As of 6:49 p.m. Saturday, it’s Michigan week.
And while I’d rather look ahead than look back, I’m calling this right now: DeVier Posey will catch two touchdowns against the Team Up North a week from today.
Archive for the 'Football' Category
20
Nov
10
best week of the year.
20
Nov
10
not working for me.
Iowa’s visitors locker room is supposed to make you feel docile.
I think all it would actually do is piss me off. Like it kind of is right now.
15
Nov
10
luckeyes prevail.
Dane is about to get lucky.
Not many people outside of the state of Ohio like Ohio State.
Actually, that’s an understatement — “hate” is probably a better word.
I get it. And I don’t mind.
What does bother me is the dumb stuff I have to put up with because of my college football allegiance. I’ve been made to feel like I should be ashamed of Ohio State’s appearances in the national championship games. I’ve heard over and over — from fans of teams that routinely play D1-AA opponents — that Ohio State plays soft schedules. And then there’s this one, which pisses me off to no end: the Luckeyes.
When I opened up Twitter after the game on Saturday, I came across several conversations about how Ohio State had lucked into yet another win. Frankly, I was stunned by that reaction; I asked, and I never did get a satisfactory response as to how scoring 35 unanswered points or winning by 24 could be considered lucky.
Yeah, there was one lucky play, when Pryor’s pass caromed off Posey and into the hands of Sanzenbacher, just as he was crossing the goal line. And if that were the game’s deciding score, I would be happy to admit that Ohio State was lucky as hell.
(Actually, I have a little difficulty writing off that play as well, especially after years of living in Pittsburgh and hearing the constant celebrations of the Immaculate Reception, which might be the luckiest play in the history of football.)
But that touchdown and extra point put Ohio State up by 10 and there would be two more scores before we were done for the night. What about the 96-yard drive midway through the third quarter? Where were the lucky plays on that one? Were the two interception returns for touchdowns lucky? No, they were mistakes by Penn State’s young quarterback. The seven-play, 78-yard drive in the fourth quarter? Maybe someone could explain to me how that one was lucky as well.
Oh, and we certainly got lucky as hell on the way to holding the Lions to 60 total yards in the second half. Whew.
I try not to be an asshole about this stuff in general, and in the case of the Penn State rivalry, I’m especially sensitive about my behavior. I have a lot of good friends who are cheering for the team on the other sideline and they deserve better than having to listen to me spout off about the game that just ended.
I also don’t make excuses. The 2001 and 2005 games? Ohio State got beat, period. The 2008 game was one of the best games I’ve ever seen in the stadium, and Penn State made the plays it needed to to win on the road. Even during the first half of Saturday’s game, it was easy to see which team wanted the win more, and it wasn’t the guys I was cheering for.
But there are those who apparently think what happened in the second half was an anomaly. And here I am again, trying to find something to appreciate about another win by the Luckeyes.
Guess what folks? I’ll happily put this one up alongside the national championship, two other title-game appearances, six straight wins over Michigan and five straight outright or shared conference titles — you know, all those other games and championships Ohio State fans aren’t supposed to enjoy.
14
Nov
10
hey, it’s the crappys!
Dispatch photographer Doral Chenoweth took a panoramic shot of the stadium during the second quarter of Saturday’s game.
I found Mrs. Crappy and me with no trouble. Can you find your seats as well?
10
Nov
10
uncertain.
For god's sake, don't drop him -- he might break!
When Joe Paterno won his 400th game last weekend, he took away one of the things that was concerning me about this week’s game — that an extra-motivated Nittany Lion team would show up in Columbus and do what they did to Ohio State in 2001, when Paterno had the chance to pass Bear Bryant as the all-time leader in D1 coaching wins.
That is not to say I don’t have other concerns.
Penn State’s defense is starting to play like a Penn State defense. I know, I know — giving up 423 total yards and 31 points against Michigan two weeks ago isn’t an all-world effort, but if they played that game in September, I think Michigan probably would have won.
