by Wally
Happy Friday to members of The Pine.
But before I go on, I just want to recognize the tragic loss of a young life which occurred at Notre Dame when a student, junior Declan Sullivan, was killed when the lift he was perched on while filming football practice was apparently blown over by strong winds. Accounts of the events leading up to the accident appear to indicate that this was certainly avoidable in many respects, making it even sadder. A memoral mass was held on campus yesterday attended by at least 1,000 people. The thoughts and prayers of many are with Declan’s family and friends.
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HUGE games in college football Saturday coming up with national title implications. But first, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m on a personal crusade to see to it that Boise State … should they continue winning … gets a seat at the BCS national title game. If they lose, then TCU or Utah … whoever wins that game should get a shot. But Boise is the team, at the moment, that DESERVES this chance more than the other little guys from “non-automatic qualifying conferences”. BSU, the “little blue machine that could”, has paid their dues with a long winning streak, wins in BCS bowls 2 of the past 3 years, a perfect 7-0 record thus far in 2010 with some impressive wins … on the road vs Virginia Tech and at home vs Oregon State. They are among the nation’s leaders in many offensive and defensive categories and they’ve got one of the nation’s premier QBs (only a junior). BSU’s success is not an accident … and it’s not just cute anymore. These guys are FOR REAL. (Anyway, my daughter and S-I-L go there, so as a tuition paying parent, I’m even willing to drive the BSU-to-BCS Bus). Get on … let’s go!
By the way, the #3 Broncos trounced La Tech 49-20 Tuesday, so you won’t see a score for them Saturday. On to the other big games:
Michigan State (#5) at Iowa (#18) — tough enough to play at Iowa, but especially when they’re ticked off after letting one get away vs Wisconsin. This is the Hawkeyes’ Rose Bowl and Sparty has relied on magic and voodoo to stay undefeated thus far. Their luck runs out and Spartarella turns back into a pumpkin after this one. Hawkeyes by 2.
Auburn (#1) at Ole Miss — Mississippi coach Houston Nutt has a track record of upsetting highly ranked teams … but, he’ll have his hands full with Auburn QB and Heisman front-runner Cam Newton. Not sure the Rebels have the tools to pull the upset this year, but homefield advantage will make it interesting. Auburn edges Ole Miss … but I hope I’m wrong!
Oregon (#2) at USC — Due to USC’s problems with the law … er uh … the NCAA sanctions, they are bowl ineligible for a few seasons so THIS is their national title game. Two weeks to prepare after coming off a nice stretch where the offense finally got going, the Trojans are gonna give the Ducks all they can handle. Problem is … I think Oregon’s offense is better than USC’s defense by more than USC’s offense is better than Oregon’s D. I see the Ducks winning a shootout … maybe 37-35. Again … I hope I’m dead wrong.
Missouri (#6) at Nebraska (#14) — Whoa, Nellie, there’s a lot at stake in this one. Mizzou is coming off a stirring victory last week over then #1 Oklahoma … at home. The Huskers are coming off a redemptive win at Oklahoma State and looking to revive their conference title hopes after inexplicably laying an egg at home 2 weeks ago vs Texas. Can the Tigers maintain that high level emotion which carried them last week? Nope … I see the inevitable letdown and a Huskers squad “loaded for tiger”. Huskers win by 10.
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Okay … on to the World Series. Giants surprisingly up 2-0. Will SF’s good karma continue on the road …. or will we get the Texas Two Step Tieing It Up at Two??? Smitty, you’re the guy who takes it two games at a time … what say you??? I think the Giants will head back to SF after Monday’s game with a 3-2 lead.
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I will be attending the Texas Tech vs Texas A&M game Saturday and will not watch the ND game … besides, I’m boycotting Irish football as I said after last Saturday’s debacle. Oh sure, I’m rooting for them to win of course, but there will be no recap or otherwise gnashing of teeth. ND needs to SHOW US SOMETHING, so it’s actually interesting again … as opposed to just simply sad. Having said that, I’m expecting they’ll have trouble with Tulsa. I guess that says it all.
Let is know how you see this weekend playing out! Have a good one!
