Soul

Is it April fools or something? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Especially coming from the guy who talks big about safety, then slaps a whopping 20k on guys for head hunting.

Rudolph appears to fit the profile, but there's so little experience to know if he can do the job.

Barry Alvarez will coach Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Early names mentioned for new head coach: Chris Peterson Al Golden Joe Rudolph Paul Chryst apparently is not leaving his current post. http://host.madison.com/sports/college/football/badgers-football-barry-alvarez-to-coach-uw-in-the-rose/article_343b5b3c-3f30-11e2-b159-0019bb2963f4.html

They want a big hitter to go with those newly-moved-in fences.

I wouldn't assume he could "easily" platoon with a partner to be that productive. And there's next to no upside. He's just a blah player expected to give blah production on a blah team. Exactly what we expected but still disappointing to anybody that actually wants to see the Cubs win more than they lose. I see some upside with Schierholtz. He showed a really good hit tool all throughout the minors, so maybe consistent playing time in the majors for the first time brings that out a bit more. Best case scenario, you get a BABIP-infused .300 avg/good OPS season out of him. Maybe. He did have one of his better hitting seasons in 2011, when he had the most PA's of his career. I'm not counting on it though.

That has to be frustrating for them.

It's probably something along the lines of having the ability to quickly process a lot of information, and still come up with the right answer in spite of that short time frame. Example: let's say you have 100 people who can get an A on a given test. How many of those A's turn to B's if you put a time constraint on the amount of time to answer each question. That might be an analogy for college versus pro defenses.

There's Golic. Theismann before he left the booth. Holtz. It's kind of true, though, there's not a huge pro-ND contingent in the media. But a lot of people like it when ND is good, for reasons already stated. Even though I'm not an ND fan, I admit that I'm excited to see them in the big game.

He was only out cuz of the flu. He'll play. Ahh yes, that's right. I remember hearing that during the game last week.

Those defensive injuries are really starting to become a concern. Will Conte play at least?

People may not care about Wisconsin nationally, but the fact is, they'll all be sitting down to watch them in the Rose Bowl, just like they did the past 2 seasons. I think there's more potential to play in a nationally relevant bowl game at Wisconsin than at Arkansas.

Sure, but there is a much stronger chance that he loses in the SEC, especially since Ark isn't one of the top recruiting draws and I don't think BB's recruiting skills have been all that special. I don't know. I'm sure it was the money but looking at the long term it seems like a lateral, high risk move to me. Maybe he just doesn't like it here anymore. I'm hearing rumors that Alvarez might coach the Rose Bowl Yeah, how well did BB actually recruit? The Wisconsin brand recruits lineman and running backs by itself practically. Getting Russell Wilson was great but did he facilitate that or was the opportunity just right for Wilson? I don't think he did all that well, I believe Cryst and some of the assistants he took with him last year were mostly getting past recruits and doing a lot of game planning and prepping. BB is a pretty bad in game coach too (TO management, how he had drives earlier this year where he would sub 3 QB's in and out during it, etc.) I don't think he's all that big of a loss for Wisconsin and I think finding a comparable coach won't be that hard. I am a little fearful of Wisconsin getting a coach who is much worse, though. Big 10 schools aren't exactly wow-ing top coaching candidates these days, and I look at examples like Minnesota and Illinois and just cringe. The advantage Wisconsin has, I think, is still Barry Alvarez. He's still there, still involved, and can still apply his knowledge to the situation to identify someone to carry forth the program.

Sure, but there is a much stronger chance that he loses in the SEC, especially since Ark isn't one of the top recruiting draws and I don't think BB's recruiting skills have been all that special. I don't know. I'm sure it was the money but looking at the long term it seems like a lateral, high risk move to me. Maybe he just doesn't like it here anymore. I'm hearing rumors that Alvarez might coach the Rose Bowl

His schtick is so corny and played out. He makes me miss Jaws. Of course, then the Skins score a TD. But still, it's just too much. Put him somewhere else, just not doing color on MNF.

Worn-out topic, but Gruden is busy gushing over the Redskins' offense right now. It's the 4th quarter. They have 10 points. I just really can't wait to move on from Gruden in the booth.

Yes, but I think it's interesting that Wilson hasn't had a bad game since game 7, hasn't thrown an INT since game 8, and every game since #9 has posted an above-100 rating. I think Pete Carroll really has found his QB. The kid has been very good and it hasn't just been a game or two here & there. It's true he hasn't been posting a ton of yards but he has a shot at 3,000, his completion percentage is over 60%, he's quick as hell, and the TD/INT ratio is just fine. I'm angry about those last two drives, but it was against a pretty good player, as it turns out. We still need to get a stop regardless. A lot of defenses will struggle to stop Russell Wilson if he keeps playing like he has, that's for sure.

That would be a perfect outcome for this crazy season, heh.

What are you talking about? Arizona is an auto-win. They can't win 1 out of 3 games, two of which are against teams they have already beaten? At the very least, you need to not conceed that until it actually happens.

I haven't seen the odds that cover all the probabilities. Maybe that's just me.

One of the things that always gets me is the opportunistic turnover late that can seal the deal, and when you don't get it, the opposition scores. That Major Wright INT that wasn't grieves me. That would have likely just ended it, right there. And it was in his hands & everthing. And it was a bad decision/throw by Wilson -- one of his few. Just got to have that. Need to make that play and stop the madness.

It had already been established that they were stopping our run. A QB sneak might very well have also resulted in no gain. The answer to Lovie becoming more conservative is simple: you simply look at each situation individually, and call the game accordingly. In another game, with different dynamics, you go for it. Just not right there, against that team, in that spot. I'm not blaming the whole game on that one play, but Lovie is right to question himself about it, and it doesn't have anything to do with losing himself to a pool of overly-conservative playcalling from now on, or whatever.

9ers lose.

True, 17 points by an offense just isn't in any way acceptable either.

8-4 team, I have to assume they make the playoffs. But look at all the injuries, and look at the downgrade of expectations on the defense with that 49ers game, and now this. The offense is barely functional, with only Cutler's playmaking and Marshall providing excellence. A smattering of other contributions, but come on. I think this is just a team that peaked early. They are past peak now.

Yep, that is indeed a TD. Game over. It's got to be a sobering experience for everyone to see this D get raped on 2 successive drives late.