After years of general disappointment, frustration and controversy, it seems strangely appropriate that the BCS go out in spectacular fashion. Underdogs prevailed in all four games (Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Orange), with two massive upsets (Oklahoma over Auburn in the Sugar, UCF over Baylor in the Fiesta) thrown in for good measure. And most importantly, all four games were entertaining, putting the entire spectrum of college styles on display.
The Rose Bowl was great (even though I was hoping for a Stanford win), but for me the clear winner among the big four was the Sugar - watching Oklahoma take it to Alabama was about as good as it gets, and it was especially fun to see Jalen Saunders have such a great game. Saunders is from Elk Grove, and in age is between my two kids, so I was fortunate to see him play for three years at Pleasant Grove High School, even filling in at quarterback one season when the starter went down. He's not big, but I'm hoping he can find a home in the pros.
Adding to the fun of this year's big games (and yes, I know there's one big game left) is the speculation over how the College Football Playoff will impact the game next Fall. The committee tasked with selecting the four participants is probably more nervous about that job today than it was a week ago, because if this past week has proven anything, it's that there isn't a lot to distinguish the #5 team from the #12 team in the nation. If anything, expanding to four teams will just add to the controversy. It should be fun, and that's even before the Playoff seeks to reinvent New Year's Eve in December 2015.
Showing posts with label College Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label College Football. Show all posts
Saturday, January 04, 2014
Thursday, January 02, 2014
Rose Bowl
A couple of quick thoughts:
- We definitely saw Stanford's weakness exposed yesterday - the total lack of an intermediate passing game. Either that, or Stanford's coaching staff is unable to make the appropriate adjustments when playing a team that matches up with them perfectly, strength vs. strength. There aren't a lot of ways to explain the Cardinal's play calling in the second half, unless they just don't have that option to go to. And if they did, that was some horrible play calling.
- For anyone who thinks a four-team playoff is going to resolve controversy over crowning a champion, ask yourself two questions:
1. Can Michigan State play with any team in the country right now? Obviously, yes.
2. Would Michigan State have been one of the four teams in a playoff, had the new system begun this year? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Either way, there would have been a lot of screaming.
- We definitely saw Stanford's weakness exposed yesterday - the total lack of an intermediate passing game. Either that, or Stanford's coaching staff is unable to make the appropriate adjustments when playing a team that matches up with them perfectly, strength vs. strength. There aren't a lot of ways to explain the Cardinal's play calling in the second half, unless they just don't have that option to go to. And if they did, that was some horrible play calling.
- For anyone who thinks a four-team playoff is going to resolve controversy over crowning a champion, ask yourself two questions:
1. Can Michigan State play with any team in the country right now? Obviously, yes.
2. Would Michigan State have been one of the four teams in a playoff, had the new system begun this year? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Either way, there would have been a lot of screaming.
Sunday, December 01, 2013
Big Games, Big Bucks
When it comes to college football, I'm a bit of a traditionalist. I'd just as soon that we go back to the old bowl system, where we had intense controversy every once in a while but also had, I would argue, an overall better slate of games with more at stake. The fact that most of the key rivalry games have moved after Thanksgiving also bugs me.
But, I get it - more games means more money, and it's silly for me to complain too loudly since all of this means more football (although another thing I miss is NFL games on Saturdays in December, which seems to have gone by the wayside with the proliferation of late season college games and early bowls). And I can't argue with the fact that with gems like Ohio State-Michigan and Auburn-Alabama being played on a regular basis on the weekend after Thanksgiving, that four-day Thanksgiving holiday period may be the best football weekend of the entire year, including the NFL playoffs.
Of course, the particular games this weekend may be swaying my opinion. But in all the years I've been watching college football, I can't remember ever seeing two games as exciting and dramatic as this year's OSU-UM and AU-UA games. Seeing a coach go for two when trailing 42-41 against an undefeated team, in most years, would certainly go down as being the most dramatic moment of the weekend. But thanks to the second miracle in three weeks at Jordan-Hare, that moment dropped to #2. And after that moment, one that a lot of people in Alabama will remember for the rest of their lives as if it were yesterday, we still had Stanford-Notre Dame and UCLA-USC on tap. The fact that those two games didn't come close to the drama that preceded them hardly mattered - they had their own storylines that made them worth watching.
All I can say at this point is that I hope they don't move The Big Game to that weekend - because I don't want to have to miss all those other classics.
But, I get it - more games means more money, and it's silly for me to complain too loudly since all of this means more football (although another thing I miss is NFL games on Saturdays in December, which seems to have gone by the wayside with the proliferation of late season college games and early bowls). And I can't argue with the fact that with gems like Ohio State-Michigan and Auburn-Alabama being played on a regular basis on the weekend after Thanksgiving, that four-day Thanksgiving holiday period may be the best football weekend of the entire year, including the NFL playoffs.
Of course, the particular games this weekend may be swaying my opinion. But in all the years I've been watching college football, I can't remember ever seeing two games as exciting and dramatic as this year's OSU-UM and AU-UA games. Seeing a coach go for two when trailing 42-41 against an undefeated team, in most years, would certainly go down as being the most dramatic moment of the weekend. But thanks to the second miracle in three weeks at Jordan-Hare, that moment dropped to #2. And after that moment, one that a lot of people in Alabama will remember for the rest of their lives as if it were yesterday, we still had Stanford-Notre Dame and UCLA-USC on tap. The fact that those two games didn't come close to the drama that preceded them hardly mattered - they had their own storylines that made them worth watching.
All I can say at this point is that I hope they don't move The Big Game to that weekend - because I don't want to have to miss all those other classics.