Just got a huge shot of confidence regarding ND’s chances vs Tulsa as I discovered that Lovie Smith, “coach” of duh Bares, will attend the game. Smith played college ball for Tulsa. Of course, Smith’s association with anything involving football is not good … as his pathetic run with duh Bares demonstrates … so if this doesn’t provide the Irish with the positive karma they need to topple the Golden Hurricane, nothing will !!! GO IRISH!
Are you pulling for a USC victory?
Yes …try to stay with the plot …
a) I will sell my soul for BSU to get into the title game … for that to happen, Oregon needs to be moved out of the way … Oregon may be the most important team to lose because they are #1 in both human polls. If BSU can secure and hold onto #1 in Human polls, it will be hard for the computers to outweigh that to send them below #2 in the BCS ranking. Nothing personal against the Ducks … it’s “just business”.
b) USC is a program I both respect and dislike because they are a rival … BUT they are one of the reasons Notre Dame is a reknowned national program as the schools started playing eachother to start a rare cross-sectional rivalry back in the ’20s. Contrast that with Michigan … I don’t respect them AND I HATE them. Quite a difference. USC is important to CFB, Michigan is important to themselves.
I feel so dirty after having read that.
Then I’ve done my job 😉
Well stated Wally…I feel the same about the Irish…I like the Trojans at home tomorrow 38-34 Game Day will be at the Coloseum…Ducks haven’t won there since 2000…SC defense needs to show up in a big way…How does Lane Kiffin have that conversation with his dad ? That’s got to be somewhat ackward…Some are suggesting Brian Kelly be fired over yesterdays tragedy…How do you feel “pineriders” feel ?
Go Ducks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jason Whitlock is a freakin’ idiot, moron, a**wipe, you name it. And anyone else who suggests Kelly out be fired … at this point …. is in the same category. We don’t know what happened … let’s wait til the investigation is complete. Geeez. Ya know … i’m just kinda doubting anyone asked that kid to go up there the other day. Now I’m sure in hindsight there’s lots of folks who wish now that they asked him to get down. What WE DO KNOW is that the young man felt that it was VERY RISKY beforehand. Very sad he didn’t follow his own instincts and get the hell out of there.
Wally needs to be excommunicated for pulling for USC.
As for the accident, it is ridiculous to be even talking about firing Kelly. I am sure the authorities are going to find numerous violations of health and safety codes and people at fault. I am sure there are going to be many changes on how students are used in support roles for teams and clubs. Why do they even need to film practice? Do they even have time to review practice film when they are reviewing film of their opponents? Seems to me to be a low priority function. And now with the increased sophistication of video equipment, why would they even need to have a guy in a manbasket. Wally was operating underwater cameras of the Deepwater Horizon in his PJs at the dining room table.
But in the end, DS was in command of the lift and chose to operate it outside the limits of its capacity. And for that seemingly minor infraction, he paid with his life.
Maybe Brian Kelly should instead be fired for his complete and utter f_______p on ND’s final possession Saturday. Makes ya wonder if he really gets it. Given a) you have the best PK in the country and b) your freshman QB is pressed into emergency service and already thrown 2 INTs, 999 out of 1,000 coaches set up for a 35 yd field goal and take the win. Not Brian Kelly, winner of the Poophead of the Year award. Nice call, moron.
Pretty good day on the gridiron for those of us hoping for chaos and passengers on the BSU BUS. BlueturfNation is happy because Mizzou and Michigan State both lost … wow, by huge margins … and the number of undefeateds is shrinking. Unfortunately, Oregon and Auburn both won pretty convincingly … and as I stated earlier, Oregon is the team the Broncos need to lose the most. And they are also the least likely to lose at this point.
What a delightful day it was for me and the fam at Kyle Field for Texas Tech vs A&M. And the Aggies played very well to bring home a 45-27 win. Coach Mike Sherman has finally seen the light and started Junior QB Ryan Tannehill … what an improvement and shot in the arm to revive the once lost season. A&M is now 5-3 with some momentum. Oklahoma visits Kyle Field next week.
