Ken Mehlman was not invited to Sunday's meeting of the Journalists Division of the Gang of 500.So who are these folks ? High profile media types that are agreeing to IGNORE Kerry's stupid comments while campaigning?
Not surprising, but sheesh !!
Posted on 07/29/2004 6:51:42 AM PDT by Mudboy Slim
LOL...Ol' Lurch sure looks FRench, er, I mean effeminate...same thing.
LOL...MUD
"CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 9 -- Joe Gibbs returned Monday night for his first NFL game in 11 years as the Washington Redskins faced the Denver Broncos before a crowd of 22,177 at Fawcett Stadium, near the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where Gibbs was inducted in 1996. However, Gibbs's preseason comeback -- a 20-17 victory on a late field goal -- was marred by a season-ending injury to right tackle Jon Jansen, who was a critical part of Washington's run-oriented offense."
OUCH, that hurt...MUD
I watched the skins gain maybe 3 yards in 4 series, Gibbs must be sandbagging it. Or else they are really really bad.
I think it's the latter...but Gibbs will get 'em where they need to be by the beginning of the season. Losing Jansen fer the season really hurts, though...MUD
"Treason and High Crimes!!"
(To be sung to the Outlaws' "Green Grass and High Tides")
It's a place your children dream of, where great men once led the free...
Ol' Abe Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Washington each graced the seat...
FDR, Kennedy, and Jefferson once served the office with pride!
But now we've got Slick Willie bangin' young interns...
Left-Wing tells us, "Let it slide..."
Well, Clinton's been a damned disgrace, spy stories all ring true...
If you say, "It's all Okay!", what does that say 'bout you?!
Med'yuh refuses to ask tough questions, as though Slick were King.
But patriots cannot believe in Bill,
'Cuz Slick's sold his soul to Beijing!! Left declares...
"Treason and high crimes don't matter!"
Good DemocRATs fallin' from glory...
Still, Lib'rals say, "We adore you!"
Left's King's a freak...good folks abhor you-oouu!!
(Guitar Jammin')
Those who don't fight Evil find their souls have been sold cheap...
Numb poltroons can't see how Power has warped Ol' Slick Willie!
Crimes and Slime define Left's WHORE, they take up all his time.
We'll next CONVICT, then Slick will do his prison time...
Right'll force him there!!!
Treason and High Crimes will be proved...
Will DemonRATs follow Slick blindly?!
The Left-Wing says, "We adore you!"
Election's soon...voters will show you-oouu!
Yeah...the Right'll slaughter you-ou-ou-ouuu...!!!
(Mo' Guitar Jammin' to fade)
FReegards...MUD
3 posted on 09/11/2002 9:21:55 AM EDT by Mudboy Slim
"Great Expectations: Why Not a National Title?!"
by Greg Waters
Aug 10, 2004
Some fans seem reluctant to believe Virginia can be No. 1. Every season college football fans and the media that cover the sport start talking about national title contenders. Among the four or five names bantered around, there are usually one or two “sleeper” teams that, if everything falls into place, have a shot at playing in the last game of the season. This season one of the names in the “sleeper” category for some pundits is Virginia. But while the media appears to be in love with the team's prospects, UVa fans have been slow to get on the “'Hoos in Miami” bandwagon. Today I'll try to explain why they are reluctant and why they should hop aboard.
Here's what some of the preseason publications are saying about the Cavaliers:
“While Virginia won just 8 games last year, it happened with a team that was very loaded with talented underclassmen. This team is a now year older and probably the one team in the ACC capable of challenging FSU and Miami for the top.” - Phil Steele's College Football Preview
“With 17 starters back - including arguably the nation's top guard, tight end, kicker and group of linebackers - Groh has reason to believe Virginia could contend for the conference title…” - Lindy's
“Virginia has the talent to play with anyone in the conference and should be in the race for a BCS bowl.” - Athlon
“The Cavs … have all the ingredients for a breakthrough. Their offensive and defensive lines, so young the past two years, are now both experienced and talented. It's not inconceivable that Virginia could be 7-1 heading into a Nov. 13 home date with Miami. Virginia has the talent to play with anyone in the conference and should be in the race for a BCS bowl.” - Stewart Mandel, CNNSI.com
“After stockpiling some of the best young talent in the ACC, head coach Al Groh has to put it all together and take this team full of NFL talent and make it a BCS player.” - Collegefootballnews.com
In places like Pasadena, Ca., and Norman, Okla., high expectations are not only welcomed, they are expected. In fact, most of these communities would be offended if USC and the Sooners weren't talked about as national title contenders. But the very thought of that same type of press sends fans in Charlottesville looking for the excuse book. “The quarterback is too short.” “Our secondary is too inexperienced.” “We've been here before and lost.” I hope we're not the disappointment of the year.” Good night, people.
