PETE CARROLL'S ENCHANTED GRIDIRON GROTTO: WEEK ELEVEN

Quite a recap. Cocktails and Kudos.

I’d still give Herschel and Bo a slight edge over McFadden as best all-time in the SEC – but only a slight edge. He’s definitely made the foursome, along with Emmitt.

No mention of the Colts losing, thereby severely damaging any hopes of playing for the national championship? Wait, what? They do? They will?

Why would anyone follow the NFL? Gambling and gambling-related items, aside, of course.

Don’t forget the ultra Lo-Fi review of the Vandy goaline dive summarily slapped out of the QB’s mitts and scooped up for an apparent 99 yd TD for UF. Thanks to LFS having exactly ZERO cameras actually gasp on the goaline, the Vandy TD stood as called on the field. The Daves. They slay me.

Guitar Hero III is ‘effin hard, man. It’s called Guitar Hero, but I just feel like a douchebag with a fake plastic guitar.

I will restate my objection to your characterization of KU’s team here:

“But….we have some brothers!”

In re: KU scoring 76 points, that is more points than KU scored against Nebraska during the entire decade of either the 1970s or 1980s.

College Emmitt does not belong in the discussion with the other three.

Proud of the team and the way they fought. Hate for a great game full of huge plays to be decided on a sack/fumble inside the 5 yard line inside of 2 minutes. Regardless, great game Tigers.

I am so glad I was able to see McFadden in person play-though he was only a true freshman, still busted a 70 yard TD run against the great 2005 Bama defense. Hopefully I can somehow catch the Arkansas-LSU game this year for one more glimpse.

I think the Cristiano Ronaldo comparison is inaccurate. Flynn would need years of Mediterranean training to achieve that proficiency. I would call Flynn Arjen Robbenesque.

I watched a clip of Granny Hotlz and Mark May talking about “programs in trouble” (read: Nebraska & Notre Dame). After watching Holtz spit, spray and rage his way through a defense of both coaching staffs, I have to think that Holtz is harboring at least 35 stray animals at his home.

Also overlooked is McFadden’s defensive numbers:
He had 6 tackles, 1 TFL, .5 sacks and 2 pass break ups.

Anyone see Crable run down Caulkrik ?

Stupid enter button.
Crable running down Caulcrik: not humanity advanced, but I’m sure there is some kind of genenome altering in there somewhere.

I think you meant “Saying that he was an inept sweatshirt-wearing anti-Belichick on Saturday is not inaccurate, though.” Unless you think it’s unfair to characterize Weis as an inept sweatshirt-wearing anti-Belichick.

Death is not an option: Weis, Callahan, Franchione, or Gailey?

re: Oregon fans, that’s only because the Harrington Bandwagoneers were too stoned to notice the last few years. (Hooray for chardonnay-sipping bandwagoneers giving up season tickets to the Coliseum!)

Re: Matt Flynn and flopping: he’s no Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo has skills that can’t be taught. Arjen Robben is a good call; I’d suggest Didier Drogba but without the equivalent talent – big enough that he should be flogged for pretending that he’s injured from a fresh breeze.

it is now up to ole miss and arkansas to save my football season and take down lsu. i feel ill.

GO SEC EAST!!!!

Remember you said “sleep well middies, tomorrow you can sleep in til 7 am.” My buddy at the Academy said they up and canceled classes today for that ND victory. Sleep well indeed.

Kansas just scored again on Nebraska.

Glad to see McFadden go pro after this year (please please let it happen) but I’m sure that Nutt has some other genitcally enhanced prodigy on redshirt ready to be unleashed on the SEC West.

Every year, Arkansas is a CRAPPY football team with one maddening game changer on offense. We were all so glad to see Matt Jones go pro so the pigs could go back to the Mississippi-esq status at which they belong. Then comes this McFadden freak of nature.

I say, do any of you chaps know where I can find a bucket of kittens? Also, I’ll need directions to a pharmacy. I feel as though I’ve contracted something rather nasty:

Hot Hot Hot>Space, bitches>the fattening irish>the bipolar dorrells>cal slumping bears>Nike U> golf cart going into a volcano

How the fuck did Cal beat Oregon? Turnovers are a bitch, man.

