Pittsburgh’s ten point win Saturday at the Carrier Dome knocked the Orange from the ranks of the unbeaten in college basketball. Number five Syracuse suffered their first loss of the season, and fourth straight at home to the Panthers. Syracuse was stifled by their unranked Big East opponents, 82-72. The Orange couldn’t fend off the best defensive team in the conference, shot under their average 54% from the field, and got into foul trouble throughout the afternoon. Pittsburgh made upstate New York feel like a home arena in handling the Orange and erasing a three point halftime deficit to pick up their second win in conference play. Syracuse dropped to 1-1 in the Big East and 13-1 overall.
The top scoring team in the Big East, Syracuse, was lead by senior Wesley Johnson’s 19 points. The Iowa State transfer was recruited by Panthers coach, Jamie Dixon, two years ago. Johnson failed to register an assist against Dixon’s revamped Pittsburgh roster. The Orange has only 12 assists in the game, nearly ten below their season average. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, came into Saturday’s showdown the second lowest scoring team in the Big East. The physical Panthers went on an uncharacteristic offensive splurge after struggling through the first half. Pitt made just ten of their first 30 shots in the first half. Ashton Gibbs and Jermaine Dixon kept the visitors in the game, excelling on offense and accounting for 23 of the 27 first half points. Pittsburgh came out firing and was efficient in the second half to stop the Orange from their first 14-0 season start in ten years.
Syracuse relied on strong second half defense to win their Big East opener against Seton Hall earlier in the week. The Orange defense wasn’t the problem yesterday. The offense was never able to rally after Pittsburgh ignited a 16-4 run to start the second half. The Orange were also nailed for 19 fouls in the game’s final twenty minutes. Johnson and Rick Jackson were called for four fouls to take whatever Syracuse spunk remained in the final quarter. Pittsburgh capitalized on Syracuse’s miscues and accurately made their free throws in the second half. Gibbs set a school record when he secured his 35th consecutive free throw, and finished the day with 37. The Panthers jumped on Jim Boeheim’s team with just 18 minutes remaining in the game. Brad Wanamaker slated a pair of free throws and the Panthers went on a 9-0 run to make it 43-34 in their favor. The Orange pulled back to within two with 11:18 in the contest. Johnson converted two Scoop Jardine misses and keyed an 8-1 Orange run. Gibbs used his long range accuracy to keep the Panthers in the lead down the stretch. The sophomore guard hit three 3-pointers in tihe span of four minutes for the cats. Pittsburgh resumed control by scoring 15 of their next 20 points, preventing any comeback from the undefeated Orange.
The Panthers were 10 of 24 from the arc. Syracuse’s solo shot from the rainbow was from Andy Rautins, the Orange leader in assists Saturday. Gibbs bucketed six from downtown and scored 24 points to lead the Panthers. Dixon, Wanamaker and freshman, Dante Taylor, all finished in double digits. Gibbs grabbed eight rebounds and Nasir Robinson added seven for the winning Panthers. Kris Joseph tacked on nine rebounds for the Orange. Syracuse came into Saturday’s home game leading the conference in margin of victory. They were beating opponents by an average of 25 points per game. For some reason, the Panthers have the Orange’s number. They seem to hand Syracuse some of their worst defeats and lopsided losses whenever they tip-off. History was on Pitt’s side Saturday. It was on Dixon’s side too. The Panther coach is 7-2 against teams ranked in the top five. The Panthers tenacity and mental toughness in hostile environments is an enduring characteristic of Dixon’s teams. It doesn’t matter who leaves the team for the NBA. Dixon usually finds a way to instill and affirm confidence in his ballclub for significant games. The inexperienced and young Panthers passed their first of three tough road tests. Cincinnati and Connecticut are up next for Pittsburgh. Perhaps upending and upsetting the unbreakable and unblemished Orange was the hardest one.
Parting Points: There are four unbeaten teams left in college basketball. Kansas thumped Temple yesterday and Kentucky held on to survive Louisville. The Texas Longhorns and Purdue Boilermakers are surprisingly still undefeated too.
Can the Cowboys contain DeSean Jackson today to win the NFC East? He had only two receptions in the first game against Dallas. Maybe the ‘Boys will hold the soaring Eagle receiver to one today.
Band of the day- Hootie and the Blowfish
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Pryor Pristine in Pasadena
The Buckeyes boldly brought about a BCS bowl for the Ohio State University by beating Oregon at the 2010 Rose Bowl. Ohio State put an end to their recent bowl woes by prevailing over the 7th ranked Ducks 26-17 on New Year’s Day. There was little resistance from the Pac-10 Champions in the 96th anniversary of the famed annual event. Ohio State trailed just one time during the game, but swifty put themselves back in charge behind the best performance of sophomore quarterback, Terelle Pryor’s, career. Pryor passed for 266 yards and a pair of scores. He completed 23 of 37 tosses and ran 20 times for 72 yards. The dual-threat sophomore signal caller was picked off one time but held it together with the help of a stingy defense. Defensively, the Buckeyes held the quick scoring Ducks to 260 yards.
Pryor lofted the key touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter to give the Buckeyes a commanding lead. The 8th ranked Bucks drove the field 81 yards to set up DeVier Posey’s 17 yard touchdown grab. A twisting Posey hauled in Pryor’s soft pass to the left side of the end zone and fought off Oregon defender, Anthony Gildon. The touchdown boosted OSU to a nine point lead with 7:02 remaining in the Rose Bowl. Oregon answered with a hopeful drive on the ensuing possession. Cliff Harris took a reverse pick on the kickoff and returned the ball to the OSU 36 yard line. The Bucks’ defense demolished LaMichael James for a five yard loss, negating the five yards the running back picked up on first down. James, the freshman replacement tailback, emerged as the leading rusher for Oregon, with 79 yards. Ducks’ junior quarterback, Jerermiah Masoli, completed a nine yard pass to James on third down to set up a 44 yard field goal try with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter. Morgan Flint’s kick was wide right, and Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes were poised to run out the clock.
