Back in June, before the beginning of the 2010 College Football Season, we had the honor to interview Rob Harley. Rob is a member of the 2002 National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes and is a guy that worked his way from being a walk-on to earning a scholarship. To revisit that interview click here. It's now six months later and we are coming to a close of the College Football Season, a lot has changed in the landscape of College Football as well as for Rob. Rob was kind enough to join us again and answer some questions about the sport that we love.
We last talked to you prior to the start of the College Football Season. Catch us up on what's been happening with you.
Biggest news for me is that I started my coaching career by becoming the Assistant Linebackers and Assistant Special Teams Coordinator at Div II Ohio Dominican University. I had a blast being on the sidelines, being around the amazing coaching staff, and figuring out that coaching is my passion.
Why did you decide to get into coaching and what do you enjoy about it the most?
Coaching has been something that's always been an attraction, but I knew the commitment it would take and I wasn't ready right after playing to take the plunge. The longer I was away from the game the more I missed it. Coaching gives me the chance to be inside the huddle, something that broadcasting just can't offer a former player. So now I'm one season into my college coaching career and I've realized there's nothing in the world that I'd rather be doing. The thing I enjoy the most is the opportunity to compete every day. We have an awesome chance to measure ourselves daily to see how good of coaches, players, students, and members of our communities that we can be. There's nothing quite like being around a group of individuals that come together with one common goal and one common purpose. One of my former coaches compared coaching to "Hotel California" where you can check in any time you'd like, but you can never leave. Well I've definitely made my reservation and I'm not having any thoughts of checking out any time soon.
The Big Ten ended up with 3 teams tied for first place at 7-1 in the Conference. Who do you think was the best team and what impressed you about them the most?
It's hard to say who is the "best" when they all bring a lot of solid things to the table. Obviously we got to see a couple of the teams go head to head, with Wisconsin beating Ohio State and Michigan State beating Wisconsin. I'm not sure what that says about which team is better overall, but I know it says which team was better on those given days. Wisconsin is impressive because they play their brand of football and they don't make any apologies about it. Their opponents know that the Badgers will establish the run game come hell or high water and if they aren't prepared it's going to be a long day. Wisconsin's ability to impose their will on opposing defenses even though everyone knows what's coming is an intimidating factor. Michigan State is a solid football team on both sides of the ball. I think Sparty is most impressive with their ability to maintain their poise in close games. A handful of times this season the Spartans had to come back to win ball games or make gutsy calls in crunch time to get the win. The ability to stay focused and not get rattled when the walls are caving in is one of the biggest X-factors in sports. The Buckeyes are a very balanced team especially as they've turned up the intensity in getting their run game going over the last few weeks of the season. Although most impressive about OSU is the Silver Bullet defense and it's ability to reload every year. This defense is one of most active in the nation and it's because of their dominance that the Buckeyes have a chance to win every game.
Your alma mater Ohio State had a strong year at 11-1. One of the major goals at a school like Ohio State is to get to the National Championship game. What do you feel the Buckeyes need to improve on to get back to the BCS Title Game in the 2011/2012 season?
Plain and simple they just can't lose! One of the biggest factors during a college football season is the ability to play at the highest level consistently. Consistency is the hallmark of excellence and when you can play every game and every play with the same amount of intensity then you've got a chance to be champions. That's the struggle for every team in the country every week. It's not easy, but the teams that usually hoist up the crystal ball are the teams that do it the best.
What have been some of your favorite moments of the 2010 College Football Season so far?
There's been some great games along the way and I think it got started with that great match up of Boise State vs. Va Tech. Those two teams gave a mid-November feel to an early September game. Auburn walking the tight rope all season long in a tough SEC trying to stay unbeaten. Oregon's offense has been fun to watch as they've been seemingly unstoppable. The Big Ten conference race was interesting all season long as 4 teams battled it out all the way to the last week. College football is the greatest sport on the planet, so it's hard to pick favorite moments when getting to flip on the TV and watch games all day is the highlight every Saturday!
What bowl games are you looking forward to the most (outside of the BCS Title Game)?
Wisconsin vs. TCU should be a great match up. I look forward to seeing TCU's stout defense match up against the Badger rushing attack. I'll also be curious to see if the Frogs' offense gets going and puts points on the board, will Wisconsin still be able to primarily run the football and stay in the game?
Michigan State vs. Alabama will be an amazing battle. Two solid programs where defense is the name of game. It'll be fun to watch these pressure oriented defenses get after each other, and see which offense can play the most mistake free.
Oklahoma-UConn should be a fun game too. I'm interested to see how good UConn really is and if they can stand in the ring with the big boys.
Thank you again to Rob for joining us on our blog to answer some questions. Please follow Rob on Facebook and Twitter and visit his blog Harley In The Huddle.
Showing posts with label Interviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interviews. Show all posts
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Questioning the BCS with BCS Know How
One of the things I like most about having this blog is that I get to look at a lot of things from different perspectives. We have now done Pre-Season Previews for 70 different teams (with more to come), we have conducted interviews with former college football players (Rob Harley and Michael Felder) and we have fans blogging independently about their teams here at the site. I was recently approached about a link exchange with BCS Know How. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to learn more about how the BCS works and get another perspective going into this college football season. BCS Know How is a website that explains the BCS on a week-to-week basis as well as provides much more information and analysis. We had a chance to bounce some questions off of the editor of BCS Know How, Asher Feldman, and here is the result:
Can you give us a quick explanation on how the BCS works?
The BCS utilizes three elements – two human polls (Harris Interactive and Coaches) and the six computer ratings taken as one element.
The BCS calculates a “perfect score” for each element – for the two human polls the maximum total points a team could receive from the poll (if they received all of the polls’ first place votes) and for the computers if the team received four of six first place votes.
