Joe C sits down with Davis Love III

Next year’s Ryder Cup Captain talks golf on 1010XL as he gets set to host the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island, Ga. October 13th-16th

John vs Alec…they’re baseball fans…and we’re in a pennant race!

Yankees clinch last night-champagne for everyone in pinstripes. What about tha ‘Sooxxx? Here’s another installment of the New Era campaign for the official lids in MLB – Alec Baldwin and John Kransinski and it’s genius…watch

Jags & Panthers injury report

INJURY REPORT
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers
Thursday, September 22, 2011
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Player	Injury	Wed. Participation	Thurs. Participation	Fri. Participation	Game Status
DT Tyson Alualu	Knee	Limited	Full
CB Derek Cox	Chest	Full	Full
WR Jason Hill	Hip	Limited	Limited
FB Greg Jones	Not injury related	Limited	Full
RB Maurice Jones-Drew	Not injury related	Limited	Full
DE Aaron Kampman	Knee	Did not participate	Did not participate
TE Marcedes Lewis	Calf	Limited	Full
CB Rashean Mathis	Not injury related	Limited	Full
WR Kassim Osgood	Hamstring	Did not participate	Did not participate
G/C Jason Spitz	Quadriceps	—	Limited
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Player	Injury	Wed. Participation	Thurs. Participation	Fri. Participation	Game Status
S Charles Godfrey	Head	Did not participate	Did not participate
QB Cam Newton	Ankle	Full	Full
CB Chris Gamble	Ankle	—	Limited
PARTICIPATION DEFINITIONS:
DID NOT PARTICIPATE:  May play, but did not participate in that day’s practice
LIMITED:  Participation – less than 100% of the player’s normal reps
FULL:  Participation – 100% of the player’s normal reps
STATUS DEFINITIOINS:
Out:  Player definitely will not play
Doubtful:  At least 75% chance player will not play
Questionable:  50-50 chance player will not play
Probable:  Virtual certainty player will be available for normal duty

A football life: Bill Belichick

The NFL Network will air more of the Hoodie.  It’s Part II of the inside look at Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. Such an interesting character to watch from afar and then gain an even greater insight into who he truly is to the people closest to him and how players seem to love to play for him.

Should be a great watch.A football life: Bill Belichick

A new and improved ACC?

What a scramble we are in store for in college football. With Texas A&M’s announcement they’re bailing on the Big-12, now all conferences are on red alert to make sure they don’t miss out.

We knew this was coming…but right smack-dab in the middle of the college football season?!? That’s what’s getting me – do this in the offseason, let us enjoy our football.  But, as expected, once the first shoe dropped with the Aggies, the conference cash grab was on.

Here’s Heather Dinich, who does a very good job covering the ACC, on possible expansion…

By Heather Dinich
ESPN.com

The Atlantic Coast Conference has been approached by at least 10 schools about possible membership, a group that includes the Big East’s Pitt and Syracuse, both of which have tendered letters of application, a high-ranking ACC official said Saturday morning.

In addition, amid a “fluid landscape” in conference alignment, the ACC presidents have unanimously approved to increase the buyout for schools to leave the conference from $12 million-$14 million to $20 million, the source said, making it a highly unlikely scenario that any ACC teams defect from the conference.

“I like the move. The landscape of college sports is rapidly changing and frankly, the Big East is not strong enough to survive it’s current course.”— Ex-Syracuse quarterback and College Hall of Famer Donald McPherson

   University athletic directors and ACC officials have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to the current membership, but the increased buyout will make it much more costly for them to go back on their word. The increase in the buyout was approved at the annual meeting of university presidents this past week.

Another ACC source confirmed the addition of teams is not only valid, but a very real possibility. ACC officials have declined to comment, and no sources were aware of a timetable.

This is familiar territory for the ACC, which added former Big East teams Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College in 2004 and 2005 to get to its current 12-member format. Should it happen again, this move would likely be even far more difficult for the Big East to overcome.

For schools to leave the Big East, they must pay $5 million and give 27 months notice.

The New York Times first reported on Friday night that the ACC was in talks with Syracuse and Pittsburgh about leaving the Big East to join the league.

If Syracuse and Pittsburgh decide to leave the Big East, it could lead to another dramatic shuffle in college athletics. Texas A&M has announced its intention to join the Southeastern Conference, leaving the future of the Big 12 in doubt.

