May 18, 2012

Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Vault / 2008 Archives

Witten to Sign Autographs at Gameday Connexion

December 4, 2008 By toddler Leave a Comment

Saturday, December 13th, Dallas Cowboy pro bowl TE Jason Witten will be signing autographs at Gameday Connexion in Fort Worth.  Witten is the do-everything TE from the University of Tennessee and has

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys

developed into one of Cowboy QB Tony Romo’s favorite targets.  The autograph session will begin at 12:30 PM at the Fort Worth store which is located in Ridegmar Mall just around the corner from The Rave Movie Theater.

The prices for the signing range from $59 to $79 depending on what you bring to sign.  Of course, if you don’t have anything for Witten to sign, you can pick something up at the store.  Gameday Connexion is the best place to get memorabilia with items such as mini-helmets, jerseys, photos, etc.

In addition to Witten, Cowboy rookie TE Martellus Bennett will be at Gameday Connexion to sign autographs.  Martellus has been a very good addition to the Cowboys this season catching TD passes in each of the last three games including the game winner against Redskins.

Filed Under: 2008 Archives Tagged With: , , ,

Grayhound’s Picks Wins DFW Pickem

December 2, 2008 By toddler 2 Comments

Ron Gift, otherwise known as Grayhound’s Picks rallied to win the DFW Pickem based on tie breakers.  Ron had an incredible four tie breaker wins to put him in a tie for first with Gary Hutcherson, otherwise known as HUTCH’s Picks, with 58 points.  When you look at the pic of the final results at the bottom, it will list cftt’s picks as first, but that is me.  Therefore, I will not be awarding myself any prizes.

Ron is retired and lives in Henrico, VA, which is near Richmond.  Ron kind of roots for the underdog, and he likes and admires Joe Paterno which helps him lean toward Penn State.  At 73 years young, Ron has 4 children and 8 grandchildren.  Ron will receive a autographed copy of A Cowboy’s Life by Bob Lilly.  Congratulations Ron!

The second place winner (co-winner) is Gary Hutcherson who lives Frankfurt, KY.  Gary is a native Texan and a big Dallas Cowboy fan.  Gary also follows the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide.  It must have been a good year for Gary.  Gary also mentioned that he played linebacker for Western Kentucky University.

Rounding out the top 5 is THE FINCH from SpitbloodTCU.com, tommyallen’s picks, and rebeltimes picks.  I have accumulated a few prizes, therefore, the top 5 will receive something from

Collegefootballtopten.com.  It was a good year as we will not play the next week of the championship games.  Gary asked me if we were going to do a bowl pickem, but I have decided not to.  However, if you are interested in joining a bowl pickem, I recommend you signing up to play with SpitBloodTCU.  I am sure there will be others at the Fun Office Pools website.  I have thought about doing some kind of mock playoff which would be interactive somehow.

Grayhound’s Picks won based on winning 4 tie breakers.

Filed Under: 2008 Archives, DFW Pickem Tagged With: , ,

Books for the Football-crazed Fan

December 2, 2008 By toddler Leave a Comment

I wrote an article similar to this at Pegasus News which were only related to books about DFW area football.  For Collegefootballtopten.com, I am going to expand it beyond any geographic boundaries.  If you are compiling a “wish list” for the holidays, or if you are simply looking for a gift for your football-crazed fan, I am here to help.

1.  The Galloping Ghost by Gary Andrew Poole
This may be the best book I have read this year.  I have absolutely loved reading this book (I am not done yet) about a football player that most of us today do not know much about.  Poole has done a remarkable job of telling the story and the stories of Grange and the characters in his life such as his college coach Bob Zuppke and his agent C. C. Pyle.

2.  Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx
This book is about more than football.  It is about what it means to grow up and be a man and how that effects relationships.  Marx recaptured some of his youth when he went looking for members of the old Baltimore Colts team in which he was a ball boy.  Subsequently, he followed around Joe Ehrmann as he coached a high school football team and learned a few lessons for life.  It is a very inspirational book.

