OreGONE!
The offense that took everybody to school in 2010 was slowed on Monday night. The Auburn Tigers outrushed and outlasted offensive-minded Oregon in the BCS National Championship in Glendale, Arizona last night. The Tigers improved to 14-0 with a 22-19 victory and brought the title home to Auburn for the first time in 52 years. Wes Byrum kicked his sixth career game-winning field goal as time expired to cap off the tussle between two unbeaten teams. Oregon was held 30 points below its number one nationally ranked scoring average. The Ducks’ star tailback, LaMichael James, was limited to 49 yards as the Tigers’ defense proved the difference in the game.
The first quarter was a scoreless battle as neither team could piece together sustaining drives. Rob Beard hooked a 26 yard field goal to begin the second quarter and give the Ducks an early 3-0 edge. Auburn started rolling offensively on the ensuing drive. Heisman Trophy winner, Cam Newtom, recorded the first touchdown pass of the 2011 BCS championship game. Newton passed for 265 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Tigers. Newton’s 35 yard gem to Kodi Burns with 12:00 left in the half gave the Tigers a 7-3 lead. Darron Thomas, who threw for a pair of touchdowns in the loss, orchestrated a 93 yard drive on just four plays to set up Oregon’s second quarter touchdown. Thomas hit Jeff Maehl in stride for 81 yards and followed the launch two plays later with an eight yard pass to James. The Ducks went ahead 11-7 on Beard’s two-point conversion. Maehl led all receivers with nine catches for 133 yards.
Safety Mike McNeil led the Tigers with 14 tackles and the Auburn defense picked off Thomas two times during the game. Defensive tackle, Nick Farley was dubbed the defensive MVP of the contest. Farley had one sack and a forced fumble. It was Mike Blanc who recorded a safety with 3:26 remaining the first half to cut the Ducks’ lead to two points. Emory Blake’s 30 yard catch after the two minute mark put the Tigers ahead 16-11 at the break. Blake finished with 54 yards, as did junior wideout, Darvin Adams. Auburn began the second half by running the ball on four straight plays as the Ducks plowed their way into the red zone again. The drive stalled after two incomplete passes by Newton. Auburn settled for three on Byrum’s 28 yard kick, to increase their lead to 19-11. Byrum’s kick was the only scoring by either side during the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was a seesaw of possession changes until Thomas connected with Maehl for ten yards with just under five minutes in regulation. Thomas found D.J. Davis on fourth-and-five for another 29 yards as the Ducks’ quarterback came out firing late in the fourth quarter. David Paulson’s seven yard grab was followed by James’ second touchdown catch. James’ two yard reception and another two yard conversion tied the game at 19-19 with 2:33 left in the game. Auburn returned the kickoff to the 25 yard line, giving Newton three-quarters of a field to work with on the final drive of the night. Newton hit Blake with a 15 yard strike and Michael Dyer rushed 37 yards for another Auburn first down. Dyer chewed up another twenty yards on two carries to bring the Tigers into field goal range. The speedy running back was splendid in the final quarter as the Tigers raced against the clock, and against the Duck defense. Byrum lined up for a 19 yard field goal attempt with two ticks remaining on the clock, and nailed it, to complete the 73 yard drive for Auburn.
Parting Points: Nice job by Boise State’s Chris Petersen in shunning Stanford to stay with the Broncos. It’s good to see a coach stick with the same team.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Answers in the Aftermath
Digging through the aftermath of 2010, I came across this poem I must have written one evening before (or during) an MBA class. It was in the back of a notebook, next to a pitiful scribble of a Yankee insignia. Luckily, I recovered the scribbling instead of tossing it in the trash. I'm not even entirely sure what this poem means, but it makes me sad and inspired at the same time. What if all I know about love is as good as it's going to get? I used to think this way about sports. What if I’ve reached my proverbial athletic peak? I figure I'm never going to be the same athlete I once was again. Regretfully, I am a self-admitted quitter. I've realized something strikingly similar about love and sports. Neither can be eroded from my memory. Both evoke feelings of sadness and inspiration, often simultaneously. I’ve resigned to give up on both. I’ve turned away. But just maybe turning back time, recalling the past, will keep me going in the present. Perhaps it will keep me striving for something better than as good as it once was. Sometimes the road back is long. I’ve since climbed back into competition and I’ve fallen harder in love than I thought was possible. I think when you come from a place that hurts, you’re apt to believe anything. So my question to this small band of blog readers is this: what answers can we derive from the aftermath? The answer, in my opinion, is to keep going. Believe anything can happen.
