Well, college football fans, it's Rivalry Week. The matchups available to us will be some of the best of the year, all in one day. Many can't wait to pack the stadiums and cheer their team to victory.
Some of us will have to wait until next week.
Nebraska, whose most prized rivalry was heartlessly murdered by the addition of those silly Texas teams into the Big 8, is 7-4 and has an extra week to prepare for Colorado on the Friday after Turkey Day.
Most of us Nebraska fans wish we could be gearing up for OU-Nebraska with title hopes hanging in the balance, like the good ol' days, instead.
But we've got the bye week blues, and we're certainly not the only ones.
But college football fans, just because your team doesn't play for another notch in the win column Saturday doesn't mean college football doesn't go on happening.
Here are the five best games we should watch as we wait patiently for next week and the next chance to cheer on our own teams again. I'll even tell you who to root for.
5. No. 14 BYU at No. 7 Utah
Both teams fight to legitimize their claim to a BCS bowl. However, in my mind, no non-BCS team has a "legitimate" claim to playing in a top bowl until they line up to play the big boys for 12 games a year.
Utah could possibly be competitive in a conference like the SEC or the Big 12, but stick BYU in the Big 12 and they finish seventh or eighth.
The winner is essentially guaranteed a spot in an at-large bowl since everyone else they've played has been cupcakes.
I'll be rooting for both teams to lose. BCS busters annoy me.
4. Mississippi at No. 18 LSU
Houston Nutt has had immediate results with Ole Miss, and LSU is reeling from the loss to top-ranked Alabama last week.
This game will be exciting because the SEC has the best defenses in college football this year and is second only to the Big Ten in the potential for high-ranked teams to be knocked off by lowly, unranked ones.
Houston Nutt screwed over my good friend Dan Bailey, now the kicker at Oklahoma State, with his recruiting scandals at Arkansas. Nutt now coaches the school Eli Manning played for. Manning beat Nebraska in a bowl matchup in 2002 and then went to the pros and beat my Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. That means Ole Miss is evil (somehow).
Current Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini served as defensive coordinator for two years with the LSU Tigers, helping them win the national championship last year. But LSU head coach Les Miles screwed over Oklahoma State like a Southern Rich Rod, taking the LSU job after swearing allegiance to the Cowboys.
Still, cheer for LSU to win this one. Ole Miss has committed more evils.
3. Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State
"The Game" lacks its usual luster this year, as aforementioned Rich Rod guides this Wolverines team to their worst record in Michigan's rich history. I bet he's wishing Mike Hart hadn't graduated right about now.
Ohio State has been playing well the last couple of weeks and holds a four-game win streak over the Wolverines. Will they make it five?
However, Ohio State's Maurice Clarett in 2002 made me want to punch people in the face. He singlehandedly brought down any chance I would cheer for Ohio State to win a game.
In 1997, the Nebraska Cornhuskers should have been the undisputed best team in the country and taken home both national championship trophies. Instead, stupid ol' Michigan, with a weaker schedule and fewer displays of dominance, laid claim to a share of the title just because they're Michigan and the voters like them.
Nebraska got the last laugh, however, beating Michigan 32-28 in the 2005 Alamo Bowl, handing Michigan their first five-loss season in 21 years and beginning the decline of the program that has since culminated in Rich Rod's horrendous start with the Wolverines.
If they both could lose, I'd be happy. Still, Maurice Clarett was six years ago. I'll be cheering for the Buckeyes.
2. No. 15 Michigan State at No. 8 Penn State
The two teams will battle for control of their own destinies, a Big Ten title, and an automatic bid to a BCS bowl. If Michigan pulls a win over Ohio State out of nowhere, the winner of this matchup wins the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl appearance.
If Ohio State wins and Penn State wins, Penn State takes the title and the bowl appearance.
I hold nothing against Michigan State. I have no reason to cheer against them. Their logo is pretty cool, and they've played great football.
