COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECAP WEEK 9

Oregon redshirt freshman RB LaMichael James announced himself as a college football star this weekend!

College football—the beauty of the game is regardless of how much guys like me and many other pundits try and predict what is going to happen—anything can happen—the beauty of sports. As Chris Berman says, “That’s why they play the game folks!” Check out my column this week as I discuss the UNC upset over Virginia Tech, Oregon's throttling of the USC Trojans, Iowa's improbable run towards a BCS game, and much more!

UNC STUNS VT

The weekend got off to an interesting start as the unranked North Carolina Tar Heels shocked the 14^th ranked Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg. UNC kicker Casey Barth nailed two field goals in the final three minutes of the contest to lift the ‘Heels(5-3 overall) to the 20-17 victory. Virginia Tech redshirt freshman running back Ryan Williams made one of the few mistakes of his dazzling freshman campaign thus far, fumbling the ball on his own 24 yard line with 2:09 left in the 4^th quarter. UNC recovered and all they did was run the football, run the clock down, and take a shot at a field goal. They did just that and sure enough the ‘Heels had pulled off one of the more improbable victories of this college football season thus far. The Tar Heels have been plagued by a rather atrocious offensive line and young and inexperienced receivers that don’t run proper routes. Their senior quarterback, T.J. Yates, is one of the more talented signal-callers in the ACC but you wouldn’t know it by looking at his stats this season. He has simply had little or no protection from his offensive line all season long. It’s definitely a big win for the Heels, but until that offensive line finally begins to gel and block effectively for Yates, they will likely struggle the rest of the way.

Freshman running back Ryan Williams was obviously very dejected at the end of the game and despite numerous attempts by UNC players and Virginia Tech players alike to cheer him up, still held his head buried in his hands. It’s understandable why the guy would be so upset, feeling guilty for costing his team the football game, but Williams has done so much for the Hokies as a freshman. He’ll learn from this experience and another star of a running back has already been born in Blacksburg—a place that seems to produce them year-after-year.

The Hokies were ranked as high as fourth in the country at one point this season, but have since dropped to 22^nd in the AP poll and 24^th in the Coaches’ Poll, respectively. They will likely need help from Georgia Tech and Duke if they wish to have a shot at the ACC title.

Speaking of Duke: I was thinking before this college football season that Duke would have an awfully good shot of going to a bowl game…yes you read that correctly, Duke going to a bowl game! Well, sure enough the Blue Devils and their head coach David Cutcliffe have the folks believing down in Durham. After wins this season against in-conference foes N.C. State, Maryland, and Virginia—the Blue Devils are 5-3 overall and only need two more wins to become bowl eligible. I’m not gonna lie I’m not sure I would ever hear the words Duke football and bowl eligible in the same sentence in my lifetime, but you have to give head coach David Cutcliffe all the credit in the world.

Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis has made sure that Duke football is no longer the laughing stock of the ACC. He's one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country and is currently second in the ACC in passing yards per game.

He has done what so many other coaches could not accomplish in Durham and that’s turn the Blue Devils into a very solid football squad. He owes it all to his golden-armed gunslinger this season, quarterback Thaddeus Lewis is truly one of the most underrated players in college football. The super senior nearly led the Blue Devils to an upset victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies(they lost 34-26) when he torched the Hokie secondary for 359 passing yards, while completing 22 of his 40 pass attempts, while tossing in two touchdowns and no interceptions. This season, Lewis has put up gaudy statistics but simply not enough college football fans could tell you, because, it’s Duke. He’s second in the ACC in passing yards per game(289.4 ypg.). Lewis has completed 188 of his 296(63.5 percent) passing attempts while firing 15 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.

Duke is not the Duke football of old, let me tell you folks. They are a team to be reckoned with. While they won’t be making a BCS title run any time soon, the Blue Devils are a very solid football team that is tough to beat.

As long as David Cutcliffe is there they will compete to be a decent team in the ACC. His reputation as a quarterbacks coach has top-notch signal-callers knocking down the door to come to play in Durham. He already has the highly touted quarterback Sean Renfree on his roster, who attended the Elite 11 QB camp in high school, a camp for the nation’s elite high school signal-callers.

High school senior QB Brandon Connette(Santiago High School) could be a future star for the Blue Devils.

One kid who I’m extremely high on and he could end up being a dynamic quarterback of the future for the Duke Blue Devils is QB Brandon Connette, a senior signal-caller for Santiago High School in Corona California. He has already committed to head coach David Cutcliffe and the Blue Devils for the class of 2010. In 2008, he threw for 1,460 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing for 861 yards and 10 touchdowns! Simply gaudy statistics folks. The kid throws a beautiful looking football on the run and has an excellent sense of when to take off in the pocket. He can beat you with his arm or his legs and I really love this kid’s overall skill set. He reminds me in many ways of QB Tate Forcier coming out of high school. A lofty comparison, I know, but this kid has excellent potential. You can’t teach that sixth sense of knowing when the pocket is going to collapse and Connette has that sixth sense. Look out for him in the years to come for the Blue Devils! Check out his highlights below from the 2008-2009 season and judge for yourself:

Holy Hawekye: The fourth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes continue to make their improbable run towards a BCS game, possibly even a BCS national championship game. Their luck has to run out at some point you would think. Well their string of luck continued on Saturday—with Indiana leading 21-7 and with the ball on the 2-yard line, about to go up three scores, the improbable happened. Just as if it appeared that Iowa’s dream season was going to come crashing down, Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell dropped back fired a pass that richoted off five different players, yes five, and then into the awaiting arms of Iowa defender Tyler Sash, who raced 86 yards for a touchdown to cut the Indiana lead to 21-14 with less than 8 minutes left in the third quarter. From then on the Hoosiers would only score three points the rest of the contest as the Hawkeyes piled in on in the fourth, outscoring the Hoosiers 28-0. The Hawkeyes ended up winning 42-24, a very deceiving final score. The loss must be extremely tough to stomach for the Hoosiers, they blew a lead last week against Northwestern. Indiana was up 28-3 against Northwestern last week in the second quarter, but managed to squander that lead as well, losing a 29-28 heartbreaker.

