Monday's Thoughts 4-5

- Alabama QB A.J. McCarron went 21-for-28 passing for 228 years throwing three touchdowns in Saturday’s spring intra-squad scrimmage, and that has got many buzzing about a potential quarterback competition between McCarron and current Tide QB Greg McElroy. McCarron a redshirt freshman has impressed over the first nine days of camp and looks like he could challenge the undefeated starting senior quarterback McElroy for time next season. However, the real man losing out in all of this is redshirt freshman QB Star Jackson. Jackson a highly regarded quarterback prospect out of Lake Worth, Fla. was thought to be the predecessor for McElroy, but now appears to have lost the job to McCarron. Expect a potential transfer from Jackson soon, as Alabama’s coaching staff keeps bringing in elite quarterbacks like early enrollee QB Phillip Sims.

- Florida HB Jeff Demps appears to be the fastest player in college football after running the 100-meter at 10.11 seconds. While Demps is setting track records, he is also missing out on Florida’s spring practices which could be trouble for Urban Meyer and the Gators. The Florida running back corp. hasn’t been steady since the 2005 days of Ciatrick Fayson and DeShawn Wynn. The latest setback is another injury to RB Emmanuel Moody. With Demps and Moody out for spring practices look for sophomore HB Mike Gillisee to have a big impact in the offense come this Fall.

- The NCAA is flirting with the idea of a 96-team tournament, but that is flat wrong. North Carolina dosen't deserve to make one of the greatest sporting events after finishing an embarrising 16-16. Heck North Carolina shouldn't deserve to play in any post seaon play. The NIT and CBI Insider Tournament
are where teams that dont make the selection comitees cut should play. Looking outside of the box, a small program like Rhode Island or Drake should embrace in playing in the NIT as they are given more of a chance to win games on TV. If those programs where looking to take the next step, the NIT gives them the opportunity to take center stage on ESPN. Don't let the NCAA ruin a great event for "money."

- Georgia Tech could have made the best coaching change this off season, and many people still don’t know. Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson brought in former Virginia Head Coach Al Groh to become the Jackets Defensive Coordinator. Groh always had good defense’s during his nine seasons with Virginia, and will need to translate that success to Tech. Revamping a defense that lost the likes of S Morgan Burnett will be key to the Jackets success as the offense will be led by senior QB Josh Nesbitt again.

A. Ivins Likes:

Butler over Duke by 1. Everyone is going to take Duke here, but I like the Cinderella story. Butler will play off the emotions of a home crowd and win it at the end.  Perhaps a last second buzzer beater?

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-A. Ivins