CURIOUS INDEX, 11/4/2009

by Orson on Nov 4, 2009 10:20 AM EST

The M reflects light to the M on the floor. Tim Brewster gives a tour of the largest locker room in college football, and at the 2:13 mark shows you what it looks like when you buy the "M" off the demolished Landmark hotel in Las Vegas and strap it to the ceiling of the locker room.

Coach, what fills me most with pride is the endlessly flashing game show logo M we have in our locker room.

Because of 1912. Rich hatred requires a thorough marinade, and when you have aged beef going back to 1912, you have a layered, smoky flavor to rivalry only time and savory bitterness can create. Black Shoe Diaries details most of the whys and wherefore here, but Ohio State/Penn State really goes back to 1912 when Joe Paterno had resigned for the third time from his post at the school to try his fortunes in the rubber trade in the Congo, and then things went to hell for real at the Ohio State game:

One spectator came down out of the stands and began to rush them, but he got no further than assistant coach Dick Harlow who knocked him out cold with a single right fist. Police rushed the field to surround the Penn State players and protect them as fans grabbed some blue and white bunting under one of the goalposts and set it on fire.

It must be good, because it's scored as a 1-0 forfeit on Ohio State's side and a 37-0 victory on Penn State's books.

At level nine they unveil the alien origins of the punt block for TD. Texas has its own special teams secret society, with membership only available upon blocking a punt. The only member at level eight is Michael Griffin, who is the head of the board, and...we really shouldn't say anymore.

"He's the head of the board of directors," Akina said. "Yes, we've got a board, but I'm probably telling you too much."

Shortly after that Akina was run over by a boat driven by a blazed Cedric Benson as a warning. The less you know, the better.

Goddamn you, smash route. Smart Football has all you care to know about the Smash concept, something Florida fans will remember with ass-ripping pain from the 1994 Auburn/Florida game.

Dynamic tension, needed. Blutarsky waxes long on Richt's available banked credit with the UGA fanbase, and on whether Richt needs some of what we'll call dynamic tension in the program. If dynamic tension means "axeing Willie Martinez," the answer is no: that just sets up the inevitable chipping away of assistants and the onset of Tuberville Syndrome. It is one thing to replace assistants immediately: both LSU and Texas make quick work of plugging and unplugging assistant coaches if they don't perform, and have done so successfully. Delaying it for two years running as Richt does, though, sets up an unpleasant power struggle, since he'll have appeared to have caved to pressure if he does pull Martinez, and won't be seen as proactively replacing a faulty part.

It is akin to the difference between doing something before your wife notices and begins nagging, and then doing it afterwards. You both feel significantly better if you, the properly uxorious husband, take out the trash promptly. When the reek overwhelms the house, however, you have become the asshole husband, and your wife has become the nagging bitch, and now we're all thrilled to be taking out the garbage now, aren't we? The true problem was not getting rid of him sooner; had he done so, Richt wouldn't be hip deep in acrimony and the garbage-stink of Martinez's porous defenses.

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Gopher Nation???

Did I miss something? Like the Golden Gophers becoming such a widely followed team across the United States that would necessitate being called a “Nation”

by haybeav on Nov 4, 2009 10:27 AM EST reply actions

Did he just call Minnesota “The U”?

by Jerkwheat on Nov 4, 2009 10:37 AM EST reply actions

Perhaps Gopher Nation is a little strong. It’s more of a Gopher Militia. We are a very large militia due to the fact that we are constantly in the Top 10 in enrollment, but unfortunately a polite one due to that whole Minnesota Nice bullplop, eh.

by WhiteSpeedReceiver on Nov 4, 2009 10:39 AM EST reply actions

So you’re saying that we can’t ax Martinez?

Hmm, I disagree.

In your analogy, taking out the garbage after she nags is better than making a nuclear level event argument over it.

You know the one, where she mentions that she should have married that one guy in college, and you start the “Oh, HERE WE GO” tirade about that….

I’ve said too much…

by Yakko on Nov 4, 2009 10:40 AM EST reply actions

Is it just me or does that locker room actuallly kind of suck? I like their movie theatre “don’t walk hurr” ropes.

by You should go to Vanderbilt, son, you'll make more money on Nov 4, 2009 10:46 AM EST reply actions

Richt won’t have to axe Martinez; word on the street is Willie, Steve Addazio and Greg Robinson are going to join forces to create the most inept offensive and defensive forces ever known to man.

As for Minnesota’s locker room, they will need those Flashing Lights to keep them warm when they open the incredibly chillified open air stadium.
#awfuideas

by Yeah BoYeeEe on Nov 4, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions

Cheers ’n beers for the little guys!

