As you’ve probably heard by now the BCS title game is tonight. Crazy, I know. After all the waiting, all the analyzing, and the debating, incredibly, it’s just time to ball.
With so much build-up to this game you need no further introduction from me. So instead, let’s just jump right into it, talking about some of the biggest story lines entering tonight’s game.
The Talent On The Field: Go ahead admit it, you expected the first bullet point here to be “the defenses.”
Honestly, I can’t blame you, and if anything they probably should have been. But considering I started my preview of the November 5 game the exact same way, and given that not much has changed with those defenses since then (it’s not like Alabama’s entire secondary came down with mono or something) it doesn’t seem worth rehashing old thoughts. As I said on November 4, “How many different ways can you say “These are far and away the two best defenses in college football” anyway?
So instead, I’ll keep the same theme, change the context, and ask an abstract, impossible-to-answer question instead: Is this the most “talented” title game since USC and Texas in 2005?”
Obviously, there’s no real way to answer that. But I think that it just might be.
For Alabama- to put it as simply as I can- the Tide may very well be the most talented top-to-bottom college defense I’ve ever seen. The numbers obviously back it up, since incredibly Alabama ranks No. 1 in the country in the following categories: Total defense, scoring defense, run defense, pass defense and red zone defense.
As things stand, the 2011-2012 UConn Huskies stand to shatter the unofficial record for “most schizophrenic team” in modern program history (not to mention, team that causes the most casual fans to develop a drinking problem, too).
There really is no easy to describe them. They’re neither good nor bad, disappointing nor overachieving. They are nowhere close to reaching their potential, with a real possibility looming that they never will. And unlike past teams, there is no easily explainable way to figure out why that is. The 2012 Huskies seem to have good chemistry, seem to get along and seem to all be good kids. Yet at the same time something definitely seems to be off.
What that something is, is of course anyone’s guess. What I can tell you is that we’re one game away from the half-way point of the regular season, and I’ve got more questions on this team than I did in September. In no particular order, I want to know who’s this team’s leader; how will they handle a hostile road environment or elite team; and really, what’s their best lineup?
Above all, that last one is my biggest fear. We’re now 14 games in, and I get the sense that no one on the team has any idea what the rotations are, or how they fit in to what the team is doing. Because of it, it’s led to some confusing efforts, and even more confusing losses. Yes, I’m talking about Tuesday night at Seton Hall.
Regardless, what I can say is that after half the season, I have no handle on this team whatsoever. And while that’s not necessarily a bad thing on January 6, it could be if it's still an issue on February 6.
In an attempt to make some sense of it all, I’ve decided to hand out some midseason report cards. Below I’ve given a grade to pretty much each player on the team. While I can’t say it gave me any more clarity on what’s gone on this season, it has at least cleared some of the cobwebs out of my head.
Let’s take a look:
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Even with four days left before Alabama and LSU kick off in New Orleans, it’s never too early to start talking about the “big game.” And on Wednesday afternoon I did just that, breaking down Tide-Tigers Part II with my buddy Michael Felder, a former defense back for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and current college football analyst at InTheBleachers.net and CrystalBallRun.com.
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Michael knows the sport of college football as well as anyone, and in lieu of the big game, we broke down this game from every angle imaginable. Including...
- The success of Jordan Jefferson and the speed option the first time these two teams played, and why it might be harder for Alabama to adjust than people think.
- Alabama’s own offense and why it may be Eddie Lacy who needs to step up and have a big game for the Tide to win.
- Will the Tide have any more success passing the ball in this game as opposed to the last? Do they have a single wide receiver that’s really a “threat” against LSU’s secondary?
- How LSU’s offense has developed since the first time these two played, especially with the emergence of several running backs.
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Before we get to the New Year’s Day recap, I’d first like to offer an apology. I’ve been a bit of a scrooge lately, and really it hasn't just been the last few weeks, but really more of a four month thing. Well, with the New Year upon us, I’d like to apologize, and start turning over a new leaf.
So why was I so grumpy? (If you’re guessing that it had anything to do with the pink snuggie my sister got me for Christmas, well, you'd be wrong. It's been before of college football.
First, let me start by saying that I love college football. I love it more than most of my immediate family, I love it more than a weekend getaway with a lady friend, I even love it more than a Grand Slam breakfast at Denny’s (which if you know how I like to eat, says something). It’s true. Give me a good game over a good book any day, and time with Lane Kiffin over time spent with friends going down memory lane. I’m consumed by the sport not just from Labor Day to New Year’s, but from New Year’s back to Labor Day again. For some, the sport might be a hobby. For me, it’s a passion.
Which is kind of why I’ve been a scrooge since September. That’s because in my opinion, this very well might have been the most uninteresting college football season I can ever remember. I can’t remember a season with fewer interesting games, fewer interesting teams or fewer interesting stories, not to mention more Saturday’s where I was bored by what I saw on TV. Usually there are at least three or four games every Saturday that I’m genuinely excited about, but this year I usually struggled to find more than one in most weeks. I’m not sure if that had more to do with me (I am an admitted scrooge after all) or the sport as a whole, but from about mid-September on, the whole season lacked a certain “oomph” that I don’t remember it lacking before.
