To be honest, I'm almost glad that the Colts' pursuit of perfection is over. Let's face facts - the #1 focus of this team should be on winning a Super Bowl Championship, not making Mercury Morris choke on his champagne (though that would be entertaining). Did I expect the Colts to rest starters? Of course. It's what they've done during the entire Tony Dungy Bill Polian era. Did I expect them to lay down like thay did against the Jets? No.
However, none of this matters. This is a great football team, but not one that was up to the level of the '72 Dolphins or '85 Bears. They needed fourth-quarter comebacks in half of their wins. They didn't beat anybody with less than FIVE losses. They didn't play the Chargers, Bengals, Saints, Vikings, or Eagles - the other top five teams in the NFL. Heck, I'm pretty sure the '07 Patriots would've left this year's Colts in their wake. But, who cares?
A Week 16 loss to the Jets doesn't mean that this Colts' team can't go down in history. Whether you're 16-0 or 10-6, the only truly memorable teams win Championships, and last time I checked that was something that the Colts still have a chance to do.
The only thing that made me really upset about watching Indianapolis basically forfeit the final quarter-and-a-half to the Jets, was the way that this team's franchise player conducted himself on the sidelines. Frankly, Peyton Manning looked like a spoiled brat more than a leader of a Super Bowl contender. Between keeping his helmet strapped on and constantly talking to offensive coordinator Tom Moore, I was disgusted with the display that I saw from Manning. Of course he has the right to be upset, because guys like Peyton Manning are so competitive, they want to be out there all the time. But what kind of message did that send to his backup Curtis Painter? If I was Manning and I was going to be forced to sit anyway, I would've thrown a headset on and been rooting on my rookie teammate from the sidelines.
(9:58 PM UPDATE: I'm going to back off on the "throwing Manning under the bus" argument after talking to DZ of 18to88.com. He said Peyton was pretty much in a lose-lose situation - if he stomps off in disgust, he's a primadonna. If he just grins and bears it, then he's a wuss. I can understand that viewpoint.)
The point of all of this is, the Colts haven't won or lost anything yet. The games in January and February are what is going to shape the legacy of this team.
Loyola of Maryland has beaten Indiana. That's the same Greyhounds team that lost to Niagara by 20 and Mount St. Mary's by 19. Boston University, another team that defeated IU this year, has already lost six games and that includes setbacks against Harvard and Iona.
It's way to early to make any determinations about Tom Crean, who is in the infancy of his 2nd year at the helm. However, one thing is clear: this Indiana team is not competing at a level where they should be by now. If the Hoosiers are indeed making progress, they're doing so at a snail's pace. They're improving about as quickly as Zydrunas Ilgauskas on a fast break.
Losing to Kentucky, Mississippi, and Maryland is one thing, but falling to .500-level mid-majors at home is unacceptable.
Indiana currently has five wins. Let's say for the sake of argument that they find a way against Bryant College next week. That would be win #6 going into the Big Ten season. I think the absolute best-case scenario for IU in conference play is 4-14. That would be a season-sweep of Iowa, and stealing two home wins somewhere - unfortunately they don't get Penn State in Bloomington.
I said that 12 wins (double last year's total) was a fair expectation, even though I was hesitant to grade this program's progress by a wins number. That would be a 10-20 regular season record. That's an improvement from 6-25, but I'm pretty underwhelmed with what I've seen from this team so far.
In a shocking twist, two key players will return to their respective teams for critical upcoming bowl games.
Florida DE Carlos Dunlap, who is considered to be one of the top players at his position in the entire country, has been reinstated to the football team. The Gators star was arrested just days before the SEC Championship game against Alabama for driving while intoxicated. Florida will battle undefeated Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.
The Longhorns will have a National Champikonship on the line, and they don't want to take their chances without kick returner D.J. Monroe. Monroe returned a pair of kicks for touchdowns this season, and like Dunlap, also was charged with a DUI. Give Mack Brown a little bit of credit for punishing Monroe a multiple-game suspension (three games to be exact). But, doesn't the timing of all of this seem a bit odd?
Florida is winning. A lot. That's the reason why no one has said much about the now 26 Gators' players to be arrested during Urban Meyer's five-year tenure, or the fact that Meyer is about as strict as at dealing out punishments as a kindergarten teacher. For a DUI and trying to gouge an opponent's eye out, Dunlap and teammate Brandon Spikes were suspended for a combined 1 1/2 games.
What a joke.
College coaches are supposed to be the molders of young men. Yet all they learn from these slaps-on-the-wrist is that the star players will play - no matter what.
This time Peyton Manning hit Pierre GarconDallas Clark Reggie Wayne with a game-winning touchdown pass and a Clint SessionJerraud PowersGary Brackett Jacob Lacey interception sealed a 27-2335-3417-15 35-31 come-from-behind win over the DolphinsPatriotsRavens Jaguars.
MiamiHoustonNew EnglandBaltimore Jacksonville looked to be in control of the game early, but that didn't prevent the Colts from rallying for another win.
The victory was the Colts' seventh fourth-quarter comeback of the season (NFL record), their 23rd straight regular season win (NFL record), and their 115th win of the decade (NFL record).
It's about time someone made a movie about Reggie Miller's heroics.
The documentary titled "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks" will premiere at Conseco Fieldhouse at the end of February. Reggie himself will be there to host the event. The film focuses on the Pacers-Knicks rivalry from 1993-95, and specifically on the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals series.
I have memories of that series from the "other" perspective. To this day, the worst sports moment of my life was Patrick Ewing's missed finger-roll in Game 7 of that series. However all these years later, it's tough not to look back on that rivalry with a smile. The contrast of the two fanbases (big city vs. midwest), the pure hatred between the players (specifically Starks vs. Reggie), the sound of a raucous crowd at the old Market Square Arena or at a packed Garden - it truly was a spectacle. Sure it wasn't Celtics/Lakers and it also wasn't always the most visually appealing basketball to watch, but from a pure emotion standpoint, Pacers-Knicks was one of the great rivalries in NBA history.
I'm looking forward to the film, even if it does conjure up some bad repressed memories. It was an exciting time regardless of which team you supported. Hopefully the Pacers will someday matter as much to the people of Indianapolis as they did then.
Wall is the likely #1 pick in the NBA Draft, and has certainly lived up to the lofty expectations of every basketball recruiting site known to man. While I'm not the biggest Calipari fan (see my reaction of his hire), I can't argue that Kentucky isn't a legit National Championship contender with Wall at the point.
We'll see if the Hoosiers can slow him down this afternoon.
After all the talk about relevancy and whether the football program will ever return to prominence, at least one thing is certain for Notre Dame - they got their #1 choice for head coach.
