Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Prognostication

Prognosticator according to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary: foreteller of a future course or event by present sign.

Some of you may be wondering about my actual prediction knowledge and my forecast level. Well friends let me tell you what I have accomplished over the last few weeks in football.

Being a message board junkie, I have frequented many web sites of numerous teams and I have settled on a great board called "TigerDroppings," which is an LSU Tigers' message board. I found the message board last year before the National Championship game and have stuck around for the following reasons: The more sports board section features fans of numerous teams across the country. The bandwidth of the web site is greater then any other I know; the web site always loads instantly. The web site is very relaxed on what types of pictures and langueage you can use. And finally (to my point), they have easy to play Pick 'Em Contests. My username for the web site is "ohiosportfan777" and I am listed as an "Ohio" fan. Let me tell you how my picks are going so far. I apologize in advance that you are unable to see the entire games, but if you click on "View Results" you can go to the TigerDroppings web site and see all of my picks. You may also find out one contest I didn't do so hot in (it's a mystery).

College Football Pick 'Em
Week 1: 11-7 (Rought Start)
Rank
Name		ScoreAppSt
vs.
LSU		Tenn
vs.
UCLA		UK
vs.
Lou		Bama
vs.
Clem		Mem
vs.
Miss		MissST
vs.
LTech		MichSt
vs.
Cal		Col St
vs.
Col		Cuse
vs.
NW		VT
vs.
ECU		USC
vs.
UVA		Ill
vs.
Mizou		Wash
vs.
Ore		FrSt
vs.
Rut		ULL
vs.
USM		ULM
vs.
Aub		Ok St
vs.
Wa St		WKU
vs.
IU

Actual Winners >>>
LSUUCLAUKBamaMissLTechCalColNWECUUSCMizouOreFrStUSMAubOk StIU
1597ohiosportfan77711-7LSUTennLouClemMissMissSTMichStColNWVTUSCMizouOreRutUSMAubOk StIU




Week 2: 14-0 (That's more like it)
Rank
Name		ScoreTroy
vs.
LSU		USM
vs.
Aub		Tul
vs.
Bama		Miss
vs.
WF		MiaFL
vs.
UF		WVU
vs.
ECU		Ore St
vs.
PSU		Mar
vs.
Wisc		BYU
vs.
Wash		SDSU
vs.
ND		A&M
vs.
NM		Cal
vs.
Wa St		NW
vs.
Duke		LTech
vs.
Kan		Stan
vs.
Ari St

Actual Winners >>>

AubBamaWFUFECUPSUWiscBYUNDA&MCalNWKanAri St
1ohiosportfan77714-0LSUAubBamaWFUFECUPSUWiscBYUNDA&MCalNWKanAri St

Week 3: 12-6
Rank
Name		ScoreUNT
vs.
LSU		UGA
vs.
SC		Ark
vs.
UT		Ore
vs.
Pur		PSU
vs.
Cuse		Mich
vs.
ND		GaTech
vs.
VT		Aub
vs.
MissST		Stan
vs.
TCU		OU
vs.
Wash		Oh St
vs.
USC		Utah
vs.
Ut St		Wisc
vs.
FrSt		Zona
vs.
NM		Cal
vs.
Mary		Navy
vs.
Duke		Rice
vs.
Vandy		Wa St
vs.
Bay		Mem
vs.
Mar		AF
vs.
Hou

Actual Winners >>>
LSUUGA
OrePSUNDVTAubTCUOUUSCUtahWiscNMMaryDukeVandy
MarAF
726ohiosportfan77712-6LSUUGAUTOrePSUMichGaTechAubTCUOUOh StUtahWiscNMCalDukeVandyBayMemHou

Week 4: 12-6
Rank
Name		ScoreLSU
vs.
Aub		Vandy
vs.
Miss		Bama
vs.
Ark		MissST
vs.
GaTech		Rut
vs.
Navy		VT
vs.
UNC		Iowa
vs.
Pitt		WF
vs.
FSU		ND
vs.
MichSt		Utah
vs.
AF		BallSt
vs.
IU		MiaFL
vs.
A&M		ECU
vs.
NC St		FrSt
vs.
Tol		UF
vs.
Tenn		UGA
vs.
Ari St		ISU
vs.
UNLV		Zona
vs.
UCLA

