Bill Stewart Must Go (dot) COM

He was stripped of 14 wins, you sick sick pervert.  Anyone who quickly read this article because they wanted to see Bobby Bowden naked has some serious issues.  I mean, what kinda demented mind must you have to want to see the 80-year old Bowden naked.  Besides, I searched the Internet and couldn’t find any.  But I digress.

The NCAA finally rejected Florida State’s final appeal on Tuesday regarding an academic cheating scandal that involved 61 Florida State athletes.  As part of the NCAA’s decision, Bowden’s football team will be stripped of 14 victories.  Bowden, who is second on the all-time win list, will see his official wins drop from 389 to 375.  Bowden has been fighting like mad to keep the 14 wins and, then, he wanted 22 wins counted from a junior college so that he would hold the record over Joe Paterno.  It doesn’t look like that matters now…Bowden won’t even be close.  And expect Paterno to top 400 next year so, even if Bowden counts those 22 wins, it will still be behind JoPa.  Go Joe!

OMG! Bobby turned to stone

1. Craig James, Adam James dad, has been a pain in the ass to Leach since his son showed up at Texas Tech.  Craig was constantly calling coaches trying to get Adam playing time.  When the coaches told him to knock it off, he started calling administrators.  And James was probably using his position at ESPN as leverage to get Adam more playing time.
2. Adam James sufferred a concussion.  Instead of showing up at practice and acting like he wanted to participate, he showed up wearing street clothes and using his concussion as an excuse to be a total douchebag.  Besides, he probably hated Leach anyway since I’m sure Leach treated him poorly due to the behavior of the father (see above.)
3. Leach saw James acting like a douche and there’s really no place for that on a team.  He probably would have sent most players home but, since this was Craig James’ son, he decided to extract a little revenge.
4. Leach had Pincock lock his f*cking pussy ass in a place so dark that the only way he knows he has a dick is to reach down and touch it
5. James knew Leach was being an ass because of Craig James so he decided to call his daddy and cry about the poor treatment.
6. Craig James called Texas Tech administrators and told them to either fire Leach or he would break the story of mistreatment on ESPN, similar to the Mangino story at Kansas.
7. Tech fires Leach.

Of course, I might be completely wrong.  But reading all the stories, it looks like this was simply a pissing match between a Little League dad and a coach who was mad at the dad and douchebag son.  If Craig James didn’t work for ESPN, this probably would have went away quickly.  But since James does work for the World Wide Leader, Leach is on the unemployment line and Craig and Adam James are the most hated people in Lubbock.  Wonder if Leach likes Morgantown?

Everything needs a conspiracy now.  9/11?  Conspiracy.  Underwear bomber?  Mystery man on airplane.  Economic meltdown?  Government conspiracy to take control of our lives.  Uggs?  No explanation.

So it’s no surprise that many in Mountaineer Nation have been saying the fix was in on the Gator Bowl long before yesterday’s loss.  I’ve heard several people over the past few weeks state, matter of factly, that there was no way WVU stood a chance and that college football would never allow Bobby Bowden to leave with a loss (see Don Nehlen, Music City Bowl, Nehlen’s prior bowl record).

It’s nearly impossible to say whether there was some collusion that allowed FSU a better chance that WVU to win the Gator Bowl.  One of the more tangible things to look at is the penalties.  Looking at penalties, Florida State was penalized more than twice as much as WVU.  FSU had 7 penalties for 69-yards while WVU was penalized 3 times for 29-yards.  Hard to see that as an official conspiracy.

There’s really nothing else that would point to some elaborate conspiracy that allowed Bobby Bowden his final triumph.  At the end of the day, WVU was outcoached by a man who is 117 years old and slept through the 3rd quarter.  And, really, that’s not surprising.  WVU has played with zero emotion and intensity all year.  And they had nothing to play for in the Gator Bowl.  While the team on the other side was playing for an embattled coach that is likely to never be on the sideline again.  Who had the inspiration?

If you want to cling to a conspiracy theory for why WVU lost the Gator Bowl, that’s cool.  But send the evidence.  I just saw a team that was whipped by a bad 6-6 Florida State.  Nothing more, nothing less.

From the ESPN.com article, Ann Bowden had this quote:

“Eat your heart out, Florida State,” Ann Bowden, the coach’s wife, said afterward. “Eat your heart out.”

I’m not exactly sure what that means.  Nevermind…I take that back.  She thinks because everyone was so nice to Bobby at the Gator Bowl, they’re going to regret him leaving.  Ann, dear lovely Ann, the only reason everyone was so nice to him was because they knew he was leaving.  It gives them one last chance to say goodbye.  And they were winning.  Do you think the FSU faithful would be yelling BOB-BY, BOB-BY if they were losing (as they should have been)?

