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Nick Walton | Daily Kent Stater

As a child, there was a variety of professions that I wanted to have.

From a player in the National Basketball Association to the next great movie director, I wanted to be a lot of things. My loftiest goal was to become the president of the United States. I would have loved to be the leader of the free world.

Currently, I’m one of the quality journalists at our fine university, but if I were president I would use all of my resources to fix the problems with sports. As far as the issues that really matter to American citizens, I’d relegate those responsibilities to someone else.

College football

Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen teams get hosed out of playing for a national championship when they had better qualifications than the teams that play in the championship.

If I were president, I would keep the Bowl Championship Series standings as a way to determine seeds for a playoff system. The polls from other organizations wouldn’t come out until the sixth week of the season so we wouldn’t have top-five teams getting knocked off in the first week of the season. Teams would have to earn their rankings.

The best teams in the nation would end up in the BCS standings, and the top eight teams would play in the BCS playoffs. All of the teams that don’t qualify for the playoffs would play in bowl games.

To help make things even among the teams, I would have all of the conference regular seasons end in November, and there would be no conference championships. Football is a game that is meant to be played in adverse conditions, so it wouldn’t be a problem if games were played in December.

The National Football League

The New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers recently played in London to help promote football in foreign countries. If I were president, I would stop NFL commissioners from subjecting teams to traveling overseas to promote a game that isn’t popular in another country.

The great teams of the Premier League aren’t flocking over to America to promote the great game of soccer, so we don’t need to send our best teams over to Europe.

I personally like the sudden death overtime format of the NFL — if you don’t win in regulation, too bad — but I am willing to appeal to the masses and expand overtime to a format that is similar to college football.

Another problem I would fix is when defensive players celebrate. Defensive players were big proponents of enforcing celebration penalties, but they always get away with just as stupid celebrations.

If Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis touches a guy down after he was already on his way down, Lewis gets up and celebrates like he cured world hunger. I get sick of these weak celebrations that need to be banned.

If these aren’t banned, then I am in favor of a return of touchdown celebrations from Terrell Owens and Chad Ocho Cinco. If defenses don’t like celebrations, don’t let playmakers score.

Major League Baseball

The wild card is one of the best things to happen to baseball, but it hurts teams that cruise through the season. Look at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They won 100 games this season, but because their division is so weak they got bounced in the first round.

To prevent first-place teams from coasting into the playoffs, I would start the season in the middle of May. The season is long enough, and if some games were cut, it would tighten the races for the playoffs and allow for a more competitive postseason.

As Americans, we need to be honest with ourselves: The World Series has been unwatchable since 2003. If the World Series posts low ratings after the first two games, Fox should send the series to the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) until the ratings get better.

Too often playoff baseball games come on too late. Children who want to watch their favorite player in the playoffs shouldn’t have to stay up past midnight. I would push for more playoff games in the daytime and also encourage for a World Series game to be played in the afternoon.

I would also like to enforce a collective bargaining agreement that promoted revenue sharing similar to what the NFL has. I would also set a minimum amount of money teams have to spend so we don’t have cheap owners.

The last thing I would try to improve about MLB is to get rid of the designated hitter. If a player can put up great offensive numbers, he should be able to play first base.

College basketball

I don’t have many complaints with college basketball because of March Madness. The only thing I would do is have the NCAA encourage the NBA to get rid the age limit.

It’s pointless to have student-athletes only try academically for one semester and then leave for the NBA. It’s a waste of people’s time and money.

National Basketball Association

The dress code has to go.

We should be glad that Allen Iverson had respect for history and wore NBA throwback jerseys. Commissioner David Stern was mad because the NBA wasn’t going to make a profit off of do-rags and NFL jerseys.

Similar to MLB, the NBA season is too long and needs to be cut by at least 15 games. For years I’ve been a proponent of keeping the first round of the playoffs as a best-of-five series, and I still support this format.

Even though LeBron James is my favorite player, I feel superstars get calls they don’t deserve. This precedent started in the Michael Jordan era, and it needs to stop. We also need better officiating in the game so we don’t have people complaining about referees all the time.

Even though I won’t be eligible to run for president until 2024, I’m laying out the groundwork for a successful campaign that will fix sports over problems that can’t be solved anyway. I hope I convinced you to vote for me in the future.

Contact sports reporter Nick Walton at nwalton1@kent.edu.

Halloween is a time for dressing up (and in most cases, dressing down) to act as someone else. No drama comes along with it, and your friends won’t tell you to “quit frontin”. In my latter years during high school, this holiday was a lost cause. I’d sit and pass out candy to my little neighbors- or little Spidermen, Tinkerbells, whatever name they went by that night. But it wasn’t till I saw kids my age, running around, having fun, and acting like complete lunatics that I got jealous. One thing was for sure, though- when they’d see me in front of my house, they’d never come by for a Milky Way or Twix bar. Maybe it was the fact that I was their age? Maybe they were embarrassed? Or maybe they saw my fake police hat and thought it was real? Yep. That was it. They saw my Billy club and thought I would crush them like a bug on a sidewalk? Damn right- I’d dress up as a policeman, straight intimidation. So, as my first college Halloween approached- I thought, Why not continue?

On the evening of October 25th, 2008, I was no longer known as Michael. I didn’t even go to Kent. No. Tonight, I was Lieutenant Dangle of Kent 911. Not to be confused with Reno 911.