The Ducks entered the Rose Bowl averaging over 40 points per game. The OSU defense is one of the highest rated in college football, and they proved why yesterday afternoon. The Buckeye offense came out looking sharp, clicking on all cylinders, to go ahead 7-0 on the opening possession. Pryor rushed for a 24 yard gain on third down and found Posey for gains of 4 and 11 yards. Dane Sanzenbacher snatched a seven yard toss at the Oregon 31. Running back, Brandon Saine, followed the catch up with an 11 yard scramble to the right, and finished the drive in the end zone with a 13 yard reception. The defense responded with a three-and-out, forcing and pressuring Oregon’s offense. Ohio State corralled Masoli with a devastating pass rush. Cut-throat, Cameron Heyward pulverized the quarterback by sacking him for a nine yard loss on Oregon’s first drive. Ohio State dominated time of possession in the first quarter. The second Buckeyes drive was sustained due in part to a pair of costly Oregon penalties. Ohio State failed to capitalize, but did force the Ducks to being deep in their own territory to set up excellent field position. Devin Barclay made it a ten point OSU advantage with a 19 yard field goal to end the first quarter.
Oregon finally figured into the scoreboard in the second quarter. The Ducks settled for a 24 yard Flint field goal to post their first three points of the game. Kenjon Barner’s 37 yard first down run set up the Flint kick. Pryor was sacked and the Buckeyes went three-and-out on their first possession of the second quarter. Oregon contined to tally points and put up an offensive fight. The Ducks rallied to tie the score 10-10 after an eight play, eleven yard drive resulted in Legarrette Blount’s three yard rushing touchdown. Blount, known more for his punches than his end zone rumbling, chewed up just 36 yards on the ground. His reach for the end zone had to be reviewed by officials before it was declared a score for the Ducks. Saine returned the ensuing kickoff 16 yards to begin a near eight minute OSU drive before the break. Dan “Boom” Herron carried the football for a pair for four yard rushes, and caught a pass for four more to give the Bucks a set of fresh downs. Another Oregon penalty gave OSU a first down at midfield, where Pryor hit Herron for a fifteen yard gain into Ducks territory. The sophomore struck Posey twice between the numbers and rushed for six yards on a third down play at the Oregon 20 yard line. Following a timeout, Ohio State converted the fourth-and-one play but fell short of seven points because of a stellar Oregon defensive stance. Barclay connected from 30 yards with just over a minute left to lift OSU to a 13-10 lead. Ross Homan and the OSU defense rose to give the Buckeyes another shot at a score before heading into the locker room. Left tackle, Doug Worthington, tipped a Massoli pass and Homan picked the interception at the OSU 34 yard line. Pryor, with 25 ticks on the clock, stepped up and threw into Sanzenbacher on a crossing route. The 18 yard gain was enough to set up Aaron Pettrey’s 45 yard boot as time expired in the half. Pettrey suffered a knee injury in week eight and was only recently cleared to play after undergoing surgery. The kick at the gun gave OSU a 16-10 margin at the Rose Bowl half.
Massoli opened the second half scoring with a one yard plunge to give Oregon their only lead of the game. Oregon’s powerful offense ran for 179 yards, the second most allowed by OSU this season. The one point advantage lasted just five minutes, however. The Ohio State offense orchestrated an outstanding 11 play drive that covered 59 yards of real estate. Number two was steady in throwing deep passes with success. Pryor couldn’t complete the vital passes to the end zone when given two chances at Oregon’s 21 yard line. Pryor overthrew Sanzenbacher in what could have been a Buckeyes touchdown. Salient Sanzenbacher finished with 9 receptions for 64 yards. The Buckeyes settled for Barclay’s 38 yard field goal to jump ahead by two points. Ohio State held the lead and took over on their own 19 yard line following an Oregon punt with 13 minutes to go. Pryor sandwiched an 11 yard rush in between two Herron runs before hooking Sanzenbacher for two consecutive completions. Three plays later, Pryor jostled and flicked to Jake Ballard on 3rd-and 13. The tight end’s 24 yard clutch put OSU in Duck territory with under nine minutes. Tressel called three running plays in a row as the mixed attack for OSU continued to close in on the end zone. On 2nd-and 7 from the Ducks’ 17, Pryor tossed behind the Oregon cornerback, Gildon. Posey secured the football, all but sealing the Rose Bowl victory for the Big 10 champions. The 11-3 Buckeyes were propelled by Posey’s 101 yard receiving day. The sophomore wideout finished with eight receptions to go along with his winning, waggling touchdown.
The Buckeyes were effective in neutralizing Massoli and keeping the ball in Pryor’s hands. The Ducks held the ball just 19 minutes. Even that wasn’t enough for the fast-paced Oregon offense. The OSU offense stayed on the field long enough to allow the defense to rest. The penetration and pass rushing for Ohio State was tremendous in the team’s fifth consecutive bowl game. The Ducks ended their great season, with a rookie head coach, on a sour note. The spread option offense was bogged down by a prepared Buckeye unit. Oregon even outran the Bucks 179-153, but Pryor dominated Massoli in passing percentage. The Ducks were never able to rack up points and fell to OSU for the eighth time in eight tries throughout the meetings between the two teams.
