smokinandjokin

And, I'm one of the few who got to watch Mark Prior pitch before he hurt his vagina.

Oh man, no bitchin. The games were still fun, and winning was sweet because they only won about half the time. A dude I went to college with there has a younger brother at USC now, and the young buck can't even fathom 35,000 in the LA Coliseum when we tell him that's what it was like. He's only ever seen 92,000 in there! Like Homer Jay's answer when asked if he'd been licking toads: I did not not enjoy Notre Dame's recent rough stretch...

On Hockey Night in Canada Saturday night, while thoroughly enjoying watching the Bruins thump the Leafs, Don Cherry brought up the point on Coach's Corner that currently: Justin Morneau is the AL MVP in baseball Joe Thornton is the reigning NHL MVP Steve Nash is the reigning two-time NBA MVP Nice job, Canada. MVP's in three of the four major sports. And don't worry, we still stand on guard for thee. Somebody has to.

Carroll's first squad was the Fall of '01 team. They went 6-6 and lost to Utah 10-6 in the Las Vegas Bowl on Christmas Day 2001 The next year's team, Palmer (finally) came into his own and they won eight straight to finish the season 11-2 and defeated Iowa in the Orange Bowl. Palmer Heisman '03- Rose Bowl win over Michigan and AP National Champs. Were #1 in both the Coaches and AP polls and end of regular season, but left out of the BCS final. The Coaches Poll is obligated to rank the BCS winner #1. Finished 12-1. '04- 13-0 national champs, Leinart Heisman '05- 12-1 lost to Texas (or more specifically, Vince) in the finals. Finished AP #2. Bush Heisman. '06- 11-1 at the moment and a chance at another big one. NOW, IN STARK CONTRAST, THE USC TROJANS DURING THE S'N'J ERA: I was a freshman in Fall of '97, and was a SuperSenior graduating in May 2002. '97 (under John Robinson): 6-5, no bowl game. Robinson fired. Team did show some promise. Hired Paul Hackett in offseason. There goes the promise. '98 (under Paul Hackett): 8-5, true freshman QB Carson Palmer split time until he became the starter for USC in their 9th game. Lost 28-19 to TCU in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, TX. Some guy named Basil Mitchell rushed for 185 on 19 carries for TCU. Backup sophomore RB LaDanian Tomlinson rushed for 30. '99: 6-6, no bowl game. Started 3-0, but Palmer broke his collarbone in the third game and missed the rest of the year. Palmer redshirted. '00: 5-7, no bowl game. Palmer painfully inconsistent in his redshirt sophomore season. Paul Hackett is fired, Pete Carroll hired. '01: (S'n'J's last fall season at the university): 6-6 and lost the Las Vegas Bowl to Utah. So, in my five years there, USC went 31-29. Since the fall of '01, they are 59-5 with three Heisman's, two national titles, and are guaranteed their 5th BCS Bowl appearance. PAINFUL!!!

This can't be!!! He said he's perfectly happy at USC and is not even considering going elsewhere!!!

I've never pretended to know more than you. You mentioned to me before that you worked in RU athletics so I assumed you at least have met Schiano. That would mean you probably have a better grasp of the situation than anyone else here. I wasn't being snide when I said "I'm glad you believe him." I'm actually glad you believe him. I'm not being snide when I say it'd be nice if he stayed at Rutgers for a long time. It seems like a good fit. I just think you are being naive. Even you must admit, there's a chance your judgement is clouded by working within such a positive experience this season, and your manlove for Schiano exploded, and everyone says, "This is the best feeling ever and it's never going to end!!!" Looking at it from the outside, I see it differently. So does bluefire, and probably a lot of other people. He's a great coach at a mid-level program. 99% of the time, those coaches will upgrade. And 100% of the time, they say they're perfectly happy where they are and they have no plans of moving elsewhere before they do. The "He's building a house/He's a Jersey guy/He says he'd never leave/His wife hates everywhere except Jersey" arguments do not convince me that he's not leaving. Of course he's not going to say he loves the Miami opportunity during the week of Rutgers' biggest game ever. If he does stay at Rutgers for the long haul, that's good for them, and will only mark the umpteenth time that I've been wrong. (And I don't think he's going to Miami; I think he's going to PSU after JoePa.)

Very true. Based on other TBD reports, it's possible that he saw a shirtless man wearing a little red hat in the back left end zone. Maybe that's what caught his attention for a second.

I'm glad you believe him. Because, "I plan on staying here for a long, long, time" is not something that EVERY coach with one foot out the door has ever said.... ...especially in-season with a BCS berth on the line...You really think he's going to announce that he's shopping himself??? And an enormous buyout provides some insurance aganist teams like Maryland and Illinois, but any amount of money is an afterthought for Penn State or Oklahoma if they decide they've found the guy they want, and especially if it's the guy the boosters want. Did you notice that the 'written out' version of the headbanger emoticon could look like 'ballwash' is you read it dyslexically? :ballwash: instead of wallbash. Come to think of it, if we had a :ballwash: emoticon, Ed would be able to use it in every Rutgers and Schiano thread.

