Joe Girardi Deserves Props, Even If The Yanks Don't Make the Playoffs

Joe Girardi's done one hell of a job with this Yankees team, even if they don't get to October. (Credits: Mangin/MLB via Getty Images)

Say what you want about the true effect baseball managers can have on their squads. If you want to stick with the old moniker, "You're only as good as your starting pitcher," then stick to your guns. However, there's this cerebral aspect of the game that goes deeper than just pitcher vs. batter. Managers construct the atmosphere in the clubhouse, they pick and choose their in-game spots and they either break or instill confidence in all of their role players and a majority of their starters. Managers matter.

I'll be the first to admit that last night's sweep-clinching loss for the Yankees is most likely the death knell. Although they sit a mere three games out of both wild card spots, they have the tough task of jumping three teams with 12 games remaining. A favorable schedule with the likes of San Francisco, Houston and Toronto remaining leaves the Yanks with a small ray of hope. But there's been something about this team all season that's a bit "too little, too late." Want to find a scapegoat? Look at the financials. Look at the miserable contracts. Look at the fledgling "ace" CC Sabathia. Don't look Joe Girardi's way, though.

Not only has Girardi had to slog through a brutally tough AL East, but he's had to do it undermanned and do it with distractions galore. Mark Teixeira's played 15 games. Kevin Youkilis has played 28 games. Derek Jeter a mere 17. He has his boys sitting 3 games out of the wild card with the likes of Eduardo Nunez, deteriorating Lyle Overbay, Brendan Ryan and Mark Reynolds going in and out of the lineup. A portion of the lineups Girardi's trudge out there are making the '27 Yankees squirm in their graves. He's watched CC Sabathia implode game after game. The Phil Hughes experiment is now officially a disaster. Andy Pettitte is well...a 41-year-old pitcher. David Phelps doesn't belong on a major league mound and yet he still has 12 starts. If it wasn't for Hiroki Kuroda the Yankees rotation would contend for the league's worst (they still might). And yet even with all of these disasters, injuries and lackluster performances, the Yanks are still very much in it.

None of that compares to the job Girardi has done handling the absolute circus that Alex Rodriguez is. He's done a magnificent job of keeping his clubhouse headed in the right direction, even though it's unlikely they'll reach their destination. The war between A-Rod and the Yankees front office would be a completely valid excuse for this team to spiral out of control. But, Girardi's holding on to his job for dear life and I think he's doing a spectacular job in the process. Heck, he's even resurrected the ever-underachieving career of Alfonso Soriano (47 ribbies in 47 games in his return to Gotham).

Unfortunately for the 2009 World Series Champion manager, it's playoffs or bust. He deserves a second chance in the Bronx and I'm just not sure he's going to get one unless the Yankees are playing in October. It's just the Yankees way. There's no settlement on mediocrity. Girardi probably won't even get the praise he deserves from the New York media and that's just unfair. Unfair, as we know, is New York's middle name.

It'll be interesting to see if the Yankees can rise from the dead and capture a wild card spot. A three-game set at home vs. Tampa seems like a place where the season will hang in the balance. Girardi's been up against it all season, maybe he'll inspire one more uprising in what may be a perished Yankees unit.

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Bible of Steezus Christ: What in the World is Steve Mason Thinking?

Steve Mason's helmet looks normal from the front, it's when he turns to the right or left that you really get weirded out. (Credits: Anthony SanFilippo)

We bring you a new series that features all the sickest styles in sports, whether it be gear, jerseys, off-field apparel or just an athlete rocking good steez wherever they may be. Welcome to the Bible of Steezus Christ.

Warning, what you're about to see might be the most ridiculous thing you'll ever see on a hockey goalie's helmet. We all know about W.A.G.S (Weird Ass Goalie Syndrome), but this takes the cake. Steve Mason, who plays for the Flyers (obviously), has decided to commemorate Betsy Ross and Ben Franklin in the oddest way. He's doing so by showing their dead corpses.This guy is a bonafide sicko and either is all messing with us or just a complete freakshow. Zombie nation anybody?
Negative, Ghost Rider.

