Monday, October 15, 2012

I’m Still Trying to Warm Up

If you watched the Michigan game on Saturday, you know there was a little rain. And it was a little cold. Put both of those together and you have a mix for what could be an uncomfortable afternoon. However, when Michigan is killing somebody, it helps, a little.

I will say here and now that the original SuperFan and I stayed till the 4th quarter. We had good seats and we were having fun. But once I hit the warmth of the vehicle, well, I realized how chilled I had gotten. A saying comes to mind along the lines of, “I’m getting too old for this shit.”

Anyway, Michigan looked impressive, but the Illini are just plain awful. I’m not entirely sure they moved the ball past the 50 in the 2nd half. I know they had a couple of first downs, but their overall play struck me as un-inspired and they looked slow. I don’t know if Beckman will make the full term of his contract unless this team starts showing everybody something and showing them something very soon.

In addition, there was a debate at the tailgate about what EXACTLY the Illini were (are) and who Chief Illiwenek (was) is. I argued, per “Know Your Foe”, courtesy of the M-Zone, that their wasn’t a real “Ilini” tribe and Chief Illiwenek was a fictional character.

Here’s the M-Zone’s summary on the name and mascot:

Chief Illiniwek is a fictional name and not based on an actual American Indian chief. Additionally, there was never an Indian tribe that went by the name Illini just as, based on their play on the field this season, there is not a football team with that name either. The actual term is a used to describe the group of six tribes (Kaskaskia, Peoria, Michigamea, Moingwena, Tamaroa and Cahokia) that lived in the area. These Indian tribes were removed by the US government to settle in Kansas in 1832, then in 1867 when the US wanted to open Kansas to white settlers, they were removed to Oklahoma.

So, the MMQ rests his case with respect to the origins of the name and mascot. Any further arguments can be settled in the comments section.

After seeing Michigan’s lopsided victory and more importantly, our next opponent’s upset loss…I’m very much looking forward to the rest of this season!
BCS Mess

The first BCS Poll is out and there aren’t that many surprises on it, if you have been following along on the predictions from several sources that said we would be surprised by some of the teams. Before everyone panics, I think everyone involved in this fiasco has realized that an all SEC national title game sucks for everyone except the SEC, so I don’t expect that scenario to play out. I think there’s still enough head to head competition in the SEC to keep that from happening….

1. Satan’s Warriors: No surprise here. Until they are beat, they’re in the Championship.
2. GATORLAND: A bit of a surprise here as I figured the
3. DUCKS: would be number 2 based on their schedule and margin of victory.
4. K-State: Some are surprised by this rank, but when you beat the Laters in Norman, well, Computers like that.
5. DOMERS: Really? I mean…Michigan played both these teams and I will give the nod to Satan’s Warriors but the Domers will get crushed if they have to play that team…
6. LSU: In a great position as the first 1 loss team
7. South Carolina: Not so much….
8. Oregon State: Needs LOTS OF HELP
9. Oklahoma: Ditto
10. USC: Win out and win the PAC 12 and they are suddenly attractive again…

The Rest of the Mess
Domers (JEEZ I HATE THESE GUYS!) vs. Stanford: IT WAS A TOUCHDOWN! Enough said. With the exception that anyone playing in Notre Dame Stadium should bring their own refs and not leave it to the Domers and NBC.

Sparty vs. Iowa: So….Kirk Cousins is now looking like a much better QB when he’s not there then when he was there. Maxwell is killing Sparty this year and Dantonio has apparently found his Tressel Gene (Field goal from the 6 in the 1st half?) when going for it might have been a nail in Iowa’s coffin? Hee-hee….I hate to use clichés…but SOS…SOS…SOS

LATERS vs. Short Horns: Wow….Mack Brown is moving WAY UP on the Hot Seat List. He’s gotten rid of Defensive and Offensive coordinators over the last 3-5 seasons. He’s changing schemes. Texas is bringing in top talent, but when you get embarrassed like this, well, it wouldn’t surprise me if Deloss Dodds starts the conversation out with, “It’s not you…It’s me. Really. It’s not you….”
LMU vs. The Ole Ball Coach: The Ole Ball Coach simply got outcoached in this one. I think there was a lot there for the taking when USC was on offense that they simply didn’t take advantage of. And LSU found an offense, which is never a good thing when you have to play in Death Valley. If I understand things correctly in the SEC, LSU controls it’s own destiny…Never a position you want to put Les Miles in.

Texas Tech vs. WVU: MMQ (along with everyone else) predicted that Geno would have a bad day and that eventually the WVU defense would need to step up…I just didn’t think it would happen against Texas Tech….

Kitty Kats vs. Gophers: Kitty Kats become bowl eligible (first B1G team to do so, besides the Suckeyes) and unfortunately Coach Kill has another seizure episode. As always, the MMQ hopes the coach is doing well and looks forward to the Gophers getting their 6th win for bowl eligibility.

Idle Thoughts From Saturday

-It’s raining and cold.
-Or it’s cold and raining
-Take your pick.
-Any sporting event that you have to watch in the rain sucks…
-The cold, not so much.
-Michigan looks good on offense.
-But Jake Ryan is all over the field on defense.
-He’s just all over the field!
-Falls down, gets up and STILL manages to cause the fumble!
-See?



