More excitement in the ACC, who’s going who’s coming, wasting air time, MLB HOF ballots, who should be in the Hall of Fame, and a lot more in this weeks edition of…….
I don’t know about you but I put on several pounds. This year I did not go the Turkey route as my mom was out of town (she usually does the holiday cooking) and my wife and I can’t see wasting Turkey since we really only eat a slice or two for Thanksgiving. So, my wife made me my favorite meal, veal parmesan. It was great and I had two big pieces.
I hope you Gabbers had a safe, but wonderful, Thanksgiving.
By now you already know that Morehead State Eagle’s coach. Sean Woods, received a one game suspension for shoving guard Devon Atkinson in the back. I only hope that Coach Woods only follows Bobby Knight it winning games and not following Knight in the kind of demeanor that eventually got him fired from Indiana University.
On November 8th the Jacksonville Jaguars hosted a military appreciation night against the Indianapolis Colts. This event had the fans applauding for a while.
Sam Gordon, the 9-year old football wonder, has joined the likes of Tiger Woods, Walter Payton, Michael Jordan and Lou Gehrig as she has now been featured on the cover of a Wheaties box. In her first year in the “Gremlin age group” of the UTE Conference, she had 35 touchdowns and 1,911 rushing yards,
What a waste of TV air time as the New York Jets were humiliated at home by the New England Patriots. I know the NFL thought, when they made the schedule, that this was going to be an outstanding game. Little did they know. The bad thing is I watched the game on a full stomach and had to throw up on more than one occasion.
New York Giant TE Martellus Bennett saved a mans life this past Sunday after the football game. Check out what ESPN had to say about it.
I am not, by no means, a Notre Dame fan. But, I have to give them credit in their win against USC. I thought after USC tossed a 53-year pass and it was 1st and goal, I’m like oh yeah, USC is going to tie it up. But to the credit of the Irish defense they stuffed USC and did not allow them to score. So now we know at least one team, Notre Dame is in the National Championship. Who will the other team be? That will be decided by the winner of the Alabama versus Georgia winner.
Louisville will be leaving the Big East and joining the ACC in 2014. The Cardinals will be a welcome addition to the ACC as they have a very good basketball program and their football program is on the upswing.
Has anyone noticed but the Big East will not have the New York and New Jersey TV market as Rutgers and Syracuse will be gone from the conference.
Marvin Miller, former union head of the Major League Baseball Players Association passed away at the age of 95. He was hated by MLB owners and loved by the players, but one thing is certain, he changed the sport for the betterment of the players.
"All players -- past, present and future -- owe a debt of gratitude to Marvin, and his influence transcends baseball," current union head Michael Weiner said. "Marvin, without question, is largely responsible for ushering in the modern era of sports, which has resulted in tremendous benefits to players, owners and fans of all sports."
Highlights of Millers Tenure:
• MLBPA executive director from 1966-82
• Negotiated first collective bargaining agreement in professional sports in 1968
• Helped players negotiate right to arbitration in 1970, leading to free agency in 1975
• Guided players through three strikes and two lockouts
• Minimum salary was $6,000 when he joined MLBPA in 1968; was $33,500 when he left in 1982; was $480,000 in 2012.
Let The Debate Begin!!!
The steroid era of MLB Hall of Fame begins in earnest as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa are on the HOF ballot for the first time. We all know that Mark McGuire (has never received more than 24% of the vote) has been stymied as has Rafael Palmerio (has received no higher than 12.6% of the vote. All these players have the statistics worthy of election to the Hall Of Fame, but have tested positive or have been suspected of taking illegal substances.
Other first time players on the ballot are Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza and Curt Schilling. These players will join Jack Morris, Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines, who were among the highest vote getters from last years voting.
This week we start out with the great and powerful SEC, and their premiere team (#1) Alabama'a match up with SEC newcomer (#15) Texas A&M, who finished 6th in the Big-12 last year...Oh, what ever could the lowly Aggies do against the almighty Crimson Tide?
Let's switch that to Crimson Stain....Because 'Bama shit the bed Saturday, falling behind A&M 20-0 in the first quarter...Alabama struggled to fight their way back, and got themselves in position to take the lead...29-24 A&M is ahead..."Bama is driving...And then they shit the bed some more, as A. J. McCarron threw an INT at the goal line with a minute and a half left...