Also, it became obvious that Bowden was just sticking around to beat Paterno.  In his postgame conference, he had this to say:

“How about them 22 wins I got at South Georgia College? How come that don’t count?” Bowden said, talking about where he was from 1956-58, before heading to Samford. “I know it doesn’t count NCAA, but will somebody mention, please, that I have 400 wins during my lifetime?”

Bobby, those wins don’t count.  And how about those 14 wins that should be stripped from your record because of the cheating scandal at Florida State?  Why are we still counting those?  I’m not sure if you saw the Outside the Lines report about FSU and the cheating scandal, but it was pretty blantant and, from what they were saying, probably continues.  And Bobby Bowden was fully aware of what was going on.

Yes, Bobby Bowden probably deserves better than being forced into retirement considering what he has done at Florida State.  But Bobby is also far from an angel.  Remember that Steve Spurrier labeled Florida State as “Free Sneakers University” for a reason.  And Bowden was in the middle of all of that.  He deserves the tribute and he deserves some accolades but don’t pretend Bobby Bowden was the most honorable and terrific coach ever.  He was great but far from perfect.  Now I’m going to go back to being pissed off at Bill Stewart for losing…thank you.

WVU – ranked #16 in the country.  Just beat a “Top Ten” team in Pittsburgh.  Finished the season at 9-3 and second in the Big East conference.

Florida State University – not ranked.  Finished 6-6 and tied for 6th in the ACC.

FSU made it to the Gator Bowl because FSU forced their coach to retire after another sub-par season.  And, what happens?  I don’t have to tell you.  WVU takes a 14-3 lead and then fails to pile on points and allows FSU to dominate the second half and lose the football game.  Throw on the dismantling of the WVU basketball team today, and you have what could be considered a very shitty day for Mountaineer fans.

WVU should not have lost to this Florida State team.  Sure, they had the emotion of Bobby Bowden’s last game but, at the end of the day, WVU should have been a better football team.  But, it wasn’t.  Special teams was horrendous and the passing game never even got started…with or without Jarrett Brown.  Once the Seminoles shutdown Noel Devine, the game was over.  And WVU’s defense could not get a team off the field on 3rd down.  Again.

This loss, coupled with the current state of the Sugar Bowl, is an embarrassment for the entire Big East Conference.  I’m not sure what else to say about it at the moment.  Is it coaching?  I don’t know.  But a 9-3 WVU should not have lost to this 6-6 Seminole team.  It just shouldn’t have happened.

There’s rumors coming out of Lubbock, Texas that the Texas Tech Red Raiders may actually fire Mike Leach for his actions against ESPN’s Craig James’ son.  Leach has admitted he “secluded” James on two occasions in a building near the school’s practice field after James had sustained a minor concussion during practice earlier this month.  Leach also refused to apologize to James and his family, which helped lead to the suspension.

If Texas Tech does indeed fire Leach, expect it to be very soon.  Like tomorrow or Thursday.  Why?  Because Leach is due an $800,000 bonus if he’s the head coach after Dec. 31 of this year.  So, if TTU keeps him until January 1, they owe him $800,000.  If they fire him on December 31, they save that money.  And, if they fire Leach, they will try to do so “with cause.”  If they can prove Leach endangered his players, that “with cause” argument could stick and they wouldn’t owe Leach any money left on his contract.

Regardless of what happen at Texas Tech, the situation has gotten pretty ugly and could strain the relationship between the coach and school beyond repair.  Leach has been rumored as leaving Tech before.  Maybe this time it’s really going to happen.

It’s a special time of year.  It’s the time between the end of the college football regular season and the BCS bowls.  And while there are traditional New Year’s bowls that hold some significance (see Cotton Bowl, Gator Bowl, San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl), most are just boring and of interest to only those fans who care about the teams playing (see the 10 Pittsburgh fans at the Meineke Car Care Bowl).

So, here are the worst bowls, a little late but worst nonetheless:

• Little Caesars Pizza Bowl – Marshall v. Ohio (Marshall won).  Between the 2 schools, there are approximately 94 fans.  Yay!?
• Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl – Clemson v. Kentucky (Clemson won).  You said Gaylord.
• Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl – Bowling Green v. Idaho.  Who wants to watch a game at Boise State?  Who wants to have to look at the blue turf?  Probably not the 14 people who attend the game by choice.
• GMAC Bowl – Troy v. Central Michigan.  It’s January 6th.  Why would you have a bowl game on January 6th?  It makes absolutely no sense.  And it’s Troy v. CMU.  The ratings should be…ummmm, poor?
• International Bowl - South Florida v. Northern Illinois.  You’re going to put South Florida in Toronto on January 2nd.  That is a recipe for boredom and disaster.  I’m guessing there should be about 3 USF fans in the stadium.  And maybe 20 NIU.

