5-at-10: College football, Mocs defensive challenge, short on Johnny Football, Rushmore of bad Heisman

Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin

Gang, mailbag.

You know the drill. We also will release our college football bowl contest on Friday, so there's that, too.

From the "Talks too much" studios, as we kick off our new-look website, remember we got our name by sharing five topics at 10 a.m. — The 5-at-10 — so there's that.

College football hodgepodge

OK, we had a few things to share and while they are casually connected, they are not one big topic.

Let's start here: A decade ago, who would have ever believed it would be this difficult for Michigan to find a coach. Former NFL exec Gil Brandt said on Twitter that he heard David Cutcliffe was offered the job and turned it down. Yep, we have arrived at the bizzaro world of college football where Michigan can't wrestle away Duke's coach. E-gad.

Speaking of Duke, major props to David Helton, the Duke linebacker and former Baylor School star, who was awarded the Campbell Trophy on Tuesday night as the nation's top scholar athlete. Great kid who has really worked to make himself a great player.

photo Lane Kiffin

Speaking of awards, Lane Kiffin got jobbed when the Broyles Award went to Tom Herman, THE offensive coordinator at THE Ohio State University. Yes, Herman worked through three QBs this year, but Kiffin engineered a record-setting attack at Alabama with a converted running back taking snaps and using Amari Cooper all over the place. We are starting to believe Kiffin will be a head coach somewhere sooner rather than later if he wants.

Speaking of wants, we want to know when college football officially got the "Polynesian College Football Player of the Year" award? Not surprisingly, Marcus Mariota won it, which means he may be the first player to sweep the Polynesian College Football of the Year award and the Heisman in the same year, because we're pretty sure Cam Newton did not get the coveted PCFPY a few years ago.

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UTC update — looking at UNH's offense statisitcally

We are two days from UTC's quarterfinal showdown with top-ranked New Hampshire.

Here's UTC football ace Stephen Hargis' daily report on UNH's top receiver and what he means to the Wildcats and possibly the outcome.

Also in that report is the simple fact that UNH's top rusher injured his knee last week. Jimmy Owens, who had a team-best 638 yards on the season, will miss Friday's game.

If there's one team still playing in the FCS bracket that could absorb an injury like that it's UNH. The Wildcats have won 11 straight games and are outscoring foes 42-18 at home. They have done it with an array of options and a balance that seems a bit like a statistical miscalculation.

How much do the Wildcats spread the ball around? Because of some quarterback injuries six Wildcats have thrown a pass, including running back Nico Steriti, who is 2-for-2 with a 73-yard TD pass. They average more than 450 yards a game — 277 passing and 177 rushing — and have scored 35 rushing TDs. The convert more than half of their third-down attempts.

It's a complete and consistent offense that has enjoyed an impressive season against arguably the best conference in the FCS.

That said, the Mocs defensively bring a big-time advantage into every game. UTC's defensive line may be the best in the FCS, and, while the Wildcats have been mind-numbingly consistent and steady, UNH has allowed 71 tackles for loss and 25 sacks this season.

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That short person

Does any back-up quarterback anywhere make as much noise as Johnny Football?

Dude is preparing for his first start this week primarily because Brian Hoyer is, well, Brian Hoyer. In Hoyer's last 29 drives as the Cleveland Browns quarterback, he has led them to one more TD than you have. That's less than special.

So enter Johnny Manziel, the first-round maverick who has been lurking over everyone's shoulder since the draft.

And now, the Browns-Bengals game is arguably the most interesting NFL game this weekend. Here's a few of the reasons why:

* Did you know that Johnny Football's birthday was last weekend and to celebrate he had a $600 cake that weighed 45 pounds and looked like a bag of money. Of course he did. (Side note/expert analysis: When the Mrs. 5-at-10 saw the photo of that cake, she said,"That's just bad karma right there. They are going to show that picture of that cake on his "30-for-30" in 10 years when he's broke and dressing up like Scooby Doo and dancing at parties." As always, she's spot-on.)

* Before he ever made his first start, Johnny Football frustrated the opposing coach so much that Marvin Lewis called him a "midget" and then had to immediately start back-pedaling and apologizing in over uber-PC climate.

* And since we are an instant analysis culture, the fans of all the teams that need a quarterback but still passed on Johnny Football will be keenly focused on Sunday.

Does this game mean much in the grand scheme of Johnny Football? Likely no, but we all are curious to see if his gunslinger, play-maker style translate aren't we?

Even if it's just a short sample size. (Rushmore of little people? Go, and yes, Tattoo from Fantasy Island has to be on it.)

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This and that

— Magic Johnson says he wants the Lakers to lose every game. And sadly, he's correct, that would be the best and quickest way for the struggling Lakers to rebuild. This needs to be addressed by the NBA, because purposely putting a rotten product on the floor and getting rewarded for it seems unsports-like. But under the current system, there are three types of teams: The best thing to have is a team to contend for the title such as the Spurs or the LeBrons; the second-best thing is be stinky for three years and build with a fortunate draft; the worst thing is be the Hawks and be in a constant spin cycle of being an eight seed with 40 wins and no chance to get off the treadmill of mediocrity.

— Huckleberry Finn was published on this day in 1884. God bless you Mark Twain.

— Also on this day 197 years ago, Mississippi was admitted to the union. A day later, some gallop poll had Mississippi 20th in education. (Kidding, kidding… mostly.)

— John Lester signed with the Cubs for $155 million over six years. That dude can spend as much as he wants on a cake to celebrate.

— Shhhhhhh, but the Cleveland LeBrons have won eight in a row.

— Cam Newton injured his back in a car wreck. Sometimes we forget these folks are real-life dudes, you know?

— They are making a TV documentary about O.J. Simpson, and playing the lead will be Cuba Gooding Jr. Does anyone have a more eclectic catalog of films than Cuba? Dude won an Oscar in "As Good as it Gets" and was in "A Few Good Men" and "Coming to America" and was great in "Jerry McGuire" and "Boyz in the Hood" but also has some all-time stinkers like "Boat Trip" and "Snow Dogs."

Today's question

Gang, as always feel free to offer your view on any of the above.

Also, we're all ears on your review of the new website.

If you need a Rushmore, today is the 20th anniversary of the Heisman Trophy going to Colorado's Rashaan Salaam. Is he on the Rushmore of worst Heisman winners ever?

Whatcha got?

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