Parting Points: Top-notch read from the bookshelf- “Moll Flanders” by Daniel DeFoe
Pryor lofted the key touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter to give the Buckeyes a commanding lead. The 8th ranked Bucks drove the field 81 yards to set up DeVier Posey’s 17 yard touchdown grab. A twisting Posey hauled in Pryor’s soft pass to the left side of the end zone and fought off Oregon defender, Anthony Gildon. The touchdown boosted OSU to a nine point lead with 7:02 remaining in the Rose Bowl. Oregon answered with a hopeful drive on the ensuing possession. Cliff Harris took a reverse pick on the kickoff and returned the ball to the OSU 36 yard line. The Bucks’ defense demolished LaMichael James for a five yard loss, negating the five yards the running back picked up on first down. James, the freshman replacement tailback, emerged as the leading rusher for Oregon, with 79 yards. Ducks’ junior quarterback, Jerermiah Masoli, completed a nine yard pass to James on third down to set up a 44 yard field goal try with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter. Morgan Flint’s kick was wide right, and Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes were poised to run out the clock.
The Ducks entered the Rose Bowl averaging over 40 points per game. The OSU defense is one of the highest rated in college football, and they proved why yesterday afternoon. The Buckeye offense came out looking sharp, clicking on all cylinders, to go ahead 7-0 on the opening possession. Pryor rushed for a 24 yard gain on third down and found Posey for gains of 4 and 11 yards. Dane Sanzenbacher snatched a seven yard toss at the Oregon 31. Running back, Brandon Saine, followed the catch up with an 11 yard scramble to the right, and finished the drive in the end zone with a 13 yard reception. The defense responded with a three-and-out, forcing and pressuring Oregon’s offense. Ohio State corralled Masoli with a devastating pass rush. Cut-throat, Cameron Heyward pulverized the quarterback by sacking him for a nine yard loss on Oregon’s first drive. Ohio State dominated time of possession in the first quarter. The second Buckeyes drive was sustained due in part to a pair of costly Oregon penalties. Ohio State failed to capitalize, but did force the Ducks to being deep in their own territory to set up excellent field position. Devin Barclay made it a ten point OSU advantage with a 19 yard field goal to end the first quarter.
Oregon finally figured into the scoreboard in the second quarter. The Ducks settled for a 24 yard Flint field goal to post their first three points of the game. Kenjon Barner’s 37 yard first down run set up the Flint kick. Pryor was sacked and the Buckeyes went three-and-out on their first possession of the second quarter. Oregon contined to tally points and put up an offensive fight. The Ducks rallied to tie the score 10-10 after an eight play, eleven yard drive resulted in Legarrette Blount’s three yard rushing touchdown. Blount, known more for his punches than his end zone rumbling, chewed up just 36 yards on the ground. His reach for the end zone had to be reviewed by officials before it was declared a score for the Ducks. Saine returned the ensuing kickoff 16 yards to begin a near eight minute OSU drive before the break. Dan “Boom” Herron carried the football for a pair for four yard rushes, and caught a pass for four more to give the Bucks a set of fresh downs. Another Oregon penalty gave OSU a first down at midfield, where Pryor hit Herron for a fifteen yard gain into Ducks territory. The sophomore struck Posey twice between the numbers and rushed for six yards on a third down play at the Oregon 20 yard line. Following a timeout, Ohio State converted the fourth-and-one play but fell short of seven points because of a stellar Oregon defensive stance. Barclay connected from 30 yards with just over a minute left to lift OSU to a 13-10 lead. Ross Homan and the OSU defense rose to give the Buckeyes another shot at a score before heading into the locker room. Left tackle, Doug Worthington, tipped a Massoli pass and Homan picked the interception at the OSU 34 yard line. Pryor, with 25 ticks on the clock, stepped up and threw into Sanzenbacher on a crossing route. The 18 yard gain was enough to set up Aaron Pettrey’s 45 yard boot as time expired in the half. Pettrey suffered a knee injury in week eight and was only recently cleared to play after undergoing surgery. The kick at the gun gave OSU a 16-10 margin at the Rose Bowl half.
Massoli opened the second half scoring with a one yard plunge to give Oregon their only lead of the game. Oregon’s powerful offense ran for 179 yards, the second most allowed by OSU this season. The one point advantage lasted just five minutes, however. The Ohio State offense orchestrated an outstanding 11 play drive that covered 59 yards of real estate. Number two was steady in throwing deep passes with success. Pryor couldn’t complete the vital passes to the end zone when given two chances at Oregon’s 21 yard line. Pryor overthrew Sanzenbacher in what could have been a Buckeyes touchdown. Salient Sanzenbacher finished with 9 receptions for 64 yards. The Buckeyes settled for Barclay’s 38 yard field goal to jump ahead by two points. Ohio State held the lead and took over on their own 19 yard line following an Oregon punt with 13 minutes to go. Pryor sandwiched an 11 yard rush in between two Herron runs before hooking Sanzenbacher for two consecutive completions. Three plays later, Pryor jostled and flicked to Jake Ballard on 3rd-and 13. The tight end’s 24 yard clutch put OSU in Duck territory with under nine minutes. Tressel called three running plays in a row as the mixed attack for OSU continued to close in on the end zone. On 2nd-and 7 from the Ducks’ 17, Pryor tossed behind the Oregon cornerback, Gildon. Posey secured the football, all but sealing the Rose Bowl victory for the Big 10 champions. The 11-3 Buckeyes were propelled by Posey’s 101 yard receiving day. The sophomore wideout finished with eight receptions to go along with his winning, waggling touchdown.
The Buckeyes were effective in neutralizing Massoli and keeping the ball in Pryor’s hands. The Ducks held the ball just 19 minutes. Even that wasn’t enough for the fast-paced Oregon offense. The OSU offense stayed on the field long enough to allow the defense to rest. The penetration and pass rushing for Ohio State was tremendous in the team’s fifth consecutive bowl game. The Ducks ended their great season, with a rookie head coach, on a sour note. The spread option offense was bogged down by a prepared Buckeye unit. Oregon even outran the Bucks 179-153, but Pryor dominated Massoli in passing percentage. The Ducks were never able to rack up points and fell to OSU for the eighth time in eight tries throughout the meetings between the two teams.
