(Thankful for) * InfinityFor starters, I'm thankful that Tim Tebow's play thi s season means any chances he has to match Archie Griffin with two Heisman Trophies are distant at best, and that his being invited to the fraternity would come almost entirely out of left field. Look, it's nothing against Tebow (though he is painfully fun to root against), but until Terrelle Pryor shocks everyone by coming back after next year's win and wins his second, I selfishly don't like the idea of anyone who would've been nicknamed All-Day had that sort of thing been en vogue in the time sharing the honor.
I'm also thankful for James Patrick Tressel. While far too many have embarassingly called for job (or worse) in moments of frustration, The Vest quietly wheeled off the best coaching job in his 9 years in Columbus. Despite a ridiculously young offense, a defense in transition, and an inconsistent special teams core, Tress managed to dig deep and not only win the conference outright, but beat Michigan a sixth season consecutively. If you're still complaining that he's not Urban Meyer or Pete Carroll (HA!), please talk to me in 2 years. If you'd still prefer Urbz over Tress, I'll gladly buy you a high quality premium adult marketed beverage of your choosing (age permitting, of course). Perhaps if you buy me a dozen or more, I'll finally be in a state where I'd be inclined to agree.
Lastly, I'm thankful that my short lived magical gambling powers have exited my extermities as quickly as they came (if John Travolta in "Phenomenon" is any indicator, I probably have an inoperable brain tumor and will be gone shortly). In an abbreviated slate a week back, my mad skills evaporated into chimpanzee picking labeled playing cards from a hat level impressive. My 3-3 showing has my season total now at 44-17-1. Respectable? Totally. Frightening? Not so much. This season's Turkey Day Thursday and Black Friday (not so much because of the sales, but the absence of sunlight on some of these awful, awful games) slate should give me the further opportunity to embarass myself. Let's take a look at what this extended weekend has in store:
National Games
Thursday - #2 Texas at Texas A&M (+22.5) - 8:00 p.m. (ESPN) The first of six Thanksgiving weekend games that have a rivalry tinge to them, the Longhorns travel to Bryan-College Station to take on their country cousins, Texas A&M. National sack leader Von Miller will look to add to the notches on his belt against Heisman front runner Colt McCoy and the Longhorns explosive offense. For the second straight year, this game takes place on Thanksgiving night itself, and given the Broncos sudden freefall, don't pretend it won't be occupying your attention span regardless of the closeness. Despite the relative anything goes nature of rivalry games in general, Texas A&M won't have enough to ruin Texas' march towards perfection though will play spoilers in the gambling department falling 20-41.Friday - #1 Alabama at Auburn (+12.5) - 2:30 p.m. (CBS) A game compared favorably by some as Ohio State-Michigan but even wilder (likely by someone who's name rhymes with Keg Boil), the Crimson Tide of Alabama take on the Tigers of Auburn to kick off the watchable portion of Black Friday. While I will concede this is The Game plus grain alcohol, this year's may not have the luster of some from year's past as Auburn limps into the showdown with 'Bama just two victories away from their first title game berth in the BCS area. Mark Ingram's Heisman candidacy could very well come down to how the running back takes on the traps concocted for him by first time headman in the Bama-Auburn rivalry, Gene Chizik. Should War Eagle have any hope of springing the upset, Kodi Burns will have to repossess the alien symbiote that's been inhabiting Jonathan Crompton these past 4 weeks to go along with the Chizik-Ted Roof 1.somefraction of defensive guru brain trust. While covering on the day after Thanksgiving has a certain luster to it, Auburn is left with little more than gambling and moral victories as they fall to the Tide 10-21.
Friday - #8 Pittsburgh at West Virginia (EVEN) - 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2) The Backyard Brawl reemerges on the Friday after Thanksgiving, with PItt's BCS livelihood at stake and West Virginia looking to play their way into a possible Gator Bowl berth. Jarrett Brown and Noel Devine will need to be executing at the highest level for the 'Neers to keep on pace with O'Brien award candidate Bill Stull and the Pitt offense. Despite the distinction of being the first "pick-em" game of the 2009 season we've followed, no contest involving the Wandstache can really ever truly take on the qualities of a pick 'em. While Pitt looks feisty on paper, you gotta go with the home team. Bill Stewart's WFVU takes this one 34-30.
#18 Clemson at South Carolina (+2.5) - 12:00 p.m. (ESPN) DABO! DABO! DABO! The suddenly red hot Clemson Tigers stroll into Columbia to take on Head Baw Coach and the Gamecocks in this interstate hate fest. Anytime you have the prospects for a Stephen Garcia v. Willy Korn encounter, the odds of sheer awesomeness breaking out is painfully high, though with boring QB Kyle Parker firmly entrenched as the Tigers' signal caller, expect no such shenanigans. While we've been spared the usual Clemson late season free fall that'd become so customary under the Tommy Bowden regime, this one has all the makings of an OBC win out of absolutely nowhere that gives the 'Cocks false momentum going into a bowl disappointment. Despite little to suggest it, the Gamecocks take the upset 21-17.