Sure it's not Urban Meyer or Bob Stoops; both of which were pipe dreams. It's also not a guy with any Super Bowl rings like Brian Billick, Jon Gruden, or (gasp!) Charlie Weis. Though not the sexiest candidate, Kelly fit into a lot of the criteria of the kind of coach Notre Dame needed to hire:
A COACH WITH ATTITUDE Weis could be a jerk, but after a very abrasive first two years on the job, it seemed that he did a complete reversal. After being humbled during the 3-9 campaign in 2007, Weis seemed to coddle his players more, trying to be their friend instead of their coach. At least he showed some emotion - it was hard to detect a pulse with either Willingham or Davie on the sidelines.
A COACH THAT WON'T TRY TO CHANGE EVERYTHING The reason why Rich Rodriguez has failed so far at Michigan is because he came in and blew everything up. He shifted from Michigan's physical, beat-you-in-the-trenches style of football which made them one of the country's most consistent winners, into a spread-attack. He went as far as running off Ryan Mallett, one of college football's great young quarterbacks, just because Mallett didn't fit his "style". The Wolverines would've been better served skipping the last two seasons, considering the overhaul of athletes that a drastic change of offensive philosophy requires.
Kelly already runs a West-Coast-esq offense at Cincinnati, similar to what Notre Dame has had in the decade since they ditched the option following the Davie era. Sure it has a few twists (i.e. primarily going no-huddle), but that should suit former five-star recruit Dayne Crist as well as future NFLers Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph just fine. Scoring points has never been a problem for Kelly's football teams.
A PROVEN, CONSISTENT WINNER ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL What is the one common trait that Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham, and Charlie Weis all shared? None of them had experience as a consistent winner as a college football head coach. Davie was a career-assistant during stints at Pittsburgh, Tulane, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame. As for Weis, the closest he ever got to the college game was his seat in the student section at Notre Dame Stadium in the late 70's. The only coach that had any experience at all was Willingham, who enjoyed a pedestrian 44-36-1 record in seven years at Stanford. That resume was bloated by a fluke Rose Bowl appearance in 1999 with an 8-4 football team. .
One fluke Rose Bowl didn't qualify Ty for a job like this
None of those coaches had the track record of Brian Kelly, who has gone 171-52-1 in 19 years as a college head coach. That includes a pair of Division-II National Championships at Grand Valley State (2002-03), a MAC Championship (2006) in a short three-year stint at Central Michigan, plus three 10+ win seasons, two Big East Titles (two BCS bowls), and a 34-6 overall record at Cincinnati. Another thing about Kelly is that the programs that he has coached have stayed at a high level. Grand Valley State has capture two more D-II Titles (2005-06) and a 36-2 record in the last three seasons. Ditto for Central Michigan, who has won back-to-back MAC titles and gone to bowl games in every year since Kelly's departure.
A COACH THAT CAN DEVELOP TALENT Maybe the only good thing Charlie Weis did for Notre Dame was proving that top-level talent could still be drawn to South Bend. But, once they got to campus, none of them seemed to get better (see: Young, Sam). Willingham, who spent a majority of his time on the golf course, was one of the worst recruiters in Notre Dame history. Davie rode Holtz's coattails as long as he could, but eventually his bland personality turned prospects away.
Kelly hasn't exactly set the recruiting world ablaze, but he has proven to be a great developer of talent. Not a single member of Cincinnati's current senior class was rated higher than a two-star prospect. To put that in perspective, every single starter for Notre Dame this season was at least a three-star recruit. There are only three scholarship players that were rated as two-stars on their entire roster. I'd still rather have a 34-6 record with kids that didn't have all the accolades, rather than a 35-27 mark with star-studded recruiting classes.
Hiring Brian Kelly may not have been a grand slam, but at the very least he has to be a bases-clearing double for the Irish. He could fail, just like his predecessors did, but it's far more likely he finds success. Immediate results may not come like they did with both Willingham and Weis, but sustained success is what Notre Dame is looking for.
That means no Granger over a stretch that includes games against the Spurs, Magic, Celtics, Hawks, and Heat. I was hopeful at the start of the season that the Pacers could contend for the 7th or 8th seed in the East - but with the way they've looked so far coupled with Granger's heel issue, the playoffs look like a pipe dream at this point.
Can you tell me with a straight face that TCU, Cincinnati, or Boise State couldn't hang with Texas?
Screw the BCS.
Side note: Did Colt McCoy lock up the Heisman with his awesome 0 pass TD, 3 INT performance? If he takes it home, the award will reach an all-time low.
If you missed it earlier this week, Danica Patrick confirmed her intention to stay in the IndyCar Series with Andretti Autosport. Though Patrick gave no update on her rumored NASCAR plans, her official website may have unintentionally leaked that info.
According to Yahoo! NASCAR writer Jay Busbee, a frontpage photo that appeared on the site had Danica with logos for both JR Motorsports (Dale Jr.'s racing team that Patrick is rumored to have signed with) as well as the Nationwide Series logo on her neon-green fire suit. .
There were many different emotions I was expecting to feel when the ax finally dropped on Charlie Weis.
Sadness wasn't one of them.
I'm not sad because I thought Weis should've been retained, or that he didn't get a fair shot to return Notre Dame football to prominence. I'm sad because I remember how hopeful I was during the 2005 season - a season that included an unexpected rise to national prominence.
I remember how the Irish steamrolled their way through Pittsburgh in the opener and out-toughed Michigan in Ann Arbor (a true rarity). I remember when ESPN's Ron Franklin told Holly Rowe, "It's 49-21 sweetheart" (at 2:31) during the blowout of Purdue, the near 45 seconds that I thought Notre Dame had upset then-#1 USC when the clock read 0:00, and the BCS-bowl clinching come-from-behind victory at Stanford in the regular season finale. I also recall the excitement of the summer of 2006 from the cover of Sports Illustrated to Tom Zbikowski's TKO at the Garden.
Unfortunately, it's been all downhill form there.
It sounds silly to equate it to the end of a relationship, but I can't think of an analogy that is more applicable. Even though firing Weis was the right thing to do, and Notre Dame fans should be hopeful for the future, it's tough to see something (and somebody) that you wanted to succeed ultimately fail.
If there is only one thing that Charlie Weis accomplished during his tenure, it's that he proved that blue-chip talent can still be attracted to dreary South Bend. The academic standards and cold weather excuses that were heard during the last days of the Tyrone Willingham era are dead and buried. The talent has and will continue to come to Notre Dame. The main responsibility of the next head coach is to develop that talent - something that unfortunately Weis never did.
So farewell, Charlie. Hopefully that "decided schematic advantage" aids you in your future endeavors.
The game was a bit different than the past two, because the Colts really outplayed the Texans after falling into the early hole. Indy set the tone for the second-half domination by coming out with a nine-play 80-yard drive aided by an awful 43-yard interference call on a pass that would've been uncatchable for Manute Bol. A quick TD early in the fourth and a Clint Session pick-six iced it for the Colts.