3.  Fourth and New Orleans by Benjamin Hochman and Chris Scelfo
What happens when one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent memory batters the town where you go to school and play football?  That is the story of the Tulane Green Wave football team in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.  Hochman along with then Tulane coach Chris Scelfo, recount the story which is heart-wrenching.

4.  Bowls, Polls, and Tattered Souls by Stewart Mandel
Want to know why we have this BCS mess?  Well Mandel answers the questions of the modern day dilemma in college football’s highest division.  He goes to great links to give you a historical perspective on the issues today which make Division I A football one of the most watched and controversal sports today.

5.  Meat Market by Bruce Feldman
Do you want to know how those top teams land those prized recruits?  Feldman takes us inside the “war room” of former coach Ed Oregeron’s Ole Miss program to see how he almost landed prize recruit Joe McKnight and several other stars.

6.  Twelve Mighty Orphans by Jim Dent
This is another inspiring story of how a high school football team made up of orphans who were undersized dominated North Texas football and regularly competed for a shot at the state title in the highest division in Texas during the 30′s and 40′s.  It reads like a story with short chapters.  Dent has captured the story so well that some have decided it should be a movie.

7.  Rose Bowl Dreams by Adam Jones
Jones tells the heartwarming story of how he went from growing up on the campus of West Texas State University to being one of the biggest Texas Longhorn fans in Austin.  Jones retells the story of Texas’ run from that of mediocrity to national champions under the guidance of one Vincent Young.  Substitute your team, and this could be your story.

8.  Tarnished Heisman by Don Yaeger
In the middle of one of the greatest runs in college football in recent history by the USC Trojans is the story of Reggie Bush.  Yaeger researched the story, and the results are published in this book complete with some transcripts and a website to boot.  Did Reggie Bush get paid to play?  Pick up the book and decide for yourself.

9.  Top Dawg by Rob Suggs
Instrumental in the return to power in college football for the Georgia Bulldogs is head coach Mark Richt.  Suggs recounts the downturn in the Georgia program following the years of Vince Dooley, and how Richt brought it back to national relevance.  Important to the story and to Rich is the inspiriation of his family and faith.  This is another good inspirational read.

10.  For Dallas Cowboy Fans
I will mention three books for Dallas Cowboy fans, two of which are recent releases.

A Cowboy’s Life by Bob Lilly
Hall of Famer Bob Lilly recounts his times as a football player for the TCU Horned Frogs and the Dallas Cowboys.  Rober Staubach writes the Foward.

Texas Stadium by Mac Engel
The 2008 season is the last for the Cowboys as Texas Stadium, and Engel captures some of its greatest memories.  Engel covers the Dallas Cowboys for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and also is an adjuct professor at the Bob Schieffer School of Journalism at Texas Christian University.

Tony Romo by Mac Engel
This book earns the distinction of being the first ever book written about Romo after his rise to become the Cowboy’s new star at quarterback.  The recounts Tony’s journey from the small town in Wisconsin to the bright lights of the NFL.

Filed Under: 2008 Archives, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Christmas Shopping at CFTT

November 30, 2008 By toddler Leave a Comment
Retailers Hope for Strong Christmas Despite Recession

That’s right!  You can Christmas shop right here from Collegefootballtopten.com.  Until January, I will have a page up which can direct you to the gifts for the college football fans in your life.  You can shop for tickets to games, by jerseys, books, etc. You can also get CFTT Gear from our CFTT Shopppe.  There are tons of different gift ideas that you can come up with simply by logging on to our Christmas Shopping page.  Plus, you will be supporting your favorite college football website.

Just visit the Christmas Shopping Page at Collegefootballtopten.com.

Filed Under: 2008 Archives Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Metroplex Monday: Last Edition

November 30, 2008 By toddler Leave a Comment

It wasn’t a good year for SMU and UNT.  The two combined for the 2 wins, the same number of losses that TCU had on its own.  SMU’s only win was against a Football Championship Subdivision team, and UNT’s

NCAA FOOTBALL: NOV 08 Memphis at SMU

only win was against a FCS team who is transitioning to the Bowl Championship Subdivision.  Does that make UNT better?