Geez … how bad does ND look now? Two more pieces of damning evidence: 1) they gave away the game to Tulsa (thanks, Coach Smelly) and 2) Navy actually lost to Duke. Yes … that Navy team … which beat the snot out of ND last week … lost to Duke. Duke!!! So now, even Duke is ranked higher than the Irish in my mythical “All Academic Football Conference”. The Irish are doing so poorly in the AAFC, they’re threatening to claim their independence … so they can rank first in “their own conference of one”. That might be what it takes.
Wally, I am shocked that Kelly called a play for Rees to throw the ball.. Common sense says run the ball a couple more plays, get a little closer, keep the ball in the middle of the field, hit the field goal and go home.
To me that was a rookie mistake by an experienced coach… Maybe Kelly is in over his head at Notre Dame.
Smitty —
Join the crowd of shocked people … see two responses above. It’s almost like you do know what to say when something so stupid happens. That wasn’t even a “rookie mistake” for a college coach … that was an inexcusable, unconsionable brain fart by Brian Smelly. Coach Smelly just put the “umb” in Notre Dumb. My mom would’ve kicked the field goal, my almost 5 yr old daughter kicks the FG … all after running maybe one more play … a QB sneak or fullback plunge to position the ball best for your placekicker … a kid who’s made what … 18 or 19 in a row? Ruffer is one of your very few bright spots this year. It woulda been at most a 34 or 36 yard kick. But no …after calling a timeout, Coach Smelly decides to have his backup freshman QB throw yet another pass … his what … 55th pass of the game? … after throwing 2 INTS, including a pick 6.
What is it about manning the ND stadium west sideline that turns previously bright people into complete morons??? That’s AT LEAST 3 or 4 easy decisions screwed up by Smelly this year that have directly led to Irish defeats. ND’s Athletic Director Swarbrick has really got to be scratching his head right about now … wondering if Smelly isn’t just plain stupid, let alone “overmatched”.
Wally and Smitty –
As if actually calling that play with a fresh. QB at the helm wasn’t bad enough, he said in his post-game interview that that’s the way they will always call their games. Man coverage and he’s airing it out no matter what. Whoa. What’s the old saying? Pride before the fall. HOw could he say that in a 1-point game in FG range?
Rey —
I saw the post game interview with Smelly on late night ESPN. Talk about a guy in complete denial … he actually believes he made the right call. Looks like we’re gonna have a problem here. And you’re right … he said they had single coverage on Floyd. Oh really? Looks like Rees threw it right into the middle of double coverage … Floyd was completely covered. Ya know, it’s not like your kicker is weak and you have a strong QB … I might begin to understand then … might. But it is the exact opposite at ND … the kicker is having a GREAT year and the QB position is highly suspect.
Again … it’s such a ridiculously bad decision by the coach, it’s really hard to know what to say. How can you not run the ball if you’re gonna even run a play with 40 seconds left?? ND averaged 5.2 yards a carry for the game, but only ran it 24 times. They passed it 56 times. 56 times!!! mostly by a rookie back-up QB. Sometimes … you’re just so stupid, you deserve to lose. What happened to Brian Smelly yesterday was a case of the football gods throwing it back in his face and saying “you suck”.
Not surprisingly, the Irish are now starting to lose recruits that had committed verbally for the next recruiting class to sign in Feb 2011. It’s one thing to lose a tight game here or there … it’s quite another to look like completely incompetent buffoons, which is exactly what ND has looked like the past two weeks. Looks like Coach Smelly and his cast of incompetents are actually destroying value as opposed to building it.
wally-
Still betting on a 5 loss record for ND (4-5)???? What about the ND (NO Defense) on the 3rd AND 21, gave up 26 I think. Another poor game by a bunh of over talented, Imean over weight lineman. Throw in a stupid last playcall by an overpaid coach and you have a good recipe for a loss.
Russell –
I think the Army game will be a challenge, too. Add that to losses to Utah and SoCal … could be a 4-8 season. I think ND’s best interhall team might give the varsity a good game right now.
I did not see the game, so will have to take your word for it on the 3rd and 21 failure by the defense.
Glad to see some notable sports writers confirming that we’re really not paranoid here in Wally’s World. Article by Michael Rosenburg of SI:
https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/11/02/notre.dame.brian.kelly/index.html?xid=cnnbin&hpt=Sbin