aroo: thanks for the pic!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Online Dynasty News - Taylor Speaks
While we await the much anticipated UConn-WVU showdown, Eric Taylor has been silent - until now.
SoFla reported that after the loss to Cincy, Coach Taylor refused to speak, spending his hours breaking down film and trying to understand his team's first half play against Cincinnati.
Well, that silence was broken today in a statement issued directly by Taylor:
"The Bearcats are for real."
joaj34 certainly hopes so. His BearCats take on speedy West Virginia next week and he would like to see the first half toughness his team has shown the last two weeks.
"We've had solid first halves on both sides of the ball. But, both UConn and USF adjusted real nice at halftime, and left us kind of high and dry, trying to protect leads. We need to be more aggressive in the second half. That's it - plain and simple. We are not looking forward to trying to contain that West Virginia offense. That's where our concerns are now."
SoFla reported that after the loss to Cincy, Coach Taylor refused to speak, spending his hours breaking down film and trying to understand his team's first half play against Cincinnati.
Well, that silence was broken today in a statement issued directly by Taylor:
"The Bearcats are for real."
joaj34 certainly hopes so. His BearCats take on speedy West Virginia next week and he would like to see the first half toughness his team has shown the last two weeks.
"We've had solid first halves on both sides of the ball. But, both UConn and USF adjusted real nice at halftime, and left us kind of high and dry, trying to protect leads. We need to be more aggressive in the second half. That's it - plain and simple. We are not looking forward to trying to contain that West Virginia offense. That's where our concerns are now."
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Top-25/Weekly Picks Combo
I didn't post a top-25 yet, so I'll include it with my picks. This will be a quick post - season predictions to be revisited later.
1. Texas
2. Bama
3. PSU
4. Fla
5. UGA
6. USC
7. Okl.
8. Okl St.
9. Tex T.
10. Boise St.
11. Ohio St.
12. LSU
13. Mizz
14. Utah
15. TCU
16. FSU
17. Sparty
18. UNC
19. Minn.
20. UVA
21. Org.
22. BC
23. Ball St.
24. Iowa
25. Tulsa
Picks, quick and dirty:
FSU 27, GT 20
Org. 31, Cal 20
Tex 41, TX T 21
WVU 34, UConn 21
Minn. 21, N'wst. 20
Ole Miss. 24, Aub. 20
Okl. 45, Neb. 20
Kan St. 29, Kan 27
UGA 31, Fla 27
1. Texas
2. Bama
3. PSU
4. Fla
5. UGA
6. USC
7. Okl.
8. Okl St.
9. Tex T.
10. Boise St.
11. Ohio St.
12. LSU
13. Mizz
14. Utah
15. TCU
16. FSU
17. Sparty
18. UNC
19. Minn.
20. UVA
21. Org.
22. BC
23. Ball St.
24. Iowa
25. Tulsa
Picks, quick and dirty:
FSU 27, GT 20
Org. 31, Cal 20
Tex 41, TX T 21
WVU 34, UConn 21
Minn. 21, N'wst. 20
Ole Miss. 24, Aub. 20
Okl. 45, Neb. 20
Kan St. 29, Kan 27
UGA 31, Fla 27
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Online Dynasty News - Double Header
It felt like Cincy had just got off the plane back from UConn, and there was SoFla, ready to play. But, in a Nippert Stadium night game, in a sea of black, the BearCats fought off the plucky Bulls in an offensive game, 42-28. Cincy ran out to a big 28-6 lead at the half, but the second half doldrums set in, and Groethe got the Bulls back in it. The clock was against the Bulls, however, and Cincy hung on for the win. The QB's ruled the night, both being named players of the game.
SoFla suffers it's first loss and Cincy wins its second in a row after rebounding from a heart-breaker against the conference leader, Rutgers.
The other user game this week is WVU at UConn. The Huskies need a win in a bad way, but the Mountaineers need to reclaim some user vs. user glory after their defeat at Rutgers.
SoFla suffers it's first loss and Cincy wins its second in a row after rebounding from a heart-breaker against the conference leader, Rutgers.
The other user game this week is WVU at UConn. The Huskies need a win in a bad way, but the Mountaineers need to reclaim some user vs. user glory after their defeat at Rutgers.
Online Dynasty News - Code Blue
Rolling into winless Pitt, nliley's Rutgers Scarlet Knights seems confident, coming off back-to-back user victories. But, maybe they were too confident. Pitt put up a fight and apparently discovered an offense, as both teams lit up the scoreboard in a 45-38 Knights win. Pitt proved that tha's why games aren't played on paper, and Rutgers showed the tenacity of a champion.
Or, Rutgers started dickin' around late and Pitt pulled some lucky shit.
And, we have a recap of the much anticipated Cincinnati-UConn game. Facing thousands of blue-clad fans in what UConn labeled a Code-Blue, Cincinnati held on to win 21-17. Early on, the Bearcats were unfazed by the hype and hoopla, building a 14-3 lead in the second. A pick six to close out the half out them up 21-3 and they looked ready to coast. But, after a defensive third, the wheels fell of the BearCat wagon. UConn had their own pick six, but a failed conversion, to draw it to 21-9. The Husky defense stepped up again, preventing Cincy from running the clock out twice, and flying down field to close within one score, 21-17. However, time ran out on UConn and Cincy left the field with the win.
Or, Rutgers started dickin' around late and Pitt pulled some lucky shit.
And, we have a recap of the much anticipated Cincinnati-UConn game. Facing thousands of blue-clad fans in what UConn labeled a Code-Blue, Cincinnati held on to win 21-17. Early on, the Bearcats were unfazed by the hype and hoopla, building a 14-3 lead in the second. A pick six to close out the half out them up 21-3 and they looked ready to coast. But, after a defensive third, the wheels fell of the BearCat wagon. UConn had their own pick six, but a failed conversion, to draw it to 21-9. The Husky defense stepped up again, preventing Cincy from running the clock out twice, and flying down field to close within one score, 21-17. However, time ran out on UConn and Cincy left the field with the win.
Cocktails!
A round of shots in preparation for JAX.