If I could turn back the clock for you,
I’d gladly suspend time to the day you were new.
It all seemed impossible until I tried,
Looking into your face I would not be denied.
If I could return to the moment we met,
I wouldn’t change a thing because I haven’t regret.
You were steady and sure with my shaky hand,
Your strength told me you were capable of command.
If I could go to our spot once again,
We’d sure pull off another incredible gem.
That initial advance we took without fear,
Fostered these feelings I hold so dear.
If I could capture the very second we touched,
I’d remember how the pure contact was hushed.
You with your colorful comments so plush,
Me with anticipation from the adrenaline rush.
If I could rewind time, this promise I’d renew,
The pledge to never turn my back on you.
You gave the intimation this is where we belong,
The silver lining I’d wanted too long.
If I could turn back the clock for you,
I’d take care not to ruin something unbelievably true.
It all comes back to me when I reflect,
How can anything else ever have the same effect?
And yet I know something will.
Parting Points: “And you close your eyes, he’s not coming back/so you work it out, overfeed the cat/and the plants are dry and they need to drink/so you do your best and you flood the sink/sit down in the kitchen and cry…and it makes you laugh it makes you cry”-from “Aftermath” by R.E.M.
If I could turn back the clock for you,
I’d gladly suspend time to the day you were new.
It all seemed impossible until I tried,
Looking into your face I would not be denied.
If I could return to the moment we met,
I wouldn’t change a thing because I haven’t regret.
You were steady and sure with my shaky hand,
Your strength told me you were capable of command.
If I could go to our spot once again,
We’d sure pull off another incredible gem.
That initial advance we took without fear,
Fostered these feelings I hold so dear.
If I could capture the very second we touched,
I’d remember how the pure contact was hushed.
You with your colorful comments so plush,
Me with anticipation from the adrenaline rush.
If I could rewind time, this promise I’d renew,
The pledge to never turn my back on you.
You gave the intimation this is where we belong,
The silver lining I’d wanted too long.
If I could turn back the clock for you,
I’d take care not to ruin something unbelievably true.
It all comes back to me when I reflect,
How can anything else ever have the same effect?
And yet I know something will.
Parting Points: “And you close your eyes, he’s not coming back/so you work it out, overfeed the cat/and the plants are dry and they need to drink/so you do your best and you flood the sink/sit down in the kitchen and cry…and it makes you laugh it makes you cry”-from “Aftermath” by R.E.M.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Subpar Seahawks Silence Super Saints
There will be a new Superbowl champion this year after the New Orleans Saints lost a 41-36 shootout duel to the Seahawks in Seattle. The defending champs were ousted from the playoffs by a team who finished the regular season with a losing record. For the first time in the history of the NFL playoffs, a team with a 7-9 record has recorded a playoff victory. Just how did the Superbowl champs fall at Quest Field to a Seattle team most people believed had no right to be in the post-season? Look no further than the quarterback. Thirty-five year old Matt Hasselbeck compiled 272 yards and four touchdowns as the seven-win Hawks topped the Saints and returned to top form. Marshawn Lynch, the dynamic running back for Pete Carroll’s Seahawks, scored on an electrifying 67 yard rush with three minutes left to clinch the first playoff win for a losing team. Lynch broke tackles all afternoon and rushed for 131 yards in establishing the Hawks’ ground game. Seattle’s defense took shots at MVP Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense down after down and now will face either Atlanta or Chicago next weekend.
Garrett Hartley went 3-for-3 on field goals Saturday afternoon. The New Orleans’ kicker posted the first points of the game three minutes into the first quarter as Seattle held the high-octane Saints to three points. Heath Evans’s one yard pass from Brees gave the defending champions a 10-0 lead following Hasselbeck’s lone interception of the day (to Jabari Greer) and a passer interference penalty against the Hawks’ Walter Thurmond. Seattle found a way to answer back after trailing 10-0. The Hawks benefited from good field possession on their second possession and Hasselbeck recovered to find the hands of John Carlson. Carlson’s 11 yard touchdown grab was one of two scores for the tight end on the day.