The points the team receives in each of the human polls is divided by the perfect score to reach a decimal. For the computers, all six ratings are taken, with the highest and lowest ratings thrown out, leaving four behind. Like in the human elements, a first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote worth 24, and so on until one point is awarded for a 25th place vote. The four point values are added and divided by 100 (the score for four first-place votes).
These three are averaged together and result in a decimal BCS score between .000 and 1.000.
In your opinion, what could be done to make the BCS formula better?
The major problem in my opinion with the BCS formula is the presence of preseason polls. The formula itself seems pretty sound to me, but I believe a fairer and more representative ranking system would emerge if no polls were allowed until the fourth or fifth week of the season. This would allow for less reliance on your earlier polls to fill out your ballot as the season progressed. Other than that, I find the formula to be a pretty strong one.
Are there any conferences or teams that you feel the BCS favors?
Absolutely. Because of the set up of some of the conferences, those that feature conference championship games are often times favored by the set up of the BCS. Any conference that has 12 teams is allowed a conference championship game, and simply by the nature of a championship game, teams in those conferences have an extra chance to play another high-quality opponent.
Teams in the SEC, Big 12 and ACC all prosper from the boost that they get in both the computers and in the minds of the human voters from playing high quality opponents on the last weekend of the season. We saw the proof last season, when the SEC and Big 12 champions were seemingly destined for a meeting in the BCS national championship game before the season even started.
It’s also likely that the rules that allow for conference championship games were behind the recent conference expansion push, with conferences like the Big 10 and Pac-10 looking for that extra boost for their member teams.
At your site you are predicting the conference and you have Virginia Tech taking the ACC over FSU, Ohio State winning the Big 10 and Oklahoma beating Nebraska for the Big 12 title. Are there any other teams in those 3 conference could you see making a run at the BCS Title game this year?
A team I wouldn’t overlook is Wisconsin. Not only do the Badgers return much of the core that nearly tied for second in the conference last season, but the schedule is extremely favorable, as the Badgers will welcome Ohio State, Minnesota and Northwestern to Camp Randall. Their biggest test of the season will likely come on a trip to Iowa. Watch for running back John Clay to be the key to the Badgers offense, and a possible Heisman candidate if the Badgers reach their full potential. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema may finally have a team to break through to the BCS this year.
Boise State has a strong chance this year to make it to the BCS Title game if they can go undefeated. What type of things need to align correctly for a non-BCS school like Boise State to get to the title game?
It’s become clear to voters and analysts alike that there is enough talent in the non-BCS conferences to warrant BCS bids. However, its been a struggle to get those teams near a BCS national title game bid, as neither TCU nor Boise State – with undefeated records last season – were able to crack the top three in the final standings.
This year, however, things might be different.
The key is that Boise State is highly touted coming into the season as opposed to previous seasons where the Broncos had to climb the rankings just to get to a BCS bowl game. The Broncos will get the love they need from the computers, what they need to do is be convincing and dominant for the human voters, and have a couple of things fall their way around them in the rankings.
A season like 2007, where underdogs caused a BCS meltdown and fluidity that had been unseen till that point would be ideal for Boise State. In ‘07, South Florida, Boston College, West Virginia, Missouri and Kansas – all of whom were never considered national title threats – were in position at some point or another to make the championship game. There’s no reason the Broncos or a team like TCU or Houston can’t make it happen this year if the national powers start falling.
On your site you also do a "Heisman Watch". Who are your top 3 guys going into this year that you think can win the award and who are some darkhorse candidates that you think could emerge?
Last season may have been the most open Heisman race in the BCS era. In total, I named 13 different candidates among the top five and was unsure of the winner until the very last week, when Mark Ingram did just enough to clinch the trophy. This season might be more of the same.
The frontrunners at this early stage, at least as far as I see it are Alabama running back and defending Heisman recipient Mark Ingram, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and Pittsburgh running back Dion Lewis. All three are key to BCS conference title contenders’ hopes and can all easily win the trophy.
Along with some familiar names that could become Heisman finalists like Jake Locker and Ryan Mallet, players like Houston quarterback Case Keenum, Boise State QB Kellen Moore and Stanford QB Andrew Luck could make some unexpected noise.
Which do you prefer, the BCS or a playoff?
I’ve always said I think the BCS formula is a solid way to evaluate teams, just the system it feeds into is convoluted and short-sighted. I would prefer a playoff system that ranks according to the BCS formula.
A system that I think would create the most opportunity would be a six-team playoff, much like one half of the NFL playoffs, with the top two teams getting first-round byes, and the other four playing games No 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5 – lowest remaining seed takes on No. 1. Last season that would have given both TCU and Boise State a shot at Florida, Alabama, Texas and Cincinnati.
The system would still make the regular season very important as none of those teams lost more than once, while keeping spots open for teams from non-BCS conferences. No auto bids here, just prove your way into a chance at the title.
Thanks to Asher and BCS Know How for taking some time out of their schedule and talking college football with us. Make sure to visit their website and follow them on twitter @bcsknowhow.
Can you give us a quick explanation on how the BCS works?
The BCS utilizes three elements – two human polls (Harris Interactive and Coaches) and the six computer ratings taken as one element.
The BCS calculates a “perfect score” for each element – for the two human polls the maximum total points a team could receive from the poll (if they received all of the polls’ first place votes) and for the computers if the team received four of six first place votes.
The points the team receives in each of the human polls is divided by the perfect score to reach a decimal. For the computers, all six ratings are taken, with the highest and lowest ratings thrown out, leaving four behind. Like in the human elements, a first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote worth 24, and so on until one point is awarded for a 25th place vote. The four point values are added and divided by 100 (the score for four first-place votes).