If quarterback Ricky Stanzi keeps throwing interceptions the way he did against Indiana, Iowa's dream season will come to a screaching halt at some point.

I’d look for the clock to strike 12 on the Hawkeyes on November 14^th, when they face the Ohio State Buckeyes. Their luck has to run out at some point. It’s amazing they escaped the Hoosiers, especially since quarterback Ricky Stanzi threw five interceptions. Stanzi threw a game-winning touchdown pass last week against Michigan State at the buzzer and he nearly went from “Spartan Killer” to “Hawkeye Killer” in a matter of two weeks.

Without a doubt, the Hawkeyes are by far the luckiest team in college football, having won four games by three points or less. Two of those wins are against less than flattering opponents(Northern Iowa and Arkansas State). Will the Hawkeyes continue their magical run? We shall see next weekend as they face off against Northwestern on November 7^th.

South Florida knocks off West Virginia yet again:

South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels is one of the most sensational players in all of college football. AP Photo by Chris O'Meara.

Sure the players might change at each program, but as the years pass not much changes when South Florida and West Virginia get together on the gridiron. The Bulls defeated the Mountaineers for the third time in four years on Friday night as South Florida knocked off the 20^th-West Virginia 30-19 on Friday night. The Bulls’ “dual-threat” sensation of a quarterback B.J. Daniels made a name for himself in a big way. The dazzling redshirt freshman passed for 232 yards, three touchdowns, and also rushed for 104 more yards in the Bulls upset victory. The kid clearly has a bright future ahead of him and will be a pleasure to watch once quarterback Matt Grothe graduates next season. Daniels also racked up over 300 all-purpose yards against the Florida State Seminoles earlier this season in leading South Florida to a stunning 17-7 victory in Tallahassee. An interesting matchup looming in the coming weeks will be when South Florida hosts signal-caller Jacory Harris and the Miami Hurricanes. The way Daniels has been playing an upset could definitely be in the works for that game—especially since Miami travels to South Florida.

The best quarterback you’ve never heard of:

Over the past two college football seasons Houston QB Case Keenum has quietly set the college football world ablaze.

That dubious distinction definitely belongs to Houston QB Case Keenum. All Keenum has done the past two seasons at Houston is set the college football world on fire, but because of the visibility of Conference USA, not enough college football fans could tell you who the guy is. One of the most gifted quarterbacks in the country, Keenum puts up some of the gaudiest stat lines you will ever see from a quarterback, week-in, week-out. His latest victim—the Southern Miss Golden Eagle secondary. The junior quarterback led his troops down the field for a game-winning touchdown pass with 21 seconds left to lead the Cougars to a 50-43 shootout victory over the Golden Eagles.

Keenum had a career day in shredding the Southern Miss secondary for an eye gouging 559 yards, completing 44 of his 54 attempts, while tossing in five touchdowns and just one interception. It’s true that Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin loves to sling the ball all over the yard, but when you have a signal-caller like Keenum why wouldn’t you? The guy has put up video game ridiculous numbers, through 8 games this season, he’s already completed over 71 percent of his passes for a staggering 3,293 yards, while tossing in 25 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

Keenum is a native of Abilene, Texas and has helped to add even more tradition to the signal-caller position at Houston, who also produced the likes of the legendary Kevin Kolb under former head coach Art Briles. It would be nice to see Keenum get some Heisman consideration, but Houston’s loss earlier in the season to UTEP hurt the Cougars’ national profile too much. Either way he’s just a junior, so if the Cougars could run the table next season and make it to a BCS bowl game, Keenum would definitely be launched right in the forefront of the Heisman Trophy race.

Bearcats Continue To Roll:

QB Zach Collaros and the 5^th ranked(BCS) Cincinnati Bearcats seem like a team on a mission to destroy anything and everything in their path.

The closest any team has come to defeating them was when the Bearcats beat Fresno State 28-20 on September 26^th. Even though they lost starting quarterback Tony Pike to a wrist injury against Louisville on October 24^th, the Bearcats have not missed a beat since, cruising past Louisville 41-10 and Syracuse 28-7 on Saturday. The biggest reason for that is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in all of college football, the nimble-footed Zach Collaros. The sensational sophomore is blessed with some of the best footwork you will ever see in a quarterback, heck there are a lot of excellent running backs out there that don’t have the feet that Collaros does.

That’s not even mentioning his uncanny passing ability—his ability to throw it on the run and place it with uncanny accuracy. Collaros took the snap on a fake field goal, calmly placed the ball down, picked it up and rolled to his right, bounced back to avoid a defender, then launched a pass off his back foot from the 22-yard line as he was getting hit by a defender. The prayer was answered as a wide open Kazeem Alli caught the pass at the two yard line and scored to make it 14-7 Bearcats.

Then in the third quarter Collaros made one of the most impressive passes of the 2009 college football season. With 12:29 to go in the third quarter, Collaros took the snap in the shotgun, faked a handoff to the Cincinnati running back, took a step to his right, then took another step back to the inside of the field, only to see a Syracuse defender, so he circled back around to his right, and fired a beautifully lofted pass from the 20-yard line that found the outstretched hands of receiver Armon Binns in the back of the end zone. Binns made a remarkably acrobatic grab, fully extending his arms in the air while still managing to getting both feet down in the back of the end zone, all the while being blanketed by a ‘Cuse defender. If you want to see the highlights of the Bearcats 28-7 win over Syracuse—simply click the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt5TE-7o8eo

Collaros is simply a phenomenally gifted quarterback. You might as well nickname him the “great improviser” because there is no better quarterback in college football at improvising in the pocket and finding an open receiver while on the move. Not surprisingly, it’s something the Bearcats practice quite often. Collaros told reporters after the game that the Bearcats practice a scrambling drill every day. “All I know is I like to improvise a little bit,” he said. That's the understatement of the weekend!