The night started off slow- people didn’t go out at the set neighborhood time like the good ol’ days. College Halloweens start well after the little kids are home and breaking open their candy. Plus, a certain game was on, The Vest vs. The Bifocals, which temporarily paused all attention spans. Ohio State’s loss to Penn State was a bummer, but it sure didn’t halt the night. Lt. Dangle got to watch the game at a frat filled with O-H…I-O fans. Even the girls were glued to the TV- though it could have been their alcohol intake. Because of Lt. Dangle’s age, he was only buzzed off caffeine (underage drinking- you know, no one breaks that law).

One thing that sets high school outfits apart from college costumes is the absence of parents. Because I’m sure if Daddy saw his little Cindy-Lou-Who go out of the house dressed like Cindy Crawford, there would either be an increase in heart attacks or murders. Kent State may have been Moulin Rouge, but the guys won in the creativity contest. Last Lt. Dangle checked, underwear and a bra were not considered a costume. That’s considered a fantasy.

As Lt. Dangle strolled down Main Street, occasionally stopping traffic to allow his friends to cross the street (once speed walking away after he noticed a cop from a different force), “DANGLE!” calls came from left and right. Throughout the night, Lt. Dangle saw two imposters. Acting like a friend, Dangle himself jogged up to the phonies and complemented them on their attire. After all, What Would Jesus Do if He saw someone dressed up as Him? Exactly that.

As the night went on, the caffeine intake was beginning to mess with Dangle’s head. The going got easy, laughs came quicker, and walking became a struggle. That damn Pepsi messes with your mind.

One major factor that Dangle did not take into consideration was the amount of skin he was showing. Never before in his life did his shorts ride higher than Larry Bird’s. How anyone can play a sport in those, baffles him. With the weather in the mid-forties and pants a dreamland away, Lt. Dangle gained respect for these school girls and Britney Spears costumes skipping around. It wasn’t just the gals that were showing off excessive epidermis, though. Perhaps the costume of the night would have to go to a male that rocked his tightie whities only. Lt. Dangle and his force were walking towards University Street when a young man in a blazer said, “Here, you can have your coat back” to his friend. What was under was a sight that I’ll never forget…

A blow up guitar, Fruit of the Looms that would be tight on Mary-Kate Olsen, and “NAKED COWBOY” written on his behind. Cha chinggg. We have a winner.

Lt. Dangle pictured it to be a complete nuthouse on Main Street, circa Wendy’s/Burger King. Rumor had it that the National Guard was called in ahead of time- though Lt. Dangle remembers no such logo on uniforms (could have been effects of the Pepsi, though). Sure, there were cops every 50 feet, but there were no Rodney King incidents. Cops did not approach random people and integrate them. In his bubble world, no horrible incidents happened. Dangle’s first Kent State Halloween was going perfect.

That is until the Pepsi separated him from his friends.

The night came to a disappointing ending. With the horrible combination of frost bitten quadriceps and purple fingers, Lt. Dangle was beyond cold. With the force gathered around Robin Hood, somehow, someway, Lt. Dangle was left by himself. Lonely as Akon. He felt like he lost a child in the mall- calling out for his fellow mates, all he got in return was “DANGLE! Yeah, great costume!”

As much as Dangle loved being the center of attention, he hated the thought of amputation. Quads. Fingers. Nipples (Dangle’s bad, but you need to get the picture). It was pushing 2:00 AM, early given the event, but Dangle was riding solo and freezing. It became a Pepsi-induced jog/run to Manchester Hall.

After what seemed like a cross-Antarctica hike, Dangle heard a familiar voice. When he turned around, his neighbor yelled “Yo, I’m freezing!” This man (well, he was dressed as a beer bottle) was with Dangle just 10 minutes before. Pre MIA. “Everyone left me.” Everyone left Dangle, too! “I’m done, I’m going to get warm.”

So there was of the last scene of our night. Dangle and a beer bottle, jogging and wobbling to our dorm. As we entered the door, the RA’s faces said it all. “Pshh, freshmen…”

Douglas Gulasy and Jeff Russ | Daily Kent Stater

Some college football teams don’t really hit their stride until midseason. A team will go from looking OK to looking unstoppable.

Need an example? Take Pittsburgh. The Panthers looked pretty mediocre through their first few games of the season. Even though they started 4-1, there were rumblings that the Panthers were a bit overrated to be in the top 25.

Then last weekend happened. Pittsburgh destroyed Navy 42-21, and the score doesn’t begin to tell you how much the Panthers dominated the game. Navy really didn’t stop Pitt’s offense, while the Panthers shut down the Midshipmen.

Why are we telling you this? Because it took five games for the Panthers to become their ideal team. Meanwhile, it took one off week for us before we reached our midseason form.

Doug went 9-1 last week after a rather disappointing 6-4 opening week. Once again, he was one game better than Jeff, who went 8-2 last week after going 5-5 in Week 1.

Overall, Doug is 15-5 after two weeks, a winning percentage of .750. Jeff is 13-7, a .650 winning percentage. As you’ll notice, both winning percentages are significantly better than Doug Martin’s. 

