Apologies for months of neglect.
New host for the a-football website.
Have various scraps of notes to upload here. Bear with us,
Anyway, glad the season is finally here again. To football season, truly nothing quite compares....
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
2010 Pearl Bowl
The 2010 version of the Pearl Bowl will be held on Thursday, July 1st at the Tokyo Dome.
Perennial rivals Obic Seagulls will face off against the Fujitsu Frontiers beginning at 19:00.
While I am never much of a fan of indoor football, and the Bigg Egg is certainly one of my least favorite places to watch a football game, the recent hot muggy weather, and the high probability of rain and lightening probably justify the use of the Tokyo Dome indoors facility in this case.
The two team's fate was decided on 6/13 when Obic handily defeated the Pirates; and Fujitsu defeated their other main rivals Kajima by a much closer 20-17 score. In that game Fujitsu only completed 5 passes (albeit for 85 yards), but gained 252 yards on the ground.
There are four Americans appearing on the rosters of the two teams. University of Hawaii alumni DEs Kevin Jackson (#11) and Karl Noa (#12), and OL Frank Fernandez (#67) will play again this year for the Seagulls; while former Arizona Wildcats WR Brad "Boo" Brennan (#15) returns for yet another season with the Frontiers.
Perennial rivals Obic Seagulls will face off against the Fujitsu Frontiers beginning at 19:00.
While I am never much of a fan of indoor football, and the Bigg Egg is certainly one of my least favorite places to watch a football game, the recent hot muggy weather, and the high probability of rain and lightening probably justify the use of the Tokyo Dome indoors facility in this case.
The two team's fate was decided on 6/13 when Obic handily defeated the Pirates; and Fujitsu defeated their other main rivals Kajima by a much closer 20-17 score. In that game Fujitsu only completed 5 passes (albeit for 85 yards), but gained 252 yards on the ground.
There are four Americans appearing on the rosters of the two teams. University of Hawaii alumni DEs Kevin Jackson (#11) and Karl Noa (#12), and OL Frank Fernandez (#67) will play again this year for the Seagulls; while former Arizona Wildcats WR Brad "Boo" Brennan (#15) returns for yet another season with the Frontiers.
Friday, June 25, 2010
More East & West action on Saturday in Japan.
At Oji Stadium down Kobe way, Mieji will visit Kansai Gakuin. Meanwhile Nichidai will host Kyoto University at their facility in Shimo Takaido. That game was moved up from a scheduled Sunday contest at Amnino Vital field.
Both games will kick-off at 16:00.
At Oji Stadium down Kobe way, Mieji will visit Kansai Gakuin. Meanwhile Nichidai will host Kyoto University at their facility in Shimo Takaido. That game was moved up from a scheduled Sunday contest at Amnino Vital field.
Both games will kick-off at 16:00.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
movement
It wasn't an earthquake, but movements in the NCAA last week are tremors that portend seismic shifts in the football landscape there.
First Colorado announced it would leave the Big 12 for the Pac Ten (now 11). On Friday, Nebraska announced it was leaving the Big 12 for the Big Ten. That would give the Big Ten 12 members, while the Big 12 now has ten. Go figure! Don't worry though- no one expects things to remain that way for long.
Pac 10 commissioner Larry Scott appears to have outmaneuvered the Big 10's Jim Delaney, at least for the moment. Delaney began all the rumblings and speculation by announcing that the Big 10 was looking to expand withing the next 12-18 months; and that it wouldn't necessarily stop at twelve, indicating that 14 or 16 were possibilities. The hugely successful Big Ten TV network pays member schools a larger TV revenue share than that of any other conference, and larger than Notre Dame's exclusive contract with NBC.
Scott's plan that seems to be developing would bring 5 more teams to the Pac Ten to bring it to 16 of the PacWest (you read it here first) Conference, including what is generally regarded as the big prize, Texas. Presumably those teams would combine with Arizona and ASU to form an inland division, with the old members of the Pac Eight forming the Coastal Division. Their television contracts expire in 2011, and many are expecting them to attempt to construct something similar to the Big Ten network with Fox Sports.
