In 1939 college hoops instituted what would become the NCAA tournament, an 8 team single elimination playoff, to crown a champion. There were 3 rounds and none of the games were televised.  Why? Well, television didn’t exist at the tourney’s birth. Twelve years later, the tournament was expanded to 16. A few years later it expanded again. By 1975 there were 32 teams. In 1979, the season that many believe changed the game (think Larry versus Magic), the field was increased to 40. A season later that became 48. Three seasons later it was over 50. It kept expanding, it kept growing. TV and ESPN helped lead to its explosion. The 24 hour sports cycle made it an unstoppable unofficial national holiday.

By 1985, the little tournament birthed in 1939, had grown from 8 teams to 64 (8 times as much) and it wasn’t so much a playoff, it was a marathon. College hoops’ popularity had exploded and March Madness was in full bloom.

For 15 years college hoops stuck with that system and it was widely accepted as the best post-season in sports.  Then came a one game play-in in 2001, and the scary, outlandish idea of expanding to a cool 96 just a few years ago. Fortunately, smarter heads prevailed, and the field simply added 3 more play-in games, creating the First Four to nicely balance the much-hyped Final Four.

No longer was it necessary to be great, merely above average had become good enough.  VCU took their First Four ticket and seized the opportunity, shooting the lights out to an improbable, almost unexplainable Final Four appearance.

The underdog fan in all of us was pleased, while old-fashioned traditionalists were bothered.  We ended up with a Final Four which included the Rams and Butler. These were not the 4 best teams. Everyone knew that.  These 4 teams had merely survived.

More exciting? Yes. More games? Yes. More interest? Yes. College hoops had scored another outlet for Cinderella to squeak through, and everybody loves a good Cinderella. But by the semi-finals, the elusive Final Four had given us 2 of them. As a sports fan, it felt wrong. It was too much. The best teams were supposed to have knocked them off, and retain normalcy in the pecking order. Traditional powers, who had traditionally outstanding seasons were left on the outside looking in, despite their superior overall resume. All because they stumbled once along the way.

Now we have more bubble teams, more excitement for schools that once never had a shot, and the most wild post-season in all of sports.

But rarely do the best teams win anymore. Even rarer is it for all 4 number 1 seeds to make it to the Final Four. Fans call this parity, traditionalists call this depressing.

Which is why there’s a major divide between those who love baseball’s new post-season proposal (expected to go into effect this coming year) of two more wild card teams, and those who hate it.

New age fans, sticklers for maxing out more games and more races are ecstatic. Teams notoriously clipped from the post-season because of the behemoths that they can’t financially compete with, now have renewed hope.  More teams get into the playoffs which means two more games, and more cities tuning in late (better attendance figures, better TV ratings), hoping their team can get into the dance.

Traditionalists are sick to their stomach.  What started out as the World Series in 1903 is about to balloon to 10, a number not nearly as extreme as college hoops expansion, but that is until you consider the context.

From 1903-1968 you won your league or you went home.  The AL and NL didn’t play each other, expansion had yet to take over the game, and there was roughly half the teams there are today. You won your league, you went right to the World Series. Other teams didn’t collect $200 or pass go. They were done.

Like anything, some years were more exciting than others.  But baseball wanted a few more participants in their post-season, so in 1969, they expanded to 2 divisions in both the AL and NL, and a Championship series was born as a prelude to the World Series.  All of a sudden the best record didn’t guarantee you a Fall Classic berth.  Imagine traditionalists and how they reacted then?

From 1969-1984 fans began adjusting to the new system and its best of 5 series format. Then in 1985, baseball expanded each series to 7 games. Some were probably annoyed by that.  Then in 1993, the Marlins and Rockies joined the sport as expansion mates, and baseball forever changed its ways, introducing its 3 division format and a –gasp – Wild Card in each league.

All of a sudden you didn’t have to win your league or your division for that matter, to get in. You could be second place. There was strife then. Rewarding a second place team? Preposterous! But alas the sport had grown, from 16 in 1903 to 28 by 1993.  It was almost like watching evolution.

And a quick side note on that 1903 season – had there been an CS that year, the Boston Americans, 14.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics, would have had to beat Philly in a series just go get to the Fall Classic. Over a team they had shown themselves superior to by nearly 15 games.

1903-ians would have scoffed at the notion. Looking back it would’ve been ridiculous. But times were different then. People didn’t even have cars!

So is introducing a 5^th playoff team in each league evolution or devolution? Is it natural to expand your playoff field as your overall field increases? Obviously, TV revenue wasn’t taken into account at the turn of the century, because no one knew what the bleep a TV was. People were still excited about silent pictures.

