The Big 12 Conference: RIP 1996-2010
On this day the Big 12 Conference, once considered to be the ultimate super conference, took its last breath.
With Nebraska waving goodbye to tradition by officially bolting to the Big Ten, the Big 12 won't be able to pick up the pieces.
As Yeats famously said, "things fall apart, the center cannot hold."
The Cornhuskers have left the building possibly bringing independent Notre Dame with them into the Big 10.
Like a shark smelling blood on a wounded prey, the Pac-10 has jumped into the foray by landing Colorado last Thursday. The conference will extend invitations to Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State.
If all of them to go, it will create a real super conference - the Pac-16.
The Pac-16 will include an Eastern Division featuring the six newcomers, along with Arizona and Arizona State. The West Division will have the original Pac-8 schools: UCLA, USC, California, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, and Oregon State.
Pretty impressive to say the least.
Not to be out-done, word has it that the SEC may pursue Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M.
The Big 12 could stay together and try to add two teams, but if Texas leaves, and it's looking more and more like it will, the conference is toast.
The Big Ten is making tons of money, but the idea of a 12-or-14-team conference with all the glitz, glamor, and mega-bucks from a championship game appealed to everyone in the conference.
Expansion has been on their minds for quite some time.
With Nebraska in the fold, the Big Ten gets one of the all-time great football schools, and with it, hopes to put the pressure on Notre Dame to swallow its pride and come on in.
Despite its TV contract with NBC, Notre Dame will eventually cave and join the Big Ten. They have to. This isn't the Fighting Irish of the past. Their muscle and clout is at its lowest. They'll have no choice but to align themselves with a major conference as soon as possible.
All of this is happening because of one overriding reason - money, or the lack thereof for the Big 12 programs.
With the Big Ten and SEC creating their own TV networks, the revenues generated have been astounding.
The Big Ten schools made about $20 million each last season from television revenue. The SEC made around $17.5 million per institution.
Compare those figures with the $7-8 million each school received in the Big 12 and the reason why the conference will be no more after 2010 are pretty clear.
Coaches and athletic directors may try to dress it up, but it's all about the money.
The Pac-10 understands this and made the move to expand so they can get more revenue from TV contracts that end in 2011. Now the conference can have a championship game, which will bring top dollar. In addition, the soon-to-be Pac-12 or Pac-16 cable channel is in the works.
If the conference loses out on gaining the four Big 12 schools, look for them to offer an invite to Utah, making it a 12-team league.
Other so-called power conferences like the ACC and the Big East should be afraid, very afraid. What's to stop the SEC, Big Ten and Pac-10 from going after their teams?
The Big East in particular is vulnerable.
West Virginia and Pittsburgh would be very attractive to the Big Ten, if they decide to expand to 16 teams.
Another interesting topic of discussion is where Kansas and Kansas State will end up should the Big 12 crumble? Everyone is looking at the conference shakeups from just a football standpoint, but what about college basketball?
The Jayhawks are a legit basketball powerhouse and the Wildcats are on the verge of being a national power. What conference will step up and make a play for them?
The landscape of college football is changing drastically. With so much money on the line and recruiting being so dog-eat-dog, the raiding of conferences is just beginning.
No one is safe. Money talks and schools and conferences will follow the greenbacks.
Case in point is Memphis State, a long-time hoops power, with not much going for it in other sports.
Fred Smith, CEO of Fed Ex, is offering $10 million a year to any major conference if they let the Tigers join. His son Chase plays on the Memphis football team.
Forget about earning it through on the field play, like a Boise State. Heck no, we'll buy our way into a power conference.
For better or worse, this is the future of not only college football, but all of collegiate athletics.
Welcome to the era of the super conferences where only those with money and prestige, but mostly money, need apply.
Ranking the Bill Parcells Coaching Tree
Bill Parcells is not only one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, he's also one of the most influential as well.
Parcells' track record speaks for itself: two Super Bowl victories with the New York Giants, a Super Bowl appearance with the New England Patriots, and an AFC Championship Game berth with the New York Jets.
The Tuna was named AP Coach of the Year twice, and is the only coach in NFL history to lead four different teams to the playoffs.
His influence has also spread beyond the playing field and into the coaching ranks as well.
