Tommie Harris Interview

The best Defensive Tackle in football has graced 6Magazine with our first interview. Who is the best Defensive Tackle, its Tommie Harris of the Chicago Bears. This interview is raw and uncut with some very funny footage. We shot it guerrilla style with a cutting edge in your face style with the use of video ichat. Enjoy.

NFL Week 5 Preview

Titans vs. Ravens

Defense (boom boom) Defense (boom boom) is the name of the game in this barn freezer. If both teams score over 30 points I'll wear a UT shirt on campus this week. These two teams come in #1 and #2 in the NFL in terms of total defense.

Tennessee is allowing a league low 11.5 points per game and has forced a league high 12 turnovers . The offense behind back-up turned starter Kerry Collins isn't explosive but very efficient. The true star on offense for the Titans is rookie running back Chris Johnson, who is averaging 5 yards per car and has 3 total touchdowns on the year.

Baltimore should be 3-0, but lost this past Monday on a last second field goal to the Steelers. Talking about the Ravens defense would be a waste of my time the writer and yours the reader. You know what you get with the Ravens and that's more defense than you or any offense in the world can handle. Ray Lewis has the fountain of youth water in his pool and Ed Reed reads QB's minds, literally. The offense is improved, a little bit. Rookie QB Joe Flacco is at the helm for the Ravens, prior to Monday night he was doing a great job, but was exposed a little bit against the Steelers. Willis McGahee was injured during that game as well and his status is questionable for this weekends game. I advise Flacco to get the ball to Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, and Mark Clayton if he wants to win.

Bengals vs. Cowboys

Attention Marvin Lewis, Lane Kiffin and Scott Linehan have been fired before the 5th week of the season, you are next sir. The Bengals are 0-4 and Carson Palmer might not be playing. Backup Ryan Fitzpatrick looked he should be playing for the NFL replacements next season(that's if the owners and players don't get it together). Chad Johnson has only caught 11 balls for 116 yards and 1 touchdown in 4 games. Johson hasn't erupted as many have thought he would. He did say that he woud score this weekend and kiss the star. I can't wait to see it.

I know someone who is complaining about balls being thrown his way. Terrell Owens was thrown to 17 times and handed off to 3 times. Still T.O. was upset saying that he wasn't given the ball enough times in the game last week against the Redskins. The man who should be upset is Marion Barber who only touched the ball 8 times.

Look for the Cowboys to bounce back with a win and Barber and Felix Jones to combine for 30+ carries and for the countown to Marvin Lewis' departure to begin. Also the sideshow between Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens should keep you entertained in this game that I predict to be very lopsided.

Vikings vs. Saints

Monday Night Football will be an exciting game this weekend. Reggie Bush and Adrian Peterson will go rush for rush. The Vikings are in desperate need for a victory before this season gets out of hand. They are 1-3 as of now, and since 1990 only 5 teams have made it to the playoffs after starting 1-4. You know what you are going to get out of AD and the Vikings defense, their pass attack must step up in order for them to win.

Drew Brees is having a tremendous season considering his cirucumstaces. He does not have Jeremy Shockey or Marques Colston to throw the ball two, leaving himself and Bush to carry the load. They are doing a mighty fine job I must say as Brees leads the NFL with 336 passing yards a game. Reggie Bush isn't as dominant a force rushing the ball as the Saints would like him to be, but nevertheless Bush is making plays in the receiving and return game and will need to continue in order for the Saints to be victorious.

The Pac-10 or Prissy 10

When the Pac-10 was having a bad year, you could always count on a few teams to represent like USC, UCLA, Oregon and Arizona State. Not this year, the conference as a whole is 21-21. USC held the crown last week as #1 in the nation before being upset by the unranked Oregon State Beavers. Arizona State was supposed to contend with Georgia but proved to be less than formidable.

Standing atop the conference is an untested Oregon team and a surprise Arizona team. It looks as if Mike Stoops is going to get it done this year with the Wildcats. Yes, the Trojans were exposed but let's not rule them out, because we all know they are still the team to beat. They have a tough contest at home against the #23 ranked Oregon Ducks. I expect the Trojans to go undefeated the rest of the way this season and end up in a BCS bowl game.