1. Heading into this weekend, the always researched and reliable Phil Steele has two teams on top of his toughest schedule rankings. Guess who they are. That's right. Georgia and Florida. Check it here. The Dawgs are projected to play 10 teams with winning records to the Gators 8. There is no other team playing 10, by the way. I just hope we can beat Florida, or none of this means much.
2. The Dance. Richt and Meyer are not discussing it. Will Meyer counter with something this season? What if Richt does it again? Will there be, as Mark Bradley asks, a "counter-counter celebration?" Read his insight here. Bradley makes some good points.
According to his write up, the celebration
"is the single smartest thing [Richt] has done as a coach. It changed the dynamics of a series that, from the Bulldog perspective, was past due for a change."
Bradley continues:
"Think about that: A team that won the 2006 BCS title is concerned with the team that, until 2007, was its personal doormat. "
Good Point. I'm all for fundamentals and discipline. I say it here ad nauseum. But, I have to admit, I liked the call. It was a needed spark and I'll always take a W.
3. Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun calls this the biggest edition of the Cocktail Party ever. When you think about it, at least from a pre-game, implications down the road view-point, it very well might be. But, the AJC's Chip Towers did some digging. Check it out.
It is only the fifth time they're both in the top-10. That's pretty big. But, we wont know the true magnitude of this game until we see what happens to Texas, Bama, and PSU. And, probably a few other one-lossers, too.
4. Here are some things I've learned from my experiences and those of my friends:
- Stay close enough to the landing to use the tram-thingy
- Drink liquor in your room, then stick to the $5 big-ass beers when you're out
- Don't let RBD wander away on his own - he will get injured
- Don't think it's a good thing to make out with random Florida girls when your friend is more sober than you and will remember what they look like later
- People snore much louder when they're drunk
- Sometimes oral sex is really loud
- An egg, when thrown from a moving vehicle, can break a man's jaw (if that man has the worse luck on the planet)
- KTL will fight a woman
- The older you get, the less people you should put in your room
- Cold medicine+alcohol=Tim's face in the wall
- BAFFLING (B-are A-ss F-ace) is the sport of kings
- Both schools have good fans and shit heads; hot chicks and skanks
- Since it's an election year, be ready for the last minute campaigning - and the overwhelming Republican voters
- There's not much to do in JAX at 9:00 am Thursday morning, but the local cops will let you know when you can start drinking
*Feel free to leave you're own in the comments
1. Heading into this weekend, the always researched and reliable Phil Steele has two teams on top of his toughest schedule rankings. Guess who they are. That's right. Georgia and Florida. Check it here. The Dawgs are projected to play 10 teams with winning records to the Gators 8. There is no other team playing 10, by the way. I just hope we can beat Florida, or none of this means much.
2. The Dance. Richt and Meyer are not discussing it. Will Meyer counter with something this season? What if Richt does it again? Will there be, as Mark Bradley asks, a "counter-counter celebration?" Read his insight here. Bradley makes some good points.
According to his write up, the celebration
"is the single smartest thing [Richt] has done as a coach. It changed the dynamics of a series that, from the Bulldog perspective, was past due for a change."
Bradley continues:
"Think about that: A team that won the 2006 BCS title is concerned with the team that, until 2007, was its personal doormat. "
Good Point. I'm all for fundamentals and discipline. I say it here ad nauseum. But, I have to admit, I liked the call. It was a needed spark and I'll always take a W.
3. Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun calls this the biggest edition of the Cocktail Party ever. When you think about it, at least from a pre-game, implications down the road view-point, it very well might be. But, the AJC's Chip Towers did some digging. Check it out.
It is only the fifth time they're both in the top-10. That's pretty big. But, we wont know the true magnitude of this game until we see what happens to Texas, Bama, and PSU. And, probably a few other one-lossers, too.
4. Here are some things I've learned from my experiences and those of my friends:
- Stay close enough to the landing to use the tram-thingy
- Drink liquor in your room, then stick to the $5 big-ass beers when you're out
- Don't let RBD wander away on his own - he will get injured
- Don't think it's a good thing to make out with random Florida girls when your friend is more sober than you and will remember what they look like later
- People snore much louder when they're drunk
- Sometimes oral sex is really loud
- An egg, when thrown from a moving vehicle, can break a man's jaw (if that man has the worse luck on the planet)
- KTL will fight a woman
- The older you get, the less people you should put in your room
- Cold medicine+alcohol=Tim's face in the wall
- BAFFLING (B-are A-ss F-ace) is the sport of kings
- Both schools have good fans and shit heads; hot chicks and skanks
- Since it's an election year, be ready for the last minute campaigning - and the overwhelming Republican voters
- There's not much to do in JAX at 9:00 am Thursday morning, but the local cops will let you know when you can start drinking
*Feel free to leave you're own in the comments
Fulmer Out (?)
This has been rumored and reported hardcore everywhere today, but confirmed nowhere. Phil Fulmer will not be back next season. Or, will he? It's reported that he was still recruiting something powerful after the Bama loss and hasn't mentioned anything to the team yet.
Here's the best info right now.
Of course, this is all suspect until reported by UT. Right now, it's wait and see.
Here's the best info right now.
Of course, this is all suspect until reported by UT. Right now, it's wait and see.
Word Up with Mark Richt
Florida fan and blog master of EDSBS, Orson Swindle, posted this interesting "interview" with Mark Richt earlier today. With the Cocktail Party coming up, it felt appropriate.
Online Dynasty News - Tuesday Night KO
Big Game tonight! Cincy at UConn - 8:30.
This is ripped straight from the AP:
AP- ESPN kicks off Tuesday night football with a Big East showdown live in Hartford, Connecticut as the UConn Huskies host the Bearcats of Cincinnati. The coach, Lee Corso will join Brad Nessler and Kirk Herbstreit in the booth as both teams attempt to get on the right track in conference play. When reached for comment, coach Aroo noted, “this is a must win for us. Falling to 0-3 in the Big East is not an option. We feel like our offense turned the corner last game and we hope to play well on all sides of the ball.” When asked if they had something special brewing, he added, “our seniors declared that we do something to turn this losing streak around. As a dire emergency, they declared this game a ‘CODE BLUE!’” The Huskies will don all blue this evening and ask that all students in attendance do the same. While this reporter finds the attempt to be a bit gimmicky, getting the fans in attendance riled up has helped other major football programs in years past find that extra motivation. When asked for comment on the “Code Blue,” coach joaj34 declined to add any bulletin board material merely stating, “just bring it!” Can Cincinnati rebound and thrust the Huskies into the lower depths of the Big East? Or can Connecticut recover in time to win the hearts of the many prospects that will be in attendance tonight? Stay tuned….