Baseball is introducing more teams to the ball, undoubtedly because they expect the one game playoff in each league to generate more buzz, and it goes without saying that more teams, means more opportunities, which gives more fan-bases the chance to dream big.

I’ve read the arguments from both sides – and the big one against expanding is that it dilutes the field, further blurs what it means to make the playoffs and win your division, and merely sidesteps the fact that the Wild Card is what got us into this quandary in the first place.  Some have argued that second place should garner no spoils. Win your division or get out of the way. People remember who won the pennant back in the day. Nowadays, winning your regular season crown in your league is a footnote on a website.

Great. Here’s a cookie, now go beat that Wild Card team (or if they’re in your division), another division winner.

Stop! Says baseball.  With the introduction of a 5^th team, their belief is that the 1-game winner take all free for all will force teams to go all out, thus disposing them of their best pitcher, and weakening their bullpen, assuming they advance.  Others have suggested, that if you expanded the divisional round to 7 games, it would help restore balance to the giants over the cinderellas.

While St. Louis was a great story, their overall 2011 season was pretty forgettable (and they would have been a blip in the pre-Wild Card years, where the Giants once won 103 games and didn’t get in). They tore up the NL down the stretch, as the Braves bowed down and took it towards the end. It led to the greatest day of regular season baseball I can ever recall, another point of emphasis that this expansion, injures. The Red Sox and Braves don’t completely collapse last season if they still make it into the field as the second Wild Cards. And Tampa’s unbelievable rally would’ve been another footnote in history, because the game wouldn’t have meant a thing.

Which leaves us with this: you can’t please everyone. You can’t appease owners who pay hundreds of millions dollars for their franchise and want another way to win by letting in just the top 2 teams. You can’t please fans who want parity, but also want the top deserving teams. Baseball is already on a tilted scale as is, given the lack of a salary cap, free agency and the explosion of millionaires has flipped traditionalism on its respective butt.

So in essence, by giving each league another playoff spot, you give your smaller market teams a better chance to compete, there-by leveling out just a bit the financial gap of a joke that is the sport’s economic system.

You can’t argue for tradition but bypass the fact that free agency, expansion, and TV has changed the game. Likewise, you can’t argue for expansion, and argue that the best team will have a better chance of winning. It is in that regard that the BCS kind of has it right when they pit 1 vs 2, sans a playoff system. Some years, like this one, the gap between 2 and 3 is miniscule and debate rages.  But it’s the only big-time organization that doesn’t let a party crasher knock out the heavyweight in the playoffs.  Because there is no playoffs.

Say what you will about the BCS – and I’ve said plenty – but it’s the closest thing sports has of guaranteeing us 1 versus 2.  The NFL as we’ve seen is a beacon of parity, and winning the division and getting that home game really doesn’t mean what it once did (Just look up the first decade of the new millennium for countless examples).  In the NBA the better team usually wins, but in 1999 the 8 seed Knicks made the NBA Finals.  In the NHL it’s barely even an upset when an 8 or 7 takes out the top or 2^nd best seed.

And in the NCAA, there’s so many games that one slip-up, and the best team is extinguished for an off-night.

Of course in sports there’s also injuries, unbalanced schedules, off-the-field issues, trades, cuts, and so many other factors that can get in the way. Comparing one era to another, while fun, is usually trivial. The games were different back then, the players weren’t as strong, didn’t have the same technological advances, training, etc. Loyalty was expected, not applauded. Its apples to oranges.

So maybe, after all of this, we should just accept sports for what it is: a fun game where expansion happens. We are a country littered with obesity, and we like more, more, and a little more. Expansion is exactly that: more.

It’s like in little league, when every team and every kid gets a trophy just for competing.

We’re looking to make everyone happy when that’s impossible. But the more teams you let in, the more that go home happy.

Is that what we want? Hope for all?  Or do we want the best handful of teams to duke it out in a system that rewards their regular season greatness?

Sports don’t seem to care as much about the latter anymore.

Whether that’s a good or bad thing, simply depends who you ask.

Photos: AP, Getty

Throw out the record books, throw out the scandal, and throw out the fact that Joe Paterno is one of the most well known coaches on Earth.  Throw out everything he’s accomplished, everything that eventually brought him down, and your opinions on what his legacy will come to be.

And focus on the fact that no matter what you think of the man they call Joe Pa, that today is a sad day.