The rest of the conference is so shaky. Oregon and Arizona State should fair well, but nothing spectacular. Arizona's forecast is still up in the air as is Cal who had the worst melt down of any team last year, and are currently going through a QB controversy going into this week.

Aside from Oregon State because of their tremendous play last week, the rest of the conference doesn't even make it into this article because of their horrid play.

Pac-10, step it up. NCAA football needs the Air Attack Assaissans that you have grown to be over the years to live up to that billing.

Peace,

Ricky Writer

The SEC: King of Kings

Why is the SEC the best football conference in the country? The SEC has won five of the last 12 national Titles. To put this into perspective- no other conference has posted more than three national titles during this run. Perennial big game losers Oklahoma and Ohio State have both lost two national titles in the last 12 years. Why is this important? Simply put, the Big 12 and Big 10 (11 schools in the Big 10) are very top heavy. This basically guarantees their conference winner a berth in the national championship game with little or no interference by teams within their conference.

Ohio State only has to beat Michigan and Oklahoma only has to beat Texas or in reverse order to receive a berth in the national title game. The SEC on the other has more vicious conference play. Every weekend is a war and the battle is not over until after the SEC Championship game winner is crowned. The SEC has four head coaches who have won national championships within the conference. Two of the four are now coaching at different schools (Steve Spurrier, formerly Florida, currently South Carolina, and Nick Saban, formerly LSU, currently, Alabama).

The SEC has nine teams that can claim with straight faces that they will compete to win their respective divisions this season. The Big 12 might be a mile wide in terms of its talent at the top, but it doesn't go very deep. As of two weeks ago, The SEC had five teams in the top ten in national polls. The only reason some have fallen from grace, this early in the year, is the remarkable depth that the SEC displays. Alabama beat number 3 ranked Georgia at home and Florida fell victim to a good Ole Miss team that is two plays away from being undefeated. Conversely, because of the argument I have just stated some may say well the Big 12 has three teams in the top five. The problem with this is the fact that Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas have yet to play any notable games this year. The Big 12 logjam at the top of the polls will end quickly once conference is underway. Could you honestly let yourself believe that Oklahoma and Texas would be half as good if they resided in either division of the SEC?

The SEC East is tough as nails where Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and surprising Vandy are all having good runs. South Carolina and Tennessee have the talent to beat you on any given Saturday as well. This year the power resides in the West though as Alabama, LSU, Auburn, and Ole Miss are contenders for the division's title There are only two teams that are not competitive in the SEC and they are Arkansas, which usually is stiff completion more often than not, and Mississippi State which is having major injury problems.

The resurgence of the Big 12 North only began last year when Kansas and Missouri made large jumps in order to be among the nation's top programs. Nebraska and Colorado are at least a year away. Leaving ISU and KSU terrible at best. The Big 12 South has always been and always will be a two horse race between Oklahoma and Texas. Texas Tech may have a decent team this year, but have yet to play for the conference crown since the Big 12 started in 1996. Furthermore, with their pass defense being ranked near the worst in the country, they will not be a factor in the final standings- as usual. Texas A&M is a sleeping giant, but how long is it going to take for the Aggies to wake up? I guess this has turned into a Big 12 vs. the SEC article and the truth of the matter is that the Big 12 clearly has the second best talent in the country but does not come close to the SEC.

Go back to 1995, to find the last instance an SEC team lost a national championship game when given the opportunity. This leads me to the thought process that if an SEC team is good enough to win their conference and go undefeated they have about a 99% chance of beating whoever their opponent from a weaker conference may be. Auburn was robbed of playing for a national title a few years back even though they did get throught thier schedule undefeated. Need more proof? The SEC won all four of its BCS games the past two years by a combined score of 161-62.

Another way of analyzing this situation is evaluating the respective conferences performances in non-conference battles this year. The Big 12 boasts an overall 38-10 non-conference mark, with the SEC coasting to 27-5. You are only as strong as your weakest link. The SEC proves time and time again that the only thing stopping an SEC team is another SEC opponent.

