Ever since the unpleasantness in Miami exploded, the big debate in college football has been “should athletes get paid”. Most analysts use the term “stipend”, but it is essentially paying kids to play football. There are even coaches like Steve Spurrier coming out and offering to pay athletes out of his salary. So, is this a good idea? I’ll take a look at both sides of the debate.
Argument for Paying College Football Athletes:
With the recent issues at Ohio State and Miami coming to light, it seems like now is the best time to visit the issue of paying football athletes at stipend to cover expenses. A large number of these athletes come from inner city areas where money is tight and times are tough. By providing players with some money, it lowers the chance that the player or their extended family will take money from other outside sources (agents, boosters, etc).
Since athletes would be less apt to take money, it lowers the cost to the NCAA to investigate these issues. The NCAA could then turn around and use that money to pay off commentators to stop saying the word “playoff”. But seriously, fewer investigations would lead to less off-field distractions for team. It would also mean fewer abrupt firings of ADs and coaches, as well as fewer suspensions for athletes.
While most detractors would hide behind the “they get an education” defense, top tier players almost always leave college early before finishing their degree. The main reason is money. They want to be able to start providing for their family and are tired of living like a pauper even though they are stars. By paying a stipend, athletes may be more willing to stay an extra year to complete their education and have a marketable skill that doesn’t include throwing a ball.
The NCAA and colleges make billions from college football. It seems only fair that the athletes get a small piece of the pie. Players should be able to go out with friends or companions without having to worry about being able to pay for the experience. A player should be able to go to McDonald’s if they want to grab a quick bite to eat. It is easy for resentment to grow if the college is making money on an athlete’s hard work while the athlete in question can’t even buy a Big Mac.
Argument against Paying College Football Athletes:
With the recent issues at Ohio State and Miami, now, more than ever, it is important for the NCAA to stick to their guns and reinforce the rules that college athletes are not to be paid for their services. Life is about rules and regulations and the sooner kids in their late teens learn this, the better.
The argument that by giving athletes some money will deter them from taking more money is flimsy. If a town has a problem with murder, the town doesn’t say “well, murder is still illegal, but you can beat the crap out of someone and be fine.” No, you draw the line in the sand. If it gets crossed, you call down the thunder; you don’t redraw the line further back.
I would postulate that NCAA investigations would be tougher, more expensive, and more time consuming if athletes were paid than if not. Right now, a college athlete walking down the street with gold chains jumping into his new car is going peak some interest and lead to tough questions. If athletes start getting paid, then instead of stammering, they can say that they saved up their stipend money to buy the chains and car. Then it becomes a game of follow the money.
While not trying to hide behind the “they get an education” defense, education is not cheap. The average undergraduate tuition and fees for Ohio State University for 2011-2012 is $19,926 for Ohio residents and $34,974 for out of state residents (with the disclaimer that students should expect a 5 to 10 percent increase yearly). So, that means that for 4 year, and out of state student would pay around $150,739 (figuring a 5 percent annual increase).
That means that an 18 year old athlete would be given $150,000 worth of services for in exchange for his services on the football field. Seems like a fair deal when you consider he has a four year audition for the NFL while classmates graduating are faced with a tough job market and the specter of college loan payments.
I think the biggest argument against paying college athletes is the logistical nightmare it creates for the NCAA and the furor it will create from the schools. In order to be fair, all colleges have to pay all players the same amount of money. Meaning the redshirt freshman punter gets the same as the star quarterback. Not only that, but the third string running back at Baylor has to be paid the same as the starting wide receiver at USC. You need to sit each and every college down and figure out a price that works for all of them; otherwise it just becomes a lower level professional league with teams trying to outbid each other.
Now, if by some miracle, every college agreed upon a price to pay each college football athlete, and this was instituted, then a whole other fight would begin. College basketball, baseball, and hockey players would be demand equal treatment. It would then trickle down to sports like lacrosse, swimming, and any other sport you can think of. Plus, let’s not forget the inevitable Title IX lawsuit that would come with women’s sports demanding equal treatment as well. It would be an absolute disaster.
Conclusion:
Both sides have valid arguments. Personally, I feel that the NCAA will stand pat and come down hard on all offenders. They have a monopoly on amateur football and they know it. They are going to make rules that benefit the most number of people. Cutting checks to every student athlete does not benefit the most number of people. So, while this was a fun debate, it’s all moot since the NCAA isn’t going to reward offenders.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Seven Things You Need to Know for the 2011 College Football Season
The college football season is nearly upon us and I, for one, couldn’t be happier. Since I was a Boy Scout in my younger days, I believe in the credo “Be Prepared”. As such, I have prepared a list of the top seven things you need to know for the upcoming season. Let the fun begin.
1) Rules are NOT meant to be broken
I don’t think I have ever seen an off-season like this one. It seems like every program is being investigated or sanctioned in one way or another. You have teams vacating wins, vacating championships, firing coaches, firing ADs, facing post-season bans, facing scholarship loses, and even one team (Miami) facing the “death penalty”.
As much as I hate to give ESPN credit for anything, that 30 for 30 on SMU showed the stark realities of what the “death penalty” means to a college football program. That said, the NCAA needs to take a hard line here. They need to show that rule breaking of any kind will not be tolerated and will be dealt with extreme prejudice.
The time to talk about stipends or payments for players can be dealt with later. The culture of corruption needs to be dealt with now.
2) Andrew Luck and then everyone else
I was listening to a radio interview with Todd McShay the other day. I don’t think there is any talent assessor that I respect more than McShay (Mel Kiper Jr. and Mel Kiper Jr’s hair are a close 2 and 3). He spent a good chuck of the interview extolling the virtues of Andrew Luck.
Anyone who watched college football last year knows the kid is the real deal. He’s durable, has a strong, accurate arm, and is a good leader. The Heisman Trophy is his to lose. There is no one else in college football right now who is at his talent level.
I do question how the loss of his coach and the increased pressure will effect his game. Did Harbaugh build a system for his quarterback or is Luck really that talented? Will the season long pressure of being “the man” weigh on him? Time will tell, but I think he’ll be just fine.
3) The Top 5: parity or pathetic
Let’s take a look at the Top 5 in the Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll. In order, Oklahoma, Alabama, Oregon, LSU, and Florida State. I thought it was a joke at first. Then, after I thought about it, it sort of made sense. The reason I thought it was a joke is because there is no clear cut dominant team here.
Any water carrier for any of those five teams knows that they have flaws. I don’t trust the quarterbacks of any of those teams. The only team that is moderately balanced is Oklahoma. Alabama and LSU will rely on defense, Oregon will rely on offense, and FSU will rely on luck.
I think this is more of a statement that there is parity in college football now. I don’t think there will be two teams that make it though the season undefeated. It is going to come down to who is the best one loss team. And of course, that leads to my favorite subject: bashing the BCS.
4) Conference realignment rocks
I’ll be the first to admit I was a little skittish about conference realignment. Keeping track of all the moves and potential moves is dizzying at times. All you need to know is that the Pac 10 is now the Pac 12, the Big 10 has twelve teams, and the Big 12 has ten teams.
We finally get Pac 12 and Big 10 Championship Games. Finally we will get a definitive champion for two of the tougher conferences in college football. I was getting tired of having to watch Oklahoma or Texas beat up on whatever cream puff the Big 12 North put into the Big 12 Championship Game.
Next year, TCU will be moving to the Big East, which will give them a springboard to an automatic BCS Bowl without having to go undefeated. Though, on a talent level, it almost seems like a step down.
Also, the SEC seems to be looking to poach Big 12 and ACC teams to make some sort of super-conference. I love the suspense and intrigue. Also, makes for fun speculation.
5) Era of BCS busters TCU and Boise State not quite over
Now, I’m not saying that Boise State or TCU will run the table and end up in a BCS Bowl. Truth be told I don’t think either team will do it this year. However, both are still dangerous and need to be taken seriously. TCU has the easier schedule, but have to go to Boise State late in the year. Plus, TCU will be breaking in a new quarterback to replace Andy Dalton.
Boise State, on the other hand, goes on the road and opens up against an unrated Georgia team. That game and the aforementioned showdown with TCU will not be easy. Boise State is the better team with a lot of returning starters (including Kellen Moore), but TCU will still be dangerous. Don’t sleep on either of these teams.
6) We don’t have Christian Ponder to kick around anymore.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed over the last couple of seasons was everyone trying to sell me on Christian Ponder. You knew the season was close when you got the obligatory “This is his year!” article. Yet, every time I watched him play, I came away thinking everyone was crazy. He had all the skills, he just wasn’t that good.