This is ripped straight from the AP:
AP- ESPN kicks off Tuesday night football with a Big East showdown live in Hartford, Connecticut as the UConn Huskies host the Bearcats of Cincinnati. The coach, Lee Corso will join Brad Nessler and Kirk Herbstreit in the booth as both teams attempt to get on the right track in conference play. When reached for comment, coach Aroo noted, “this is a must win for us. Falling to 0-3 in the Big East is not an option. We feel like our offense turned the corner last game and we hope to play well on all sides of the ball.” When asked if they had something special brewing, he added, “our seniors declared that we do something to turn this losing streak around. As a dire emergency, they declared this game a ‘CODE BLUE!’” The Huskies will don all blue this evening and ask that all students in attendance do the same. While this reporter finds the attempt to be a bit gimmicky, getting the fans in attendance riled up has helped other major football programs in years past find that extra motivation. When asked for comment on the “Code Blue,” coach joaj34 declined to add any bulletin board material merely stating, “just bring it!” Can Cincinnati rebound and thrust the Huskies into the lower depths of the Big East? Or can Connecticut recover in time to win the hearts of the many prospects that will be in attendance tonight? Stay tuned….
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday Night QB
Poor, pitiful Tennessee. Eric Berry deserves better.
So, Oklahoma State, even in a loss, garnered some respect by hanging with the 'Horns for 60 minutes on Saturday. Good for them. I wouldv'e said it's proof they're better than Texas Tech, but then the Red Raiders went out and curbed Kansas and Todd Reesing. I don't like the Jayhawks red jerseys. They look like practice, no-contact jerseys - and that's exactly how Knasas played. I guess I have to relent a little on my Texas Tech criticisms. They are very talented. Douchey, but talented. Why was Graham Harrell still throwing passes with 49 points on the board? Why was he still in the game? Because they're douchebags, that's why. But, I still think OK St. is better and I'd barely put them in my top-10. What am I going to do with my top-25?
Texas is still number 1. They deserve it. OK St. gave them a scare, and they held on. It takes a lot to go undefeated and the 'Horns moved one step closer Saturday. Now they go to Lubbock to play the streaking Red Raiders and complete the "toughest stretch of schedule in Texas history." It certainly has not been an easy task, and a worn out Texas team could falter at Tech. But, I doubt it.
The Cocktail Party (I will not be re-constructed by university admin, thank you) is the biggest SEC game this year. The winner will get the nod to the title game in ATL and still have an outside shot at Miami. The loser could still go 10-2 and get a great bowl, but their big dreams will effectively be dashed before the beer at the landing gets warm. Both teams hung 50+ on LSU. Florida only gave up 21, but Georgia played them in Baton Rouge and looked ready to get back on the plane half-way through the third quarter. It should be a fun game to watch if you're not a fan of either of these teams. If you are, this has ulcer written all over it. And, don't look for any choreography-related retribution for last year's endzone romp. Urban's too classy of a guy. He just runs up the score when he can and keeps his starters in late with a 40 point lead. Real class, there.
The winner of this game will play Alabama in ATL. And, I'd say, win.
And, I don't think these two losses mean that LSU is an awful team. They've lost two games to top-10 teams. Sure, they gave up 50 points in each, but there's something else lurking there - I just know it. A nice, high-teens ranking will fit them just fine. How they play in that showdown with 'Bama will decide if they're done or not.
Still, this is funny.
Will Auburn go to a bowl game? Yes. They'll probably beat Georgia and 'Bama. Remember a couple of years ago when Auburn was ranked #5 and had an outside shot at the national title and a rebuilding UGA blew them out? And, then, last year, the Tigers were blacked out and blown out in Sanford? There could be some revenge this year. It's just how football goes.
And, it would just be fitting if they knocked off the Tide.
Ty Willingham is out at Washington. Bill Doba got the ax last year and Paul Wulf is on the hot seat in his first year. This is all ridiculous. Why? The whole goddamn state apparently hates and sucks at football. It's not a recruiting hot bed. The weather sucks. The girls are ugly. Nike does not build palatial, high-tech facilities there, and they're too far away from CA. It's not the coaching, it's just being in Washington. Like Syracuse, it's over. The dream is gone. Let it go, and stop running down good men who don't live up to your expectations. It was racial at Notre Dame (see comparative records with Weis), but it's just unrealistic at Washington. I hope Ty gets a nice cushy, NFL assistant job and enjoys the rest of his career in peace.
Not to mention, people are tired of playing USC. They'd rather play at USC or in the Mountain West than suit up for a tired program in the Pacific northwest.
I hate the Big East and the ACC. There is no handle to be had on either of these conferences. I talked up SOFla last week and they lost to Louisville, who looks like they could actually win this conference if they tried. Virginia, apparently, is back. After a horrendous start, the Cavs have gone on a tear and are tied for the lead in their division after beating GA Tech. Duke beat a collapsing Vanderbilt and Rutgers beat Pitt (which I did call last week, btw). Who wants to win these conferences? I guess now, FSU would be my ACC front runner and I'd have to pick WVU in the BE.
Penn State is the real deal. Ohio State with Terrelle Pryor was the team I thought the Buckeyes would be this summer and they were shut down by the Lions D. And, in the end, Clark and company did enough to edge out OSU. I have no problem with their #3 ranking. They need to watch out for the Hawkeyes, though.
Kudos to Minnesota for keeping on the winning track. That has been one impressive turn around. You could compare the weather in MN to some of the places I ridiculed earlier, but at least in MN you get to be part of the Big-10. We SEC'ers might criticize that conference, but we all secretly know that there's more tradition and sleeping potential there than anywhere else. Imagine if they could consistently recruit Florida and Texas.