Zombie Ben Franklin #Flyers #NHL pic.twitter.com/OFxm5PZDUR
— Anthony SanFilippo (@AnthonySan37) September 12, 2013

Zombie Betsy Ross with the original flag #Flyers NHL pic.twitter.com/wL9MM54diy
— Anthony SanFilippo (@AnthonySan37) September 12, 2013

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The Eagles Will Make For Phenomenal TV

LeSean McCoy and the exhilarating Eagles offense will make them a must-watch team this year. (Credits: Nick Wass/AP Photo) 

Monday night the nation tuned in to see what former stud college head coach Chip Kelly had in store for his NFL debut. We knew that he had something fast and exhilarating on his mind, but we didn't know exactly what it would look like. Then we sat there in awe and watched play, after play, after play until either the Redskins defense was exhausted or we as viewers were dizzy from the constant action. The Eagles are going to be fun as hell to watch.

That doesn't necessarily mean they'll be good, however.

This relentless pace has never really been attempted in the NFL. Of course a lot of teams have and still run no huddle offenses, but this is faster than a no huddle. There's no hesitation. There's no stopping to catch their breathes. It's go, go, go. It's the D'Antoni system in the form of an NFL team. They ran 30 plays in the first quarter, finishing the half with 53 totals plays. They'd built up a 33-7 lead early in the third quarter and looked in complete control of the game. Washington looked overwhelmed, ill-prepared and downright crippled. Yet, then the Eagles pace caught up with them and RGIII commenced the comeback.

In the end it wasn't enough, but it showed that this relentless pace is nearly impossible to replicate for four quarters. 53 plays in the first half. 22 in the second half. Proof in the pudding.

If they hadn't finished this victory off, we'd be sitting here ripping this offense to shreds. We'd be laughing at Philly. "Classic Eagles." And the Chip Kelly doubters would be in full force. Yet, this is a result-based league and that win is still a win, no matter how ridiculous or lopsided each half was.

Philadelphia will finish this season somewhere around 8-8. There will be games where they go out and light up teams with this electric pace and they'll be games where inefficient offense drives will led to an exhaustion of the defense. Just wait until the normal mid-season injuries start to pile up, it could get ugly. I worry that Michael Vick is too feeble to run this pace. Hell, he was even limping late in this first game. However there's one thing that will remain the same, the Eagles will be must-see television.

I was interested to see what Chip Kelly brought to the NFL roundtable, now I'm enamored. Not so much to see how good the Eagles actually are, but to see if he makes adjustments or if this type of scintillating pace gains steam around the league. Other teams have enacted a more deliberate versions of the no huddle offense. Will they eventually try to emulate the Eagles? This entire season we'll keep tabs on the Eagles just because it's something new, something intriguing, something incredibly dramatic. The read-option was the talk of the league last year, this non-stop offense will certainly be the talk of the league this year.

Some folks are gushing over this pace. Others are ripping it to shreds. I'm just going to get my popcorn ready and watch the fastest offense in NFL history. Lights. Camera. Speed.

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It's Manziel Vs. the World On Saturday

Manziel will try and give the stiff arm to The World on Saturday. (Credits: John David Mercer/US Presswire)

Throw out all the allegations. Toss the partying "issues" out the window. Forget about the Heisman. Banish thoughts about last year's upset. Saturday at 3:30 it's not about Johnny Manziel vs. Alabama, it's about Johnny Manziel vs. the World. 

Only a select few people will be rooting for Manziel on Saturday, those that are A&M fans and those that are Manziel fans. The latter are those that see the 20-year-old for what he is. A slightly immature, 20-year-old who is trying to enjoy himself like any other 20-year-old, but because of a pretty important trophy he's now demanded to play the game like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. News flash, Manziel isn't Brady nor is he Manning. He plays the game with a swagger. He plays the game with a smile. He plays the game to punch you in the mouth. He plays the game to leave you in his dust trail. And now, thanks to ESPN and every other analyst out there he plays the game angry. Angry at his opponent. Angry at Mark May and Lou Holtzsh (get it). Angry at 50-year-old Joe Six-Pack who doesn't like his antics. Angry at those fraternity bros who tossed him out of that party. Angry at the absolute world. He won't just be playing to obliterate the vaunted Alabama defense, he'll play to prove to his haters that last year wasn't a fluke, that Johnny Manziel is the real deal once again. Get used to it folks, Manziel's here to stay.

While a lot was made of Manziel's taunting penalties and his "bump" (certainly not a bump, coach initiated the contact) of head coach Kevin Sumlin, but little was made of his 190.9 QB rating, six TDs and 497 passing yards in barely three halves of football that he's compiled. There were no ill effects from the off-season criticism and there shouldn't be any ill effects from the critical comments from two weeks ago. Manziel will be just fine.