These three are averaged together and result in a decimal BCS score between .000 and 1.000.
In your opinion, what could be done to make the BCS formula better?
The major problem in my opinion with the BCS formula is the presence of preseason polls. The formula itself seems pretty sound to me, but I believe a fairer and more representative ranking system would emerge if no polls were allowed until the fourth or fifth week of the season. This would allow for less reliance on your earlier polls to fill out your ballot as the season progressed. Other than that, I find the formula to be a pretty strong one.
Are there any conferences or teams that you feel the BCS favors?
Absolutely. Because of the set up of some of the conferences, those that feature conference championship games are often times favored by the set up of the BCS. Any conference that has 12 teams is allowed a conference championship game, and simply by the nature of a championship game, teams in those conferences have an extra chance to play another high-quality opponent.
Teams in the SEC, Big 12 and ACC all prosper from the boost that they get in both the computers and in the minds of the human voters from playing high quality opponents on the last weekend of the season. We saw the proof last season, when the SEC and Big 12 champions were seemingly destined for a meeting in the BCS national championship game before the season even started.
It’s also likely that the rules that allow for conference championship games were behind the recent conference expansion push, with conferences like the Big 10 and Pac-10 looking for that extra boost for their member teams.
At your site you are predicting the conference and you have Virginia Tech taking the ACC over FSU, Ohio State winning the Big 10 and Oklahoma beating Nebraska for the Big 12 title. Are there any other teams in those 3 conference could you see making a run at the BCS Title game this year?
A team I wouldn’t overlook is Wisconsin. Not only do the Badgers return much of the core that nearly tied for second in the conference last season, but the schedule is extremely favorable, as the Badgers will welcome Ohio State, Minnesota and Northwestern to Camp Randall. Their biggest test of the season will likely come on a trip to Iowa. Watch for running back John Clay to be the key to the Badgers offense, and a possible Heisman candidate if the Badgers reach their full potential. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema may finally have a team to break through to the BCS this year.
Boise State has a strong chance this year to make it to the BCS Title game if they can go undefeated. What type of things need to align correctly for a non-BCS school like Boise State to get to the title game?
It’s become clear to voters and analysts alike that there is enough talent in the non-BCS conferences to warrant BCS bids. However, its been a struggle to get those teams near a BCS national title game bid, as neither TCU nor Boise State – with undefeated records last season – were able to crack the top three in the final standings.
This year, however, things might be different.
The key is that Boise State is highly touted coming into the season as opposed to previous seasons where the Broncos had to climb the rankings just to get to a BCS bowl game. The Broncos will get the love they need from the computers, what they need to do is be convincing and dominant for the human voters, and have a couple of things fall their way around them in the rankings.
A season like 2007, where underdogs caused a BCS meltdown and fluidity that had been unseen till that point would be ideal for Boise State. In ‘07, South Florida, Boston College, West Virginia, Missouri and Kansas – all of whom were never considered national title threats – were in position at some point or another to make the championship game. There’s no reason the Broncos or a team like TCU or Houston can’t make it happen this year if the national powers start falling.
On your site you also do a "Heisman Watch". Who are your top 3 guys going into this year that you think can win the award and who are some darkhorse candidates that you think could emerge?
Last season may have been the most open Heisman race in the BCS era. In total, I named 13 different candidates among the top five and was unsure of the winner until the very last week, when Mark Ingram did just enough to clinch the trophy. This season might be more of the same.
The frontrunners at this early stage, at least as far as I see it are Alabama running back and defending Heisman recipient Mark Ingram, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and Pittsburgh running back Dion Lewis. All three are key to BCS conference title contenders’ hopes and can all easily win the trophy.
Along with some familiar names that could become Heisman finalists like Jake Locker and Ryan Mallet, players like Houston quarterback Case Keenum, Boise State QB Kellen Moore and Stanford QB Andrew Luck could make some unexpected noise.
Which do you prefer, the BCS or a playoff?
I’ve always said I think the BCS formula is a solid way to evaluate teams, just the system it feeds into is convoluted and short-sighted. I would prefer a playoff system that ranks according to the BCS formula.
A system that I think would create the most opportunity would be a six-team playoff, much like one half of the NFL playoffs, with the top two teams getting first-round byes, and the other four playing games No 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5 – lowest remaining seed takes on No. 1. Last season that would have given both TCU and Boise State a shot at Florida, Alabama, Texas and Cincinnati.
The system would still make the regular season very important as none of those teams lost more than once, while keeping spots open for teams from non-BCS conferences. No auto bids here, just prove your way into a chance at the title.
Thanks to Asher and BCS Know How for taking some time out of their schedule and talking college football with us. Make sure to visit their website and follow them on twitter @bcsknowhow.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Michael Felder Interview
Michael Felder says that his all-time sports moment was running out of the tunnel at Kenan Stadium as Woody Durham, the voice of the Heels, introduced him on Meet the Heels day in August 2003. Michael currently writes and hosts a podcast for In The Bleachers. Here's how his bio at In The Bleachers describes him:
What is it like to play for a college team that has a bigger basketball tradition than football. Does it cause any more pressure since you feel as if you are fighting for respect even within your own school?
Tough question honestly and I think there are two answers. On a personal level the basketball and football teams exist without much friction and actually get along quite well. However, outside of the personal dealings there's always that contentious sentiment that exists. Whether it is a guy hearing rival fans bring up "you'll always be a basketball" or hearing the loudest applause at a bowl game being for Roy Williams on the jumbotron it is clear where football ranks to a lot of UNC fans.
There's not more pressure on players rather there's a sense of trust within the locker room. When things go great you get the pat on the backs but all the while knowing that any misstep could result in folks being more excited for an exhibition basketball game than for a regular season football game. The truth hurts and while there are negative comments made at times I will say that from talking to our current players the attitude is a bit different than when we were limping our way through the season during the years I played.