Rankings tomorrow, new predictions soon, and online dynasty news later.
So, Oklahoma State, even in a loss, garnered some respect by hanging with the 'Horns for 60 minutes on Saturday. Good for them. I wouldv'e said it's proof they're better than Texas Tech, but then the Red Raiders went out and curbed Kansas and Todd Reesing. I don't like the Jayhawks red jerseys. They look like practice, no-contact jerseys - and that's exactly how Knasas played. I guess I have to relent a little on my Texas Tech criticisms. They are very talented. Douchey, but talented. Why was Graham Harrell still throwing passes with 49 points on the board? Why was he still in the game? Because they're douchebags, that's why. But, I still think OK St. is better and I'd barely put them in my top-10. What am I going to do with my top-25?
Texas is still number 1. They deserve it. OK St. gave them a scare, and they held on. It takes a lot to go undefeated and the 'Horns moved one step closer Saturday. Now they go to Lubbock to play the streaking Red Raiders and complete the "toughest stretch of schedule in Texas history." It certainly has not been an easy task, and a worn out Texas team could falter at Tech. But, I doubt it.
The Cocktail Party (I will not be re-constructed by university admin, thank you) is the biggest SEC game this year. The winner will get the nod to the title game in ATL and still have an outside shot at Miami. The loser could still go 10-2 and get a great bowl, but their big dreams will effectively be dashed before the beer at the landing gets warm. Both teams hung 50+ on LSU. Florida only gave up 21, but Georgia played them in Baton Rouge and looked ready to get back on the plane half-way through the third quarter. It should be a fun game to watch if you're not a fan of either of these teams. If you are, this has ulcer written all over it. And, don't look for any choreography-related retribution for last year's endzone romp. Urban's too classy of a guy. He just runs up the score when he can and keeps his starters in late with a 40 point lead. Real class, there.
The winner of this game will play Alabama in ATL. And, I'd say, win.
And, I don't think these two losses mean that LSU is an awful team. They've lost two games to top-10 teams. Sure, they gave up 50 points in each, but there's something else lurking there - I just know it. A nice, high-teens ranking will fit them just fine. How they play in that showdown with 'Bama will decide if they're done or not.
Still, this is funny.
Will Auburn go to a bowl game? Yes. They'll probably beat Georgia and 'Bama. Remember a couple of years ago when Auburn was ranked #5 and had an outside shot at the national title and a rebuilding UGA blew them out? And, then, last year, the Tigers were blacked out and blown out in Sanford? There could be some revenge this year. It's just how football goes.
And, it would just be fitting if they knocked off the Tide.
Ty Willingham is out at Washington. Bill Doba got the ax last year and Paul Wulf is on the hot seat in his first year. This is all ridiculous. Why? The whole goddamn state apparently hates and sucks at football. It's not a recruiting hot bed. The weather sucks. The girls are ugly. Nike does not build palatial, high-tech facilities there, and they're too far away from CA. It's not the coaching, it's just being in Washington. Like Syracuse, it's over. The dream is gone. Let it go, and stop running down good men who don't live up to your expectations. It was racial at Notre Dame (see comparative records with Weis), but it's just unrealistic at Washington. I hope Ty gets a nice cushy, NFL assistant job and enjoys the rest of his career in peace.
Not to mention, people are tired of playing USC. They'd rather play at USC or in the Mountain West than suit up for a tired program in the Pacific northwest.
I hate the Big East and the ACC. There is no handle to be had on either of these conferences. I talked up SOFla last week and they lost to Louisville, who looks like they could actually win this conference if they tried. Virginia, apparently, is back. After a horrendous start, the Cavs have gone on a tear and are tied for the lead in their division after beating GA Tech. Duke beat a collapsing Vanderbilt and Rutgers beat Pitt (which I did call last week, btw). Who wants to win these conferences? I guess now, FSU would be my ACC front runner and I'd have to pick WVU in the BE.
Penn State is the real deal. Ohio State with Terrelle Pryor was the team I thought the Buckeyes would be this summer and they were shut down by the Lions D. And, in the end, Clark and company did enough to edge out OSU. I have no problem with their #3 ranking. They need to watch out for the Hawkeyes, though.
Kudos to Minnesota for keeping on the winning track. That has been one impressive turn around. You could compare the weather in MN to some of the places I ridiculed earlier, but at least in MN you get to be part of the Big-10. We SEC'ers might criticize that conference, but we all secretly know that there's more tradition and sleeping potential there than anywhere else. Imagine if they could consistently recruit Florida and Texas.
Rankings tomorrow, new predictions soon, and online dynasty news later.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Online Dynasty News - USF, Rutgers Rolling
After edging out Cincinnati, Rutgers kept its streak alive, defeating UConn 41-27. Next up, the Scarlet Knights face winless Pitt. Will the Panthers manage to pull the unthinkable and earn their first W against a revamped Rutgers squad? Doubtful.
UConn plays host to Cincinnati next. The BearCats are coming off a tough loss to Rutgers and entering the roughest stretch of their season. After UConn, Cincy has SoFla, WVU, L'Ville, and Pitt in succession. Ouch!
In other action, South Florida is now the only undefeated team left in the Big East after beating Louisville in a thriller, 31-28. A last second field goal carried the day for the Bulls who move to 8-0 and first place in the league.
West Virginia is the only team with a CPU game, playing at home against #14 Auburn.
UConn plays host to Cincinnati next. The BearCats are coming off a tough loss to Rutgers and entering the roughest stretch of their season. After UConn, Cincy has SoFla, WVU, L'Ville, and Pitt in succession. Ouch!
In other action, South Florida is now the only undefeated team left in the Big East after beating Louisville in a thriller, 31-28. A last second field goal carried the day for the Bulls who move to 8-0 and first place in the league.