June Jones, SMU’s coach, came in with reputation of turning around a program quickly after his one year turn around of Hawaii.  However, he endured all kinds of problems this year.  Can Jones get this program turned around?  SMU ponied up the cash, and now its time to see if June really do “cometh.”

A lot of people around Denton aren’t sure what to make of the Todd Dodge “experiement.”  However, Dodge had an unusual number of bad circumstances to happen this year.  He lost multiple players to suspension, injury or simply leaving the program.  Many of those players were receivers, a position in which numbers are important to the Dodge Spread Offense.  Dodge recruited extra receivers in his first two classes to get the numbers, and then lost several of those.  More importantly, UNT needs to recruit some good offensive and defensive linemen to begin the process of winning the trenches.  To improve his defense, I would recommend that the UNT coaching staff travel south to Fort Worth and take a defensive coaching clinic from Gary Patterson and Dick Bumpas.

What they are saying

UNT

Brett Vito–DRC

Brett Vito–DRC

Brett Vito–DRC

SMU

Bobbi Roquemore

Bobbi Roquemore

Filed Under: 2008 Archives Tagged With: , , ,

Sunday Night Rewind: The BCS Has Saved the Day!

November 30, 2008 By toddler Leave a Comment

Whew!!!!  I really just did not not know what we were going to do.  I mean, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma were all tied at the top of the Big 12 South with a legitimate shot at a BCS title game, but only one could go to the Big 12 Championship Game.

Of course, we look to our wise sages for answers, and they helped us make a decision.  Coaches from as far away as California and New England decided that Oklahoma’s throttling of two top twelve teams two weeks in a row was worthy to put them in front of Texas and Texas Tech.  Longhorn fans are fuming.  What happened to 45 to 35 (Texas’ score over Oklahoma if you didn’t know)?  What happened to to 39 to 33 (Tech over UT)?  It’s madness I tell you!  Madness!  Only it is November not March.

Oh well, what’s done is done.  It will be Oklahoma vs. Missouri (again) for the Big 12 title.  Of course, if Chase Daniel has some magic left and Mizzou upsets Oklahoma, well, I guess Texas gets to go to the BCS title game.  Who needs a playoff (tongue in cheek!), this is just fine!

BCS Standings

  1. Alabama 12-0
  2. Oklahoma 11-1
  3. Texas 11-1
  4. Florida 11-1
  5. USC 10-1
  6. Utah 12-0
  7. Texas Tech 11-1
  8. Penn State 11-1
  9. Boise State 12-0
  10. Ohio State 10-2

AP Standings

  1. Alabama (62) 12-0
  2. Florida (3) 11-1
  3. Texas 11-1
  4. Oklahoma 11-1
  5. USC 10-1
  6. Penn State 11-1
  7. Utah 12-0
  8. Texas Tech 11-1
  9. Boise State 12-0
  10. Ohio State 10-2

Filed Under: 2008 Archives, Sunday Night Rewind Tagged With: , , ,

Top Ten Things I’m Thankful For

November 27, 2008 By toddler Leave a Comment

I think that this might become an annual event.  Maybe people will even make a big deal about it.  Oh well, it is a lot of fun to do.  I have my ten things together, and some will be similar to last year’s post.  So, here they are.

10.  Technology
Technology allows us to do what we do on the internet.  My job is much easier with technology, computers that is.  We use cell phones, watch TV’s, listen to music, and surf the internet because of technology.  My wife even baked Thanksgiving pies because of technology.

9.  Christmas Season
Last year I mentioned autumn.  I do love autumn, but I like the Christmas season too.  We celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but the season lasts about four to five weeks.  In fact, Friday will be the first “official” shopping day for Christmas.  Many of you will be out trying to catch those deals.  We get to hear Christmas music for about two months, listen to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and see some of the best movies like It’s a Wonderful Life.

