Congrats. Well Done.
Anyone who knows me understands EXACTLY how difficult those particular
words are to type. While I truly enjoyed
watching “Urban Crime” Legend on the opposite sideline in what can only be
described as “potential heart attack” grief, flashes to the other sideline with
the Roses pouring out made me equally nauseous….So, it was a bittersweet moment
for all Michigan fans, and one that I hope the Michigan Team was watching so THIS
EPISODE NEVER, EVER happens again in the B1G Championship game. Of course, as Michigan fans we all got a
special treat: Somebody we hated had to
lose…..
Unfortunately for the suckeyes, if this particular match-up had occurred
in September or October, I’m pretty confident the outcome would have been
different. Cook and his buddies on
offense are simply playing better and are vastly improved over what Sparty was
putting on the field in the early season.
I’m not taking anything away from Sparty; in fact, that might be my “Green”
Eye of Envy that is looking at this outcome and thinking Sparty is doing it
exactly the same way Michigan used to do it…And I guess that’s pissing me off a
little. The suckeyes, on the other hand,
have NOT improved on defense and have given up a little over a 1,000 yards in
the last two contests….expect heads to roll in Columbus once the season is
complete.
Side Note: I was watching the 1st
half of this game at the Hornet’s Nest – Which the locals amongst the readers
know is the bar at the top of Alpine Valley’s Ski Lodge as my oldest daughter
got some new equipment and wanted to hit the slopes for the evening with the Walled
Lake Northern Ski Team. I was sitting
with some good natured Sparty’s and Maize and Blue faithful and we were
enjoying the action. Some Sparty and
Suckeye skiers walked in and grabbed seats midway through the 1st
quarter. Where do all of these local
suckeyes come from and what is available commercially to exterminate them? Anyone?
Anyway, the suckeye got into a debate with his Sparty buddy and insisted
that the suckeye defense, properly coached, would be “10 times better” than
Sparty’s defense. I was in a small way,
rooting for the Sparty to come out swinging with his teams stats over the last
couple of seasons and cite the athletic supremacy that Sparty has on that side
of the ball. But this suckeye kept on
and the Sparty fan was losing the battle of wits….Badly. I made a comment to the people I was sitting
with and also sent a text. The response
I received after texting “There’s a Sparty losing an argument to a
Suckeye about how the Suckeyes have a better D”
“You
can’t fix Stupid…”
Classic. But take heart Sparty,
you won the game and that’s all that matters.
Although, I hate to keep coming
back to the domer loss, but, man oh man…what a big “L” that is in that
column. If this were next year and the
play-off were in place, no big deal. I
think everyone would more or less give Sparty the nod as the 4th
team in the play-off. You’d have to play
the Seminoles in the 1st game, but you would have to eventually play
them anyway. Regardless, next year, you
would have had a shot at all the marbles.
That’s not a bad accomplishment when it comes right down to it.
I guess the question that remains on everyone’s mind is: Will Narduzzi continue to be part of this
coaching staff after January 1st?
I haven’t heard any rumors so I’m really starting to think that he
stays. But, who knows? December is only half over and I’m sure there’s
more coaching changes coming.
Auburn wins a shootout in Atlanta over a Mizzou team that just couldn’t
shut down the Auburn offense. I’m more
of an Auburn believer now than I was about a month ago, but I will say that
Auburn is a team that is playing MUCH better than it was a month ago. In fact,
if Auburn and Mizzou had played early in the season, I’m sure the outcome there
would have also been different. The
A-Tigers clinch their seat in the MNC on January 6th.
The Seminoles also easily defeated Duke and the devils couldn’t hang
close. I was disappointed (a little)
that Duke wasn’t able to stay closer, but not nearly as disappointed as I was
in the post game interview that Heather Cox did with Winston. There’s a time and place for a lot of questions
she was asking, and right after the ACC championship game wasn’t it. Winston’s legal issues are behind him and if
he chooses to discuss it, then, by all means, get 60 Minutes on the phone and
set up the interview. Otherwise, stick
to the simple questions and the immediate matter at hand – How do you feel to
be going to the National Championship and your chances for winning the
Heismann? That’s all she needed to
ask. Heather, whether pushed by ESPN
management or acting on her own, has earned a seat in the “Drew Sharp Asshat Reporter Hall of Shame”.
Stanford dominates the Devils and I’m still trying to figure out how the
Cardinal lost two games to unranked competition this season after catching
parts of that game. When Stanford wants
to be the best, they simply are. I have
a feeling that Sparty will have their hands full on New Years Day.