Ball State’s Freddie Barnes continued racking up the catches and yards last night with an 8 for 122 effort, including the game-winner with 0:39 left. Kudos, sir. Enjoy playing on Sundays.

by SC'Eer on Nov 4, 2009 11:05 AM EST reply actions

Thank you, mgoblog, for at least trying to kill the “nation” bs: http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/airing-of-sportsblog-grievances.html

by SonOfBuckeye on Nov 4, 2009 11:08 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, it looks like they designed the locker room before the economy went broke, and only got around to completing it afterward. Either that or they were trying to be the first in college football to go with the hybrid locker room/indoor practice facility concept.

by Kecalf Bailey on Nov 4, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions

Freddie plays for Bowling Green, methinks. Yay, little guy.

by Imarealist on Nov 4, 2009 11:10 AM EST reply actions

And how exactly is an outdoor stadium ever an awful idea, Yeah BoYeeEe? Indoor football is a sin.

Oh, wait. I know. You’re going to spew the tired bullshit about it being -30 at gametime, right? After all, we all know it’s much colder in Minnesota than in Wisconsin or Michigan in October and November.

by WhiteSpeedReceiver on Nov 4, 2009 11:16 AM EST reply actions

Imarealist @ 10
I stand corrected. What was I thinking?

by SC'Eer on Nov 4, 2009 11:20 AM EST reply actions

If women can have babies
why can’t they take out the
trash?
Sheesh!

by The iPhoniac on Nov 4, 2009 11:25 AM EST reply actions

@10
I stand corrected. I read the article about Freddie and Bowling Green, and then one about Ball State. My swiss-cheese brain then made a jumble. I apologize to all BGSU fans.

by SC'Eer on Nov 4, 2009 11:36 AM EST reply actions

Who takes out the trash at
Rosie O’Donnel’s or Ellen
Degeneress’s or Bobby
Bowden’s house?
By now Bobby is more woman
than man.

I imagine piles of crap all
over the place.

by The iPhoniac on Nov 4, 2009 11:41 AM EST reply actions

@11

Touche WhiteSpeedReceiver, touche.

Outdoor football reigns supreme and if what I read on SI is true the Big 10 doesn’t have to worry about many night games during the November freezefest.

I cowtow to the -10 degree days with weather a Charlotte boy only sees on Christmas specials.

Well played sir, well played.

by Yeah BoYeeEe on Nov 4, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions

No, points in all directions to Minny for going outdoors. Degree of manhood now perpetually unquestioned.

by Orson Swindle on Nov 4, 2009 11:49 AM EST reply actions

It’s too cold in Minnesota not to have a refuge like that.

by wreck17 on Nov 4, 2009 12:27 PM EST reply actions

The best part of these Auburn-Florida memories? The fact that Florida fans remember them just as vividly.

Grass stains on a visor = An Auburn tradition.

War Damn Eagle. We made Emmit and Tebow weep.

Sullivan013

by sullivan013 on Nov 4, 2009 1:23 PM EST reply actions

the ironic part is that pat nix the offensive coordinator has never called a smash route in his playcalling life, nor could he diagram one if you put a gun to his head. his red zone offense consisted of: a) fade, b) pass to the third row, c) interception over the middle, or d) sack.

also, quit posting smartfootball articles. my ability to impress my dumbass friends with marginal football knowledge is being relentlessly whittled with your incessant posting of complex information presented in an insightful and easy-to-read format. quit it, damn you!

by ed on Nov 4, 2009 2:18 PM EST reply actions

Murray Warmath? I thought that Hayden Fox was the greatest coach in Minnesota history.

by Yeah BoYeeEe on Nov 4, 2009 2:26 PM EST reply actions

Re: Penn State/Ohio State

You mean Buckeye fans were complete tools in 1912, too? Poppycock! Next you’re gonna tell me the sun rises in the east and water is wet.

by Vince Clortho on Nov 4, 2009 4:40 PM EST reply actions

I sure hope Brewster’s pre game speeches are not as redundant.

by PittsburghTiger on Nov 4, 2009 10:28 PM EST reply actions

Jerkwheat@2:

Yes. Minnesotans have referred to the Univ. of Minnesota as alternately “The U” and “U of M” for multiple generations. Likely since before the University of Miami was even founded (I assume your post is alluding to some issue with someone other than Miami being called “The U”). It’s the only school in a state of 6 million people large enough to have D-I football (and basketball, baseball, etc.) programs, and is, outside of hockey, the sole focal point for all collegiate sports within the state. Given that the school likely has as many alumni as any university in the nation, serves as the only D-I school for a state with a population 5x that of tropical Florida, and had been playing varsity football for half a century by the time the University of Miami first took the field, I’d say it’s got just as much right as anyone to call itself the U, thank you very much.

by MCA on Nov 5, 2009 12:23 PM EST reply actions

About that Ohio State forfeit loss to PSU in 1912….

A poster on BSD was actually trash talking about that win, which is sad b/c 1, it was almost 100 years ago so probably none of our grandparents were even alive yet, and 2, Ohio State was not a DI team, so that was like PSU beating Eastern Illinois this year, or Coastal Carolina last season.

I.E., nothing to brag about and be proud of….Just shows that Penn State has always played a cupcake schedule, whether it was 100 years ago, or 2009.

We Are……………………………State Penn

GO BUCKEYES!

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2009 OSU-PSU Game Preview:
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http://blog.blockonation.com/2009/11/ohio-state-state-week-10-preview-free.html

by BlockO-CEO on Nov 6, 2009 2:19 AM EST reply actions