We won't cover everything, but the stories I felt were most important.
Notre Dame's Big Weekend
-For Notre Dame football fans, this Saturday is a big day.
The second big
gest game this weekend (behind Texas vs. Oklahoma) will feature the #25 Fighting Irish against the #7 USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. Saying this is a big game may even be an understatement, as Charlie Weis and the Irish are still looking for a signature win in the 2009 season. With a win Saturday over USC, Notre Dame won't only improve to 5-1 and springboard deeper into the top-25, they may also leave a good impression on 25 or more recruits that will be visiting for the game. These aren't just any recruits coming to South Bend on Saturday, these are many of the nation's top players, most of whom also hold USC offers. An electrifying atmosphere and exciting win this weekend could do wonders for the future of the program.
However, this statement has been made many times in the past (vs. USC, 2005), and a victory on Saturday is less likely than a possibility. As of today, Vegas has the odds set for a USC victory (-10).
Here is the list of the players visiting on Saturday from the 2010 class. As you will see, Charlie Weis and staff have put all their eggs into one basket. For their sake, hopefully they don't crack.
Chris Martin DE
Corey Cooper DB
Jordon James RB
Cody Riggs DB
Joshua Shaw DB
James Stone OL
Lo Wood DB
Chris Badger DB
Spencer Boyd DB
IU Hosts Top Prospect
Just a hunch, but I have a feeling Tom Crean loves recruiting just as much as coaching.
Crean and the IU coaching staff hosted a familiar face a few weekends ago on an unofficial visit to campus. According to Mike Pegram of Peegs.com, Washington High School junior Cody Zeller, who holds an IU offer, was in Bloomington on the weekend of October 3, and most recently, this past weekend. On October 3, Zeller took a tour of campus, participated in a pickup game with the current Hoosier team, and watched the Indiana football team take on Ohio State. This past weekend, he participated in another pick up game, this time with Indiana commits Austin Etherington and Matt Carlino.
As Zeller's recruiting stock grows nationally, he continues to bring in big-time offers from top name programs, such as Purdue, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio State and North Dame. Along with IU, the 6-10 prospect has made visits to Notre Dame, Purdue, and Ohio State.
While it's way too early in the recruiting process to pick a clear-cut favorite, it appears North Carolina is the leader, followed by Purdue and Indiana.
Although, it's likely a college decision from Zeller won't come until 2010, Crean will continue to sell Zeller on the importance of staying in-state and rebuilding a once prominent program.
(Cody Zeller (far left) taking in football game with Tom Crean, staff and fellow recruits. Click photo to enlarge.)
**Photo and Video below courtesy of Mike Pegram of Peegs.com
Billion Dollar Man
A year ago, LeBron James said he wanted to become the first athlete to ever earn billion dollars. Unfortunately for the 'King,' he is a decade short and millions of dollars behind the first true billion athlete, Mr. Tiger Woods.
According to Forbes magazine, Woods topped the billion mark after winning the PGA Tour's season-long FexEx Cup, and its $10 million dollars winner's check two weekends ago. Add this prize money to his 2009 season winnings ($10.5 million dollars) to $980 million dollars in career earnings from endorsements and tour winnings, and you come to a billion dollars. Yes, with a 'B.'
While Tiger donates a lot of his fortune to charities, he can at least feel comfortable knowing his daughter's great-great grand kids are set for life.
John's Top-5 NFL Power Rankings
1. Colts: With a perfect 5-0 record, the baby horses are playing the best football of any team right now. Peyton Manning has to be the current MVP favorite.
2. Giants: Like the Colts, the Giants are on a roll, thanks to a top-3 defense and a MVP-caliber season so far from Eli Manning.
3. Saints: The best show on Turf-II? The offense receives all the credit, but it's the defense that's keeping the Saints in games.
4. Minnesota: Love him or hate him, Brett Favre has taken this team to the next level.
5. Falcons: Balance, Balance, Balance. On offense, the Falcons can beat you so many ways, while the defense doesn't give up the big play.
SAC Power Rankings
Since I have been unable to attend many high school games this year, I asked Bishop Luers defensive coach Brent Egts to provide me with his power rankings.
1. Dwenger
2. South Side
3. Snider
4. Wayne
5. Luers
6. Harding
7. Concordia
8. North Side
9. Elmhurst
10. Northrop
Ramblings:
-Attention Indiana basketball fans, Hoosier Hysteria aka "Midnight Madness" is this Friday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. Assembly Hall should be rocking.
-Who Dey. How about the Cincinnati Bengals? Like millions, or even billions of others, I wrote this 4-1 team off before the season began. At the time, I believed they had a solid group of young, talented players, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Many of those young players, though, were inexperienced and the franchise wasn't coming off the best of seasons. I did, however, think Cedric Benson still had gas left in the tank, but not enough to lead the NFL in rushing after five weeks. The Bengals currently sit alone atop the NFC North, with three wins over division opponents. Time will tell if they are the real deal.
-The Oakland Raiders are horrible. There is no other way to say it.... They can't run. They can't pass. They can't stop the run. And, you guess it, they can't stop the pass. ESPN thinks St. Louis is the worst team heading into Week 6.
-According to ESPN, Brady Quinn has put his house up for sale in Cleveland. This could mean two things.... The Browns are going to trade him, or he is fed up with his neighbor. I'll take the former.
- Funny Clip: Indiana vs Virginia video. I received this from a good friend, who seems to have a good sense of humor.
-Last clip of the day... This has to be a horrible way to lose a football game. Remember kids, play until the whistle.
That last video is ridiculous, and I thought you would like that stupid video from Virginia. 2 wins away from being bowl eligible!
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