Today, we found out that the man who once seemed destined to coach forever, was on the verge of leaving the world forever. The Citizen’s Voice reports that Paterno is near death.  Even his greatest detractors, and the people involved with the Jerry Sandusky scandal still very much swirling around Penn State’s beaten and bruised program and the many who were affected, couldn’t have wanted this.

They used to say that Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno hung around as long as they did in the coaching game, because if they left it would be their demise from the world.  Football gave them purpose, football kept them going, football was in many ways, the world they had built for themselves.

So when FSU decided to move on, cutting Bowden loose just a few seasons ago, many wondered if he could live without football.  So far, so good.  People wondered the same for years about Paterno, whose health had been failing in recent years. Paterno is in serious condition it’s being reported, just months removed from his November 9th firing at Penn State.

It was just days after that fateful night that Paterno was diagnosed with cancer.  Now the radiation and chemotherapy, which has weakened him to his bare bones, appears to be a dead end without hope, leading to a final goodbye. We last saw Joe Pa outside in his house, appearing to be in good spirits, the night he was removed as head coach of Penn State, a position he held from 1966-2011. That memory will be seared in my mind for a long time.  The riots, the outpouring of support, the idolization a community had of a football coach, worthy or not.  You remember where you were on nights like that. I remember where I was when 9-11 happened.  I remember where I was when Osama Bin Laden was killed.  And I will remember where I was when Joe Pa came out of his house to say, what almost amounted to be his final goodbyes.

Who could have thought that night, when he and his wife waved goodbye to a crowd of adoring and bitter fans, that it would be his true farewell.  Everything has gone downhill ever since.

While trivial in nature, Joe Pa left the game of college football as the all-time wins leader in NCAA FBS with 409. He stands alone as the only coach to win 400 games and 5 of his Penn State teams won major bowl games. In 2007, Joe Pa was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Today, down to possibly his final few hours, maybe days, his longtime wife, Sue called close family and friend to say their goodbyes.

A call no one ever wants to make.

I never met Joe Pa the person, so I can’t make a judgement call on who he was and what he stood for.  What I know is this: it’s always terribly sad to say goodbye to a loved one, no matter what their celebrity status. At the end of the day, we’re all just people, and we’re all equally vulnerable.

And that’s all there is to it.

Paterno is 85.

The BCS Championship is over. Mercifully. Or to put it as the championship hats read: done! As in the SEC can have it’s moment in the sun, while it pours on the other side. Did LSU’s no-show, help propel us closer to a Plus-One? Did Alabama put up the greatest defensive performance in BCS history? Does Honey Badger care? Did Alabama just kick another Field goal? And where in the word was Jarrett Lee?

Juiced Sports Radio breaks it all down. Plus, is Oklahoma State worthy of #2 once more?

The top 2 teams in the land have arrived in New Orleans, where on Monday January 9th they will clash heads in a rematch of their scintillating (cue the sarcasm) Game of the Century: a bone-crushing 9-6 offensive shootout, which sent offense back to the 40’s (hey look, there’s Tim Tebow and the Broncos!)

And while ESPN has the hype train rolling, trying to build anticipation for a game that only the analysts seemed to want, it’s hard to get jacked up for two teams that we’ve already seen.  Like that terrible old MTV reality show, Next, we’d like to stick this matchup back on the bus and try again.  But it’s what we’re stuck with, so what the heck.

After 4 BCS bowl games of pure, unadulterated offensive explosion, the final game of the 2011 college football season will be settled by two powerful defenses.  The two offenses were invited to come along, but they had to find their own ride, because it’s been the D that’s carried both of these teams to the last step.

So no, the 308 combined points we’ve seen in the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, and Orange (West Virginia just scored again!) will make the BCS Championship game look like the ugly duckling, but in a strange way, after the video game numbers we’ve been seeing, it might actually be — wait for it, wait for it, refreshing to see some real defense.  The 77 total points average per game is likely to be significantly lower when the Tide and Tigers meet for a second time, even if the two offenses have had a month to prepare (which they have).

We know the Tigers deserve their #1 spot, and the bowl season has only further cemented that lofty notion:

Just look at that schedule and drool over the remarkable strength of teams that LSU has plowed through.

Oregon just won the Rose Bowl.  West Virginia just won the Orange Bowl.  Mississippi State won the Music City Bowl. Florida won the Gator Bowl. Auburn won the ChicFilABowl. Alabama is in the national championship, Arkansas plays Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl tonight, and Georgia lost an epic 3 OT thriller to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl.