But wait, there's more...The Aggies ran the ball three times...'Bama holds, and uses time outs to save as much clock as possible...4th and short...A&M set to punt...'Bama jumps the neutral zone...FIRST DOWN AGGIES! Game over! Eat a dick overrated Alabama...And eat a dick overrated SEC...As every team you have tried to hang your hat on this season, has fallen on their face!
Aggies young, star QB, Johnny Manziel had a big day, passing for 253 yards, and 2 TD's, while rushing for 92 yards...This kid has a bright future ahead of him folks!
-Next we take a look at another SEC darling...(#7) Florida who was at home against Louisiana-Lafayette...This game was way too close if you're a Gator fan...How close? Florida returned a blocked punt for a TD wit two seconds left, to take the lead, and win...Yes, Florida has had a better team than people expected, but when you struggle against ULL, it proves you weren't ready for prime time...
-Speaking of not ready for prime time...(#9) Louisville did what all Big East teams do...Remind us that the Big East is garbage...The Cardinals went down to Syracuse...Syracuse...Thanks to Louisville, these Orange dopes are now a .500 team...Louisville gave up 278 rushing yards to the 'Cuse, as the Orange won 45-26....Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater passed for 424 yards and 3 TD's, and it just wasn't going to be enough on senior day in Syracuse...
-(#2) Kansas State went to Fort Worth to take on TCU, looking to jump up to the #1 spot, with Alabama falling to Texas A&M...Collin Klein and company didn't put up huge numbers this, as they battled and grinded out a tough 23-10 win against the Horn Frogs...The talking heads already have (#3) Oregon leap-frogging to number 1, but I've got K-State at the top spot...Especially since, as I write this, Cal is only down 17-10 against the Ducks, and it's almost halftime...Normally Oregon has hung 50 on teams by this point...
-The (#11) Oregon State Beavers were having a heck of a season until they took their second loss in three weeks...This time at the hands of the (#14) Stanford Cardinal, 27-23...With Cal and Oregon left, Oregon State's season is just going to get tougher...While Stanford heads to Oregon and then to UCLA to finish out their year...I guess their road won't be too easy either...
-Next up, the (#4) Notre Dame Fighting Irish went to Chestnut Hill to face Boston College...
The Irish pounded out 3 long scoring drives, one in each of the first three quarters...They also had another good one going in the 2nd, but it was ended by a George Atkinson fumble...the first of two fumbles forced by BC...Both were good defensive plays, but the Irish defense made sure to keep the Eagles out of the end zone, as the Irish stayed undefeated with a 21-6 victory...
It seems each week, we see a little bit more growth, and confidence in red-shirt freshman QB, Everett Golson...Saturday he passed for 200 yards and 2 TD's, and rushed for 39 yards and another TD...Theo Riddick showed off his versatility rushing for 104 yards and catching 4 passes for 56yards...TE Tyler Eifert continued to improve his draft stock, with 6 catches for 67 yards...But more then that, the most improvement in his game, has been in his blocking...NFL teams gotta love a 6-6, 250 pound TE with great hands, good speed, great jumping ability, and excellent blocking skills...
Next for the Irish, they'll be at home against Wake Forest...Then they head to (#19) USC to finish out the season...The Trojans by the way, worked over Arizona State, 38-17...
-This week's Big Ten highlights...That just sounds silly...The Big Ten is such crap this year...Nothing like your conference's best team being under sanctions, so everything they do means nothing...
(#16) Nebraska had to come from behind to beat Pedo-Cover-Up University, 32-23...Then Michigan beat (#24) Northwestern 38-31 in OT...
-As for (#3) Oregon at Cal...While the Bears have been playing tough, the Ducks have started to do their thing, and have gone up 45-17at the start the 4th quarter...So I'm assuming they will hold on to win...I'm off to bed...We'll see tomorrow...
Well, some might say it would be foolish if I didn't start off with the weekend's biggest game...Of course it wasn't the biggest game in my world...It was the biggest game in the great big hype machine...(#1) Alabama at (#5) LSU...Miles vs. Saban...The rematch of the rematch...LSU has been overrated all year...'Bama has had an easy schedule so far...So what would we get Saturday with these two "power house" programs, and these two coaching "Geniuses"...
