcats of Kentucky will do the same - hosting Arkansas. 4:00 is a key time to watch your hoops Saturday!

Trivial Pursuit

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

Last year when college football season ended, we started a game of Trivial Pursuit that helped ease the time until August...We had about 12 folks playing, and it was good times! While this year we plan on making Fans25 more active year 'round, we once again are going to be playing Trivial Pursuit...

If you want to play, all you have to do is go to this link,
http://www.fans25.com/discuss-thread.cfm?dt=2478 , and
login....SkullandBones is the moderator of this thread, and he will be more than happy to fill you in on how to join in...just REPLY to him in the reply box at the bottom of the screen (be sure you are logged in or there is no reply box), and you are good to go!

Derek Dooley - We'll See..

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

Tennessee, one of the proudest programs in the South, has hired a huge question mark.

When I first heard that Tennessee had hired Derek Dooley as head coach, I was kind of surprised. The name "Dooley" was familiar, but that was about it. I remembered - vaguely - that there was a coach out there in some capacity with that last name, but I couldn't think, right off, who or where that person was. So I looked him up...

I googled "Derek Dooley" and all sorts of things came up from various sports websites across the web...And so I decided to read as many of them as I could. I started with his vital stats on Wikipedia, and quickly I see that he was the head coach at Louisiana Tech! That's right, now I remember...

Boise State - The Ascension is Nearly Complete

Conor McGrath - Meridian, ID — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

There really is no way to truly appreciate the changes that have come to the Boise State football program. The Broncos climb to the top of the college football ladder has been accomplished with an acceleration nobody thought possible. Nobody prior to the 2002 season, when Boise State first cracked the top 25 polls knew who they were. As pollsters pulled out their maps to find the state of Idaho when they saw Boise State was in the final rankings, most knew it more than likely be a one year stint, much to the likings of other small name schools such as Marshall or Miami (Ohio). But these Broncos weren't making a quick appearance and bolting back to the little no-name school they were built up to be. Boise State's ascension to college football glory had begun 69 years earlier, and things were just beginning to accelerate.

Absurdly Early 2010 Preseason Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

Yeah, I know signing day isn't here yet for high-schoolers, and even some current players may still bail out on their NFL ideas (I've seen it before). But with what we do know and have to work with, here is a super early look at what the polls may look like come mid-August...

1. Alabama Crimson Tide - Not only do the Tide return a quality handful of guys from their 2009 squad, but they will also return the Heisman Trophy winner and an ever improvng quarterback in Greg McElroy. Besides this, I honestly believe Nick Saban could take a high school team to a FBS bowl game. They play a cool OOC game with Penn State September 11th.

When the Cat is Away...

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

As many of you know, I was away on vacation last week. Our group journeyed out to Crested Butte, Colorado, where we had our eyes peeled for Mike Leach, who has a home there and had recently been in town. We didn't see Leach, but we did see that the college football coaching world has once again been turned upside down - this time courtesy of Lane Kiffin, who hosed Tennessee to skip back to Los Angeles...The accompanying photo features Mike Garrett, the USC athletic director who will get the credit or the heat for this hire, and Layla Kiffin, who had become a popular figure in Knoxville (probably not so much now), but who will not stand out so much in L.A.

Congrats, Katie and Chuck!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

I know this is a sports site, and you came here to read about sports. But every now and again, I use the main page to announce things that are important to me. So on this day, I am using this space to say congratulations to my sister, Katie (MissTriDeltTiger), who became engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Chuck Piontek, Friday out here in Crested Butte, Colorado. It was a very special time for our family, and so I thought I would share a bit of the moment with you guys...

Be A Man About It!

Ashton Williams - Clinton, SC — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

In this 2009-2010 bowl season, a lot of games were accompanied by colder and sloppier weather conditions. Even in the southern locations, such as Orlando, Florida, fans needed to dress in clothes that they were not really expecting to wear. The fans, however, are not the focus of this topic. I am here to discuss the complaintive players and the biased commentators that we had to hear from. I watched quite a few games where this was a concern, but I am going to keep this write up to the two that stuck out the most to me. I am talking about the Champs Sports Bowl, and the Capital One Bowl.

Any Questions?

Brett Haynes - Greenville,SC — Fri, 8 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

The Alabama Crimson Tide are the 2009 national champions. With a 37-21 thumping of number two Texas in the BCS Title Game, Alabama proved that they were the best team in college football in 2009. Yes, just two days ago I went on and on about how impressed I was with Boise State's win - and I certainly am. But I think with the fashion that Alabama defeated a team such as the Longhorns on such a big stage, there is very little doubt left that they are the top team in the land.

Hawkeyes Win Orange Bowl

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 6 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

In the end, Iowa was just too strong for Georgia Tech. The Jackets were held to a season low production in yards (155) and points in a 24-14 loss to the Big Ten runner-up. Iowa's win capped off a very strong showing for the conference, which went 4-2, with four wins over top-15 teams. This was a game of hard tackling and good defense, and in the end, Iowa's defense was the best unit in Land Shark Stadium.

ACC 2009 Season Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 6 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

This is Amanda. As a Florida State University student, fan and Miss Fans25 representative for her 'Noles, Amanda has probably had an up and down season. Her favorite team had a couple of big wins. But they also had some times on the field that they would rather soon forget...The same can be said for the entire ACC. There were some shining moments for sure, but in the end, the league is still waiting on a breakthrough type season. Here is your ACC 2009 season recap. Other leagues to follow in the coming days...

Boise Holds Off TCU - Let the Talk Begin!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 5 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

Boise State won the battle of the BCS-Busters, 17-10 over TCU (12-1), surely setting up the talk - again - for a restructuring of college football's postseason. And why shouldn't it be brought up? The Broncos (14-0) went undefeated for the second time in four years, and in my mind, deserve a piece of the national crown. They defeated TCU, the team that everyone said should have belonged in the BCS Title Game. Great game, BSU - time to celebrate a Fiesta Bowl victory!

Orange Bowl Preview

Herky TheHawk - Iowa City, Iowa — Tue, 5 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

ACC Champion Georgia Tech (11-2, 7-1) squares off with the Big-Ten's 2nd best team, Iowa (10-2, 6-2).

The Hawkeyes started the year 9-0, their best start since 1985. They lost to the Northwestern Wildcats after starting QB Ricky Stanzi went down with a severe ankle sprain. They lost again to Ohio State by 3 in OT with a freshman QB making his first career start. This is Iowa's 2nd Orange Bowl appearance - their first was in 2003 in a loss to USC, a game that I attended. Hawkeyes will have everybody back for this game including QB Rick Stanzi who is 17-4 as a starter in his career. But the Hawkeyes are anchored by their #11 in the nation defense lead by all Big-Ten performers Pat Angerer, Adrian Clayborn and Tyler Sash. Iowa has been stout against the run this year, but even more so against the pass ranked 4th in the nation in pass efficiency defense.

OK OP, Whatcha Got?

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 4 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

I feel like I am going to have to defend myself throughout this entire little write-up here, but so be it. And before you read this, please understand that I like Oliver Purnell as Clemson's basketball coach. But, at some point, when do we stop basing Purnell's success on the lack of success that his predecessor brought (or did not bring) to Tiger Town? Purnell is very good at turning programs around, but has he reached the top of his game at Clemson?

Bowl Update, Gamecocks Lose

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 3 Jan 2010 00:00:01 EST

The Gamecocks of South Carolina talked before and after their game against Clemson about how it was "the game of the season." Apparently, they were not kidding. The Gamecocks looked like an entirely different football team against UConn - and that is not a good thing. The Huskies had their way all day against South Carolina, resulting in a 20-7 win....Also, the Mountain West Conference has wrapped up the Bowl Challenge Cup for the second straight season.

Ndominant Performance!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

Holiday Bowl - Nebraska 33, Arizona 0. Behind Heisman contending lineman Ndamukong Suh, the Nebraska Cornhuskers shut out Arizona to claim their second bowl win in as many years, and their 24th overall. The Cornhuskers preach defense, and on this Holiday Bowl night, it would be tough to find a defense that is any better....Also, in the Humanitarian Bowl, Idaho won a thriller over Bowling Green, 43-42....

Hokies, Armed Forces Have Good Day

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

Virginia Tech soundly defeated Tennessee, 37-14, in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, giving the ACC the win in this game for the first time in five tries. After a first half that showed this might be a game to go down to the end, VT stepped up and owned the second half by a score of 20-0, showing once more that Tech's Bud Foster is perhaps the best DC in the game...Also, the Armed Forces, Navy and Air Force on this day, had their best day bowl-wise in 24 years as two of the service schools earned bowl wins.

Bruins and Badgers Bring Home Bowl Wins

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

In the EagleBank Bowl, UCLA looked for a half like they were going to be the next chapter in the book that was Temple's miracle turn around season. But the Bruins stormed back. And in the nightcap, Wisconsin dominated Miami, but found itself needing a defensive stand with less than a minute to go. In the end, the better team won the Champs Sports Bowl as the Badgers held on. Two more bowl games are complete, and two more will go down later today.

Dawgs Blast Texas A&M

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

Georgia slipped a bit in 2009, losing five games. But the Dawgs finished in style, running Big 12 opponent Texas A&M straight out of Shreveport in a 44-20 win in the Independence Bowl. The Dawgs won somewhat unconventionally as they got 24 points off of special teams - including a 81-yard kickoff return and a 49-yard field goal. The Dawgs have now won four straight bowl games while Texas A&M has lost four straight.

A New Day Begins

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

Behind a defense that held Kentucky to just three second half points, Clemson won its first bowl in four tries, 21-13 over the Wildcats, and sent all-time great player CJ Spiller out a winner. This game did not have the glamour and glitz that Tiger fans were hoping for, but was a big win none the less. Clemson now goes into the offseason with momentum after a 9-win season complete with an ACC Championship Game appearance and a bowl win....But perhaps the biggest story of this night is that Clemson now enters a time where CJ Spiller will not be there.

Meyer to Take New Roll

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

I knew Urban Meyer was one of the smartest coaches in college football, but now I know he is also one of the smartest overall people in the game, as well. Some folks ignore their health until it finds them pushing up daisies from six feet under. Meyer, who is in the prime of his coaching career, chose not to risk that, but rather to reward his family for enduring what has surely been a stressful time for all involved.

Bowl Predictions - Round 1

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

PLEASE GET BOWL PICKS IN BY 4:30 SATURDAY FOR ROUND 1......Well fans, bowl season has rolled around once again, and I have split the games into two rounds for our Pick'em Contest. The first round of games starts tomorrow afternoon as Fresno State and Wyoming get us going in the New Mexico Bowl....Get your picks in today! All pickers tied for the win will recieve a fans25 t-shirt, and if there is a clear-cut winner overall, that person will receive a team jersey of their choice!

Statistical Winners

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

All of the college football awards have been given out, including the Heisman Trophy, which went to Mark Ingram. But all of those awards were based on people's opinions, not necessarily cold, hard fact. So here are the folks and teams that lead the nation in 2009 in the national statistics. By the way, these are the guys you will see playing on Sundays one day...

Team Rankings:

Total Defense - TCU - 233.25 yards per game...

A Positive Step

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

I try my best to stay away from politics. I just feel with so many different opinions out there, as soon as you get into any kind of public matter over an issue, there is no way you can win. No matter which said of the argument you are on, there is always a going to be a group of folks that don't like you. So while I will stand up for a few things, I try to keep most of my non-sport opinions tucked away in my brain.

But with the hiring of Charlie Strong at Louisville, Mike London at Virginia and Turner Gill at Kansas, I wanted to voice out, as I have no chance to lose this one! These were three very strong hires not only for their respective schools, but for the good of the game of college football, as well. You see, Strong, London and Gill are black men, and the grand total of black head coaches stands - after their hirings - at just four.

Wrong, Just Wrong. The ACC Screws Up Again.

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 9 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

Wrong, Just wrong. The ACC screws up again.

This league may in fact be a basketball league! Look how UNC blew the doors off of Michigan State in the 2009 Final Four back in April. Now, seven months later, the conference has once again played its way through a totally painful college football season. The league just finds a way to look goofy on the grid-iron, and the latest fiasco isn't even on the field. Not giving a flyng rat's you know what about what it would do to its conference brethren, Bobby Bowden beat the hell out of his conference opponents one last time - this time in his last and final bowl scenario.

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 7 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

With the regular season completed, and the bowls ahead, here is how the teams stack up in my final regular season top-25 of 2009. This week, I will also put where I had the team predicted to finish starting the year, as well. We can all catch our breath as we have two and a half weeks until the next good college football game.

I'm a Freakin' Genious

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 7 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

To my awareness, I am pretty sure that noone out there thinks of me as overly brilliant. Yeah, I'm a nice guy, I know my sports, and I broke the thousand mark on my SATs. But in no case in my life have I ever done something with my brain that made people say, "hey, now THAT guy is smart."

Until now. Just today, while sitting on a remote, breathtaking hillside over looking a fertile valley (or on my couch with my laptop), deep in thought of this debate between the BCS and a playoff, it occured to me. Like a slap in the face, I thought of my most genious thought ever: making the BCS itself a playoff.

It's Over.

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 6 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

It is now over. After 22 straight wins and a season-long stretch at the top, Florida is no longer the number one team in college football. That title has now been passed to the Alabama Crimson Tide, who crushed the Gators, 32-13. Also, in the Big 12 Title Game, Nebraska did everything in the world except beat Texas in a gut-wrenching 13-12 loss. In the ACC Championship Game, Georgia Tech edged Clemson 39-34 to earn a trip to the Orange Bowl. The Big East was won in Pittsburgh as Cincinnati stormed back (in a snow storm) to defeat Pitt, 45-44. The day was a long one yesterday, and the drive back I face here in a few minutes from my friends house is a long one, as well. Please check back in with us tonite as I break down the season, and give my projected bowl matchups...

ACC Championship Game Preview

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 5 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

Georgia Tech vs. Clemson - ACC Championship Game, Tampa, Florida, 8:00 - ESPN. Mention the name "Ken Hatfield" to a Clemson fan, and you are bound to get an evil look. After all, the Clemson faithful never took a liking to the man that succeeded Danny Ford, and was fired after just four seasons. But 16 years and three Clemson football coaches later, the Tigers are still trying to get back to winning the ACC - a feat Hatfield accomplished in 1991 (before being canned in 1993).

A lot has changed in the ACC since the Tigers last won the league crown under Hatfield. For starters, CU has never won or tied for the crown with Florida State as a member of the league (joined in 1992). Nor have the Tigers challenged ...

SEC Championship: Clash of the Titans

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

It's that time of year, again. The game of the year in the SEC for the second straight year between Florida and Alabama. Just like last year, the winner looks to catapult to the National Championship. Just like last year, both teams are juggernauts sure to give the fans one for the ages. Sure both teams looked pretty good, and both have shown some kinks in the armor, but who has the advantage? Let's look at each part of each team and some key match ups to see where the edge lies...

Championship Weekend Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 3 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

The final weekend of the year is now upon us, and man-oh-man there is still a lot left to be decided! Five conference title games will go down, two of which do not carry that offical title. It gets started tonite when Oregon and Oregon State meet up in Eugene to decide the Pac Ten crown....This has been a regular season of consistency, really. The top-3 have not changed the entire season, while spots four, five and six have been firmly held (respectively) by TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State for the last month and a half. After the top-6, it has been consistently inconsistent as teams have jumped around all over the place. Here are my final regular season predictions for the year:

Coaching news and thoughts

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

Just like every season at this time of year, there is plenty of talk and action going around concerning the head coaching position at several key schools. This year, Notre Dame, Virginia and Florida State are at the center of the coaching talk.

Brian Kelly to stay at Cincinnati - The Bearcat Head Coach says he is happy where he is and will not be a candidate for the Notre Dame job. He was at the top of many folks list to replace Charlie Weis. To me, this puts more pressure on the ND brass to go after Urban Meyer. I thought, personally, that Kelly was the hottest coach out there, and geographically, it would have worked out nicely.