Actual Winners >>>
LSUVandyBamaGaTechNavyVTPittWFMichStUtahBallStMiaFLNC StFrStUFUGAUNLVZona
412ohiosportfan77712-6LSUVandyBamaGaTechRutUNCIowaWFMichStUtahBallStMiaFLECUFrStUFUGAISUUCLA


My overall rank now: 269 out of approximately 1734 participants.
My overall record: 49 - 19
2008 College FB Pick'em
Overall ScoreOverall Rank
49 - 19269
SessionScoreRankAction
111 - 71597View Results
214 - 01View Results
312 - 6726View Results
412 - 6412View Results


Not too bad... let's look at NFL Pick 'Em
For some reason, one game has been dropped each week, so it's only out of 15 games, but regardless, my record would still be okay.

Week 1: 9-7 (Another rough start, but I'm still above .500)
Rank
Name		ScoreWash
vs.
NYG		Cin
vs.
Balt		NYJ
vs.
Mia		KC
vs.
NE		Hou
vs.
Pitt		Jack
vs.
Ten		Det
vs.
Atl		Sea
vs.
Buf		TB
vs.
NO		StL
vs.
Phil		Dal
vs.
Cle		Car
vs.
SD		Ari
vs.
SF		Chi
vs.
Ind		Min
vs.
GB		Den
vs.
Oak

Actual Winners >>>
NYGBaltNYJNEPittTenAtlBufNOPhilDalCarAriChiGBDen
605ohiosportfan7779-7NYGBaltNYJNEPittJackDetSeaTBPhilDalSDAriIndGBOak

Week 2: 10-5 (Better)
Rank
Name		ScoreTen
vs.
Cin		Buf
vs.
Jack		Oak
vs.
KC		Ind
vs.
Min		Chi
vs.
Car		GB
vs.
Det		NYG
vs.
StL		NO
vs.
Wash		Atl
vs.
TB		SF
vs.
Sea		NE
vs.
NYJ		SD
vs.
Den		Mia
vs.
Ari		Balt
vs.
Hou		Pitt
vs.
Cle		Phil
vs.
Dal

Actual Winners >>>
TenBufOakIndCarGBNYGWashTBSFNEDenAri
PittDal
110ohiosportfan77710-5TenJackKCIndCarGBNYGNOTBSeaNESDAriHouPittDal

Week 3: 11-4 (Better yet)
Rank
Name		ScoreKC
vs.
Atl		Oak
vs.
Buf		Cin
vs.
NYG		Mia
vs.
NE		Hou
vs.
Ten		TB
vs.
Chi		Ari
vs.
Wash		Car
vs.
Min		NO
vs.
Den		Det
vs.
SF		StL
vs.
Sea		Jack
vs.
Ind		Pitt
vs.
Phil		Cle
vs.
Balt		Dal
vs.
GB		NYJ
vs.
SD

Actual Winners >>>
AtlBufNYGMiaTenTBWashMinDenSFSeaJackPhilBaltDalSD
216ohiosportfan77711-4AtlOakNYGNETenChiWashMinDenSFSeaIndPhilCleDalSD

My overall rank now: 181 out of approximately 100 participants.
My overall record: 30 - 16
2008 NFL Pick'em
Overall ScoreOverall Rank
30 - 16181
SessionScoreRankAction
19 - 7605View Results
210 - 5110View Results
311 - 4216View Results


From my standpoint I feel very good about my college football status but I feel a little upset at my NFL picks. Obviously the goal is to finish first but I have a tough road ahead of me in both contests, and the slow starts certainly do not help. But hey, who wouldn't want to see and underdog win their contest?

I just thought I would show everyone how my picks are going, since after all, I am the "sports prognosticator." I'll try to keep everyone updated periodically on my status, and I'll let you know how I finish (whether it be good or bad).

Hope everyone enjoyed the sports and subpar graphics.

Arrivederci!
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Sunday, September 21, 2008

Sports Sunday 9/21

America Wins First Ryder Cup Since 1999

Granted the Ryder Cup only happens every two years, but America had been beaten three straight. This year's team had it all. They had flash (Anthony Kim). They had pizazz (Boo Weekley). They had experience (Justin Leonard & Jim Furyk). They had... no Tiger. Woods was not playing out in the tournament he often struggled in, and you have to wonder if that helped the American team finally get over the hump. However, Team USA had out the red shirts, to the likes of which Tiger traditionally dons, and you must think that they were in attack mode all day.