Parting Points: Top-notch read from the bookshelf- “Moll Flanders” by Daniel DeFoe
Friday, January 1, 2010
Bobby Bowden's Bowl
This hasn’t been the best decade for Florida State football fans. Amid player scandals and preposterous performances, the mainstay of the Seminoles in the ‘00s was the head coach. Bobby Bowden will coach his final game New Year’s Day against his former team, West Virginia. The legendary Bowden transports a 21-9 record in bowl games as FSU’s head coach. The 6-6 Seminoles barely belong in this game but it will be Bowden’s farewell to football. The Mountaineers finished 9-3 in the somewhat firmly established Big East conference. WVU is favored to upend Bowden in his last appearance in Tallahassee. A sellout crowd is expected at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium to cheer Bowden for 34 memorable years with the Seminole headset. Hopefully the ‘Noles will have enough to warrant a win in the new year.
I became a fan of Florida State following their 1999 National Championship. The Seminoles knocked off Michael Vick’s Virginia Tech Hokies in the Sugar Bowl to wrap up a 12-0 season. The ‘Noles ended the 90’s with 109 victories, highest among any college team. It marked Bowden’s second title at FSU. His coaching greatness can be summed up in one sentence: Bowden is second all-time in wins by a Division I coach. Bowden is a winner, and has always been one of the easiest coaches to root for because of his engaging personality. He elevated FSU into the national spotlight after inheriting a four win team in 1976. Since Bowden took over, the Seminoles have only had one losing season (1976). FSU went from the Independent Conference to the elite ACC in 1992. They were undefeated in conference play the first three years in the ACC and finished in first place nine consecutive seasons. The Seminoles snagged the Orange Bowl over stoic Nebraska, by escaping on a Cornhuskers missed field goal. The Bowden-led Seminoles began the 00’s with another first place finish, but lost in the Orange Bowl. Losses started to compound each of the next two years, and in 2006, the Seminoles were fifth in the conference at year’s end. The 2008 season signaled a return to the top, although FSU was tied for the spot after a 9-4 overall record. Last year, Bowden’s team squeezed out a two point victory in the Champs Sports Bowl.
This season has been a roller coaster for the up-and-down Seminoles. They were the preseason pick to win the ACC. The 2009 ‘Noles dropped their home opener in a shootout to Miami, 38-34. They cruised to a back-to-back wins before losing three straight to ranked opponents. Florida State ended October with a pair of three point wins, only to fall to Clemson 40-24 in early November. The loss likely didn’t conjure memories of the 1988 Puntrooskie call that lifted FSU over Clemson late in the game. Two conference wins put FSU back in the ACC title hunt, but a season final crushing by Florida pitted them against the Mountaineers today. No one would be happier than FSU fans to see Bowden’s final season culminate in a Gator Bowl basking. The number 18 Mountaineers will be a challenge for the mediocre ‘Noles. Bowden is hoping to avoid the program’s first losing season since 1976. The alluring matchup features to comparable quarterbacks in FSU’s E.J. Manuel and WVU’s Jarrett Brown. Jermaine Thomas is the Seminole’s leading rusher, but pales in comparison to the fleet-footed Noel Devine for WVU. Florida State should not be overlooked and their .500 record is slightly deceiving. The Seminoles are better than advertised. The Mountaineers were 6-1 at one point during the season and have half as many losses as FSU. West Virginia has won three of their past four games, including a momentum boosting Backyard Brawl defeat of Pittsburgh. But, the Seminoles narrowly lost some hardly fought battles and won some in difficult places to play. The Seminoles have scored more points and picked up more first downs than the Mountaineers. Bowden’s offense has more than 1,000 more yards. For Bowden’s bittersweet sake, let’s hope the inconsistent Seminoles don’t conclude his career with a collapse.
The 80 year old coach seeks his 389th win. To use an antanaclasis, today is the last of the Bowden ara. If you know anything about constellations, you’ll understand this sad attempt at a pun.
Parting points: Will today be the day Ohio State rewrites the script that has plagued them in past bowls?
I became a fan of Florida State following their 1999 National Championship. The Seminoles knocked off Michael Vick’s Virginia Tech Hokies in the Sugar Bowl to wrap up a 12-0 season. The ‘Noles ended the 90’s with 109 victories, highest among any college team. It marked Bowden’s second title at FSU. His coaching greatness can be summed up in one sentence: Bowden is second all-time in wins by a Division I coach. Bowden is a winner, and has always been one of the easiest coaches to root for because of his engaging personality. He elevated FSU into the national spotlight after inheriting a four win team in 1976. Since Bowden took over, the Seminoles have only had one losing season (1976). FSU went from the Independent Conference to the elite ACC in 1992. They were undefeated in conference play the first three years in the ACC and finished in first place nine consecutive seasons. The Seminoles snagged the Orange Bowl over stoic Nebraska, by escaping on a Cornhuskers missed field goal. The Bowden-led Seminoles began the 00’s with another first place finish, but lost in the Orange Bowl. Losses started to compound each of the next two years, and in 2006, the Seminoles were fifth in the conference at year’s end. The 2008 season signaled a return to the top, although FSU was tied for the spot after a 9-4 overall record. Last year, Bowden’s team squeezed out a two point victory in the Champs Sports Bowl.
