Football Stamps: 2014

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Friday, May 2, 2014

After several years of mediocre campaigns, the UCLA Bruins are back to their winning ways and competiting for the illustrious PAC-12 Championship. Two seasons of nine wins or more, under head coach Jim Mora and UCLA Football is now back to keeping juggernaut programs like Oregon, Stanford and cross-town rivals USC in check. The big question this year is will the Bruins be able to claim the PAC-12 Title and make it to the Rose Bowl? Can they jump into BCS contention?

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

UCLA BRUINS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Stanford Football

Until proven otherwise, the Stanford Cardinals are the team to beat in the PAC-12. Jim Harbaugh might have laid the foundational groundwork for excellence in Stanford Football, but Coach Shaw has not only continued that competitiveness, but he's been able to lead his coach up his teams to 3 seasons in-a-row of 11 or more wins.

This is not an easy feat in any conference, much less the increasingly competitive PAC-12. This year will prove to be every bit as difficult as the 2013 campaign because Stanford will be on the road against Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA and Arizona State. The path to the Rose Bowl runs right through this team.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

Oregon Football

Purists like to scoff at Oregon Football and their fanbase. Having a major executive at Nike be an alumni of your school is never a bad thing, in my opinion. Several years ago, the Ducks started introducing new uniforms for every football game on the schedule.

Some uniforms were better than others, but over the course of that first logo redesign in 1999, Oregon has set the bar on the way a team looks. Luckily, the teams that have been put together have equally impressed, until the end of Chip Kelly's reign, when 3 years probation and a reduction in scholarships was the end result of some recruiting violations.

The Civil War against Oregon State continues to rage on and this fierce rivalry seems to only intensify. The Pac 12 is getting stronger every year and the team will have their work cut out for them against UCLA and Stanford.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

Colorado State Football

Colorado State Football is all about rivalries and lighting up the scoreboard in the Mountain West. They have to contend with arch rivals like Air Force and Wyoming in conference play, as well as their in-state nemesis, Colorado Buffaloes. Staying bowl eligible is the name of the game and the team is hoping to improve upon their 8-6 record and New Mexico Bowl victory in a crazy high points affair against Washington State.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

COLORADO STATE RAMS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Fri. 08/29 | # Colorado Buffaloes | (TBA)

Sat. 09/06 | @ Boise State Broncos | (9:15 pm CST - ESPN2)
Sat. 09/13 | UC Davis Aggies | (TBA)

# = vs. Colorado | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | Denver, CO
# = Mountain West Championship Game hosted by Highest Ranked Team

Colorado Football

I've been watching sports for over 30 years and not having the Colorado Buffaloes in the Big 12 stinks. For me, it just seems strange that they are now in the Pac 12 and I'm sure it's no different for Colorado Football fans. From a geographical standpoint, it makes sense, but when you are used to a certain schedule, everything seems off-kilter, when it changes. Greener pastures were awaiting the institution and it's probably seen as a great morale boost by freshening up their schedule with new rivalries and even stiffer competition.

While last year's campaign was not an ideal season, by Colorado standards, it was an improvement from 2012, when they went 1-11. The team is showing promise, but definitely has their work cut out for them against the likes of Oregon, Arizona State and UCLA.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

COLORADO BUFFALOES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Arkansas Football

Saying that Coach Bielema is on the hot seat this year would be saying the sky is blue. For the first time in the history of Arkansas Football, the Razorbacks finished winless, since joining the SEC in 1992. The strange thing about the 2013 campaign was that the coach had led the Wisconsin Badgers to major prominence before taking the Arkansas job. I'm hoping this is anomaly and the team can wreak more havoc in the SEC West.

Ole Miss, LSU and Texas are their biggest rivals and it seems that these teams are always jockeying for the right to play Alabama in the SEC title game. It's anyone's guess how they will fare this year. I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Sooie Nation needs the sour taste wiped out of their mouths with some quality wins.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

Michigan State Football

The heated rivalry amongst Michigan State Football fans against both Michigan and Notre Dame are the stuff of legend. The Battle Of Michigan is one of the fiercest and tradition-rich rivalries in College Football. Most non-fans don't realize that Nick Saban coached this team before the current coach, Mark Dantonio, took over. The 2013 campaign saw the Spartans winning the Big Ten Championship and losing a close battle in the Rose Bowl against the Stanford Cardinals. This team is tough to beat and could easily repeat this year.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Michigan Football

Michigan Football has gone through a bit of resurgence over the last 5 years. Winning is expected at this institution, so when the Brady Hoke-led Wolverines raced to 11 victories in 2011, everyone was ecstatic at the prospects of reclaiming long lost glory. Unfortunately, the last two years have seen less production, but still remaining bowl eligible. If they can just beat Michigan State or Ohio State, all would be right in the world.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

