College Football - Week of 9/30

[EricG]

I wouldn't say Minnesota is a pushover. They have a decent offense and can run the ball. Michigan always seems to have a good pass defense but if you can establish the run you have a chance with passing.

 

Purdue's defense is improving. They got some key players back last week (Hall-LB), and Jaycen Taylor-RB looked good. I have a feeling that their defense won't be able to stop ND and it could turn into a shootout. Of course it could end up as a blowout and I mute the Notre Dame Broadcasting Company (NBC) to avoid all the Brady Quinn for Heisman talk by the announcers.

[NewUserName]

I dont think Quinn was ever out of the Heisman race. Even in the lose to Michigan he still had 250 yds and 3 TD. I know he was awful during the game but come December most voters are just going to look at the #s and say he wasnt that bad. Troy Smith is not going to put up anything close to the #s Quinn will so OSU will have to go undefeated for him to have a chance. I dont think it is going to happen. So unless another candidate really steps up in the next couple of weeks I would say that Quinn is still a favorite, especially after the comeback against MSU.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

SIU should have a cakewalk against Indiana State. They have now lost 25 in a row, and they have absolutely no defense at all. They may score their fair share of points (they did score over 30 against Purdue), but SIU's running game (best in I-AA) should run all over the Sycs.

 

NIU also *should* have a win against Ball State, sorry ndi. Ball St. lost to North Dakota St. last weekend, so it would be pretty miserable if NIU fell to 2-3 with 2 of the losses coming against Ohio and Ball St. I do remember the game in Muncie two years ago where Ball St. played their game of the season and took us to OT, but NIU still won. Hopefully it doesn't get that close this year, and hopefully NIU can avenge the loss that we had against them last year.

 

PLAY NICHOLSON

 

Jack?

[Butterscup1679666578]

I just read that the Mizzou-Texas Tech game next week will be played at 6:00 pm and shown on TBS.

[Jon]

Northwestern is finally getting a few guys back. Kim Thompson will be ready to go, although likely won't start. Austin Matthews will play and could start, which would realign the offensive line a bit to the way it looked in the spring. And Bacher will be able to play, although who knows how rusty he is. He didn't get many reps in Kenosha. But if Kafka can't go, I'm sure he'll see time.

 

But Fitz likely won't make any special teams changes. If he doesn't, they'll have terrible field position all game.

[cubweiser03]

I wouldn't say Minnesota is a pushover. They have a decent offense and can run the ball. Michigan always seems to have a good pass defense but if you can establish the run you have a chance with passing.

 

Purdue's defense is improving. They got some key players back last week (Hall-LB), and Jaycen Taylor-RB looked good. I have a feeling that their defense won't be able to stop ND and it could turn into a shootout. Of course it could end up as a blowout and I mute the Notre Dame Broadcasting Company (NBC) to avoid all the Brady Quinn for Heisman talk by the announcers.

 

I dont think Minnesota will be able to run the ball consistantly at all. Maybe a big run here or there but they wont be able to grind Michigan out on the ground. The front 4 of Michigan is there best ive ever seen (DL for them historically isnt all that great anyway, but these guys are good) and the LBs are solid. Caputo is a good Qb but he is going to need to carry them this week.

 

Purdue can run the ball against ND. If they have to rely on painter too much in obvious passing situation or need to come from behind they will be trouble. ND cant run the ball and probably wont stick with it long enough to know anyway. Its all about Purdue's secondary, and they did ok against Caputo.

[Andy]

I heartily disagree that ND can't run the ball. They ran GT and PSU to death. The problem is that they were down 27-7 to Michigan early and were down 24-7 to MSU early so that forced them to pass the rest of those games. I expect the running game to be a big part of the plan against Purdue.

[soccer10k]

I wouldn't say Minnesota is a pushover. They have a decent offense and can run the ball. Michigan always seems to have a good pass defense but if you can establish the run you have a chance with passing.

 

Purdue's defense is improving. They got some key players back last week (Hall-LB), and Jaycen Taylor-RB looked good. I have a feeling that their defense won't be able to stop ND and it could turn into a shootout. Of course it could end up as a blowout and I mute the Notre Dame Broadcasting Company (NBC) to avoid all the Brady Quinn for Heisman talk by the announcers.

 

I dont think Minnesota will be able to run the ball consistantly at all. Maybe a big run here or there but they wont be able to grind Michigan out on the ground. The front 4 of Michigan is there best ive ever seen (DL for them historically isnt all that great anyway, but these guys are good) and the LBs are solid. Caputo is a good Qb but he is going to need to carry them this week.

