This week in football

Least suspenseful Heisman ever

Winston's hair is often referred to FSU's 12th man.

Although it wasn't the closest Heisman ever (that was 2009 between Ingram and Gerhart) I can't remember a recent one where people were outright proclaiming the winner before the big night. Of course the big cloud surrounding the Winston's Heisman candidacy was rape allegations but those were conveniently thankfully taken care of before voting ended. Truth be told I would have voted for him despite probably needing a shower afterwords.

Raekwon picks Ohio State, vows not to reveal Wu-Tang secret, Ghostface Killa still undecided

Raekwon's M-E-T-H-O-Ds on the field made much much sought after.

Am I too late to get in on this joke? I don't care I'm going to do it anyway. The number 1 inside line backer and 17th best player overall verbally committed to Ohio State on Monday. McMillan as he's sometimes, un-funly known, picked OSU over notable teams Alabama, Georgia, and a few other ones I can't remember. Raekwon is already drawing comparisons to Brandon Spikes. Isn't it great that Urban Meyer can be hundreds of miles away and still steal recruits away from Richt?

Mack brown officially resigns

Brown officially resigned from Texas on last Sunday and immediately the speculation began for who the next coach will be. Well it didn't really start, more like it continued unabated. Wasting no time the new Texas AD has assembled a crack team of advisers as some sort of committee to help pick the next coach.

• Steve Hicks, vice chair of the Board of Regents, one of the board’s athletics liaisons, and owner and executive chairman of Capstar Partners LLC, a private investment firm.
• Robert Stillwell, member of the Board of Regents, one of the board’s athletics liaisons, retired partner at Baker Botts LLP and an original director of Mesa Petroleum Co.
• Michael Clement, accounting professor, McCombs School of Business at UT Austin, and faculty representative to the Men’s and Women’s Athletics Councils.
• Ricardo Hinojosa, United States federal judge for the Southern District of Texas, former member of the university’s Commission of 125.
• Charles Matthews, former vice president and general counsel of Exxon Mobil, current president of the Texas Exes.
• Robert Rowling, former member of the Board of Regents and owner and chairman of TRT Holdings Inc
• Charles Tate, chairman of Capital Royalty, former member of the executive committee of the university’s Commission of 125.
• Pamela Willeford, former U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein and former chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

With Saban out of the picture Jimbo Fisher is reportedly now the front runner.

I know it's common for ADs to do this sort of thing but I can't help but feel it's just so over-the-top ridiculous. An ambassador to a foreign country? Really? What sort of input could that person give as far as hiring a football coach? This is nothing but extremely rich people wanting their say in one of the most powerful institutions in Texas. It's another example of how overblown college sports are in this country. 

AJ McCarron made dumb comments this week about how it was THE MEDIA that was making the Saban to Texas talk a lot bigger than it needed to be? Really was it the media that was stopping Saban from outright saying from the beginning he had no interest in the job? At any rate Saban should be thanking the pesky media for getting him a nice 2 million dollar raise after losing to Auburn. 

A disturbing trend, sports podcasts that don't talk about sports

Not pictured: toilet flushing sound in the background.

This is just something that has been grinding my gears a bit. I listen to a lot of sports podcasts and one thing that inevitably happens is they veer until nonsense and inside jokes and really just shit no one cares about. I get it, you had some whacky adventure that you think everyone is dying to hear about. But honestly they're not. Please just talk about the weekend's games. Talking about a little shit no one cares about is OK during the off-season.

An even more disturbing trend

I came to an extremely disturbing realization this week. I'll be rooting for Auburn in the NCG. My reasons are thus. I think it's amazing they started the season unranked and in fact didn't get a ranking until week 6 or 7? This after their worse season in 50 some years where they didn't even win a single SEC game. So all that combined with the lingering rapeiness around FSU makes it pretty easy to root for them. Plus, it'll be great to hear the crying if the SEC were to win yet another NCG. The only thing that FSU has going for them in my eyes is it'd be sort of neat if they won so they could say they won the first and last BCS NCG.

It'd be easy to just not have a rooting interest in the game as I have for the past couple but seeing as this is our goodbye to the BCS, that would be no fun.

Long time, no see.

Well, the blog is called "The Off-Season" so I guess it shouldn't be that surprising that that's when I write the most. Really, I'm just awful about this whole, "consistently writing stuff thing".

Since we last spoke Ohio State came really close to getting the chance to get walloped by FSU in the NCG. USC got a new head coach, so did Washington. And now Mack Brown is on the verge of being involuntarily resigned from Texas.

Also there was one of the greatest ending to a game in all of football.

Cade Foster's consolation prize

After numerous death threats from bored hicks Cade Foster, the kicker, who was instrumental in getting the Tide out of the NCG and possibly Saban to leave received words of encouragement from an unexpected source:

Dubya, not known for his tact.

Dubya is a known artist, I'd sure love to see his rendition of the ending of that game.

Jadeveon Clowney's disappearing act

Last year Clowney was expected to be a 1 or two pick in the draft and expectations could not have been higher going into this year. However at this point in the season it's fair to say things have not gone as planned. Questions have arisen over his off he field work ethic and maturity and everyone is wondering how this will effect his draft stock. (Hint: It won't)

Still I can't help but wonder what happened? No doubt offenses have had him in their sights all season after what he did last year.

Shamelessly stolen from here.

Frankly I'm more annoyed with his work ethic. Have you seen how many plays he sits out for? It was joked about last year that he should just sit out in the entire year for his health but maybe he took that literally?

The inevitable has happened with regards to Maurice Clarett

If you've spent any time with my blog you'll know that Maurice Clarett is one of my favorite figures. Needless to say I'm thrilled for the 30 for 30 on him called "Youngstown Boys". It should be pretty good entertainment after one of the most needless Heisman ceremonies in recent memory. 

As usual with these things he made the rounds on ESPN to talk about it and I caught his interview with SVP and Rusillo. 

I was pretty amazed at how mature and grown up he sounded. He basically just sounded like a man who has been through the worst of it and thankfully come out alive on the other end. 

He talked about the night that everyone remembers with the guns, and the katana, and the Grey Goose. He said he had basically reached his breaking point, he realized he was not going to be in the NFL and that he didn't have his athletic ability to fall back on anymore and he had a pregnant girlfriend etc. etc. and it just sounded like a good idea at the time. Maybe he wanted to be caught?

At any rate I'm glad that he uses his life experience to talk to young players and warn them about what happens when your ego gets too big. 

I've always wished him the best and still do.

Hook 'em Mack Brown

I can't help but think Mack Brown's forced retirement is in some way because of my visit to the Texas campus. I can't explain it but I just know in my gut that that's what is. 

So, sorry Texas fans. I'll avoid going to any more campuses from now on. 

Brown's retirement announcement is expected no later than Friday's big soiree thing where he will be speaking so for now the guessing game rages on over who could possible replace him.

Guesses range from Nick Saban to Urban Meyer to Jon Harbaugh. 

Personally I would say Saban by far is the most likely. (Meyer, really?) I'd put it at like 60-40 leaning towards no.