The Sooners and Trojans are two of the top teams on everyone's national title contender list. It wasn't that long ago that they weren't on anyone's list. From 1994 through 1999. Oklahoma had one winning season. Since that time, under head coach Bob Stoops, OU has gone 55-11, played for two national championships, winning one. Southern California posted only two winning seasons from 1996 through 2001 (37-35 record) but recorded back-to-back 11-plus win seasons and a national championship in 2003.
So why is it so inconceivable that Virginia could deliver the same type of results four years into the Groh regime?
Virginia returns 16 starters on offense and defense with a combined 313 starts. That's an average of 14.2 starts per player. On special teams the 'Hoos return arguably the best kicker in the land in All-American and Lou Groza candidate Connor Hughes. Hughes led all ACC kickers in extra-point and field-goal percentage a year ago. Kickoff return specialist Tony Franklin (25.8 ypr) and Marquis Weeks (27.5 ypr) both would have finished among the top four in the ACC in kickoff return average if they had enough attempts to qualify. Seven of the eight starting down linemen from both sides of the ball return.
The Cavaliers have seven legitimate All-American candidates in their starting 24. That's 29 percent of the starting lineup. Virginia returns six All-ACC honorees from a year ago, one behind the Terps and tied with Florida State. Of the 24 starters on this team, six were freshmen All-Americans. There is more talent and more depth at more positions than at any time in the last decade.
So what promoted this tirade? Reviewing chicken's annual preseason prognostications reveals an interesting phenomenon. While the media might be ready for the Cavaliers to be mentioned with the likes of USC, Oklahoma and Florida State in the race for the national championship, most Virginia fans are not. And these are not casual fans, mind you. They are USDA, Face-in the-Fan, Certified Sabre-fanatics.
True believers have reasons to expect a title contender.
Do Virginia fans still want the team that had two million consecutive 7-plus win seasons? Please understand, that is a significant record of achievement. That was an unfathomable accomplishment 20 years ago. But it's not 20 years ago. The President of the University has issued a challenge to compete at the highest level. The football coach has accepted the challenge. The players have accepted the challenge. The only people associated with Virginia football who haven't stepped up to accept the challenge are many 'Hoo fans.
OK, those fans say, there are issues. First, this is not your daddy's ACC. We have a new quarterback and he's short. Our defense needs to make significant strides to stop the run and we have a lot of good teams on the schedule.
That is correct. The league has added Virginia Tech and Miami and both are on the 2004 Virginia schedule. But it's not as if the Hokies are new to the Virginia slate. Miami is a significant addition, but they essentially replaced N.C. State. The Wolfpack has been a pretty good team over the last few years so the Canes are not a major upgrade in opposition. The Canes also have to come to Virginia on November 13th. Miami doesn't play very well in Virginia in November. Since 1997, Miami is 1-3 in the Commonwealth (all of the games played in Blacksburg); all four games were played after November 1st.
Actually, the schedule sets up well for an opportunity to make a run. Five of the first seven games are ones in which the 'Hoos will likely be double-digit favorites. The two exceptions are against Clemson and Florida State. The contest against the Tigers is a Thursday night ESPN affair at home after an off week. Groh and his staff have proven to be difficult to deal with when they have extra time to prepare for a game. Florida State is in Tallahassee and no doubt a game that will require extra effort and maybe a little luck.
The Cavs close out the season with four difficult battles with Maryland and Miami at home and Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech on the road. All could go either way. The Terps are young and while they will certainly improve throughout the season, so will a veteran Virginia team. Plus Maryland will have to deal with the Seminoles the week before. As for the Hokies, on paper, the 2004 showdown is a game the 'Hoos should win. Over the last 12 years, the road team has won six of the 12 games in the series, so home games do not necessarily guarantee victory in this rivalry. There are also more questions regarding this Hokie squad than answers and a seemingly endless barrage of off-the-field issues. I'll get to Georgia Tech in a moment.
But we've been here before and been burned, says the cautious 'Hoo fan. We've seen this before.
Remember 1992, when the Cavs returned 16 starters and began the season 5-0, moving up to 10th in the polls. Remember Virginia squandering a three-touchdown lead to Clemson in Scott Stadium and losing, 29-28. The 'Hoos finished the year 7-4.
