The Short List: Week 12

Nine teams remain on the Shortlist to the San Fernando Valley and the programs at the top get shuffled as the Big 10 goes near bust on the first Saturday in November of 2009.  The Shortlist now reads as follows:

Florida, Alabama, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, Boise State, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Iowa.

One team loses last week in a game I did not call for them do so and is dropped from the back of the Shortlist as a result:

Penn State falls at home for the second time this year, this time to Ohio State, as the Lions get outscored in three of four quarters to lose 24-7.  Joe Paterno still can't find a way to turn his move to the Big 10 into a gold strike even though it has made the difference in securing the all time coaching victories record.  He'll be back next year to give it one more go at least, but for a man who's seen multiple undefeated years go unrewarded, even winning the Big 10 without a blemish won't necessarily guarantee results in 2010.

With the Iowa Hawkeyes stunning loss, TCU now stands on the threshold of something not seen in 25 years, taking the National Championship by force from the endowed powers to the schools that college football forgot and all they need is for their traditional South West Conference rival, the Longhorns of Austin, to fall flat on their face, while they defeat Utah at home this week. 

Some people, myself included, call coach Gary Patterson a defensive genius, but barring an SEC meltdown or a Big 12 shocker, his defense will never have a chance to prove it can win the big one just as much the BCS conference teams routinely get the opportunity to in January.  TCU, if given and earning the chance, would be game for any of the teams listed in front of them on the Shortlist, but their window of opportunity is closing and they do not control their own destiny. 

Even if BCS Armageddon ensues in both the SEC and Big 12 conferences, the Horned Frogs aren't even assured of remaining out in front of an undefeated Cincinnati Big East champion or a one loss SEC, Big 12, or ACC champion, but perhaps, with one well placed upset in the games remaining to be played, they could finally storm the ramparts and capture that elusive crystal football for all the little guys in the NCAA.

I expect only one of the nine Shortlist teams to find themselves out in the cold by the end of Saturday's games:  Iowa.

It's been a great run for Kirk Ferentz's team but with the quarterback injured and Columbus looming in the distance, they are about to go two in a row and off the Shortlist for 2009 as the last Big 10 contender will be exposed at the hands of the most conservative coach in all of America.

Enjoy the games this week and join me back here next week as the Shortlist sheds away the final pretenders and ranks the remaining contenders for 2009 here on the Shortlist to the San Fernando Valley.

Copyright 2009 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

Comments

[CanesAddiction]

1st?

[86Cane]

When U are addicted, U are addicted!

[CanesAddiction]

I just got lucky it's a slow night

[raizecane]

nice going CA......

[raizecane]

OK.....how long before I can move from my $19 seats to the higher priced seats without getting yelled at by security? LOL

[CanesAddiction]

raize, it's been that way already!

my buddies have been doing that most of the year and said it was really, REALLY easy last game. Duke promises to be no different

[raizecane]

Good.....this way I can afford to buy a beer at the game :-)

[86Cane]

OK.....how long before I can move from my $19 seats to the higher priced seats without getting yelled at by security? LOL

Posted by: raizecane | November 10, 2009 at 06:30 PM

End of the first quarter. That's when I move the first time.

[solarcane]

404
cgnc
canesteeler
I have your cells for the game

pb, cane1, email me your cell when you get a sec gonz1320@yahoo.com

thanks

peace

[Cat 5 Cane]

Hey Addiction... way to go!

[solarcane]

first cat5 goes long and beats me, then canesadd, beats the clock...

I'll have to spend more time in the batting cage, you guess are getting good

peace

[86Cane]

Solar...did U get my email about blog details? Can U send me your cell number? I lost it. I need it in case of emergency!

[Cat 5 Cane]

OK.....how long before I can move from my $19 seats to the higher priced seats without getting yelled at by security? LOL... Posted by: raizecane

Just watch 86 first... When he gives you the high sign... just walk slow, wearing sun glasses and a big smile, while nodding your head... saying yeah mon!

[SOUP]

Soup's on!

[SOUP]

Cat5...well done, and remember:

I GOT THIS!

[canechic]

raize you do not even need to sit in them at all come over and sit with us in 456. We have yet to sit in our assigned seats all season.

GO CANES!

[solarcane]

soup, yes I got the email and noted it.

I'll send you my cell tonight and I'll call you from Tar Hell when the Canespace Posse makes our stand.

peace

[Cat 5 Cane]

Glad to see you're back to your old self... "I Got This"! stuff.

and I like your tag!!! Is it soup yet?

[UMike]

As long as we have white helmets..with my beloved "U" on them..I dont care what jersey their wearing

[SOUP]

raize you do not even need to sit in them at all come over and sit with us in 456. We have yet to sit in our assigned seats all season.

Posted by: canechic | November 10, 2009 at 06:53 PM

Trust her: I've been to 456 and done that!

[DZ8]

One other recruiting nugget... Word is St. Thomas Aquinas kicker Ben Hopfinger will walk-on at UM next fall. Hopfinger is the backup to Tennessee commitment and US Army All-American Michael Palardy. Hopfinger has 25 touchbacks on kickoffs and is 11 of 11 on extra points this season. I've seen him in person and the kid has a cannon for a leg.

From Manny

That's great news a kicker who doesn't cost a scholarship spot.

[solarcane]

These Nike Pro Combat uniforms are Nike's way of flooding the sport shops with more Nike licenced team gear

When you go to the Nike site and study the two Pro Combat previewed unis, VT and TCU closely, you will immediately say " Hey this the same crap Oregon wore a season ago,"

peace

[CanesAddiction]

we could certainly use a kicker. Wieclaw isn't doing it and Bosher will eventually run out of eligibility.