Having played for UNC I have to ask you about your predictions for the Tar Heels and for the ACC this year. Will UNC live up to the pre-season hype they are getting in some circles and who do you see meeting in the ACC Championship game?
I'm not fully locked into my predictions yet but I definitely see the Heels going at least 8-4 with a real shot at getting to that 10-2 range if the pieces fall into place. Pre-season hype is a fickle mistress as Ole Miss and Oklahoma State taught us just a season ago. This team is good enough to live up to the hype and unlike most folks on the periphery I am fully confident in both the wide receivers and offensive line and their ability to keep TJ upright.
Should we be lucky enough to make it through to the ACC Championship Game I think we'll be staring Boston College in the face. Not because BC is far and away better than FSU or Clemson but rather because we play Clemson and FSU during the season and for us to end up in Charlotte we'll have to likely win both.
Who are some of the more unheralded players on this years UNC team that we should keep an eye on?
Kevin Reddick is the first kid that comes to mind. Bruce Carter, Quan Sturdivant and Zach Brown are more physically gifted but Reddick is the best pure linebacker on the squad in terms of diagnosing plays and playing down hill.
Another name guy that I'm expecting big things from is Jonathan Cooper. Most folks won't notice his impact but the big guy is a monster on the offensive line and I think he deserves as much love for the progress he's made as any of the bigger names on defense or at the skill positions.
As a former defensive back, who are some of the guys currently playing in college that you feel best epitomize that position and that you enjoy watching play the game?
Last year was easy, Eric Berry was the quintessential safety in every sense of the word. This year you've got no one who has his top end talent but the class of safeties is so deep you can go any direction. Personally, to avoid the homer label I try not to talk too much Deunta Williams, although he is exceptional. I'll go with Mark Barron at Bama. He's a guy who is an absolute force in the run game and makes smart plays in the back end. He's as complete a safety as there is in the nation and he along with Deunta, DeAndre McDaniel of Clemson and Rahim Moore are all "pick your poison" when it comes to safeties.
On the flip-side who are some of the players catching the football that you might be a little nervous to face?
As for receivers the first name that pops into my mind is AJ Green. Green was the only true weapon for the Dawgs a season ago and he still put up over 808 yards. Julio Jones played with Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, Michael Floyd had Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate as his helpers and Jon Baldwin was aided by Dion Lewis. Green was UGA and he still was the best player just about everytime he stepped on the field.
What games are you most looking forward to this year and why?
That's easy, UNC-LSU at the Georgia Dome is tops on my list. Seeing my boys square off against the Bayou Bengals is the type of shot in the arm our program needs to prove we belong on the stage.
Other games of note for me include Miami-Ohio State, Virginia Tech-Boise State, Florida-UGA and USC-Notre Dame. The ACC games are true markers for our conference and if the league is going to be a major player on the football landscape we need to pick up at least one of these spotlight contests. Florida-UGA is always fun for me and I think the Dawgs have a shot at breaking Meyers stranglehold. USC-Notre Dame both have two new, very different coaches and the first installment in this rivalry game could set the tone for the years to come.
Not including UNC, who is your "way too early" pick to take the National Championship this year?
My way too early pick to win the title is Nebraska. Their schedule is conducive with Texas at home, Texas A&M as the next toughest game before battling Texas or OU in the Big XII championship. Don't hold me to that as I've got predictions to be made on the site in two weeks, things might change.
Any teams flying under the radar that you think could make a run for the title?
As for under the radar teams I'm going to take the Miami Hurricanes. They have the talent to win the title but I'm not sure they've got the mentality or the testicular fortitude to gut out the tough win. For every Wake Forest '09 or Virginia '08 gritty win they've got UNC '08 and '09, Georgia Tech '08 and Clemson '09 type games on their resume. If they can put it together upstairs and get tough the Canes could be hoisting the crystal football.
We would like to thank Michael for spending some time with us and getting us more hyped up for the football season. Make sure you head on over to In The Bleachers and check out their writing and podcasts this college football season.
A former college football player who still loves the game. He brings the same attention to detail, student of the game approach to his writing that he brought to the field as an undersized scrappy safety for the UNC Tar Heels. In other words he practiced a lot of football and played very little. When evaluations came around toughness and knowledge of the game were high, tangible skills were not so much.
One of our goals here at College Football Zealots is to provide you with multiple perspectives on the game of college football. When we had the chance to interview Michael I jumped at it as I love getting the perspective of guys that have actually played the game at the college level. Michael is based in the south so we know he is well versed on the ACC and SEC. Here is a short glimpse into the mind of Michael Felder...
Tough question honestly and I think there are two answers. On a personal level the basketball and football teams exist without much friction and actually get along quite well. However, outside of the personal dealings there's always that contentious sentiment that exists. Whether it is a guy hearing rival fans bring up "you'll always be a basketball" or hearing the loudest applause at a bowl game being for Roy Williams on the jumbotron it is clear where football ranks to a lot of UNC fans.
There's not more pressure on players rather there's a sense of trust within the locker room. When things go great you get the pat on the backs but all the while knowing that any misstep could result in folks being more excited for an exhibition basketball game than for a regular season football game. The truth hurts and while there are negative comments made at times I will say that from talking to our current players the attitude is a bit different than when we were limping our way through the season during the years I played.
Having played for UNC I have to ask you about your predictions for the Tar Heels and for the ACC this year. Will UNC live up to the pre-season hype they are getting in some circles and who do you see meeting in the ACC Championship game?