And sorting out provider/network pricing disputes hurts our tiny normal-sized brain.

As someone who lives in Big 10 country (and get’s the Big 10 Network), it is so great getting deluged with weekly full page newspaper ads and commercial with people like Jim Tressel and Lloyd Carr telling me to call and request the Big 10 Network. I especially enjoy the full page ads by the BTN criticizing Time Warner for not agreeing to their extortion demands in order to provide their viewers all the OSU games that Time Warner showed last year.

The BTN analysts are not very good and their graphics look like they were created by high schoolers with photoshop.

However, you can’t blame the BTN for not showing OSU v Wisconsin (unless you don’t think BTN should exist at all).

Contracts say that each school has to show one conference game on BTN. ESPN picked up OSU v Northwestern, so that left either Wiscy or Illinois for the BTN. ESPN should have given OSU v NW to BTN.
So blame the worldwide leader.

It will be interesting to see if BTN makes it through Spring/Summer. If BTN is a success, SEC Network, Big 12 Network, and Pac10 Network are just around the corner……

Well Felix Jones is averaging, what 9 YPC. He is no McFadden, but he may be the 2nd best RB in the SEC.

#11

I’m expecting someone to put up a youtube of Holtz’ rant interspersed with Kansas and Navy plays from this weekend.

If UConn made a BCS bowl game, the entire fuckin’ state would head south. We brought 10,000 people to lame Motor City Bowl in Detroit the day after Christmas.

The Sugar Bowl reps were here on Saturday and I saw one of them cartwheeling out of the stadium in joy. Let me repeat…the whole fuckin’ state would go to New Orleans. We have nothing else!!!

/Begin Michigan nitpick.

Edit needed. Michigan won 28-24 not 24-20.

end Michigan nitpick/

Edsall, a wake up call comes in 2 weeks in the form of West Virginia, so don’t get your hopes up.

As you read this, Lee Corso is driving somewhere in FL with a turn signal on.

Rooney should’ve taken that grease ball Ronaldo out at club practice. Damn I hate that guy. And Portugal. Give them real English Football: broken legs and, if possible, death on the pitch. Why did you bring that guy up???

UConn keep winning? Kansas is #4? Tennessee controls its own destiny in the SEC East?

That’s cacked up.

And Arkansas #3 and #4 RBs (Smith and Barnett) have an additional 400 yards on about 50 or so carries. My Hogs can’t pass, but by God they’ve got this running thing down.

insert overused comment about how you ruined my dreams about Ariel by putting Pete Carroll’s face on her here.

and Gerry Dorsey @ 17, could you imagine the riot/orgy/goat dance that would ensue if The Orgeron beat LSU?

Edsall, doesn’t “whole fucking state” = 10000?

If UConn was in a BCS bowl, there would be 20,000 fans easy. We’ve brought that many to final fours and even, ugh, chick final fours.

26- If West Virginia loses before then, UConn can wrap up the Big East title with wins over Cincy and Syracuse. Stop hating and hop aboard.

Damn Orson,

What’s with the War and Peace recap. Lunch meeting and like Nick Saban I don’t have time for this shit.

Trojan – re:Drogba – not even that level of acting but you have the implausibility nailed to perfection

UgasTexas @ 29

I dunno, they made a mighty fine combo at Man U last year.

Stop you’re hurting my brain.

UgasTexan:

Almost McFadden/Jonesesque

Many cocktails and a beer chaser to Navy.

Is it legal for McFadden to throw the ball to himself?

FSU Kicker would be a dream job – they certainly don’t have high expectations of them. Miss a game-winner against UM and no one really remembers your name – you’re just one amongst many…

1. - The SEC already has 2 networks. They are called CBS and ESPN. At least 2 national games every single week. LF broadcasts another one regionally. If your team isn’t on one of these, then you can usually get it on PPV or Game Plan. No place like the South for college football.

I don’t need no SECTV.