Who can hold a candle to JoePa? The man's been coaching longer than my grandparents have been married. And he hasn't just trudged along (much like Bobby Bowden has the last few seasons 'til now). He's won games.
As for Penn State the team? I don't really have a feeling either way.
A USC/Oregon State against Michigan State/Penn State/Ohio State matchup would be pretty interesting to watch in the Rose Bowl, so whoever wins, wins.
1. No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma
This game excites me. Oklahoma has bounced back strong after the loss to Texas to dominate their opponents. Texas Tech beat Texas and Oklahoma State in back-to-back weeks and finishes the schedule from hell Saturday in Norman, Okla.
With three Big 12 teams in the Top Five, I don't have to worry about one knocking the whole conference out of national championship contention.
A Texas Tech win solidifies the Red Raiders atop the Big 12 South and sends them to Kansas City, where Missouri poses little threat along the path to the national championship.
An Oklahoma win throws a wrench in the system, but Oklahoma would still have to beat Oklahoma State next week to stay alive in contention.
Nebraska played Tech close and was an interception away from beating them in overtime. Nebraska was killed by Oklahoma, but I love Oklahoma fans.
This is no contest for me: I'll be cheering on Oklahoma.
Honorable mentions:
No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati, Stanford at California
So watch and cheer and enjoy. Your bye week blues will be gone come Sunday morning.
42 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Ryan Droege 7 months ago
Maurice Clarett is by far the worst person in sports that never gets talked about. He's easily the worst draft pick in the history of the NFL draft.
Hate on Ryan Leaf all you want, I'd take him over Clarett any day. Leaf at least made some contribution to society by becoming a QB coach at a small Texas college. Clarett has been a resident of Ohio's penal system for the last two years, with at least another 18 months to go.
Wow, that was a longer remark than I intended...
Great list, SM! Texas Tech-OU should be one of the best games of the year!
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Thanks for the comments, Ryan. I'm glad to hear someone else hates Clarett as much as me.
And yah, I'm really looking forward to the TT-OU game as well. It could hold the most sway over the outcome of the season.
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Scott Rieger 7 months ago
Wait! I want in on this! I hate Clarett....AT LEAST...as much as you two. haha.
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James Williamson 7 months ago
Sorry dude. I'm a texan, and TT has got to win this year dude. I'm not putting anything past Michigan though. They hate the Buckeyes more than any other football rivalry known to man. And passion is something you can win on alone.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Good point about Michigan. I just don't see any passion from the Wolverines this year. Rich Rod kinda swooped in and was a buzz-kill to the whole aura of Ann Arbor. I'm not seeing them pulling this off.
It would be kinda cool to see Tech go all the way, I agree--but I'd like Oklahoma to win this game more.
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Scott Rieger 7 months ago
"In 1997, the Nebraska Cornhuskers should have been the undisputed best team in the country and take home both national championship trophies. Instead, stupid ol' Michigan, with a weaker schedule and fewer displays of dominance, laid claim to a share of the title just because they're Michigan and the voters like them."
Dude, that is the farthest thing from the truth that I have read on B/R yet! lol. You have to be kidding. You guys got a share of that for one reason: Tom Osborne and his pending retirement, it was charity.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Man, not to rag on what I want to become, but the SPORTSWRITERS chose Michigan for the same reason USC and Florida are always said to be the best teams in college football right now--biased favoritism. Writers are never able to separate the innate bias that comes from liking sports. Anyone with a brain can see the writers have traditionally favored east and west coast teams, as well as traditional favorites like Notre Dame, Michigan and Ohio State. But those same sportswriters traditionally snub solid, deserving teams like Nebraska.
It was the COACHES who chose Nebraska, the guys who have coached against the teams and have a better knowledge of football.
In a head-to-head national championship matchup in the current BCS system, Nebraska beats Michigan for the championship 9 out of 10 times. That Nebraska team was one of the greatest teams to suit up in college.
