Desmond Thomas, The Computers, SOS

Stephen Tsai has an excellent profile of Warrior safety Desmond Thomas.

Today is very good for Desmond Thomas.

He is the Hawai'i football team's starting free safety.

He and his wife, Natasha, are expecting their first child in May.

In December 2008, he will become the first family member to earn a college degree.

"I'm blessed, and I'm enjoying everything now," said Thomas, a fourth-year junior. "Tomorrow is never promised."

Ferd Lewis writes about some of the people behind the BCS computer rankings.

That UH's standing varies from 14th to 55th among the computers reflects the differences in the providers and the latitude they have in their programs. "The parameters are up to them," said Charles Bloom, associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, which administers the BCS in conjunction with the National Football Foundation. "Each of the (computers) have its own measures of what they use: i.e. schedule strength, recent results, conference strength, etc." The only prohibition being a margin of victory component, which the BCS did away with in 2002.

Great article, with Lewis speaking to several of them about some of the quirks of their polls.

Ferd also writes about an article that Jeff Anderson of the Anderson & Hester poll wrote discussing UH's strength of schedule, and how it would still be really bad if Michigan State hadn't pulled out of their contracted game. Though it doesn't seem like Anderson factors in how MSU pulling out threw a wrench into scheduling other teams. Of course, there were other factors as well.

Speaking of which, Paul Arnett had an interesting column yesterday about Herman Frazier and his critics.

These are just a few observations that make you wonder what the heck is going on up there, but they pale in comparison to the potential gold mine Frazier is helping excavate. Ironically, all the hoopla about the schedule has turned into a stroke of genius. The first bye actually helped the Warriors in the BCS poll and the second one is unlikely to hurt much, if at all.

Or as another Herman might say...


"I meant to do that!"