It’s one of my all-time favorite stories to tell people. On a cold and rainy November night in 2010, I took the long haul up to Morgantown, West Virginia. My extended family owns some incredible season tickets right behind the bench, and I was treated to my first basketball game in over ten years in the WVU Coliseum. The trip was far from ideal, crammed in the back of a friend’s sedan with four other guys and who knows how many bags. I was dropped off a mile downhill from the Coliseum and had to walk uphill in a horribly misty rain carrying my stuff for the weekend. But as I walked into that arena, I had forgotten all that. I sat soaking it all in. As the warm-up ended and the national anthem started, I tried to savor every esoteric flavor of the moment, but one in particular stands out above all the rest.
“…and the home of the brave!” Loud applause. Cheers everywhere. And then, from just a couple rows behind us:
“BEAT THE HELL OUTTA PITT!”
That’s all well and good, but this was the home opener. We were there for a fall game against Oakland College. Pitt is always played in February, usually on or within about three days of my birthday.
It didn’t matter. Beat the hell outta Pitt. As West Virginia, we must beat the hell outta Pitt. It is our primary purpose of life.
Rivalries are the crack that makes college football so addictive. More people probably watch the NFL, with its top notch talent, wild personalities, and Superbowl winners. But everyone loves a good college football rivalry. From proximity-induced rivalries like the Iron Bowl to the how-did-this-even-become-a-rivalry rivalries like USC-Notre Dame, Thanksgiving week might be the only week of the year where college football is watched much more fervently than the NFL. Yet a seemingly unavoidable conflict seems to be moving through college football, hellbent on tearing rivalries apart. I am talking, of course, about the juggernaut that is conference realignment.
To say I’m sick of conference realignment stories would be an understatement. It has dominated the headlines of college football this year in an incredibly boring, ball-hog fashion. Nobody can talk about anything else but the Big East constantly escalating suckiness, the Big 12 having who-knows-how-many teams, and the ACC rising from low level mediocrity to mediocre mediocrity with the addition of Pitt and Syracuse. Will Texas A&M make it in the SEC? Who knows? Who cares? At this point, why don’t we just wait until they move and find out?
But to ignore conference realignment and the disbanding of prominent national rivalries in this context would be utter negligence on my part. Just yesterday, the Texas Longhorns played what looks like it might be their last game against the Texas A&M Aggies. They have played since 1894, and it is the 3rd longest running rivalry in division 1A college football. Common sense would probably dictate that they keep the rivalry going, but combine a little anger over a TV network with conference realignment, and wham. You’re looking at the end of a historic rivalry.
It’s certainly a sad trend to witness as a passionate fan first, journalist second. But apply that trend to West Virginia, the team I’ve been groomed to love just about all my life, and it’s downright depressing.
West Virginia-Pitt might be a mere regional rivalry, but it’s one of the most heated rivalries I’ve ever seen. Think Alabama-Auburn without the national title implications (though there’s an exception for every rule- my apologies, fellow mountaineer fans), except maybe even meaner. I don’t expect there to be any ESPN documentaries about my beloved Backyard Brawl any time soon, but it doesn’t mean the players aren’t out for blood. Last time the Brawl came to Morgantown, there were so many state troopers on the field that you could have robbed every bank in West Virginia blind and nobody would have been any wiser until you were three states away.
But like any good rivalry, a team is really defined by their rival. Try thinking about Auburn’s 2010 national championship year without reminiscing over that miraculous Cam Newton-led comeback over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. West Virginia and Pitt are no different. Penn State hasn’t played Pitt in years, and you can hardly call the Marshall-WVU series a real rivalry when the Thundering Herd has actually never beaten WVU. With a shocking absence of true rivalries around, the Backyard Brawl means more now than it ever has.
Here is the part of the story where realignment rears its ugly head. The athletic directors of both schools want the rivalry to continue. The fans and players all want it. I’m sure ESPN and the NCAA still want it. So if literally everyone still wants the rivalry, why on Earth would it be discontinued? Ahh, but with Pitt going to the ACC and WVU to the Big 12, it might just not be possible. WVU would have to play nine games in conference alone, and Pitt would have to play a similar schedule in the ACC. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for a big rivalry, especially when the strength of schedule is already so high with teams like Oklahoma/Virginia Tech, Texas/Florida State, and Oklahoma State/Clemson.
Conference change or no conference change, though, WVU and Pitt hate each other. Even more so, the fans hate each other. Hop on any messenger board and the vitriol spewed at opposing fans is downright filthy- and that’s coming from a college guy with an admittedly colorful vocabulary (Colorful here translates to “must remember to censor self in front of parents at all times.”). But despite all the hate, it’s really an incredibly twisted love. It’s a real, down-to-the-core love… to hate. What is WVU without eat shit Pitt? What is Pitt without Morganhole? The rivalry does indeed define the schools on more than one occasion.
So yeah, I hate Pitt. I have as long as I can remember, and I probably always will. But if we stop playing Pitt, I will be incredibly, incredibly angry. Because I love Pitt. I love to hate them. Pitt is the creepy neighbor down the street that you love making fun of. You can’t stand their weirdness, but who would you rag on if they moved out of the neighborhood? I need that creepy neighbor in my life. I need Pitt.
Tonight is the 104th Backyard Brawl. Here’s to hoping that it isn’t the last time these two teams meet on the football field. Here’s to the continued tradition of rivalries in college football. Here’s to the 105th Backyard Brawl.
Oh yeah. And eat shit, Pitt.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Win, and You're In (Maybe)
At 6-4 and less than 24 hours away from their final regular season game, James Madison is probably the most interesting team in all of FCS football this year. Here is everything you need to know about the defining game of JMU's 2011 football season:
How We Got Here: One year removed from a program-altering upset of Virginia Tech, JMU brought a veteran defense and a surprisingly capable offense back to the gridiron. Big things were expected of the Dukes. FBS foe North Carolina beat the Dukes in Chapel Hill, but back to back FBS upsets are literally unheard of at the FCS level, so no surprises there. Many fans I talked to were afraid that such a beatdown at the hands of even an average FBS teammeant that the Dukes were bound were mediocrity for the third straight year. Whatever the negative perception was, the team clearly didn't feel the same way. JMU eeked out a close win over possible playoff team Central Connecticut State at the inception of the new Bridgeforth Stadium.