A coach at the University of Oklahoma who previously coached at Alabama, but will remain unnamed told me once, "down there in the SEC, it's just different, it's on a way bigger scale, the talent, the fans, and the stadiums- the Big 12 just doesn't compare." Um, Need I say more?

Sincerely, COWBOY CLAYBORNE of the Philadelphia Claybornes

Jimmy Awards for the 5th Week of Football

Here are the Jimmy Awards for the 5th week of Football

College JIMMYS

John Parker Wilson Alabama QB

Wilson threw for 205 yards on 13 for 16 attempts with one touchdown and no interceptions as the Tide upset Georgia vaulted themselves to #2 in the polls.
Chase Clement Rice QB/Jarett Dillard Rice WR

The pair became the most productive QB to WR touchdown duo in FBS history breaking the the NCAA mark for combined touchdowns of 39 set by Tim Rattay and Troy Edwards (Louisiana Tech) in 1998 and matched by Colt Brennan and Davone Best (Hawaii) last season. The duo connected 3 times in a 77-20 blowout of North Texas.

Jevan Snead Ole Miss QB

The former Longhorn transfer threw for 185 yards and had a total of 3 tds as the Rebels upset the Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators.

Brandon Graham Michigan DE

Graham reeked havoc on the Badgers with 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles as the Wolverines upset the 9th ranked Wisconsin Badgers.

Trimane Goddard North Carolina Free Safety

He saved the game for the Tar Heels with 2 interceptins in the final minute and also added 8 tackles as the Heels upset the Canes.

Derrick Williams Penn State WR/KR

Williams recorded 241 all-purpose yards and 3 total touchdowns as the Nittany Lions defeated the Fighting Illini.

Manuel Johnson Oklahoma WR

Johnson set a school record with 206 receiving yards on five receptions in the Sooners' 35-10 win over No. 24 TCU. Johnson recorded touchdown receptions of 79, 55 and 63 yards against the Horned Frogs and averaged 41.2 yards per reception.

Jacquizz Rodgers Oregon State RB

The 5 foot 7 freshman rushed for186 yards and 2 touchdowns as the unranked Beavers upset the #1 ranked Men of Troy.

NFL JIMMYS

Brett Favre Jets QB

Favre set a personal record with 6 touchdown strikes against the Cardinals. He threw 24 for 34 and 289 yards for the win.

Shawn Springs Redskins CB

Springs covered Terrell Owens much of the game and T.O. caught 7 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. What's not mentioned in the stat line is that the Cowboys threw 17 balls Owens' way and handed off to him 3 times. You can't stop Owens, but you can contain him which is exactly what Springs did as the Skins defeated the Boys 26-24 in Big D.

Derrick Johnson Chiefs OLB

Johnson made six tackles, defensed a pass, made an interception and forced a fumble as the Chiefs won their first game by defeating the Broncos, 33-19.

Larry Johnson Chiefs RB

Johnson asked for the ball and got it as he rushed 28 times for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns in a defeat of the Denver Broncos 33-19.

Santana Moss Redskins WR

Moss laced the Cowboys highly touted secondary for 8 catches and 145 yards as the Skins beat the Boys in Big D 26-24.

NFL Review of Week 4

Like a young child who sees his older brother do something bad which births the phrase "oh, I'm telling". Did T.O. go off on Romo. I mean it sounds like it. He say he didn't get the ball, when stats show 1/3 of the offensive plays were directed towards T.O. Either way the boys lost in Big D to the Skins 26-24. Jason Campbell is proving to be a wise pick by the organization. The Boys got away from their rushing attack only running the ball 11 times while throwing 47 times. The previous three games the Cowboys ran the balls a minimum of 30 times each game, all of which were wins.

Jett Favre and the Bretts had an offensive explosion against the Cardinals in a 56-35 win. Favre threw for 6 tds. Kudos to Mangini for taking the reigns off of Favre and letting Brett do his thing.

