A Tale of Two Halves

The final game of the season between the last two undefeated teams from the UNLV Rebels and ISU Cyclones was nothing short of breath-taking and a true instant classic. The long awaited meeting between these two coaches, who have had a track record of facing each other for big games did not disappoint. And although it was a regular season game and some deemed it insignificant, it was not so apparent as you watched the game. Both teams looked like they had something to prove.

Before the game the coaches were asked about the significance of this game and what they felt they had to do in order to secure not only victory but also home field advantage throughout the playoffs:

G: This is just another game for us and we try approach every game w/ the same intensity and not fall for the emotional ups and downs of the season. I would be lying if i said that we didn't care about this game, securing home field throughout would be a big boost. No one really wants to play away, especially during the playoffs.

Mo: WE NEED TO WIN THIS GAME!!!
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Taste of What's To Come

Las Vegas, Nevada - Two coaches with a strong past. Their coaching rivalry stretches across two BCS conferences, winning championships in at least one of them. Through times, their jobs led them to different paths, one going to perinial power SEC, the other, building a noted basketball school UNLV to a football landmark.

Coach Mo and Coach G has battled on the gridiron for close to 9 years, each finding high and low times during gameday. And again, they match up, this time in what could possibly be the prelude this year's VCFL Championships. We sit down with Coach JMo at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino to discuss the rivalry and the upcoming game.

Jim Lampley: What kind of relationship do you have with Coach G?

Coach Mo: "We've definitely had our share of good games. He's a good friend of mine off the field. He was actually over the house for babinka the other night. That's a Filipino desert Jim if you didn't know. [laugh]."

Jim Lampley: Would you consider the ACC years to be your best coaching era?

Coach Mo: "Taking Duke to 2 National Champioships was definitely a great time for me. Coach G wasn't really a factor in the ACC. Coach Bigs made more of a mark then. He was still winning games, but retired coach Kim would always take him out of contention. But sometimes, it's not the wins you remember, but the loses you come across."

Jim Lampley: You mean your PAC-10 years?

Coach Mo: "Those were tough years. Expectations were high that first year, but I'll tell you what. I never cut strawberries for dessert during gameday anymore Jim. No more. From then on things went down hill with Washington State's program. And Coach G's Arizona U's program saw the window to grow."

Jim Lampley: He pratically owned you and the PAC-10 once he recruited RB Manning and LB Huff, correct?

Coach Mo: "You know what Jim, don't take that tone with me or I'll slap the HBO Fight Night contract right out of you. Coach G recruited well, both offensively and deffensively. I didn't win a game against him after the 1st year."

Jim Lampley: So what do you feel is different this time around?

Coach Mo: "We've had scrimmidge game a few years back, and we managed to get a win, but he was coming out of retirement then, and I know he's caught up with the program. But this time around, I have a good bunch of kids, and the spread offense we run is more a combo of my past few teams I've coached. That, and I don't slice fruit during gameday Jim. No more."

Jim Lampley: Do you have anything else to say to Iowa St?

Coach Mo: "Not really. I wouldn't hype up this last regular season game. Our goals' to win, but come playoff time, it's a whole new season. Ole Miss is always a sleeping giant, and the (Warriors) can spark an upset anytime now. Some, and I mean 1 person from Iowa, may disagree, but I still think this is an open championship."

The Road To The Battle for No. 1

At midfield, Coach Bigs and G shared warm greetings after a 4 year hiatus while the teams ran through their pre-game warm-ups during last night's much anticipated and talked about game between the ASU Indians and ISU Cyclones.

Bigs commented before that game, '...this is a must win, going w/o a win this season would be very to hard to live w/ and my kids have been looking forward to playing against one of the top teams in this league..' When asked about the pending investigation about the alleged sandbagging incident by Coach G, Bigs had this to say, '...i've had the privilege to play in another NCAA league w/ coach Mo and G and i just can't see either of them doing something like that....'

The game turned out to be a smash mouth, grind-in-out, boys need not apply, type of football game. ISU scored the first TD in the 1st quarter and were marching down the field again looking to put a strangle-hold on the game but ASU defense tightened up and was able to disrupt an option play and force a fumble but were only able to convert the TO into 3pts. Iowa went into the locker room w/ a 10 - 3 lead,

Bigs: We're still in it. We just have to do a better job at stopping the run and making take advantage of any TO's and we'll be fine.
G: Their defense was solid so, we'll have to make some adjustments and hopefully we can execute on the field.

The second half was not much different from the first half, both teams exchanged blows and although Arkansas was able to keep Iowa out of the end zone, the Arkansas offense struggled against the much improved secondary of Iowa. Iowa's offense had been a potent weapon for this season but their defense came up big in this game. The final score Arkansas 3 - Iowa 16

Bigs: Playoffs!? Playoffs!? We couldn't even win a game and you dare ask me about PLAYOFFS!?? I knew some of you guys couldn't write but at least you should be able to do math. We'll see you guys next year, no more questions.
G: They hung in there tough and like i said before, their defense was solid throughout the game. Our offense wasn't there but i'm glad that the defense and special teams stepped up get this win. As you can see, you can't be one dimensional in this league.

After the game, Coach G received a call from Haw Coach....'yo, man...why didn't you run up the score like you did against us? SANDBAGGER!!! If i were you i'd lose my next game so you don't have to face me in the first round of the playoffs!!!

Coach G responded by shutting off his xbox.
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Allan Guimbaolibot

FINAL Regular Season Standings

Team	W	L	PA (not updated)
UNLV	4	0	32
Iowa St.	3	1	42
Ole Miss	2	2	106
Hawaii	1	3	115
Arkansas St.	0	4	96

Happy Easter Tito Coaches!!!

Amihan wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter and good luck in the playoffs!!!

NEWS BREAK: Coach JP makes bold sandbagging allegation

Manoa, Hawaii - Hawaii University Coach JP had a press conference immediately after practice when word came out that the Warriors may rely on Iowa St's game against Arkansas St. ESPN ran a story on playoff possibilities in the early edition of ESPN which was the catalyst to Coach JP's actions. Hawaii, with no hesitation, accused tomfoolery on Coach G and their methods of playoff selection. "(allan) has lost on purpose to keep me out of the hockey playoffs, so I wouldn't put it past him to do it again to me.....".

These allegations of tanking games is under investigation by VCFL officials. No comments were taken from Iowa St Coach G at this time and Iowa St Atheletic Diretor does not want to comment until he has spoken to Coach G in person.

Prior to coaching their respective college teams, Coach JP was head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Coach G was head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, ultimately winning the Championships. In the innaugural VHL regular season, the Blue Jackets were on the bubble, however a loss by the Leafs against Canadian rival Vancuver, on their last game, closed the playoff doors to Coach JP and his Blue Jackets.

Sergie Federov, former FWD for Coach JP, now playing along side Ovechkin in Washington, said "It was controversial. I do not understand what really happen, but it was upsetting after a tough season if that really was true, no."

New Standings as of 3/26

Team	W	L	PA
Iowa St.	2	0	29
UNLV	3	0	42
Ole Miss	2	2	106
Hawaii	1	3	115
Arkansas St.	0	3	80