Three big players

It started with Anthony Kim's dismantling of Sergio Garcia. Kim got off to a hot start and just never looked back. He was so focused on his play that when he won he had to be told his match was over. The 23 year old native was just excited to be playing, and he was certainly fearless.

How about Boo Weekley? If you have seen any of this guy's interviews you know how simple and sincere of a guy Boo is. He just goes out and plays for fun, regardless of the situation. In case you missed it... do yourself a favor and check out Boo's "Happy Gilmore Bull Dance" where he pumps up the crowd by feeling the flow, working it. While you're at it, check out some of Boo's other interviews and you're basically guaranteed a laugh. Oh and by the way, he won.

The oldest player on the team, Jim Furyk finished the match off with his win over the Spaniard Jiemenez. This was a great moment for Team USA and was a very special moment to watch. Seeing the crowd erupt with cheers of USA was a great moment. Go ahead and check it out. Sunday's Ryder Cup Highlights

Without Tiger, golf can often be quite mundane and tough to watch, but there are plenty of characters on the tournament that are great stories and great personalities to watch. Watching the Ryder Cup and all the different individuals in the game gave me a greater appreciation for the game and the other players not named Tiger. I am excited for the future of golf, and although it's not the same right now without Tiger, it will thrive forever through the individuals that pursue the game at its highest level.

On to football

Buffal 24 Oakland 23
This game was (basically) dominated by the Silver & Black for three and a half quarters, and then it fell apart. A quick drive after and Oakland TD that put the Raiders up 23 - 14, made it a 2 point game for the third time in the contest. With four minutes Oakland had the chance to put the game away but they got stuffed twice on runs, followed by an overthrown pass on third down. A punt, a drive, and a clock mismanagement session later, and Buffalo won the game. It was a tough way to go down for Oakland, and the fate of Lane Kiffin still hangs in the balance.

Tampa Bay 27 Chicago 24 (OT)
If your fantasy league allowed points for attempts, you would be sitting pretty. Griese threw the ball 67 times! He was picked off three times, had two touchdowns, finished with 407 yards, and completed passes to nine different players. I guess the Bears will have to straighten up that Pass defense... yikes. After a couple of possession changes in OT, Tampa Bay marched down the field and Matt Bryant kicked the game winning field goal from chip shot range at the 4:24 mark. Man, I would have loved to see a tie, but it just didn't happen.

NY Giants 26 Cincinnati 23 (OT)
The Good News: Palmer actually looked pretty good in this game, and he even led his team down the field for a game tying field goal. The bad news: The Bengals are 0-3. Eli Manning made a great pass to Amani Toomer in OT to give the Giants great field position. A few plays later and Carney boots the game winning field goal from 22 yards. Although 0-3 is never good, it looks like the Bengals are ready to take on the stumbling 0-3 Browns.

Baltimore 28 Cleveland 10
It is hard to believe a 10-6 team from last year can look as bad as they do, but they have made no improvements, and quite frankly look like they well fall to 0-4 against Cincinnati. Flacco managed them game okay even though he through two interceptions. Baltimore's running game was key as they pounded the ball and kept the time of possession heavily in their favor. Cleveland looks to be in for a long season... again.

Seattle 37 St. Louis 13 & Atlanta 38 Kansas City 14
I'm not sure which state is more disappointed this year: Ohio or Missouri? I am going to say Missouri just for the fact that I think the Bengals are a decent team, but the Chiefs, Rams, and Browns are somewhere on the bottom of the rankings.

Miami 38 New England 13
I'm not surprised to see the Patriot's offense struggle, but to give up 38 points to the Dolphins, in Foxboro, that is just bad. The Pats must not have been ready from top to bottom, because starter or not, no one should get beat by Miami by that much. In Yahoo leagues 75% of fantasy owners did not start Ronnie Brown, and they are kicking themselves for it after his 5 TD performance, a la LT, as one of his TDs was a pass. I bet he gets a second look next week.

Minnesota 20 Carolina 10
The purple people eaters came to play as their defense came to play, and they also happened to be my starting team this week in fantasy football. Former Buckeye standout, Antoine Winfield had a sack on Delhomme, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and scored a touchdown all on the same play. Bernard Berrian was back and finished with a respectable 79 yards on the day. I think Minnesota is capable of finishing 3rd or 4th in the NFC.

