College Football

Penn State, the Everlasting Shadow

July 25, 2012

For an eternity, Penn State football was a model of consistency. Along with being that model, they were lead by the once immovable figure, Joe Paterno. Just when it seemed Joe Paterno was about to ride off into a cloud of college football invincibility, the cloud proved itself to be one of everlasting darkness In the midst of yet another winning season for Paterno and the Nittany Lions, the allegations of the infamous Sandusky hit the university. Almost immediately, Penn State went from being...

Here’s to Half the Postseason College Football Deserves

June 26, 2012

We're not sold on the new NCAA football "playoff" because it only include four teams. It also appears that structure will be locked in for as many as 12 years, which is good for online sports betting sites but means we’re right where we were many moons ago when we all thought the BCS was a great idea.

When will the NCAA’s Bubble Burst?

February 12, 2012

With the NFL season coming to a close, I’ve been watching a lot of college basketball of late, eager for March Madness to tip off. For a refresher course on the state of Division I athletics, I watched author Charles Clotfelter’s presentation on “Big-Time Sports in American Universities” (C-Span Book TV) and was caught off guard by one of his stats about the NCAA’s 120 Division I-A athletic departments (those DI universities that play I-A/FBS football rather than I-AA/FCS). According to Clotfelter, who cited...

Who I Would Have Liked to See in the Pro Bowl

January 30, 2012

The best part of today’s Pro Bowl? When the Hawaiian crowd started booing Aaron Rodgers and the nonchalant play of the NFC offense in the first quarter. The half-hearted play early on reminded me why I've never watched an entire Pro Bowl, which has to be the least compelling and competitive All-Star event among the major American sports. There’s just nothing to play for in the Pro Bowl, and most of the veterans there have nothing to prove.

Final 2011 AP College Football Poll

January 15, 2012

A look at the final Associated Press Top 25 NCAA Football rankings to close out the 2011 college football season. Who do you think should be the favorite heading into the 2012 season? Will Alabama be back? Is it LSU’s turn to take over the top spot? Will Florida bounce back, or will Urban Meyer revived Ohio State and make the Buckeyes and top contender? And how did Division I-AA North Dakota State get any votes in the Top 25? Share your thoughts in...

A _______ National Championship

January 10, 2012

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’ve left the names in our beat reporter’s recap of tonight’s “National Championship” blank, because us curmudgeon editors feel it’s not a championship game as defined by every other major professional and collegiate team sport in North America. Until there’s a playoff, we say the national championship. Congratulations _______! NEW ORLEANS — The revenge was sweet. The shutout was even sweeter. In a repeat clash of the No. 1 and 2 teams in the country (as determine by computers and coaches,...

Jim Mora, Jr. is putting together a pretty awesome coaching staff at UCLA

December 15, 2011

Carlos Sandoval is a student at UCLA, which means he bleeds True Blue and Gold. Seriously. Follow him on Twitter: @CarlosatUCLA and check out his UCLA Bruins’ blog, the Sons of Westwood. The UCLA football program has been a pretty funny joke for about a decade now. Since Terry Donahue left, the Bruins have failed to accumulate any sort of momentum or put themselves on the national map. Bob Toledo, Karl Dorrell and recently-fired Rick Neuheisel have failed to live up to expectations. (Although you...

UCLA Football: We want Chris Petersen

November 30, 2011

With Rick Neuheisel out as head honcho of the UCLA football squad, names have been popping up left and right to fill the vacancy. Jon Gruden, Mike Martz, Butch Jones, Bob Stoops, Kevin Sumlin and Chuck Norris have all been mentioned as potential candidates. Of course, the sentiment around the Bruin blogosphere is this: Yes, that’s Boise State’s Chris Petersen in UCLA swag in some version of Rick Neuheisel’s infamous ad telling USC to move over. The UCLA blogosphere is hoping and wishing.

Pac-12 Football: UCLA backs its way into Pac-12 Championship game without even playing

November 26, 2011

Carlos Sandoval is attending the University of California–Los Angeles and, sometimes, blogs about his thoughts on UCLA football and basketball. Please follow him on Twitter. The game UCLA Bruins’ fanatics were dreading and anticipating is now not as important as everyone thought. With losses by Pac-12 South foes Arizona State and Utah to California and Colorado, respectively, and with USC’s ineligibility to play in any form of a postseason, the Bruins are Pac-12 South champs. Well, technically. Of course, we all know that the real Pac-12...

Black Friday Deals for Sports Fans

November 23, 2011

So this is a sports blog and all, but I know the bloggers and sports fans who visit BallHyped.com also geek out on tech gadgets and Black Friday deals this time of year. I know I’m already filling out my gift list of gadgets as we speak, preparing for the holiday season, so I thought I’d share with you my favorite Black Friday deals for sports fans: Best Buy Best Buy has a handful of great tablet deals for sports fans who want to...