Baylor and Iowa State have already reached out to the Big East as a backup in case the Big 12 falls apart.

Big East spokesperson John Paquette said Saturday that league commissioner John Marinatto had no comment on word that Pitt and Syracuse have inquired about membership in the ACC.

Syracuse is a founding member of the Big East, and Pittsburgh joined the league in 1982.

Mike Finn, the ACC’s associate commissioner for football communications, told The Associated Press late Friday night he was unaware of any such talks and didn’t know anything about the Times’ report.

Former Syracuse quarterback Donald McPherson, a Heisman runner-up in 1987 when the Orange went 11-0-1, approved of the school’s push for membership in the ACC.

“I like the move,” said McPherson, elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. “The landscape of college sports is rapidly changing and frankly, the Big East is not strong enough to survive it’s current course.

“It’s only asset the Big East has is the TV market, which may house the birthplace but has never been the soul of college football.”

TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte, whose program is scheduled to join the Big East next season, said Saturday he was worried about what appears to be another pending conference shakeup.

“But if you are great at your craft there will always be a place for you,” Del Conte said. “I feel great about how we are healthy athletically and fiscally. I feel good about the things we can control. There are so many moving parts and it’s an amazing journey college athletics is on. I’m not sure who really knows when it will be over.

“It’s crazy,” Del Conte added. “It’s nerve wracking for everyone in college athletics. There are earthquakes going on all around us. And we don’t know when they’ll settle.”

LSU shuts down the ‘Dogs

Dan Mullen’s Miss. State had big plans for 2011. After two SEC contests, the Bulldogs are 0-2 in the league. And worse, the Tigers of LSU sent State into a state of confusion on how to move the football and find the end zone.

Before Thursday night’s game, Mississippi State was 1-1, averaging 588 yards of offense in the first two games. Against the Tiger D – the Bulldogs managed just 190 total yards (running back Vick Ballard had 10 carries for 38 yards) and after two field goals tied LSU’s early scoring output, it was all Tigers the rest of the way. LSU wins it 19-6.

How jacked up was Mississippi State coming into the Thursday night nationally televised stage on ESPN? They cancelled the days’ classes on campus so the students could get ready for the game.  

And I would submit based on this photo – students in Mississippi need as much ‘schooling’ as they can get

Moss says No Mas

From WEEI in Boston:

Wide receiver Randy Moss seems to be very serious about his decision to retire.  Just last week it was reported that Moss visited the Saints at their practice facility.  Shortly after the initial report was released,  it was confirmed that Moss was never down in the New Orleans area.

Moss was at a golf outing in the Boston area on Thursday and Ian Meropol of WEEI and WAAF morning show co-host Lyndon Byerswere both able to catch up with Moss.   They asked him if they’d see him in Gillette Stadium this year.

“No,” Moss said.  “I’m done.”

Randy Moss says 'he's done.'

Moss claimed he was in Boston to just play Golf.

“I’m just here golfing, minding my business,” Moss said.

The belief around the league is that Moss would come back to the NFL and sign with a team,  if it was an ideal situation for him.

Jag fan takes a hit

Here’s an interesting story that’s picking up steam on Twitter. Check it out, if true, it’s not a glowing review of the Jaguar fan base. Keep in mind, rivals make people do crazy things and it’s completely unfair to judge an entire fan base with one fans’ actions but this won’t paint the Jag fan in a favorable light…

Jaguar Fans Celebrate Home-Opener vs. Titans with Steve McNair Skeleton

Published on: September 14, 2011 | Written by: Clay Travis Jaguar fans tailgating before the season opener with some questionable decorations

A little over two years ago Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was murdered in a downtown Nashville condo. The violent murder still lingers in the city of Nashville. McNair wasn’t an isolated sports star adrift from the city; he was a popular pro athlete who called Nashville home and was embraced by the community. Even two years later his death still stings. McNair, who led the Titans to many big wins in Jacksonville — most notably the AFC Title game in 2000 — doesn’t have the same popularity in north Florida.

Two days ago the Titans opened the season at division rival Jacksonville. The game was a far cry from the AFC championship game in 2000. Two mediocre football teams battled in the Florida sun for three hours before the game came to a merciful 16-14 end. The Jaguars triumphed on the field, but they didn’t triumph in the pregame tailgate.