Jacksonville 23 Indianoplis 21
Another game winning field goal after a crucial Pass Interference penalty against a Colts' lineback. It was the correct call and it allowed the Jaguars to get in position for the win. Josh Scobee made the 51 yard field goal in the dome to finish the Colts off. Peyton Manning could only watch the Colts go down again after he had put his team in position to win the game. When these two teams matchup it always seems to be a great game; today was no exception.

San Francisco 31 Detroit 13
As if it wasn't bad enought the Tigers were closing in on last place, the Lions just keep on losing. Fans haven't been happy about this team and forever and you can certainly see why. Detroit may be giving the Missouri and Ohio teams a run for their money. I'm not sure anyone watched this game, except for 49ers fans. I know I didn't care about it.

Tennessee 31 Houston 12
Vince Young going down may have been a blessing in disguise. There is a lot of balance in the Titan offense, and their defense is playing pretty well. Kerry Collins is just the type of veteran that can keep the stability in Tennessee. Lendale White rushed for two TDs, while Collins threw for one. The one bright spot for Houston: Steve Slaton. He rushed for 116 yards on 18 carries. Unfortunately over 100 of those yards came in the first half. I think the Texans will improve, but they have an uphill battle ahead of them.

Washington 24 Arizona 17
Turnovers plagued this Cardinals in this close game, but they played okay. I'm not overly impressed with either of these teams, but I think they will do alright with Campbell and Warner, respectively. I'm not quite ready to proclaim it Zona's year, but their weaker NFC division will still give them a great shot at making the playoffs.

Philadelphia 15 Pittsburgh 6
This was a sluggish turnover-ridden game. I only enjoy games like these when both teams are under double digits. Injuries were probably the biggest story of the day, as Big Ben and Brian Westbrook both went out of the game. McNabb also went out briefly, which may raise some questions among Eagles fans if he can sustain his health for an entire season.

Dallas 27 Green Bay 16
Dallas has proven they are the supreme team in the NFC. Even after a slow start, they eventually got it going as Marion Barber picked up 142 running yards, and Romo connected with Miles Austin 115 yards of their own. Whenever the Cowboys are playing you can't key on one guy, because eventually Romo will find someone, and with their potent running game, they are a very scary team. On the flipside, Aaron Rodgers did a pretty decent job. He finished 22/39 passing and had 290 yards with no INTs. Green Bay is a solid team, but they are not at Dallas's level yet.

NY Jets (1-1) vs. San Diego (0-2)
San Diego may be the best 0-2 team in the league and I have a feeling they take out all their frustrations against the Jets. My only hesitation in this game is that Favre often pulls rabbits out his hat on Monday nights, but I just think the Chargers are a better team, and their offense should put up a large amount of points. The Jets will get theirs, but not enough to stop the Bolts.

Prediction: San Diego 34 NY Jets 20

I hope everyone enjoyed the football action this weekend. There were a lot of great games, college and pro, and I know I enjoyed being sedentary for a couple of days.

Quote of the Day:

If you burn your neighbors house down, it doesn't make your house look any better.

- Lou Holtz
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Thursday, September 18, 2008

NFL Trends

The Monday night game got me thinking about the different NFL teams, and how McNabb and and Romo were staples to each respective team at the quarterback position. Then I started thinking about all the different changes for teams' qbs. Let's go through the list.

Brett Favre - New York Jets
It's no secret he was the talk of much of the offseason after his text message. Apparently Brett runs his operations just like the Mets, which means he'll fit well in New York. Anyway, this is a good change for the Jets, but I don't think it will bring them a Super Bowl. Granted the division is looking a little less bumpy now that Brady is out, and the fish still look bad, but they have a long way to go.

Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons
Falcons' fans probably weren't too happy to see them lose after the display shown in their first game. If Atlanta wants to survive and make the playoffs they better hope Turner can run wild like he did in game one. It is tough to win with rookie quarterbacks... really tough.

Joe Flacco - Baltimore Ravens
Speaking of rookie quaterbacks, Baltimore has one as well. Honestly, I didn't know where this guy went to college till I looked it up (It's Delaware - that team with the Michigan-looking helmets; they got beat by Appalachian State in their championship game. Yeah, them. Rich Gannon also went to school there.) Well you can say his team is still undefeated (no game on Sunday), and expect him to do alright in his playing time, because he has a lot of assets and is your prototypical NFL quarterback. The Ravens won't ask him to do too much, and that is a positive thing for this rookie.