The Big 10 was also reported to be in discussions with Texas, but did not want to bring along a lot of extra baggage- Texas Tech and Baylor by name- which the Texas state legislature forced the Big 12 to accept when Texas and Texas A & M joined the Big 8 to create the Big 12 in 1994, marking the demise of the Southwest Conference.
The Aggies are said to be eying a spot in the SEC instead, which would probably be good for them, getting out from under the Longhorn shadow.
The admission of Nebraska to the Big Ten frankly surprised me. It seems a much better deal for Nebraska than it is for the Big Ten. While the Cornhusker football program might bring some prestige, Nebraska ranks below all other Big Ten schools in academics; and offers a very small television market.
With Big Ten membership usually comes admission to the CIC, a consortium of shared research (and a huge amount of research $$) and graduate school programs that includes all Big Ten schools and the University of Chicago. It was established as an academic counterpoint to the athletic conference in 1958, and also boasts the largest combined library in the US. It is considered second in prestige only to the Ivy League. All members of the Big 10 are now members of the elite Association of American Universities, which was founded in 1900 with fourteen members, mostly from the Ivy League, as well as Michigan, Wisconsin, (and Stanford and UC Berkeley). The AAU now has 61 members. So achieving an invitation would be attractive addition to the legacy of the head of any university, as it is generally these people who make the decisions on which conferences to join.
The Big Ten has long thought to be pursuing Notre Dame as well as Texas. Notre Dame is fiercely protective of its Catholic and independent, especially in football. Though it is not a member of the AAU, it has been ranked #20 by the USN&WR, and would bring a nationwide fan-base.
My prediction- which proved to be wrong- was that the Big Ten would first approach ND and Texas simultaneously. Then, depending on the results of those negotiations, would look to expand in the East: Maryland, perhaps Virginia, and Rutgers and/or Syracuse (to heighten a presence in the NYC market); and (especially if Texas joined) into the Mid-southwest: meaning Texas A & M and/or Missouri (St. Louis and Kansas City markets). One intriguing idea included Georgia Tech along with Maryland, as one GT blogger pointed out that half the schools in the Big Ten are actually closer to Atlanta than many of the schools in the ACC.
First Colorado announced it would leave the Big 12 for the Pac Ten (now 11). On Friday, Nebraska announced it was leaving the Big 12 for the Big Ten. That would give the Big Ten 12 members, while the Big 12 now has ten. Go figure! Don't worry though- no one expects things to remain that way for long.
Pac 10 commissioner Larry Scott appears to have outmaneuvered the Big 10's Jim Delaney, at least for the moment. Delaney began all the rumblings and speculation by announcing that the Big 10 was looking to expand withing the next 12-18 months; and that it wouldn't necessarily stop at twelve, indicating that 14 or 16 were possibilities. The hugely successful Big Ten TV network pays member schools a larger TV revenue share than that of any other conference, and larger than Notre Dame's exclusive contract with NBC.
Scott's plan that seems to be developing would bring 5 more teams to the Pac Ten to bring it to 16 of the PacWest (you read it here first) Conference, including what is generally regarded as the big prize, Texas. Presumably those teams would combine with Arizona and ASU to form an inland division, with the old members of the Pac Eight forming the Coastal Division. Their television contracts expire in 2011, and many are expecting them to attempt to construct something similar to the Big Ten network with Fox Sports.
The Big 10 was also reported to be in discussions with Texas, but did not want to bring along a lot of extra baggage- Texas Tech and Baylor by name- which the Texas state legislature forced the Big 12 to accept when Texas and Texas A & M joined the Big 8 to create the Big 12 in 1994, marking the demise of the Southwest Conference.
The Aggies are said to be eying a spot in the SEC instead, which would probably be good for them, getting out from under the Longhorn shadow.
