I have good friend I went to Mizzou with who lives in Colorado. During school we saw each other almost daily but now the sad reality is is rarely talk. We see one another once a year or so and follow each other on Facebook. Its not like it used to be. Through some good fortune, though, his job in Colorado requires semi-regular travel here to DC and now we get to see each other once every few months. On his most recent visit we met up with several other alums in DC who also live busy lives that don't intersect with mine as often as any of us would like. After a great dinner and good conversation I drove my friend home. He remarked how great the night had been and how, when we're all together, its as if the days we have spent apart don't exist.
Long weeks and busy lives sometimes turn social events into forced situations of endurance. The people may be good, but the conversation is sometimes forced and awkwardness and fear abound. What do or don't I talk about. What do or don't I wear. What do or don't I bring up in front of others. Who is judging who and what are their conclusions? What we remarked about on the ride home that night is that none of these concerns are ever present we the group of us gets together. Its natural and its easy and everything always feels like it should. Why? Because we grew up together, crisscrossing the Mizzou campus getting the formative shared experiences that turned us into the people we are today.
Flash forward to the ASU watch party at Penn Quarter. Strangers, most of us, outside of the tables at where we set. Then, right before the game coverage started, a cry throughout the bar...it started with the words "Fight Tiger." It was all natural, nothing forced. Groups of people coming together to relive their shared history.
I share this story for two reasons. First, as a measure of hope. No matter how conference realignment shakes out, we'll all always have each other and that shared history will cover where ever we're at, be it east, west, south or any and all areas in-between. Second, I share the story as a measure of sadness. We share a much lesser but still very real sense of shared history with our Big 12 schools, especially those from the old Big 8 and Big 6. I remember walking on the field at Nebraska, I remember the tailgate in Iowa State, and I vividly recall one of the worst weekends of my life in Lawrence. Just like I did with my friends on campus, Mizzou grew up--and watched others grow up--in the Big 6, 8, 12, and now 9. We've all seen each other at our bests and at our worsts. While the bond isn't as strong as those I have with my friends, there are bonds there nonetheless. There might be excitement (or dread) around realignment, but there also has to be an acknowledgement that no matter what happens, something that was once good is being lost forever.
Also lost forever: the old Big East. Founding school Syracuse and Pitt are joining the ACC, possibly as early as Sunday tweets Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com. Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline and others now confirming ACC vote.
My blog today was going to be an attempt to get us excited about joining the ACC, but as of now that doesn't look like is happening. I think the ACC stays capped at 14 schools: Syracuse, Pitt, Boston College Clemson, Duke, FL State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami (unfortunately), North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest, Virginia, and Va Tech. Good basketball, good academics, and a football conference with at least one football program that year in and out could challenge for the national championship (FL State). By adding us (football) and kU basketball, there would be a lot to like about being an ACC member. But that scenario is all but dead.
What does look like is happening is OU and Ok State, at minimum, are headed to the Pac 12, now the Pac 14. Texas has the make the next move: stay or go? I think they take a look around and realize, its time for them to get off the sinking ship. I think the Pac 12 becomes the Pac 16 next week.
The Big East is then down to 7 football schools (TCU joins next year) and.........15 basketball schools. It took a while to count. If only there were 5 other conference-less schools who could bring the Big East to 12 football schools and 20 basketball schools. Oh wait, there are said schools: Baylor, Missouri, Kansas, K-State, and Iowa State.
Our athletic lives are probably going to look like this:
* Big 12 West Division: TCU, Baylor, Missouri, Kansas, K-State, and Iowa State
* Big 12 East Division: West Virginia, USF, Cincy, Louisville, Rutgers, and UConn
Or instead of playing a full season, we could just play West Virginia once a year in November for the conference championship. Let's just say that if this happens last year's homecoming will be the last time we'll be on Gameday, E-V-E-R. Basketball would be an actual upgrade, meaning we get our asses handed to us until we hire a real basketball coach.
You are the company you keep and the company it looks like we are keeping are significantly (1) dumber academically, (2) farther away geographically, (3) and less athletically challenging (at least in football). All of this adds up to an unfortunate downgrade. Worst of all? Dan "Mr. Longhorn" Beebe might still be the conference commish unless he takes a better post in the Texas athletic department. In other words, the Big 12 is more likely to absorb the 6 Big East schools because of the TV contact that the Big 12 has that appears to be going to survive a total league collapse.
I think this is by far the most realistic option. Others on the table include (in most likely order):
(1) The SEC expanding to 14 schools and either taking us or an ACC School (which last week upped their conference exit fee to $20 million dollars, but 7 million from $13). If they take an ACC school, we could then be up for sliding into that schools spot.
(2) Texas saying "screw the Pac-14" and staying put. kU and us then head west. Quickly.
(3) All of this expansion talk spooking the Big 10 to add two more schools. Prayers that we would be one of them.
Summary
This whole process has been filled with ups and downs. As we approach the finish line Mizzou is unfortunately in a down part of the process. We'll know more. Starting Monday.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Everything Must Belong Somewhere...
...or so says Bright Eyes. Where do we all belong...that's what we sort through today with a mega-list of links:
(1) The bottom line is Oklahoma will decide where everyone belongs and it looks like they will decide it on Monday. Brady Deaton agrees, its all up to OU as to what happens next.