Seven former assistants are currently head coaches in college or the NFL, and five others previously served as head coaches at the NCAA or pro level.
It's quite an impressive coaching tree to say the least.
The following is a ranking of all the Tuna's assistants who have gone on to become head coaches in college or the pros.
12. Mike MacIntyre
MacIntyre served under Parcells as defensive backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-06.
He was named the new head coach at San Jose State in December after the retirement of Dick Toomey.
With his hiring, MacIntyre became the 12th assistant from the Bill Parcells coaching tree to become a head coach.
11. Chris Palmer
Palmer served under Parcells in New England, first coaching the wide receivers and then quarterbacks.
He became the first head coach of the new Cleveland Browns in 1999, and struggled to get the franchise on the winning track. Palmer went 5-27 in two seasons before being fired.
Palmer went on to win a Super Bowl ring during the 2007 season as quarterbacks coach with the Giants.
He is currently the president and general manager of the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.
10. Ray Handley
Ray Handley was an assistant to Parcells during the glory days of the Giants in the 1980s.
As a matter of fact, Handley and Parcells were assistants at Army back in 1968.
After serving as running backs coach, and then offensive coordinator for seven years under Parcells, Handley was named head coach of the Giants in 1991.
Handley lasted only two seasons, compiling a 14-18 record.
9. Todd Haley
Haley worked with Parcells with the Jets and Cowboys before leaving to become offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals.
After the Cardinals Super Bowl appearance in 2008, Haley left to become the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs finished 4-12 in his first season as coach.
In the offseason, Haley went back to his Parcells roots and hired Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator and Romeo Crennel as defensive coordinator.
8. Romeo Crennel
The roots of the relationship between Romeo Crennel and Parcells go all the way back to 1975, when both were assistants at Texas Tech.
Crennel spent time with Parcells in New York and New England, serving as special teams and then defensive line coach.
After a stint as defensive coordinator for the Patriots, Crennel was hired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
He coached the Browns for four seasons (2005-08) and finished with a 24-40 record.
Crennel is now defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs.
7. Al Groh
Groh came up through the college ranks with Parcells and eventually followed him into the NFL.
He was an assistant under Parcells with the Giants, Patriots, and Jets before becoming the head coach of the Jets in 2000.
Groh had a 9-7 record in his only season with New York, resigning the position to become head coach at his alma mater, Virginia.
It was his second stint as a head coach in college (Groh coached Wake Forest from 1981-86), and the Cavaliers flourished.
Groh led Virginia to a 59-53 record and five bowl berths in nine seasons before being fired last season.
He is currently the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech.
6. Eric Mangini
Mangini got his start as a defensive assistant under Parcells with the New York Jets in 1999.
He eventually became defensive coordinator with New England in 2005 under Bill Belichick.
Mangini left the Patriots to become head coach of the New York Jets, where he compiled a 23-25 record in three seasons with one playoff berth.
After being fired in New York, Mangini became head coach of the Browns last season.
He finished his first season in Cleveland with a 5-11 mark and despite widespread rumors of being fired, new GM Mike Holmgren retained Mangini as head coach.
5. Charlie Weis
Weis served under the Tuna with the Giants, Patriots, and Jets.
He was the offensive coordinator in New York from 1997-99 before leaving to take the same position with New England from 2000-04.
After developing Tom Brady into a star, Weis left the Patriots to become head coach at Notre Dame.
The first two years of Weis' tenure with the Irish were golden. He put together a 19-6 mark with two Top 20 finishes.
After that, it was all downhill.
His next three years saw Notre Dame go 15-21, which eventually led to his dismissal.
He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs.
4. Tony Sparano
When Parcells took over as the Dolphins boss, the first hire he made was Tony Sparano as his head coach.
Sparano served under Parcells in Dallas as his offensive line coach.
Critics thought the hiring of Sparano was a bad one with so many big name coaches available.
Once again, Parcells proved everyone wrong.
In his first season, Sparano led the Dolphins to an 11–5 record and the AFC East division title, securing the franchise's first playoff berth in eight seasons before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in a Wild Card game.
The 10-win turnaround tied an NFL record, and Sparano finished one vote behind Atlanta Falcons first-year head coach Mike Smith in balloting for the AP Coach of the Year award.
