Posted on 10/30/2008 3:47:06 AM PDT by GOP_Raider
Perhaps this is neither the time nor point in the season to post something so gimmicky, what with an obvious Game of the Year and a whole lot o’ drinking going on in Jacksonville this weekend and all. But it’s Cheerleader Week here at the FR College Football Ping List. I’ve gone back and forth and deliberated over what kind of homage I should pay to the leaders of cheer that you see on your television sets and even run around attempting to get all of us involved in some school spirit. If my ignominious high school social life was an indication, it would be more along the lines of the “leaders of cheer and girls who are clearly out of my league”. But I would be remiss if I opened up that old adolescent wound. (I know who you hung out with Rachel Warner, eventually all those “popular” kids will be getting sub-prime mortgages!...doesn’t really have the same effect as I thought it would does it? Let’s go to the next paragraph.)
For those of you who aren’t living the disheveled mess that is the single life like yours truly, I do apologize in advance if you get into any kind of trouble, but I do assure you this will all be in good taste. So here are the games for this week:
#23 South Florida vs. Cincinnati (Tonight, 7:30 pm, ESPN) For a while many of us thought the top team in the Big East was the Bulls. Then again, I don’t think you can win too many games committing 14 penalties like USF did against Louisville last week. The Bearcats on the other hand had some digestive tract handed to them by Connecticut last week and would prefer I had never mentioned that game. (But I’ll have to in a few pages downward).
Northwestern vs. #17 Minnesota (High Noon) The Gophers are 7-1 right now. Yes, that’s right kids, 7-1. Northwestern had a tough loss last week at Indiana where I thought the Wildcats made some key mistakes late in the game (our fellow Freeper Non-Sequitur can debate the finer points if he so chooses). Speaking of the Gophers, this is the final season in the Metrodome, but starting next season, they’ll move to the brand new TCF Bank Stadium. I don’t care if you’re a Gopher, Badger, Hawkeye, or Al Franken, I want to see this place for myself before I retire.
Wisconsin vs. #21 Michigan State (High Noon) Two things here: my brother’s fiancée is a life long Wisconsin Badger fanatic and she made the comment to me recently that “the Badgers have never had a really good QB in the entire history of the program, dontcha know?” (Actually I didn’t “know it” but she did make a very good point). Here is some more food for thought: how likely is it that we’ll see Spartans RB Javon Ringer in New York when the Heisman Trophy presented? Ringer accumulated 145 yards rushing and an extra 88 yards in receiving the last time MSU played the Badgers, so get back to me on this.
(for Biggirl, Man50D, and MaineConservative) West Virginia vs. #25 Uconn (High Noon) After the Mountaineers lost in overtime to Colorado earlier this season in Boulder, how many of you thought that they’d have a chance to contend in the Big East this season? Well, sure enough, here WVU stands currently atop the Big East standings at 2-0. The Huskies would love nothing more however than to claim at least a portion of the conference lead by RB Donald Brown who has racked up 1,324 yards on the year. Brown might be among the better offensive players in the entire country that you haven’t heard of, but I just told you about him so I probably just contradicted myself.
Air Force vs. Army (High Noon, ESPNU) Round 2 of the Commander in Chief’s Trophy will happen at the home of THE United States Military Academy when the Falcons take on the Cadets/Black Knights. If you have ESPNU and you aren’t busy, watch this game. Heck, watch the service academies anytime they play each other. Sure it’s a cliché to say that “nowhere else on earth can you see anything like this” but in this case it’s correct.
(for kevkrom) Michigan vs. Purdue (High Noon, The Big 10 Network) Many moons ago, this would have been a marquee game not only in the conference, but the entire country. Now it...well, isn’t. As much as I would love to make an effort to fancy myself as a nuanced expert of all things Big 10, I’ll defer to the rest of you in the topic of where exactly the Boilermakers will go from this point after Joe Tiller’s time is finished?
Kansas State vs. Kansas (12:30 pm, FSN in some places) It’s the annual battle for the Governor’s Cup, in spite of the fact that the current governor of Kansas is not a favorite governor of mine. While you’ll have to forgive me for listening to Rush while I type the thread, is the bloom finally off the theoretical KU rose? If the Jayhawks want to go to a bowl game of any kind this is the best chance to cement their guarantee to get into one with a win against K-State.
#18 Tulsa vs. Arkansas (2:00 pm) The Golden Hurricane were down 19-7 at half last week to Central Florida. They would wind up winning going away 49-19 and amassing another 436 yards of total offense. We here at the FR College Football Ping List love the SEC but will the Razorbacks be the team that can give the Golden Hurricane a contest? WoooooPigSooie! (always wanted to write that in this thread).