SEC Rundown: Week 13

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:01 EST

In what has been a tumultuous season in the SEC, fans witnessed the best weekend possible. A season that has seen a preseason dark horse (Ole Miss) fall well below expectations also saw a few underdogs rise to the occasion. The fact that this was rivalry made it that much sweeter for the winners - and hurt that much more for the losers. Seven games, four won by a touchdown, two of the others were runaway wins against bitter instate rivals, and the final was another dominating performance by you-know-who. In the final Rundown of the season, let's take a look at some of the best season finales this side of the Mississippi...

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

My top-25 is the same as the AP up to the number eleven spot, and from there they take different paths. As I write this this week, it makes me sicker than ever that we do not have a playoff. TCU and Boise, congrats on the perfect regular season! Your prize? Nothing!

1. Florida (12-0, 8-0 SEC)(Top Fan's Poll Last Week: 1) - Wire to wire the Gators took the number one ranking through the regular season, and it all comes down to one huge game to earn the spot at a national title. It makes my stomach roll that Florida and Alabama have each had such fantastic seasons, and now with a defeat to the other sees the national championship completely gone. An eight-team playoff should follow this game, with both school's qualifying for it...Anyway, in reality, Florida toasted FSU, 37-10, to cap off its perfect regular season. Up next: Alabama in SEC Championship Game.

OUCH!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

We have been through this before: I am a fan, not a journalist. Yes, I have a blog, but that doesn't mean I am Dan Rather reporting the evening news. As a fan - and not a journalist - I have feelings, and right now those feelings suck! I am a fan of Clemson, and I am a fan of the ACC, and yesterday, those two things took a pop in the eye. Life goes on, but as I type this, I do not type it with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

South Carolina 34, Clemson 17.

It all started at noon yesterday when my Tigers took the field in Columbia to play the hated Gamecocks. I was nervous and confident at the same time....

South Carolina Tops Clemson

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

The battle at the line of scrimmage was won by South Carolina, and the Gamecocks stopped Clemson's six-game winning streak. On both sides of the ball, the Gamecocks seemed to control the line, and the consequences were not good for the Tigers. Quarterback Kyle Parker was playing all game with people in his face-mask, and Clemson's offense had a very poor performance. Games like this - where one team was clearly better on that day - are easier to digest than when refs get in the way or close plays go the wrong way. My hat is off to USC, who was the better team on this day...Watching the rest of the games, and the site to be updated in the morning....

Conference Commissioners

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

Who are these guys? What are their backgrounds? Like presidents of small nations, these men make decisions that influence the direction and well-being of these leagues. Their decisions have lasting impacts on how these conferences are perceived. So in this article, I will look at who the people are that run the major conferences of college football.

So what got me to thinking about this? Two things. First off, my brother showed me a video of ACC Commisioner John Swofford presenting Coach Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers the Atlantic Division Trophy. It was....

Thanksgiving Weekend Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

Two weeks ago I went 13-2 in our pick'em contest, and I was thinking that I had a good chance to sneak into the lead as we come down the stretch of the regular season. But then I followed that up by going an atrocious 9-6 last week. So long story short, I am probably not going to be able to close the two percent gap between myself and the pack of five leaders. Anyway, here are my picks for this Thanksgiving weekend. By the way, for what am I most thankful? Our fans here on Fans25.com!

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

***NOTE: Pick'em picks need to be in by 7:59 Thursday night this week****The top seven in my weekly poll went unchanged, but after that there was a bit of moving around. Check back next week, though, as this Holiday weekend offers a smorgasbord of good football to feast on.....

1. Florida (11-0, 8-0 SEC) (Top Fan Poll Last Week: 1) - The Gators will be number one until they lose, and by playing Florida International, they knew they wouldn't lose this past Saturday. A 62-3 blasting of the Golden Panthers has the Gators one win away from a perfect regular season, two wins away from a SEC title, and three wins away from a second straight national title. Urban Meyer is probably the best coach in the game right now, and you almost have to think he has...

My First Trip To Death Valley

Jason Cooper - Charleston, SC — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

This past weekend, I traveled to Clemson, SC with my good friend Dana (dcomitch) to watch Clemson take on Virginia. Actually, I’ve been to a Clemson game before in ’96. So, that title is misleading. It should be "My First Trip to Death Valley This Century." I mean, they’ve added another level and some more seats to the West end of the stadium, some brush had been cleared away close to the main tailgating area, and some swanky new condos had been built across the street, but other than that, the vibe and the feel were the same. Let’s just say that I got a fresh, updated perspective on what all the fuss is about in Tigerland this year.

Clemson Wins ACC Atlantic

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

"Finally." That was the word going around the tailgate areas outside of Clemson's Memorial Stadium Saturday night. The Tigers finally won their ACC division, the Atlantic, and will be heading to Tampa for a rematch with Georgia Tech. The game itself against UVA was nothing to get real excited about. But there was a very fun secen at the stadium, anyway, as the Tiger seniors were on display for the final time, and CJ Spiller received an awesome send off from the ever grateful Tiger faithful.

National Weekend Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

The top-10 did not change at all this weekend. At the top, Florida and Alabama played cupcakes, and each won big. Texas played Kansas - a decent foe - but by game's end, the Jayhawks also looked like a cupcake. With the win, the 'Horns will take on Nebraska in two weeks. The Huskers won the Big Twelve North by beating Kansas State. Bo Pelini wasn't the only coach to get the Gatorade bucket, as Clemson's Dabo Swinney was also drenched after his Tigers locked up the ACC Atlantic. The postseason picture is getting clearer....sorta.

Weekend 12 Predictions

Damian Thorpe and Brett Haynes — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

Last week I went 13-2 in the Pick'em Contest - my best showing in my three years of competing. Let's see if I can keep jumping up the leaderboard with this week's predictions....Again this week we will have the combined predictions of Gamecocks235 (Damian Thorpe of Aiken) and The Top Fan....Gamecocks235 Predictions will come first, with my predictions to follow....

SEC Rundown Week 11

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

The SEC is rolling towards its biggest matchup in the championship game since it got one. Florida and Alabama both took another step closer, and are a Tide iron Bowl win away from the first ever meeting of 8-0 division champs in the SEC Championship game. How did the rest of the SEC fare? Well, three more punched a ticket to the postseason and two more bubble teams are left. This and more in this week’s Rundown…

Florida @ South Carolina: Urban Meyer is continuing to chip away at the standard Spurrier set. Saturday’s win marked the first time since the Ole Ball Coach was in the Swamp that the Florida Gators finished an 8-0 conference record in the regular season (1996, to be exact). Add to it that it was done against ....

Referees: Must We Have Them?

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

Every single person that reads this has boo'd a ref at a football game. All of us. But chances are that this year, you have probably boo'd more and boo'd louder. The officiating this season has been a downright joke, and people are fed up. The refs are supposed to have as little of an impact on a game as possible, yet in 2009 they seem to be the ones deciding the outcomes of many a game...So what can we do? Is there nothing that can be done? Is it just a sad fact of life that exists (like powerlines), and at the time being there is just no alternative?

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

Here is my top-25 following week eleven of the college football season. It is getting to crunch-time now with conference championships and BCS berths up for grabs!

1. Florida (10-0) (Top Fan's Poll Last Week: 1) - Like I say each week: Until they lose, they are number one. The Gators beat South Carolina 24-14 Saturday night. While none of Florida's wins this year have been flashy or have had too much of a wow-factor, they all count the same. The ultimate goal in the end is the national championship - that is what teams are remembered by. They have three very tough games left to reach that goal. This week though, the goal is to not get anyone hurt, as they get a breather against Florida International.

Weekend Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

Ohio State was the first team from a major conference to secure a BCS berth as they won the Big Ten with a win over Iowa, 27-24 in OT. TCU dominated Utah to show that they, too, will have the BCS in their future. Georgia Tech won the ACC Coastal Division with a trouncing of Duke, 49-10. Out West, Stanford is the surprise team of the year, blasting USC, 55-21. The top-25 will not be shaken up near the top this week, but will be very shaken up after the top-10.

Weekend 11 Predictions

Damian Thorpe and Brett Haynes — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

This week, the weekend predictions are going to be just a tad different. Gamecocks235 (Damian Thorpe from Aiken), sent in his well-researched weekend predictions last night. So instead of trying to compete against his, I will simply post his predictions here, with my comments after - either agreeing or disagreeing with his picks. Thanks for the contribution, Damian!

***UPSET ALERT***
West Virginia at #5 Cincinnati - This is one of the more intriguing games of the week to me. West Virginia is (7-2) and will be looking to pull of a major upset this week. Don't think Bill Stewart won't have his team pumped up for this one. Tony Pike may return for Cincinnati this week, but it won't matter regardless. Back-up Zach Collaros has done a fantastic job filling in completing 76 percent of his passes with ten touchdowns and only one interception. West Virginia's defense will have it's hands full with this Cincinnati offense who is averaging 40 points a game.....

The Hot Seats

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

We are deep enough into 2009 now to know what coaches are on the way out, and what coaches are flirting with danger. The following list may not see every coach actually end up getting fired, but if I were the AD, they would be gone...Shoot, Memphis was one day ahead of me in this, letting Tommy West go yesterday.

Gotta go, NOW!!!

Al Groh, Virginia (record at UVA: 59-49, record in 2009: 3-5) - This is by far the most obvious choice. UVA has under achieved for years under Groh, and I think 2009 finally was bad enough to see him take a hike. As an ACC fan, it is time to see UVA be what they can be. They have a beautiful stadium, awesome facilities, and a fertile recruiting ground. This should be a top-25 team year-in and year-out, yet they are nowhere to be found on the national radar. Someobody out there is drooling over this job.

My Take on the Tigers

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

The Tigers got off to a rough 2-3 start in 2009, and many thought the program was a mess. But Coach Dabo Swinney was going to have none of it. Now, Five weeks and four wins later, Clemson is once again thinking big. All Tiger fans know the situation, and they know that their team has been close before, but none of that past matters with three regular season games to go this year.

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 9 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

My Top-25 took a lot longer than usual to do this week for whatever reason. Maybe it is because the Fans25 crew got to bed around 3:00 am Sunday morning. Or maybe it is because there are just so many good teams, and not enough spots to put them in. Or maybe these upsets just have me not knowing what to think. Whatever the reason, a couple of hours late this week, here is my top-25.....

1. Florida (9-0, 7-0 SEC) - As always, like I say: Until they lose....The Gators handled Vanderbilt at home 27-3 in a game that saw the starters out for most of the second half. Florida is not blowing people away, but....

Tigers Still Alive, National Recap

Brett Haynes — Sun, 8 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

The college football world saw some upsets yesterday as Iowa and Oregon and Notre Dame all went down. But one upset that didn't happen was in Clemson, where the Tigers took care of business against Florida State, 40-24, to stay in the driver's seat of the ACC Atlantic. Clemson is seeking its first ever berth in the ACCCG. Alabama was another team that avoided the upset, playing tough to beat LSU and securing their shot to take on Florida in the SECCG.

Tigers-Noles Tangle in Death Valley

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

Florida State at Clemson, 7:45, ESPN. This week has taken forever to go by, and the reason is that Clemson finds itself once again in a game with some real meaning. Win, and a shot at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game is a very, very real possibility. Lose, and yet another big-game on national tv will see the Tigers take a major black-eye. This game features two unranked teams, but is a huge, huge game for both teams. Florida State has had a rough season, and a win against Clemson would be a huge morale boost for the Nole program.

Week 10 Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

Here they are, my predictions for week 10....For the season I am 95-40 after going 13-2 in week 9. Can I keep it up and make a run at the Pick'em lead? We'll see what happens....

South Carolina (6-3, 3-3 SEC) at Arkansas (4-4, 1-4 SEC) - The Gamecocks need to get back on track, and it is going to be tough. Last week I picked Tennessee to win, and they did over USC. This week, I think it is more of the same. UT needed a win in the worst way, and the same is true with Arkansas this week as they are coming off of two SEC losses (beat Eastern Michigan last week). South Carolina is also in huge need of a win and....

Oregon National Championship Hopes

Kyle Kramer - Gresham, OR — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

No.14 Utah upsets No. 6 TCU (Nov. 14)

Remember Utah? They traveled to Eugene in mid-September claiming the longest winning streak in college football at 16 straight. The Ducks, coming off a brutal loss in Boise to start the season followed by a lackluster performance (albeit it a win) against a subpar Purdue team at home, managed to do just enough to eek out a win over the Utes.

Since the two met back on Sept. 19, both teams are a combined 10-0. Suddenly No. 14 Utah is the team that could punch Oregon's ticket to Pasadena on January 7.

Big 12 Update

Russ James - Firth, NE — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

The season to this point has gone exactly as scripted for some in the Big 12, Texas certainly, and disasterously wrong for others, most notably Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas. And while the Big 12 South has a clear division champion in Texas, the North would seem to be the division noone wants. Mack Brown has his Longhorns solidly in control of their own destiny, and looking at the remainder of their schedule, the road to Pasedena would seem to be paved with burnt orange asphalt. With a floundering Kansas team and an as of yet unkown opponent for the Big 12 title game as the only possible road bumps left I'm ready to call it now; Texas will be playing for their fifth National Championship next January.

Gators, Ducks Take a Bite

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

Florida and Oregon may be the best two teams in the country after watching the latest action go down. The Gators man-handled arch-rival Georgia in Jacksonville, and the Ducks absolutely ran USC out of Autzen Stadium. The need for a playoff has never been stronger, as not only these two teams, but Texas also won big. The top-10 has too many good teams, and not enough open spots! The playoff talk is growing louder.....

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:01 EST

My top-25 took a restructuring this week. After another handful of ranked teams lost, I decided to just go ahead and give my poll a makeover. Utah, Houston and Pitt - the three one loss teams with not so big names - were the biggest beneficiaries of my latest poll. Florida and Texas both looked very strong. With each weekend it is getting harder to rank the teams at the top because there are just too many good teams for not enough spots.

1. Florida (8-0) (TopFan poll last week: 1) - The Gators will stay at the top as they easily beat Georgia, 41-17. Tim Tebow looked to be back to form with a performance seeing him account for four touchdowns. He also broke the SEC rushing td record in this game with his 50th score - which came late in the first half. The record was previously held by Herschel Walker - a Dawg. Up next for Florida is Vanderbilt in the Swamp.

Weekend 9 Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Once again, many exciting games are on the weekend slate. The biggest among them may be Florida trying to stay undefeated against arch-rival Georgia in Jacksonville. And out West, Oregon and USC will battle for Pac 10 supremacy...

#24 Ole Miss (5-2) at Auburn (5-3) - After three straight losses, Auburn needs a win bad. The Tigers are always tough at home, and this game presents about as dead even of a matchup as you can get. I still think Auburn is close to a top-25 level team, and Ole Miss is right on the verge, too. Jevon Snead at quarterback has not lived up to the hype, and I hope he doesnt change that Saturday as I will take Auburn - at home - in this one. Auburn, 24-20.

SEC Rundown Week 8

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Well, we certainly learned a lot this week. The herd of SEC contenders dwindles with each passing week. Who still has a chance? Who still needs to prove themselves? This and more in this week's rundown...

Arkansas at Mississippi: A week after taking the top ranked Gators to the brink, Arkansas came out flat on the road in Oxford and lost 30-17. The Nutt Bowl victory went to the Rebels for the second straight year, and a Razorback team that started to find chemistry must now almost start from scratch as they were outmanned in every facet of the game. Dexter McCluster rushed and received for career highs (123 and 137 yards respectively), Jevan Snead passed for a career high (332 yards), and the Rebels held Bobby Petrino's offense to less than 300 yards. Arkansas looks to stop its two game skid next week against Eastern Michigan and a four game home stretch. Mississippi, meanwhile, will jog across to Auburn and try to continue the Tigers losing streak.

