The BCS is settled, barring any unforeseen upsets of USC and Texas. Both are clicking and destroying the competition and should meet up in the Rose Bowl. I understand that Miami and LSU are playing well, but both of them messed up by losing to sorry teams. Florida State and Tennessee are abysmal this year, but they still were able to upset the 'Canes and Tigers at the beginning of the year.
While they are solid teams and would make for a great bowl matchup, neither Miami nor LSU can make a claim at a national title game right now. Not with two unbeaten teams that are clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the country. Should either USC or Texas fall, however, that will be an interesting debate as to who deserves the Rose Bowl berth.
Speaking of LSU (aside: let's be brutally honest up front, I hate LSU. And yes, even as an "unbiased" journalist, it does cloud my judgment at times), the Tigers continue to amaze me at how they are able to win so many close games. I can't figure out if LSU is winning because Les Miles is a good coach or if the talent in Baton Rouge keeps rolling in spite of their new head coach.
Of course, I tend to lean toward thinking LSU is winning solely on talent. I thought at the time that hiring Miles was a major mistake. Now even moreso, I lean that way. He's winning close games with perhaps the most talented team in the nation. Yes, including USC. Top to bottom, there is more talent in Baton Rouge than anywhere. That's how good of a coach Nick Saban was. He just amassed a wealth of talent.
Right now, however, it seems as if LSU is the class of the SEC. Of course, it's tough not to be because the SEC is so down this year. Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Florida, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky -- it's easier the list the teams that are bad this year than the ones that are good.
Right now it's a race between Georgia and South Carolina to win the East and meet up with LSU. I'd be surprised if LSU defeated either of those teams. However, Miles -- or better yet, his team -- has surprised me more than once already.
Football Friday Night
A big shout out to my alma mater, Ruston High, for roughing up St. Amant in the first round of the playoffs Friday night. Now it gets a bit tougher. Up next is a trip to Reserve to face No. 2 seed East St. John and its high-powered offense.
This is the toughest team Ruston will face this year, outside of West Monroe. However, the Bearcats are playing extremely well and have a chance for the upset.
Mark this down ... whoever wins this game will play West Monroe in the state championship game.
The other team in Lincoln Parish, Cedar Creek, didn't fare so well. As the sixth seed, the Cougars were upset in the first round by Plain Dealing. Not only were they upset, they were pounded, 58-24.
The loss disappointed me because I thought the Cougars could make a deep run, or at least had the talent to do so. I guess this just goes to show that any team, even one that was 4-6 during the regular season, can be any other team on any given night.
Cedar Creek will be back next year, though. They lose 10 seniors, which will hurt, but return most of their skill players -- most importantly Justin Aldredge, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards as the Cougars' quarterback this year.
At 6-foot and 205 pounds, Justin has the skills, athleticism and football savvy to become a great player on the college level. His father and Cedar Creek's coach, after all, played in the NFL.
They just keep running and running ...
Monday and Tuesday are big days for the runners across the state, as the state cross country meet will be held in Natchitoches.
Lincoln Parish is the home to three of the best programs in the entire state -- Ruston, Cedar Creek and Choudrant.
Choudrant's boys have won two straight state titles and boast the past two state individual champions on the same roster. Kasey Baker won the title two years ago, and Hank Festervan is the defending champ. Baker, only a sophomore, is perhaps the best runner in the entire state.
Cedar Creek's girls have won four straight and are going for five in a row. Nobody has come close to touching them, and I don't think anyone will this year either.
Ruston High's girls are ranked second in the state. The runner-up last year, the Lady 'Cats are aiming for their first state title. After the heartbreak from a year ago -- when it appeared Ruston would run away with the title, but one of their girls passed out and didn't finish the race -- they are primed and ready to take home the title this year.
On a personal note ...
I wanted to post this link to anyone who might be reading. This contains the column I wrote for Monday's paper about my stepbrother and Veterans Day.
By the way, for anyone who might be reading the blog for the first time thanks to the link at Wayne's World, welcome aboard. Keep checking back in and by all means, leave some comments please!!!
I wanted to post three pictures that show the kiwi (Connor) and apple (Caleb), along with my the love of my life (Elizabeth). I'm still waiting pictures of the grape (Thomas) so that I post on here as well.
Top Left: Uncle Bret and Tatum Connor McCormick clowning for the camera.
Top Right: Caleb Charles Granger on the couch with his Aunt Bee on the floor.
Bottom: Caleb slummin' on the couch with Uncle Bret.
