Super Bowl Update

Sorry for the lack of updates. Been a bit under the weather, but nothing serious. I don't ever go to the doctor because I've been fortunate enough the last few years to not be sick enough to have to, but went today. Congestion was down in my chest and had a hard time sleeping last night.

Nurse says something about it being upper respiratory related, but said "I call it Dothan-itis. The only way you get rid of it is by moving or dying." Doctor had some jokes too. I guess you've got to be pretty funny or sarcastic when you're dealing with people who aren't feeling well, but the people at FirstMed were great and the shot to the hip + antibiotics really helped me make it through tonight at work feeling good.

***I don't regret at all putting Alabama at No. 2 in the Harris Poll when I had a vote. I think Oklahoma State had a great offense and would have scored 2, maybe even 3 touchdowns against LSU or Alabama. But, they'd have given up much more. I could see, if OSU had gone, LSU would have played much better and probably won 38-17. The best two teams in college football played, and sure it was boring if you don't like just a few touchdowns (I like hard-hitting defense so I wasn't bored even if I'd rather see a 28-24 game).

However, I hope that powers can be can adopt at the very least a Plus-One, though I'm quite confident the same matchup would have happened this year. I'd like to see an 8-team playoff. I know there's a cry that all conferences should be represented, but don't compare this to the NCAA Basketball tournament. It's two completely different sports. The Sun Belt's best - and one of the best Sun Belt teams ever - got hammered by the MAC champion. Create an 8-team playoff, eliminate about 8-10 bowls but still have some setup where 8-win Sun Belt/MAC/similar teams aren't left out of bowls, and play them in a shorter time window. Reward the non-AQ champs and the 8-10 win teams from the bigger conferences with bowl games.

Because, if it stays the same, I guarantee you'll see another SEC rematch in a title game sooner than later. And I absolutely believe that the SEC is far and away the best conference. I also believe Alabama was the best team in the country this year. But I can't wait for some type of playoff and where we're in a world when 6-6 teams aren't filling up bowl spots.

***So you know by now Michael Dyer is transferring to Arkansas State. The guy is a supreme talent, but apparently a troublemaker as evidenced by his bowl game suspension. He'll run wild on Sun Belt defenses if he's still around in 2013. You hear stuff about applying for a hardship to play immediately, but I can't see that happening. NCAA isn't always logical, though.

***Wednesday is the first day of class for Troy students this semester. There are 3 recruiting weekends, and this coming one will be the biggest. I don't have names yet, but should crack double digits, and they'll all be at the 8 p.m. Saturday night basketball game against South Alabama (8 p.m. start for TV on CSS). I think around half of the group will be committed players, and there are some real talented offensive players Troy has committed who are getting looks from bigger schools. Troy has 13 high school commitments, though one is an early enrollee in Shaq Beverly. I think John Knight of Thomasville has already visited, so I'd expect around 8-10 current commits to be on the visitor list this weekend.

Then you'll probably see the list drop off over the next week with high school guys who waited until after the season to take their official visits. The last weekend will have a few, though it seems like the last weekend is geared toward guys who may grayshirt or who are on the border academically.

**There are almost as many preseason college baseball All-America teams, but that doesn't change the fact that Tyler Ray and Tyler Hannah are outstanding baseball players (and people) and were named to one this week.

**Troy hoops isn't in action again until Saturday against South Alabama. Jags are winless and probably lose at ULL on Thursday, but have size that Troy will struggle with. Troy will need Tim Owens and Ray Chambers to be productive again just like they were at Western Kentucky.

Sun Belt standings

Sun Belt Conf All
East
Middle Tenn. St. 4-0 15-2
Florida Atlantic 2-2 6-11
Florida Intl. 1-2 4-11
Troy 1-3 6-9
West. Kentucky 1-3 5-12
South Alabama 0-3 8-6
West
AR Little Rock 3-0 6-11
Denver 3-1 13-3
LA Lafayette 2-1 8-9
North Texas 2-2 9-8
Arkansas St. 2-2 8-10
LA Monroe 1-3 2-15