A year later Virginia would again start the season 5-0 and rise to 13th in the polls before being manhandled by FSU, 40-14, and finishing the year at 7-5. In 1994 the 13th-ranked 'Hoos would begin the year 6-1 only to lose a 28-25 heartbreaker to Fred Goldsmith and the only Duke team with a winning record over the last 14 years.
Heartbreak would again plague the Cavaliers in 1995 as they lost four games by a combined 13 points. A one-point loss to Michigan in the Big House on the last play of the game, a one-point loss on the road against Texas on an improbable 50-yard field goal as time expired, and the most gut-wrenching loss of all at the hands of the hated Tar Heels in Chapel Hill as No. 9 Virginia fell, 22-17. Every game loaded with questionable calls.
And then there's Georgia Tech. Every Virginia fan knows the history of games against the Yellow Jackets. In 1990 the Jackets defeated the 'Hoos 41-38 on a questionable field goal by Scott Sisson, ending Virginia's stay at the top of the polls. In 1996 a late drive ended with an errant Tim Sherman pass to an open Darrell Medley that could have produced the game-winning touchdown in a 13-7 defeat for the 12th-ranked and 4-0 Cavs. And 1998, with Virginia again undefeated at 5-0 and ranked No. 7 in the nation, the 'Hoos would again blow a three-touchdown lead and fall by the eerily reminiscent score of 41-38. Yeah, we've been there before, too many times.
But the way I see it, with all that bad luck, UVa is due.
Certainly some issues need to be addressed. Marques Hagans will begin his first season as the new quarterback. He's not 6-4. He's not Matt Schaub. But he doesn't have to be.
Consider that last year's ACC rookie of the year, Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball, is only 5-11. Darian Durant enters the 2003 season ranked third on the ACC's career passing efficiency list with a 147.14 rating. Despite missing four games last season due to injury, he still led the conference in total offense with 285.6 yards per game while completing 147 of 248 passes for 2,123 yards and 16 touchdowns. Durant doesn't have even remotely the talent around him that is at Hagans' disposal. Durant is 5-11. And what about Joe Hamilton? Remember Joe? At 5-10, he was the same height as Hagans and led his Yellow Jackets to a 30-17 record, leaving college as the ACC career leader in passing efficiency and total offense.
Quarterbacks at the collegiate level don't have to carry the team. They need to understand their role and play within it. Jay Barker's 1992 Alabama team won the national title with Barker completing only 4 of 18 passes in a 34-13 upset of top-ranked Miami in the Sugar Bowl. During the season Alabama averaged a modest 25.2 points per game on offense and only 143 passing yards per game. Barker was a sophomore.
Take Ohio State's Craig Krenzel. Krenzel wasn't a Heisman candidate or All-American, he didn't have a rocket launcher for an arm, but he was efficient (62% completions) and he made good decisions. "[The quarterback] better at least be a guy who is not going to screw it up," said Buckeyes offensive coordinator Jim Bollman, "and will allow everyone around him to do what they can do."
"Somewhere in the game, that type of quarterback is going to have an opportunity to make a play whether you want him to or not." Bollman said. "It may be a scramble, or he pulls it down and runs, or he makes a right decision on a pass play.”
Bob Stoops won the 2000 national title with unheralded Josh Heupel. But, Stoops argued, without his brains and his leadership, the Sooners would have been just another good team. Tee Martin did in his first season what Peyton Manning could not do in four - win a national title at Tennessee. Matt Mauck led LSU to a national title in 2003 even though his team finished fifth in the SEC in total offense. However, Mauck was efficient (64% completions) and demonstrated excellent decision-making as evidenced by his 28-14 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Consider this fact: Among the last 12 national champions (two split seasons), 10 of the 12 starting quarterbacks led their teams to titles in just their first or second year as the starter.
Former Nittany Lion offensive coordinator Fran Ganter, who is now the Associate Athletic Director for Football Administration at Penn State said, “Joe [Paterno] always says that the first thing, foremost and most important, in a quarterback is his leadership ability, and that he has a hold on the team. His ability, and how he throws, is secondary. You win championships with defense.”
While these teams did not have superstar quarterbacks, they did have dominant defenses.
Which brings us to that poor run defense. Last season LSU won the national title with a defense that gave up only 67 rushing yards per game. A year before, the Tigers gave up 134. In 2002 Ohio State won the national championship with a run defense that yielded only 78 yards per game. In 2001 the Buckeyes gave up 139. Both teams improved their run defense by more than 60 yards per game from the previous season. Last year the 'Hoos gave up 162 yards rushing per game. A 60-yard drop would put them right around 100 yards per game and squarely in title contention.
