And So It Begins

I alone of the Lawrence offspring suffer from BBL Syndrome:  the inability to watch from start to finish any game (or event) involving a team (or lone competitor) which I wholeheartedly support.  The symptoms appear during every manner of competition:  the Olympics, the World Cup, the U.S. Open (both golf and tennis), baseball, basketball, and football...especially football, especially Aggie football.  So it is that I watched the A&M-SMU game this morning, having monitored the game last night and retiring to my bed knowing the Aggies had won.  Knowing the outcome in no way diminishes the excitement but completely alleviates the ANXIETY. 

First half:  offense was decent.  Good line play, effective running by the backs, cool play from Tannehill.  Lots of short passes...outside bubble screens were successful, in large part due to excellent blocking from the wide receivers.  Need work on special teams, though.  Two blocked  p.a.t.'s. Yikes. The defensive play was a bit schitzophrenic...several sacks but several blown coverages and open running lanes on blitzes.  Interestingly, though the score was 33-14 at half, the stats were very even at half-time.

Second half:  I felt like both the offense and the defense lost a little focus at the end of the 3rd and start of the 4th.  There were several penalties and a couple of bobbles, both of which went our way.  This was a first game, though so I am not terribly concerned.  The defense tightened up and though SMU did move the ball a couple of times, it didn't score again.

Cyrus Gray ran great and when Christine Michael got his chance, mostly in the second half, he looked really good as well.  Tannehill threw to at least 5 receivers...Fuller had 6-8 catches, all relatively short completions.  Apparently, he is nursing a hamstring and the coaches didn't want to risk injury sending him on any long patterns.  Swope looked really good, both on screens and across the middle.  He is tough, has great hands, and will go for the tough catch.  Also, he seems to have excellent body control and manages to get decent yardage after the catch.

All in all, I feel really good about the offense and think that with more play, the defense will become more consistent.  Hard to replace Von Miller, after all.

Apropos of nothing, I thought that Joel Klatt, former Colorado QB, did a really good job as color commentator.  The other guy, not so much.  (And, Bob Davie and Brent Musberger are still rotten.)

All in all, a very satisfactory opening day.  Now, beat the hell out of Idaho!  Gig em, Aggies!

Finally. College Football Begins.

HAHAHAHAHA!  Houston beat California pretty boy Bruins.
 
Oh, I forgot to mention that COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAS BEGUN.  Thank you, sweet baby Jesus.

A few random thoughts:

Beware the Bear.  Baylor beat TCU in a gutbusting, swashbuckling, sidewinder of a game.  No defense, but what an impressive offense.  Speaking of Baylor's defense, the coordinator is Phil Bennett.  An A&M grad, he has been at TCU, OU, LSU, A&M, SMU as head coach, and many others.  Still has a little work to do at Baylor.  The scheme is permanent nickel:  5 DB's at all times.  Interesting.  On offense, Robert Griffin looked really, really good but I wanted to slap the color commentator each time he called Griffin "RG3".  That was getting on my last good nerve.  Also, TCU has new uni's...sort of cool stencil effect on the numbers, but the "6" looks like a "G". 

No surprises with the Ohio State, Alabama, and Michigan wins.  Some new coaches:  Ohio State, Michigan, Stanford, West Virginia, Maryland, Florida. 

Watched most of College Gameday on ESPN.  That is a good show, except for that merkin-wearing Lee Corso.  It is past time for that guy to hang it up.  He is the talking version of scrabble.  Oy.

Tonight Oregon meets LSU and Boise State plays Georgia.  Last year, I thought LSU was more lucky than good...undiscplined with no heart.  Then I watched them vivisect the Aggies in Cotton Bowl.  So now I am not so sure.  I think LSU should beat Oregon...I will always pick SEC over Pac 10 (and not because A&M is going there) but I do so here with reservations.  Likewise, I don't feel super-confident in picking Boise State over Georgia, especially with the game being played in Atlanta.  I just don't trust Georgia, even though the coach is very good-looking.  So, Boise State it is.

Tomorrow, the Aggies play the Mustangs.  Aggies should win and I pick them to win.  Texas plays Rice.  Ho hum.

Week Four

Just how much do I hate UCLA?  Well, perhaps not as much as I hate USC since my man, Troy Aikman, went to UCLA back in the day, but still they are just another bunch of California pretty boys coached by one of the cheatingest coaches ever, the detestable Rick Neuheisel.  Yuck, yuck, yuck (not to be confused with Curly Stooge's "nyuck nyuck nyuck".)   Hope the HORNS moidelize them.