Friday, November 08, 2013
Stanford toughness
OK, now there's a blog post title that I never thought I'd write.
With their second consecutive drubbing of Oregon in the books (although the Ducks, to their credit, made it interesting at the end), there can be no doubting that the Stanford Cardinal are officially the best college football team in the west, and perhaps the toughest team in the country. And remember, it was not so long ago that the Cal Bears had beaten them in The Big Game for the 7th time in 8 years. Ah, the good old days.
If you were a fan of Stanford, you could not have scripted last night's game any better. How does one beat Oregon? Keep the ball out of their hands. OK, how does about 42 minutes of possession time sound? Sounds like you're going to win the game. And I know that Marcus Mariotta (looks like that Heisman may have to wait another season) was not up to par last night, but given the way the Stanford defense played, it might not have made any difference.
So now the sports world is left to ponder exactly how Stanford lost to Utah a month ago, the only blemish on their record, and one that is likely to keep them out of the BCS Championship game. They've got three games left, against a somewhat rejuvenated USC squad, a disastrous Cal team (but hey - I was there when the 1-9 Bears beat the 8-2 Cards back in 1986, so anything could happen), and then a Notre Dame team that seems to play better on the road than it does at home. Will running the table be enough? Not likely, especially when you consider that among the remaining undefeated teams, Alabama is probably the most likely to lose.
But a once-beaten Stanford squad against an undefeated Ohio State team in the Rose Bowl? It would be like 1971 and 1972 all over again. I'd certainly be watching.
With their second consecutive drubbing of Oregon in the books (although the Ducks, to their credit, made it interesting at the end), there can be no doubting that the Stanford Cardinal are officially the best college football team in the west, and perhaps the toughest team in the country. And remember, it was not so long ago that the Cal Bears had beaten them in The Big Game for the 7th time in 8 years. Ah, the good old days.
If you were a fan of Stanford, you could not have scripted last night's game any better. How does one beat Oregon? Keep the ball out of their hands. OK, how does about 42 minutes of possession time sound? Sounds like you're going to win the game. And I know that Marcus Mariotta (looks like that Heisman may have to wait another season) was not up to par last night, but given the way the Stanford defense played, it might not have made any difference.
So now the sports world is left to ponder exactly how Stanford lost to Utah a month ago, the only blemish on their record, and one that is likely to keep them out of the BCS Championship game. They've got three games left, against a somewhat rejuvenated USC squad, a disastrous Cal team (but hey - I was there when the 1-9 Bears beat the 8-2 Cards back in 1986, so anything could happen), and then a Notre Dame team that seems to play better on the road than it does at home. Will running the table be enough? Not likely, especially when you consider that among the remaining undefeated teams, Alabama is probably the most likely to lose.
But a once-beaten Stanford squad against an undefeated Ohio State team in the Rose Bowl? It would be like 1971 and 1972 all over again. I'd certainly be watching.
Monday, January 07, 2013
BCS Prediction
Better get this in before the game actually starts, with the caveat that this is nothing but my gut talking.
And my gut tells me that Notre Dame, even though they're far from the flashiest team in the nation, is one of those teams that just refuses to lose, and will put it out tonight in a close one.
Notre Dame 17, Alabama 14.
UPDATE: Well, that one didn't work out so well. Not only was it off by a mile, but it was off by a mile before I even got home from work, with the score being 21-0. I'm not sure that Notre Dame played their best game, but on the other hand I'm not sure it would have made any difference if they had. So...SEC domination continues; there's just no other way to put it.
And my gut tells me that Notre Dame, even though they're far from the flashiest team in the nation, is one of those teams that just refuses to lose, and will put it out tonight in a close one.
Notre Dame 17, Alabama 14.
UPDATE: Well, that one didn't work out so well. Not only was it off by a mile, but it was off by a mile before I even got home from work, with the score being 21-0. I'm not sure that Notre Dame played their best game, but on the other hand I'm not sure it would have made any difference if they had. So...SEC domination continues; there's just no other way to put it.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Notre Dame Wakes Up the Echoes
Right now it's fashionable to say that Notre Dame doesn't deserve to be in the championship game. While it's true that they won ugly a lot of the time, it's hard to argue with 12-0. And it's not like they had the softest schedule in the world - six bowl eligible teams (would be seven, had Miami not self-imposed a bowl ban), and two of the country's best teams - Stanford and Oklahoma.
I see no reason why the Irish can't beat either Alabama or Georgia in the title game. It reminds me of the 1973 season, when the Irish had a similar team go up against a heavily-favored Alabama squad in the Sugar Bowl. That one ended up 24-23 in favor of Notre Dame, and we may be looking at a similar score in January.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
In Praise of Jeff Tedford
The end was inevitable after what happened on Saturday, but it is sad nonetheless. I think I'm old enough to qualify now as an "Old Blue," but unlike most of them - I'm thinking in particular of the ones who rain down boos on the field, and leave games early in the third quarter - you won't hear me do anything but praise the tenure of Jeff Tedford.
No, we never made it to the Rose Bowl, and no, we never advanced quite as far as Stanford has in the past couple of years. But there's no question that Tedford was one of, if not the best, football coaches that Cal has ever had. And for anyone who remembers the dark, dark days of the Joe Kapp, Keith Gilbertson and Tom Holmoe eras, even a season hovering around .500 was a blessing. And let's not forget these tidbits, courtesy of the official press statement:
- Under Tedford, Cal compiled an 82-57 from 2002-11.
- Under Tedford, Cal advanced to bowl games eight times (would have been nine, but the team was on probation and ineligible for a bowl in Tedford's first year).