Nice find, that's sweet. JP first looking to his left to hold the MLB who was dropping back in coverage and then coming back to Price on the right confirms my vote. A pure NFL TD throw that you can't fake, made even larger by the game situation.

Good question, tough call. I went with the Price TD because of JP's decisiveness, confidence, and accuracy on the throw, plus the game winning situation. Unlike the Jags game, the Bills lose if they don't come through there. While it goes in the books as a 15-yard TD pass, JP threw a rocket from about the 22 to 9.9 yards deep in the end zone. That was a 30+ yard laser.

Word is Schiano is off to State College six seconds after JoePa walks. But maybe not, cause it's a Jersey thing, right Ed? We wouldn't understand. Rodriguez would be stupid to leave WVU this year, unless he really loves one of the openings. I'd take one more year with Slaton and White and make a run at the title game, and then see what is available. Alabama has history, big deal. The SEC is brutal, and the Tide haven't kept up with the big dogs. A few probations tend to facilitate that. Miami could be turned around quickly in the anemic ACC, as the balance of power tends to fluctuate. With Miami's influence on the Florida high school talent, it shouldn't take long to turn them around. But don't you see what happens when you leave the cupcake Big East Ed? BC, VT, and Miami couldn't slap teams around like they used to. Coaches who have built a solid base in the Big East should stick around and wait for a job they want. It won't take much to please boosters, and likewise, it won't take much to win 9 games or more each year against the other Big East powerhouses. Bide your time with a few successful seasons and then upgrade.

Every baseball team wanted Carlos Beltran. That didn't mean the Royals were good.

JP was a wounded animal with his back against the wall after fans and media dug his grave, saying he was a few fries short of a happy meal. It was all starting to sound like a broken record. But the last two games, with fans at the end of their rope, and the team seemingly running on empty, JP pushed the envelope and anted up in the 11th hour, leading the team to victory. The wins have really knocked the fans' socks off, as they are still trying to wrap their minds around this Bills team that has refused to throw in the towel. No more deer-in-the-headlights look for this squad; the new coaching staff seems to have everyone on the same page.

The author of that article is a contributor to ESPN, but writes regularly for the Toronto Sun. Nice respect piece from a member of the rival's media, but also, I would expect him to favor Buffalo just because of familiarity and divisional pride. And I happen to agree with pretty much everything he said.

I hope you are just understating things a bit, and you've done more than "a few months research and think I'll be able to make a little money." That doesn't sound like a well-thought out business case (not that you don't have one...just hoping that you do.) You should know going in what you can expect to lose and/or gain over 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, and projected long term revenues. Always include projected short term and long term risks and have a contingency for worst-case scenario. Get anything and everything in signed contracts with your contractors and any other 'connections' you plan on using, as well as any partners you are lining up. Friendly arrangments and handshake agreements don't hold up when it comes time to collect money or pay bills. Be prepared to rent them after you fix them up, as they make take time to sell (especially if they are in less-desirable neighborhoods.) An empty house is opportunity cost; but realize that most tenants suck and will be a pain in your ass.

The NFL is incredible. There are 18 teams with between 5 and 7 wins, and 22 teams between 4 and 7 wins. The difference in winning games typically comes down to one or two plays per game. If Losman overthrows Parrish and the game goes to OT, and the Jags get the ball first and drive for the winning points, Losman would've finished with 139 yards passing (169 minus the 30 to Parrish) and the Bills would've blown a lead and lost, and this place would hate Losman and the defense. Instead, there are playoff whispers around. You're right mead, it's amazing what a win does around here.

...You said mini helmet...

I have signed several internet petitions to have that incompetant bastard Mayor McCheese impeached from his position in McDonaldland, and yet he remains in office.

That is true, and it would call into question the need/effect of a 50-day layoff, in the case of this year's Ohio State team (Nov 18 - Jan 8.) Proponents say that the BCS forces every regular season game to be considered a playoff game, and they like it because it places all of the importance on the regular season, with teams playing each week. So then why make the continuity of the regular season irrelevant by waiting nearly two months to play the title game? As we all know, it makes no logical sense. I mentioned it in another thread...Boise State's performance in a BCS bowl this January will be watched very closely, and could do more for a playoff argument than any #2 vs. #3 squabbling ever would. I think it would be a real eye-opener if BSU lumped up a top-5 team from a major conference (i.e. NOT the Big East champ. We already saw Pitt lose to Utah in '04.) If it will improve the system, I hope they light it up against a highly regarded team.