This season has been a roller coaster for the up-and-down Seminoles. They were the preseason pick to win the ACC. The 2009 ‘Noles dropped their home opener in a shootout to Miami, 38-34. They cruised to a back-to-back wins before losing three straight to ranked opponents. Florida State ended October with a pair of three point wins, only to fall to Clemson 40-24 in early November. The loss likely didn’t conjure memories of the 1988 Puntrooskie call that lifted FSU over Clemson late in the game. Two conference wins put FSU back in the ACC title hunt, but a season final crushing by Florida pitted them against the Mountaineers today. No one would be happier than FSU fans to see Bowden’s final season culminate in a Gator Bowl basking. The number 18 Mountaineers will be a challenge for the mediocre ‘Noles. Bowden is hoping to avoid the program’s first losing season since 1976. The alluring matchup features to comparable quarterbacks in FSU’s E.J. Manuel and WVU’s Jarrett Brown. Jermaine Thomas is the Seminole’s leading rusher, but pales in comparison to the fleet-footed Noel Devine for WVU. Florida State should not be overlooked and their .500 record is slightly deceiving. The Seminoles are better than advertised. The Mountaineers were 6-1 at one point during the season and have half as many losses as FSU. West Virginia has won three of their past four games, including a momentum boosting Backyard Brawl defeat of Pittsburgh. But, the Seminoles narrowly lost some hardly fought battles and won some in difficult places to play. The Seminoles have scored more points and picked up more first downs than the Mountaineers. Bowden’s offense has more than 1,000 more yards. For Bowden’s bittersweet sake, let’s hope the inconsistent Seminoles don’t conclude his career with a collapse.
The 80 year old coach seeks his 389th win. To use an antanaclasis, today is the last of the Bowden ara. If you know anything about constellations, you’ll understand this sad attempt at a pun.
Parting points: Will today be the day Ohio State rewrites the script that has plagued them in past bowls?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday Take-Twos
Another year in sports is over. It was a great year for Pittsburgh fans. The Pens and Steelers won titles. Philadelphia fans saw their baseball team win another pennant only to fall in the Fall Classic. The Yankees turned in another World Series title in the first year of their brand new ballpark. The L.A. Lakers were crowned kings of the NBA and the Florida Gators made it another BCS championship for Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer. Juan Martin Del Potro served up the U.S. Open title and dethroned Roger Federer in the process. Kim Clijisters came back to notch her second career U.S. Open over first time finalist, Caroline Wozniacki in tennis’ final grand slam of the year. An Alabama back earned college football’s highest achievement when Mark Ingram took home the hardware at the Heisman Trophy presentation. Michigan State made an improbable run in March Madness by dishing out wins to reach the championship game. The Spartans lost to North Carolina but elevated their hoops program by leaps and bounds. It was a forgettable year for Tiger Woods on the golf course, but one no one will forget off the greens. The headaches, heartaches and shockers will continue in 2010. Sports fans will able enjoy many wonderful events and memorable moments. Here’s hoping everyone has a happy and healthy New Year. Let’s start this one off with a Buckeye Rose Bowl victory.
Parting Points: Final song for 2009- “I’m Your Angel” by Celine Dion & R.Kelly
Parting Points: Final song for 2009- “I’m Your Angel” by Celine Dion & R.Kelly
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Bowling Badgers Back in Business Behind Bulldozing Back
Wisconsin was busy on the ground and efficient with the pass in Orlando’s Champs Sports Bowl Tuesday night. The Big 10 leading rusher and offensive player of the year, John Clay, accumulated 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Badgers to their tenth win of the season. Twenty-fourth ranked Wisconsin bowled over the 14th ranked Miami Hurricanes 20-14 on a cold and soggy Citrus Bowl turf. The Badgers beat Miami with a balanced offensive attack. Wisconsin quarterback, Scott Tolzien, threw a career-high 260 yards in the win. Tolzien was 19-of-26 with one interception and Clay punched out two three-yard rushing touchdowns.
The Badgers’ offensive line controlled the Miami defense early on, but struggled to contain the speedy Hurricane backfield. Junior running back, Graig Cooper, was solid for Miami in the first quarter. Cooper followed a Miami penalty with a touchdown in the first minute of the game. Sam Shields took a lateral on the opening kickoff and zipped to the Wisconsin six yard line. An illegal block cost the ‘Canes ten yards, but Cooper found the end zone as Miami jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Tolzien handed off the Clay on six of the eight plays during the Badgers’ first drive. Miami stuffed the rusher and forced Wisconsin to punt. Clay put the Badgers on the board midway through the first quarter with the first of his two rushing touchdowns. The Big 10 representatives needed just three plays to score their first seven points. Tolzien’s toss to Lance Hendricks for a 37 yard gain set up Clay’s three yard run.
The game remained tied 7-7 moving into the second quarter, when the Badger defense really started to click. The Hurricanes couldn’t piece it together on offense as Jacory Harris was continually pressured. Harris was sacked, and ‘Canes rushed for two consecutive losses on their first possession of the second quarter. Senior lineman, O’Brien Schofield, sacked Harris twice in straight possessions. Linebacker, Chris Borland, also took credit for two of Wisconsin’s five sacks. Borland was named conference freshman of the year. The once-hailed Miami quarterback looked entirely lost in Orlando against a Big 10 defense that hasn’t lived up to their primetime status as of late. Harris finished with 188 yards and completed 16-of-29 passes for 9-4 Miami. Harris was an inviting target for Wisconsin the remainder of the night.
The defense wasn’t much better for Miami in the second quarter. There were missed tackles and poor blocking by the ACC powerhouse. The Badgers thrived on running and throwing on play-action. Clay recorded seven of the ten second quarter points for Wisconsin. Philip Welch tallied the remaining three with .12 second left before the break. Welch’s kick through the uprights from 37 yards gave the Badgers a 17-7 lead heading into the halftime locker room. The Badgers came away empty on a four and a half minute drive to open the second half. Yet, Wisconsin kept grinding as the Hurricanes were spinning out of control on both ends. Miami’s meltdown wasn’t helped by an inconsistent and unproductive Harris. The ‘Canes had little success moving the ball. Harris’s longest completion was to sophomore wideout, Tommy Streeter. Streeter’s 47 yard reception in the third was his only of the game, but went for naught. Miami flopped when they went for it on fourth-and-four from the Badger 35 yard line. Wisconsin took over on downs, but also failed to score.