I'm not fully locked into my predictions yet but I definitely see the Heels going at least 8-4 with a real shot at getting to that 10-2 range if the pieces fall into place. Pre-season hype is a fickle mistress as Ole Miss and Oklahoma State taught us just a season ago. This team is good enough to live up to the hype and unlike most folks on the periphery I am fully confident in both the wide receivers and offensive line and their ability to keep TJ upright.
Should we be lucky enough to make it through to the ACC Championship Game I think we'll be staring Boston College in the face. Not because BC is far and away better than FSU or Clemson but rather because we play Clemson and FSU during the season and for us to end up in Charlotte we'll have to likely win both.
Who are some of the more unheralded players on this years UNC team that we should keep an eye on?
Kevin Reddick is the first kid that comes to mind. Bruce Carter, Quan Sturdivant and Zach Brown are more physically gifted but Reddick is the best pure linebacker on the squad in terms of diagnosing plays and playing down hill.
Another name guy that I'm expecting big things from is Jonathan Cooper. Most folks won't notice his impact but the big guy is a monster on the offensive line and I think he deserves as much love for the progress he's made as any of the bigger names on defense or at the skill positions.
As a former defensive back, who are some of the guys currently playing in college that you feel best epitomize that position and that you enjoy watching play the game?
Last year was easy, Eric Berry was the quintessential safety in every sense of the word. This year you've got no one who has his top end talent but the class of safeties is so deep you can go any direction. Personally, to avoid the homer label I try not to talk too much Deunta Williams, although he is exceptional. I'll go with Mark Barron at Bama. He's a guy who is an absolute force in the run game and makes smart plays in the back end. He's as complete a safety as there is in the nation and he along with Deunta, DeAndre McDaniel of Clemson and Rahim Moore are all "pick your poison" when it comes to safeties.
On the flip-side who are some of the players catching the football that you might be a little nervous to face?
As for receivers the first name that pops into my mind is AJ Green. Green was the only true weapon for the Dawgs a season ago and he still put up over 808 yards. Julio Jones played with Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, Michael Floyd had Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate as his helpers and Jon Baldwin was aided by Dion Lewis. Green was UGA and he still was the best player just about everytime he stepped on the field.
What games are you most looking forward to this year and why?
That's easy, UNC-LSU at the Georgia Dome is tops on my list. Seeing my boys square off against the Bayou Bengals is the type of shot in the arm our program needs to prove we belong on the stage.
Other games of note for me include Miami-Ohio State, Virginia Tech-Boise State, Florida-UGA and USC-Notre Dame. The ACC games are true markers for our conference and if the league is going to be a major player on the football landscape we need to pick up at least one of these spotlight contests. Florida-UGA is always fun for me and I think the Dawgs have a shot at breaking Meyers stranglehold. USC-Notre Dame both have two new, very different coaches and the first installment in this rivalry game could set the tone for the years to come.
Not including UNC, who is your "way too early" pick to take the National Championship this year?
My way too early pick to win the title is Nebraska. Their schedule is conducive with Texas at home, Texas A&M as the next toughest game before battling Texas or OU in the Big XII championship. Don't hold me to that as I've got predictions to be made on the site in two weeks, things might change.
Any teams flying under the radar that you think could make a run for the title?
As for under the radar teams I'm going to take the Miami Hurricanes. They have the talent to win the title but I'm not sure they've got the mentality or the testicular fortitude to gut out the tough win. For every Wake Forest '09 or Virginia '08 gritty win they've got UNC '08 and '09, Georgia Tech '08 and Clemson '09 type games on their resume. If they can put it together upstairs and get tough the Canes could be hoisting the crystal football.
We would like to thank Michael for spending some time with us and getting us more hyped up for the football season. Make sure you head on over to In The Bleachers and check out their writing and podcasts this college football season.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Rob Harley Interview
Rob Harley knew that he wanted to play football for the Ohio State University since he was three years old. He grew up hearing stories about his great-great uncle Chic Harley, who was the first three-time All-American at Ohio State. Rob lived out his dream by walking on and playing football for the Buckeyes. Rob also became a part of college football history during his tenure at Ohio State as he was a part of a team that won the National Championship in 2002. Rob graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and is currently working as a College Football Analyst for ABC WSYX in Columbus, Ohio. We had a chance to do a Q&A with a guy who not only works as an analyst for college football but also played the game for one of the most stories programs. Here is what Rob shared with us...
You started your career at Ohio State as a walk-on and were awarded a scholarship for your final season. How did it feel to receive that honor?
Receiving a scholarship was a great honor, but in all honesty it was the “icing” on the cake. I wanted to go to Ohio State since I was 3 years old with one idea in mind, to PLAY for the Buckeyes. The real honor came two years before the scholarship when I played enough in games to earn 2 varsity letters. Going to Ohio State was never about a scholarship, it was always about actually playing/contributing in front of 100,000 fans every Saturday. When it was all said and done I was a 3-time letter winner and that’s probably the thing that makes me the most proud.
You were a part of the 2002 Ohio State National Championship team. In order to win a National Championship the ball has to bounce your way at times. Ohio State played a lot of close games in the regular season in 2002 (beat Cincinnati 23-19, beat Northwestern 27-16, beat Wisconsin 19-14, beat Penn State 13-7, beat Purdue 10-6, beat Illinois 23-16 in OT, and beat Michigan 14-9). Was there a moment or a game that made you think that this might be a "team of destiny"?
That 2002 team was one of the most resilient teams I’ve ever seen. There was a genuine calmness about everyone on the field and the sidelines, that when things got tough we were going to find a way to pull through. I think that was personified in the win over Purdue with the play that Buckeye fans know as “Holy Buckeye.” The stars just seemed to align that day in West Lafayette, and you couldn’t help but get the feeling that the National Championship was our destiny.