Monday, April 28, 2014

Air Force Football

I've been watching college football, off-and-on, for about 30 years now. The one thing I can definitely assert about Air Force Football is that their teams are notorious for lighting up the scoreboard like a Christmas Tree. They used to compete in the WAC, then moved over to Mountain West. Most of the teams in those leagues would score anywhere from 30 to 60 points per game. If you like watching high scoring contests and not too much defense, Mountain West action is where you want to be.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

AIR FORCE FALCONS FOOTBALL (2014)

Sat. 08/30 | Nicholls State Colonels | (TBA)

Sat. 09/06 | @ Wyoming Cowboys | (TBA - ESPN)

Sat. 09/13 | @ Georgia State Panthers | (TBA)

Sat. 09/27 | Boise State Broncos | (6:00 pm CST - CBSSN)

Sat. 10/04 | Navy Midshipmen | (2:30 pm CST - CBSSN)

Sat. 10/11 | @ Utah State Aggies | (TBA - ESPN)

Sat. 10/18 | New Mexico Lobos | (TBA)

Sat. 11/01 | @ Army Black Knights | (TBA - CBS/CBSSN)

Sat. 11/08 | @ UNLV Rebels | (TBA)

Sat. 11/15 | Nevada Wolf Pack | (TBA)

Fri. 11/21 | @ San Diego Aztecs | (8:30 pm CST - CBSSN)

Fri. 11/28 | Colorado State Rams | (2:30 pm CST - CBSSN)

Sat. 12/06 | # Mountain West Championship | (TBA - CBS)

# = Mountain West Championship Game Hosted by highest ranked team

Ole Miss Football

Ole Miss Football used to be considered a novelty. In the 80s and 90s, most of their teams finished middle-of-the-pack or near the cellar. Eli Manning entered the picture in the early 2000's and helped bring success to the program with a 2003 win, during his senior season, in the Cotton Bowl. Since that time, the team hasn't had much success and has gone back into relative obscurity. They play teams close and don't typically get annhilated like they used to, but for the most part, the SEC is an extremely tough conference and they are solid for an occasional upset.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

Florida State Football

Jimbo Fisher has more than proven himself to be a leader of men. In a short 5 years, he has continued Bobby Bowden's legacy and brought home a National Title to the Seminoles. For decades, Florida has been known as an NFL player machine, bringing the cream of the crop through the high school and college ranks to greatness in the pro leagues. Now is a great time to be a Florida State Football fan.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Sat. 08/30 | # Oklahoma State Cowboys | (7:00 pm CST - ABC)

Sat. 09/06 | Citadel Bulldogs | (TBA)

Sat. 09/20 | Clemson Tigers | (TBA)

Sat. 09/27 | @ North Carolina State Wolfpack | (TBA)

Sat. 10/04 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | (TBA)

Sat. 10/11 | @ Syracuse Orangemen | (TBA)

Sat. 10/18 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | (TBA)

Thu. 10/30 | @ Louisville Cardinals | (TBA - ESPN)

Sat. 11/08 | Virginia Cavaliers | (TBA)

Sat. 11/15 | @ Miami (FL) Hurricanes | (TBA)

Sat. 11/22 | Boston College Eagles | (TBA)

Sat. 11/29 | Florida Gators | (TBA)

Sat. 12/06 | # ACC Championship | (TBA)

# = vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys | AT&T Stadium | Arlington, TX

# = ACC Championship Game | Bank Of America Stadium | Charlotte, NC

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Delaware Football

While the masses enjoy major conference BCS-styled college football, smaller school/lesser known programs go about their day, putting out highly competitive teams. For those not in the know, the Delaware Football is every bit as fierce as the bigger leagues. The Fightin' Blue Hens have built an extremely competitive program in the FCS division, creating problems for their arch rivals at James Madison and Villanova in the Colonial League (CAA). If you wondered where Rich Gannon or Joe Flacco came from, that trivia question answer would be University Of Delaware.

BOLD = Home Game | @ = Away Game

DELAWARE FIGHTIN' BLUE HENS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Sat. 08/30 | @ Pittsburgh Panthers | (TBA)

Sat. 09/06 | Delaware State Hornets | (5:00 pm CST)

Sat. 09/13 | Colgate Raiders | (5:00 pm CST)

Sat. 09/27 | @ James Madison Dukes | (TBA)

Sat. 10/04 | Sacred Heart Pioneers | (2:30 pm CST)

Sat. 10/11 | Elon Phoenix (2:30 pm CST)

Sat. 10/18 | Towson Tigers | (2:30 pm CST)

Sat. 10/25 | @ William & Mary Tribe | (TBA)

Sat. 11/01 | Rhode Island Rams | (11:00 am CST)

Sat. 11/08 | @ Albany Great Danes | (TBA)

Sat. 11/15 | @ New Hampshire Wildcats | (TBA)

Sat. 11/22 | Villanova Wildcats | (11:00 am CST)

Illinois Football

Known primarily as a "basketball" school, the Fighting Illini have had mixed results on the gridiron. Illinois Football is pretty much a middle-of-the-road affair, as some seasons fare better than others. They've had two Big Ten championships, since 1990 and their last bowl appearance was in 2011.