Ideally I'd like to have a kicker to redshirt and groom for a season before Bosher leaves.

[solarcane]

We get those Carbon Fiber pants TCU is stuck with our guys will be slipping in their own puke

peace

[solarcane]

ah upon closer observation TCU's pants are indeed Horned Frog skin and I'm not joking.

I can't wait to see how Nike incorporates The Beavers into their uniforms

peace

[Old Skool]

Manny's got some solid info on Hurns.

Here's the recruiting tidbit that caught my eye:

Hurns said UM coaches told him they are looking at landing one other receiver -- either Northwestern's Michaelee Harris or Miramar's Ivan McCartney.

[Drtycane]

if not mentioned earlier or in the past blog....Allen Hurns - WR from Carol City HS has committed to the U today.....3 star from rivals....#77 on espn....thanks Jacory, Sean and little league optimist!

[JSQ]

lol, Solar!

[Drtycane]

both are good (harris and mccartney) ...i say both and pull someones scholly
hehehhehee

[Cat 5 Cane]

Getting a live kicker????... Tell that kid to COME ON DOWN!!! We need ya!

I remember when I heard we were getting Weiclaw... Man was I excited for days on end about finally landing someone who could kick the damn ball. Don't know the (real) reason why Randy has shelved him... but so far his leg has been a big bust!

[JSQ]

http://www.wqam.com/index.php?page=1&sid=peq0h0g9k6cdm467f9b0ca6gsu4b6fc6

LT's show - talking about Butch

[solarcane]

JSQ
http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/usnikefootball/en_US/rivalries09?school=tcu&tab=uniform

click on those pants and read what it says.

You know the Trojan's pants are gonna be some tight azz

peace

[JSQ]

Those are some fugly pants, Solar!

FYI, Storm and Hurns will be on Canesport live tonight. Hurns is up next I think, after the UVA game review, and Storm at 9:15pm.

[solarcane]

press

Is UNC's defenese similar to Oklahoma?

Randy
"Better than Oklahoma, Better than Oklahoma, much beter than Oklahoma"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=753hJDK4fEs

peace

[solarcane]

Jacory giving Mike James major props for taking a beating at full back to protect Jacory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGedGN1cX24

peace

[SOUP]

Mike James? Mike James???

Don't now where I have heard that name before?

I am SURE that somone must have picked him as their LOF?

[roachcane77]

Does "Champion" (or was it "Russell") have some sort of patent on our "classic" jerseys of the 90's?

Man I would love to see those Playmaker/Ray Lewis jerseys on our players again...

When I think of the Canes, I always picture them in THOSE uniforms... simple and CLASSIC!

BRING EM BACK NIKE!

[JSQ]

Mike James? Mike James???

Don't now where I have heard that name before?

I am SURE that somone must have picked him as their LOF?

Posted by: SOUP | November 10, 2009 at 08:46 PM

Why, yes, I did!!!

[Cat 5 Cane]

MJ Cough,coughMJcough,cough

Pardon me,... had a frog caught...Cough cough in my throat!

[Cat 5 Cane]

Now if only the other half could be heard from... cough,cough AB...cough!

[solarcane]

roach I loved those too!

peace

[SOUP]

Why, yes, I did!!!

Posted by: JSQ | November 10, 2009 at 09:05 PM

Gotta give U props for that JSQ.

I did too in case U were wondering?

[SOUP]

Cat5...AB#11 is for NEXT year.

Trust me on this.

[shwarma]

Two questions/comments I had per the last blog:

Does anyone know the coaches process for examining a kid academically?

We have had several issues the last couple years (though really an ongoing problem) with admissions, and I think its just a stupid problem to have. Do the coaches not have any dialogue with admissions based on a kids test scores prior to Feb?

Posted by: shwarma | November 10, 2009 at 04:29 PM

Forget Joshua Shaw, per Rivals he has set his decision date and while I was not privy to the information (i.e. I am cheap) I am guessing that if he is deciding now, we are out and his visit might not go through. Unless someone reads the article and tells me its just recruiting site posturing, might be all she wrote on this long shot. (worst of it is he was at UF this weekend and since it was being reported on their site, I'm guessing that could be the way he goes)

Posted by: shwarma | November 10, 2009 at 05:16 PM

[dlu]

Thing is on ths short list, how teams get rated does not seem to have much relationship between rankings and strength of schedule. It still pays to have a weak schedule and win out. Iowa rose way up playing noone. Fla stayed at # 1 playing noone early. {talking about the early ratings with fla.}

Computers dis not seem to help at all in rankings, evalutating strength of schedule.

[canezilla]

it all comes down to w"s and L"s

[Daytoncane]

looks like Texas and Florida are on a collison course. if Texas doesn't blow the Big 12 championship game they are on their way there.

[solarcane]

Here is Arlo West picking one of my favorite songs of all time
The End Is Not In Sight: The Amazing Rhythm Aces

He plays the lead note for note on his homemade PineCaster ( best sounding Telecaster I ever heard)

This is fine guitar playing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfsa5VxJp58

peace

[CanesCanesCanes]

Daytoncane,

My money's on Alabama v Texas

Go Canes

[CanesAddiction]

Florida's offense isn't as good as last year but their defense is soo nasty. I wouldn't be surprised if UF lost to Bama or Texas. I would be surprised if UF lost anytime before the SEC Champ game.