College Football Confidence Contest (CFCC)

McGavock Claims 2002 CFCC

Championship after New Year's Eve

Rally

Tulsa Twisters Take Group Crown

The 2002 version of dirty-dawg.com's College Football Confidence Contest (CFCC) is in the books after 14 weeks and 220 contests. And, for the first time in CFCC history, the hardware has left the confines of the Texas border for Tulsa, Oklahoma. That is where this year's champion, Brad McGavock, resides. Brad has contended for the title before, but came out on top for the first time this year, pacing the field with 907 points and 153 victories. Brad took the lead in the contest about half-way through the season, and led going into the 25 game Bowl Blowout. However, Bryan Tilley shot to the top of the standings early in the Blowout and remained there with a 30-plus point lead until the six contests on New Year's Eve. Brad went 5-1 on those games and gained the top position once again with a lead that he never relinquished. After such an impressive season, we asked Brad the secret to his success. He stated, "Find out who Pat Vesper (a Midland, TX dirty-dawg) is taking and pick the opposite!". Sounds like good advice. Brad also had the following to say about the 2003 season, "While one championship is nice, it is the repeat I'm looking for". Well, Brad doesn't waste much time basking in this glory, but what he hopes for is a tall order, if the past is any indication. No dawg has ever pulled a repeat and, in fact, defending champions usually do quite poorly the following year. The 2001 champ, Larry Vannozzi, set records for most points (973) and victories (158), but struggled for a good part of the 2002 season. While Larry didn't do poorly in 2002, he finished in 32nd place after a slow start, and peaked in the teens during the Bowl Blowout. In any event, everyone will be gunning for Mr. McGavock in 2003, so enjoy the off-season, Brad. You will forever have the respect and admiration of dirty-dawgers everywhere. Congratulations on an outstanding season!!

Bill Olderman, from Garden City, Michigan takes best record honors this year with 155 wins. Bill even got the Ohio State upset of Miami correct. Of course, at dirty-dawg.com, best record honors don't get you anything but this cheesy recognition, but congrats, anyhow, Bill. Bill finished up 20 spots after a 95 point Bowl Blowout in the number 15 position. Way to go!!

The CFCC season is a long road and several members had a shot at the title along the way. Jeff Wildermuth, from The Woodlands, TX was this year's runner-up. Jeff finished 32 points off the pace with 875 points and 152 victories. Perennial powerhouse, Bryan Tilley, of Oxford, MI was third, while Mansfield, TX resident, Mike Coyne was 4th. Jason Hansen of Rochester Hills, MI was 5th followed by Craig Sullivan of Owasso, OK. Jeff Craven, John Lipe, Bob Austino, and Zach Tilley rounded out the Top 10. Very impressive, gentlemen.

The ultra-tough Bowl Blowout was handled with ease by a familiar dirty-dawg. Scott Carpenter from Billings, MT gets the T-shirt this year with a 17-8 record and 149 points. Scott won the inaugural PFCC in 2000 and appears to be making some inroads into the CFCC. Scott finished up 34 spots in 71st place. Bob Austino was the Bowl Blowout runner-up with 145 points. More importantly, Bob zoomed 33 spots in the Blowout to finish the season at number 9. Jody James of Lubbock, TX had the most Bowl Blowout victories with 18 and finished 4th for the Blowout.

New to dirty-dawg.com this year was group play. Not surprisingly, this year's group winner contains a couple of Top Ten finishers, including the champion. That distinction goes to the Tulsa Twisters, comprised of George Mathews, Brad McGavock, Craig Sullivan, Jamie Frederick and Mark Plate. This pack of dawgs finished with an average score of 775.40. The runner-up in group play was Judy's Boys, from Midland, TX. That group contained Pat and Judy Vesper, Ed and Barbara Jo Debish, Seth Nagle and (drum roll please) Brad McGavock. A distant third was the Jet Streakers, comprised of Steven Cooper, Paul Witsaman, Paul Kirkwood, Mike Coyne and Brady Cooper. We guess that if Brad can repeat in 2003, why can't the Tulsa Twisters??

We at dirty-dawg.com would like to express our appreciation to everyone who made the 2002 season such a success. We hope everyone enjoyed the contests as much as we enjoyed presenting them. Again this year, a huge thanks goes to George Mathews, for supplying the Johnny Vegas picks each week. George is a charter dirty-dawg member and just completed his fourth year doing the extra JV duties. Thanks, George! Remember, dirty-dawgs College Basketball Contest will be coming to your web browser in March. We hope to see you then, but if not, we will see you back here in about 200 days for the start of the best time of the year, College Football! The 2003 season will be the best yet, guaranteed.