Arkansas State vs. #2 Alabama (3:00 pm) I’m not sure how the Tide ended up with a non-conference also ran on the schedule this late in the season, but here we are. Hopefully the Tide faithful out there can assist me with this.
#14 Missouri vs. Baylor (3:00 pm) Chase Daniel and the Tigers take on the Robert Griffin III and the Baylor Bears, which got me to thinking. Does it seem somewhat illogical for drive-bys to write sentences like the one I just wrote with just the QB match-ups? I mean, they aren’t on the field at the same time at any point in the game, so why not write something like “Mizzou! Baylor! Watch it or else you’ll have to go to Bed, Bath and Beyond with your wife.” Just a pet peeve of mine.
Iowa State vs. #9 Oklahoma State (3:30 pm, ABC) The Cowboys of Oklahoma State get that classic public school “A for effort” against Texas and let’s face it: the last thing you want to be right now is the team that faces Oklahoma State after a game like that. Sorry, Cyclones.
(for Bat_Chemist) #15 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (3:30 pm, ABC) Games like these are why Bobby Bowden is a hall of fame head coach. There’s also that ever so likely chance that in a few weeks more that I’ll be writing about this game in reference to the ACC Championship Game with these two schools playing for the ACC Championship of the World.
#24 Oregon vs. Cal (3:30 pm, ABC) With this game I came to the decision that “you know, I don’t think there’s enough derision and mockery of the Pac-10 on this thread, let’s keep this thing going, shall we?”
(for Palmetto) Clemson vs. Boston College (3:30 pm, ESPNU) Here at least in theory is the jumping off point for the Tigers to salvage the season and perhaps qualify for a bowl game. Okay, so the most likely possibility at this point for Clemson would be to be the final ACC school to ever play in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl...yes, it’s in Boise...yes I live in Boise, just trust me on this, okay?
#20 byU vs. Colorado State (6:00 pm, The Mountain) CSU is much improved this season, and it’s perhaps advantageous for my own allegiance to keep the Cougars enumerated in the Top 25. On the other hand, you don’t want to see byU getting to uppity, just to be on the safe side.
Washington vs. #5 USC (6:30 pm) Congratulations, Washington, you’ve just fired Tyrone Willingham! What are you going to do next? Um, I guess become cannon fodder for USC’s stranglehold on the Pac-10?
#11 Boise State vs. New Mexico State (7:00 pm)Forgive me for casting any aspersions on the Land of Enchantment, but during the WAC football meetings New Mexico State wideout Chris Williams was asked if he had ever been to Idaho voluntarily. His response: “no, just for a football game. I have been to Des Moines, though.” Hey, speaking of the Land of Enchantment…
(for sean327)#10 UTAH vs. New Mexico (9:30 pm, The Mountain) November 5, 1994. Why is this date significant you ask? Well, the Utes were roughly in the same position 14 years ago as they are now: 8-0 ranked in the Top 10. Stoney Case and the Lobos were lying in wait for ambush in Albuquerque. A lot was riding on every game for the Utes: their first every outright WAC title (and first outright conference title of any kind since 1957), a shot at the Holiday Bowl and maybe even a duplication of what the odious dorks down south did a decade earlier—although that wasn’t likely given how good Nebraska and Penn State were that year. But it wound up being an academic exercise as the Lobos upset the Utes 23-21. 14 years later, we meet again…much like Henry Hopkins Sibley did in the Battle of Glorieta Pass, one of the more underrated theaters in the Civil War, but anyway...
Nebraska vs. #4 Oklahoma (8:00 pm) Obviously, it’s easy to say right now that this rivalry isn’t what it used to be. But that’s what YouTube is for. In fact, someone should remind me to post a link to the video(s) from the 1983 and the 1985 games between the two in Norman. While I’m thinking of it also…many people mention the 1971 game between the Huskers and the Sooners that has been called the “Game of the Century” if memory serves. I hadn’t realized how close the Sooners came to knocking off Nebraska back in ’83 and I think the ’83 game between the two was just as good. At any rate, just two terrific games if you like history and college football.
#13 TCU vs. UNLV (8:00 pm, The Channel Formerly Known as CSTV) Consider this for a moment: the Rebels were 3-1 at one point after two wins against Arizona State and Iowa State. Now they are at 3-5 and still have yet to notch a win in Mountain West play. Not to say that, after only losing to byU by one touchdown in Provo last week wasn’t close, but still. It is safe to say however that the Rebels will be hard pressed to score 35 on the Horned Frogs defense.
Tulane vs. #19 LSU (8:00 pm) Last season I had no idea that the Bayou Bengals and the Green Wave had any sort of rivalry. Then again I also didn’t know that the two schools competed for something called a Tiger Rag until as recently as 1994, so what do I know?