The fourth quarter scoring was scarce until the clock read four minutes. Welch knocked in Wisconsin’s second field goal to put the Badgers on top by 13. Welch connected from 29 yards out to provide what seemed like a commanding lead. The Hurricanes took a critical step in coming back on the ensuing possession. Harris dictated the tempo for the ‘Canes, going 79 yards on 10 plays. The result was a 14 yard touchdown pass to Thearon Collier with 1:22 left in the game. Miami was within six points of tying the score when the recovered the onside kick. Schofield sacked Harris for the third time on Miami’s own 41 yard line, and nearly threw a pick on the second play of the drive to kill the rally. The Badgers took over with .42 seconds remaining to run out the clock on the bowl game and secure their first ten win season since 2006. Wisconsin limited the dynamic Miami offense to 249 yards. Defensive end, J.J. Watt, recovered a Harris fumble, and Micanor Regis snagged an interception in the win. Montee Ball added 61 yards rushing to complement Clay’s tremendous game.
Parting Points: Song of the day- Madonna’s : “Take A Bow”.
The Badgers’ offensive line controlled the Miami defense early on, but struggled to contain the speedy Hurricane backfield. Junior running back, Graig Cooper, was solid for Miami in the first quarter. Cooper followed a Miami penalty with a touchdown in the first minute of the game. Sam Shields took a lateral on the opening kickoff and zipped to the Wisconsin six yard line. An illegal block cost the ‘Canes ten yards, but Cooper found the end zone as Miami jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Tolzien handed off the Clay on six of the eight plays during the Badgers’ first drive. Miami stuffed the rusher and forced Wisconsin to punt. Clay put the Badgers on the board midway through the first quarter with the first of his two rushing touchdowns. The Big 10 representatives needed just three plays to score their first seven points. Tolzien’s toss to Lance Hendricks for a 37 yard gain set up Clay’s three yard run.
The game remained tied 7-7 moving into the second quarter, when the Badger defense really started to click. The Hurricanes couldn’t piece it together on offense as Jacory Harris was continually pressured. Harris was sacked, and ‘Canes rushed for two consecutive losses on their first possession of the second quarter. Senior lineman, O’Brien Schofield, sacked Harris twice in straight possessions. Linebacker, Chris Borland, also took credit for two of Wisconsin’s five sacks. Borland was named conference freshman of the year. The once-hailed Miami quarterback looked entirely lost in Orlando against a Big 10 defense that hasn’t lived up to their primetime status as of late. Harris finished with 188 yards and completed 16-of-29 passes for 9-4 Miami. Harris was an inviting target for Wisconsin the remainder of the night.
The defense wasn’t much better for Miami in the second quarter. There were missed tackles and poor blocking by the ACC powerhouse. The Badgers thrived on running and throwing on play-action. Clay recorded seven of the ten second quarter points for Wisconsin. Philip Welch tallied the remaining three with .12 second left before the break. Welch’s kick through the uprights from 37 yards gave the Badgers a 17-7 lead heading into the halftime locker room. The Badgers came away empty on a four and a half minute drive to open the second half. Yet, Wisconsin kept grinding as the Hurricanes were spinning out of control on both ends. Miami’s meltdown wasn’t helped by an inconsistent and unproductive Harris. The ‘Canes had little success moving the ball. Harris’s longest completion was to sophomore wideout, Tommy Streeter. Streeter’s 47 yard reception in the third was his only of the game, but went for naught. Miami flopped when they went for it on fourth-and-four from the Badger 35 yard line. Wisconsin took over on downs, but also failed to score.
The fourth quarter scoring was scarce until the clock read four minutes. Welch knocked in Wisconsin’s second field goal to put the Badgers on top by 13. Welch connected from 29 yards out to provide what seemed like a commanding lead. The Hurricanes took a critical step in coming back on the ensuing possession. Harris dictated the tempo for the ‘Canes, going 79 yards on 10 plays. The result was a 14 yard touchdown pass to Thearon Collier with 1:22 left in the game. Miami was within six points of tying the score when the recovered the onside kick. Schofield sacked Harris for the third time on Miami’s own 41 yard line, and nearly threw a pick on the second play of the drive to kill the rally. The Badgers took over with .42 seconds remaining to run out the clock on the bowl game and secure their first ten win season since 2006. Wisconsin limited the dynamic Miami offense to 249 yards. Defensive end, J.J. Watt, recovered a Harris fumble, and Micanor Regis snagged an interception in the win. Montee Ball added 61 yards rushing to complement Clay’s tremendous game.
Parting Points: Song of the day- Madonna’s : “Take A Bow”.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Parise Pockets Pair in Physical Play at Prudential
Zach Parise planted the puck between the posts for the first time in exactly a month to start the scoring for the Devils last night in Newark. Parise’s pair of goals Monday were enough to lift New Jersey to a very physical 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. The 25 year old team leader in goals and points the past two seasons snapped a 12 game scoring drought to give New Jersey their fourth straight victory at The Rock. It is imperative for Parise to fluster the foes in order for the Devils to deliver. Atlanta took 20 hits on New Jersey but fought off early shakiness to make it a closely contest meeting. The Devils own a 27-9-1 record and bounced back from a pre-Christmas spiritless loss to Washington. New Jersey returned to their winning ways with their best skater recapturing the spotlight. The Thrashers dropped their fifth straight game, despite fighting to trim the home lead to one goal with 7:28 remaining in the contest.
