Well I know you probably missed The ArmChair Coach yesterday, but you know what they say better late than never. I wanted to wait till today to do the blog, so I would know all of the match-ups for the Upperstate and Lowerstate basketball Championship games. All of the Upperstate Championship games are to be played at the Bilo Center in Greenville, South Carolina and the Lowerstate Championship games will be played at McAllister Fieldhouse at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. The 4A games will be Friday night and all of the other Classifications will be all day on Saturday. Lets look at the match-ups.
UPPERSTATE 4A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Easley (24-4) vs Gaffney (24-2)..... The Indians were here last year and won the Upperstate Championship. Their experience should be the difference. Winner Gaffney
LOWERSTATE 4A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Lexington (24-4) vs Goose Creek (23-3)..... Goose Creek is the defending 4A State Champions and they have the experience and talent to win again. I see Lexington as the better team. Winner Lexington
UPPERSTATE 3A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Lower Richland (17-5) vs Daniel (21-3)..... Lower Richland has a long and rich tradition in High School basketball in the state. I believe Daniel has the better team. Winner Daniel
LOWERSTATE 3A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Lake City (20-2) vs Darlington (26-1)..... This has the making of a fantastic game. I think Darlington might be just a little bit better. Winner Darlington
UPPERSTATE 2A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Keenan (20-7) vs Southside (24-2)..... The Southside Tigers are the 2 time defending 2A State Champions. Can they 3-peat? Winner Southside
LOWERSTATE 2A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Burke (25-2) vs Timberland (16-7)..... Burke has the better tradition and they have the better team this year as well. Winner Burke
UPPERSTATE 1A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Great Falls (24-1) vs Williston-Elco (13-14)..... Williston-Elco is the Cinderella of the playoffs this year. Great Falls is a traditional power. You do the math. Winner Great Falls
LOWERSTATE 1A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Carvers Bay (18-5) vs Hemingway (22-2)..... These two teams are city rivals. Carvers Bay is a big underdog. Winner Hemingway
DID YOU KNOW? Gaffney is the only 4A school to win three straight 4A State Basketball Championships. They were in 2003,2004 and 2005.
Lets go catch some Championship High school action over the weekend. The ArmChair Coach is going to the Bilo Center on Friday night to watch Gaffney play Easley in the 4A Upperstate Championship game.
Until Next Week
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUITING REVIEW
You know what they say about college football in the south, there are three seasons, the football season itself, college football recruiting and spring football. Since we had National Signing Day for college football back on February 3rd, I would like to see what it looks like for Clemson and South Carolina and area players.
CLEMSON FOOTBALL RECRUITING
It looks like Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers have put together a very good class this year as they were able to sign 23 players. The Tigers finished strong on signing day, as they were in a wait and see mode for Beaufort, South Carolina Linebacker Justin Parker and Lincoln, Alabama Running Back D.J. Howard. The Tigers beat out the South Carolina Gamecocks for Justin Parker and Auburn for D.J. Howard. The Tigers were able to sign eight players from the State of South Carolina, seven players from the state of Georgia, three players from the state of Alabama, and one player each from the states of Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and Deleware. The recruiting services across the country have rated the Clemson class as high as NO. 16 and as low as NO. 23. The Tigers filled a lot of their needs especially at WR, DB, OL and LB. I personally would have liked to have seen them sign a QB or two, since back-up Willy Korn is transferring and starter Kyle Parker could possibly be drafted in the Major League Baseball draft and could possibly not play football in the fall. All in all on paper the Tigers had a very good signing class, but we will really have to wait three or four years from now to see just how good the class really was. It will be very interesting to see if these players can help bring Clemson an ACC Championship. Stay tuned.
SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL RECRUITING
Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks had a solid recruiting class as they were able to sign 24 players. The big signee for the Gamecocks was all-everything Running Back from Byrnes Marcus Lattimore. He was rated as the NO. 2 rated RB in the nation and he was Mr. Football in the state of South Carolina after this past season at Byrnes. He helped lead Byrnes to two 4A State Championships and a State Runner-up finish this past season. The Gamecocks and Auburn were Lattimore's final two schools. The Gamecocks were able to sign six players from the state of South Carolina, seven players from the state of Florida, six players from the state of Georgia, three players from the state of North Carolina and two players from the Junior College ranks. The recruiting services have ranked the South Carolina class from NO. 23 to NO. 34. On paper a solid class, but we really won't know how solid for three or four years. The question is, can this class help the Gamecocks win a Division Title or SEC Championship? Stay tuned.