JaMarcus Russell - Oakland Raiders
Here is a guy that is practically a rookie, even though he started a game last season (where he thre three interceptions). This year he is expected to progress as the season goes along. Oakland's ground attack should help out J-Marc, but J-Marc will have start proving he can make the tough pass, as well as get some finesse in his throws. He has the ability to throw it deep, but his accuracy will be challenged this year.

Kerry Collins - Tennessee Titans
Well guess who's back in the powder blues, it's Kerry Collins. The Titans are fortunate to have a backup like Collins to help resurrect the offensive woes. Collins is a journeyman, to the likes of a Jeff George, or a Jeff Hostetler, but he knows his way around the game. Mobility is certainly his weakness, but he'll make up for that with his knowledge of the game.

Chad Pennington - Miami Dolphins
Well Chad is not exactly setting the world on fire, and I truly feel Pennington would make for a nice backup, but not a starter that could lead you to the Super Bowl. Granted the Dolphins are just trying to win a few games, but maybe they could do better at quarterback.

Matt Cassel - New England Patriots
Can you believe this guy made his first start last week since high school? That is crazy to think of, and makes you wonder how good he really is. Coach Hoodie will keep Cassel in position to win his games, and with Randy Moss, that position is good.

Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers
Now that the Packers have moved on, and Aaron is no longer in the shadow of a legend, he can just go out and play football. Rodgers has proven that he can handle the big stage, and he looks very comfortable running the Packers' offense. I'm excited to see how far Rodgers takes the Packers. I think he will be another great Green Bay quarterback.

Jeff Garcia, or Brian Griese, or... - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
So who's it going to be Gruden, Griese or Garcia? I think maybe Luke McCown starts Week 3. Chalk one up to La-Tech. Seriously though, changing the order around with two quarterbacks can be a dangerous thing, particularly when there was nothing wrong. The one saving grace may be the switch coming this early in the season.

Quarterback is a tough position, and it takes physical and mental strength, but one thing to remember is the system that each qb plays in goes a long way in the attribution to success. Sometimes the guy who messes up the least is the guy that wins the most. We'll see how these shakeups go as the weeks pile on.

In other news not related to this thread...

... Ohio University cheerleader Kristine Mayle is Sports Illustrated's Cheerleader of the week. Props to Kristine. Click for the story.

It's always good to see the Bobcats represent.
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

College Football Recap

Sorry for the delay in posts, my parents were in town for the weekend and I was busy for all of it, but fear not, I have caught the highlights and I have seen all the stories from over the weekend.

The Rundown

Friday: South Florida 37 - Kansas 34

Unfortunately I did not get to see this game because I was out working under the Friday night lights, but I am impressed with USF. I honestly though Kansas would handle them without too much trouble but that has since been debunked, and I look forward to the USF show.

Saturday: USC 35 - Ohio State 3

Shocker? To Buckeye fans, yes. To anyone else, probably not that much. Most of the media has this game pinned down as an easy win for the Trojans, and they were all proved right on Saturday. It was tough watching the Buckeyes fall in another big game, but the glimmer of hope can be found in Pryor's brief appearances. Throwing away all the stats and other hard evidence, the best part of Pryor was his poise. He seemed very comfortable in the pocket, even when the game was close during the beginning. I really think the kid is smart and has a huge potential to be a star in college football. On the other side of the ball, USC looks really good. They practically did whatever they wanted to against the Buckeyes, and they look unbeatable (for now) in the Pac 10.

Georgia 14 - South Carolina 7

Spurrier and the Gamecocks pulled an almost, coulda-shoulda on Saturday. They certainly had their opportunities to at least tie the game a couple of times, but dumb mistakes and turnovers did them in. You know Georgia will have it rough as they try and battle on through the conference schedule. I don't want to take away too much from this game as it is hard to say much about either team, based on how these teams always play each other.

Wisconsin 13 - Fresno State 10

Say what you want, this was a great win for Wisconsin. I know FSU's kicker helped them accomplish it, but any time you can go on the road, particularly far on the road, and beat a solid team like Fresno State, you're doing alright. Wisconsin is probably being looked at by many as the favorite in the Big Ten, and I can't say I disagree with them, but we will see.