More of the same over-hyped crap!
Good defense for the most part...Sloppy offense...Alabama was up 14-3 at the half...But in the second half, LSU Quarterback, Zach Mettenberger started doing something we haven't seen from him before...He started playing like a confident, big-time college QB...While the Tide's A.J. McCarron seemed to fall apart, and look like crap...
Mettenberger lead the Tigers to a 17-14 lead...No thanks to his head coach, Les Miles he kept making risky calls...Calls he is known for making, and usually screw his team...Like the fake field goal he called, that Alabama was fully expecting, and stuffed it right away...The On-side kick, that his kicker botched...Going for a fourth and short late, instead of kicking a field goal, and adding to his team's lead...He kept giving Alabama chances to stay in the game...And they did, with little time left...Because Miles, who's defense had been pressuring McCarron the whole second half...And had been playing tight, press coverage, decided to rush 3, and go all prevent defense...You know, prevent D, that prevents nothing...All the sudden McCarron is completing passes, and leading the Tide on 72 yard game winning drive...
21-17 Alabama...LSU players, you did well...Your coach didn't! Alabama, got the win, but some weaknesses were shown...
- The big game for me, was of course, (#3) Notre Dame at home versus Pitt...The Irish were coming off their huge win at Oklahoma, and I along with many feared a letdown...For 3 quarters the Defense was not what we have seen all year...Even Manti Te'o seemed off, until the fourth quarter...The offense which has been inconsistent most of the season, was again Saturday...After 3 quarters Pitt was ahead 20-6...But this time, coach Kelly didn't turn to veteran QB Tommy Rees to try and finish it...Rees had been in earlier, and threw one of his classic picks...Kelly Stuck with the kid, Golson, and we saw another stage of his growth...
Golson used his arm and his legs to get the Irish back...Passing for 227 yards and 2 TD's...And running for 74 yards and another TD...And also the game tying 2-point conversion...Mind you, this wouldn't have been possible had the Irish defense not stepped up and done what they have done all year...They took control of the game back...Then it was overtime...
The first both teams traded field goals...The second, Cierre Wood fumbled while airborne, about to cross the goal line, and the Irish were held off the board...The ND defense held their ground, forcing Pitt to kick a game winning field goal...Wide right...Holy Shit...Third OT, Pitt is held to a field goal...Golson and company drive the ball to the goal line...And then he punched it in on a QB sneak...Irish win 29-26, and go to 9-0...
I saw people on Twitter bashing ND, as usual...One twat saying Irish fans have to feel dirty about the whole undefeated thing...These are the same people that always say, "a win is a win" when their shitty team squeaks out a win...But there's always a double standard when it comes to ND...Fuck that, one standard will do just fine...Notre Dame is 9-0...All that matters is wins and loses, and is doesn't matter how you get them...So Blow me!
- (#2) Kansas State remained undefeated after beating (#24) Oklahoma State 44-30...This game wasn't as close as the score shows...And had K-State not pulled Collin Klein in the 3rd Quarter after an undisclosed injury, I'm assuming the Wildcats would have extended the lead a bit more...By that point Klein had passed for 245 yards and rushed for 64 more, with a TD...By the way he seemed on the sidelines, it didn't appear like a major injury, but Coach Snyder declining to discuss it after the game, has to make K-State fans worry a little...
- In the 'What the Fuck is defense Game' (#4) Oregon went down south to face (#17) USC....The first punt in this game didn't occur until mid-way through the fourth quarter...The Ducks put up 730 total yards of offense, while the Trojans racked up 615 yards...But the stand out player, without a doubt, had to be Oregon's Kenjon Barner, who rushed for 321 yards and 5 TD's, leading the Ducks to a 62-51 victory...
Seriously, Oregon is a fucking offensive, ass-kicking machine, but they should be worried about their defense...Sooner or later, they're going to have a game where some one D's up on them, and they won't be able to play backyard football..."Next team that scores, wins!"
And Trojans...That was the most points ever to be scored on any USC team...EVER...Your team isn't going to win shit, but at least you can hold your heads high knowing that you have that record!
(#12) Oklahoma bounced back from last weeks loss to Notre Dame, and topped Iowa State 35-20...