Now for this week:

10. Kent State (1-6) at Miami (2-5)

Analysis: Speaking of Doug Martin … Martin and his boys head down to Oxford for a conference game with the RedHawks. After attending Martin’s Monday press conference, It’s safe to say that he’s getting a little frustrated with the team. And why wouldn’t he be? The Flashes can’t catch punts or make extra points, and half the time they can’t stop the other team. Not to mention they haven’t won a game against a Division I football team in nearly 13 months. Will that change this week? It’s hard to tell …

Jeff’s pick: Kent State

Doug’s pick: Miami

9. Virginia Tech (5-2) at No. 25 Florida State (5-1)

Analysis:  And here’s your token low-scoring ACC game of the week. Florida State’s offense is better than most other SEC teams’, but that honestly isn’t saying much. Virginia Tech, of course, would love to have the Seminoles’ offense; the Hokies are averaging fewer than 300 yards per game. ACC games are always so tough to pick because we don’t think there’s ever truly a winner.

Jeff’s pick: Florida State

Doug’s pick: Florida State

8. Eastern Michigan (2-6) at Ball State (7-0)

Analysis: This one could get ugly. Ball State is the best team in the Mid-American Conference, and the Cardinals are playing at home, where they’ve averaged slightly more than 41 points per game this season. Eastern Michigan, on the other hand, is one of the worst teams in the MAC. The Eagles are coming off a 42-35 loss to Akron last week. It won’t be so close this week.

Jeff’s pick: Ball State

Doug’s pick: Ball State

7. Rutgers (2-5) at No. 17 Pittsburgh (5-1)

Analysis: This one could also get ugly. As mentioned above, Pittsburgh seems to be rounding into form after its pasting of Navy last week. The Panthers have won five games in a row and are ranked the highest they’ve been since 1989. Running back LeSean McCoy is beginning to validate some of the preseason Heisman hype he received, as he’s rushed for 447 yards and three touchdowns in the past three games. Rutgers squeaked by Connecticut last week for its first win this season over a Division I team. The Scarlet Knights don’t have much offense to speak of, and that will be compounded by the fact that the Panthers’ defense is beginning to pick it up.

Jeff’s pick: Pittsburgh

Doug’s pick: Pittsburgh

6. Colorado (4-3) at No. 15 Missouri (5-2)

Analysis: How far the mighty have fallen. Missouri was ranked No. 3 in the country and was talking championship two weeks ago. Two straight losses later and Missouri is all of a sudden looking like a team that desperately needs a win this week. The Tigers got destroyed by Texas last week. Luckily for them, Colorado is no Texas (and no Oklahoma State, for that matter). The Buffaloes edged out Kansas State last week to end a three-game losing streak, but it’s a much tougher test for them this week. Jeff has faith in Dan Hawkins; Doug doesn’t.

Jeff’s pick: Colorado

Doug’s pick: Missouri

5. No. 8 Texas Tech (7-0) at No. 23 Kansas (5-2)

Analysis: If you want to pick a team to pity, make it Texas Tech. The Red Raiders next four games look like this: at No. 23 Kansas, vs. No. 1 Texas, vs. No. 6 Oklahoma State and at No. 4 Oklahoma. This week marks the Red Raiders’ first real test of the season, as they haven’t really been taxed this season. Kansas, which gave up 674 yards in a 45-31 loss to Oklahoma last week, will be faced with the difficult task of stopping the Red Raiders and QB Graham Harrell (2,761 yards, 23 touchdowns). It won’t be easy.

Jeff’s pick: Kansas

Doug’s pick: Texas Tech

4. No. 7 Georgia (6-1) at No. 13 LSU (5-1)

Analysis: This one is a toss-up. Georgia faces two difficult games in a row with the Tigers this week and Florida next week. The Bulldogs beat No. 22 Vanderbilt last week but only scored 24 points in doing so. LSU’s defense is better than Vanderbilt’s, but their offense leaves something to be desired. Make no mistake, though: It is very difficult for an opposing team to leave LSU’s Death Valley with a win. Can Georgia do it? Jeff and Doug disagree again.

Jeff’s pick: LSU

Doug’s pick: Georgia

3. No. 3 Penn State (8-0) at No. 9 Ohio State (7-1)

Analysis: It makes us a bit uneasy to know that we’ve only agreed on three of seven picks so far. Of course, that is what makes the editors’ picks so exciting. As for this game, Penn State faces its biggest test of the season so far. The Nittany Lions struggled for nearly three quarters against Michigan last week before putting them away 46-17. Ohio State had quite possibly its best performance of the season in a 45-7 drubbing of Michigan State. A slightly mobile quarterback gave Penn State fits for a while last week. What, then, will the Nittany Lions think about Terrelle Pryor?

Jeff’s pick: Ohio State

Doug’s pick: Ohio State

2. No. 2 Alabama (7-0) at Tennessee (3-4)

Analysis: The buzzards are circling in Tennessee, where Phil Fulmer’s seat isn’t just hot — it’s enflamed. The Volunteers had high preseason hopes, but they have sunk below mediocrity this season. Into this situation steps Alabama, the No. 2 team in the country. It took Nick Saban just one season to get the Tide rolling again. However, as the Crimson Tide struggled to put Mississippi away last week, they’d be unwise to overlook the team in pastel orange.