(2) SI thinks everyone has lost their mind. The teams in the Big 12 below where they are. A funny quote: "The Big 12 does not evoke nostalgic affection. This is the league that diminished and ultimately destroyed Oklahoma-Nebraska, which was one of the top five rivalries in college football. It killed the old Southwestern Conference, which made cheating almost seem charming."
(3) If OU makes the decision to break up the Little 9 by heading west, Texas has a decision to make as to where it belongs. Texas is scared of the SEC says Out Kick the Coverage. And they are right. If you read nothing else, read this. The two key quotes:
(a) "There's only one issue for Texas -- going to the ACC and flying over the SEC would demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that Texas is scared of the SEC. Why? Because it makes the most financial sense for Texas to join the SEC. That is, Texas could make more money in the SEC than any other conference. That's because the SEC allows all schools to retain their local media rights. That means the Longhorn Network is the most feasible of all the major conferences in the SEC."
(b) "Texas, who received an offer to join the SEC last year, hasn't explored the SEC at all even as the very foundation of the Big 12 is rocked. Why? Because unlike their Texas A&M brethren the Longhorns are steers, gelded pansies afraid of competing in a real conference. The Longhorns, plain and simple, are bullies, and bullies don't like to be challenged. Instead of joining the conference they border replete with ready national rivalries, Texas would rather fly over the SEC and join the ACC, conference of perennial football lightweights. All hat, no cattle indeed."
(4) Jeff Schultz isn't buying that Texas belongs in the ACC. Perhaps more accurately, he says that they are swooping in to use the conference. Frank the Tank Disagrees and says the ACC for Texas makes sense. The Daily is pushing Texas toward the SEC.
(5) Who is deciding where programs belong? Doctors and dentists says CBS Sportsline. An interesting read about how Trustees are trying to serve as Athletic Directors and are failing in the process.
(6) Where does Dan "Mr. Longhorn" Beebe belong? Evidently making campus visits to schools that are already united in keeping the Little 9 together. Makes perfect sense to me.
(7) Perhaps the united part of the Little 9 isn't so united, says SB Nation. A humorous look at a Missouri town who is suing to try and get kU to drop its athletics mascot. Note the shirt the kid is wearing in the picture in this article.
(8) Whatever happens, teams don't belong in conferences over 12 members, says SB Nation. The reason: they all implode. Quickly.
(9) Meanwhile, the Big East says Mizzou, kU and k-State belong with them. A funny story.
(10) The St. Louis P-D asked where Mizzou belongs and the answers from their experts were a bunch of mindless dribble other than this really funny quote from alum Jeff Gordon: "...and poor Frank Haith has nightmares about the ACC talk. Been there, failed at that."
(1) The bottom line is Oklahoma will decide where everyone belongs and it looks like they will decide it on Monday. Brady Deaton agrees, its all up to OU as to what happens next.
(2) SI thinks everyone has lost their mind. The teams in the Big 12 below where they are. A funny quote: "The Big 12 does not evoke nostalgic affection. This is the league that diminished and ultimately destroyed Oklahoma-Nebraska, which was one of the top five rivalries in college football. It killed the old Southwestern Conference, which made cheating almost seem charming."
(3) If OU makes the decision to break up the Little 9 by heading west, Texas has a decision to make as to where it belongs. Texas is scared of the SEC says Out Kick the Coverage. And they are right. If you read nothing else, read this. The two key quotes:
(a) "There's only one issue for Texas -- going to the ACC and flying over the SEC would demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that Texas is scared of the SEC. Why? Because it makes the most financial sense for Texas to join the SEC. That is, Texas could make more money in the SEC than any other conference. That's because the SEC allows all schools to retain their local media rights. That means the Longhorn Network is the most feasible of all the major conferences in the SEC."
(b) "Texas, who received an offer to join the SEC last year, hasn't explored the SEC at all even as the very foundation of the Big 12 is rocked. Why? Because unlike their Texas A&M brethren the Longhorns are steers, gelded pansies afraid of competing in a real conference. The Longhorns, plain and simple, are bullies, and bullies don't like to be challenged. Instead of joining the conference they border replete with ready national rivalries, Texas would rather fly over the SEC and join the ACC, conference of perennial football lightweights. All hat, no cattle indeed."
(4) Jeff Schultz isn't buying that Texas belongs in the ACC. Perhaps more accurately, he says that they are swooping in to use the conference. Frank the Tank Disagrees and says the ACC for Texas makes sense. The Daily is pushing Texas toward the SEC.
(5) Who is deciding where programs belong? Doctors and dentists says CBS Sportsline. An interesting read about how Trustees are trying to serve as Athletic Directors and are failing in the process.
(6) Where does Dan "Mr. Longhorn" Beebe belong? Evidently making campus visits to schools that are already united in keeping the Little 9 together. Makes perfect sense to me.
(7) Perhaps the united part of the Little 9 isn't so united, says SB Nation. A humorous look at a Missouri town who is suing to try and get kU to drop its athletics mascot. Note the shirt the kid is wearing in the picture in this article.
(8) Whatever happens, teams don't belong in conferences over 12 members, says SB Nation. The reason: they all implode. Quickly.
(9) Meanwhile, the Big East says Mizzou, kU and k-State belong with them. A funny story.
(10) The St. Louis P-D asked where Mizzou belongs and the answers from their experts were a bunch of mindless dribble other than this really funny quote from alum Jeff Gordon: "...and poor Frank Haith has nightmares about the ACC talk. Been there, failed at that."
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Trouble.
