On this show we steer from the beaten path of spring ball in favor of dropping some headlines on the listeners. Rob Harley and Michael Felder wax philosophically on the biggest news in the world of college football. Warning folks its a heavy hitter as we tough on sexual orientation in college football, religion in light of the recent Mike Leach happenings and arrests in the game.

The safeties will hit on the expansion picture where Notre Dame might be forced to court the Big Ten if they're interested in joining the party, Jim Tressel comes out in a way most college football fans wouldn't expect, Senator Hatch trying to throw his weight around and Rich Rodriguez's job security in Ann Arbor.

Alabama's problem with bye weeks will be addressed folks!

We'll also hit on the double whammy in Oregon and the "Pinstripe Bowl" being planned for the new Yankee Stadium.

Show kicks off like Kige Ramsey:

Tweet all your stupid, silly or serious questions to @InTheBleachers and remember:

I didn't think your question was dumb until you asked it

Long time friend of the show Peter Bean stops by to talk for your listening pleasure. Bean, of Burnt Orange Nation has a lot to share as we talk about the NFL Draft Combine and then get on to his area of expertise, the Texas Longhorns.

PB was lucky enough to be a credentialed media member at the combine so he shares his experience interactingboth with the traditional media members and the players themselves. Peter was there during notable such as Tim Tebow, Trent Williams and Jordan Shipley's presser and has an interesting story about one of the questions fielded by Shipley.

We also don't forget about all the Longhorn fans out there as we talk both former and current 'Horns business. Bean and I hit on spring practice in Austin as Mack Brown and Co. have got some major holes to fill on both sides of the ball. We also take the time to highlight Texas' recruiting strategy and why they're so uniquely Texan in their approach.

The show wraps as Bean shares his thoughts on the legacy of Colt McCoy and where the NCAA's all-time winningest quarterback fits into Texas-lore.

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

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On a special edition of the podcast we welcome Teddy Greenstein from the Chicago Tribune to chat about his recent article concerning Notre Dame and their role in Big 10 expansion. He discusses the newest revelation about the situation, that Notre Dame is going to have to prove they want to be in the Big Ten before the league risks a second humiliation.

Greenstein seems pretty sure that the Domers will fight tooth and nail to remain independent, thus Big Ten expansion moves on without South Bend.

Teddy also takes the time to discuss the Illinois, Northwestern and Michigan coaching pictures. For Ron Zook and Rich Rodriguez things aren't looking so hot up in Big Ten country as the coaches appear to be on their way out barring a serious turnaround.

Pat Fitzgerald on the other hand, has got Northwestern moving in the right direction and with each step towards success the Wildcats will have to work to keep Pat at home.

Thanks to Teddy Greenstein for talking to us as he drove from Chicago to Indianapolis to cover the Big Ten Basetball Tournament.

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner, but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the New RSS Feed. This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers"on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

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My pal Allen Kenney over at Blatant Homerism has crafted quite a nice article on why he feels his quarterback, Sam Bradford should be the first quarterback selected in the NFL draft. However, lets get one thing straight, he's an Oklahoma guy and it is quite easy for a Boomer Sooner supporter to throw on the Crimson and Cream glasses and tout Bradford.

It is another thing to take a guy who is apathetic towards a school and hear him defend Jimmy Clausen. A guy who despised Charlie Weis, was appalled at Clausen's limo-ridin' ceremony and enjoyed seeing his Heels pick off Jimmy and pound on the poorly protected quarterback. In short folks, I'm far from a Clausen supporter, in fact I'm by all accounts a Sooner fringe fan but I cannot let folks sit back and look at Bradford as the best selection when, to me, there is such a glaring potential for abject failure.

To put it another way, Clausen isn't my favorite quarterback, he didn't even make my Top 10 Prospects List for the upcoming draft. If I had my druthers the idea of taking either of these would be stowed away for pondering in the second round.

But alas it is my duty to inform why Clausen is my guy and Bradford is a no-no for us here at In The Bleachers.

Case for Clausen

There's no real need to use Clausen's stats as a justification for drafting him over Bradford, the Sooner truly blows him out of the water. However, Graham Harrell and Timmy Chang also hold that incredible distinction as well. Throw in Andre Ware and you've got a veritable round touble on no shot NFL quarterbacks.