The offense really started to mesh after that. JMU defeated a very good, playoff-bound Liberty team in Lynchburg. After the Liberty football team realized they were about to break curfew, they retreated indoors, and the Dukes headed Williamsburg and picked up their first conference win against #6 William and Mary.
But all good things must come to an end. Justin Thorpe was promptly suspended for five games, and via federal family protection laws, we were not offically told why. Pretty much everyone understands that he failed a drug test, sources telling me because of nothing other than weed. Backup linebacker Chase Williams was also suspended, but let's face it, when the quarterback and anyone else on the team is indefinitely suspended, the quarterback will be the main one in the spotlight.
Freshman quarterback Jace Edwards takes the snaps at this point in time. With Family Weekend's annual rivalry against the Spiders looming, many wondered if JMU would fall to the creepy crawlers to the third straight year. Not the case. In his JMU debut, Edwards managed a rushing romp of epic proportions as Richmond was promptly squashed.
If you're squeamish, look away. This next part gets nasty.
JMU loses to Maine in overtime on a gadget 2-pt conversion play. Maine's play rises to #2 on Sportscenter's Top Plays. Dae'Quan Scott and Jace Edwards both suffer separated shoulders. JMU bounces back to thrash cellar dweller Villanova, but JMU loses the inaugural ODU game to second half injuries after somewhat controlling the first half. Hope floats with the possibility of a would-be impressive road victory at New Hampshire, but injuries and the far travel distance prove too much for JMU, and lose their third in a four game stretch.
That is, of course, five games. Justin Thorpe returns and leads a romp over Rhode Island on Senior Day in Bridgeforth. And now here we sit with the Dukes (6-4, 4-3).
On the Precipice of Glory: JMU travels to UMass Saturday, an average team who has had a tough go of it this year and is inelligible to make the postseason anyway. They have very little to play for. JMU, on the other hand, has everything to play for. By rule, a team must win seven games to qualify for the postseason in FCS football. This is as must-win as must-win gets. Should JMU beat UMass, the selection committee will have an admittedly hard decision- JMU beat two solid out of conference opponents, and they followed those wins up by playing a season in what is probably the toughest division in FCS football (with apologies to the Big South. The committee will also need to consider the fact that JMU is appealing for more than just their football program- the Dukes are one of the most spirited and supported teams out there, and Bridgeforth Stadium in its entirety is second to no other stadium on the FCS level. The committee does consider these things when deciding not only who makes the playoffs, but where the home games are played.
On the Verge of Defeat: The return of Justin Thorpe really fired some people up last week, and we played great against Rhode Island. But it doesn't change the fact that we are really, really injured. The offensive line is a mess at this point, and it won't get any better soon. It's not unreasonable to think we could travel all the way up to the northeast tip of the country and lose another game up there. That would definitively end our season at 6-5 for the third straight year, and the coaching carousel would begin. But even if we stand at 7-4 after the UMass game, a playoff berth is not guarenteed. While its true that JMU has played admirably in the face of hardship and played some tough opponents, the bottom line is that JMU's only CAA wins have come from teams under .500 in conference play. That is a pretty damning statistic, and a win at UMass (5-5, 3-4) won't change that either. They might prefer a Delaware team that has been a little inconsistent, but has beaten both ODU and conference leader Towson. Either way, it could be bad. Should I prefer the quick death of a UMass loss, or the slow, drawn out pain of a no bid from the FCS playoff committee? Neither one sounds incredibly appealing.
The Verdict: An inspired JMU squad goes up to Massachusetts and sends a message to the committee. The game is close early on as JMU leads by only 6 at halftime, but the Dukes turn it up in the second half as they have in most of their wins this year. Good guys win 27-13. The playoff committee wants to allow JMU in, but they soon realize too much of the JMU appeal comes from Bridgeforth Stadium. After a tight vote, JMU is awarded a first-round home rematch against Liberty, with App State looming around the corner for the winner.
How We Got Here: One year removed from a program-altering upset of Virginia Tech, JMU brought a veteran defense and a surprisingly capable offense back to the gridiron. Big things were expected of the Dukes. FBS foe North Carolina beat the Dukes in Chapel Hill, but back to back FBS upsets are literally unheard of at the FCS level, so no surprises there. Many fans I talked to were afraid that such a beatdown at the hands of even an average FBS teammeant that the Dukes were bound were mediocrity for the third straight year. Whatever the negative perception was, the team clearly didn't feel the same way. JMU eeked out a close win over possible playoff team Central Connecticut State at the inception of the new Bridgeforth Stadium.
The offense really started to mesh after that. JMU defeated a very good, playoff-bound Liberty team in Lynchburg. After the Liberty football team realized they were about to break curfew, they retreated indoors, and the Dukes headed Williamsburg and picked up their first conference win against #6 William and Mary.
But all good things must come to an end. Justin Thorpe was promptly suspended for five games, and via federal family protection laws, we were not offically told why. Pretty much everyone understands that he failed a drug test, sources telling me because of nothing other than weed. Backup linebacker Chase Williams was also suspended, but let's face it, when the quarterback and anyone else on the team is indefinitely suspended, the quarterback will be the main one in the spotlight.
Freshman quarterback Jace Edwards takes the snaps at this point in time. With Family Weekend's annual rivalry against the Spiders looming, many wondered if JMU would fall to the creepy crawlers to the third straight year. Not the case. In his JMU debut, Edwards managed a rushing romp of epic proportions as Richmond was promptly squashed.
If you're squeamish, look away. This next part gets nasty.
JMU loses to Maine in overtime on a gadget 2-pt conversion play. Maine's play rises to #2 on Sportscenter's Top Plays. Dae'Quan Scott and Jace Edwards both suffer separated shoulders. JMU bounces back to thrash cellar dweller Villanova, but JMU loses the inaugural ODU game to second half injuries after somewhat controlling the first half. Hope floats with the possibility of a would-be impressive road victory at New Hampshire, but injuries and the far travel distance prove too much for JMU, and lose their third in a four game stretch.
That is, of course, five games. Justin Thorpe returns and leads a romp over Rhode Island on Senior Day in Bridgeforth. And now here we sit with the Dukes (6-4, 4-3).