Fortunately for Johnny Football, he'll be stepping into his own confines on Saturday with the fans who adore him like none other. He doesn't have to worry about the boo-birds or piercing chants that the Tuscaloosa faithful might have showered him with. So when he takes the field we know he'll be playing with a chip on his shoulders, but at least he'll be getting showered with cheers and not jeers when he scores TD after TD. Not like it matters though, Manziel will be focused on dismantling the Alabama defense just like he did last year. 

If it comes down to a matchup of Manziel vs. senior All-American linebacker C.J. Mosley, I say advantage Manziel. There's a reason why Saban scheduled Texas A&M in only the third week of the season; he has legitimate concerns. On the outside Saban's showing a cool exterior, but he knows if the Tide let Manziel run wild they might not have an opportunity to make it three-in-a-row. If they do lose, at least it will have come in Week 3 and not Week 7 or Week 9. Precautionary measures. I like the idea of a highly motivated Manziel against a revenge-fueled 'Bama defense. The intrigue is enormous.

A win for Manziel would be duct tape to his haters' mouths. A loss, on the other hand? Let's just say Johnny Foosball isn't thinking about that. 3:30, College Station. Game on.

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Time for the U.S. to Shut the Door on Mexico

Due to Bradley's injury, USA newcomer Aron Johannsson should get a chance to display his sensational skills on Tuesday. (Credits: Fedja Krvavac)

A magical summer for United States soccer is slowly morphing into a nightmarish fall. After dismantling almost every opponent the U.S. men played in the summer, things are spiraling out of control. First, Jozy Altidore injured his hamstring in training. Then, Michael Bradley endured a freak ankle sprain as a result of an excessively soggy field before the Costa Rica game. With that news coming some 15 minutes prior to the start of that game, the Ticos took advantage netting two goals in the first ten minutes. For a moment in the second half it looked as though the U.S. could salvage a tie, but another explosive counter-attack led to a third and final goal for Costa Rica. At the the end of the game, making matters even worse, Jozy Altidore, Geoff Cameron Matt Besler earned careless yellow cards keeping them out of Tuesday's highly anticipated match with Mexico.

El Tri is fighting for its lives, the U.S. is in a clinching position. If you told someone this scenario before qualifying started, they'd laugh in your face. Mexico was cruising entering CONCACAF play, the U.S. was drowning in its own confusion. With these turn of events, you can expect the Mexicans to play their hearts out or their World Cup hopes could be dashed. An embarrassing 2-1 loss to Honduras at home led to the firing of manager Jose Manuel de la Torre. Mexico is currently a pathetic 1-5-1 and on the verge of playing in the CONCACAF/Oceania play-off, which would be beyond embarrassing. El Tri's in shambles, USA's reeling. Game on.

I'm not going to accept excuses here. Mexico's current run of form is putrid and it's time to bury them. We're in Columbus, our home base, far from the US-Mexican border which produces lopsided crowds. There's no fearing of Mexico anymore. The pressure's all on them. Bradley, Altidore, Cameron and Besler are legitimate losses, don't get me wrong, but it's time to end this. Mexico is simply too vulnerable. Klinsmann has proved to us that he is completely in-sync with the depth of this team. He commanded the B-squad to a sizzling Gold Cup. He's helped the A-team to a clinching point in only six games. This isn't an easy task, but it shouldn't appear as daunting as it might seem.

Eddie Johnson and Aron Johannsson aren't going to completely replace Jozy's current run of form, but Johnson's a tested veteran and he's playing pretty well himself. Johannsson skill is plentiful and I think giving him a shot under the bright lights of USA-Mexico could be a sensational move. Don't forget Klinsmann has added Donovan back into the mix and his veteran composure should make up for a whole heaping of the current suspension of talent. I won't lie, I'm a bit worried about the back-line as it's projected Michael Parkhurst and Clarence Goodson will fill Cameron and Besler's role. We all know the Mexican front line of Giovani Dos Santos, Oribe Peralta, and Christian Gimenez are speedsters, but they haven't shown that fear-inducing cohesion in a while.

In the past I wouldn't have had the confidence I do now. We would surely crash and burn in this game in the past, leaving us in a scary position, but not under this new Klinsmann reign. The game might not be as pretty as the 12-game winning streak, but the U.S. will take advantage of the mess that is El Tri on Tuesday, all but clinching its spot in Brazil.