West Virginia is the only team with a CPU game, playing at home against #14 Auburn.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Online Dynasty News - Missing the Point
Rutgers went into Nippert Stadium Friday evening and came away with a close, hard-fought, 28-26 win. RB's ruled the day and both QB's looked like they were shooting pool with rope. Late in the 2nd, Cincy scored to go up 20-14, but missed the XP. At the close of the half, Rutgers returned a pick six, nailed the xp and went up 21-20. That point would come back to haunt the BearCats. After going up, joaj34 called for 2 and Cincy came up short, clinging to a 26-21 lead. Rutgers scored to take the lead 28-26 and looked prone to score again when a BearCat defender picked the ball to keep Cincy alive. However, pinned deep, they couldn't move the ball, punted, failed to stop Rutgers running game and the Knights ran out the clock.
After the loss, coach joaj34 had this to say:
"You can't say it's one play here or one play there. It's execution, every play - and that's what we failed to do tonight. We had our chances and we blew them. That's coaching, and I'll take the blame for it. Rutgers is a fine ball club and I don't want to take anything away from them; it was a good game and we came up on the short end. That's all. We'll address our problems next week and hopefully move on from here."
Move on indeed. Cincy faces a rough stretch, playing 5 more human games in a row.
After the loss, coach joaj34 had this to say:
"You can't say it's one play here or one play there. It's execution, every play - and that's what we failed to do tonight. We had our chances and we blew them. That's coaching, and I'll take the blame for it. Rutgers is a fine ball club and I don't want to take anything away from them; it was a good game and we came up on the short end. That's all. We'll address our problems next week and hopefully move on from here."
Move on indeed. Cincy faces a rough stretch, playing 5 more human games in a row.
KTL Speaks:
Here's the link to the great KTL's picks for this week. Outside of analyzing the Auburn-WVU while it's going on in an attempt to impress us with his abilities, it's a nice piece that picks the top-15 for week.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A non-football WTF?
JINX recently posted this photo on his blog. It got my attention.
Not to steal his blogging thunder, I went out to learn more about this. Apparently, crocodiles tangle fairly regularly with land mammals near waterholes - usually emerging victorious. However, this one leopard had had enough of that shit, and put a plan together.
This is what I found on lifeinthefastlae.ca:
"The speeding leopard sprinted out from cover of scrub and bush, charging after a crocodile swimming in the waterhole, seizing it by surprise.
Onlookers watched in disbelief as the fierce and bloody battle unfolded. To their amazement, the massive cat emerged from the bank, dragging the crocodile in its mouth from the water as the creature fought back furiously — tumbling, thrashing, and wrathfully snapping its powerful jaws feverishly the entire way."
It continues:
"But as the two predators continued to fight, the leopard gained the upper hand as it took control with its prey caught by the throat.
Despite the croc’s massive weight and strength, the leopard eventually managed to sit on top of the reptile and suffocate it.
There have been reports of crocodiles killing leopards in the past, but never has the reverse scenario been witnessed."
After the deadly fight, the leopard dragged the crocodile away. What? Did he eat it? Were there no deer or antelopes around? Or, did this one leopard wake up and say: "Fuck it! I'm sick of these crocs. They can push us this far, and no further. I have resolved today, to kill a crocodile, not just for me, but all leopard-kind! We didn't land on the Serengeti, the Serengeti landed on us. By any means necessary!"
I have a cat. This news terrifies me. I will never again know the joy of a peaceful sleep after seeing this:
Damn Nature, you scary!
Not to steal his blogging thunder, I went out to learn more about this. Apparently, crocodiles tangle fairly regularly with land mammals near waterholes - usually emerging victorious. However, this one leopard had had enough of that shit, and put a plan together.
This is what I found on lifeinthefastlae.ca:
"The speeding leopard sprinted out from cover of scrub and bush, charging after a crocodile swimming in the waterhole, seizing it by surprise.
Onlookers watched in disbelief as the fierce and bloody battle unfolded. To their amazement, the massive cat emerged from the bank, dragging the crocodile in its mouth from the water as the creature fought back furiously — tumbling, thrashing, and wrathfully snapping its powerful jaws feverishly the entire way."
It continues:
"But as the two predators continued to fight, the leopard gained the upper hand as it took control with its prey caught by the throat.
Despite the croc’s massive weight and strength, the leopard eventually managed to sit on top of the reptile and suffocate it.
There have been reports of crocodiles killing leopards in the past, but never has the reverse scenario been witnessed."
After the deadly fight, the leopard dragged the crocodile away. What? Did he eat it? Were there no deer or antelopes around? Or, did this one leopard wake up and say: "Fuck it! I'm sick of these crocs. They can push us this far, and no further. I have resolved today, to kill a crocodile, not just for me, but all leopard-kind! We didn't land on the Serengeti, the Serengeti landed on us. By any means necessary!"
I have a cat. This news terrifies me. I will never again know the joy of a peaceful sleep after seeing this:
Damn Nature, you scary!
Half-Way (Kinda) Reflections and Predictions (Sorta)
It's been another crazy ride this season. We saw 3 of the top 4 teams lose two weeks in a row. We've seen the Big-12 challenge the SEC, the PAC-10 disappear, and the Big-10 comeback. Colt McCoy is Heisman front runner and Alabama and Penn State are near the top again.
Let's look at some random stuff:
Conference Calls
Big East:
My preseason pick - WVU. Lost to ECU, lost their direction, lost their edge, etc.
New Pick - SoFla. Pitt falls somewhere (maybe Rutgers on Sat.) and the Bulls stay steady to claim the crown.
Big-12:
My Preseason picks - Oklahoma vs. Missouri. Sooners are still in a great spot and I don't see anyone else in the North having a better record than the Tigers.
New Picks - Texas vs. Missouri; Texas wins
The ACC:
My preseason pick - Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech. Riley Skinner fell off a touch and the offense looks anemic at best. VA Tech still has a shot...if they can knock off FSU and regain their footing.
New pick - I have no idea...maybe BC or FSU? Vs. Georgia Tech or still VA Tech? Who knows. This conference is brain numbing.
I'll go with a GA Tech vs. BC rematch.
Big-10
My preseason pick - Ohio State. The wheels came off at USC (surprise, surprise), but Pryor has come on and I think they'll rebound. This week's game with Penn St. is for the conference titles.
New Pick - None - I'm staying with the Buckeyes. See weekly picks for reasoning.