Keeping teams under 100 rushing yards per game is critical, but consider that the three national champions that preceded OSU each gave up over 100 yards per game on the ground in their title years. The teams that won the title in 2001 (Miami), 2000 (Oklahoma) and 1999 (Florida State) gave up 138, 102 and 114 rushing yards per game, respectively.
One thing that all five of these title teams did have in common, however, was an ability to limit their opponents' points. Here are the last five champs and their average points allowed: Florida State (16.9), Oklahoma (14.9), Miami (9.8), Ohio State (13.1) and LSU (11).
One consistent trend in the play of the Virginia defense over the last three seasons is the annual drop in points allowed. In Groh's first season, the Cavs gave up 27.6 points per game. In 2002 UVa allowed an average of 24.9 points and last season that total dropped more than four points to 20.4. Another three or four point drop would place the 'Hoos clearly in title range.
Now the point of this is not to proclaim the Cavaliers national title contenders or to suggest that Marques Hagans will not be an outstanding quarterback. That said, the issues that many fans raise can be overcome and the stats prove it. But the hesitation on the part of some fans to even consider the possibility given the facts is interesting. It would appear that they have become gun-shy watching their Hokie and Wolfpack counterparts talk about national titles and undefeated seasons, only to suffer fourth-place conference finishes again and again.
The Cavaliers may not be in the Orange Bowl on January 4th at 8 p.m., but it's not out of the realm of possibility. And you can bet this article is bookmarked and ready to republish if they do make it to Miami. Of course, if they don't, I'll remind everyone it was just a commentary piece.
WahooWah...MUD
"Shan't Git Fooled Again"
(To be sung to The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again")
We'll enlighten all we meet...
For our children, we shall FReep...
Truth and Morals that we worship shall live on!!
'Tis Clinton who spurs us on...
Lib'ral Judgement is all Wrong...
Medyuh LIES, but the Sheeple shall catch on!!
We'll re-enforce Nation's Ol' Constitution...
Devolve Power...The Great Devolution...
Laugh and sing and take Slick Willie down!!
Listen to what Limbaugh's sayin'...
Gotta do more than pray!!
Folks, we'll rise to our feet and sing...
"We shan't git fooled again!!!"...No NO!!
We'll raise our voice for our Country with pride...
Ain't gonna listen to Left's Med'yuh jive!!
We'll wake all the Sheeple and smite all Left's spies!!
Folks, you know that the Chi-Com spies always lie...don'tcha?!!
(Kewl synthesizer/guitar combo...maybe a li'l MUD on harp...LOL!!)
YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
FReepers, hit the streets...educate everyone you meet...
Lib'rals' "programs" we'll erase...by and by!!
And the SLAUGHTER of the Left...means momentum for what's Right...
Sheeples' fears shall melt away before our sight!!
Right'll re-enforce our Ol' Constitution...
Reject Lib'rals' Socialist solutions!!
Smile and grin at the change all around...)8^D!!
Pick up my ol' harp and sing...ain't like yesterday...
Folks, we'll take to streets and scream...
FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!
Meet the new boss...his name is George Bush!!
Mudboy Slim
Ken Mehlman was not invited to Sunday's meeting of the Journalists Division of the Gang of 500.So who are these folks ? High profile media types that are agreeing to IGNORE Kerry's stupid comments while campaigning?
Not surprising, but sheesh !!
I know...pure brazen ARROGANCE!! We gotta WHUP DemRATS in November!!
FReegards...MUD
Very nice...MUD
~ sigh ~
YOu should hear me sing in in my best Dylan impersonation.
The Prez looked marvelous in person. He spoke for almost an hour and a half and was relaxed and personable.
GeorgeW23225 got to shake his hand!
Are you doing Innsbrook tomorrow? Huey Lewis and the News.
Yeah, yer scair't, HokieBoy...LOL!!
Perhaps I will someday...the good thing about FReepin' Dylan's tunes is you don't haveta be a good singer to make it sound authentic.
FReegards...MUD
BTW...whatever happened to AutoMike?! I thought he was gonna join FR.com.
My problem is that I am a good singer. I have to be careful not to sound like a singer when I'm Dylan.
FReegards...MUD
We gotta WHUP DemRATS in November!!Oh, yeah! I'll say it again. The GOP will gain House and Senate seats and Dubya gets re-elected! :^D
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.