So, now that Ponder is gone, the “experts” need a new quarterback to tout as being great but is actually just mediocre. This leads me back to the McShay interview I mentioned earlier. After playing cheerleader for Luck, he was asked who else was good, beside Luck. He named Matt Barkley and Landry Jones.
After I picked myself up off the floor from laughing so hard, I realized he was serious. I know for a fact both of these quarterbacks will be pushed on us as type tier quarterbacks. While Barkley has made improves from his freshman year, he still lacks the ability to lead his team. As for Jones, he throws bad interceptions at bad times and pads his stats against lousy teams.
Of course, there is also the possibility we will get a few weeks of hype on E.J. Manuel and Denard Robinson. Both are poor man versions of Tyrod Taylor (and that’s not a compliment).
Now to the most controversial portion, which are my top 5 quarterbacks (after Andrew Luck). In only the order I remember them in: Dayne Crist (Notre Dame), Kellen Moore (Boise State), Nick Foles (Arizona), Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), and Zack Collaros (Cincinnati). I’d take these five over Jones or Barkley any day.
7) Remember one thing: anything is possible
If college football has taught me anything, it’s that you need to expect the unexpected because anything can happen. My advice is to just sit back and enjoy. It’s going to be a great season.
1) Rules are NOT meant to be broken
I don’t think I have ever seen an off-season like this one. It seems like every program is being investigated or sanctioned in one way or another. You have teams vacating wins, vacating championships, firing coaches, firing ADs, facing post-season bans, facing scholarship loses, and even one team (Miami) facing the “death penalty”.
As much as I hate to give ESPN credit for anything, that 30 for 30 on SMU showed the stark realities of what the “death penalty” means to a college football program. That said, the NCAA needs to take a hard line here. They need to show that rule breaking of any kind will not be tolerated and will be dealt with extreme prejudice.
The time to talk about stipends or payments for players can be dealt with later. The culture of corruption needs to be dealt with now.
2) Andrew Luck and then everyone else
I was listening to a radio interview with Todd McShay the other day. I don’t think there is any talent assessor that I respect more than McShay (Mel Kiper Jr. and Mel Kiper Jr’s hair are a close 2 and 3). He spent a good chuck of the interview extolling the virtues of Andrew Luck.
Anyone who watched college football last year knows the kid is the real deal. He’s durable, has a strong, accurate arm, and is a good leader. The Heisman Trophy is his to lose. There is no one else in college football right now who is at his talent level.
I do question how the loss of his coach and the increased pressure will effect his game. Did Harbaugh build a system for his quarterback or is Luck really that talented? Will the season long pressure of being “the man” weigh on him? Time will tell, but I think he’ll be just fine.
3) The Top 5: parity or pathetic
Let’s take a look at the Top 5 in the Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll. In order, Oklahoma, Alabama, Oregon, LSU, and Florida State. I thought it was a joke at first. Then, after I thought about it, it sort of made sense. The reason I thought it was a joke is because there is no clear cut dominant team here.
Any water carrier for any of those five teams knows that they have flaws. I don’t trust the quarterbacks of any of those teams. The only team that is moderately balanced is Oklahoma. Alabama and LSU will rely on defense, Oregon will rely on offense, and FSU will rely on luck.
I think this is more of a statement that there is parity in college football now. I don’t think there will be two teams that make it though the season undefeated. It is going to come down to who is the best one loss team. And of course, that leads to my favorite subject: bashing the BCS.
4) Conference realignment rocks
I’ll be the first to admit I was a little skittish about conference realignment. Keeping track of all the moves and potential moves is dizzying at times. All you need to know is that the Pac 10 is now the Pac 12, the Big 10 has twelve teams, and the Big 12 has ten teams.
We finally get Pac 12 and Big 10 Championship Games. Finally we will get a definitive champion for two of the tougher conferences in college football. I was getting tired of having to watch Oklahoma or Texas beat up on whatever cream puff the Big 12 North put into the Big 12 Championship Game.
Next year, TCU will be moving to the Big East, which will give them a springboard to an automatic BCS Bowl without having to go undefeated. Though, on a talent level, it almost seems like a step down.
Also, the SEC seems to be looking to poach Big 12 and ACC teams to make some sort of super-conference. I love the suspense and intrigue. Also, makes for fun speculation.
5) Era of BCS busters TCU and Boise State not quite over
Now, I’m not saying that Boise State or TCU will run the table and end up in a BCS Bowl. Truth be told I don’t think either team will do it this year. However, both are still dangerous and need to be taken seriously. TCU has the easier schedule, but have to go to Boise State late in the year. Plus, TCU will be breaking in a new quarterback to replace Andy Dalton.
Boise State, on the other hand, goes on the road and opens up against an unrated Georgia team. That game and the aforementioned showdown with TCU will not be easy. Boise State is the better team with a lot of returning starters (including Kellen Moore), but TCU will still be dangerous. Don’t sleep on either of these teams.
6) We don’t have Christian Ponder to kick around anymore.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed over the last couple of seasons was everyone trying to sell me on Christian Ponder. You knew the season was close when you got the obligatory “This is his year!” article. Yet, every time I watched him play, I came away thinking everyone was crazy. He had all the skills, he just wasn’t that good.
So, now that Ponder is gone, the “experts” need a new quarterback to tout as being great but is actually just mediocre. This leads me back to the McShay interview I mentioned earlier. After playing cheerleader for Luck, he was asked who else was good, beside Luck. He named Matt Barkley and Landry Jones.
After I picked myself up off the floor from laughing so hard, I realized he was serious. I know for a fact both of these quarterbacks will be pushed on us as type tier quarterbacks. While Barkley has made improves from his freshman year, he still lacks the ability to lead his team. As for Jones, he throws bad interceptions at bad times and pads his stats against lousy teams.
Of course, there is also the possibility we will get a few weeks of hype on E.J. Manuel and Denard Robinson. Both are poor man versions of Tyrod Taylor (and that’s not a compliment).
Now to the most controversial portion, which are my top 5 quarterbacks (after Andrew Luck). In only the order I remember them in: Dayne Crist (Notre Dame), Kellen Moore (Boise State), Nick Foles (Arizona), Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), and Zack Collaros (Cincinnati). I’d take these five over Jones or Barkley any day.
7) Remember one thing: anything is possible
If college football has taught me anything, it’s that you need to expect the unexpected because anything can happen. My advice is to just sit back and enjoy. It’s going to be a great season.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Killing Season Finale Failure
Now, I hate Bill Simmons. I have for years. Hell, in 2008, I wrote an article in which I called him a “self-aggrandizing ass clown”. I still stand by those words; however, he occasionally makes good points. His article on the season finale of The Killing is a perfect example. It pretty much took the wind out of my sails on the literary smack-down I was going to lay on the episode. I will try and keep my points brief now.
The finale was a kick in the nuts (or for you ladies, a punch in the baby maker). I made a lot of excuses for this show over the past few episodes. I should have been put on payroll as a show apologist (you know, like all those people who still fawn all over Glee). When it started, I loved the three interwoven stories. They all compelled me, made me not upset when they moved from one story to the next. Then, it started to drag, where the only storyline I wanted to see was the police storyline, but only if I didn’t have to deal with Linden’s family issues.
I think I gave up during the episode “Missing”. It was hard to justify the episode at all. It was 45 minutes of Linden and Holder trying to track down her idiot kid. Um, don’t you have a murder to solve? The show finally dissolved to the point where I was only watching for the identity of the killer and any scene with Holder. That guy cracked me up. Plus, he was the only character I actually cared about. I got sucked into his storyline and nearly cheering for him when Linden pretty much anointed him a good detective. Then, the skullduggery started.
I actually liked the second to last episode, with Linden in Richmond’s home office, seeing her email continually pop up, and then Richmond shows up at the door. Classic stuff that made me want to watch the finale right then and there. However, I knew at that point that he didn’t do it. It was too easy. While watching the finale and seeing the noose tighten around Richmond, I kept thinking to myself that this is a very anti-climatic finale. With ten minutes left, I figured one of two things was going to happen. Either Richmond was the killer and the story would be lame or we wouldn’t know who the killer was and enrage the fan base. At this point, the lame ending would have been better.
I hated the fact that Holder’s betrayal came out of left field. I mean, with most major plot twists, you can look back and be like “how did I miss that?!” With this, you were thinking “huh?” After Holder’s confession of being a former addict and every sketchy thing being explained, there was no indication he wasn’t straight. Let me say that again, there was NO INDICATION HE WASN’T STRAIGHT! So, the only thing I know now is that Linden and Richmond didn’t kill Rosie. After that, it’s a crap shoot. Hell, thanks to the closing scene, we don’t even know if Richmond will survive; consider the writers had Belko rip off Jack Ruby. It’s like the writers were stuck with how to end it and were watching the History Channel, and then an idea struck.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Shame on the writers for having Mitch leave her husband and kids. That makes absolutely no sense. Did they even accurately explain why she did it? Or at least give us a reasonable explanation? I know the thought is that she needs to fulfill her dreams and that everyone gets on without her, but are you serious! Her sister is playing mom for a few weeks until she gets past the crippling depression. Sis is a stopgap, not a replacement. You think the family might need their mother? Of course, Mitch is the whole reason her husband is in jail, but that’s beside the point.
