SportsNation Blog Archives
Pittsburgh Panthers
Did Todd Graham make a wise choice?

After just one season at Pitt, Todd Graham left the program of Dan Marino and accepted the head coaching job at Arizona State.
OMG, did he really send a text?

This is not how Graham said goodbye to his players at Pitt. Instead, having already resigned, he sent them a text message.
Can we get a ruling from Lane Kiffin?

Graham isn't the first coach to jump ship after one season (although he's now done it twice after leaving Rice in similar fashion). Is the model also employed by Kiffin OK?
What about June Jones?

Some will say Graham is the second coach Arizona State hired for this opening. It's tough to know exactly what happened to scuttle June Jones' plans, but was he a better choice?
Not a great deal changed on the field in college football this past weekend, where Oklahoma solidified its hold on No. 1 with a win over Florida State. Off the field? Yeah, about that. It appears Florida State will soon have more company in the ACC after the conference approved Pittsburgh and Syracuse as new members. Is this the biggest domino to fall thus far in conference realignment? More: Rank the Top 25 in college football.
- "Geez, I go out to Los Angeles to watch Syracuse play USC and I come back to find out Syracuse is now a member of the ACC. Didn't see this one coming." -- SN commenter gsgriffin4
- "I think what's important here is we may finally be done listening to Big East fans talk about how much better they are in basketball than everyone else. It's a good day." -- SN commenter sharar09
Which school is a bigger prize?

When it comes to January road trips, we're not sure either Pittsburgh or Syracuse is much of a prize, but which school is a bigger addition?
Where does the ACC go from here?

Rumors already are swirling about the ACC adding Connecticut and Rutgers to reach the apparently magical total of 16 teams.
Biggest move to date?

Colorado, Nebraska and Utah are the only schools actually competing in new conferences at the moment, but Pitt and Syracuse joined Texas A&M in securing the blessing of new partners.
What about the bigger picture?

The height of greed and hypocrisy? A fresh look and new rivalries? Much ado about nothing that matters? What's your take on the state of conference realignment?
Which leftovers go bad first?

In addition to rumors about UConn and Rutgers, reports have talks again heating up between the Pac-12 and Texas and Oklahoma.
- Rank 'Em: Who are the nation's best running backs? | Big East Power Rankings
- Chat: Big East blogger Brian Bennett takes your questions, 2 ET
We're only a week away from life once again having purpose and meaning. That's right, college football season is a mere seven days away -- or 168 hours or 10,080 minutes, assuming you read this at precisely 6:30 p.m. ET, the time Wake Forest and Presbyterian are scheduled to kick off on Sept. 2 (live on ESPN3.com).
It may not take long for both the Heisman and national title races to kick into gear either. Boise State and Virginia Tech are getting a lot of love for their Labor Day clash, but next Thursday brings Pitt and star running back Dion Lewis playing on the road at Utah.
But is Lewis even the best back in a conference Big East blogger Brian Bennett says may offer unparalleled depth at the position? Check out the tale of the tape.
hh (Destin)
Is Running Back the deepest position in the Big East this year?
Big East blogger Brian Bennett
Far and away. Not sure there's a better RB league in the country in '10. Full transcript
Submarine Mike (Jackosnville Fl)
Is Noel Devine a sleeper in the Heisman race and is he a possible late 1st rounder
Mel Kiper
I think he is a Heisman candidate. I don't think he's a sleeper. He commands leadership in the lockerroom. He has that explosive first step. Pound for pound, he's the best football player in the country. This is a team that has a chance to win the Big East. Geno Smith is the key. He is the next QB in line. If you look at the defense, all three DL are seniors. The defense would be really good. They have two studs on this defense in Chris Neild and Robert Sands, who is clearly their best NFL prospect. Full transcript
Lynn (Monticello, FL)
Hi Ivan, I like Pitt to win the Big East this season and looking at their schedule I feel they could run the table at having a shot at the National Championship. Your thoughts.
Ivan Maisel
I agree on both counts. The Panthers are ranked high enough at the outset that a climb to the top is plausible. That would be a great story. I pull for the great stories. Full transcript
More games from ESPN Arcade »
- Vote: GameDay Pick 'Em | Heisman Watch | SportsNation Top 25
- Vote on big topics: Charlie Weis' future | Auburn at Georgia
- Blogger chat wraps: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-10 | SEC | Others
- More wraps: Mark Schlabach | Pat Forde | Mel Kiper | Ivan Maisel | Bruce Feldman
- Special guests: Brad Edwards | Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson
It won't be an easy weekend for BCS Cinderellas, even though they're all playing at home. Cincinnati faces No. 25 West Virginia, TCU gets the pressure of GameDay and No. 16 Utah, and Boise State deals with a surprising 7-3 Idaho (and a visiting AD who doesn't like to fly on planes with Broncos markings).
USC fans still have BCS hope, but know their team can't lose again. Boise State, Cincinnati and Iowa fans wonder what more their teams can do, besides pray for a loss by one of the top 3.
Now that Ohio State has two losses SportsNation thinks Ohio State is using Terrelle Pryor incorrectly. Fans, however, still think Sam Bradford is a first-round pick.
Florida State kicked off Week 8 with a needed win, and Alabama, Florida and Texas face opponents they shouldn't overlook.
- Vote: "GameDay" Pick 'Em | Heisman Watch | SportsNation Top 25
- Vote on big games: Tennessee at Alabama | Texas at Missouri
- Blogger chat wraps: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-10 | SEC | Others
- Other wraps: Brad Edwards | Bruce Feldman | Ivan Maisel | Pat Forde | Mark Schlabach
“Mark Ingram is a good reason for [Alabama's] passing to be less of a factor. Wait until next year for any shot of a Vols upset.
” -- Beano Cook
“I pick Florida to win this game, but to be seen as legitimately No. 1, the Gators should win convincingly, even more so than against Arkansas.
” -- IdahoanTyke
“My ranking: 1. Iowa; 2. Florida; 3. Alabama; 4. Texas; 5. Virginia Tech; 6. TCU; 7. Boise State; 8. USC; 9. Oregon; 10. LSU.
” -- CheezusCrust
Fan blogger predictions for Week 8: nunyabiz81 | jodiemeeks23ppat54 | dfpsports | IdahoanTyke | codywin25 | gbirkem2 | utesfan2 | Sportsguru6
ESPN.com's college football writers and bloggers will be going conference by conference in the coming weeks to preview the season ahead, and we're looking for your rankings along the way. Things roll on with the Big East, where blogger Brian Bennett's rankings suggest good things for fans in New Jersey and hope for the reloading West Virginia Mountaineers.
1. Rutgers
2. Pittsburgh
3. West Virginia
T-4. Cincinnati
T-4. South Florida
Check out Bennett's complete Big East rankings.
Columbia, South Carolina, meet Newcastle, England. You probably have some common ancestors. You both have frequently indecipherable, yet highly amusing, accents. And you both love football, if of slightly different varieties. You've also both been relegated. Sorry about that.
Fortunately for fans of the Gamecocks, their relegation is only hypothetical (longtime Premier League mainstay Newcastle's is more alarmingly real for its fans, who will kick off their season Saturday cheering on their lads against West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, English soccer's equivalent of the old I-AA gridiron designation on this side of the Atlantic).
South Carolina ended up on the wrong side of the cut line when SportsNation voted for the 40 teams that should make up Pat Forde's new and improved top flight of college football. Then again, maybe SportsNation mistakenly let its director of operations cast its vote instead. These things have been known to happen.
Things won't become official until Forde, Ivan Maisel and Mark Schlabach conduct a draft for their 40 teams Tuesday, but here's how things look in SportsNation's relegation zone.
Last Five In: Colorado, Pittsburgh, Utah, Illinois, Oregon State
First Five Out: South Carolina, BYU, Louisville, Kansas, North Carolina
- Tebow-gate aside, voters say Steve Spurrier has been good for South Carolina.
- Pick your own top 40 teams for a college football revolution
- Groups: South Carolina Gamecocks | Southeastern Conference | Oregon State Beavers
“Awesome idea, but how about the winner of the lower division gets thrown in the mix of the national championship. America loves an underdog...
” -- orangebloodmike8
“You just hit everything right on the HEAD! You got it right. Absolutely right. Promotion/relegation in college football would be amazingly popular!! The conferences are dated. Most teams in power conferences don't deserve to be there. Conference championships are TERRIBLE!! I have been boycotting bowl games since I realized that true champions are not crowned in this terrible system. My team is the Indiana Hoosiers, and the NCAA should take a lot of stock in the fact that even I am for this set up 100 percent.
” -- JRWambach1983

- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley
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about 8 hours ago
- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley

- SportsNation SportsNation
This was LeBron during clutch time in Game 2: http://t.co/wGlWGXKldC
about 8 hours ago
- SportsNation SportsNation

- SportsNation SportsNation
Good thing Chris Bosh took all those threes in the All-Star Game, it's really paying off now
about 8 hours ago
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about 8 hours ago
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about 8 hours ago
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- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley
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about 8 hours ago
- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley

- SportsNation SportsNation
What do you think LeBron just said to Paul George? We'll RT the best replies.
about 8 hours ago
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- SportsNation SportsNation
Paul George will mail you the poster, Birdman
about 8 hours ago
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- CharissaT Charissa Thompson
Dear Ottawa, "Good Job, Good Effort" #pens
about 9 hours ago
- CharissaT Charissa Thompson

- CharissaT Charissa Thompson
Ahhhhhhh....It was just a matter of time before people "got it" .. Said, Craig Sager
about 9 hours ago
- CharissaT Charissa Thompson

- CharissaT Charissa Thompson
Ahhh Seattle! RT @HannahStormESPN Thnx to @dangerusswilson 1ashtonwilson for a wonderful day in their beautiful city http://t.co/89a5GHl1dw
about 9 hours ago
- CharissaT Charissa Thompson

- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley
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about 12 hours ago
- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley

- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley
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about 13 hours ago
- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley

- kevinwildes Kevin Wildes
@BillSimmons recreating in-air movie options works. Real issue is stagnation. Wouldn't you prefer bball half courts to play 3-on-3?
about 15 hours ago
- kevinwildes Kevin Wildes

- SportsNation SportsNation
Applaud this Tony Allen .GIF and then turn on our show. ESPN2 now- http://t.co/Ht0SakWxFY
about 15 hours ago
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- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley
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about 16 hours ago
- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley

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about 16 hours ago
- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley

- kevinwildes Kevin Wildes
Dear The Future, I love you. RT Could A 3D Printer Produce A Decent Pizza? http://t.co/dMAyt2MeSe
about 19 hours ago
- kevinwildes Kevin Wildes

- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley
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1 day ago
- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley

- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley
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1 day ago
- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley







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