Jeff’s pick: Alabama

Doug’s pick: Alabama

1. No. 6 Oklahoma State (7-0) at No. 1 Texas (7-0)

 Analysis: Oklahoma State is no fluke. One week after going into Missouri and shocking the Tigers, the Cowboys thumped Baylor 34-6. Of course, Texas is even less of a fluke. One week after the Longhorns came back to beat No. 1 Oklahoma, they put an absolute whooping on Missouri. The Longhorns won the game 56-31, and it wasn’t even that close. This week, though, Colt McCoy and the boys are facing a defense that’s just a smidgen better than Missouri’s.

 Jeff’s pick: Oklahoma State

Doug’s pick: Texas

Contact assistant sports editor Douglas Gulasy at dgulasy@kent.edu and campus editor Jeff Russ at jruss@kent.edu.

Josh Johnston | Daily Kent Stater

An MLB executive probably shed a few quiet tears when the Phillies beat the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Sure, Philadelphia’s victory destroyed the chance of a Manny-Red Sox reunion, but the City of Brotherly Love is still one of the largest TV markets in the nation. So no point in crying over spilled milk.

When the Rays outlasted Boston in the American League Championship Series last weekend, that same executive probably started eyeing buyout options while uncontrollable sobs of despair rained down on his polished shoes. No Red Sox Nation? Up to four games at the American League’s least-attended ballpark? This could be worse than the 2004 Cardinals-Tigers series (yeah, bet you didn’t even realize the Tigers have actually gone to the World Series in the past 20 years).

So why bother watching the Fall Classic this year? Why root for someone else’s team? Why care about the 2008 World Series?

1. Because it’s the American thing to do.

Baseball is right up there with muscle cars and Starbucks on the list of things American to the core. It’s not called America’s pastime for nothing. Sure, many of the MLB’s best players are from Japan and Central America, but aren’t the best cars and coffee also made in those countries?

2. Because 2008 will be an underdog story for the ages.

Last year the Rays finished in last place in the AL East. 2006? Last place. 2005? Last place. In fact, Tampa Bay had landed in the cellar in nine of their 10 seasons in existence. The other season? The Rays edged Toronto by three games to take fourth. Tampa Bay has three seasons of 100 losses or more and two very close calls to that number in 2003 and 1998.

But 2008 has been different. No longer are the Rays the laughingstock of professional baseball. Gone are the days of the loser Devil Rays. Names such as Evan Longoria, Scott Kazmir and Dioner Navarro showed up on the AL All-Star lineup. Tampa Bay refused to lose to the resurgent Boston Red Sox to claim its first ever World Series spot.

This is the stuff movies are made out of. This is the magic of the 2007 Colorado Rockies, who won 21 of their last 22 games to make the World Series. This is Curt Schilling’s bloody sock in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. This is the Arizona Diamondbacks ending the New York Yankees’ three-year reign over the World Series in 2001. This is possibly the greatest turnaround in sport’s history …

… and no one seems to know or care about it.

3. Because this could be the return of an exciting Series.

Three of the last four Series have been sweeps, with 2006 ending in five games. One of baseball’s unfortunate flaws is that it takes time to build up excitement. Sure, Opening Day and the first game of the Series can be thrilling, but fans tend to come on later in the season or in the final games of the Series.

The last few Fall Classics have seen division winners dominate wild-card opponents. Yeah, the wild-card Red Sox did sweep the NL Central champion St. Louis, but Boston won strictly because of destiny and therefore that series shouldn’t count.

This year pits the powerful bats of Philadelphia against the young hurlers of Tampa Bay. The pitcher’s nightmare of Citizens Bank Park and catwalks of Tropicana. A manager who never says die and the uncanny Joe Maddon.

The Phillies have had a week since their last game, so how many at-bats will it take for the rust to shake off? The Rays’ hitters have made hitting home runs look like child’s play lately, but have their rotation’s arms fully healed from the grueling ALCS? The 2008 World Series has possibly an endless number of great matchups and storylines.

4. Because it’ll be the only thing worth watching that week.

Come on, what else is going to be on TV the week before the election? Campaign commercials? Who isn’t tired of those yet?

Contact sports reporter Josh Johnston at jjohns64@kent.edu. Just don’t do it at 8 p.m., because he’ll be watching baseball.

Nick Walton | Daily Kent Stater

With only a couple of days until Halloween, I’m going back and watching some of my favorite horror films.

One of the most creative (as sick as that sounds) horror films, in my opinion, is Wes Craven’s classic “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” In the film, a burnt man named Freddy Krueger murders his victims in their sleep.

After Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, Krueger probably made a visit to Major League Baseball’s ratings dreams. While the miracle Tampa Bay Rays are a great story, baseball was probably banking on having the Red Sox in the World Series.

Nothing would have made baseball commissioner Bud Selig happier than having the Red Sox play either the Los Angles Dodgers or the Philadelphia Phillies. Two big market teams squaring off in the Fall Classic would help save baseball from another Midwest team matchup.

Instead, Bud gets the Rays, who prior to this year were the laughingstocks of baseball — even I called them a quadruple-A team.

It’s no secret that there hasn’t been a competitive series since the Florida Marlins shocked the New York Yankees in 2003. Since then, three of the four series were sweeps, and the only series that wasn’t was the awful matchup of the Detroit Tigers against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006.

This matchup looks like it could be good, but the casual baseball fan couldn’t care less about two teams that have been irrelevant for most of their collective histories. The Phillies only have one championship to show for their record number of losses in baseball history.

When the first pitch is thrown and the Fox broadcast team hypes up the series as if it’s still must-see TV, most people will be doing something else with their time. Hopefully, this will turn out to be a great series, but I’m not holding my breath.  

