Packers vs. Saints: NFL 2011 kickoffsas the 2011 and 2010 Super Bowl Champs square off from Lambeau Field

We enjoyed a Labor Day weekend and the kickoff of College Football recently. Now, it's time for the NFL, with kickoff tonight of the 2011 NFL Season! From Obama to 9/11-10 years later to the NFL to College Football... plenty of action ahead over the next five days.

Will it be a rematch in Super Bowl 46 from Lucas Field in Indianapolis on February 5, 2012 be a rematch of last year? We wouldn't complain, since we have always enjoyed both NFL programs.

Lucas Field will be an exciting place this football season, with the first Big Ten Championship Game on December 3, 2011, then the Super Bowl.

NFL Kickoffs tonight with Minnesota vs. New Orleans

As a Green Bay Packer fan, we have our favorite, but we typically enjoy both the Vikings and Bears from time to time, since we know so many fans of both teams.

Video: NFL: Week 1 Preview - The Associated Press

College Football is first and foremost, but by Super Bowl time, the NFL will get our attention!

It should be a great 2010 College Football season and we expect no less from the NFL.

peace

Sunday Bowl Game tonight, after busy day in the NFL with Steelers vs. Packers going down to the Wire

Next up on Sunday, December 20, 2009:
7:30 p.m. Central Time kickoff on ESPN
New Orleans Bowl from New Orleans, LA
Sun Belt vs. C-USA
Middle Tennessee vs. Southern Mississippi

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders finished 7-1 in the Sun Belt in 2009, with an overall record of 9-3 on the season. While the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, they finished third in the C-USA East Division with a 5-3 record, 7-5 overall. An ESPN audience can tune in to see the Blue Raiders vs. the Golden Eagles square off in the Louisiana Super Dome.

Southern Miss is returning to the New Orleans Bowl in 2009 again, after finishing 7-6 in 2008 with a 30-27 OT win over Troy. The Golden Eagles are 9-8 overall in bowl games. Coach Larry Fedora is in his second season at the helm for the Golden Eagles.

Middle Tennessee State is coming off a 5-7 record in 2008. The Blue Raiders are making only their second bowl trip ever in the school's history. The Blue Raiders lost 14-31 to Central Michigan in the 2006 Motor City Bowl. Coach Rick Stockstill is in his fourth season at the helm for the Blue Raiders.

Middle Tennessee State enters the game on a six game win streak. The wins all came in conference play. Southern Miss lost their final conference game to lose out in an opportunity for the C-USA Title in 2009.

Prediction:

Southern Miss 30, Middle Tennessee State 17

In the NFL today: Pittsburgh beats Green Bay 37-36 on the final play of the game. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin's failed onside kick attempt with the Steelers up 30-28 late provided plenty of drama for everyone watching. But, the Steelers took the ball all the way down the field in the final two minutes. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger's career high 503 yards passing and a final TD pass from 18 yards on the final play of the game was the difference. Wow!

peace

The University of Iowa alums kick off the 2009 NFL season

NFL Players By College - Iowa

PLAYER, TEAM, POSITION (not including practice squads)

• Babineaux, Jonathan, Atlanta Falcons, Defensive Tackle


• Baker, Jason, Carolina Panthers, Punter


• Betts, Ladell, Washington Redskins, Running Back


• Clark, Dallas, Indianapolis Colts, Tight End


• Cole, Colin, Seattle Seahawks, Defensive Tackle


• Considine, Sean, Jacksonville Jaguars, Safety


• DeVries, Jared, Detroit Lions, Defensive End


• Fletcher, Bradley, St. Louis Rams, Cornerback


• Gallery, Robert, Oakland Raiders, Offensive Tackle


• Godfrey, Charles, Carolina Panthers, Cornerback


• Goff, Mike, Kansas City Chiefs, Guard


• Greene, Shonn, New York Jets, Running Back


• Greenway, Chad, Minnesota Vikings, Linebacker


• Hodge, Abdul, Cincinnati Bengals, Linebacker


• Iwebema, Kenny, Arizona Cardinals, Defensive End


• Kaeding, Nate, San Diego Chargers, Place kicker


• Kampman, Aaron, Green Bay Packers, Linebacker


• Myers, Brandon, Oakland Raiders, Tight End


• Olsen, Seth, Denver Broncos, Guard


• Sanders, Bob, Indianapolis Colts, Safety


• Steinbach, Eric, Cleveland Browns, Guard


• Wiegmann, Casey, Denver Broncos, Center


• Yanda, Marshal, Baltimore Ravens, Guard


• Young, Albert, Minnesota Vikings, Running Back

The University of Iowa has 24 NFL players, while Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa have six each on rosters as the 2009 NFL football season kicks off this weekend. This evening, it will be the Chicago Bears @ the Green Bay Packers in NFL football. Go Pack Go!

peace

January 5, 2009: Fiesta Bowl and News of note

2009 Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) vs. Texas Longhorns (11-1)

We see Ohio State is a +8 point underdog in this third and final Big Ten vs. Big 12 match up in a 2008-09 bowl games.

• OhioStateFB Game Point Spread: Ohio State +8.0, Texas -8.0 http://tinyurl.com/78lz37

Experience would clearly be with Mack Brown's Longhorns at quarterback, with junior Colt McCoy, vs. Jim Tressel's Buckeyes at quarterback, freshman Terrelle Pryor. In the NFL, it clearly was the Arizona Cardinals beating the Atlanta Falcons, due to great part by the difference in experience at the quarterback position.

Ohio State's defense vs. Texas' offense... how much of a factor will defense play in this game? In the Rose Bowl, Penn State couldn't shutdown USC, until it was far too late. Does Ohio State have the offense to keep up with Texas?