And now for our two Games of the Week, and Game of the Year #5!
#8 Florida vs. #6 Georgia (3:30 pm, See-BS) Ah, the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. My sources on the ground have told me many times that if I ever see one game in the SEC; this would be the one to see. Talk about a game with storylines and subplots, you have them. Will Mark Richt get the entire Bulldog roster to dance in the endzone after a TD yet again? How will Tim Tebow handle a Georgia defense that, outside of the Alabama and LSU games had more than their own against opposing offenses? How many Georgians will bark at Floridians? How many Floridians will perform a makeshift Gator chomp toward Georgians? That and first place in the SEC East is on the line too. You think the Dawgs wouldn’t want a re-match against ‘Bama in for the SEC title?
And now…Game of the Year #5!
(for our FR TTU Contingent) #1 Texas vs. #7 Texas Tech (8:00 pm) A Longhorn fan made the comment in a previous thread that “we’ll expose Tech like we always do and they’ll lose 3 of their next 4 and be right back where they belong.” The Red Raider partisans will certainly differ, but could the difference in this game come from a TTU student who won a field goal kicking contest? I couldn’t write a script like that if I tried. If the UT fans will forgive me that, as a bat $#@$# insane San Francisco Giants fan, I have to find a soft spot in my heart for a kid named Matt Williams. Stupid Brian Sabean, you had to trade him when he still had some of his hair, why I oughta...(see what I mean about bat $#@$ insanity?)
Enjoy the games this weekend, and try not to mind that last random bit of baseball Tourette’s syndrome. I’ll be in a padded room and a straitjacket in the near future.
That is interesting though about profs - my daughter didn't really have any trouble with anyone - and she started at Tech during the fall of 2004 and I was just sure she would be bombarded with hate speech but she didn't have anyone that I recall try to bash the President.
>>Well at least Tech graduates their athletes....>>
No comment :-) other than...I believe Colt has a 4.0, or at least close to it.
>>That is interesting though about profs - my daughter didn’t really have any trouble with anyone - and she started at Tech during the fall of 2004 and I was just sure she would be bombarded with hate speech but she didn’t have anyone that I recall try to bash the President. >>
It probably depends which department.
Heck yeah!
Anxious to see the ‘71 Game of the Century reunion there this weekend. I have already heard at least three times this week from various OU folks about “the clip” by Joe Blahak.
Hopefully the ‘skers can make it a game at least. Sure would like to hear Lyell say “Man, woman and child did that put em in the aisles!” one more time. RIP Mr Football....
GO BIG RED!!! The Battle of the Youngstown Boys Volume I!!
I realize tomorrow is Halloween, but do us all a favor and please haunt some other thread.
Thank you.
Most of the time it does, unless you're going to a genuine leftist cesspool like Cornell or somewhere in the Ivy League. My brother (Boise State alumnus) said that his professors in his marketing and micro and macroeconomics were very conservative along with his required math courses. He had to take a sociology course where he BS'd his way to a B writing some very vacuous and liberal papers.
He did tell me that for a college campus, the liberal intellectual current is insignificant at worst.
Texas Tech 79%
Texas 50%
Oklahoma 46%
ACK!!! Now, why did they have to go and do that???!!!! I know Austin is a liberal mecca, but for cryin' out loud, why give that blowhard a jersey???!!!!
Yes and Tejasrose’s son is working on his PhD so he has more one on one contact in his field. But since my daughter was working on her Bachelor’s degree, she pretty much covered the basic departments and never had any problem with Profs pushing liberal crap down at her. Like I said, we expected it and were very surprised when it didn’t come.
That's the way those jerseys are stitched.
>>You don’t have to believe me - Here is a USA Today article showing Tech as #3 in the country for graduation rates for athletes.>>
I believe ya! It’s all cool!
You were asking why the Tide was playing Arkansas State...
It’s the Tide’s homecoming game and they want to win.
At the rate they are going, getting a victory for homecoming might not be that big of a problem. :)
Nice work with the FWIW poll as always. If you have the means, time and resources, you’ll have to check out both the Boise State/New Mexico State and TCU/UNLV games. The Horned Frogs are more known for their defensive play, but BSU is very underrated on the defensive side of the ball.
Very true, but I bet they didn't know it when the schedule was set. Nothing like trying to guarantee it, huh?
Like I said to BG
We shall see.
Yeah, I’m fairly certain that no one in the ‘Bama Athletic Dept. was thinking that far in advance that they’d be ranked #2.
Buckeyes have an off week. I might use it to go car shopping. Its down to either a Totota Tacoma/Tundra, a Mazda 3 or Mazda 6 or a VW Jetta.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