Contact sports reporter Nick Walton at nwalton1@kent.edu.

Douglas Gulasy and Jeff Russ | Daily Kent Stater

OK, it’s time for a bit of clarification.

Last week’s opening was meant to poke fun at Brock Harrington, the sports editor of the Stater, but maybe the message got a little carried away.

If you are wondering the true reason why the editors’ picks got recalled this year, it’s because the whole format had gotten a little ridiculous and — dare we say it — stale the past couple of years.

Quite simply, to have college football fans such as us and Brock pick games is one thing. To have people who don’t know much about football pick the games is quite another thing. The past couple of years, too many people of the latter category were included in the editors’ picks, which meant the segment wasn’t as good as it could have been.

Also, Brock decided it was better to have actual stories take up the space the old editors’ picks took up, something we both agree with.

But we still love college football, so we want to keep picking the games online … even if we proved last week that we’re not necessarily that good at doing so.

Doug won the picks last week, going 6-4, while Jeff is one game off the lead at 5-5. For some reason, both of us foolishly picked Kent State to win last week. Yeah … that didn’t exactly happen.

The good news is that because Kent State is on a bye this week, we’re not picking a Kent State game this week … although when forced to make a prediction, we both would probably pick the bye to win.

And off we go to this week’s games!

10. Western Michigan (6-1) at Central Michigan (4-2)

Analysis: Here’s the requisite Mid-American Conference game of the week. This game pit’s the two-time defending MAC champions in Central Michigan against perhaps the surprise of the conference in Western Michigan as both teams battle to stay undefeated in the MAC and keep pace with Ball State. The Chippewas are led by quarterback Dan LeFevour, who has had a down year this season after scoring 46 total touchdowns in 2007. The Broncos have won six in a row and are led by quarterback Tim Hiller (23 touchdowns).

Jeff’s pick: Central Michigan
Doug’s pick: Western Michigan

9. No. 23 Pittsburgh (4-1) at Navy (4-2)

Analysis: Since a disheartening loss to Bowling Green in its first game, Pittsburgh has won four straight and is coming off a win at No. 10 South Florida in its last game. Navy has a big win over a ranked team of its own, a 24-17 triumph at then-No. 16 Wake Forest on Sept. 27. This Midshipmen won 48-45 at Pittsburgh last season in a game where the Panthers just couldn’t stop the Navy offense. We don’t expect the same to happen this season.

Jeff’s pick: Pittsburgh
Doug’s pick: Pittsburgh

8. No. 21 Wake Forest (4-1) at Maryland (4-2)

Analysis: Yes, Wake Forest is ranked. But the Demon Deacons haven’t shown much in their last three games, even though they’ve won two of them. They are coming off a 12-7 win over Clemson last week in a game that barely even resembled football. They have no running game, and their passing game isn’t much better. Maryland, meanwhile, has defeated two ranked teams this season in Clemson and California. Of course, the Terrapins’ offense isn’t much better than Wake Forest’s. Don’t expect much scoring in this one, folks.

Jeff’s pick: Wake Forest
Doug’s pick: Maryland

7. No. 17 Virginia Tech (5-1) at Boston College (4-1)

Analysis: Don’t expect a lot of scoring in this one, either. We witnessed Boston College’s defense live when they stifled Kent State’s offense on opening day. Kent State’s offense is ranked 54th in the country in total yards; Virginia Tech’s is ranked 107th. The Eagles have relied on their defense to get them to this 4-1 start, as the offense under Chris Crane at quarterback has been less potent than the offense under Matt Ryan. The Hokies have been winning, even if it hasn’t been pretty. This game is a toss-up … and not the good kind of toss-up.

Jeff’s pick: Boston College
Doug’s pick: Boston College

6. No. 13 LSU (4-1) at South Carolina (5-2)

Analysis: After getting dominated by Steve Spurrier’s old team, LSU will get to play his current one. The Tigers were blown out 51-21 at Florida last week in a game that never really was that close. South Carolina is coming off a 24-17 win at Kentucky and has won four games in a row under its No. 3 defense in the country. Plus, the Gamecocks put a scare into Georgia earlier this year at home. It won’t be easy for the Tigers, but it is hard to imagine them losing two games in a row.

Jeff’s pick: LSU
Doug’s pick: LSU

5. No. 12 Ohio State (6-1) at No. 20 Michigan State (6-1)

Analysis: At the beginning of the season, it would have been hard to imagine Michigan State winning this game. Now? Not quite as difficult. Ohio State’s offense looked putrid in a 16-3 win over equally putrid Purdue last week. Michigan State walloped previously unbeaten Northwestern on the road, 37-20. Javon Ringer has been a workhorse for the Spartans at running back, leading the nation with 1,112 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. However, he’ll have a hard time running against the Buckeyes’ proud defense. This game will likely come down to how Ohio State’s offense fares. It’s hard to picture the “O” doing worse than last week.

Jeff’s pick: Ohio State
Doug’s pick: Ohio State

4. No. 22 Vanderbilt (5-1) at No. 10 Georgia (5-1)

Analysis: Vanderbilt may qualify as the feel-good story of the year, as the traditionally poor football team started 5-0 before losing to Mississippi State. Of course, it’s hard to feel good about the Commodores’ chances in this one. Georgia was the preseason No. 1 before getting blown out at home against Alabama on Sept. 27. The Bulldogs responded to that loss with a less-than-inspiring victory over Tennessee last week. Still, this game is being played in what is sure to be a loud Sanford Stadium. Vanderbilt is currently ahead of Georgia in the Southeastern Conference standings. We expect that to change this week.

