Due to an injury that prematurely ended his career, many young people aren’t aware of exactly how good Bo Jackson was at the game of football.

Bo Jackson came to the Auburn Tigers from McAdory High School in McCalla, Alabama where he had lettered in three sports and had won two state titles in the decathlon. In Jackson’s first year on the football team he scored the winning touchdown against in state rival Alabama, helping to end a ten year losing streak to the Crimson Tide. Jackson was a consensus All-American the next year when as a sophomore he rushed for 1,213 yards and led Auburn to an 11-1 record. He also went on to win the MVP award for his play in the Sugar Bowl that season. His junior year would be somewhat disappointing when a shoulder injury forced him to miss six games and the Tigers finished with a record of 9-4. He did make it back early from the injury and would eventually win the MVP award for his play in the Liberty Bowl. Jackson came back strong for his senior season when he would be named a unanimous All-American selection, average 6.6 yards every time he rushed the ball, and would finish the year winning the Outstanding Offensive Player in the Cotton Bowl. That wasn’t the end of the awards that year as he would go on to be named Player of the Year by the Sporting News, UPI, and the Walter Camp Foundation. During his senior season at Auburn he would have eleven different runs of fifty yards or more, including five that were over seventy yards in length. He would also win the Heisman Trophy following his senior season.

Football wasn’t the only thing Bo Jackson excelled at while in college. He also played baseball, starting in centerfield and batting over .400 one season, and ran on the track team.

In terms of being athletically gifted, the likes of Bo Jackson may never be seen again.

By now, everyone knows that the number one ranked college football team in the country was upset a couple of days ago. Oregon State University defeated the USC Trojans 33-31 in a huge stunner. Now the college football world is upside down with a few teams poised to try and make a move to be the next top ranked team.

An interesting fact regarding this game, it had been 41 years since Oregon State had defeated a team that was ranked number one overall. That team? The 1967 USC Trojans led by O.J. Simpson.

The University of Southern California is currently ranked number one in the nation in college football and they are one of the most storied college football programs in the country’s history. They always seem to be in the news every year, making headlines with their incredible on field performances. So here is a look at some interesting facts about the USC Trojans.

The NFL Draft started in 1937 and from then up through the 2008 NFL Draft, only one year has passed by without a USC Trojan being selected by any NFL team, that year was the second year of the draft, 1938.

The most career touchdowns scored in the NFL by a former USC player is 145 by former Raiders and Chiefs running back Marcus Allen.

The tallest player ever drafted into the NFL from USC was 6′8″, this was done three times, the most recent occuring in 1986 when the San Diego Chargers drafted offensive lineman James Fitzpatrick. The heaviest player ever drafted out of USC was in 2006 when 340 pound Deuce Lutui was picked by the Arizona Cardinals.

The first USC Trojan inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was former halfback and star of the New York Giants, Frank Gifford in 1977.

In 1970, USC became the first fully racially integrated college football team to play in the state of Alabama when they played the University of Alabama.

If during any college football day USC wins while both Notre Dame and UCLA lose, it is known among Trojan fans as a “perfect day”.

The first Trojan inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame was former head coach Howard Jones.

Through the 2008 induction, there are 11 former USC Trojans that have gotten enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The most players ever drafted in one year out of the University of Southern California was in 1953 when fifteen players left USC for the NFL. Twice USC has had fourteen players selected in the NFL Draft, that happened in 1975 and 1977.

Some of the former USC Trojan football players who have made the transition to the sidelines and coaching: Jeff Fisher, Jack Del Rio, Mike Holmgren, Sam Anno, Rocky Seto, Hudson Houck, Jim Fassel, and Kennedy Pola.

With the University of Georgia being ranked number one in the nation at this time before the college football season starts, let’s look at a couple of interesting facts about the Bulldogs.

What former Georgia Bulldog football player scored more touchdowns in the NFL than any other former Georgia player?

Herschel Walker did as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants (84 Touchdowns).

What former University of Georgia football player played in more NFL games than any other Bulldog footballer?

Fran Tarkenton did as the quarterback of both the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants (246 Games). He went on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Lets take a look at the 2008 enshrinement class for the College Football Hall of Fame. Not that it says anything about their college career, but which ones had successful pro football careers? The following players will be inducted this year.