The Buffalo Bills are 4-0. I've never been to Hell before, but I'm starting to think its not as bad as everyone makes it seem. The drilled the lowly St. Louis Rams 31-14. Trent Edwards, Marshawn Lynch, and Lee Evans all look great bringing back glimpses of the K-Gun offense of the 90s that took the Bills to four straight Superbowls.

The Tennessee Titans are also 4-0. The defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30-17. The defense is better than the Ravens, and yes I said it. Chris Johnson will be the rookie of the year and a QB controversy will be brewing when VY gets back healthy. All the while, the Titans will over throw the power that be in the AFC South being the Indianapolis Colts. Bold prediction? Nope, just the changing of the guard for this year at least.

What The Hell Happened?

This weekend the little guys fought back in a major way weekend as the top 25 were under siege from unranked teams like Oregon State and Navy. Here is a short rundown of what happened this weekend.

Georgia got mauled at home by Alabama Saturday night. Georgia came out in their awesome black jerseys, but that was the only thing compelling about their performance as the game was over at halftime with Alabama leading 31-0.

USC was also beat up pretty bad by an Oregon State team that looked less than average in its previous games this year. Jacquizz Rogers, freshman tailback, lead the assault on the Men of Troy by helping the Beavers control the clock and win the game 27-21.

East Carolina is still suffering from the hangover after a loss to NC State and let Houston hang 600 yards of total offense on them as the Cougars passed the ball all over the field in their 41-24 victory.

Clemson continued with the Tiger tradition and have gone about ruining a season that began with high hopes. They are failing to realize their potential for the 45th straight year. The Maryland Terps, after trailing for most of the game put together a strong 4th quarter and won the game 20-17.

Florida may be the biggest disappointment of the weekend losing to Ole Miss at home 31-30. The Rebels have a solid leader in Houston Nutt as 6mag has pointed out earlier this season and Coach Nutt got his first marquee win at Ole Miss. Florida should possibly experiment with a more contemporary offence to take advantage of their tremendous wealth of talent on the offensive side of the ball.

Wisconsin blew a 19-0 halftime lead on the road at the Big House falling to Michigan 27-25. Rich Rodriguez similar to Houston Nutt also got his first marquee victory as the first year coach at Michigan. You have to wonder if the Wolverines we saw in the second half of this game is the Michigan team we will see for the rest of the year or simply a 2-quarter flash of brilliance that will keep Michigan fans thirsty for 2009? Only time will tell how Michigan finishes the year.

I rescind my statement about Florida being the biggest losers of this weekends witch-hunt for the top 25. Wake Forest lost to frickin Navy this weekend AT HOME! NAVY people, what the hell is this? NAVY ……….. NAVY! This is terrible and Wake should receive the death penalty for this ridiculous loss to the lowly Midshipmen. Furthermore, how do you win on the road at FSU one week and then lose at home to NAVY the next. These types of game really lead me to believe that the mafia has a hand in rigging games on Saturdays, honestly dammit!

The last time such a shake-up occurred? One year ago, when in the last week of September three of the top-five teams fell and seven ranked teams lost to unranked opponents. 6mag has pointed out the parody in college football in a previous article posted in this blog and the occurrences this weekend only solidify our statements regarding the “closing of the gap” in talent levels between the top tier schools and those not so highly regarded in college football. Scholarship limitations have evened the playing field and teams such as South Florida, Ole Miss, every team in the Mountain West Conference, and, heaven forbid, Navy now can compete for athletes and it is making college football more competitive than it has ever been. 

The final take on this weekends developments is that Alabama has enough talent to contend for a national title even thought it lost to UL-Lafayette just 11 months ago. Oklahoma is at this point the best team in the country and the OU-Texas game this year in Dallas will be one of the biggest games between these two rivals in recent memory. The World’s Biggest Cocktail party game between Georgia and Florida may not be one of the biggest games of the year anymore. Every single team in the pac-10 should be placed in the div.1-aa playoffs at the end of this year.

Peace Claudius Blackimous

P.s. I had truffle pizza this weekend it was awesome!