Ohio State has won three of four Fiesta Bowls they have played in and only loss was to Penn State in the 1980/81 season. Still, Texas is the team to beat, but historically Ohio State plays the Big 12 far better than SEC bowl opponents. Frankly, Ohio State has never beat a SEC team in a bowl game. Will Texas be Ohio State's first loss to a current Big 12 opponent in a bowl game?

Cidsports' prediction for 2009 Fiesta Bowl

Ohio State 35

Texas 28

The Big Ten isn't going to finish 1-6 in bowl games this year are they? Is Iowa's 31-10 win over South Carolina the only win the Big Ten will have in the 2008-09 bowl season?

In other news, ESPN reports:

Packers fire 6 coaches, including D coordinator - http://tinyurl.com/8n4cs5

peace

Iowa wins at The Citadel in Basketball, but former Hawkeye and Packer passed away today

Former Iowa football and Hall of Fame Green Bay Packer Bob Jeter has passed away per the University of Iowa post game radio broadcast on WMT Radio 600-AM in Cedar Rapids.

The Iowa Hawkeyes beat The Citadel on road 70-48. Coach Todd Lickliter's young Hawkeyes move to 3-0 on the season.

However, our thoughts and prayer go out to Bob Jeter, his family, his friends and the Iowa and Green Bay sports families tonight.

As a fan of both teams, Bob Jeter was a special player, during his time at the University of Iowa and in the NFL, for the Green Bay Packers.

peace

Move Over Joe: Brett Favre is coming to Town!

It's official: the Green Bay Packers have traded future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre to the New York Jets. Good. By far the biggest name at quarterback for the New York Jets, since Joe Namath lead the Jets to the Super Bowl III.

It will be an interesting legacy for Brett Favre to build on. Joe Namath finished out his career in Los Angeles, with the Rams; while Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana finished out their careers in San Diego and Kansas City, respectively.

Now, add Favre to the list of franchise quarterbacks, who move on to ride off the end of their careers for another one.

As a Green Bay fan, I completely understand that the Packers back in April, made the decision to move on. The Aaron Rodgers era clearly begins in 2008.

It will be interesting to see how the final journey in the NFL goes for the thirty-eight year old Favre. When teams were mentioned as final destinations for Favre, as a Packer fan I thought New York City and the Jets would be fitting place to trade Favre too. It will be interesting to how much fire is left in the tank for old #4.

Thanks for the memories Brett in Green Bay. It will be interesting to see you in the AFC.

peace

Should I Stay or Should I Go, Part 2?

Back in March, two events occurred regarding Brett Favre's relationship with the Green Bay Packers NFL franchise. At the time, the franchise was working towards the 2008 NFL Draft and it's future without Brett Favre at QB.

We know now, in March, Brett Favre indicated that he wanted to retract his retirement with the Green Bay Packers and come back and wear the Green and Gold for 2008. But, Favre changed his mind again.

So, the Green Bay Packers did the honorable thing and floated an agreement with Brett Favre. "I know (Packers president and CEO) Mark Murphy talked to me about it in the past, how important it was for Brett to continue to be a part of the organization after he was done playing," Packers Coach Mike McCarthy said after practice Friday morning. "And frankly, it's good for Brett. Brett needs to stay a part of football. Obviously, he's a part of the Green Bay Packers."

After the March discussion with Brett Favre, where Favre told the Packers he wanted to stay retired, the Packers franchise moved on. The 2008 team is Aaron Rodgers at QB. The Packers drafted two QBs in the 2008 NFL Draft and began the post-Favre era in Green Bay.

As former Pittsburgh QB Terry Bradshaw pointed out in Canton recently, he feels for the franchise and it's fans. Brett Favre will have to determine if he wants to not retire and become the next Johnny Unitas or Joe Montana... ask the Packers to trade him, so he can continue to play the game?

With the potential agreement out there, worth a reported a reported $20 million over 10 years, Favre really has to ask himself: "should I stay or should I go?"

Some in the media disagreed with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's involvement in the Green Bay-Favre negotiations, but to his credit, he is giving both sides more time to resolve the situation. It is good to see Goodell involved.

The Hall of Fame will induct six men as the 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame class today, including former Iowa Hawkeye Andre Tippett. Aug. 2nd is the official beginning of Football season in America. The NFL preseason is beginning and college football players are beginning to report for physicals and the start of official camp for the 2008 football season. The University of Iowa's football Media Day will be Monday in Iowa City.

peace

Should he stay or should he go?

What should the Green Bay Packers do? Should he stay or should he go? Yes, The Clash song comes to mind, after hearing the news today that Brett Favre may want to revive his short-planned retirement from the National Football League. Of course the song used the word "I" and the real decision is with the Packers now, since retirement was the original plan for Brett Favre.

Wow, what a nice situation developing in Green Bay over one of the best quarterbacks of all-time. Clearly, Favre is a QB that has skills, despite his original plans for retirement after last season. But, he also is in his final years of playing.

It's a tough situation for the Green Bay Packers. At some point, the Packers have to implement plans for life after Brett Favre as their quarterback. With Favre's original plans to retire this season, the Packers clearly began setting things into play for life without Brett Favre.

As a Green Bay fan and a person who has enjoyed the Brett Favre era over the years, I am not sure allowing Brett Favre to walk is a good move for the Packers. I guess Favre wants to take a page out of Joe Montana's playbook and play for another team.

It's too bad Brett Favre had a change in plans. I was hoping to see him retire as a Packer. The Packers do need a veteran QB in the mix with Aaron Rodgers and Brian Brohm, but I didn't figure it should be Brett Favre. The Packers should receive something for Favre, if he wants to go elsewhere?

peace