- Tedford won more games than any previous Cal coach, and also owns school records for most bowl wins (5), most games coached (139) and most conference victories (50).
- And perhaps most importantly, Tedford is tied with Pappy Waldorf for most Big Game wins (7). Including, I might add, five in a row for the first time in the rivalry's history.
Because this is Cal, the press release makes a big deal about the fact that the team's academic results have fallen in recent years. So we are treated with this quote from Sandy Barbour:
"Cal football is integral to our department and our university, and its influence can be felt well beyond the walls of Memorial Stadium. The program clearly serves as an important part of the connective tissue that binds our community together, and it is imperative that Cal football be recognized as a leader in competitive success, academic achievement and community engagement."
Please. Does anyone really think we'd be reading this announcement if the Bears had gone 10-2 this year? A more honest statement might have said something along the lines of "we just forked over a small fortune in private bonds to finance the renovation of our stadium, and in order to keep the payments going we need those Old Blues in the stands funneling money to the Alumni Association and elsewhere."
Thank you, Jeff Tedford, for some fun and exciting years at Cal. May you find success elsewhere.
No, we never made it to the Rose Bowl, and no, we never advanced quite as far as Stanford has in the past couple of years. But there's no question that Tedford was one of, if not the best, football coaches that Cal has ever had. And for anyone who remembers the dark, dark days of the Joe Kapp, Keith Gilbertson and Tom Holmoe eras, even a season hovering around .500 was a blessing. And let's not forget these tidbits, courtesy of the official press statement:
- Under Tedford, Cal compiled an 82-57 from 2002-11.
- Under Tedford, Cal advanced to bowl games eight times (would have been nine, but the team was on probation and ineligible for a bowl in Tedford's first year).
- Tedford won more games than any previous Cal coach, and also owns school records for most bowl wins (5), most games coached (139) and most conference victories (50).
- And perhaps most importantly, Tedford is tied with Pappy Waldorf for most Big Game wins (7). Including, I might add, five in a row for the first time in the rivalry's history.
Because this is Cal, the press release makes a big deal about the fact that the team's academic results have fallen in recent years. So we are treated with this quote from Sandy Barbour:
"Cal football is integral to our department and our university, and its influence can be felt well beyond the walls of Memorial Stadium. The program clearly serves as an important part of the connective tissue that binds our community together, and it is imperative that Cal football be recognized as a leader in competitive success, academic achievement and community engagement."
Please. Does anyone really think we'd be reading this announcement if the Bears had gone 10-2 this year? A more honest statement might have said something along the lines of "we just forked over a small fortune in private bonds to finance the renovation of our stadium, and in order to keep the payments going we need those Old Blues in the stands funneling money to the Alumni Association and elsewhere."
Thank you, Jeff Tedford, for some fun and exciting years at Cal. May you find success elsewhere.
Monday, November 19, 2012
A Tale of Two Teams and Two Coaches
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| One of many big screen TVs at Charlie's Italian in Redondo Beach. |
Heard you missed me; well, I'm back.
On Saturday, I had the good fortune to watch the USC-UCLA game with Son #1 in a sports bar filled with fans of both teams, in Redondo Beach. It had been so long since I'd watched a game with such a large group of people that I'd forgotten how much fun it could be. Needless to say the UCLA fans left a very happy bunch, but throughout the game fans on both sides made their fair share of noise.
This has been an amazing season for both teams, for very different reasons. USC began the season as the #1 team in AP's preseason poll, and with one game left - against top-ranked Notre Dame - they are out of the Top 25, with four losses. Matt Barkley, who was the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy before the season began, won't be making the trip to New York City at all, and if he does it's only because the Heisman folks are being charitable and want to honor him for returning to finish his final season. Lane Kiffin, excoriated for leaving Tennessee in the lurch, was finally beginning to garner some respect for his results with the Trojans, and for all intents and purposes it appeared that the team was poised to give Oregon a run for their money.
Meanwhile, UCLA began the season with a new coach, Jim Mora, and if anyone was touting him as the savior of a team that has disappointed its fans for too many years to count, then I must have missed it. The Bruins got off to a good start, but following consecutive losses - including a blowout in Berkeley against Cal - it appeared that another .500 season was in the offing.
As the old cliche goes, there is a reason that they play the games. And now, also with one regular season game left on the schedule, UCLA finds itself with an outside shot to finish in a BCS bowl, and certainly has a shot at winning the Pac-12 Championship. Even if it does neither, Bruin fans will long remember this season as what could be looked upon in years to come as the start of something really big.
On the field Saturday - for the first time in 51 years, it would rain during the game - UCLA looked like the team with more overall talent, looked like the team with more motivation, and looked like the team that was better coached - by a wide margin. And even though the Trojans put up a valiant battle after falling behind 24-0, in the end it wasn't enough, and for only the second time in 14 years, the Bruins are the kings of Los Angeles football.
Not to be overly dramatic, but it's hard to put into words how disastrous this season has been for USC. Athletic Director Pat Haden gave his vote of confidence to Kiffin on Sunday, but frankly I think Haden is lying - and if he isn't, he should be. With Barkley out, it doesn't seem likely that the Trojans can beat the Irish next week, and even if they do win, an 8-4 season is not what the faithful had in mind back in August. 8-4 is a successful season for many teams, including my own alma mater, Cal. 8-4 is a disaster when you enter the season ranked at #1 with the nation's leading Heisman candidate.
