Saturday, October 28, 2006

CFB Saturday Live-Comment Tailgate

Does beating the 30-ish-point spread count as a moral victory by Northwestern over Michigan? Ah, there's still time for them to screw THAT up.

Anyway, we're getting ready for the Cocktail Party in my house, but I want to hear your comments about all the day's college football developments right here.

Have at it!

13 comments:

EPorvaznik said...

Can't wait to hear the Buckeye faithful's rationalizing their starters still in the game with a 30 point lead in the 3rd quarter. Classy, Jimmy T...classy.

Has nothing been learned from Adrian Peterson's season-ending injury?

Ingrid and Jim said...

The run is over... thanks for three awesome years!

Go Trojans... go to the Las Vegas Bowl!

john (east lansing, mi) said...

eporv - In the past, I've subtly suggested that Ohio State isn't classy that way, but I don't even think you can get too upset about playing your guys with a 30-point lead, in the 3rd quarter.

First of all, having watched them come alive late against Michigan, I know Minnesota can score some if you let down your guard and/or switch to the "allow" defense. Errr, "prevent." Second of all, Michigan State (from both ends of the cock) has shown us that 30-point 3rd quarter leads just don't mean enough.

john (east lansing, mi) said...

There are a couple things I just want everybody to know right now - first, as a preemptive strike - Michigan only beat Northwestern by 14, but that was the shittiest football weather I've ever experienced, as a lifelong Michigan resident. The win was still solid, it just wasn't a good day to try to score a lot.

Second - I am so, so happy that Big XII and Pac-10 teams are making up for the general shittiness of their conferences by coming out and playing against the [default conference champion] big boys today. Go Texas Tech!!!

MoL said...

As sweet as the comback vitory was last week, I think John L is gone. Especially after this week. 1 bowl game in 4 years doesn't cut it. If he stays, next year will be just like 04, 05, and 06. We need new blood. Or at least someone else to find creative ways to lose.

john (east lansing, mi) said...

As right as you are, and as well-deserved as that might be, John L. is probably safe as long as your Spartans make it to a bowl game, which I would call likely, with Minnesota and Penn State remaining (although, MSU can lose to anybody, if they put their minds to it). Sorry.

john (east lansing, mi) said...

Officiating had way too much to do with the whole 4th quarter of the Texas-Texas Tech game. Oregon State and TTU together would have made my inertia-loathing predictions look so smart.

As it is, Oregon State still does. I'm really excited to see Louisville do the same thing, this Thursday! I've never realized the joy of Thursday football before, but I'm jazzed.

EPorvaznik said...

Ummm, John (annarbor, mi), I realize the Nittany Lions have had their troubles with the Wolverines over the years (sigh), but even you have to admit that they held Henne & Co. fairly close a couple weeks ago, not to mention keeping the game within reach with a third string QB for the majority of the second half. I know y'all won, but a little proper respect, please.

Oh, same result in the L column, but the Lions have been the only team to keep Smith relatively in check this season. Good luck with him next month (as ol' Sammy D would say, and I mean that), but, again, proper props if you will, please.

Whoops, how did I forget Mr. Tiller's first shutout today for the "what have you done for me lately" category, the Boilermakers being a team that averaged 29 points per game so far this year?

As for the Buckeyes leaving their starters in for three quarters, seem to recall a certain team in '94 in a strong majority of their ganes just giving their starters one series of downs in the third quarter before unleashing the backups.

Yeah, we all obviously have our biases, but facts are facts.

john (east lansing, mi) said...

eporv -

Sorry, you're right.
First - about your defense, you're right about that OSU game. If it hadn't been for that squirrely QB in the last 10 minutes, people might have checked the CFB scoreboard that week and thought twice; OSU would have been sharing first-place votes with USC up till this week.

Also, I actually missed 3 quarters of the UM-PSU game, due to watching the Tigers sweep the A's, but I did notice our production was down (Manningham might have helped, but the offense had plenty going for it without him).

Second, I was working with an unmentioned recollection of MSU finishing a number of abysmal seasons with surprising, annoying victories over Penn State. That happened a couple times last decade, right? I think? (Honestly not sure about this, but it's an impression that I have.)


Are you saying Penn State only played their starters for 35 minutes in '94? I was 9, I don't remember, but maybe that's why I've always worried about them from '95 to present.

I was just thinking about running up the score as it relates to Michigan Football... I have a hard time thinking of occasions when the first string really comes out. I think we just start running out the clock with the same guys. Anyway, I do think OSU has shown some lack of restraint this year, definitely. But hey, they're uncontested #1 [I guess those two WVa voters contest it, but they're obviously fucking insane], so that seems to be working for them.

MoL said...

John,

As far as OSU leaving their starters in. After so many years of "Tressel Ball" and winning by a TD or less, it's nice to see some points up on the board.

EPorvaznik said...

>>Are you saying Penn State only played their starters for 35 minutes in '94?>>

I'm sure I'm off by few minutes, but the only games I remember requiring the starters to play the entire game were against always pesky Michigan and a very persistent Illini squad.

Pardons to hyperbole, but I don't think it would have been inconceivable for Ki-Jana Carter to have gained 3000 yards that season if JoePa would have been about letting his players pad their stats (7.7 per carry that year). Not like he didn't inherit the Heisman jinx anyway (stupid old Bengals turf stadium).

Anonymous said...

you are overlooking the fact that in the 2nd quarter of the game vs. Minn we had the 2nd string O line in for a series. And we rotated 3 RB's until M.Wells got a stinger.

I've never seen ND's backup QB, or know if they even have one.

EPorvaznik said...

Great point with ND/Quinn, another classic case of stat padding.

Backup O-line for one series in the second quarter, though? Oh well, you stay classy, Columbus.