Lots of folks looking like they are in trouble today. Listen to song by Ray LaMontagne by the same name as you make your way through the links:
(1) Texas is in trouble. A&M and OU messed with Texas and won, writes Out Kick the Coverage. If you read nothing else today, read this. Some quotes: "The Longhorns believe that they are the lone star in a sky devoid of other celestial bodies. The heliocentric theory meets football, Texas as the sun, the moon, and the stars. Finally, Texas A&M had enough."
And: "Suddenly Texas, the school that was going to own the nation, is riding second saddle, clinging to A&M and Oklahoma for dear life.
Only most Longhorn fans haven't realized it yet.
Oklahoma and Texas A&M finally stared down Texas, tumbleweeds blowing past, with both schools poised to fire. Texas blinked first.
Yes, the Big 12 may well survive thanks to the television contracts. And Texas may well make even more money.
But money without good games is a dangerous place to find yourself in a country that is soon to be over run with mega-conferences."
Finally: "The Longhorn Network may have won Texas the battle, but in the process Texas A&M and Oklahoma have won the war."
(2) The trouble with trouble, though, is that its all relative. Who's in more trouble than Texas? Missouri. The SEC is putting forward some pretty tough talk about having a 13 not 14 league conference next year with a schedule already in the works. The Pac 12-20 doesn't seem like it will take us as they'll probably go +2 (OU and OK State) or +4 (TX, TX Tech) but not +6 (Mizzou, kU). And the Big 10? The silence is deafening.
(3) Out Kick the Coverage may be right, the Little 9 might turn Little 7 and then grow to the Awful 7-10: (1) Texas, (2) Texas Tech, (3) Missouri, (4) Baylor, (5) Iowa State, (6) Kansas, (7) Kansas State, (8) TCU, and (9) Houston. That's trouble, if I've ever seen it. If you aren't freaking out, now is the time to freak out.
(4) Who else is in trouble? The SEC. They are in danger of becoming the second best conference in college football. To who? The Big 12, of course. Breaking up this conference makes prefect sense.
(5) Who else is 'fixin to get in trouble if they don't shut their mouth? Ken Starr. Yes, that Ken Starr. Read his exaggerated editorial and then read this brilliant response. Some money quotes:
(a) "So, Ken Starr, sit down and let’s have a big boy talk. The truth is, Ken, your little school is going to be thrown off the bus because it hasn’t grown its own product. That’s on you and yours, buddy boy. You’ve been last in the Big 12 in football attendance every single year. You’ve won 18 conference games in 15 seasons. Your stadium is a dump."
(b) "Unfortunately, the breakup of the Big 12 is upon us, and Baylor is about to see how they live on the other side of town. At least, Baylor will see some old friends there.
For instance, TCU. Baylor dumped TCU in the ditch, and then something remarkable happened. TCU started over and built a great program one brick at a time. Instead of suing people, TCU went to work. SMU also built a new stadium, and UH will break ground on one early next year. Baylor has some catching up to do no matter what conference it ends up in.
It’ll be fun for Baylor to catch up with Rice, UH and SMU and see how the last 15 years have gone.
Don’t worry, Ken. They’ll be totally sympathetic to your plight. You should tell them how important it is to respect history and how awful it would be to tear these wonderful traditions and rivalries apart.
Look them right in the eye, Ken, and tell them you just don’t understand why people would throw these things away."
(6) Pre-Snap Read joins in the fun and says they don't buy what Ken Starr is selling. Does anyone?
(7) Back to Missouri: we had some trouble at ASU. We also did some things right. Here's a good post about both from Rock M Nation.
(8) SHOCKER: a kU football player is in trouble.
(9) Maryland students are in trouble with their AD after some unruly fan behavior to an 11 year old boy during their win over The u.
(10) Finally, the Cardinals manager has them in trouble. After looking out of the race they climbed back in and are only 3.5 game back of the wildcard. It could have been 2.5 back after last night, but in LaRussa's desire to win, he managed them to a loss.
Busy day...no summary. Take the time you would have taken to read the summary and put out some prayers the SEC invites us to join their party.
Thanks for reading,
Doug
(1) Texas is in trouble. A&M and OU messed with Texas and won, writes Out Kick the Coverage. If you read nothing else today, read this. Some quotes: "The Longhorns believe that they are the lone star in a sky devoid of other celestial bodies. The heliocentric theory meets football, Texas as the sun, the moon, and the stars. Finally, Texas A&M had enough."
And: "Suddenly Texas, the school that was going to own the nation, is riding second saddle, clinging to A&M and Oklahoma for dear life.
Only most Longhorn fans haven't realized it yet.
Oklahoma and Texas A&M finally stared down Texas, tumbleweeds blowing past, with both schools poised to fire. Texas blinked first.
Yes, the Big 12 may well survive thanks to the television contracts. And Texas may well make even more money.
But money without good games is a dangerous place to find yourself in a country that is soon to be over run with mega-conferences."
Finally: "The Longhorn Network may have won Texas the battle, but in the process Texas A&M and Oklahoma have won the war."
(2) The trouble with trouble, though, is that its all relative. Who's in more trouble than Texas? Missouri. The SEC is putting forward some pretty tough talk about having a 13 not 14 league conference next year with a schedule already in the works. The Pac 12-20 doesn't seem like it will take us as they'll probably go +2 (OU and OK State) or +4 (TX, TX Tech) but not +6 (Mizzou, kU). And the Big 10? The silence is deafening.