PAC-10
Really? Do I even need to write this. It's Washington State, obviously.
SEC
Preseason pick - Florida vs. Auburn. The Gators are back on track, but Auburn's a long way from home with no offense and all the soap opera drama that's happened on the plains.
New pick - Georgia vs. Alabama rematch. I'll take the Dawgs in JAX and Bama to win the West. Georgia wins the rematch in ATL.
MWC
Preseason pick - Utah. Utes still rolling baby!
New pick - I'd like to say I've learned my lesson and take the Horned Frogs of TCU...but, I'm sticking with the girl who brung me. Go Utah!
Other stuff:
CUSA - Tulsa over ECU
MAC - Ball State/CMU winner over Akron
WAC - Boise St. - Broncos go BCS bustin'
SB - On a limb, I'll say the Ragin' Cajuns of UL-L
Notre Dame goes bowling...probably in over-matched style, in a game they don't belong
Heisman:
1. Colt McCoy wins over:
2. Sam Bradford
3. Javon Ringer
4. Tim Tebow
5. Mark Sanchez or Knowshon Moreno
Bowls:
BCS Title - Texas vs. Ohio State (It's gonna happen again...)
Sugar - Georgia vs. Boise St. (Why does the WAC end up here?)
Orange - BC vs. SoFla
Fiesta - Oklahoma vs. Alabama
Rose - Penn State vs. USC
Other bowls:
Cotton -LSU - Missouri
Cap1 - Florida vs. Mich St.
Gator - VA Tech vs. Notre Dame
Outback - Minn. vs. SoCar
Sun - Oregon vs. Kansas
That's where I'm at right now. Things will change, teams will lose, and these predictions will become useless (I guess they already are, technically, since I have no bearing on anything).
Anyway, enjoy the rest of the game tonight...about 4 minutes left in the first and Auburn looks like it has a real offense - wonder where they stole it from.
Let's look at some random stuff:
Conference Calls
Big East:
My preseason pick - WVU. Lost to ECU, lost their direction, lost their edge, etc.
New Pick - SoFla. Pitt falls somewhere (maybe Rutgers on Sat.) and the Bulls stay steady to claim the crown.
Big-12:
My Preseason picks - Oklahoma vs. Missouri. Sooners are still in a great spot and I don't see anyone else in the North having a better record than the Tigers.
New Picks - Texas vs. Missouri; Texas wins
The ACC:
My preseason pick - Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech. Riley Skinner fell off a touch and the offense looks anemic at best. VA Tech still has a shot...if they can knock off FSU and regain their footing.
New pick - I have no idea...maybe BC or FSU? Vs. Georgia Tech or still VA Tech? Who knows. This conference is brain numbing.
I'll go with a GA Tech vs. BC rematch.
Big-10
My preseason pick - Ohio State. The wheels came off at USC (surprise, surprise), but Pryor has come on and I think they'll rebound. This week's game with Penn St. is for the conference titles.
New Pick - None - I'm staying with the Buckeyes. See weekly picks for reasoning.
PAC-10
Really? Do I even need to write this. It's Washington State, obviously.
SEC
Preseason pick - Florida vs. Auburn. The Gators are back on track, but Auburn's a long way from home with no offense and all the soap opera drama that's happened on the plains.
New pick - Georgia vs. Alabama rematch. I'll take the Dawgs in JAX and Bama to win the West. Georgia wins the rematch in ATL.
MWC
Preseason pick - Utah. Utes still rolling baby!
New pick - I'd like to say I've learned my lesson and take the Horned Frogs of TCU...but, I'm sticking with the girl who brung me. Go Utah!
Other stuff:
CUSA - Tulsa over ECU
MAC - Ball State/CMU winner over Akron
WAC - Boise St. - Broncos go BCS bustin'
SB - On a limb, I'll say the Ragin' Cajuns of UL-L
Notre Dame goes bowling...probably in over-matched style, in a game they don't belong
Heisman:
1. Colt McCoy wins over:
2. Sam Bradford
3. Javon Ringer
4. Tim Tebow
5. Mark Sanchez or Knowshon Moreno
Bowls:
BCS Title - Texas vs. Ohio State (It's gonna happen again...)
Sugar - Georgia vs. Boise St. (Why does the WAC end up here?)
Orange - BC vs. SoFla
Fiesta - Oklahoma vs. Alabama
Rose - Penn State vs. USC
Other bowls:
Cotton -LSU - Missouri
Cap1 - Florida vs. Mich St.
Gator - VA Tech vs. Notre Dame
Outback - Minn. vs. SoCar
Sun - Oregon vs. Kansas
That's where I'm at right now. Things will change, teams will lose, and these predictions will become useless (I guess they already are, technically, since I have no bearing on anything).
Anyway, enjoy the rest of the game tonight...about 4 minutes left in the first and Auburn looks like it has a real offense - wonder where they stole it from.
Calling out KTL
This is a direct quote from KTL's blog:
"Get ready for...my first post picking this weekend's college games"
Where are they? Auburn-WVU is upon us and you've given us nothing. Will you be posting it tomorrow? This is not just a Friday-Saturday business, buddy. You have to want it more than that.
"Get ready for...my first post picking this weekend's college games"
Where are they? Auburn-WVU is upon us and you've given us nothing. Will you be posting it tomorrow? This is not just a Friday-Saturday business, buddy. You have to want it more than that.
Leave Nothing
David Fincher is awesome.
Troy Polamalu is awesome.
Ladanian Tomlinson is awesome.
Remixing that Promontory song is awesome.
I give you this, my favorite commercial right now:
Leave Nothing.
Troy Polamalu is awesome.
Ladanian Tomlinson is awesome.
Remixing that Promontory song is awesome.
I give you this, my favorite commercial right now:
Leave Nothing.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Weekly Picks
Why should I even bother making picks after the BYU-TCU debacle? Why? Because I don't give up, that's why. I mean, I've fallen from 1st to 8th in my pick 'em league and I haven't stopped picking. And, when the second quarter's all blurry and I can't tell what color my own team is wearing, and I mix up team rankings with the score, I keep on drinking. I'm persistent.
