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Ivan Maisel

  (1:59 PM)

I am here on time. Wanted to do it at least once before the end of the year.

Brad (gadsden,Alabama)

Ivan, What bowl game are you going to?

Ivan Maisel

  (1:59 PM)

I am covering the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, then flying to Fort Lauderdale to cover the BCS Championship Game.

manny ( lawton, ok)

Any word on Harvin and the NC game ?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:00 PM)

When he did not play in the SEC Championship Game, Fla. OC Dan Mullen told me that Harvin would be out another two weeks. I haven't heard anything to change that. I assume he'll be ready to go.

Sad, Embarrassed Auburn Fan (Atlanta, GA)

Ivan - what have we done?!? In my opinion, Auburn has set back the program 5-6 years. I know Auburn football is basically dead for the next half decade, but just tell me something positive.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:01 PM)

You have a pretty bird.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Do you think with Joe Pa's new contract, Tom Bradley may test the HC waters elsewhere?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:01 PM)

I assume that if Bradley were going to leave Penn State, he would have left already.

John Heisman (New York, NY)

What is your opinion on how Tebow was left out of the 154 Heisman ballots?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:03 PM)

I think some of it was people voting "strategically," which is not cool. And I think some people in Big 12 country feel justified in voting for the three QBs from that conference.

chad(NYC)

Ivan, Is this finally the year that ND ends their woeful Bowl streak?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:03 PM)

Haven't made my picks yet. But asking them to win in the other guy's stadium isn't exactly a great way to end a losing streak.

Ben (Gainesville, FL)

What do you think of Sam Bradford's performances in the clutch? (0-3 when OU is trailing at any point in the 4th Quarter)

Ivan Maisel

  (2:04 PM)

You're reaching, Ben. Reaching.

Bryan (Chicago, IL)

Ivan, love the Wednesday podcast and listening to some of the history of college football. What's been you're favorite moment of the season up until this point?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:05 PM)

Thanks! Beano is great. The best games I covered this season were Texas at Texas Tech and the SEC Championship Game. Moments? Probably Crabtree's catch against the 'Horns, and just the giddy feeling after Alabama tied the score at 7-7 that the SEC game would not be one-sided. That was a great game to watch and to cover.

Mike (Dallas)

What is your take on not inviting Graham Harrell to the Heisman ceremony? He deserved the invite...

Ivan Maisel

  (2:06 PM)

The Downtown Athletic Club responds strictly to the votes coming in. And it's clear by the final tallies that Harrell didn't have the votes.

John (Flagstaff)

What do you mean by "strategically?"

Ivan Maisel

  (2:07 PM)

I assume that some voters left Tebow off their ballots to give Bradford or McCoy a better chance to win.

Denny: York, PA

Ivan: I've been very surprised that Gary Patterson of TCU has not moved into any of the better coaching positions available, especially considering some of the weird, risky hires this year. His record is very similar to those of coaches who moved up and succeeded. Why wasn't he hired at one of the better coaching jobs?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:09 PM)

I don't get it, either. Auburn interviewed Patterson but, as we all know, went in another direction. The man took a good TCU program and made it better. He has won consistently. I don't understand why he hasn't been more sought after.

Mike (Dallas)

Ok Ivan...but there are five spots, ans he deserved to be there, did he not?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:10 PM)

Heisman ballots have three spots. And the DAC will invite anyone who has a chance to win after a certain percentage of the ballots come in.

Chet (AL)

Do you see Utah and/or BYU joining the Pac-10 anytime in the future? How about TCU joining the Big-12?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:11 PM)

I don't see the Pac-10 expanding, although a new commissioner may decide to try to move the conference in a different direction. The league should announce a choice within a matter of weeks. TCU in the Big 12? I doubt it, unless there is substantial upheaval again.

Bernard (Princeton, NJ)

What do you think of Pat Devlin transfering from Penn State?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:13 PM)

I think he wants to play, and I assume that he wants the chance to play professionally, and if Joe Flacco got to the NFL from Delaware, then Devlin thinks he can, too.

David (South Brunswick, NJ)

How long can small teams keep their succesful head coaches before BCS teams offer way too much money to match...ex Univ Houston where Briles left for Baylor and now Sumlin is being mentioed by BCS schools

Ivan Maisel

  (2:15 PM)

It's the law of the jungle. Some guys like their school and can be happy there. Most coaches are quite ambitious, and feel as if they can get to the top, financially and professionally, only at the biggest schools.

Ben (Carrollton, GA)

Good match up in the Peach Bowl (I refuse to call it the Chick Fil-A Bowl) between GT and LSU. How do you see that game playing out?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:16 PM)

I think it all depends on how much LSU wants to play. You have to want to play to defend the option. It takes incredible discipline.

Justin (OKC)

Ivan,What was your criteria for your All-American Team? Have you even seen Dez Bryant play?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:17 PM)

That second receiver was one of our (the staff picked the team, not just me) toughest decisions. The discrepancy in Bryant's numbers at home and on the road is what made us keep looking. He had a great year, though.

John (Boise, ID)

Ivan, I think you should cover the Boise State vs. TCU game. What do you think?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:18 PM)

If it weren't the 23rd, I would have made a real push to cover it. I will be watching.

Kevin (San Diego)

Please comment, Ivan! The Pac-10 is the ONLY conference that has it right - they play a TRUE round robin, where everyone plays each other. Seriously, there is no better way to decide your champion! KEEP IT AT 10!!!!

