Late Dec 2022 O5 coaching hires and bowl games

  Kenni Burns (Minnesota running backs coach) takes over at Kent St for Sean Lewis, who joined Neon Deion's staff at Colorado. He was also at W.Michigan with Fleck so he's familiar with the MAC.

    Eric Morris (Washington State OC) takes over at North Texas and has plenty of experience as an assistant coach in the state of Texas, including at Houston (2010-11), Texas Tech (2013-17) and Incarnate Word (2018-21).

   Lance Taylor (Louisville OC) takes over at W.Michigan.

  I've had a rough picking season with the Bowl Games but will toss in a few words on the remaining O5.

TUE 12:00pmESPN

Ga. Southern/Buffalo: Former USC HC Todd Helton wins the Kyle Vantrease bowl. KV was the starting quarterback at Buffalo last season, and this year he starts for Georgia Southern against his former team. GS 34 Buff 24

Camellia Bowl, Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL

TUE 3:15pm ESPN

Memphis/Utah St: Ags hoops has been hot so maybe it will spread to the pigskin squad. Utah St 31 Memphis 28

First Responder Bowl, Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX

TUE 6:45pmESPN

C. Carolina/East Carolina: McCall/Ahlers QB battles. I'll go with Ahlers, the ECU lefty. ECU 35 CCU 31

Birmingham Bowl, Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

WED 2:00pmESPN

UCF/Duke: I know Duke has exceed expectations, but I'll go with Malzahn. UCF 27 Duke 24

Military Bowl, Navy - Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD

Dec 30 4:30pm Barstool Sports

Ohio/Wyoming: Cowboys rope in the Bobcats with a final minute FG. WYO 19 Ohio16

Arizona Bowl @ Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ

Jan 2 @ 1:00pm ESPN

Tulane/ USC: Green Wave subsides against the Trojans. USC 38 TUL 31

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)

Dec 28, 2022

I finally got an assessment correct. Ahlers threw 5 TDs for ECU in a 53-29 win over Coastal Carolina. He's a gutsy QB and may find a place in the NFL as a backup

Wrong picks: Utah St and Georgia Southern!

Dec 29, 2022

Wrong on UCF who didn't score in the middle of the game. Coach Gus has some work to do with the Knights going to the Big 12. Duke 30 UCF 13

I missed this hire. GJ Kinne is the new HC at Texas St. His Incarnate Word squad averaged 52.9 ppg last season, but the Sunbelt is a big step up.

Dec 31, 2022

Wrong on the Cowboys who didn't have enough rope to slow down S. Bangura RB - OHIO 25CAR 138YDS 1TD.  Ohio 30 WYO 27

Jan 2, 2022

Well, folks guessed McCall, a well-liked player at CCU entered the portal, only to follow Coach Chadwell to Liberty U.   New CCU HC Tim Beck, formerly an asst at NCST, must've had a chat with him and he's exited the portal.

Wow. I thought the Trojans D was shaky but what a complete meltdown. Props to Tulane(AAC).  Has Lincoln Riley ever  been the HC of a team with a decent D. Tulane 46 USC 45. Spears ' stats for the Green Wave

Jan 4, 2022

Petrino's stint at UNLV (MWC) lasted a month. Texas A&M hired Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator today.

Jan 7, 2023

Steve Spurrier Jr. is the new Tulsa(AAC) offensive coordinator and will also coach QBs. He worked as an asst for Mike Leach at Wazzoo and Miss St.

Jan 27, 2023

Speaking of head coaches if SDST keeps Hoke for a few more years, he 'll be back in the P5. "There are more bars in that stadium(Snapdragon) than there are in most cities," said Aztecs coach Brady Hoke. 

There's an assumption  the Pac-12 has no choice but to plug up its Southern California hole with SDSU.

Feb 7, 2023

 Tulane defensive coordinator Lance Guidry is heading to Miami U to replace Kevin Steele, who is headed to Bama to take the DC job

Guidry spent the 2022 season at Marshall and took the Tulane job last month. Tulane is owed $500,000 in buyout money for Guidry's departure, and the payment is due to the school in the next 60 days

Feb 14, 2023

The U hired Houston U OC Shannon Dawson 

I'm torn on this. Kevin Sumlin, co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach for the Maryland Terrapins. Previous gigs: 

2008–2011 Houston

2012-2017 Texas A&M

2018-2020 Arizona

Feb 16 2023

Tulane raids the SunBelt and hires Troy's DC Shiel Wood as its new defensive coordinator.

March 4, 2023

San Diego St is looking for a new associate head coach/running backs coach again after the LA Rams hired Ron Gould.  

Maryland is planning to hire former Texas State DC Zac Spavital as its Safeties Coach.  Locksley has been raiding the southwest USA  for coaches, a lot lately.

April 2, 2023

I think Navy (AAC) should've kept HC Ken Niumatalolo, and he's moved on to be Director of Leadership for UCLA Football, a job title that baffles me.