Was Saturday the harbinger of a new era for L.A. football? Only time will tell. But right now, it sure looks like Jim Mora is doing for UCLA what Pete Carroll did for USC a decade ago. And if that happens, it would be a seismic shift of historic proportions.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Wrapping Up the BCS
As long as we’re on the subject of football, I might as well share some thoughts on Monday night’s less than stellar BCS Championship Game.
And by “less than stellar,” what I’m really saying is “boy, that game really sucked.” If you ever needed proof positive that two great football teams don’t always make for a great football game, then I would present this game as Exhibit A (I suppose that Exhibit B would be about 2/3 of the Super Bowl games). This was the kind of game that makes me angry; I didn’t enjoy it at all.
When Alabama played LSU in November, I was rooting for Alabama. And that, even though it was a low-scoring game decided by field goal kicking, was a great game – tense, hard-hitting, extremely well-played on defense. But this time around I was rooting for LSU, mostly because I wasn’t looking forward to the controversy that would arise over how bad the BCS sucks if ‘Bama won. Besides, I do think that LSU was a truly great team. It’s not every team that blows out 3 BCS bowl champions over the course of a season, as well as some other outstanding (or at least bowl-bound) teams.
But man, did they stink up the joint on Monday night. For most of the game they looked truly awful on the offensive side of the ball, and while Alabama had a lot to do with that, they didn’t have everything to do with that. Stating the obvious, the quarterback play in particular was…shall we say…sub-par, as was the offense’s ability to make any adjustments that allowed the team to successfully do what great football teams do as a matter of course – move the ball, make first downs, and score touchdowns. A lot of that has to be laid on the coaching staff, particularly the decision (or non-decision, if you prefer) to leave Jordan Jefferson in at quarterback. Mind you, I’m not saying that Les Miles is a bad coach. You can’t do what he’s done at LSU if you’re a bad coach. But I will say without hesitation that Les Miles is not the coach that Nick Saban is. Not an insult; just one of those “it is what it is” things.
As for the BCS…dear God, please make it go away. Please, please please…let’s move to a “plus-one” format. And while we’re at it, let’s figure out some way to make the BCS games more interesting as a whole. Don’t get me wrong – you put a major bowl game on TV on a weeknight, and I’m going to watch it. But can we please do something to ensure that the best teams are in those games?
As for the coverage of the game, I found Brent Musberger highly annoying – and I had really grown to like him on the Saturday night games. He’s no Keith Jackson, but I thought he did a great job this season, and that he and Kirk Herbstreit made a great team. But on Monday night, it was as if he suddenly morphed into Dick Vitale. That works for Dick Vitale (well, sometimes), but it was just embarrassing to hear it coming from Musberger. Tone it down, dude!
Let’s see, do I have anything else to complain about? Oh yeah, the fact that USC’s return to postseason prominence (which I do expect will occur next year) may leave me in a position of having to root for them in next year’s BCS Championship Game. Because if it does come down to USC and a team from the SEC, which I think is a distinct (or at least realistic) possibility, you’d better believe that I’ll be rooting for USC.
And by “less than stellar,” what I’m really saying is “boy, that game really sucked.” If you ever needed proof positive that two great football teams don’t always make for a great football game, then I would present this game as Exhibit A (I suppose that Exhibit B would be about 2/3 of the Super Bowl games). This was the kind of game that makes me angry; I didn’t enjoy it at all.
When Alabama played LSU in November, I was rooting for Alabama. And that, even though it was a low-scoring game decided by field goal kicking, was a great game – tense, hard-hitting, extremely well-played on defense. But this time around I was rooting for LSU, mostly because I wasn’t looking forward to the controversy that would arise over how bad the BCS sucks if ‘Bama won. Besides, I do think that LSU was a truly great team. It’s not every team that blows out 3 BCS bowl champions over the course of a season, as well as some other outstanding (or at least bowl-bound) teams.
But man, did they stink up the joint on Monday night. For most of the game they looked truly awful on the offensive side of the ball, and while Alabama had a lot to do with that, they didn’t have everything to do with that. Stating the obvious, the quarterback play in particular was…shall we say…sub-par, as was the offense’s ability to make any adjustments that allowed the team to successfully do what great football teams do as a matter of course – move the ball, make first downs, and score touchdowns. A lot of that has to be laid on the coaching staff, particularly the decision (or non-decision, if you prefer) to leave Jordan Jefferson in at quarterback. Mind you, I’m not saying that Les Miles is a bad coach. You can’t do what he’s done at LSU if you’re a bad coach. But I will say without hesitation that Les Miles is not the coach that Nick Saban is. Not an insult; just one of those “it is what it is” things.
As for the BCS…dear God, please make it go away. Please, please please…let’s move to a “plus-one” format. And while we’re at it, let’s figure out some way to make the BCS games more interesting as a whole. Don’t get me wrong – you put a major bowl game on TV on a weeknight, and I’m going to watch it. But can we please do something to ensure that the best teams are in those games?
As for the coverage of the game, I found Brent Musberger highly annoying – and I had really grown to like him on the Saturday night games. He’s no Keith Jackson, but I thought he did a great job this season, and that he and Kirk Herbstreit made a great team. But on Monday night, it was as if he suddenly morphed into Dick Vitale. That works for Dick Vitale (well, sometimes), but it was just embarrassing to hear it coming from Musberger. Tone it down, dude!