Which means of the 13 teams LSU played this year:

- 5 teams won their bowl game (2 won a BCS game)
-  1 lost their bowl game (Georgia)
- 1 plays tonight (Arkansas)
- 5 of their opponents failed to make a bowl game (Northwestern St, Kentucky, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and Ole Miss).

If Arkansas wins tonight, LSU can lay claim to beating 3 of the AP’s final top 5.  That’s insane.

And that’s before LSU even takes the field.

That said it’s hard to argue — even with a loss — that anyone was better than LSU this year. The voters are going to have quite the dilemna if the Tide pull off the win.

With some teams out of the playoff race and others holding on for their playoff lives, along with Heisman Trophy being awarded tonight, the first of many mock drafts is here. This year features many strong prospects despite Andrew Luck taking all the headlines. The new draft pay structure may be the cause of numerous trades within the early picks this year. These picks are based on standings as of writing and while I am making the picks for these teams, the picks are not representations of who I would take, but rather the picks that I think the teams will make.

1. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck, QB, Standford

The most obvious first overall pick since Carson Palmer came out of USC, Luck is the quintessential quarterback of the future for this once unbeatable franchise. My gut says they will openly accept trade offers for this pick but in the end, Luck will take over for Peyton Manning.

2.  St. Louis Rams

Matt Kalil, OT, USC

I am not trying to make excuses for Sam Bradford, but part of the reason he is struggling is the sophomore slump of Rodger Staffold and ineffectiveness of former second overall pick, Jason Smith. If the Rams want Bradford (who struggles heavily against defensive pressure) to succeed, they need him worrying more about his progression than being put on the ground. Kalil is the best left tackle prospect in the draft and in my opinion, has a very low bust-rate.

3. Minnesota Vikings

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Charles Johnson and Phillip Loadholt are not going to cut it for long in Minnesota. The Vikings got their “Franchise Quarterback” in Christian Ponder last year, now and maybe more importantly, they get their true “Franchise Left Tackle.”

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Justin Blackmon, WR, OSU

Blaine Gabbert has taken a lot of criticism for this season, but honestly, he was set up to fail. The Jags are using slot receivers as their outside guys. When a team picks up a wide receiver every other week off of waivers, they have problems. Blackmon is an exciting, athletic talent that can stretch the field and make the catches when he has to. This is a good piece for the new regime.

5. Washington Redskins

Matt Barkley, QB, USC

With the Dolphins deciding that they want to win, the Skins could be in the hunt for Barkley, who has most college and pro football fans clamoring at his last season run with USC. While I believe Barkley needs at least one year to develop, Mike Shanahan has to do something to inspire excitement from this fanbase and their impatient owner.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Ronde Barber may retire this offseason after a fantastic career with the Bucs, so it is time to find a replacement. Claiborne has been phenomenal this season for the LSU Tigers and he could fit right in with the Bucs just like his former teammate, Patrick Peterson, did with the Cardinals.

7. Philadelphia Eagles

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

A lot of Eagles fans are hoping for a linebacker here (myself included) but there is a lack of value for linebackers in the top ten. The cornerbacks have been underwhelming this season and with Asante Samuel likely to get cut or traded in the offseason, the Birds could use some youth at the position. I do think the Eagles trade down for a linebacker if they get a pick this high, but if they stay the talented Kirkpatrick could be the answer.

8. Miami Dolphins

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

As I mentioned before, Miami is playing their way out of the Matt Barkley pick. Matt Moore seems to be the guy for at least the next year which gives them time to develop a guy behind him. Griffin has put up great numbers and is a great leader. He could be the starter by the end of next season.

9. Cleveland Browns

Trent Richardson, HB, Alabama

Peyton Hillis is as good as gone and the Browns need some serious running help. I like Montario Hardesty but he has not proven himself durable. Richardson is a physical beast who I believe is much better than Alabama alum, Mark Ingram. Richardson can use power and strength, but also displays great hands which could help out Colt McCoy or whoever the man behind center is next year.

10. Carolina Panthers

Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

The Panthers have faced constant injuries to their linebacker group over the last few seasons. With Jon Beason coming off a serious knee injury and Thomas Davis having trouble just staying on the field, Zach Brown of UNC could be a nice option to help injury ward in Carolina. Brown is local, so the Panthers will be able to do their homework (if they haven’t already) on the young man who is easily the best outside linebacker in this year’s draft class.

11. Seattle Seahawks

Ryan Tannenhill, QB, Texas A&M

Tavaris Jackson is a nice player but as a “Franchise Quarterback” he has a lot to prove. Jackson signed a two-year deal this past offseason so he could start next year while a young guy develops on the bench. Tannenhill has really come on this year and stands to (at the very least) be the Christian Ponder pick of this draft.