UPSTATE AREA PLAYERS
The upstate area 0f South Carolina had 39 players sign national letters of intent. The group was led by Byrnes who had twelve players sign, Dorman had eight, Gaffney had three, Boiling Springs had five, Spartanburg had six, Union County had two and Chesnee, Chapman and Woodruff had one each.
TOP 5 CLASSES IN THE COUNTRY
The rich just keep getting richer as the Top 5 classes in the country are NO.1 is Florida, NO.2 is Texas, NO. 3 is Southern California, NO. 4 is Alabama and NO. 5 is Auburn. The surprise of the Top 5 for me is Auburn. Gene Chizik had a very good class this year for the Auburn Tigers.
DID YOU KNOW? The Boiling Springs Bulldogs had five players sign with Division 1 schools. This is the most in school history.
Until Next Week.
CLEMSON FOOTBALL RECRUITING
It looks like Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers have put together a very good class this year as they were able to sign 23 players. The Tigers finished strong on signing day, as they were in a wait and see mode for Beaufort, South Carolina Linebacker Justin Parker and Lincoln, Alabama Running Back D.J. Howard. The Tigers beat out the South Carolina Gamecocks for Justin Parker and Auburn for D.J. Howard. The Tigers were able to sign eight players from the State of South Carolina, seven players from the state of Georgia, three players from the state of Alabama, and one player each from the states of Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and Deleware. The recruiting services across the country have rated the Clemson class as high as NO. 16 and as low as NO. 23. The Tigers filled a lot of their needs especially at WR, DB, OL and LB. I personally would have liked to have seen them sign a QB or two, since back-up Willy Korn is transferring and starter Kyle Parker could possibly be drafted in the Major League Baseball draft and could possibly not play football in the fall. All in all on paper the Tigers had a very good signing class, but we will really have to wait three or four years from now to see just how good the class really was. It will be very interesting to see if these players can help bring Clemson an ACC Championship. Stay tuned.
SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL RECRUITING
Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks had a solid recruiting class as they were able to sign 24 players. The big signee for the Gamecocks was all-everything Running Back from Byrnes Marcus Lattimore. He was rated as the NO. 2 rated RB in the nation and he was Mr. Football in the state of South Carolina after this past season at Byrnes. He helped lead Byrnes to two 4A State Championships and a State Runner-up finish this past season. The Gamecocks and Auburn were Lattimore's final two schools. The Gamecocks were able to sign six players from the state of South Carolina, seven players from the state of Florida, six players from the state of Georgia, three players from the state of North Carolina and two players from the Junior College ranks. The recruiting services have ranked the South Carolina class from NO. 23 to NO. 34. On paper a solid class, but we really won't know how solid for three or four years. The question is, can this class help the Gamecocks win a Division Title or SEC Championship? Stay tuned.
UPSTATE AREA PLAYERS
The upstate area 0f South Carolina had 39 players sign national letters of intent. The group was led by Byrnes who had twelve players sign, Dorman had eight, Gaffney had three, Boiling Springs had five, Spartanburg had six, Union County had two and Chesnee, Chapman and Woodruff had one each.
TOP 5 CLASSES IN THE COUNTRY
The rich just keep getting richer as the Top 5 classes in the country are NO.1 is Florida, NO.2 is Texas, NO. 3 is Southern California, NO. 4 is Alabama and NO. 5 is Auburn. The surprise of the Top 5 for me is Auburn. Gene Chizik had a very good class this year for the Auburn Tigers.
DID YOU KNOW? The Boiling Springs Bulldogs had five players sign with Division 1 schools. This is the most in school history.
Until Next Week.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
SUPER BOWL XLIV REVIEW
SAINTS GO MARCHING TO A SUPER BOWL TITLE!