In a split national championship, there will always be debate. You're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. I was merely letting everyone know why I don't like Michigan, haha.
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Scott Rieger 7 months ago
Fair enough, but I respectfully disagree and actually think that the 9 of 10 stat would've been in our favor.
Let's disect those teams, shall we:
Michigan
Charles Woodson (Heisman) - Long and productive pro career, still playing
Jerame Tuman - decent pro career
Brian Griese - Good backup NFL QB
Steve Hutchinson - All-World NFL G
Jon Jansen - All-World NFL T
Glen Steele - backup as a pro, unimpressive
Tai Streets - Decent pro career
Jeff Backus - Above Average NFL T
Mark Campbell - Decent pro career
Tom Brady - One of the best NFL QB's ever
James Hall - Good NFL DE
Ian Gold - Good NFL LB
Dhani Jones - Good NFL LB
Anthony Thomas (A-Train) - Solid NFL Career
Nebraska
Correll Buckhalter - Decent pro
Carlos Polk - backup as a pro, unimpressive
Dominic Railoa - Starting C for Lions
Kyle VandenBosch - Good NFL DE
Mike Brown - Good NFL S
Mike Rucker - Decent pro
Grant Wistrom - Good NFL DE
Ahman Green - Very good NFL RB (when healthy)
Bottom line is that you ran a gimmic offense with Scott Frost and had Crouch and Newcombe backing him up. You had Green and Buckhalter which was a very good backfield. You had a good OL, but your best player was A. Taylor, who won the Outland Trophy but was not drafted until the 7th round and only played 1 year before retiring.
Your defensive line was awesome, aside from that, pretty weak bro.
We had a Pro-Style offense with pro quality players running it and our defense was stifling that year.
Now, I agree that what people go on to do in the pro's has little bearing on what they did in college, however it is a clear testament to which team had the greater talent. Clearly, it was Michigan.
Also, we only allowed 114 total points that year....in 12 games. That is incredible, as opposed to your 214 points allowed.
You guys actually had a much weaker schedule as well as you only played 4 ranked teams, #2 Washington, #17 Kansas State, #14 Texas A&M, and #3 Tennessee.
Michigan beat #8 Colorado, #15 Iowa, #15 Michigan State, #3 Penn State, #23 Wisconsin, #4 Ohio State, and #8 Washington State.
You have to remember that in 1997, the Big 12 wasn't better than the Big 10 like they are today. It was a different time and Michigan was the best and should've won the title. They were the #1 in the Coaches poll going into the bowl game and were penalized because they played the #8 team in the Rose Bowl (not their fault), while you guys pulled #3 Tennessee.
I'd pay a ton of money to go back in time and get to see a "REAL" title game between Michigan and Nebraska, and I honestly think we'd win.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
So, by your own testament, your argument is invalid.
There have been plenty of players who made an impact in college that haven't in the pros or never even went pro. Tommie Frazier never went pro, but is arguably one of the best option quarterbacks to ever play the game. Josh Heupel is arguably one of the better--and certainly one of the smartest--quarterbacks to ever play the game, but never played pro ball.
You can't judge COLLEGE FOOTBALL by NFL football standards. There are some players that truly excel in college and there are some players that don't excel UNTIL they get to the pros (like Brady).
So though your NFL argument is interesting, it means nothing.
Nebraska had a power running game with a top-of-the-heap offensive line that made it so Frost never really had to throw the ball. Like you said, we had one of the best (I would say THE best) defensive lines across all divisions of college football and defense wins games.
The '97 Huskers were the last really powerful traditional Nebraska running team. Just because Michigan ran a different style of offense doesn't make Michigan better. Nebraska's d-line would have been all over Griese and would have shut down the running game. It wouldn't matter than you had Woodson because we'd run the ball up the gut, powered by our offensive line.