As you saw with Houston (again), teams continue to crumble against this Colts team. Whether it be costly turnovers, conservative play-calling, or ridiculous gambles, opponents seem to find a way to keep the Colts around - and that's never a good idea. If there's one word I can define this Colts team as, it's confident. They are one of the few teams in the NFL that regardless of the circumstances, their confidence is unwavering. Confident leading. Confident trailing. Confident through rain, sleet, snow, or being chased by Elin Nordegren with a nine-iron after Thanksgiving dinner.
Like I said in August, the Colts' regular season is like sitting in a four-month waiting room. With the #1 seed in the AFC all but assured, the next five weeks are virtually meaningless.
We'll see if the Colts can carry that same confidence when it matters.
If college basketball season hadn't officially arrived in my mind going into this week, it certainly has now. Purdue's 73-72 win over Tennessee in a terrific Paradise Jam Final made me realize just how much I missed college hoops.
A couple of thoughts:
- E'Twaun Moore earned MVP honors for the Tournament which was capped by a 22-point performance against the Vols. I really thought Moore regressed last year after a pretty solid freshman season. The most talented player from the heralded 2007 recruiting class is a big key to Purdue's success this season. Hopefully he doesn't pull the disappearing acts he had at times last year.
- When watching Kelsey Barlow at Cathedral, I didn't think he was a BCS-level basketball player. There's no doubt that the kid was athletically gifted, but I didn't give him the benefit of the doubt for his chances of playing at the Big Ten level. It's only been four games, but it's pretty obvious I was really, really wrong.
- Is there a play in Chris Kramer's career that better defines him than the slide-across-the-floor-on-your-chest-for-ten-feet-while-slapping-at-the-ball play that forced a UT turnover in the 2nd half?
- Patrick Bade - by the way future game announcers, it's pronounced Bay-Dee - only scored two points before fouling out, but his importance didn't show up in the stat-line. The former Franklin Central star gave the Boilers meaningful minutes with JaJuan Johnson dealing with foul trouble. As long as he can give them minutes, he'll be valuable, regardless of what the box score says.
- Anyone else feel like Bruce Pearl will someday have a Sampson-like exit? There's something about that guy that seems slimy.
- D.J. Byrd picked up three fouls in four minutes. I thought he was the most polished of Purdue's freshman class but it appears he may be the one that needs the most seasoning.
- It's never too early to start looking at the NCAA Tournament resume and this win over Tennessee was one of Purdue's two opportunities at a marquee non-league win. Their other chance will come against West Virginia in January.
A funny thing happened to me while running errands on Sunday afternoon. Listening to the radio broadcast of the Colts' 17-15 win over the Ravens, I heard Bob Lamey say that the Colts "just weren't catching any breaks". A 9-0 team not catching any breaks?
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Maybe Bob forgot about Kris Brown's field goal miss from 42 yards (after connecting from 56 earlier in the game) that would've sent the game into overtime. Maybe he forgot about Bill Belichick inexplicably going for it on 4th-and-2 from his own 28-yard line with a six point lead.
Seemingly on cue, Billy Cundiff, who connected on five field goals in the game, missed a 30-yarder that would've given the Ravens an 18-17 lead. Where was the bad luck on that one?
Any Colts' fan that complains about "not catching any breaks" should be slapped in the face. Do yourself a favor and ask a Jets' fan about "not catching any breaks". See what that person says (or does) to you. Even better: ask a Browns' fan.
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This is a team that's 10-0. They've been to the playoffs each of the last in each of the last eight seasons (I already counted this year). They've won the division five of those years and are on-pace to win their sixth. This is also a team that has won a franchise-record 19 regular season games in a row, and 51 of their last 64 dating back to 2005. To put that in prespective, the Browns, Lions, and Buccaneers will all likely lose more games this year than the Colts have in the past half-decade.
"Not catching any breaks". Pfft. The regular season is a four-month vacation for Colts' fans.
Apparently the state of Utah doesn't have a sense of humor.
In Salt Lake City, four teens were cited for rapping at a McDonald's drive-thru and then leaving without ordering anything. McDonald's workers got the license plate number off of their vehicle and then called police. Cops then dispatched the SWAT team cited the teens in the parking lot of a high school volleyball game near the restaurant where the incident occurred.
Really, Utah cops and McDonald's employees? How about a sense of humor.
Could that grungy hooded sweater that Bill Belichick wears be hiding an interior filled with circuit breakers and motor oil? Some are suggesting that's the only reasonable explanation for Belichick's reckless 4th-and-2 gamble which ended up dooming the Patriots in a 35-34 come-from-ahead loss to the rival Colts.
An NFL-decision-making computer designed by an Indiana University professor called Zeus predicted that going for it in that scenario yielded a higher win probability than punting the ball to the Colts. Belichick has been widely criticized for the call, which gave the Colts the football back on the Patriots' 29-yard line with over two minutes left.
I don't care what a computer says. A mathematical formula would see no differentiation in a 4th-and-2 on the opponent's 9-yard line in the second quarter leading 17-0 over the Browns at home, and a 4th-and-2 on your own 28-yard line with a six-point lead against the Colts (#1 scoring defense in the NFL) on the road. There's obviously a difference in those two scenarios.
It was the wrong decision and there's nothing that can convince me otherwise. Peyton Manning may be greatest quarterback in the NFL, but you have to make him and the Colts beat you. By serving it up on a tee and giving Indy the ball back nine yards away from the Red Zone, you've reduced your win probability from about 55% to 3% (that's not an actual calculation, just a guess). For example, if your team is up one on the Lakers with four seconds left, do you foul Kobe Bryant because you're afraid that he's going to make the game-winning shot? Of course not. You make him make a play. If he beats you, you live with it.
By going for it on 4th-and-2, Belichick put the pressure on his team. By punting instead, he would've put the pressure on Peyton and the Colts.
It's not every year that we enter mid-November with a majority of Indiana college teams entering cruical matchups. However, that is certainly the case today. Both IU and Purdue will look to keep their bowl hopes alive, Notre Dame will try to save their season, Butler attempts to stay unbeaten, and the Monon Bell rivalry is renewed in Greencastle.