My Take on the Tigers

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Clemson Tigers (4-3, 3-2 ACC). With so many games going on, and so many teams to try to keep up with, I haven't had a good chance to really take a step back and write about what Clemson has going on so far in 2009. I try to cover all teams fairly on Fans25.com, but just like each of you, I am a fan, and my favorite team is now going to get the front page for a day or two. I thought of several different ways to structure this article, but in the end I just decided to start typing my feelings...

The Top Fan's Top-25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

There are so many teams at the top that there just is not enough room for all of them. Teams ranked all the way to number seven are still unbeaten, setting up for what is hopefully a huge headache for the BCS and those that support it. Here is my top-25 after week 8...

1. Florida (7-0, TopFan poll last week: 1) - Until they lose, they are number 1. They turned in another average performance on the road....

The Way It Should Be - 2009 World Series

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

The 2009 World Series. Philadelphia Phillies vs. NY Yankees (Game 1, Wednesday in NY, time tba, FOX). The photo accompanying this article is from an article I put up back in spring training. It shows CC Sabathia coming out for spring training for the first time as a Yankee. Many question marks were abound about the Yankees spending so much money - especially on Sabathia and Mark Teixiera. With all of the history and success they have had, could this new high-dollar, high-profile team get the Bronx Bombers back to the top? Six and a half months later, the Yankees are one Series win away. But it is going to be a tough one - the Phillies are the real deal. I am not a true Yankees fan, so to say. I didn't grow up in New York, and I have no real reason to like them. My dad LOVED them growing up, but he doesn't even like them anymore. But for some reason I love watching them play, and this is probably because in each era of the sport's history, the Yanks have found a way to win it all, and I love watching and analyzing how success is achieved.

Weekend 8 Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Once again this week, I went 11-4 in the Fans25 Pick'em contest. Here is a recap of the games I won and the games I lost. This was certainly one of the more exciting weeknds of the season thus far...

Penn State 35, Michigan 10 (TheTopFan's Pick: wrong) - PSU flexed a little muscle yesterday in the Big House. I hadn't been super impressed with the Lions up until this point. But this is the kind of win ....

What It Would Take

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

We need a playoff, and we need it now. Nobody dislikes the BCS more than I do. The system is just plain weird. Quite frankly, I have never really been able to figure it out. It was supposed to be the answer to college football's problem and all it has done is make the sport look stupid by having computers and polls determine our champion. This year, the BCS is on a crash-course with ultimate failure, and nobody is hoping for that more than me. If the stars align, six teams could have a claim for the two BCS title spots, and that would create serious, serious discussion.

Tiger Tracks

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Clemson 40, Miami 37- OT. In the end, it was Jacoby Ford that got the game winner. After CJ Spiller - Ford's trackmate and good friend - had already picked up two scores and over 310 yards all-purpose in the game, he got the call on a crossing route for a 26-yard score and a Clemson win, 40-37. For the Tigers, it puts them in a tie for first place in the ACC Atlantic. For Miami, an outside shot at the national title is now gone.

Big 12 - Pac 10 Midseason Report Cards

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Next we take a look at the teams of the Big 12 and the Pac 10. The top teams in these two leagues halfway through the 2009 season include Texas, Oklahoma State, Oregon, and USC. Who will come out on top in these two leagues? We will just have to wait and see....

Big 12

Baylor - Coming into 2009, Baylor was supposed to be the "team on the rise" in the Big 12. So far, I have just seen more of the same. Baylor sits at 3-3 (0-2 Big 12) and has just one nice win - at Wake Forest. The other two wins were Northwestern State and Kent State. C

Notable teams - Midseason Report Cards

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

There are a handful of other teams that play big time ball that aren;t in the so-called "major conferences." These teams also need a good report card from time to time...

BYU - The lone loss for this BYU team, ironically, came at the hands of Florida State, who is having its worst season since joining the ACC in 1991. The Seminoles put up 54 on BYU, but the Cougars have beaten the rest by an average of . Quarterback Max Hall has 16 tds, but he also has ten interceptions. A-

Weekend 8 Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

The TopFan is at 71-34 on the season, and turned in an impressive 11-4 mark last week. Can I move up the Pick'em standings a bit more this week? Here are my picks:

#13 Penn State at Michigan (3:30, ESPN) - It is kind of hard for me to believe that Michigan is unranked at 5-2, but they aren't. On top of that chip on their shoulder, they will be hungry to get revenege after losing to the Lions in State College a year ago. PSU hasn't won in Ann Arbor since 1996. Michigan, 34-27.

2009 Officiating

Ashton Williams - Clinton, SC — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

The 2009 college football season has had a major ongoing problem thus far. You guessed it: officiating. The season is only halfway done, yet many college football fans have pointed out how this season has had the worst officiating we've ever seen. The complaints have most notably been about officials from the Southeastern Conference.

Big East - Big Ten Midseason Report Cards

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Now we move to the Big East and the Big Ten and take a look at how the teams in those two conferences have fared over the first seven weekends of the 2009 season. Cincinnati and Iowa are the two top teams, respectively, in these two leagues.

Big East

Cincinnati - I am very impressed with how the Bearcats have handled the first half of their season. At 6-0, including road wins at Oregon State and South Florida, Cincy has reached number four in the AP poll. They are being led by senior quarterback Tony Pike, who has 15 scores (35 career) through the air, and over 1,600 yards. The second half key games are West Virginia and Pitt (away). A+

ACC-SEC Midseason Report Cards

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

The season is roughly halfway home. Here is a look at how each team is performing with respect to the abilities they have....

ACC

Boston College - After a rough start, BC has turned it around a little bit, and at 5-2 is right in the ACC Atlantic hunt. After losing their head coach and many good players, this is impressive. B+

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Virginia Tech was the biggest loser in this week's poll after falling to on the road to Georgia Tech, who consequently is this week's biggest gainer. The SEC still has the top two spots in the nation, while the ACC Coastal division alone has three teams in the top 14. The second half of the season is underway....

1. Florida (6-0, 4-0 SEC) (TFPLW: 1) - Even with a close win, I have always said that the national champion is number 1 until they are beaten. Well, the Gators still have not been beaten, so here they are at number 1 still.

Weekend Seven Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

The ACC will once again (most-likely) be left out of the national championship race in 2009 as its top candidate to join the talk, #4 Virginia Tech, went down on the road to league foe #19 Georgia Tech. Many other big-games went down across the nation yesterday, as well, setting us up for what is sure to be a very exciting second half of the NCAA season. TheTopFan finally had a good showing in the Pick'em contest, going 11-4 for the weekend.

Weekend Seven Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Another great weekend of football is ahead of us. The most hyped game of them all is probably Notre Dame versus Southern Cal from South Bend. However, let's not forget the Red-River Shooutout between Texas and Oklahoma. Alabama hosting South Carolina and Nebraska hosting Texas Tech are games which also deliver a lot of appeal. Let's get it on!

The UFL

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

I consider myself to be a pretty big sports fan, but apparently I let some stuff slip by me from time to time. For some reason, I had yet to hear about this new UFL thing until watching TV tonite. This, I suppose, is the latest attempt to create a second football league outside of the NFL. And to be honest, I am all for it. I mean, why not? There are a lot of good players that aren't quite ready (or good enough) for the NFL. So maybe this will be a minor league of sorts to the NFL. Randall Cunningham was in attendance to support the league and what it is trying to do. I have always enjoyed Cunningham and the way he played, and the game I have watched so far has been fun to watch as players I remember from their college days have made their presence known.

Oregon's New and Upcoming Stars

Kyle Kramer - Gresham, OR — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

It's halftime of Boise State and Tulsa. A good time to relax, regroup and reflect.... Oregon's 2009 football season is rich with story lines. Chip Kelly's first season as a head coach. All the pre-season hype. The disaster that was Boise, compounded by LeGarrette Blount's post-game MMA display and subsequent suspension. A skin-of-the-teeth win over a Purdue team that clearly isn't very good. A better win over Utah, where the Ducks overcame adversity created mostly by themselves. More off-field news as The Blount Plan continues to evolve amid mixed support and criticism. Three conference wins later, it's game on.

The Red River Shootout

Russ James - Firth, NE — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

#3 Texas (5-0) vs. #20 Oklahoma (3-2) - 12:00 EST, ABC, The Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX

This game, in no uncertain terms, embodies what college football is, or at least should be. Pride, history, emotion and signifigance are the ingredients that make this one of
the greatest rivalry games in college football's past, present and future. It is a game that anyone who considers themselves a fan should appreciate.

Halfway Home - SEC Midseason Review

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

It’s hard to believe the season is half over, but that’s the reality here. In another couple of months, we’ll be discussing who got the big nod into the BCS Title Game, how our teams were successes or disappointments, and who’s looking for a new coach. For now, let’s take a look at the winners and losers in the SEC for the first half of the season…

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

This week didn't bring the upsets that we have grown used to, but the top 25 was shaken up just a hair. The biggest slippage went to LSU, while the biggest gainers were Iowa and South Florida. Here is my week seven top 25....

1. Florida (5-0, 3-0 SEC) (TopFan's Poll Last Week: 1) - I was very impressed with the Gators this weekend. The defense on this team will keep them in every game they play regardless of how the UF offense plays. If Tebow and company show up at all, a win is nearly a gimme. They are clearly the number 1 team right now.

Week 6 Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

With so many games on at the same time throughout the day Saturday, it was a workout getting as much viewing in as possible. Here is a recap as best I could do out of the hours and hours I put in watching football and chatting with folks on Fans25.com...

Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 13 (TheTopFan's pick: right) If you based this game strictly off of offensive points, then Wisconsin won, 13-10. But unfortunately for the Badgers, defense and special teams count too, and Ohio State used 21 points.....

Huskers Storm Back

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 9 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Nebraska 27, Missouri 12. In a driving rain storm in Columbia, Missouri, Nebraska looked for three quarters as if it was going to suffer its second loss of the season. With zero points over 45 minutes, and an offense that looked anemic at best, things looked grim for those wearing red. But have no fear my friends, Ndamukong Suh and the Nebraska defense came to the rescue with two fourth quarter interceptions, putting the offense in position to win the game. Zac Lee took advanatge with three 4th quarter touchdown passes.

Weekend Six Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 9 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Another exciting weekend of football is among us. Big games will go down in Columbus, Baton Rouge, and Iowa City, among other places. The heart of the season is here......

Auburn at Arkansas - Gene Chizik has done a great job with Auburn so far, leadng the Tigers to a 5-0 start. But I think that will come to an end on the road to Arkansas. The Razorbacks are a good team and are due for a good win....

Week Six Upset Alert

Damian Thorpe - Aiken, SC — Fri, 9 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

As I look at all the games scheduled for tomorrow I can't help but think of one word: UPSETS... I think you will see them tomorrow, and you will see a lot of them. Let's go down the list of my potential upsets:

The first possible upset of the day kicks off bright and early at 12:00. I think Boston College has a chance to upset Virginia Tech tomorrow.........

SEC Rundown Week 5

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 7 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

What a week in the SEC! The conference landscape begins to take shape after a wild Saturday. The winners, losers, and more are here this week in the Rundown…

Of the top two ranked teams that played this week, neither Alabama nor LSU looked particularly dominant – until the end of a half. The first quarter for Alabama was dreadfully mediocre outside of their first drive. Even in the second quarter, they started from inside their own 5-yard line. The second of those drives is when the third ranked Crimson Tide finally got it in gear, methodically driving 97 yards for a touchdown with 40 seconds til the half. The first Wildcat play from scrimmage resulted in a fumble in which Courtney Upshaw returned for a touchdown. Suddenly, a 7-6 slugfest was a 21-6 comfortable lead.

Big 12 Weekend Preview

Russ James, Firth, NE — Wed, 7 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

A look at the coming weekend of Big 12 football.

21 Nebraska (3-1) at 24 Missouri (4-0)
In the marquee match-up of the conference this week the #21 Cornhuskers and the #24 Tigers take center stage in front of a national audience on Thursday night in Columbia. The game will be both school's first Big12 North contest as conference play finally gets underway. According to NU head coach Bo Pelini, "Now the season starts. Right now. That's the way we look at it." Adding, "Time to put the foot on the gas pedal and go."

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 5 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Last week a few fans got on me pretty good about how I had my poll. - and that is perfectly fine! I had it how I wanted it, but they disagreed. If you disagree on how I have them stacked up this week too, let us know. This story can be found on our message boards right here, http://www.fans25.com/discuss-thread.cfm?dt=1791&postStatus=successful&CFID=5787053&CFTOKEN=38488446 , so please feel free to join the conversation and tell us how you would have them ranked...

1. Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC) (Top Fan's Poll last week: 1) - As always, until the defending champ loses, they are number 1. The Gators had an off week while Tim Tebow's head recovers. This week though, Superman or no Superman, UF must take their top-ranking into Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Everyone says Florida is better than last year, we will see Saturday.

Wrong!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

Let me remind you all that, like I have said from day one, I am a fan, not an expert. Sorry Dr. Lou, but I really don't think such a thing exists. Years ago college football was fairly predictable. Now, its a shot in the dark most of the time. Yes, college football is as entertaining and as fun to talk about as ever - but it isn't predictable at all. Yesterday I went 10-5 in the fifteen games of the Fans25.com pick'em contest. That isn't the worst mark I have ever had, but it is pretty darn close. I will now bash myself and go through the games I missed.

My Take on the Tigers

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

The bottom line: Clemson has not gotten over the hump. All three losses were winnable, but all three losses are losses. If there is one thing that I usually always have, it is an opinion about the Clemson football team. Until now. I really just do not know what to say. The football season takes up but a quarter of the season, yet we think about it year round. And now, just five short weeks into this 2009 season, most of the goals this team had are all but washed away, just like all of the rain we have seen this fall. A mixture of poor red zone performance, poor execution at the wrong times, decent enough competition, and just good old fashioned bad luck have Dabo Swinney's first Tiger team on the ropes.

Featured Game: LSU at Georgia

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

#4 LSU at #18 Georgia (3:30 est CBS) With so many good games on today, it is hard to zero in on just one. But after much debate in my head, I chose the LSU-Georgia game as my game of the day. This is a battle between two top-25 teams that will be fun to watch. It will also be enlightening as I have yet to get to see LSU play. Both teams are are thinking SEC title in this early big-time matchup.

Weekend 5 Predictions

The Top Fan — Fri, 2 Oct 2009 00:00:01 EST

This weekend is jam-packed with great games! Ive been doing my finger stretches getting my hands ready to teach my remote control a lesson this Saturday....

Texas A&M at Arkansas - An interesting inter-conference matchup here. The Aggies haven't done a thing in years, so a nice out of conference win here would be huge. They are 3-0 so far this year - all wins were easy games - and a 4-0 start would create a nice buzz in College Station. Arkansas, though 1-2 on the year, is not a bad team and they will put an end to A&M's undefeated start. The Hog offense is capable of scoring a bunch against defenses not called Alabama. They lost to the Tide on the road, but most teams would. Sorry Aggies, it's back to the norm with a loss in a big game. Arkansas, 30-20.

Is It Really Worth It?

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Forgoing this week’s SEC Rundown, I’d like to place some focus on a concern I have with one coach Urban Meyer. Early last week, as the team was coming off the big win against Tennessee, Meyer commented on the number of starters (including Tim Tebow) with flu-like symptoms. He was asked whether or not he would consider sitting some of the guys that weren’t 100% to give them extra rest, and his response was essentially, no. He said he would bring all his guys at whoever every time, because if you considered sitting anyone, it’s time to get out of coaching. Seems like a real competitor, right?

2009 First Year Coaches

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Each year there are a gracious handful of new coaches to make their debuts at schools across NCAA football. This year is certainly no different. A year ago we were brought names such as Houston Nutt at Ole Miss, Bobby Petrino at Arkansas, Bo Pelini at Nebraska, Rich Rodriquez at Michigan and Art Briles at Baylor. Now we have another new batch of greenhorn coaches to begin to evaluate. Yes, it is a little too early maybe. But after five weekends of ball, you start to get a good idea about what these guys might do at their respective schools.

