Interesting title, I know and you wonder, after the biggest win in about the past 20 years of Nittany Lions football can it possibly be done? Well, you've come to the right place.
Congratulations Penn State fans, you went on the road and beat a team that gets run out of the stadium by the class of the Pac-10. Congrats. What does this mean? It means that you are on the tightest leash of any other school in the country. Why? Well because of the following: America knows that Ohio State is a fraud, and you just beat them in their house, in a game that a freshman quarterback literally handed to you. Now, you have the title of being the Big Ten team to get embarrassed by an SEC team in the BCS Title game, or possibly a Big Twelve team this year.
But I will thank you for this, by beating Ohio State, you did not only get rid of them for the rest of the year, but you made USC's win over the Buckeyes much less meaningful...so everything has to go right for the Trojans to get into the title game.
So Penn State fans, if you lose another game this year...since you have the biggest joke of a schedule of all time, gear up for a physical beatdown of by either the winner of the UGA/UF game or Alabama. Pick your poisons.
But here's my favorite Penn State business. In 1994, Penn State had an amazing team and in fact, one of the best I've ever seen. Only thing is they went undefeated, took care of their business, but another team did the same named Nebraska...and they were the greatest team I've ever seen and of all-time. Since then, Penn State fans have been complaining about the media hating them, and thought that in 2002, Larry Johnson not winning the Heisman was a conspiracy.
I've never like LJ...never thought he was that good. He's had two GREAT seasons in the NFL, conveniently right before his holdout/contract year. I don't think he's cracked the 800 yard barrier in any other year.
This guy is the prototype steroid user and while the NFL is busy "randomly" testing people for their games in England, guys like LJ can get paid for juicing. LJ is the NFL's Juan Gonzalez and anyone who offered to pay LJ what they did get's what they deserve. Sorry Chiefs fans, but you got taken for a ride...and for you Penn State fans, sorry that your only hope for a great player in this day and age was caused by illegal substance. Try to make a media controversy out of that.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Legends Update
Often times, when discussing sports when we were younger, our friends will say, "God, I wonder what happened to that guy?"
Well, while listening to the Jim Rome Show today, on Rome's home station 570 KLAC AM Los Angeles, I just heard a promo for a show later in the day which included a report from Gino Torretta on college football. Needless to say, they didn't give a time for you to tune in. So if you're wondering what Gino's doing these days, now you sort of know.
Well, while listening to the Jim Rome Show today, on Rome's home station 570 KLAC AM Los Angeles, I just heard a promo for a show later in the day which included a report from Gino Torretta on college football. Needless to say, they didn't give a time for you to tune in. So if you're wondering what Gino's doing these days, now you sort of know.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Eric Berry - Best Football Player Ever
As an irritated Tennessee fan, people will say to you, "Why are you still going to these games?" Well, I can tell you because, A. I paid for the tickets but most importantly B. because I still do have pride in my team. Just because we are under producing and not utilizing the talent on our field doesn't mean I'm not going to be a fan anymore.
But if I was...I'd still go for one reason: SEC teams still run offensive plays in the vicinity of Eric Berry, and as long as they're doing that, something great is happening at Tennessee.
Berry, a sophomore safety, is believed by most to be a starter since he walked on campus. If I recall correctly, he started his second game...due to Jarod Parish going down with an injury known as, being terrible, in the first series of the first game of the year at Berkeley. He ended the season with five picks and was named the SEC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year as well as a unanimous Freshman All-American.
This year, well, Berry has taken it to the next level, leading the nation in interceptions (5) and has been named SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice as of this morning after his 10 tackle, one sack, 2 pass breakups, and one 71-yard interception return for a touchdown night this past weekend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5UwgsTIBU8) which lead to an "Eric Berry" chant in Neyland Stadium. Not to mention the hit of the year on Georgia's Knowshon Moreno ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZKTaC9-jDQ).