Kudos to Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly who has been one of the best coaches in college football since he was at Central Michigan and guided the golden-armed Dan LeFevour to one of his best seasons ever. It seems like no matter who Kelly inserts at quarterback, Ben Mauk, Tony Pike, Zach Collaros, they succeed in his offensive system. He’s a man that knows the quarterback position extremely well and what it takes to succeed at that position. He also knows his offensive scheme(spread) extremely well and knows how to package it around his different personnel.

The Bearcats athletic department better be ready to open up their wallets, because you better believe a ton of top-tier programs will be going after Kelly in the off-season. He seems committed to Cincinnati, but they need to show that commitment back by building the proper facilities and spending the money necessary to attract top-flight talent to the Queen City. They do that and they’ll have a highly successful program for years to come.

Check out his postgame speech after the Syracuse game below on YouTube. Kelly is a charismatic figure who knows how to get the troops fired up and just knows how to get a city buzzing about his football team!

THE HIGH FLYING DUCKS: How about those Oregon Ducks? After losing their season-opener to Boise State, the Ducks have rattled off seven straight victories and currently control their own Rose Bowl destiny. Who would’ve thought it after their tough loss to Boise State and the now infamous post-game punch of star running back LeGarrett Blount. When Blount landed that punch, I thought the Ducks’ season was headed down the tubes with him, but sure enough head coach Chip Kelly has rallied the troops, stuck behind dynamic signal-caller Jeremiah Masoli, and things have fallen into place.

Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli shredded the USC defense on Saturday for over 300 all-purpose yards and helped hand Pete Carroll his worst loss ever at USC.

Chip Kelly is simply too good of an offensive mind for his system to not finally start working. You can credit Oregon’s offensive line, which got off to a rather slow start and just needed time to gel. After the Ducks’ 47-20 throttling of the 5^th ranked USC Trojans—its safe to say the Ducks are a clear cut BCS contender, maybe even BCS national championship contender. Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli showed why he’s such a perfect fit for coach Chip Kelly’s “zone-read” scheme, shredding the USC defense for 164 rushing yards and a touchdown, while also throwing for 221 yards and a touchdown.

Oregon running back LaMichael James made his official announcement as a college football star, loud and clear—the redshirt freshman running back set an Oregon school record for the most yards in a game by a freshman running back by gashing the USC defense for 183 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 24 attempts. The the 5’9, 190 pounder makes up for what he lacks in size with his lethal combination of speed and acceleration. A true burner in the open field, James has already rushed for over 900 yards this season and averages over 7 yards per carry for the Ducks. A former track star from the state of Texas, James won the state track title in the 2006 meet in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.51 seconds.

To get their hands on that coveted crystal football, the Ducks will likely need some help from people above them to lose though. Either way, the Oregon Ducks are one of the hottest teams in college football and if anybody faces them in a BCS game they will be in for a stiff, stiff challenge from one of the most explosive offensive attacks in all of college football.

That’s it for this week folks. Remember, “Life is best described in football terms!” Feel free to drop me an e-mail at wadepeery@yahoo.com or drop me a message on Facebook.

Rashawn Jackson Propels Cavs to 20-9 Win Over 'Terps in College Park

(Photo courtesy Virginia Media Relations/Jim Daves)

The story coming into the Virginia-Maryland matchup was all about how the Cavaliers were without running back Mikell "Juice" Simpson. Many Cavalier fans will remember how in 2007 at College Park, Simpson had one of the most remarkable performances by a running back in Virginia football history(271 all-purpose yards) in propelling the Cavaliers to an 18-17 victory over the 'Terps on homecoming.

Two years might have passed by, but not much has changed during that time in College Park. Another career performance by a Cavalier running back(Rashawn Jackson) and another sweet Cavalier victory. 

Virginia running back Rashawn Jackson celebrates after his touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach, giving the Cavaliers a 20-9 victory in College Park, Md. (Photo courtesy Virginia Media Relations/Jim Daves)

Rashawn Jackson bruised his way through the Maryland defense to the tune of 90 rushing yards, 29 receiving yards, and one touchdown en route to leading his Cavaliers(3-3, 2-0 ACC) to a 20-9 victory over the 'Terps(2-5, 1-2 ACC) in College Park on Saturday. 

The field conditions were horrendous, a rain-soaked field proved to be slippery for both teams and caused a variety of "ball security" issues for Maryland, who had four turnovers in the game.

There were no such "ball security issues" for Jackson, who was the workhorse which the UVa offense leaned on once their star QB Jameel Sewell left during the third quarter with an ankle injury.

The Cavaliers were trailing the Terrapins 9-6, when Maryland quarterback Chris Turner tossed a pass that was deflected by Virginia linebacker Darren Childs into the awaiting hands of defensive lineman Nate Collins. The 290-pounder caught the pass, scooted down the left sideline, and rumbled 32 yards for the score. The touchdown put the Cavs up 13-9 with 1:43 remaining in the third quarter.

Virginia would not relinquish their lead the rest of the way, thanks in large part to their reliable and punishing running back Rashawn Jackson. Back-up quarterback Marc Verica has provided heroics before for Virginia football, but given the rainy and sloppy field conditions, Virginia's coaches were smart to put the ball in the hands of Jackson. 

Jackson's punishing runs not only chewed up yardage and helped move the sticks, but also allowed Virginia to control the clock late in the game. 

To the house big fella! Virginia defensive tackle Nate Collins intercepts a Chris Turner pass and rumbles 32 yards for the game-changing touchdown against the Terrapins! The score put the Cavaliers up 13-9 late in the third quarter and the 'Hoos would not relinquish their lead after that. (Photo courtesy Virginia Media Relations/Jim Daves)

Virginia defensive tackle Nate Collins gets the award for Player of the Game without a doubt. He posted nine tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception returned for a touchdown. He sacked Maryland quarterback Chris Turner at a time when it was the most crucial late in the fourth quarter. 

