Football Stamps: April 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)

Minnesota Football

From the perspective of a guy that was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Minnesota Football has typically not been on my radar. I've watched them play, over the years, in Big Ten competition, but from my vantage point, they have an average program.

Granted, competing in the Big Ten is not an easy task, but I don't hear about the Golden Gophers winning games. It seems that they match up very well against Penn State, Northwestern and Indiana, but win 50/50 against the other teams. The team has been bowl eligible 10 years, since 2000, which isn't a feat to overlook. I've always wanted to see Minnesota or Indiana win the Big Ten, if nothing else, for the pure shock value of it happening.

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

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Thu. 08/28 | Eastern Illinois Panthers | (TBA - BTN/BTN2Go)

Sat. 09/06 | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | (TBA)

Sat. 09/13 | @ TCU Horned Frogs | (TBA)

Sat. 09/20 | San Jose State Spartans | (TBA)

Sat. 09/27 | @ Michigan Wolverines | (TBA)

Sat. 10/11 | Northwestern Wildcats | (TBA)

Sat. 10/18 | Purdue Boilermakers | (TBA)

Sat. 10/25 | @ Illinois Fighting Illini | (TBA)

Sat. 11/08 | Iowa Hawkeyes | (TBA)

Sat. 11/15 | Ohio State Buckeyes | (TBA)

Sat. 11/22 | @ Nebraska Cornhuskers | (TBA)

Sat. 11/29 | @ Wisconsin Badgers | (TBA)

Sat. 12/06 | # Big Ten Championship | (TBA)

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

Iowa State Football

I can honestly say that it's great to see Iowa State Football this competitive. Growing up, the Cyclones were always the doormat to the Sooners, Longhorns and Cornhuskers. The last several years have seen a very aggressive program competing in the Big 12 for a shot at the championship game. What's great about the Cyclones team is that they are good for at least one pivotal upset every year now. Looking forward to seeing who this year's victim(s) will be.

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

IOWA STATE CYCLONES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Sat. 08/30 | North Dakota State Bison | (TBA)

Sat. 09/06 | Kansas State Wildcats | (TBA)

Sat. 09/13 | @ Iowa Hawkeyes | (TBA)

Sat. 09/27 | Baylor Bears | (TBA)

Sat. 10/04 | @ Oklahoma State Cowboys | (TBA)

Sat. 10/11 | Toledo Rockets | (TBA)

Sat. 10/18 | @ Texas Longhorns | (TBA)

Sat. 11/01 | Oklahoma Sooners | (TBA)

Sat. 11/08 | @ Kansas Jayhawks | (TBA)

Sat. 11/22 | Texas Tech Red Raiders | (TBA)

Sat. 11/29 | West Virginia Mountaineers | (TBA)

Sat. 12/06 | @ TCU Horned Frogs | (TBA)

Iowa Football

Iowa Football fans tend to be on a rollercoaster every year. I would consider this program to be more aggressive and competitive than your average-middle-of-the-road teams because every few years, they will put together a solid season and contend for a spot in the Big Ten title game. I feel that the Hawkeyes are an underrated program, but I think they get that stigma because, when they actually do put themselves in a position for an amazing victory, sometimes they drop the ball and lose. It's hard for bandwagon jumpers to actually take them seriously because the Big Ten is so competitive.

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

IOWA HAWKEYES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Sat. 08/30 | Northern Iowa Panthers | (TBA)

Sat. 09/06 | Ball State Cardinals | (TBA)

Sat. 09/13 | Iowa State Cyclones | (TBA)

Sat. 09/20 | @ Pittsburgh Panthers | (TBA)

Sat. 09/27 | @ Purdue Boilermakers | (TBA)

Sat. 10/11 | Indiana Hoosiers | (TBA)

Sat. 10/18 | @ Maryland Terrapins | (TBA)

Sat. 11/01 | Northwestern Wildcats | (TBA)

Sat. 11/08 | @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | (TBA)

Sat. 11/15 | @ Illinois Fighting Illini | (TBA)

Sat. 11/22 | Wisconsin Badgers | (TBA)

Fri. 11/28 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | (TBA)

Sat. 12/06 | # Big Ten Big Ten Championship

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

Ohio State Football

Ohio State Football is big business that can be seen by simply taking a look at their ginormous stadium, nicknamed "The Horseshoe". Setting a major attendance record, Ohio Stadium was host to 106,102 faithful, as the Buckeyes crushed the Nebraska Cornhuskers 63 - 38. Urban Meyer took over the program from Jim Tressell, after "Tattoogate" and the program has quickly bounced back to their winning ways and pursuit of a national championship.

The talk amongst the Buckeye faithful is all centered around "The Game". This is how they describe their rivalry with Michigan. Dating back to 1897, this fierce battle has been contested 110 times and is ranked as the #1 North American sports rivalry of all-time by ESPN.

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

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (2014)

Sat. 08/30 | @ Navy Midshipmen | (11:00 am CST - CBSSN)

Sat. 09/06 | Virginia Tech Hokies | (7:00 pm CST - ESPN)

Sat. 09/13 | Kent State Golden Flashes | (TBA)

Sat. 09/27 | Cincinnati Bearcats | (5:00 pm CST - BTN/BTN2)

Sat. 10/04 | @ Maryland Terrapins | (TBA)

Sat. 10/18 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | (TBA)

Sat. 10/25 | @ Penn State Nittany Lions | (7:00 pm CST - ABC/ESPN 2)

Sat. 11/01 | Illinois Fighting Illini | (7:00 pm CST - ABC/ESPN 2)

Sat. 11/08 | @ Michigan State Spartans | (TBA)

Sat. 11/15 | @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | (TBA)

Sat. 11/22 | Indiana Hoosiers | (TBA)

Sat. 11/29 | Michigan Wolverines | (TBA)

Sat. 12/06 | # Big Ten Championship Game

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