Check out this letter to the editor, printed in today’s (12/1/06) Wall Street Journal. Ms. Deanne Weber of Northfield, MN was commenting on a recent piece on the Michigan – Ohio State game, then she recalled this piece of “history”: When I started dating my husband in college, I was a huge basketball fan and considered myself quite knowledgeable about the sport. He, on the other hand, is more of a football junkie. His dorm had a pool for the NCAA basketball tournament, and..he picked Michigan to win it all. He showed me his pick sheet, and I tore it apart. “You picked Michigan? Michigan?” I said incredulously. “They just fired their coach, and they’re starting five freshman! No way. Pick another team.” Well, that was 1989, and you know the rest of the story. Luckily, he still married me. Don’t forget about the roles Cazzie Russell and Tractor Traylor played on that epic run, Deanne!
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LSU to Rose Bowl? But Wait…
A report from MSNBC is stating that they’ve heard from insiders that the Rose Bowl will offer an at-large berth to LSU. This is good, in that we avoid a Michigan vs. Notre Dame rematch in the Rose Bowl. But… what if USC loses and Florida impresses over Arkansas in the SEC title game? That would leave USC as PAC-10 champ in the Rose Bowl vs. LSU, and potentially Florida and OSU in the BCS Championship if voters give the Gators enough juice. So with Sugar Bowl picking next because they lost their conference champ to Glendale (Florida), and they’d probably take Michigan. Then I believe they have the next pick of the at-large teams, which of course would be none other than the beloved….Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!
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Mike Hart’s Decreasing Heisman Stock
Has anyone noticed that Mike Hart's has suddenly dropped on the Heisman chase lists around the internet? I'm not saying that he should get any consideration to win - that of course is going to Troy Smith - but I was hoping the guy cracked the Top 4 and got the trip to New York.
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A Better Sports Illustrated Cover
Memo to Sports Illustrated. It just wasn’t right to put Bo Schembechler’s memorial photo in a small block behind a triumphant Buckeye on the November 27, 2006 cover: Especially after the hated Buckeyes downed Bo’s beloved Michigan in the greatest game ever played between the two rivals. Given my ties to the media, I was able to contact the print department to run off a few copies of a second version of last week’s Sports Illustrated. I like this one a little better. To add insult to injury, there seems to be a groundswell of support for a Notre Dame vs. Michigan rematch in the Rose Bowl, although most projections have the Wolverines and LSU in the Grandaddy. Bo would be turning over in his grave if Notre Dame gets a Rose Bowl berth on sacred Big Ten ground.
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Ivan the Terrible
Some excerpts from this week’s chat on ESPN.com with college football analyst Ivan Maisel: On USC vs. Michigan and the #2 BCS slot: Anthony (Troy, OH): Who would win in a match-up between Michigan and USC? In your opinion, isn’t it unfair to base rankings on what your ideal National Championship scenario is? I prefer to see what people truly think teams should be ranked. Ivan Maisel: That’s the way the system is supposed to work.
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19%: Michigan BCS Title Game Chances
SALINE, MI Except for a few moments at the end of the first half when they somehow nearly imploded on 3 straight drives, USC looked very strong in a decisive win over Notre Dame. With a win next week at UCLA in the Rose Bowl, USC will surely head to the BCS Championship in Glendale. If USC stumbles next week and Florida wins in the SEC Championship against Arkansas, Florida move into the title game. Given what I’m seeing, here’s the data points to get to the chances of Michigan getting to Glendale: – USC losing to UCLA next week – 30% (UCLA doesn’t look that bad) – Florida losing to Arkansas next week – 45% – Florida beating Arkanas, but it’s ugly and voters don’t advance Florida (55% to win, 33% of not passing Michigan). I come up with the following formula: = (CHANCE OF USC LOSS)*(CHANCE OF FLORIDA LOSS + CHANCE OF FLORIDA WIN BUT NOT PASSING MICHIGAN) = (.30)*[(.45)+(.55*.33)] = 19% (.1895) with no margin for error (these figures are prefect perfect) Other title hopes? Well, in theory you could have the unlikely scenario where Michigan dominates LSU or whomever they play in the Rose Bowl, USC and OSU play a stinker in the Glendale with USC sneaking by. The AP selects Michigan as their 2006-07 champion…
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Buckeye Blinders
Check out today’s ESPN.com Sports Nation poll: “What is the most recognizable college football helmet?”. There is obviously little debate on this. Love it or hate it, this really isn’t a debate. This is like the first question in a lie detector test to make sure the sensors are calibrated. Knowing this, Buckeye fans represented by the state of Ohio couldn’t help themselves and vote the “famed” Ohio State helmet as the most recognizable. Maybe if the question was most recognizable in a police line up.
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So Fitting
ONEKAMA, MICHIGNA How fitting is that none other than Joey Harrington strolls into Detroit looking like a Hall of Famer to smoke the pathetic Lions? This organization is such a mess. Not only do the Lions get their asses whipped, but the fans and the organization got criticized for having no class by Nick Saban. Maybe the NFL should start putting some other team on Thanksgiving so we don’t have to suffer through this year after year. What I am thankful for? I’m thankful that the Dolphins salted the game away and ran out the clock so we didn’t have to suffer through anymore of this game.