Go ahead and say it, I already know what you’re thinking: “Aaron, are you really giving us a ‘Things To Look Forward To In 2012 List?’ You’re only like the 3,000th sportswriter to do that this week. Geez, get an original idea. I thought you were better than that.”
First of all, I’m not better than that. But more importantly, come on, lighten up, it’s the New Year! Besides, I could give you a list of 500 things to look forward to in 2012, and it would still be more entertaining, and end quicker than last night’s Baylor-Washington game…which I still can’t believe happened by the way.
All bad jokes aside though, I really do think 2012 could be a banner year for sports. We are in line for quite possibly the most exciting NBA season in recent history, the most exciting NCAA Tournament of my lifetime, and a fantastic Summer Olympics. Not to mention the return of the best pro football player on the planet (Peyton Manning, who we all know will play- and play well- in 2012), the changing address of the best baseball player on the planet (Albert Pujols) and the mental breakdown of the best basketball player on Earth too (I fully expect Kobe Bryant to pull a Tonya Harding and have Troy Murphy clubbed in the knees by the end of February. Mark that down, it will happen.)
Granted, 2011 was a fun year. But there’s plenty more ahead in 2012.
Here are 50 story lines that I’m excited about, plus my BCS bowl game picks…
With the holidays slowing the news cycle to a screeching halt, this week I decided to do something different with the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast. Rather than interviewing a guest myself, I’ve instead decided to go a different direction, and post an interview where I was the guest, last week with Connecticut broadcasting legend Wayne Norman.
Norman has hosted a morning show in Connecticut every day since 1971, but of equal importance, also does color commentary on all UConn Men’s Basketball broadcasts. He was there for every game of the 2011 title run, and had me on his radio show to talk about the incredible championship, the epic five wins at Madison Square Garden, and my new book ‘The Unlikeliest Champion.'
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Amongst the topics he and I discussed, included the following:
- What made the 2011 Huskies title run significant enough to write a book about, and why the championship was about more than just basketball.
- Wayne’s story of only packing three days’ worth of clothes for the Big East Tournament.
- Why a little incident that no one talked about against Pitt swung that game, and potentially was the difference in the title run.
- Going back a little a bit, some fun recruiting stories, including Kemba Walker’s coming out party at the Arizona Cactus Classic.
- Who were some of my favorite interviews and best resources for that book.
One of the best parts of the holiday season is without a doubt the laziness it encourages. These last few days really have been the first time in all of 2011 I’ve had the chance to sit back, relax and not stress about all the little things. Yesterday in specific was an impressive first for me; I slept in late, and still had time for an afternoon nap. In between, I spent the rest of the day catching on every Kardashian-themed show I could find on TV, and generally, just lying around in my own squalor. To which I must say: If that isn’t heaven, I’m not quite sure what might be.
But beyond keeping up with the Kardashians and taking on the sleep patterns of a male lion, I did something else that was at least semi-interesting. I watched a college basketball practice.
Please understand that this wasn’t a particularly special practice. It didn’t have lights and pyrotechnics like Midnight Madness, and wasn’t one of those free-flowing open practices you get at the Final Four. Nope, instead, it was a regular practice, on a regular day, in a seemingly regular season for the Kentucky Wildcats basketball program. The practice had real drills, in real preparation for a real game.
Of course there was one difference from that practice and all others before or since it. That difference was that this practice streamed live online, allowing thousands of other couch-dwelling, college hoops fans to check in, and check out what the Wildcats were doing. As best I can tell, it’s the first time a college basketball program has ever done such a thing, and once again proved something I’ve been saying for years: When it comes to the promotion and marketing of his program, John Calipari really is miles ahead of the pack.
Since my book ‘The Unlikeliest Champion’ became available for sale last week, of all the things I’ve learned, the most ironic is undoubtedly this: The act of writing a book takes a lot of time away from well, actually writing on my own. Between doing the PR for the book, packaging, mailing and handling all the other small things that come with the process, not only have I not gotten more than four hours of sleep in a night, not only have I become about 600 percent more irritable, not only is my dog afraid to look me in the eye, but I also haven’t been able to do any actual writing. Which is not only ironic, but also a shame. Because there’s nothing in the world I enjoy doing more.
So with that, I’ve decided to take a break this morning from all book related things. I’ve decided to take a break from the constant e-mailing and phone service. I’ve decided to take a break from endless trips to the post office (it’s ok, my teller there was starting to creep me out anyway). And I’ve decided to just sit down, and write. I don’t know if what you’ll read below is going to come out any good. But at the very least, it’ll be therapeutic for me (And believe me, I need it).
A lot has happened in the world of sports since I last penned a column here or at Crystal Ball Run, and here’s my best attempt to capture it all…with my very own Sports Fan Christmas Wish List.
Now, is a sports Christmas wish list lame and gimmicky? Absolutely. But my brain has crumbled like Feta cheese in the past six days, and a gimmicky column is all I’ve got in me.
Enjoy. And if I don’t talk to you all, hope you enjoy the holiday!
Well hello everyone! I come to you with some big news.