#12 Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (-8.5) - 12:30 p.m. (FSN) Leave it to the Sooners to twice this season go into a game against a Top-20 ranked opponent while being unranked and emerge as near double digit Vegas favorites. It's difficult to fault the powers that be for the logic, as despite the absolute egg laid by OU a week prior and the 10,000,000 injuries they've been forced to deal with, the Sooners are still one of the most stocked, talented ballclubs out there. With Zac Robinson set to reemerge from injury, it's not as though the Pokes have been injury/controversy (see: White, Dez) in their own right. With OU hungry and Bedlam a foot, look for the Sooners to kill the insane momentum that's been the Cowboys as an at-large BCS choice to the tune of 27-13.
Florida State at #3 Florida (-21.5) - 3:30 p.m. (CBS) The last Florida game in the storied career of defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews (and potentially that of the recently embattled legend Bobby Bowden?) comes conveniently in-time for the final homegame in the Tebow child's journey before he ascends to be home with his father, Danny Wuerffel. While a certain head coach is sure to need several extra bottles of No More Tears to make it through senior day, the real tears will come from the 'Noles faithful. Sans Christian Ponder, Florida State won't have the convenience of a Terrapin defense to play guess-and-check against, and while the Addazio play called Gators haven't exact lit the world on fire, expect the Tebow parting to cover to the sweet tune of 27-3.
#20 Miami at South Florida (+1) - 3:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN Regional) An interesting matchup that while surely would've looked sexier 4 weeks back, still has major recruiting ramifications in the power struggle that is football in the state of Florida. B.J. Daniels continues to exhibit growing pains as he adjusts to being the unquestioned man in the Bulls' huddle, while former buzz Heisman prospect Jacory Harris has been waking up crying in the middle of the night some too lately. Despite the possibility for the seventh by my count program defining victory for Jim Leavitt, Randy Shannon and Mark Whipple find the right buttons to push to get The U's 2010 momentum back up and running as the Canes take this one 21-17.
Comments
Dabo is the stupidest name ever. I bet he drinks sweet tea by the gallon.
Sweet Tea is delicious, sir. Particularly with Firefly in it.
Dabo Sweeney sounds like a guy that challenges people to duals on a daily basis. Slaps you in the face with his white glove and demands satisfaction.
I too am grateful for JPT. While is style of play is often frustrating, his record speaks for itself. I am grateful to have a coach who doesn't trash talk other coaches or teams that requires admonishment from the Big Ten commish. I am grateful that our coach sees himself as an ambassador for my alma mater, the city of Columbus and the state of Ohio and does so with class, honor and dignity. I am grateful that he reminds us constantly that the players are "our kids" and should be treated accordingly. I am grateful for JT never responding in kind to the type of defaming done to him by CFB "experts" Most of all I am grateful for the last 8 years and I look forward to a few more with JT at the helm.
Go Bucks!
I challenge you...TO A DUEL SIR!
...and i most certainly DEMAND satisfaction!
"well, i dooo declare"
Lemonade and Firefly...mmmmmmmm
alcoholic Arnold Palmer?
i hope your predictions go wrong nothing against you i just want the 3 "top" teams to lose. just to watch out on heisman day i think the area south of the mason dixon line has a extreme man crush on douchebag self rightous tim teabag (way to run the highschool shotgun vear) i believe the sec chubby everyone has will try to give it to him for the sake they can say 2 heisman in the sec look how great etc. (makes me throw up a little bit just thinking about it) i have no clue who is going to win it this year, as one can tell who i hope it won't be.
That's pretty good stuff right there Pam. Are you single?
Kidding of course.
Me too, I think his success has made everyone take him for granted. The guy is one of the best coaches in the game hands down. People can say whatever they want about why he has been successful, but what other team has dominated their conference, whether the conference is good or bad for most of the last 8 years? It isn't just dumb luck.
I think it's got to be Ingram or Colt. The Colt has had 2 unreal games recently and it's not going to change in these last few games.
I think Illinois is going to give UC more than they are bargaining for. I also think it would be great for Bama to lose, then to come back and smoke Florida in the SEC championship. Think of how bad the BCS mess would be then.
The real winner should be Toby Gerhart. His numbers slaughter Ingram's.
But hey, anyone but Tebow.
As a matter of fact I am.
How you doin?
I honestly don't think it would mess that much up. I would put money down that the voters would say Alabama "came back from adversity to win the conference" and "it just shows how tough/good the SEC is" and put them in the title game with Texas despite TCU, Boise State, and Cincy all possibly being undefeated.