 

Purdue can run the ball against ND. If they have to rely on painter too much in obvious passing situation or need to come from behind they will be trouble. ND cant run the ball and probably wont stick with it long enough to know anyway. Its all about Purdue's secondary, and they did ok against Caputo.

 

It's Cupito. And I agree with your point about Minnesota. Their O-line is still good but they don't have Marion Barber or Laurence Maroney in the backfield anymore. If Gary Russell would have returned I think that would have been an upgrade over Amir Pinnix and Alex Daniels. Heck, Daniels is a converted linebacker. I think Minnesota is going to get hammered in this game.

 

ETA: The only thing I would be worried about as a Michigan fan would be a letdown after wins over Notre Dame and Wisconsin. But I think Michigan is good enough to overcome a letdown if they do have one.

Edited September 26, 2006 by soccer10k

[Andy]

TBAs are now updated.

[hawkeyecub]

Kirk Herbstreit said on his radio show yesterday that the environment in Austin for the Texas/OSU game was "a wine and cheese party compared to the atmosphere they will face in Kinnick Saturday."

He then maintained his stance that Kinnick is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten outside of the years when we were struggling.

 

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

[Andy]

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

I always liked him better than their other college FB guys, but when he predicted Notre Dame to go 4-2 in their first six and average over 30 points per game in those six last year in the face of the 0-6 BS, and then turned out to be exactly right on both counts, that pretty much clinched it for me.

[CuseCubFan69]

Kirk Herbstreit said on his radio show yesterday that the environment in Austin for the Texas/OSU game was "a wine and cheese party compared to the atmosphere they will face in Kinnick Saturday."

He then maintained his stance that Kinnick is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten outside of the years when we were struggling.

 

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

 

I like Kirk too, he knows his stuff.

[soccer10k]

Kirk Herbstreit said on his radio show yesterday that the environment in Austin for the Texas/OSU game was "a wine and cheese party compared to the atmosphere they will face in Kinnick Saturday."

He then maintained his stance that Kinnick is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten outside of the years when we were struggling.

 

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

 

I like Kirk too, he knows his stuff.

 

I agree as well. I don't like Mark May and Corso can provide some decent analysis but Herbstreit is, far and away, better than the others.

[soccer10k]

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

I always liked him better than their other college FB guys, but when he predicted Notre Dame to go 4-2 in their first six and average over 30 points per game in those six last year in the face of the 0-6 BS, and then turned out to be exactly right on both counts, that pretty much clinched it for me.

 

I still can't believe people actually thought Notre Dame was going to be 0-6 to start last year. I could see people thinking they were going to lose to USC and Michigan. But Washington was 1-10 in 2004. Michigan State, Purdue, and Pittsburgh were toss up games that could go either way. At the worst I would have said Notre Dame would have started out 1-5 (I think I had them at 3-3). A 0-6 was just ludicrous.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I heartily disagree that ND can't run the ball. They ran GT and PSU to death. The problem is that they were down 27-7 to Michigan early and were down 24-7 to MSU early so that forced them to pass the rest of those games. I expect the running game to be a big part of the plan against Purdue.

 

On the other hand, wasn't their inability to run the ball early in those games part of the reason for those early deficits?

[CubinNY]

Memphis plays Tennessee in Memphis at 11:00 am local time.

 

9 am tailgate is a little early for beer, but I think we might do some bloody Mary's and scrambled eggs.

 

Last week the Coach fired his defensive coordinator after he (as offensive coordinator) contributed to 5 INTs. This one should be over by half-time. We'll see.

[SouthSideRyan]

Kirk Herbstreit said on his radio show yesterday that the environment in Austin for the Texas/OSU game was "a wine and cheese party compared to the atmosphere they will face in Kinnick Saturday."

He then maintained his stance that Kinnick is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten outside of the years when we were struggling.

 

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

 

I like Kirk too, he knows his stuff.

 

Seems like the only people that don't like Kirk are OSU fans who don't like that he isn't a homer.

[CubinNY]

Kirk Herbstreit said on his radio show yesterday that the environment in Austin for the Texas/OSU game was "a wine and cheese party compared to the atmosphere they will face in Kinnick Saturday."

He then maintained his stance that Kinnick is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten outside of the years when we were struggling.

 

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

 

I like Kirk too, he knows his stuff.

 

Seems like the only people that don't like Kirk are OSU fans who don't like that he isn't a homer.

 

Indeed. Herbie is a first class talent. He use to get harrassed all the time by the local knuckleheads in Columbus when I lived there. I think if he wasn't an OSU alum the radio station would have fired him a long time ago. They fired his co-host in 1999 for giving "it" to one of the callers/listeners and then going off on a 5 minute tirade on what idiots/uninformed most of the listening audience was.