Auburn 3 - Mississippi State 2

Call me old fashioned, but I love a game like this. A game where everything is going wrong, offensive cordinators are ripping their hair out, and no one can do anything. If I have to watch a game it should either be a high score shootout, or a low score malaise-athon. Sometimes I get sad knowing I didn't get to watch the days of the multiple option-lateral plays that every team ran out the wing-t. This is one of the reasons I definitely enjoy a Navy game, for the slow grind it out offense. But that is a story for another day.

UNLV 23 - Arizona St. 20

So GameDay is going to Arizona huh? I'm thinking blowout, but it's not a short flight. We will find out much more about both of these teams on Saturday.

Oregon 32 - Purdue 26

The Big Ten in me was hoping for a Purdue win, even though I had picked the Ducks. Purdue was firing on all cylinders in the first half, and then the Ducks woke up. Some bad mistakes by Painter and poor execution cost the Boilermakers the game. They gave the Ducks everything they could handle, but then they remembered that they were Purdue.

East Carolina 28 - Tulane 24

The Green Wave is tough, but the Pirates were ready to ride it (Yea, I went there). Tulane knows ECU well and they put up a fight, but in the end ECU just got it done, again. Props to Skip Holtz for winning another tough game.

Other college football inquiries.

Is Notre Dame back?

Notre Dame beat Michigan soundly, 35-17, but I'm not ready to proclaim this team wholy recovered from it's demise. Let's keep in mind Michigan fumbled the ball a whopping 7 times, as they have a system, essentially, in shambles right now. Most likely Notre Dame's success this week can be attributed to the pep talk Lou Holtz gave the team before they played. Lou never steers you wrong.

Will we find out how good Penn State is this week?

What's that? Oh, they're playing Temple? Nevermind.

What happened to "keep on choppin"?

Rutgers is just a couple of years removed from a stellar season and they're off to an 0-2 start, with one of those losses being a blowout to North Carolina. So, who's got North Carolina picked to win the A.C.C.? (That one's rhetorical)

Duke is 2-1, right?

Yes! Duke is 2-1, maybe they will compete for the A.C.C. crown.

Thought of the week:

Don't bet on teams you have an affiliation with, as it clouds your judgment and leaves your wallet thin.

Coming Soon: NFL Thoughts and Commentary
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Saturday, September 6, 2008

What a Saturday of football!

It's always a great time when you expect a little, and get a lot. That's exactly what happened during this college football Saturday. In what could have been labeled as "Cupcake Saturday," there turned out to be some great football games. Just as Herbstreit said on GameDay, there would be things that would leave them scratching their heads at the end of the day. Here are my thoughts and observations from today's games.

Ohio vs. Ohio State
As a pretty fair, unbiased observer of my two favorite teams I think I can gather a few things from this game. The obvious: Ohio State is much better with Beanie Wells. Beanie makes plays that the average back can't. Remember when Dixon went down last year? Oregon became a whole different team. Moving on: The Ohio Bobcats did not play very well. They amassed five turnovers and somehow stayed in the ball game; even led most of it. Ohio State did not decide to turn it on until the fourth quarter. Remember that statement Tressel said before the season started: "The fierce urgency of now." Well, apparently no one remembered about it until the end of the game. Had the OSU team been playing that way from the get-go the game would have been the blowout that everyone had expected. Next: Ohio always shoots themselves in the foot. They do it all the time. They bring you hope, you make you believe, and then they shoot your dog. I can't follow the team anymore because they do the same thing all the time, over and over again. Last note about this game: With or without Beanie next week, I believe you will see a completely different team next week against USC. I know the nation is against Ohio State, but remember, seniors win championships.

West Virginia vs. East Carolina
Just as Herbstreit had predicted a Pirate upset, so did I (it's provable in my Yahoo pickem league). Skip Holtz has been molded by the mastermind Dr. Lou, and in this case, the coaching apple has not fallen far from the tree. Not only did East Carolina win, they made a statement against WVU. It would be hard for any team to limit WVU to three points, but they just made it happen. I really enjoy this ECU team, and they remind me of USF last year. The only difference, ECU won't let the wheels fall of the wagon like USF did last year.