As some of you may have heard, I Aaron Torres wrote a book. No, seriously...I wrote a book. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I can't believe it either.
The book is called “The Unlikeliest Champion” and it’s about last year’s UConn Men’s Basketball team, and their run to the 2011 National Championship. For those of you wondering, “Why UConn?” just know that I’m an alumnus of the school, and have been a fan for longer than I remember. If I were ever to write a book, this was the topic for me to do it on. The 2011 UConn Huskies truly were a special team, and I consider myself blessed to be the one who had the opportunity to capture it all, and to tell their story.
Now, before I get to the big announcement, I want to take a moment and thank each and every one of you. Since first making new of this book public a few weeks back, the support has been simply overwhelming. I’ve gotten to know so many great people throughout my time writing, and the love that you all have showed me in the last two weeks (and really, the last two years) is something that I can never thank you for. Just know that I do appreciate it.
Now, to the news.
After making my announcement about this book two weeks ago, I’m happy to report that…it is now available for purchase!
For all the details on the book as well as excerpts, insight and more, please visit www.UConnBook.com.
As for the specifics of purchasing, here they are:
The quickest and most efficient way for you to get your hands on this book is to go ahead and purchase it through the publisher. You can do that either by clicking here or at UConnBook.com as well. By purchasing through the publisher, you can pick your own shipping speed, and have the book in your hands in a timeframe which works best from you. You can also purchase the book off of Amazon, and a Kindle version should be available in the coming weeks as well.
Of course, there are other options too.
For those of you who would like me to sign the book, well, first off, I’m flattered that you’re interested. I sincerely mean that. To get an autographed copy, all you’ve got to do is go to UConnBook.com, go to the “Buy The Book” tab on the top right of the site, and click on the “Buy Now,” link. I will be sure and autograph each and every purchase that is made that way. However, be warned: All books purchased from there will not be shipped until early next week. Believe me, I don't like it, but it's the best time-frame the publisher could give me. Regardless, by ordering the book this way, it will still get to you for the holiday. I personally guarantee that.
(Also, please note: If you want any special inscription in your book, please make a note on your PayPal purchase. If that’s a problem, you can also e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
And finally, to everyone who was nice enough to pre-order the book, I absolutely cannot thank you enough. I genuinely mean that. To give you a bit of a time-frame for your purchase as well, your books should be in the mail early next week, and will be in your hands in plenty of time for the holiday. Again, I promise you that. If you do have any additional questions though, feel free to grab me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
And really, that’s all I’ve got for you this evening.
Again, I want to thank you all for the unbelievable support through this process. Writing a book is as tough and challenging as one might expect it to be, but the response from everyone is amazing. It really did make the whole process worthwhile.
And of course, I need to thank the 2011 UConn Huskies for giving us a season we’ll never forget. Sitting here today heading into 2012, I still can’t believe what I saw with my own eyes last spring. Watching them, you really didn't need to be a fan of the team, or really even a fan of college basketball to enjoy it. They were just that fun.
Thank you all, and for any further questions or comments, feel free to post below, or e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . More information, including excerpts and other goodies can be found at www.uconnbook.com as well.
Aaron
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Since I started this website a few years back, there has simply never been a more interesting, polarizing and divisive athlete I’ve ever encountered other than Tim Tebow. Few are more scrutinized, few are under a bigger microscope and no one draws a line in the sand quite like him. You either love Tim Tebow, or hate him. It’s that simple.
Well one guy who loves him, is my buddy Marc Ryan, host of ‘The Morning Wrap’ on the Ticket Sports Network down in Florida. He is a UF graduate, but most importantly, a smart, opinionated guy, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to have on the podcast to discuss Mr. Tebow, than Marc himself.
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On Wednesday Marc joined me, and we discussed the following topics:
- Why Marc feels as though he’s never been more “vindicated” for his opinion on an athlete than he does right now with Tebow;
- Why each of us believes that Tebow receives unfair backlash. Marc thinks it’s jealousy and me, well, I’m still not totally sure.
- A new stat that Marc reveals on the show, which he believes proves Tebow’s true value as a quarterback.
- Using the stat in real-time, I explain why I like it so much, and why other quarterbacks like Alex Smith and Jay Cutler prove its true worth.
- Marc and I wrap up by discussing the “Tebow Microscope” and by asking each other, “If you were Tim Tebow, could you handle the criticism and expectation he does? More importantly, could you do it with the class that he does it with.”
Plus much, much, more...
Simply put folks, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this podcast. It was fun, straight-forward and honest, and I truly believe that if you go into it with open minds, you will come out with a different view on Tebow.
For downloading options, you can always go straight to iTunes and download it there, or subscribe to the Aaron Torres Podcast.
In addition, there are other ways to access the work available at www.aarontorres-sports, including on Twitter, Facebook and by downloading the Aaron Torres Sports App.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I, Aaron Torres, wrote my first book, and that is now available for purchase. It’s called ‘The Unlikeliest Champion’ and for more information, excerpts, and other goodies, please visit www.uconnbook.com. You can also order it straight from the publisher, or from Amazon.com.
Thank you all for the time, and thank you for the support.
Until next time…
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