From the "Talks too much" studios, you want lists and we got lists. Let's do a college football top-five or three.
Top-five coaches in college football
1. Nick Saban
In this Oct. 16, 2010, file photo, Florida's Urban Meyer looks on during the first half against Mississippi Sate in an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla. Meyer is stepping down as coach after the Gators appearance in the Outback Bowl. In a statement released by the university on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, Meyer says "it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field." (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin, File)2. Urban Meyer
3. Jim Harbaugh (Yes, he's that highlight regarded and when this was posted he was still two hours from being named the Michigan coach.)
4. Jimbo Fisher (Hate him all you want for sticking his head in the sand as his program has been speeding toward The U status, but know that he is an underrated Xs and Os guy, he recruit as well as anyone and he has kept this bunch on point through arguably the most distraction-filled season of all-time.)
5. Steve Spurrier (Yes, he'll be 70 next spring, and yes, there were a slew of other guys such as Art Briles and Gus Malzahn and David Cutcliffe who deserve some mention, but Spurrier is still the Head Ball Coach, and that's enough for me.)
Top-five coaching hot seats going into next season
1. Miami's Al Golden
2. Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (Yes, we know what he's won and what he;s rebuilt at Oklahoma, but the natives are restless and the absolute pantsing the Sooners received from Clemson was embarrassing. Also, there is only one preseason top-five team not in the final four teams in the college football playoff. Care to guess who it is? Yep, Bob's Sooners.)
3. North Carolina's Larry Fedora
Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason.4. Vandy's Derek Mason (It's hard to imagine a worst first year for Mason, who watched as an assistant was arrested before the season and the then watched as Vandy's development was equally handcuffed. Mason inherited the Commodores program riding a historic run of success and undid it a 30-point loss in the opener. Now, after parting ways with both coordinators, Mason's on the clock.)
5. Notre Dame's Brian Kelly (Yes, it seems crazy, but the end of the year meltdown was obvious and the unrest in the fan base is tangible.)
Top-five best bowls left
1. Alabama-Ohio State (Classic programs, classic uniforms, classic coaches who likely are not that fond of each other equals the chance at an instant classic.
2. Oregon-Florida State (Arguably the top two picks in the draft and the last two Heisman winners lead their teams in the other semifinal. Good times.)
3. Mississippi State-Georgia Tech
4. Michigan State-Baylor (Opposite strengths meet.)
5. Ole Miss-TCU (Another Big 12-SEC match-up, which right now has been less than close considering Arkansas thumped Texas and Texas A&M beat West Virginia in recent bowl games after Arkansas, Auburn and Alabama posted regular-season wins over Big 12 foes.)
This and that
Ndamukong Suh was suspended for stomping on Aaron Rodgers. Literally. Thought we should pass it along, and maybe raise the question, "Uh guys, you know there are like 20 cameras filming everything even in like super-slow-motion during the games, right?"
As you start clicking on end of the year stuff, go to Jayson Stark's here, and read among other things about a 2014 MLB lineup that was set to Tommy Tutone's one-hit wonder "867-5309/Jenny" with the '0' being the DH for the Rays on July 3. Seriously.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith speaks at a news conference after the loss against the Carolina Panthers in Atlanta.We had no problem with the Mike Smith axing, it felt like it had to be done. That said, there does not be a clear front-runner for the Atlanta Falcons to answer the question, "Who are you going to get that would be better?" We got no problem with Rex Ryan among the candidates out there to tell you the truth.
We generally look up birthdays on a daily basis, and it's hard to remember a better birthday for sports superstars than today, considering LeBron James (30), Tiger Woods (39) and Sandy Koufax (79) each was born on Dec. 30.Wow.
Today's question
Feel free to weigh in on any of the above, but if you need a Rushmore and who doesn't need a Rushmore let's go with who is on our Rushmore of sports stars of yesteryear that would be in the same pickle as Johnny Football is today if the 24/7 sports spin cycle and social media were around in there day.
We'll start with Mickey Mantle, Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler and Wilt Chamberlain dude could really score after all.
Whatcha' got?