Jim Ballard - QB - Mount Union (Ohio) - 1991-93
Tom Brahaney - Center - Oklahoma - 1970-72
Dave Brown - Defensive Back - Michigan - 1972-74
Jeff Davis - Linebacker - Clemson - 1978-81
Doug Flutie - QB - Boston College - 1981-84
Johnnie Johnson - Defensive Back - Texas - 1976-79
Rex Kern - QB - Ohio State - 1968-70
Ronald McKinnon - Linebacker - North Alabama - 1992-95
John Randle - Defensive End - Texas A&M-Kingsville - 1988-89
Ahmad Rashad - RB/WR - Oregon - 1969-71
Brad Rowland - HB - McMurry College - 1947-50
Anthony Thompson - RB - Indiana - 1986-89
Wilson Whitley - Defensive Tackle - Houston - 1973-76
Reggie Williams - Linebacker - Dartmouth - 1973-75
Richard Wood - Linebacker - Southern California 1972-75
Chris Zorich - Defensive Tackle - Notre Dame - 1988-90

The most successful NFL’ers out of that group by far are Ahmad Rashad and Doug Flutie. After that, Chris Zorich, Reggie Williams, and Dave Brown also had long and successful careers. All of these players though made a huge impact on the world of college football.

Baylor University has a long football tradition that their fans are justifiably proud of. Many quality college football players have come through the system and some have moved on to have exceptional careers in the National Football League as well. Baylor has made a good showing for itself, especially when you consider the football powerhouses that are located geographically close to Baylor, as well as the fact that Baylor is the only private school playing in it’s conference (the Big 12) and is smaller than most of the large state universities it plays against.

Well over 150 players have played football at Baylor University and gone on to the pros, let’s look at some of the great football players who have worn those instantly recognizable Baylor football jerseys in the past and gone on to play football on Sundays in the NFL:

Walter Abercrombie
Cody Carlson
Ray Crockett
Santana Dotson
James Francis
Dennis Gentry
Bobby Lane
Vann McElroy
Gerald McNeil
Frank Pollard
Reyna Thompson

And, who could forget Pro Football Hall-of-Famer: Mike Singletary

Baylor football fans have much to be proud of from their past, and their future looks bright and secure as well.

Go Bears!

Why Treat LSU Like A Stepping Stone?

It seems almost a yearly occurrence, people speculating where the Louisiana State University football coach will move on to next. Will he jump to the pros? Will he jump to a “big name” school? Maybe he’ll take a job coaching his alma mater.

Nick Saban left LSU shortly after winning a National Championship in 2003 to become head coach of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Shortly thereafter, he left the NFL to return to the college ranks as head coach of the University of Alabama.

Fast forward a mere four years later and the LSU Tigers are National Champions again after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes. And, what controversy surrounded the LSU program shortly before the game? Would Tigers’ head coach Les Miles leave Louisiana to take the head coaching job at the University of Michigan that was being vacated by Lloyd Carr.

Two National Championships in four years, in addition to regularly appearing in and finishing the season in the top 20… and people continue to talk of LSU as a stepping stone to better opportunities? Show me a college program, with the exceptions of Southern California that has comparable accomplishments recently.

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About The Rose Bowl

It’s the Grand Daddy of Them All – Everyone knows the Rose Bowl!
But, here are ten thing you may not know about the oldest college football bowl game.

• 1. The 1922 Rose Bowl between California and Washington & Jefferson ended in a 0-0 tie.

• 2. Five of the first seven Rose Bowls had the losing teams score no points (shutouts)

• 3. The 1942 Rose Bowl was won by Oregon State University. The game was played at Duke University’s field in Durham, North Carolina. The game had been moved across the country due to the banning of gatherings of large crowds on the west coast following the Pearl Harbor attack.

• 4. There is only one member of the Pac 10 or Big 10 that has never appeared in a Rose Bowl; The University of Arizona.

• 5. The Rose Bowl was originally called the ‘Tournament East-West Football Game’ in 1902.

• 6. Between 1968 and 1980, a span of 13 seasons, the University of Southern California won the Rose Bowl seven times.

• 7. The University of California (1949, 1950, 1951) and the University of Michigan (1977, 1978, 1979) are the only teams to have lost three consecutive Rose Bowls.

• 8. Longtime Chicago Bears Head Coach and Owner George Halas was the MVP of the 1919 Rose Bowl.

• 9. On the “Live At The Fillmore East” recording from New Year’s Day 1970, Jimi Hendrix precedes his song ‘The Power of Soul’ by saying regarding the Rose Bowl, “Right now I would like to congratulate the Southern California Trojans. I’m very happy that they beat Michigan.”

• 10. Stanford lost the first Rose Bowl in 1902 to Michigan by a score of 49-0. The score could’ve been much worse had Stanford not quit the game after the third quarter.

