Big Ten Title Game

In a year of unexpected finishes one conference has played as expected, the Big Ten (B1G).  Preseason polls put Ohio State on top of the conference, after an undefeated season in 2012, and into the B1G title game. The Legends division was more so up for grabs than the Leaders.  Many would have argued that Nebraska would make it to Indianapolis, some argued for Michigan, even others for Northwestern, but it is the preseason unranked Spartan's of Michigan State that took the division.  The B1G title game features strength vs. strength, in a heavy weight matchup.  Ohio States run offense is among the tops in the NCAA while Michigan State's rush defense is the best in the country.  When you have that kind of a matchup something has to give. Whomever can control the ground game will control the scoreboard.  My take of the game, Ohio State has way too much offensive weapons to be stopped.  Braxton Miller is one of the best offensive threats in the country and running back Carlos Hyde is running down hill like a freight train.  It pains me to say this but I believe the Buckeyes will take home the championship and earn their spot in the National Championship game. Growing up in Happy Valley, I cannot say "Go Buckeyes" but I would like to see them in the National Championship Game.

SEC Title Game

College football this year has been anything but expected. For the giants in the SEC the unexpected season didn't shy away. Look no farther than the SEC title game for a surprise. The Missouri Tigers in their second season in the conference has made it to the title game.  This after just a 5-7 overall record and a 2-6 record in the SEC last year. The Tigers are playing another breed of Tiger of the Auburn variety.  The Auburn Tigers, though more of a traditional power, are another surprise team this year.  Auburn posted a 3-9 overall record last year and a 0-8 mark in the SEC.  An unexpected matchup of Tigers to say the least. At the beginning of the season if I would have told you a Tiger would win the SEC you would probably think of LSU, but that would have meant the downfall of Alabama, so you probably would not have believed me.  Well believe it or not, it's not the Tide or the LSU Tigers representing the West, but the same Auburn team that went winless in conference play last year.  This is the year of the Tiger, and as far as my pick, I'm going with the Missouri breed. Auburn might struggle to regain focus after a very emotional win against rival Alabama. One of my good friends from high school is studying journalism at Mizzou, it would be pretty neat to see them win.  Go Tigers!! Of the Missouri type that is.

Duke Football??

If I were to tell you that Duke is in the ACC Championship Game you would be thinking basketball.  And if I were to tell you that Duke football is in the ACC Championship Game you would laugh at me.  Laugh all you may but the ten win Blue Devils won the ACC Coastal division and will play top ranked Florida State for the ACC Title tonight.  Duke football is the most surprising team in college football this year.  They were picked dead last in the ACC Coastal in the preseason rankings.  In a three year span between '05 - '07 the Blue devils went 2-33.  A dismal span for any program.  But somehow, someway the Blue Devils are on track and have a chance to shock the college football world with a win in the ACC title game.  Even though a Duke win would swing the door wide open for a dreaded SEC school in the National Championship Game, I would like to see Duke pull off the ultimate Cinderella upset and beat the Seminoles.  My aunt met my uncle at while studying and playing volleyball at Duke so I have been a casual Duke fan all my life.  A Duke win would put them in excellent moods for when I see them for Christmas. Go Blue Devils!!

Ohio State's Shot

After two years of perfect regular season play, and constantly being overlooked, the Ohio State University football team now has a shot at the National Championship Game. Barely. Ohio State just got past a struggling rival Michigan team.  After going undefeated last year Ohio State sat out from any post season play due to NCAA sanctions.  This is the first year since the sanctions they have been eligible for post season play.  They have done what anyone could ask for, going undefeated for a second consecutive regular season.  OSU has the longest winning streak in D-I A but yet they are just barely in the title game.  All year, win after win, Ohio State has been overlooked by the Coaches Pool, AP Pool, and the BCS Rankings. It took till the last week in the regular season for Ohio State to be in control of their own destiny. OSU fans have asked for this moment all year and now they have a front row seat to a chance for the title. I am a Penn State fan and in general I do not care much for the buckeyes but as weird as this is I am rooting for Ohio State. Part of it is that I am just so sick of everyone talking about how the SEC is heads and shoulders better than any other conference, part of it is for Big Ten pride, and part of it is that I actually, kind of, sort of, maybe, feel bad for Ohio State and their fans.  They have been constantly overlooked and deserve a shot at the title game.