And as far as the rankings go? You have to look at how a team FINISHED, not how they were projected to finish at the time. Colorado was No. 8, right? Well, by the time NEBRASKA played Colorado they were unranked. So that win doesn't count for crap, man, in the grand scheme of things.
So let's adjust, using the final standings from 1997:
MICHIGAN - Colorado, UR; Baylor, UR; Notre Dame, UR; Indiana, UR; Northwestern, UR; Iowa, UR; Michigan State, UR; Minnesota, UR; Penn State, #16(AP)/17; Wisconsin, UR; Ohio State, #12; the bowl against Washington State, #9.
Quick recap: Out of the teams you named, only two finished in the top-25 at the end of the season. That's the difference between Clemson 2008 pre-season and Clemson now for those wins you claim were quality wins.
NEBRASKA - Akron, UR; Central Florida, UR; Washington, #18; Kansas State, #8(AP)/7; Baylor, UR; Texas Tech, UR; Kansas, UR; Oklahoma, UR; Missouri, #23; Iowa State, UR; Colorado, UR; Texas A&M, #20(AP)/21; the bowl against Tennessee, #7(AP)/8.
Quick recap: That's five top-25 ranked teams to your two, and two of mine were top-10 finishers. Oh, and Tennessee was led by a guy you've heard of named Peyton Manning.
Five Big 12 teams finished in the final top-25. Four Big Ten teams finished in the final top-25. I'll agree the Big 12 wasn't better than the Big Ten--I'd say they were pretty even. But it looks like the Big 12 finished better.
We played THIRTEEN games because our conference has the smarts to have a conference championship, which usually adds to the strength of schedule because you end up playing the best team from the other division. You played 10 teams that failed to place in the top-25, whereas we two fewer non-top-25 games. Solid teams like we played tend to score points. Oh, did I mention that we had two shut-out games?
Nebraska averaged 46.7 points per game in 1997. Michigan averaged 26.8 points per game. So much for your pro-style offense.
Like I said, we could argue all day. Please keep throwing things at me because I've got a counter for everything you've got.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
I can't count. *THREE of your teams were ranked, including the bowl. Only two regular-season opponents finished top-25, opposed to four of Nebraska's.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
And would be *NINE teams failed to finish top-25.
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Scott Rieger 7 months ago
Monk, you are correct, we could both go at this for days and I will make a few more points, but before I do...let me just get it out there that these arguments are moot and we'll never know what would've happened. The bigger condemnation is on the NCAA for not having a #1/#2 NC game in 1997.
You bring up some good points but you ALSO made one of your points invalid. The argument that we should look at how the teams finished and not what they were ranked when the teams actually played is BS. The main reason for this is the fact that they would likely be ranked higher if not for the beating at the hands of Michigan/Nebraska respectively. Also, EVERY year...the NCAA does a study on strength of schedule. To see the goods for 1997....check this link out...
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=6087
I don't argue the point that you made regarding the Big Ten vs. Big 12 with respect to a conference championship game. The Big Ten has been missing the boat on this forever and can't have one anyways because we only have 11 teams. To make it happen, they'd have to add another team and the conference big wigs don't want anyone except Notre Dame.
I also will give you that you had the Best DL that year, I agree with you there, however you are seriously underestimating the totality of Michigan's D in 1997. You were better at one position but overall, we were the better D....and by your own comment...D wins! In fact, it's widely said that the 1997 Michigan and 2004 USC D's were the best of our era.
Our offenses were both above average to good...in my estimation. Nothing overly special. I would lean towards the prediction that it would have been a low scoring affair and a defensive battle. The reason I think we'd win is that our D would likely have slowed down the Nebraska rushing attack, while Griese would've been good to make a few plays in the passing game. Woodson would've also been likely to make a play, either on D, O, or in the return game.
You guys probably would've squeaked out a score or two as well.
Honesty, I think it would've been like a 21-14 type of game. I have a hard time believing that Michigan would've allowed anymore than that against a running team.