Season: 47-20
Last Week: 7-3
Against KTL: A big, fat goose-egg, embarrassingly laid, MWC style, last Thursday
But, in the spirit of getting back on the horse, here's my ten picks for the week:
Picks:
Kansas 42, Texas Tech 40 - I just think it's finally time for the Raiders to go down. I have them ranked fairly high, but that's only because of the defenseless clusterfuck that the Big 12 has become. They don't have a signature win and Kansas has played well in two losses to ranked teams. I think the Jayhawks get over and the Red Raiders get beat.
Florida 31, Kentucky 13 - The Gators might be looking ahead to the Cocktail Party, but I think they'll do fine this week against a scrappy set of wildcats with a good coach, good record, and no respect. It'll be 21-13 late, but Pope Urban will run it up in the last few minutes.
Texas 41, OK St. 31 - I don't think OK St. is as good as they're ranked, but they vaulted up after beating #3 Mizz who now has 2 losses. This game will be the crucible that sets us straight on the Big-12 South. Colt McCoy is playing better than anyone, but this is the defense that shut down Chase Daniel. However, Texas has a better D than the Tigers and they have Jordan Shipley...and Quan Cosby...and, most importantly, Brian Orakpo. I take the Horns with a score that's en vogue for the region.
Georgia 26, LSU 20 - Fanboy? Yes. But, I also think it's a realistic pick given that we avoided the Red Stick, Night Game, Death Trap. Will Les Miles have tricks in his hat? Yes. But, Richt has Jesus on his shoulder and Knowshon on his roster. If the freshmen up front can let Moreno get outside, he could get the D's attention early, opening up the opportunity for Stafford and AJ Green to hook up late for the go ahead score.
Crap-Shoots: These are the toughest games for me to call this week.
Auburn 21, WVU 20 (Thu.) -I have no way of calling this. I like White and Devine going wild on the Tigers, but I also like the old-school, brick-wall, fire-blanket mentality of Auburn's defense. If AU's offense can somehow hobble to 14 points, I see the D getting the last TD to win the game.
VA Tech 24, FSU 20 - The Noles are back! Yeah! They beat NC St. Remember? That totally means they're back. I mean, Bowden's coaching with telepathy for fuck's sake. You know..because he doesn't where a headset anymore, but he's still coaching. Right?
GA Tech 27, UVA 13 -Virginia was left for dead a few weeks in, but have gone on a 3-game tear. The Jackets are only 3 points away from undefeated and have an offense clicking again under it's starting QB. But, this is the ACC, so what does any of this fucking matter? Virginia could win 44-0 and it would just be more of the same.
Southern Ivies Bowl:
Vandy 24, Duke 10 -These kids exemplify student-athlete. But, I think the Commodores will be more athlete and less student this Saturday, rolling the Devils in Nashville.
Game of the Week:
Ohio State 31, Penn St. 30 - Terrelle Pryor is a great athlete. But, he's young. Still, he's taken control of this team and can recover from his mistakes with electrifying athleticism. For Penn State, Daryll Clark has experience and decision making skills that keep the Lions in control. And, if he has a bad day, there's always Evan Royster to pick up the slack offensively. However, the Bucks have Beanie. And, they're in the 'Shoe. I think it'll be fun and it'll be close, but it'll be Buckeyes when it's all said and done.
Upset Alert:
Tenn 27, Bama 24 - I have nothing to base this on other than a gut feeling. Tennessee is completely out-gunned by this physical 'Bama team, but Cody's out and UT can play some decent second half ball. Maybe it's enough. Maybe Nick Saban will be driven insane by the 109th time 'Rocky Top' rains upon him. Maybe Bama will win by 40.
Look out:
Who else should be on upset alert? Missouri should be careful Saturday night, playing host to a seemingly always pissed off Colorado Buffs team. I mean, Hawkins benched his own son last week. They could be fueled for a good game and Missouri could be just pissy enough to fall into the trap. Also, Pitt's at home against a comfortingly shitty Rutgers team. Maybe it's too much of a return to normalcy. Don't sleep on Schiano...
Season: 47-20
Last Week: 7-3
Against KTL: A big, fat goose-egg, embarrassingly laid, MWC style, last Thursday
But, in the spirit of getting back on the horse, here's my ten picks for the week:
Picks:
Kansas 42, Texas Tech 40 - I just think it's finally time for the Raiders to go down. I have them ranked fairly high, but that's only because of the defenseless clusterfuck that the Big 12 has become. They don't have a signature win and Kansas has played well in two losses to ranked teams. I think the Jayhawks get over and the Red Raiders get beat.
Florida 31, Kentucky 13 - The Gators might be looking ahead to the Cocktail Party, but I think they'll do fine this week against a scrappy set of wildcats with a good coach, good record, and no respect. It'll be 21-13 late, but Pope Urban will run it up in the last few minutes.
Texas 41, OK St. 31 - I don't think OK St. is as good as they're ranked, but they vaulted up after beating #3 Mizz who now has 2 losses. This game will be the crucible that sets us straight on the Big-12 South. Colt McCoy is playing better than anyone, but this is the defense that shut down Chase Daniel. However, Texas has a better D than the Tigers and they have Jordan Shipley...and Quan Cosby...and, most importantly, Brian Orakpo. I take the Horns with a score that's en vogue for the region.
Georgia 26, LSU 20 - Fanboy? Yes. But, I also think it's a realistic pick given that we avoided the Red Stick, Night Game, Death Trap. Will Les Miles have tricks in his hat? Yes. But, Richt has Jesus on his shoulder and Knowshon on his roster. If the freshmen up front can let Moreno get outside, he could get the D's attention early, opening up the opportunity for Stafford and AJ Green to hook up late for the go ahead score.
Crap-Shoots: These are the toughest games for me to call this week.
Auburn 21, WVU 20 (Thu.) -I have no way of calling this. I like White and Devine going wild on the Tigers, but I also like the old-school, brick-wall, fire-blanket mentality of Auburn's defense. If AU's offense can somehow hobble to 14 points, I see the D getting the last TD to win the game.