You know, that sad thing about all this was that Seamus and I were talking about the possibilities of a second season. I didn’t think it would work because it would capture the characters that helped make this season good. You couldn’t have an election as a backdrop. You couldn’t rely on the budding friendship/partnership of Holder and Linden. You couldn’t rely on Michelle Forbes being Michelle Forbes. They would need to reinvent the wheel. Well, now they don’t have to.
Instead, they are going to beat a dead horse and drag out this storyline for another season. I would have been apprehensive about reinventing the wheel, but would have come in with an open mind. Now, I’m going to be going into season 2 already pissed off and that’s not what you want. Nothing good can come from this and there really isn't any way to salvage it.
The finale was a kick in the nuts (or for you ladies, a punch in the baby maker). I made a lot of excuses for this show over the past few episodes. I should have been put on payroll as a show apologist (you know, like all those people who still fawn all over Glee). When it started, I loved the three interwoven stories. They all compelled me, made me not upset when they moved from one story to the next. Then, it started to drag, where the only storyline I wanted to see was the police storyline, but only if I didn’t have to deal with Linden’s family issues.
I think I gave up during the episode “Missing”. It was hard to justify the episode at all. It was 45 minutes of Linden and Holder trying to track down her idiot kid. Um, don’t you have a murder to solve? The show finally dissolved to the point where I was only watching for the identity of the killer and any scene with Holder. That guy cracked me up. Plus, he was the only character I actually cared about. I got sucked into his storyline and nearly cheering for him when Linden pretty much anointed him a good detective. Then, the skullduggery started.
I actually liked the second to last episode, with Linden in Richmond’s home office, seeing her email continually pop up, and then Richmond shows up at the door. Classic stuff that made me want to watch the finale right then and there. However, I knew at that point that he didn’t do it. It was too easy. While watching the finale and seeing the noose tighten around Richmond, I kept thinking to myself that this is a very anti-climatic finale. With ten minutes left, I figured one of two things was going to happen. Either Richmond was the killer and the story would be lame or we wouldn’t know who the killer was and enrage the fan base. At this point, the lame ending would have been better.
I hated the fact that Holder’s betrayal came out of left field. I mean, with most major plot twists, you can look back and be like “how did I miss that?!” With this, you were thinking “huh?” After Holder’s confession of being a former addict and every sketchy thing being explained, there was no indication he wasn’t straight. Let me say that again, there was NO INDICATION HE WASN’T STRAIGHT! So, the only thing I know now is that Linden and Richmond didn’t kill Rosie. After that, it’s a crap shoot. Hell, thanks to the closing scene, we don’t even know if Richmond will survive; consider the writers had Belko rip off Jack Ruby. It’s like the writers were stuck with how to end it and were watching the History Channel, and then an idea struck.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Shame on the writers for having Mitch leave her husband and kids. That makes absolutely no sense. Did they even accurately explain why she did it? Or at least give us a reasonable explanation? I know the thought is that she needs to fulfill her dreams and that everyone gets on without her, but are you serious! Her sister is playing mom for a few weeks until she gets past the crippling depression. Sis is a stopgap, not a replacement. You think the family might need their mother? Of course, Mitch is the whole reason her husband is in jail, but that’s beside the point.
You know, that sad thing about all this was that Seamus and I were talking about the possibilities of a second season. I didn’t think it would work because it would capture the characters that helped make this season good. You couldn’t have an election as a backdrop. You couldn’t rely on the budding friendship/partnership of Holder and Linden. You couldn’t rely on Michelle Forbes being Michelle Forbes. They would need to reinvent the wheel. Well, now they don’t have to.
Instead, they are going to beat a dead horse and drag out this storyline for another season. I would have been apprehensive about reinventing the wheel, but would have come in with an open mind. Now, I’m going to be going into season 2 already pissed off and that’s not what you want. Nothing good can come from this and there really isn't any way to salvage it.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Winners and Losers of the Stanley Cup Finals
Oh man, the Bruins won the Stanley Cup last night. Like most of the city of Boston, I watched most of it (missed maybe the last 5 minutes of the 1st period due to class). Instead of writing about last night’s game and trying to flush out “Luongo choked” in a full article, I figured I would break down the winners and losers of the Stanley Cup finals. Canucks fans beware; I am a Bruins fan and a bit of a homer. You have been warned.
Winner: Tim Thomas
What can be said about Tim Thomas that hasn’t already been said? It’s like he threw on the Superman cape before every game. He single-handedly kept the Bruins in every game by making some inhuman saves. He had the Conn Smythe sown up by the end of game 5, whether the Bruins won the cup or not. Remember, this was a guy who was being questioned about his style by most after game 2 and by one mentally deficient goalie after game 5. This is a big middle finger to all who questioned him.
Loser: Roberto Luongo
You know it’s bad that even after winning a gold medal; your fan base is still scared that you’ll fold like a lawn chair. Oh, did he fold. Did you see the look in his eyes after the goals that got scored on him (and there were a lot of opportunities)? He looked lost. Plus, he questioned Thomas’ style after game 5. Seriously? You allow 14 goals in 5 games and have the stones to question a guy who has given up 6 goals in the same period?
Winner: Nathan Horton - the symbol
As a symbol, Nathan Horton will forever be associated with this Stanley Cup. He is the Dave Roberts of the Boston Bruins. He shows up in the locker room after game 4, travels to Vancouver on game 7, even dressed and skated with the team after they won the cup. He was a rallying point, not just for the team but the fans. What happened to him made it very easy to root against Vancouver.
Loser: Nathan Horton – the player
Now, as a player, you have to feel for Horton. He was the lynch pin of the team through the playoffs. He scored the game winners in the game 7’s against Montreal and Tampa Bay. If the Bruins needed a goal, you have a feeling it would be Horton that came through. Due to the injury, he won’t be remembered for that.
Winner: Mark Recchi
At 43, he gets to go out on top. Now, he was questioned about his ability to get it done throughout the playoffs, but seemed to intensify during the first two games of the Finals. However, the 3 goals and 4 assists in the Finals were key, even getting an assist in game 7. He was a leader in that clubhouse and definitely what they needed for these playoffs.
Losers: the Sedin twins
Has a set of Swedish twins ever disappointed more than the Sedin twins? All Bruins fans heard about prior to the series was how great the Sedin twins were. Where the hell were they? Chara and Seidenberg made them a non-factor. It wasn’t just that. They had no heart. They took punches, didn’t fight back, and didn’t get backed up by any of their teammates. It’s just plain sad.
Winners: Kevin Bieksa and Raffi Torres
They were the only Canucks who seemed to be trying out there and the only Canucks who I actually feared after it was a foregone conclusion that the Sedin twins and Kesler decided to turn invisible. Bieksa was always scrapping and looked like he would wreck you if you tried anything stupid. Torres seemed to want to try and jump start the offense every time he was on the ice. They both get thumbs up from me.
Losers: Alex Burrows, Maxim Lapierre, and Aaron Rome
Three guys who can never, EVER, walk the streets of Boston without armed guards. Absolute punks of the highest order. Burrows is an idiot for biting Bergeron. Lapierre is a tool for taunting about the bite. And Rome! Don’t even get me started on Rome. It’s bad enough he severely injured someone on a blatantly obvious illegal hit, but they he opens his pie hole and says that he didn’t deserve to be suspended and the hit was borderline illegal. Ugh, I’m fighting the urge to lay down expletives right now.
Winners: Duck Boat operators in Boston
A Championship in Boston means one thing! A rolling rally! Put the whole team on duck boats, roll them through the city with the Cup, and bask in the glory. Basically it’s an excuse for people to start drinking before noon. As if you need a reason!
Loser: Boston Mayor Tom Menino
The doughy, semi-literate mayor of the city of Boston put the kybosh on a Bruins viewing party at the Garden last night. I guess he thought we were all from Vancouver or something (more on that later). He also asked bars in the area to stop serving alcohol by the second quarter and black out the windows so people couldn’t see inside. What is this, communist Russia! Although it will be funny to hear him struggle with players names. Every time he speaks, he battles to the English language…and loses.
