Houston Cougars

October 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Houston Cougars  finally managed to snap the longest bowl game losing streak in Division 1 FBS football after defeating Air Force Falcons in the Armed Forces Bowl, making it the program’s first Bowl victory since 1980. Kevin Sumlin’s first year in charge was to prove fruitful as Houston finished third in the division and posted an 8-5 overall record before winning the Bowl game in Fort Worth. A 55-3 opening day win over Southern was then followed by three consecutive losses to Oklahoma State, Air Force and Colorado State. The Cougars bounced back admirably and won six of their next eight, including impressive victories over 23rd ranked East Carolina and a 70-30 thumping of 25th ranked Tulsa. The penultimate match of the season was a road loss to Rice which was followed by the Cougars taking revenge on the Falcons for earlier in the season and handing Sumlin a Bowl in his first year with the program.

Wisconsin Badgers

October 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment

After a promising 3-0 start to 2008, Wisconsin Badgers  fell to two close defeats at Michigan and at home against Ohio State. Penn State and Iowa won comfortably as the Badgers were suddenly faced with a 3-4 record and needing to turn things around to make it to postseason. A 27-17 win against Illinois was followed by another tight defeat at Michigan State. A 35-32 win against Minnessota and a 36-35 victory against Cal Poly ensured an invitation to the Champs Sports Bowl. Florida State Seminoles ended up comfortable 42-13 winners as Badgers crashed to their second Bowl defeat of 2008 having lost to Tennessee at the end of the 2007 season.

Penn State

October 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Joe Paterno’s Penn State Nittany Lions  will be in confident mood for the new season having won a share of the Big Ten Championship in 2008 and making the Rose Bowl. Racing to a 9-0 lead for the season, Penn State were ranked as high as second at one point, prior their match against Iowa. They managed to restrict the opposition scoring to less than ten points for five out of their total 11 wins in 2008. Highlights included 38-24 win against Illinois and road victories at Wisconsin and Ohio State. The only loss of the regular season came when Penn State allowed Iowa a last gasp field goal which sent them to a 23-24 loss. Comfortable wins against Indiana and Michigan State  followed before a Rose Bowl showdown against 4th ranked USC. A bad second quarter saw USC score 24 unanswered points and the Lions never recovered, eventually losing 24-38.

Michigan State

October 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Mark Dantonio’s Michigan State Spartans  can also be positive about 2009 after a strong season, finishing third in the Big 10 behind Penn State and Ohio State. A perfect conference record aside from the defeats to these two teams meant that Michigan State earned a Capital One Bowl invitation. A 12-24 defeat to Georgia ended Dantonio’s second year in charge in disappointment but there were many positives throughout the year, namely the win in the Megaphone Trophy match against Notre Dame and the capture of the Paul Bunyan trophy at Michigan. Offense continues to be a problem with only two wins surpassing the 40+ points mark (Eastern Michigan and Indiana). November 21st will see Michigan State attempt to regain the Land Grant Trophy which they lost in the 18-49 defeat to Penn State last year.

Following Lloyd Carr’s retirement as Michigan Wolverines, 2008 was always going to be a season of change. Rich Rodriguez’s first season in charge was the first losing season the program has posted since 1969 and included the most amount of losses ever suffered during the team’s 130 year history. The opener was a 23-25 loss to Utah who held on despite a 13-0 fourth quarter rally by the Wolverines. A week later, Michigan defeated Miami (Ohio) 16-6 before going down to Notre Dame. An impressive 27-25 win over 9th ranked Wisconsin on September 27 was to be the program’s last win until November. Straight defeats to Illinois, Toledo, Penn

State, Michigan State and Purdue followed before the streak was snapped at Minnessota. The last two matches were defeats at home to Northwestern and a road loss at Ohio State who ended up second in the conference. Rodriguez will hope that the team will adjust to his spread offense approach and avoid back-to-back losing seasons.