Looking back at the 2002 roster there are a lot of guys that have made it in the league (Michael Jenkins, Ben Hartsock, Will Allen, Chris Gamble, A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, Mike Doss, Will Smith, Santonio Holmes, Troy Smith, etc) that were on that team . Who were the unsung heroes on the team?
There were a lot of great players on that 2002 National Championship team, and a lot of guys who got a ton of recognition. Like most teams there are always those “hard hat” or “lunch pail” guys that just come to work every day to play their hearts out because they don’t know any different. Defensive tackle Tim Anderson was one of those guys, taking on double teams in the trenches so they linebackers could roam free. Wide receiver Chris Vance, affectionately known as Spiderman, had some great 3rd down, possession receptions throughout the season. A lot of people forget about punter Andy Groom who had an All-American caliber season, and was worth weight in gold in the field position battle. I think you also have to put defensive end Darrion Scott in there too, he was a force coming off the edge and really made opposing lineman work on every down. The 2002 Silver Bullet defense was a special group that made offenses earn everything they got, it was an awesome unit to watch.
Ohio State is in a lot of pre-season Top 5's this year. Who are the players to watch on this years team?
All eyes will be under center on QB Terrelle Pryor. Can Terrelle ride the momentum of an impressive Rose Bowl game and become a quarterback? In my mind the definition of a quarterback is “game manager.” The Buckeyes have a bevy of talent around Pryor; WR Sanzenbacher, WR Posey, RB Herron, and RB Saine. With that being said it’s Pryor’s job to distribute the ball and make the key decision when it’ll be his time to shine. On defense DE Cameron Heyward will be a monster, he’s gifted with size, speed, and the nasty attitude it takes to play up front in the Big Ten. I think you circle LB Brian Rolle this season, he’s an instinctive player that can run sideline to sideline. Then you have to give love to the big uglies in the trenches so put a spotlight on the 4 returning O-lineman. This 2010 Buckeye squad will rise and fall with the play of the big boys up front.
What is your take on Big Ten expansion? Are you for it or against it? And if the Big Ten does expand further who would you like to see as a part of the Conference?
As a fan of college football I love the idea of Big Ten expansion. Depending on the teams that join the Big Ten it has the potential to give us some unbelievable match-ups every year. Now with the addition of Nebraska we’ll get to see Huskers-Buckeyes, Huskers-Hawkeyes, Huskers-Badgers, or Huskers-Nittany Lions every season. What an incredible addition to the conference, a storied program that will only make Big Ten tradition even deeper. In my mind I’d love to see Notre Dame join the Big Ten, another program with tons of tradition that would create some great games as well. I think I’d throw Pittsburgh in there too, as a program that would be a solid middle tier addition. The only question I have about expansion is, what happens to college football as a whole? The power conferences get stronger, but where are the little guys in all of this? As a supporter of college football it worries me that expansion may make certain teams/conferences irrelevant. The pursuit of money has blinded a lot of people to the real reason college football is great…the actual football. It’s an amazing sight to see college athletes give from every team, division, conference, etc. give it up for every Saturday. I’d hate to see expansion throw a mask over the greatest game on the planet.
Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin seem to be the popular picks to finish in the Top 3 in the Big Ten this year. Outside of those teams who do you see as a sleeper team in the Big Ten that can step up and contend for a title?
I firmly believe that the Big Ten is on the up-swing and you definitely saw it during the 2009 bowl season. The Buckeyes, Hawkeyes, and Badgers are without a doubt the favorites, but I’ve got a feeling Michigan State and Northwestern will be in the conversation at some point. The Spartans have talent at key positions, but it’s really about playing consistent for them. If the Michigan State defense can minimize big plays and win a few ball games, Sparty might just have a chance. Pat Fitzgerald has Northwestern playing good football in Evanston. Biggest question mark will be under center, can junior Dan Persa replace the 2009 Big Ten leading passer Mike Kafka? Persa is a capable player, but expect the offense to try to be a little more balanced as he cuts his teeth. You’ve got to like Northwestern’s chances to compete if you look at their defense. Yes, they lose DE Corey Wooten, but they may just have one of the best linebacking corps in the conference. If the Cats can establish a running game (last year’s leading RB had 302yds), they might be in the discussion in November.
Who do you feel are some of the under the radar players in the Big Ten that deserve more hype and publicity?
Wisconsin TE Lance Kendricks will be a headache for a lot of defenses, at 6’4” 240lbs he’s a guy that can get vertical in the seam quickly to stretch a defense. Michigan State QB/WR Keith Nichol, he’s got some wheels and may give the Spartans the option to run the Wildcat. Iowa OT Riley Reiff has become the new BMOC in Iowa City, a guy that the Hawkeyes believe could be the best in the last 10 years. Ohio State LB Brian Rolle will be a force to be reckoned with, he has a great nose for the football and has the ability to make people pay.
What games are you most looking forward to watching this year?
LSU vs. UNC - should be a great match-up, that impressive Tar Heel defense will have a chance to measure itself early.
Boise State vs. Va Tech – the Broncos with yet another chance to prove they belong with the big boys, if BSU can go on the road in Landover, MD and get the win…I’ll be a believer.
Miami vs. Ohio State – this is a mirror image game with two similar athletes under center that are looking to produce consistently and become quarterbacks.
Penn State vs. Alabama – this one should be interesting with the Lions headed down South with a new QB, we’ll get a chance to see what PSU is made of quickly.
Nebraska vs. Washington – I’ll be interested to see QB Jake Locker become “the guy” this season, he has all the talent in the World and it’ll be tested by a stingy Husker defense.
As a former defensive back, who are some of the guys currently playing in college that you feel best epitomize that position and that you enjoy watching play the game?