This kid is a safety, flying around and not only picking balls off with standard flair, but absolutely punishing people in his way He's a safety who's worth the price of admission. Not only does he have the 10 picks on his career, but he also has 397 return yards off of those interceptions...he's averaging 40 yards a touch. Why isn't this kid getting touches on offense?
Something happened 11 years ago that most Vol fans will never forget...Peyton Manning didn't win the Heisman, and CB Charles Woodson of Michigan did. As a sophomore, there is no way you can tell me that Woodson was what Berry is right now...Berry just needs to touches all over the field. Coach Fulmer says things like, "Eric is so valuable on defense and special teams (blocking) that we can't afford to allow him to get fatigued by getting him reps on offense and in the return game..." Do you think Eric Berry can get fatigued? What are 3-4 extra plays really going to do to this guy? Was he fatigued in the fourth quarter after running that pick back? Seriously Phil.
If UT had any sense of anything, they'd be campaigning for Berry to be the second defensive player in history to win the Heisman. He's that good, that explosive. Keep in mind, Woodson's Heisman winning year, he had eight picks for...seven return yards while having zero responsibility for stopping the run. Berry played quarterback in high school, and was pretty amazing...and Fulmer talks about getting him the ball on a reverse or something. Who cares? Throw him the ball in space! The guy goes 40 yards every time he touches the ball! Are these guys nuts?
Berry is going to get his Thorpe Award(s) and his All-America Honors and maybe a shot at the big one, coach/program willing. But Berry is also just the best guy of all time as well. He legacy at UT is growing faster than any other legends of Neyland Stadium, with the stories of Berry staying late to work with the managing staff to get jersey and shorts ready for practice and hosting his brothers (yes he has two twin brothers who play QB and RB and seem to be at UT every weekend...) during their Spring Break to come play soccer with the UT Women's Soccer team so they could all work on their footwork together.
Some day, Berry is going to be a top 10 NFL draft pick and have his #14 retired with the likes of Peyton Manning and Reggie White. The guy plays safety and might seriously go down as the greatest player in Tennessee history. Not only can he play, but he's as good of a guy off the field as he is on it. So what else is there to say...other than, GIVE HIM THE BALL.
This ki
But if I was...I'd still go for one reason: SEC teams still run offensive plays in the vicinity of Eric Berry, and as long as they're doing that, something great is happening at Tennessee.
Berry, a sophomore safety, is believed by most to be a starter since he walked on campus. If I recall correctly, he started his second game...due to Jarod Parish going down with an injury known as, being terrible, in the first series of the first game of the year at Berkeley. He ended the season with five picks and was named the SEC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year as well as a unanimous Freshman All-American.
This year, well, Berry has taken it to the next level, leading the nation in interceptions (5) and has been named SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice as of this morning after his 10 tackle, one sack, 2 pass breakups, and one 71-yard interception return for a touchdown night this past weekend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5UwgsTIBU8) which lead to an "Eric Berry" chant in Neyland Stadium. Not to mention the hit of the year on Georgia's Knowshon Moreno ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZKTaC9-jDQ).
This kid is a safety, flying around and not only picking balls off with standard flair, but absolutely punishing people in his way He's a safety who's worth the price of admission. Not only does he have the 10 picks on his career, but he also has 397 return yards off of those interceptions...he's averaging 40 yards a touch. Why isn't this kid getting touches on offense?
Something happened 11 years ago that most Vol fans will never forget...Peyton Manning didn't win the Heisman, and CB Charles Woodson of Michigan did. As a sophomore, there is no way you can tell me that Woodson was what Berry is right now...Berry just needs to touches all over the field. Coach Fulmer says things like, "Eric is so valuable on defense and special teams (blocking) that we can't afford to allow him to get fatigued by getting him reps on offense and in the return game..." Do you think Eric Berry can get fatigued? What are 3-4 extra plays really going to do to this guy? Was he fatigued in the fourth quarter after running that pick back? Seriously Phil.