On the Precipice of Glory: JMU travels to UMass Saturday, an average team who has had a tough go of it this year and is inelligible to make the postseason anyway. They have very little to play for. JMU, on the other hand, has everything to play for. By rule, a team must win seven games to qualify for the postseason in FCS football. This is as must-win as must-win gets. Should JMU beat UMass, the selection committee will have an admittedly hard decision- JMU beat two solid out of conference opponents, and they followed those wins up by playing a season in what is probably the toughest division in FCS football (with apologies to the Big South. The committee will also need to consider the fact that JMU is appealing for more than just their football program- the Dukes are one of the most spirited and supported teams out there, and Bridgeforth Stadium in its entirety is second to no other stadium on the FCS level. The committee does consider these things when deciding not only who makes the playoffs, but where the home games are played.
On the Verge of Defeat: The return of Justin Thorpe really fired some people up last week, and we played great against Rhode Island. But it doesn't change the fact that we are really, really injured. The offensive line is a mess at this point, and it won't get any better soon. It's not unreasonable to think we could travel all the way up to the northeast tip of the country and lose another game up there. That would definitively end our season at 6-5 for the third straight year, and the coaching carousel would begin. But even if we stand at 7-4 after the UMass game, a playoff berth is not guarenteed. While its true that JMU has played admirably in the face of hardship and played some tough opponents, the bottom line is that JMU's only CAA wins have come from teams under .500 in conference play. That is a pretty damning statistic, and a win at UMass (5-5, 3-4) won't change that either. They might prefer a Delaware team that has been a little inconsistent, but has beaten both ODU and conference leader Towson. Either way, it could be bad. Should I prefer the quick death of a UMass loss, or the slow, drawn out pain of a no bid from the FCS playoff committee? Neither one sounds incredibly appealing.
The Verdict: An inspired JMU squad goes up to Massachusetts and sends a message to the committee. The game is close early on as JMU leads by only 6 at halftime, but the Dukes turn it up in the second half as they have in most of their wins this year. Good guys win 27-13. The playoff committee wants to allow JMU in, but they soon realize too much of the JMU appeal comes from Bridgeforth Stadium. After a tight vote, JMU is awarded a first-round home rematch against Liberty, with App State looming around the corner for the winner.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Keeping up with the Coastalashians
The Atlantic division of the ACC can be summed up pretty succintly:
Clemson.
Aside from an unsuccessful bout with the dangerous Georgia Tech, Clemson has really dominated most of its ACC competition. Frankly, its not very interesting to talk about. With Florida State dropping two games in conference play (and I expect a third is on the way, but more on that later), the Seminoles gift wrapped the inside track to the conference title game and gave it to Clemson in a rather bottom-heavy division:
+Maryland- It was cute when people thought Danny O'Brien was the best quarterback in the ACC in the preseason. Now though... it's just gotten kind of sad.
+NC State- After 11 weeks, they're 5-5. Their last two games are against Maryland and Clemson. After a bowl win over West Virginia last year, it's pretty feasible that the wolfpack doesn't even qualify for a bowl one year later. Is this what happens when Russell Wilson leaves your program for a state whose biggest upside is belt-centric touchdown dances and lots of cheese?
+Boston College- Hasn't been relevant since Matt Ryan.
+Wake Forest- Wait, they have a football program? All kidding aside, Wake is probably the best of these four... but it's not saying much. The DD's actually don't own an out of conference win against an FBS school on any level. So color me unimpressed.
This is the division that Clemson has run through. Not a lot of excitement here, especially when you consider that Clemson has already clinched the title berth. So instead, today we are going to look at the Coastal division of the ACC- a race that is not quite as decided.
Virginia Tech- The hokies being in the title hunt is nothing new. So I will spare you an elaborate team introduction and point out that, against bowl-qualified competition (ie teams that have qualified for a postseason berth by winning six games), Virginia Tech is 1-1. This is a telling statistic in a couple of ways. First of all prior to four days ago, VT was 0-1; they got their first quality win on the road against Georgia Tech last Thursday. The loss came in early October at home against Clemson. That's really all I can say that matters about Tech, all their other games have come against ACC pretenders, conference USA schools, or FCS teams. You really just have to go with a gut feeling on Tech, and my gut tells me that they are physically gifted but not disciplined or schematically unique enough to keep up with top-tier talent. Most imporantly, my intuition SCREAMS that, at #8 in the BCS, Tech is wayyyyyy way way way overrated. But before we start talking about BCS games, we need to talk about winning the ACC championship. And for Tech to get there, they have to beat...
Virginia- Former U of R coach Mike London hasnt turned them into a powerhouse quite yet, but the Cavaliers are well over .500 and probably on their way to a bowl game. Before the postseason though, UVA will face Virginia Tech in a monster regular season finale in Charlottesville that has huge implications every which way. To start with, if UVA can keep pace with Virginia Tech for one more week, UVA could win the Coastal division on the head to head tiebreaker with a win over Virginia Tech two weeks from now. UVA hasn't beaten Virginia Tech in who knows how long (pretty sure it's over 10 years now) but if you recall some of my preseason predictions from this year, I did think that UVA and Virginia Tech would have close records by the end of the year. Now, here comes the second half of that prediction: The Cavaliers will beat Virginia Tech during rivalry week and play in the ACC championship game. They've got to win at Florida State to have a shot at stealing the bid from Tech (unless the hokies drop their home game to UNC this Thursday, which is unlikely). But the Cavs are really hitting their stride and playing with some tenaciousness for the first time in about five years. I think they upset both ranked programs and take their spot in the sun. UVA fans will rub it in the faces of Tech fans; Tech fans will ask UVA fans how many years it's been since the Cavs have been relevant. In the end, isn't the return of a viable college football rivalry to Virginia what really matters?
Check out my Big East breakdown right here tomorrow. Bring your calculators and your bibs. There's gonna be math... and it's gonna be messy.
Clemson.
Aside from an unsuccessful bout with the dangerous Georgia Tech, Clemson has really dominated most of its ACC competition. Frankly, its not very interesting to talk about. With Florida State dropping two games in conference play (and I expect a third is on the way, but more on that later), the Seminoles gift wrapped the inside track to the conference title game and gave it to Clemson in a rather bottom-heavy division:
+Maryland- It was cute when people thought Danny O'Brien was the best quarterback in the ACC in the preseason. Now though... it's just gotten kind of sad.
+NC State- After 11 weeks, they're 5-5. Their last two games are against Maryland and Clemson. After a bowl win over West Virginia last year, it's pretty feasible that the wolfpack doesn't even qualify for a bowl one year later. Is this what happens when Russell Wilson leaves your program for a state whose biggest upside is belt-centric touchdown dances and lots of cheese?
+Boston College- Hasn't been relevant since Matt Ryan.