The Polls: Now More Than Ever

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

We painted the inside of my house the last two days, so perhaps my head is a bit in the clouds, but here is something to think about...Recently I have been thinking that the polls are dumb and just dont matter anymore. I mean, "upsets" happen twice a weekend anymore and teams are ranked behind teams that they have actually beaten. But then I got to thinking a bit deeper about the top 25 and what it is, and I changed my mind. I think it matters now more than ever really. The reason is simple: there are so many dadgum good teams and players out there anymore that it is crazy.

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

** Disclaimer** Warning, your ranking in this poll, and other polls, now means nothing. Please take safety into your own hands as you carry around your lofty ranking. A high-ranking does not guarantee you are a good team, but rather simply makes other teams want to beat you more. Thank you. **Disclaimer**

1. Florida (4-0) - Tim Tebow got absolutley crushed, but he and the Gators laid a beat down on Kentucky, leading.....

Gameday!

Brett Haynes — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

#15 TCU at Clemson (3:30) There is nothing quite like the feeling of gameday! All week the anticipation builds up as we get ready for the big game that weekend. And while I get pumped up every gameday, I get especially fired up when Clemson has a really big game, as we do today. For the second week in a row, I will probably be watching football in the rain as storms are predicted. But thats's ok, its gameday, and my Tigers are in for a battle!

Rebels Without A Cause

Brett Haynes — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

South Carolina 16, Mississippi 10. Gamecocks turn Mississippi's season upside down. South Carolina defeated number 4 Mississippi Thursday night and will surely knock the Rebels from the top-10. With the big win, the Gamecocks should find themselves ranked this coming Sunday. With a frenzied crowd supporting them, the Gamecocks rallied behind a stellar defensive performance for the win.

Weekend 4 Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Here they are, my predictions for the 4th weekend of college football. ...

South Florida at Florida State - FSU is about to get a tough game and they know it. South Florida has risen in the last several seasons from being a pansy to being a Big East contender. They have a solid program. Still though, FSU is the better team in this game. The Noles have it rolling again after putting up 54 points at BYU. They are eager to make a run at the top-10 or better, andthey can't let this game get in the way. I am not taking the Bulls lightly, I just feel FSU is a better team and will win at home. FSU, 38-28.

Ole Miss vs. South Carolina Preview

Jay Wright - Greenville, SC — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

#4 Ole Miss at South Carolina (7:30, ESPN) We all know the hype surrounding the Ole Miss Rebels this season. We know about Houston Nutt, Jevan Snead and the rest of the bunch. Houston Nutt has done a wonderful job thus far at Ole Miss, but can he take them to the next level? There is no question that he has inherited talent in his last two stops. In 1998 he inherited a very talented bunch left behind.......

Times Are Changing

Damian Thorpe - Aiken, SC — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

#4 Ole Miss at South Carolina (7:30, ESPN) There's something different about South Carolina this year. I've read a lot of predictions for the game tomorrow and I can not help but notice the number of people that have picked South Carolina to win the game. While you would think that I would be happy to finally be getting some respect for my team, I actually enjoyed being the underdog better. Now don't get me wrong, Ole Miss is still the favorite to win and the majority of people have picked them to win, it's just there are some more picks for South Carolina than in years past.

Welcome to Fans25.com!

Brett Haynes - — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Fans, welcome to Fans25.com! Over the last three very short seasons we have taken Fans25.com from a fun little idea of a fan-poll website and turned into one of the top fan-based college football websites in the South! This year - our 4th on the web - we could not be more excited about the site and all of the fun things to do on here! If this is your first time visiting Fans25.com, please take a few minutes to look around and check us out. We would love to have you join up (totally free!) and start participating in our many features. If you are a Fans25.com veteran, welcome back!

SEC Rundown - Week 3

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

This was probably the most nail-biting, intriguing, and overall exciting weekends of football in recent memory - and the drama was high in the SEC. Lane "Loud Mouth" Kiffin ate his words in the swamp, or did he? Auburn and West Virginia clashed with each having something to prove. All and all the SEC was undefeated against other conferences. Here are those recaps and more in this week's rundown...

Big 12 Preview - Week 4

Russ James - Firth, NE — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

The Big12 will wrap up their non-conference schedules this weekend, with the exception of Oklahoma that is, who will be enjoying a bye week prior to their date with Miami on the 3rd. To be perfectly honest, with just a couple of exceptions there aren't alot of real interesting games going on in the league this weekend.

The Top Fan's Top 25

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

The Top Fan's Top 25 following week three...

1. Florida Gators (3-0) - It wasn't the beat down everyone was thinking it was going to be, but Florida's 23-13 win over Tennessee will look all the same in the standings of the SEC East. QB Tim Tebow had just 115 yards passing, but he led his team to 208 yards rushing (76 himself) and they did most of their damage running the ball. You had to know Tennessee was going to give them the fight of their life, so to win by ten (23-6 at end of third quarter) is still a good win in my opinion. The Gators are still the top team in the land even though they didn't cover the spread this time. Next: at Kentucky (6:00 ESPN2)

Week 3 Recap

Damian Thorpe — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

WEEK 3: In my mind, this is where you get an idea of how your team is going to look this year. Things start coming together in week 3, (or they should anyways) and offenses start rolling. Here's my thoughts and opinions after Week 3's action.

I'll start with Virginia Tech's win over Nebraska. From what I saw it was a hard fought defensive battle. I was watching the game from a Wild Wings in Greenville, SC, so your opinion may differ from mine on this game. Virginia Tech has the chance to be a Top 8 team like I stated in my pre-season Top 25....

Weekend 3 Wrap-Up

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Another exciting Saturday of football went down yesterday, and once again there were upsets, heartbreaks and big wins. Here is a look around the college football world after the third weekend...

Cal 35, Minnesota 21 - Well after a USC loss and a Cal victory on the road, the Bears are suddenly the left coast team to beat! UCLA is also making noise, but Cal - at 3-0 - is now the highest-ranked team in the Pac-10, possibly cracking the top five this week.

Tigers Get Some Lighting

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Clemson 25, Boston College 7 - Sometimes there are just ugly games, and this was one of them. In the rain (and apparently lighting), this game had interceptions, fumbles, penalties and weather delays. It was just one of those games that isn't going to jump out in your mind in ten years as a great game to remember. But in the end, if you are a Clemson fan, you simply take the "W" in the ACC Atlantic standings, and you move on. You focus on the positives in the game, such as that kicker Richard Jackson had 6 field goals in the win, tying a school record.

Weekend 3 Preview and Predictions

Russ James and Brett Haynes — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

An awesome slate awaits us once again in the world of college football this weekend. Here is a look at the best matchups of the weekend....

The Big-12 Marquee Games (by Russ James - Firth, NE)

Texas Tech at Texas - After what was arguably the best college football game of the year in 2008 these two teams are going at it again, this time however the Longhorns are at home in Austin, and I would guess looking for a measure of revenge. Most Longhorn fans point to this game last year as the reason Texas was

College Football Mid-Week Notes

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

After two quick wins, are Auburn people warming up to Gene Chizik as head coach? Can Miami and Georgia Tech provide the ACC - and the nation - with another entertaining game as they battle tonight on ESPN? Will the SEC once again own the ACC in the 2010 kickoff classic?

* Auburn people warming to Gene Chizik

* Georgia Tech, Miami Preview

* LSU, UNC to meet in 2010 Chick-Fil-A Classic

Big-12 Preview - Week 3

Russ James - Firth, NE — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

The no-brainers:

Duke at Kansas:
The ACC's Duke Heads into Lawrence to face Big 12 North contender, Kansas. The Blue Devils come into the game 1-1, with a season opening loss against Richmond and a week two win over Army. Duke QB Thadeus Lewis showed to be a prolific passer in his first start of the season hitting 34 -50 for 350 yds and a TD, however he was taken out of the Army game after going 5-16 for just 60 and replaced with red-shirt freshman Sean Renfree who finished up 7-8 for 106 yds and two TDs. QB contoversy or not, the Jayhawks simply have too much firepower for Duke. Couple Kansas' high- octane offense with the fact that the Blue Devil's defense gave up nearly 400 yards of total offense to Army you have to figure the Jayhawks are on cruise control for this one.

Will He Stay or Will He Go?

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Some people will call me crazy (wouldn't be the first time) for bringing this up, but there is going to be a discussion - starting now - that will only heat up as this season goes along. I have been thinking about this a lot, and after the Michigan defeat of Notre Dame, I will officially bring up this story (or non-story) for Fans25 discussion. And while I can honestly tell you readers that I thought of this well before I first heard it anywhere else (hand on heart), I have recently heard more discussion of this by credible sources. Urban Meyer and his future. Let's talk.

I'm Still Goin'!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

With the worst recession to hit America since I have been alive going on right now, one would think that college football's stadiums might have a few empty seats in these 2009 games. To put it lightly, that is not the case. Across this great land this past Saturday, mega-stadiums were crammed to the max with fans pledging their allegiance to their favorite teams.

SEC Rundown - Week 2

Wes Mewbourne- Birmingham, AL — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Last week in the SEC wasn’t as suspenseful or eye-catching as last week, but it was important nonetheless. While there were two close games (UT-UCLA, UGA-SC), the rest were decided by two touchdowns or more. They say the biggest changes a coach will make in a season are between week 1 and 2. With week 2 in the books, let’s take a look at the SEC and see what we know now…

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week 2

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Here is my top 25 (er, 27) following week two of action. This season is setting up to be wilder than any I can remember...

1. Florida Gators (2-0) - The Gators feasted once again, and as defending champs get to keep this spot, but it is time for them to schedule a good out of conference pre-SEC season game. They should demolish Tennessee this weekend in the Swamp. They go to LSU in 19 days.

A HUGE Weekend

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Four stadiums were filled to over 100,000 people, and another three stadiums were over 90,000 fans as the second weekend brought us some monster big games. The economy may be bad, but college football fans sure aren't sacrificing their tickets! The second week of college football brought more exciting action. There were upsets and classic matchups, and a talk (now) about why Florida feels they have to play the early schedule they play.

Weekend 2 Predictions

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Predictions for Week 2 Games.

UNC at UConn - Well, with all of the talk about the struggle of the ACC in week 1, a win by the Heels over the Huskies would be welcome along the Atlantic Coast. Now I know Connecticut isn't a big-time school in football. But they have made a name for themselves recently and it would be a good road win for UNC. UNC, 30-20.

Clemson, Ga. Tech Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Georgia Tech 30, Clemson 27. If you are a Clemson fan, this just plain sucks. Yes, the Tigers scored 27 unanswered points to take the lead late in the game. Yes, Kyle Parker looks like he is going to be a great player at Clemson for many seasons (15 of 31, 261 yards, 3 touchdowns). Yes, the attitude on the team seems to be a good one. But, in the end, once again, the Tigers came up short.

Clemson - Georgia Tech Preview

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Clemson at #13 Georgia Tech. The Tigers and Yellow Jackets tangle tonight in a prime-time ESPN contest on national TV from Atlanta, GA. This has historically been one of the closest rivalries in college football over the last 15 years with the average margin of victory hovering right around four whole points. This game should be no different as the two teams are evenly matched. For the second time in four nights, the ACC takes center stage.

Blast From The Past

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

I know, these two teams both play in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and no matter who won this game, it was not going to instantly make the conference look all better nationally after the horrid 1-6 record the league took in week one of the college football season against out of conference opponents. But despite what you think about the ACC, you have to admit this was perhaps the most entertaining game to be played thus far in 2009, and that elite athletes on both sidelines were laying it all on the line play after play after play. The ACC needed this game, and needs these two teams - the 'Noles and the 'Canes - to play like this each week. If they do, the league will soon have a few teams with national impact, which is what the idea has been all along.

The Great Debate: The Big Twelve vs. The SEC

Russ James - Firth, NE — Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

The argument as to which is the dominant conference in NCAA div 1 football may never be settled, but to most it comes down to only two; the SEC and the Big12. To the true-blue of the SEC it was, is, and will continue to be the SEC for ever and ever amen. But this is somewhat of a short-sighted view in my estimation, because comparisons between the two inevitably stop at the 1996 mark for the Big 12, but encompass the entire glorious seventy-five year history of the SEC. While technically acurate, the Big 12 as we know it today WAS formed in 1994 and first saw play in 1996, it fails to take into account the pre-dominant conference of the Big 12...the Big 8.

The Things We Learned - Week 1

Wes Mewbourne, Birmingham, AL — Mon, 7 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

This weekend showed us all quite a bit of what to expect this year. It also raises a few new questions. The road to the national title, the Heisman, and even some conference championships took an extra turn. Here are the five most important things to take away…

Saturday Recap

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 6 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

College football never fails to deliver the unexpected, and yesterday was no different. There were blowouts and upsets and injuries, and the top 25 will be shaken up Monday. The Oklahoma Sooners were the highest ranked team to lose, and the ACC started off the season exactly the way it hoped not to in losing several out of conference games.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Week 1

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 6 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Some teams impressed me this weekend. Other teams did not. Now that I have had a chance to see most of the teams play, I think this top 25 is more accurate than the one I put out in the preseason. NOTE: There are two games tomorrow - FSU vs. Miami and Rutgers vs. Cincinnati - whose results will show up in next week's rankings.

Weekend 1 Predictions

Brett Haynes, "The Top Fan" — Fri, 4 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Each Friday I will predict the games for the following Saturday (and Sunday in this case). It is tough this early in the season to tell what teams really have. Several intersting inter-regional games fill the weekend schedule, including Georgia at Oklahoma State and BYU at Oklahoma. Alabama and Virginia Tech also square off as the ACC is still seeking a big-time, high-profile win.

Thursday Night Recap

Brett Haynes, "The Top Fan" — Fri, 4 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

South Carolina defetaed North Carolina State 7-3 early in the night, while number 14 Boise State defeated number 16 Oregon, 19-8, in the night-cap. I was surprised at the way both games went. But I guess that is what college football is anymore: a huge dose of unpredictability. The game I saw wasn't pretty, but it was still a game, and now two teams are 0-1 and two more are 1-0.

The Blount Punch

Ashton Williams, "Common Sense" — Fri, 4 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

I want to make sure everyone is on the same page as far as the Boise State/Oregon hatred that is now coming to light. I am always checking out other teams message board to see what they're talking about. The animosity that you saw at the end of the Boise State vs. Oregon game to kick off the season is nothing new. This has been building since their controversial game last season.

An In-Depth Look at South Carolina

Damian Thorpe - Aiken, SC — Thu, 3 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

This is an in-depth look at the University of South Carolina. There are a lot of things to talk about when it comes to South Carolina. It's always hard for me to tell what kind of team South Carolina has due to Steve's sarcasm, but hopefully I can give you a better idea of what you will see this year.

Head Coach- Does he need an introduction? I don't mean to portray him like he is god or anything, but he is one of the most recognizable coaches in all of football. While I have mixed.......

It's Next Year Again!

Jay Wright, Greenville, SC — Thu, 3 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Most Gamecock fans will tell you Steve Spurrier has not lived up to their lofty expectations. Those of us who passionately believed in possible SEC championships, BCS bowls, and Clemson beat downs have been sorely mistaken. We would now be content with a 7 or 8 win season 5 years into the Steve Spurrier era. The South Carolina staff has failed to coach ‘em up, keep ‘em out of jail, and make any real progress in 5 years. To all of the garnet cool aid drinkers out there, don’t worry I’m not going to ....

Big Names Fighting To get Back

Brett Haynes — Wed, 2 Sep 2009 00:00:01 EST

Across America, as we start the 2009 season, there are college football programs that have seen major success, but are now longing to get back to the pinnacle of the college football mountain. These schools were once used to winning at will, but now are seeing that what they once had was truly a special thing. Here is a quick look at some schools who believe they are the best in the game, but are now in a fight to get that kind of respect back.

Five Burning Questions for College Football 2009

Brett Haynes — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:01 EST

In just 15 days, the college football season will be upon us in the form of a pair of Thursday night games. This offseason has seemed like an eternity, but it is finally about to draw to a close. The season ahead of us has more storylines than I could ever begin to get all out in a single article, so I decided to focus on five pressing questions.