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The Lions Have Been Resurrected From the Dead

Reggie Bush makes the Lions offense dynamic and could be a big reason why they return to contention this year. (Credits: Paul Sancya/AP Photo)

When the Lions finally lifted themselves from the cellar in 2011, people expected them to stay in the contention for the foreseeable future. They'd found their franchise QB in Matthew Stafford, their game-changing once-in-a-lifetime wideout in Calvin Johnson and that immovable object on the defensive line in Ndamukong Suh. Those three, plus a cast of other solid characters would earn the Lions a permanent place on top for the next decade. Then 2012 happened.

All the off-season legal issues, plus clear locker room disconnect led to a miserable four-win season. The lack of balance on offense and pathetic team defense had the Lions back track to the yesteryears in the worst way. It was quite a surprise, seeing the talent on their roster and the fact that Calvin Johnson set the receiving yards record. Several people were calling for Jim Schwartz's head saying he didn't have control of the locker room, a completely unfair assessment in my eyes. The guy had just pulled the team out of the ever-lasting doldrums, he deserved this year.

The winter brought about a major acquisition, even though on the surface it looked more flashy than substantial. Reggie Bush has never really lived up to expectations, but he also hasn't been bad by any means. For the Lions, Bush transforms their offense giving them the most dynamic running back since Barry Sanders. Yeah, he's not Sanders, not even close, but he is much better than last year's tailback duo of Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell. A thousand times better at that. Bush frees up Stafford from having to continually throw against dime or nickel packages. While he might not be an alarming threat, he's still a threat and that alters the Lions offense enough to add another concern to defensive game plans. Plus, Bush is a great receiving back and is a phenomenal checkdown option for Stafford.

Sunday proved Bush's worth as he ended the day with 191 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. The 28-year-old fed off double coverage on Megatron, catching a ball over the middle and then going old school Reggie on his way to a 77-yard touchdown.

Most of the preseason hype involving the NFC North was directed towards Chicago and Green Bay and for good reason. However, the Lions seem to have fallen under the radar and that's probably not a bad thing for a team who was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons last year. This team isn't much different than the outfit of two years ago that earned the team's first playoff appearance since 1999. Sure, they're not going to tell stories about the 2013 Lions defense, but they'll be much better than their 27th ranking in scoring defense from last year. The D-line is still of a high quality and the presence of an actual running game will give the offense more time of possession and the defense more rest.

It won't be an easy task, but don't be surprised if the Lions are right there at the end of season contending for a playoff spot. Even if they don't return to contention, at least their offense will be that much more exhilarating to watch.

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Newest Rendition of the Discount Double Check Is Sensational

Discount Double Check's done it again.

The Discount Double Check has certainly put State Farm on the map in terms of funny sports commercials, but their last rendition is amazing. Here they do a great spin-off of the classic "Da Bears" SNLs skits from back in the day, which are pure comedic gold. The accent is amazing, doing real justice to one of the greatest skits of all-time. Plus, the polish sausages are always necessary.
Enjoy.

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Top 5 "What If" Guys Going Into the NFL Season

The Dolphins are expecting Mike Wallace to transform this offense, I'm not sure he can do it. (Credits: Eric Gay/AP Photo)

The excitement is inconsolable. The anticipation is overwhelming. The hype is electric. Sunday is the "true" beginning of the NFL season, one that for sure will have unscripted and unexpected drama like never before. For many fans there's a sense of expectations that might not be reached, in result of a single missing player who could change the outcome of the season. Here we give you our top-5 non-QB "What if" guys. These guys are vitally important to the team's success, but we're not so sure they're a sure thing to create that success.

5. Steven Jackson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

The longtime Ram now finally has a new team and it's his first time being a starter on a serious contender. There's no question that Jackson's vicious running style gives him a chance to have a big season, yet is he wearing down? Back-to-back 320-plus carry seasons in '09 and '10, make his health and productivity a question mark. I'm not saying he can't continue his career YPC of 4.1, but I don't think a playoff team like Falcons can run him into the ground. Fortunately for him, the Falcons have one of the best wide receiving duos in the league that should take the pressure off of him. I still have concerns about all these carries building up. 

Verdict: Jackson won't be able to sustain productivity at a 250-plus carry rate, but if they use him right he could be a monstrous addition to an already serious playoff team. 