8.  Work/Job
It might not be the absolute best job in the world, but I have one.  It provides me with a paycheck and health insurance.  We also get to talk to customers about books.  I also have some pretty cool co-workers.

7.  Stories
I love stories.  People have stories to tell.  Currently, I am reading about the story of the great Red Grange, the The Galloping Ghost by Gary Andrew Poole.  I have read a lot of stories in the last year, and I enjoy hearing other people’s stories.  Most of the time.

6.  Serafina

My cat serafina

My cat serafina

She’s my cat.  She is pretty entertaining, and she gives good hugs.  She usually roots for tigers, lions or wildcats when we watch football.

5.  Football
My site is a football site, right?  Well, I enjoy watching it.  Mostly, I enjoy watching college, but I watched a couple of high school games this year for my friends who play at Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, TX.  I’ll even watch the Dallas Cowboys play.

4.  Coffee
What would I do without coffee?  I would probably be much better off.  Coffee that keeps me going include Seattle’s Best Coffee, Peet’s, Community Coffee, and Aduro Bean Coffee from right here in Fort Worth.  Check those guys out.  They do a great job, and they roast their own beans.  They will ship to you or you can arrange to pick it up if you live in Fort Worth.

3.  Writing
I have done more of it in the past year than in a long time.  I have written here at Collegefootballtopten.com, Pegasus News and the Nebraska Sports Journal.  Word is that Sports Illustrated is looking to replace Stewart Mandel with me (not really!).

2.  Blogger Friends
I have made some blogger friends in the past year.  Let’s take an inventory.  When I really got going in the Spring, Brian from Inthebleachers.net was very helpful.  He answered all of my emails and added my site to his blogroll.  Thank you Brian for being the class of the college football blogosphere.  Next, I met Kevin from Fanblogs.com.  Kevin too has answered all of my emails.  Then, there is the Wiz who has also answered my emails.  He gave me credit for two poster schedules that I sent in giving me a lot of visits.  Then I met Eddie at The Red Zone Report.  He helped me with my Texas Tour.  Then there was Doug at Collegefootballwalkon.com.  He is establishing an award for college football walk ons.  Locally, I met Josh Harvey from Big Purple Nation, theFinch from SpitbloodTCU.com, and Harry Miers from GoMeanGreen.com.  I am sorry you guys from UNT didn’t have more to cheer about this year.  Finally, I made friends with Seth from Double T Nation, Thomas Gray who runs Mean Green Cougar Red and John who runs the Nebraska Sports Journal.  Thanks guys!

1.  Family/Wife
How does one make it in life without his/her family?  My wife goes to all of my surgeries, and puts up with me.  She probably endures way more than she is allowed to.  My mom and dad are pretty cool living in Conway, AR.  My brother and his wife have three beautiful kids.  His oldest, will be the next great Razorback quarterback, right?  Or maybe slugger on the baseball team.  Great family!

Filed Under: 2008 Archives, Top Tens Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Update: Top Ten Returning QB’s

November 25, 2008 By toddler 2 Comments

I thought I would do an update of the Top Ten Returning QB’s article I wrote earlier in the year.  How are some of those QB’s doing anyway?  Have you ever heard of Nate Davis?

Texas Tech v Oklahoma

1.  Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
Sam was spectacular Saturday night against Texas Tech, and, well, has been all year.  Remember, he has one more game left with Oklahoma State before he plays in post-season play.
Numbers: 193.76 QB Rating, 68.2%, 3,710 and 42 touchdowns, 6 INT’s and a 193.76 rating.

2.  Tim Tebow, Florida
Tebow started slow, but he and Florida cranked it up after Ole Miss.  Tebow also hasn’t had to worry as much about running the ball as Florida has found other ways to run it.  He is, however, still a threat.
Numbers: 175.19 QB Rating, 65.8%, 2,114 yards passing, 427 yards rushing, 22 passing TD’s and 11 rushing TD’s.