Jeff’s pick: Georgia
Doug’s pick: Georgia

3. No. 16 Kansas (5-1) at No. 4 Oklahoma (5-1)

Analysis: Yes, Oklahoma lost to Texas last week. But don’t blame Sam Bradford. The Sooners’ quarterback threw for 387 yards and five touchdowns in the 45-35 loss to the Longhorns. Kansas has a star quarterback of its own in junior Todd Reesing, who has thrown 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season. The Jayhawks beat Colorado 30-14 last week, but they haven’t faced anybody the caliber of Oklahoma yet this season.

Jeff’s pick: Oklahoma
Doug’s pick: Oklahoma

2. Michigan (2-4) at No. 3 Penn State (7-0)

Analysis: Talk about two different situations. Michigan is off to its worst start since 1967 and lost to lowly Toledo last week at home, and coach Rich Rodriguez likely regrets ever leaving West Virginia. Penn State is 7-0 for the first time since 1999 and demolished Wisconsin 48-7 last week on the road, and coach Joe Paterno likely never wants to leave. The Nittany Lions appear to be the class of the Big Ten this season with an outstanding defense and an awfully good offense. The Wolverines’ offense is just awful. Michigan has defeated Penn State nine times in a row, but do you expect that winning streak to continue Saturday in Happy Valley? We certainly don’t.

Jeff’s pick: Penn State
Doug’s pick: Penn State

1. No. 11 Missouri (5-1) at No. 1 Texas (6-0)

Analysis: So much for a breather for Texas. The Longhorns dispatched No. 1 Oklahoma last week, but it won’t get any easier for them this week. Missouri is coming into this game angry after a loss last week to Oklahoma State, and that’s not a good sign for Texas. Led by quarterback Chase Daniel, the Tigers’ offense is almost impossible to stop; in fact, until last week, the Tigers hadn’t had a single three-and-out with Daniel at quarterback. Texas’ Colt McCoy has impressive numbers of his own, with 17 touchdowns through the air and another four on the ground. The Longhorns are coming into this game on a high after their comeback win over the Sooners, and they can’t afford a letdown at home.

Jeff’s pick: Missouri
Doug’s pick: Texas

Contact assistant sports editor Douglas Gulasy at dgulasy@kent.edu and campus editor Jeff Russ at jruss@kent.edu.

Chris Gates

Daily Kent Stater

Kent State opened the season against Illinois, a team that lost only one game last season. The result? A faster and stronger Illinois club showed it was just that, winning 2-0.

It is very early in the season, but by watching the game I learned a few things about this team.

First off, they have a solid goaltender. Ryan Gregory was peppered with shots all night, and was only responsible for one goal allowed.

That goal was scored due to a four-player screen, blocking his view of the puck until it was behind him and in the net.

He made save after save in the second and third periods, and gave the offense a chance to get the equalizer and send the game in to overtime.

However, the offense was unable to capitalize all night, which is my second point.

Puck handling was a huge problem for the Flashes against Illinois. Much of that has to be credited to the Illini, who a much faster skating team. They were able to step in passing lanes and disrupt the vision of the Flashes.

The most frustrating thing about the offense was that it was trying too hard to make a spectacular play on odd-man rushes. Rather than throw the puck on net and play for a rebound, forwards tended to hold on to the puck too long and, in an instant, the scoring chance was gone.

Illinois showed its speed and conditioning in the third period, out-skating the Flashes early on. When it came down to the final five minutes, the Flashes found their legs but couldn’t get the puck past the Illinois goaltender.

Illinois was stronger on the boards, and roughed the Flashes up in the neutral zone. However, Kent State responded with some of its own physical play.

Overall, the Flashes were lucky to be in the game up until the empty netter was scored in the last 15 seconds. Credit that to Gregory.

With another game against Illinois, now on a 45-game winning streak, the Flashes will need another spectacular performance by it goaltender, as well as a simpler approach on offense.

Take your shots when you have them. Throwing the puck on net is the best medicine.

Douglas Gulasy and Jeff Russ | Daily Kent Stater

For years, the two of us dreamed of becoming the fall Daily Kent Stater sports editor. 

Every party we went to, we talked about this dream. Every chance we got, we reminded prospective fall editors of our dream. Every night we slept with business cards that said our name with the title, “Fall Sports Editor,” underneath.

We wanted it bad, and we thought it was going to happen. But then disaster struck.

Jeff became sports editor last spring and decided not to run for re-election and for some reason became a  campus editor. He now edits stories about alumni and buildings. 

Doug, sensing his chance, threw his hat into the ring but was beat out by “Brock” (formerly Joe) Harrington for the job. Cursing his luck, Doug became the lowly assistant sports editor and decided to, like “Brock,” change his name to Douglas in the hopes of becoming sports editor in the future.

But that didn’t change the fact that Doug and Jeff’s dreams were crushed.

Dreams of what — prestige? Money? Power?

No — dreams of running the editors’ football picks.