Former Seahawk, running back Julius Jones, padded the Saints’ edge to 17-7 with a second quarter rushing touchdown from five yards out. The Seattle offense answered back again, needing only six plays to drive 70 yards down the field for another score. Carlson caught a seven yard pass from the Seattle signal caller to cut the Saints’ lead to three points. The underdog Hawks added a 29 yard field goal by Olindo Mare and a Brandon Stokley 45 yard touchdown reception to take their first lead of the afternoon with 1:15 remaining in the half. Stokley led the Hawks with 73 receiving yards and picked up his first touchdown of the season. The Saints were able to manage a field goal before time expired in the half. Brees launched a 40 yard bomb to Devery Henderson to set up Hartley’s 22 yard kick for the 24-20 halftime score in the air-it-out affair at Quest.
Seattle’s championship caliber run continued after the break on third-and-two during the first home possession of the second half. Hasselbeck connected with Mike Williams on a 38 yard lob to put the Hawks ahead by eleven. Williams snagged five receptions for 68 yards in the win. Mare’s second field goal increased Seattle’s advantage to 34-20 with 5:27 to play in the third quarter. The Saints chipped into the two touchdown lead maintained by Seattle as the Hawks’ offense stalled slightly in the final stanza. Jones found the end zone for a four yard touchdown and Hartley added his third field goal to make it a four point game again. Hasselbeck completed 22-of-35 passes on Saturday but threw five consecutive incompletions in the fourth quarter with Seattle clinging to a slim lead. The Hawks tried to run out the clock with 4:20 remaining in the game. Lynch was handed the ball on second down and went on a power run to the end zone. Six different Saints attempted to tackle the speedy Lynch, but his 67 yards was the longest by a Seahawk in six years. Most importantly, his outburst gave the Hawks the cushion they needed to finish off New Orleans. Brees added a late touchdown pass to Henderson for the final margin, but an onside kick went Seattle’s way to complete one of the biggest upsets in playoff history. Brees finished with 404 yards and two touchdowns but will not be wearing another Superbowl ring this season.
Parting Points: An exciting weekend in sports- Jim Harbaugh is San Francisco bound (here’s hoping he can make Troy Smith into an elite passer), Pitt pummeled Kentucky on the gridiron, the Mountaineers master Georgetown on the hardwood, the Jets pull off another lucky win on the toes of Nick Folk, and Matt Garza is traded to the Cubs.
Garrett Hartley went 3-for-3 on field goals Saturday afternoon. The New Orleans’ kicker posted the first points of the game three minutes into the first quarter as Seattle held the high-octane Saints to three points. Heath Evans’s one yard pass from Brees gave the defending champions a 10-0 lead following Hasselbeck’s lone interception of the day (to Jabari Greer) and a passer interference penalty against the Hawks’ Walter Thurmond. Seattle found a way to answer back after trailing 10-0. The Hawks benefited from good field possession on their second possession and Hasselbeck recovered to find the hands of John Carlson. Carlson’s 11 yard touchdown grab was one of two scores for the tight end on the day.
Former Seahawk, running back Julius Jones, padded the Saints’ edge to 17-7 with a second quarter rushing touchdown from five yards out. The Seattle offense answered back again, needing only six plays to drive 70 yards down the field for another score. Carlson caught a seven yard pass from the Seattle signal caller to cut the Saints’ lead to three points. The underdog Hawks added a 29 yard field goal by Olindo Mare and a Brandon Stokley 45 yard touchdown reception to take their first lead of the afternoon with 1:15 remaining in the half. Stokley led the Hawks with 73 receiving yards and picked up his first touchdown of the season. The Saints were able to manage a field goal before time expired in the half. Brees launched a 40 yard bomb to Devery Henderson to set up Hartley’s 22 yard kick for the 24-20 halftime score in the air-it-out affair at Quest.