The admission of Nebraska to the Big Ten frankly surprised me. It seems a much better deal for Nebraska than it is for the Big Ten. While the Cornhusker football program might bring some prestige, Nebraska ranks below all other Big Ten schools in academics; and offers a very small television market.
With Big Ten membership usually comes admission to the CIC, a consortium of shared research (and a huge amount of research $$) and graduate school programs that includes all Big Ten schools and the University of Chicago. It was established as an academic counterpoint to the athletic conference in 1958, and also boasts the largest combined library in the US. It is considered second in prestige only to the Ivy League. All members of the Big 10 are now members of the elite Association of American Universities, which was founded in 1900 with fourteen members, mostly from the Ivy League, as well as Michigan, Wisconsin, (and Stanford and UC Berkeley). The AAU now has 61 members. So achieving an invitation would be attractive addition to the legacy of the head of any university, as it is generally these people who make the decisions on which conferences to join.
The Big Ten has long thought to be pursuing Notre Dame as well as Texas. Notre Dame is fiercely protective of its Catholic and independent, especially in football. Though it is not a member of the AAU, it has been ranked #20 by the USN&WR, and would bring a nationwide fan-base.
My prediction- which proved to be wrong- was that the Big Ten would first approach ND and Texas simultaneously. Then, depending on the results of those negotiations, would look to expand in the East: Maryland, perhaps Virginia, and Rutgers and/or Syracuse (to heighten a presence in the NYC market); and (especially if Texas joined) into the Mid-southwest: meaning Texas A & M and/or Missouri (St. Louis and Kansas City markets). One intriguing idea included Georgia Tech along with Maryland, as one GT blogger pointed out that half the schools in the Big Ten are actually closer to Atlanta than many of the schools in the ACC.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Spring Football
Like elsewhere, football is a year-round commitment for players in coaches. But in Japan, fans are able to see lots of competitive football in Spring and Fall.
While Autumn is considered the true regular season, teams are actually forged during the spring and summer. The spring seasons feature their own tournaments and games, and the atmosphere is a little more fun and relaxed. A little.
This weekend has a pretty full schedule at all levels, with games at Amino Vital, Kawasaki, as well as at Takai University Takamgahara Ground, and Gakushuin's ground in Mejiro.
The Harbors meet the Bandits in X-3 Tokyo Bayside Bowl action kicking off at 11 AM at Amino Vital. The Bandits prevailed over the Steelers 13-10 on May 3rd at Oi Dai-ni, when the Harbors soundly defeated Marubeni 34-7. That game will be followed by Japan Sports U vs. Meiji Gakuin at 13:30; and Tokyo Gakugei vs. Boei at 16:00.
Sunday morning High School Students will begin things there, followed by Medical school games at 13:30, and Kokushukan vs Rikyo in the later game. Meanwhile X-1 (Pearl Bowl) action continues this weekend at Kawasaki with double-headers scheduled for both days. X-1 continues playing 60 minute games, 20 minute half-times. More on that later.
While Autumn is considered the true regular season, teams are actually forged during the spring and summer. The spring seasons feature their own tournaments and games, and the atmosphere is a little more fun and relaxed. A little.
This weekend has a pretty full schedule at all levels, with games at Amino Vital, Kawasaki, as well as at Takai University Takamgahara Ground, and Gakushuin's ground in Mejiro.
The Harbors meet the Bandits in X-3 Tokyo Bayside Bowl action kicking off at 11 AM at Amino Vital. The Bandits prevailed over the Steelers 13-10 on May 3rd at Oi Dai-ni, when the Harbors soundly defeated Marubeni 34-7. That game will be followed by Japan Sports U vs. Meiji Gakuin at 13:30; and Tokyo Gakugei vs. Boei at 16:00.
Sunday morning High School Students will begin things there, followed by Medical school games at 13:30, and Kokushukan vs Rikyo in the later game. Meanwhile X-1 (Pearl Bowl) action continues this weekend at Kawasaki with double-headers scheduled for both days. X-1 continues playing 60 minute games, 20 minute half-times. More on that later.
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