Parise slipped by Atlanta defenders 10:46 into the first period to beat badly-screened goalie, Johan Hedberg. The winger broke through and knocked in his own rebound over Hedberg’s pads for the first Devils’ tally. His 16th goal of the season tied the game at 1-1. Niclas Bergfors and Andy Greene each earned an assist on the goal. A minute earlier in the quarter, Ilya Kovalchuk recorded Atlanta’s initial goal with a blast from the left circle past Martin Brodeur. Kovalchuk’s extended his point-scoring streak to ten with his 23rd goal. Marty Reasoner and Tobias Enstrom picked up the assists on the score. Devils’ defensivemen, Collin White, chipped in a first period goal to put the Devils ahead 2-1 at 16:34. It was the long-time Devil’s second goal of 2009. The ten year veteran was on the ice for nearly 23 minutes Monday. Bergfors notched his second assist of the night on White’s slapper.
Atlanta was rewarded for their enduring effort after neither team scored in the sloppy second period. New Jersey failed to move the puck and often allowed Atlanta clear shots up the ice. The Devils got on board first with the super speedy Parise’s second of two scores. Patrik Elias swung a cross-ice pass to Parise .59 seconds into the third period. The power play goal was Parise’s 17th, and put New Jersey up 3-1. A two goal lead is usually suffice for the game’s most dominant netminder, Brodeur. Marty allowed Atlanta to best him once more, but finished with 24 saves. Reasoner gave the redshirts a reason for concern by blitzing Brodeur from the high slot after a two-zone Atlanta rush. The 19-15-4 Thrashers wouldn’t get any closer. A solid road effort turned into another loss for John Anderson’s Thrashers. Luckily for the Devils, the defense held up well in advantageous Atlanta situations. New Jersey’s goalie fended off a flurry of attackers and snared shots to the ice to preserve the edge. Brodeur was playing in his first game at the Prudential Center since his historical shutout. The three time Stanley Cup goaltender hung tough behind net, and Parise stepped up with surging, skillful, shining statement to thump the Thrashers.
Parting Points: Are the Vikings caving? Cutler connected in crunchtime to overcome the Favre mystique.
These Mike Leach allegations are disturbing, to say the least.
Tracy McGrady is requesting a trade. I can’t blame the All-Star Rocket for wanting more minutes. Does Houston exchange an expiring contracts or a young shooter?
Parise slipped by Atlanta defenders 10:46 into the first period to beat badly-screened goalie, Johan Hedberg. The winger broke through and knocked in his own rebound over Hedberg’s pads for the first Devils’ tally. His 16th goal of the season tied the game at 1-1. Niclas Bergfors and Andy Greene each earned an assist on the goal. A minute earlier in the quarter, Ilya Kovalchuk recorded Atlanta’s initial goal with a blast from the left circle past Martin Brodeur. Kovalchuk’s extended his point-scoring streak to ten with his 23rd goal. Marty Reasoner and Tobias Enstrom picked up the assists on the score. Devils’ defensivemen, Collin White, chipped in a first period goal to put the Devils ahead 2-1 at 16:34. It was the long-time Devil’s second goal of 2009. The ten year veteran was on the ice for nearly 23 minutes Monday. Bergfors notched his second assist of the night on White’s slapper.
Atlanta was rewarded for their enduring effort after neither team scored in the sloppy second period. New Jersey failed to move the puck and often allowed Atlanta clear shots up the ice. The Devils got on board first with the super speedy Parise’s second of two scores. Patrik Elias swung a cross-ice pass to Parise .59 seconds into the third period. The power play goal was Parise’s 17th, and put New Jersey up 3-1. A two goal lead is usually suffice for the game’s most dominant netminder, Brodeur. Marty allowed Atlanta to best him once more, but finished with 24 saves. Reasoner gave the redshirts a reason for concern by blitzing Brodeur from the high slot after a two-zone Atlanta rush. The 19-15-4 Thrashers wouldn’t get any closer. A solid road effort turned into another loss for John Anderson’s Thrashers. Luckily for the Devils, the defense held up well in advantageous Atlanta situations. New Jersey’s goalie fended off a flurry of attackers and snared shots to the ice to preserve the edge. Brodeur was playing in his first game at the Prudential Center since his historical shutout. The three time Stanley Cup goaltender hung tough behind net, and Parise stepped up with surging, skillful, shining statement to thump the Thrashers.
Parting Points: Are the Vikings caving? Cutler connected in crunchtime to overcome the Favre mystique.
These Mike Leach allegations are disturbing, to say the least.
Tracy McGrady is requesting a trade. I can’t blame the All-Star Rocket for wanting more minutes. Does Houston exchange an expiring contracts or a young shooter?
Monday, December 28, 2009
Painter Portrays Playoff Picture
It took the longest kickoff return in team history and Colts’ coach, Jim Caldwell, pulling his starters for the Jets to pull into a four-way tie for the final AFC playoff spot. Gang Green improved to 8-7 and controls their own destiny after handing Indianapolis their first loss of the season. The Jets’ 29-15 road victory over the unbeaten Colts ended Indy’s record 23 regular season winning streak. Caldwell benched quarterback, Peyton Manning, and most of his other key players, during the second half. The move was a clear indicator the rookie head coach is preserving and protecting his players for the playoffs. Still, Rex Ryan’s Jets, on the brink of being eliminated from the extra season, responded with authority. New York outscored the Colts 19-0 after Manning was removed. A win next week against AFC North champion Cincinnati would put the Jets in the playoffs. Gang Green remains tied in their wildcard pursuits with Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Denver and Houston. Sunday’s surprising defeat on the road puts them in a “win and you’re in” position.
The Jets’ sealed the first loss by the Colts in over a year and snuck a step closer to returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 with two fourth quarter scores. Clinging to a three point lead with fifteen minutes left, Jay Feely’s 43 yard field goal made it a 21-15 Jets’ advantage early in the final quarter. Thomas Jones’ one yard touchdown run was followed by a two-point conversion to increase the visitor’s lead to the final score, 29-15. Jones finished with 105 yards on the ground and rookie rusher, Shonn Greene, put up 95 yards. New York’s running game seized control of the game and guided the offense all day. First year signal caller from USC, Mark Sanchez, was 12 of 19 for 106 yards. The mistake-prone, often scrutinized Sanchez went without an interception, relying on a bevy of core receivers.