1. - Felix Jones is a bad ass too, but he may go pro as well. Let us all hope.

Navy did not beat Notre Dame. It was Navy with Charlie Weis assisting that beat Notre Dame.

I stopped reading at UCONN + BCS Bowl.

NO WAY IN HELL they beat WVU in Morgantown on November 24th.

The Huskies will look like the Huskers on that day.

Orson, I’m sure Brent was just checking the ticker on his stocks. You know, Consolidated Slave Holdings, The Boston Opera Hat Co., and Congrieve’s Inflammable Powders…

42 – Okay, I’ve had it. Why does West Virginia get so much f’in respect when no other Big East team does? What has West Virginia ever done other than shocking a sleepwalking Georgia team in the Sugar Bowl? Was it the multiple Gator Bowl appearances? What about the two losses to two USF teams that aren’t that good?

West Virginia is an inflated piece of garbage right now. They have beaten absolutely NO ONE of consquence this year, save for a decent Mississippi State team. Oooh they crushed Rutgers. Newsflash, so did UConn. Give me a break. I’m not saying West Virginia won’t win but please, let’s keep the slurping to a minimum.

Random thoughts from the weekend.

1. I love that LF streams the SEC games over the internet. But I’d rather watch the commercials or poke my eyes out than hear that FUCKING MUSIC they play during commercial breaks one more time.

2. I don’t care if there is a 60 mph wind in your face, with a side of hail, sleet, and frogs falling from the sky, when you have a 41 yarder to win the game on 4th down, you try it. In a word. IN-FUCKING-COMPETENT. And, go Navy.

3. Kansas -19 was probably my best wager this season. 1 billion cocktails to Bill Callahan! In a word. IN-FUCKING-EPT.

Darren McFadden just ran by my office. And we thought Forrest Gump was something, huh!

Edsall is God: Enjoy it while you can because if I am a AD at a big time school and I need a coach, Edsall may be my man. If the rumors turn out to be true and Tuberville goes to TAM, I hope Edsall gets an interview. Can UCONN afford to play in the with the big boys in terms of coaching salaries?

47 – Depends on which big boy we’re talking about. His name has come up at Georgia Tech (he coached there) and Syracuse (an alum) but I think UConn has the money to compete with those guys. But if Auburn or Nebraska or someone like that came calling, yikes. UConn could pay him…but then Calhoun and Geno (chick coach) would get all pissy he was making more.

Connecticut is already the most taxed state in the union. Why not an Edsall tax? I’d gladly pay.

Seeing Eye You bowl eligible made me almost as happy as Miami beating Buffalo to take the driver’s seat in the MAC East.

Somewhere, Coach Hep is smiling.

7) Did you ever watch Emmitt play in college? He dominated for a probation laden team that could not throw the ball his last 3 years. In three years he set 58 school records rushing for 3,928 yards, scoring 36 touchdowns and earning SEC Player of the Year honors. While that pales in comparison to Hershell’s stats, it is comparable to what Bo Jackson did in his 4 years at Auburn and what McFadden is doing in his 3 years with Arkansas.

I saw every game that Emmitt played in college, he was phenomenal.

Update: Kansas just scored again.

Edsall, as a rule of thumb, no basketball coach should EVER make as much money as their school’s football coach. If a freaking women’s coach makes more, then that is just fucking pathetic. In fact, men’s and women’s basketball coaches’ combined salaries should be less than the football coach’s. Just sayin.

So that said, say goodbye to Mr. Edsall after your bowl game.

Scalz – Pretty sure you mean he ran down Ringer (on the play at the end of the 3rd quarter). Caulcrick isn’t going to outrun many people, he’s just going to run them over if they try to get in his way.

Edsall,

WVU has been to 4 straight New Year’s Day bowl games (won the last 2) and won or shared a piece of the Big East conference championship 4 out of the last 5 years. Also, WVU is in the top 15 for all-time college football wins. WVU’s only loss on the road to USF without Pat White in a game where they out-gained USF is not nearly as “bad” as losing to Stanford at home at night. Still scratching my head on how USC didn’t fall out of the Top 20.

