Showing posts with label Dez Bryant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dez Bryant. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Cynic's Guide to College Football: Week 9
First off, I apologize for not getting a review post done last week—we had some family friends with a medical situation, so I just wasn’t around enough to write one. Hope you can forgive me and, fortunately, everything is all better now so I can get back to thinking about football.
Last weekend, I went to visit my parents in Dallas. Didn’t have anything else going on, so I decided to make the trip down to Waco for the Nebraska/Baylor game. The game itself, a 20-10 Cornhusker win, wasn’t much to write home about but it made me think just how much things can change during the course of a football season. Just a few weeks ago, Nebraska’s offense actually looked competent, Baylor phenom QB Robert Griffin was healthy and this looked like it could have been a good game. Since then, Griffin’s knee went kaput and Nebraska’s offense never met a turnover it didn’t like.
The Nebraska offense’s team bus arrives at the stadium.
The same is true on the national scene—at the start of the season, it looked like we could have an epic championship race with Florida, Texas and Oklahoma all returning their star QBs. But injuries and sloppy play have taken their toll. Honestly, is there anyone this year that you would consider a truly great team? Sure, those three plus Alabama, TCU, Boise State, Oregon are all playing some good football. But will whoever wins ever be mentioned in the same breath as great teams of the past? Not likely. Anyway, on to my review of other bad football from the past couple of weeks.
Fading Reds
Speaking of the Cornhuskers, this Saturday’s Oklahoma/Nebraska game marks just the second time since 1969 when neither team was ranked in the top 15. While I understand that money rules college football and that’s why the Big 12 exists, I’m still saddened by the fading of this once-great rivalry. Growing up, Oklahoma/Nebraska was a Thanksgiving tradition between two great powerhouses. Now, it’s just another game. Sigh.
The Game of the Century. Gone but not forgotten.
Throw the Flag. Or Not.
You know things are bad when fans and the media spend more time complaining about SEC officiating than preaching the gospel according to Tebow. Is it just me or has officiating across the country been terrible this year? Not just on judgment calls like pass interference or personal fouls, but on truly bad calls that were either made incorrectly (balls not crossing the goal line) or not called (outrageous personal fouls that go unflagged). And then they review every other play. And they STILL don’t get calls right. There’s been a lot of focus on SEC refs and officials taking 14 points away from Indiana based on dubious (to put it mildly) calls vs. Iowa, but the bad officiating has been equal opportunity this year.
Think you could do better?
Justice is Served
Let’s see: Dez Bryant tells a lie and is banned from football for a year. Brandon Spikes tries to gouge someone’s eyes out and he has to sit outone half one game. Against Vanderbilt. Am I missing something here?
Could be worse. He could have been punished by having to play FOR Vanderbilt.
Pick Your Poison
Worst Division in Football: ACC Atlantic vs. Big 12 North. Discuss.
Hail to the . . . um, Whatever
Rich Rodriguez’s trip off the hot seat was short-lived. It’s amazing what losses to your in-state rival and a previously 1-6 team will do to erase memories over your 4-0 start.
Give Coach Rod credit: it’s not easy making Ron Zook look good.
Last weekend, I went to visit my parents in Dallas. Didn’t have anything else going on, so I decided to make the trip down to Waco for the Nebraska/Baylor game. The game itself, a 20-10 Cornhusker win, wasn’t much to write home about but it made me think just how much things can change during the course of a football season. Just a few weeks ago, Nebraska’s offense actually looked competent, Baylor phenom QB Robert Griffin was healthy and this looked like it could have been a good game. Since then, Griffin’s knee went kaput and Nebraska’s offense never met a turnover it didn’t like.
The Nebraska offense’s team bus arrives at the stadium.The same is true on the national scene—at the start of the season, it looked like we could have an epic championship race with Florida, Texas and Oklahoma all returning their star QBs. But injuries and sloppy play have taken their toll. Honestly, is there anyone this year that you would consider a truly great team? Sure, those three plus Alabama, TCU, Boise State, Oregon are all playing some good football. But will whoever wins ever be mentioned in the same breath as great teams of the past? Not likely. Anyway, on to my review of other bad football from the past couple of weeks.
Fading Reds
Speaking of the Cornhuskers, this Saturday’s Oklahoma/Nebraska game marks just the second time since 1969 when neither team was ranked in the top 15. While I understand that money rules college football and that’s why the Big 12 exists, I’m still saddened by the fading of this once-great rivalry. Growing up, Oklahoma/Nebraska was a Thanksgiving tradition between two great powerhouses. Now, it’s just another game. Sigh.
The Game of the Century. Gone but not forgotten.Throw the Flag. Or Not.
You know things are bad when fans and the media spend more time complaining about SEC officiating than preaching the gospel according to Tebow. Is it just me or has officiating across the country been terrible this year? Not just on judgment calls like pass interference or personal fouls, but on truly bad calls that were either made incorrectly (balls not crossing the goal line) or not called (outrageous personal fouls that go unflagged). And then they review every other play. And they STILL don’t get calls right. There’s been a lot of focus on SEC refs and officials taking 14 points away from Indiana based on dubious (to put it mildly) calls vs. Iowa, but the bad officiating has been equal opportunity this year.
Think you could do better?Justice is Served
Let’s see: Dez Bryant tells a lie and is banned from football for a year. Brandon Spikes tries to gouge someone’s eyes out and he has to sit out
Could be worse. He could have been punished by having to play FOR Vanderbilt.Pick Your Poison
Worst Division in Football: ACC Atlantic vs. Big 12 North. Discuss.
Hail to the . . . um, Whatever
Rich Rodriguez’s trip off the hot seat was short-lived. It’s amazing what losses to your in-state rival and a previously 1-6 team will do to erase memories over your 4-0 start.
Give Coach Rod credit: it’s not easy making Ron Zook look good.Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Cynic's Guide to College Football: Week Five
A little late with my post this week, but I’m sure you’ve come to expect nothing less from your intrepid Cynic. Week 5 is in the books and things are starting to get interesting. Some questions have been answered (yes, Oklahoma’s offensive line is that bad; yes, Stanford is legit in the Pac-10), while some remain mysteries (Are there any REALLY good teams this year? Does Bobby Bowden start getting retirement or severance pay after this season? Holy cow, Gene Chizik can actually coach?). Here are a few thoughts on the Week Five.
The Juice is Loose. On the Sideline.
There’s already been a lot written about Illinois horrific 1-3 start, so I won’t rehash that here. But in light of Ron Zook’s decision to bench Juice Williams, I have to wonder if this isn’t like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Admittedly, Williams has not performed like the Williams of old and I understand the need to look for the future. But is taking the one guy on your team that anyone would remotely consider a potentially dangerous playmaker off the field really going to help?
The EA Sports NCAA Football jinx strikes again.
Apparently Ready for Prime Time
With the suspension of star receiver Dez Bryant, I’m guessing Deion Sanders isn’t the most popular guy in Stillwater, Oklahoma this week.
On the plus side, Dez now has lots of time to work on lesson two—keeping your bling its shiniest.
Does Kyle Boller Have Any Eligibility Left?
Every couple of years, we hear how one of Jeff Tedford’s protégés is ready to take the NFL by storm. And while the early results on Aaron Rodgers are favorable, I think the Trent Dilfer, Akili Smith, David Carr, Joey Harrington and Kyle Boller experiments were (being generous here) somewhat less than successful. Likewise, every year we hear that this is the year Cal makes the move, challenges for a Pac-10 title and becomes a player on the national scene. And, like clockwork, the Bears did their usual fall-flat-on-their-face routine, being outscored 72-6 in the last two weeks by USC and Oregon. They have Jahvid Best and they manage two field goals in two weeks? Seriously, how much does it take for Tedford to start getting the “o-ver-rat-ed clap, clap, clapclapclap” chant?
Action shot of Cal’s Pac-10 chances.
Up Next on the Main Stage . . .
Have to credit CNNSI’s Stewart Mandel with this one, but it was worth revisiting—has there ever been a bigger one-week turnaround than what UTEP experienced last week? In seven days, the Miners went from getting waxed 63-7 by #2 Texas to turning around and beating #12 Houston 58-41. The last time we saw a turnaround that abrupt, UTEP coach Mike Price had just been hired as the head man at Alabama and then headed to the strip club.
No cover on Mike Price Night.
The Juice is Loose. On the Sideline.
There’s already been a lot written about Illinois horrific 1-3 start, so I won’t rehash that here. But in light of Ron Zook’s decision to bench Juice Williams, I have to wonder if this isn’t like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Admittedly, Williams has not performed like the Williams of old and I understand the need to look for the future. But is taking the one guy on your team that anyone would remotely consider a potentially dangerous playmaker off the field really going to help?
The EA Sports NCAA Football jinx strikes again. Apparently Ready for Prime Time
With the suspension of star receiver Dez Bryant, I’m guessing Deion Sanders isn’t the most popular guy in Stillwater, Oklahoma this week.
On the plus side, Dez now has lots of time to work on lesson two—keeping your bling its shiniest.Does Kyle Boller Have Any Eligibility Left?
Every couple of years, we hear how one of Jeff Tedford’s protégés is ready to take the NFL by storm. And while the early results on Aaron Rodgers are favorable, I think the Trent Dilfer, Akili Smith, David Carr, Joey Harrington and Kyle Boller experiments were (being generous here) somewhat less than successful. Likewise, every year we hear that this is the year Cal makes the move, challenges for a Pac-10 title and becomes a player on the national scene. And, like clockwork, the Bears did their usual fall-flat-on-their-face routine, being outscored 72-6 in the last two weeks by USC and Oregon. They have Jahvid Best and they manage two field goals in two weeks? Seriously, how much does it take for Tedford to start getting the “o-ver-rat-ed clap, clap, clapclapclap” chant?
Action shot of Cal’s Pac-10 chances.Up Next on the Main Stage . . .
Have to credit CNNSI’s Stewart Mandel with this one, but it was worth revisiting—has there ever been a bigger one-week turnaround than what UTEP experienced last week? In seven days, the Miners went from getting waxed 63-7 by #2 Texas to turning around and beating #12 Houston 58-41. The last time we saw a turnaround that abrupt, UTEP coach Mike Price had just been hired as the head man at Alabama and then headed to the strip club.
No cover on Mike Price Night. Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.
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