Didn't Ricky Williams run for 225 in his first snow game ever? In his teal pants? And come away with a loss? Ahman Green got his. Wali Lundy and Samkon Gado got theirs. Fred Taylor and Maurice Drew got theirs. They all lost. LT will get his. DON'T LET PHILIP RIVERS WIN THIS GAME!!!

That is definitely true. They are two of the teams who have adapted best to the new rules. The speed of their games is incredible, even going back to last season. I think the Sabres are a better team top-to-bottom, but as Friday proved, if Huet is hot then Montreal can beat anybody. With the skill at forward on each team, and the way both goalies were playing, that game was begging for a shootout. Nice shot by Souray off a patient setup from Kovalev. I don't fault Miller, that thing was a rocket to the roof, but he was down awfully early. Straka did the same thing to him at MSG. I suppose you can't complain if word is getting around the league that all it takes to beat your team's goalie is a perfect wrister to the top corner. Oh, is that all?

I'm not sure what the point of this thread is, other than BCS = BAD. However, don't assume a playoff system completely avoids the possibility of a trouncing in the title game. The Super Bowl was a complete washout fourteen times in twenty years: XXXVII Jan. 26, 2003 Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21 XXXV Jan. 28, 2001 Baltimore 34, N.Y. Giants 7 XXXIII Jan. 31, 1999 Denver 34, Atlanta 19 XXXI Jan. 26, 1997 Green Bay 35, New England 21 XXIX Jan. 29, 1995 San Francisco 49, San Diego 26 XXVIII Jan. 30, 1994 Dallas 30, Buffalo 13 XXVII Jan. 31, 1993 Dallas 52, Buffalo 17 XXVI Jan. 26, 1992 Washington 37, Buffalo 24 XXIV Jan. 28, 1990 San Francisco 55, Denver 10 XXII Jan. 31, 1988 Washington 42, Denver 10 XXI Jan. 25, 1987 N.Y. Giants 39, Denver 20 XX Jan. 26, 1986 Chicago 46, New England 10 XIX Jan. 20, 1985 San Francisco 38, Miami 16 XVIII Jan. 22, 1984 L.A. Raiders 38, Washington 9 I don't think the #1 vs. #2 'ugly' games are the fault of the BCS/Bowl Alliance. It's more a function of the two teams having more than a month off between games. Typically, one team responds to the layoff much better than the other team.

Dusty Bottoms shot the invisible swordsman in Three Amigos. Lucky Day: Oh, great. You killed the invisible swordsman! Ned Nederlander: [runs over to check] He's dead, all right. Dusty Bottoms: How was I supposed to know where he was? Lucky Day: You were supposed to fire up. *We* both fired *up*. [aside] Lucky Day: It's like living with a six-year old.

1. Ohio State- Top dog all year. If they win the title they will have beaten three #2's. Pretty impressive. 2. USC- An unthinkable loss to UCLA would turn this thing upside down. 3. Michigan- The great defense will look back at 42 points and two LONG TD runs and wonder what might have been. They have a beef, but so will all of the other one-loss teams. At least Michigan got a crack at it- the others can't say that. Hold your arch rival to 38 and you don't have this problem. 4. Florida- Is it possible that an 11-1 SEC team could be so uninspiring and unimpressive? Much respect for winning 11 games, but they seem to be a touch below the top 3, particularly on offense. 5. LSU- I've liked them all year. I expect them to light up the ACC champ in the Orange Bowl. 6. Wisconsin- Lucked out by avoiding OSU this year, but their lone loss is to Michigan, and have looked solid all year. 7. Boise State- Likely to get a shot (and $17 million) against a big dog in a BCS game. Their performance in that game could do wonders for the playoff argument. 8. Arkansas- I've got nothing but love for Troy Smith, but there's a good chance Darren McFadden is the best player in the nation right now. Smith gets Heisman nod. 9. Louisville- Blowing that big lead at Rutgers looks even more pathetic now. The big three in the Big East would compete up top in the ACC, but battle each other for 4th place in the other BCS conferences. 10. Oklahoma- More than likely BCS-bound. Peterson goes for 240 in his final college game? -USC vs. ND...what a crazy game...USC's defense is so much faster than last year's version, and it's not even close. I was in the same seats to watch Fresno roll up 42 on last year's squad. This defense is MUCH more athletic. It wasn't hard to assume, after watching Vince Young jog through his secondary, that Pete Carroll was going to get some freshmen and sophomores on the field this year who can get after the ball. They tightened up on several 4th downs, and were really in McKnight's mind. His drops killed the Irish. ND's body language looked crushed when those on-the-money passes hit the turf. -Michigan deserves a rematch? I say no, but it's not worth arguing. It's all subjective. They are worthy. USC is worthy. Hell, let Michigan and USC play on Jan 1 in the Rose Bowl, and the winner plays Ohio State Jan 8 in Glendale.

That's sick bro...You da man...Here's to a good game Sat!