Let’s see, do I have anything else to complain about? Oh yeah, the fact that USC’s return to postseason prominence (which I do expect will occur next year) may leave me in a position of having to root for them in next year’s BCS Championship Game. Because if it does come down to USC and a team from the SEC, which I think is a distinct (or at least realistic) possibility, you’d better believe that I’ll be rooting for USC.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Thoughts on the Game of the Century
First things first - that was not a classic game. Now, don't get me wrong - I enjoy a defensive struggle as much as anyone, but to qualify for the "classic" moniker, a game has to have some classic moments - positive moments. Think of the two games that CBS used to illustrate "great games of the century" - Texas-Arkansas 1969, and Nebraska-Oklahoma 1971. Those were truly classic games, enlivened on both sides of the ball by great play. In the former, you had James Street's still amazing scramble which ended up as a touchdown, plus a play later on that they didn't show, the amazing long pass on 4th down that led to the Longhorns' winning TD. And in the latter, of course you had the amazing punt return by Johnny Rodgers, but you also had both teams picking themselves up off the canvas on numerous occasions.
Last night you had all the requisite elements for a classic, but in the end there's no escaping the fact that Alabama lost the game because of some truly horrendous field-goal kicking. I'll bet Nick Saban will think about making that a higher priority when he's looking at prospects next year. And frankly, the decision to go for the FG in overtime was a bad one. A long pass probably would have failed, but it was a certainty that a long field goal would fail.
Having said that, there's little doubt that those were the two best teams in the nation we were watching last night, although I don't think either one is invincible (well, we know one isn't, already). LSU deserves to be a heavy favorite to bring home the crystal, and Oklahoma State sure isn't gonna stop 'em, but I do think that a great game from Stanford would result in a potential classic. Ask me again after next week, when the Cardinal play that offensive machine from up north. If they win that game easily, we could end up with a true classic come January (sorry OSU fans - after what happened last night I just can't see the Cowboys as a true contender).
Last night you had all the requisite elements for a classic, but in the end there's no escaping the fact that Alabama lost the game because of some truly horrendous field-goal kicking. I'll bet Nick Saban will think about making that a higher priority when he's looking at prospects next year. And frankly, the decision to go for the FG in overtime was a bad one. A long pass probably would have failed, but it was a certainty that a long field goal would fail.
Having said that, there's little doubt that those were the two best teams in the nation we were watching last night, although I don't think either one is invincible (well, we know one isn't, already). LSU deserves to be a heavy favorite to bring home the crystal, and Oklahoma State sure isn't gonna stop 'em, but I do think that a great game from Stanford would result in a potential classic. Ask me again after next week, when the Cardinal play that offensive machine from up north. If they win that game easily, we could end up with a true classic come January (sorry OSU fans - after what happened last night I just can't see the Cowboys as a true contender).
Monday, January 10, 2011
Random Thoughts Leading to a Prediction
First things first - the damn season is just too long. We shouldn't have to wait 37 days since the last games played by these teams for the championship. And even given the potential of this matchup, it defeats the purpose of the game because it's hard to imagine any team performing at its best after a 37-day layoff - even with all of the practices in-between.
I love the Pac-10 and loathe the SEC, but try as I might I can't get that Auburn comeback against Alabama out of my head. That was the kind of game that makes "epic" a meaningful word. Oregon may be a better team than Alabama, but it is just impossible to overlook what it takes to overcome a 24-point deficit against your most hated rival in what, right now, is probably the most heated rivalry in the country.
So I'll be rooting for the Ducks and against my own prediction, but I see the Tigers capping their unlikely perfect season with a 38-31 victory.
I love the Pac-10 and loathe the SEC, but try as I might I can't get that Auburn comeback against Alabama out of my head. That was the kind of game that makes "epic" a meaningful word. Oregon may be a better team than Alabama, but it is just impossible to overlook what it takes to overcome a 24-point deficit against your most hated rival in what, right now, is probably the most heated rivalry in the country.
So I'll be rooting for the Ducks and against my own prediction, but I see the Tigers capping their unlikely perfect season with a 38-31 victory.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
College Football Quips
- I guess asking for Texas AND Alabama to lose on the same day was asking for a bit too much.
- It's really too bad that Andrew Luck didn't decide to attend Notre Dame, because then we could have spent for years making reference to "Luck of the Irish."
- It's really too bad that Andrew Luck didn't decide to attend Notre Dame, because then we could have spent for years making reference to "Luck of the Irish."
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
What A Week For Entertainment!
Boy, I don't know which is more entertaining - NBC's latest f*ck-up of their late night franchises, or the "Pete Carroll leaves, Lane Kiffin goes to USC" saga. A few random comments about both:
- First, let's talk about "The Jay Leno Show." No, I take it back - first, let me stipulate that I've always liked Jay Leno, and thought he was a great stand-up comedian back in the 1980s. There are plenty of clips of his appearances on David Letterman's show on YouTube, and they're well worth checking out if you want to see Jay at his best. But let's face it - Jay's 10 p.m. show sucks. I've watched it more than I should probably admit, mainly because there isn't much else on at 10 p.m. these days, and I just seem to do better if I have some white noise on in the background. Jay's monologue varies between OK and very good, the "Headlines" are still funny, and pretty much everything else has been an unmitigated disaster. But what's truly amazing to me is that from day one, Jay has done absolutely nothing to vary the formula of the show - despite the clear evidence on Night 1 that the "10 on 10" segment was a bad idea, they are still doing it, nearly six months later. The banter with Kevin Eubanks is awful; frankly, the band isn't even that good. The interviews are forced, as they always have been. Every now and then, one of the recorded segments is funny, although all these years later, I'm still mystified as to why anyone thinks or ever thought Ross the Intern is/was funny. Have I left anything out?
- I haven't watched enough of "The Tonight Show" with Conan to gauge its effectiveness. I've always been a Letterman man, and since Letterman comes on at 11 in Sacramento, that's what I watch. By the time its over or I've decided that Letterman's guests aren't worth watching, I'm usually too tired to make any kind of reasonable judgment about what's going on with Conan's show.