-Illinois will be lucky to win another B1G game this year….
-Sparty is losing?
-Sparty LOST!
-Amazing…Not a loss anyone saw coming for Sparty....
-To think I almost laid the points on that game thinking Sparty would lay a thumping on them….
-Okay…It can stop raining now.
-No matter how much tailgating you do, you still get wet in the rain.
-You can tailgate and not “feel” the cold, but eventually it’ll get ya’…
-But you can't stop the wet…
-That almost came out wrong…
-I think the Domers hire their own refs…
-Conference is in control of that for everyone else…
-Why does every Domer home game questionable call seem to go their way?
-Can anyone else explain this?
-The MMQ is dying to know…
-The Ole Ball Coach is getting pissed…
-Mack Brown doesn’t look good in the presser....
-Is the writing on the wall for Mack?
-There have to be a LOT of fans that are looking at Will Muschamp at Florida this year…
-And saying, “Wasn’t HE SUPPOSED TO BE OUR HEAD COACH?”
-Stoops is righting the ship…But still always has to lose one game somewhere along the way.
-Poor Jerry Kill….
-When is the B1G going to catch a break?
-BESIDES the Suckeyes, I mean.
More Idle Thoughts From the Weekend….

-GO TIGERS!
-Again, I dislike whoever Detroit is playing but not to the point that I want anyone to get hurt…
-And Jeter is a class act.
-I always thought he would look good wearing the English D….
-And he’s a Michigan kid, anyway…
-Methinks the Yankees spent a lot of energy on beating Baltimore…
-Can the Tiger’s finish it up here in Detroit this week?
-The NBA and Hockey need to take a page from Baseball…
-Games every night. Gotta love that.

The Hot Seat

Once again, for the 6th week in a row, the Weekly Nominee holds up her spot and makes it into the finals!. Gwynneth looked on the ropes early, but eeked out a 1 vote win for the weekly and she will be in the final vote! This week’s mascot was suggested after the MMQ sent out last week’s request. I must admit, I never followed the WWF, or Women’s Wrestling for that matter, but had I known that Stacey Keibler was a regular, well, I might have watched!


 




The Ole Hot Seat is really heating up for some coaches. I should have moved Frank Spaz up last week after losing to Army, but that somehow escaped the radar of the MMQ. He’s been dutifully moved up this week, but the overall order hasn’t changed much….Al Groh, the Defensive Coordinator at GT got the ax, but we don’t track defensive coordinators. But Head Coaches that panic and fire their defensive coordinators mid-season? Paul Johnson, Say “HELLO!!!!” to the Hot Seat! And as mentioned earlier, Mack Brown is moving on up!

1. John L Smith – He’s only on a 10 month contract, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they canned him before then…To hire….WHO?
2. Gene Chizik: Losing to the Hawgs AND MSU in the same year gets you on the list…National Championships be damned! Question is: Who does Aburn, actually, anyone get if they fire the guys on this list? Petrino?
3. Derek Dooley: Derek needs a W in the SEC. He needs it really bad…
4. Mack Brown: I know, I know. But you didn’t think they would fire Joe Pa, either. Believe the MMQ when I say that his retirement or canning is nearer than you think…
5. Frank Spaziani: BC is a proud school that doesn’t get a lot of attention…. Until you lose to ARMY….And get a new AD looking to make a name for himself.
5. (Tie) Bo Pelini. Can’t lose to UCLA and start the B1G 1-1 and not expect to suffer a little…
6. Mark Richt: Just because he will lose some game he’s not supposed to and the annual “Fire Mark Richt” bandwagon will get a spit polish and a coat of paint…
6. (Tie) Paul Johnson. GT’s season has been an up and down roller coaster and losing to Middle Tennessee State should have had him on the list earlier…But he’s here now.
7. Pasqualoni – UCONN This team has not gotten better and only gotten a LOT worse since their Fiesta Bowl appearance two years ago…
8. Randy Edsall: Maryland is going to start thinking that with the ACC as screwed up as it is, why aren’t we winning more football games?
9. Kevin Wilson: But can Indiana really expect much more? Really?
10. Dabo Sweeney: Either find a defense or find a new job…
11. Joker Phillips: Because someone at Kentucky cares….
12. Brett Beilema – Wiscy. His fans have expectations now. Can’t lose to the Cornsuckers when you’re up 27-10.
13. Tedford: Only Hot Seat Coach to lose in Week 1!! But I can’t move him above Kelly.

The FMQ

FINALLY! It only took until the the 7th week to have a PERFECT weekend, but it was worth the wait! Now, the key is, can we build on this? Let’s hope so….

NWU (-3.5) @ Gophers:
Take the Kitty Kats and lay the 3 for $40
Nice…Sorry about Kill, but I like the results: WIN! Bank $76

Stanford (+7.5) @ Domers (JEEZ I HATE THESE GUYS!): Take Stanford and the 7.5 for $40.
Stanford was still in this game and once it went to OT, the FMQ was in pretty good shape. I won’t say it was a lock with the whole 2 point thing and all, but good shape: WIN Bank $76

Michigan (TODAY: -25 Monday: -21) vs. Illini: OnMonday I said: I’m thinking I’ll lay points here…up to 24.
Take Michigan and lay the 21 for $30
Hee-hee….WIN: Bank $57
Taking the under (48.5) for $30

I was getting nervous on this one with all the subs in, but the clock finally went to 0:00. WIN: $57

Bank: $490
WIN: $266
BANK: $756

Monday’s Early Odds

Oregon (-10) @ Arizona State (Thursday): Oregon is only laying 10? Really?

MICHIGAN (-10) vs. MSU: Is it SOS or will this end up being a game?

Cornsuckers (+4) @ NWU: Northwestern breathing easy after making a bowl…Cornsuckers need a W!

BYU (+14) @ Domers: BYU was pre-season top 10 this year….Is there value here? Domers might be looking ahead to the:

Sooners (-35) vs. Kansas: This might be a lock…Sooners looking for style points win huge or will they trip looking ahead to the Domers?



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