(#7) Florida squeaked past Missouri 14-7...I've got a feeling the Gators hearts weren't in it after last week's loss to Georgia, ending their perfect season...
(#16) Texas A&M throttled (#15) Miss State 38-13...This one may have just proven that up until last week's loss to Alabama, the Bulldogs haven't played anyone...Now after the Aggies Johnny Manziel passed for 311 yards, and rushed for 129 and 2 TD's, Miss State will have to face an angry LSU next week...
-Then there is the undefeated team, no one talks about...(#10) Louisville...Why is no one talking about the Cardinals...Because they play in the Big East...Big deal, they blew out Temple 45-17...That's what good teams are suppose to do...Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater passed for 324 yards and 5 TD's...But the real question from this game is, how did they give up 17 points to Temple?
-As I'm writing this, UCLA is beating the hell out of (#22) Arizona...It's 59-10...Not what I was expecting...Feel free to update me on the score, I won't be wasting anymore time on that...
- (#11) Oregon State is up 36-19 on Arizona State, and the Sun Devils just threw a pick with under 6 minutes left, so I'm going to chalk up another win for the Beavers...( edit: 36-26 final )
- (#20) Nebraska snuck out of East Lansing with a 28-24 comeback win over Michigan State...I didn't see the game...I didn't see any highlights yet, but I saw Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell tweet that the refs in this game were "the toughest team we've faced all year." And something like the refs beat them...The tweet has been deleted, of course...I'm sure a coach got to him...He better lock it down, because in the NFl that shit will get you fined and suspended...
- TCU went for two during the first overtime at (#21) West Virginia, and converted, knocking off the Mountaineers 39-38...
-Staying in the Big-12, (#23) Texas beat (#18) Texas Tech 31-22...I was expecting this to be a big-time scoring affair...I was also expecting Tech to come out on top of what I thought would be a shootout...College Football...Just never know what's going to happen....
-Lastly, all those who hate (#19) Boise State will be happy, as the Broncos were upset by San Diego State 21-19...
That's it for now...Feel free to drop in your 2 cents...See ya Monday...
Yeah, it wasn't a good night for Landry Jones and the (#8) Oklahoma Sooners...The (#5) Fighting Irish did what they have done all year...They played, tough, hard-nosed defense...They ran the ball well...215 yards well...They didn't turn the ball over...Limited mistakes...and made big plays when they needed to...
Everett Golson played his cleanest game of the season, and coach Brian Kelly seemed to have no lack of confidence in him when calling the plays...Especially after the Sooners tied the game in the fourth quarter...The Irish came right back, as Golson hit freshman WR Chris Brown with a 50 yard pass...Which setup a Golson TD run five plays later...
After that, it was Manti Te'o intercepting Jones, after Dan Fox broke up a pass to Jalen Saunders, that popped up in the air...Te'o dove for it, and kept it off the ground...The Irish added a field goal...Then Theo Riddick added on a late TD run making the final 30-13 Irish!
The Irish defense held the Sooners to just 15 yards on the ground, forcing them to be one dimensional, and refused to let Oklahoma get off a big play...While the game was tight for 3 plus quarters, it seemed like the Irish were in control all night...I hate to sound like Lou Holtz, but this team really is starting to look like a "team of destiny."
And all critics out there have been pointing at this game for a few weeks now...'If Notre Dame beats Oklahoma then I'll take them seriously." These are the same people who said the Irish had the nations toughest schedule in their pre-season bullshit, and are now saying the ND schedule is weak...Well, critics...Are you ready to take ND seriously...Rick Reilly, you fucking cunt, is Notre Dame relevant now!?! Yes, they are...You aren't...Do everyone a favor Reilly...Quit your day job, douchebag!
You all know I've been all in with Collin Klein and (#3) Kansas State this year...Well, this week's game with (#15) Texas Tech, had me worried...The Red Raiders can really put up points...
But Klein made it clear, that there was nothing to worry about, as he passed for 233 yards and 2 TD's and rushed for 83 yards and 2 more TD's, leading the hard-nosed Wildcats to a 55-24 victory...
After Saturday's games, the top two guys in the Heisman race have to be Klein, and Manti Te'o...You know I've been hyping Klein all year, but a LB getting the Heisman would be great!