Instead when I look for the pluses on Clausen, I center that argument on Clausen's toughness and his mastery of a proven NFL system. The kid truly owns those belts over Bradford and it is not even close.

Clausen's freshman season saw the spiky haired brat get tossed around like a rag doll behind a shoddy offensive line full of undersized, underexperienced and at times under talented players. He had no proven weapons and when weapons emerged he had no time to find them. The Irish, under Weis had zero rushing game and Clausen, operating from under center, got bashed as teams pinned back their ears to physically abuse the frosh.

Jimmy took a shot. Jimmy got back up. Jimmy called the play. Jimmy took another shot. Repeat the cycle.

He gained a lot of respect in my eyes for playing through the beatings. Not throwing a fit, not going down easy and not quitting. He worked to win every single play.

As Notre Dame got better so too did Clausen's numbers (and his hair). With the improvement we got a chance to notice what made the last (thank God) of the Clausen Bros the most heralded quarterback in the nation. He exhibited an understanding of the game and the arm strength that must be possessed by an NFL quarterback.

Clausen ran a similar offense to Tom Brady. The reads, the check downs, the progressions and the route-sight adjusts that guys like Drew Bledsoe and Vinny Testaverde used successfully in the NFL. Jimmy is ready to step right in and run one of the NFL's more complicated systems from the mental aspect. He's mastered reading defenses; both pre-snap and during his drop backs.

What separates Clausen is not just his mastery of the mental angle but also his ability to put this mental progress into practice. He has a great NFL arm, the type of arm that, without question is capable of NFL throws.

How do I know?

Because Clausen has already thrown the dig route to Golden Tate. He's already hit Kyle Rudolph on the deep come back route. Jimmy's already tossed the corner route between the safety and the cornerback to Michael Floyd. The kid has already thrown the deep out from the hash to Robby Parris.

While we're speculating about Snead, Bradford, Pike and Tebow's ability to make NFL throws the fact is only one quarterback in the draft of note has already proved this in game situations, Jimmy Clausen.

That is tangible. That is real. That isn't throwing the ball in a drill over air. That's not a pro day work out. That is a quarterback, with defenses bearing down on him standing in the pocket and throwing the ball with power to a target down field.

That can be seen on film.

And as football guys like to tell you, film don't lie.

Allen Kenney from Bloguin Partner "Blatant Homerism" stops by the show for a little spirited debate about the two highest rated quarterbacks in this year's NFL Draft. Kenney takes the side of man who quarterbacked his Sooners, the Heisman winning Sam Bradford while your host Michael Felder fires the shots for Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen.

There are plenty of salvos launched from both side as Kenney uses one of Felder's NFL guru's criteria to downgrade Clausen as he champions for Bradford. Michael brings up his favorite argument against Bradford; we'll call it the Heupel, Hybl and White effect.

This debate will rage until the draft in April and this is just the first in a series of battles over which matters more for NFL success; comfort in running a pro system or prolific college statistics.

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner,but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the New RSS Feed.This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers" on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

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Thursday I had the pleasure of being a guest on The Afternoon Blitz on The Fan 790 and 1350 in Southeast Georgia. Host Kevin Thomas and I got into both the SEC and ACC early pictures during my appearance on the show. We talk about the quarterback pictures in the SEC East and though it is tough to believe South Carolina's Stephen Garcia is the best returning quarterback in the division.

The show also delves into the ACC Coastal Division and how the league needs a team like Miami or Virginia Tech to step up and be a national contender. Although coaches such as John Bunting, Chan Gailey, Chuck Amato and Larry Coker have been replaced with Butch Davis, Paul Johnson, Tom O'Brien and Randy Shannon it is going to take a nationally respected team for the league to improve their standing.

Download the show by clicking here and be sure to let us get your thoughts on the appearance.

That's right I went "y'all" on you folks out there. In this edition of Hoot & Holler live we're throwing in a little extra dose of southern flavor as Rob Harley and Michael Felder are joined by Felder's fellow Tar Heel Nick Starcevic, not the one from Big Brother 8. We're going to do some quick draft recap and hit on the combine's significance as well as give our favorite drills.