Seattle’s championship caliber run continued after the break on third-and-two during the first home possession of the second half. Hasselbeck connected with Mike Williams on a 38 yard lob to put the Hawks ahead by eleven. Williams snagged five receptions for 68 yards in the win. Mare’s second field goal increased Seattle’s advantage to 34-20 with 5:27 to play in the third quarter. The Saints chipped into the two touchdown lead maintained by Seattle as the Hawks’ offense stalled slightly in the final stanza. Jones found the end zone for a four yard touchdown and Hartley added his third field goal to make it a four point game again. Hasselbeck completed 22-of-35 passes on Saturday but threw five consecutive incompletions in the fourth quarter with Seattle clinging to a slim lead. The Hawks tried to run out the clock with 4:20 remaining in the game. Lynch was handed the ball on second down and went on a power run to the end zone. Six different Saints attempted to tackle the speedy Lynch, but his 67 yards was the longest by a Seahawk in six years. Most importantly, his outburst gave the Hawks the cushion they needed to finish off New Orleans. Brees added a late touchdown pass to Henderson for the final margin, but an onside kick went Seattle’s way to complete one of the biggest upsets in playoff history. Brees finished with 404 yards and two touchdowns but will not be wearing another Superbowl ring this season.
Parting Points: An exciting weekend in sports- Jim Harbaugh is San Francisco bound (here’s hoping he can make Troy Smith into an elite passer), Pitt pummeled Kentucky on the gridiron, the Mountaineers master Georgetown on the hardwood, the Jets pull off another lucky win on the toes of Nick Folk, and Matt Garza is traded to the Cubs.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Durant Dumps Dirk-less Dallas
Shawn Marion’s hook shot and 21 first half points weren’t enough for the short-handed Dallas Mavericks to drub the Oklahoma City Thunder. Marion finished with a season-high 25 points in the 99-95 loss to Kevin Durant and the top-shooting Thunder in Dallas. Durant carried Oklahoma City, scoring 28 points and adding three assists in the American Airlines Center win. Scott Brooks’ Thunder improved to 24-13 on the season following Thursday night’s road win.
Dallas played without All-Star Dirk Nowitzki for the sixth straight game, but clung to a 55-51 edge at the half. Jason Terry pocketed 19 points, while Tyson Chandler and DeShawn Stevenson contributed 14 a piece for the Mavs. Chandler was a menace on the boards, racking up 18 rebounds. Marion had 12 first quarter points to lead the charge but the Thunder roared back to trim the deficit after in the second half. The Mavericks endured poor shooting in the third quarter as the Thunder took a three point lead heading into the final frame. Cold shooting Dallas scored only 40 second half points and went just 5-for-16 in the third quarter. Jeff Green scored 16 points for the visitors to go along with nine rebounds. Russell Westbrook also had nine assists in the win and shot 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Westbrook finished with 15 points as the Thunder snapped a two game losing skid and rolled past depleted Dallas.
The Mavericks’ defense had trouble with the Thunder’s inside game during the final quarter. Jason Kidd was held without a point in 40 minutes on the hardwood. Kidd dished out seven assists and added 10 rebounds but the Thunder quickly pulled in front late in the game. Stevenson’s long trey in the final minute gave Oklahoma City a five point lead and Durant went to the line with half a minute remaining in the game. Durant banked both shots to account for the final margin and give the Thunder their first win over Rick Carlisle’s Mavs in three tries this season. Oklahoma City is just one-half a game behind Utah in the Northwest division. Dallas is also in second place, three back of the conference leading Spurs. The Mavs are just 2-4 in Nowitzki’s absence.
Parting Points: Song for Friday- “The Storm is Over Now” by R. Kelly
Dallas played without All-Star Dirk Nowitzki for the sixth straight game, but clung to a 55-51 edge at the half. Jason Terry pocketed 19 points, while Tyson Chandler and DeShawn Stevenson contributed 14 a piece for the Mavs. Chandler was a menace on the boards, racking up 18 rebounds. Marion had 12 first quarter points to lead the charge but the Thunder roared back to trim the deficit after in the second half. The Mavericks endured poor shooting in the third quarter as the Thunder took a three point lead heading into the final frame. Cold shooting Dallas scored only 40 second half points and went just 5-for-16 in the third quarter. Jeff Green scored 16 points for the visitors to go along with nine rebounds. Russell Westbrook also had nine assists in the win and shot 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Westbrook finished with 15 points as the Thunder snapped a two game losing skid and rolled past depleted Dallas.