Remember, we only allowed 206.9 total yards per game and only 89 yards rushing per game and 7 total rushing touchdowns.
Not to discredit you guys as you only allowed 257.3 (5th), again I think it would've been a brawl.
Unfortunately, we'll never know. Fortunately, we both get to say we were National Champs in 1997
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Scott Rieger 7 months ago
And one more thing though in retort of your original comment that I "quoted".
Michigan didn't share the title because of the voters. Going into the bowl game, we were AP AND Coaches #1.
The performance you guys turned in against Tennessee and the whole Osborne thing is the reason you jumped us after the bowl. Facts are facts.
Also, Nebraska wouldn't have had to worry about anything if they would've taken care of Missou earlier that season. Instead, they almost lost and would have if not for some "grace of god" deflection for a TD. The truth is that you guys should've lost that game and 99 out of 100 times, would've. That was a miracle finish.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Those are some great points, Scott, and you're certainly very knowledgable on college football.
I agree, as well, that the burden rests on the NCAA for not having a system in place at the time. One might say that a big factor playing into the adoption of the BCS is because of a season like 1997 where people are left totally unsure of who was actually the best.
I also agree that we should have taken down Missouri in a better fashion. I'm not sure 99 games out of 100 we would have lost because, I would hope, we'd play a little better than we did. However, like things panned out, we did get a spectacular performance in the end zone that grabbed us the win.
Haha, I respect you as a writer and a fan, Scott, and you're extremely knowledgable about your team, as I said. It's good to get a little friendly debate going every once in a while.
That '97 Michigan team was certainly an impressive team and I wish with everything in me that we could have seen a #1/#2 game.
And I'm not sure how much the Osborne retire played into the final coaches' vote, but that might be a very valid point. I'm interested to look into sportswriters' thoughts at the time regarding that final vote.
But as you stated, when everything has shaken out, we both have trophies in our cases and championships to our respective programs.
I do hope that Rich Rod turns Michigan around soon because a program like Michigan (much like Nebraska, as well) deserves to be back in contention ASAP.
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Scott Rieger 7 months ago
Much respect to you as well, Monk. It's definitely good that we are both mature enough to have a meaningful debate and conversation about the teams, while putting emotions away. I've seen many of these types of conversations deteriorate into "your team sucks", "shut up, your a loser and idiot", etc.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
True that. There are some people here on b/r that need to learn that FACTS and STATS speak volumes, while name-calling and petty insults get them nowhere. Any moron could run around and say, "My team's the best, your team sucks and you have no brain!" But it takes an educated, respectful college football fan to throw out the stats that prove their team is the best.
The reason USC fans haven't done so? There aren't the stats to prove it (except for their cupcake-schedule-padded defensive stats). There are a few teams that have a legitimate claim this year, but I've seen few educated comments.
Why do these people insist on throwing out their offensively moronic views when all we're trying to do is have intelligent, meaningful conversation (like you so aptly put)?
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Cameon Shiflett 7 months ago
Ha. Monk you are absolutely right! I would love for someone to argue with me and have some stats and logic behind their arguement rather than the "nah nah nah nah boo boo my team's better than yours" crap.
Just thought I'd throw that in there.
Roll Tide,
Bama Chick
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Kristofer Green 7 months ago
Why hate on Clarrett? He was such a great player and he contributed so... ok I can't even jokingly defend him. He had a lot going for him and threw it all away. He deserves any hate that can be thrown his direction. Buckeye fans, for the most part, feel the same way about him.
As for Michigan splitting with Nebraska... I have to agree with you. That Nebraska team was sick! Had they met on the field, the Wolverines would have had a very difficult time beating your Huskers.
The TTU-OU game s going to be outstanding, best game of the week by far. OU has lost only twice at home in the Stoops era, but I have a feeling it may be three losses after Saturday. The OU defense has been giving up way too many points and if the game turns into a shootout it favors TTU.