+Wake Forest- Wait, they have a football program? All kidding aside, Wake is probably the best of these four... but it's not saying much. The DD's actually don't own an out of conference win against an FBS school on any level. So color me unimpressed.
This is the division that Clemson has run through. Not a lot of excitement here, especially when you consider that Clemson has already clinched the title berth. So instead, today we are going to look at the Coastal division of the ACC- a race that is not quite as decided.
Virginia Tech- The hokies being in the title hunt is nothing new. So I will spare you an elaborate team introduction and point out that, against bowl-qualified competition (ie teams that have qualified for a postseason berth by winning six games), Virginia Tech is 1-1. This is a telling statistic in a couple of ways. First of all prior to four days ago, VT was 0-1; they got their first quality win on the road against Georgia Tech last Thursday. The loss came in early October at home against Clemson. That's really all I can say that matters about Tech, all their other games have come against ACC pretenders, conference USA schools, or FCS teams. You really just have to go with a gut feeling on Tech, and my gut tells me that they are physically gifted but not disciplined or schematically unique enough to keep up with top-tier talent. Most imporantly, my intuition SCREAMS that, at #8 in the BCS, Tech is wayyyyyy way way way overrated. But before we start talking about BCS games, we need to talk about winning the ACC championship. And for Tech to get there, they have to beat...
Virginia- Former U of R coach Mike London hasnt turned them into a powerhouse quite yet, but the Cavaliers are well over .500 and probably on their way to a bowl game. Before the postseason though, UVA will face Virginia Tech in a monster regular season finale in Charlottesville that has huge implications every which way. To start with, if UVA can keep pace with Virginia Tech for one more week, UVA could win the Coastal division on the head to head tiebreaker with a win over Virginia Tech two weeks from now. UVA hasn't beaten Virginia Tech in who knows how long (pretty sure it's over 10 years now) but if you recall some of my preseason predictions from this year, I did think that UVA and Virginia Tech would have close records by the end of the year. Now, here comes the second half of that prediction: The Cavaliers will beat Virginia Tech during rivalry week and play in the ACC championship game. They've got to win at Florida State to have a shot at stealing the bid from Tech (unless the hokies drop their home game to UNC this Thursday, which is unlikely). But the Cavs are really hitting their stride and playing with some tenaciousness for the first time in about five years. I think they upset both ranked programs and take their spot in the sun. UVA fans will rub it in the faces of Tech fans; Tech fans will ask UVA fans how many years it's been since the Cavs have been relevant. In the end, isn't the return of a viable college football rivalry to Virginia what really matters?
Check out my Big East breakdown right here tomorrow. Bring your calculators and your bibs. There's gonna be math... and it's gonna be messy.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Mini-Series Coming This Week
Lots of big things happening next weekend. Just so everyone can keep up with all the information and title races out there, I'll be doing a mini-series this week on the CAA, Big East, and ACC title races. All three are absolutely fascinating, and when you see the competitions and possible winners that are out there right now, I think you'll all be pretty shocked.
Can't way to see you all this week in between frequent bursts of THIS!!!
Can't way to see you all this week in between frequent bursts of THIS!!!
Rating the Hangovers
They say that November is the month where championships are won. I disagree- I think November is the month where championships are lost. Lots of BCS and conference championship implications in week 11. Lots of dreams foiled here, and I'll be counting them all down right here.
7. South Carolina- Sure, they won (barely) over a Florida program that is akin to the kids throwing the party while their parents are out, and haven't realized how trashed their house has gotten. The 5 point home win has to feel good... I guess. But now that South Carolina has completed their SEC schedule 1/2 a game behind Georgia, they are left hoping that Georgia loses their SEC finale next weekend so that they can represent the SEC East in the championship game. The final punchline? Even if South Carolina gets back to the championship game, they really have no chance at all against LSU, especially without Garcia and Lattimore.
6. Stanford- Probable #1 draft pick Andrew Luck saw the Cardinal's long winning streak get doused by Oregon... again. Stanford sat at #4 and was in line to get to the national championship in the event that Oklahoma State lost, but this loss all but eliminates them from that conversation. As if getting booted from title contention wasn't enough, they lost to the Ducks, that same team that has owned them the last three games.
5. Texas A&M- Oh how they mighty have fallen. The Aggies were my preseason sleeper pick to win the Big 12, and... well, I just flat out wrong. A&M certainly has the talent, but they just don't execute OR hold leads. After two early losses where they embarassingly releashed two gigantic leads to Oklahoma State and Arkansas. Recently, Texas A&M lost in overtime to Missouri AND got blown out by the Sooners. In this latest contest of whats-a-new-way-we-can-embarass-ourselves, A&M lost to overrated kansas state in four overtimes. They certainly be blamed for a lot of shortcomings, but on some level you've got to feel bad for this team that just keeps finding ways to lose.
4. Texas-The longhorns scored five points. That could be a punchline.
3. Penn State- Hell? No, that's just been happy valley, pennsylvania the last few weeks. State college has been absolutely put through the ringer through a combination of the firing of a legend, the scandal of a generation, and a media blitz that could rival an apocalypse. After the dust settled and penn state actually needed to, you know, play a football game... things didn't go so hot. PSU got behind early and made a valiant comeback... but it wasn't enough. You just have to feel bad for the Nits, even if they were hugely overrated, you just kind of hoped they pull out a win after such a nightmare of a week.
2. Boise State- Raise your hand if you've heard this one before. Kellen Moore and Boise State cruise through the first couple months of their season, only to lose in November to a conference rival on a missed field goal at the end of the game that keeps them out of fringe National title contention. Wow, that was oddly specific wasn't it? Yet it's now happened twice in a row. Big picture, the Broncos week 11 home loss to TCU is just freakishly similar to last season's loss at Nevada. Sure, there are some key differences like the kicker's pedigree, but the bottom line is we won't have to hear about how Boise State belongs in the national title game anymore... and frankly, I am really, REALLY happy about that. Still, awful hangover for the boys in blue.
1. Cincinatti- It's true, I have Cincinatti here as the worst hangover despite the fact that they are actually in first place in the Big East. I'm not saying grabbing your first loss at home on a blocked field goal as time expires is all rose petals or anything. That's gotta leave you smarting a bit. But the real pain comes here with the additional loss of senior bearcat quarterback Zach Collaros. Backup quarterback Munchie Legaux seemed to share the raw running power that Collaros also had, but he's far from a polished signal caller when it comes to passing. Questionable decision making and footwork may not be enough to will Cincinatti through their final three games, but the team won't have much of a choice- Collaros is out for the season with a broken ankle. UC still holds a half game lead in the Big East, but a whopping five teams are within that very short striking distance. I would not be surprised at all if a team that is not Cincinatti wins the Big East.