- Having said all of the above, there's no doubt in my mind that Conan is the wronged party here. Particularly given the fact that his version of "Late Night" took a couple of years to find its footing, it's amazing that NBC would throw him to the wolves so quickly. And given the absymal quality of Jay's show at 10 p.m, you really have to wonder whether the fan base for Jay's Tonight Show will stick with him. I imagine so, because they did before, and from what I saw of that show, it wasn't much different than what's now playing in prime time. Conan's statement to the "People of Earth" yesterday was an absolute masterpiece, managing to be pointed and hilariously funny all at the same time. After reading it, it's difficult for me to imagine how anyone is going to sympathize with Jay in all of this. But at the same time, Jay was wronged as well - NBC tried to push him out the door too. So I guess the only real villain in all of this is NBC. Now let's see if they can make it up to us by producing the next "Hill Street Blues," "Homicide" or "ER." Heck, I'd even settle for "Miami Vice" at this point.
- Speaking of villains, how about that Lane Kiffin? And yeah, I know that people in other professions probably do this sort of thing (although I can't think of one in my experience, and I've been in the workforce for almost 30 years). But even if we assume that is true, how about leaving all of those recruits in the lurch? Since most of the sports media world is slicing and dicing Kiffin with aplomb, I'm not sure there's much I can add, except to thank him for giving all of us another reason to root against USC.
- Have I commented on Pete Carroll? I can't even remember. But in the spirit of brevity, let me just say that I think he's made a big mistake, and that his coaching stint in Seattle will end much the same way as his previous two. I like him; I just can't understand his decision.
- First, let's talk about "The Jay Leno Show." No, I take it back - first, let me stipulate that I've always liked Jay Leno, and thought he was a great stand-up comedian back in the 1980s. There are plenty of clips of his appearances on David Letterman's show on YouTube, and they're well worth checking out if you want to see Jay at his best. But let's face it - Jay's 10 p.m. show sucks. I've watched it more than I should probably admit, mainly because there isn't much else on at 10 p.m. these days, and I just seem to do better if I have some white noise on in the background. Jay's monologue varies between OK and very good, the "Headlines" are still funny, and pretty much everything else has been an unmitigated disaster. But what's truly amazing to me is that from day one, Jay has done absolutely nothing to vary the formula of the show - despite the clear evidence on Night 1 that the "10 on 10" segment was a bad idea, they are still doing it, nearly six months later. The banter with Kevin Eubanks is awful; frankly, the band isn't even that good. The interviews are forced, as they always have been. Every now and then, one of the recorded segments is funny, although all these years later, I'm still mystified as to why anyone thinks or ever thought Ross the Intern is/was funny. Have I left anything out?
- I haven't watched enough of "The Tonight Show" with Conan to gauge its effectiveness. I've always been a Letterman man, and since Letterman comes on at 11 in Sacramento, that's what I watch. By the time its over or I've decided that Letterman's guests aren't worth watching, I'm usually too tired to make any kind of reasonable judgment about what's going on with Conan's show.
- Having said all of the above, there's no doubt in my mind that Conan is the wronged party here. Particularly given the fact that his version of "Late Night" took a couple of years to find its footing, it's amazing that NBC would throw him to the wolves so quickly. And given the absymal quality of Jay's show at 10 p.m, you really have to wonder whether the fan base for Jay's Tonight Show will stick with him. I imagine so, because they did before, and from what I saw of that show, it wasn't much different than what's now playing in prime time. Conan's statement to the "People of Earth" yesterday was an absolute masterpiece, managing to be pointed and hilariously funny all at the same time. After reading it, it's difficult for me to imagine how anyone is going to sympathize with Jay in all of this. But at the same time, Jay was wronged as well - NBC tried to push him out the door too. So I guess the only real villain in all of this is NBC. Now let's see if they can make it up to us by producing the next "Hill Street Blues," "Homicide" or "ER." Heck, I'd even settle for "Miami Vice" at this point.
- Speaking of villains, how about that Lane Kiffin? And yeah, I know that people in other professions probably do this sort of thing (although I can't think of one in my experience, and I've been in the workforce for almost 30 years). But even if we assume that is true, how about leaving all of those recruits in the lurch? Since most of the sports media world is slicing and dicing Kiffin with aplomb, I'm not sure there's much I can add, except to thank him for giving all of us another reason to root against USC.
- Have I commented on Pete Carroll? I can't even remember. But in the spirit of brevity, let me just say that I think he's made a big mistake, and that his coaching stint in Seattle will end much the same way as his previous two. I like him; I just can't understand his decision.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
I Don't Get It
All I can say is that Pete Carroll must be really pissed at Mike Garrett. I can't think of any other reason why a football coach would want to leave one of the best jobs in the world for one that is...well, not one of the best jobs in the world.
As a Cal fan, I heartily endorse the move. But as a football fan, it kind of bums me out, because there's no doubt in my mind that Carroll - assuming the deal goes through - is making a big mistake. He's been great for college football, and even though I root against his team as hard as I root against Florida, he's never bugged me the way that Urban Meyer does.
Oh well. It's his life. Whatever happens, I hope it works out for him.
As a Cal fan, I heartily endorse the move. But as a football fan, it kind of bums me out, because there's no doubt in my mind that Carroll - assuming the deal goes through - is making a big mistake. He's been great for college football, and even though I root against his team as hard as I root against Florida, he's never bugged me the way that Urban Meyer does.