4. Brian Cushing, LB, Houston Texans

An All-Pro in 2011 and Defensive Rookie of the Year, Cushing was sorely missed by the Texans last year when he tore his ACL. While Cush's on-field performance is undoubtedly elite, we're still not sure what his character is built on. It's been a while since his steroids suspension, but we've still got to see another 2011-like season before we can safely say he's a leader on this defense. I like Cush a lot. I liked him in college and he's a vital part of this defensive unit. I'm just not so sure about his health.

Verdict: Cush's health is the biggest question. Returning from a mid-October ACL tear is no joke, but I think he's going to come back strong as ever, pushing the Texans back toward that top-5 defense they were two years ago.

3. Brian Orakpo, LB, Washington Redskins

Much like Cush, Orakpo missed all of last season due to injury. Yet different from Cushing, Orakpo is a far larger piece to a far inferior defense. The Redskins missed Orakpo a thousand times more than the Texans missed Cushing. The 'Skins were 22nd in scoring defense and 28th in yardage allowed, rankings that definitely will improve with a healthy Orakpo. A torn pectoral muscle is probably seen as a lesser injury than an ACL tear, but the pect muscle is an extremely important muscle to linebackers. If they can't create separation when they rush the QB, then they're almost useless. I'm interested to see how Orakpo carries this major load on defense, because I know the 'Skins are going to rely on him heavily.

Verdict: I'm not entirely sold on the Redskins like most people are and although Orakpo will make the defense better, I'm just not sure he'll be able to be that piece that pushes them even further than last year.

2. Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers

Last year's NFC Champions are completely depleted at the wideout position. Michael Crabtree gave them the explosive, deep-threat option; he's gone. Anquan Boldin headlines as their best wideout, but he's 32 and is simply there to catch everything thrown his way; he's not a playmaker. The rest of the wideout core is mostly an unknown collection of rookies and resume-less veterans. Davis is going to be Kaepernick's number one, two, and three playmaking option in the passing game. He's probably the second best tight end in league and certainly change games, but defenses know that. They know that Davis is the only passing weapon and they're going to key in on that.

Verdict: Davis is going to have a hard time getting himself open with all the attention he gets. That could work for the Niners if wideouts like Kyle Williams and Quinton Patton can take advantage of lesser coverages. If not, San Francisco could disappoint.

1. Mike Wallace, WR, Miami Dolphins

Wallace is a bonafide playmaker, that's never been questioned. But his work ethic and motor have always been in question. He's never caught more than 72 passes in the season and although he's always been the #1 option, I don't think he's ever shouldered the immense pressure that's going to come at him in Miami. Not only is he going to have the burden of carrying the offense, he is supposed to be that guy that comes in and brings the Miami offense to another level. The ability is certainly apparent, but can he and Tannehill find that level of connection that Peyton Manning had with Reggie Wayne? That's the question. The Dolphins will be extremely reliant on Wallace. The question is, will he step up?

Verdict: I've never liked Wallace's attitude. I've always thought he thought he was above everyone, while never putting up stats that really wowed me. I don't think he'll live up to the hype here in Miami and this Dolphins squad as a whole will disappoint. 

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USMNT Brings Ultra Confidence and an Excess of Talent Into Costa Rica

This team defeated Costa Rica 1-0 in March, the team that plays in Costa Rica on Friday will be even better. (Credits: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Never before has the United States entered a game with so much confidence, so much skill, so much poise and so many expectations. No longer is it the question of, "Which US squad will show up?" It's "How badly will they mangle their opponent." The only problem head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has is too much talent. We've never seen a United States team this talented from top-to-bottom, not in '10, not in '02. The youth is enticing. The veterans are locked in. America is the class of CONCACAF and that's not even a question.

Yet can they handle expectations? Will they crumble under this newfound pressure?

The United States is expected to go into Costa Rica on Friday and take care of business. Not one American is thinking about how tough it is to play in that brutal environment and how consistently underrated Costa Rica is. To us they're just a little pest, getting in our way to a much larger goal coming next summer. But the US has never faced such high demand before; they've never seen their fans have so many presumptions of earning three points. Even though they beat Costa Rica earlier this year in the blustery confines of Denver, it wasn't a cakewalk and Friday should be one hundred times tougher.

