A few years ago, Chick Fillet, the ACC and the SEC got together to start a tradition at the beginning of the College Football season, the chick Fillet Kickoff Classic. The game, like the Chick Fillet Bowl at the end of the season, features teams from the SEC and the ACC.
The first Kickoff Classic game was two years ago and featured Alabama against Clemson, in which Alabama won. A year ago, Alabama appeared in the game again. This time, it was against Virginia Tech. The Tide won that game as well, and it was the beginning of what would culminate in a National Title for the Crimson Tide. The 2010 Chick Fillet Kickoff Classic will feature LSU against North Carolina.
However, there are rumors of bringing in teams from outside the ACC and SEC. There was talk yesterday on an Atlanta sports station, 680 The Fan, to have Georgia play teams like Texas, Oklahoma or USC in the Kickoff Classic. I like the idea. I would love to see the Bulldogs play someone like Texas or Ohio St.. It doesn't matter to me if they lose. They took the risk. Georgia is also capable of wining games like these.
But I have an even better idea. How about a doubleheader? Georgia Tech could play Texas at 2 pm that afternoon followed By Georgia against USC at 8pm. There should be enough time after the completion of the first game to get ready for the second game. They could sell the "cheap" tickets for $50. The ticket would be good for both games. Lower level prices would go for as high as $150. This might be feasible. Georgia and Georgia Tech competing against the top teams in the country. The Atlanta Sports Council could bring even more money into the city with 4 teams involved. That's my opinion, and I would welcome yours.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Big Ten Becoming "Big 10 x 10"
What is this I'm hearing that the Big Ten Conference wants to expand even more and steal schools from other conferences, like the Bitg Xll and the Big East? Is the big Ten trying to absorb almost all of major college sports?
On a local Atlanta sports talk show earlier today, one of the hosts stated that the Big Ten is trying to entice the University of Missouri, a Big Xll member, to join the Big Ten. Also according to this host, the Big Ten is trying to pull Notre Dame and a few Big East schools into its conference. They are looking to have at least 16 teams in their conference.
If this is true, it's ridiculous! Big Ten schools most certainly won't be able to or won't try to play everyone in the conference during the regular season. In College Football, they've got to play some of those "Cup Cake" schools to guarantee wins. Are they doing this because of the mediocre reputation they have because of their mediocre football teams? Are they trying to guarantee the conference a national champion? We will never get a true idea of what team in the Big Ten is the best team because with 15 or 16 teams in the conference, no Big Ten team will play everyone in the conference.
Also, what about the other conferences like the Big Xll, SEC and ACC? They will be at a disadvantage. The NCAA should put a limit on how many schools a conference can have. Twelve is plenty. We already have exciting conference championships like the SEC, Big Xll and ACC Championship Games. The Big Ten has taken a hit (and rightly so) because it did not do well in bowl games last season and their basketball teams met early exits in the NCAA Tournament. Big Ten, if you want to compete for or win a National Championship, your schools need to step up their game on the field and court. You don't do it by stealing teams from other top notch conferences.
On a local Atlanta sports talk show earlier today, one of the hosts stated that the Big Ten is trying to entice the University of Missouri, a Big Xll member, to join the Big Ten. Also according to this host, the Big Ten is trying to pull Notre Dame and a few Big East schools into its conference. They are looking to have at least 16 teams in their conference.
If this is true, it's ridiculous! Big Ten schools most certainly won't be able to or won't try to play everyone in the conference during the regular season. In College Football, they've got to play some of those "Cup Cake" schools to guarantee wins. Are they doing this because of the mediocre reputation they have because of their mediocre football teams? Are they trying to guarantee the conference a national champion? We will never get a true idea of what team in the Big Ten is the best team because with 15 or 16 teams in the conference, no Big Ten team will play everyone in the conference.
Also, what about the other conferences like the Big Xll, SEC and ACC? They will be at a disadvantage. The NCAA should put a limit on how many schools a conference can have. Twelve is plenty. We already have exciting conference championships like the SEC, Big Xll and ACC Championship Games. The Big Ten has taken a hit (and rightly so) because it did not do well in bowl games last season and their basketball teams met early exits in the NCAA Tournament. Big Ten, if you want to compete for or win a National Championship, your schools need to step up their game on the field and court. You don't do it by stealing teams from other top notch conferences.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Clemson High Jumper Wins ACC Honors
Here at KG's College Athletics, we haven't highlighted or discussed too much the successes of student-athletes competing in the world's oldest sport: Track & Field. Red-shirt Sophomore April Sinkler, a Professional Health Science Major from Stafford, VA, was named ACC Performer of the Week this past Tuesday for her performance in the High Jump and Long Jump in the Double Dual meet against Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State held in Atlanta two weeks ago.
This past weekend, Sinkler became the first female to clear 6 feet in the high Jump breaking her own personal record in the process. Her successful jump moves her into a tie for eighth place nationally. Sinkler has already been named ACC Women's Indoore Performer of the Week back on Jan. 19 and is the ACC's Most Valuable Field Athlete in both Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field this season. Sinkler captured the Long Jump Crown this past weekend with a personal Outdoor best of 21'1.25. She ranks second all time in Clemson history in the event behind Monyetta Haynesworth, who jumped 21'5.5 in 1992. It is no surprise, therefore, that Sinkler won the ACC Championship in the High Jump and Long Jump in both Indoor and Outdoor for 2009-10.
During her career at Clemson, April Sinkler has qualified for the NCAA National Championships in the Indoor High Jump and Long Jump, as well as the Indoor Triple Jump. She ranks #1 in Clemson history in the Indoor High Jump and Long Jump, as well as third in the Indoor Triple Jump and seventh in the Outdoor High Jump. One more thing to mention, Sinkler was a USA Junior All-American in the Long Jump and High Jump back in 2008. Needless to say, she is quite an athlete and will hopefully have a spot on the US Olympic Team two years from now when the Summer Olympic games come to London.