7. South Carolina- Sure, they won (barely) over a Florida program that is akin to the kids throwing the party while their parents are out, and haven't realized how trashed their house has gotten. The 5 point home win has to feel good... I guess. But now that South Carolina has completed their SEC schedule 1/2 a game behind Georgia, they are left hoping that Georgia loses their SEC finale next weekend so that they can represent the SEC East in the championship game. The final punchline? Even if South Carolina gets back to the championship game, they really have no chance at all against LSU, especially without Garcia and Lattimore.
6. Stanford- Probable #1 draft pick Andrew Luck saw the Cardinal's long winning streak get doused by Oregon... again. Stanford sat at #4 and was in line to get to the national championship in the event that Oklahoma State lost, but this loss all but eliminates them from that conversation. As if getting booted from title contention wasn't enough, they lost to the Ducks, that same team that has owned them the last three games.
5. Texas A&M- Oh how they mighty have fallen. The Aggies were my preseason sleeper pick to win the Big 12, and... well, I just flat out wrong. A&M certainly has the talent, but they just don't execute OR hold leads. After two early losses where they embarassingly releashed two gigantic leads to Oklahoma State and Arkansas. Recently, Texas A&M lost in overtime to Missouri AND got blown out by the Sooners. In this latest contest of whats-a-new-way-we-can-embarass-ourselves, A&M lost to overrated kansas state in four overtimes. They certainly be blamed for a lot of shortcomings, but on some level you've got to feel bad for this team that just keeps finding ways to lose.
4. Texas-The longhorns scored five points. That could be a punchline.
3. Penn State- Hell? No, that's just been happy valley, pennsylvania the last few weeks. State college has been absolutely put through the ringer through a combination of the firing of a legend, the scandal of a generation, and a media blitz that could rival an apocalypse. After the dust settled and penn state actually needed to, you know, play a football game... things didn't go so hot. PSU got behind early and made a valiant comeback... but it wasn't enough. You just have to feel bad for the Nits, even if they were hugely overrated, you just kind of hoped they pull out a win after such a nightmare of a week.
2. Boise State- Raise your hand if you've heard this one before. Kellen Moore and Boise State cruise through the first couple months of their season, only to lose in November to a conference rival on a missed field goal at the end of the game that keeps them out of fringe National title contention. Wow, that was oddly specific wasn't it? Yet it's now happened twice in a row. Big picture, the Broncos week 11 home loss to TCU is just freakishly similar to last season's loss at Nevada. Sure, there are some key differences like the kicker's pedigree, but the bottom line is we won't have to hear about how Boise State belongs in the national title game anymore... and frankly, I am really, REALLY happy about that. Still, awful hangover for the boys in blue.
1. Cincinatti- It's true, I have Cincinatti here as the worst hangover despite the fact that they are actually in first place in the Big East. I'm not saying grabbing your first loss at home on a blocked field goal as time expires is all rose petals or anything. That's gotta leave you smarting a bit. But the real pain comes here with the additional loss of senior bearcat quarterback Zach Collaros. Backup quarterback Munchie Legaux seemed to share the raw running power that Collaros also had, but he's far from a polished signal caller when it comes to passing. Questionable decision making and footwork may not be enough to will Cincinatti through their final three games, but the team won't have much of a choice- Collaros is out for the season with a broken ankle. UC still holds a half game lead in the Big East, but a whopping five teams are within that very short striking distance. I would not be surprised at all if a team that is not Cincinatti wins the Big East.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
MSU-Wisky Finish Inspires Fond Memories
Please, fellow sports fans, tell me that you saw the Michigan State-Wisconsin game. Or at least the finish. If you didn’t, shame on you. You missed one of the greatest endings I have ever personally seen in my short seven year career of watching/being incredibly obsessed with college football. The Spartans total defensive effort isn’t going to blow anyone away- they allowed 443 total yards of offense to the Badgers- but big plays on defense really propelled MSU forward. Led by a safety, two interceptions, and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, Michigan State led for a majority of the game. No. 6 Wisconsin had something to say about that. They tied the game with 1:26 left, only to witness an unthinkable ending. With just seconds to go and right outside of field goal range, State quarterback Kirk Cousins quite literally heaved up a prayer from midfield. The ball was swatted around and, by some sort of divine miracle, was caught outside of the end zone by unheralded receiver Keith Nichol, his first catch of the night. He pushed to break the plane of the goal line, but was called just short. The game was destined for overtime… that is, until replay officials overturned the call with video evidence that unquestionably proved that the Hail Mary was indeed a touchdown. What a finish.
So that got me thinking… how does this remarkable game compare with some of the greatest finishes of my football-watching lifetime (circa 2004-present). This is certainly not a comprehensive list of all great finishes in the last few years- that would take much more room than this simple blog (writer’s note: or newspaper column) has available. I won’t be so presumptuous as to impose my own personal preferences on you readers, but I think many of you might hazard a guess at which of the following incredible finishes tops my all time favorite endings list:
The “Bush Push” (October 15, 2005)- Notre Dame thought they had won. Fans had already come on to the field to celebrate a huge Irish upset of USC. But after seven seconds were placed back on the clock and the fans had been chased off the field for one final play, USC quarterback Matt Leinart tried to take the ball in to the end zone himself. Just when you thought he was going to be dragged down short of the goal line, he got a bit of an unorthodox push from Heisman winner Reggie Bush. Touchdown Southern Cal. The Trojans win it 34-31; the Irish remain in an ever-humbling irrelevance.
Boise State’s Undefeated Season (January 1, 2007)- Back before Boise was America’s most frequently talked about Cinderella story, they were on the cusp of a rare undefeated season. The Broncos were on the wrong side of a close game against Oklahoma in the 2007 edition of the Fiesta Bowl, but a 50-yard hook and ladder play as time expired pushed the game to overtime. You would think that kind of magic might have used up all of the positive karma Boise had left in the tank, but a statue of liberty 2-pt conversion in overtime won the boys in blue their first BCS bowl game.