Purdue (4-6, 3-3) vs. Michigan State (5-5, 3-3) I,had written off the Boilers' bowl chances after a 1-5 start, but you have to give them credit for what they've been able to do since. Purdue reminds me a lot of the 2001 Indiana team that started 0-5, but finished 5-1 (including a 4-4 in Big Ten mark) on their way to a 5-6 record. They were much better than their record would indicate, and I think the same can be said about Purdue. Historically, the Boilers have been prone to the letdown game after a big win, but this time I think they hold on. Shots Pick: PURDUE (+3) 28, Michigan State 24
Indiana (4-6, 1-5) at #19 Penn State (8-2, 4-2) The Hoosiers have to be kicking themselves for blowing that 28-3 lead at Northwestern. If they had held on there, this game would basically be a throw-away with a bowl berth riding on the Old Oaken Bucket Game in the season finale. The Nittany Lions have been underwhelming to say the least this season. They were smacked around at home in their only two big games, including a loss to Iowa and last week's embarrassing performance against Ohio State. IU has been competitive, but it's hard to see them winning at a place they've never won, against a team they've never beaten. Shots pick: Penn State 42, INDIANA (+25) 20
Notre Dame (6-3) at Pittsburgh (9-1) What should've been a big showdown and a test of Notre Dame's progress under Charlie Weis, is now nothing more than a spoiler game for the Irish. Thanks to last week's loss to Navy, the best Notre Dame can hope for is the Gator Bowl or potentially the Cotton Bowl, while Pittsburgh - still very much alive for a Big East title - could build some momentum heading into a crucial back-to-back against West Virginia and Cincinnati. After giving up 348 rushing yards to the Midshipmen last week, look for Pitt tailback Dion Lewis to have a big day. Shots pick: PITTSBRUGH (-7) 31, Notre Dame 21
Butler (9-0, 6-0) at Jacksonvile (5-4, 4-2) - the unbeaten Bulldogs need a win to keep pace with co-leader Drake (6-0) who visits Dayton this afternoon. Two Bulldogs' wins would set up a psuedo Pioneer Football League title game next week when Butler hosts Drake.
Wabash (8-1) at DePauw (7-1) - without question the fiercest football rivalry in the entire state is renewed this afternoon from Greencastle. Wabash (8-1) needs a win to boost their chances for an at-large berth in the Division III playoffs, while DePauw, who has already secured a postseason spot, will look for their third straight victory against their archrival. The all-time series is dead even at 53-53-9.
Health inspectors cited over 500 food/safety violations including discoveries of mousemice meese poop feces. Investigators found the droppings in kitchen and storage areas, including an oven, along with many live mice in the area. The Health Department is sending more people out this weekend to determine just how big of a problem they have at Lucas Oil Stadium. Supposedly, they're going to set up mouse traps and see how many they kill. Awesome.
Considering I've eaten media food at Lucas Oil Stadium on at least eight different occasions during various events, I'm not feeling great about this news. I had a chili dog there last week. If there is a food where mouse droppings would hardly be noticeable, wouldn't it be chili? (Pauses to throw up).
There's a hot dog stand for $3 under the bridge on East Street leading into the stadium. It's shady. The last two times I've walked by it, there's been a guy with like three teeth on a rusty bike doing circles around the stand, and another homeless guy sitting on a milk cart singing show tunes five feet away. Sure that's dirty, but at least I know that it's dirty. I'm not misplacing my trust. It's not a mouse crap chili dog on a plate with parsley on the side, and a sparking water to drink.
I won't touch even a potato chip at Lucas Oil anymore.
We have reached the halfway mark of the 2009 season, and the Colts are 8-0 (yawn). However, even with teams that are undefeated, there are always areas to criticize..
Colts overall ranks: Total Offense 6th (27.1 ppg), Total Defense 2nd (13.5 ppg)
RUSH OFFENSE: D+Rank: 29th (85.4 ypg)
Say what you want about their paltry overall production, but the rush offense has been an upgrade over the nightmare of 2008.The Colts are averaging 3.7 ypc, which is up from their 3.4 ypc last season.Addai’s yards-per-carry is identical to last season, but it feels like he’s running better.This rush offense only has to be better than terrible, and so far it’s just been bad, not terrible.
PASS OFFENSE: A Rank: 1st (302 ypg)
Peyton Manning has once again been spectacular and the Colts have gotten great contributions from both Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie.Dallas Clark has taken his game to a new level production-wise, and Reggie Wayne is still playing on a Pro Bowl level despite seeing consistent double-teams
RUSH DEFENSE: B-Rank: 14th (108.1 ypg)
If you take out the 239-yard game in Miami, the Colts are giving up only 89 yards per game on the ground which would rank them third in all of football.I know you can’t take that game out, but it warrants mentioning.Indy has been burned on some big plays and some long runs, but overall, I think the Run D has been pretty solid.It’s by no means great, but it’s leaps and bounds better than what we saw from this unit earlier in the decade.
PASS DEFENSE: A Rank: 9th (195.3)
While they may rank 9th in yards given up per game, the Colts have only yielded an NFL-best four touchdown passes through eight games.This is one of the premiere units in the league once again, and has been for years.Considering all the injuries in the secondary, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not they’re able to keep up this pace.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C Rank: 24th in KR, 27th in PR (5.1 ypa)
Where have you gone Clarence Verdin? I’d give them an A for kick/punt coverage and an F for kick/punt returns.This return game is a joke (Jamie Silva? Seriously?) and always has been.Matt Stover (6/6 FG, 8/8 XP) has filled in nicely for Adam Vinatieri and Pat McAfee (43.7 avg, 11 TB) has impressed as a rookie.
COACHING: A
What can you say?Jim Caldwell is 8-0 and that’s a better start than I thought he was going to have.Larry Coyer has done a wonderful job with an injury-riddled defense.There’s some improvement in the Special Teams under Ray Rychleski.Howard Mudd, Tom Moore, Clyde Christensen are all doing great jobs as per usual.The Colts are lucky to have such a great staff.
How many words does a thesaurus list for "inexcusable"?
I thought after 24 hours, I'd be better able to gather my thoughts, but I'm going to need an extension. It takes more than a day to properly describe what consecutive home losses to Navy means for the Notre Dame football program.
So the New York Yankees are Champions of baseball again. While I never take any of my favorite teams winning championships for granted, it's tough to get super-excited about a team with a $200 million+ payroll dismantling the rest of baseball.
The real importance and legacy of 2009 is that it put several postseason failures (most notably this one) and many failed free-agent signees officially behind the Yankees.
Normally, a nine-year gap between titles wouldn't be considered a "drought", but so much has happened in my life since the last time the Yankees called themselves champions.
Since October of 2000, I have:
- Graduated high school.
- Watched the Knicks actually win a playoff game.
- Been on-campus for Indiana's 2002 run to the National Title game.
- Believed Tyrone Willingham was a savior.
- Graduated college.
- Screamed for Tyrone Willingham to be fired.
- Lived in six different permanent addresses.
- Held five different jobs.
- Received four speeding tickets coming from or going to South Bend, Indiana.
We mentioned it randomly on today's show, but I wanted to re-live some childhood memories with the Speak & Spell (which I incorrectly referred to as Speak & Say on the show).
How could you not buy something endorsed by Bill Cosby?
Indisputable adj (comes from the latin word “indisputabilis”) Incontestable; not open to question; obviously true.
A couple of bad replay overturns involving local teams this year...