12. San Diego Chargers

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The Chargers seem to lack explosiveness in their offense. With Darren Sproles in New Orleans, the Chargers lack a real speed option in San Diego. Jeffery is quick and consistent, which will take some of the coverage off Vincent Jackson. The presence of Vincent Brown, Jeffery, Jackson, and Malcolm Floyd will give Philip Rivers no more excuses for failing to excel.

13. Kansas City Chiefs

Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Kansas City has had issues with their defensive front since switching to a 3-4. Tyson Jackson has underperformed and Glenn Dorsey is playing out of position. Still is a big guy with a great motor. He will demand constant attention in passing game but can also be quite successful against the running game.

14. Buffalo Bills

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bills have gotten by on no-name talent at wide receiver, now is the time to give Ryan Fitzpatrick some real weapons. Floyd should have come out last year but stayed in school. He now has the opportunity to be “the guy” in Buffalo.

15. Arizona Cardinals

Quinton Couples, DE, UNC

Couples is more of a natural defensive end, but in a league where defenses are constantly morphing their defenses between 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, there is no better pass rusher. Arizona has had trouble getting to QBs, but Couples is an expert in such activities. He can put his hand down but may thrive standing up.

16. New York Giants

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Giants are struggling to run the ball and to stay healthy on the offensive line. Jonathan Martin of Stanford could solve both problems. Martin is tall (6’6) and athletic and could prove to be a valuable asset in pass protection.

17. Tennessee Titans

David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Chris Johnson is a great running back but will not succeed on a long-term basis if he has to do it himself. DeCastro can open up lane for the former 2,000 yard rusher. When you open up the running lanes, CJ2K could get back to his best.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (acquired from Oakland)

Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Bengals had done well at corner without Jonathan Joseph but after an ACL injury ended Leon Hall’s season, they are really hurting. Nate Clements is an old player on the other side so it would be wise for the Bengals to jump at Dennard who has been stellar the past two seasons. I think he is better than Prince Amukamara.

19. New York Jets

Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

A once strong running team, the Jets have been inconsistent on the ground over the past two years. Enter Cordy Glenn who has been an absolute force on the inside for the Georgia Bulldogs. It may not be the “sexy” pick but I think it is the right one.

20. Detroit Lions

Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Stephen Tulloch is signed for just this season and could prove pricey after a strong season with the Lions. Kuechly is a smart player who can lead the Lions for years to come. He has great instincts and has proven to be a consistently good tackler. The 2011 Butkus Award winner is young but makes up for his lack of experience with uncanny smarts and toughness.

21. Denver Broncos

Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame

Joe Mays is a nice guy but I would not want him as the starting middle linebacker on my team. Te’o is a throwback linebacker who follows the ball and attacks. With Von Miller already dominating in his rookie year with his pass rushing ability, Te’o could be the guy slows down opposing rushing attacks.

22. Dallas Cowboys

Janoris Jenkins, CB, Northern Alabama

Jenkins could have come out last year but decided not to. He then got kicked out of Florida and transferred to Northern Alabama. Jenkins is still top talent at his position and could replace another Jenkins (Michael) in Dallas. Terrence Newman is still a strong player but his age shows at times on the field.

23. Cincinnati Bengals

Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Keith Rivers has been inconsistent since being drafted by the Bengal and Manny Lawson is only signed for one year, so outside linebacker has to be considered a priority. Upshaw comes from a strong program and an even stronger (if that is even possible) defense. The Alabama prospect can rush the passer and excel in coverage.

24. Chicago Bears

Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

Mike Martz is rumored to be let go at the end of the season, so the tight end position immediately becomes important again. Allen is the top tight end in this class and could be a valuable asset for Jay Cutler.

25. Cleveland Browns (acquired from the Atlanta Falcons)

Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

Having two picks in the first round allows the Browns to take a shot at a possible QB. Jones has become a household name on the college scene this year and looks poised to be a late 1^st round pick. Jones will compete with Colt McCoy for the starting job in 2012.

26. New England Patriots (acquired from New Orleans Saints)

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Once again the Pats have two first round picks and I think they will go offensive line again. Bill Belichek believes in building in the trenches and Konz is the best center on the board.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Chris Hoke’s career could be in jeopardy with his upcoming neck surgery, so Poe could take his place. Poe’s small school status has him a little under the radar but I see this big guy going in the late first round.