1. Can the SEC continue it's dominance? With Florida winning two national championships in the last three years, and LSU winning a crystal football, as well, the SEC has become the elite conference for college football. The Gators will certainly spend some more time at number 1 again this season, and ......

The Pac-12 is Here!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:01 EST

This is a repost . I wrote this article after the bowl games, but the discussion on the matter has heated up once again headng into this season.... A Mountain West Conference team laid a convincing defeat on a traditional SEC power in the Sugar Bowl, and now talks have swirled once again about the post-season of college football and the way it is set up. Up until a few years ago, it was pretty much a given that the national champion of college football must come from one of the six BCS conferences, or Notre Dame (Yes, I know, BYU won it all in '84). Now though, after Utah and Boise State have defeated two of college football's heavyweights in Alabama and Oklahoma, respectively, in BCS games in the last few seasons, the talks are hotter than ever about how to get these mid-majors a realistic chance to bring home the crystal football. One idea: Expand the two teams into the Pac-10 to create the Pac-12.

Conference Title Games - Rotate 'em!

Brett Haynes — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 00:00:01 EST

The postseason of college football is where I have my biggest beef with the sport. There are so many things about the sport that I love, but the way our champions are decided is not among them. I cannot stand that there is not a playoff at the top level of college football involving at least four teams, preferably eight. And now, thanks to a thread I was reading today right here on Fans25, I have another issue to settle: where the conference championship games are played.

The Top Fan's Top 25 - Preseason

Brett Haynes — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:01 EST

Five short weeks from today, the South Carolina Gamecocks will travel up I-77 to face the NC State Wolfpack to kickoff the 2009 college football season. The countdown is on. I have thought all summer long about who my top teams were heading into the season, and last night, the season finally hit me like a ton of bricks: I am ready to assemble my first top 25 for 2009. I stayed up all night reading up on all of the teams on the web and in the compilation of college football magazines I buy year after year after year. So after a looong summer and one all-night bender doing research, here is TheTopFan's Top 25, preseason 2009. Each week throughout the season, on Monday mornings, I will reveal my top 25.....

The Heisman and CJ

Brett Haynes — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:01 EST

I had caught word that here in town a few local businesses would be handing out CJ Spiller for Heisman posters. These posters are limited edition (and life-size) and so I figured it would be pretty cool to have one. I drove down to the location I had heard would have the posters, arriving fifteen minutes early "just in case". Did I get a poster? Not a chance. The scene at the super-market looked like the scene outside of Death Valley minutes before kick-off. Hundreds of fans (maybe thousands) wrapped the building and had on orange shirts, and some even had their kids with them in full cheerleading or football player gear. This was amazing, and it got me to thinking.....

Golf and Religion

Brett Haynes — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:01 EST

I have always said (and my brother will back me on this) that you can't pray or have "spritual belief" in sports. How can you? How can one man, or one team, have the right to the win from those divine spirits above??? As we watched Tom Watson make a run at history, we all wondered if the good Lord above was working his magic on the sports world. He was 59 years old, and beating a field comprised mostly of players in their youthful 30's. The conditions were tough, and yet he stood at the top of the leaderboard. He was a man that owned this event, having brought home the Claret Jug five times already - starting 32 years ago. So as we watched Watson make a run at having his name engraved for the 6th time, we all wondered if there was divine intervention involved. You know you were thinking the same. And then later, had to ponder.......

The Open Championship

Russ James - Firth, NE — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:01 EST

I am trying, without any luck, to wrap my head around what Tom Watson is on the verge of accomplishing. At fifty-nine years young Watson takes a one stroke lead into Sunday's final round of the Open Championship at Turnberry. If he is able to hang on to his lead we would be witness to quite possibly the single greatest sporting accomplishment in history, and certainly the greatest golf victory of all time.

MLB Update - Halfway Home

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:01 EST

With the arrival of the All-Star break, the Major League Baseball season has reached its halfway point. It is pretty obvious by now who will be battling to the season's end, and who is simply trying not to be the worst team in the game. The Boston Red Sox (.614) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (.636) sport the best winning percentages in the American League and National League, respectively. And Albert Pujols is beginning to become an all-time great player.

Sports and Numbers

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:00:01 EST

Can you keep up with 1,081 people? I was listening to one of ESPN's handful of sports talk shows when it occured to me that I, no matter how big the sports fan, am unable to really be the authority on the sports world that I strive and want to be. But I am not alone. It takes a small army to produce the information that is put out by ESPN, and the reason for this is the number of players - and teams - that are out there these days.

Summertime Sports Thoughts

Ashton Williams - Clinton, SC — Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:00:01 EST

Whats up guys! My Bronco brother Throw-Them-BoNes had to pull a Brett Favre. Last week I had to pull a little Mark Sanford and take a vacation. Its the summertime ya'll! Went to visit family in Wisconsin. I'll tell you what, forget Mark Sanford. Turbulence on those planes had me feeling more like Fred Sanford. I thought I was gonna have the big one!

Lessons Learned

Brett Haynes - The Top Fan — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

Johannesburg, South Africa - USA not quite at world's elite level - but getting closer, for sure. The United States had a chance to make a major impact on the soccer world, and they let it slip away. With a 2-0 lead at halftime in the championship game of the FIFA Confederation Cup, the Americans gave up three second half goals to Brazil, to lose 3-2 and finishing in second place. But if you are a real fan of American soccer, this tournament performance shows that the USA wants to be a world factor in soccer.

LeBron In The NFL....Why?

Ashton Williams - Clinton, SC — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

This one may come off as a complete rant, so I want to go ahead and ask early. Why do people think that basketball star, Lebron James, could play football in the NFL? Ever since that commercial came out with Lebron announcing that he was going to follow his lifelong dream and play for the Cleveland Browns, people have all of a sudden had the bright idea that Lebron should actually go out and have a successful NFL career.

"LSU! LSU! LSU! USA! USA! USA!"

Brett Haynes - The Top Fan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

These two chants will meet each other somewhere in the airwaves above the world's two largest oceans as they were loud in both meaning and decible level. In Europe, team USA defeated Spain, the world's top team - to advance to the final of the Confederation Cup. It was a HUGE win for USA soccer. Meanwhile, in the heartland of the United States in Omaha, Nebraska, the LSU Tigers won their sixth national championship by beating Texas.

Lucas Glover Wins US Open!

Brett Haynes — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

Greenville, South Carolina native and former Clemson University golfer Lucas Glover has won the 2009 U.S. Open Championship played at Bethpage Black. This is the first Major trophy for Glover, who has been a rising star on the PGA Tour over the last five seasons. Glover held off Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Ricky Barnes and a field of others to become America's latest national champion.

ACC Title Game to be Prime-Time

Brett Haynes — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

The Atlantic Coast Conference has clearly had the weakest conference championship games in recent years - not just in attendance and the national rankings of participating teams, but also in TV ratings. The latter of the three will hopefully improve in 2009 as ESPN has picked up the event, held in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, for an 8:00 PM prime-time start on Dec 5th. But no matter the venue or the TV time, the game itself will depend on the quality of the two opponents.

Weekend Wrap-Up; Lakers Win Title

Brett Haynes — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

The Los Angeles Lakers won their 15th NBA title by defeating the Orlando Magic in five games, 4-1, with a 99-86 win. Kobe Bryant was named the series MVP, as he won his first title without Shaquille O'Neal's help. And speaking of Shaq, he is in discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers about joining up with LeBron James and company. On top of all of this action involving the NBA, baseball was full of action, as well, at both the professional and collegiate levels.

Interview With: Ben Martin

Brett Haynes — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

A year ago, he got close - but just missed. This year, there would be no denying. By finishing first in a sectional qualifier for the U.S. Open at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland last week, Ben Martin will be playing with the best in the game when they tee it up next week from Bethpage State Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York. At stake will be the 2009 U.S. Open Championship. I spoke Thursday with the Clemson golfer to ask him how he is feeling as these huge moments in his young, promising golf career unfold.

Omaha 2009 All But Set

The Top Fan — Mon, 8 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

Seven of eight teams have earned their spots in the College World Series. The SEC and ACC will make up half of the field when play begins this coming Friday for college baseball's national championship. LSU, Arkansas, UNC and UVA have advanced to the game's biggest amateur stage. The biggest surprise team so far, though, has to be Southern Mississippi - the only regional 3 seed to reach Omaha.

This One May Be Over Quick

Fans25 Staff — Wed, 3 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

Lakers 101, Magic 96 (OT) Lakers lead series 2-0.

As you guys know, I am not an NBA expert! I love college football and feel that when I write about college footbal I have a pretty good idea what I'm saying. But when it comes to the NBA, I am simply a fan, an onlooker. But from what I can gather in two games of watching the Lakers and Magic is that Orlando doesn't have a snowball's chance in Mexico.

College Baseball's Sweet 16!

The Top Fan — Mon, 1 Jun 2009 00:00:01 EST

The field of 64 has now been narrowed to 16, with 8 super regional sites set to get underway this Friday around the country. The Road to Omaha is littered with big-time familiar names, with the ACC and SEC leading the way, setting up for some awesome baseball ahead!

Peanut and Jordan, Here's To You!

The Top Fan — Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

Every now and again, the Big Guy Upstairs gets out his hammer and hits the nail right on the head. This past weekend, he really smacked one home...Amidst a perfect backdrop of the Ashley River, I was reassured of why we wake up everyday and try to do the best that we can...

NCAA Baseball Regionals

Brett Haynes — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

Here are the 16 sites for the 2009 NCAA Baseball Regionals as the road to Omaha begins this coming Friday! The defending champions are the Fresno state Bulldogs, who just won the WAC Championship....Please discuss the NCAA Baseball Tournament here on our messageboards: http://www.fans25.com/discuss-topic.cfm?dc=15 . College baseball is my second favorite sport, and this time of year, the intensity level almost reaches the level of a college football game....sorta.

Western Conference Finals

Fans25 Staff — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

Denver just may have shot themselves in the foot. The Nuggets actually looked pretty good, and had a small lead. That is until the closing minutes of the 3rd quarter. The Lakers were The Lakers. Denver on the other hand, just weren't themselves.

Eastern Conference Finals

Fans25 Staff — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

LeBron does it all once again. To keep his team alive, LeBron James scored 37 points, pulled down 14 rebounds, and dished out 12 assists for his 4th career playoff triple-double in a 112-102 Cav win. You hear his name enough to get sick of it, but the fact is James is just that good. If we do not get to see him play in the Finals, whether against Kobe or Carmelo, it will truly be a shame. The Magic are still in the advantage in this series, but with James playing, two more wins are not out of the question for Cleveland.

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: Tony Stewart The Owner Gets His First win

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

Tony Stewart made a million-dollar pass on Matt Kenseth with two laps to go in a wild 10-lap shootout to win Saturday's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Stewart, who turns 38 years old on Wednesday, crossed the finish line one second ahead of Kenseth for his first victory as driver and owner in NASCAR's top-tier series.

MLB Season Update

Brett Haynes, — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

As we are roughly one quarter of the way through the baseball season, here is a quick look at the clubs that can start thinking about October and the clubs that can start thinking about saving face. Teams such as Toronto and St. Louis, among others, are thinking big. While teams such as Cleveland and Washington are watching the wheels fall off early...

Congratulations to Former Husker "BlackShirt" Grant Wistrom - Class of 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Tue, 5 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

The surprise was genuine when Grant Wistrom opened a package Wednesday from the National Football Foundation.
It included a football and his induction notice for the College Football Hall of Fame. Surely, he thought, it had to be for something else.

50-1 shot Mine That Bird wins Kentucky Derby

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Sun, 3 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

Mine That Bird dug up a miracle, stunning the field to win the Kentucky Derby with a dynamic stretch run through the mud Saturday at Churchill Downs in the second biggest upset in Derby history. The Birdstone colt was piloted by 2007 Derby winner Calvin Borel, who won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday.
Mine that Bird went off at 50-1 and paid $103.20 to win. The $1 superfecta paid $278,503.19.

"Pac Man" Pacquiao Gobbles Up Hatton In Two Rounds

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Sun, 3 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao solidified his reign as one of the best ever pound-for-pound fighters in the world by drilling Ricky Hatton and earning a second-round stoppage.

"Fight of the Year" - Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton Preview

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Fri, 1 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

With a lackluster heavyweight division, and Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr now in retirement, boxing is in dire need of new stars. This weekend features a matchup of two of boxing’s biggest stars. Current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao attempts to conquer another weight class as he takes on 140-lb champion Ricky Hatton. It is the biggest fight of the year and it will be an interesting indicator of boxing buyrates in the post-De La Hoya era.

Kentucky Derby Preview

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Fri, 1 May 2009 00:00:01 EST

Horse racing established itself as a populist sport long ago. Seabiscuit, as the blockbuster film informs us, was an apt representative of the 1930s zeitgeist. He was smaller than the other horses, the odds were against him—he was the horse that the downtrodden wanted to win. He was the horse of the Depression.

Talladega Super Speedway Preview

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

The elite of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves to the Talladega Super Speedway: the home of the "big one." The big one is that fleeting moment in time when the sheet metal of two race cars lightly touch each other just enough for one of those cars to start a sideways slide. The end result often features ten or more cars getting collected in that single car slide. That, in turn, leads to a multi million dollar state of race car carnage.

Playoff Proposal

Wes Mewbourne -Birmingham, AL — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

There’s been a lot of talk for quite some time regarding the manner in which a champion is crowned in college football. There has been just as much resistance to the idea of a playoff as there has been support, though support seems to be growing. More recently, the groundswell for a playoff has been form the state of Utah, with the Utes going undefeated and knocking off a BCS opponent for the second time in 5 years.

INSIDE THE ROPES: OUR SUNDAY AT AUGUSTA

Paul Elder - Charleston, SC — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

To kick off Masters 2010 week at Fans25.com, we're taking a look back at a Fans25.com classic. Through some good connections, a little bit of luck, and a knack for being in the right place at the right time, two Fans25.com regulars spent Sunday afternoon of 2009's tournament with full access to the Augusta National Clubhouse. What a day.

2009 Nebraska Spring Game

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

Well, that wasn't exactly what I expected today. The weather forecast called for an 80% chance of rain all day, and the defense seemed to be stacked to favor the white squad. So what did we get? The rain drops stopped falling as we drove to Lincoln, and when we got to the stadium, the sun burst through. As it turned out, a beautiful day for football.

Nebraska Red-White Game

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

The Nebraska Red-White Game may result in more questions than answers. Saturday's Spring game isn't shaping up to be the best indicator of what kind of team Nebraska will field next fall. It's likely to prompt questions rather than provide answers, since several key playmakers will stand on the sidelines, the play-calling will be basic and coaches will mix and match first-teamers to create a competitive product. But coach Bo Pelini says Saturday's 1 p.m. game will be productive and maybe even a little entertaining for the thousands of football-starved fans expected to cram into Memorial Stadium.

2009 Western Conference Playoffs

Ashton Williams - Clinton, SC — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

The NBA likes to promote and describe their playoffs as "Drama". Well, the word "drama" hits the nail directly on the head when describing the Western Conference playoffs. In 2009, the playoffs are also filled with questions. Here are some questions that we will find the answers to during this years Western Conference playoffs:

Angel Cabrera Wins Masters in Playoff

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

They're dancing in the streets of Buenos Aires, and will be throwing one super-sized fiesta in Cordoba. Forty-one years after unforgettable heartache, Argentina finally has its Masters champion. Angel Cabrera, a 39-year-old whose only two professional victories in North America are now major championships, overcame a two-shot deficit with two holes to play yesterday, displaying the patience, perseverance, and clutch putting required of any winner at Augusta National Golf Club. He squeezed into a three-man playoff with a gutsy par on No. 18, smacked a tree with his second shot when they returned to 18 but survived the first playoff hole, then won the Masters with a routine par on No. 10, the second playoff hole: fairway, green, two putts.