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Notre Dame/Michigan
Situation: Armando Allen’s 42-yard TD run on a screen pass ties the score with Michigan at 7. Play: It looks like Allen’s heel may have touched out-of-bounds, but it is unclear whether it actually hit the line or merely shadowed the sideline. Result: Notre Dame has to settle for a Nick Tausch field goal and goes on to lose the game by four points – the margin of Allen’s overturned touchdown.
Notre Dame/Washington Situation: Washington appears to have taken a 31-22 lead with 7 minutes left. Play: Chris Polk appears to maybe have been down before crossing the goalline. Still shots show that his knee may have been down, but it is unclear where the football was and if it had crossed the plain of the goalline. Result: Notre Dame goes on a goalline stand to keep UW out of the end zone and rallies for a 37-30 overtime victory.
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This is not indisputable video evidence
Indiana/Iowa Situation: following an interception return for TD by Iowa, Indiana drives down the field and appears to have extended their lead to 27-14 with the extra point pending. Play: Terrance Turner appeared to have dragged his foot in-bounds, but in reality it was nearly impossible to tell which hit first, his knee or foot and if either were in or out-of-bounds. Result: Nick Freeland misses a 28-yard field goal and IU comes away empty-handed.
NCAA rules state: "The replay official may reverse a ruling if and only if the video evidence convinces him beyond all doubt that the ruling was incorrect. Without such indisputable video evidence, the replay official must allow the ruling to stand."
Does that sound like the rule that is practiced by officials?
I have tried to shy away from predictions over the past few months due to my ill-fated Super Bowl picks of the last two years (Seattle vs. San Diego in 2008, New Orleans vs. Baltimore in 2007), and a horrifically bad NBA Finals prediction for the 2007-08 season (Suns vs. Bulls).
But ever since I picked Cincinnati to win one of the AFC Wild Card spots (I don't think I need to mention that winless Tennessee was my other WC pick), I'm feeling good. Doing the bull dance, feelin' the flow.
Here goes nothing...
EASTERN CONFERENCE 1) Boston – Most talented and deepest team in the NBA with the additions of Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels along with the re-signing of Glen Davis. 2) Orlando – Losing Hedo Tukuglo drops them behind the C’s. Vince is a great scorer, but I don’t know if he can be relied upon as much as Hedo was. 3) Cleveland – I’ve been heavy on the Cavs for two years now and they’ve disappointed me each time. So I’m going to knock them down a peg. The addition of Shaq still didn’t address their biggest need: a reliable 2nd scorer for LeBron James. 4) Atlanta – they won 47 games last season and it’s tough to believe they’ll improve on that, but this team appears to be the best of the rest. When you don’t need Jamal Crawford to be your #1 scorer like the Knicks did, he can be a good player. 5) Chicago – I think people are overrating the loss of Ben Gordon. John Salmons may be less of a high-reward player, but he’s also less streaky. Add in a healthy Luol Deng and the continued progress of Derrick Rose and they’ll be better. 6) Washington – Worst to sixth? You can believe it with this team. A healthy Gilbert Arenas, plus Caron Butler and Antwan Jamison makes this an intriguing team. 7) Detroit – they go up one spot for spending a boatload of money trying to turn themselves into a UConn All-Star team. 8) Miami - putting them here is more a representation of just how good Dwyane Wade is. An aging J.O., and eccentric Michael Beasley, and a bunch of nobodies (outside of Mario Chalmers) aren't going to give them much. ----------THE REST---------- 9) Philadelphia – Elton Brand is old, but the rest of the team is young and exciting. I really like Thaddeus Young. He’s going to be a star. 10) Indiana – this is the classic example of a team that will be better, but it won’t necessarily show as far as wins and losses are concerned. Exciting wins over contenders will be off-set by head-scratching losses to bottom-feeders. 11) Toronto – I didn’t really understand the Hedo Turkuglo signing. Tough team to gauge really… Could finish as high as 5th, could be bad as 14th if they tank early and sell off Chris Bosh and other assets. 12) Charlotte – when you’re terrible defensively and you swap a guy like Emeka Okafor for Tyson Chandler, chances are you’re going to get worse. 13) NY Knicks – seven players on expiring deals. Seven! Nate Robinson, David Lee, Wilson Chandler, and Danilo Gallinari would all be nice players… as a 7th man on a contending team that is. 14) New Jersey – good young core. In a similar situation to the Knicks in that they’re banking on making a splash next summer. 15) Milwaukee – No Jefferson, No Villanueva, No Sessions = No chance to crack 30 wins.
EAST PLAYOFFS First round: Boston over Miami, Orlando over Detroit, Washington over Cleveland, Chicago over Atlanta Conference Semis: Boston over Chicago, Orlando over Washington Conference Finals: Boston over Orlando
WESTERN CONFERENCE 1) LA Lakers – give me one reason why I shouldn’t put them here. Ok, fair enough. But, cancel out the “season-wrecking, mass-suspension brawl incited by the newly-acquired Ron Artest” and I guarantee you can’t think of one. 2) San Antonio – as sick as this makes me to put them here, they are perhaps the deepest team in the West. The additions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess aren’t exciting, but will pay dividends. It’s all about staying healthy (especially Manu) for this group. 3) Denver – I don’t think they’ll be able to duplicate what they did last year, but Carmelo’s continued maturation makes me a believer. Plus, it’s tough to doubt any team with Chauncey Billups running the show. 4) Portland – I’m not sure what they’re planning to do at point guard with Andre Miller and Steve Blake, but this team is stacked all over the place. It’s time for this group – specifically Greg Oden – to take the next step. 5) Utah – they’re very, very good, but not great. They’ve got a bunch of #2s (Deron, Boozer) playing in a Conference where all of the contenders have a #1 (Kobe, Duncan, Melo). That and it's hard to imagine a Jerry Sloan coached team not making the postseason. 6) New Orleans – I have decided that I like Chris Paul way too much. If this team had a shooter (ala Peja ten years ago) they’d be a legit Finals contender. 7) Dallas – they seem to be caught in the NBA purgatory of being good enough to consistently make the playoffs but not good enough to be a serious title contender. Shawn Marion and Jason Kidd? Eh. 8) LA Clippers – I locked into this before Blake Griffin’s kneecap went the way of Michael Jackson’s nose… too soon?
----------THE REST---------- 9) Phoenix – Nash is 35 and running on fumes and there is a huge question mark with Amare Stoudemire returning from a retina injury. 10) Houston – the injuries are just too much for this team to survive, even though I like replacing Artest with Trevor Ariza. Smart move. 11) Golden State – too much controversy with Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis, plus what appears to be a lame-duck coach in Don Nelson. 12) Oklahoma City – with Durant, Harden and Green, the future looks bright. But, the future isn’t now. 13) Memphis – Allen Iverson + Zach Randolph + O.J. Mayo + one basketball? Doesn’t seem like a good equation. I will say that I like some of the youngsters like Gasol, Conley, Mayo (talented but erratic), and Thabeet. 14) Minnesota – they drafted two points guards in Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn, then spend $16 million on another in Ramon Sessions? Way to go, David Kahn! 15) Sacramento – pretty much universally regarded as the NBA’s worst team.