If UT had any sense of anything, they'd be campaigning for Berry to be the second defensive player in history to win the Heisman. He's that good, that explosive. Keep in mind, Woodson's Heisman winning year, he had eight picks for...seven return yards while having zero responsibility for stopping the run. Berry played quarterback in high school, and was pretty amazing...and Fulmer talks about getting him the ball on a reverse or something. Who cares? Throw him the ball in space! The guy goes 40 yards every time he touches the ball! Are these guys nuts?
Berry is going to get his Thorpe Award(s) and his All-America Honors and maybe a shot at the big one, coach/program willing. But Berry is also just the best guy of all time as well. He legacy at UT is growing faster than any other legends of Neyland Stadium, with the stories of Berry staying late to work with the managing staff to get jersey and shorts ready for practice and hosting his brothers (yes he has two twin brothers who play QB and RB and seem to be at UT every weekend...) during their Spring Break to come play soccer with the UT Women's Soccer team so they could all work on their footwork together.
Some day, Berry is going to be a top 10 NFL draft pick and have his #14 retired with the likes of Peyton Manning and Reggie White. The guy plays safety and might seriously go down as the greatest player in Tennessee history. Not only can he play, but he's as good of a guy off the field as he is on it. So what else is there to say...other than, GIVE HIM THE BALL.
This ki
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Football In Texas and The Great Plains
So for as long as the few of you have read this blog, you’ve heard nothing but, “SEC owns (insert conference, team, political ideology here).”
SEC Football is still the most competitive grouping of sports teams, probably in the world. I mean, look at what happened last weekend…Georgia struggled with a struggling Tennessee team and could have lost that game. LSU was absolutely killed by Florida, and still, Vanderbilt is still atop the SEC East, even after losing to Mississippi State.
Eight hours before Tim Tebow jumping jacked his way off the field in the Swamp, Texas pulled what some think could be the biggest upset of the year. Personally, I gave Texas no chance, whatsoever, to win that game. In fact, I think it was my #9 game overall in confidence in my pick’em league.
Texas was flat out impressive. They played just as fast as OU and purely matched their athleticism. Colt McCoy, who No Owens has never really understood, and still may not, looked great. He’s the cross between Major Applewhite and Vince Young; a guy who can beat you with great athletic ability, but has that swagger that Applewhite that gets his team right where they need to be…behind him, following him to a big win. Was their defense questionable? Sure, but who didn’t expect that to happen? They found every way to beat OU, and did so in a big way. That is one balanced team.
I think my #10 confidence game was Mizzou. Yeah, as you can read, I wasn’t too productive this week. Who thought, a 41 year old man could figure out how to slow down Chase Daniel? I didn’t see the game but from what I understand, all of Chase Daniel’s interceptions came in the red zone. Ok, so Mizzou got there, moved the ball, but if you can get your guys to make plays when they need them most, you show true grit. And grit is what it takes to win big games. Ask Colt McCoy.
So the question right now is this…without internet sitting here in 16F, I don’t have the rankings in front of me. So, honestly, since I have been in either a car or airplane for about every hour I haven’t been in my bed for the past couple of days, I don’t know who the #1 team in the nation is. But what I do know, is there are probably as many Big 12 teams in the top 25 as there are SEC teams. Top to bottom, is the Big 12 as strong as the SEC? I mean, A&M is bad. Baylor is Baylor and Tennessee is winless in conference play. Something tells me, I mean, possibly, that the Vols could beat the bottom teams in the Big 12, but at this point, they’d probably be better off with Bud Kilmer as their coach. Paul Walker knows he’s available.