Injuries limited the Dolphins to a 7-9 mark last season, but with the growth of Chad Henne and the signing of Brandon Marshall, Sparano believes Miami will bounce back in 2010.
3. Sean Payton
The head coach of the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, Payton served as Parcells' quarterbacks coach in Dallas from 2003-05.
Payton became the Saints head coach in 2006, and has led the team to a 42-27 record during his tenure.
He was voted AP Coach of the Year in 2006 and is one of the brightest of the new breed in the NFL.
2. Tom Coughlin
Coughlin was wide receivers coach for Parcells with the New York Giants from 1988-90.
He left to become head coach at Boston College, where he was 21-13-1 in three seasons before leaving to become the first head coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars.
In Jacksonville, Coughlin took the fledgling franchise to the AFC Championship Game in only its second season of existence in 1996.
Coughlin spent eight season with the Jaguars, and left with a 72-64 record and four playoff appearances.
He was hired as head coach of the Giants in 2004, and quickly turned them into a winner.
In 2007, Coughlin led New York to an upset of the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Coughlin begins his seventh season in New York with a 59-44 mark. He owns a career record of 131-108 in the NFL.
Monday Morning Quarterback Episode 2
Welcome to episode two of the Monday Morning Quarterback podcast.
The show will feature news, analysis and commentary on the NFL and NCAA football, hosted by yours truly, Brian Carson. Each podcast will run from 10-30 minutes, or until I get sick of talking.
Hopefully, I'll get some guest hosts once in a while, but for now, this is a solo show.
One word of warning: My mouth sometimes gets the better of me and I have a tendency to curse, so if foul language offends you, please forgive me or just don't listen.
This week we look at two men who have delusions of grandeur: LenDale White and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.
Just click on the button below to listen in.
Friday Fan Poll: Will the Big 12 Survive?
Welcome to the Friday Fan Poll.
The fan poll is just what you think - it's about you. I want to hear your opinions on the NFL and college football, so each week we'll have a poll set up to see what you think.
In the future, once we get the site established, we'll be giving away random prizes to those who take part in the Friday Fan Poll.
The polls will remain active for you to voice your opinion. There will be a new poll released every Friday.
This is about you. Your opinions matter.
Don't be shy, cast your vote below.
Loading ...The NFL’s Best Players Over 35
Hall of Famer George Blanda set the standard in the NFL for playing solid football past what's considered one's prime.
For those not in the know, Blanda was a quarterback and kicker who played until the age of 48, retiring in 1975 after 26 years in the league.
He was the rarity back then. Today, playing football beyond 35, and doing it at a high level, is not uncommon.
With advances in exercises science and sports nutrition, many players with the proper motivation and dedication can maintain outstanding careers, even into their 40s.
The following is a Baker's Dozen list of NFL players who have stopped Father Time and are still playing solid football past the age of 35.
Note: Players like Isaac Bruce who are retiring, but haven't officially announced it yet, are not on this list.
13. Adam Vinatieri, K, 37
One of the greatest clutch kickers in NFL history.
Vinatieri has been to two Pro Bowls and owns four Super Bowl rings. The highlight of his career was the game-winning field goal in Super Bowl XXXVI against the Rams.
He has scored 1,530 points and made 338 field goals in his stellar career.
Vinatieri missed all of last season with a injury and is looking to bounce back in 2010.
12. Jason Hanson, K, 39
Hanson has been the one consistent on a Detroit Lions franchise that has struggled for so long.
The 18-year veteran is fifth all-time in scoring (1,835 points) and owns or shares six NFL kicking records, including most field goals beyond 50 yards (42).
Hanson still has a strong leg from 49 yards on in and he even made a 50-yarder last season.
11. Matt Stover, K, 41
Stover, the all-time leading scorer in Ravens history, came in last season when Adam Vinatieri went down and helped the Colts reach the Super Bowl.
He's the fourth leading scoring in NFL history (2,004 points) and one of only five kickers to score 2,000 or more points.
Stover holds NFL records for most consecutive field goals (38) and most consecutive extra points (469). He was also the oldest person to play and score in a Super Bowl.
He is currently a free agent, but has no plans of retiring just yet. look for him to land with someone once training camp starts.
10. Tony Richardson, FB, 38
Richardson is a blue collar player.