(3) Out Kick the Coverage may be right, the Little 9 might turn Little 7 and then grow to the Awful 7-10: (1) Texas, (2) Texas Tech, (3) Missouri, (4) Baylor, (5) Iowa State, (6) Kansas, (7) Kansas State, (8) TCU, and (9) Houston. That's trouble, if I've ever seen it. If you aren't freaking out, now is the time to freak out.
(4) Who else is in trouble? The SEC. They are in danger of becoming the second best conference in college football. To who? The Big 12, of course. Breaking up this conference makes prefect sense.
(5) Who else is 'fixin to get in trouble if they don't shut their mouth? Ken Starr. Yes, that Ken Starr. Read his exaggerated editorial and then read this brilliant response. Some money quotes:
(a) "So, Ken Starr, sit down and let’s have a big boy talk. The truth is, Ken, your little school is going to be thrown off the bus because it hasn’t grown its own product. That’s on you and yours, buddy boy. You’ve been last in the Big 12 in football attendance every single year. You’ve won 18 conference games in 15 seasons. Your stadium is a dump."
(b) "Unfortunately, the breakup of the Big 12 is upon us, and Baylor is about to see how they live on the other side of town. At least, Baylor will see some old friends there.
For instance, TCU. Baylor dumped TCU in the ditch, and then something remarkable happened. TCU started over and built a great program one brick at a time. Instead of suing people, TCU went to work. SMU also built a new stadium, and UH will break ground on one early next year. Baylor has some catching up to do no matter what conference it ends up in.
It’ll be fun for Baylor to catch up with Rice, UH and SMU and see how the last 15 years have gone.
Don’t worry, Ken. They’ll be totally sympathetic to your plight. You should tell them how important it is to respect history and how awful it would be to tear these wonderful traditions and rivalries apart.
Look them right in the eye, Ken, and tell them you just don’t understand why people would throw these things away."
(6) Pre-Snap Read joins in the fun and says they don't buy what Ken Starr is selling. Does anyone?
(7) Back to Missouri: we had some trouble at ASU. We also did some things right. Here's a good post about both from Rock M Nation.
(8) SHOCKER: a kU football player is in trouble.
(9) Maryland students are in trouble with their AD after some unruly fan behavior to an 11 year old boy during their win over The u.
(10) Finally, the Cardinals manager has them in trouble. After looking out of the race they climbed back in and are only 3.5 game back of the wildcard. It could have been 2.5 back after last night, but in LaRussa's desire to win, he managed them to a loss.
Busy day...no summary. Take the time you would have taken to read the summary and put out some prayers the SEC invites us to join their party.
Thanks for reading,
Doug
Monday, September 12, 2011
It's going down...
The theme of the day: its going down. Feel free to listen to the song of the same name by Vampire Weekend and pull out the emotions/themes you need to get you through the links today: love, hope, despair, loneliness. They're all here, in the links:
(1) Orangebloods.com says the Little 9 is going down. The say that OU and OK State will apply for membership in the Pac 12-20 before the end of the month. Never mind the words from T Boone Pickens saying OK State wants to stay in the Little 9 and never mind the Pac 12-20 commish saying they don't want to expand at present. Orangeboods says its happening. And what of Texas? They say "all options" are being considered.
(2) One of those options for Texas? Crawling on its hands and knees to Norman to beg OU face-to-face to stay in the Little 9. Or so tweets @ChuckCarltonDMN of the Dallas Morning News. He says: "Big 12 school sources confirm high-ranking UT delegation traveled Sunday to Oklahoma City to meet with OU officials about alignment issues." Two things: (1) the mere thought of this has been the greatest thing to come out of this realignment talk, and (2) if your name is Chuck Carlton of course you live in Texas.
(3) Who didn't like Texas getting down on their hands and knees? Their BFF Texas Tech. Reason? Tech wasn't informed on the high level trip. They are mad for two reasons: (1) by not being invited they think they might be getting left out of the expansion talk, and (2) they are siding with OU and OK State in thinking its time for the Little 9 to go down.
(4) The Little 9's not going down until A&M officially joins the SEC, tweets @kbohls of the Austin American-Statesman. His non-so-Texas name is Kirk Bohls, but fear not, Chuck Carlton agrees that the Pac-12 isn't making the first move.
(5) In the daily finger pointing of what brought down the Little 9, believing the conference won't last. He writes: "They're tired of the drama. Tired of the fatigue. Tired of never knowing what their landscape will look like a year from now." Tramel also puts forth a new name for the current Little 9: The Big Mess Conference. I like it.
(6) What brought Missouri down at the end of the game to ASU? Something I forgot to mention in my recap: why did we even have two time outs to ice our kicker in the first place. A great case is made at the every end of this article by Tim McKernan.
(7) Because of injuries we're down to our last remaining running back. Other options? A walk-on, a red-shirt freshman, and our top receiver, TJ Moe.
(8) For those conspiracy theorists among us: the Mizzou Board of Curators is meeting tonight to discuss the "System President Search." Last time they did this, we hired a new basketball "coach" (term used loosely). Could they announce a new conference after tonight? Doubtful.
(9) In other news, Bud Selig let the terrorists win last night and (separate issue altogether) this is awesome.
Summary
(a) We don't know much more than we did a few days ago about conference realignment.
(b) After appearing to be going down in shreds, the Little 9 rebounded for a while, only to be appeared headed down once again.
(c) The next move still rests with OU, as it has ever since they opened their mouth about this two weeks ago.