Losers: The City of Vancouver
So, I was watching the postgame last night and they showed a shot of Vancouver. A car was flipped over and on fire. I thought all Canadians were laid back and chill with funny accents and good beer. Little did I know about the sleeping beast that lies below. I’m kinda scared to go there in August now. I’m not letting anyone know I’m from Boston, I’ll tell you that much. Stay classy Vancouver, stay classy.
Winner: Tim Thomas
What can be said about Tim Thomas that hasn’t already been said? It’s like he threw on the Superman cape before every game. He single-handedly kept the Bruins in every game by making some inhuman saves. He had the Conn Smythe sown up by the end of game 5, whether the Bruins won the cup or not. Remember, this was a guy who was being questioned about his style by most after game 2 and by one mentally deficient goalie after game 5. This is a big middle finger to all who questioned him.
Loser: Roberto Luongo
You know it’s bad that even after winning a gold medal; your fan base is still scared that you’ll fold like a lawn chair. Oh, did he fold. Did you see the look in his eyes after the goals that got scored on him (and there were a lot of opportunities)? He looked lost. Plus, he questioned Thomas’ style after game 5. Seriously? You allow 14 goals in 5 games and have the stones to question a guy who has given up 6 goals in the same period?
Winner: Nathan Horton - the symbol
As a symbol, Nathan Horton will forever be associated with this Stanley Cup. He is the Dave Roberts of the Boston Bruins. He shows up in the locker room after game 4, travels to Vancouver on game 7, even dressed and skated with the team after they won the cup. He was a rallying point, not just for the team but the fans. What happened to him made it very easy to root against Vancouver.
Loser: Nathan Horton – the player
Now, as a player, you have to feel for Horton. He was the lynch pin of the team through the playoffs. He scored the game winners in the game 7’s against Montreal and Tampa Bay. If the Bruins needed a goal, you have a feeling it would be Horton that came through. Due to the injury, he won’t be remembered for that.
Winner: Mark Recchi
At 43, he gets to go out on top. Now, he was questioned about his ability to get it done throughout the playoffs, but seemed to intensify during the first two games of the Finals. However, the 3 goals and 4 assists in the Finals were key, even getting an assist in game 7. He was a leader in that clubhouse and definitely what they needed for these playoffs.
Losers: the Sedin twins
Has a set of Swedish twins ever disappointed more than the Sedin twins? All Bruins fans heard about prior to the series was how great the Sedin twins were. Where the hell were they? Chara and Seidenberg made them a non-factor. It wasn’t just that. They had no heart. They took punches, didn’t fight back, and didn’t get backed up by any of their teammates. It’s just plain sad.
Winners: Kevin Bieksa and Raffi Torres
They were the only Canucks who seemed to be trying out there and the only Canucks who I actually feared after it was a foregone conclusion that the Sedin twins and Kesler decided to turn invisible. Bieksa was always scrapping and looked like he would wreck you if you tried anything stupid. Torres seemed to want to try and jump start the offense every time he was on the ice. They both get thumbs up from me.
Losers: Alex Burrows, Maxim Lapierre, and Aaron Rome
Three guys who can never, EVER, walk the streets of Boston without armed guards. Absolute punks of the highest order. Burrows is an idiot for biting Bergeron. Lapierre is a tool for taunting about the bite. And Rome! Don’t even get me started on Rome. It’s bad enough he severely injured someone on a blatantly obvious illegal hit, but they he opens his pie hole and says that he didn’t deserve to be suspended and the hit was borderline illegal. Ugh, I’m fighting the urge to lay down expletives right now.
Winners: Duck Boat operators in Boston
A Championship in Boston means one thing! A rolling rally! Put the whole team on duck boats, roll them through the city with the Cup, and bask in the glory. Basically it’s an excuse for people to start drinking before noon. As if you need a reason!
Loser: Boston Mayor Tom Menino
The doughy, semi-literate mayor of the city of Boston put the kybosh on a Bruins viewing party at the Garden last night. I guess he thought we were all from Vancouver or something (more on that later). He also asked bars in the area to stop serving alcohol by the second quarter and black out the windows so people couldn’t see inside. What is this, communist Russia! Although it will be funny to hear him struggle with players names. Every time he speaks, he battles to the English language…and loses.
Losers: The City of Vancouver
So, I was watching the postgame last night and they showed a shot of Vancouver. A car was flipped over and on fire. I thought all Canadians were laid back and chill with funny accents and good beer. Little did I know about the sleeping beast that lies below. I’m kinda scared to go there in August now. I’m not letting anyone know I’m from Boston, I’ll tell you that much. Stay classy Vancouver, stay classy.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Smallville Through the Ages
With the series finale of Smallville appearing tonight, I figured I would shake off my writer’s block and run down the good, the bad, and the ugly of 10 seasons of this show. This is dedicated to Seamus, who is positively giddy about tonight and I know I’ll receive at least 3 texts from him about it.
Best Episode – "Absolute Justice" (season 9, episode 11)
Written by the genius that is Geoff Johns, this two hour epic seems less like a TV show and more like a movie. Not only do we get the Justice Society, we get the Helm of Nabu, Checkmate, and actually storyline for Tess, and probably one of the best throw-downs in all of Smallville that happens in Watchtower. If that wasn’t enough, John Jones gets his powers back. It’s just an all around great episode that makes you see what Smallville could have been.
Worst Episode – "Stiletto" (season 8, episode 19)
This is the episode that nearly made me stop watching Smallville after 8 seasons. It was like a teenage boy’s best idea on how to get Erica Durance to dress in black leather. Anyway, the lame storyline was the fact that Lois fought off some muggers with her heel and felt that she should become a superhero. If that wasn’t bad enough, we still got Davis Bloom crying in a basement.
Most Campy Episode – "Spell" (season 4, episode 8)
There was a lot of camp in season 4, especially with the fact that Lana was being possessed by a 17th century French witch with a surprising grasp of the English language. It goes over the top with this episode. While Lana gets possessed, she helps two of her witch friends inhabit the bodies of Lois and Chloe. Hilarity ensures. I’m laughing just thinking about this.
Best Season – Season 4
This was a tough call, but there were so many good things that happened in this season. We had the previously mentioned witch possession of Lana (brought to its absolute apex with the fight between Clark and the witch Lana inside a Chinese temple), the beginnings of the Fortress of Solitude, Chloe finally learning Clark’s secret, Jensen Ackles, Lucy Lane, Alicia Baker, Lifehouse playing the Smallville Prom, and most importantly, the introduction of Lois Lane.
Worst Season – Season 8
This is the season that nearly killed Smallville. Let’s look at the bad. You had Jimmy’s marriage to Chloe, Doomsday, the most anti-climatic fight scene between Clark and Doomsday, Jimmy’s death (not because he’s dead, but because the real Jimmy Olsen was some 10 year old punk), the return of Lana, and any and every moment of Super Lana. The only bright spot was the episode “Legion”, again, written by the genius that is Geoff Johns.
Best Season Finale – "Covenant" (season 3)
Season 3 ended on such a high note. Kara from Krypton appears and tries to get Clark to accept is destiny. Clark also testifies against Lionel Luthor and he gets sent to jail and Lana finally answers all our prayers and leaves town (she comes back at the beginning of season 4 dammit). It all comes to a head in the end, as we see Lionel getting his head shaved in prison, while Lex is poisoned, Chloe and her dad go into a FBI safe house that explodes after they enter, and Clark gets pulled into the inter-dimensional gateway in the Kawatche Caves by Jor-El.
Worst Season Finale – "Arctic" (season 7)
The crapfest that was Season 7 finally ends with Lex going to the Arctic to find out about the mysterious Traveler and I don’t remember much after that since I drank bleach to try and forget it.
Best Villain – Lionel Luthor
Lionel always had something going on. Even when he was good, you still wondered when he would do something truly evil. The man was unstoppable. Just an evil guy that did the things that needed to be done. The best was he never really apologized for it. It was sort of an “I am who I am” sort of feel about him. And if he did apologize, he didn’t really mean it.
Worst Villain – Doomsday
One, he was defeated pretty easily. Two, his alter-ego was seen crying in a shower naked. Thanks to this, I can’t watch the American version of Being Human. You really don’t need to know anything more.
So, ten seasons have passed. There have been highs and lows. Overall, it was a fun series to watch but it has reached the point where it needs to go. It has provided countless hours of entertainment to me and the legion of geeks out there. So, I know I’ll miss it, but I’m glad that it’s going (if that makes sense, at least any more sense than anything else I’ve written).