I gotta root for MSU against Penn State, for obvious reasons. It's going to be a battle.
BYU-Utah should be very fun to watch as well. The Holy War has more meaning this season than ever before. Not sure I agree that Utah would hold it's own in the Big 12 though. They are playing great defense, but they have had a lot of close games against the cupcakes you mentioned.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Thanks for the comments, Kristofer. I stopped holding the Clarett thing against Ohio State a while back because I realized that anybody can have an idiot on their team and that doesn't represent the program as a whole. I hope you guys get a strong win over Michigan.
And thanks for the support for the '97 Huskers. The country seems to be pretty split, but the issue seems pretty settled in my mind, haha.
I think I might agree with you. If Tech doesn't make any huge mistakes, I think they've got a pretty solid chance to beat Oklahoma because, like you said, Oklahoma's defense probably isn't strong enough and their special teams have been bleeding yards game after game so the other team has excellent field position. I still want the Sooners to somehow win, though!
I'm actually very excited for the MSU-PSU game. I agree, it'll be epic.
Good point. I haven't had as much chance to watch Utah as I have BYU, which probably influenced my judgments. BYU is grossly overrated and I'll take your word for it that Utah's pretty overrated too. Like I said, BCS-busters annoy me.
Thanks for the read, man.
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Scott Rieger 7 months ago
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say....that Kristofer is a Buckeye fan! I wonder why he thinks Nebraska would beat Michigan. The same Michigan team that beat his beloved Buckeyes that year.
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Andy Purvis 7 months ago
Nice read.. As far as 97 NU Vs 97 Mich I think the bowl games are a good indication of what happens if 97 NU and 97 Mich were to have met on the field.
97 NU plays a higher rated Tenn team from the SEC, a conference that is annually known as the best conference in the country.
This Tenn. team is led by Peyton Manning, Jamaal Lewis, Peerless Price, Leonard Little, Al Wilson and others. NU dismantles that team and completely holds P. Manning in check.
Mich. struggles terribly to beat a WSU team led by Ryan Freaking Leaf. A soft WSU from the soft Pac 10.
Oh My God! We had so much speed on defense that people just don't know. Wistrom, Peter, Warren, Rucker would have ate Mich o line for lunch. In the mid 90's the only qb's to give NU fits were mobile qb's, but they gave everyone fits and still do now, that made plays with their feet as well as their arm, alas C. Jones of Missouri.
No Lbs! oh my god! We just had speed all over the place at lb with T. Ortiz, B. Shaw, J. Williams, E. Johnson. And db's, E. Warfield, M. Brown, that went on to have some nice NFL careers
Pocket qb's who were unable to make plays with feet, and Griese was one, were absolutely sitting ducks against NU in the mid 90's. ASk guys like F. Costa, T. Banks, D. Weurfel, and aforementioned P. Manning. Plus, many other nameless pocket qbs that never made the NFL that they terrorized.
Oh, and than our offense just steamrolls a SEC champion defense with future NFL players up and down the roster.
Frankly, I would be surprised if 97 Mich would be within 17 points.
I think they just get absolutely overwhelmed and Griese is running for his life, because NU will stop the run game and force Griese to pass.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Obviously I wholeheartedly agree, Andy. That '97 team was powerful. Maybe one day Michigan will see the errors of their ways and mail us the trophy we deserve, haha.
Thanks for the comment, man.
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Scott Rieger 7 months ago
Andy, not a biased post there at all. Listen, how many teams did your 97 huskers play that had a better defense than Michigan....oh yeah...that's right...NOBODY had a better D that year. My bad.
I don't discount Nebraska's team from that year and haven't in all my posts. Instead, i've chosen to bring up facts, stats, figures, etc. to substantiate my position. The fact that you'd be surprised if Michigan would've been within 17 points shows me you have Zero knowledge of that team.
Furthermore....that Ryan Leaf led Washington St. team put up huge numbers that season. Leaf had 3,637 yds and 39 Touchdowns.