(d) In what generally doesn't happen, Gary Pinkel is defending his indefensible coaching decisions last Friday night. It's unusual and unusually sad. He's built up enough credit with the fan base to take the blame on this one, and he should.
Thanks for reading,
Doug
(1) Orangebloods.com says the Little 9 is going down. The say that OU and OK State will apply for membership in the Pac 12-20 before the end of the month. Never mind the words from T Boone Pickens saying OK State wants to stay in the Little 9 and never mind the Pac 12-20 commish saying they don't want to expand at present. Orangeboods says its happening. And what of Texas? They say "all options" are being considered.
(2) One of those options for Texas? Crawling on its hands and knees to Norman to beg OU face-to-face to stay in the Little 9. Or so tweets @ChuckCarltonDMN of the Dallas Morning News. He says: "Big 12 school sources confirm high-ranking UT delegation traveled Sunday to Oklahoma City to meet with OU officials about alignment issues." Two things: (1) the mere thought of this has been the greatest thing to come out of this realignment talk, and (2) if your name is Chuck Carlton of course you live in Texas.
(3) Who didn't like Texas getting down on their hands and knees? Their BFF Texas Tech. Reason? Tech wasn't informed on the high level trip. They are mad for two reasons: (1) by not being invited they think they might be getting left out of the expansion talk, and (2) they are siding with OU and OK State in thinking its time for the Little 9 to go down.
(4) The Little 9's not going down until A&M officially joins the SEC, tweets @kbohls of the Austin American-Statesman. His non-so-Texas name is Kirk Bohls, but fear not, Chuck Carlton agrees that the Pac-12 isn't making the first move.
(5) In the daily finger pointing of what brought down the Little 9, believing the conference won't last. He writes: "They're tired of the drama. Tired of the fatigue. Tired of never knowing what their landscape will look like a year from now." Tramel also puts forth a new name for the current Little 9: The Big Mess Conference. I like it.
(6) What brought Missouri down at the end of the game to ASU? Something I forgot to mention in my recap: why did we even have two time outs to ice our kicker in the first place. A great case is made at the every end of this article by Tim McKernan.
(7) Because of injuries we're down to our last remaining running back. Other options? A walk-on, a red-shirt freshman, and our top receiver, TJ Moe.
(8) For those conspiracy theorists among us: the Mizzou Board of Curators is meeting tonight to discuss the "System President Search." Last time they did this, we hired a new basketball "coach" (term used loosely). Could they announce a new conference after tonight? Doubtful.
(9) In other news, Bud Selig let the terrorists win last night and (separate issue altogether) this is awesome.
Summary
(a) We don't know much more than we did a few days ago about conference realignment.
(b) After appearing to be going down in shreds, the Little 9 rebounded for a while, only to be appeared headed down once again.
(c) The next move still rests with OU, as it has ever since they opened their mouth about this two weeks ago.
(d) In what generally doesn't happen, Gary Pinkel is defending his indefensible coaching decisions last Friday night. It's unusual and unusually sad. He's built up enough credit with the fan base to take the blame on this one, and he should.
Thanks for reading,
Doug
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Sobering Realities
The light of day didn't provide any extra insights on the game last night: it's still a frustrating game we should have won and it's still a game that won't kill our season. For instant analysis see my previous post.
In summary:
(a) Questionable calls
(b) Terrible defense
(c) Good QB play
(d) Down to one RB (plus Franklin)
(e) Franklin's physically beat up
All of this can be found in the game article from the KC Star.
Not a lot of new Mizzou or conference info today, I guess people are actually watching the games. Here some links, many of them funny:
(1) Baylor is 90 miles away from A&M, yet sold the fewest number tickets to the game at A&M than any other opponent. Interesting non-explanations from Baylor.
(2) Texas says it doesn't want to be independent, but it sure acts that way. As the article points out, they're putting forward lots of ego and power.
(3) The Pac 12 "says" it doesn't want to expand. Take that with a grain of salt. It does bring up an interesting question, though: If OU decides to leave the Little 9, is there anywhere for them to go? All of a sudden the Little 9 looks like it might be around for a while. I don't know if that's a good thing. It would be if all the hatred was handled on the football field, but we don't seem to like to play things that way.
(4) Coastal Carolina football coach gives the presser of the year. I can't exactly explain what is going on, but it involves cats, dogs, children and football players looking in the mirror. He also has an incredible mustache. You have to click on this link.
(5) In baseball news, Joe Morgan has found his calling and will lead the world's largest chicken dance. And, this Phillies has lost whatever mind he once had.
I think I might be losing my mind as well. Iowa State looked really good in their win over Iowa. We've got a long season ahead but if last night proved anything, our players are up for the challenge.
Thanks for reading,
Doug
In summary:
(a) Questionable calls
(b) Terrible defense
(c) Good QB play
(d) Down to one RB (plus Franklin)
(e) Franklin's physically beat up
All of this can be found in the game article from the KC Star.
Not a lot of new Mizzou or conference info today, I guess people are actually watching the games. Here some links, many of them funny:
(1) Baylor is 90 miles away from A&M, yet sold the fewest number tickets to the game at A&M than any other opponent. Interesting non-explanations from Baylor.
(2) Texas says it doesn't want to be independent, but it sure acts that way. As the article points out, they're putting forward lots of ego and power.