Fortunately for the US, the squad has become even better. That team that defeated the Ticos in March would get annihilated by this current outfit. The addition of a healthy, in-form Landon Donovan could be the catalyst for this team to reach unimaginable heights. Add in the sizzling Jozy Altidore, unbelievably consistent Michael Bradley, exciting Aron Johannsson, rock solid combo of Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez and you have a team with legitimate potential. Never has an American team been assembled with this much talent and there's never been this much excitement from even the casual American soccer fan.

Forget the 12-game winning streak. Forget the overwhelming Gold Cup performance. Forget Jozy's mind-boggling hat-trick comeback against Bosnia. The United States needs to take care of business against Costa Rica and Mexico. I don't mean get four points out of two games. I mean two games, six points, then they can just cruise off into the World Cup sunset. Will it be easy? No. Realistic? Absolutely. If they play like they have for a majority of this 12-game winning streak they will take care of business. Add that take-care-of-business mentality with the emerging talent and team cohesion and this squad can take on the world.

Let the success and pressure get to them, however, and they could find themselves in a CONCACAF dog fight in a blink-of-an-eye.

Friday. Costa Rica. 10 PM.
Tuesday. Mexico. 8 PM.

Take this one home boys.

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Stanford's Quiet Ascendence is Quite Unbelieveable

Shaw, Luck and Harbaugh turned Stanford into a college football powerhouse. (Credits: Stanford Athletics)

When you think of Stanford, you conjure up thoughts of a beautiful Northern California campus nestled in little Palo Alto. You think about Stanford's academic prestige. You think about sharp looking, intelligent people roaming a gorgeous campus. You might even think about basketball. But football? When you think about Stanford, football never comes to mind. That's changing. Rapidly.

After Tyrone Willingham left for greener pastures in South Bend after the 2001 season, Stanford was left in an interesting position. Sure, they were coming of their first 9-win season since 1992, but football wasn't of the upmost importance. Five years of brutal seasons under Buddy Teevens and Walt Harris, led the Cardinal to hire Palo Alto native and former star NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh. It seemed like Stanford was heading in the right direction and football was becoming important again, important like it was during the two years that Bill Walsh led the team in the late 70s. But, the first two seasons made it seem like Harbaugh was more of a big-name hire than a football-smart hire. With his ass on the hot seat (9-15 in the first two seasons), Harbaugh pulled off a surprising season behind a Heisman runner-up and a stud freshman QB.

Andrew Luck and Toby Gerhart might have saved Harbaugh's career in Palo Alto, but they did more for the school. Immediately it was apparent that Luck was going to be special. The sophomore quarterback was the quintessential pocket quarterback, with a glowing smile, interview charisma and just an all-around feeling the he was actually a Stanford guy. He represented the all-around greatness of Stanford and, at least on the surface, a full-blown "scholar athlete." Now, whether or not that is true is another story. Either way, Harbaugh and Luck created an extremely successful duo both on and off the field. Stanford was on the map for more than just their average SAT.

The 8-5, 2009 eventually morphed into a breakout 12-win season, the first in Stanford history (most they won before that was 10). Luck was a bonafide Heisman candidate and Harbaugh was looking like some sort of program-boosting genius. If it wasn't for a crushing loss against National Runner-Up Oregon, the Cardinal would've made their BCS first National Championship ever. Instead they ran ACC Champion Virginia Tech directly out of the building in the Orange Bowl. But it was after this magical 2010 season that Stanford really developed its identity of a football powerhouse.

Both Luck and Harbaugh easily could have left after hoisting the Orange Bowl. The QB was already being crowned a future NFL star (they were right) and NFL teams were salivating over the old ball coach. Although a divorce occurred, in no way was it bloody. It couldn't be bloody when the news came out that Luck was returning for his redshirt junior season and the way analysts gushed over the emerging Stanford defense. Then the season actually happened.

Stanford didn't miss a beat under Harbaugh's replacement, David Shaw. They won 11 games, though they once again couldn't crack the Oregon code, they never fell out of the Top 10 and appeared in the their second straight BCS game. Luck was no longer just a great college player, he was a household name. His composure and old school QB toughness made it hard to not embrace the 21-year-old and what he stood for. It was especially easy in an era of Scam Newton's and Jeremiah Masoli's. Again Luck represented everything Stanford stand's for. Intelligence. Confidence. Classiness. Excellence. He had it all and he hoisted the Cardinal to unimaginable football heights. Would they remain there once he left? The answer was quite surprising.