Speaking of a Holtz... let's talk
San Diego State University vs. Notre Dame
After an abysmal year in what was Notre Dame's worst season ever, the Irish were looking to restore to their glory days. Well... they won the game at least. A late turnover on a questionable fumble at ND's own goal line prevented an SDSU score that would have given them at least a 19-7 lead, pending the PAT. The call was reviewed, and stood as a fumble. Notre Dame would march down in that fourth quater and score a couple more times after that huge momentum shift, and went on to win 21-13. All of the pundits were predicting a big win for Notre Dame and that just did not happen. It's tough to say Notre Dame will improve much from last season based on today's performance. If the season does go down the tubes I think I know the solution to Notre Dame's woes. 1. Fire Charlie Weis: It's obvious the man has incredibly underperformed in his role, and has proven he is not worthy of any contract extensions. 2. Hire Skip Holtz: The man has turned about the ECU program and is making waves in college football. Conference USA is just his stepping stone into the big time. He is a Notre Dame guy (graduated there after transferring from another school) and he knows football. Notre Dame, admit you made a mistake, and do the right thing.

Continuing on that Notre Dame thing, let's talk about a close game with a former ND coach.
BYU vs. Washington
If you saw this game, or any highlight show for that matter, then you saw how this game ended. With time running down, Jake Locker scores with two seconds left in the game to go down one point, 27-28. The referees proceed to call Jake Locker for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty because Locker tossed the ball in the air in jubilation after he scored. Naturally, BYU accepted the penalty on the PAT, which moved Washington back 15 yards (to the 18). Well the kicker missed had the try blocked and things weren't all tea and crumpets from there. The players, extremely frustrated had to be restrained from jawing or striking any officials. As an official myself, I thought about the penalty in question, and how it was enforced. Do I believe that it was the correct ruling? Yes. Do I believe it was the correct call? No. The one thing all officials should remember and think about is their situation. Remember in the Kansas - Memphis national championship basketball game where the Kansas payer got fouled, and slammed the ball to the ground in the waning minutes of overtime? You don't? That's because there was no call. Everything is situational, and each play must be looked at on an individual basis. That's why I believe in that situation, you keep that flag in your pants (that's what she said).

Next:
Northwestern vs. Duke
Sure no one could see this game because no way would anyone want to watch it. But it was actually a good matchup. Northwestern avenged their lost against Duke last year by making the go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter to solidify the game: 24-20. Call me optomistic, but I think Northwestern will be a more competitive doormat this season.

Wake Forest vs. Mississippi (Ole Miss)
College Gameday should have probably gone here, even though the two teams aren't ranked. You have to figure an okay ACC team would match up well with a not-to-great SEC squad, and they did. Another late game comeback in this one, as Wake Forest drills a kick to solidify the victory. I couldn't bring myself to watch this game, even though I figured it would be close all along. I guess I just hit the Snooze button any time I hear the words: Wake Forest.

Other thoughts from "Cupcake Saturday"
If you're a message board junkie like me, you are already seeing the trends.
These include: Basing the season of a team from one game: (See USCw, Ohio State, Alabama).
Worrying greatly about the Week 2, non-BCS polls.
Everyone thinking their team is better than they actually are.
Any blowout victory brings the statement "world beaters" with it.
The trendy pick is similar to taking the hot chick to play for your team. Sure she's pretty, but you don't know jack about her and she's probably not that good.

The Big Ten Sweep (11-0)
Not a single loss, not even Northwestern to Duke, nor Minnesota to Bowling Green. Maybe, just maybe, the conference is on the up and up. Hey, I have to represent the Midwest.

UCLA is in good hands
The football Monopoly in Los Angeles is over, and Norm Chow will help that offense look better than it's supposed to. How awesome was it to hear Tennessee fans cheer "S-E-C," only to get their butts whooped at the end. That is karma my friends.

Penn State
Again, the world beaters commentary is coming left and right, after beating a team that lost a ton of players. Wait till PSU plays in hostile territory before deciding just how decent they are.

Bowling Green
They may win the MAC, but they are not that good.

That's all I have for today. If I catch some highlights from the NFL I may just post my thoughts. Until then, stay classy.
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Friday, September 5, 2008

The Sports World

Coming soon will be my thoughts on all things sports. From NASCAR, to hockey, to Scrabble, to competitive eating. In here you will read my thoughts, predictions, and squabblings about the sports world. I look forward to all thoughts and opinions of the readers who will frequent the site.
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