(3) The Pac 12 "says" it doesn't want to expand. Take that with a grain of salt. It does bring up an interesting question, though: If OU decides to leave the Little 9, is there anywhere for them to go? All of a sudden the Little 9 looks like it might be around for a while. I don't know if that's a good thing. It would be if all the hatred was handled on the football field, but we don't seem to like to play things that way.
(4) Coastal Carolina football coach gives the presser of the year. I can't exactly explain what is going on, but it involves cats, dogs, children and football players looking in the mirror. He also has an incredible mustache. You have to click on this link.
(5) In baseball news, Joe Morgan has found his calling and will lead the world's largest chicken dance. And, this Phillies has lost whatever mind he once had.
I think I might be losing my mind as well. Iowa State looked really good in their win over Iowa. We've got a long season ahead but if last night proved anything, our players are up for the challenge.
Thanks for reading,
Doug
Instant (and perhaps intoxicated) Analysis
Real tough loss in OT tonight for your Tigers. A few thoughts:
(1) We lost a running back tonight, but gained another one. Josey looked great but unfortunately, he's all that appears to be left on the depth chart.
(2) We also appeared to gain a quarterback. While I could argue with a couple of decisions, Franklin looked like an entirely different QB than he did last week and one that will win quite a few games in his career.
(3) In non-positive news: our defense was horrible. If you play a soft zone at all times, the line as the get to the QB not part of the time, but all of the time. If someone isn't always in his face, good QB can pick apart the zone. That's what happened tonight. Our line got a few key sacks late in the game, but overall we didn't provide adequate pressure that would protect our secondary playing in a soft zone.
(4) In positive news, the District watch party was amazing. Penn Quarter was packed. We need to make this the site of the watch party.
(5) As I said previously, we've got to get used to a team that gets better every week. Areas to get better: closing quicker on the soft zone, Franklin making better decisions (and not scampering for a 1.5 yard gain each time), receivers running better routes, o-line providing better protection, and the d-line getting more penetration.
(6) As I said previously, I'm a big Gary Pinkel fan. I posed a question in a previous post about whether or not if the Little 9 were dissolving 10 years ago, would we be listed among the untouchables (Baylor, K-State, Iowa State). I think we would have. Then GP arrived and took us to a higher level. Tonight, though, GP and his staff lost us this game. My issues:
(a) Not calling timeouts in the drive at the end of the first half. I know we don't have a Gabbert QBing and I know he was tying to play conservative and not turn the ball over, but COME ON WE'RE TRYING TO WIN A GAME. A few good plays and we're in striking distance. We miss a 50+ FG to end the half but wouldn't have had to kick that long of one if we had called timeouts. We basically wasted around 20 seconds and those 20 seconds would have allowed for one or two more plays that could have got us closer and led to a more realistic field goal.
(b) With more points on the board he would have had more of a cushion to go for it on the goal line on the first drive in the second half. We settled for a field goal, but if we failed to get into the end zone we would have had them pinned on the 1 yard line.
(c) We had them stopped at the end of the third quarter and settling for a field goal, but they got a penalty and instead of making them settle for a FG we accepted and gave them an extra freaking down. They used that down to get a...touchdown.
(d) Let's review: at this point if he had even made one of these decision opposite of what he did, we've won the game in regulation...
(e) ...but he didn't. So we march the ball down the field in the last minutes of regulation and get into field goal range in the last seconds and...
(f) ...ice our own kicker. Evidently GP says ASU was jumping off sides a lot during the game and he was trying to get us another 5 yards...that would have been great if we would have needed another 5 yards for a weak legged kicker. Instead our strong legged kicker misses after back to back timeouts by GP.
(g) Never fear, we can always win in OT. We just need to win the flip and take the ball to put pressure on the other team...oh...wait...we won the flip but chose to play defense because statically the team that takes the ball first wins. Makes perfect sense.
(h) I don't know who was calling offensive plays in OT, but they did an awful job. GP or Yost, its doesn't really matter.
Summary
Its hard to see heroes make mistakes, but GP and his staff made PLENTY tonight. They took us to our current heights, but the reality is this loss also has to be pinned on them. It wasn't all bad, though. The DC crew found a new watch party location, and we found a new QB and RB. The good news, as one Mizzou fan told us tonight: we weren't going win a national championship this year and this game was just a non-conference loss. In other words, we'll live to fight another day. Here's to that, and here's to our players and coaches cutting down on their mistakes and living up to their potential.
(1) We lost a running back tonight, but gained another one. Josey looked great but unfortunately, he's all that appears to be left on the depth chart.
(2) We also appeared to gain a quarterback. While I could argue with a couple of decisions, Franklin looked like an entirely different QB than he did last week and one that will win quite a few games in his career.
(3) In non-positive news: our defense was horrible. If you play a soft zone at all times, the line as the get to the QB not part of the time, but all of the time. If someone isn't always in his face, good QB can pick apart the zone. That's what happened tonight. Our line got a few key sacks late in the game, but overall we didn't provide adequate pressure that would protect our secondary playing in a soft zone.
(4) In positive news, the District watch party was amazing. Penn Quarter was packed. We need to make this the site of the watch party.
(5) As I said previously, we've got to get used to a team that gets better every week. Areas to get better: closing quicker on the soft zone, Franklin making better decisions (and not scampering for a 1.5 yard gain each time), receivers running better routes, o-line providing better protection, and the d-line getting more penetration.