The States of College Football: Tennessee

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

There is no hiding the big story in this article: Lane Kiffin has arrived in the SEC and he is already stirring the pot. Yes, the Tennessee Volunteers went out and hired a coach with zero college head coaching experience, and this man has already called out several of his conference brethren with below the belt comments. It will be a rocky ride on Rocky Top this fall, you can bet your pants on that!

Happy Easter!

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

Can Tiger Do it? There will be no shortage of entertainment this Easter Sunday as the stage is set for a great finale to the top golf tournament in the world. The course has played to lower scores than normal, and eleven under par is where our leaders, Angel Cabrera of Argentina, and Kenny Perry of the United States, stand going into the final round. Tiger Woods, the top player in the world, is seven shots back and will be paired with world number two Phil Mickelson, who has the same score of four under. If one of these two is to challenge for another Green Jacket, a historic round will be witnessed today.

This Should Get You Through

Brett Haynes — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

Last week, Jason Cooper contributed an article about things you can do to pass the time until college football season comes around again (scroll down this page). His article was about things you could do. This article is about things you can watch. Believe it or not, there are actually some really good sporting events between now and kick-off. Are these events college football? No they are not. But they are still damn good to watch. So go ahead, print this out and put it on your wall - use it as a calender of sorts - it will be your guide to the world until the best sport is back.

North Carolina Wins National Championship

Bret Haynes - Greenville, SC — Tue, 7 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

In a game that was never really close, the UNC Tar Heels brought home their second natonal title under Head Coach Roy Williams, and their fifth in school history with a 89-72 win over Michigan State. UNC, the only ACC school to advance beyond the sweet-16, was anchored by 21 points and eight stealts from guard Ty Lawson. Wayne Ellington contributed 19 points, while 4-time All-ACC Tyler Hansbrough scored 18 points in his final collegiate game. 72,962 fans, mostly cheering for MSU, saw first-hand that UNC is clearly the best team in the land.

2009 Masters Tournament Preview

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Tue, 7 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

THE 73RD MASTERS TOURNAMENT
•Site: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA
•Length: 7,435 yards (Par: 36-36–72)
•Purse: To be determined ($7.5 million in 2008)
•Field: 96 players (five amateurs)
•Defending champion: Trevor Immelman
•TV: 3-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday, ESPN. 2:30-6 p.m. Saturday, CBS. 1:30-6 p.m. Sunday, CBS.

And Then There Were Two...

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Mon, 6 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

National Championship Preview: North Carolina vs. Michigan State

Michigan State and North Carolina met up back in December, with the Tar Heels cruising to a 98-63 win over the Spartans. But, so much has changed since then for both teams. The Tar Heels have lost their aura of invincibility since then in losing four games, and Michigan State has improved with the addition of Goran Suton and the improved health of Delvon Roe.

The States of College Football: North Carolina

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Thu, 2 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

There are as many good coaches in North Carolina as there are in any state in the Union. The list of names is impressive: Butch Davis, Jim Grobe, Skip Holtz, Tom O'Brien, David Cutcliffe and Jerry Moore. Each one of those coaches has a winning background, and each is poised to take their respective schools to the next level. Here is a spring-time look at the programs of the Tar Heel State.

The States of College Football: Pennysylvania

Jason Cooper - Charleston, SC — Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:01 EST

Pitt Panthers: Coming off of an impressive 9-4 season, Coach Dave Wannstedt (pronounced wan-stat) hopes that his Panthers can continue to build on their momentum from last year. However, they’ll have to do it without their star running back, LeShan McCoy, who left to enter the NFL draft. McCoy amassed close to 1500 yards last season, averaging 114.5 yards/game. McCoy’s back-ups were both seniors last year, and so was their 3-year starter at fullback. That leaves a huge hole for Pitt’s running game.

The States of College Football: Michigan

Ashton Williams - Clinton, SC — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

The names may change, but the route stays the same. The routes I'm talking about are the roads to the Big Ten and Mid American Conference Championships. They run through Michigan, USA. Today, on our journey through the States of College Football, we will take a look at whats going on up in the Great Lakes State.

Remember When: Clemson-USC 2000

Brett Haynes — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

In November of 2000, Clemson and South Carolina met in Death Valley to renew their annual bitter rivalry. On a blistering cold night in the Upstate, the teams set the stage for a climatic ending to a game that is still discussed to this day by fans from both schools. If you are a Tiger, the game brought the thrilling taste of last-minute victory. If you are a USC Gamecock, the game still makes you want to throw the remote control through the TV screen every time you see the game-winning kick. That kick was delivered by Aaron Hunt, and I sat down recently with the former Tiger kicker to discuss the game and his Tiger career.

The States of College Football: West Virginia

Jason Cooper - Charleston, SC — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

The post-Pat White era has officially started whether anyone likes it or not. Enter Jarrett Brown, a 6’ 4”, 221 pound senior, who will be behind center this year for the Mountaineers. Over the past 3 years, Jarrett has played in a few games (eg, South Florida, Syracuse, Rutgers, Pitt…yes, THAT Pitt game) when Pat White was injured; so, he’s had some experience on the field. In fact, he was even used as a “fullback” and a wide receiver last year. But now, he’s the man. Judging by his build, he won’t be a running threat by any stretch of the imagination, but the guy can throw the rock. Supposedly, Jarrett Brown fits more into the football scheme and vision of Bill Stewart (coach) and Jeff Mullen (offensive coordinator) than did Pat White. Did anyone notice that Pat White threw the ball much more in ’08 than previous years, especially in the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl against North Carolina? Well, that’s exactly the plan for Jarrett and the WVU offense this year.

The States of College Football: South Carolina

Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

As we continue to take a look at the states of the college football union, we now turn to my home state, the Palmetto State - South Carolina. Both the ACC and the SEC are represented here in the Clemson Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks, respectively. The two schools are very different in many ways, but they share a common trait neither is proud of: no conference championships in the last 18 or more years. So while both programs will play in front of packed houses and rowdy, passionate fans this fall, both are aware of the long journey they each must take to reach the top.

Nebraska Cornhuskers Spring Report

Josh Morse - Kearney, NE — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

Quarterbacks
Who's No. 1? Patrick Witt and Zac Lee, evenly matched contenders for the starting job, were supposed to extend the team's most important position battle into fall camp. But Witt's February decision to transfer settled the debate before pads could be strapped on. All of a sudden, the unquestioned frontrunner is Lee, who will be a junior. He gained nearly all of his on-field collegiate experience in 2006 at San Francisco City College.

So Now Who Ya Got?

Brett Haynes — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

NCAA HOOPS TOURNEY 2009 - While each team in the NCAA basketball tournament set out four days ago to be the best of sixty-five teams, the key to winning it all, really, is to just be the best of four teams (three times - and each time it gets tougher). The first round of these three mini-tournaments has now been played, and starting Thursday the middle level of the three four-team mini-tourneys will go down as sixteen championship-hungry teams will compete in Boston, Memphis, Indianapolis and Phoenix for a trip to Detroit, MI and the Final Four - the most important four-team tournament there is.......

One and Done

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

NCAA MID-WEST REGION AND MORE NCAA HOOPS FIRST-ROUND COVERAGE - The Clemson Tigers have had a history of late in the major sports of performing less than desirably when the spot-light is pointed their way. From the baseball team's disappointing record in Omaha, to the Georgia Dome and big-time football games gone wrong, to the NCAA Basketball tournament a year ago, Clemson has laid an egg in the big-games in recent years. They looked to shake that pattern Thursday night in Kansas City, but instead dug a hole that they eventually could not climb out of in a first-round loss to Michigan. Oliver Purnell is a very popular man in Tiger-Town, and will probably continue to be. But with this loss, the heat button on his seat had to be switched to the "on" position - at least to a low-setting for now - and the next time he is on his call-in radio show out of Clemson, he may get a call that goes a little something like this...

The States of College Football: Nebraska

Russ James - Firth, NE — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

With a 2007 campaign that ended with Nebraska going 5-7 with no post season bowl appearance, a confused and downright angry Husker nation looked to the past to secure its future. NU hired as its athletic director legendary former head coach Tom Osborne, a man who’s saint-hood in the state is cast in stone. Osborne, in turn, turned to the hard nosed blue-collar work ethic of LSU defensive coordinator - and one time NU defensive coordinator - Bo Pelini, as his choice to lead the Cornhuskers. And the crowd goes wild.

Championship Sunday is Set!

Brett Haynes — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

When we go to bed tonight, 65 teams will have visions of cutting the nets down in Detroit on April 6 dancing in their heads. But a handful of other teams will feel the bitter pain of disappointment. The storylines are many already, and there will be more after the conference championship games today, and the selection show this evening. Fans, you are smack-dab in the middle of March Madness!

The Big East Gets Three!

Brett Haynes — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

In a historical season, the Big East Conference will have three, yes I repeat three number 1 seeds when the NCAA Tournament tips off this week. UConn, Louisville and Pitsburgh will be your three top teams in three of the four regionals. North Carolina from the ACC will be the other number 1 seed.

The States of College Football: Alabama

Wes Mewbourne - Birmingham, AL — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

Well, it’s springtime again - when a young man’s fancy turns to love. Love of college football and everything that comes with it. All over the state of Alabama, questions are being asked. Auburn is asking if their new staff can get it done on the field. Fans in T-town are wondering if the success of last year was a fluke (ref. 2005). In Trojan country, the question looms whether or not Troy can finish off an LSU this year and get over the mid-major hump. And those in Birmingham are wondering if the Blazers even have a football team this year…

Netherlands Topples Heavily Favored Dominican Republic At The World Baseball Classic

Josh Morse — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

Stunned twice by a pesky Netherlands team, the Dominican Republic is done at the World Baseball Classic. Eugene Kingsdale singled in the tying run and scored the game-winner in the 11th inning Tuesday night as the Netherlands rallied for a 2-1 victory over the heavily favored Dominicans, earning surprise spot in the second round.

The States of College Football: Georgia

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

Today we will head towards the mainland by one state to Georgia, home of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. UGA and GT should both compete for conference hardware in 2009, but both teams also have question marks to answer during the off-season.

The States of College Football: Florida

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Fri, 6 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each college football-worthy state in the union. Some states, such as North Dakota and Alaska, will not be analyzed. But most of the rest will be, and we will begin with perhaps the most football crazed state of all: Florida. With the state bringing home a combined 10 national championships in the last 25 years, the Sunshine State is a good place to start...And right now it is looking as good as ever!

He's Back, and That's All That Matters

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Sun, 1 Mar 2009 00:00:01 EST

In his first event back from knee surgery, Tiger Woods went 1-1 in match play in the Bobby Jones Bracket of the Accenture Match Play Championship at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Arizona. He defeated Brendan Jones 3 and 2 before losing to Tim Clark 4 and 2. But the score is not really what is important here. Yes, Woods winning would have been a great story. But, what is truly pleasing to see is that the best player on our planet is back to a world-class level of play and is healthy. For that, we will all have a better PGA Tour in 2009.

Interview With: Dabo Swinney

Brett Haynes — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:01 EST

Dabo Swinney is still learning things as Clemson's new Head Football Coach. He is still learning to let his secretary open his mail. He is still learning to delegate certain things to other people. He is still learning when to cut on and cut off his inner drive for this never ending job. And, after today, Coach Swinney has now learned that as the Tiger Head Coach, you will from time to time have interview requests that are, well, a bit different than usual.

219 Days and Counting: What to Do Until the Start of College Football Season

Jason Cooper — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:01 EST

The 2008-2009 college football season has come and gone. I can actually remember getting excited for the first big game of the 2008 season last year: Clemson versus Alabama in the Georgia Dome. That is, until I watched the first half. Can you believe that was last August? Before I knew it, my Mountaineers were playing UNC in the Car Care Bowl and Pat White was gone. What the hell happened? It felt like I blinked and here I am in February anxiously awaiting another nail-biting, nerve-racking, alcohol-laden college football season.

Matt Kenseth wins Daytona 500

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:01 EST

In a rain-shortened event, the 51st Daytona 500 went to Ford and Matt Kenseth in the #17 DeWalt car. He was out front when the weather went sour, and with the radar not showing any signs of clearing, the race was called. Kenseth was the 2000 NASCAR rookie of the year, and the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion. Matt and his wife Katie, who teared up following today's victory, have four cats, one of which is named after Lars Ulrich of Metallica.

Fans, We Want To Hear From You!

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Mon, 9 Feb 2009 00:00:01 EST

The college football offseason has set in, and we now switch gears to talking sports for the spring and summer. If any of you would like to have an article appear right here - covering any sport you chose - please contact me at thetopfan@fans25.com ..... Don't hold back, many fans have sent in articles in the past, and they were all very good reads! Cant wait to see more!

Future Big Men On Campus

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:00:01 EST

Signing Day 2009. They are the guys that every girl on campus knows about. They are the guys that are on TV as much as they are in class, or at least so it seems. They are the guys that make the crowds go crazy on Saturday afternoons. They are the Tim Tebows, the Michael Crabtrees, and the Pat Whites. They are the Big Men On Campus, the BMOCs, and tomorrow, a new batch of these guys will make public which campus they will get big on in the fall of 2009. Among these future campus celebrities: Matt Barkley of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California - the number 1 quarterback prospect in America, and a Gatorade National Player of the Year.

For All The Marbles

Brett Haynes "The Top Fan" — Sun, 1 Feb 2009 00:00:01 EST

Super Bowl 43: Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (9-7) - 6:00 pm est, NBC

Super Bowl Sunday 2009 is here. The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to become the all-time Super Bowl leaders with a win. But they must defeat a potent offensive attack in the Arizona Cardinals. This game should be a doozy, and the commercials should be fine, too. Creativity doesn't cost a dime - look for this year's batch of commercials to shine...

The Feeling Never Fades

Ashton Williams — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

As I grow older, it seems that the things that we cherished as children seem to pretty much lose meaning. Things such as Christmas. Of course we all know the true meaning of Christmas, and that will never change, but look at it like this. When we were kids, we got excited starting in October because of the curiosity of what we would get. As we got older and got jobs and girlfriends, we began to become more excited to see the reactions of the recipient when we give gifts to them. Then comes the more adult and more mature stage in life, where the gifts we receive comes to a halt, and it becomes totally about pleasing others. We begin to use strategies for Christmas, such as shopping on "Black Friday".

Roundup: Winter X Games 2009

Brett Haynes — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

Sports fans have grown familiar over the years with sporting events that write the history books including World Series, Super Bowls, World Cups, Olympics, PGA majors, Final Fours, and many more. These championships help us distinguish who is great, and who is good, and we find our superstars in these events - those who are the best in the world at what they do. And that my friends, is why if you haven't taken the time to become a fan of the X Games, I strongly encourage you to do so...These are the games of today's youth - and they are here to stay! WX13 wrapped up yesterday, and it was another huge success for those fans of alternative sports.

The Number 1 Jinx

The Top Fan — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

Just two days after being awarded the number 1 ranking in the country, undefeated Wake Forest loses at home to unranked ACC foe Virginia Tech, 78-71. With the loss, all NCAA teams now have at least one loss. The Deacons looked unbeatable Saturday against Clemson, but after losing to VT, they will probably surrender their top-ranked position to current number 2 Duke. And guess who Wake Forest gets at home next Saturday? Yep, Duke. Also, Clemson goes to 0-54 in Chapel Hill, and South Carolina wins a thriller over Florida with a bucket at the buzzer.

2008, A Year In Review

Wes Mewbourne — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

Wow, how time flies. Just yesterday, we were wondering whether Ohio State or USC would play Georgia for the national title. BYU was the BCS buster du jour and West Virginia, Clemson, and Missouri were looking to live up to their top 10 status with conference championships. By the end of the season, Florida was hoisting the crystal football and Utah not only busted the BCS, but Alabama as well, on their way to their first undefeated season since Urban Meyers departure. The Mountaineers and both Tigers teams finished with a combined 14 losses (nine in conference play). Here’s a little trip down memory lane in the year that was…

Change

The Top Fan — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

The United States will go through a change today. With the swearing-in of a black president, Americans of all backgrounds now have no excuse not to work together to accomplish common goals. Race should never again be a factor in this country when deciding on the advancement of a white man or a black man or any man in between. Like him or not, Barack Obama ushers in a new day in America. But some things in this country will never change, and that is a good thing. Among them is a spirit to be the best nation in the world.