But…here at No Owens, who cares? We care about championships. And the Big 12 this year might be better poised to make a run at a BCS Title than any team in the SEC. It’s just getting too rugged in the SEC…Georgia isn’t as good as advertised, LSU forgot how to play, and Percy Harvin is becoming healthy all while we don’t really know what this Alabama thing is. We will see what happens when they have to line up and go up against an LSU d-line, and that beast, 94 I think, who plays DT for Auburn. Who knew that JPW would be the most impressive QB in the SEC? Most certainly not me…nor RePete Smith. But you have a lot of Big 12 teams sitting quite pretty waiting for the SEC teams to continue to lose…and what if something happens where Penn State goes unblemished? What a disaster that would be.
The problem here is that no one really looks like the #1 team in the country. All while USC, lost early…yippee. But if any of the teams look poised to be the champs, you’ve got to look to the Big12…even after Tech played out a tough win this past weekend. What’s going to happen? Who knows, but if you’re a Big 12 fan, you have to like where things are going.
SEC Football is still the most competitive grouping of sports teams, probably in the world. I mean, look at what happened last weekend…Georgia struggled with a struggling Tennessee team and could have lost that game. LSU was absolutely killed by Florida, and still, Vanderbilt is still atop the SEC East, even after losing to Mississippi State.
Eight hours before Tim Tebow jumping jacked his way off the field in the Swamp, Texas pulled what some think could be the biggest upset of the year. Personally, I gave Texas no chance, whatsoever, to win that game. In fact, I think it was my #9 game overall in confidence in my pick’em league.
Texas was flat out impressive. They played just as fast as OU and purely matched their athleticism. Colt McCoy, who No Owens has never really understood, and still may not, looked great. He’s the cross between Major Applewhite and Vince Young; a guy who can beat you with great athletic ability, but has that swagger that Applewhite that gets his team right where they need to be…behind him, following him to a big win. Was their defense questionable? Sure, but who didn’t expect that to happen? They found every way to beat OU, and did so in a big way. That is one balanced team.
I think my #10 confidence game was Mizzou. Yeah, as you can read, I wasn’t too productive this week. Who thought, a 41 year old man could figure out how to slow down Chase Daniel? I didn’t see the game but from what I understand, all of Chase Daniel’s interceptions came in the red zone. Ok, so Mizzou got there, moved the ball, but if you can get your guys to make plays when they need them most, you show true grit. And grit is what it takes to win big games. Ask Colt McCoy.
So the question right now is this…without internet sitting here in 16F, I don’t have the rankings in front of me. So, honestly, since I have been in either a car or airplane for about every hour I haven’t been in my bed for the past couple of days, I don’t know who the #1 team in the nation is. But what I do know, is there are probably as many Big 12 teams in the top 25 as there are SEC teams. Top to bottom, is the Big 12 as strong as the SEC? I mean, A&M is bad. Baylor is Baylor and Tennessee is winless in conference play. Something tells me, I mean, possibly, that the Vols could beat the bottom teams in the Big 12, but at this point, they’d probably be better off with Bud Kilmer as their coach. Paul Walker knows he’s available.
But…here at No Owens, who cares? We care about championships. And the Big 12 this year might be better poised to make a run at a BCS Title than any team in the SEC. It’s just getting too rugged in the SEC…Georgia isn’t as good as advertised, LSU forgot how to play, and Percy Harvin is becoming healthy all while we don’t really know what this Alabama thing is. We will see what happens when they have to line up and go up against an LSU d-line, and that beast, 94 I think, who plays DT for Auburn. Who knew that JPW would be the most impressive QB in the SEC? Most certainly not me…nor RePete Smith. But you have a lot of Big 12 teams sitting quite pretty waiting for the SEC teams to continue to lose…and what if something happens where Penn State goes unblemished? What a disaster that would be.
The problem here is that no one really looks like the #1 team in the country. All while USC, lost early…yippee. But if any of the teams look poised to be the champs, you’ve got to look to the Big12…even after Tech played out a tough win this past weekend. What’s going to happen? Who knows, but if you’re a Big 12 fan, you have to like where things are going.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Coming Together As A Nation
Much can be said for the state of America right now. As the government spends your money to promoting actions that would put a few names in old Joe McCarthy's pocket while the most absurd candidates are fighting to lead our country, many people are looking at themselves in the mirror and asking themselves...what can I do now?