WEST PLAYOFFS First Round: LA Lakers over LA Clippers, San Antonio over Dallas (yawn), Denver over New Orleans, Portland over Utah Conference Semis: LA Lakers over Portland, San Antonio over Conference Finals: LA Lakers over San Antonio
NBA Finals: Boston over LA Lakers in 6 - they're the most talented and deepest team in the league, and having a healthy Kevin Garnett back makes them that much better defensively. That and I'm going chalk because I don't feel like being risky.
Early tomorrow morning, I'll be heading up to South Bend to see if Notre Dame can end a six-game losing streak to Boston College. Part of the reason for that skid is the Eagles missing the Irish in their two most successful seasons of the decade (2005, 2006). That being said, it has a lot more to do with BC's phenomenal effort, and Notre Dame's somewhat lackadaisical attitude towards this game.
Some Notre Dame fans deny that their annual matchup with Boston College is a "rivalry". I beg to differ. The Irish fans that don't consider BC a rival or either too arrogant or too embarrassed (upset losses in 1993 and 2002) to admit that the Eagles have been more that a worthy foe.
The talent-level at Notre Dame is almost always higher than it is at Boston College. But, if the Irish could give half as much effort as the BC kids week-in and week-out, we wouldn't be having conversations about Notre Dame football's relevancy or Charlie Weis' job security.
Nowadays, infidelities by public figures are greeted with a roll of the eyes and a shrug of the shoulders. That being said, ESPN's Steve Phillips may have taken the term "sleaze bag" to a whole new level.
Phillips, who had multiple affairs and was sued for sexual harrassment during his time as a Mets' executive, is in the news again for a similar situation. This time the story gets much juicier as Phillips had a brief fling with a 22-year old production intern at ESPN. Unfortunately for him, his mistress got a bit emotionally involved (to put it lightly). Brooke Hundley went as far to contact Phillips' wife and mother of his children, while reaching out to his 16-year old son via Facebook. It sounds like the plot for a bad Lifetime movie.
Though cheating on your spouse is not something I condone, and is the ultimate representation of a person's true character (or lack thereof), couldn't Steve at least get his money's worth?
If I was going to cheat, I'd make sure it was with somebody other than Steve Perry.
Obviously you feel for Phillips' family. Nobody should have to go through what they've been subjected to over the past decade. However, as far as Steve goes, maybe he'll finally learn his lessson. The worst part about this whole saga for baseball fans will be trying to ignore the gross personal details that Hundley shared with the world while watching Steve Phillips analyze pitching matchups.
I know there's plenty of relevant baseball discussion to be had with both the Yankees and Phillies out to commanding 3-1 leads. However, can anyone else get over the fact that Wanda Sykes is going to have her own show on FOX?
If you have been watching any of the ALCS, chances are you've been flooded with spots for "The Wanda Sykes Show" which premieres next month on FOX. I guess Sykes is FOX's answer to George Lopez (TBS) and Jimmy Fallon (NBC). What, was Sinbad unavailable?
In her new promo last night, Skyes experiments with some stand-up. In the scene she is reading a newspaper and the following exchange transpires:
"Looks like the divorce rates in this country are lower." "That's no surprise considering how the economy is." (Wait for it...) "People are too broke to break up."
(Crickets.)
Five years ago, FOX gave her a shot with Wanda At Large which was canceled soon after airing. Oh, but I'm sure viewers will give her more of a chance this time around.
If you hadn't noticed already, the clock is officially ticking on Charlie Weis.
With a chance - a suprisingly good chance - at his first signature victory, Weis and the Irish came away with another signature loss. A runner-up finish to USC in a 34-27 loss. Normally, losing by seven points to the #6 team (they're better than that) in the country wouldn't be anything to complain about. But after four-and-a-half years of coming close, there's still one thing that has yet to be found in South Bend:
Results. "Anyone who doesn't realize the fight that's in the Fighting Irish is missing the boat. Down three scores, everyone in the house probably figured it was time to throw in the towel. Not this group. No way." - Charlie Weis
Do those sounds like the words of a head coach in year number five of one of the most storied programs in college football history? Or does it sound like a rookie head coach, taking a moral victory in his above-average team hanging tough with a juggernaut?
The time for moral victories and kudos for team effort are over. Frankly, they've been over since this summer, when the memories of 3-9 were months in the past and most of this star-studded group including Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate officially became upperclassmen. This team may not have Championship-caliber talent, but does that matter? Ask Cincinnati about talent. Hell, ask Georgia Tech. How about Iowa? Can anyone seriously argue that the Bearcats, Yellow Jackets, and Hawkeyes have more talent than Notre Dame? Yet, all of those teams win consistently, and beat good competition (gasp!).
This is Notre Dame. This isn't Northwestern (though they certainly look similar lately, don't they?). This isn't Stanford. This isn't even Boston College - even though BC regularly beats the tar out of the Irish and annually plays way over their talent level. This is supposed to be a program that competes for National Championships. A program where BCS bowls aren't hoped for - they're a given.
Instead of talking about the 500+ yards of total offense that the Trojans racked up and numerous missed opportunities by the offense down the stretch, the Irish are patting themselves on the back for fighting? Knute Rockne must be rolling over in his grave.
Sure the Notre Dame players deserve some credit for fighting back from a 34-14 deficit, but they're to blame for digging themselves into that hole in the first place. It appears that the program is slowly moving in the right direction - closing the gap, if you will. But, how do we really know that? What the Irish have done during the Charlie Weis era is all bun. Where's the beef?
Since the start of 2007, Weis' teams are 1-15 against teams that finished with a winning record. 1-9 against teams that finished the season ranked in the Top 25. He owns a 4-13 combined record against USC, Michigan State, Michigan, and Boston College during his tenure. Does that sound like a program that's moving in the right direction?
Do they have moral victories at places like USC?
I'm going to wait until the rest of the season plays out until my final decision on whether or not Weis should be retained. But, with Saturday's "signature" loss to USC, Notre Dame doesn't have very many chances to impress outside observers. A road win at Pitt (6-1) may help, but Pitt isn't Michigan, and they certainly aren't USC.
Close losses to the USCs and Michigans of the world and squeaker-wins over the Purdues and Michigan States aren't going to get it done. Yet, that's been the ceiling under Charlie Weis.
Trophies for moral victories. Banners for bowl wins over Hawaii. Kudos for effort. Decade-long contract extensions for misplaced visions of grandeur.
Welcome to the last 15 years of Notre Dame football.
Classic Purdue - up and down. But in all seriousness, congratulations to Danny Hope and his team. With all the crap (bad luck) they've been through this year, it's nice to see the Boilers break through. I wonder if this will be the win we look back on ala Notre Dame in '97 (Joe Tiller) as a turnaround moment for the Purdue program.
