Mannings to the Pro Bowl

The last two seasons Archie and Olivia Manning have been blest to watch their two youngest sons play in the Super Bowl. Eli and Peyton did not disappoint, they both won and were voted Super Bowl MVP, respectively.

This season they are both out of the playoffs but Eli and Peyton have made history yet again. For the first time in the history of the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, two brothers will be playing quarterback in the game. For Peyton, the all-star game in Hawaii is an annual event, it's a ho-hum ninth time he'll play for the AFC. Eli is a different story, this is the first time Eli has been selected to participate for the NFC.

Eli and Peyton both earned their selections this season. Eli finally took over the Giants this season as the leader of the team. With Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, and Michael Straham all gone, Eli is now in charge. Last season Eli became an elite quarterback and it carried over into this season. The Giants were poised to make another Super Bowl run but the offense just couldn't produce they way it needed to in the playoffs without Plaxico Burress. Peyton also had a very unique season. He was slow getting back from knee surgery and it caused the team problems in the beginning. The Colts started the season 3-4 and looked dead in the water. Then, Peyton turned into the 2008 MVP and led the Colts to nine straight victories. The Colts lost to the Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Round 23-17.

Not only are Eli and Peyton great football players, they are great people as well. They have been very instrumental in helping Louisiana and Mississippi recover from hurricane Katrina and Gustav. They also donate money and work with underprivileged children in hospitals and youth centers all over the country.

CARDS MAKE PITT FOLD

Pittsburgh looked like the #1 team in the country until late Saturday in their showdown with Louisville. After leading the whole game, Pittsburgh blew their lead due to Louisville's pressure on defense.

Terrence Williams and Earl Clark led the way Saturday as #20 Louisville defeated #1 Pittsburgh 69-63. Williams scored 20 points and started Louisville's surge with a pull-up jumper. Clark scored 16 points and followed with a shot from the corner. Then, Preston Knowles hit a 3-pointer before Clark dunked on the break to pull the Cardinals within 55-54 with 6:25 left.

Louisville finally pulled even at 58-all on a jam by Samardo Samuels and Louisville took the lead for good on a layup by Williams with 2:53 left.

The Panthers, who'd answered every previous Louisville surge, wilted late as the Cardinals' pressure simply wore them down.

Louisville's pressure caused turnovers and the Panthers couldn't handle the ball well enough to hold on.Even when the Panthers held on to the ball, they couldn't knock down the shots. They shot just 30.6 percent in the second half, including 3-of-15 from 3-point range. Blair's absence due to foul trouble allowed the Cardinals to hold a 42-38 edge on the boards.

The victory capped a thrilling week for Louisville, who beat #12Notre Dame 87-73 in overtime on Monday.

Clark made sure the extra work wasn't necessary this time, shrugging off a sluggish first half in which he made just 2-of-10 field goals by doing a little bit everything in the second half as the Cardinals hung around long enough for their offense to get going late.

The rivalry has become one of the Big East's most heated since the Cardinals joined the conference three years ago, with only one of the previous six meetings being decided by more than six points.

Saturday night was no different, with the Cardinals making the big plays when it mattered to serve notice it may be the team to beat in the nation's toughest conference.

FSU beats Wolfpack 78-65

Former Shannon standout, Courtney Fells, played well in a 78-65 home loss to Florida State. Fells contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, and 1 assist Tuesday against the Seminoles.

Florida State held the Wolfpack to one field goal over the final 6 minutes while outscoring them 19-2 during that span.

N.C. State led 63-59 on Julius Mays' jumper with 6:13 remaining, but went cold after that. Meanwhile, the Seminoles scored on four straight trips down court, with the second of Alabi's jumpers in the lane putting Florida State ahead to stay with just under 4 minutes to play.
Mays scored 13 points to lead N.C. State (9-5, 0-2). The Wolfpack lost their third straight and dropped into a three-way tie for last place in the ACC with Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

Fells and the Wolfpack host Georgia Tech Saturday at the RBC Center in a huge ACC match up.

Fells is averaging 11 points and 4 rebounds so far this season.

He is currently 6'6, 210 pounds.