28. New England Patriots

Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Jerod Mayo has regressed and the Pats defense overall has been lacks. Despite his injury-plagued college career, I think Hightower is the right pick for New England. Much like Upshaw, Hightower is athletic and can cover opposing tight ends and running backs.

29. Houston Texans

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Texans have been able to get by with a lack of Andre Johnson but it has not been easy. Wright is a local guy that can fill the void if history repeats itself. The Texans need stronger vertical threats than Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones.

30. San Francisco 49ers

Jerel Worth, DT, Michigan State

Justin Smith is getting up there in age and has the injuries to prove it. Jerel Worth fits the Niners defense that constantly switches between 3-4 and 4-3. Worth is much better against the run but can push offensive lineman back when faced with passing plays.

31. Baltimore Ravens

Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

The Ravens still have a major need at cornerback despite drafting Jimmy Smith last year. Minnifield is a bit of a reach here but I think he can help settle the foundation in the secondary for Baltimore. I think the Ravens will trade back if they are picking here in the draft.

32. Green Bay Packers

Lamar Miller, HB, Miami

The Packers have very few needs at 12-0 (at time of press) but I think they could drop Ryan Grant’s large contract and go younger at running back with James Starks and a rookie. Miller is the number two back in this class and displays high speed and the ability to catch the ball when his number is called. Only in his second year after redshirting, he doubled his rushing yards from his first year on the field.

Photo: AP

It’s been a fun, crazy, and as usual, controversial season in the wonderful world of college football.  That didn’t just go for the teams involved.  The Heisman trophy, the most coveted individual award in sports arguably is up for grabs tonight.  The field has been narrowed to  a fantastic five, but there were plenty others who were more than deserving for the little guy with the stiff arm.

When tabulating our Heisman winner, Juiced Sports writers and staff weren’t limited to just voting for Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, Montee Ball, Trent Richardson, and Tyrann Mathieu.  So who did we choose?  Our votes after the jump.

Mitch Blatt

1. Robert Griffin III / QB / Baylor

Robert Griffin III had the best season and led Baylor into the top 25. He did it in the big games, too, throwing for 430 yards against Texas A&M, 425 against Oklahoma State, 479 against Oklahoma and 320 against Texas.

2. Montee Ball / RB/ Wisconsin
3. Andrew Luck / QB / Stanford

Brad Clark

1. Robert Griffin III / QB / Baylor

RGIII took home the Davey O’Brien Trophy on Thursday and seems he is the frontrunner for the Heisman on Saturday. The junior signal caller has posted just shy of 4,000 passing yards, 36 TD passes to 6 INT’s and has ran in 9 more scores. I’m pretty sure that should do it.

2. Trent Richardson / RB / Alabama
3. Andrew Luck / QB / Stanford

Scott Jacobs

1. Matt Barkley / RB / USC

I was absolutely baffled when Barkley was shafted by the Heisman voting committee.  The number one QB out of high school, Barkley finally lived up to his lofty billing this season, quietly leading USC to a 10-2 record and a top 5 ranking.  Barkely threw for 3528 yards this season to go along with 39 TDs and just 7 picks.  But here’s why he gets my vote: USC was ineligible to play for the post-season, which for some might’ve made it difficult to stay motivated.  Not Barkley.  He simply got better as the season went on, and so did the Trojans.  If you don’t have to be a national title contender to win the Heisman (see Griffin III), why can’t Barkley get consideration?  And for my money, he might just be the best player in college football when it’s all said and done.

2. Tyrann Mathieu / CB / LSU
3. Andrew Luck / QB / Stanford

Mike Kaye

1. Trent Richardson / QB / Alabama

His team is in the National Championship game and he is the best offensive weapon on the team. If you look at the QB and WR play on Alabama, it is obvious that without Richardson, the team is devoid of play-makers and would solely rely on their defense.

2. Robert Griffin III / QB / Baylor
3. Andrew Luck / QB / Stanford

Shane Smith

1. Trent Richardson / RB / Alabama

2. Case Keenum / QB / Houston
3. Robert Griffin III / QB / Baylor

Photo: AP

West Virginia is not a football powerhouse.  But the soon to be newest member of the Big 12 next year, is a name.  They’ve been on the BCS stage before.  Remember their 13-9 loss at home to Pitt?  That cost them a berth in the national title game in 2007.  Pat White and Steve Slaton were prime-time names in college football for years.  West Virginia has been here before.