The Dynasty that is PSU Women's Volleyball

Dynasty gets thrown around in sports describing a teams success all of the time. To me dynasty gets thrown around far too often. However there is no other way to describe the success for the Penn State women's volleyball program than dynasty.

On a conference level Penn State won the Big Ten title for the 10th time in 11 years this season. A conference in which is arguably the best in the country. Penn State has also had the Big Ten Player of the Year 7 of the last 8 years and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 9 of the last 10 seasons. Penn State has dominated the conference to say the least.

On a national level, the program won four consecutive national championships from 2007 - 2010! If that is not a dynasty I would like to see one. The most impressive of the four championship teams might be the 2008 team. The '08 squad did not drop a set in a match in the regular season. They only dropped two sets in the entirety of the year. They ended up sweeping Stanford for the national championship. The 2008 team is argued for, by many, as the greatest NCAA team of all time. In volleyball there are six players on the court at one time. I mention this because the 2008 team had SIX All-Americans on their team! Nicole Fawcett, Christa Harmotto, Megan Hodge and Alisha Glass earned first team All-America honors and Blair Brown, and Arielle Wilson earned second team All-America honors. Truly an unbelievable feat!

With the number two overall seed and number one seed in their region in the NCAA tournament, Penn State looks to win their first national championship since 2010. This years squad returns four All-American's, one of which is the nations best setter Micha Hancock. Penn State comes into the NCAA tournament with a 19 match winning streak. Let the dynasty continue!

Winthrop Volleyball

When someone asks you what your favorite sport team is they probably would not expect to hear Winthrop Volleyball.  However, that is the answer for me.  Go Eagles! The Winthrop volleyball program came into my life in early March in 2012 when my sister got a phone call. My sister, Emma Weakland was a junior in high school at the time.  She had been playing volleyball for as long as I can remember and this was the day she had been dreaming about for so long.  After years of hard work and competition my younger sister got the call that even I will remember for the rest of my life. She answered the phone call from the head volleyball coach at Winthrop University, her dream school.  After a little small talk she was informed that Winthrop was offering her a full scholarship to attend the university to play volleyball.  It was the most proud moment of my life. Ever since that day in March I became a fan of the program. Not many people have heard of the Winthrop Eagles in Pennsylvania so this blog goes out to them!

It was an up and down season for the Eagles. They finished the year with a 17-15 record and a 6 seed in the Big South Conference tournament.  A season I would take given the circumstances. The eagles were lead by first year coach Bruce Atkinson. He lead a very young team comprised mainly of freshman and sophomores with only two seniors on the roster. The Eagles were so inexperienced that they only had one player returning from the previous season in sophomore middle Rachel Lenz. Another bright spot on the season was the play of junior setter Jessie Vicic who set the Big South Conference record for assists in a season at 1,355.  I am also proud to say that my sister started some games as a freshman at the opposite position and played very well! The outlook for next year looks great! With nearly all starters returning the young team will turn into an experienced and very talented team. I look forward to next year with great anticipation and expect the Eagles to finish among the top in the Big South. Go Eagles!

Alabama vs. Auburn

I cannot believe what I just saw!!! The famous call of Kirk Gibson's World Series walk off home run could not sum up my thoughts on this years rendition of the Iron Bowl. Incase you missed it: Alabama had a chance to kick a field goal to go up by ten with around two minutes left to play, the field goal was blocked and picked up at the twenty yard line coming out when a dead ball foul gave the tigers fifteen extra yards, Auburn then drove down the field and scored a what looked to be a run but then quarterback, Nick Marshall, pulled up and hit a wide open receiver for the score with just 43 seconds left, Alabama then tried to get into field goal range when their running back appeared to run out the clock before stepping out of bounds, after review the officials added a second on the clock, Alabama lined up for a game wining 57 yard field goal attempt, and then this happened.  The most unbelievable finish to a game that I have seen in my twenty years of watching football.  It was an instant classic. Of Cal v. Stanford proportions. Of the likes of Kordell Stewarts bomb verse Michigan or Doug Flutie's Hail Mary against Miami.  As classic of a finish as Boise State vs. Oklahoma. Alabama vs. Auburn could not have been a better finish for a bigger game.  Not only a rivalry game but number 1 vs. 4 and not only the SEC Championship game on the line but also most likely a National Championship birth on the line.  The SEC West champion has won the last four national championships in college football. The 2013 Iron Bowl will go down as one of the best college football games of all time.