The “Miracle in Michigan” (September 1, 2007)- For the amount of FBS teams that buy wins from FCS schools, there aren’t a whole lot of upsets. Most would agree that the occasional upset is quite rare, but an FCS school beating a top ranked team? That’s just unheard of. Enter the two-time defending national champions, the 2007 rendition of the Appalachian State Mountaineers. They played a back and forth game with then-ranked #5 Michigan and found themselves up 34-32 with seconds to go. Michigan managed to put together one last drive that culminated with a go-ahead field goal attempt at the end of the game, only to have it blocked by the App State special teams. App State became the first FCS team to beat a ranked FBS opponent. (Anyone know who the second team was? Go ask a friend at Virginia Tech.)
Les’ Lucky Number 13 (October 1, 2010?)- Tennessee was on the brink of upsetting LSU 13-10 in Baton Rouge. With less than 30 seconds left in the game, all LSU head coach Les Miles had to do was somehow get the ball into the end zone. Atrocious clock management brought the game clock all the way down under ten seconds with LSU players scrambling around to find out the play call and get into position. Chaos ensued all the way through the play, too, as the quarterback muffed the snap and was sacked all the way out of the red zone. The clock struck 0. “FINAL: Tennessee 13, LSU 10” showed on the television. The game was, for all intents and purposes, concluded. That is, of course, until the referees ran onto the field, hauled everyone out of the tunnels to the locker room, and announced that Tennessee had too many men on the field during their last play. Video inspection by the commentators revealed Tennessee had not eleven, not twelve, but thirteen men on the field! LSU got one final play call, and the punched it in for the win. Final score- LSU 16, Tennessee 13.
Good Ole Scottie (October 1, 2008)- He was as much of a legend as a special teams player can be. JMU’s very own Devin Hester. Entire chants sang his name. He is Scottie McGee, and as the then-ranked #1 team in the land James Madison Dukes went on the road to play archrival #5 Richmond, a special sort of feeling was in the air. Most of the current student population, including myself, was still in high school at the time, but being a Richmond native, we still got the game on Comcast Sportsnet. It was one of those games you just happen to sit down and watch for no reason at all, but you end up witnessing something magical. The game was physical, close, and compelling- just as a rivalry game should be. As Richmond punted to the already-infamous McGee with a tie game and hardly any time left at all, Scottie ran up the sideline. He picked up a block, made one or two guys miss, and was just gone. He ran it in for the touchdown with just one second left on the clock, and the JMU special teams came up with the stop on the ensuing kickoff. Scottie may have been a fan favorite even earlier, but this was the game that transubstantiated him into the stuff of legend.
So that got me thinking… how does this remarkable game compare with some of the greatest finishes of my football-watching lifetime (circa 2004-present). This is certainly not a comprehensive list of all great finishes in the last few years- that would take much more room than this simple blog (writer’s note: or newspaper column) has available. I won’t be so presumptuous as to impose my own personal preferences on you readers, but I think many of you might hazard a guess at which of the following incredible finishes tops my all time favorite endings list:
The “Bush Push” (October 15, 2005)- Notre Dame thought they had won. Fans had already come on to the field to celebrate a huge Irish upset of USC. But after seven seconds were placed back on the clock and the fans had been chased off the field for one final play, USC quarterback Matt Leinart tried to take the ball in to the end zone himself. Just when you thought he was going to be dragged down short of the goal line, he got a bit of an unorthodox push from Heisman winner Reggie Bush. Touchdown Southern Cal. The Trojans win it 34-31; the Irish remain in an ever-humbling irrelevance.
Boise State’s Undefeated Season (January 1, 2007)- Back before Boise was America’s most frequently talked about Cinderella story, they were on the cusp of a rare undefeated season. The Broncos were on the wrong side of a close game against Oklahoma in the 2007 edition of the Fiesta Bowl, but a 50-yard hook and ladder play as time expired pushed the game to overtime. You would think that kind of magic might have used up all of the positive karma Boise had left in the tank, but a statue of liberty 2-pt conversion in overtime won the boys in blue their first BCS bowl game.
The “Miracle in Michigan” (September 1, 2007)- For the amount of FBS teams that buy wins from FCS schools, there aren’t a whole lot of upsets. Most would agree that the occasional upset is quite rare, but an FCS school beating a top ranked team? That’s just unheard of. Enter the two-time defending national champions, the 2007 rendition of the Appalachian State Mountaineers. They played a back and forth game with then-ranked #5 Michigan and found themselves up 34-32 with seconds to go. Michigan managed to put together one last drive that culminated with a go-ahead field goal attempt at the end of the game, only to have it blocked by the App State special teams. App State became the first FCS team to beat a ranked FBS opponent. (Anyone know who the second team was? Go ask a friend at Virginia Tech.)
Les’ Lucky Number 13 (October 1, 2010?)- Tennessee was on the brink of upsetting LSU 13-10 in Baton Rouge. With less than 30 seconds left in the game, all LSU head coach Les Miles had to do was somehow get the ball into the end zone. Atrocious clock management brought the game clock all the way down under ten seconds with LSU players scrambling around to find out the play call and get into position. Chaos ensued all the way through the play, too, as the quarterback muffed the snap and was sacked all the way out of the red zone. The clock struck 0. “FINAL: Tennessee 13, LSU 10” showed on the television. The game was, for all intents and purposes, concluded. That is, of course, until the referees ran onto the field, hauled everyone out of the tunnels to the locker room, and announced that Tennessee had too many men on the field during their last play. Video inspection by the commentators revealed Tennessee had not eleven, not twelve, but thirteen men on the field! LSU got one final play call, and the punched it in for the win. Final score- LSU 16, Tennessee 13.
Good Ole Scottie (October 1, 2008)- He was as much of a legend as a special teams player can be. JMU’s very own Devin Hester. Entire chants sang his name. He is Scottie McGee, and as the then-ranked #1 team in the land James Madison Dukes went on the road to play archrival #5 Richmond, a special sort of feeling was in the air. Most of the current student population, including myself, was still in high school at the time, but being a Richmond native, we still got the game on Comcast Sportsnet. It was one of those games you just happen to sit down and watch for no reason at all, but you end up witnessing something magical. The game was physical, close, and compelling- just as a rivalry game should be. As Richmond punted to the already-infamous McGee with a tie game and hardly any time left at all, Scottie ran up the sideline. He picked up a block, made one or two guys miss, and was just gone. He ran it in for the touchdown with just one second left on the clock, and the JMU special teams came up with the stop on the ensuing kickoff. Scottie may have been a fan favorite even earlier, but this was the game that transubstantiated him into the stuff of legend.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Rant Time: In Tebow I Refuse to Trust
This was neither the first thing that I wanted to write about nor the last. To be honest, I feel like I go on about how not amazing Tebow is a lot to by friends and readers, and in my mind, it's with good reason. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning.