BOLD = Home Games | # = Neutral Sites | @ = Away Games

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI FOOTBALL (2014)

Sat. 08/30 | Youngstown State Penguins | (TBA)

Sat. 09/06 | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | (TBA)

Sat. 09/13 | @ Washington Huskies | (TBA)

Sat. 09/20 | Texas State Bobcats | (TBA)

Sat. 09/27 | @ Nebraska Cornhuskers | (8:00 pm CST - BTN/BTN2)

Sat. 10/04 | Purdue Boilermakers | (TBA)

Sat. 10/11 | @ Wisconsin Badgers | (TBA)

Sat. 10/25 | Minnesota Golden Gophers | (TBA)

Sat. 11/01 | @ Ohio State Buckeyes | (7:00 pm CST - ABC/ESPN 2)

Sat. 11/15 | Iowa Hawkeyes | (TBA)

Sat. 11/22 | Penn State Nittany Lions | (TBA)

Sat. 11/29 | @ Northwestern Wildcats | (TBA)

Sat. 12/06 | # Big Ten Championship

# = Big Ten Championship Game | Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, IN

Miami Football

Miami Football fans are definitely a rare breed. There is a certain kind of swagger that the football program has displayed over the last 30 years and you either love it or you hate it. It seems that for every National Title they win or player that drafts big in the NFL, there is at least one controversy or scandal to match. No one can argue that the Hurricanes keep everyone honest in ACC play. Some years are definitely better than others, but I can say that they've been in the Top 20, since I've been watching sports. Only time will tell if they can take the ACC Title this year and make it to a BCS game.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

Florida Football

You would have to be living under a rock, not to have a clue about Florida Football. Steve Spurrier coached the program to 6 SEC Titles and a National Title in 1996. He's now at South Carolina and Urban Meyer took over, leading them to 2 more National Titles and the legend of Tim Tebow.

After Tebow graduated, Meyer took a break from coaching and is now the coach at Ohio State. Will Muschamp took over the program, which was decimated by injuries last year. For the first time in eons, the team was not bowl eligible and finished at 4-8. Here's hoping the Gators can bounce back this season and bring some heat in the SEC. That conference is even more intense with a competitive Blue/Orange than one that isn't.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

FLORIDA GATORS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Sat. 08/30 | Idaho Vandals | (TBA)

Sat. 09/06 | Eastern Michigan Eagles | (TBA)

Sat. 09/13 | Kentucky Wildcats | (TBA)

Sat. 09/20 | @ Alabama Crimson Tide | (TBA)

Sat. 10/04 | @ Tennessee Volunteers | (TBA)

Sat. 10/11 | LSU Tigers | (TBA)

Sat. 10/18 | Missouri Tigers | (TBA)

Sat. 11/01 | # Georgia Bulldogs | (2:30 pm CST - CBS)

Sat. 11/08 | @ Vanderbilt Commodores | (TBA)

Sat. 11/15 | South Carolina Gamecocks | (TBA)

Sat. 11/22 | Eastern Kentucky Colonels | (TBA)

Sat. 11/29 | @ Florida State Seminoles | (TBA)

Sat. 12/06 | SEC Championship Game

# = vs. Georgia Bulldogs | EverBank Field | Jacksonville, FL

# = SEC Championship Game | Georgia Dome | Atlanta, GA | (TBA)

Wyoming Football

Wyoming Football has typically been an exercise in futility, as the team enjoyed their best campaign (8-5), since 1998. The team has appeared in the New Mexico Bowl on two occasions in both 2011 and 2009. One of the biggest regular season games that the team and fans get excited about is the "Border War" as Wyoming challenges Colorado State for the Bronze Boot. This rivalry has been going on for over 100 years and is always a competitive matchup.

BOLD = Home Game | # = Neutral Site | @ = Away Game

WYOMING COWBOYS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Sat. 08/30 | Montana Bobcats | (TBA)

Sat. 09/06 | Air Force Falcons | (TBA - ESPN)

Sat. 09/13 | @ Oregon Ducks | (TBA)

Sat. 09/20 | Florida Atlantic Owls | (TBA)

Sat. 09/27 | @ Michigan State Spartans | (TBA)

Sat. 10/11 | @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | (TBA)

Sat. 10/18 | San Jose State Spartans | (TBA - ESPN)

Sat. 10/25 | @ Colorado State Rams | (TBA)

Sat. 11/01 | @ Fresno State Bulldogs | (TBA - ESPN)

Fri. 11/07 | Utah State Aggies | (7:00 pm CST - ESPN2)

Sat. 11/22 | Boise State Broncos | (TBA - ESPN)

Sat. 11/29 | @ New Mexico Lobos | (TBA)

Sat. 12/06 | ? Mountain West Championship | (TBA)

? = Mountain West Championship Game is hosted by highest ranked team | (TBA - CBS)