Maryland was trailing 13-9 with less than three minutes to play in the game, and it was 3rd down and 10 from their own 9 yard line. Terrapin quarterback Chris Turner dropped back, only to be slammed to the turf at the Maryland two yard line by Collins. 

That made it 4th down and 17 for the 'Terps and they turned it over on downs after an incomplete pass by Chris Turner. That allowed Virginia to feed the ball to their workhorse, running back Rashawn Jackson, who punched it in the end zone to make the score, 20-9 Cavaliers. 

Virginia head coach Al Groh has proven that he thrives when his back is against the wall and sure enough in the 2009 campaign, perhaps nothing could be more true. This was a Virginia Cavalier football team that many deemed to be "dead in the water" after their 26-14 nightmare of a loss to D-1AA opponent William and Mary. Their offense struggled mightily once again against TCU, but at the end of that game, something began to click for the Cavalier offense, Jameel Sewell was throwing beautiful strikes, and the Cavaliers have not looked back since. 

Sure, the Cavaliers might have lost to Southern Mississippi 37-34, but it was apparent that it was a completely different football team that started the season out by losing to William and Mary, of all teams. 

The Cavaliers started out with three straight losses this season, but sure enough they've rattled off three straight wins and currently sit atop the ACC Coastal standings all by themselves at 2-0. If you would've said the Cavaliers would be in this position after the William and Mary game, you surely would've been locked up in a room with padded walls and keyless entry. The Cavaliers continue to fight and continue to take on the "never say die" personality of their head coach, Al Groh, who barked after the UNC game to reporter Mike Hogewood, "We're pretty hard to stick a fork in Mike!" 

Next up for the Cavaliers are the 11th ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets--fresh off an impressive 28-23 upset victory over the then fourth ranked Virginia Tech Hokies. Kickoff is slated for noon on Saturday, October 24th. The game will be televised by Raycom Sports. 

EXTRA NOTES

MEMO TO VIRGINIA OC GREGG BRANDON: The man needs to stop his love affair with the QB draw. It's unbelievable how he didn't learn anything from the Indiana game. Brandon called one of the best offensive games seen in Scott Stadium in years against the Indiana Hoosiers when the 'Hoos rolled up over 500 total offensive yards and routed the Hoosiers 47-7. That was a little more than a week ago, but apparently Brandon seems to have a case of amnesia. His play-calling against Maryland in the first quarter was eerily reminiscent of the TCU and William and Mary games all over again. 

Virginia offensive coordinator Greg Brandon needs to stop being so predictable and putting Jameel Sewell in bad situations with the QB draw. It's simply too predictable and he continues to run it, time and time again. Sewell is having far too good of a season to put him in high-risk situations. 

Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell was hotter than grease on a stove on their second offensive drive in the first quarter, connecting passes in the tightest of spaces to a variety of receivers. He was simply dialed in throwing the football. So what does Brandon call when the Cavaliers get in a 3rd and goal situation from the 13 yard line? A delay QB draw. You've got to be kidding me. Not only is it predictable, but it's also unreasonable when your best player on offense is on fire throwing the football. Let Sewell make a play, coach. He's done it for the 'Hoos time and time again. At least give him the option.    

You never want to blame a player getting injured on a coach, but if you continue to call the same, predictable, play, over and over, there's bound to be a swarm of defenders waiting for you. That's exactly what happened when a QB draw was called once again in the third quarter. Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell ran up the middle, where he was met by a slew of Maryland defenders, continued to churn his legs after contact, and was eventually bent backwards over his knees. He then left the game with an ankle injury. All I ask of Brandon is that he needs to stop his love affair with the QB draw, or else you could end up getting the franchise of Virginia football, Jameel Sewell, knocked out for the season. That will not be good for the team or your job security in Charlottesville. 

KUDOS TO VIC HALL: I've said it time and time again that Virginia should use Vic Hall solely on the offensive side of the football and I stand by that statement. But you've got to give him props for the tremendous pass breakup he had near the end zone, in which he prevented a potential Maryland touchdown. The saavy veteran has improved drastically at the defensive back position and made a big-time play for the Cavalier defense. I'd still love to see Virginia utilize his athletic skill set and let him run the football more on jet sweep motions, maybe reverses, or just hand it off to him in the backfield a few more plays a game.

Virginia receiver/holder/safety/QB Vic Hall makes yet another acrobatic grab against a Maryland defender. He's already hauled in 12 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown this season, the majority of which have come in the past two games. (Photo courtesy Virginia Media Relations/Jim Daves)

Hall has been remarkably impressive as a receiver the past few games. He's made some remarkable grabs for the Cavaliers and you have to give the guy credit for being a jack-of-all trades. He's arguably the second-most versatile player in Virginia football history, of course the first being "Bullet" Bill Dudley. 

Virginia receiver Kris Burd is having a spectacular season. He's seen here making an amazing catch against Southern Miss. He leads the team in receptions with 18 catches for 251 yards this year.

IT'S A BURD: Major props go to receiver Kris Burd, who made the most amazing catch of the year for Virginia football against the 'Terps. With the Cavaliers still down 9-3 in the third quarter, it was 3rd down and 8 for Virginia from their own 31 yard line, when quarterback Jameel Sewell dropped back and lofted up a prayer into double coverage. The ball was tipped by a Maryland defender, then somehow dropped in the arms of Burd, who was lying on the ground when he made the catch. He somehow managed to keep his foot in bounds, too. It was a 28-yard catch and it was huge in extending the drive and allowing Virginia to put a field goal up on the board and only trail 9-6. Simply unbelievable grab by Burd. If you want to see the grab then copy and paste the following link, go to www.virginiasportstv.com and check out the video highlights there. 