The Mavericks’ defense had trouble with the Thunder’s inside game during the final quarter. Jason Kidd was held without a point in 40 minutes on the hardwood. Kidd dished out seven assists and added 10 rebounds but the Thunder quickly pulled in front late in the game. Stevenson’s long trey in the final minute gave Oklahoma City a five point lead and Durant went to the line with half a minute remaining in the game. Durant banked both shots to account for the final margin and give the Thunder their first win over Rick Carlisle’s Mavs in three tries this season. Oklahoma City is just one-half a game behind Utah in the Northwest division. Dallas is also in second place, three back of the conference leading Spurs. The Mavs are just 2-4 in Nowitzki’s absence.
Parting Points: Song for Friday- “The Storm is Over Now” by R. Kelly
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Fantastic Finish
SEC Streak Snapped in Sweet Success
How sweet it is! The Big 10 is back, at least for a night. The conference that was demolished demoralized and destroyed New Year’s Day redeemed itself in Tuesday’s All-State Sugar Bowl. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Arkansas 31-26 and snapped a nine game losing streak against the SEC in bowl games. Terrelle Pryor led the six-ranked Buckeyes over the Razorbacks with a brilliant 336 yard performance at the Louisiana Superdome. The junior quarterback tossed two touchdowns, completed 14-of-25 passes and chewed up 115 yards on the ground. Pryor was named the Most Outstanding Player, but it was a team effort for Jim Tressel’s men in scarlet and gray last night. The defense shined in ending a 33 year drought and helping the Bucks improve to 12-1 this season. OSU held Arkansas to 11 points under their season average. The Hogs mustered a forceful comeback, but OSU’s defense was spot-on. Cam Heyward boosted the Buckeyes with beastly defense to add to his repertoire as the nation’s top lineman. Defensive lineman, Solomon Thomas, picked up his first career interception to seal the thrilling win.
Ohio State’s stud receiver, Dane Sanzenbacher scored the game’s first touchdown three minutes following kickoff. Pryor fumbled the football near the end zone, and Sanzenbacher recovered to complete the 8 play touchdown drive. Ryan Mallett and the Razorbacks answered with a touchdown two minutes later. After D.J. Williams’ 35 yard catch and run was called back when the tight end was ruled down, Mallett completed a 17 yard pass to Joe Adams to tie the game at 7-7. Dan Herron’s nine yard run lifted the Buckeyes to a gaunt 14-7 first quarter lead with 7:17 remaining in the frame. Herron reeled off 87 yards on 24 carries in the victory.
The second quarter began much like the first for Ohio State. Sanzenbacher scored his second touchdown, a 15 yard reception that was reviewed before being ruled a touchdown. Speedy wideout, DeVier Posey, handed the Buckeyes a 28-7 cushion with just under two minutes before halftime. A six play, 68 yard drive culminated in Posey’s 43 yard catch from Pryor to widen the Bucks’ lead. Posey led OSU with 70 yards receiving. Zach Hocker trimmed the Hogs’ deficit to 18 with a 20 yard field goal as time expired on the Sugar Bowl’s first half.
Eighth-ranked Arkansas scored 11 third quarter points to make it a ten point game heading into the fourth quarter. Hocker added a 46 yard field goal and OSU kicker to begin the second half. After the Buckeyes and Hogs both went three-and-out, Devin Barclay matched Hocker from 46 yards to give OSU a 31-13 advantage. Jarius Wright and the Razorbacks showed some life near the end of the third quarter. Mallett orchestrated a 75 yard drive, hitting Wright in the end zone on the seventh play for the Hogs’ second touchdown. Williams caught the two point conversion to make it 31-21 in favor of the Bucks with 16 minutes left in the game.