Rose Bowl Parity

With the advent of the BCS series, the old system of conference champions going to specific bowl games has somewhat fell to the wayside. For 52 years, from 1946 to 1997, the Rose Bowl pitted the champion of the Big Ten versus the champion of the Pac Ten. Early on, the Big Ten seemed to dominate, but in the 1970’s and 80’s it was the Pac Ten’s turn. After the 1997 season was over the Rose Bowl became part of the BCS system and ceased to be a game fought only by those two conferences. So, after 52 years who was the better conference? Amazingly, each conference won 26 times.

Congratulations to University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow on winning the 2007 Heisman Trophy Award.  He was the favorite to win it going into the ceremony, and the favorite paid off.

What next?

Two previous quarterbacks from the University of Florida have won the Heisman Trophy, and didn’t have the most success in the NFL.

Danny Wuerffel - 1996 Heisman Trophy

Wuerffel played just four seasons in the NFL, the first three (1997, 1998, and 1999) with the New Orleans Saints and then didn’t play again until a 2002 stint with the Washington Redskins.  Never a regular starting quarterback, Wuerffel also did not finish any of his seasons with more touchdowns than interceptions, and in only two of his seasons did he finish with a completion percentage above fifty percent.

Steve Spurrier - 1966 Heisman Trophy

Though making his name as a very successful college football coach, particularly at his alma mater the University of Florida, Spurrier’s ten year stint as an NFL quarterback was not a complete success.  A sometimes starter during his career, Spurrier played the first nine seasons of his career with the San Francisco 49ers and his final year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  In only one season did he have more touchdown passes than interceptions, and some seasons as a backup he attempted less than ten passes over the course of the entire season.

Tim Tebow, being the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman, doesn’t necessarily have to worry about the NFL at this point, but here’s wishing him good luck in becoming the most successful Florida Gator Heisman Trophy winning quarterback to play in the NFL.

Few things are as emotional as having your favorite college football team in a BCS game, and scammer (online and off) love taking advantage of people that have their judgement impaired because they are letting emotions rule their thoughts.

Here is an article regarding getting scammed with bogus BCS tickets this year that is well worth the read.

November is a great time to be a football fan, college or pro. Around this time of year the college football awards start heating up with talk of which player will get which award. By far the award with the most hype and prestige is the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best collegiate football player, but another impressive award is the Doak Walker Award. The Doak Walker Award is given to the nation’s best collegiate running back and to be eligible a player must be in good academic standing at their school and be on track to graduate within one year of their class.

Doak Walker starred for the Southern Methodist University Mustangs as a running back, defensive back, placekicker who also sometimes managed to throw passes too. He was an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 1948. Walker also lettered at SMU in basketball and baseball and was named the MVP of the Cotton Bowl in 1948 and 1949.

Walker went on to make it to the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame even though his professional career lasted only six seasons. Doak Walker was voted All-Pro four times during his six year career and helped lead the Detroit Lions to two NFL Championships. He was named Rookie-of-the-Year and also led the NFL in scoring in 1950. Walker would go on to lead the league in scoring again in 1955, his last season as a professional. Walker’s career points scored totals out at 534 points, helped by the fact that in addition to being one of the best running backs in the game he also was an accomplished field goal kicker at the same time.

The Doak Walker Award was first given out in 1990 and Mr. Walker passed away in 1998. Doak Walker, one of the best the game has ever seen.

With all the sudden attention and hype focused on Matt Ryan, the quarterback for the Boston College Eagles, it reminds us that there was once another Boston College quarterback who made a name for himself. Doug Flutie, that’s right… what made him famous again?

Oh, that’s right… his pass to Gerard Phelan beat the (at the time) seemingly unbeatable Miami Hurricanes. Flutie would go on to win the Heisman Trophy, win championships in the Canadian Football League, and quarterback in the NFL.

What will become of Matt Ryan?

Prompted by Stanford’s recent upset over USC, let’s look at a quick comparison of the types of athletes each school gets using the NFL Draft as an evaluator of talent. Let’s examine a year-by-year analysis:

Over the course of the last ten years there have been 47 players from the University of Southern California drafted into the NFL as opposed to 35 from Stanford. That twelve player advantage doesn’t tell the whole story though, let’s look at so-called “notable” players.

USC:
Dewayne Jarrett
Steve Smith
Reggie Bush
Matt Leinart
LenDale White
Lofa Tatupu
Carson Palmer
Troy Polamalu

Stanford:
Alex Smith
Kwame Harris

Just another way of stating the magnitude of the upset… USC had absolutely every reason in the world to beat Stanford… and couldn’t pull it off.