Best Episode – "Absolute Justice" (season 9, episode 11)
Written by the genius that is Geoff Johns, this two hour epic seems less like a TV show and more like a movie. Not only do we get the Justice Society, we get the Helm of Nabu, Checkmate, and actually storyline for Tess, and probably one of the best throw-downs in all of Smallville that happens in Watchtower. If that wasn’t enough, John Jones gets his powers back. It’s just an all around great episode that makes you see what Smallville could have been.
Worst Episode – "Stiletto" (season 8, episode 19)
This is the episode that nearly made me stop watching Smallville after 8 seasons. It was like a teenage boy’s best idea on how to get Erica Durance to dress in black leather. Anyway, the lame storyline was the fact that Lois fought off some muggers with her heel and felt that she should become a superhero. If that wasn’t bad enough, we still got Davis Bloom crying in a basement.
Most Campy Episode – "Spell" (season 4, episode 8)
There was a lot of camp in season 4, especially with the fact that Lana was being possessed by a 17th century French witch with a surprising grasp of the English language. It goes over the top with this episode. While Lana gets possessed, she helps two of her witch friends inhabit the bodies of Lois and Chloe. Hilarity ensures. I’m laughing just thinking about this.
Best Season – Season 4
This was a tough call, but there were so many good things that happened in this season. We had the previously mentioned witch possession of Lana (brought to its absolute apex with the fight between Clark and the witch Lana inside a Chinese temple), the beginnings of the Fortress of Solitude, Chloe finally learning Clark’s secret, Jensen Ackles, Lucy Lane, Alicia Baker, Lifehouse playing the Smallville Prom, and most importantly, the introduction of Lois Lane.
Worst Season – Season 8
This is the season that nearly killed Smallville. Let’s look at the bad. You had Jimmy’s marriage to Chloe, Doomsday, the most anti-climatic fight scene between Clark and Doomsday, Jimmy’s death (not because he’s dead, but because the real Jimmy Olsen was some 10 year old punk), the return of Lana, and any and every moment of Super Lana. The only bright spot was the episode “Legion”, again, written by the genius that is Geoff Johns.
Best Season Finale – "Covenant" (season 3)
Season 3 ended on such a high note. Kara from Krypton appears and tries to get Clark to accept is destiny. Clark also testifies against Lionel Luthor and he gets sent to jail and Lana finally answers all our prayers and leaves town (she comes back at the beginning of season 4 dammit). It all comes to a head in the end, as we see Lionel getting his head shaved in prison, while Lex is poisoned, Chloe and her dad go into a FBI safe house that explodes after they enter, and Clark gets pulled into the inter-dimensional gateway in the Kawatche Caves by Jor-El.
Worst Season Finale – "Arctic" (season 7)
The crapfest that was Season 7 finally ends with Lex going to the Arctic to find out about the mysterious Traveler and I don’t remember much after that since I drank bleach to try and forget it.
Best Villain – Lionel Luthor
Lionel always had something going on. Even when he was good, you still wondered when he would do something truly evil. The man was unstoppable. Just an evil guy that did the things that needed to be done. The best was he never really apologized for it. It was sort of an “I am who I am” sort of feel about him. And if he did apologize, he didn’t really mean it.
Worst Villain – Doomsday
One, he was defeated pretty easily. Two, his alter-ego was seen crying in a shower naked. Thanks to this, I can’t watch the American version of Being Human. You really don’t need to know anything more.
So, ten seasons have passed. There have been highs and lows. Overall, it was a fun series to watch but it has reached the point where it needs to go. It has provided countless hours of entertainment to me and the legion of geeks out there. So, I know I’ll miss it, but I’m glad that it’s going (if that makes sense, at least any more sense than anything else I’ve written).
Friday, October 22, 2010
Trent's Touchdown: Six Week 8 College Football Games to Watch
Welcome to Week 8 of the college football season. Just so you know I didn’t go absent last week because I was ashamed of my glowing review of Alabama, right before they imploded. It was because it was Grad School Application Time. With one school behind me, I can focus on the Touchdown this week. A good thing too, since the BCS standings made their first appearance of the season. We’ll get to that later, but first, on to the Touchdown:
1) No. 6 LSU at No. 4 Auburn – 3:30 on CBS
How does the old saying go? “It’s better to be lucky than good.” Seriously, I think luck is the only way both of these teams are still undefeated. If it wasn’t for a freshman kicker from Clemson, Stephen Garcia’s inability to hold on to the ball, and Ryan Mallett’s injury, Auburn could very well be 4-3.
As for LSU, well, they really should have lost to UNC, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida. Luck is the only reasonable explanation for those wins. Let’s put it this way, I would never expect any team, be it college, high school, or Pop Warner to be 7-0 with Jordan Jefferson prominently involved in the offense.
Les Miles in either a freaking genius (I refuse to call him the Mad Hatter) or he sacrificed small woodland creatures to some dark overlord, because I do not understand how LSU is winning games. The two headed monster of Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee are the scariest QB duo ever…if you’re a LSU fan.
The LSU game plan will be pretty simple. Run the ball on offense, control the ball and slow the tempo, pray they don’t need their QB’s to win it, and contain the Auburn rushing attack. That’s easier said than done.
I’m so close to buying into Auburn, but then I remember that I’ve seen them play, and it’s not that pretty. Their offensive game plan seems to be “let Cam Newton win it.” The kid isn’t Tim Tebow, yet everyone wants to act like he is. Auburn’s problem was highlighted in the Arkansas game. If a team has a fun and gun, freewheeling offense, Auburn is in trouble. Mallett wouldn’t have made the same mistakes that Wilson did, and Auburn would have most likely lost the shoot-out.
LSU always finds a way to win, even against the odds and conventional wisdom. However, on the road against a hyped up Auburn team? That is too much for even Les Miles to overcome.
2) No. 13 Wisconsin at No. 15 Iowa – 3:30 on ABC
Every year, some conference I don’t particularly care for pops up and makes me love every game. This year, it’s the Big Ten. I was waiting for a team to dismantle Ohio State, but figured I’d have to wait until the Iowa game. Thankfully, along came the Badgers.
Wisconsin is a very intriguing team. They are very balanced offensively with a great offensive line. Wisconsin uses the run to open up the passing game, which they did to great effect against Ohio State. The defense will need to stay solid for Wisconsin to have a chance to win this.
Iowa has one of the best defenses in the country, even though they had a tough time stopping the run against Michigan last week. The problem is that even if Iowa stops the run, Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien can beat you with his arm. As for offense, Iowa has the best QB in the Big Ten in Ricky Stanzi, but still run the ball at least half the time, keeping defenses honest.
The main advantage Iowa has here is they are playing at home. I think the game is close throughout, but Iowa comes away with a close victory.
3) No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 11 Missouri – 8:00 on ABC
I could use this whole article ripping apart the fact that Oklahoma is number 1, but why would I waste my time when the Oklahoma defense will put up a pitiful performance against some team and get waxed. I’m just not sure this is the game.
Oklahoma has had a tough time against nearly every time they faced. This makes you wonder what’s happening in Norman. We can’t really pin all of Oklahoma’s troubles on the defense. We can pin most of the problems on the defense. Being honest, the defense is going to be the thing that brings Oklahoma down, because the offense is not built to get into a shoot-out.
Having no defense is fine if you’re a team like Arkansas, that is all about throwing the ball around and if you have a strong-armed QB. The problem is the Oklahoma has always been a defensive minded football team that created turnovers and win the field position battle, making it easier for the offense to run up the score. They don’t have that anymore, so Oklahoma is a house of cards waiting to topple over.
Missouri is really a team that came out of nowhere, considering they really haven’t played anyone. They are hard to judge since you really can’t judge a team that plays McNeese State. Even with the paltry schedule, we do know they have a great defense. They get after the QB in a big way. Offensively, expect QB Blaine Garrett to air it out early and often.
The game rests on the shoulders of DeMarco Murray. If he can establish the run game for Oklahoma and do DeMarco Murray type things, then the Missouri defense is effectively neutralized. However, if Missouri stops him, then Landry Jones needs to be able to step up and make things happen. That is not Jones’ strong suit. The Missouri defense contains Murray and beats Oklahoma.
4) No. 16 Nebraska at No. 14 Oklahoma State – 3:30 on ABC
That sad thing about last week was that I had actually bought into Nebraska. I was very nearly on the bandwagon. That was before they put up that stink job against Texas and once again proved that college football is a wacky sport.
The problem Nebraska faces is the fact they have an amazing defense, but they need the offense to stay on the field and score. Taylor Martinez finally got a taste of a Big 12 defense, when he got cuffed around by Texas. When you can’t run and receivers start dropping passes, it’s easy to get frustrated. You have to wonder if Martinez will be affected from his last game or if he can leave it in the past.