O5 week 12

 AAC: I'm taking ECU at home against Houston, a future B12 member, in a battle of productive QBs, Ahlers(ECU)/Tune (HOU). Houston gave up 77 points to SMU two weeks ago, while ECU is 2-1 against future Big 12 teams, after beating BYU and UCF, and losing 27-25 to Cincy.   ECU 34 HOU 31

CUSA: Frank Harris, the UTSA QB, will remain in high gear @ Rice, in an intrastate matchup and keep the Roadrunners undefeated in CUSA play. UTSA 40 Rice 27

MAC: I couldn't get to all the early MAC games so this is the one I have to pick. Snow is coming to the Buffalo area this weekend, but will only keep the final score lower. BUFF 16 Akron 6.

MWC: Boise State(7-3 6-0 Mountain West) @ Wyoming(7-3 5-1 Mountain West). Cowboys kick 5 FGs and survive. WYO 22 BSU 20

SunBelt: If the NFLN can travel to Hattiesburg, MS to televise a game, so can I. Carter Bradley will toss 3 td passes to keep South Bama on pace with Troy u in the West. USA 27 USM 20

Nov 18

I didn't pick this game, but Tulane crushed SMU 59- 24 last night. 

Nov 20, 2022

MAC game canceled, and I split on the other four.

Correct: UTSA jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back in a 41-7 win. USA withstood a mild late threat from USM, and holy sh^t I guessed the correct final score.

Wrong:  ECU got crushed 42-3 by Houston. The E stands for erratic. Wyoming went up 10-0. but Boise worked its way back slowly and won 20-17.

Nov 21, 2022

If Ohio wins this weekend, than they take the East. Will the MAC re-schedule the Buffalo /Akron game if Ohio loses? 

Nov 22, 2022

I might as well make my MAC week 13 pick here since a few MAC games are being played tonight. Bowling Green rolls into Athens, Ohio tonight. I'll ride with Rourke, Ohio's QB. Ohio 27 BG 17

Nov 23

Ohio started N Harris at Qb because Rourke was still dinged up from last week and didn't miss a beat Ohio 38 BG 14. Ohio clinches the East and will likely face Toledo from the West next week in Detroit for the MAC title. EMU has a chance of tying depending on Friday's outcomes. 

Nov 27, 2022

Toledo meets Ohio in the MAC title game, while Akron travels to Buffalo to make up the snow game.  Who knows with the MAC?

Week 10 early MAC slate

 It's November so we have Tuesday and Wednesday games.

Buffalo(5-3 4-0 MAC) got off to a rough OOC start but has feasted in MAC play. and will get a narrow road win at Ohio(5-3 3-1 MAC). Cole Snyder is on a roll for the Bulls, and I'm not overlooking Rourke'

s season for the Bobcats. Buff 31 Ohio 30

• Ball State(4-4 2-2 MAC) gets back to winning at Kent State(3-5 2-2 MAC). Paddock tosses 2 tds for the 
• Cards in a win. Ball St 24 Kent 17

Central Michigan(2-6 1-3 MAC) at Northern Illinois(2-6 1-3 MAC). NIU 17 CMU 16. Whoever has the ball last wins

Western Michigan (3-5 2-2 MAC) at Bowling Green(4-4 3-1 MAC) Jaison Patterson, a big RB from Jacksonville, FLA has been getting into gear for BG. BG 27 WMU 19

Nov 2, 2022

Tuesday split: Wrong on Buffalo who lost to Ohio 45-24, but Ball St roared back from a 13-0 first quarter deficit to beat Kent St 27-20. Carson Steele rushed for 192 yards and a TD, and Paddock tossed 2 Tds for the Cards in the victory 

Nov 3, 2022

Wednesday split: Wrong on NIU who didn't score until the second half. WMU 35 NIU 22

Bowling Green won a low-scoring game. BG 13 WMU 9. The Falcons move into a 3-way tie for first in the East with Buffalo and Ohio

Ball St trails Toledo by a game in the West.

Nov 8, 2022

Week 11 and full slate of early games has me scrambling. I under-valued Ohio last week but not this week. Rourke will toss two TD passes for Ohio in a 28 -20 win over Miami(Ohio)

Nov 9

Rourke tossed 3 TD passes in Ohio's 37-21 win so I got that one. In other news, Toledo got a big 28-21 win over Ball St, despite Steele rushing for 198 yards and 3 TDs for the Cards.

Nov 11, 2022

Ohio has a one game lead over Buffalo and Bowling Green in the East,while Toledo has a two game lead over three teams.

Dipping my toe into O5 hoops for 2021/22 season

 I've been consumed with Turkey weekend pigskin, but seeing that Georgia Southern(SunBelt) nearly upset GTech (ACC) yesterday gave me a jolt.

AAC: Mixed day: Big win by the Wichita St Shockers over Missouri(SEC). Tulsa beat Ark-LR, but ninth ranked Memphis got beat 78-59 by Iowa St (Big12).

MWC: New Mexico lost to little Towson U (Colonial), which is located a few miles from my home.

