I'm going to have to play this one straight up. Not any of my usual fantasist trips into places I've never been, like Poe used to do. I considered doing a Lovecraftian piece wrought with eldritch horrors and unspeakable monsters from beyond time and space, but even Lovecrafts monsters pale in comparison to the real monster that was allowed to roam free.
There has been a lot of chatter this past week. Play or not to play, that is the question, sorry, Bill. I understand the argument that to cancel the game, and all the other games for Penn State punishes the players, who had nothing to do with the case, and weren't even students when the crimes were being committed (allegedly). Neither does it do anything to show compassion or support to the victims. What it does do for the victims is send the message that it is business as usual at Beaver Stadium.
I have seen a lot of articles and heard a lot of radioheads suggesting that the game be played as a means of moving forward, beyond the controversy. That the purity of a college football can somehow wash away the collective sins that have come to light (I'm paraphrasing and editorializing at the same time). College football and purity? That hasn't been accurate in the last 40 years, if ever. I was amused that these same guys extolling the virtues of the purity of the game are the same ones who, a week before, could have been heard condemning the corruption of the game, and how the student-athlete is really an athlete student. They would rail against low graduation rates, and recruiting violations and pay for play, so please, don't try to sway my opinion by pointing to the 'purity' of college football.
My chief concern is for the Nebraska fans heading out to 'Happy Valley'. Penn State is notorious for how they treat visiting fans. Assaults, objects thrown, fluids thrown, bodily fluids thrown, abusive insults and vandalism occur so regularly that there is a student group that tries to 'police' the crowd to remind them how fans should behave properly. That shouldn't be necessary.
The Chancellor of PSU has had to write letters of apology to Ohio State fans and the University after abusive treatment at a game last year. That shouldn't be necessary.
A Penn State fan thought it would be funny to dress in Michigan gear as a joke for a game at Beaver Stadium. For his little joke, he was assaulted, and had to spend the night in the hospital with a broken nose. Yep, Penn State fans are classy.
Those same classy Penn State fans are the ones who have reacted to the firing/resignation/arrest of the football operational hierarchy with the unbridled rage of a three-year-old in the midst of a grand mal tantrum. They are a pissed of bunch, they feel cheated, and they feel that they are being punished.
Because of that, and because at the best of times, Penn State fans can be unmitigated jackass, I worry that Huskerfan will be the target of some venting.
Any Penn State fan that feels that JoePa got a raw deal, should read this. http://kstp.com/kstpImages/repository/cs/files/Sandusky-Grand-Jury-Presentment-1.pdf
All that being said, and with the game proceeding, I guess I should add my take as to how I think the game will unfold.
Nebraska will not get credit for this game, other than the 'W' in the the win-loss column. Even if they drop half-a-hunnert on the Lions, and win it 56-0, the media response will be 'What did you expect? There was no way for the Penn State players to focus with all the controversy.' If Penn State manages to make it close, which I think they will, it will be spun as an 'Amazing testament to the focus and dedication of these athletes, especially amid all the controversy.'
Penn State has a salty, stingy defense that does not give up many points. They will load up the box, and force Taylor to go to the air. I just hope Beck goes the unexpected route and uses the pass to set up the run. I also want to see more of the Young Ones and less of Burkhead. I love I-backasaurus Rex, but he needs a bit of a rest, and this last three-game stretch is the perfect time to let the Young Ones emerge as viable back-ups.
The Nebraska o-line will have its hands full with the Penn State front seven. Luckily for the Huskers, Penn State is a big, straight-ahead defense, like Michigan State. This is the kind of defense that Beck likes to run straight at,, and impose his will on. I'm hoping he's more creative today. I expect Penn State to be on an emotional high to start the game. The sooner the Huskers can bring that emotion crashing down to earth, the better. A big play to start the game, a long pass or some razzle-dazzle will crush Penn State's spirits and their emotions will trough.
I want Carl and company to dare Penn State to throw the ball. Man-to-man on the corners, bring a safety into the box. Essentially make it a 5-2 front, with strong safety playing run support. The Penn State quarterbacks are awful, and have needed help to eke out wins over less than stellar opponents. The one game they can point to that has me concerned is that they dropped Northwestern 34-24, and we all know how well Nebraska did against the Wildcats.
It is vitally important to stop the run, Penn State has an excellent runner in Silas Redd, and if he gets going, it will be a long day for the Blackshirts.
Special teams will be important. In a huge, hostile environment, Taylor will be asked to manage the game. There will be times where the Huskers concede a first down in order to tilt the field with a punt. Abdullah will be extremely important in gaining field position with good return following the many Penn State punts.
Bret Maher will be huge, not only with his punting, but I think it will be his leg that wins the game for Nebraska. This game could easily go one of two ways. Either it will be a tough, hard-fought battle with Maher winning it with a last second field goal. Or, the emotional drain of the last week has the Lions come out flat, get down early, and allows Nebraska to roll up a huge, muti-touchdown win.
My bold prediction, the former. Maher hits a clutch 35-yard field goal to pull out a 16-14 win.
Husk-husk and on the qb.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
West Coast Throwdown and a little thing called PSU
The weekly conference call took on a somber tone, this week. Sure, there are football games coming up, but are they really that important in the grand scheme of things? The greater the distance from the epicenter at Happy Valley you are, the more normal your football worldview is. I wager that every college football fan in the country is averring quite openly that they are glad it didn't happen at their school.
That being said, I will follow my instincts and try to keep an even perspective, and try to maintain an air of normalcy during what has been a horrendously abnormal week.
I got through to Leroix, still basking in the glory of LSU's 9-6 old-school cage match win over Alabama. "What's on the agenda this week, Leroix?" I asked.
"Not a whole Helluva lot. Ah got Les Tigres playin' Western Kentucky. We'd stomp all of Kentucky, so just dealing with the Western Half should be even less of a concern. Ah'm thinkin' that'll be 49-10 for Les Tigres and one step closer to deh National Championship game. Deh Gumps at 'Bammy get to play at Mississippi State. Deh Gumps is maaaaad and ready to take out some o' dey frustrations on deh poor, wittle Bulldogs. Ah'm bettin' that Nick Saban goes for it on every fourth down inside the 40, if dey even have one. Why risk the embarrassment of a missed field goal? Gumps 45, Bullpups 13. Deh only semi-interesting game ah got all week is Arkansas wit' Tennessee. Dis is deh most intrestin' game and it ain't all dat intrestin'. The Piggies are deh third best team in deh division, which is also makes dem deh third best team in deh conference. Tennessee is waaaaaay down from deh good ole' days. Piggies 42, Voles 17."
"Do you have any take on the situation up in Penn State?" I asked, wondering if he even cared about it.
"Deh big thing dat gets me about all of dis, is dat ain't no-one steppin' up and keeping deh victims in dey minds. Everything is revolving around JoePa and deh administration and who did or didn't do what dey should. Ain't no-one pointing out dat dere are at least 8, and maybe as many as 20 young-uns, dat have been scarred for life by dis scumbag (alleged) Sandusky. Ah don' know if it's dis me-first society we all done made for ourselves or what, but deh lack of compassion and humanity for deh victims is depressing. So, as I watch my games dis week, I got to think about what we, as humans, can do to make it a little bit better. I ain't got a solution, raht now, but gimme some tahm, and Ah'l t'ink of sometin'."
I had to call Bubba, who was also pretty much in a holding pattern, with only one game on his slate. "Bubba, tell me what for."
"I tell you what, I know two things for sure. One, I know that Okie State will pound Texas Tech like a circus tent stake, I'm thinking in the neighborhood of 45-24, just to show OU how it's done. The other thing I know, is that the one thing missing from anyone involved in the Penn State situation is courage. Where was the courage to step up and confront a man observed attacking a little boy? Where were the guts it takes to rise up and defend the defenseless? In my humble, unconsidered opinion, is that McQuarry cat is the biggest coward of them all. I can understand if JoePa and the AD and Spanier and anybody else that heard the story second or third hand didn't comprehend the gravity of the situation. I can see why they didn't understand the horror. What I don't understand is how someone could witness it, have the physical tools necessary to stop it, and then do nothing. How hard would it be to confront a naked, old man in the shower? The way we run things down here, there would have been a moment where I stepped in, told the kid to get a towel, hand him my cell phone, tell him to call 9-1-1 and request a cop and an ambulence, because in the next 5 minutes, there's going to be a lot of 'falling down' in the shower. But that's just me."
I called up Marcus, out on the Left Coast, somewhere. "You actually have some games of interest this week."
"Dude, I have THE game this week. I've got the game where Stanford finally gets through on the Oregon Trail. The game is down on the Farm, Oregon is a little banged up, and Luck is ready to step up in front of a big-time audience. It will still be a shootout, but the Hoover School of Public Policy has put together a think-tank that they think have determined a way to avoid a second half melt-down like last year. This one will be a shoot-out, Smart Kids 48, Quackers 45, dude."
"That's great, what about your other big game?"
"Oh, dude, this is the only chance anyone has at stopping Boise State. If TCU can't do it, then there will be a lot of whining about how Boise State deserves their shot at the National Championship, even if Stanford wins out or Okie State wins out. Those Bunco cats think they are on the same level as the big boys, but they won't find out how tough it really is for a couple of years. They get to keep whining, this year. The Buncos will beat the Horny Toads 31-28, dude."
I was finally able to get some attention on the B1G. Lloyd had his picks ready to go.
"The Wildcats over Rice, 42-21," Lloyd said. "The Stinking Badgers maul the Golden Rodents in Minnesota 48-10. Michigan State, who plays like crap on the road, goes to Iowa, who plays awesome at home. Hackneys 28-14."
"This whole Penn State thing really pisses me off," Lloyd expounded. "Actually, it's the reaction of the Students and the fans that gets me going. They are all whining about JoePa getting a raw deal, and getting fired even though he didn't do anything illegal. Illegal? No. Immoral? Not completely. Irresponsible? Oh, hell yeah! Pick up the damn phone, Joe. The biggest mistake he made was by passing the buck. Don't tell me he didn't know what was going on. This guy was the most powerful man in Pennsylvania, governor included. To think that he was 'out of the loop' and had no idea of what was transpiring, simply flies in the face of reason. It almost sounds like he wouldn't have called if Sandusky was raping a kid on Joes desk while he sat there lecturing a player on the importance of attending class. Sorry, I'm better, now."
My last call came from Grandma Gunn, who probably has a bit of a soft spot for the old guy. "Let me know who you think is going to win, Granny," I said.
"Michigan is spiralling out of control, and I think Illinois will win it at home in a close one, 27-24. THE Ohio State lances a few Boilmakers even though it's in Indiana, maybe 31-17. I can't stand by my old boyfriend. He's not as big of a monster as that Sandusky, but he's kind of like Renfield in Dracula, the human servant that allows the monster to feed. I just hope that when Sandusky is imprisoned, the guard yells 'short eyes!' as he makes his way through cell-block A. Either that, or I'd like to see the moms of the victims be given fifteen minutes alone with him and a supply of nail enhanced baseball bats. How's that, deary?"
"Not bad, Granny. Any other bold predictions?"
"JoePa will top himself within three months. His entire life, his entire being, and his entire reason for existing have all vanished in a puff of smoke. Compound that with the fact that he will never really be known as the winningest coach in football history, but known as the coach who did nothing to stop the sexual predation of little boys when he had every opportunity to do so will make a self-inflicted exit almost certain."
"Ok, Grandma, hope your day is a pleasant one."
Husk-husk and on the qb
That being said, I will follow my instincts and try to keep an even perspective, and try to maintain an air of normalcy during what has been a horrendously abnormal week.
I got through to Leroix, still basking in the glory of LSU's 9-6 old-school cage match win over Alabama. "What's on the agenda this week, Leroix?" I asked.
"Not a whole Helluva lot. Ah got Les Tigres playin' Western Kentucky. We'd stomp all of Kentucky, so just dealing with the Western Half should be even less of a concern. Ah'm thinkin' that'll be 49-10 for Les Tigres and one step closer to deh National Championship game. Deh Gumps at 'Bammy get to play at Mississippi State. Deh Gumps is maaaaad and ready to take out some o' dey frustrations on deh poor, wittle Bulldogs. Ah'm bettin' that Nick Saban goes for it on every fourth down inside the 40, if dey even have one. Why risk the embarrassment of a missed field goal? Gumps 45, Bullpups 13. Deh only semi-interesting game ah got all week is Arkansas wit' Tennessee. Dis is deh most intrestin' game and it ain't all dat intrestin'. The Piggies are deh third best team in deh division, which is also makes dem deh third best team in deh conference. Tennessee is waaaaaay down from deh good ole' days. Piggies 42, Voles 17."
"Do you have any take on the situation up in Penn State?" I asked, wondering if he even cared about it.
"Deh big thing dat gets me about all of dis, is dat ain't no-one steppin' up and keeping deh victims in dey minds. Everything is revolving around JoePa and deh administration and who did or didn't do what dey should. Ain't no-one pointing out dat dere are at least 8, and maybe as many as 20 young-uns, dat have been scarred for life by dis scumbag (alleged) Sandusky. Ah don' know if it's dis me-first society we all done made for ourselves or what, but deh lack of compassion and humanity for deh victims is depressing. So, as I watch my games dis week, I got to think about what we, as humans, can do to make it a little bit better. I ain't got a solution, raht now, but gimme some tahm, and Ah'l t'ink of sometin'."
I had to call Bubba, who was also pretty much in a holding pattern, with only one game on his slate. "Bubba, tell me what for."
"I tell you what, I know two things for sure. One, I know that Okie State will pound Texas Tech like a circus tent stake, I'm thinking in the neighborhood of 45-24, just to show OU how it's done. The other thing I know, is that the one thing missing from anyone involved in the Penn State situation is courage. Where was the courage to step up and confront a man observed attacking a little boy? Where were the guts it takes to rise up and defend the defenseless? In my humble, unconsidered opinion, is that McQuarry cat is the biggest coward of them all. I can understand if JoePa and the AD and Spanier and anybody else that heard the story second or third hand didn't comprehend the gravity of the situation. I can see why they didn't understand the horror. What I don't understand is how someone could witness it, have the physical tools necessary to stop it, and then do nothing. How hard would it be to confront a naked, old man in the shower? The way we run things down here, there would have been a moment where I stepped in, told the kid to get a towel, hand him my cell phone, tell him to call 9-1-1 and request a cop and an ambulence, because in the next 5 minutes, there's going to be a lot of 'falling down' in the shower. But that's just me."
I called up Marcus, out on the Left Coast, somewhere. "You actually have some games of interest this week."
"Dude, I have THE game this week. I've got the game where Stanford finally gets through on the Oregon Trail. The game is down on the Farm, Oregon is a little banged up, and Luck is ready to step up in front of a big-time audience. It will still be a shootout, but the Hoover School of Public Policy has put together a think-tank that they think have determined a way to avoid a second half melt-down like last year. This one will be a shoot-out, Smart Kids 48, Quackers 45, dude."
"That's great, what about your other big game?"
"Oh, dude, this is the only chance anyone has at stopping Boise State. If TCU can't do it, then there will be a lot of whining about how Boise State deserves their shot at the National Championship, even if Stanford wins out or Okie State wins out. Those Bunco cats think they are on the same level as the big boys, but they won't find out how tough it really is for a couple of years. They get to keep whining, this year. The Buncos will beat the Horny Toads 31-28, dude."
I was finally able to get some attention on the B1G. Lloyd had his picks ready to go.
"The Wildcats over Rice, 42-21," Lloyd said. "The Stinking Badgers maul the Golden Rodents in Minnesota 48-10. Michigan State, who plays like crap on the road, goes to Iowa, who plays awesome at home. Hackneys 28-14."
"This whole Penn State thing really pisses me off," Lloyd expounded. "Actually, it's the reaction of the Students and the fans that gets me going. They are all whining about JoePa getting a raw deal, and getting fired even though he didn't do anything illegal. Illegal? No. Immoral? Not completely. Irresponsible? Oh, hell yeah! Pick up the damn phone, Joe. The biggest mistake he made was by passing the buck. Don't tell me he didn't know what was going on. This guy was the most powerful man in Pennsylvania, governor included. To think that he was 'out of the loop' and had no idea of what was transpiring, simply flies in the face of reason. It almost sounds like he wouldn't have called if Sandusky was raping a kid on Joes desk while he sat there lecturing a player on the importance of attending class. Sorry, I'm better, now."
My last call came from Grandma Gunn, who probably has a bit of a soft spot for the old guy. "Let me know who you think is going to win, Granny," I said.
"Michigan is spiralling out of control, and I think Illinois will win it at home in a close one, 27-24. THE Ohio State lances a few Boilmakers even though it's in Indiana, maybe 31-17. I can't stand by my old boyfriend. He's not as big of a monster as that Sandusky, but he's kind of like Renfield in Dracula, the human servant that allows the monster to feed. I just hope that when Sandusky is imprisoned, the guard yells 'short eyes!' as he makes his way through cell-block A. Either that, or I'd like to see the moms of the victims be given fifteen minutes alone with him and a supply of nail enhanced baseball bats. How's that, deary?"
"Not bad, Granny. Any other bold predictions?"
"JoePa will top himself within three months. His entire life, his entire being, and his entire reason for existing have all vanished in a puff of smoke. Compound that with the fact that he will never really be known as the winningest coach in football history, but known as the coach who did nothing to stop the sexual predation of little boys when he had every opportunity to do so will make a self-inflicted exit almost certain."
"Ok, Grandma, hope your day is a pleasant one."
Husk-husk and on the qb
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Elite Eight
I was crashed out in the office, listening to Muddy Waters and contemplating just how far I would end up having to help Lt. Moore. Muddy sang about 'Iodine in My Coffee'. While Mr. Waters' song was about a woman who had done him wrong, the taste in my mouth following the Northwestern game fit Muddy's description quite well.
Effie let Cassandra in. She didn't even knock, it's not like she ever does. "He's been like this all day," Effie said, sounding like an indulgent school nurse who knew that my tummy-ache had more to do with failing a test than anything biological.
Cassandra came over and stood over me. Her hands were on her hips and she didn't look too happy. "Come on, Sparky. We need to get you up and about, time's a wastin'," she cajoled with all the enthusiasm of a jaded cheerleader who has seen the quarterback roughed up once too often.
"Deep down, I know I've got to get it in gear," I said. "I know that the B1G championship is still attainable, but this loss really kicked me in the teeth. I mean, we got beat...by the smart kids...in football."
"Watch that 'Smart Kids' crap. As a Stanford grad I take personal exception to that remark," she harumphed as she brought the coffee maker to life."
"Duly noted," I said as I sat up. "Hit me with your latest. There had to be an adjustment after this weekend."
"Oh, yes, indeed there was," she said as the coffee maker chuckled away, throatily. "I have Oklahoma at eighth. They are among the best one-loss teams but are seriously dinged up. If Huskerfan can take anything away from the Northwestern loss, its that it can happen to the best of them. OU crapped themselves, at home to Texas Tech, and has bounced back to dominate. Just keep that in mind."
"Fine, fine," I said. "It's not the end of the world, but it still bites."
"Mmm-hmm. Arkansas is seventh, and plays Tennessee, not much of a threat, but it is the SEC and the piggies handled South Carolina pretty well, last week."
"Who do you have at number six?"
"Oregon," she said, a cloud descending over her features. "The quackers have to go down to Palo Alto and play my boyfriend and the other 'Smart Kids' at Stanford."
I offered my hand up in surrender.
"I want to be objective about this, but it's tough, with Stanford being my number four team, undefeated, my boyfriend looking like his old self and with the game at home. What it comes down to is the Future Captains of politics and industry taking on the Future Cell-mates of D-Block."
"Yep, you're staying objective, all right. Who's number five?"
"Alabama," she said as she filled up my Husker coffee mug with some fresh Sumatra. "They are a decent kicker away from being a dominant team, just as long as they don't have to play LSU, again. They also have a game against Mississippi State in which to unleash the beast."
"Hit me with number three." The coffee went down good, and warmed me up from the inside out.
"Oklahoma State. They have the offense to out-score anybody, but their defense is still suspect. They've got Texas Tech and could be in a prime position to play for the National Championship if they win out. Only Oklahoma really stands in the way."
I nodded at this, and knew what was coming, next. "You've got LSU at number two, still?"
"Yes. They will be in the Championship game as long as they don't slip up. They have Western Kentucky, this week, so I don't think that will be an issue. Maybe in a couple of weeks, when they play Arkansas."
"You still have Boise State at number one?" I shook my head.
"Indeed I do, and this week is where they cross the last test off their list. TCU rolls into town, and all evidence points to a rout by the Buncos. Last year would have been fun, but they are on different levels. BSU should go undefeated and get a shot at LSU. TCU needs a win at Boise in order to claim a good season."
"There we have it," I said. "Hand me my coat, I need to go do some work. At least before Lt. Moore and Sergeants Hands and Stache come a'knockin."
"That's more like it," Cassandra said, a big smile lighting up her face.
From the main office, I heard Effie say, "Hey, you can't go in there!"
The door to my office whipped open. Lt. Moore stood silhouetted in the doorway.
Husk-husk and on the qb.
Effie let Cassandra in. She didn't even knock, it's not like she ever does. "He's been like this all day," Effie said, sounding like an indulgent school nurse who knew that my tummy-ache had more to do with failing a test than anything biological.
Cassandra came over and stood over me. Her hands were on her hips and she didn't look too happy. "Come on, Sparky. We need to get you up and about, time's a wastin'," she cajoled with all the enthusiasm of a jaded cheerleader who has seen the quarterback roughed up once too often.
"Deep down, I know I've got to get it in gear," I said. "I know that the B1G championship is still attainable, but this loss really kicked me in the teeth. I mean, we got beat...by the smart kids...in football."
"Watch that 'Smart Kids' crap. As a Stanford grad I take personal exception to that remark," she harumphed as she brought the coffee maker to life."
"Duly noted," I said as I sat up. "Hit me with your latest. There had to be an adjustment after this weekend."
"Oh, yes, indeed there was," she said as the coffee maker chuckled away, throatily. "I have Oklahoma at eighth. They are among the best one-loss teams but are seriously dinged up. If Huskerfan can take anything away from the Northwestern loss, its that it can happen to the best of them. OU crapped themselves, at home to Texas Tech, and has bounced back to dominate. Just keep that in mind."
"Fine, fine," I said. "It's not the end of the world, but it still bites."
"Mmm-hmm. Arkansas is seventh, and plays Tennessee, not much of a threat, but it is the SEC and the piggies handled South Carolina pretty well, last week."
"Who do you have at number six?"
"Oregon," she said, a cloud descending over her features. "The quackers have to go down to Palo Alto and play my boyfriend and the other 'Smart Kids' at Stanford."
I offered my hand up in surrender.
"I want to be objective about this, but it's tough, with Stanford being my number four team, undefeated, my boyfriend looking like his old self and with the game at home. What it comes down to is the Future Captains of politics and industry taking on the Future Cell-mates of D-Block."
"Yep, you're staying objective, all right. Who's number five?"
"Alabama," she said as she filled up my Husker coffee mug with some fresh Sumatra. "They are a decent kicker away from being a dominant team, just as long as they don't have to play LSU, again. They also have a game against Mississippi State in which to unleash the beast."
"Hit me with number three." The coffee went down good, and warmed me up from the inside out.
"Oklahoma State. They have the offense to out-score anybody, but their defense is still suspect. They've got Texas Tech and could be in a prime position to play for the National Championship if they win out. Only Oklahoma really stands in the way."
I nodded at this, and knew what was coming, next. "You've got LSU at number two, still?"
"Yes. They will be in the Championship game as long as they don't slip up. They have Western Kentucky, this week, so I don't think that will be an issue. Maybe in a couple of weeks, when they play Arkansas."
"You still have Boise State at number one?" I shook my head.
"Indeed I do, and this week is where they cross the last test off their list. TCU rolls into town, and all evidence points to a rout by the Buncos. Last year would have been fun, but they are on different levels. BSU should go undefeated and get a shot at LSU. TCU needs a win at Boise in order to claim a good season."
"There we have it," I said. "Hand me my coat, I need to go do some work. At least before Lt. Moore and Sergeants Hands and Stache come a'knockin."
"That's more like it," Cassandra said, a big smile lighting up her face.
From the main office, I heard Effie say, "Hey, you can't go in there!"
The door to my office whipped open. Lt. Moore stood silhouetted in the doorway.
Husk-husk and on the qb.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Northwestern Post-Game
Three years in a row, now, the Huskers have dropped a game, at home, that they had no reason to. In 2009, it was Iowa State, 7 turnovers and a 9-7 loss to an awful team, with their best two players hurt. Last year, it was Texas, who finished 5-7 as the Huskers had a virulent case of the dropsies. This year, it was Northwestern, their second and third string quarterbacks playing the Blackshirts like a virtuoso. It's almost like I wish Dan Persa hadn't gotten hurt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piVnArp9ZE0
No-one had better lay this on Martinez. He had an excellent game, 28-of-37 (.756 comp. pct.), 289 yards, 2 TD's (should have been three), and NO interceptions. Trying to recall all the incompletions: 2 Kenny Bell drops, one Brandon Kinnie drop, one Ben Cotten drop; the intentional grounding call (good call by the ref's), the interference call on the final TD drive, the go-route to Bell where he got tangled up with the db, and one PBU that should have been interference on Northwestern had the refs applied the same standard as the call against the Huskers in the first quarter; and one pass where Taylor got hit as he threw it on the final drive. Not a bad day's work, all in all.
For the first time since the Wisconsin game, I've been scratching my head about the play calls by Tim Beck. He ran a lot of read-option plays. The same kind of read-option plays Northwestern sees in practice every day. Northwestern showed up with a great game plan. Take Burkhead out and make Taylor throw. Taylor did throw, and threw well. Beck relied too much on the run, which played right into Northwestern's strategy. If anything, I think Beck stuck with the run too long. I almost got the sense that he felt that the Huskers would wear down Northwestern, and by the time he realized that wasn't going to happen, it was too late.
When Nebraska hasn't performed well, there has been plenty of room under the bus for Taylor, Beck and even Bo. I've heard a lot of 'take the black shirts away', 'make them wear pink shirts', etc., etc. I'm pretty mystified, too, as to how a great performance against Michigan State was followed up by such a bad performance against Northwestern. Some of it was injury, there were guys in at defensive tackle that hadn't seen any game time until Northwestern. There were obvious communication problems all day, guys were hurrying onto the field as Northwestern switched out their personnel packages. the linebackers were looking at each other...a lot, and didn't seem to know what their responsibilities were. The same went for the DB's at times. Northwestern receivers were getting between defenders, and between responsibilities. Add in the fact that the Northwestern QB's all were making their throws, and the Blackshirts wore out by the end of the game. It is rare, but I saw it yesterday, the other team out-muscled the Huskers in the fourth quarter.
On the back breaking play, the 81-yard touchdown pass, Ciante Evans got beat on an inside move and Cassidy played the wrong receiver, coming up to cover the receiver running the fly route. He was out of position to help Ciante. The Northwestern quarterback hit the receiver in full stride and he never lost any energy having to change direction. Perfect execution by Northwestern.
I have nothing but admiration for Northwestern. They came in with a great game plan, handled all sorts of adversity, and adjusted on the fly way better than Nebraska did. Just Nebraska's luck that the Northwestern defense gelled for a whole game at the worst time for Nebraska, but at just the right time for them.
Getting ready for Penn State, which may have been where the team's head has been, all week, anyway. No way to be sure, but it's the feeling I got. That, and a bit of over-confidence. There are no off weeks in the Big Ten. Iowa, who lost to Minnesota, beat Michigan. Minnesota took Sparty to the fourth quarter. Indiana took Ohio State into the fourth quarter as well. That being said, even if Nebraska sweeps their last three opponents, they now need help to get to the Championship game. If Nebraska wins out, and doesn't get help, the likeliest scenario is Sparty playing Penn State in Indianapolis. That would really stick in Huskerfan's throat, to see the Big Ten decided by two teams that the Huskers beat. That's why it's so important to take care of business.
National picture time. LSU beat Bama. Yay. There is still plenty of football left, but I think we have one opponent for the National Championship game set. Good thing for Les Tigres that Bama's kicker was terrible. The three remaining "BIG" games that will shape the picture for the other half of the National Championship. TCU at Bosie State: BSU should win, finish the season undefeated, but will probably get left out in the cold. Oregon at Stanford: De Facto Pac-12 Championship game. Leaning toward Stanford, right now. If they finish the season undefeated, they will have a strong case for going to the big show. If Oregon wins out, they will still be behind the 8-ball, since they already lost to LSU. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State: Despite OU throwing up on themselves against Texas Tech (much like Nebraska did, against Northwestern), I was leaning toward the Sooners winning the Bedlam game, knocking the Pokes out of contention. Then Ryan Broyles got hurt. The Sooners are an excellent offense with a good overall defense that is vulnerable to the pass. Now they are down their best running back and best receiver, and have to play a team that throws the ball all over the field and more often than has ever been seen.
If I were to make a snap pick, right now, I would say that the National Championship will be LSU and Oklahoma State. Oddly enough, Boise State and Stanford could both finish the season undefeated and not even get a shot at the title.
Oh well, bring on Penn State, but leave your teenage boys at home if you know what's good for you. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/sports/ncaafootball/former-coach-at-penn-state-is-charged-with-abuse.html?_r=1
Husk-husk and on the qb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piVnArp9ZE0
No-one had better lay this on Martinez. He had an excellent game, 28-of-37 (.756 comp. pct.), 289 yards, 2 TD's (should have been three), and NO interceptions. Trying to recall all the incompletions: 2 Kenny Bell drops, one Brandon Kinnie drop, one Ben Cotten drop; the intentional grounding call (good call by the ref's), the interference call on the final TD drive, the go-route to Bell where he got tangled up with the db, and one PBU that should have been interference on Northwestern had the refs applied the same standard as the call against the Huskers in the first quarter; and one pass where Taylor got hit as he threw it on the final drive. Not a bad day's work, all in all.
Taylor scores a two point conversion
(photo courtesy Kim Adams Johnson)
I don't really think one can blame the turnovers, even though both of them happened inside the Northwestern 20, including Rex's fumble at the one. The Huskers won the turnover battle with two interceptions and a fumble compared to two fumbles.
Rex fumbles at the one (we still love you, Rex)
(photo courtesy of Kim Adams Johnson)
There were some penalty issues, but none were really game-changing except for the interference call in the first quarter. From where I sat, it looked like the defender made a play on the ball, and actually touched the ball before he touched the receiver. That changed a defensive stop, that would have forced a field goal attempt, into a first and goal from the three that resulted in a touchdown.For the first time since the Wisconsin game, I've been scratching my head about the play calls by Tim Beck. He ran a lot of read-option plays. The same kind of read-option plays Northwestern sees in practice every day. Northwestern showed up with a great game plan. Take Burkhead out and make Taylor throw. Taylor did throw, and threw well. Beck relied too much on the run, which played right into Northwestern's strategy. If anything, I think Beck stuck with the run too long. I almost got the sense that he felt that the Huskers would wear down Northwestern, and by the time he realized that wasn't going to happen, it was too late.
When Nebraska hasn't performed well, there has been plenty of room under the bus for Taylor, Beck and even Bo. I've heard a lot of 'take the black shirts away', 'make them wear pink shirts', etc., etc. I'm pretty mystified, too, as to how a great performance against Michigan State was followed up by such a bad performance against Northwestern. Some of it was injury, there were guys in at defensive tackle that hadn't seen any game time until Northwestern. There were obvious communication problems all day, guys were hurrying onto the field as Northwestern switched out their personnel packages. the linebackers were looking at each other...a lot, and didn't seem to know what their responsibilities were. The same went for the DB's at times. Northwestern receivers were getting between defenders, and between responsibilities. Add in the fact that the Northwestern QB's all were making their throws, and the Blackshirts wore out by the end of the game. It is rare, but I saw it yesterday, the other team out-muscled the Huskers in the fourth quarter.
One of those 747-sized holes (as one friend put it)
(photo courtesy of Kim Adams Johnson)
Which brings me back to Carl. If Husker Nation expects Tim Beck to own up for calling a bad game, then it is only fair that it does the same when Carl does it. He looked like a freakin' genius, last week, against Sparty. This week, his play calls looked lost. He called the same defense on first down, most of the game. That's fine, if it's working. It wasn't. Northwestern consistently picked up positive yards on first down, leaving them with 2nd and manageable most of the day. They played like champs in the second quarter, forcing three straight 3-and-outs. On the possessions following those 3-and-outs, the Huskers lost two fumbles and got stopped on fourth down. It went downhill from there.On the back breaking play, the 81-yard touchdown pass, Ciante Evans got beat on an inside move and Cassidy played the wrong receiver, coming up to cover the receiver running the fly route. He was out of position to help Ciante. The Northwestern quarterback hit the receiver in full stride and he never lost any energy having to change direction. Perfect execution by Northwestern.
I have nothing but admiration for Northwestern. They came in with a great game plan, handled all sorts of adversity, and adjusted on the fly way better than Nebraska did. Just Nebraska's luck that the Northwestern defense gelled for a whole game at the worst time for Nebraska, but at just the right time for them.
Getting ready for Penn State, which may have been where the team's head has been, all week, anyway. No way to be sure, but it's the feeling I got. That, and a bit of over-confidence. There are no off weeks in the Big Ten. Iowa, who lost to Minnesota, beat Michigan. Minnesota took Sparty to the fourth quarter. Indiana took Ohio State into the fourth quarter as well. That being said, even if Nebraska sweeps their last three opponents, they now need help to get to the Championship game. If Nebraska wins out, and doesn't get help, the likeliest scenario is Sparty playing Penn State in Indianapolis. That would really stick in Huskerfan's throat, to see the Big Ten decided by two teams that the Huskers beat. That's why it's so important to take care of business.
National picture time. LSU beat Bama. Yay. There is still plenty of football left, but I think we have one opponent for the National Championship game set. Good thing for Les Tigres that Bama's kicker was terrible. The three remaining "BIG" games that will shape the picture for the other half of the National Championship. TCU at Bosie State: BSU should win, finish the season undefeated, but will probably get left out in the cold. Oregon at Stanford: De Facto Pac-12 Championship game. Leaning toward Stanford, right now. If they finish the season undefeated, they will have a strong case for going to the big show. If Oregon wins out, they will still be behind the 8-ball, since they already lost to LSU. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State: Despite OU throwing up on themselves against Texas Tech (much like Nebraska did, against Northwestern), I was leaning toward the Sooners winning the Bedlam game, knocking the Pokes out of contention. Then Ryan Broyles got hurt. The Sooners are an excellent offense with a good overall defense that is vulnerable to the pass. Now they are down their best running back and best receiver, and have to play a team that throws the ball all over the field and more often than has ever been seen.
If I were to make a snap pick, right now, I would say that the National Championship will be LSU and Oklahoma State. Oddly enough, Boise State and Stanford could both finish the season undefeated and not even get a shot at the title.
Oh well, bring on Penn State, but leave your teenage boys at home if you know what's good for you. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/sports/ncaafootball/former-coach-at-penn-state-is-charged-with-abuse.html?_r=1
Husk-husk and on the qb
Saturday, November 5, 2011
It's Good That we Still get to Play Purple Pussies
I got a call from Precherman, which is weird in itself. That he wanted my help was even weirder. He set up a meeting for a crappy little apartment building at the corner of 27th and X, his home turf, this had to be bad news.
I gathered up Lloyd, who didn't really want to go, "It's all icky, there," he whined. He whined, but got into the car.
"I don't like it either," I admitted reluctantly. "Preach called me, it must be something important. He usually handles his own issues internally. If he's calling us, it's because he doesn't want to raise his profile."
"Either that, or it's something that involves crossing a line that he's not prepared to cross."
Lloyd is good. He's probably right, which made me a little more nervous than I had been as we reached the meeting site.
My hinky-detector started to throb as we got to the apartment. Top floor, farthest from the stairs. Dead-man's corner. I knocked. Preach opened the door. His eyes shifted quickly to the right, but it was too late. An enormous pair of hands grabbed my coat and hauled me into the apartment. The arms those hands were attached to, flung me across the room. The dry-wall smelled damp and old. I know because my nose nearly became integrated with it at a significant velocity.
One of those enormous hands pressed into my back, pinning me to the wall. The other enormous hand reached into places all over me, and into some places I'm reluctant to touch, myself. "He's clean," a voice just behind my ear stated ever so matter-of-factly. Good thing I left my Nerf blaster at home.
Lloyd and Preacherman were sitting side-by-side on a cheap ratty-assed couch that looked like it had been upholstered in the late 70's during a bad microdot trip. Looming over them was a guy in a cheap three-piece suit, bad hair, and porn-star mustache. He held a gun on Lloyd and Preach. He looked like he knew what he was doing. That was actually reassuring.
Mr. Big Hands had his gun pressed up to my ribs. He didn't vibe nervous, either. Good.
The door slowly closed. The closer had an authoritarian air about him, which made it almost funny to watch him look around outside, as if trying to determine how the weather looked as he sealed us in. He actually looked pretty decent in his suit, which just meant that it fit well enough to conceal his shoulder rig. His shoes were good, and well-kept, which meant he didn't run in them, and his coat was an obligatory trench affair, open, but with the belts tucked away. He liked to appear bigger than he was. All of which was fine, since I knew who he was.
"Detective Lieutenant Moore," I said. "So nice to see you, again. It's been what, five years or so?"
"Cut the chatter," he growled. "You know what this is about."
"You want to chat? Put the guns away," I said. "We're not packing and there's no threat from any of us."
He gestured to his two goons, who seemed disappointed as they holstered their weapons.
"I repeat, you know what this is about."
Interesting. Statement, not question, this could get really hot, since he was already assuming things that I didn't have a clue about. "Unless you're here to grill me an how the Huskers' only real problem on offense is to see that the Young Guns get an equal number of carries in order to give I-Backasaurus Rex a break, I have no idea."
"Trying to play it cute, huh?"
"Not at all. That would be like Northwestern trying to play anything that even resembled a defense. The let Penn State score 34 on them. Penn State! The Knitting Lions celebrate getting into the endzone as often as Republicans hold office in Chicago, and they scored at will on Northwestern. Rex, Taylor, Kenny and company should have no problem dropping 50+ on the Purple Pussies."
Lt. Moore slammed his hand down on the table, "Shut it!" he shouted. "You need to tell me why you did this," he said as he tossed me a small bundle.
I caught the bundle and unwrapped it. It was a photograph, or rather a series of photographs printed on one sheet. The showed a very interesting tableaux of Lt. Moore and a pretty well-known "Lady of Negotiable Affections" engaged in a sequence that when viewed in a certain angle, at a certain light, would place Moore in a very bad way. The sheet had been wrapped around a Barbie doll that someone had taken extreme pains to dress exactly like the woman in the picture. I had no idea they made tube-tops that small. "Look, Moore, I already know you're on the take." he bristled. "The thing is, I don't care. It works to my advantage, sometimes. I've got no reason to pressure you."
"Speaking of pressure," Preach chimed in. "The defense is gonna have a good old time with Dan Persa and Northwestern. He is a good, accurate passer, and they run a spread offense. This will be like the good-old days for the Blackshirts. They've been shutting down this stuff for three years, and are now playing with more confidence than they have all year. Throw in the fact that Persa is a bit gimpy and you can pretty much take the runningback on any zone-read plays. Where Persa is really dangerous is when he keeps a play alive with his feet, and then finds a receiver who has improvised on his route. I don't think he'll get that sort of time, today."
"I don't know, man, he rambles sometimes, but in this case, he makes sense." I tossed the bundle back to Moore. "This isn't my style, anyway. The last thing I need is a bunch of cops making life difficult for me. They tend to rally for each other, which is good. I even think they would rally around you, even though you're Internal Affairs. A dirty cop in IA is just too delicious an irony for me to ruin it with a silly, stupid, poorly thought-out blackmail play."
"I could run you in and play some 48 hours of grilling to 'check your story'," he said as he held out his hands to make the air quotes sign.
Lloyd found his voice. "You could do that, and we would endure the 48 hour no charges exercise. Then I, for one, would go to the press. Get the word out on Lieutenant Moore and his 'Rotten to the Core' squad." Lloyd played air quotes, too. "How soon until not one or two, but dozens of the shakedowns start coming forward, hmm?"
Moore looked flustered. None of his usual threats and intimidation were working. You could see the wheels in his head turning as his support staff looked to him to make the call.
"One more thing, Moore," Lloyd added. "The only thing that has me concerned, right now, is that this might be a trap game for Nebraska. Just after a huge win, and just before a big game against an opponent that has this week off. The team might be looking ahead, and not paying attention to the here and now. By all accounts, Nebraska should roll, but even the best of us can fall into a trap."
Lloyd was right, and stared right at me as he spoke. He does have a way of making you feel like crap. Especially when he's right about who made the mistake.
Moore got up. "Right. This wasn't you?" he asked shaking the bundle at me.
"Nope."
"Then you need to find out who did it, who's out to destroy me."
I knew I had to make my decision on the spot. I don't like the guy. I don't even respect him. Throw in the counter-argument that I was bored, and I was resting on quite the dilemma. "I'll tell you what, Moore. I think Nebraska is going to beat the Purple Pussies by the score of 56 to 14. More than enough to cover the spread, which is 17 1/2. If the Huskers cover, I'll find out who did this, on the clock, expenses included. If they fail to cover. I'll do it for free. If they lose, you're on your own, because I'll be too depressed to do anything productive."
Moore looked us over, nodded and pointed at the door. Mustache and Big Hands headed for the exit. Moore came right up to my face, "You think you know where my boundaries are, but trust me, you don't," he whispered in a voice that was almost intimate. With that he spun on his heel and headed for the door.
I looked over at Lloyd. "You know what we have to do now, don't you?"
"Indeed. We need to watch some football. Then I need to make sure the micro-transceiver in my tie-tack picked up the whole conversation. I'm using the Darth Vader flash drive, too."
"Anyone up for some tailgating?", I asked the room. Lloyd and Preach nodded.
Husk-husk and on the qb.
I gathered up Lloyd, who didn't really want to go, "It's all icky, there," he whined. He whined, but got into the car.
"I don't like it either," I admitted reluctantly. "Preach called me, it must be something important. He usually handles his own issues internally. If he's calling us, it's because he doesn't want to raise his profile."
"Either that, or it's something that involves crossing a line that he's not prepared to cross."
Lloyd is good. He's probably right, which made me a little more nervous than I had been as we reached the meeting site.
My hinky-detector started to throb as we got to the apartment. Top floor, farthest from the stairs. Dead-man's corner. I knocked. Preach opened the door. His eyes shifted quickly to the right, but it was too late. An enormous pair of hands grabbed my coat and hauled me into the apartment. The arms those hands were attached to, flung me across the room. The dry-wall smelled damp and old. I know because my nose nearly became integrated with it at a significant velocity.
One of those enormous hands pressed into my back, pinning me to the wall. The other enormous hand reached into places all over me, and into some places I'm reluctant to touch, myself. "He's clean," a voice just behind my ear stated ever so matter-of-factly. Good thing I left my Nerf blaster at home.
Lloyd and Preacherman were sitting side-by-side on a cheap ratty-assed couch that looked like it had been upholstered in the late 70's during a bad microdot trip. Looming over them was a guy in a cheap three-piece suit, bad hair, and porn-star mustache. He held a gun on Lloyd and Preach. He looked like he knew what he was doing. That was actually reassuring.
Mr. Big Hands had his gun pressed up to my ribs. He didn't vibe nervous, either. Good.
The door slowly closed. The closer had an authoritarian air about him, which made it almost funny to watch him look around outside, as if trying to determine how the weather looked as he sealed us in. He actually looked pretty decent in his suit, which just meant that it fit well enough to conceal his shoulder rig. His shoes were good, and well-kept, which meant he didn't run in them, and his coat was an obligatory trench affair, open, but with the belts tucked away. He liked to appear bigger than he was. All of which was fine, since I knew who he was.
"Detective Lieutenant Moore," I said. "So nice to see you, again. It's been what, five years or so?"
"Cut the chatter," he growled. "You know what this is about."
"You want to chat? Put the guns away," I said. "We're not packing and there's no threat from any of us."
He gestured to his two goons, who seemed disappointed as they holstered their weapons.
"I repeat, you know what this is about."
Interesting. Statement, not question, this could get really hot, since he was already assuming things that I didn't have a clue about. "Unless you're here to grill me an how the Huskers' only real problem on offense is to see that the Young Guns get an equal number of carries in order to give I-Backasaurus Rex a break, I have no idea."
"Trying to play it cute, huh?"
"Not at all. That would be like Northwestern trying to play anything that even resembled a defense. The let Penn State score 34 on them. Penn State! The Knitting Lions celebrate getting into the endzone as often as Republicans hold office in Chicago, and they scored at will on Northwestern. Rex, Taylor, Kenny and company should have no problem dropping 50+ on the Purple Pussies."
Lt. Moore slammed his hand down on the table, "Shut it!" he shouted. "You need to tell me why you did this," he said as he tossed me a small bundle.
I caught the bundle and unwrapped it. It was a photograph, or rather a series of photographs printed on one sheet. The showed a very interesting tableaux of Lt. Moore and a pretty well-known "Lady of Negotiable Affections" engaged in a sequence that when viewed in a certain angle, at a certain light, would place Moore in a very bad way. The sheet had been wrapped around a Barbie doll that someone had taken extreme pains to dress exactly like the woman in the picture. I had no idea they made tube-tops that small. "Look, Moore, I already know you're on the take." he bristled. "The thing is, I don't care. It works to my advantage, sometimes. I've got no reason to pressure you."
"Speaking of pressure," Preach chimed in. "The defense is gonna have a good old time with Dan Persa and Northwestern. He is a good, accurate passer, and they run a spread offense. This will be like the good-old days for the Blackshirts. They've been shutting down this stuff for three years, and are now playing with more confidence than they have all year. Throw in the fact that Persa is a bit gimpy and you can pretty much take the runningback on any zone-read plays. Where Persa is really dangerous is when he keeps a play alive with his feet, and then finds a receiver who has improvised on his route. I don't think he'll get that sort of time, today."
"I don't know, man, he rambles sometimes, but in this case, he makes sense." I tossed the bundle back to Moore. "This isn't my style, anyway. The last thing I need is a bunch of cops making life difficult for me. They tend to rally for each other, which is good. I even think they would rally around you, even though you're Internal Affairs. A dirty cop in IA is just too delicious an irony for me to ruin it with a silly, stupid, poorly thought-out blackmail play."
"I could run you in and play some 48 hours of grilling to 'check your story'," he said as he held out his hands to make the air quotes sign.
Lloyd found his voice. "You could do that, and we would endure the 48 hour no charges exercise. Then I, for one, would go to the press. Get the word out on Lieutenant Moore and his 'Rotten to the Core' squad." Lloyd played air quotes, too. "How soon until not one or two, but dozens of the shakedowns start coming forward, hmm?"
Moore looked flustered. None of his usual threats and intimidation were working. You could see the wheels in his head turning as his support staff looked to him to make the call.
"One more thing, Moore," Lloyd added. "The only thing that has me concerned, right now, is that this might be a trap game for Nebraska. Just after a huge win, and just before a big game against an opponent that has this week off. The team might be looking ahead, and not paying attention to the here and now. By all accounts, Nebraska should roll, but even the best of us can fall into a trap."
Lloyd was right, and stared right at me as he spoke. He does have a way of making you feel like crap. Especially when he's right about who made the mistake.
Moore got up. "Right. This wasn't you?" he asked shaking the bundle at me.
"Nope."
"Then you need to find out who did it, who's out to destroy me."
I knew I had to make my decision on the spot. I don't like the guy. I don't even respect him. Throw in the counter-argument that I was bored, and I was resting on quite the dilemma. "I'll tell you what, Moore. I think Nebraska is going to beat the Purple Pussies by the score of 56 to 14. More than enough to cover the spread, which is 17 1/2. If the Huskers cover, I'll find out who did this, on the clock, expenses included. If they fail to cover. I'll do it for free. If they lose, you're on your own, because I'll be too depressed to do anything productive."
Moore looked us over, nodded and pointed at the door. Mustache and Big Hands headed for the exit. Moore came right up to my face, "You think you know where my boundaries are, but trust me, you don't," he whispered in a voice that was almost intimate. With that he spun on his heel and headed for the door.
I looked over at Lloyd. "You know what we have to do now, don't you?"
"Indeed. We need to watch some football. Then I need to make sure the micro-transceiver in my tie-tack picked up the whole conversation. I'm using the Darth Vader flash drive, too."
"Anyone up for some tailgating?", I asked the room. Lloyd and Preach nodded.
Husk-husk and on the qb.
Friday, November 4, 2011
The Real National Championship Game
There hasn't been a lot going on at the office and the crew is having to find different ways to pick up the slack and defeat the boredom. Except for Leroix.
Leroix has got the biggest game of the year on his agenda. The game where the team that will win the National Championship will emerge. Sure, there's all sorts of what ifs, hypothetical and antithetical scenarios floating around out there, but for my money, this week's LSU at Alabama game is the game that is really for the National Championship.
Leroix called me from a place called "Bottomfeeders". He must have gone with a group, because he seemed to talking with a level of confidence when one isn't worried about being discovered deep in enemy territory.
"What's up, Leroix," I said, trying to match his level of enthusiasm.
"Whoo, boy. Ah'm deep in inside Gump-land, but I gots me some o' deh best fried catfish outside o' deh bayou, some spicy hushpuppies and a nice, cold beer."
"I'm surpised you aren't skulking around, trying to lay low until the game starts."
"Nah, nah, nah, cher. You can get into enemy territory pretty easy when you been workin' deh rigs wit' deh owners. Me and deh guy dat runs dis place spent many a day out in deh gulf. Now, ah know dat every other year ah have to stop in and take mah share of abuse from Nathan Bedford Forrest Jackson, and in return, Ah have to offer him safe passage when he comes down to Red Stick. In scientific terms, it's called mutualism."
I sometimes forget that Leroix has his B.S. "So who are you going to pick? As if I need to ask."
"Fust, I need to tell you about the South Carolinah-Arkansaw game. The Sooey pigs have made a habit out of comin' from behind, makin' deh game all excitin' and such. Dis time, dey gonna bite off more dan dey can chew. Deh Gamecocks got too good a defense to let deh piggies come back. Steve Superior has to win in order to punch his ticket for the SEC Championship. Cocks 23-Piggies 17."
"Now for the big one."
"Dis one goan be one for deh ages. Bot' teams got great defenses. Deh' Gumps have a better ground game, but Les Tigres got deh better passin' attack. Bot' teams got playmakers on deh special teams, and bot' teams got excellent coaches. What dis game will come down to, is dat it's in Tuscaloosa, and not Red Stick. Bot' teams will be in dey're best colors and under deh lights, just like Les Tigres love to play. Dat home field is what it will come down to. As much as I love Lee, and JJ, and deh Honey Badger, Ah t'ink dat deh Bama ground game will decide dis t'ing late. It ak-tchally hurts me to do dis...Gumps 28, Tigres 24."
The talk of Gumps reminded me that I needed to call up Bubba in the OKC. "How are things down in Okly-homa?" I asked.
"I've got two semi-intresting games, now that we are just biding time to the Bedlam game, in December. My Sooners get to trash, A&M, even though Tannehill is dangerous. The Gaggies till don't know how to put a complete game together. Sooners 45, Junior Brownshirts 27. Accross the way, the Cow Rapers are getting ready to thump K-State. This one might be closer than a lot of people think. OSU's offense will be all over K-State's defense, but OSU's defense is still awful, and Bill Snyder will try to play keep-away. I don't think he'll be able to keep it away that much, and the Cow Rapers will prevail 51-24 over the Purple Pussies."
I got a hold of Marcus, out west, and had to get his take on three games.
"Dude, I've got two duds, and one that might have the potential for an upset, Dude"
"Let me have them."
"Dude, Boise State will cruise all over UNLV, and then get to have a good time on the Strip. Buncos 49, Rebels 17. The Hoover School of Public Policy gets to travel to Corvallis, Oregon to work on a group thesis of 'Why does Corvallis even exist?' Mr. Luck gets back on track by playing a practice game, Stanford 56, Beavers 20, Dude."
"What's the potential upset?"
"Dude, Oregon has to go to Seattle and play in the last game in Husky Stadium in its current configuration. Washingto actually has an offfense this year, and Oregon has games where they have lapses. I don't hink the Quackers will hiccup, but it might be close. Let's say Quackers 42, Purple Puppies 35, dude."
I had to get Grandma and Lloyd in on their B1G picks.
"I'll just be passsing the time waiting for 'Bama and LSU," Grandma said, chuckling drily. "I've got the Hosers at THE Ohio State, and will watch Braxton Miller go all EASports on Indiana. Ohio State 47, Hosers 17. In my other boring-ass game, I have the Boilmakers going up to Camp Randall to play Wisky, and getting yet another beat-down. Stinking Badgers 48, Boils 14. One word of warning. My old boyfriend has been able to get a weeks worth of naps in, getting his guys ready for next week when Nebraska has to travel to Ia Drang. Just be ready, Huskerfan."
"Thanks, Grandma. enjoy the SEC show. Give me what you've got, Lloyd."
"Both Michigan schools playing the bottom feeders of the LegendS division. Sparty is hosting the Golden Rodents. With it being at home, the Thpartans should win it 30-13. Wolverhampton has to go to Iowa, but the Hackneys are a broken team. Shoelaces still goes crazy on them, Wolvies 35, Hackneys 14."
This week turned out to be all about football. The silence from our once and future friend was beginning to concern me. Not really. If Fun Boy Davison never turned up again, that would be fine for all of us.
Husk-husk and on the qb.
Leroix has got the biggest game of the year on his agenda. The game where the team that will win the National Championship will emerge. Sure, there's all sorts of what ifs, hypothetical and antithetical scenarios floating around out there, but for my money, this week's LSU at Alabama game is the game that is really for the National Championship.
Leroix called me from a place called "Bottomfeeders". He must have gone with a group, because he seemed to talking with a level of confidence when one isn't worried about being discovered deep in enemy territory.
"What's up, Leroix," I said, trying to match his level of enthusiasm.
"Whoo, boy. Ah'm deep in inside Gump-land, but I gots me some o' deh best fried catfish outside o' deh bayou, some spicy hushpuppies and a nice, cold beer."
"I'm surpised you aren't skulking around, trying to lay low until the game starts."
"Nah, nah, nah, cher. You can get into enemy territory pretty easy when you been workin' deh rigs wit' deh owners. Me and deh guy dat runs dis place spent many a day out in deh gulf. Now, ah know dat every other year ah have to stop in and take mah share of abuse from Nathan Bedford Forrest Jackson, and in return, Ah have to offer him safe passage when he comes down to Red Stick. In scientific terms, it's called mutualism."
I sometimes forget that Leroix has his B.S. "So who are you going to pick? As if I need to ask."
"Fust, I need to tell you about the South Carolinah-Arkansaw game. The Sooey pigs have made a habit out of comin' from behind, makin' deh game all excitin' and such. Dis time, dey gonna bite off more dan dey can chew. Deh Gamecocks got too good a defense to let deh piggies come back. Steve Superior has to win in order to punch his ticket for the SEC Championship. Cocks 23-Piggies 17."
"Now for the big one."
"Dis one goan be one for deh ages. Bot' teams got great defenses. Deh' Gumps have a better ground game, but Les Tigres got deh better passin' attack. Bot' teams got playmakers on deh special teams, and bot' teams got excellent coaches. What dis game will come down to, is dat it's in Tuscaloosa, and not Red Stick. Bot' teams will be in dey're best colors and under deh lights, just like Les Tigres love to play. Dat home field is what it will come down to. As much as I love Lee, and JJ, and deh Honey Badger, Ah t'ink dat deh Bama ground game will decide dis t'ing late. It ak-tchally hurts me to do dis...Gumps 28, Tigres 24."
The talk of Gumps reminded me that I needed to call up Bubba in the OKC. "How are things down in Okly-homa?" I asked.
"I've got two semi-intresting games, now that we are just biding time to the Bedlam game, in December. My Sooners get to trash, A&M, even though Tannehill is dangerous. The Gaggies till don't know how to put a complete game together. Sooners 45, Junior Brownshirts 27. Accross the way, the Cow Rapers are getting ready to thump K-State. This one might be closer than a lot of people think. OSU's offense will be all over K-State's defense, but OSU's defense is still awful, and Bill Snyder will try to play keep-away. I don't think he'll be able to keep it away that much, and the Cow Rapers will prevail 51-24 over the Purple Pussies."
I got a hold of Marcus, out west, and had to get his take on three games.
"Dude, I've got two duds, and one that might have the potential for an upset, Dude"
"Let me have them."
"Dude, Boise State will cruise all over UNLV, and then get to have a good time on the Strip. Buncos 49, Rebels 17. The Hoover School of Public Policy gets to travel to Corvallis, Oregon to work on a group thesis of 'Why does Corvallis even exist?' Mr. Luck gets back on track by playing a practice game, Stanford 56, Beavers 20, Dude."
"What's the potential upset?"
"Dude, Oregon has to go to Seattle and play in the last game in Husky Stadium in its current configuration. Washingto actually has an offfense this year, and Oregon has games where they have lapses. I don't hink the Quackers will hiccup, but it might be close. Let's say Quackers 42, Purple Puppies 35, dude."
I had to get Grandma and Lloyd in on their B1G picks.
"I'll just be passsing the time waiting for 'Bama and LSU," Grandma said, chuckling drily. "I've got the Hosers at THE Ohio State, and will watch Braxton Miller go all EASports on Indiana. Ohio State 47, Hosers 17. In my other boring-ass game, I have the Boilmakers going up to Camp Randall to play Wisky, and getting yet another beat-down. Stinking Badgers 48, Boils 14. One word of warning. My old boyfriend has been able to get a weeks worth of naps in, getting his guys ready for next week when Nebraska has to travel to Ia Drang. Just be ready, Huskerfan."
"Thanks, Grandma. enjoy the SEC show. Give me what you've got, Lloyd."
"Both Michigan schools playing the bottom feeders of the LegendS division. Sparty is hosting the Golden Rodents. With it being at home, the Thpartans should win it 30-13. Wolverhampton has to go to Iowa, but the Hackneys are a broken team. Shoelaces still goes crazy on them, Wolvies 35, Hackneys 14."
This week turned out to be all about football. The silence from our once and future friend was beginning to concern me. Not really. If Fun Boy Davison never turned up again, that would be fine for all of us.
Husk-husk and on the qb.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Top Nine and counting
It had been a S-L-O-W week at the firm, ok, partnership, all right; loose affiliation of like-minded confederates intent on a mutually beneficial outcome. See? That's why I should stick with crew.
Cassandra and I were sitting in the office, playing connect four, and going over some of the week's highlights and her countdown, of course.
She placed one of the yellow checkers (I always play red). "What's the deal with Alan Davison? One quick, little rude chat and he buggers off for good?"
"Nope," I replied, getting ready for a classic diagonal play. "He's out there, scheming, plotting, trying to come up with something show he's outsmarted us. That might take awhile, but he'll make a play sooner, rather than later."
"I have my top nine, now, if you're intgerested," Cassandra said, placing a yellow for a run along the base.
"Go ahead."
"Oklahoma is at number 9, and gets to host Texas A&M, a team that melts down easier than M&M's in a microwave. Nebraska is at 8, and playing Northwestern at home, probably the easiest of their four remaining games, and Arkansas is at 7, hosting South Carolina. We'll see if the best team in the East can beat the third best team in the West of the SEC."
I placed another red to cut off Cassandra's base run. "Did you see that story about the flight attendant that got beaten to death in Mexico?" I asked.
"Yes. Terrible. The vic was found naked, bound and beaten in his hotel room, right?"
"Yep. Looks like the perp had a huge rage moment after a stressor break-down, but it seems to me that the vic had to have known the assailant."
"So what are you getting at?"
"Just playing with the idea in my head. The time-line fits and everything. But I'm wondering as to the wherabouts of Mr. Davison at the time of death."
"That would be an enormous long-shot. Smart though. Off him in Mexico, and be back across the border before the body is even discovered. Organized. Scary." She shuddered as she placed another yellow.
"Keep going with your rankings."
"Oregon is sixth, at Washington, and will probably continue their north-west dominance. Stanford is fifth, at Oregon State, in a game where my boyfriend, Andrew, had better look a damn sight better than he looked the other night against USC. and Okie State is fourth, getting ready to dominate K-State." She dropped a yellow right in between my diagonal run, blocking me.
"We did get an interesting visit this week. Got an offer that I had to turn down, even though it would have been easy money." Maybe I should go vertical with my reds.
"What was the deal."
"Some heavy hitter lawyer wanted me to look into a traffic accident. It seems that some spoiled little daddy's girl whanged two bikers and then fled the scene. I just asked whether or not it was an on-going investigation. Lawyer said 'yes' and I said 'I'm out', I don't step on LPD's toes and don't even want a meet-and-greet session with Lieutenant Murphy, downtown. Lawyer even upped his offer, enough to make me weigh the risks in my head, but I still had to turn him down."
"Is this the case that I think it is?" she asked, dropping a yellow into one of the few remaining spots.
"Yep. It's not like she'll do any real time. A couple hundred hours of community service, but she'll not have to get fitted for an orange jump-suit." I placed a checker, if she chose the left option, I had the game.
"Game of the year is between my numbers three and two. Alabama and LSU. Two best teams in the country are in the same division of their conference. The SEC has won, what, six of the last eight national championships? The winner here just has to keep their nose clean and they can play for the whole thing in January."
"Against Boise State, right?"
"Yes. They are my number one team until proven otherwise. Yes, I think both LSU and Alabama would beat them on the field, but I'm going to be stubborn and keep them at number one until they lose."
"Fair enough. It's your list." I watched as she dropped her yellow checker into the board.
"Connect-4. I win," she said. She had a huge grin on her face, as I reached over and toggled the release bar.
"Let's go get a taco."
Husk-husk and on the qb
Cassandra and I were sitting in the office, playing connect four, and going over some of the week's highlights and her countdown, of course.
She placed one of the yellow checkers (I always play red). "What's the deal with Alan Davison? One quick, little rude chat and he buggers off for good?"
"Nope," I replied, getting ready for a classic diagonal play. "He's out there, scheming, plotting, trying to come up with something show he's outsmarted us. That might take awhile, but he'll make a play sooner, rather than later."
"I have my top nine, now, if you're intgerested," Cassandra said, placing a yellow for a run along the base.
"Go ahead."
"Oklahoma is at number 9, and gets to host Texas A&M, a team that melts down easier than M&M's in a microwave. Nebraska is at 8, and playing Northwestern at home, probably the easiest of their four remaining games, and Arkansas is at 7, hosting South Carolina. We'll see if the best team in the East can beat the third best team in the West of the SEC."
I placed another red to cut off Cassandra's base run. "Did you see that story about the flight attendant that got beaten to death in Mexico?" I asked.
"Yes. Terrible. The vic was found naked, bound and beaten in his hotel room, right?"
"Yep. Looks like the perp had a huge rage moment after a stressor break-down, but it seems to me that the vic had to have known the assailant."
"So what are you getting at?"
"Just playing with the idea in my head. The time-line fits and everything. But I'm wondering as to the wherabouts of Mr. Davison at the time of death."
"That would be an enormous long-shot. Smart though. Off him in Mexico, and be back across the border before the body is even discovered. Organized. Scary." She shuddered as she placed another yellow.
"Keep going with your rankings."
"Oregon is sixth, at Washington, and will probably continue their north-west dominance. Stanford is fifth, at Oregon State, in a game where my boyfriend, Andrew, had better look a damn sight better than he looked the other night against USC. and Okie State is fourth, getting ready to dominate K-State." She dropped a yellow right in between my diagonal run, blocking me.
"We did get an interesting visit this week. Got an offer that I had to turn down, even though it would have been easy money." Maybe I should go vertical with my reds.
"What was the deal."
"Some heavy hitter lawyer wanted me to look into a traffic accident. It seems that some spoiled little daddy's girl whanged two bikers and then fled the scene. I just asked whether or not it was an on-going investigation. Lawyer said 'yes' and I said 'I'm out', I don't step on LPD's toes and don't even want a meet-and-greet session with Lieutenant Murphy, downtown. Lawyer even upped his offer, enough to make me weigh the risks in my head, but I still had to turn him down."
"Is this the case that I think it is?" she asked, dropping a yellow into one of the few remaining spots.
"Yep. It's not like she'll do any real time. A couple hundred hours of community service, but she'll not have to get fitted for an orange jump-suit." I placed a checker, if she chose the left option, I had the game.
"Game of the year is between my numbers three and two. Alabama and LSU. Two best teams in the country are in the same division of their conference. The SEC has won, what, six of the last eight national championships? The winner here just has to keep their nose clean and they can play for the whole thing in January."
"Against Boise State, right?"
"Yes. They are my number one team until proven otherwise. Yes, I think both LSU and Alabama would beat them on the field, but I'm going to be stubborn and keep them at number one until they lose."
"Fair enough. It's your list." I watched as she dropped her yellow checker into the board.
"Connect-4. I win," she said. She had a huge grin on her face, as I reached over and toggled the release bar.
"Let's go get a taco."
Husk-husk and on the qb
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