CFP Final Four, NAU ‘voice’ rolls up the miles, Lebron is right, more…

Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff, said on TV this past Tuesday night on the topic of most deserving vs best four teams for the College Football Player –  “It is best. Most deserving is not anything in the committee’s lexicon. They are to rank the best teams in order, and that’s what they do. Just keep that word in mind: best teams.”  Ok, what I saw out of Alabama and Georgia was certainly more impressive than what Texas showed at times, but Texas beat Alabama on Sept. 9th. Washington escaped against Arizona State on a 4th down pick six, taken back 90 yards with 8 minutes to go in the game. Best team? Michigan rolled through, even though they were thought to be cheating by sign stealing(remember the late Mike Leach vs Arizona State and sign stealing? ). Anyway, give me four teams that aren’t without flaws. My eyeballs showed me Florida State was much better with Jordan Travis at QB, but now he’s hurt. Does that mean they get left out?  Give me a better defense than FSU? Waiting… Michigan, Florida State, Washington, and Georgia should make it. Texas lost to Oklahoma and beat many teams down the stretch that weren’t very good. I could make the case that the four cream puffs that Georgia scheduled to start the season should be held against them. Same with Alabama playing Chattanooga two weeks ago…

I put my Heisman ballot in on Saturday afternoon. I was very conflicted with my choice for many reasons; I’ll explain my vote after the award is presented next Saturday…d

HoopTalk – Defending National Champ runner-up San Diego State in the Valley Tuesday night vs GCU. Count me in….

Thumbs up to Northern Arizona play-by-play man Mitch Strohman for broadcast number 1,000 this week as the voice of the Lumberjacks. I might add to the congrats by suggesting to Athletic Director Mike Marlow to get Mitch a little extra in his check for the travel he put in over a three week stretch in November.  

November 3rd-travel from Flagstaff to Bozeman, Montana, for the broadcast of a Lumberjack football game(918 miles)

November 4th-broadcast, the game, fly home from the game

November 5th – travel to Stoors, Connecticut (2,465 miles)

November 6th broadcast NAU men’s basketball vs defending National Champion UConn Huskies 

November 7th fly back to Flagstaff (2,465 miles) 

November 11th broadcast NAU football home vs Northern Colorado 

November 12 broadcast NAU basketball at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix (144 miles) 

November 14th fly to Seattle (1345 miles) 

November 15th broadcast NAU basketball at Seattle U 

November 16th travel from Seattle to Spokane to catch up with NAU football (266 miles) 

November 18th broadcast last football game of the season for Lumberjacks at Eastern Washington(Cheney, Wash)

November 18th-Fly home after the game 

November 19th  drive with his wife to Phoenix to catch his flight to Hawaii with NAU basketball team(144 miles) 

November 21st – broadcast NAU basketball game vs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Stan Sherrif Center, Honolulu (2905 miles) 

November 22nd – fly home. 

By my count, 15,820 miles, which of course, doesn’t include car rides, broadcast gear, etc. In short, WOW! Hey Mike, a gift card for a massage or something should find its way into Mitch’s stocking…

Anyone who has a problem with Lebron James missing regular season games to watch his son Bronny play his college games at USC, just doesn’t get it(or they’re a hater of Lebron). His son almost died of cardiac arrest on the court at a USC practice earlier this year. I love that James tells his employers to pound sand for a few nights. When you’re the greatest player in the world, you can do that. Will it lead to other players doing the same? I hope so…

Path to the 2024 Draft for the Cardinals. WR Marvin Harrison Jr. with the 2nd overall pick, and edge rusher Jared Verse with pick number 17. Kyler has looked worse each week since coming back…

Be interesting to see if well-regarded Aaron Pflugradd makes his way onto Kenny Dillinghams staff as an analyst. Pflu was let go last week by NAU. What if former Sun Devil OC Beau Baldwin ended up as the coach of the Lumberjacks?…

Watch former Notre Dame Prep star lineman Cade Bennett’s process before deciding on his next college stop. After starting out at Oklahoma State, he went to San Diego State, where he got on the field and established himself as one of the top linemen in the country. Now, with two years of eligibility left and already graduating, he’s back in the portal, and this time, Arizona State isn’t asleep at the wheel. I think they’ve got a good shot at him, which would be a big pickup to a line that needs some work(so does almost every position). Kenny Dillingham was on him right away. Bennett will visit TCU this week…

In my circles, the Coyotes are now becoming a topic of conversation and a ticket worth paying for. The Valley would love to support them, but the arena issue still keeps some leery…

Liberty, Saguaro, Higley, CDO, Sabino, Scottsdale Christian, Hayden- Nice job boys, in winning your football state titles! 

Chavez couldn’t have made a better hire than Chanlder Hovik. The tragic death of a player last summer completely devastated the Champions program. When Hovik started at Central, they didn’t win a game. By the team he left, they were more than just a respectable program…