(6) As I said previously, I'm a big Gary Pinkel fan. I posed a question in a previous post about whether or not if the Little 9 were dissolving 10 years ago, would we be listed among the untouchables (Baylor, K-State, Iowa State). I think we would have. Then GP arrived and took us to a higher level. Tonight, though, GP and his staff lost us this game. My issues:
(a) Not calling timeouts in the drive at the end of the first half. I know we don't have a Gabbert QBing and I know he was tying to play conservative and not turn the ball over, but COME ON WE'RE TRYING TO WIN A GAME. A few good plays and we're in striking distance. We miss a 50+ FG to end the half but wouldn't have had to kick that long of one if we had called timeouts. We basically wasted around 20 seconds and those 20 seconds would have allowed for one or two more plays that could have got us closer and led to a more realistic field goal.
(b) With more points on the board he would have had more of a cushion to go for it on the goal line on the first drive in the second half. We settled for a field goal, but if we failed to get into the end zone we would have had them pinned on the 1 yard line.
(c) We had them stopped at the end of the third quarter and settling for a field goal, but they got a penalty and instead of making them settle for a FG we accepted and gave them an extra freaking down. They used that down to get a...touchdown.
(d) Let's review: at this point if he had even made one of these decision opposite of what he did, we've won the game in regulation...
(e) ...but he didn't. So we march the ball down the field in the last minutes of regulation and get into field goal range in the last seconds and...
(f) ...ice our own kicker. Evidently GP says ASU was jumping off sides a lot during the game and he was trying to get us another 5 yards...that would have been great if we would have needed another 5 yards for a weak legged kicker. Instead our strong legged kicker misses after back to back timeouts by GP.
(g) Never fear, we can always win in OT. We just need to win the flip and take the ball to put pressure on the other team...oh...wait...we won the flip but chose to play defense because statically the team that takes the ball first wins. Makes perfect sense.
(h) I don't know who was calling offensive plays in OT, but they did an awful job. GP or Yost, its doesn't really matter.
Summary
Its hard to see heroes make mistakes, but GP and his staff made PLENTY tonight. They took us to our current heights, but the reality is this loss also has to be pinned on them. It wasn't all bad, though. The DC crew found a new watch party location, and we found a new QB and RB. The good news, as one Mizzou fan told us tonight: we weren't going win a national championship this year and this game was just a non-conference loss. In other words, we'll live to fight another day. Here's to that, and here's to our players and coaches cutting down on their mistakes and living up to their potential.
Friday, September 9, 2011
The Best Conference Realignment Article Yet
Bottom line: it doesn't get better than this. In a behind the music oral history of the Big 12 breakup, Every Day Should Be Saturday, drops a few great lines:
(1) "Missouri: I'm...I don't want to talk too much about any of this. Still sort of in between things. I respect everyone in the band. Let's just say that. Wait, I'm sorry. Texas can eat a taint-flavored lollipop. A dude's taint, not some hot lady, okay? They can just eat that all day long, far as I'm concerned. Used to use my bathroom to shit in, and not his own. Every. Single. Night. What kind of an asshole thinks he's too good to streak his own toilet? I mean, really. Ask yourself that."
(2) "Nebraska: The SEC? I dunno. I've heard it's less like a band, and more a cult or something.
Oklahoma: I don't want to talk about that. You never know.
Missouri: I've heard it's nice."
(3) "Kansas: Wait, wait: I was in a band?"
It will all make sense when you read the article. Also, be sure you hit up this link within the article.
Not many new developments, just a few links:
(1) Good news: you can now bet on college football conference realignment.
(2) SI reminds us that all this expansion talk has happened before. From their vault: a look back at college football in 1990.
(3) Resident Asshole T Boon Pickets somehow made his way on-air during a OK State's national telecast. SHOCKER: he's changed his mind again and says the Little 9 will stay together. A humorous account of this can be found here.
(4) From the comments section, CB writes: "...I would appreciate your insight into this quote from the president of the not-nearly-as-good-as-they-think-they-are school in Texas on being upset that other Big 12 schools may be so audacious as to ask that everyone live up to contracts previously agreed to:
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6939017/texas-aggies-accepted-sec-legal-threat-delays-move
"We are being held hostage right now," Loftin said of being forced to stay in the Big 12. "Essentially, we're being told that you must stay here against your will and we think that really flies in the face of what makes us Americans for example and makes us free people."
If the Aggies met Baylor in a courtroom I'd be rooting for a bomb to go off. I think the lawsuit is, among other things, lame. If a marriage breaks up, you don't sure to try and keep it together. Let's play this out...let's say Baylor wins the lawsuit and A&M stays in the Little 9. What, exactly, does that do for the league? It chains an institution to us that doesn't want to be here and one that other members aren't too fond of right now, either. Additionally, Ken Starr is Baylor's President. Let's just say he has a history of taking things too far.
As far as it being un-American, that makes A&M sound as ridiculous and desperate as Baylor. I think everyone should drink a big glass of Grow-The-Hell up. The lawsuit would have merit if, say, Baylor or Iowa State or another member institution had started construction on a new stadium (or the like) and were going to pay for it out of revenues of the new TV contract. A few thoughts on that: (1) I don't know of any cases of this, (2) it will be extremely hard to prove, and (3) this is less about the law and more about emotions and blame placing.
