.260 Hitters

Thursday night we decided to celebrate the impending birth of Brooklyn by taking a few friends to dinner (Mandola’s … is there anywhere else?). Afterward, we put little man to bed and settled in for a romantic evening with some red wine, chocolate cheesecake, and Oregon v. Oregon State. What a lucky woman. Several hours and three quarters later, the pregnant one is sleeping, Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli is driving, and I’m cheering … the first two parts of the phrase aren’t unusual, but what rift in the universe caused that third bit? 

I’m no Ducks fan. I was elated to see Boise stomp them in the season opener and giddy when Blount started throwing left hooks, yet I’ve noticed that I keep saying “I’m no Ducks fan, but…” What’s going on with all the buts? Then the camera panned to the 80K+ in Autzen stadium going absolutely crazy and it dawned on me. Ducks fans are true football fans, through and through. Unlike certain regional teams that I know of, where there’s a huge difference between a stadium when their team is 10 – 0 v. when they are 8 – 2 … not for the Ducks faithful, where every game is a game worth going to, staying long, and being loud. Granted, 75% of them are high on something – and it isn’t life – but you can’t blame them, they do live in Oregon. But if those nut jobs in Autzen aren’t inspiring, they are at the very least admirable. So yes, Go Ducks.

Oregon 37
Oregon State 34

In other games that matter, Cincinnati and Pitt launched an offensive showcase in weather conditions made for 3 – 2 scoring charts. After 58 minutes of play, Pitt went up 44 – 38, but PAT placeholder Andrew Jaocko managed to drop the perfect snap, placing Pitt in jeopardy of Natti’s incredibly effective offense. The remaining one minute and 39 seconds was all it took … well, it really took about one minute and three seconds for Cincy to drive, score, and yes, make the PAT for the win. If kickers are the most lonesome players on the team, where does that put the placeholder after going all Tony Romo circa 2007 playoffs?

The spread for the Big East title game was zero … Cincy won by a point. Amazing? Sure. FYI, the spread for the ACC title game was one, and the Fresno v. Illinois game was zero … the games ended with a spread of three and one, respectively. Now that’s just freaky.

Coaches’ Corner

Another note to you kids who want to be a big-time college football coach one day. When you take over a program and destroy it from being the most winning team in school history into one with consecutive losing seasons, a feat not accomplished since the 1960s, don’t talk. Just shut your piehole and maybe dust-off those books on how to win. And certainly, under no circumstances, go all melodramatic and compare what your team is going through to New Orleans and Katrina.

That’s right, he did. Your favorite coach (and mine) Rich Rodriguez, speaking at a team banquet, said, “It’s really kind of ironic that the New Orleans Saints overcame the hurricane a few years back. And we’ve had a few hurricanes of our own. We had a big hurricane in August, and it kind of hit us like a ton of bricks. But you had 120 young men and a bunch of people on the staff that said this is not going to tear our program apart.” He goes on and on with the analogy, digging that hole deeper and deeper. Nice comparison, genius, because in Michigan’s case, you ARE Katrina.

Back to football

While the SEC and Big East showed offensive flare, the Big 12 title game got down into the trenches, battling for each precious point.  At one point Nebraska finally seemed to seal the deal with a field goal to put the Huskers ahead by two with under two minutes to play. Unfortunately for them, a kickoff out of bounds and follow-up horse collar tackle put the Longhorns in field-goal range virtually without having to make a single play. But it wasn’t that simple for the Longhorns.

Texas golden boy Colt McCoy went all Les Miles with his clock management skills, rolling right and nonchalantly lobbing a 30-yard pass into the bleachers as the clock struck zero. Luckily for the Longhorns, the referee put one second back on the clock and the Texas kicker nailed a 46-yarder for the win. After the game, Colt told ABC, “I knew I had plenty of time…” Um, no you didn’t.

Was the referee right to put that second back on the clock? Sure. Does that mean Nebraska won’t stew about this for the next eight months with the mantra “We were one second away”? Nope. Sound familiar, anyone?

On a follow-up note, Texas better figure out something fast because though Nebraska’s defense is stout, it’s no Alabama … just ask Timmy.

Speaking of Bama, those fools from Tuscaloosa almost made the SEC title game look easy, routing national title favorite Florida 32 – 13. Tebow threw for 247 yards and rushed for 63, but red-zone performance was abysmal, including an end-zone interception. Bama just had too many rounds in its chamber, racking up almost 500 yards of offense, plus a 79-yard kickoff return, ending the longest current winning streak in college football.

And with that ends the college football regular season, minus one brouhaha scheduled for next Saturday, when the men of our nation’s military take the field, dedicated to selfless service to our country, placing honor, duty, and loyalty above contracts and sponsorships, destined to defend our country with their blood, sweat, and possibly their lives. Oh, and the other team on the field will be Navy.

GO ARMY!