Here's a hint the speed drills are not the favorite of your host.

After hitting the combine we'll roll right into spring football. Within a week some 29 FBS schools will have spring ball underway and that means position battles, fights and juggling school, meetings and popping pads 15 times.

To listen to the show live just click here or if you've got a comment feel free to call in at 724-444-7444 and use code 27329#.

If you've got questions be sure to email them in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Or tweet in your comments and questions to us here @InTheBleachers!

It never fails as the combine comes to a close. No this is something that can be counted on like the sun rising in the east, setting in the west. It is as reliable as death and taxes. "It" is the proverbial naysayer. More specifically the droves out countless tweeters, bloggers, columnists, sports radio hosts, college football fans and school specific fanatics that scream, almost in unison:

"THE COMBINE DOESN'T EVEN MATTER"

Sometimes it comes after their players don't do so hot on the track. Sometimes it comes after a player from a rival school elevates his stock. Sometimes it comes out of spite and disgust with all the hype surrounding the biggest job interview in America.

No matter where it comes from the fact is it comes. You'll hear it rained down from former players who weren't elite combine invites. Trumpeted by sports radio personalities who like to think they've got some clue as to what it takes to play in the league. Recited like a mantra by fans who are looking for a way to validate their All-American corner who just ran a 4.7-40 yard dash.

Its frustrating, annoying and more than anything ridiculous. The fact that twitter has exploded with people saying "it doesn't matter" is just another reason to add to the recklessly penned columns about how "the combine isn't important." Here's a fact folks:

LIKE IT OR NOT THE COMBINE IS A GREAT TOOL THAT COMPLETES THE HOLY TRINITY OF PLAYER EVALUATION

That holy trinity of course being film evaluation, personality assessment and finally combine production.

Read more for why the combine does matter and ITB's official stance on the NFL Draft Combine's importance...

On this edition of the ITB Podcast we have a special guest; Sam McKewon from the Nebraska State Paper and the site Husker Locker. Sam wrote an interesting article this past week discussing the advent of a General Manager position in the college football world. It is an innovative concept that would lower college football coaching salaries by reducing their duties as well as working to ensure compliance, maintain media relations, hire personnel and handle the front of end of recruiting.

McKewon discusses the Michigan situation as a prime example of where a GM would not only be the record keeper for the documentation process but also work with the AD to guide him in hiring decisions. He sites Bo Pelini's relationship with Tom Osborne as a prime example of how a person above the head coach could help steer the ship in the right direction.

Obviously with the exception of Mike Belotti, Barry Alvarez and Osborne a person would need to be hired for this position, hence the creation of the GM position. It is a great argument that would free up head coaches to coach, stop the skyrocketing salaries and help keep programs compliant.

As an added bonus the GM would be a great advocate for the football program to the AD and act as a buffer between the football side of things and the academia-business world of the campus.

McKewon also sheds some light on Ndamukong Suh's draft status as well as tells us why he thinks THERE WILL BE NO EXPANSION!

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner, but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the New RSS Feed. This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers" on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

Got a question? Email it in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Hit us up on Twitter @InTheBleachers!

Eric Galko from NFL House and the Optimum Scouting Department stops by to rehash all the action from the mega event known at the NFL Draft Combine. We talk about the biggest winners and the biggest losers at the combine as well as hit on some ITB favorites and how they performed during the event.

Galko breaks out the term "Raider Prospect" to describe the workout warriors like Bruce Campbell and spends some time talking about guys who helped themselves by performing well in Indy. Names on that list include the trio Ben Tate, Anthony Dixon and Montario Hardesty, three SEC running backs. We also talk about Golden Tate, Sean Weatherspoon, Eric Olsen and Jarret Brown, all guys who helped boost their standings.

On the down side we hit Arrelious Benn out of Illinois, Jonathan Dwyer from Georgia Tech and Ciron Black of LSU. Among other these guys were a major let down after entering the season as elite talents. Benn appeared disengaged, Dwyer was slow and sloppy and Black was all sorts of stiff and slow-footed.

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner,but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the New RSS Feed.This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers" on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

Got a question? Email it in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Hit us up on Twitter @InTheBleachers!