The Big Ten always has solid safeties and this year is no exception. Iowa’s Tyler Sash is the embodiment of a safety. He has the knack for making game changing plays when the Hawkeyes need it the most. Plays the ball well in the air (6 INTs), and can stick his nose in the box to support the run with 85 tackles in 2009. Also check out Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel. He’s a ball hawk over the middle with 8 INTs last season, and at 6’1” 210lbs a force to be reckoned with after having 102 tackles.
On the flipside of that questions, who are some of the Wide Receivers or Tight Ends currently in college that you are glad you don't have to suit up and try and stop?
There’s always those players that make you nervous and make you think twice about going one on one as a defender. Cincinnati WR Armon Binns is one of those players, at 6’4” he can challenge anyone vertically and he’s a touchdown machine with 11 TDs in 2009. Another beast in the Big East is Pitt’s Jonathan Baldwin. There’s no defender that wouldn’t look at 6’5” 225lbs as a problem. Baldwin isn’t just imposing physically, the kid can flat out play averaging 19.5 yards per catch last season. Virginia Tech WR Jarrett Boykin is another guy who makes it a tough task to go one on one as he average almost 21 yards per catch in 2009. Although he may be a system player Houston WR James Cleveland still produced. He had over 1,200 yards receiving and found the endzone 14 times as a Sophomore.
Not including Ohio State, who is your "way too early" pick to take the National Championship this year? Any teams flying under the radar that you think could make a run for it like you guys did in 2002 after going 7-5 the previous year?
It’s awfully early to be picking National Champions when the ball hasn’t even kicked off yet, but I’ve got my eye on a couple of teams. In my mind Texas has a great shot since they broke in their new QB on the biggest stage in last season’s National Championship game. The biggest question mark is the Longhorn run game. Without a solid effort on the ground this season, young Garrett Gilbert will have a rough time putting the entire team on his shoulders. It may be a cliché, but it’s true…defense wins championships. With that mind set North Carolina (8-5 last season) might have an outside chance of sneaking into the National title game with a defense loaded with NFL talent. The Heels also return their top four producers on offense, if they can find an answer under center it should get real interesting in Chapel Hill.
Thank you to Rob for letting us pick his brain for information on college football. Follow Rob on Facebook and Twitter and visit his blog Harley In The Huddle.
You started your career at Ohio State as a walk-on and were awarded a scholarship for your final season. How did it feel to receive that honor?
Receiving a scholarship was a great honor, but in all honesty it was the “icing” on the cake. I wanted to go to Ohio State since I was 3 years old with one idea in mind, to PLAY for the Buckeyes. The real honor came two years before the scholarship when I played enough in games to earn 2 varsity letters. Going to Ohio State was never about a scholarship, it was always about actually playing/contributing in front of 100,000 fans every Saturday. When it was all said and done I was a 3-time letter winner and that’s probably the thing that makes me the most proud.
You were a part of the 2002 Ohio State National Championship team. In order to win a National Championship the ball has to bounce your way at times. Ohio State played a lot of close games in the regular season in 2002 (beat Cincinnati 23-19, beat Northwestern 27-16, beat Wisconsin 19-14, beat Penn State 13-7, beat Purdue 10-6, beat Illinois 23-16 in OT, and beat Michigan 14-9). Was there a moment or a game that made you think that this might be a "team of destiny"?
That 2002 team was one of the most resilient teams I’ve ever seen. There was a genuine calmness about everyone on the field and the sidelines, that when things got tough we were going to find a way to pull through. I think that was personified in the win over Purdue with the play that Buckeye fans know as “Holy Buckeye.” The stars just seemed to align that day in West Lafayette, and you couldn’t help but get the feeling that the National Championship was our destiny.
Looking back at the 2002 roster there are a lot of guys that have made it in the league (Michael Jenkins, Ben Hartsock, Will Allen, Chris Gamble, A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, Mike Doss, Will Smith, Santonio Holmes, Troy Smith, etc) that were on that team . Who were the unsung heroes on the team?
There were a lot of great players on that 2002 National Championship team, and a lot of guys who got a ton of recognition. Like most teams there are always those “hard hat” or “lunch pail” guys that just come to work every day to play their hearts out because they don’t know any different. Defensive tackle Tim Anderson was one of those guys, taking on double teams in the trenches so they linebackers could roam free. Wide receiver Chris Vance, affectionately known as Spiderman, had some great 3rd down, possession receptions throughout the season. A lot of people forget about punter Andy Groom who had an All-American caliber season, and was worth weight in gold in the field position battle. I think you also have to put defensive end Darrion Scott in there too, he was a force coming off the edge and really made opposing lineman work on every down. The 2002 Silver Bullet defense was a special group that made offenses earn everything they got, it was an awesome unit to watch.
Ohio State is in a lot of pre-season Top 5's this year. Who are the players to watch on this years team?
All eyes will be under center on QB Terrelle Pryor. Can Terrelle ride the momentum of an impressive Rose Bowl game and become a quarterback? In my mind the definition of a quarterback is “game manager.” The Buckeyes have a bevy of talent around Pryor; WR Sanzenbacher, WR Posey, RB Herron, and RB Saine. With that being said it’s Pryor’s job to distribute the ball and make the key decision when it’ll be his time to shine. On defense DE Cameron Heyward will be a monster, he’s gifted with size, speed, and the nasty attitude it takes to play up front in the Big Ten. I think you circle LB Brian Rolle this season, he’s an instinctive player that can run sideline to sideline. Then you have to give love to the big uglies in the trenches so put a spotlight on the 4 returning O-lineman. This 2010 Buckeye squad will rise and fall with the play of the big boys up front.
What is your take on Big Ten expansion? Are you for it or against it? And if the Big Ten does expand further who would you like to see as a part of the Conference?