That’s because some Jaguar fans set up a skeleton at a tailgate wearing a bloody and torn Steve McNair jersey.

The picture, which arrives via email from a reputable source, included these details: “A very close friend who lives in Jacksonville that is a big Jaguars fan took the photo Sunday before the game. He asked me who #9 belonged to. When I replied he apologized for the classless Jag fans.”

Amazingly this isn’t the first controversy involving a skeleton wearing a Steve McNair jersey. In September of 2009, just two months after his murder, Kings Island amusement park in Ohio also featured a skeleton wearing a McNair jersey. The park apologized for the display and removed it from view.

Two years later the McNair skeleton is back. This time at an NFL tailgate.

It is, however, nice to see that the same Jaguar fans who dressed up a skeleton in the jersey of a murdered NFL star also were patriotic enough to fly the flag on 9/11. It’s the little things that count.

The little things such as: what will become of the 46 Jacksonville Jaguar fans when the franchise relocates to Los Angeles?

Floyd not back with Florida just yet….

NCAA rules UF’s Sharrif Floyd must sit two games, repay $2,700

Posted by John Taylor on September 8, 2011, 5:21 PM EDT

 

Two days after a hearing in front of the NCAA to clarify his eligibility, Florida’s Sharrif Floyd has heard The Association’s ruling on his case.  Suffice to say, it’s not music to the defensive lineman’s ears, especially financially.

In a statement, the NCAA announced that Floyd will be forced to sit for two games — he’s already sat one — and repay $2,700 to a charity in order to regain his eligibility.  UF had previously declared Floyd ineligible for violations of NCAA preferential treatment rules.

The NCAA found that Floyd had received “$2,500 cash over several months from an individual not associated with the university. Floyd used the money for living expenses, transportation and other expenses.”  The release went on to state that “he received impermissible benefits prior to enrollment, including transportation and lodging related to unofficial visits to several institutions.”

UF was not one of those schools, the NCAA ruled.

“We examine each situation carefully and consider all elements related to a student-athlete’s individual circumstances and the violation,” an NCAA statement read. “This gives us the flexibility to tailor the conditions of reinstatement that take into account all details and are in the best interest of the involved student-athlete.”

Perhaps in an effort to highlight their boundless benevolence, the NCAA noted in its release that Floyd could actually have received a four-game suspension; but, “[b]ased on the mitigating circumstances in the case” — with those being Floyd’s “personal hardship that led to the impermissible benefits being provided to the student-athlete by someone other than a legal guardian or family member” — the “withholding condition” was cut in half to two.

Of course, this also begs the question: how the hell is Floyd supposed to repay $2,700 if personal hardship less than two years ago led him to accept $2,700 in impermissible benefits in the first place?

Regardless, Floyd, who missed the opener against FAU after being declared eligible on game day, will also missed this weekend’s game against UAB.  He had been a starter heading into the 2011 season.

Texas A&M to the SEC if….

Here’s a story from Orangebloods.com outlining what needs to happen for the SEC to welcome the Aggies to the league…

Chip Brown, Orangebloods.com Columnist

Hold everything folks.

The Southeastern Conference presidents met Tuesday night and voted to admit Texas A&M. But the vote came with a stipulation that still must be worked out.

The SEC presidents voted to admit Texas A&M as the 13th member of that league so long as each individual member of the Big 12 waives its right to litigation against the SEC.

And it was unclear Tuesday night if all nine remaining members of the Big 12 would waive that right, sources said. The Big 12 schools were expected to discuss the matter on Wednesday, sources said. That’s the same day Texas A&M has planned a celebration in College Station to announce its admission into the SEC, sources said.

If even one of the Big 12 schools refuse to waive their right to sue the SEC over its courtship of Texas A&M, the SEC could withdraw its vote to admit A&M, sources said.

After letters were exchanged by SEC commissioner Mike Slive and Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe Tuesday, Beebe told Slive the Big 12 conference office had waived its right to litigate against Texas A&M or the SEC but that the Big 12’s waiver was not binding on the individual members of the Big 12, sources said.

The SEC indicated it would admit Texas A&M only upon condition that each individual member of the Big 12 waive its right to sue the SEC, sources said.

And that condition was in doubt Tuesday night, sources said.

Stay tuned.