Dukie V’s: Donovan Varner & Conner Vernon

When talking about the best receiving talent in the Atlantic Coast Conference over the last few seasons, one might naturally turn to those who recently were/currently are members of tried-and-true powerhouse programs such as the University of Miami and Florida State University…and why not? A quick review of some of those who have left indelible marks at each program over the past five years includes the names of pass catchers such as Bert Reed, Willie Haulstead, Greg Carr, Chris Davis, Leonard Hankerson, Aldarius Johnson and Travis Benjamin.

Yet, since 2008, a new group of talent has begun to make waves in the conference at the wideout position. The spotlight is perhaps now shining brightest on a pair of receivers playing for a program that, prior to the arrival of current head coach David Cutcliffe, would be the last place anyone would expect to find

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Dukie V’s: Donovan Varner & Conner Vernon

When talking about the best receiving talent in the Atlantic Coast Conference over the last few seasons, one might naturally turn to those who recently were/currently are members of tried-and-true powerhouse programs such as the University of Miami and Florida State University…and why not? A quick review of some of those who have left indelible marks at each program over the past five years includes the names of pass catchers such as Bert Reed, Willie Haulstead, Greg Carr, Chris Davis, Leonard Hankerson, Aldarius Johnson and Travis Benjamin.

Yet, since 2008, a new group of talent has begun to make waves in the conference at the wideout position. The spotlight is perhaps now shining brightest on a pair of receivers playing for a program that, prior to the arrival of current head coach David Cutcliffe, would be the last place anyone would expect to find

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NFL: Is Terrelle Pryor Buffalo Bound?

Patrick Schuster is the owner of Football Dialogue and a special guest contributor to the NFL Draft Bible.

If we are to believe the tandem of Chan Gailey and Buddy Nix are long term fixtures in Buffalo, then a very intriguing predicament will soon be facing them, and that is whether or not to draft Ohio State QB, Terrelle Pryor.    I know your first reaction is to say I’m crazy, as the frugal owner Ralph Wilson would never allow a team to invest money in a player like Pryor, but hear me out.   If the selection only cost the Bills a day three pick (say in the 4th round) then I say do it and here are the reasons why:

Mobility
—Remember Chan loves quarterbacks that are mobile (one of his prized students was Read more…

Jacory Harris: Still Finding His Way

It’s hard to imagine the average loyal supporter for any given collegiate football program not getting emotionally attached to an incoming freshman quarterback recruit who, despite playing only two years at the position in high school, went a perfect 30-0 and earned two state championships en route to being named a Class 6A first team all-state selection, Class 6A Player of the Year and chosen as his state’s Mr. Football. So, it’s no surprise that when Jacory Harris arrived on campus at the University of Miami (Florida) in 2008 alongside former Mr. Football award winner Robert Marve, Hurricanes fans reacted ecstatically and, for the first time in a long time, exuded a sense of hope for the future of a program that seemed to have fallen into disarray since the early national

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Jacory Harris: Still Finding His Way

It’s hard to imagine the average loyal supporter for any given collegiate football program not getting emotionally attached to an incoming freshman quarterback recruit who, despite playing only two years at the position in high school, went a perfect 30-0 and earned two state championships en route to being named a Class 6A first team all-state selection, Class 6A Player of the Year and chosen as his state’s Mr. Football. So, it’s no surprise that when Jacory Harris arrived on campus at the University of Miami (Florida) in 2008 alongside former Mr. Football award winner Robert Marve, Hurricanes fans reacted ecstatically and, for the first time in a long time, exuded a sense of hope for the future of a program that seemed to have fallen into disarray since the early national

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Brandon Weeden: The Best Is Yet To Come

BRANDON WEEDEN: THE BEST IS YET TO COME

Entering his second year as the starting quarterback of a high powered Oklahoma State attack, Brandon Weeden is no longer just a good comeback story of a 27-year-old baseball flameout who took the Big 12 by storm in 2010 by breaking six single-season school records.

The fair haired triggerman is setting his sights on the conference title and has taken it upon himself to join forces with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken in improving the offense by putting it in position to overtake the mighty Oklahoma Sooners, considered by many the best team in the nation.

Weeden’s decision to stay in school was a bit surprising to say the least given his successful year and advanced age. After reportedly receiving a third-round

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Brandon Weeden: The Best Is Yet To Come

BRANDON WEEDEN: THE BEST IS YET TO COME

Entering his second year as the starting quarterback of a high powered Oklahoma State attack, Brandon Weeden is no longer just a good comeback story of a 27-year-old baseball flameout who took the Big 12 by storm in 2010 by breaking six single-season school records.

The fair haired triggerman is setting his sights on the conference title and has taken it upon himself to join forces with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken in improving the offense by putting it in position to overtake the mighty Oklahoma Sooners, considered by many the best team in the nation.

Weeden’s decision to stay in school was a bit surprising to say the least given his successful year and advanced age. After reportedly receiving a third-round grade from the

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Heisman Sleeper: WVU’s Geno Smith

It is hard to imagine that Geno Smith has ever felt the degree of pressure to perform than he has since West Virginia University announced it had lured away former Oklahoma State University offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen to join the Mountaineers in Morgantown. But that pressure may actually increase given that just last week, Holgorsen, amidst the fallout of Casinogate, was crowned new head coach for a program that could never find its identity in a post-Rich Rodriguez football culture under Bill Stewart.

No doubt that with Holgorsen at the helm of what is certain to become an Appalachian-tailored rendition of his Stillwater-bred Air Raid offense, Smith will gain the opportunity to do what only three quarterbacks in all of 2010 – including the Cowboys’ Brandon Weeden

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Heisman Sleeper: WVU’s Geno Smith

It is hard to imagine that Geno Smith has ever felt the degree of pressure to perform than he has since West Virginia University announced it had lured away former Oklahoma State University offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen to join the Mountaineers in Morgantown. But that pressure may actually increase given that just last week, Holgorsen, amidst the fallout of Casinogate, was crowned new head coach for a program that could never find its identity in a post-Rich Rodriguez football culture under Bill Stewart.

No doubt that with Holgorsen at the helm of what is certain to become an Appalachian-tailored rendition of his Stillwater-bred Air Raid offense, Smith will gain the opportunity to do what only three quarterbacks in all of 2010 – including the Cowboys’ Brandon Weeden

Read more…

2011-12 Bowl Schedule Released

ARLINGTON, Texas (FBA) – The Football Bowl Association (FBA) officially released the cumulative schedule for the 2011-12 bowl season on Thursday. Once again this season, 35 bowl games are scheduled to be played in 28 communities across the nation.

The 35 postseason bowl games will play host to a total of 7,000 student-athletes, nearly 14,000 band members, almost 1,300 cheerleaders, 100,000-plus additional performers and close to 2 million fans. Bowl games bring a measure of importance to the college football regular season unmatched by any other sport. The bowl season begins with three games scheduled on December 17 and will conclude with the Allstate BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans on January 9.

The complete 2011-12 bowl schedule follows. For more information about the Football Bowl Association and its 35-member bowls, please visit footballbowlassociation.com.

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