The Virginia Cavalier defenders were constantly getting their helmets on the football, jarring it loose from Maryland players. This was a picture that became all too familiar for Maryland players on Saturday night in College Park. Turnovers plagued them all night long. (Photo courtesy Virginia Media Relations/Jim Daves)

BALL DISRUPTION: Kudos to the Virginia Cavalier defense, which seemed to have a knack for laying their helmets on the football and jarring it loose from the ball carrier on Saturday. Two Maryland running backs(Douglas and Meggett) had problems securing the football in the sloppy conditions. The Cavalier defense caused four turnovers on Saturday, two fumbles and two interceptions. You know that Al Groh was smiling in that locker room, because he probably only says the phrase 10,000 times over the season! 

That's all for now folks, remember, "Life is best described in football terms." Look for more from me as the college football season continues! Don't be afraid to message me on Facebook or send me an e-mail at wadepeery@yahoo.com. 

Interview with Stevie Lynn Leow

Ladies and Gentlemen. I'd like for you to meet the lovely Miss Stevie Lynn Leow.

She's a native of Paris, Ohio, is an immensely talented photographer(check out her photos on her Facebook page), and oh yeah did I also mention that she happens to be a stunningly beautiful model as well?

One of the best-written descriptions about Stevie Lynn was an IGN article which described her as "a fountain of feminine foxiness". I'm gonna go ahead and step out on a limb here and agree with that assessment.

Stevie Lynn is one of the hottest models in the business right now and recently landed in the November issue of Maxim Magazine! Better hustle out and get 'em while they're hot fellas. Stevie is currently a finalist in Maxim's Hometown Hotties contest and if you want to help her out and vote for her click the following link below: http://www.maxim.com/girls/hotties/2009/81586/stevie-tampa-fl.html?position=2&year=2009#1,84231

Photo courtesy of Terry White Photography

For anybody who thinks they might have a shot with Stevie Lynn, better luck next time, she's already taken by DJ Kidd Leow. Moment of silence. Anyways, I decided I would mix things up and I figured I've never interviewed a model before, so I decided to send Stevie Lynn a few questions on Facebook.

She was kind enough to take the time to write me back and sent me some excellent answers! Anyways, thanks to Stevie Lynn for doing the interview and we all wish her the best of luck in her modeling and photography career! Below is the interview:

Q: You can choose any five people in history to invite to a party. Which five do you choose and why?

A: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Frank Sinatra, Marylin Monroe, and Chris Farley. Dan and John because I love the Blues Brothers, Frank can sing, Marylin is beautiful, and Chris Farley can make everyone laugh!

Stevie Lynn a "fountain of feminine foxiness?" You be the judge.

Q: What's the funniest pick up line you've ever had a guy say to you?

A: “Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?”

Q: Since you've become a Maxim Model, have you seen any new career opportunities arise for you?

A: Yes, I've gotten lots of modeling offers and my friend requests are out of control! It’s nice to know I have a lot of support.

Q: Tell us the story on how exactly you got discovered?

A: I started as a photographer doing mostly landscapes and people kept telling me I was on the wrong side of the camera. So, finally I gave modeling a shot. I still do photography as a hobby.

Q: How big of a sports fan are you?

A: I love college football.

Stevie is a big fan of college football.

Q: Have you gotten to meet any big celebrities that you've always wanted to since you were a kid?

A: Don't laugh but I was a big Backstreet Boys fan when I was little. I met Nick Carter a few times...I realized he's just like everyone else. I also met Shaq a few years ago and actually got to go to his house!

Stevie Lynn admits to being a huge fan of Backstreet Boys back in the day!


Q: Being married and being a model has to be tough on you and your husband at times. I mean, it's honestly every guy's dream to say, "Yeah, I'm married to a model." How do you and your husband handle it?

A: My husband and I have total trust in each other. He's a DJ and I trust him, I'm a model and he trusts me. I think trust and honesty are the most important things in a successful relationship.

Q: Who's your favorite actor/actress and why?

A: I love Sandra Bullock because she's not only beautiful but she is down to earth.

Q: Fill in the blank. "People always come up to me and tell me I look like...(insert famous person).

A: "People always come up to me and tell me I look like Meagan Fox."

Megan Fox? I can definitely see the similarities.

Q: What kind of music have you been listening to lately?

A: Usually I listen to rock n roll, but lately more hip-hop and dance.

Q: What's your favorite part of being a model?

A: Getting to travel.

Q: Tell us one place in the world that you must see before you die.

A: Romania ( I love Dracula).


That's it for now, folks. Look for a college football column coming from me soon! Take care and remember, "Life is best described in football terms."

Self Interview No. 3: Ramblings on Life

What's up everybody? It's one of those moments where I step away from the game of football for most of my article and just discuss life in general. It's a stress reliever for me and if people can relate to some of my column--then that's just a beautiful thing. Anybody that reads any of my columns knows my tendency to ramble. Anyways I hope you enjoy and don't be afraid to send me a comment on Facebook, or e-mail me at wadepeery@yahoo.com.

The first topic I wanted to discuss are natural highs. Natural highs in life--are really just a thing of beauty. So often in the world today people look for drugs to treat their depression, to calm their nerves, and a variety of other things. I'm not a doctor, nor do I profess to be, but natural highs are awfully addicting if you ask me. The problem is you can only produce them every so often. Let's say there's a person of interest you are excited about--that's likely to produce a natural high if you get to spend time with them. They make you smile, laugh, and feel good about yourself. You can't manufacture that feeling in a laboratory--not cymbalta, not prozac, nothing really comes close to being able to spend time with somebody you really care about. Natural highs people, they make it happen!


The drive alongside Oregon's Columbia River Gorge scenic highway is one of the best drives on the interstate in the United States. If you can ever make the drive, you simply will not be disappointed.

"What's the best drive you've ever been on in your entire life?"

