ESPN

Beano Cook

  (3:02 PM)

Good afternoon and welcome. I have warmed up after a slow start, picking winners four straight weeks. I am now 4-4 on the season. We will see if I can make it five in a row at the end of this hour.

Donald D (Eugene, OR)

In the real world, thousands of small businesses and family farms fail due to the principal owner working until death without making proper estate and succession planning arrangements. So why is anyone surprised that Paterno and Bowden refuse to step down from coaching?

Beano Cook

  (3:04 PM)

I have no complaint. If they feel they can coach and win then they should stay. Everyone is an expert at everybody else's business.

Alan (Shreveport, LA)

Beano,I have a friend (SEC fan) who says that Penn State does not belong in the BCS Championship because they are in the Big 10. His reasoning being Ohio State's performances the past two years. I bring the fact that the Big 10 has a winning record against the SEC in bowl games the past 5 years. He says that the SEC teams are upset to be in these games, and therefore do not try. I bring up Oklahoma's back-to-back losses in BCS games to counter Ohio State's embarrassing losses in BCS games. He even goes as far to say that teams do not care about these BCS games either...just the championship. Your thoughts?

Beano Cook

  (3:05 PM)

Penn State's own merits should be all that matter. I feel either Alabama or Texas will lose a game, so if Penn State goes 12-0, it should be in the BCS title game.

John (Chattanooga, Tennessee)

Knowing the BCS is screwed up.. Can anybody say that, even if Texas, T-Tech, or Penn St. run the table, the Georgia/Florida winner wins out defeating a #2 Bama in the SEC Championship that either UGA or UF will leapfrog into the National title game? I know alot of if's and but's, however, I can feel a huge contraversy brewing..

Beano Cook

  (3:06 PM)

There is a formula where the 1-2 teams will play. The top two teams will play for the championship. You can certainly debate who belongs in the game, but there is a lot of football left.

Bernard (Princeton, NJ)

Get your Penn State 1969 team story straight. With 4 weeks remaining in the season, the team voted to go to the Orange Bowl. Joe gave them the option to vote again. They said 'No,' even though Joe wanted to play the highest ranked team possible. Everyone was shocked when Ohio State lost giving the Texas-Arkansas winner the #1 ranking going into the Cotton Bowl. Also, many black players were very nervous playing in Texas because of all the racism still going on down there. Dont forget Richard Nixon did in fact dislike Joe Paterno.... guess Nixon got his in the end though. HA!

Beano Cook

  (3:10 PM)

That is pure nonsense. They voted on Sunday before the Michigan-Ohio State game. They voted not to go, preferring the Orange Bowl. Your information and obesveration is incorrect. It was 33-30 to go to the Orange Bowl. George Welsh conducted the vote. He told Joe that it was close. Joe thought it would be near unanimous to go to the Orange Bowl. He was surprised. You got your information from the same person that told Custer there were no Indians in the area. Paterno was also positive that Ohio State would beat Michigan. Penn State has a legitimate complaint in `994, but not in 1969.

Mike (Altoona, PA)

Why is it fair for Alabama to play Ark St but Penn St got scrutinized for scheduling them? Bama also played Western Kentucky, PSU drops Ark St, picks up Oreg St and still gets ripped apart for soft scheduling...what gives?

Beano Cook

  (3:12 PM)

Coastal Carolina...the schedule is the schedule, so quit complaining. Texas or Alabama or both will lose, and Penn State will play for the national title. I know some feel a one-loss SEC team like Florida has a chance but I feel Penn State will be there.

Az

How come ESPN has not talked much about the crimson tide?

Beano Cook

  (3:13 PM)

Are you kidding me? Look, ESPn covers every team, quit your complaining. Everyone thinks their team is being shortchanged, but I don't believe there is any bias for or against Alabama. By the way, don't be surprised if Gameday is at Alabama-LSU.

ken

How about an Oregon State/Minnesota Rose Bowl?

Beano Cook

  (3:14 PM)

Ratings grabber.

Jason (Bryan, Ohio)

Does FSU actually have a chance of beating Florida this year?

Beano Cook

  (3:15 PM)

Ask mer in a few weeks. Two years ago Florida State lost by a touchdown. The Seminoles are in the top 20 and lost one game all season. When they meet, it will be a good game.

Ryan, Detroit, MI

If the Big 12 and SEC all bump each other off, is it possible USC could weasel back into the championship game.

Beano Cook

  (3:17 PM)

Absolutely. USC and Penn State is still a strong possibility, as is Oklahoma-Penn State. Just remember what happened last year with West Virginia losing to Pittsburgh and the Big 12 title game result. A lot of football left to be played.

Stephanie Wiggins

Which non BCS school has the best chance to be a BCS crasher?

Beano Cook

  (3:18 PM)

Utah or Boise State. Both actually have a shot with the four wild cards in play. The Utah-BYU game will still be a very important one.

Craig (PA)

Beano, have you ever seen a more intense game than the PSU-OSU game last weekend? I know everyone likes the big offense, shoot-em out, basketball score Big 12 games, but give me a solid defensive battle with almost no penalties (0 from penn state, only 4 for ohio state) any day of the week.

Beano Cook

  (3:20 PM)

Yes, but it has been a while. That was a great game and it proves you don't have to have a lot of touchdowns to have a great game. Penn State did not have a penalty and it did not commit a turnover.

Bernard (Princeton, NJ)

Sorry Beano, your information on the 1969 PSU team is only partially correct. Try typing 1969 Penn State Football into The Google. Learning is a fantastic thing, trust me.

Beano Cook

  (3:23 PM)

Number one, my information is 100 percent correct because I spoke to the school after the voting on that Sunday. The person I spoke to was Jim Tarman. My information is correct, believe what you want. Penn State turned down a bid to play the highest ranked team available. in 1970, when the Notre Dame players voted to go to the Orange Bowl, coach Parseghian told the team the tradition is to play the highest-ranked team available. The team voted again and opted to go to the Cotton Bowl. Not that they had much choice. Penn State did not make the right move and Notre Dame did. You can Google that too!

Nick M. (Atlanta, GA)

Beano, if you could choose one current D-1 coach to take the reigns of your team for the next 20+ years, who would it be?

Beano Cook

  (3:25 PM)

I would want to pick someone in their late 30s or early 40s. Either Skip Holtz of East Carolina or Al Golden of Temple. You have to be realistic that some coach would be willing to take the job and stay there for 20 years.

Dave (Phoenix)

Beano, why didn't you inform Custer of the Indians?

Beano Cook

  (3:26 PM)

I was on leave.

Jim (Morgantown, WV)

How do you see the Big East playing out?

Beano Cook

  (3:27 PM)

It is the weakest conference in the BCS. It is a toss-up and the West Virginia-Connecticut game is actually pretty important.

Steve (South Bend, IN)

Do you think Notre Dame will play in the Gator Bowl? If so, will they break the streak of losses and regain some national respect?

Beano Cook

  (3:28 PM)

Notre Dame could get a BCS bid if it goes 10-2. If it finishes 9-3, Gator Bowl. Possible opponent there could be Florida State.

Hunter

Beano: This chat is getting carried away. Please give us your take on the Tech/UT game this weekend!

Beano Cook

  (3:29 PM)

I will do that later.

joe (new orleans)

notre dame in the BCS? are you kidding me? that will be YET ANOTHER game they don't belong in and they will get smashed...AGAIN

Beano Cook

  (3:32 PM)

I will not agree or disagree with that. If the Irish win 10 games they will be in the BCS because that means a victory over USC. It is unbelievable that Notre Dame has gone 20 years without winning a national championship.

Bigwavedave (Annapolis, MD)

Serious question. Are the sidelines getting too crowded? That kid got his leg busted up pretty bad all so someone could park a cart near the field? What the???

Beano Cook

  (3:33 PM)

I notice that a lot of people on the sidelines should not be there. Game management people should restrict some access to those who don't belong.

Mike W. (San Diego, CA)

Beano, who will coach the Vols next year should Fulmer be fired or resign?

Beano Cook

  (3:34 PM)

If I had to pick somebody, Jim Grobe from Wake Forest would be my choice. The SEC is a very tough league so I can't say whether Fulmer should be fired.

Beano Cook

  (3:35 PM)

Fans are so unreasonable and unrealistic these days.

Beano Cook

  (3:35 PM)

By the way, Auburn fans questioning Tommy Tuberville should be locked up in jail and forced to watch local news for two straight years.

Rob (Charleston, SC)

Beano, who do you see coaching Clemson next season?

Beano Cook

  (3:37 PM)

Hard to say at this point. There is certainly pressure at that job. Clemson fans are also unrealistic.

Bruce (Dallas)

Of the teams in top 10, what game would you want to see for the championship? Not 1-2 BCS, but who you think top 2 are.

Beano Cook

  (3:38 PM)

I think the top two teams are probably USC and Texas or Florida, as of right now. Again, things can change and the Trojans and Gators both lost a game. Texas, Alabama and Penn State, as of now, are the three teams fighting to play for the championship.

MIke

I would love to see a Texas-Florida NC game. Whats your take on that one?

Beano Cook

  (3:40 PM)

That would be very attractive, as would Penn State-Texas or USC-Alabama. There are a lot of great possibilities.

Josh (Lincoln, NE)

Nebraska have any shot in Norman?

Beano Cook

  (3:41 PM)

Very little. Great rivalry. It would be unfair for them to play every year as long as you have two divisions, though I know some people want an annual game.

Darren G. (Manassas, VA)

Why doesn't college get rid of the Heisman, it doesn't ever translate in the pros.

Beano Cook

  (3:42 PM)

One has nothing to do with the other, Get rid of the Heisman, that is silly observation. What do you want next, get rid of the constitution?

Beano Cook

  (3:43 PM)

By the way, doesn't anyone have tickets for the Oklahoma City Thunder-Atlanta Hawks game later this season? I heard it is a tough ticket.

ken

How about this scenario? Bobby Johnson to Clemson, Fulmer to Vandy, Tubberville to Tennessee, Muschamp to Auburn? Unlikely bobby would move, but if he did, that would be an interesting chain.

Beano Cook

  (3:44 PM)

I am glad you have so much time to figure that out at work. I hope you are not an air traffic controller.

rives(va)

Will UNC make the jump into BCS contention next year?

Beano Cook

  (3:47 PM)

Maybe. I am not sure what the non-conference schedule is next season, nor which teams from the other division. Schedule is important and the conference you play in means a lot. Butch Davis has certainly done a great job turning that program around...and he has done it very quickly. The Tar Heels will be number one in basketball and the football team should get a good bowl. Life is good on Franklin Street.

Josh (College Station)

Call me premature (my girlfriend does), but who do you have as your top team for next year?

Beano Cook

  (3:48 PM)

Sure, because you are from College Station. Penn State-Alabama. Let's get through this season first.

Clinton (Waco, TX)

Will Colt McCoy win the Heisman?

Beano Cook

  (3:49 PM)

Ask me after this week. He has certainly had a great season so far, going against a tough schedule.

David (Annapolis, MD)

Favorite candy? I see you as a full size snickers man. Frozen when you have the time!

Beano Cook

  (3:49 PM)

Butterfinger.

Ryan (Cedar Rapids, Ia)

Iowa or Illinois this weekend?

Beano Cook

  (3:50 PM)

Ivan Maisel picked Iowa to win the game. I have no prediction, but my pick for the week is coming up in a few minutes.

rick (ca)

With the NCAA ruling on the incorrect booth review call, will the score of last week's Michigan State-Michigan game officially change?

Beano Cook

  (3:51 PM)

Of course not. First of all, it was the Big Ten and commissioner Delany who said there was a mistake. Second, it happens. It will not be changed, sorry.

Phil (Honolulu HI)

If the horn's didn't have homefield advantage last week, do you think we could be looking at a 7-1 horn team this week?

Beano Cook

  (3:54 PM)

Number one, teams have home field advantage different weeks. Sure if it was in Stillwater the Cowboys may have won. It was played in Austin. So be it.

Beano Cook

  (3:55 PM)

I am on a winning streak, now sitting 4-4. I hope to make it five in a row and get on the plus side. Texas Tech 81, Texas 79. You get the idea. If you take the over in this game you still might lose is. See you next week.