Ohio State opened the fourth quarter with a punt and Herron was tackled by Anthony Leon in the Buckeye end zone for the Arkansas safety on the next possession. The rallying Razorbacks’ next drive resulted in another Hocker field goal to trim Ohio State’s lead to five. Pryor and the Buckeyes faced four-and-one from their own 37 on the ensuing drive. Pryor handed to Herron, who dropped and recovered the football. Ohio State punted the ball away with six minutes remaining, plenty of time for an Arkansas game-winning drive. But the Bucks’ defense got the stop and gave the offense another chance to store away the victory. From their own four yard line, Ohio State picked up a pair of first downs on three Herron rushes and two Pryor scurries. Both teams traded timeouts before Herron picked up two yards on second down from the OSU 34 yard line. The Hogs used another time out to stop the clock before Ohio State failed to convert on third down with two minutes to go. Ben Buchanan’s punt was blocked by Arkansas and you could feel the stomach of every OSU fan turn. Mallett had a final shot at the end zone. Fortunately for Buckeye backers, Mallett’s second down pass was picked off by Thomas on the ensuing drive. And so it goes, OSU wins the Sugar Bowl in electrifying fashion.
Parting Points: Hump-day lyrics - “True to your school” by the Beach Boys
The Devils held the Wild to 18 shots on goal, but managed to lose 2-1 on a fluke goal.
Note-all five suspended Buckeyes pledged to return next season.
How sweet it is! The Big 10 is back, at least for a night. The conference that was demolished demoralized and destroyed New Year’s Day redeemed itself in Tuesday’s All-State Sugar Bowl. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Arkansas 31-26 and snapped a nine game losing streak against the SEC in bowl games. Terrelle Pryor led the six-ranked Buckeyes over the Razorbacks with a brilliant 336 yard performance at the Louisiana Superdome. The junior quarterback tossed two touchdowns, completed 14-of-25 passes and chewed up 115 yards on the ground. Pryor was named the Most Outstanding Player, but it was a team effort for Jim Tressel’s men in scarlet and gray last night. The defense shined in ending a 33 year drought and helping the Bucks improve to 12-1 this season. OSU held Arkansas to 11 points under their season average. The Hogs mustered a forceful comeback, but OSU’s defense was spot-on. Cam Heyward boosted the Buckeyes with beastly defense to add to his repertoire as the nation’s top lineman. Defensive lineman, Solomon Thomas, picked up his first career interception to seal the thrilling win.
Ohio State’s stud receiver, Dane Sanzenbacher scored the game’s first touchdown three minutes following kickoff. Pryor fumbled the football near the end zone, and Sanzenbacher recovered to complete the 8 play touchdown drive. Ryan Mallett and the Razorbacks answered with a touchdown two minutes later. After D.J. Williams’ 35 yard catch and run was called back when the tight end was ruled down, Mallett completed a 17 yard pass to Joe Adams to tie the game at 7-7. Dan Herron’s nine yard run lifted the Buckeyes to a gaunt 14-7 first quarter lead with 7:17 remaining in the frame. Herron reeled off 87 yards on 24 carries in the victory.
The second quarter began much like the first for Ohio State. Sanzenbacher scored his second touchdown, a 15 yard reception that was reviewed before being ruled a touchdown. Speedy wideout, DeVier Posey, handed the Buckeyes a 28-7 cushion with just under two minutes before halftime. A six play, 68 yard drive culminated in Posey’s 43 yard catch from Pryor to widen the Bucks’ lead. Posey led OSU with 70 yards receiving. Zach Hocker trimmed the Hogs’ deficit to 18 with a 20 yard field goal as time expired on the Sugar Bowl’s first half.
Eighth-ranked Arkansas scored 11 third quarter points to make it a ten point game heading into the fourth quarter. Hocker added a 46 yard field goal and OSU kicker to begin the second half. After the Buckeyes and Hogs both went three-and-out, Devin Barclay matched Hocker from 46 yards to give OSU a 31-13 advantage. Jarius Wright and the Razorbacks showed some life near the end of the third quarter. Mallett orchestrated a 75 yard drive, hitting Wright in the end zone on the seventh play for the Hogs’ second touchdown. Williams caught the two point conversion to make it 31-21 in favor of the Bucks with 16 minutes left in the game.