For years, the Stater ran editors’ picks of 10 football games, five college and five pro, each week in the Friday sports section. Invariably, someone who knew nothing about football won. But that’s what made the section fun, as well as an institution of the sports section.

Until this fall. “Brock” decided to end the beloved football picks because he didn’t like them. Unlike us, “Brock” doesn’t care about the happiness of others — he cares only about the happiness of himself.

For six weeks, we were quiet about this. Not anymore. We cannot stay silent while injustice reigns. So we have decided to bring back weekly football picks in order to give the people what they want.

For now, the picks will focus on college football because we like that better anyway. We may bring in pro football later, but we may not.

But let’s get to the moment you’ve been waiting for.

Game one: No. 25 Ball State (6-0) at Western Kentucky (2-4)

Analysis: Tip your cap to Ball State, folks. The Cardinals have come a long way this year and are the class of the Mid-American Conference. Their rise to national ranking is even more impressive considering the career-ending spinal injury suffered three weeks ago by leading receiver Dante Love. Instead of falling apart, the Cardinals have come together and blown out Kent State (41-20) and Toledo (31-0). This game honestly shouldn’t be much of a contest, unless Ball State overlooks Western Kentucky. The teams have played one common opponent — Indiana. The Hilltoppers lost to the Hoosiers 31-13, while the Cardinals pounded them 42-20.

Jeff’s pick: Ball State

Doug’s pick: Ball State

Game two: No. 23 Michigan State (5-1) at Northwestern  (5-0)

Analysis: Here’s a matchup of two of the biggest surprises in the country. Led by running back Javon Ringer, the second-leading rusher in the nation with 988 yards, Michigan State has won five games in a row since a season-opening loss at California. Northwestern has gone from 4-8 in 2006, to 6-6 last year, to 5-0 this season, the Wildcats’ best start since 1962. However, neither team has played an impressive schedule thus far. It’ll be interesting to see if either of the teams’ fast start is a mirage. Will we see if that’s the case this week?

Jeff’s pick: Michigan State

Doug’s pick: Michigan State

Game three: Notre Dame (4-1) at No. 22 North Carolina (4-1)

Analysis: Don’t look now, but Butch Davis is doing it again. Forget about that stint with the Browns — Davis has been an expert at making teams championship-caliber. He did it with Miami earlier this decade, and he’s doing it with North Carolina now. The Tar Heels are coming off a blowout victory over ranked Connecticut, and they pounded Rutgers earlier this season. But Notre Dame has come a long way since its 3-9 season in 2007. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen is becoming very comfortable starting for the Irish, as he has 12 touchdowns to just six interceptions this season. Upset alert!

Jeff’s pick: Notre Dame

Doug’s pick: Notre Dame

Game four: Colorado (3-2) at No. 16 Kansas (4-1)

Analysis: Kansas lived on the edge last Saturday, falling behind 20-0 at Iowa State before coming back to win 35-33. The Jayhawks’ only loss this season came to No. 19 South Florida on Sept. 12, a 37-34 defeat, and they won a BCS game last season. This week won’t be easy for the Jayhawks. Even though Colorado has lost two straight, the Buffaloes shocked a ranked West Virginia team earlier this season and seem to be turning a corner under coach Dan Hawkins. At last the prognosticators disagree.   

Jeff’s pick: Kansas

Doug’s pick: Colorado

Game five: Purdue (2-3) at No. 12 Ohio State (5-1)

Analysis: Coming off a comeback win at then-No.18 Wisconsin, the Buckeyes will return to their home stadium to host struggling Purdue. This isn’t the same Ohio State team that lost 35-3 to USC about a month ago. Perhaps you haven’t heard, but some true freshman quarterback has energized the offense, both running and passing. We think his name is Terelle … or something like that. The addition of that quarterback, plus the return of running back Beanie Wells from injury, has made this offense dangerous. In our view, Purdue’s only hope is to convince the Buckeyes that tomorrow is the national championship game. Unless Curtis Painter has the power of hypnotism, that’s unlikely.

Jeff’s pick: Ohio State

Doug’s pick: Ohio State

Game six: No. 6 Penn State (6-0) at Wisconsin (3-2)

Analysis: Wisconsin is seeing its season slip-sliding away. The Badgers were ranked No. 9 at 3-0 and cruising at Michigan two weeks ago until the Wolverines stunned them with a fourth-quarter comeback, winning 27-25. Then the Badgers blew another one late last week, letting Ohio State march down the field for the winning touchdown with 1:08 remaining. Meanwhile, Penn State has rolled to its 6-0 start. The Nittany Lions’ closest margin of victory has been 14 points. Behind mobile quarterback Darryl Clark and an always-strong defense, Penn State is poised to give the Badgers their third straight loss.

Jeff’s pick: Penn State

Doug’s pick: Penn State

Game seven: No. 4 LSU (4-0) at No. 11 Florida (4-1)

Analysis: This is one of two marquee prime-time matchups featuring ranked teams (see below for the other). It’s safe to say tomorrow will be a good night to watch football. Defending national champion LSU will play the team that won the national championship the season before. LSU has a staunch defense but two relatively inexperienced quarterbacks. Florida’s strength is, as always, Tim Tebow and the offense. Last season the Tigers came back from 10 points down to beat the Gators 28-24 on a touchdown with 1:09 left. Expect another classic this time around. It’s tough to pick against the Gators when they play in the Swamp, but Jeff does just that.