Super Bowl XLIII

The Top Fan — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

The Arizona Cardinals, champions of the NFC conference, will square off with the Pittsburgh Steelers, champions of the AFC conference, in Super Bowl XLIII (that would be 43) from Tampa, Florida on the first day of February, which is two weeks from yesterday. One conference championship game was settled in the 72 degree indoor comfy confines of University of Phoenix stadium in Arizona. The other game was played in 22 degree weather outdoors at Heinz Field in Pennsylvania. But no matter the condition in which you prefer your football to be played, the feeling of reaching the Super Bowl feels the same. The two quarterbacks have a combined 15-4 playoff record going into the game.

Spiller to Return!

The Top Fan — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

Clemson University running back C.J. Spiller will return for his senior season of eligibilty after announcing his decision at a press conference in Clemson, SC just now. Tiger fans throughout the state willl be rejoicing as Spiller is one of the most electrifying, and productive, players in the school's history.

Superman Saves The Day!

The Top Fan — Fri, 9 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

The Florida Gators won their second BCS Title in three seasons Thursday Night by defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 in Miami. In a game that was oddly low in scoring for two of the nation's top offenses, UF showed the grit and determination necessary to win it all. Tim Tebow, the Gator quarterback who orchestrated this championship season, once again showed why he will go down as one of the great college players of all-time.

More Than A Game Sometimes

The Top Fan — Wed, 7 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

I saw this photo when I was browsing through USPresswire's website, and I had to put it up. I think it is very cool that 100,000 plus fans were treated to a Stealth Bomber fly over - just look how big that thing is, as wide as the field!...Please click the photo to the right...

BCS Title Game Preview

Throw-Them-Bones — Wed, 7 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

The BCS National Championship game is Thursday, featuring the #1 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #2 Florida Gators. Both teams bring in high octane offenses and have been playing lights out since suffering early season losses. Fans25.com takes a closer look at the 2009 BCS National Championship game and predicts a winner.

Texas Wins Fiesta Bowl!

The Top Fan — Tue, 6 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

Well they didn't exactly blow Ohio State away to prove a point about being the nation's number 1 team, but the Longhorns did win yet another BCS game under Coach Mack Brown in dramatic fashion, 24-21. Ohio State's post-season troubles continue as they lose their third straight BCS game.

Fiesta Bowl Preview

The Top Fan — Sun, 4 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

Texas Longhorns (11-1, 7-1 Big 12) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2, 7-1 Big 10) - University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona - 8:00 est, Monday Night - FOX

Texas wants to make a claim that it is the number 1 team in America. Still feeling slighted after the way that the Big 12 determined its division champion in the 3-way tie, the 'Horns look to take out their frustrations on Ohio State. But with all of the hoopla abound, UT better remember to play the actual Fiesta Bowl itself, and not get hung up on what could happen IF they win.

Utah Makes A Point

The Top Fan — Sat, 3 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

The Utes from Utah can play football. Period. My way of thinking concerning post-season college football has changed following this game, and that way of thinking is probably way past due. Along with Boise State, Appalachain State, and several other lesser known named schools in recent seasons, Utah proved once more that the perennial powerhouses of our sport are going to have to respect that some new kids are on the block. This game was not so much about Alabama, the Tide had a great year regardless at 12-2. This game was about Utah showing they were no joke.

Ole Miss Dominates Cotton Bowl

The Top Fan — Sat, 3 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

Mississippi won the final Cotton Bowl Game to ever take place in Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, 47-34. The Rebels finished the 2008 season by winning six straight games and look to be an SEC West favorite when the 2009 season nears. Texas Tech and its precision passing attack were no match for Ole Miss on this day.

The Gator Bowl Recap

The Top Fan — Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00:01 EST

Things are what they are...

Compared to Clemson, the Nebraska Cornhuskers had a little bit better record in a little bit better conference and won the 2009 Gator Bowl by a little bit, 26-21...You can dissect this game anyway you want, but in the end, that is pretty much what happened in Jacksonville, Florida on New Years Day. I am exhausted and tired, and have perhaps have had one too many holiday drinks, but I will do my best to tell you how the Gator Bowl went down through the eyes of a die-hard Tiger...

The Gator Bowl: A Clemson Fan's Take

The Top Fan — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

With the way things have played out, the Clemson Tigers will have opened the 2008 season and closed the 2008 season out of conference against two of the most storied programs in college football history. The Alabama Crimson Tide put a hurtin' on the Tigers in week 1. But with a win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Clemson will still have a memorable 2008 season.

The Gator Bowl: A Nebraska Fan's Take

Throw-Them-Bones — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

Nebraska, in its first season under Bo Pelini, finds itself in the Gator Bowl for the first time. This will be the Cornhuskers' 45th bowl appearance, and first in Florida since beating Tennessee in the 1998 Orange Bowl for the national championship.
Pelini, the former LSU defensive coordinator, said Nebraska is headed in the right direction after four dismal seasons under Bill Callahan.

ACC Bowl Update

The Top Fan — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

The ACC sits at 2-2 in the bowl standings after Saturdays games. FSU won, but Miami and North Carolina lost close ones. The league, which started the season as arguably the worst conference, seeks to show the nation it can play football with any conference. I am an ACC fan, no secret. But the point of this article isn't to show biased towards the ACC. The point is to keep up with a national storyline. The conference was ridiculed harshly early on, but now attempts to leave 2008 with a winning record against all other conferences, including the Big-12 and SEC, and win the Bowl Challenge Cup.

2014-2024...What A Decade!

The Top Fan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

As I prepare to watch the 2025 National Championship Game here in a couple of weeks between Wisconsin and Georgia, I am reminded of the events that took place 15 years ago to get us to this point. When Oregon and Florida tied for the 2010 National Title, the NCAA said "enough was enough" and they took control. At that point in time, a good thing got better - a rarity in life!

Poinsettia Bowl Preview

Josh Morse — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

This could just as easily be a BCS game with the way the two teams played this year, and it's certainly among the most attractive of the non-BCS bowls. Boise State got left out of the show despite going 12-0 with a road win over Oregon. The lack of respect for the WAC, and Utah getting the automatic bid among the non-BCS teams, relegated the Broncos to San Diego.

Arizona Looking Strong; ACC 1-0

The Top Fan — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

The Wildcats of Arizona, under 5th year Coach Mike Stoops, defetaed #16 BYU 31-21 in the Las Vegas Bowl to finish the season 8-5. Look for this team to be a top 25 preseason for 2009. Also, the ACC, the butt of many-a-joke at the beginning of the season, is now 1-0 after sending a NCAA record 10 teams to the posteseason. Wake Forest got payback against Navy, a team itself that had an uncharacteristically good year.

The Top Coaches In The Game

The Top fan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

The game has changed a ton in the last twenty-five years. Coaches today must know more than just the X's and O's of offense and defense. They must also know how to keep an eye on every small detail of their program. They have images to keep up, and those images are kept up best by winning. If you had to pick one coach in America to lead your program, who would it be?

ACC-SEC Top 10, Regular Season Final

Wes Mewbourne — Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

The regular season has officially ended, and the bowl games are set. This is the penultimate list of the best teams in the two conferences. You’ll notice that half, that’s right half, of the teams on the list are playing in the postseason in their home state. Two in their home city! It’s gonna be an interesting bowl season, with some intriguing match ups. Without further ado, your ACC/SEC Top 10.

Now We Know

The Top Fan — Sun, 7 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

Now we know which two teams will be playing in Miami in a few weeks for the National Championship of college football. Oklahoma and Florida both had impressive victories Saturday to almost certainly finish as the top two teams in the BCS poll, which will come out this evening. Controversy will be abound once again though, as USC, Penn State and Texas (as well as Alabama) all finish with records no worse than the two teams heading to the Title Game.

Championship Weekend

The Top fan — Thu, 4 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

For four of the six major conferences, this is Championship Weekend. Penn State has won the Big-10 and Cincinnati has wrapped up the Big-East, but for the ACC, Big-12, Pac-10 and SEC, this weekend is the top of the mountain. The Big-12 and SEC take the spot-light as both league's showcase games will have a direct impact on this year's BCS Championship. Southern California, Texas and Penn State will be watching (along with every other sports fan in America) to see if they have any shot to sneak in the BCSCG.

ACC-SEC Top 10, Week 14

Wes Mewbourne — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 00:00:01 EST

And we're headed down the stretch of the season. The ACC and SEC Championship games have been set. Also, after a weekend of 4 head to head match ups, all four winners appear on the list. It's been a wild and crazy year in both conferences, with surprises and disappointments alike. The "little brother" ACC certainly stole the show this week from their southeastern brethren. Here's how they stack up...

The Real Coaching Question

The top Fan — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

The Clemson Tigers had been hearing for three months about how good this South Carolina Gamecock defense was. And, the truth is that this USC defense is, in fact, a pretty good one. The Cocks ranked 11th nationally in total defense entering Saturday's game after battling a solid SEC slate. But in James Davis' (and perhaps CJ Spiller's) final game in Death Valley, the Tigers did about anything that they wanted to in the running game. CU put up just shy of 400 yards in offense, and Clemson's Interim Head Coach Dabo Swinney now has some serious ammo to take into his interview with AD Terry Don Phillips later today. The situation brings up a question: Who should be more seriously looking for a coach, Clemson or South Carolina?

Sources: It's Dabo.

The Top Fan — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

Nothing has become official, but multiple websites are saying Dabo Swinney has agreed in principle to be Clemson University's next Head Football Coach. Details to follow as they are confirmed...

Crunch-Time

The Top Fan — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

Mark Schlabach covers college football for ESPN.com and also reports on CSS. A UGA graduate, he is biased SEC to the point of ignorance and annoyance. The other night on TV, he made a comment that from top to bottom, "the ACC was just pretty mediocre." Well, this article isn't about Schlabach's sorry narrow-minded rear-end, but rather about the state of ACC football, and just how mediocre (or opposite of) it is.

ACC-SEC TOP 10, WEEK 13

Wes Mewbourne — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

The hits keep on coming. The ACC picture dwindled to four teams. The SEC is still a collision course. Rivalry week is under way, and these two conferences have four games to determine who’s better this week. Until then, #10 remains a hodgepodge of underachievers.

National Round-Up

The Top Fan — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

Oklahoma put a quick end to the Texas Tech talk with a 65-21 beat down in Norman. Ohio State had it easy with Michigan in Columbus, winning 42-7. NC State blasted UNC 41-10 in Chapel Hill to knock their arch-rival out of ACC Title contention. Penn State secured a trip to the Rose Bowl for their 81 year old coach, beating Michigan State in State College, 49-18. LSU suffered a home loss to Mississippi, 31-13, in Baton Rouge. And Florida State traveled up to College Park to stomp Maryland, 37-3. These are just some of the happenings in week 13, as the regular season nears its end.

Tigers Keep Bowl Hopes Alive

The Top Fan — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

The Clemson Tigers, looking to save what has been a strange and dissapointing season, kept the possibilities of post-season play alive with a 13-3 win over Virginia in fridgid conditions in Charlottesville, Virginia. With the win, CU finishes the season at .500 in the ACC, while knocking UVA out of contention for the ACC Coastal Title.

Clemson Tigers (5-5, 3-4 ACC) at Virginia Cavaliers (5-5, 3-3 ACC)

The Top Fan — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

This should be called the "Bowl Bowl" - whoever wins is still in line for one, whoever loses is not. A loss for the home team would also eliminate their hopes at reaching the ACC Championship Game, which CU lost contention for weeks ago. Basically for both teams, this game can save or break what has already been a dissapointing 2008 season for both programs.

ACC - SEC Top 10, Week 12

Wes Mewbourne — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

Wow, what a week in the ACC. All three ranked teams from the conference (North Carolina, Florida State, and Wake Forest) LOST! I got lots of love for our coastal brethren, but it’s awful hard to see them as a power conference when there isn’t a top 20 team in the bunch. The SEC is still showing it’s a two team conference, too, with Florida and Bama both winning convincingly, while defending champ LSU had to overcome a four touchdown deficit to Troy and Georgia struggled to put away ailing Auburn.

The ACC Mystery

The Top Fan — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

After another weekend of upsets, the ACC finds itself with two heated division battles. Miami and Maryland head up the Coastal and Atlantic divisions right now at 4-2 each in league play. But they each have two tough ACC games remaining. The conference continues to beat up on itself as the two division winners will likely have three conference losses each. That's balance. and the race for Tampa is wide open.

ACC-SEC Top 10, Week 11

Wes Mewbourne — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

Back by popular demand (actually, our fearless leader TopFan himself asked for it) is the semi-weekly edition of this week's ACC/SEC Top 10. Lots of changes, and a few surprises highlight the rankings this week. The one constant, though, is the debate over who should be number one. Let the fun begin...

Will The BCS Be Saved?

The Top Fan — Sun, 9 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

Alabama has put itself in prime contention for a banner season, winning on the road at LSU Saturday, but still has two more huge games left, one of those being a conference championship game. Texas Tech is in nearly the exact same situation. They have a huge game remaining with Oklahoma, and then the Big 12 Title game. These two both also have an upset trap game in-between against unranked opponents. However, if these two schools can win out, the BCS wil have a 1-2 match-up between the only two major undefeated teams. Do I think it will happen? Nope.

Weekend Preview

Wes Mewbourne — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

We have quite a few barn burners on the schedule this weekend. In my tried and true formula, I will display the best five games, and tell you who will win each. Write it down and place your bets…

Clemson Saved by CJ, Gamecocks Dominate Tennessee

The Top Fan — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

CJ Spiller is the reason Clemson was able to leave Boston with a win Saturday. Period. The junior running back had 242 total yards for the game - 105 receiving, 55 rushing, and 82 on returns - and swung the momentum in Clemson's favor several times with key plays.

The Battle For Number 2

The Top Fan — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:00:01 EST

When the dust settles in the next month, and we know our conference champions, two teams will be granted the privilege to play in the 2009 BCS National Championship game in Miami. Determining which two teams will be making the trip is setting up to be a train-wreck. In an instant classic this past Saturday, Texas Tech knocked off number 1 Texas to remain unbeaten. With the win, the Red Raiders jumped number 3 Penn State to become number 2 behind Alabama in the latest AP poll.

ACC-SEC Top 10, Week 10

Wes Mewbourne — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

Certainly, this week was an interesting one for the two conferences. Virginia topped Georgia Tech, North Carolina owned Boston College, and Florida and Georgia combined for 115 points on two of the league’s “better” defenses. Here’s how everything shakes up this week…

So Many Teams, So Few National Championship Games

The Top Fan — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

As I watched college football all day (and I mean all day) yesterday, I couldn't believe the amount of talent at the top of the polls. Top 10-team after top-10 team kept impressing me with big plays and hard tackles. As I watched, I just kept on wondering how college football can stick with the post-season set-up it currently goes with. For some reason, the word "playoff" isn't found in the college football dictionary. When the word comes up, college football leaders act as if installing a playoff would rival telling the masses that the world isn't flat. But the fact is we don't have one, and several of these entertaining and very talented top teams are going to be left out of the national title picture. As fun as it is to watch the teams play, the system to find our champ is truly a shame.

Week 8 In Review

Wes Mewbourne — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

BCS rankings are out: The results are quite typical by BCS standards. The top two mirror the human polls, and there are the appropriate rankings that look better in computers than humans (see USC) and vice versa (see Florida). Either way, this sets pretty good groundwork for the rest of the season. Let the arguing, finger pointing, and other criticisms begin.

National Contenders

The Top Fan — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

If you went back 30 years ago to 1978, Texas, Alabama, USC, Oklahoma and Penn State were all in the top 10, chasing the national championship. The same is true today, as all five are again in the top 10. Alabama brought home the title that year, can they do it again in 2008? Here are your top national contenders as we head into the season's home stretch.