As for the rest of the fleabag bowls, we’ll get to that in the Bowl
Mess. But for now, let’s bring to a
close where all the fans have finally found themselves at the end of the season
in the
5 Stages of Slappy Fan Grief
PRE –GRIEF: HOPE! The Seminoles and the Auburn Tigers
are the only two fanbases left that can be in this category. I’m sure there are some suckeyes, Bama,
Mizzou Tigers and others that are thinking, “We’re this close! Wait till next year!” and as Georgia Bulldawg fans can attest, that’s
usually when the wheels come off. One
fan base will emerge victorious leaving the other side to wonder, “What if…”
- Denial and Isolation - Mizzou fans have to be here en
masse. After an incredibly disappointing
debut appearance in the SEC and managing only 2 victories, to win the East
in their 2nd year has to have a lot of fans believing that not
only was getting out of the Big 12 and the move to the SEC a great thing,
but they will have a chance to be in this situation again. I’m afraid that the rest of the SEC
East, however, has just received its wake-up call and that the division might
just be a little tougher next year.
- ANGER - suckeyes – you get this one today all
to yourself. I saw and heard a lot
of angry suckeye fans in person and on the radio shows that are EXTREMELY
hostile with Urban Crime and demanding that he fire everyone associated
with the defensive side of the coaching staff. The suckeyes believed this was their God
given right – to play in the National Title Game – after a 24-0 run over
the last two seasons. National Title
games have to be earned…In fact, I’ll add some Sparty fans in here as
well. I don’t know if I’d be too
happy with my team not playing in the National Title game after they
started the season ranked higher than Auburn but somehow an Auburn team
(with a much worse loss to LSU) and the only Sparty loss being by a Figgie
on the road at the domers….Hmmm…yeah, I’ll put some Sparty’s in here to
just for measure. You’re not pissed
with your team, but you are pissed off with the system. If this were NEXT Year….se
la vi…
- Bargaining –Michigan, Wiscy, cornhuskers,
Hokies, and everyone else that made some flea bag bowl that isn’t a BCS
bowl. Playing on January 1st
is always nice and there’s a lot of teams that can’t even say that…but a
lot of fan bases hear their team’s in a bowl and figure, “Okay, not so bad….” It’s the slappies that know these games
are crap and that their team can hopefully use the extra practice sessions
to get better.
- Depression –Some suckeyes, some Blue Devils,
some Mizzou Tigers and some Sun Devils.
To get that close and not win it has to make you feel a little blue…..But
you’re not as bad as some that aren’t going anywhere this season.
- Acceptance – All those slappies that are coming to the realization that it’s over. And all they can do is watch the bowl “feast” that is coming over the next couple of weeks and wait for next year.
The Bowl Mess
Us this chart
for ease of viewing and knowing when and who is playing where, including the
now infamous “PF” or Puke Factor! Before
you print and slap this on your refrigerator, wait until Wednesday and the FMQ
will try to find the lines – no early lines on the usual sites I can get to
from work are posted yet. With this
handy reference sheet, you can decide how important and “must see” TV each bowl
is before you accept or decline that holiday get together invitation! Or, better yet, use it as part of your excuse
material to turn down that holiday get together invite by knowing EXACTLY which
game is on and what channel! Biggest issue I have as a Michigan
fan: BW3 bowl comes on at EST 10:15 PM. That truly sucks. Bowls are longer than your average game
meaning that Michigan fans will more than likely have to stay awake until well
past 2:00 AM to catch the end of that game.
I hope there is someone lobbying HARD to change that game time to a
slightly earlier kick-off and I’m still trying to figure out if Dave Brandon
has any pull with the league office what so ever. That Michigan has to play three time zones
away isn’t the big deal but the fact that the game doesn’t start until local
time of 7:30 irks the hell out of me…Especially as of the three, Michigan is the
only team of Nebraska and Minnesota that is in the Eastern Time Zone.
Idle Thoughts From Saturday
-Interesting Game Day in Indy…
-A little chilly….
-All the panel taking the Suckeyes…Except Desmond. He knows…
-So does that kid that won the $8.3 Million in the WSOP…
-That’s “World Series of Poker” for those that are unaware…
-I like Sparty in that game, too.
-Auburn and Mizzou in a track meet.