Sweet tea, bahhhh. I prefer an Arnold Palmer and whiskey over sweet teas.
an arnold palmer would seem to mix better with rum in my mind..... hmmm
it's good with vodka, i know that much.
Great response! You love The Buckeyes, and Tressel, you're funny...what's not to love?
You should see me.
brown chicken brown cow
Hey butt out...I was just getting ready to propose.
I was just providing some mood music. Don't forget the candles....
Southbay...much appreciated.
My lord, see what happens when the season ends?
The regulars start feasting...ON EACH OTHER!
Speaking of honor and dignity Pam...Tressel called my mother on the phone in her final days. Didn't even know her. He's the real deal.
It's the picture of Archie...he get's everybody hot.
Touche!!!
..and here I was thinking that was Shaft.....
At the end of the day, the SEC winner (even if they have 1 loss) is in the title game. I agree that these other teams would still be left out, especially Boise.
FL or AL will be voted in as the best team for winning that conference no matter what. The argument being that "no other team in contention could go through the SEC with 1 loss" ... we've heard it before.
Truth is, they might be right, but we don't know for sure ... but the success the SEC has had recently will give it the benefit of the doubt with voters. Right or wrong we all know how this will shake out.
Shaft is actually Archie's other brother that left Columbus for Hollywood. He left after the whole family kept talking about his 2 Heisman's over and over again. Actually in one episode, he does the Heisman pose for the camera...sort of like "How Do You Like Me Now" Arch? Archie and Shaft still don't speak to each other.
mgoblog is estatic they landed recruit Cullen Christian, in looking at the picture I know why he is a DB...
Cullen Christian Goes Blue
I've heard so many examples of Tressel doing stuff like that and doing it right in the middle of the season too. When I hear stuff like that, I just can't help but think there is no one else I'd rather see patrolling the sidelines in Columbus.
Yeah, I'll never forget it. Just a real class act. BTW, The Bucks are 6-0 vs. Michigan since. Don't discount the power that my mother has up there.
What about Hurricane Ditka?
I don't know that the numbers would play out that way though. Texas would be in because they'd be number 1 in the polls and TCU or UC would be right there with them. I'm not so sure that it would guarrentee the winner of the SEC a spot. Especially, if theose 2 schools end up being the only 2 ranked SEC teams. There's just not enough SOS for it to make a difference.
I wrote him a letter back in 2007 before the NFL draft. I had read an article in the Dispatch about CB Antonio Smith and that he may not get drafted. It said he had a degree in Mech. Engineering, so I wrote JT a letter and told him to tell AS that I worked for an Engineering firm in Princeton and if the NFL didn't pan out to give me a call, maybe I could hook him up with a job. As a thank you, I received two tickets for last years UM game on the fifty yard line 4 rows behind the UM bench. I have never met him or spoken to him. He could never will another game and I would still think the world of him.
I like you even though you might be a bit retarded.
He's a bad mutha.. SHUT YO MOUF! I'M JUS TALKIN BOUT SHAFT!
Nah, I'm just havin a lil fun. I agree with you 100% on the Tressel thing, I wouldn't want anyone else on our sidelines as long as he wants to be there.
Another great story...You couldn't be an engineer...you're too funny.
I just really feel that with a loss by both, Texas is no doubt number 1, if Bama/Florida is number 2 and UC/TCU is number 3, the computer rankings of the other 2 could put them in over a 1 loss SEC.
Nothing wrong with being retarded. It's good entertainment. We've got nothing to do until Jan 1.
the guy that thinks I'm semi-retarded responds to the wrong thread.
OH SWEET IRONY!!!
Did you see Urban start crying and shit talking about his senior class?
no, when was this?!
"win" another game not "will"
I guess when you have an abortion of a defense like they do, a 4 star Defensive recruit is something to get wound up about. I can't see how they will have a better D next year though losing Graham and probably their best CB too.
Hey I got distracted watching Tracy Byrnes on Fox Business...my bad.
Not an engineer, but the Asst. to the Pres. and VP.
How did Tressel know about your mom?
it never fails. call someone retarded and then you end up doing something retarded.
I saw him in the middle of his press conference stop like he may cry but I'm not too convinced it was sincere. He just stopped and sat there for a minute, voice never changed expression never changed. Then he said it's going to be a rough week. He may just not be that emotional I don't know, I don't take believe much of the stuff that comes out of his mouth or the "emotion" he shows.
http://popup.lala.com/popup/51...
I think it was yesterday. SI.com Extra Mustard.
All I saw on there yesterday was that Oregon cheerleader.... wonder how I missed that....
Thank you sbb. Got any Teddy Pendergrast?
Nope, but I take requests.
I did. Gee, is Urban the only CFB coach losing seniors? Apparently so.
That's pretty good right there SB.