There are too many bowls.  And those 5 above prove it.  But there’s definitely no room for a playoff.

Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach has been suspended for the Alamo Bowl for being batshit crazy.  Leach has always been a crazy Pirate of a coach but apparently has stepped over the line for Texas Tech this time around.

“Listen,” said an insider, “we all know Mike Leach is clinically insane.  The real question is how he has made it this long without killing someone or chomping off his leg and wearing an eye patch.  He brought a parrot to work and the Texas Tech Board of Regents decided it was time for some action on this Leach problem.”

Assistant coach Ruffin McNeill will assume duties as Interim Head Coach and will coach the team during the Alamo Bowl.  Between Leach, recently fired Kansas coach Mark Mangino and South Florida’s Jim Leavitt, there’s a lot of crazy going around college football.

It has been a whirlwind week for Florida’s current / former / current head coach, Urban Meyer.  Billstewartmustgo.com caught up with the busy Gators’ coach for an exclusive interview.

	ROD: It has been one helluva week, wouldn’t you say Urban?
	URBAN MEYER: Please, do not curse.  I thank you for coming to speak with me.  I just want to say how important my family is to me.  And God.  And God’s only begotten Son, Tim Tebow.  They are all very important to me.
	Pardon me but wasn’t Jesus Christ God’s only begotten Son?
	That’s what I said.  Thank God for giving man his only begotten Son, Tim Tebow.
	Interesting.  So Saturday you announce that you’re retiring and then, on Sunday, it is announced that you plan to coach the Gators in the Sugar Bowl and 2010 and might take a leave of absence.  Which is it?
	Yes.
	That wasn’t really a yes or no question.  Are you retiring, taking a leave of absence or just simply remaining Florida’s head coach?
	Yes.
	Let’s go at this a different way:  Are you retiring?
	I want to spend time with my family.  My family is so happy that I am putting them and my health before my career.  I love my family and they deserve to have me at my best.
	Is it just a leave of absence?
	I need to address a few health issues that I have been putting off so quite some time now.  My health is very important to me and my family.
	So, you’re going to be coaching the Gators’ in 2010?
	God must take more of a presence in my life.  My religion is very important to me and I want to do the Lord’s work and put God, my family and my health above my career.  I need to get that message out to everyone.
	Were you simply upset that there wasn’t enough focus on Gainsville the last few weeks?
	I’ve won 2 national championships.  How dare people quit paying attention to Florida because we lost to Alabama.  We’re the Florida Gators.  We have Tim Tebow.  Pay attention to me.  Pay attention to me.  Look, I’m doing stuff here.
	Thanks Urban.  I’m sure you will continue to do the work of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
	Tim Tebow.

Bobby Bowden is known as one of the most accessible coaches in all of college football.  And he agreed to sit down for a quick interview with billstewartmustgo.com.

	ROD: Thank you for taking the time for this interview before the Gator Bowl.
	BOBBY BOWDEN:  Zzzzz….
	Mr. Bowden?
	Yeah, yeah.  Sorry about that.  Yeah.  Gator Bowl, Florida State, West Virginia.  Yeah.  Daggummit.
	Is there something wrong?
	Diaper issues.  No big deal.
	For your great-grand children?
	Ummmm…yeah…that’s it.  I need to get diapers for the great-grandkids.  Sounds good.
	What’s it mean to you to play your final game at Florida State against West Virginia in the Gator Bowl?  Are you looking forward to it?
	Zzzzz….
	Mr. Bowden?
	Yeah, Gator Bowl.
	Are you looking forward to the Gator Bowl?
	I am happy for the time I’ve had at Florida State University.  My wife and I have enjoyed our time at FSU.  I would have liked to coach another year but it was time to move on.  We are thankful for all the great years at Florida State and I would like to tha…Zzzzz…
	Mr. Bowden?
	Billy Stewart is a heckuva coach.  I remember when Billy and I picked up the covered wagons and headed to California in hopes of striking it rich.  There was gold in them hills.
	What are you talking about?
	I pooped.  Zzzzzzz…

The Gator Bowl is January 1st at 1:00 p.m.  We’ll try to catch up with Bobby again before then.