Senior from Shannon, MS

REBEL RECAP

Ole Miss completed one of the greatest turnarounds in Rebel history improving to 9-4 under the leadership of new head coach Houston Nutt. Nutt did it with great defense, good ground game, and big plays in the passing game.

The Rebels ran effectively behind Michael Oher and finished third in the SEC in rushing. The defense bent on occasion, but only gave up 17.8 points per game. Two huge improvements from last year's 3-9 campaign.

The 73rd Cotton Bowl will be a great memory for Rebel fans. The overwhelming favorite, Texas Tech, by "America's vote" was dead wrong. The coaches and fans believed and the players proved, on the field, that the SEC is still the premier conference. Ole Miss dominated the Red Raiders in a 47-34 victory. Dexter McCluster and Brandon Bolden led the rushing attack and Jevan Snead found Wallace, Harris, and Hodge in the air. The Ole Miss defensive line harassed Harrell all day and forced big turnovers by the secondary. McCluster was named offensive Cotton Bowl MVP after a 180 yard performance with a touchdown. McCluster rushed for 97 yards and added 83 yards receiving.The defensive MVP award went go Marshay Green, who returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown and took a punt down inside the Red Raider 10-yard line. The punt return was originally ruled a touchdown but instant replay showed Green stepping out.

Ole Miss started the season needing significant improvement at quarterback, they received just that. Jevan Snead, for the most part, was brilliant all season and won big games on the road at Florida, LSU, and Arkansas. The Texas native has definitely found a home in the Magnolia state. Snead will only get better and will be one of the best quarterbacks in the country next season.

Dexter McCluster has now become the running back/wide receiver rebel fans thought he would be. He made big plays all year long. He started off the season with some turnovers, but not because he lacked effort. McCluster has given everything he has since enrolling at Ole Miss. Now that he is healthy, he has become one of the best players in the country.

The Rebels will lose some great players like Mike Wallace, Peria Jerry, Jason Cook, and Michael Oher but the nucleus is in place for 2009. Houston Nutt does a great job developing and coaching players. Replacing all the seniors will be a challenge but Nutt and his staff are up to it. Ole Miss fans want to get to the point when the Rebels "reload" instead of "rebuild".

The season was wonderful but only the beginning for what is to come at Ole Miss. The future is very bright and the seniors have laid the foundation for greatness. The coaches, players, and fans are all in place to take Ole Miss football to the next level and 2009 could really be special.

TEBOW'S HERO

Many Gator fans may think that Tim Tebow is a “miracle” quarterback, but his parents say he was actually a miracle baby.

Bob and Pam Tebow were Christian missionaries in the Philippines in 1987 when Pam, Tim’s mother contracted amoebic dysentery, the leading cause of death in the country. She was pregnant with Tim—her fifth child—at the time, very dehydrated and very sick when she went to her doctor who advised her to abort the baby because of the powerful medicines she would have to take to survive. But they decided against abortion and instead prayed. Both mom and baby survived.

Tebow, now a strapping 6-3, 240 lb. 2007 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida, keeps his humble beginnings in mind to stay grounded. Tebow says his three most important things in life are God, family, and football. His family does a great job reminding him to stay humble.

Tebow, who began his walk with Christ as a six-year-old, according to BPSports, says, "I want to take this platform that I have—being a quarterback and being at the University of Florida—and use that to help people…and to be that role model, that example for kids. That's the reason I think I've been blessed to have the success that I've had."

Tebow, who will lead Florida against the Oklahoma Sooners in the January 8 BCS National Championship Game in Miami, uses his influence as a Gator football player in every game. In the blacks under his eyes, he has the words "Phil. 4:13" written in white lettering, referencing the verse in Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

During his 2008 spring break, instead of hanging out at the beach, he spent his week as a missionary in the Philippines with his dad's ministry, The Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. He has traveled to the Philippines several summers to minister to orphans and the poor.He really enjoys playing with the children there and expressing his relationship with Jesus Christ.
He also has spoken at several prisons across the state of Florida, talking to them about his Christian faith and offering the opportunity for the prisoners and guards to ask him questions about Christ.