Scott Jones submitted this article and you can check his Store that carries Michigan Belts or Mens Belt

Texas A-M

October 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Texas A&M University at College Station, Texas has team called Texas A&M Aggies which is at the bottom of Big 12 South tables with record of 2-6 and 4-8 in 2008. The team mascot is “Reveille” and home ground is Kyle Field. Texas A&M Aggies  is making progress even after finishing last in 2008 season. They have made progress and collected better talents in form of the quarter back Jerrod Johnson, wideout Ryan Tannehil and Jeff Fuller. They also have some other players to watch like Von Miller ( Linebecker), Christine Miller , Cyrus Gray and Jon Tolliver. Texas A&M Aggies  is definitely a team to watch in this very competitive division. Mike Sherman, their Coach in the second year will ensure that the team does much better than they did last year.

South Division
Texas (3) 7-1 12-1 
 
Oklahoma (2) 7-1 12-2 
 
Texas Tech (8) 7-1 11-2 
 
Oklahoma State (13) 5-3 9-4 
 
Baylor 2-6 4-8 
 
Texas A&M 2-6 4-8 

 

Baylor Bears

October 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Baylor Bears team of Baylor University , Waco, Texas were fifth in 2008 standing of Big 12 South  with an overall tally of 4-8 and conference tally of 2-6. The home ground is called Floyd Casey Stadium and the team mascots are “Judge and Bruiser”.  Baylor Bears , in spite of its performance in 2008, is expected to do much better this season. Under the coach Art Briles, who is in second year as coach, the team is expected to show results. Baylor Bears  with quarter back Robert Griffin and a newcomer Terrance Ganaway make all the difference that this team needs to move up the tally. The team needs to have Defensive tackle strength; it may be with the help of Phil Taylor from Penn State. This is a team to watch and we might see this team having a good season.

Oklahoma State University is based in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The team is called Oklahoma State Cowboys  with mascots “Pistol Pete” and “Bullet”. Their home ground is called Boone Pickens Stadium. Oklahoma State Cowboys  with an overall tally of 8-4 and conference tally of 5-3 were fourth in 2008 standing of Big 12 South.  The first three teams had conference tally of 7-1 showing the competition in this division.  Oklahoma State Cowboys  lost to Oregon in Holiday Bowl.  With Zac Robinson, Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter the team should do better this year and improve its position. Oklahoma State Cowboys  have figured in the Top 10 in pre-season ranking. They need a consistent defense to do well in this season. The coach has got in veteran coordinator Bill Young to develop a better lineup. Whether Richetti Jones will help to shore up the defense is yet to be seen.

Oklahoma Sooners

October 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Oklahoma Sooners team of University of Oklahoma is based at Norman, Oklahoma. The Mascots are called “Sooner Schooner” and “Boomer and Sooner” with home ground called Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Oklahoma Sooners  are number two in Big 12 South standing with overall tally of 12-2 and conference tally of 7-1 in 2008.  They lost to Florida in BCS National Championship Game. Under Coach Bob Stoops for the last 11 years, they have an impressive record of 109-24.  Oklahoma Sooners  had nearly a dream run with 12 wins, thanks to quarter back Sam Bradford, Jermaine Gresham and Chris Brown. They have an excellent defensive lineup. Oklahoma Sooners  are a team to watch for division, conference and national championship. They need to strengthen their offensive line-up though.

Texas Longhorns

October 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment

University of Texas which is based at Austin, Texas has team called Texas Longhorns , which is number one team in Big 12 South standings for 2008 with an impressive record of 7-1 in conference and overall record of 12-1. Texas Longhorns  also defeated Ohio State in Fiesta Bowl. The team coach is Mack Brown 12 year in running with an excellent record of 115-26. The team with 12 wins in 2008 and with a rank in top five carries a responsibility to excel this year. Having missed out on last year on the Big 12 championship; the team needs to work hard to win the Big Championship this year against Kansas, which are the favorites to win. The return of Clot Mc Coy will make Texas Longhorns  the finest offensive lineup in the Big 12.The Tailback needs some reliable workhorse. The team mascots are Bevo and Hook’em and the home ground is called Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium.

George Flowers writes for www.LeatherBeltStore.com you can check out his store and see his great selection of Texas Longhorn Belts or Billfolds

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