Oh well. It's his life. Whatever happens, I hope it works out for him.
Friday, January 08, 2010
And That's A Wrap
It’s a shame that Colt McCoy got hurt so early in the game, not just because it denied him a chance at a championship, but because for all eternity we’ll now hear from Texas fans about how things might have gone differently had he played the entire game. They may be right; they may be wrong – but in the end, it doesn’t really matter one way or another. He did get hurt, he couldn’t play, and Alabama won the game.
But Texas sure made it interesting, essentially dominating the second half until the very end. Once Garrett Gilbert got his feet under him, he started to make some great plays. And although they’ll deny it, there seems little doubt that Alabama lost its edge at halftime, thinking that because Gilbert had played so poorly in the first half, the game was over. With a team like Texas, the game is never over. The only thing I can really criticize is the incredibly stupid decision to call a time out with 15 seconds left in the first half, and then run a play with absolutely no upside and lots of potential, as we learned, for disaster. I don't care what anyone says: there is no defending that call.
Based on their seasons and what we saw last night, I think that if Alabama and Texas played 10 games, Alabama would probably win 6 of them. But notwithstanding the final score, last night was not a dominant performance, certainly nothing like the demolition job that the Crimson Tide laid on Florida in the SEC Championship game - clearly, the best game played by any team all year. And with all due respect to Boise State, the Broncos just can’t make the claim that they beat two teams the caliber of Florida and Texas. Which isn’t to say that they couldn’t, if given the opportunity.
And that’s precisely what is wrong about the current system. A fair system, which I won’t attempt to define here, would give Boise State that chance. As it stands now, we’re left with one game for all the marbles, played by two teams that hadn't set foot on the field for 33 days. That hardly seems like a fair test.
If I had a final ballot, my Top 5 would look like this: 1. Alabama 2. Texas 3. Florida 4. Boise State 5. TCU.
But Texas sure made it interesting, essentially dominating the second half until the very end. Once Garrett Gilbert got his feet under him, he started to make some great plays. And although they’ll deny it, there seems little doubt that Alabama lost its edge at halftime, thinking that because Gilbert had played so poorly in the first half, the game was over. With a team like Texas, the game is never over. The only thing I can really criticize is the incredibly stupid decision to call a time out with 15 seconds left in the first half, and then run a play with absolutely no upside and lots of potential, as we learned, for disaster. I don't care what anyone says: there is no defending that call.
Based on their seasons and what we saw last night, I think that if Alabama and Texas played 10 games, Alabama would probably win 6 of them. But notwithstanding the final score, last night was not a dominant performance, certainly nothing like the demolition job that the Crimson Tide laid on Florida in the SEC Championship game - clearly, the best game played by any team all year. And with all due respect to Boise State, the Broncos just can’t make the claim that they beat two teams the caliber of Florida and Texas. Which isn’t to say that they couldn’t, if given the opportunity.
And that’s precisely what is wrong about the current system. A fair system, which I won’t attempt to define here, would give Boise State that chance. As it stands now, we’re left with one game for all the marbles, played by two teams that hadn't set foot on the field for 33 days. That hardly seems like a fair test.
If I had a final ballot, my Top 5 would look like this: 1. Alabama 2. Texas 3. Florida 4. Boise State 5. TCU.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Urban Meyer's Indecision
First of all, let me get my bias out of the way - I've never liked Florida football. In fact, I root against them with a passion that I reserve for few teams.
But as much as Florida football, Urban Meyer, and Tim Tebow have aggravated me in recent years, I found much to admire in Meyer's announcement on Saturday that he was resigning as the Gators' head coach (as a result of health concerns). Finally, here was a man who seemed to have his priorities in order, a man who recognized that his health and his family really were more important than a never-ending quest for the next national championship.
That's why Meyer's Sunday turnaround was so baffling. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't see any way to interpet his actions of Sunday that doesn't tarnish his reputation and his integrity. Apparently, his "second family" (the Florida players and coaches) is more important than his real family, not to mention that heart beating with so much stress inside of his body.
Viewed less harshly, Meyer's actions on Sunday betray a man suffering through a crisis that will define his life, one way or another. I can't imagine that this is over, because regardless of whether I like him or not, he is a man of integrity. The "solution" he's reached is really no solution at all, and is probably one that hurts, rather than helps, the things that he holds dear to his life - his family, the school, his coaches, and his team.
But as much as Florida football, Urban Meyer, and Tim Tebow have aggravated me in recent years, I found much to admire in Meyer's announcement on Saturday that he was resigning as the Gators' head coach (as a result of health concerns). Finally, here was a man who seemed to have his priorities in order, a man who recognized that his health and his family really were more important than a never-ending quest for the next national championship.
That's why Meyer's Sunday turnaround was so baffling. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't see any way to interpet his actions of Sunday that doesn't tarnish his reputation and his integrity. Apparently, his "second family" (the Florida players and coaches) is more important than his real family, not to mention that heart beating with so much stress inside of his body.
Viewed less harshly, Meyer's actions on Sunday betray a man suffering through a crisis that will define his life, one way or another. I can't imagine that this is over, because regardless of whether I like him or not, he is a man of integrity. The "solution" he's reached is really no solution at all, and is probably one that hurts, rather than helps, the things that he holds dear to his life - his family, the school, his coaches, and his team.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
More Handy Advice from College Coaches
Courtesy of both Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, in pre-game interviews shown this morning:
"We have to score points."
Ah...now I understand.
"We have to score points."
Ah...now I understand.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Your Handy Guide To Halftime Coach Interviews
The coach who is leading will say:
1. "We executed well."
2. "We made plays."