This is an excellent question and while I haven't traveled a ton of places in my life, I can tell you that without a doubt, the drive along the Columbia River Gorge scenic highway(pictured above) outside of Portland, Oregon is easily the best drive I've ever been on in my life. My mom, brother, and me were riding along the interstate and you could see waterfalls cascading down giant sheets of rock around you. The words on this page don't even do it justice I tell you. Basically the Columbia River Gorge is kind of like a miniature Grand Canyon with water flowing in the middle. Giant sheets of rock surround the river on both sides, making for a beautiful sight.

You can hike the different trails along the Columbia River Gorge and they will lead you to several different waterfalls within walking distance. There are several beautiful waterfalls, but none compares to the grandaddy of them all--Multnomah Falls(pictured below). With a breathtaking view of the falls from the bridge, it's all free and the site will offer you one of those moments where you just stop and say to yourself, "This is what life is all about." The state of Oregon does an absolutely spectacular job of taking care of their natural landmarks and Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge are two excellent examples of that. I'm telling you if you're ever in the state of Oregon, you definitely want to check the drive and the waterfalls out. The best part about it all is that it's free. You will leave with an experience that will last a lifetime.

Multnomah Falls, located just out of Portland, Oregon, is the second-tallest year-round flowing waterfall in America. It's quite a sight.


"What type of music have you been listening to lately?"


Keith Urban(pictured above) is a rock star who enjoys every second of it! His guitar skills are simply unmatched. Watch him live and you will be blown away!

I'm not gonna lie, I've never been a huge fan of country music, but Keith Urban has made me a huge fan overnight! My dad, mom, and my sister recently went to a concert in Charlottesville, Virginia in John Paul Jones Arena with Sugarland and Keith Urban and I was blown away. Keith Urban isn't just a country music star, he's a bonafide rock star who enjoys every minute of it. He got out in the middle of the crowd--was jamming his electric guitar in the middle of thousands of screaming fans. They cut the lights off in JPJA--then Urban was jamming his electric guitar which changed a variety of colors, purple, red, blue, you name it. It was simply unreal. I purchased his CD, "Defying Gravity" recently and discovered that it was a USB port with a chip inside of it--maybe the wave of the future for CDs. Either way, the CD is flat out incredible and I think you should give it a try. His electric guitar skills are amazing and the guy has a voice to go with it. Check out his video on YouTube: "Til Summer Comes Around"--it's my personal favorite.


Captain Charismatic: Lead Singer Percy Womack of The Dickens Band is a charismatic figure who knows how to light up the room!

Speaking of music--if you ever need a band to play at a wedding--The Dickens Band in Greensboro, North Carolina is one of the best bands I've ever gotten to see live. They know how to play a variety of songs and their lead singer, Percy Womack, is a charismatic figure and natural people person who knows how to get the crowd hyped up and excited. They played Journey, Bob Marley, and even a little Louis Armstrong. Womack has tremendous range in his vocals and is a natural talent.

Sarah and Clayton rock out with Percy Womack at their wedding reception at the Links in Gettysburg, Pa.

My sister's wedding reception at The Links in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was one of the best times I've ever had in my life. It was such a magical night I never wanted it to end. The band was playing incredible music all night long, a ton of people in the room were burnin' up the dance floor, and the alcohol was flowing! Remember what I said about natural highs, well this was one of those moments folks. A magical moment that offers such a high level of euphoria and enjoyment that no drug in the world can capture it.

Nearly everybody I spoke to about the band said they loved them. They were simply incredible and trust me, if you book The Dickens for your next wedding, it will too, be the time of your life!

Check out their myspace page at the following link: http://www.myspace.com/thedickensband.

That's it for now folks, feel free to message me on facebook or drop me an e-mail. Be sure to look for me as the college football season progresses!

Virginia Football Looks to Surprise in '09

College football season is only a few days away folks! I cannot wait and I know thousands upon thousands of college football fans are right there with me. Anyways, fellow UVA writer Ben Gibson decided to e-mail us a few questions for a Roundtable Discussion on Virginia football on the Bleacher Report. Below are his questions and my answers!

1. Complete the following sentence: Virginia will surprise people if...

The Cavaliers follow through on my prediction and go 8-5 this season. I honestly think that all of the preseason magazines are not giving the Cavaliers enough credit. Granted the ACC Coastal Division will be extremely tough this season, with teams like GT, UNC, Miami, and VT looking extremely strong. I still think you have to put the Cavs right in there with that group and say they could easily beat any of those teams on any given day. Although I think the chances the 'Hoos beat the Heels at UNC are very, very slim. Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech come to Scott Stadium and I honestly feel like many people tend to forget how good Virginia plays on their home turf.

Quarterback Vic Hall is a natural born leader who is one of the more complete and versatile football players in Virginia football history. As a coach, your eyes would have to light up when this guy walks into the room. When he was gliding down the field last year against VT, it seemed like it took him forever to turn the corner, but once he did he just glided down the field ever so smoothly and nobody could catch him.

Quarterback Vic Hall will look to lead the Cavaliers to a bowl game this year, his first year under center as the 'Hoos starting QB.

No matter what anybody says about Virginia football, I feel like number 4 is a proven winner--the guy led his high school team to back-to-back state titles as a QB. Virginia fans have been waiting for years to see Vic Hall at QB and I think he's just one of those types of players that will make big-time plays happen. He reminds me alot of Marques Hagans in that he plays with a tremendous amount of heart and he's extremely versatile. If Al Groh wishes to stay in Charlottesville for another year, there shouldn't be a player he should trust more than Vic Hall.

2. What game are you most looking forward to this season and why?

Defensive end Jerry Hughes makes the TCU game worth the price of admission alone. He'll likely be a top draft selection in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Tough question, but I'm going to pick three games. First, the TCU game. I'm excited to watch the 'Hoos against a very tough top 25 opponent and I was actually shocked they priced the TCU game at $35 bucks, lower than many other games on UVA's schedule. Defensive end Jerry Hughes will be a treat to watch and Coach Gary Patterson has always been one of college football's most underrated coaches. Hughes will be a big-time draft pick, possibly even a first rounder, so it's quite a treat to see a player of that caliber on your home turf. TCU's always had a dominant defensive unit, so it will be a fun match-up to watch with Virginia's explosive offense with players like Mikell Simpson going up against them.