 

Then shortly afterwords they hired Neanderthal Chris Speilman to do the show right before Herbie's. And its all Buckeyes all the time.

[Andy]

I heartily disagree that ND can't run the ball. They ran GT and PSU to death. The problem is that they were down 27-7 to Michigan early and were down 24-7 to MSU early so that forced them to pass the rest of those games. I expect the running game to be a big part of the plan against Purdue.

 

On the other hand, wasn't their inability to run the ball early in those games part of the reason for those early deficits?

Well, I didn't see the first half of MSU, but the first half of Michigan had a lot more to do with turnovers (3 of them in the 1st half, all of them in ND's territory) than running the football. From what I hear, Brady Quinn being off had more to do with ND falling behind early to MSU than anything.

[hawkeyecub]

Kirk Herbstreit said on his radio show yesterday that the environment in Austin for the Texas/OSU game was "a wine and cheese party compared to the atmosphere they will face in Kinnick Saturday."

He then maintained his stance that Kinnick is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten outside of the years when we were struggling.

 

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

 

I like Kirk too, he knows his stuff.

 

Seems like the only people that don't like Kirk are OSU fans who don't like that he isn't a homer.

 

Indeed. Herbie is a first class talent. He use to get harrassed all the time by the local knuckleheads in Columbus when I lived there. I think if he wasn't an OSU alum the radio station would have fired him a long time ago. They fired his co-host in 1999 for giving "it" to one of the callers/listeners and then going off on a 5 minute tirade on what idiots/uninformed most of the listening audience was.

 

Then shortly afterwords they hired Neanderthal Chris Speilman to do the show right before Herbie's. And its all Buckeyes all the time.

 

Really?

 

I knew OSU fans got upset sometimes because he isn't a blind homer, but I still would have thought he was somewhat of a hero out there.

The deal about his co-host sounds pretty good though, I wish I could hear it. So many of the people who call into sports talk radio are just clueless.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

9 am tailgate is a little early for beer

 

Hush your mouth.

[adamb0719]

I heartily disagree that ND can't run the ball. They ran GT and PSU to death. The problem is that they were down 27-7 to Michigan early and were down 24-7 to MSU early so that forced them to pass the rest of those games. I expect the running game to be a big part of the plan against Purdue.

 

On the other hand, wasn't their inability to run the ball early in those games part of the reason for those early deficits?

Well, I didn't see the first half of MSU, but the first half of Michigan had a lot more to do with turnovers (3 of them in the 1st half, all of them in ND's territory) than running the football. From what I hear, Brady Quinn being off had more to do with ND falling behind early to MSU than anything.

 

I read that Aldridge will be playing this weekend. However I agree with with ND, the running game is not a problem. What is a problem is getting killed in the first quarter and not having time to establish the run. They have got to learn to play 60 minutes. Hell I would even be happy with 45 minutes.

[CubinNY]

Kirk Herbstreit said on his radio show yesterday that the environment in Austin for the Texas/OSU game was "a wine and cheese party compared to the atmosphere they will face in Kinnick Saturday."

He then maintained his stance that Kinnick is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten outside of the years when we were struggling.

 

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

 

I like Kirk too, he knows his stuff.

 

Seems like the only people that don't like Kirk are OSU fans who don't like that he isn't a homer.

 

Indeed. Herbie is a first class talent. He use to get harrassed all the time by the local knuckleheads in Columbus when I lived there. I think if he wasn't an OSU alum the radio station would have fired him a long time ago. They fired his co-host in 1999 for giving "it" to one of the callers/listeners and then going off on a 5 minute tirade on what idiots/uninformed most of the listening audience was.

 

Then shortly afterwords they hired Neanderthal Chris Speilman to do the show right before Herbie's. And its all Buckeyes all the time.

 

Really?

 

I knew OSU fans got upset sometimes because he isn't a blind homer, but I still would have thought he was somewhat of a hero out there.

The deal about his co-host sounds pretty good though, I wish I could hear it. So many of the people who call into sports talk radio are just clueless.

 

I guess one just has to live in Columbus. It's smack dab in the middle of the state with the only pro sports franchize within a three hour driving distance being the NHL Blue Jackets.

 

A good majority of the people have never lived anywhere else and good minority of the people are OSU grads who have hung around. They eat, sleep, and drink Buckeye sports. I've never seen a place so obsessed with the local university and I grew up 8 miles north of the Golden Dome.

 

The athletes at OSU are treated like demi-gods and Woody Hayes is god.