A devastating blocker with good hands, he is still one of the best fullbacks in the game today.
The three-time Pro Bowler was the lead blocker for a Jets team that was tops in the league in rushing last season.
His 215 career receptions and power-running style make Richardson more than just a one-dimensional fullback. He is a key piece of the Jets offense.
9. Kerry Collins, QB, 37
Collins has had an up-and-down career in the NFL, but there's no denying his leadership ability.
The former Penn State star has lead three different teams (Panthers, Giants, and Titans) to the playoffs. He took New York all the way to the Super Bowl during the 2000 season.
Collins, a two-time Pro Bowler, has thrown for 38,618 yards and 192 touchdowns in a 16-year career.
He's taken a backseat to Vince Young in Tennessee, but Jeff Fisher likes having him around just in case.
8. Joey Galloway, WR, 38
Galloway battled injury problems last season and only played in three games last season.
He's back healthy and signed with the Redskins in April.
Despite his age, Galloway is still a speed-burner and a legit deep threat. His career stats stand at 689 receptions for 10,777 yards and 77 TDs.
7. Mushin Muhammad, WR, 37
The all-time leading receiver in Carolina Panthers history, Muhammad has had a solid NFL career despite playing second fiddle to the more flamboyant Steve Smith.
The two-time Pro Bowler caught 53 passes for 581 yards last season and has career totals of 860 catches for 11,438 yards with 62 touchdowns.
Muhammad is currently a free agent, but should be signed soon.
6. Terrell Owens, WR, 37
The mouth that roared is starting to slow down, but T.O. still can be a productive receiver in the NFL, provided some team gives him a chance.
Owens was released by Buffalo after one season in which he produced 55 catches for 829 yards and five scores.
It looks like a down year for Owens until you take a gander at the quarterbacks he had throwing to him.
Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick don't exactly produce fear in the hearts of NFL defenses.
Like him or not, there's no denying his ability on the field.
The six-time Pro Bowler has 1,006 career receptions for 14,954 yards and 144 touchdowns.
Look for him to sign before training camp gets underway.
5. Kevin Mawae, C, 39
Mawae is an eight-time Pro Bowler, including an appearance this past January at the age of 39.
He has been outspoken about being an unsigned free agent, claiming he's being blackballed because of his position as president of the NFLPA .
Mawae was named to the All-Decade Team of the 2000s and is one of the games all-time greatest centers.
4. Derrick Mason, WR, 36
Derrick Mason is like a vintage wine, he gets better with age.
The three-time Pro Bowler had an excellent 2010 campaign - hauling down 73 passes for 1,028 yards with seven scores.
His career stats are even more impressive: 863 catches for 11,089 yards and 59 touchdowns.
Look for an even bigger year in 2010 for Mason with Anquan Boldin joining the fold in Baltimore, and Joe Flacco another year older and wiser.
3. Brian Dawkins, S, 36
One of the saddest days in history for an Eagles fan was February 28, 2009.
That was the day Brian Dawkins signed a contract with the Denver Broncos after Philadelphia didn't make an offer for him.
Dawkins immediately made the Denver defense better with his intensity and leadership.
He was rewarded with his eighth Pro Bowl selection after a 95-tackle, two interception performance in 2009.
A member of the 2000s All-Decade team, Dawkins is one of the best to ever play his position and a sure-fire Hall of Famer.
2. Pat Williams, DT, 37
Even at 37, Williams is the best run-stuffing tackle in the game.
Paired with teammate Kevin Williams, the Vikings have led the league in rushing defense three of the past four seasons. In 2009, Minnesota was second.
Williams has gone to three Pro Bowls and shows no signs of wearing down. Another solid year should be in the works.
1. Brett Favre, QB, 40
Who else did you expect?
Just when you thought the ageless wonder couldn't top himself, Favre silenced the critics last year by having perhaps the best season of his amazing career.
The all-time NFL passing leader capped a marvelous season by leading Minnesota to the NFC Championship game before losing to New Orleans in overtime.
Favre's stats in 2009 were incredible: 363-of-531, for 4,202 yards, and 33 touchdowns. He was voted to his 11th Pro Bowl.
He recently had ankle surgery giving every indication he's coming back for season number 20.
With Favre back, look for the Vikings to make another Super Bowl run.