VA Tech 24, FSU 20 - The Noles are back! Yeah! They beat NC St. Remember? That totally means they're back. I mean, Bowden's coaching with telepathy for fuck's sake. You know..because he doesn't where a headset anymore, but he's still coaching. Right?
GA Tech 27, UVA 13 -Virginia was left for dead a few weeks in, but have gone on a 3-game tear. The Jackets are only 3 points away from undefeated and have an offense clicking again under it's starting QB. But, this is the ACC, so what does any of this fucking matter? Virginia could win 44-0 and it would just be more of the same.
Southern Ivies Bowl:
Vandy 24, Duke 10 -These kids exemplify student-athlete. But, I think the Commodores will be more athlete and less student this Saturday, rolling the Devils in Nashville.
Game of the Week:
Ohio State 31, Penn St. 30 - Terrelle Pryor is a great athlete. But, he's young. Still, he's taken control of this team and can recover from his mistakes with electrifying athleticism. For Penn State, Daryll Clark has experience and decision making skills that keep the Lions in control. And, if he has a bad day, there's always Evan Royster to pick up the slack offensively. However, the Bucks have Beanie. And, they're in the 'Shoe. I think it'll be fun and it'll be close, but it'll be Buckeyes when it's all said and done.
Upset Alert:
Tenn 27, Bama 24 - I have nothing to base this on other than a gut feeling. Tennessee is completely out-gunned by this physical 'Bama team, but Cody's out and UT can play some decent second half ball. Maybe it's enough. Maybe Nick Saban will be driven insane by the 109th time 'Rocky Top' rains upon him. Maybe Bama will win by 40.
Look out:
Who else should be on upset alert? Missouri should be careful Saturday night, playing host to a seemingly always pissed off Colorado Buffs team. I mean, Hawkins benched his own son last week. They could be fueled for a good game and Missouri could be just pissy enough to fall into the trap. Also, Pitt's at home against a comfortingly shitty Rutgers team. Maybe it's too much of a return to normalcy. Don't sleep on Schiano...
Online Dynasty News - An Honest Coach
After watching his West Virginia team implode in a 59-22 loss to Rutgers, coach mkyle11 got real honest about his team:
"Their offense was tough and our defense did not show up to play. I mean, you could have landed a plane in our secondary there were so many holes, but we knew that was a weakness going in. Once we saw the defense was not there, we abandoned our game plan and just started trying to score quick and often, which resulted in interceptions. "
But, he wasn't throwing his team under the bus. Coach went on to take the blame and offer solutions:
"It was a rookie mistake on my part so I will take the blame for that. However, we will take the defense back to the drawing board - maybe even completely revamp it. There is no reason to lose a game when one player alone has 200 yards rushing. That is not to take anything away from Rutgers - and to their credit we were the number three team (not number 4 as was earlier reported by the AP).
"We will learn from this -losing builds character.
He even made a bold statement about the entire league:
"This is a tough league; Gentleman, this Big East is the new SEC. Anything can happen on any given day."
Meanwhile, the Rutgers-Cincinnati game has been set for a 5 PM, Friday evening kick-off and can be viewed on ESPN 2.
After Wednesday's practice, we caught up with joaj34:
"This is going to be a real tough game...[Rutgers] is a good team that's putting up unreal numbers. We've been worried about defense and turnovers since we beat Oklahoma, and this is a team that can exploit those weaknesses. But, we're going to play our game and try to force them into our tempo and hopefully put them away. We need a big game and some solid defense."
When asked which QB would start, joaj34 had no comment.
"Their offense was tough and our defense did not show up to play. I mean, you could have landed a plane in our secondary there were so many holes, but we knew that was a weakness going in. Once we saw the defense was not there, we abandoned our game plan and just started trying to score quick and often, which resulted in interceptions. "
But, he wasn't throwing his team under the bus. Coach went on to take the blame and offer solutions:
"It was a rookie mistake on my part so I will take the blame for that. However, we will take the defense back to the drawing board - maybe even completely revamp it. There is no reason to lose a game when one player alone has 200 yards rushing. That is not to take anything away from Rutgers - and to their credit we were the number three team (not number 4 as was earlier reported by the AP).
"We will learn from this -losing builds character.
He even made a bold statement about the entire league:
"This is a tough league; Gentleman, this Big East is the new SEC. Anything can happen on any given day."
Meanwhile, the Rutgers-Cincinnati game has been set for a 5 PM, Friday evening kick-off and can be viewed on ESPN 2.
After Wednesday's practice, we caught up with joaj34:
"This is going to be a real tough game...[Rutgers] is a good team that's putting up unreal numbers. We've been worried about defense and turnovers since we beat Oklahoma, and this is a team that can exploit those weaknesses. But, we're going to play our game and try to force them into our tempo and hopefully put them away. We need a big game and some solid defense."
When asked which QB would start, joaj34 had no comment.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Online Dynasty News - Coaching Dynamo
nliley, hired 3 games into the season, is showing his coaching chops early. He's led the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to an offensive blowout in his first CPU game and knocked off the #4 team in the nation, WVU, 59-22, in his first human v. human game.
Mike Teel went 16/16 for 300 yards and 6 TD's. That's insanity. When reached for comment, all nliley had to say was:
" I'm excited about the upset win, but I'm eager to get on the field next week and build on what we have started."
Spoken like a true coach.
So, we have seen s.shah, m.kyle11, and Aroo all lose so far. Next up for Rutgers are the #17 Cincinnati BearCats. Will your humble hero, joaj34, be able to fend off nliley's rampage? Signs point to no, but you never can tell.
I need a defense. In a bad way.
Full info, members, results and predictions for the online dynasty are coming...
Mike Teel went 16/16 for 300 yards and 6 TD's. That's insanity. When reached for comment, all nliley had to say was:
" I'm excited about the upset win, but I'm eager to get on the field next week and build on what we have started."
Spoken like a true coach.
So, we have seen s.shah, m.kyle11, and Aroo all lose so far. Next up for Rutgers are the #17 Cincinnati BearCats. Will your humble hero, joaj34, be able to fend off nliley's rampage? Signs point to no, but you never can tell.
I need a defense. In a bad way.
Full info, members, results and predictions for the online dynasty are coming...
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