The New Orleans Saints, yes the New Orleans Saints, let me say it again the New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl XLIV Champions!! The long time laughing stocks of the NFL and a franchise once known by the Aints by their fans are Super Bowl Champions! New Orleans Saints fans, you can throw away your paper bags, you don't need them anymore your team is on top of the NFL world. The New Orleans Saints rallied from a Super Bowl tieing 10 point deficit to upset the Indianapolis Colts 31 to 17. The Saints coming into this season had only won two post season games in their 42 year history in the NFL, won three this post season to give The Big Easy their first World Championship.
New Orleans QB Drew Brees was the Super Bowl MVP as he passed 32 of 39 for 288 yards and two TDs. The 32 completions tied Tom Brady's Super Bowl record for completions in a Super Bowl game. Lets look at a quarter by quarter look at Super Bowl XLIV.
FIRST QUARTER
The first quarter of Super Bowl XLIV started off like it was going to be a blowout in favor of the Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning and the Colts offense was firing on all cylinders as they jumped out to a 10 to 0 lead on their first two possessions of the game. The New Orleans Saints looked lost on offense and defense as they could not get anything going and they could not slow down the Manning express. The first quarter ended with the Colts ahead 10 to 0.
SECOND QUARTER
The momentum changed in the second quarter as the Saints started clicking on offense and they were able to keep Peyton Manning and the Colts offense off of the field. The Colts offense only ran six plays the entire second quarter. The Saints offense was only able to put two 40-plus field goals on the board after dominating the second quarter stats. The Saints Head Coach Sean Payton would make a decision to go for a TD on a 4th and goal, which at the time looked like a mistake when the Colts defense stopped the Saints. The confidence Coach Payton showed in his team, going for it ,would turn out to be one of the turning points of the game. The second quarter ended with the Colts leading 10 to 6.
THIRD QUARTER
The third quarter would start with the next game changing play as Coach Payton of the Saints went for an on sides kick to start the third quarter. After a big pile-up the Saints came away with the ball. The Colts were stunned. The Saints behind QB Drew Brees would drive down the field and take their first lead of the game 13 to 10. Not to be out done a well rested Peyton Manning would drive the Colts down the field to answer the Saints TD to give the Colts the lead right back at 17 to 13. The Saints would drive down to get another 40-plus field goal with about 2:00 left in the third quarter. The third quarter would end with the Colts leading 17 to 16.
FORTH QUARTER
Most of the forth quarter would go by with neither team posing a threat to score. Then with 5:42 left in the game Saints QB Drew Brees would hit Jeremy Shockey with a two yard TD pass to put the Saints back on top. The next game changing play would be when the Saints went for the two point conversion to try to go up 24 to 17. The play was ruled no good on the field but the play was reviewed and the play was reversed and it was good. The Saints were ahead in the Super Bowl with about 5:00 left to play in the game. On came Peyton Manning as he had plenty of time to drive the Colts down the field to force over-time. Manning would drive the Colts into Saints territory, but the Saints Tracy Porter would make the game changing play that would seal the Super Bowl win for the New Orleans Saints, he picked off Mannings pass and returned it 74 yards for the clinching score. The New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV 31 to 17.
It was a great win for the Saints organization and for the city of New Orleans. CONGRATULATIONS!!
THE ARMCHAIR COACH ended the football season with a record of 228 and 107 in predictions for a percentage of .681.
Until next week.
The New Orleans Saints, yes the New Orleans Saints, let me say it again the New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl XLIV Champions!! The long time laughing stocks of the NFL and a franchise once known by the Aints by their fans are Super Bowl Champions! New Orleans Saints fans, you can throw away your paper bags, you don't need them anymore your team is on top of the NFL world. The New Orleans Saints rallied from a Super Bowl tieing 10 point deficit to upset the Indianapolis Colts 31 to 17. The Saints coming into this season had only won two post season games in their 42 year history in the NFL, won three this post season to give The Big Easy their first World Championship.
New Orleans QB Drew Brees was the Super Bowl MVP as he passed 32 of 39 for 288 yards and two TDs. The 32 completions tied Tom Brady's Super Bowl record for completions in a Super Bowl game. Lets look at a quarter by quarter look at Super Bowl XLIV.
FIRST QUARTER
The first quarter of Super Bowl XLIV started off like it was going to be a blowout in favor of the Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning and the Colts offense was firing on all cylinders as they jumped out to a 10 to 0 lead on their first two possessions of the game. The New Orleans Saints looked lost on offense and defense as they could not get anything going and they could not slow down the Manning express. The first quarter ended with the Colts ahead 10 to 0.