You guys had the #1 scoring offense that year at 47.1 ppg and the #1 total offense at 513.67 ypg. Guess who was #2....Washington St with 42.5 and 502.18. Guess how many points we allowed them to score....16.
Iowa was 9th in scoring offense at 36.7 ppg....Guess how many they scored against Michigan....
Michigan had the #1 scoring defense with 98pts (8.9 avg.), you guys weren't even in the Top 10.
We allowed a total of 10 TD's that season....you guys allowed 25!
How can you say that your defense would be destroying our offense without recognizing that our D was even better than yours....meaning that your O was going nowhere!
Again, I don't speak opinion...only fact backed up by stats.
I stand by my prediction that had we played, we would've won a hard fought battle 21-14.
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RedRaider Red 7 months ago
Wish you would've written this a week ago when I was about to kill myself because of the agonizing wait.
Forget bye weeks, what about the bye days? What about today and tomorrow when Tech ISN'T playing OU? Arghhhh...
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Haha, good point, RedRaider. But my advice to you is, when Tech isn't playing, Nebraska usually is so tune in and support the Huskers!
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RedRaider Red 7 months ago
Hey, unlike you, I love the Huskers!
Herez hoping that their glory days are back.
P.S. Unlike you as in, unlike you not liking my team.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Haha, I was gonna say, man. I love the Huskers more than most people I know, and I know a LOT of Husker fans.
I don't HATE Texas Tech, per se... I just don't like them? Haha, I haven't found a reason to like them. If you give me some reasons to like them maybe I will! Beating Texas sure helped, I'm not gonna lie. ;)
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RedRaider Red 7 months ago
I don't have to give reasons. My team does that for me.
One was the Texas game as you said.... another one's coming up in Norman this Saturday ;-)
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Hmm... Though it would be a nice win for your Raiders, it wouldn't be a reason for ME to like Tech, as previously stated. Haha. Although I do have tremendous respect for Leach--he's one of the top-3 coaches in the country in my opinion and is making a strong argument for the best. Time will tell, though--the BEST coaches, to me, are the ones that build a strong program and stay COMMITTED to that program. If he leaves Tech, he loses my respect. Because think about it: Right now, what's a MORE prestigious school than Tech for him to coach at? He has the chance to stay at the school that worships the ground he walks on, but if he takes another job somewhere else he could be just another coach. He'd be smart to stay.
I'd say Tech is probably third only to OU and OSU in the Big 12 South for me, though. I have a friend that went to Tech back in the day, so it's kinda fun seeing Tech be so good for him.
Maybe I'll warm up to them if they win a national championship or something, haha
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RedRaider Red 7 months ago
Even the mention of Leach leaving sends me into a big depression :-(
He won't leave, man.... at least I hope he doesn't. You're right though in what you said.
A national championship would make you warm up... while it'd set me ON FIRE!!!
Can you imagine my school winning its first national championship since it was established when I'm enrolled???? It'd be a DREAM come true, man!
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SportMonk 7 months ago
I'd be jealous. Nebraska only has one more year to win a national championship while I'm here... haha
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Kevin Paul 7 months ago
Nice work... and PHEW! At first I thought you were going to try and encourage me to tune in to an Oprah Special or some crazy new reality TV show. It was just football... much better.
Definitely a few games I'm looking forward to watching this weekend... with a beverage in hand and some food in the other - food that's likely bad for me.
If you need to throw any tomatoes at anyone in the sports world, stop by my page and join in on the fun.
Later man...
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Thanks, Kevin. Rest assured, the only channels that my TV plays on Saturdays, even Saturdays my Huskers don't play, are the ESPN family of networks and the assorted others that show college football. I'm not even sure if all the other channels even provide programming on Saturdays because I've never tried them.