Ohio State opened the fourth quarter with a punt and Herron was tackled by Anthony Leon in the Buckeye end zone for the Arkansas safety on the next possession. The rallying Razorbacks’ next drive resulted in another Hocker field goal to trim Ohio State’s lead to five. Pryor and the Buckeyes faced four-and-one from their own 37 on the ensuing drive. Pryor handed to Herron, who dropped and recovered the football. Ohio State punted the ball away with six minutes remaining, plenty of time for an Arkansas game-winning drive. But the Bucks’ defense got the stop and gave the offense another chance to store away the victory. From their own four yard line, Ohio State picked up a pair of first downs on three Herron rushes and two Pryor scurries. Both teams traded timeouts before Herron picked up two yards on second down from the OSU 34 yard line. The Hogs used another time out to stop the clock before Ohio State failed to convert on third down with two minutes to go. Ben Buchanan’s punt was blocked by Arkansas and you could feel the stomach of every OSU fan turn. Mallett had a final shot at the end zone. Fortunately for Buckeye backers, Mallett’s second down pass was picked off by Thomas on the ensuing drive. And so it goes, OSU wins the Sugar Bowl in electrifying fashion.
Parting Points: Hump-day lyrics - “True to your school” by the Beach Boys
The Devils held the Wild to 18 shots on goal, but managed to lose 2-1 on a fluke goal.
Note-all five suspended Buckeyes pledged to return next season.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Bowl Blogging
TCU is coming up roses
Stanford annihilates opponents
Army erases a drought
Michigan tries to forget their clout
Syracuse survives controversy
Notre Dame shows no mercy
Tulsa takes Hawaii by storm
Boise State wins with much scorn
Oklahoma State remembers the Alamo
Iowa’s Insight comeback is a great show
Louisville holds on in the B.O.B. Bowl
Alabama gives New Mexico plenty to mull
FIU kicks their way in the Little Ceasar
Oklahoma decimates in a Fiesta pleaser
Washington extends their Holiday against Nebraska
SDSU grabs a laugher at the Poinsettia
Troy defeats as Ohio falls again
Tonight is when the real bowls begin
Parting Points: Congrats to Jim Harbaugh, one of my favorite former football players, and the Stanford Cardinal.
Rich Rodriguez is out at Michigan…I think Pitt should hire him.
Stanford annihilates opponents
Army erases a drought
Michigan tries to forget their clout
Syracuse survives controversy
Notre Dame shows no mercy
Tulsa takes Hawaii by storm
Boise State wins with much scorn
Oklahoma State remembers the Alamo
Iowa’s Insight comeback is a great show
Louisville holds on in the B.O.B. Bowl
Alabama gives New Mexico plenty to mull
FIU kicks their way in the Little Ceasar
Oklahoma decimates in a Fiesta pleaser
Washington extends their Holiday against Nebraska
SDSU grabs a laugher at the Poinsettia
Troy defeats as Ohio falls again
Tonight is when the real bowls begin
Parting Points: Congrats to Jim Harbaugh, one of my favorite former football players, and the Stanford Cardinal.
Rich Rodriguez is out at Michigan…I think Pitt should hire him.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Swan Song
Urban Meyer’s Florida farewell went something like this: Gators 37, Nittany Lions 24. The Florida head coach who announced he is stepping down after a six year reign with the Gators finished his career a winner in Tampa’s Outback Bowl. Penn State was represented by the all-time leader in bowl wins in legendary coach, Joe Paterno. The Nittany Lions couldn’t squeeze out a victory in a horrifying New Year’s Day for the Big 10 conference. Ahmad Black’s interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter helped send the 46 year old Meyer home with one final coaching victory. Despite the loss, Paterno expects to return for his 46th season in Happy Valley.
Jordan Reed and Josh Brantley shared time under center for the Gators, who finished the season 8-5 two years after winning a national championship. Trey Burton also saw time at the quarterback position for Meyer yesterday. Penn State’s Matt McGloin threw for 211 yards and a touchdown as the Lions dropped their sixth game of the season. Sophomore McGloin also tossed five interceptions into the chomping Florida defense at a Gator-backing Raymond James Stadium. The Lions’ signal caller completed just 17 of 41 passes on Saturday. Brantley was picked off once, during Florida’s first play from scrimmage. The Lions took advantage of the miscue, pulling ahead to an early 7-0 lead five minutes into the contest. McGloin found Derek Moye for the five yard touchdown to cap a ten play drive. Florida intercepted McGloin on Penn State’s next possession and went on to tie the game early in the second quarter off another McGloin turnover. Omarius Hines’ 16 yard run knotted the game at 7-7.