Every Virginia fan would love to see Mikell "Juice" Simpson rekindle the magic on the road against the Maryland Terrapins this year.

Second, the Maryland game. If there is one team Virginia fans cannot stand it's Maryland--the rivalry between the two teams has only intensified over the years and Virginia's thrashing of the 'Terps last season in Scott Stadium surely doused a little gasoline on the fire. I think all Virginia fans are excited to watch Virginia go on the road to Maryland, because of the magical performance of Mikell Simpson two years ago. I would love to see him "rekindle the magic" and have another phenomenal performance like he did on Homecoming in the Cavaliers "heart-stopping" 18-17 win in 2007.


Third, the Virginia Tech game. I think all Cavaliers fans would love to see the 'Hoos spoil the Hokies season by beating them for the first time since 2003. I think Virginia Tech is slightly overrated in the pre-season rankings--I would rank them around 15 or 16 to start out the season, no way would I place them in the top ten. I think it's ridiculous to put a team with an erratic passing quarterback like Tyrod Taylor in the top ten. He's a playmaker with his legs, but still very raw as a passer and I think too many people, fans and media alike, tend to forget that.

3. Who will be the biggest surprise player this season?


I think quarterback Jameel Sewell has the chance to be a big time player in Virginia's offense. Obviously Vic Hall is the go to guy at quarterback, but I would love to see Virginia utilize Sewell and Hall on the field at the same time.

Offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon needs to take advantage of Sewell and Hall's strengths. Many Virginia fans might be down on Sewell, but they shouldn't forget that he was a very big part of their surprise 2007 season.

Sure, he can't complete a pass over twenty yards, but he has excellent football fundamentals. His ball fakes are some of the best I've seen, his shovel passes and screen passes are excellent, and he's also excellent at hitting the tight ends and receivers with the shorter passes inside 15 yards. This prediction hinges on how many snaps a game Sewell will get, but I think Gregg Brandon is innovative and creative enough to put Sewell out there more. I think he'll be making a big mistake if he doesn't, because Sewell was simply captain clutch in 2007 when it came time for the Cavaliers to move the sticks.


I think running back Keith Payne could have a big year as well and I think he's an excellent complement to Mikell Simpson. Payne is blessed with excellent hands and kind of reminds me of Jason Snelling. I think with all the attention focused on Simpson, Payne will have every opportunity to come out of the backfield and make plays as a receiver and as a bruising runner.

4. Who will be the biggest disappointment this season?

Quite honestly, I don't think there will be any disappointment. If you want to talk about the weak link of the team, well there's no question it's the linebacker unit. There are some extremely talented players in the linebacker corps, but they have very little to no game experience under their belts, which makes a huge difference. I'm expecting a big year from linebacker John Kevin Dolce--he's extremely strong and explosive and can lay the big hit. Cameron Johnson has created quite a buzz in practice and Al Groh has high words of praise for him as well. I'm also excited to watch Steve Greer, from Solon, Ohio. The second I watched his high school highlights on Rivals.com I thought the kid was going to be a star on the Division 1 level. He's remarkably good at shedding his blocks and making the play. I like his game alot and from what I've read so far about Greer, so far, so good. He'll get tons of experience for his very bright future in Charlottesville.


5. What is your prediction for the season?

I've already said it, but 8-5. I know the schedule is tough. Southern Miss on the road is extremely tough, TCU at home is tough, and VT, GT, UNC, and at Miami are tough, but I definitely think that Virginia is capable of winning a few of those. In the end, it all comes down to the fact that Vic Hall will be at quarterback this season. One of the greatest quarterbacks in Virginia high school football history is finally at his natural position and it's going to be a thing of beauty. He was born for the spread offense and the "zone-read", which I'm sure the 'Hoos will utilize as their bread and butter this season. Running back Mikell Simpson thrives in the "zone-read" play as well, just ask Maryland from 2007.

Virginia cornerback Ras-I Dowling is one of the best cover corners in Virginia football history and will lead a Cavalier defensive unit that has the potential to be dominant, if the linebackers progress throughout the season.

The Virginia Cavaliers are a far more talented team than many of the pre-season magazines are giving them credit for. It's one of the best defenses Virginia fans will see in a while, of course the linebackers will likely go through growing pains. I think the rest of the defense is so talented that the 'Hoos will be able to bring their linebackers along slowly and not throw too much at them. Many people might call me crazy, but I say the Cavaliers go 8-5 and yes, that's including a bowl win at the end of the season, something like a Champs Sports Bowl victory or maybe even a Meineke Car Care Bowl win.

NFL and College Football Podcast with Jimmy Smith

What's up everybody,

I've been away from the keyboard for a while, but I recently did a podcast with Jimmy Smith and discussed college football and issues in the NFL today. Check it out if you want:

http://forthesportsminded.blogspot.com/2009/06/for-sports-minded-podcast-003-with.html

2009 NFL Draft: Best Draft: New York Giants

Sure, we might not be able to tell the “true value” of any of the prospects from the 2009 NFL Draft three to four years down the road, but it’s simply too much fun to analyze who the winners and who the losers were. Every NFL fan out there wants to see how their team fared in the draft and the first part of my 2009 NFL Draft coverage—I’ve decided to unveil one of the teams I thought graded the best, “The New York Football Giants” as Chris Berman likes to say. So let’s get down to it shall we!

I'm sorry, but I tried to post all of the videos from YouTube on prospects--but it began slowing the site down too much!

1. The Giants landed receiver Hakeem Nicks from North Carolina late in the first round. His performance in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against West Virginia was simply spectacular.