As a fan of college football I love the idea of Big Ten expansion. Depending on the teams that join the Big Ten it has the potential to give us some unbelievable match-ups every year. Now with the addition of Nebraska we’ll get to see Huskers-Buckeyes, Huskers-Hawkeyes, Huskers-Badgers, or Huskers-Nittany Lions every season. What an incredible addition to the conference, a storied program that will only make Big Ten tradition even deeper. In my mind I’d love to see Notre Dame join the Big Ten, another program with tons of tradition that would create some great games as well. I think I’d throw Pittsburgh in there too, as a program that would be a solid middle tier addition. The only question I have about expansion is, what happens to college football as a whole? The power conferences get stronger, but where are the little guys in all of this? As a supporter of college football it worries me that expansion may make certain teams/conferences irrelevant. The pursuit of money has blinded a lot of people to the real reason college football is great…the actual football. It’s an amazing sight to see college athletes give from every team, division, conference, etc. give it up for every Saturday. I’d hate to see expansion throw a mask over the greatest game on the planet.
Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin seem to be the popular picks to finish in the Top 3 in the Big Ten this year. Outside of those teams who do you see as a sleeper team in the Big Ten that can step up and contend for a title?
I firmly believe that the Big Ten is on the up-swing and you definitely saw it during the 2009 bowl season. The Buckeyes, Hawkeyes, and Badgers are without a doubt the favorites, but I’ve got a feeling Michigan State and Northwestern will be in the conversation at some point. The Spartans have talent at key positions, but it’s really about playing consistent for them. If the Michigan State defense can minimize big plays and win a few ball games, Sparty might just have a chance. Pat Fitzgerald has Northwestern playing good football in Evanston. Biggest question mark will be under center, can junior Dan Persa replace the 2009 Big Ten leading passer Mike Kafka? Persa is a capable player, but expect the offense to try to be a little more balanced as he cuts his teeth. You’ve got to like Northwestern’s chances to compete if you look at their defense. Yes, they lose DE Corey Wooten, but they may just have one of the best linebacking corps in the conference. If the Cats can establish a running game (last year’s leading RB had 302yds), they might be in the discussion in November.
Who do you feel are some of the under the radar players in the Big Ten that deserve more hype and publicity?
Wisconsin TE Lance Kendricks will be a headache for a lot of defenses, at 6’4” 240lbs he’s a guy that can get vertical in the seam quickly to stretch a defense. Michigan State QB/WR Keith Nichol, he’s got some wheels and may give the Spartans the option to run the Wildcat. Iowa OT Riley Reiff has become the new BMOC in Iowa City, a guy that the Hawkeyes believe could be the best in the last 10 years. Ohio State LB Brian Rolle will be a force to be reckoned with, he has a great nose for the football and has the ability to make people pay.
What games are you most looking forward to watching this year?
LSU vs. UNC - should be a great match-up, that impressive Tar Heel defense will have a chance to measure itself early.
Boise State vs. Va Tech – the Broncos with yet another chance to prove they belong with the big boys, if BSU can go on the road in Landover, MD and get the win…I’ll be a believer.
Miami vs. Ohio State – this is a mirror image game with two similar athletes under center that are looking to produce consistently and become quarterbacks.
Penn State vs. Alabama – this one should be interesting with the Lions headed down South with a new QB, we’ll get a chance to see what PSU is made of quickly.
Nebraska vs. Washington – I’ll be interested to see QB Jake Locker become “the guy” this season, he has all the talent in the World and it’ll be tested by a stingy Husker defense.
As a former defensive back, who are some of the guys currently playing in college that you feel best epitomize that position and that you enjoy watching play the game?
The Big Ten always has solid safeties and this year is no exception. Iowa’s Tyler Sash is the embodiment of a safety. He has the knack for making game changing plays when the Hawkeyes need it the most. Plays the ball well in the air (6 INTs), and can stick his nose in the box to support the run with 85 tackles in 2009. Also check out Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel. He’s a ball hawk over the middle with 8 INTs last season, and at 6’1” 210lbs a force to be reckoned with after having 102 tackles.
On the flipside of that questions, who are some of the Wide Receivers or Tight Ends currently in college that you are glad you don't have to suit up and try and stop?
There’s always those players that make you nervous and make you think twice about going one on one as a defender. Cincinnati WR Armon Binns is one of those players, at 6’4” he can challenge anyone vertically and he’s a touchdown machine with 11 TDs in 2009. Another beast in the Big East is Pitt’s Jonathan Baldwin. There’s no defender that wouldn’t look at 6’5” 225lbs as a problem. Baldwin isn’t just imposing physically, the kid can flat out play averaging 19.5 yards per catch last season. Virginia Tech WR Jarrett Boykin is another guy who makes it a tough task to go one on one as he average almost 21 yards per catch in 2009. Although he may be a system player Houston WR James Cleveland still produced. He had over 1,200 yards receiving and found the endzone 14 times as a Sophomore.
Not including Ohio State, who is your "way too early" pick to take the National Championship this year? Any teams flying under the radar that you think could make a run for it like you guys did in 2002 after going 7-5 the previous year?
It’s awfully early to be picking National Champions when the ball hasn’t even kicked off yet, but I’ve got my eye on a couple of teams. In my mind Texas has a great shot since they broke in their new QB on the biggest stage in last season’s National Championship game. The biggest question mark is the Longhorn run game. Without a solid effort on the ground this season, young Garrett Gilbert will have a rough time putting the entire team on his shoulders. It may be a cliché, but it’s true…defense wins championships. With that mind set North Carolina (8-5 last season) might have an outside chance of sneaking into the National title game with a defense loaded with NFL talent. The Heels also return their top four producers on offense, if they can find an answer under center it should get real interesting in Chapel Hill.
Thank you to Rob for letting us pick his brain for information on college football. Follow Rob on Facebook and Twitter and visit his blog Harley In The Huddle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