Later in the second frame, Justin Brown dropped a third down pass near midfield and Penn State was forced to punt. Alex Butterworth’s punt was blocked by the Gators and recovered by Lerentee McCray. McCray rushed down the field 27 yards for the second Florida touchdown, and the Gators’ first lead of the bowl. PSU’s Michael Zordich plunged into the end zone from one yard out to tie the game again at 14-14. The Lions tacked on a Collin Wagner field goal to lead 17-14 at the half.
The seesaw game continued after the break. Florida’s Chas Henry booted a field goal six minutes into the third quarter to give the Gators a three point edge. McGloin’s two yard touchdown run put the Lions back in the driver’s seat with 4:39 remaining in the third. Henry then nailed another field goal, from 47 yards, to finish the third quarter scoring. Mike Gillislee took the ball in from a yard out following a Penn State interference penalty on third down. Gillislee’s touchdown extended the Gator lead to three and Henry added a field goal to push the margin to six midway through the final quarter. Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, Evan Royster, moved the ball 30 yards on two plays as the Lions marched into Florida territory hoping for a comeback. Black’s interception up the sideline ended any PSU hopes, however. The 80 yard return clinched the Outback Bowl for Florida and was Black’s second interception of the game. Will Muschamp will replace Meyer next season, but the (Urban) legendacy of Meyer’s tenure will not soon be forgotten.
Parting Points: I’m not sure which loss was more embarrassing-Michigan State or Michigan.
Charlie Weis has accepted the offensive coordinator position at Florida.
Song of the day- “All I Have to do is Dream” by the Everly Brothers
Jordan Reed and Josh Brantley shared time under center for the Gators, who finished the season 8-5 two years after winning a national championship. Trey Burton also saw time at the quarterback position for Meyer yesterday. Penn State’s Matt McGloin threw for 211 yards and a touchdown as the Lions dropped their sixth game of the season. Sophomore McGloin also tossed five interceptions into the chomping Florida defense at a Gator-backing Raymond James Stadium. The Lions’ signal caller completed just 17 of 41 passes on Saturday. Brantley was picked off once, during Florida’s first play from scrimmage. The Lions took advantage of the miscue, pulling ahead to an early 7-0 lead five minutes into the contest. McGloin found Derek Moye for the five yard touchdown to cap a ten play drive. Florida intercepted McGloin on Penn State’s next possession and went on to tie the game early in the second quarter off another McGloin turnover. Omarius Hines’ 16 yard run knotted the game at 7-7.
Later in the second frame, Justin Brown dropped a third down pass near midfield and Penn State was forced to punt. Alex Butterworth’s punt was blocked by the Gators and recovered by Lerentee McCray. McCray rushed down the field 27 yards for the second Florida touchdown, and the Gators’ first lead of the bowl. PSU’s Michael Zordich plunged into the end zone from one yard out to tie the game again at 14-14. The Lions tacked on a Collin Wagner field goal to lead 17-14 at the half.
The seesaw game continued after the break. Florida’s Chas Henry booted a field goal six minutes into the third quarter to give the Gators a three point edge. McGloin’s two yard touchdown run put the Lions back in the driver’s seat with 4:39 remaining in the third. Henry then nailed another field goal, from 47 yards, to finish the third quarter scoring. Mike Gillislee took the ball in from a yard out following a Penn State interference penalty on third down. Gillislee’s touchdown extended the Gator lead to three and Henry added a field goal to push the margin to six midway through the final quarter. Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, Evan Royster, moved the ball 30 yards on two plays as the Lions marched into Florida territory hoping for a comeback. Black’s interception up the sideline ended any PSU hopes, however. The 80 yard return clinched the Outback Bowl for Florida and was Black’s second interception of the game. Will Muschamp will replace Meyer next season, but the (Urban) legendacy of Meyer’s tenure will not soon be forgotten.
Parting Points: I’m not sure which loss was more embarrassing-Michigan State or Michigan.
Charlie Weis has accepted the offensive coordinator position at Florida.
Song of the day- “All I Have to do is Dream” by the Everly Brothers
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