I've got the answer for you. Get behind the Tampa Bay Rays with everything you've got.
Never before has there been one team that no one has really cared about with a shot at going to the World Series. Who likes the Red Sox? Who cares about the Phillies or Dodgers (outside of the ManRam)? Would it be great to see the ManRam in Dodger blue crushing everything in site off, over and into the Green Monster? Well, yeah. But...what he, like Jonathan Moxon, is only one man.
The Rays winning a World Series would defy every odd, arguably in baseball history. Never before has a sport been so invested in it's players. You know the salaries and who gets them. But if you go to a Rays game, who's name would you see on the back of a fan's jersey? Crawford? Well, he's hurt anyway. Kazmir? No, I didn't misspell the title of the Zeppelin classic. Longoria? That's Evan not Eva.
You don't know these guys. I mean, I barely know who they are. But they are the American League Eastern Division Champions not named Yankees or Red Sox. So this team of young kids with nothing to lose are staring down the most coveted championship in American sports. A bunch of guys you've never heard of, who play hard, lay down bunts, and pitch well top to bottom...who play the game the way it was meant to be played. The way it was coached to you in little league.
If you need something to get excited about, hurry up and get excited about the Rays. It's an easy thing to do, and believe you me, you won't be the only one.
I've got the answer for you. Get behind the Tampa Bay Rays with everything you've got.
Never before has there been one team that no one has really cared about with a shot at going to the World Series. Who likes the Red Sox? Who cares about the Phillies or Dodgers (outside of the ManRam)? Would it be great to see the ManRam in Dodger blue crushing everything in site off, over and into the Green Monster? Well, yeah. But...what he, like Jonathan Moxon, is only one man.
The Rays winning a World Series would defy every odd, arguably in baseball history. Never before has a sport been so invested in it's players. You know the salaries and who gets them. But if you go to a Rays game, who's name would you see on the back of a fan's jersey? Crawford? Well, he's hurt anyway. Kazmir? No, I didn't misspell the title of the Zeppelin classic. Longoria? That's Evan not Eva.
You don't know these guys. I mean, I barely know who they are. But they are the American League Eastern Division Champions not named Yankees or Red Sox. So this team of young kids with nothing to lose are staring down the most coveted championship in American sports. A bunch of guys you've never heard of, who play hard, lay down bunts, and pitch well top to bottom...who play the game the way it was meant to be played. The way it was coached to you in little league.
If you need something to get excited about, hurry up and get excited about the Rays. It's an easy thing to do, and believe you me, you won't be the only one.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Next Year Isn't Here
You know what doesn't help? Walking seven in five innings.
The Cubs looked so bad yesterday, it's unreal. Remember that time I talked about contemplating that the Cubs being "the Cubs" is better than the Cubs that have a high payroll and win back to back division titles?
The Cubs played really well in the regular season. For about a month, the Cubs played with the fire and magic that makes you believe. Then they put it in cruise control and started beating people down. It's not the Cubs. This is not what it's like to be a Cubs fan. Focusing on success, and expecting success isn't what being a Cubs fan is about.
It's interesting because so much of the talk about one of my other main teams, the Vols, is about attendance this weekend, and how mad the fans are. Tennessee fans, and most SEC fans are said to be the most loyal in sports, but when things go south...they get off the bandwagon. Cubs fans, no matter what, love their team. More than anything with an unrivaled passion. So when teams have great years, it means something.