Luther Vandross? Fat Luther, not skinny Luther
I could tell you but then Southbay will start to get jealous.
Nah, you can tell her. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone.
It's on there today...video of the day
I played baseball at Ohio State and he did me a favor.
"abortion"? wow, that's harsh, lol! Just tells me the kid doesn't want to earn his spot. Also heard Hicks was visiting SC this weekend and Matt James was visiting UF.
you're right, abortion is the wrong term. maybe it should be "failed late-term abortion" instead.
I'd like to join in on Luke's confidence that Tebow won't win the Heisman. I'll bet anything if they win out and he plays well vs. Alabama, he gets it as a career achievement, final blowjob award.
On the contrary, if Ingram plays well and Bama wins, which they won't, he could take the award.
Happy Thanksgiving Pam...Southbay you too.
I watched the video finally. No big deal. Especially when he talks about the guy that would have been a senior this year but died in a motorcycle wreck two years ago.
All I could think of was "Strong men also cry" from The Big Lebowski.
But seriously, what's wrong with him getting a little choked up?
I just defended Urban Bleeping Meyer, the end is near.
If actual statistics matter, I agree Toby Gerhart should be a finalist over Tebow or even Colt McCoy... and what about Case Keenum at Houston? Crazy stats.
It's not even the stats by themselves, it's the fact that Gerhart carries Stanford. They run the ball like 65% of the time.
Keenum should be there as well.
But not that buck-toothed dbag kellen moore.
I'm not going to lie: I would love to see Cincy get smoked by Pitt and/or Illinois...
Unless of course Florida loses to Alabama, and ends up playing Cinci in the Sugar Bowl - in which case I hope Cinci whoops the Gators' ass!
How is it fun to root against Tebow? He wins all the time. Now rooting against Notre Dame, that's good fun.
I take it you didn't watch much Florida ball in the fall of 2007.
I remember their 2007 team, but cheering against Tebow these days just doesn't sound like fun. Also, Tebow is one of the few things I don't hate about Florida.
Princeton, eh? My nephew is a freshman there. I think he's majoring in 'rowing'; definitely not mechanical engineering.
If Tebow wore scarlet and gray, we'd consider him the second coming as well.
That doesn't mean that it isn't as annoying as can be to have to listen to sportscasters fawn over him for the last three years.
He's a good player. He's probably not the best quarterback in the country, though, nor has he been in any of his years. He's only even considered for the Heisman this year out of momentum, and because Florida's top ranked defense is allowing them to win games. His actual numbers this year are very pedestrian.
I don't hate Tebow. I hate the Tebow hype.
Monday - while watching College Football Live - a list of probable Charlie Weis replacements was displayed. I found it curious Jim Tressel's name wasn't thereon.
Isn't he a good fit for ND? Why wouldn't the Irish covet Tressel for the character of his program, his great success and consistency AND outstanding personal reputation?
But, beyond the seeming unlikelihood Tressel would ever be enticed to leave Columbus, do we know what his buyout clause entails? Surely for ND - and its $14.3 billion endowment - it's negligible.
Because they all know he's not gong anywhere, he's a Buckeye through and through. I know ESPN drives us all crazy but it would be moronic to say he's going anywhere. It would be like if they put Mac Brown on the list or Pete Carroll, these guys aren't going anywhere until they punch a player during a game(sorry Woody).
Oh, also, the OSU job is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better than ND right now
I would bet anything that Tebow doesn't get it. He'll have to finish well just to be a finalist. He has done nothing this year to warrant being a finalist at all. Just between the 2, Colt Mc Coy blows him out of the water this year. I think Ingram still walks away with it. Although, Gerhart is very deserving. I'd like to see a player other than a QB get it. IT seems like the criteria anymore is what QB on an undefeated or 1 loss team deserves the award. This has become a QB, MVP award and not a Player of the Year.
My vote would be Gerhart or Ingram. They have carried their teams's offenses all year, and put the stats up to back it.
We'd call him the 2nd coming if he had Percy Harvin to make him look awesome for 2 years. Otherwise we'd look at his stats this year and bitch about him as much as we do Pryor. If Tebow had these stats, and no one knew about his history, he would be considered an average or mediocre QB.
Look at what Tebow did when Harvin was in the lineup and then again with no Harvin. That was the true heart of that team. He beat Oklahoma last year.
Yeah, you hear coaches talk about their dream job, well Tressel found is, the only way he leaves is retirement, dying, or a major metldown.
This seems to be the consensus.
it's called a Jon Daly
anyone intrested in writing buckeye basketball for a buckeye blog, comment back please!
I still don't understand why when people talk about Tebow winning the Heisman twice: Why they don't mention that EVEN IF he did happen to win it twice, it wasn't BACK TO BACK like Archie's was. I think that record will stand for quite a long time.