Penn State has apparently found a quarterback in Matt McGloin. I thought Rob Bolden looked pretty good for a true freshman earlier in the season, but this could be a case of the offense having more confidence in McGloin; since his first start, against Michigan, Penn State is scoring and Evan Royster is rolling up rushing yards again after looking like he was sleepwalking through game after game.
There are some other things to remember, though. Penn State’s offense has rolled up those big numbers against Northwestern and Michigan, which might have the worst offense in school history. Michigan is 104th in scoring defense so far this season. Ohio State is third. So there’s that.
07
Nov
10
stretch run.
If you hadn’t noticed — I hadn’t either, to be honest, but Crappydad pointed it out to me — the schedule for the rest of the year has been set. Here’s a look:
Penn State, 3:30. I’m very happy that this is an afternoon game, because we can give it the kind of tailgating attention it deserves. Yeah, I know, Penn State just became bowl eligible and they’re not having the kind of year that makes Happy Valley especially happy, but for me anyway, this game is second only to the Team Up North on the Big Ten schedule. And I’m looking forward to it as usual.
Iowa, 3:30. This one is tricky. No tailgating for a road game, of course, but the afternoon thing makes me unsure about where to watch. I’m 1-1 watching games at home, so that doesn’t really have a bearing on my position. Do we go out? Load up on stuff and stay home? Suggestions?
Team Up North, noon. I’ll be honest — I loved it in 2006 when this was a 3:30 game. Granted, that one was kind of a special circumstance, but damn, a long tailgate party for the Michigan game was the right way to go. But noon is the traditional spot for this one, and we’ll do as we always have … except that I’d like to do it even earlier than normal. Is a 7 a.m. start too much?
30
Oct
10
a special toast.
In lieu of an actual toast before tonight’s Minnie Soda game (y’all got that from the previous post, right?), here’s a look at last week’s version. Note the special guests.
17
Oct
10
polls are dumb.
The folks in Madison can’t be especially happy with the Harris Poll voters or the coaches who contribute to the USA Today poll; even after last night’s win, Ohio State (10) is ranked a slot higher than the Badgers (11). I’m as much of a homer as you’ll ever find, but even I know that’s not right.
11
Oct
10
they also kick puppies.
I haven’t had many terrible experiences when I’ve traveled with Ohio State — I’ve had beer cans thrown at me in Michigan Stadium, and I know from a game at Purdue that marshmallows stuffed with pennies hurt more than you might imagine, but overall I can’t report anything overwhelmingly negative.
My folks, on the other hand, have been to games at nearly every Big Ten stadium — as well as a few outside the conference — and on a couple of occasions, they’ve reported some ugly days. I hope they can weigh in if I’m off-base here, but my recollection is that outside of a trip to Morgantown, their worst night would have been the one they spent in Madison, I think in 2003.
Playing Wisconsin on the road at any time of day is tough. The home team is usually pretty good, the fans are well-lubricated and the weather up north — even further up north than the home of the Team Up North — can be dicey as you get deeper into the season.
That’s sort of what mom and dad ran into on their trip up there — a cold, rainy night; a group of fans that had extra time for lubrication; and, if I’m remembering the year correctly, a Badger team that was bent on ending Ohio State’s winning streak that extended to the start of the previous season. There were also reports of freshman sacrifice, beer bongs extending from the top deck of Camp Randall Stadium and an uncomfortable amount of attention towards opposing fans, most of whom were huddled together to protect themselves from the pitchforks, torches and driving, icy rain.
The Badgers are something of a mystery this season; they looked a lot better on paper than they appear to be. But they will be up for a visit from the No. 1 team in the country, as will the fans that make Camp Randall the, uh, experience that it is.
And that forecast of clear skies and game-time temps in the 50s? I’m not buying that either.
10
Oct
10
appreciation.
Killer Nuts Tailgating would like to offer our sincerest and heartfelt thanks to Carolina Boy, for his significant contribution on Saturday to what promises to be a very interesting season.
Killer Nuts Tailgating 