Oh, and how about Hope in the middle of the crowd rush?
Isn't it a coincidence that this news is released two months to the day that Michael Vick was signed by the Eagles? Remember this summer when everyone was campainging for a convicted felon to be reinstated into the league? Now Rush Limbaugh, a man who made some insensitive comments about Donovan McNabb six years ago, is getting stonewalled. So much for the "America is the land of opportunity and second chances" statement that so many used to defend Vick, eh?
Limbaugh, a right-winger, has said some insensitive and offensive things that I do not agree with. But, if he has the money and he wants to bid on an NFL team, he has the right to do so. Bill Maher, a left-winger, is anti-religion and has publicly derided Mormons by calling them "shape-shifters". If he has the money and wants to bid on an NFL team, he has the right to do so. What's the difference between preventing these people from buying an NFL team and buying a store? I am offended by many things and many people - that doesn't mean that they don't have the same basic rights that I do as an American.
Right, Left, Black, White, Yellow, Green, whatever. This is America. Limbaugh can bid for a team if he wants and if the owners don't like it, then they can vote against it. But please, spare me the Al Sharpton marches, and the player collusions.
Over the first five weeks of the NFL season, there seems to be one absolute truth: there are some really bad football teams in this league.
You can probably count anywhere from 10-12 teams that won't have a chance to win even six games. The Bills, Browns, Titans, Raiders, Chiefs, Lions, Buccaneers, and Rams are on the lowest tier. You can add the Jaguars, Redskins, and Panthers if you want - that's 11 of the NFL's 32 teams.
Maybe that's being generous...
I didn't include the 2-3 Texans on that list, who have only beaten Oakland and Tennessee. The 2-2 Cardinals haven't given much of a reason to believe that they'll break the Super Bowl loser curse. Miami (1-3) has Chad Henne at quarterback and a one-dimensional offense. Seattle just beat Jacksonville 41-0, but they have severe injury issues, and have been dismantled by superior teams.
There is a clear line between good and bad in the NFL this year. The only teams that seem like they are 8-8ish squads are Packers, 49ers, and Cowboys. Everybody else is either a contender, or a team that has little-to-no chance at making the postseason.
I know I'm late posting this, but I'll guess you'll just have to trust me...
ALDS - Yankees over Twins in 4 Why? The Twins are a great story but the Yankees are better in every imaginable way.
ALDS - Red Sox over Angels in 5 Why? Boston has a lot of small advantages in just about every category, which adds up. The real difference here is the strenght of the Sox bullpen compared to that of the Angels.
NLDS - Rockies over Phillies in 5 Why? No one has answered the question of closer for Philly. Even if they go closer-by-committee, I don't like their chances.
NLDS - Cardinals over Dodgers in 3 Why? Dodgers are struggling right now, and they have a bunch of solid starters with no ace. The Cardinals very quietly have distanced themselves from the other contenders in the NL.
ALCS - Yankees over Red Sox in 6 Why? It sounds simple but the Yankees are a better team. Better lineup, better bullpen, and the gap between their starting rotations isn't as large as in years past.
NLCS - Cardinals over Rockies in 5 Why? Having Carpenter/Wainwright as your 1-2 punch is good enough to stifle the Rockies' bats, at least at Busch Stadium.
World Series - Yankees over Cardinals in 6 Two of the most storied franchises in baseball meet, and the Cardinals put up a worthy fight. In the end, the Yankees steal one from either Carpenter or Wainwright and get enough from their starting pitching to get by.
With the Colts out to a 3-0 start despite several key injuries, I decided to take a look at some of the newbies (or players in expanded roles) who have attributed to Indy's early success... Pierre Garcon I was always intrigued by Garcon’s potential, but was unsure as to whether his success at the Division-III level would translate to the NFL – or at least how long it would take. He’s no Anthony Gonzlaez, but he’s filled in very admirably with long touchdowns in back-to-back weeks. It sounds ridiculous, but I think I’m the most impressed with his blocking ability. In seemingly all of the Colts’ big plays against Miami and Arizona, he was in there throwing a key block downfield.
Donald Brown He knows where he’s going when he gets the ball. I think the main difference between Brown and Addai is that Brown makes things happen when he has the ball and Addai waits for things to happen. His numbers may not look like much (99 total rushing yards, 3.4 ypc), but he’s averaging 28 yards per catch thanks to last week’s 70-yarder against Arizona. I hate the eye test, but he passes it.
Charlie Johnson (new role as starter) Some were not happy with him being promoted to starter over Tony Ugoh, a guy the Colts traded a future first-rounder for.However, so far Charlie has not yielded a sack and his run blocking has been solid.I re-watched the Colts/Cards game the other night and they seemed to have much more success running to Johnson’s side than to Diem’s – I guess part of that could be having Pollack and DeVan on that side as well.
Our friends over at TV 40 (Dennis Casey & Co.) have a web poll on favorite radio show on their site.
If you like, you can vote by going there: TwoFatGuysWithNothingToDo.com. If you like my show, vote for me. But, if you like JMV, Dakich, or the two guys at 1070, then that's fine too.
Just minutes before after kick-off, it's another edition of Know the Enemy: Arizona Cardinals!
Disclaimer: some of the following is true, while the rest is completely and utterly false.
Matt Leinart What you know about him: the former first round pick is considered to be a bust by many after losing his starting job to Kurt Warner a few years ago. What you didn’t know about him: has a Super Bowl 43 commemorative beer bong.
Adrian Wilson What you know about him: the Cardinals’ defensive captain is also the team’s emotional leader. What you didn’t know about him: despite playing at the dangerous position of strong safety, he’s played in 90 games over the past six-plus seasons. If you divide that number in half, that’s how many games Bob Sanders has played during his five-year career.
Anquan Boldin What you know about him: Larry Fitzgerald’s pouty sidekick still doesn’t have a new contract and yes, is still pouty about it. What you didn’t know about him: set his family Christmas tree in on fire 20 years ago after not receiving a new Nintendo Power Glove from Santa.
Gabe Watson What you know about him: the backup nose tackle was a two-time All-Big Ten selection while at Michigan. What you didn’t know about him: as a 6’3, near 300-pound high school senior, Watson played both offensive and defensive tackle as well as kicker and punter for his Southfield High School team.
Larry Fitzgerald What you know about him: considered by many to be the top receiver in the NFL, Fitzgerald graced the cover of NCAA Football ’05 after a successful career at Pitt. What you didn’t know about him: his father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., is a sports writer in Minneapolis who covered the Super Bowl for the Spokesman-Recorder. The headline the following day read as follows: Larry Legend: Fitzgerald’s go-ahead touchdown sets stage for Steelers comeback win.
Kurt Warner What you know about him: has taken two teams, St. Louis and Arizona, to three different Super Bowls, winning once (1999). What you didn’t know about him: his wife Brenda is always the big spoon.