UConn should have lost to Temple upon further review.

I’ll be the first to admit that WVU really doesn’t have a marquee win and the CPU avg of 12 illustrates that. However, you can’t ignore the fact that WVU’s offense is ranked 13th and the defense is ranked 4th. They are crushing everyone and playing very well. 2 of the best players in the country at their respective positions in Pat White and Steve Slaton are hard to ignore, too.

WVU ranked 7th or 6th is probably right. They are getting just the right amount of respect.

Dan – you’re right. I was wrong. Good catch.
Pretty amazing feat, actually, Crable started on the otherside of the field and ran him down from behind, not an angle.

re: UCONN should have lost to Temple on further review.
Don’t forget the bs “fair catch” against Louisville either. The Big East officially apologized for the error. Doesn’t help anything, but Edsall, you may want to choke it off a wee bit.

54 – Wrong. UConn shouldn’t have lost to Temple because the player was bobbling the ball. A local camera crew caught the right angle of it. Fuck ESPN for perpeuating such a stupid wrong on a national level. In terms of respect, West Virginia is always held up as the Big East’s standard-bearer because of that one Sugar Bowl win. They were a disappointment last year. They should never have lost to USF, White or no White, and they did because they made too many mistakes. Their schedule has been just as bad as UConn’s. And give me a break on their defense, again, what team have they played with an offense? I think Louisville is winning Thursday night.

Edsall makes the exact same amount as Calhoun, who has won two national titles. He will be in for a raise. I just don’t think our basketball state is prepared for it.

56 -

if anything, the B.E. officals have been gawd awful for as long as I can remember.

1. - Edsall
   What is the right angle ? The one that supports your argument? What about the other 3 angles that don’t ?

UConn was down 17-7 with 10 minutes to go and beat Louisville. The fair catch happened with 29 minutes left to go in the game. Give me a break. If you only watch ESPN or read non-Stewart Mandel columnists, you’d think UConn cheated in all their games and only wins because it rains. Why not give the team some gd respect? It’s frustrating the fuck out of me.

59 – the other angles just show the guys feet in bounds, you don’t see the ball. He was bobbling it. That’s how it was called on the field, that’s why it wasn’t overturned. there was no question his foot was inbounds but it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t have possession. If the ESPN regional crew had a good angle, this wouldn’t be an issue.

Edsall,

WVU is 4th in total defense. When you have better players than the other team, that’s what happens.

The number don’t lie.

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/2007/Internet/ranking_summary/2007000000768.HTML

I think UL will test WVU, but they will do so playing from behind. WVU’s rushing offense (#3 nationally) vs. UL’s rush defense (#61 nationally) means UL’s offense will be watching for most of the game.
WVU, 45-24.

It doesn’t matter if he had possession ?
Ummm ……

63 – I meant it doesn’t matter if his foot was inbounds because he DIDN’T have possession.

Edsall,

if WVU and UConn meet without any further loses, I think it will be a very exciting, hard-hitting college football game. Very good for TV and for the Big East.

lolMSU

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/solidkane/reset.jpg

So where is this Zapruder film of the angle that shows he didn’t have possession? Because EVERY other angle and replay looks like a catch in bounds.

67 – If the local channel had the video on their website, I’d love to show it to you. As I would love to see a video that show him catching the ball and having possession, because there’s none out there.

I found it. It’s the third search result. It’s actually a very, very slight bobble but the ball pops up when he hits the ground and he doesn’t fully have it until his foot is up in the air again. I thought it was more obvious in my delusional mind.

http://www.newschannel8.com/Global/SearchResults.asp?vendor=wss&qu=uconn+temple

Sorry, but I played that thing back 5 times, and cannot see any bobble. That’s a catch in my book and I have no interest in either team. The ESPN replays show that he got the foot down. But of course, that and $4 will get you a latte at Starbucks, so it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme.

Uconn won, but that and the Louisville win will always be tainted by those calls. Just be glad you are on the winning end of those calls. It’s worse on the other side (see UF-FSU 2003 for reference).