Plus, they’re 9-3 (respectable enough I suppose in the whacky world of BCS automatic qualifying) and they’re ‘wait for it, wait for it,’ actually ranked! Yeehaw.  So after the Mountaineers quietly held on to beat a disappointing USF team in Tampa last night, assuring them at last a share of the comedically mediocre Big East, it kept hope alive that the Big East wouldn’t be the first team to send not only an unranked team to the BCS, but an unranked 5 loss team.

Yup, Louisville completed their season by also beating USF 34-24, assuring themselves of a Big East title as well.  Louisville is 7-5, has losses to both Marshall and Florida International (though FIU is halfway decent this year) and lost 3 games in a row in October.  They might be a nice comeback story, but they’re the nightmare scenario the Big East and BCS has to to be dreading.

So here’s where we stand: All the cards appear to be in Cincinnati’s hands.  The Bearcats (remember them/wish you could go back in time Brian Kelly?) can also clinch a tie in the Big East with a win over Connecticut this Saturday, which would give us a three way conundrum in the Big Least.  Should Cincy drop the ball and allow the Huskies to prevail with a win, it would hand the Cardinals a BCS berth via the fact that they won the head to head matchup over West Virginia.

A 7-5 team in the BCS?  While a team like Boise State (no chance for the BCS), South Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin perhaps etc. falls to a 2nd and 3rd tier bowl.  People have been clamoring for change.  This could be that moment.  If Cincy wins, thereby creating the afformentioned 3-way tie, the winner of the BCS berth would be awarded to the highest rated BCS team.  Since West Virginia is the only ranked team amongst the group, they’d get the trip to Sun Life Stadium, against either Clemson or Virginia Tech.  While far from a spectacular matchup, it’d be a heck of a lot better than say Clemson versus Louisville (yikes!)

People clamoring for the BCS to whisk their automatic qualifying status away from the Big East may actually get their wish, as the higher ups may be forced to take action should this embarrassment occur.

While far from a star, West Virginia brings credibility to the conference with a 9-3 record.  A 7-5 Louisville team in the Orange Bowl just might bring shame.  And the worst BCS ratings in … history?

The world has gone mad.  First Rebecca Black’s horrific song, ‘Friday’ which spawned a plethora of hate and hilarious spoofs, and eventually got her on national news, has re-emerged just in-time for the holidays.  Black isn’t in Kohl’s new commercial, but the song is clearly molded in her well scolded name.  And trust me, it’s awful.

Then, Mississippi State goes out and hashtags (literally) their end-zone, for Saturday’s Egg Bowl.  Which of course goes glowingly with their awkward gold numbered uniforms (see the unis after the jump), which read (you guessed it) Hail State on the back.  Hail, the higher ups at Mississippi State that they didn’t do the unthinkable and (gasp) hashtag their uniform.  Though you know there’s someone sitting there watching all this, going, ‘we could do that.  We totally could.’

And on a uniform note, why does every college football team striving to be cool, feel the weird need to put gradients in their uniforms? Gradients only look good in print ads and on HD.  They don’t look good on football jerseys (cough, cough Maryland).

So what does this mean?  Is Twitter paying for this?  Is Mississippi State doing this to bolster their name?  Is this some unique P.R. stunt to get the nation talking about a hashtag?  Is this the real life version of a sponsored tweet?  We still don’t know the answers to this, but I will tell you this: it’s brilliant.  It’s Maryland flag uniforms brilliant.  People are talking about it.  Afterall, in today’s world, Twitter now equals people talking.

As for the 50 year old, 20 year season ticket holder who looks at the endzone on Saturday in Starkville and asks, “What the hell is that,?” well… this isn’t for him (or her).  It’s probably aimed at the recruits.  If you can’t buy Cam Newton, maybe you can attract a star with a pound sign.

You knew Twitter was rolling when during the MLB Playoffs, baseball simply posted a #POSTSEASON behind the backstop for every game and the millennial generation never questioned it.  Hashtagging things is becoming as American as apple pie.  Or a stupid Kardashian story. It’s part of the pop culture. To quote NPH in How I Met Your Mother, “Wait for it, Wait for it,” it’ll probably soon be in the dictionary. If ‘Google’ is, #hashtag or #hashtagging has to be on its way.

I’m not sure if that’s scary or fascinating: probably a mix of both.

Nevertheless, going back to Mississippi State, it’s a fascinating idea that could have social media repercussions on how Twitter and Facebook and future social media sites operate and get their name out there.  For a school caught in the doldrums of mediocrity and nailed to the corner of irrelevance and invisible (as it pertains to the SEC and the college football spectrum) it’s a bold move which will be heard.

And yup, tweeted.

“Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won’t taste good.”

- Legendary now ex-Penn State coach Joe Paterno

Ironically enough, the recent Penn State scandal which is both shocking and appalling will undoubtedly taint the success JoePa had throughout his illustrious career.

As a former journalism major at IU (concentration in public relations), a huge sports fan, and a fellow Big 10 member, I’m fully aware of what Coach Paterno has meant to PSU. With 45 ½ seasons as head coach, the most wins of any college football coach (409), 7 undefeated seasons, 24 bowl wins, and 2 national championships, clearly Paterno is good at what he does (or did). There is no denying his passion for the game and his ability to bring in highly touted recruits and take their game to the next level.

So, no, this new light shed on Paterno’s legacy isn’t about anything football related. This is about something much simpler than what it takes to win a football game against a formidable opponent. This is about knowing right from wrong.

Here is a quick recap of the situation in case you haven’t turned on your television, computer, or radio over the past few days. In 2002, Paterno was informed about an alleged sexual assault case by his former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, who had retired in 1999. Coach Paterno reported the incident to Tim Curley who was the athletic director. According to the authorities, he fulfilled his legal obligations.

I agree that by legal standards, Paterno did just enough to fulfill his obligations. Yet morally there was so much more that should have been done. If I was the coach, I would have spoken to the police and recommended some good movers to help Sandusky load up his stuff and get him away from my team as well as the institution.

Sandusky was charged with assaulting eight boys over a 15 year span of time. Yet, after his retirement, and the team learning of his alleged sexual assault case, he had access to the athletes and team facilities. The only thing the school did was issue a ban prohibiting him from bringing children with him.

The general public, including myself, are outraged that more wasn’t done with the information that Paterno and the school athletic department had. If more was done, some of these children wouldn’t have had to suffer through the abuse they endured and justice would have been served to Sandusky much sooner.

As soon as the news broke, there were a number of people publicly rallying against child abuse, calling for the firing of Paterno and questioning Penn State about just how much they knew – and why they continuously did next to nothing with the horrifying information. But there have been just as many, or maybe even more people standing in support of Paterno, including PSU students. Student rallies have been broadcast all over television and twitter, and some passionate fans even have even turned violent. Hundreds of students stood outside of coach Paterno’s house showing their support for him and sticking with him despite the recent events.

If you follow Big 10 sports, I’m sure you’ve heard your fair share of Bob Knight stories from his time at IU: cursing out players and opposing coaches, throwing chairs, and even getting physical with players. A lot of people wanted to see him fired, but his team and IU supporters stuck by his side through it all, and many still do to this day. Bob Knight didn’t hide the fact he had a fiery personality. Even other great coaches have had their own share of controversy with NCAA violations. They suffered the consequences, and some, with the support of the athletic department and student body, still kept their jobs.

As a sports fan who has seen controversy come and go in college athletics, I understand standing behind someone who has done so much for the reputation and records of your school’s athletic team. But by remaining for all intents, silent, Paterno singlehandedly erased all of the good he had done. Students should see him not only as a poor representation of their school, but also someone who very publicly has tarnished PSU’s good name that their beloved football team must bear on their jerseys for the rest of the now sullied season. Paterno deserved to be fired for what he did (or rather, didn’t do). There is no “sports excuse” when it comes to moral obligations.

As a result, when Paterno is brought up in conversation, even beyond just this last week, the first thing that will be said is how he was forced into retirement in the middle of a scandal that has left many confused, angry and hurt. Not the fact that 87 percent of his student-athletes graduated or the memorable wins he led his teams to, as he probably expected.

However, Paterno made his choice a long time ago to remain silent. As a result, the world of sports has every right to speak out. And because of it, Paterno will go down in Big 10 history as someone who could have been a beloved football hero.

Instead he’s been turned into a scorned public enemy.

Photo: Reuters

Since 1950 Joe Paterno has manned the sidelines for Penn State. For 46 years he has been the Nittany Lions head coach. On Wednesday Night a phone call changed everything. When a press conference was held to make it official it sent the sports world into a feeding frenzy, and State College into disbelief and disarray. Was this the right decision and was this the right time? Could Penn State have gone about this a different way? Should JoePa be fired over something that was a matter of ethics and not law? Juiced Sports Radio breaks down all the sadness going on in a once Happy Valley.

Also, if this happened in a bigger city, would the reaction have still been this extreme to JoePa’s firing?

It’s a sick situation and an outcome where no one wins. It’s a story that goes beyond sports and breaks into news. And it’s a long way from being fully resolved.