Even though the Tar Heels lost, Nicks clearly came out a winner and saw his draft stock skyrocket because of his performance in that game. He made one of the greatest catches of the 2008-2009 college football season when he caught a pass from quarterback T.J. Yates and switched the football from his left hand to his right behind his back.

Listed at 6’1, 215 lbs, Nicks should be a dominant possession receiver in the NFL, he might not have elite speed, but he does more than make up for it with his excellent hands and physical nature. He was one of the best receivers in the draft and the Giants were lucky to get him so late in the first round.

UNC receiver Hakeem Nicks dominated the Meineke Car Care Bowl against West Virginia, making several dazzling catches throughout the game in the loss for the Heels.

2. In the second round, the Giants went with linebacker Clint Sintim out of Virginia. This is an excellent pick to help bolster the Giants linebacking corps’ and Antonio Pierce. Giants defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan has said that Sintim will be a strong side linebacker for the Giants but he will also be used to rush the passer in third down situations. Sintim was one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in the draft, he racked up 27 sacks over his four-year career in Charlottesville, Va. Even though he played in a 3-4 scheme at Virginia—look for Sintim to thrive on a defense that has a lot of flexibility and a lot of weapons.

UVa linebacker Clint Sintim established himself as one of the premiere pass rushers in the ACC over the past few seasons and was a terror for quarterbacks--just ask Graham Harrell of Texas Tech!

3. In the second round, the Giants also drafted offensive tackle William Beatty out of Connecticut. This guy is super athletic and is one of the biggest reasons that Donald Brown became one of the nation’s premiere running backs over the past few seasons. When you watch his highlights you have to like this kid’s hustle, he never gives up on running plays downfield and is constantly looking for somebody to block. He has tremendous potential and has the chance to blossom into a starter for the G-Men.

Offensive tackle William Beatty never gives up on the play!

4. In the third round, the Giants selected one of my favorite “sleeper” picks for the 2009 NFL Draft, wide receiver Ramses Barden out of Cal Poly. Listed at 6’6, 226 lbs. with 4.55 speed, Barden is blessed with the complete package you would look for in a possession receiver in the NFL. He has superb hands, size, leaping ability, and moves remarkably well for somebody his size. If anybody could make the Giants fans forget about Plaxico Burress, it’s definitely Barden. His hands are massive and measure 10 ¾ inches, so look for him to be a “red-zone killer” for the G-Men. He will be flat out unstoppable in the red zone, Eli Manning can just close his eyes and let Barden go up and get it.

Don’t be fooled, just because he’s from a lower-level school, doesn’t mean he’s not as talented. He caught 206 passes for 4,203 yards and 50 touchdowns during his career for the Mustangs. He also caught a touchdown catch in 20 consecutive games, breaking a record previously held by Jerry Rice. He’s definitely a name to remember, Eli Manning has to be drooling as we speak.

The next Plaxico Burress? Giants' fans are hoping Ramses Barden can help fill some big shoes.

5. The Giants also took another excellent player in the third round, former Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum. As a junior, Beckum hauled in 75 passes for 982 yards and six touchdowns. He battled a few injuries this past season and only played in six games. He likely would’ve been a first-round selection if he was healthy and he’s definitely a steal in the third round. The guy has phenomenal leaping ability, body control, and hands, and he’ll be a big-time mismatch for linebackers in the NFL. The Giants already have a stud tight end in Kevin Boss, so I would look for the Giants to possibly employ some two tight end sets this season. Beckum was one of the best tight ends in college football and I think he’ll show a lot of people how dominant he can truly be.

Former Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum has a knack for making the acrobatic grab. He's pictured above getting airborne in the end zone against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

6. In the fourth round the Giants selected running back Andre Brown out of N.C. State. Brown was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school and never really lived up to the hype, but has an excellent all-around skill set that will make him an intriguing prospect in the NFL. He’s a power running back with an excellent set of hands to go with it.

Brown can also do a variety of things for the Giants if they need him—he actually returned kicks for the Wolfpack and piled up over 3,500 all-purpose yards for N.C. State during his career. He’s excellent at churning his legs after contact and is also excellent in pass protection—both qualities will serve him well on the next level. Brown should complement Ahmad Bradshaw extremely well in the Giants running game.

Former N.C. State running back Andre Brown has a knack for pushing the pile and churning his legs after contact. He's pictured above carrying a slew of Miami Hurricane defenders!

7. In the fifth round the Giants made an interesting selection—drafting the former highly touted signal-caller Rhett Bhomar out of Sam Houston State. Bhomar had all the talent in the world coming out of high school and was one of the nation’s elite high school football recruits, but after being dismissed from Oklahoma he ended up at Sam Houston State.

All he did in two years at Sam Houston State was become the school’s all-time leading passer. He has a remarkably strong arm and he’s a very interesting prospect that the Giants picked up.

Former Sam Houston State QB Rhett Bomar was one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the country coming out of high school.

8. In the sixth round, the Giants landed free safety DeAndre Wright out of New Mexico. He was one of the best cornerbacks in the Mountain West Conference the past few seasons, he snagged 10 interceptions and tallied 25 pass breakups for his career.

Free safety DeAndre Wright was one of the best cornerbacks in the Mountain West Conference over the past few seasons.

9. In the seventh round, the Giants picked up defensive back Stoney Woodson out of South Carolina. He led the Gamecocks in interceptions in 2008 with four.

South Carolina defensive back Stoney Woodson was one of the better corners in the SEC this past season--teaming up with fellow cornerback Captain Munnerlyn to form a dyanamic tandem in Columbia.

Grade: A+

Final take: The Giants definitely had the best draft in my opinion—I would put them right up there with the New England Patriots. There are plenty of teams out there that definitely deserve A grades in the 2009 NFL Draft, but none can match the talent top-to-bottom that the Giants and Patriots pulled in. The GM of the G-Men is to be commended for bringing in top-notch talent at nearly every position.

I’ll have more on the Patriots draft soon—that’s it for this time folks. Until next time, “Life is best described in football terms!”