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Cameon Shiflett 7 months ago
You had me excited because I thought that was a picture of the crimson tide until I realized they were very much the wrong color red. Shame on you for that. :(
Just a note, LSU played Troy last week. Alabama was the week before. :)
I'll definitely be watching the Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma game and the Ole Miss vs. LSU game.
Great job on the article. I'll be anxiously awaiting for my game next week. I keep hearing "It's the weekend for rival games." The whole time I'm thinking "No it's not. Alabama isn't playing Auburn this week." Haha.
Roll Tide,
Bama Chick
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SportMonk 7 months ago
In my defense, Cam, according to your "Closet" Bama Fans article:
"4. Alabama's most dominant color is called crimson."
Oklahoma's dominant color is ALSO crimson, therefore I am immune from blame for your confusion. ;) And I'm touched that you would only read my article if it was about Alabama (just kidding).
Oops. Thanks for the catch. I guess the Bama-LSU game was so big, it took up two weeks in my mind, haha.
I know, right? How do they decide when "rivalry week" is and when it isn't? Sure, this weekend has Michigan/Ohio State, NC State/NC, WV/Louisville, Tennessee/Vandy, UW/WSU, Stanford/Cal and BYU/Utah.
But look at next weekend:
Alabama/Auburn, Oklahoma/Oklahoma St., Nebraska/Colorado, Florida State/Florida, Oregon St./Oregon, Army/Navy??
I mean, come on! Unless there's "Rivalry Week (PART ONE!)" and "Rivalry Week (PART TWO!)", something is amiss here.
Tell you what: When Alabama beats Auburn next weekend, I'll write an article about a Big 12 fan's perspective of the SEC Championship and I'll feature a pic of your boys in BAMA crimson. How about that? ;)
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Cameon Shiflett 7 months ago
Technically, Oklahoma's is a brighter shade of crimson than Alabama's. Just saying. You wouldreally have to be insane to catch that though. (Cameon looks around for someone insane. She then looks into a mirror and a light bulb appears.) :)
I am always interested in you writing mainly because you have a lot of talent and tend to incorporate some emotion in your articles along with the stats and logical thinking which is something I like to do as well. Although it being about Alabama might have kept me more interested. Just kidding. :)
Your completely right about Rivalry Week Part One and Part Two. I mean hell, there are people all over the country going to be tuning into the Iron Bowl. And I can't blame them, it might be just like watching a wrestling match. :)
Sounds good, and then I'll write one and see which one is better. :)
Roll Tide,
Bama Chick
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Haha, nit-picky are we? You're not THAT insane... But I would jump all over someone if they said Nebraska is "fire engine red" instead of scarlet, so I suppose it's just a DIFFERENT kind of insane. ;)
Why thank you! It means a lot coming from another writer with as much talent as you. I mean goodness, you've got how many POTD articles? I'm still searching for good ol' numero uno.
I know I'll certainly be watching the Iron Bowl. I may to switch back and forth if it's on the same time as OU-OSU (or picture-in-picture!), but I'm intrigued to see it play out.
And I'd venture to say your article would be far superior to my own, not just because of your writing ability but also because I think you know a LITTLE BIT more than me about Alabama football. ;)
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daniel cox 7 months ago
yeah...bye week blues. heh...not the most compelling games ever.
but the good is definitely mstate/psu and tech/ok is a monster good game.
it'll be interesting to see if michigan decides to play for just one week in its bowl game vs osu.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Haha, bowl game. Yah, I'm hoping it'll be more exciting than the 38-13 I predict.
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Daniel Howie 7 months ago
Boomer Sooner! I went to Gameday this morning. It was awesome. My sign was blocked by other, bigger signs though. Oh well.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Awesome! The Sooners are up 7-0 right now. I'm really excited! I wish I could have been in town for Gameday. I'm jealous.
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Daniel Howie 7 months ago
Yeah I'm really excited too, and kinda wished I had paid the extra money to see this game. I'm also excited that the crowd has been rowdy as Stoops asked the crowd to be for this game.
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