1. Baltimore Ravens – For the second straight week, a team has had the opportunity to beat the Patriots, and both times, mistakes have ended up costing them that chance.  Last week, it was A.J. Feely’s late interception that put the nail in the coffin.  This week, when looking at the Ravens, can you really put your finger on just one thing?  Let’s start with the first half interception made my Ed Reed.  An exceptional return man, Reed looked like he was going to set his team up to make a field goal, possibly even a touchdown before half to extend their lead.  However, his lack of ball security cost them a turnover when Kevin Faulk tackled and stripped Reed preventing them from scoring.  Next, and this is when the fun starts, Kyle Boller throws an interception into the middle of 4 Patriot defenders, when there was absolutely 0 Raven receivers in the vicinity.  As a matter of fact, you could barely see a receiver on the replay.  This again cost the Ravens precious points.  The final drive:  Patriots line up for a 4^th and 1 and Brady is seemingly stuffed at the line, HOWEVER, a timeout is called by the defensive coordinator, preventing the turnover on downs.  FYI, only head coaches are supposed to be able to call the timeouts from the sidelines.  Next, on another 4^th and short, Heath Evans takes the ball and gets stuffed, but a false start by the Patriots pushes them back 5 to set up Tom Brady’s scramble for a first down.  On the next 4^th down, a hold by the Ravens secondary gave the Patriots an automatic first down and all they needed to score the go ahead touchdown.  By the way, it was legitimate hold call.  Lastly, the actions of Bart Scott were terrible.  I understand the emotion of the game was at an all time high, but throwing the official’s flag into the stands was ridiculous.  And claiming that the officials make those calls because the NFL wants the Patriots undefeated is absurd.  If your team makes smart decisions early in the game, then the game wouldn’t have come down to the last drive.  I’ll be interested to see what type of fine Scott gets for his actions and his words.    

2. University of Arkansas – Since Houston Nutt resigned as Arkansas’s head coach and took the same position at Ole Miss, Arkansas has interviewed and talked with several coaches, including Tommy Tuberville, Charlie Strong, Joker Phillips, Ron English, Tommy Bowden, Gus Malzahn, Jim Grobe, and Lane Kiffin among others.  I do not have an issue with the number of coaches that they have interviewed and talked with, because I want our school (I say “our” school because I am a fan) to find the best possible coach.  My issue has to do with the number of coaches who have either rejected us entirely or just showed a complete lack of interest.  Arkansas is not some 2^nd tier school academically or athletically.  It is a school with well known former coaches and players, very successful teams of the past, yet we can’t bring a well known coach to the school now.  What seems to be the biggest issue with Arkansas?  In my opinion, it is the existence of John White and Frank Broyles in the administration.  Though Frank is leaving at the first of the year, he will still be very much involved with Arkansas athletics.  Coaches seem to be hesitant to come to a school where their most famous coach is still a very influential figure in the state and program.  Let the new coach have complete control of the operations.  Let the new coach make the big decisions.  I don’t want Arkansas to continue to be used as leverage by college coaches to get raises and extensions. It is embarrassing to the school and the program. Arkansas does have a storied tradition, but the administration and IRRATIONAL fans have kept quality football coaches from wanting to come and bring further success to the program. 

3. BCS – This could probably appear on the list every week, but since I haven’t had a chance to talk about it this year, I figure why not put it on the list now.  Since the Nebraska vs. Miami championship game, I have been in favor of some type of playoff system.  Most reasonable college football fans I know are, but instead of talking about something that will not be done in the immediate future, I’m going to talk about something that could’ve been done this year.  Sure I have a problem with Ohio State being in the national championship and LSU vaulting over 4 teams to the number 2 spot and Hawaii even being considered for a spot, but what bothers me the most is the fact that Kansas is in the BCS but Missouri is stuck in the Cotton Bowl.  I know the Cotton Bowl is something to be proud of, but with the kind of season that Missouri has had, why don’t they deserve to be in one of the big games?  Head to Head match up? Goes to Missouri - Division Championship?  Goes to Missouri.  What does Kansas have on Missouri besides one less loss?  Missouri lost twice to BCS bound OU, while beating BCS bound Illinois early in the season in a big non-conference game, while Kansas’s toughest game besides the Mizzou game was Texas A&M and Oklahoma St.  I know their non-conference schedule was “brutal” with Southeastern LA, Toledo, FIU, and Central Michigan, but what about the terrible conference schedule which didn’t include OU and Texas?  Georgia was rewarded with a BCS game even though they didn’t win their conference or division.  Illinois, the same thing. Why not Missouri?  Missouri went from being number 1, to losing to a top 5 OU team, to getting kicked out of the BCS party.  Just one more thing that is unfair about the BCS.