Both Notre Dame and K-State got help in the BCS rankings as (#10) Georgia beat (#2) Florida 17-9 in a sloppy, defensive battle...Why do I say sloppy? Florida had 10 penalties for 95 yards...and turned the ball over 6 times...Georgia had 14 penalties for 132 yards and turned it over 3 times...None of that high-powered SEC offense in this one...
Staying in the SEC, we may have seen the last of South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, after one of the worst leg injuries I have ever seen...
That shit was brutal...An early report says "Lattimore tore every ligament in his knee, plus a broken femur, plus a broken knee cap." Can anyone come back from that? Does anyone want to? This kid has been looking at such a bright future, and has ended every season early because of injuries...Just sad...
Lattimore's (#13) Gamecocks had to fight on after seeing their leader carted off to the hospital...They managed to hang and win 38-35 over Tennessee...
#11 Miss State is no longer undefeated after running into the buzz-saw that is #1 Alabama...The Tide rolled right over them, 38-7...
In the PAC-12, USC has been holding on to hope of sneaking back into the BCS picture...The they want to Arizona and that idea got kicked in the ass, as the Wildcats, who always say "Bear Down" I don't know why, beat the Trojans 39-36...Key stat...USC turned it over 5 times...No Heisman for Barkley...No Championship for Kiffin, Barkley, and the Trojans...And big smile on my face!
#24 Ohio University's dream of a perfect season ended Saturday at rival, Miami of Ohio, as the Bobcats lost 23-20...Miami is not having a good year, but they'll always be up for their rival...With 9 seconds left, the Bobcats had no timeouts...Instead of trying to kick the field goal for the tie, and take it to OT...The Bobcats took a crack at one more play to go for the win...QB Tyler Tettleton was sacked and time ran out...Great balls, but that's a tough way to go...
Staying in the MAC...Kent read, Kent write, Kent State went to undefeated (#15) Rutgers and put another Big East team in their place...The Golden Flashes upset the Scarlet Knights 35-23...The MAC is now 4-0 against the Big East this year...Cincy lost to Toledo last week, ending their undefeated season...The Bearcats gave (#16) Louisville a scare Friday night, but the Cardinals pulled out a 34-31 OT win...Now Rutgers goes down...Who will knock off Louisville? Sadly, they didn't schedule any MAC schools...
In the late game, we lost another undefeated team as #7 Oregon State was beaten 20-17 by Washington...Again, turnovers is the key stat...Oregon State QB Sean Mannion playing his first game in 3 weeks after injury, threw 4 INT's...When they finally yanked him for Cody Vaz, it was too late...Washington had the momentum and were able to hang on for the win.
Saturday afternoon brought a match up between two Heisman hopefuls...Two Big-12 QB's...(#13...all rankings used this week reflect the BCS rankings) West Virginia's Geno Smith, was looking to lead his team to bounce back win after last week's loss to Texas Tech...Standing in his way was my Heisman sleeper, (#4) Kansas State QB, Collin Klein and the undefeated Wildcats...
I was expecting this game to be a real battle...K-State has played excellent defense all season, but I thought this game may push them a bit more, especially with WV coming off last weeeek's loss...But instead, it was a blow-out...K-State's defense, and ball control offense dominated...And the domination was lead by Klein...Klein passed for 323 yards and 3 TD's, while also rushing for 41 yards and 4 more TD's...The Wildcats romped, 55-14...
Not to toot my own horn, (okay maybe a little) but I called for RG3 as the Heisman winner last year in my pre-season predictions...And this year, I had Klein as one of my dark-horses...It's time to start paying attention to the Beeze kids...I've got this shit covered! I also called for K-State to shock the Big-12 this year, and they're doing that people...
Sticking in the Big-12, we may have this week's No Defense Bowl...(#17) Texas Tech was back at racking up points...This week against (#23) TCU...Tech QB Seth Doege was looking to pick up where he left off last week...This week he threw for 318 yards and 7 TD's in a triple overtime thriller...With his Red Raiders squeaking out a 56-53 victory...
Those two teams just beat out Texas and Baylor in points, as Texas held on to beat the Bears 56-50...They love scoring in the Big-12!