SECOND QUARTER
The momentum changed in the second quarter as the Saints started clicking on offense and they were able to keep Peyton Manning and the Colts offense off of the field. The Colts offense only ran six plays the entire second quarter. The Saints offense was only able to put two 40-plus field goals on the board after dominating the second quarter stats. The Saints Head Coach Sean Payton would make a decision to go for a TD on a 4th and goal, which at the time looked like a mistake when the Colts defense stopped the Saints. The confidence Coach Payton showed in his team, going for it ,would turn out to be one of the turning points of the game. The second quarter ended with the Colts leading 10 to 6.
THIRD QUARTER
The third quarter would start with the next game changing play as Coach Payton of the Saints went for an on sides kick to start the third quarter. After a big pile-up the Saints came away with the ball. The Colts were stunned. The Saints behind QB Drew Brees would drive down the field and take their first lead of the game 13 to 10. Not to be out done a well rested Peyton Manning would drive the Colts down the field to answer the Saints TD to give the Colts the lead right back at 17 to 13. The Saints would drive down to get another 40-plus field goal with about 2:00 left in the third quarter. The third quarter would end with the Colts leading 17 to 16.
FORTH QUARTER
Most of the forth quarter would go by with neither team posing a threat to score. Then with 5:42 left in the game Saints QB Drew Brees would hit Jeremy Shockey with a two yard TD pass to put the Saints back on top. The next game changing play would be when the Saints went for the two point conversion to try to go up 24 to 17. The play was ruled no good on the field but the play was reviewed and the play was reversed and it was good. The Saints were ahead in the Super Bowl with about 5:00 left to play in the game. On came Peyton Manning as he had plenty of time to drive the Colts down the field to force over-time. Manning would drive the Colts into Saints territory, but the Saints Tracy Porter would make the game changing play that would seal the Super Bowl win for the New Orleans Saints, he picked off Mannings pass and returned it 74 yards for the clinching score. The New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV 31 to 17.
It was a great win for the Saints organization and for the city of New Orleans. CONGRATULATIONS!!
THE ARMCHAIR COACH ended the football season with a record of 228 and 107 in predictions for a percentage of .681.
Until next week.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
SUPER BOWL XLIV PREVIEW
The football season comes to an end this Sunday night in Miami as Super Bowl XLIV will be played between the NFC Champion New Orleans Saints and the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts. Being a huge football fan and The ArmChair Coach, I have mixed emotions every year about this time, I love the Super Bowl and it is the biggest game in the sport of football, but it is the last football game of the season. I will have to get out my calendar and start marking off the days until all of the training camps open in July and August. So lets look at this years Super Bowl match-up.
SUPER BOWL MATCH-UPS
This is the first time since 1993 that both of the top seeds made it to the Super Bowl. The Colts are in the Super bowl for the 4th time in franchise history and the 2nd time since they started calling Indianapolis home. The Saints, traditionally one of the worst losing teams in the NFL since coming into the league, will be making their first Super Bowl appearance. Lets look at the key match-ups for the game.
TEAM OFFENSES
The Colts offense has averaged 282.2 yards a game passing and 80.9 yards a game rushing for a total yards average of 363.1. The Colts have averaged 26.0 points per game. The Colts red zone offense breaks down to 66.0 percent scoring TDs and 22.6 scoring field goals. So their red zone scoring percentage is 88.6.
The Saints offense has averaged 272.2 yards a game passing and 131.6 yards a game rushing for a total yards average of 403.8. The Saints have averaged 31.9 points per game. The Saints red zone offense breaks down to 57.7 percent scoring TDs and 26.8 scoring field goals. So their red zone scoring percentage is 84.5.
Edge to New Orleans
TEAM DEFENSES
The Colts defense has allowed 212.7 yards a game passing and 126.5 a game rushing for a total yards allowed average of 339.2 per game. The Colts defense has given up an average of 19.2 points per game.
The Saints defense has allowed 235.6 yards a game passing and 122.2 a game rushing for a total yards allowed average of 357.8 per game. The Saints defense has given up an average of 21.3 points per game.