-The dirty-dawg Team

Final 2002 Bowl Blowout Standings

Vannozzi Completes Comeback; Wins 2001 CFCC

It all started over 4 months ago on September 1st with Week 1 of dirty-dawg's College Football Confidence Contest 2001 (CFCC). After 220 games, Larry Vannozzi from Mansfield, Texas came out on top and is the CFCC Champion for 2001. Larry, powered by 165 points and 18 bowl blowout wins, nudged out season-long leader Emily Grover by two points. Emily, of State College, Pennsylvania, was extremely impressive all season, but ended as the runner-up after 123 points and 16 victories. Larry's tally of 973 points, blew away the record season score of 921 points, set by Brent Malone during the 2000 season. In fact, the Top 8 finishers all bested last year's winning mark. dirty-dawg admin will strive for tougher game selections in 2002! Mr. Vannozzi also finished tied for the most wins for the season with 158. Wayne Hoepner of Grand Rapids, Michigan, also nailed 158 wins and scored a torrid 187 Bowl Blowout points to finish the season with a strong 3rd place finish, only 10 points off the pace. This season marks the first time that the CFCC Champ also had the most victories and also means the CFCC hardware will remain within the confines of the Texas border. Besides the enormous respect and admiration of his peers, Larry Vannozzi will receive a $50 gift certificate to his favorite home improvement store in Lubbock, Texas, which will come in handy after his move there later this year. Congratulations, Larry!

Rounding out the Top 10 players for 2001 were Larry Boyd, from Memphis, Tennessee in the 4th position, followed by Scott Carpenter in 5th place from Kwajalein Atoll, and Brad McGavock in 6th place from Midland, Texas. The 7th place spot went to Davison, Michigan's Chris Torok who leaped 14 spots in the Bowl Blowout after knocking down a second blowout best 199 points and a Bowl Blowout best 20 victories, all to go along with an ultra-sound that shows twins on the way. Way to go Chris! Eighth place went to Jason Hansen of Rochester, Hills, Michigan, ninth place to perennial powerhouse Jeff Zoltowski of Gaylord, Michigan and tenth place to Mike Kalembkiewicz, from Grand Rapids. Congratulations to all of the 2001 Top Ten Class!!

The ever popular Bowl Blowout was won by Patty Richard, from Dennis, MA. Patty literally blew away the field with 233 points and finished up 27 spots at number 80 after missing the first 105 games of the season. We already mentioned Chris Torok with a second best 199 points and a best 20 victories. Third place went to Wayne Hoepner and 4th to Matt Zika, from Cordova, Tennessee, which launched him 23 spots to finish at number 21. Fifth and Sixth place went to the Coopers, of North Richland Hills, Texas. Young Brady edged out old man Steven 181 to 179 points in the Bowl Blowout, but it looks like dad gets the last laugh as Steven climbed 24 spots to finish at number 23 on the year. Greg Robbins from Longmont, Colorado and Brian Swinford from Denver tied for seventh with 173 points, with Gary Nolan from New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Larry Boyd rounding out the Top 10 tied for ninth. Great fun was had by all.

Thanks to everyone that made the CFCC 2001 edition the best yet and we are expecting bigger and better things in 2002. We appreciate everyone's patience through the few bumps and bruises during the season, but rest assured, we are always working to improve dirty-dawg.com. Please pass along any suggestions you may have to improve the contest. Thanks to everyone who made monetary contributions. Some of you dirty-dawgs were very generous and it is very much appreciated. Season ending kudos go to veteran dirty-dawg George Mathews of Tulsa, Oklahoma for taking on the Johnny Vegas duties once again this season. Kudos also to Tom Hultquist of Marquette, Michigan for supplying the pathetic Johnny Random picks. At least now we know for sure that there really is skill involved. Don't forget the College Basketball Confidence Contest returning in 2002 for March Madness. In the meantime, tell your friends, family and co-workers how much you enjoy dirty-dawg while enjoying the multitude of relaxing sports that don't have a dirty-dawg contest (yet!). And, just remember, there is only around 200 days left until the best time of the year returns....COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

The dirty-dawg Team

Final Bowl Blowout Standings