A question I have for everyone covering this: Why the hell is OU getting a free pass regarding the Little 9's demise? No one was happy when A&M left, but no one was actively talking about the conference falling apart until OU shot off it's mouth about looking elsewhere. Then the scramble was on. I agree with one of the articles I linked to yesterday that said this really isn't anyone's specific fault and everyone is just out for self-preservation. But if blame has to be laid other than on Mr. Longhorn and on greedy Texas, I think there is blood equally dispersed on A&M and OU's hands. Additionally, I now hate Colorado.
(5) Moving away from football and onto basketball recruiting...I've been saying we don't have a head coach and now, so are the recruits. A top recruit in the nation doesn't know our head coach's name? Yup, Haith sure is doing a great job. Every time Alden gives him praise, it just erodes his own credibility.
Summary
(1) Everyone's still blaming and suing instead of moving forward.
(2) T Boone Pickens is still an asshole.
(3) I know hate Colorado.
(4) Haith is running our basketball team about like Mike Brown ran FEMA.
Reflection
There is more to life than sports and that hits some at times when sports and life and death collide. I can't imagine losing an entire professional sports team in a plane crash, but that is what they are dealing with in Russia right now.
It's an odd time in DC, 10 years after 9/11. I've found two rather enlightening websites if you are interested. One is from Time, the other is from the NYT. Listen to Tom Brokaw on the Time site.
Speaking of DC, for the Tiger Crowd in the area tonight, see you all at the watch party tonight at Penn Quarter Tavern.
Thanks for reading,
Doug
(1) "Missouri: I'm...I don't want to talk too much about any of this. Still sort of in between things. I respect everyone in the band. Let's just say that. Wait, I'm sorry. Texas can eat a taint-flavored lollipop. A dude's taint, not some hot lady, okay? They can just eat that all day long, far as I'm concerned. Used to use my bathroom to shit in, and not his own. Every. Single. Night. What kind of an asshole thinks he's too good to streak his own toilet? I mean, really. Ask yourself that."
(2) "Nebraska: The SEC? I dunno. I've heard it's less like a band, and more a cult or something.
Oklahoma: I don't want to talk about that. You never know.
Missouri: I've heard it's nice."
(3) "Kansas: Wait, wait: I was in a band?"
It will all make sense when you read the article. Also, be sure you hit up this link within the article.
Not many new developments, just a few links:
(1) Good news: you can now bet on college football conference realignment.
(2) SI reminds us that all this expansion talk has happened before. From their vault: a look back at college football in 1990.
(3) Resident Asshole T Boon Pickets somehow made his way on-air during a OK State's national telecast. SHOCKER: he's changed his mind again and says the Little 9 will stay together. A humorous account of this can be found here.
(4) From the comments section, CB writes: "...I would appreciate your insight into this quote from the president of the not-nearly-as-good-as-they-think-they-are school in Texas on being upset that other Big 12 schools may be so audacious as to ask that everyone live up to contracts previously agreed to:
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6939017/texas-aggies-accepted-sec-legal-threat-delays-move
"We are being held hostage right now," Loftin said of being forced to stay in the Big 12. "Essentially, we're being told that you must stay here against your will and we think that really flies in the face of what makes us Americans for example and makes us free people."
If the Aggies met Baylor in a courtroom I'd be rooting for a bomb to go off. I think the lawsuit is, among other things, lame. If a marriage breaks up, you don't sure to try and keep it together. Let's play this out...let's say Baylor wins the lawsuit and A&M stays in the Little 9. What, exactly, does that do for the league? It chains an institution to us that doesn't want to be here and one that other members aren't too fond of right now, either. Additionally, Ken Starr is Baylor's President. Let's just say he has a history of taking things too far.
As far as it being un-American, that makes A&M sound as ridiculous and desperate as Baylor. I think everyone should drink a big glass of Grow-The-Hell up. The lawsuit would have merit if, say, Baylor or Iowa State or another member institution had started construction on a new stadium (or the like) and were going to pay for it out of revenues of the new TV contract. A few thoughts on that: (1) I don't know of any cases of this, (2) it will be extremely hard to prove, and (3) this is less about the law and more about emotions and blame placing.
A question I have for everyone covering this: Why the hell is OU getting a free pass regarding the Little 9's demise? No one was happy when A&M left, but no one was actively talking about the conference falling apart until OU shot off it's mouth about looking elsewhere. Then the scramble was on. I agree with one of the articles I linked to yesterday that said this really isn't anyone's specific fault and everyone is just out for self-preservation. But if blame has to be laid other than on Mr. Longhorn and on greedy Texas, I think there is blood equally dispersed on A&M and OU's hands. Additionally, I now hate Colorado.
(5) Moving away from football and onto basketball recruiting...I've been saying we don't have a head coach and now, so are the recruits. A top recruit in the nation doesn't know our head coach's name? Yup, Haith sure is doing a great job. Every time Alden gives him praise, it just erodes his own credibility.
Summary
(1) Everyone's still blaming and suing instead of moving forward.
(2) T Boone Pickens is still an asshole.
(3) I know hate Colorado.
(4) Haith is running our basketball team about like Mike Brown ran FEMA.
Reflection
There is more to life than sports and that hits some at times when sports and life and death collide. I can't imagine losing an entire professional sports team in a plane crash, but that is what they are dealing with in Russia right now.
It's an odd time in DC, 10 years after 9/11. I've found two rather enlightening websites if you are interested. One is from Time, the other is from the NYT. Listen to Tom Brokaw on the Time site.
Speaking of DC, for the Tiger Crowd in the area tonight, see you all at the watch party tonight at Penn Quarter Tavern.
Thanks for reading,
Doug
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