Oklahoma State is on the other end of the spectrum. They’re offense is dynamic, with only Oregon ahead of them in most major offensive categories. They use their offense to cover for the fact that their defense is not really that good. Oklahoma State gives up way to many yards to sketchy teams but it gets overlooked because of guys like Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmon, and Kendall Hunter.
Nebraska is built to beat a team like Oklahoma State. The Nebraska defense should be able to moderately contain the OSU offense while Martinez and the Nebraska offense should be able to take advantage of the porous OSU defense. Nebraska wins on the road.
5) Washington at No. 18 Arizona – 10:15 on ESPN
I guess if Nick Foles was going to get injured for Arizona, now would be the best time. The schedule right now isn’t too daunting, but you can’t sleep on Washington.
While Locker isn’t the second coming of Peyton Manning, he is still one of the better QB’s in the nation, even after the debacle early in the season against Nebraska. Washington lives and dies by Locker, so if they want to win, Locker is going to be the guy to get it done for them. One the other side of the ball, the Washington defense is suspect. They give up too many yards and too many points, yet they have beaten both Oregon State and USC this season.
Offensively, Arizona will have some issues moving the ball with Foles out. Expect Grigsby and Antolin to run the ball to take the pressure off of back-up QB Matt Scott. Arizona has a highly ranked defense, but they have yield points when faced with good teams. Arizona is going to need the defense to contain Locker if they hope to win.
Washington seems to know how to win close games this year. Expect a close one in the desert and expect Locker and Washington to pull the dramatic upset.
6) Georgia Tech at Clemson – 3:30 on ABC
For all you Clemson fans out there (and I’m one of them), aren’t you wondering how Clemson is going to blow this matchup against Georgia Tech? You know it’s going to be close and you know Clemson is going to find a way to lose it. So, botched field goal? Late interception by Parker? Fumble by Ellington? The possibilities are endless.
Extra Point:
Well, the first BCS ranking came out last Sunday. As aghast as I was that Oklahoma was number 1, Kirk Herbstreit calmly explained to me on Sunday night why this wasn’t the biggest travesty since Veronica Mars got cancelled. It’s still early and, as Ohio State and Alabama proved; we’re a long way from done.
However, looking at the rankings, I’m once again drawn to the same question I had earlier in the year. Does a one loss Alabama deserve to be ranked higher or lower than an undefeated TCU or Boise State? Let’s look at this all scientific like.
If you are going to argue in favor of Alabama, the conversation begins and ends with strength of schedule. The Alabama schedule is a freaking mine-field, with games against Penn State, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, LSU, Miss State, and Auburn. If Alabama makes it through that with one loss, that deserves something.
For TCU, they have Oregon State and Utah. No, seriously, that’s it. I’m not sure if that’s worse or better than the Boise State duo of Oregon State and Virginia Tech. You really can’t fault either team for being in conferences that aren’t that tough, but that doesn’t mean you can reward them either. Last year, Cincinnati, Boise State, and TCU all showed us that schedule strength counts.
Of course, this conversation means nothing if two of the group of Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, LSU, and Michigan State win out (with Missouri getting an outside shot). No way the BCS polls have TCU or Boise State ahead of any of those teams if they are undefeated. However, with the BCS, you learn to expect the unexpected.
1) No. 6 LSU at No. 4 Auburn – 3:30 on CBS
How does the old saying go? “It’s better to be lucky than good.” Seriously, I think luck is the only way both of these teams are still undefeated. If it wasn’t for a freshman kicker from Clemson, Stephen Garcia’s inability to hold on to the ball, and Ryan Mallett’s injury, Auburn could very well be 4-3.
As for LSU, well, they really should have lost to UNC, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida. Luck is the only reasonable explanation for those wins. Let’s put it this way, I would never expect any team, be it college, high school, or Pop Warner to be 7-0 with Jordan Jefferson prominently involved in the offense.
Les Miles in either a freaking genius (I refuse to call him the Mad Hatter) or he sacrificed small woodland creatures to some dark overlord, because I do not understand how LSU is winning games. The two headed monster of Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee are the scariest QB duo ever…if you’re a LSU fan.
The LSU game plan will be pretty simple. Run the ball on offense, control the ball and slow the tempo, pray they don’t need their QB’s to win it, and contain the Auburn rushing attack. That’s easier said than done.
I’m so close to buying into Auburn, but then I remember that I’ve seen them play, and it’s not that pretty. Their offensive game plan seems to be “let Cam Newton win it.” The kid isn’t Tim Tebow, yet everyone wants to act like he is. Auburn’s problem was highlighted in the Arkansas game. If a team has a fun and gun, freewheeling offense, Auburn is in trouble. Mallett wouldn’t have made the same mistakes that Wilson did, and Auburn would have most likely lost the shoot-out.
LSU always finds a way to win, even against the odds and conventional wisdom. However, on the road against a hyped up Auburn team? That is too much for even Les Miles to overcome.
2) No. 13 Wisconsin at No. 15 Iowa – 3:30 on ABC
Every year, some conference I don’t particularly care for pops up and makes me love every game. This year, it’s the Big Ten. I was waiting for a team to dismantle Ohio State, but figured I’d have to wait until the Iowa game. Thankfully, along came the Badgers.
Wisconsin is a very intriguing team. They are very balanced offensively with a great offensive line. Wisconsin uses the run to open up the passing game, which they did to great effect against Ohio State. The defense will need to stay solid for Wisconsin to have a chance to win this.
Iowa has one of the best defenses in the country, even though they had a tough time stopping the run against Michigan last week. The problem is that even if Iowa stops the run, Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien can beat you with his arm. As for offense, Iowa has the best QB in the Big Ten in Ricky Stanzi, but still run the ball at least half the time, keeping defenses honest.
The main advantage Iowa has here is they are playing at home. I think the game is close throughout, but Iowa comes away with a close victory.
3) No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 11 Missouri – 8:00 on ABC
I could use this whole article ripping apart the fact that Oklahoma is number 1, but why would I waste my time when the Oklahoma defense will put up a pitiful performance against some team and get waxed. I’m just not sure this is the game.
Oklahoma has had a tough time against nearly every time they faced. This makes you wonder what’s happening in Norman. We can’t really pin all of Oklahoma’s troubles on the defense. We can pin most of the problems on the defense. Being honest, the defense is going to be the thing that brings Oklahoma down, because the offense is not built to get into a shoot-out.
Having no defense is fine if you’re a team like Arkansas, that is all about throwing the ball around and if you have a strong-armed QB. The problem is the Oklahoma has always been a defensive minded football team that created turnovers and win the field position battle, making it easier for the offense to run up the score. They don’t have that anymore, so Oklahoma is a house of cards waiting to topple over.
Missouri is really a team that came out of nowhere, considering they really haven’t played anyone. They are hard to judge since you really can’t judge a team that plays McNeese State. Even with the paltry schedule, we do know they have a great defense. They get after the QB in a big way. Offensively, expect QB Blaine Garrett to air it out early and often.
The game rests on the shoulders of DeMarco Murray. If he can establish the run game for Oklahoma and do DeMarco Murray type things, then the Missouri defense is effectively neutralized. However, if Missouri stops him, then Landry Jones needs to be able to step up and make things happen. That is not Jones’ strong suit. The Missouri defense contains Murray and beats Oklahoma.
4) No. 16 Nebraska at No. 14 Oklahoma State – 3:30 on ABC
That sad thing about last week was that I had actually bought into Nebraska. I was very nearly on the bandwagon. That was before they put up that stink job against Texas and once again proved that college football is a wacky sport.
The problem Nebraska faces is the fact they have an amazing defense, but they need the offense to stay on the field and score. Taylor Martinez finally got a taste of a Big 12 defense, when he got cuffed around by Texas. When you can’t run and receivers start dropping passes, it’s easy to get frustrated. You have to wonder if Martinez will be affected from his last game or if he can leave it in the past.
Oklahoma State is on the other end of the spectrum. They’re offense is dynamic, with only Oregon ahead of them in most major offensive categories. They use their offense to cover for the fact that their defense is not really that good. Oklahoma State gives up way to many yards to sketchy teams but it gets overlooked because of guys like Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmon, and Kendall Hunter.
Nebraska is built to beat a team like Oklahoma State. The Nebraska defense should be able to moderately contain the OSU offense while Martinez and the Nebraska offense should be able to take advantage of the porous OSU defense. Nebraska wins on the road.
5) Washington at No. 18 Arizona – 10:15 on ESPN
I guess if Nick Foles was going to get injured for Arizona, now would be the best time. The schedule right now isn’t too daunting, but you can’t sleep on Washington.