In the SEC, (#7) South Carolina went to (#2) Florida, looking to save their season after last week's loss to LSU...Instead, Florida killed off the Gamecocks hopes of an SEC title, rolling to a 44-11 win...Actually South Carolina helped the Gators quite a bit, turning the ball over 4 times, and giving the Gators great field position...You can't win on the road doing that...Shit, Spurrier and the 'Cocks, never seem to be able to win on the road...
Then there was the (#6) LSU at (#18) Texas A&M...Everyone was excited to see A&M QB, Johnny Manziel take on LSU's highly-touted defense, after his un-Godly stats last week...And LSU knew stopping Manziel was the key to them winning...Now, when you look at the numbers from this game, you may find yourself scratching your head, and thinking, 'How did LSU win 24-19?' There's only one stat you have to look at...Turnovers: LSU-0...A&M-5...You can gain all the yards you want...You can have less penalties...You can convert 3rd downs all you want...But if you keep coughing up the ball, you're screwed! Fucking Aggies...Way to keep LSU's hopes alive...Dicks!
In the Big-Ten, Michigan may have won a 12-10 snooze fest against Michigan State, but Sparty here looks like the real winner!
Ohio State had a scare Saturday...Well, two actually...First they spent Saturday struggling against Purdue...Then QB Braxton Miller was knocked out of the game, and taken to the hospital...Kenny Guiton helped lead the Buckeyes from behind...Tie the game...And then win it 29-22 in OT...Reports are saying Miller is fine, and was taken to the hospital to be checked out for a concussion...
Now, to the (#5) Notre Dame Fighting Irish, at home taking on BYU...
Lots of people were talking about this game, possibly being a problem for the Irish...1. Coming off the big OT win last week against Stanford, and 2. Looking ahead to next week against Oklahoma...Me, I wasn't concerned about that...Brian Kelly doesn't let his teams look ahead...My concerns were about Everrett Golson not starting/playing after leaving last week's game with a concussion...Kelly started Tommy Rees, and said Golson wouldn't play...They're being careful with the kid, and I can respect that...But with Rees you lose a big chunk of your playbook...He doesn't have the mobility...You also lose Golson's escape-ability, and improv skills...Also with Rees there is the fear of him having his eyes glued to his primary receiver, and throwing picks...
So how did the Irish handle it...They played tough defense and ball-control offense...Even after being down 14-7 at halftime, Kelly stayed patient with the offense, and kept pounding away at BYU...They didn't put it all on Rees to win it...Afterwards, people called the 17-14 Notre Dame win, "ugly"...You know what, if my team rushes the ball for 270 yards, and wins...Fuck you...Call it ugly if you want, but my guys just pounded your ass for 270 on the ground and won...I'd call that an ugly loss for BYU!
Cierre Wood here, gained 114 yards on 18 carries...While Theo Riddick (at the top of this section) rushed for 143 yards on 15 carries...
The Irish are now 7-0 and head to Oklahoma next week, to face the Sooners in prime-time...This, with out a doubt will be the toughest game yet for Notre Dame...Oklahoma has been out to make a statement since their loss to Kansas State...Notre Dame and K-State both play tough D, and ball control offense...This should really be a good game...And I'll bet the TV ratings are going to be huge for ABC...
The Big East was feeling good about having 3 teams in the BCS standings...Well, they lost one for sure this week as (#21) Cincinnati went to the Glass Bowl to face Toledo, and was stunned with a 29-23 loss...The Rockets jumped out to an early 10-0 lead...They were still up at halftime, 16-13...after 3 quarters it Toledo was up 26-20, and held on for the upset victory...
(#16) Louisville also had a bit of a scare as BJ Daniels and the USF Bulls surged late to try and steal one in Louisville...With under 4 minutes left USF went ahead 25-21...But Cardinals QB Teddy Bridgewater brought his team right back and went back on top 27-25 with a minute and a half left...
PAC-12 surprise team (#8) Oregon State remained undefeated after grinding out a 21-7 win over Utah...
The Surprise in the ACC...Besides Virginia Tech sucking...It has to be the fact that Duke...Fucking basketball playing Duke, is 3-1 in conference, and 6-2 overall, and leading the Coastal Division...That said, their next two games at Florida State, and home against Clemson...So their season may come crashing down around them, but still, they're playing football at Duke finally!
That's it for this week...Feel free to give your two cents about the games you were following...