-So much for that SEC Defense I’ve heard so much about…
-I wonder if Bama fans are watching or if they’re also boycotting this game…
-FSU is ugly strong on both sides of the ball this year…
-Glad to see Winston wasn’t charged…
-I don’t know what happened, but clearly there’s some advice to be learned here:
-“Keep your Rocket in your Pocket!”, at least that’s what the old man used to say.
-You know, in order to stay out of trouble.
-That might be the best advice he ever gave me….
-Sparty starting off strong…
-This could get ugly if the suckeyes don’t find some offense.
-There goes Miller…but that’s NOT an offense.
-Sparty “D” is really rising to the occasion..
-Of course, Dantonio has to try something cute…every game.
-I’m not saying I don’t like the onside kick call…
-But with that Defense? Why?
-Uh-Oh…I’m sitting in the Hornet’s Nest at Alpine Valley…
-Some Sparty Fans and some suckeyes have stumbled in…
-Suckeye bemoaning the fact that his team needs a defensive coach.
-Stating they have “Top 5” talent on the defensive side of the ball.
-If Bama D-coordinator or even Narduzzi was in Columbus, they’d have a dynasty.
-Sparty buddy just sort of nods and says that Sparty D is always good, but not great.
-Huh???
-Then went on to say how the Sparty Offense is better than people think it is…
-Oh my God….
-You really can’t fix stupid.
The Hot Seat
Okay: After a lot of complaints and references to
the fact that the MMQ always ends up with all of the Hot Seat Mascots in the
finals and the open voting makes it to easy to go with the last Hot Seat Mascot
nominated, I’ve decided to switch things around for a couple of reasons. 1. We’re
heading to a football play-off anyway and why not get a jump on it with our own
Hot Seat Mascot Bracket? And 2. MY blogger still won’t allow me to put
additional names into the poll so the most I can do is 4 candidates. Here’s how this is gonna work:
First Round
Play in Games: You will have until
WEDNESDAY, December 11th, to vote for the first round play in
games. At that point, I will set up the
new voting for the Elite 8 finalists and you will have until Monday, December 16th,
to vote. We will have then established
the “Final 4” and you will have until Friday, December 20th to vote
for the Final 2 Mascots in the Championship.
Then, I will have 1 poll that will be open for the two finalists that
will close on January 6th!
Play in Vote before this
Wednesday, December 11
Elite 8 Vote between Wednesday
and Monday, December 16th.Final 4 Vote between Monday (16th) and Friday, December 20th
Championship Vote between Friday, Dec. 20 until Monday January 6th
GONE LIST:
- LANE KIFFIN
- Paul Pasqualoni
- Treadwell
- Carlson – Valpraiso….(I know, not exactly on my
radar, either.)
- Ron English – Eastern Michigan.
- Mussman – North Dakota
- David Christianson – Wyoming
Hot Seat Rank – Getting Serious as
this is the time when the Carousel gets fire up!
- Mack Brown – New AD? New Coach?
- London – Virginia….Its not a good
situation…
- Ogeron – All the guy did was win,
but an interim won’t have the USC job…Jack Del Rio interviewed last week…
- Weiss: Can’t believe he’s still there…
- Paul Johnson – Lost to
Georgia…Look Out.
- Pelini – It’s not good in Corn
land either…
- Biliema: Arkansas Nation does not like a B1G
re-treas – no SEC wins
- Norm Chow - Hawaii
- Holgorensen: No Bowl doesn’t bode well for Dana
HIRED LIST:
- USC –
Sarkisian
- Washington - Petersen
Oklahoma @ Okie State (-10): Take Okies State and lay the 10 for $40
I’m an idiot…should
have taken the points and been happy!
LOSE
Texas @ Baylor (-14): Take Texas and the 14 for $50
Really thought the Longhorns
would show up for Mack Brown…Nope…LOSE
Stanford (+3) vs.
ASU: I’ll take Stanford and the 3 for $60
Finally…WIN! Bank $114
Duke (+29) vs. FSU: I’ll take Duke and the 29 for $30
Nuts…that late FSU
TD hurt me here…LOSE
Mizzou (+2) vs.
Auburn: Take Mizzoi and the 2 for $75
Really screwed this
one up, too….LOSE
Sparty (+5.5) vs
ohio: Take Sparty and the 5.5 for $60
Again, Thank you
Sparty….WIN Bank $114
PARLAY! (6 to 1)
Sparty-Mizzou-Stanford
for $50 - LOSE
Starting Bank: $345.50Total Win: $228.00
BANK: $573.50
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