Week 8 Predictions

The Top Fan — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

In a season this crazy, I'm not sure if my predictions matter a whole heck of alot! This season has already seen more than a few upsets and unpredictable performances. For the 2008 campaign so far, I am checking in at 69 percent - I need to step it up - and I will. New Clemson Tiger Coach Dabo Swinney repeatedly says: "the score doesn't matter at half-time", and I totally agree....Here are my picks for week 8.

Tommy Bowden's Legacy at Clemson

The Top Fan — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

It is a half of a season too early to completely tell Tommy Bowden's legacy as Clemson Head Football Coach. In this critical season, where the Tigers were favorites to go BCSing out of the "down" ACC, they were humbled before the season ever got rolling, getting trounced by Alabama in the Georgia Dome, 34-10. But still, if Interim Head-Coach (and Tide alum) Dabo Swinney wins a large potion of the Tigers' remaining games, you have to know Tiger fans will give some credit to Bowden (even if only in their minds) for yet another season without a losing record. But the very fact that Bowden, in his tenth season, was six games in with three losses, will always be remembered as dissapointing.

ACC-SEC Top 10, Week 7

The Top Fan — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

The ACC-SEC Top 10 has some new touches in week 7. We welcome UNC, and the ACC, to the top 5 for the first time this season as the Tar Heels check in at number 5. And we welcome the Gamecocks of USC to the top 10 for the first time, as the Cocks take the number 10 spot...Please feel free to chime in about this list on the message boards!

Tommy Bowden Resigns; Dabo Swinney Named Interim Head-Coach

The Top Fan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

Clemson University Athletic-Director Terry Don Phillips has, according to various sources, dismissed football coach Tommy Bowden of his duties. The interim Head-Coaching position will be filled by current Assistant Coach, Dabo Swinney, an Alabama Alumni. More is to come on this story as facts are confirmed.

Week 7 In Review

Wes Mewbourne — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

Wow, what a weekend. As I write this, the top team in the country lost, and the 3rd and 4th ranked teams are losing in the fourth quarter. My ESPN pick'em is shot. At least we finally had a whole weekend live up to the hype. Here are a few observations…

Clemson at Wake Forest

The Top Fan — Wed, 8 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

Clemson Tiger Football Coach Tommy Bowden cannot lose another game in the 2008 season - period. If he does, he will be fired. His Tigers, whom many thought would be a national factor in this, his ninth season, have lost two of their opening five games, and are one conference loss away from assuring themselves of their 17^th straight season without the ACC Championship Trophy calling Clemson, SC home. This, and every game the rest of the way in 2008 for Clemson, and for Bowden, is do-or-die.

Week 6 In Review

Wes Mewbourne — Tue, 7 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

Finally, a week of relative stability! After the past few weeks of monumental upsets and preseason disappointments, doesn’t it feel good to be able to see consistency? Sure there are a few surprise additions to the Top 25 this week, but there’s a refreshing lack of upsets. Here’s a few takeaways from the week that was…

Dandy Vandy!

The Top Fan — Sun, 5 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

I will be the first to admit: I thought Vanderbilt was just the latest small school to pretend to belong with the big boys. But after beating Auburn, a team who lives in the top 15, fair and square in a high-profile game, Vanderbilt has proven to me that they are a team that belongs in the top 25.

ACC-SEC Top 10, Week 5

Dana Mitchell — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EST

It's a bit late in the week, and this list will most-likely get shaken up a bit after this Saturday, but here is the ACC-SEC Top 10 after 5 weeks of football. As you will see, it is still top-heavy with SEC teams. Have a great weekend!

What a Month Can Do

The Top Fan — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

The teams not found in this current article of top-25 teams would be shocking if announced fifteen years ago; no Notre Dame, no Florida State, no Miami, no Michigan, no Washington or Washington State or Colorado. Now, though, some new faces have emerged in the top-25, and they deserve to be here. South Florida and Vanderbilt, among others, have beaten some top teams, and thus have every right to be ranked high in this ever-changing college football world. Here is a look at the top 25 from the preseason, and where they are now in the AP poll, a month in.

Blinded by the Light

Wes Mewbourne — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

And the tailspin begins. Four teams in the Top 10 had their eyes set on the big prize and didn’t see the team right in front of them. Eight ranked teams as a whole lost focus. By the end of the night, it was almost deja vous from last year. Here are a few things to take away from this week…

Enough Is Enough

The Top Fan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Clemson took a loss to Maryland Saturday afternoon, and it greatly hurts their chances of winning the ACC. But with a perfornance like this, why should CU think they deserve to win anything anyway?? The Tigers put up a goose-egg in the second half, and now Tommy Bowden is back to where he is used to being: on the hot seat.

Survival of the Fittest

Wes Mewbourne — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Indeed, the winner of this conference will have huge bragging rights. The question on most people’s minds is not who it will be, but will they do it in such a way to convince the pollsters to allow them to crack the top two? In arguably the best conference in the land, here are the main contenders for the crown…

Trojans Denied by Beavers

The Top Fan — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

After listening to ESPN tell me for an hour that USC must win all of their Pac-10 games by at least two touchdowns to remain in the National Title game picture, Oregon State made it all a mute point.

Alabama-Georgia Preview

Wes Mewbourne — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Saturday night's match-up promises to be great one. The status is there, as Georgia, ranked #3, hosts #8 Alabama. The Bulldogs have decided to break out the black jerseys and have asked that the crowd support by wearing all black. The supposed "Black Out" is intended to be a psyche job on the visiting Tide, but they might not need any help. A steady dose of Stafford and Moreno have been plenty thus far to keep the Dawgs unblemished. Alabama, on the other hand, looks to avenge last years home loss in overtime. With a stable of running backs that has accumulated the best rushing offense in the SEC, the Tide hope to turn the tables. In traditional fashion, here are my Top 5 key points for this game...

Take The Buckeyes' Place

Wes Mewbourne — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

The Big Ten has been the butt of many a joke lately, mainly because their "champion" has been waxed in the last two National Championship games. Fact is, just because this conference's best wasn't better than the SEC's best (and who is, really…) doesn't mean there isn't quality depth here. The re-emergence of powers like Wisconsin, Illinois, Penn State, and the rebuilding in Michigan will certainly make the race a bit more exciting. With Ohio State in an obvious rebuilding effort, now is the time for a new team to step up…

Big East: Overcome A Dismal First Month

Wes Mewbourne — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

That is the desire of the Big East. The perennial flagship school WVU has been humbled by two nonconference foes, and only two schools begin conference play without blemish. There is a sense of urgency in the conference right now. With only one team being ranked, this is anybody's race to win. Here are the teams with the best chance:

Carry the Torch and Plant the Flag

Wes Mewbourne — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Like the subtitle says, the team to win the ACC this year is going to have to carry the torch and plant the flag. From Week 1, the ACC has taken a beating, but a few teams are in a position to restore the public trust in the once powerful conference. After careful consideration, very few teams actually have the ability to do just that, but here are those with the best chance…

Bowden Fires Spence, Names Christ as O.C.

Roger Andout — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Not all Tiger Fans Pleased; Feel Dabo Swinney Was Overlooked

Super Saturday

The Top Fan — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

With the double TVs going, I consumed as much college football as I could possibly take in yesterday. From noon until midnight, there was nothing that could tear me away from all of these great games.

The Opposite Effect - Weekend 4 Predictions

The Top Fan — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

The college football world will humble you in a heartbeat. You can study the X's and O's all you want, and then come game-time, strange things just seem to happen. So this week, I am going to pick exactly the OPPOSITE of what I think will happen. Therefore...

Week 3 In Review

Wes Mewbourne — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Wow, a lot can happen in a day. Rome can't be built, of course, but the national picture can start to come into focus. Here are some observations in the week that was…

The Long Road Back is Now A Bit Shorter

The Top Fan — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Michigan goes down to Notre Dame in a battle of two once and always proud programs clawing to get back to the top. At sold out Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish took the win, 35 to 17, and have hope to believe more wins are on the way.

ACC-SEC Top 10 Week 4

The Top Fan — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

I'm taking over the ACC-SEC top 10 this week as our friend dcomitch is out of town with limited web access...Here are, to me, the best 10 of the 24 schools between the two leagues...

Good Looking

The Top Fan — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

The University of North Carolina brought out the navy-blue pants in this nationwide TV game - and they looked sharp....The ACC dearly needed this win.

Weekend 3 Predictions

The Top Fan — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Cal at Maryland - Can the ACC carry the momentum into this matchup? In a wonderland, it is an idea. In reality, not so much. I have a hard time seeing Maryland win this game...Cal, 30-20.

ACC/SEC Top 10 Week 3

dcomitch — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

It's pretty obvious that the SEC dominates this list, taking the top five spots. But, the ACC has the bottom five, and could possibly make a run in the next few weeks. Probably not, but we'll see. Here's the ACC/SEC top 10 list following week 2 of the college football season.

The Battle for the Golden State

The Top Fan — Sun, 7 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

California beat Washington State 66-3 Saturday – on the road. Southern California beat Virginia 52-7 last Saturday – on the road. And UCLA beat Tennessee in a thrilling OT game in Rick Neuheisel’s first game as Bruin Coach, igniting a celebration to a fan base and program just waiting to explode. The state of California has three very good football teams at the moment, and the Trojans of USC are going to have to fight for the state title this year!

Week 2 In Review

Wes Mewbourne — Sun, 7 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Well, this was certainly more exciting than it looked on paper. After seeing the recaps of this week’s action, I can say one thing is for certain: I hope you didn’t have money on these games…

Week 2 Predictions

The Top Fan — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

The college football season got off to a predictable start a week ago by being unpredictable. I was way, way off on a few games, but still picked correctly in 11 of 15. Here are my predictions for week 2...(Hint: East Carolina better get their dancing in before Saturday)

Uniforms

The Top Fan — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Watching UCLA and Tennessee battle into overtime was a Monday night treat, and got me to thinking about the uniform. After all, the Bruins blue and gold is as easy on the eyes as any uni in sport. And Tennessee's light orange and Block T is recognizable nationwide as the symbol of the Volunteers. But UT very rarely wears the orange pants, which is what made the wheels start turning in my head. The uniform is one of the greatest aspects of sports and college football has no shortage in variation.

Week 1 Observations

Wes Mewbourne — Tue, 2 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

The first weekend of the season has passed. A few observations....

A Look Nationwide

The Top Fan — Mon, 1 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

Of course there were a few upsets in this first week of the season. But for the most part, week 1 saw the top 25 remain relatively in tact. Fans at Texas A&M, Michigan, Clemson and Virginia Tech will be searching for answers this week as these teams took the brunt of the damage. Missouri won the big game in the midwest, defeating Illinois 52-42 in a shoot-out.

Not Even Close

The Top Fan — Mon, 1 Sep 2008 00:00:01 EST

This game was built-up to near BCS game status for the last week and the entire summer only to have the main event go down as a dud. ABC's "A" crew, a nearly national TV audience, and 75,000 rabid fans in the Georgia Dome couldn't get Clemson pumped enough to play ball, and the Tigers were run out of the dome by Alabama, 34-10.

ACC Nightmare

The Top Fan — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:01 EST

After a miserable start to the 2008 season, the Atlantic Coast Conference has reached new lows. Several games this past weekend went as wrong as possible if you are a fan of the ACC. What was a remodel of the league to form a super conference a few years back now looks like a science project gone completely wrong.

Different Directions

The Top Fan — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:01 EST

When Nick Saban of Alabama and Tommy Bowden of Clemson met at mid-field of the Georgia Dome floor before the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic Saturday, one coach was leading a top ten team, while the other was in the process of getting his team there. When they shook hands following the game, you could say that the two had reversed roles.

Welcome to Fans25.com!

The Top Fan — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:01 EST

Welcome to the site! Please join up to participate in our many features - it is totally free. You can talk it up in the messageboards, post up taligating photos, pick in our You Pick'em contest, and vote in our fans' top 25 poll.... The Fans25.com crew is at the Clemson-Alabama game in Atlanta this week, and will be making stops at many other games throughout the year. Thanks for the visit, have a great day, and if you have never clicked on one of our main page photos, please click the one above!

"Next year" is finally here

Paul Elder — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:01 EST

College football keeps us coming back year after year for as many different reasons as there are fans. To me, it comes down to three things. The passion, the memories, and the maybe's.

Week 1 Predictions

The Top Fan — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:01 EST

We are now four days until our first college football game of the 2008 season! This first weekend of the year is slam-packed with big games; Southern Cal at UVA, Illinois at Missouri, Tennessee at UCLA, Clemson and Alabama in the Georgia Dome and an ACC-SEC matchup on Thursday night to get us started in South Carolina hosting NC State.

Also, Please don't forget to pick in the Pick'em Contest!

Two Weeks Tonight!

The Top Fan — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:01 EST

Two weeks from tonight, the season gets rolling...

I didn't have time this evening to get to an entire story, but I do wish you would click on this photo - it captures the intensity of the college football world...

Thanks for your visit and in two weeks the world will be right again!

Remodeling Michigan

The Top Fan — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:01 EST

The University of Michigan coaching staff, under new hire Rich Rodriguez, is not the only thing in Ann Arbor receiving a makeover this fall. The Big House is also under construction, and the timeline for both will be similar; by 2010, we will know how they turned out. UM has not won the Big-10 since 2004, and that is a major reason Lloyd Carr is no longer pacing the sidelines for the Wolverines.

New Beginnings, Similar Results for WVU in 2008

Geoff Bentzel — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:01 EST

“This is my final job, bar none. And if I’m not getting it done, they won’t have to tell me, I’ll tell them.”

-Bill Stewart

January 3, 2008

Seldom does a college football program experience its worst loss and biggest win in the same season. It is almost unthinkable that both could occur in consecutive games. Such was life in Morgantown during WVU’s 2007 campaign.

ACC-SEC Top 10

Dana Mitchell — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 00:00:01 EST

Each week this season, coming on Tuesdays, I will release my ACC-SEC top 10 rankings. These two conferences overlap like no other two conferences in America, both geographically and historically, and it is my pleasure to tell you who the best 10 of these 24 teams are...Thanks for reading, and please comment if you disagree!

Tebow

The Top Fan — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:01 EST

College football has seen its fair share of freak athletes. From Archie Griffin to Bo Jackson to Deion Sanders to Vince Young, the game has provided us with people who seem to go beyond words. The latest of this type of amateur football player supreme is Tim Tebow, the Florida Gator who seeks Heisman number 2.

2008 Preseason Top 25 (teams 9-17)

The Top Fan — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 00:00:01 EST

9 – Auburn Tigers… The bottom line here is that Auburn is just always a good football team. They find a way to win games, and they play full speed, lights out on every down. This year they will have a nasty and experienced offensive line and a nasty defensive secondary. They are trying to implement the spread offense with quarterback Kody Burns and that should work out in the long run.

2008 Preseason Top 25 (teams 18-25)

The Top Fan — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 00:00:01 EST

18 – Kansas Jayhawks… For the first time in their history, Kansas will be playing with a target on its’ back. The Jayhawks beat nearly every team on their schedule a year ago, and that means one thing: payback! With that said, Kansas will still win most of their games in 2008. The fact is that they have a lot of good players coming back including their quarterback, Junior Todd Reesing.

2008 Preseason Top 25 (teams 1-8)

The Top Fan — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 00:00:01 EST

1 - Southern California Trojans...There are several reasons I could slide USC back a few spots in this poll; they have a new quarterback in either Mark Sanchez or Mitch Mustain, they have a trickier schedule than usual early in the season (traveling across America in week 1 to face Virginia and returning home the next week to host top 5 Ohio State), and they have offensive line questions.

Southern Schools Load Up

The Top Fan — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:01 EST

Thousands of young men across America signed Letters of Intent to play college football yesterday. And, as usual, many of the big names were at the top when the rankings settled. Georgia, Southern California, Alabama, and Notre Dame once again brought in top talent. The biggest mover of the day was Clemson.