3. "They're a great team. We just have to keep up the pressure."
4. "There's a lot of time left. We need to make the right adjustments."
The coach who is behind will say:
1. "We just need to execute better."
2. "We're just not making the plays."
3. "We'll make some adjustments at halftime, and we'll be right back in this thing."
4. "There's a lot of football to be played."
What I'd love to hear them say:
1. "For Christ's sake, you don't honestly expect me to tell you what adjustments we're planning to make, do you?"
2. "Have you ever watched a f*cking football game?"
3. "My _______ (fill in position) is a f*cking idiot who shouldn't even be at this school. What do you want me to do about it?"
4. "What are you doing after the game?"
1. "We executed well."
2. "We made plays."
3. "They're a great team. We just have to keep up the pressure."
4. "There's a lot of time left. We need to make the right adjustments."
The coach who is behind will say:
1. "We just need to execute better."
2. "We're just not making the plays."
3. "We'll make some adjustments at halftime, and we'll be right back in this thing."
4. "There's a lot of football to be played."
What I'd love to hear them say:
1. "For Christ's sake, you don't honestly expect me to tell you what adjustments we're planning to make, do you?"
2. "Have you ever watched a f*cking football game?"
3. "My _______ (fill in position) is a f*cking idiot who shouldn't even be at this school. What do you want me to do about it?"
4. "What are you doing after the game?"
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Random College Football Notes
- I've got to give the Cal Bears a lot of credit for salvaging their season after back-to-back blowout losses against Oregon and USC. Three consecutive wins have taken their record to 6-2, and the Bears don't face a team the rest of the season that they can't beat. Win out, and they could end up in a pretty nice bowl game. On the other hand, none of the teams they're facing the rest of season is a pushover, and we could be looking at a repeat performance in the Emerald Bowl.
- It doesn't happen that often, so when USC gets blown out like they did at the hands (or the webbed feet, if you prefer) of the Oregon Ducks on Saturday night, it is an occasion to savor. And get blown out they did - their defense was atrocious, and faced with the pressure of having to keep up in a shootout, the offense just couldn't keep up.
- You can count me among those who wrote off Oregon after their disastrous opening night loss to Boise State, so now I have little choice but to bow down to the Ducks. Right now, there is no team in the country playing better, and even if the pollsters don't allow them to overcome that opening loss, they're almost a lock to make the Rose Bowl, where they'll likely annihilate whatever team the Big Ten sends out west (sorry, Iowa).
- Every year brings with it a unique BCS controversy, and every year you hear pundits saying that this is the controversy that will finally result in a playoff. Well, this year's unique wrinkle is that Thursday night game up in Idaho. I doubt there are many people in the country (outside of Idaho) who honestly believe that Boise State would win a rematch with the Ducks on a neutral field, but at the same time you can't take that win away from them. What's a voter to do? Right now it may not matter as much, but if the right teams lose at the right time, then the voters will have a very difficult decision to ponder.
- I really hate Florida.
- I watched the entire Iowa game Saturday, but I shouldn't have bothered - the 4th quarter would have sufficed. For three quarters, the Hawkeyes looked awful, and did very little to make viewers understand how the team could be undefeated and ranked 4th in the country. And then, in the 4th quarter - an explosion. Right now, I can't imagine them beating any of the teams ranked above them, but make no bones about it - they know how to win.
- It doesn't happen that often, so when USC gets blown out like they did at the hands (or the webbed feet, if you prefer) of the Oregon Ducks on Saturday night, it is an occasion to savor. And get blown out they did - their defense was atrocious, and faced with the pressure of having to keep up in a shootout, the offense just couldn't keep up.
- You can count me among those who wrote off Oregon after their disastrous opening night loss to Boise State, so now I have little choice but to bow down to the Ducks. Right now, there is no team in the country playing better, and even if the pollsters don't allow them to overcome that opening loss, they're almost a lock to make the Rose Bowl, where they'll likely annihilate whatever team the Big Ten sends out west (sorry, Iowa).
- Every year brings with it a unique BCS controversy, and every year you hear pundits saying that this is the controversy that will finally result in a playoff. Well, this year's unique wrinkle is that Thursday night game up in Idaho. I doubt there are many people in the country (outside of Idaho) who honestly believe that Boise State would win a rematch with the Ducks on a neutral field, but at the same time you can't take that win away from them. What's a voter to do? Right now it may not matter as much, but if the right teams lose at the right time, then the voters will have a very difficult decision to ponder.
- I really hate Florida.
- I watched the entire Iowa game Saturday, but I shouldn't have bothered - the 4th quarter would have sufficed. For three quarters, the Hawkeyes looked awful, and did very little to make viewers understand how the team could be undefeated and ranked 4th in the country. And then, in the 4th quarter - an explosion. Right now, I can't imagine them beating any of the teams ranked above them, but make no bones about it - they know how to win.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
One of the long list of thngs that irks me
When college football writers characterize a loss by USC to another Pac-10 team as a "mystifying loss." It's there again, in Andy Staples' Top 25 on SI.Com.
If Florida or Alabama were to lose to another team in the SEC, it would become proof of the SEC's dominance. Yet, when a Pac-10 team beats USC, it becomes "mystifying."
Maybe, just maybe, the Pac-10 is pretty good, and the teams are actually good enough to beat USC every so often?
If Florida or Alabama were to lose to another team in the SEC, it would become proof of the SEC's dominance. Yet, when a Pac-10 team beats USC, it becomes "mystifying."
Maybe, just maybe, the Pac-10 is pretty good, and the teams are actually good enough to beat USC every so often?
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