3.  Todd Reesing, Kansas
Kansas has struggled after their Orange Bowl year.  The Jayhawks will make another bowl, but it won’t be as pretty.
Numbers: 144.99 QB Rating, 64.8%, 3,200 yards, 24 TD’s, and 10 INT’s

4.  Rusty Smith, Florida Atlantic
I expected more from Florida Atlantic this year, but then Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger found himself a marked man after talking like Texas wasn’t very physical.  The Longhorns whipped them in the first game, and they were never the same.
Numbers: 123.30 QB Rating, 54% 2,529 yards passing, 17 TD’s and 13 INT’s.

5.  Nate Davis, Ball State

Eastern Michigan v Ball State

Davis just helped Ball State to a perfect 12-0 record and the MAC West Division Championship. David Letterman will be very proud.  I wonder if Davis will end up doing a “Tonight’s Top Ten” on Letterman.
Numbers: 168.98 QB Rating, 67.2%, 2822 yards passing, 24 TD’s and 7 INT’s.

6.  Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
A dream season for the Red Raiders in spite of the loss to Oklahoma.  Texas Tech has a legitimate shot at a BCS bowl game.  Harrell and his receiver, Michael Crabtree, are possible Heisman Trophy finalists.
Numbers: 164.96 QB Rating, 70.5%, 4,438 yards passing, 39 TD’s and 6 INT’s.

7.  Chase Daniel, Missouri
The Tigers were number two in the country before losing at home to Oklahoma State.  Then, they went to Austin and lost, but have been winning ever since.  We all know that Chase was playing well.
Numbers: 171.18 QB Rating, 76.5%, 3,592 yards passing, 30 TD’s and 11 INT’s.

8.  Trevor Vitatoe, UTEP
Vittatoe is a poduct of Euless Trinity High School in Texas and he has just been a great QB for UTEP.  Unfortunately, the Miners haven’t matched his play.
Numbers: 149.08 QB Rating, 59.2%, 2,961 yards passing, 31 TD’s and 6 INT’s.

9.  Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
Nevada gave Boise State everything that it wanted and some more Saturday before bowing out to Boise’s perfect season.  Kaepernick runs Chris Ault’s Pistol really well, and he still young.
Numbers: 128.03 QB Rating, 54.4%, 2,082 yards passing, 1,087 yards rushing, 15 passing TD’s and 4 INT’s, 16 rushing TD’s

10.  Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State
Robinson has led Oklahoma State to one of its best seasons in years, and a win Saturday against Oklahoma would mean 10 wins.
Numbers: 178.02 QB Rating, 67.2%, 2,481 yards passing, 21 TD’s, 7 INT’s and 418 yards rushing.

Filed Under: 2008 Archives, Top Tens Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Holiday Shopping at CFTT

November 23, 2008 By toddler Leave a Comment

Friday is known as “Black Friday.”  Of course, as all of us retailers know, that signals the first “official” day of Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving.  So, you had better be done with your thanking, because the mad rush to buy the whole world Christmas gifts will be on.  (I know I am not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition).  Anyway, why don’t you come up with a gift from the Collegefootballtopten.com Gear Store.

While we don’t have every item you might need, we do have some good stuff.  Who wouldn’t want a new sweatshirt.  O.k., somone living where the weather doesn’t get cold.  But that’s o.k., we have T-Shirts and even stuffed bears!  There are a lot of neat stuff with the Collegefootballtopten.com logo on them.

And hey, I’ll even give a portion of whatever profit I make between now and Christmas (say 50%) to the Red Cross.  This year’s disaster relief fund has dwindled down due to the many disasters this country has faced.  My home state of Arkansas was hit multiple tornadoes and floods, and Texas, of course, had a damaging hurricane.  So, go ahead, make a purchase at the CFTT Shoppe.

Filed Under: 2008 Archives

Coming Soon

November 23, 2008 By toddler Leave a Comment

Coming in 2009

A new player in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Filed Under: 2008 Archives
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »