2006 ESPN Zone Edition - 11/4/06

Geez I love college football ...  I am grateful to live on the west coast (aka, the "best coast"), because I do not want to get used to College Gameday not starting until 10:00 am, and it being 11:45 pm right now, with many games still going (I am in New York right now on business).  Either way, I propped myself down in a recliner at ESPN Zone for an afternoon of work and watching college football, and it was just delightful.  I got more work done than I could get done in my office, and had a wallpaper of college football games in front of me (heavenly, indeed).  Here goes this week's musings:

 

- Since I say negative things about the Florida schools every week, I would like to congratulate Florida State for their shutout of Virginia.  Of course, I did not know Virginia had a football team, but it is a nice win nonetheless.  The other Florida schools did not do as well, with the Gators barely beating Vanderbilt, and Miami losing yet again (they have a losing record in the pitiful ACC conference).  Coker is gone, and the Gators are truly overrated.

 

- The SEC gave us the game of the day, though I did not like the outcome.  I really couldn't care less about LSU or Tennessee, but because of the cartoonish reply by LSU fans over the last several years to USC's national championship in 2003 (the most obvious example of purity and fairness I can think of), I never root for LSU to win.  The game was a thriller, and though Tennessee played without starting QB, Erik Ainge, LSU won on a last minute drive that was quite impressive.

 

- More SEC - if you ever want proof of what a probation can do to a program, look no further than the rollin' tide of Alabama!  I truly think the hangover is still there from the probation, and the upset loss to Mississippi State today is further proof.  I hear from a dear friend of mine who loves Bama' Tide the way I love Trojan Cardinal & Gold that Shula is in hot water out there; I think it is premature.  We shall see.  Perhaps Mike Price's strip club indiscretions have had far bigger implications than any could have guessed!

 

- Georgia continues to prove each week how awesome the SEC is, huh?

 

- Don't overthink Ohio State's letting Illinois stay close today ....  This team is ferocious, and Louisville should be very careful what they wish for, because sometimes your wishes are granted.  Ohio State's cornerbacks may or may not be good at coverage, but every time I picked my head up from my work this afternoon, I saw a Buckeye cornerback blowing up a Illinois receiver.  That Michigan game on the 18th is going to be a classic.

 

- There is nothing more idiotic in all of sports than firing a coach, but letting him/asking him to stay for the remainder of a season. Either hold off in firing a coach until the season is done, or have the assistant coach take over.  Purdue disagrees with me, but I think this is really strange.  Does anyone remember if UCLA won their bowl game after firing "Buffet Bob" (I genuinely don't)??

 

- If you can not be at a USC game because of business travel, I have figured out the perfect way to watch one when Fox is covering the game: On a TV with NO volume (Petros on "mute").

 

- No surprises up at the farm today, but I confess that I was relieved.  You just never know, and I miss ferocious special teams play and forced turnovers.  Keith Rivers is still my favorite defensive player on this team, and I wish he got more credit. 

 

- Yes, the USC/Cal game is looking like an extremely attractive ratings draw, and Pac-10 decider.  BUT, this Oregon game can not be overlooked next week.  Oregon is tough to read.  They are capable of being very tough to stop.  I hate these 7:15 pm kickoffs (doesn't anyone else go to church on Sunday??).  If Booty and the receivers are in sync, and we can force two turnovers, I think we win by double digits.

 

- UCLA's red zone play calling is bizarre I am speechless.  Is this on Dorrell or the offensive coordinator?  I actually thought UCLA looked good in the first half, but by the time my taxi had me back to the hotel, UCLA was down like a team that had not won a Rose Bowl in 20 years ...  I have talked to some Bruins who want them to lose out so that Dorrell will be fired, and I have talked to others who are only looking to the USC game.  I think the idea of rooting for your team to lose is reminiscent of how some in Congress behave during an election year (and I certainly know that most Bruins are NOT guilty of this).  Trojans should hold their tongues until late afternoon on December 2 - I have seen far worse teams than this UCLA squad upset USC ....

 

- I love 99-yard scoring drives whether or not they come against teams like Stanford, or teams like Washington State.  This USC offense is capable of really lighting it up.  Have a running, scoring follows.

 

- I want to play in the Rose Bowl so bad, and I am not referring to the Dec. 2 game against the Bruins.  I know we have to take it one week at a time, but I just want this thing to play out the way it should - with USC playing a Big-10 team in the Rose Bowl.  Fight on!