Are you kidding me? It's Friday already? It's the Friday before a holiday weekend already? For crying out loud, I have a ton of stuff to do before I head home for the Independence Day festivities and I'll bet you do, too, so let's get right to it:
- The Dawg Sports history of college bowl games is ongoing, having been recounted in three previous installments, with the conclusion to follow. Stay tuned.
- While I do not share Bob Ryan's low estimation of the blogosphere, I will concede that good work sometimes is done by the mainstream news media, as well . . . as evidenced by Stewart Mandel's declaration that Mark Richt is among the top 10 coaches in Division I-A and Ivan Maisel's conclusion that Herschel Walker was the greatest player ever to wear the number 34. For what it's worth, though, someone should let Bob Ryan know that those insights of Mandel's and Maisel's were available to this blogger here at Dawg Sports well before those professional journalists came to those self-evident realizations . . . and I don't concede for a minute that Ryan can write about sports better than I or any of a dozen other bloggers I can name could ever dream of doing.
I'm better looking than you are, too, Bob.
- Giving credit where credit is due, Burnt Orange Nation steered me towards Ivan Maisel's column . . . and B.O.N. also pointed me in the direction of The Wizard's rationale for including Colorado in an expanded Pac-10. In outlining this intriguing prospect, The Wizard opined that, if the Buffaloes bolted, the Big 12 "likely would look to snare Arkansas from the SEC. The Razorbacks, from a geographical standpoint, are a better fit in the Big 12." While I agree with The Wizard that Arkansas belongs back in the reconstituted Southwest Conference, I would move Colorado to the Mountain West . . . but, again, that may just be me.
- The SportsBlogs Nation stable of college sports webloggers includes supporters of two teams from the Big Ten, one team from the Big 12, three teams from the Pac-10, and four teams from the S.E.C. . . . plus one booster from the aforementioned Mountain West: Block U, who is following in the footsteps of Sunday Morning Quarterback along the path to becoming a major blogger for a mid-major team. Block U makes no concessions to the so-called B.C.S. conferences, giving no deference to U.C.L.A., declaring the Utes worthy of invitations to join the Pac-10 and play in a B.C.S. bowl game, and calling his readers' attention to the latest poll question here at Dawg Sports. How seriously should we take this mid-major . . . I'm sorry; out of respect for Block U, I will use his preferred term, non-B.C.S. . . . team? Well, less than seven hours after the new poll question was posted, Utah had received over 100 votes as this year's B.C.S. buster. If Utah's football players and coaches are as hardworking as their bloggers . . . watch out, world!
The next time the Utes have to come in here, they're cracking skulls!
- While we're on the subject of Dawg Sports poll questions, I would direct your attention to the results of the previous poll, the gist of which was that, when it comes to predicting which team will win the 2006 national championship, most of us appear to be casting our first-place votes for "danged if I know." For my part, I'm all about the uncertainty and the debate it inspires.
- At long last, Nathan has gotten back to work! His excellent analysis of Pac-10 mascots is required reading. (How did I manage to miss the details on the demise of Arizona's live mascot?)
Just imagine how heinous an abomination Oregon State's mascot would be if Nike had a hand in designing it.
- It occurred to me yesterday that, in practical consequence, the myriad of responses offered in answer to Orson Swindle's BlogPoll roundtable discussion questions amounted to compliance with The Weblogging Disclosure Statement. Thanks, Orson.
- A.C. is making a list of great Westerns and, while we're on the subject of the wild, wild West, I should call your attention to the fact that, just as pink is the new black and 12 is the new 11, the Big Ten is the new Pac-10.
30 yards and a cloud of dust?
That ought to get you all caught up and ready to face the weekend. Now knock back that cup of coffee and get down to business while you still can . . . and, in case I don't talk to you again beforehand, have a happy Independence Day.
Go 'Dawgs!