For new readers of this blog. O5 = non P5 football conferences: AAC, CUSA, MAC, MWC, and Sunbelt.

Nov 28, 2021

Andrew Taylor( MRSH - G 20 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST) had a solid game but the #herd couldn't keep up the pace and fell to Indiana(B10) 90-79.

Rough day for the AAC: ECU needed a last minute jumper to escape Coppin, a small MEAC school on the west side of Baltimore City. Cincy lost to Monmouth(MAAC), and Temple eked out a one point win over Delaware(COLONIAL). UCF gave OK (B12) a scare but lost by two points.

Dec 4, 2021

AAC woes continue: USF lost South Carolina St (MEAC) and Tulsa fell to Boise St (MWC).  Houston's AAC path looks easy at this moment.

 CUSA has a hard time with WAC with the UTEP loss to New Mexico St, and the UTSA loss to UTRGV.

Dec 9, 2021

I'm curious about how Buffalo(MAC) continues to move on after losing Coach Oats to Bama after the 2018/19 season. They made it to the NIT last season. Last night Josh Mballa had 19 points for Buffalo in a 77-67 win over Western Kentucky(CUSA).

Dec 11, 2021

 Memphis(AAC) is on a four game losing streak: Iowa St, Georgia, Ol Miss, and Murray St.  They face Bama next on Dec 14.

Dec 14, 2021

Houston (AAC) remains in the top 25. Pretty cool to see Colorado St(MWC) make an appearance after a recent win over Miss St(SEC) raised their record to 10-0.

Dec 15, 2021

What a way for Memphis(AAC) to snap its 4-game losing streak. Deandre Williams scored 20 points for the Tigers in a 92-78 win at Bama.

Dec 24, 2021

two games straight against a non-conference opponent is a rarity. South Bama (Sunbelt) split a series  against Tarleton St, coached by Billy Gillepsie, of the WAC. 

Dec 31, 2021

Covid has screwed with xmas hoops, but how about this: Darin Green Jr. scored a career-high 27 points, and Brandon Mahan added 26 to help UCF(AAC) beat Michigan 85-71. Johnny Dawkins got the best of Juwan Howard in the coaching battle.

In CUSA news, Cobe Williams scored 22 points for La Tech which extended its home win streak to eight games, beating Marshall 79-56.

Jan 11, 2022

Tyler Harris scored 20 points for Memphis in an 87-80 win over Cincinnati in AAC play. Their roller coaster season rides onward when they face UCF tomorrow.  Their only conference loss is to Tulane. Houston 3-0 - 14-2

Memphis 3-1 0.5 9-5

Tulane 3-1   0.5   6-7

Jan 13, 2022

Jaylen Forbes led Tulane (7-7, 4-1 AAC) scored 20 points to a 68-67 conference win over Wichita St. Ron Hunter is starting to turn the Green Wave program around in his third season since leaving Georgia St(Sunbelt).

UCF beat Memphis 74-64.

Jan 16, 2022

Reality checks in AAC with a USF blowout of UCF, and ECU edging Memphis. Houston remains undefeated in AAC play.

Odd to see Marshall, who lost to Rice yesterday, sitting in the CUSA cellar.

Coach Odom, who left my alma mater UMBC, for Utah St (MWC), is finding hoops life bumpier out West. Utah State (10-7, 1-3 MWC) lost Wyoming 71-69 yesterday.

Jan 19, 2022

I haven't looked at the MAC often this season. Ryan Rollins scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Toledo's 83-70 win over beat Ball State last night. The Rockets are 6-1 in the MAC and 14-4 overall including a win over Tulane. Their next game is against Ohio (5-0 MAC, 14-2). Ohio rolled Miami O by a score of 86-63 last night.

Jan 20, 2022

Hunter Maldonado had 20 points and 12 assists for Wyoming (3-0 MWC, 14-2 overall) in a 69-60 over San Jose State. I watched some of their win over Nevada on Monday night and was impressed with how hot they can get. Their two losses are to Zona and Stanford.

Jan 24, 2022

UTSA is also winless in CUSA play. Jamal Bieniemy had 18 points and 11 rebounds for UTEP in a 59-54 win over UTSA yesterday. 

Jan 28, 2022

UAB 7-1 in the CUSAW is and have won four in a row. They face the #herd tomorrow. The Blazers HC Andy Kennedy was an Asst with Huggy at Cincy before moving onto Ol Miss and UAB.

Feb 1, 2022

I checked on the Wyoming game on FS1 to see Maldonado who started slow but finished with 35 points for the Cowboys in an 84-78 win over Colorado St. 

Pitino Jr's move from Minnesota to New Mexico has been bumpy San Diego State(12-5, 4-2 MWC) 72 New Mexico(8-14, 1-8 MWC) 47

Feb 4, 2022

 I tuned into the ODU/MU game and was disappointed. ODU won mostly cuz the Herd were bad. A bit surprised that WKU blew out Charlotte.