 

Don't get me wrong, I got a first class education at OSU and wouldn't trade it for anything. However, while my car was parked in an OSU lot it was worked over pretty good ($4,000 worth of damage) by a drunk with a fire extinguisher. After knocking out all my windows and denting as much of the body as he could he set off the fire extinguisher in my car. His finger prints were all over my car in the dust.

 

When I called the cops (OSU cops) he walked around my car looked at my liscence plate and shook his head. I asked him if he was going to take prints. He said "Naw. You know you are from Michigan don't you?"

 

Well the idiot was later caught trying to break into the chemistry building. Of course he was covered in dust. So they asked him if he did the job on my car and he said yes, becuase I was from Michigan. I know becuase I obtained the police report.

 

Some good came of it though. It's one of the reasons why I started dating my wife. She offered to drive me around while my car was in the shop.

 

A Buckeye is a poisonenous nut!

[cubweiser03]

Kirk Herbstreit said on his radio show yesterday that the environment in Austin for the Texas/OSU game was "a wine and cheese party compared to the atmosphere they will face in Kinnick Saturday."

He then maintained his stance that Kinnick is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten outside of the years when we were struggling.

 

Even outside the fact that he always gives Iowa a lot of respect, I've said for a few years that he's as good as it gets as a sports analyst on tv. Always very knowledgable, always speaks well, doesn't need to shout or use gimmicks, and isn't a homer.

 

I like Kirk too, he knows his stuff.

 

Seems like the only people that don't like Kirk are OSU fans who don't like that he isn't a homer.

 

Indeed. Herbie is a first class talent. He use to get harrassed all the time by the local knuckleheads in Columbus when I lived there. I think if he wasn't an OSU alum the radio station would have fired him a long time ago. They fired his co-host in 1999 for giving "it" to one of the callers/listeners and then going off on a 5 minute tirade on what idiots/uninformed most of the listening audience was.

 

Then shortly afterwords they hired Neanderthal Chris Speilman to do the show right before Herbie's. And its all Buckeyes all the time.

 

Really?

 

I knew OSU fans got upset sometimes because he isn't a blind homer, but I still would have thought he was somewhat of a hero out there.

The deal about his co-host sounds pretty good though, I wish I could hear it. So many of the people who call into sports talk radio are just clueless.

 

I guess one just has to live in Columbus. It's smack dab in the middle of the state with the only pro sports franchize within a three hour driving distance being the NHL Blue Jackets.

 

A good majority of the people have never lived anywhere else and good minority of the people are OSU grads who have hung around. They eat, sleep, and drink Buckeye sports. I've never seen a place so obsessed with the local university and I grew up 8 miles north of the Golden Dome.

 

The athletes at OSU are treated like demi-gods and Woody Hayes is god.

 

Don't get me wrong, I got a first class education at OSU and wouldn't trade it for anything. However, while my car was parked in an OSU lot it was worked over pretty good ($4,000 worth of damage) by a drunk with a fire extinguisher. After knocking out all my windows and denting as much of the body as he could he set off the fire extinguisher in my car. His finger prints were all over my car in the dust.

 

When I called the cops (OSU cops) he walked around my car looked at my liscence plate and shook his head. I asked him if he was going to take prints. He said "Naw. You know you are from Michigan don't you?"

 

Well the idiot was later caught trying to break into the chemistry building. Of course he was covered in dust. So they asked him if he did the job on my car and he said yes, becuase I was from Michigan. I know becuase I obtained the police report.

 

Some good came of it though. It's one of the reasons why I started dating my wife. She offered to drive me around while my car was in the shop.

 

A Buckeye is a poisonenous nut!

 

Good story. It pisses me off, but good story. Half of the joy when Michigan beats OSU is the joy of knowing people like this are going out of their minds when they lose to Michigan.

 

I went to a small school in Michigan near the Ohio border in the early nineties when OSU was a perenial NC team. A lot students were from Ohio. They would get all worked up during the year and go crazy when Michigan was ruining there title hopes every year. I was more like a sideline fan until then, and never really felt the importance of that game until i lived through it with people from Ohio. I left college a different fan of Michigan because of that damn game. We all had good fun with it, but never to the extent of being jerks to others like your story.

[hawkeyecub]

Wow, crazy story.

 

Yeah I always kind of knew that Buckeye fans, especially those in the Columbus area, were nuts like that. But I guess that's why I thought they had more of a worship for Herbstreit. Local Ohio kid, captain at quarterback at OSU and then became a bigtime ESPN analyst. I guess they really resent his lack of obvious homerism for OSU.