Last year was completely different for the Cardinal. They no longer were a Cinderella program. There were expectations. There was a hole at QB. Stanford now meant football and that should've been a tough load to burden. It wasn't. Shaw's boys exceeded expectations, winning 12 games once again and finally hoisting the Pac-12 Championship trophy. Instead of being headlined by a stud QB (freshman Kevin Hogan looked good however), they were led by the 11th best scoring defense. That defense derailed the high octane Oregon offense on the road 17-14, which was probably the biggest win in school history. They defeated Wisconsin 20-12 to win their first Rose Bowl in 41 years. Shaw and Harbaugh had created a powerhouse. People associate Stanford now with football, something you'd laugh at 10 years ago.

Going into the preseason this year Stanford was ranked #4, the highest preseason rank in school history. They're once again right on Oregon's heels and their defense returns strong as ever. Another BCS victory will further prove that Stanford is a football school and with their up-standing academic values, that's quite the feat.

Don't take the academics in the American Northwest too lightly, they're a legitimate threat to the SEC's streak. Would you ever think Stanford would win a National Championship? Nope. Well, time to start getting over that idea, hell it could happen this year.

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Bible of Steezus Christ: NC State With a Classy Touch of America

There are information renditions of American pride, ones that support the military, ones that dawn the flag in a interesting way. Some that go a little too far are usually there for fun. Some are just hideous. But, when a team does it in a classy way, everyone wins. NC State's "Stars and Stripes" helmet, that will be worn this Saturday against Richmond is as classy as they come. They just took the regular logo and added the American flag. Love it. Steezraham Lincon would approve.

NC State will wear this stars/stripes helmet this weekend: pic.twitter.com/B4XBSUleys
— Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) September 3, 2013

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The Winston Way

Jameis Winston's monster performance last night had the nation taking notice. (Credits: Justin A. Keller/Getty Images)

Before redshirt freshman Jameis Winston ever started a game for the Florida State Seminoles, he had already made headlines. By admitting he had to avoid getting the "Manziel disease," one of cockiness, arrogance and bad press, he thrusted himself into the national spotlight. He could have just said that he needs to keep focus and be humble, but instead he used Manziel's name, perking up the public's ears. Pressure certainly cranked up on a notch on the kid. The Noles were excited for E.J. Manuel's replacement in Winston, but they weren't sure exactly how much they could expect from this 18-year-old quarterback. Monday night, they quickly learned the Winston way.

You could just look at the stats and tell Winston had a monster game, throwing for 356 yards and four TDs at a 25-of-27 rate. Add 25 rushing yards and a TD and you have one hell of a debut. Argue all you want about this game being against a Pittsburgh team that barely won six games last year, but Winston was sensational. His composure was tested at the on-set as coach Jimbo Fisher let him sling it play after play. He started out 11-of-11 and absolutely tearing the Pitt defense to shreds. It was like watching a master at work and yet this kid was playing his first collegiate football game in the rain and on the road. But, it ain't no thing to Winston.

Florida State was supposed to manhandle Pitt. So they did. Was Winston supposed to have the game he had? No. You can't expect a guy, in his first start, to have such a spectacular performance. People would have forgiven Jimbo Fisher if he ran the ball 40 times and kept the rock out of Winston's hands as much as he can. But, the trust the coach put in his QB tells me that the entire FSU team's confidence is sky high. How could you not be confident in him, when his first touchdown pass was a perfect 24-yard-strike as he was falling backwards under heavy pressure. It was a no-doubter "Wow" moment. This guy knows when to get rid of the ball, where to get rid of it and does so in blink-of-the-eye fashion.

Knowing the Doak Campbell faithful, Winston will get a raucous applause when he's introduced in two Saturdays at home against Nevada. The place should be absolutely buzzing at what could be the arrival of the next great QB in the program's storied history. With his talents, fans could be dreaming even bigger. You just got that feeling last night that this kid is going to be special. That feeling that he's going to make FSU fans very happy for a few years to come. You felt it before he even took a snap and now it's hard to ignore. Nevada very well could be walking into a buzzsaw.

Winston might have used a Manziel comparison in a negative way, but Jameis looks to have possess all those same positives Johnny football does. Sure, it's only Week 1 and it was against Pitt, but I have a feeling the rest of the ACC has been put on notice.

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