While Locker isn’t the second coming of Peyton Manning, he is still one of the better QB’s in the nation, even after the debacle early in the season against Nebraska. Washington lives and dies by Locker, so if they want to win, Locker is going to be the guy to get it done for them. One the other side of the ball, the Washington defense is suspect. They give up too many yards and too many points, yet they have beaten both Oregon State and USC this season.
Offensively, Arizona will have some issues moving the ball with Foles out. Expect Grigsby and Antolin to run the ball to take the pressure off of back-up QB Matt Scott. Arizona has a highly ranked defense, but they have yield points when faced with good teams. Arizona is going to need the defense to contain Locker if they hope to win.
Washington seems to know how to win close games this year. Expect a close one in the desert and expect Locker and Washington to pull the dramatic upset.
6) Georgia Tech at Clemson – 3:30 on ABC
For all you Clemson fans out there (and I’m one of them), aren’t you wondering how Clemson is going to blow this matchup against Georgia Tech? You know it’s going to be close and you know Clemson is going to find a way to lose it. So, botched field goal? Late interception by Parker? Fumble by Ellington? The possibilities are endless.
Extra Point:
Well, the first BCS ranking came out last Sunday. As aghast as I was that Oklahoma was number 1, Kirk Herbstreit calmly explained to me on Sunday night why this wasn’t the biggest travesty since Veronica Mars got cancelled. It’s still early and, as Ohio State and Alabama proved; we’re a long way from done.
However, looking at the rankings, I’m once again drawn to the same question I had earlier in the year. Does a one loss Alabama deserve to be ranked higher or lower than an undefeated TCU or Boise State? Let’s look at this all scientific like.
If you are going to argue in favor of Alabama, the conversation begins and ends with strength of schedule. The Alabama schedule is a freaking mine-field, with games against Penn State, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, LSU, Miss State, and Auburn. If Alabama makes it through that with one loss, that deserves something.
For TCU, they have Oregon State and Utah. No, seriously, that’s it. I’m not sure if that’s worse or better than the Boise State duo of Oregon State and Virginia Tech. You really can’t fault either team for being in conferences that aren’t that tough, but that doesn’t mean you can reward them either. Last year, Cincinnati, Boise State, and TCU all showed us that schedule strength counts.
Of course, this conversation means nothing if two of the group of Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, LSU, and Michigan State win out (with Missouri getting an outside shot). No way the BCS polls have TCU or Boise State ahead of any of those teams if they are undefeated. However, with the BCS, you learn to expect the unexpected.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Trent's Touchdown: Six Week 6 College Football Games to Watch
We’re really at Week 6 already! I’m on edge right now. We are long overdue for something weird to happen. That’s what college football is all about, the weird and unexplained, sort of like the popularity of Jersey Shore. If Alabama lost, now that would qualify, but that isn’t happening any time soon. More on that later, but now, on to the Touchdown.
1) No. 1 Alabama at No. 19 South Carolina – 3:30 on CBS
You know, watching the Alabama/Florida game last weekend, I have to thank God CBS had the intellect to hire Tracy Wolfson as their sideline reporter. If not for her, we might not have the Richardson/Ingram nickname of “Fast and Furious”. Thanks for that contribution Tracy!
Anyway, I’ve asked the question before and I’ll ask it again, is there any defense that can stop the Alabama offense? To be generous, I’ll say Nebraska, and that’s it. Minus my shot at Wolfson, Richardson and Ingram are the most dynamic backfield duo since James Davis and C.J. Spiller.
After you get past the running game, you have to deal with Greg McElroy, who hasn’t lost a game as starting QB since junior high (or so CBS kept telling me, over and over and over again). He has been a tad shaky at times, but he has Ingram to fall back on if he gets in trouble. Just ask Arkansas.
South Carolina finally came back down to earth against Auburn. Not only that, Spurrier once again screwed with a QB’s head by pulling Stephen Garcia for the underwhelming Connor Shaw. Garcia is back for this game, but may be a bit shaken, given he can’t seem to hang on to the ball.
Garcia is going to need to have the game of his life to beat the tough Alabama defense and outscore the Alabama offense. Not going to happen, not by a long shot. As always, ROLL TIDE.
2) No. 17 Michigan State at No. 18 Michigan – 3:30 on ABC
I’m starting to get real tired of all this Denard Robinson talk. He hasn’t faced a quality defense all season long. You know, there is a quality QB for Michigan State that no one seems to be talking about.
I would love to make the blanket statement that Kirk Cousins is the best QB in the Big Ten, but that honor really goes to Ricky Stanzi (I refuse to even acknowledge Terrelle Pryor in this conversation). Cousins is one of those QB’s who makes smart plays, doesn’t really hurt you, and knows how to manage a game. Yeah, he throws too many interceptions, but it hasn’t come back to haunt him yet.
Along with Cousins arm, the MSU offense has a dynamic running attack, with both Bell and Baker racking up yards on the ground (both averaging just over 7 yards a carry). MSU is a well balanced offensive team with a solid defense that can cause teams fits.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Michigan has some guy at QB who likes to run the ball. I’ll give Robinson credit, he’s good, but I want to see him pull off runs against Iowa and Ohio State before I crown him the next Vince Young. A win here would help sell me on the whole Shoelaces Robinson era.
This game will come down to defense. Michigan’s defense is poor. They give up way too many points and hope that Robinson will bail them out. That’s fine against the UConn’s and Bowling Green’s of the world, but not in Big 10 conference play. Michigan State pulls off the shocker in Ann Arbor.
3) No. 12 LSU at No. 14 Florida – 7:30 on ESPN
How is LSU still unbeaten? I’m not talking about the last second thriller against Tennessee last week. That was the right call. I mean, I’ve seen LSU play. They are not good. They are the worst Top 25 team in the country, and that includes Miami!
For everyone who thought that Florida would beat Alabama last week, hang your head in shame. If you hadn’t seen Florida play this year, I can see where you went wrong. Florida uses its pure athletic talent to beat teams. Brantley is getting more comfortable with the offense, but he has problems with good defenses. He’ll rely on the weapons around him to move the ball.
LSU has some issues at QB (and that’s putting it mildly). Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee will be splitting time at QB. That’s like trying to decide whether to drink spoiled milk or eat rancid meat. The results will be the same, so it’s all about the journey.
The Jefferson/Lee double-headed monster gets to go up again the best secondary in the SEC. Gee, I wonder how this is going to work out? LSU is going to have to rely on its defense to keep them in this game and hope to fluster Brantley enough to get him to turn the ball over. Florida wins big at home.
4) No. 23 Florida State at No. 13 Miami – 8:00 on ABC
Are you ready for a top of the line ACC rivalry game? While on the surface I might say I’m ready to catch up on Fringe on DVR, this game has potential. I’m not saying the ACC has potential, I’m saying that this match-up will prove close and interesting.
Let’s break this down for you. Neither team is really that good, but they are the class of the ACC. Both QB’s are sketchy, but I trust Christian Ponder more than Jacory Harris (that’s not saying much). FSU has a better running attack, but Miami does a pretty good job stopping the run.
The question you need to ask is, do you trust the FSU defense more than the Miami offense? Jacory Harris has the ability to make amazing plays one down, then completely idiotic plays the next. If you look at last week, Clemson wins that game if they had a competent receiver who Parker could throw to, because Harris kept letting Clemson hang around.
This game comes down to the last second and FSU comes away with the victory.
5) No. 11 Arkansas vs. Texas A&M – 3:30 on ABC (in Arlington, TX)
If you’re a fan of offense, this is your game. This is going to be like that Stanford/Oregon game, lots of points and very little defense.
Not to denigrate Arkansas, but the only reason you’re watching them if for Ryan Mallett. The kid has a cannon arm and isn’t afraid to throw the ball all over the field. They might run the ball to mix things up, but the scoring for Arkansas rests on Mallett’s shoulders.
Texas A&M has one of the best offenses in the country. They would be even better if Jerrod Johnson would learn not to complete so many passes to the other team. Seriously, he has 8 interceptions in the last 2 games. That’s not a stat you want to see from your starting QB.
Expect a few more interceptions from Johnson as Arkansas beats up Texas A&M. It might be close if Johnson only throws to his players.
6) San Jose State at No. 21 Nevada – 10:30 on ESPNU
The main talking point in Boise this week is that the WAC has another ranked team, so maybe the Boise State schedule isn’t as easy as everyone complains about. Well, think again. Nevada is riding the same wave as BSU. I think my old high school team could finish third in this conference.
Extra Point:
I think the main question everyone has right now is “can Alabama be beat?” The answer is yes. However, you have to let me combine teams to do it. Alabama has amazing players on both sides of the ball. They score when the need to and can stop just about any teams offensive schemes.