Lucas Oil Stadium erupted in cheers when Joseph Addai scrambled for the game’s first score, a 21 yard rushing touchdown. Addai and the Colts struggled with the Jets’ run defense. Addai mustered just 40 yards on the ground, but his long 21 resulted in a home touchdown. Donald Brown, in his first season out of UConn, wasn’t much of a factor with feet. The rookie carried the ball 15 times for 22 yards Indianapolis made it a 9-0 game in the second quarter behind Adam Vinatieri’s 22 yard boot. Feely put New York on the board with a three point kick from 35 yards with 1:44 remaining before halftime. Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards paced the Jets’ offense in the first half.
The Jets mastered the number one seed in the AFC during the second half. Brad Smith ran Pat McAfee’s kickoff back 106 yards for a touchdown to shift the momentum the Gang Green way. The longest play in Jets’ history gave New York a one point edge. Indianapolis regained the lead on the next possession. The Colts went up 15-10 on Brown’s one yard run on an 81 yard drive. The Jets did a credible job against Manning. The MVP tossed for 192 yards through the air and completed 14 of 21 passes. The defense began blitzing more often as soon as Manning’s replacement came into the game in with the Jets trailing in the third. Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne blanketed the Jets defense all game, but were also yanked in the third quarter. New York took the lead for good when Purdue product, Curtis Painter, fumbled. Marques Douglas recovered the backup quarterback’s fumble and turned it into six Gang Green points. Sanchez’s two point pass to Dustin Keller made it 18-15 Jets, putting Indy’s hopes of perfection in jeopardy. Painter also threw an interception, while completed four of his 11 passes. The undefeated season wasn’t a priority for Caldwell. He could have left Manning and a handful of other starters in the game to finish off New York. Manning is capable of comebacks and sustaining drives. The cornerstone of the Colts methodically moved the Colts 81 yards to set up the go-ahead scored after Smith’s record return. The Pro Bowl passer would have held Indy out in front had he not been benched. Instead, Caldwell allowed the visitors to top his backups and crush their bid for a perfect season. Caldwell probably figured his team already had home-field advantage. He would rather lose the game than lose an important player before the playoffs.
Parting Points: The Giants were ousted by the Panthers in their worst (and final) home defeat since 1995.
206 yards from Jonathan Stewart? I mean, seriously!? And, just how many ways can Jon Beason beat you?
The Cowboys snagged at least a wildcard berth by shutting out the reeling Redskins. They can win the NFC East with a trouncing of the Eagles next week.
The Jets’ sealed the first loss by the Colts in over a year and snuck a step closer to returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 with two fourth quarter scores. Clinging to a three point lead with fifteen minutes left, Jay Feely’s 43 yard field goal made it a 21-15 Jets’ advantage early in the final quarter. Thomas Jones’ one yard touchdown run was followed by a two-point conversion to increase the visitor’s lead to the final score, 29-15. Jones finished with 105 yards on the ground and rookie rusher, Shonn Greene, put up 95 yards. New York’s running game seized control of the game and guided the offense all day. First year signal caller from USC, Mark Sanchez, was 12 of 19 for 106 yards. The mistake-prone, often scrutinized Sanchez went without an interception, relying on a bevy of core receivers.
Lucas Oil Stadium erupted in cheers when Joseph Addai scrambled for the game’s first score, a 21 yard rushing touchdown. Addai and the Colts struggled with the Jets’ run defense. Addai mustered just 40 yards on the ground, but his long 21 resulted in a home touchdown. Donald Brown, in his first season out of UConn, wasn’t much of a factor with feet. The rookie carried the ball 15 times for 22 yards Indianapolis made it a 9-0 game in the second quarter behind Adam Vinatieri’s 22 yard boot. Feely put New York on the board with a three point kick from 35 yards with 1:44 remaining before halftime. Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards paced the Jets’ offense in the first half.
The Jets mastered the number one seed in the AFC during the second half. Brad Smith ran Pat McAfee’s kickoff back 106 yards for a touchdown to shift the momentum the Gang Green way. The longest play in Jets’ history gave New York a one point edge. Indianapolis regained the lead on the next possession. The Colts went up 15-10 on Brown’s one yard run on an 81 yard drive. The Jets did a credible job against Manning. The MVP tossed for 192 yards through the air and completed 14 of 21 passes. The defense began blitzing more often as soon as Manning’s replacement came into the game in with the Jets trailing in the third. Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne blanketed the Jets defense all game, but were also yanked in the third quarter. New York took the lead for good when Purdue product, Curtis Painter, fumbled. Marques Douglas recovered the backup quarterback’s fumble and turned it into six Gang Green points. Sanchez’s two point pass to Dustin Keller made it 18-15 Jets, putting Indy’s hopes of perfection in jeopardy. Painter also threw an interception, while completed four of his 11 passes. The undefeated season wasn’t a priority for Caldwell. He could have left Manning and a handful of other starters in the game to finish off New York. Manning is capable of comebacks and sustaining drives. The cornerstone of the Colts methodically moved the Colts 81 yards to set up the go-ahead scored after Smith’s record return. The Pro Bowl passer would have held Indy out in front had he not been benched. Instead, Caldwell allowed the visitors to top his backups and crush their bid for a perfect season. Caldwell probably figured his team already had home-field advantage. He would rather lose the game than lose an important player before the playoffs.
Parting Points: The Giants were ousted by the Panthers in their worst (and final) home defeat since 1995.
206 yards from Jonathan Stewart? I mean, seriously!? And, just how many ways can Jon Beason beat you?
The Cowboys snagged at least a wildcard berth by shutting out the reeling Redskins. They can win the NFC East with a trouncing of the Eagles next week.
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