That stadium last night was dead. Why? Because the fans there knew they were going to have their rears in the seats 8 months ago. Think about 2003. Who expected that run? No one and that city was alive...and the entire city went on a two week bender after the NLCS. Look at the Red Sox and what they've become. What does it mean to be a Red Sox fan now? Nothing. Absolutely nothing, it means as much as being a Yankees fan. And that's what the Cubs are turning into. The, "expect to win" mentality isn't what built the most loyal fan base in the world. It's the hope that they can turn it around, the hours of heartache, and the joy in winning any game against the Cardinals or Mets.
This isn't the Cubs. And look what they did yesterday. They laid one fat egg. Walk the bases loaded...I've got news for you, that never ends well. Then, ManRam hits a "meaningless" home run. You think that was meaningless? First of all, if I was Lou Pinella, I'd see to it that Manny didn't take a swing all series. Walk that guy, every time, high school baseball style with the coach saying "Put Him On" to the ump and the hitter just goes to first without a pitch. Why? Because last night he hit a ball 420 off his ankles. You think that was meaningless? That showed everyone that you can't pitch to this guy. He's the best hitter there is, and if he has to, he can win games by himself. That wasn't a meaningless home run, that made a statement. To me at least.
Sure, it was only one game. And maybe the Cubs can turn this around, beat Manny and make a run at the title. But if this continues, the Cubs are taking 100 years of regular season woes and throwing them all into a five game series. And it doesn't mean anything. At least in 2003, it meant something. When the Cubs were on their way to winning the division in the last weekend of the season, I mean, I'm getting chills thinking about it, watching the stadium on TV, and what it really meant. The Cubs have become a business. And I don't know if I honestly like it.
The Cubs looked so bad yesterday, it's unreal. Remember that time I talked about contemplating that the Cubs being "the Cubs" is better than the Cubs that have a high payroll and win back to back division titles?
The Cubs played really well in the regular season. For about a month, the Cubs played with the fire and magic that makes you believe. Then they put it in cruise control and started beating people down. It's not the Cubs. This is not what it's like to be a Cubs fan. Focusing on success, and expecting success isn't what being a Cubs fan is about.
It's interesting because so much of the talk about one of my other main teams, the Vols, is about attendance this weekend, and how mad the fans are. Tennessee fans, and most SEC fans are said to be the most loyal in sports, but when things go south...they get off the bandwagon. Cubs fans, no matter what, love their team. More than anything with an unrivaled passion. So when teams have great years, it means something.
That stadium last night was dead. Why? Because the fans there knew they were going to have their rears in the seats 8 months ago. Think about 2003. Who expected that run? No one and that city was alive...and the entire city went on a two week bender after the NLCS. Look at the Red Sox and what they've become. What does it mean to be a Red Sox fan now? Nothing. Absolutely nothing, it means as much as being a Yankees fan. And that's what the Cubs are turning into. The, "expect to win" mentality isn't what built the most loyal fan base in the world. It's the hope that they can turn it around, the hours of heartache, and the joy in winning any game against the Cardinals or Mets.
This isn't the Cubs. And look what they did yesterday. They laid one fat egg. Walk the bases loaded...I've got news for you, that never ends well. Then, ManRam hits a "meaningless" home run. You think that was meaningless? First of all, if I was Lou Pinella, I'd see to it that Manny didn't take a swing all series. Walk that guy, every time, high school baseball style with the coach saying "Put Him On" to the ump and the hitter just goes to first without a pitch. Why? Because last night he hit a ball 420 off his ankles. You think that was meaningless? That showed everyone that you can't pitch to this guy. He's the best hitter there is, and if he has to, he can win games by himself. That wasn't a meaningless home run, that made a statement. To me at least.
Sure, it was only one game. And maybe the Cubs can turn this around, beat Manny and make a run at the title. But if this continues, the Cubs are taking 100 years of regular season woes and throwing them all into a five game series. And it doesn't mean anything. At least in 2003, it meant something. When the Cubs were on their way to winning the division in the last weekend of the season, I mean, I'm getting chills thinking about it, watching the stadium on TV, and what it really meant. The Cubs have become a business. And I don't know if I honestly like it.
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