Jeff’s pick: LSU

Doug’s pick: Florida

Game eight: No. 17 Oklahoma State (5-0) at No. 3 Missouri (5-0) 

Analysis: Here’s the other marquee matchup at 8 p.m. tomorrow. We advise gamblers out there to take the “over” in this one, as plenty of points are sure to be scored. Missouri’s lowest point total this season was 42 against Buffalo on Sept. 20, and the Tigers have two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates in quarterback Chase Daniel and wide receiver/everywhere-man Jeremy Maclin. Oklahoma State has put up 50-plus points in its past four games under quarterback Zac Robinson (10 touchdowns, three interceptions) and a two-headed rushing attack. Plus, the Cowboys have extra firepower in coach Mike Gundy. Gundy is a man, but that won’t be enough against the mighty Tigers.

Jeff’s pick: Missouri

Doug’s pick: Missouri

Game nine: No. 5 Texas (5-0) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma (5-0)

Analysis: Here it is: No. 5 against No. 1, rival against rival, Mack Brown against Big Game Bob Stoops, Colt McCoy against Sam Bradford. This is the game of the week, bar none. With a win, Oklahoma will clear its biggest hurdle in its path to the Big XII Championship game. Bradford (18 touchdown passes) has been on fire. Meanwhile, Texas has begun to make some noise in this rivalry. The Longhorns have won two out of three against Oklahoma after losing five straight. McCoy has completed nearly 80 percent of his passes and has 16 touchdowns, plus he leads the team in rushing. This one’s going to be good. In fact, we’re channeling Brent Musberger already. What better time for the Red River Shootout to start than high noon? 

Jeff’s pick: Oklahoma

Doug’s pick: Texas

Game 10: Ohio (1-5) at Kent State (1-5) 

Analysis: We go from the best game of the week to quite possibly the worst. In fact, we wouldn’t even be picking this game if it didn’t involve the school we happen to go to. Kent State has lost eight consecutive Mid-American Conference games, dating back to a 33-25 win last September against — guess who? — Ohio. Running back Eugene Jarvis ran for 230 yards in that game but has been M.I.A. this season after suffering a high ankle sprain against Delaware State. Still, he could return this week. Meanwhile Ohio has been tormented by near-misses this season against Wyoming (a 21-20 loss), Ohio State (26-24) and Central Michigan (31-28). The good news about this game is, well … somebody has to win, right? 

Jeff’s pick: Kent State

Doug’s pick: Kent State

Contact campus editor Jeff Russ at jruss@kent.edu and assistant sports editor Douglas Gulasy at dgulasy@kent.edu.

Douglas Gulasy | Daily Kent Stater

It’s October, the Raiders are 1-3 and Al Davis just made a bad decision.

That sound you hear is the collective gasp of the people shocked by any of the above. Unsurprisingly, the gasp sounds more like silence.

Davis fired Raiders coach Lane Kiffin on Monday, just four games into this season and 20 into Kiffin’s career as coach. The move was … well, nine months or so in the making, as Kiffin’s removal has been inevitable since he tried to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan back in January and Davis vetoed the move.

That was the first of many moves by Davis, the team’s owner, that undermined Kiffin. The veto basically said Kiffin didn’t have the right to pick his own staff. He also allegedly sent Kiffin a resignation letter because Kiffin objected to Davis retaining Ryan. When Kiffin refused to sign it, rumors abounded about his potential firing. Those rumors finally came true this week.

The move to fire a coach just 20 games into his coaching career is even more proof that Davis has to retire. I’m sorry … I know he’s a legend, but he has to go. The man has proven time and again he can no longer run that organization to its prior effectiveness.

Since the 2002 season, when the Raiders advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII, they have gone 20-64, a winning percentage of .238. Three other coaches besides Kiffin — Bill Callahan, Norv Turner and Art Shell — have gotten the heave-ho for failing to turn the team around.

There’s a reason that all four coaches have come up short in rebuilding the Raiders. It’s because they’re not the problem.

The problem is Davis.

Forget his attempts to undermine Kiffin. Forget his decisions to fire coaches before they got a true crack at turning the team around. Forget about his breaking the bank for overrated free agents. The real problem is none of those things.

No, the problem is that Davis thinks the Raiders of 2008 are still the Raiders of 1978. He thinks the Raiders can contend simply because they’re the Raiders. He thinks he can say “Just win, baby,” the Raiders’ motto, and it’ll just happen because hey, that’s the way it works.

But he’s wrong. JaMarcus Russell is no Kenny Stabler, Michael Huff is no Jack Tatum and Javon Walker is no Fred Biletnikoff. Simply put, the Silver and Black look as corroded as Davis himself. Even Darth Raider and the Black Hole are embarrassed.

Warren Sapp said it best. The Raiders won’t get better until Davis is gone. Get new blood in there and we may see some change in Oakland.

The real winner in this situation is Kiffin. He may go on to have as successful a career as Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who was fired by Davis in 1989 and has gone on to win two Super Bowls in Denver, not to mention many games against his former employer.

Yes, Kiffin will likely get a shot elsewhere to prove he got a raw deal in Oakland. And I’m rooting for him to do so.

As for the Raiders … well, I’m rooting for them too, but in a different way.

Just lose, baby.

Contact Sports Boy (and assistant sports editor) Douglas Gulasy at dgulasy@kent.edu.