Will KU still make a BCS bowl if they go unbeaten but lose to OU in the B12CG? I say they deserve it over a second SEC team (unless that team is LSU, should they lose in the SECCG).

Actually, that raises a whole other question: Which BCS conferences deserve multiple BCS bids?

The very fact that Temple was that close to winning should deflate your hubris a little, sir.

The Big East is not nearly as decent as it was last year.

Will KU still make a BCS bowl if they go unbeaten but lose to OU in the B12CG?

Not a chance. The at-large BCS bid is all about dollars and which team will get ratings and fill up the stadium. That’s not Kansas.

It could be Arizona State if they win out against UCLA, USC and Arizona.

It could be tOSU if they lose to UM. But that means two years in a row with two Big 10 teams in the BCS, and there would be alot of unhappy folks with that scenario.

So here’s how I see it shaking out:

MNC: tOSU vs. LSU
Sugar: Hawaii vs. Oregon
Orange: BC vs. Kansas/Texas
Rose: UConn vs. USC
Fiesta: OU vs. WFV

1. 71,

If Arizona State and Oregon both win out, Oregon gets the auto-bid as Pac-10 champ after the head to head tiebreaker. I don’t see how you deny an 11-1 Sun Devil team that only lost to a #3 Duck team that also went 11-1, but then that’s a homer pick.

or some combination of those teams.

I’m assuming USC beats ASU, which is the problem with projecting bowls this early…too much football left to play.

Don’t forget about Boise State. Win out and beat Hawaii at the end of the year, and I bet they get a spot (again).

1. - the loser of WFV-UCONN is not getting a BCS bid.

not even if it’s WFV?

OK, I’m seeing a lot of people picking Georgia to go to the Sugar Bowl and LSU to go to MNC. For this to happen, Georgia would not only have to get past Auburn and Kentucky, but also be handed their 3rd loss in the last game before bowl selections are announced. Would the USF&G Sugar Bowl folks still take them?

I guess I just can’t see any team from the SEC East getting a BCS bid after losing in the SECCG.

If it comes down to a bunch of teams with two losses getting an at large bid and a 1 loss Kansas, then KU has a shot. If tOSU wins out, and ASU loses once more and KU beats Mizzou, then you have that scenario. There’s alot of football left….

If it’s a choice of all two loss teams however, UCONN/WFV loser is left out. USC is still a possibility if they win out in this scenario. Beat ASU, Cal and UCLA and the BCS takes them for the monetary reasons noted earlier.

Unless LSU loses it’s only other game in the SECCG, SEC is only getting one in. The favorites to get two teams in are the PAC 10 and Big 12.

PW: If Tennessee wins out, they hold tiebreaker over Georgia, thus Georgia could finish 10-2 while Tennessee gets run over by LSU in the SEC title game.

My guess is that the four at-large bids, assuming that there are no surprise auto-bids (this means LSU, BC, and OSU win out), will be:

1) a Big XII team from among Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma
2) a Pac-10 team (most likely AZSt)
3) the UConn-WV loser (assuming they finish 10-2)
4) Georgia if they are 10-2, otherwise probably Virginia or VT

The first two are virtual locks. If Hawaii steals a spot, Georgia would get in ahead of the UConn-WV loser. VT might as well, but Virginia probably would not.

Cristiano Ronaldo = fuckhead.

Torches…..Pitchforks…….Villagers………Tennessee…….

What? Is FrankenManning back on campus?

Jack: no argument there. Portugal might have beaten Germany badly in the third-place game last year if Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates weren’t too busy pretending they got shot; I counted at least four scoring opportunities they would have had if they had actually run after the ball instead of begging for a penalty kick. The Portuguese and Italian national teams are a disgrace to the game with all the flopping.

SpartanDan – the strangest thing about that World Cup was that previous champion cheats Argentina threw off the opposition by playing clean & brilliant soccer. What the hell?

PW, I’d watch out saying that BC will win the ACC. They would have to beat VT again, not to mention that Clemson is back in control of their own destiny after FSU beat BC.

well, just replace BC with one of them them