Tebow tells the crowds, that he speaks to, that he has found true satisfaction, true happiness, and it is not by having your name in a newspaper, it is not by winning trophies, it is not by winning championships, it is by having a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Tebow is an awesome ambassador for college football. He is a great player on and off the field. I love watching him play for many reason but mainly because of his wonderful faith. He has fortunately used his stage for good.As we move into this new year, we should use Tebow as an inspiration to be better people in 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Coach O Headed for Rocky Top

Ed Orgeron is a great motivator and defensive line coach. The fiery Cajun also eats, sleeps, and breaths, recruiting great college football players. He has a reputation of being one of the best in the business. His hard work and relentless scouting and recruiting has paid off. He is now joining Lane Kiffin's staff at Tennessee and will make $650,000 a year. Kiffin and Orgeron are very familiar with each other, they both served as assistants under Pete Carroll at USC. Orgeron was not ready to be a head man (Ole Miss) but will definitely be an asset as an assistant.

This is an article with Bruce Feldman on December 31, 2008.

Ed Orgeron is headed to Tennessee.The former Ole Miss head coach, who spent the 2008 season as the Saints defensive line coach, confirmed via text message this afternoon that he has accepted an offer to be the Volunteers recruiting coordinator, defensive line coach and will have the title of associate head coach."I'm so excited," Orgeron said via phone. "I get to coach with Monte [Kiffin] and I'm getting to recruit again. It's pedal to the metal and I can't wait to get up there."Orgeron came to his decision after spending the past few days in Destin, Fla., with his family and weighing his options which included an offer in a similar role at LSU or staying in New Orleans.

The 47-year-old Louisiana native had been intrigued by the chance to coach at LSU, a school he grew up rooting for. However he was ultimately swayed by the chance to work with new UT coach Lane Kiffin and his father, legendary defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin who also has relocated to Knoxville. Orgeron is expected to make $650,000 making him one of the nation's highest paid assistants.

The move back to the college ranks had been rumored for weeks as it was well known how passionate Orgeron is about the chase of the recruiting trail and the chance to help develop young players.

Widely hailed as one of the top recruiters and defensive line coaches in football, Orgeron also had worked with Lane Kiffin when the pair were part of two national championship teams at USC.

Orgeron, who had learned to evaluate talent in his days at Miami under then-Hurricanes coach Jimmy Johnson and from Pete Carroll, who was the Trojans recruiting coordinator as the program returned to the top of the college football world. As a line coach he has developed first-round picks Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland, Warren Sapp, and Mike Patterson.

He also was responsible for most of the talent that has developed into a top 25 team at Ole Miss this season.

Bruce Feldman is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine.

The CA$H Man

This day and time in MLB, General Managers are having a tough time putting together a good product to put on the field. Some reasons for this are bigger than others but it is definitely something owners are trying to address. The owners are now getting more involved than ever with the teams and the front office. The main reason is money, they do not have the funds to keep good players around and they try to find ways to keep the players they need. Many teams can relate to this problem but not Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees.

Brian Cashman is living a General Manager's dream. He worked for George Steinbrenner for many years and now he will work for George's sons, Hal and Hank. Working for the Steinbrenners is great because they want to win and they want the General Manager to spend whatever it takes to do so. Most GMs have a budget, in which, they closely abide by. Not Cashman, he and the Yankees spent $420 million on three players in this postseason. Mark Teixeria, CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett are great players but them together are making more than every player on the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Yankees are the greatest baseball organization because they refuse to lose. They don't want to lose ballgames, players, fans, or money. The Yankees spend money to make money and that is what it takes to be successful. As the Yankees move into their new stadium this season, they want to do so with a winning product. Not making the playoffs, is unacceptable to every fan of the Yankees and the Steinbrenner boys, Cashman, and the players know that.
Brian Cashman is in unfamiliar territory with the Yankees not making the playoffs last season. He has always put together a team that has a chance to win the World Series every year and last season is considered a failure to Yankee nation. Cashman will likely have the Yankees back in the playoffs with the additions he has made in the offseason. If not, Cashman may be looking for a new place to spend and make money.