Ivan Maisel

  (2:18 PM)

I agree.

Matt (Enterprise, AL)

Ivan, where do you think Alabama will rank in next season's pre-season poll?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:19 PM)

Probably higher than it deserves to. The Tide will lose most of its offensive line and a three-year starter at quarterback, among others.

Jared (Fort Worth, TX)

Could be partly that Patterson is happy at TCU and not looking to change? He removed his name from the Auburn job. He has turned down his alma mater, KSU, twice now. He loves Fort Worth and isn't going to leave unless it's an absolutely ideal situation.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:20 PM)

Sure, that could be it. I know that Gary is very happy there.

Bryce (florida)

No room for Percy Harvin on the All American Team?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:20 PM)

Wasn't healthy for the first two-three games and missed the last one.

Littlejohn: Manhattan, KS

The next coach at Iowa State is ...

Ivan Maisel

  (2:20 PM)

in for a lot of work.

Lang (Austin, TX)

Ivan, I know it's sometimes a total crapshoot, but of the projected first rounders, who do feel should do well at the next level? Who do you think might be a bust?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:22 PM)

I really don't pay much attention to the NFL, at least until after the BCS Championship Game. And I am not a scout. So my answer would be somewhere between speculation and cluelessness.

Patrick (Mobile, AL)

Ivan, are you going to make it home for the GMAC Bowl? Who do you have: Tulsa or Ball St.?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:23 PM)

Wish i could. That's a great matchup, although without Brady Hoke coaching Ball State, you wonder how the team will respond. That is, if Hoke decides not to coach the game. I assume that he will not coach Ball State down there.

Ed (PA)

Even with losing 3 Wrs, do you think PSU can be just as good or better next season with Clark having a full year as a starter under his belt?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:25 PM)

The biggest concern for Penn State is not losing those receivers. It's losing those guys and three starters on the offensive line. That's a big chunk of a very good offense.

Corey (michigan)

Ivan, be honest: Are you a notre Dame hater? I don't think I have heard you say anything good about the team that put College football on the maps.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:26 PM)

They're having a bit of a dry spell, Corey.

Chris:Bainbridge, Ohio

How fast can Snyder turn around the K-State program?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:28 PM)

What I wonder is whether K-State is getting the Snyder of 15 years ago or the Snyder of five years ago. The latter one seemed worn out and past his sell date.

Cameron (Pensacola, FL)

I am an Oklahoma fan. Am I entitled to be upset at how other Sooner fans have been acting? We're in the title game, ranked #1, and won the Heisam, yet Sooner fans are still finding ways to whine. Why?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:29 PM)

A lot of college fans have chips on their shoulder about how they are viewed by the big, bad media from the big city. By the way, we are just a small cable outfit three miles off the interstate in a small Connecticut town.

Chad (Denver)

You've got Percy Harvin listed as a second choice on your all american team as a kick returner. Actually, the kick returner was Brandon James, not Harvin.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:31 PM)

That's sloppy language on my part. We discussed whether to pick a kick returner or an "all-around player." Maclin and Harvin were part of that discussion.

mike (miami, FL)

Ivan, what kind of impact will Mullen have on Florida's offensive play calling in the NC (will his mind be in Mississippi)? Tebow said he wasnt staying for the game, but now Meyer says he is?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:33 PM)

Mullen's a good playcaller. Some guys have responded well to the dual role (Pelini last year for LSU). Some haven't (Richt for Florida State in 2000). I guess we just have to wait and see. I'm sure Meyer would rather have Mullen than not have him.

Alex, San Diego

Ivan, Murray being out of NC game is a blow but I feel that OU is going to be OK with Brown and Madu. It seems that some media members are underestimating OU's balance and depth on offense. What,s your take on it?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:34 PM)

I agree. OU is deep at running back and at wide receiver. Losing Murray is a blow, but I don't think the Sooners will be held to three points and six first downs.

John, DC

The Pac-10 does not play a true round robin. That is just dead wrong.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:35 PM)

Actually, it's correct. The 10 teams play nine conference games. Have for two-three years.

Hope (Chance, CA)

Do you think a non-BCS team would ever win the national title ever again like BYU did years ago?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:37 PM)

Never say never, but it will take a lot of circumstances falling in the right way for it to happen. BYU's season fell that way in 1984.

Kelvin (Dayton)

Is Ohio State in an impossible situation? The way I see it, if they lose, they keep their bad rep. If they win, people will just say Texas wasn't interested in the Fiesta Bowl.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:37 PM)

And if they win, what do you care? That would be a great problem to have.

Mark (Knoxville)

Think that Shonn Greene can rush for 2,000 on the season? needs somewhere around 220 against South Carolina to pull it off! Do you like the hawks to contend next year in the Big 10?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:39 PM)

I don't see Greene getting 220 against that defense. I like the Hawks to contend next season, as long as they find a running back. Stanzi will have to pick up his game. He had the luxury this year of being able to win by not screwing up. Next year, he'll have to make more plays.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

If OU gets trounced in the BCS title game, will they be talked about in the same way Ohio State is?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:41 PM)

No. Now if the Sooners make the championship game again next year and get trounced, they may have some issues to deal with.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:42 PM)

Thanks, everyone. I'm not sure when my next chat will be (next Wednesday is Xmas Eve) but I'm sure we'll talk soon.