Poll: Blue-Gray Classic

[wayne1218]

Pick the Best Bet

[Homer]

Man,

I can't even pick one of those on this poll. I have no idea who is even playing in that game

[Leaping Larry]

This game looks like a good one to tease both ways. In the past if a team gets up by more than 9 pts(I think) the team that is losing ALWAYS gets the ball back.

[wayne1218]

Homer and others.......

GAME NOTES: Following a one-year hiatus, the annual Blue-Gray game is back on the college football docket as senior all-stars from around the nation will converge on Troy, Alabama on Christmas Day for this year's event. Movie Gallery Stadium is the site for the 65th-annual Blue-Gray game, with the Blue team being led by Northern Illinois' Joe Novak and Marshall's Bob Pruett, while the Gray team will be headed up by Baylor's Guy Morris and North Carolina's John Bunting. The event was not held last season, for the first time since its inception in 1938. Since 1979, the game has been held on Christmas Day. The Gray team holds a slim 33-28-2 advantage in the all-time series, including wins in four of the last five matchups overall. The Gray team had posted four consecutive wins from 1997 to 2000, but the Blue team won the last meeting, a 28-10 decision in 2001. Former MVPs of this event include Howie Long (1980), Joe Morris (1981) and Jerry Rice (1984), as well as current NFL quarterbacks Trent Green (1992), Kelly Holcomb (1994) and Mike McMahon (2000).

This game gives unknown players a chance to make a final impression on NFL scouts nationwide and the Blue team's offensive roster lends credence to that notion. The offense for the Blue team will be under the guidance of quarterbacks Scott Rislov of San Jose State and Brett Mitchell from little- known Evangel. Rislov had a decent season in 2003, as he completed nearly 60 percent of his passes, for just over 3,000 yards (3,016). He averaged 274.2 yards passing per game this year, while throwing 18 TDs, with only five interceptions. Mitchell (6-4, 235) is a big, strong gunslinger from Evangel and holds 21 football records at the small school, including passing yards (8,001), career completions (506) and career TD passes (67). This year, he completed 56 percent of his passes, for 2,741 yards and 21 TDs. Targets for either QB downfield will be plentiful. Penn State's Tony Johnson may be the cream of the crop. The Nittany Lion led the team in receptions (32), for 445 yards and a team-high four TDs. Andrae Thurman was an active part of Southern Oregon's offense, as he led the team in receptions (55), receiving yards (845) and TDs (four). The team does have one of the best tight ends in the country in Louisville's Rhonnie Ghent. The talented TE caught 32 balls this season, for 376 yards and four TDs. The ground attack will feature UNLV's Larry Croom, Southern Illinois' Tom Koutsos and Southern Oregon's Dusty McGrorty. Croom led the Rebels in rushing this year, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and amassing 932 yards and three TDs. Koutsos also just finished under 1,000 yards on the season (968), although he was a touchdown-maker, with a team-high 14 scores for SIU. McGrorty was tremendous for Southern Oregon this season and could really open up some eyes in this game. He had an All-American type season, rushing for 1,702 yards (6.6 ypc) and 22 TDs.

While the offense is peppered with names that lack household appeal, the defense makes up for it with names people will know. The defensive front will be highlighted by players such as Raheem Orr (Rutgers), Christian Ferrara (Syracuse), Derek Kennard Jr. (Nevada), Sean Mulcahy (Connecticut) and Gabe Nyenhuis (Colorado). A First-Team All-Big East selection this year, Orr amassed 82 tackles for Rutgers this year, while leading the team in TFLs (19.5) and sacks (8.5). Ferrara also made a name for himself in the Big East, posting 62 tackles and 16.5 TFLs with the Orangemen. The linebacking unit is active, with another Syracuse player leading the charge. Tackling machine Rich Scanlon was all over the field this season, posting a team-high 147 total tackles (94 solo stops), with nine TFLs, 1.5 sacks and one interception. Other LBs of note on the Blue roster include Deryck Toles (Penn State) and Daryl Towns (Nevada). The Blue secondary will be tested early and often by the Gray team's talented QBs, so DBs Ja'Maine Billups (Iowa State), Randee Drew (Northern Illinois) and Justin Sandy (Northern Iowa) will have a chance to make names for themselves.

Speaking of the talent at the quarterback position, the Gray team should have a distinct advantage with their vertical game in this contest. The quarterback tandem of Louisiana Tech's Luke McCown and Kentucky's Jared Lorenzen, has certainly amassed a great deal of yardage over the last few years. McCown finished off a brilliant career with a solid senior season for the Bulldogs.

He completed just under 57 percent of his passes in 2003, for 3,246 yards and 19 TDs. At 6-4, 265 pounds, Lorenzen doesn't look the part of a quarterback.

Looks are deceiving however, as he has had a solid career in Lexington. This year, Lorenzen completed 56.8 percent of his passes, for 2,221 yards and 16 TDs, with just eight INTs. He also added five rushing scores. The receiving corps is a bit unknown with a pair of Alabama players in Zach Fletcher and Dre Fulghum, South Florida's Huey Whittaker and Mississippi State's Justin Jenkins. When running the football, the Gray team will rely on the legs of DeJuan Green (South Florida), Keylon Kincade (SMU), Vick King (McNeese State) and Vonte Leach (East Carolina). Kincade rushed for 1,280 yards in the WAC this season.

While the Gray offense has some star power on it, the defense will be made up mostly unknowns. That however, won't stop the unit from putting forth a solid effort. Up front, the team will rely on Jon Bradley (Arkansas State), Brandon Calton (East Tennessee State), Dumane Duckett (East Carolina), Anthony Maddox (Delta State), Nautyn McKay-Loescher (Alabama) and Michael Spicer (Western Carolina) to get upfield. McKay-Loescher made few plays for Alabama up front, but still managed to show something in the pass rush department, as five of his 17 total tackles were sacks. Spicer (6-3, 260) was a two-time First-Team All-Southern Conference selection, coming off a year in which he recorded 16 TFLs and 7.5 sacks. Maddox (6-2, 305) was a very active downlineman at Delta State, leading his team in tackles (84), with 16 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. The linebacker corps will be head up by Mississippi State's Jason Clark, South Florida's Maurice Jones, Alabama's Derrick Pope and North Texas' Cody Spencer. Jones led the Bulls in tackles this season with 116. He also recorded 13 TFLs, 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Another tackling machine, Spencer ranked second on North Texas with 110 stops, including six TFLs, two sacks and three INTs. North Carolina's Michael Waddell joins fellow DBs Deandre Eiland (South Carolina), Rayshun Reed (Troy State), Chris Thompson (Nicholls State), Quintin Williams (Wake Forest) and Marcus Winn (Alabama State) to form the Gray team's secondary. Williams was a very active DB in the ACC this year. He finished second among Demon Deacons in tackles with 88, with one INT and three fumble recoveries. Eiland had 43 tackles and two interceptions in the SEC this year. Reed finished fourth on the Trojans with 65 tackles, while recording one pick.

The Gray team may have the better known commodities under center, but the Blue defense seems poised to make a game of it. In addition, there are some small- school prospects that will probably open eyes with their play for both teams.

However, in picking a winner, go with the team with the proven leadership under center.

Predicted Outcome: Gray 27, Blue 20

[meaiken]

Grey only because wayne says so.

polls are 1-4