This past weekend, Sinkler became the first female to clear 6 feet in the high Jump breaking her own personal record in the process. Her successful jump moves her into a tie for eighth place nationally. Sinkler has already been named ACC Women's Indoore Performer of the Week back on Jan. 19 and is the ACC's Most Valuable Field Athlete in both Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field this season. Sinkler captured the Long Jump Crown this past weekend with a personal Outdoor best of 21'1.25. She ranks second all time in Clemson history in the event behind Monyetta Haynesworth, who jumped 21'5.5 in 1992. It is no surprise, therefore, that Sinkler won the ACC Championship in the High Jump and Long Jump in both Indoor and Outdoor for 2009-10.
During her career at Clemson, April Sinkler has qualified for the NCAA National Championships in the Indoor High Jump and Long Jump, as well as the Indoor Triple Jump. She ranks #1 in Clemson history in the Indoor High Jump and Long Jump, as well as third in the Indoor Triple Jump and seventh in the Outdoor High Jump. One more thing to mention, Sinkler was a USA Junior All-American in the Long Jump and High Jump back in 2008. Needless to say, she is quite an athlete and will hopefully have a spot on the US Olympic Team two years from now when the Summer Olympic games come to London.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The MCLA And SELC, A Great Option For College Lacrosse Hopefuls
As mentioned in an earlier article, Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing team sports in America. At the college level, the NCAA has Lacrosse as a sanctioned sport and schools like Virginia, Duke, Syracuse and Cornell are traditional powers at the Div. l level.
However, many other schools in the South who participate at the NCAA Div. l level in other sports have Lacrosse programs. They just don't compete in the NCAA. They compete in the Southeastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC). Schools such as Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida and Auburn are just some of the members. High School Lacrosse players who aren't being recruited by NCAA Div. l Lacrosse programs have another option. They can play at the many schools around the country who are a part of the Men's College Lacrosse Association (MCLA) of which the SELC is a member. There are also non-NCAA College Lacrosse programs for women as well.
The MCLA and WCLL have member schools such as Florida and Michigan St. as well as small schools such as Tennessee Wesleyan and Chapman University, both NAIA and NCAA Div. lll members respectively when it comes to other sports. The SELC has two divisions. Div. l is comprised of large universities such as Georgia, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Florida. Div. ll is comprised of mostly small schools like Tennessee Wesleyan and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), but also contains schools like Kennesaw St., Georgia St., Furman, Appalachian St. and Elon. Tennessee Wesleyan finished the regular season a top the SELC Central Division at 5-0 and 10-5 overall. They beat App. St. 9-7 in the SELC Div. ll Quarter Finals and lost to Elon in the Semis 16-8. TWC had two players who received SELC Div. ll honors. Anthony Hunt, a Junior from Nashville, TN, was named SELC Div. ll Specialty Player Of The Year. His teammate, Junior Attacker Ryan Horvath from Verona, WI, was named SELC Div. ll Offensive Player Of The Year. Horvath finished the season with 57 goals and 17 assists.
Though it does not get the publicity that NCAA Lacrosse gets, schools that participate in the MCLA and WCLA are very competitive. They provide an opportunity for high school players who are passed over by NCAA schools. If you are an aspiring Lacrosse player in high school, check out the MCLA website at http://www.mcla.us/. If you're a female player, you can go to http://www.womenscollegiatelacrosse.com/. Incidentally, congratulations to the University of Florida Men's Lacrosse Team. They are the SELC Div. l Champions.
However, many other schools in the South who participate at the NCAA Div. l level in other sports have Lacrosse programs. They just don't compete in the NCAA. They compete in the Southeastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC). Schools such as Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida and Auburn are just some of the members. High School Lacrosse players who aren't being recruited by NCAA Div. l Lacrosse programs have another option. They can play at the many schools around the country who are a part of the Men's College Lacrosse Association (MCLA) of which the SELC is a member. There are also non-NCAA College Lacrosse programs for women as well.
The MCLA and WCLL have member schools such as Florida and Michigan St. as well as small schools such as Tennessee Wesleyan and Chapman University, both NAIA and NCAA Div. lll members respectively when it comes to other sports. The SELC has two divisions. Div. l is comprised of large universities such as Georgia, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Florida. Div. ll is comprised of mostly small schools like Tennessee Wesleyan and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), but also contains schools like Kennesaw St., Georgia St., Furman, Appalachian St. and Elon. Tennessee Wesleyan finished the regular season a top the SELC Central Division at 5-0 and 10-5 overall. They beat App. St. 9-7 in the SELC Div. ll Quarter Finals and lost to Elon in the Semis 16-8. TWC had two players who received SELC Div. ll honors. Anthony Hunt, a Junior from Nashville, TN, was named SELC Div. ll Specialty Player Of The Year. His teammate, Junior Attacker Ryan Horvath from Verona, WI, was named SELC Div. ll Offensive Player Of The Year. Horvath finished the season with 57 goals and 17 assists.
Though it does not get the publicity that NCAA Lacrosse gets, schools that participate in the MCLA and WCLA are very competitive. They provide an opportunity for high school players who are passed over by NCAA schools. If you are an aspiring Lacrosse player in high school, check out the MCLA website at http://www.mcla.us/. If you're a female player, you can go to http://www.womenscollegiatelacrosse.com/. Incidentally, congratulations to the University of Florida Men's Lacrosse Team. They are the SELC Div. l Champions.
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