2010 Capital One Bowl Prediction

Short and sweet, like my existence around here the last few months. OK, half a year.

These teams are evenly matched. Whichever team makes more mistakes loses. The offensive lines will be the key to the game. Who wants it more?

I love cliches.

Penn State 16, LSU 13

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

STRAP-NAC THE MAGNANIMOUS' BOWL PICKS

By Your Athletic Supporter, Jack STRAP

STRAP-NAC THE MAGNANIMOUS, the noted soothsayer from the Far East(ern part of the U.S.) is here to help you with your College Foot-BOWL PICKS. These BOWL PICKS were made many years ago when STRAP-NAC attended PSU and since then have been hermetically sealed in a Rolling Rock pony bottle from the 'Skellar which was then buried in Joe Paterno's backyard. No one knows these BOWL PICKS except STRAP-NAC who now in a MAGNANIMOUS gesture will share them with you. If you're a gambler, you can take these BOWL PICKS "to the bank". And when I say "to the bank" I mean if you bet using these PICKS, your bank account will mysteriously be reduced to zero, which will then bankrupt your bank, triggering Obama-nomics TARP money. And by TARP, I don't mean Troubled Assets Relief Program, but rather Totally Asinine Ridiculous Picks.

* Gator BOWL: Could Bobby Bowden's forced Retirement, after all he's done for the Seminoles program, get any worse? Yes--WVU Mountaineers 42 FSU 13.
* Capital One BOWL: Before this game, Bobby B's Buddy JoePa will tell the story of PSU beating LSU 16-9 in the Orange Bowl back in 1973 when Joe was only 47 & his current players' parents were kids. Then the Nittany Lions will go out and win by the identical 16-9 score.
* Sugar BOWL: "Gatorade" is what Florida gets from the officials and "screwed" is what Cincinnati gets from them (not to mention by Notre Dame) as the Gators squeak by 21-20.
* Rose BOWL: Ohio State 28 Oregon 27. Figuring the Buckeyes are due after (3) straight BOWL defeats. If I'm wrong, see TARP above.
* Fiesta BOWL: What can TCU & Boise St. possibly due to earn the respect of the doubters? Nothing now that the BCS in their infinite wisdom matched them against each other. I feel so bad for them that I'm not even going to PICK this game.
* Orange BOWL: Is this the year the Big 10 earns some BOWL respect? I'm going to scream "Hell Yea!" & the Hawkeye fans will loudly agree with me. Iowa 17 Georgia Tech 16.
* GMAC BOWL: I had years ago lost my shirt by taking Troy to win the Trojan War.
* BCS National Championship Game: Technically this isn't even a BOWL, but I'll MAGNANIMOUSLY PICK it anyway. The conventional wisdom is that #1 Alabama is the best team from the best conference, but I'm unconventionally predicting that the Longhorns will catch the Crimson Tide looking ahead to their game against Penn State in September 2010 & roll the tide 28-23.
And Remember, you heard it right here in the "Sports Fountainhead".

Merry Christmas!

I know we haven't been posting much these last six months but from all of us at Sports Fountainhead...

THE STRAPPIES 2009

Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of stealth & haste. And haste makes waste & I don't want to waste your time, so let me tell you it's Your Athletic Supporter, Jack Strap here to bring you my 2009 Awards a.k.a. THE STRAPPIES.

BIGGEST FALL: This fall was Wiley Coyote-like from the highest cliff & our STRAPPY Winner TIGER WOODS had no one to blame (certainly not the Roadrunner) but himself. Despite his indiscretions, I have no problem with him winning "Athlete of the Decade" which put him on that highest cliff.

IF YOU AIN'T 1ST, YOU'RE LAST: A Ricky Bobby-like performance by JIMMY JOHNSON in winning his 4th straight NASCAR Championship & this STRAPPY.

THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT: JJ may be the fastest by car, but this STRAPPY goes to the World's Fastest Man on foot--USAIN "Lightning" BOLT. This STRAPPY is also a classic movie featuring a young Clint "before Make My Day" Eastwood.

A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN: For this re-named flick Award: the country was the United Kingdom, the event was The British Open, and the STRAPPY Winner at Age 59 was TOM "It's Elementary My Dear" WATSON who came within only 8 feet of victory.

NOT THAT OLD, BUT UN-RETIRED NONETHELESS: This STRAPPY goes to BRETT FAVRE (didn't he also win this award in 2008 with Jets?), although if there will be a Super Story-Book Ending remains to be seen.

SUPER STORY-BOOK ENDING: With a clutch pitch-and-catch last February, sharing this STRAPPY are "Big" BEN R & SANTONIO HOLMES. When Big Ben first heard he was getting a STRAPPY, he wasn't sure if it was for the Super Bowl or when he won Vs. Shaq.

CINDERELLAS: College Football's CINCINNATI, TCU & BOISE ST. made it into the BCS Ball/Bowls to share this STRAPPY, but it turned Midnight when Notre Dame stole the Bearcats Coach & the BCS matched TCU vs. BSU assuring that neither could legitimize themselves.

BASEBALLS BEEN BERY, BERY BAD: Jack Strap continues his Strike against Baseball since their Strike in 1994, but presents this STRAPPY to his MOM who watched all the Phillies Games this year. Question is if Your Athletic Supporter is dating himself with references to the 1994 strike & worse yet 1979 SNL character Chico Escuela.

SLAP SHOT: This Olde Time Hockey STRAPPY goes to the NHL for coming up with outdoors "Winter Classic" with the 2009 game at Wrigley Field & upcoming Bruins vs. Flyers (anybody remember the Broad St. Bullies and/or the Hansen Brothers?) at classic Fenway Park.

CAN YOU DIG IT, SPIKER: This STRAPPY is a follow-up to Joey Mays' Penn State Volleyball story below & goes to the LADY LIONS who went on to win the National Championship for the 3rd straight year. The spikes & digs (and long legs) in that ultra-exciting 5-set win were "simply irresistible".

I HATE TO EAT & RUN: With his latest run to Kentucky, this STRAPPY Award-winner JOHN CALIPARI is eating very well while his former teams: Memphis & UMass have paid the NCAA price.

SHAQQY STRAPPY: This STRAPPY was invented by Shaq for SHAQ as the Big Humanitarian decided to help Lebron James in 2009 after his Cavs lost to the Magic & that kid dunked on the King.

Once guys start inventing STRAPPIES for themselves, it's time to bring the curtain down on THE STRAPPIES 2009. Hope you enjoyed 2009 & wishing all of you a Happy New Year 2010.

Lady Lions Head to 3rd Straight Volleyball National Title Game

Posting is few and very far between. But I have to mention the continued outstanding performances by the Penn State women's volleyball team. They've won 2 straight NCAA titles and last night defeated Hawai'i, 3-1, to advance to their third consecutive championship match. And it's no fluke; they're dominating people.

The Nittany Lions swept all but six of their wins this year. They dropped a set Thursday night for the first time since Nov. 20 at Purdue.

The 101-match streak is second in Division I team sports behind the Miami men's tennis program's 137 straight wins from 1957-64. The Nittany Lions haven't lost since falling to Stanford in September 2007.

The win also made Rose only the third women's volleyball coach in Division I history to reach 1,000 victories. He trails only UCLA's Andy Banachowski (1,106) and Shoji (1,016).

The Lady Lions will take on the Texas Longhorns on Saturday in the NCAA Championship in Florida.

LET'S GO STATE!