Week 7 of the NFL? The 1-win Broncoes are coming off a bye and traveling to winless Miami. Enter Tebow, making what we presume is his first of several starts on the year. I give some serious credit to the Denver coaching staff- if this was a drawn up conditional scenario (ie- if we are 1-4 going into the bye, let's get Tebow ready and give him a shot at Miami if they end up sucking like they have recently), then it was a brilliant strategy. In fact, it's probably the smartest thing they've done since firing Josh McDaniels. Anyway, to the game.
The following is an appropriately relevant excerpt from Bill Simmon's amazing website Grantland. I did not write this, but it very succintly describes my feelings, almost word for word. I say again. I did not write the following excerpt. 110% of credit should be given to Bill Barnwell. You know, the guy that wrote this? Because it wasn't me:
"Far be it [for me] to ruin an admittedly great story, but let's be real about the Tim Tebow plaudits being thrown around after the Broncos' 18-15 comeback over the Dolphins on Sunday. Tebow certainly deserves some of the credit, but not the massive outpouring of praise that is being thrown his way.
The Win Probability chart at advancednflstats.com for this game tells the true story of what happened. When Tebow took over on his own 20-yard line down 15 points with 5:23 left, both Broncos and Dolphins fans were leaving the stadium in Miami, and they weren't wrong to do so. The Broncos' chances of winning were estimated to be around 1 percent. Tebow proceeded to lead his most impressive drive of the day, going 80 yards in eight plays, throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas.
For all that work, the Broncos' chances of winning had improved all the way to … 2 percent. Teams with an eight-point lead that are about to receive the kickoff simply don't lose very frequently; it takes an expected onside kick to pick it up, and teams recover expected onside kicks only about 20 percent of the time. When the Broncos were able to recover the kick, their win expectancy improved to 12 percent; the onside kick was six times more valuable than Tebow's drive. If that figure seems low, consider that the Broncos still needed to drive 50 yards, score, pick up a two-point conversion, and then win in overtime. They had momentum in their favor, but so have plenty of other teams in this scenario who haven't been able to pick up the W.
Tebow then proceeded to take advantage of a short field. Starting on his own 44-yard line, Tebow drove the team 56 yards in 10 plays, highlighted by a gorgeous 28-yard throw to (and equally impressive catch from) Daniel Fells. After that, Denver converted the two-pointer on a Tebow run1 and the Broncos' win expectancy was pushed all the way up to 46 percent. They'd made an incredible comeback, but they were still underdogs heading into overtime.
After they won the overtime coin toss and traded possessions with the Broncos, the Dolphins remained favorites. When Daniel Thomas converted a second-and-2 to give the Dolphins a new set of downs on their own 43-yard line, the Dolphins only needed to travel about 25 more yards to pick up a game-winning field goal. They win an estimated 67 percent of the time in that situation.
That, of course, led to the final dramatic swing. Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams sacked Matt Moore on the ensuing play, producing a single-play swing that was bigger than any of Tebow's drives. The Broncos went from a win expectancy of 33 percent to 78 percent by recovering the fumble, and while they proceeded to gain only two yards on the subsequent drive, they converted another short field into points to win the game.
On Sunday, Tim Tebow was given a total of 15 possessions. Four of them started with 56 yards or less to go for an offensive touchdown. Not coincidentally, of the four, three were his final three drives, and he produced a total of 11 points on those drives. His other 11 drives all started deep in his own territory, with six of them beginning on the 20-yard line and only one beyond the 25 (a drive that started on the Miami 41 that resulted in a missed field goal). Ten of those drives resulted in eight punts, a missed field goal, and a fumble. They gained, on average, less than 12 yards.
This isn't a one-week trend, either. When he came in against the Chargers last Sunday, Tebow started with three consecutive drives inside his own 31-yard line. The Broncos punted on all three drives. On the ensuing two possessions, though, Tebow started from his own 49-yard line and the San Diego 41-yard line. With the short fields, he proceeded to score two touchdowns. It can't be much simpler.
A lot of what we're crediting to Tim Tebow is actually the impact of things that are totally out of his control, a combination of field position, defensive turnovers, and a miracle on special teams. He deserves some of the plaudits that have come his way over the past two Sundays. Just not all of them."
Tebow should be commended for pulling his team out of a rut and winning the game, but let's not forget why they were in a shutout, 15-0 hole with 6 minutes to go to begin with. It's because Tebow played like absolute garbage for the first 54 minutes. In my mind, no amount of comeback leading can mask that kind of damning information. I mean, come one, you got shut out for the first 55 minutes by a defense that let the patriots rack up 600 yards of offense when they weren't even loose yet in week 1!
Now, to give some credit where credit is due. I don't think Tebow is a great NFL quarterback by any means. But the guy is a winner. Even when he loses, he's a winner. And where he excels is in a hurry up formation in the fourth quarter when trying to lead a comeback. Thanks to my friends over at ESPN Stats&Info, I can tell you that Tebow has now led two 13+ point comebacks in the fourth quarter. That's all in four starts with the Broncoes, yet it's the same amount of comebacks some little guy named John Elway pulled off in 231 starts. Half-full people will love the Elway comparison and take it at face value. Half-empty glasses will probably realize that Elway's teams were loaded with talent, and they never needed to come back from double digit deficits in the fourth quarter because they probably weren't losing, and they definitely weren't losing by that much. Where do I stand? It's probably somewhere in the middle, but I wanna give Tebow the benefit of the doubt here. You can credit a prevent defense too, but the hurry up no huddle is what Tebow can excel at. It's the scheme that compliments him best. Sue me for using this example, but if you put Pat White in a spread option offense, he's going to (and did) look like Zeus; if you put him in an NFL offense, he's going to (and, unfortunately, did) look like Ryan Leaf.
All in all, can we just calm down with handing him the keys to the city of Denver? He's not John Elway yet, but he's giving people some hope. And if you're team is 1-4, and your best player is you're rookie draft pick, isn't hope all you can really ask for? We can agree to disagree I suppose.
One thing we should all agree on? Tony Sporano should probably fire his defensive coordinator. Really, Tony? No linebacker is spying on Tim Tebow up the middle on a 2pt conversion to tie the game and send it to overtime?
That, my friends, is a fail.
Week 7 of the NFL? The 1-win Broncoes are coming off a bye and traveling to winless Miami. Enter Tebow, making what we presume is his first of several starts on the year. I give some serious credit to the Denver coaching staff- if this was a drawn up conditional scenario (ie- if we are 1-4 going into the bye, let's get Tebow ready and give him a shot at Miami if they end up sucking like they have recently), then it was a brilliant strategy. In fact, it's probably the smartest thing they've done since firing Josh McDaniels. Anyway, to the game.
The following is an appropriately relevant excerpt from Bill Simmon's amazing website Grantland. I did not write this, but it very succintly describes my feelings, almost word for word. I say again. I did not write the following excerpt. 110% of credit should be given to Bill Barnwell. You know, the guy that wrote this? Because it wasn't me:
"Far be it [for me] to ruin an admittedly great story, but let's be real about the Tim Tebow plaudits being thrown around after the Broncos' 18-15 comeback over the Dolphins on Sunday. Tebow certainly deserves some of the credit, but not the massive outpouring of praise that is being thrown his way.
The Win Probability chart at advancednflstats.com for this game tells the true story of what happened. When Tebow took over on his own 20-yard line down 15 points with 5:23 left, both Broncos and Dolphins fans were leaving the stadium in Miami, and they weren't wrong to do so. The Broncos' chances of winning were estimated to be around 1 percent. Tebow proceeded to lead his most impressive drive of the day, going 80 yards in eight plays, throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas.
For all that work, the Broncos' chances of winning had improved all the way to … 2 percent. Teams with an eight-point lead that are about to receive the kickoff simply don't lose very frequently; it takes an expected onside kick to pick it up, and teams recover expected onside kicks only about 20 percent of the time. When the Broncos were able to recover the kick, their win expectancy improved to 12 percent; the onside kick was six times more valuable than Tebow's drive. If that figure seems low, consider that the Broncos still needed to drive 50 yards, score, pick up a two-point conversion, and then win in overtime. They had momentum in their favor, but so have plenty of other teams in this scenario who haven't been able to pick up the W.
Tebow then proceeded to take advantage of a short field. Starting on his own 44-yard line, Tebow drove the team 56 yards in 10 plays, highlighted by a gorgeous 28-yard throw to (and equally impressive catch from) Daniel Fells. After that, Denver converted the two-pointer on a Tebow run1 and the Broncos' win expectancy was pushed all the way up to 46 percent. They'd made an incredible comeback, but they were still underdogs heading into overtime.
After they won the overtime coin toss and traded possessions with the Broncos, the Dolphins remained favorites. When Daniel Thomas converted a second-and-2 to give the Dolphins a new set of downs on their own 43-yard line, the Dolphins only needed to travel about 25 more yards to pick up a game-winning field goal. They win an estimated 67 percent of the time in that situation.
That, of course, led to the final dramatic swing. Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams sacked Matt Moore on the ensuing play, producing a single-play swing that was bigger than any of Tebow's drives. The Broncos went from a win expectancy of 33 percent to 78 percent by recovering the fumble, and while they proceeded to gain only two yards on the subsequent drive, they converted another short field into points to win the game.
On Sunday, Tim Tebow was given a total of 15 possessions. Four of them started with 56 yards or less to go for an offensive touchdown. Not coincidentally, of the four, three were his final three drives, and he produced a total of 11 points on those drives. His other 11 drives all started deep in his own territory, with six of them beginning on the 20-yard line and only one beyond the 25 (a drive that started on the Miami 41 that resulted in a missed field goal). Ten of those drives resulted in eight punts, a missed field goal, and a fumble. They gained, on average, less than 12 yards.
This isn't a one-week trend, either. When he came in against the Chargers last Sunday, Tebow started with three consecutive drives inside his own 31-yard line. The Broncos punted on all three drives. On the ensuing two possessions, though, Tebow started from his own 49-yard line and the San Diego 41-yard line. With the short fields, he proceeded to score two touchdowns. It can't be much simpler.
A lot of what we're crediting to Tim Tebow is actually the impact of things that are totally out of his control, a combination of field position, defensive turnovers, and a miracle on special teams. He deserves some of the plaudits that have come his way over the past two Sundays. Just not all of them."
Tebow should be commended for pulling his team out of a rut and winning the game, but let's not forget why they were in a shutout, 15-0 hole with 6 minutes to go to begin with. It's because Tebow played like absolute garbage for the first 54 minutes. In my mind, no amount of comeback leading can mask that kind of damning information. I mean, come one, you got shut out for the first 55 minutes by a defense that let the patriots rack up 600 yards of offense when they weren't even loose yet in week 1!
Now, to give some credit where credit is due. I don't think Tebow is a great NFL quarterback by any means. But the guy is a winner. Even when he loses, he's a winner. And where he excels is in a hurry up formation in the fourth quarter when trying to lead a comeback. Thanks to my friends over at ESPN Stats&Info, I can tell you that Tebow has now led two 13+ point comebacks in the fourth quarter. That's all in four starts with the Broncoes, yet it's the same amount of comebacks some little guy named John Elway pulled off in 231 starts. Half-full people will love the Elway comparison and take it at face value. Half-empty glasses will probably realize that Elway's teams were loaded with talent, and they never needed to come back from double digit deficits in the fourth quarter because they probably weren't losing, and they definitely weren't losing by that much. Where do I stand? It's probably somewhere in the middle, but I wanna give Tebow the benefit of the doubt here. You can credit a prevent defense too, but the hurry up no huddle is what Tebow can excel at. It's the scheme that compliments him best. Sue me for using this example, but if you put Pat White in a spread option offense, he's going to (and did) look like Zeus; if you put him in an NFL offense, he's going to (and, unfortunately, did) look like Ryan Leaf.
All in all, can we just calm down with handing him the keys to the city of Denver? He's not John Elway yet, but he's giving people some hope. And if you're team is 1-4, and your best player is you're rookie draft pick, isn't hope all you can really ask for? We can agree to disagree I suppose.
One thing we should all agree on? Tony Sporano should probably fire his defensive coordinator. Really, Tony? No linebacker is spying on Tim Tebow up the middle on a 2pt conversion to tie the game and send it to overtime?
That, my friends, is a fail.
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