Edge to Indianapolis
TEAM HEAD COACHES
The Colts have a rookie Head Coach in Jim Caldwell and the Saints have Sean Payton who has been coach of the Saints for four seasons. Neither Head Coach has been Head Coaches in the Super Bowl.
Even
SUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE
The Indianapolis Colts have 21 players with Super Bowl experience and the New Orleans Saints have 6. Experience is usually big in big ball games and it don't get any bigger than the Super Bowl.
Edge to Indianapolis
TEAMS QUARTERBACKS
The Colts Peyton Manning won the NFL's Most Valuable Player award this season and he ranked 2nd in the NFL with 33 TD passes and he passed for 4,500 yards. He has been at his best during this post season as he has 623 yards passing and 5 TD passes. He has already played in and won a Super Bowl Championship.
The Saints Drew Brees finished 2nd to Manning in the MVP voting this season and he ranked 1st in the NFL with 34 TD passes and he passed for 4,388 yards. He has passed for 444 yards and 6 TD passes during this post season. At times Brees can be almost unstoppable and at times he can be normal. He has never played in the Super Bowl and has limited post season experience.
Edge to Indianapolis
SUPER BOWL XLIV..... New Orleans vs Indianapolis..... This game has a chance to be high scoring with this season's two best QBs playing against each other. I see the difference in the game to be the Colts Super Bowl experience and they have the NFL's best QB in Peyton Manning..... Indianapolis 31 New Orleans 21
Until Next Wednesday.
SUPER BOWL MATCH-UPS
This is the first time since 1993 that both of the top seeds made it to the Super Bowl. The Colts are in the Super bowl for the 4th time in franchise history and the 2nd time since they started calling Indianapolis home. The Saints, traditionally one of the worst losing teams in the NFL since coming into the league, will be making their first Super Bowl appearance. Lets look at the key match-ups for the game.
TEAM OFFENSES
The Colts offense has averaged 282.2 yards a game passing and 80.9 yards a game rushing for a total yards average of 363.1. The Colts have averaged 26.0 points per game. The Colts red zone offense breaks down to 66.0 percent scoring TDs and 22.6 scoring field goals. So their red zone scoring percentage is 88.6.
The Saints offense has averaged 272.2 yards a game passing and 131.6 yards a game rushing for a total yards average of 403.8. The Saints have averaged 31.9 points per game. The Saints red zone offense breaks down to 57.7 percent scoring TDs and 26.8 scoring field goals. So their red zone scoring percentage is 84.5.
Edge to New Orleans
TEAM DEFENSES
The Colts defense has allowed 212.7 yards a game passing and 126.5 a game rushing for a total yards allowed average of 339.2 per game. The Colts defense has given up an average of 19.2 points per game.
The Saints defense has allowed 235.6 yards a game passing and 122.2 a game rushing for a total yards allowed average of 357.8 per game. The Saints defense has given up an average of 21.3 points per game.
Edge to Indianapolis
TEAM HEAD COACHES
The Colts have a rookie Head Coach in Jim Caldwell and the Saints have Sean Payton who has been coach of the Saints for four seasons. Neither Head Coach has been Head Coaches in the Super Bowl.
Even
SUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE
The Indianapolis Colts have 21 players with Super Bowl experience and the New Orleans Saints have 6. Experience is usually big in big ball games and it don't get any bigger than the Super Bowl.
Edge to Indianapolis
TEAMS QUARTERBACKS
The Colts Peyton Manning won the NFL's Most Valuable Player award this season and he ranked 2nd in the NFL with 33 TD passes and he passed for 4,500 yards. He has been at his best during this post season as he has 623 yards passing and 5 TD passes. He has already played in and won a Super Bowl Championship.
The Saints Drew Brees finished 2nd to Manning in the MVP voting this season and he ranked 1st in the NFL with 34 TD passes and he passed for 4,388 yards. He has passed for 444 yards and 6 TD passes during this post season. At times Brees can be almost unstoppable and at times he can be normal. He has never played in the Super Bowl and has limited post season experience.
Edge to Indianapolis
SUPER BOWL XLIV..... New Orleans vs Indianapolis..... This game has a chance to be high scoring with this season's two best QBs playing against each other. I see the difference in the game to be the Colts Super Bowl experience and they have the NFL's best QB in Peyton Manning..... Indianapolis 31 New Orleans 21
Until Next Wednesday.
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