If you didn't already know, Michigan clinched a thrilling 36-33 victory over Indiana with a highly-controversial interception call late in the fourth quarter. The call has been almost universally panned, however UM fans can't understand why.
One UM fan went as far as to use his cell phone to snap pics of the play frame-by-frame off of his television (I'm sure that would hold up in court). You can find the whole post here, but this part was my personal favorite:
"Clearly Warren has the football at the end of this" is the explanation under the frame.
"Clearly?" What is "clear" about that grainy, pathetic, Paris-Hilton-sex-tape quality cell phone picture? As you already know, in the case of a dual-possession the ball goes to the offense (i.e. tie goes to the receiver). Does Warren "clearly" have the ball in that picture? What about Belcher's right hand? That angle is terrible.
My gripe isn't necessarily with the replay - maybe it wasn't indisputable enough to overturn the ruling on the field. But, how could you possibly in real-time think that Warren intercepted that ball and that Belcher didn't have possession? The real blown call was the call on the field.
The real reason IU lost was their inability to get 7's instead of 3's in the Red Zone, but I would've liked to see what they could've done had they been given the proper opportunity.
For this entire week, I've been referring to Indiana's upcoming matchup at Michigan as a "Clash of Conference Leaders!" just because given the state of IU football, it feels really good to say that. The Hoosiers may be an underwhelming 3-0 (wins over Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, and Akron), but just entering the Big Ten season unbeaten is a rarity for this program.
When spanning the long history of Indiana football, it's hard to find many post-Korean War wins of great magnitude, especially against powerhouse Michigan. IU hasn't won in Ann Arbor since 1967, and hasn't beaten the Wolverines anywhere since a 14-10 win in Bloomington during the 1987 season. That year is the only time in school history, that Indiana defeated both Michigan and Ohio State in the same season (hard to believe).
The opening line has the Hoosiers getting 21 points - if they're able to cover that, or even play Michigan within 10-14 points, then the trip will be a success. A win on Saturday is unecessary and frankly unrealisitc for this Indiana team, but they have a chance to prove that they're not a conference lightweight.
A close loss (moral victory?) to a ranked opponent on the road should give IU confidence going to hopeless Virginia, and then at home against Ohio State in the most critical three-game stretch of the entire season. If the Hoosiers can survive this stretch, even at 1-2 as long as they hang with Michigan and Ohio State, then their bowl hopes are more than just a pipe dream.
Just minutes before kick-off, it's our first edition of Know the Enemy: Miami Dolphins!
Disclaimer: some of the following is true, while the rest is completely and utterly false.
Chad Pennington What you know about him: Chad finished 2nd in the MVP voting last season to Peyton Manning after leading Miami to a ten-win turnaround. What you didn’t know about him: Chad sometimes dozes off in team meetings after staying up late at night play Hello Kitty Island Adventure on his PC.
Ricky Williams What you did know about him: the former Texas star was spurned on Draft Day by Bill Polian, and taken behind Edgerrin James instead. What you didn’t know about him: Ricky’s favorite activity besides football is smoking and watching Planet Earth in HD.
Yeremiah Bell What you know about him: the Dolphins’ leading tackler in 2008, signed a four-year, $20 million extension over the summer What you didn’t know about him: after not being landing a scholarship out of high school in Winchester, Kentucky, Yeremiah worked for $8 and hour in a Kentucky steel mill.
Tony Sparano What you know about him: the only coach in NFL history to lead a one-win team to the playoffs the following year. What you didn’t know about him: the similarities between himself and the fictional Tony Soprano are only in name, weight, and their shared love of sliced proscuitto.
Pat White What you know about him: perhaps the future poster-child of the Wildcat offense, the gimmicky athlete is currently the #2 quarterback behind Chad Pennington. What you didn’t know about him: has been drafted four times by Major League Baseball teams, including the Angels twice (2004, 2007), the Reds (2008), and the Yankees (2009).
Joey Porter What you know about him: loud-mouth leader of Miami’s defense. What you didn’t know about him: though most people may think he’s a jerk, Joey and his wife opened up a Day center for special needs children in California.
Ronnie Brown What you know about him: the fifth-year running back is one-half of Miami’s two-headed rushing attack. What you didn’t know about him: Ronnie Brown was the first person to draft Ronnie Brown in each of his four fantasy leagues.
Great: Indiana 38, Akron 21 After struggling to put away both Eastern Kentucky and Western Michigan, the Hoosiers finally turned in a dominating performance. The three-headed rushing attack of Darius Willis, Trae Burgess, and Demetrius McCray was potent, and Ben Chappell was solid once again. Zips QB Chris Jacquemain was suspended for the game, but you can't blame that on Indiana. 3-0 starts in Bloomington are more rare than 40,000+ crowds.
At the very least, a bowl-berth for IU looks like more than just a pipe dream. If they can win at Virginia (who is 0-3 with a loss to William & Mary) in two weeks then two wins in Big Ten play is certainly feasible. Saturday's game at Michigan will tell us a lot about this team.
Uneasy: Notre Dame 33, Michigan State 30
It was a game that the Irish, and more specifically, Charlie Weis absolutely had to have. That being said, John Tenuta's blitz-happy scheme still isn't creating enough pressure, and the Spartans did what they pleased through the air (8.9 ypa). Jimmy Clausen (3oo yds, 2 TD) was terrific again, even though one of his favorite targets in Michael Floyd was lost for the season with a broken collarbone.
The game also included an atrocious incompletion call on what should've been a Floyd touchdown. He caught the pass in the end zone, came down with two feet, fell to the sideline, and when his back hit the ground, the ball came out. The second that he came down with possession and at least a foot down, that's six points. If the college replay officials can't get it right, then maybe there shouldn't be replay at all.
Nauseating: Northern Illinois 28, Purdue 21
After gushing about the Boilers' gutty performance at Oregon all week long, this loss didn't exactly make me look good. The Huskies dominated the time of possession, running 83 plays to Purdue's 56. They bottled up Ralph Bolden (only 16 touches), who entered the week leading the nation in rushing, and rattled off 280 yards of rushing offense. One of the main culprits was former North Central star Chad Spann, who finished with 80 yards and two scores. The game against Notre Dame Saturday at Ross-Ade is a must-win if Purdue wants to get themselves into bowl contention.
That means no Granger over a stretch that includes games against the Spurs, Magic, Celtics, Hawks, and Heat. I was hopeful at the start of the season that the Pacers could contend for the 7th or 8th seed in the East - but with the way they've looked so far coupled with Granger's heel issue, the playoffs look like a pipe dream at this point.
Obviously you feel for Phillips' family. Nobody should have to go through what they've been subjected to over the past decade. However, as far as Steve goes, maybe he'll finally learn his lessson. The worst part about this whole saga for baseball fans will be trying to ignore the 