Alabama is coming to the end of, arguably, the toughest three game stretch in college football this year. The only game they have had a problem with was Arkansas, and the defense stepped up when needed and Ingram carried the offense. The Florida game last weekend was utter humiliation.
The remaining schedule isn’t sunshine and roses, with games at South Carolina, at Tennessee, at LSU, and home against Auburn. Can anyone honestly say that they think any of those teams can beat Alabama? Not only will Alabama win, but I don’t think any of those teams are coming within a touchdown.
So, who can beat them? As I said, let me combine teams and I think I have it. Give me the offensive team of Oregon and the defense of Nebraska and I think we have a winner. Neither of these teams can beat Alabama as is. Nebraska doesn’t have the offense and Oregon doesn’t have the defense. However, Oregon has the offensive firepower to run with any team in the country. Nebraska has the defensive might to give most any offense fits. Put them together and we have a great game.
Right now, if you had me pick my dream National Championship Game, it would be Oregon/Alabama. The only reason is that give me the best opportunity for a good game. If you look at the other top 5 teams, can you say the same thing? Ohio State is a paper tiger, ready to be ripped to shreds by half the teams in the SEC. Boise State and TCU, while good stories, wouldn’t stand much of a chance. No team is as well balanced on both sides of the ball as Alabama, but Oregon has the ability to score at anytime from anywhere and would at least bring out the best in the tide. Until something weird happens, it’s ROLL TIDE all year long.
1) No. 1 Alabama at No. 19 South Carolina – 3:30 on CBS
You know, watching the Alabama/Florida game last weekend, I have to thank God CBS had the intellect to hire Tracy Wolfson as their sideline reporter. If not for her, we might not have the Richardson/Ingram nickname of “Fast and Furious”. Thanks for that contribution Tracy!
Anyway, I’ve asked the question before and I’ll ask it again, is there any defense that can stop the Alabama offense? To be generous, I’ll say Nebraska, and that’s it. Minus my shot at Wolfson, Richardson and Ingram are the most dynamic backfield duo since James Davis and C.J. Spiller.
After you get past the running game, you have to deal with Greg McElroy, who hasn’t lost a game as starting QB since junior high (or so CBS kept telling me, over and over and over again). He has been a tad shaky at times, but he has Ingram to fall back on if he gets in trouble. Just ask Arkansas.
South Carolina finally came back down to earth against Auburn. Not only that, Spurrier once again screwed with a QB’s head by pulling Stephen Garcia for the underwhelming Connor Shaw. Garcia is back for this game, but may be a bit shaken, given he can’t seem to hang on to the ball.
Garcia is going to need to have the game of his life to beat the tough Alabama defense and outscore the Alabama offense. Not going to happen, not by a long shot. As always, ROLL TIDE.
2) No. 17 Michigan State at No. 18 Michigan – 3:30 on ABC
I’m starting to get real tired of all this Denard Robinson talk. He hasn’t faced a quality defense all season long. You know, there is a quality QB for Michigan State that no one seems to be talking about.
I would love to make the blanket statement that Kirk Cousins is the best QB in the Big Ten, but that honor really goes to Ricky Stanzi (I refuse to even acknowledge Terrelle Pryor in this conversation). Cousins is one of those QB’s who makes smart plays, doesn’t really hurt you, and knows how to manage a game. Yeah, he throws too many interceptions, but it hasn’t come back to haunt him yet.
Along with Cousins arm, the MSU offense has a dynamic running attack, with both Bell and Baker racking up yards on the ground (both averaging just over 7 yards a carry). MSU is a well balanced offensive team with a solid defense that can cause teams fits.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Michigan has some guy at QB who likes to run the ball. I’ll give Robinson credit, he’s good, but I want to see him pull off runs against Iowa and Ohio State before I crown him the next Vince Young. A win here would help sell me on the whole Shoelaces Robinson era.
This game will come down to defense. Michigan’s defense is poor. They give up way too many points and hope that Robinson will bail them out. That’s fine against the UConn’s and Bowling Green’s of the world, but not in Big 10 conference play. Michigan State pulls off the shocker in Ann Arbor.
3) No. 12 LSU at No. 14 Florida – 7:30 on ESPN
How is LSU still unbeaten? I’m not talking about the last second thriller against Tennessee last week. That was the right call. I mean, I’ve seen LSU play. They are not good. They are the worst Top 25 team in the country, and that includes Miami!
For everyone who thought that Florida would beat Alabama last week, hang your head in shame. If you hadn’t seen Florida play this year, I can see where you went wrong. Florida uses its pure athletic talent to beat teams. Brantley is getting more comfortable with the offense, but he has problems with good defenses. He’ll rely on the weapons around him to move the ball.
LSU has some issues at QB (and that’s putting it mildly). Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee will be splitting time at QB. That’s like trying to decide whether to drink spoiled milk or eat rancid meat. The results will be the same, so it’s all about the journey.
The Jefferson/Lee double-headed monster gets to go up again the best secondary in the SEC. Gee, I wonder how this is going to work out? LSU is going to have to rely on its defense to keep them in this game and hope to fluster Brantley enough to get him to turn the ball over. Florida wins big at home.
4) No. 23 Florida State at No. 13 Miami – 8:00 on ABC
Are you ready for a top of the line ACC rivalry game? While on the surface I might say I’m ready to catch up on Fringe on DVR, this game has potential. I’m not saying the ACC has potential, I’m saying that this match-up will prove close and interesting.
Let’s break this down for you. Neither team is really that good, but they are the class of the ACC. Both QB’s are sketchy, but I trust Christian Ponder more than Jacory Harris (that’s not saying much). FSU has a better running attack, but Miami does a pretty good job stopping the run.
The question you need to ask is, do you trust the FSU defense more than the Miami offense? Jacory Harris has the ability to make amazing plays one down, then completely idiotic plays the next. If you look at last week, Clemson wins that game if they had a competent receiver who Parker could throw to, because Harris kept letting Clemson hang around.
This game comes down to the last second and FSU comes away with the victory.
5) No. 11 Arkansas vs. Texas A&M – 3:30 on ABC (in Arlington, TX)
If you’re a fan of offense, this is your game. This is going to be like that Stanford/Oregon game, lots of points and very little defense.
Not to denigrate Arkansas, but the only reason you’re watching them if for Ryan Mallett. The kid has a cannon arm and isn’t afraid to throw the ball all over the field. They might run the ball to mix things up, but the scoring for Arkansas rests on Mallett’s shoulders.
Texas A&M has one of the best offenses in the country. They would be even better if Jerrod Johnson would learn not to complete so many passes to the other team. Seriously, he has 8 interceptions in the last 2 games. That’s not a stat you want to see from your starting QB.
Expect a few more interceptions from Johnson as Arkansas beats up Texas A&M. It might be close if Johnson only throws to his players.
6) San Jose State at No. 21 Nevada – 10:30 on ESPNU
The main talking point in Boise this week is that the WAC has another ranked team, so maybe the Boise State schedule isn’t as easy as everyone complains about. Well, think again. Nevada is riding the same wave as BSU. I think my old high school team could finish third in this conference.
Extra Point:
I think the main question everyone has right now is “can Alabama be beat?” The answer is yes. However, you have to let me combine teams to do it. Alabama has amazing players on both sides of the ball. They score when the need to and can stop just about any teams offensive schemes.
Alabama is coming to the end of, arguably, the toughest three game stretch in college football this year. The only game they have had a problem with was Arkansas, and the defense stepped up when needed and Ingram carried the offense. The Florida game last weekend was utter humiliation.
The remaining schedule isn’t sunshine and roses, with games at South Carolina, at Tennessee, at LSU, and home against Auburn. Can anyone honestly say that they think any of those teams can beat Alabama? Not only will Alabama win, but I don’t think any of those teams are coming within a touchdown.
So, who can beat them? As I said, let me combine teams and I think I have it. Give me the offensive team of Oregon and the defense of Nebraska and I think we have a winner. Neither of these teams can beat Alabama as is. Nebraska doesn’t have the offense and Oregon doesn’t have the defense. However, Oregon has the offensive firepower to run with any team in the country. Nebraska has the defensive might to give most any offense fits. Put them together and we have a great game.
Right now, if you had me pick my dream National Championship Game, it would be Oregon/Alabama. The only reason is that give me the best opportunity for a good game. If you look at the other top 5 teams, can you say the same thing? Ohio State is a paper tiger, ready to be ripped to shreds by half the teams in the SEC. Boise State and TCU, while good stories, wouldn’t stand much of a chance. No team is as well balanced on both sides of the ball as Alabama, but Oregon has the ability to score at anytime from anywhere and would at least bring out the best in the tide. Until something weird happens, it’s ROLL TIDE all year long.
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