Hogs v. Tide:  this is hard.  I think Bama will win, so that is not the problem for me.  My Hog hatred goes way back to the old Southwest Conference days but my Bama hatred is greater...Bear Bryant...do NOT get me started.  Also, the Aggies play the Hogs next week so if they could beat Bama they might not get up for the Ags.  On the other hand, they might feel unbeatable.  If they lose to Bama, they will be MAD and anxious to cremate the Aggies like they did last year.  On the other hand, if they lose to Bama, they might just be demoralized enough to not show up for the Ags.  I just don't know.  I guess I hope the Hogs win but I don't expect them to.  And as Oxey reminded me, the Hog coach is a nominee for the lifetime Corso Wears a Merkin award for biggest  <insert crass slang word for female genitalia>  !!!!ALERT ALERT ALERT!!!!  OXEY JUST REMINDED ME THAT THE AGS DON'T PLAY THE HOGS NEXT WEEK--THEY PLAY OSU.  SO, YOU KNOW THAT STUFF I SAID ABOUT THE AGS, THE HOGS, AND BAMA? WELL, NEVERMIND.

The What Were They Thinking Award:  the parents of Jacquizz Rogers.  Oy.

Even though TCU beat SMU last night, if was far from the overpowering performance that everyone expected.  In an unexpected lucid moment, Lee Corso opined that TCU was trying too hard for style points, knowing that it has to win BIG to move up in the polls.

Does Lou Holtz have a speech impediment?

Does anyone besides me think the OU-Cincinnati game might be interesting?

I predict that Denard Robinson of Michigan will get seriously injured before the season is over.  He got dinged again this week.  Also, the Mich defense needs to learn to TACKLE.

Week Three: Better Late Than Never (I Hope)

It has taken me a full week to get over the Aggies' frightening performance against FIU.  5 turnovers.... But, they didn't quit and in the fourth quarter scored MANY points to take the lead and at the very end, managed to keep FIU out of the endzone long enough to log a win.   This week off and then...pigs, I mean, hogs.  I don't know whether to hope the hogs beat or lose to Bama this week...

Blithering Idiot Award:  Lee Corso.  Honestly, I didn't understand a word he said last week (I refuse to consider that I may be the Blithering Idiot)

TCU looked tremendous against Baylor, a team that I thought had improved.  Unimpressed with Baylor's highly touted QB  but his poor play may have been the result of TCU's defense.

Speaking of defense, the Horns looked tough.  That game was weird, though.  It started out just crazy...both teams  seemed a bit wild-eyed.  It made me anxious just watching and I didn't have a dog in the hunt.  Gilbert looks promising to me thought the offense was erratic.  They need to find a consistent back.  As for the Red Radars, not good.  Potts was just bad...maybe he hurt his hand or maybe the D gave him nowhere to go, but it was NOT pretty.  Of course, that doesn't mean that they won't hammer my poor Ags.

Really, really had hoped that Air Force would pull off the upset against OU but it just didn't quite happen.  OU only won by 3, though.  Props to the cadets.  I love a good passing game but I have to say that a well-run option game is a thing of beauty.  Poetic justice that it was run against OU.

Va Tech managed to win, but did it have to be over Ruffin McNeill's ECU?

First Week: Awards and Random Thoughts

Awards:  I have decided to award...well...awards each week, assuming I remember to do so.  I will accept nominations, which must be received before I award the award.  Clear as mud?  Anyway, here are the Booleyean Awards for week one:

Master Non-Sequitarian:  Bob Davie

The Dan Jenkins Award for Rip-Snortin' Gut-Bustin' Side-Windiness (and that is wind as in a watch, not wind as in blowing air (( although wind as in blowing air might be more appropriate))):  Brent Musburger

Bloviating Gasbag of the Week:  Craig James (Speaking of whom, he made his inglorious return calling the Navy-Maryland game on Sunday morning.  Yikes.  How are the mighty fallen.

Corso Wears a Merkin Award: the entire LSU team 

AND NOW FOR SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS:

I am officially sick of tatoos.

Whaddup with the rash of heinous uniforms?  Boise State, Va Tech, TCU?  Yikes.  Patent leather shoes, c'mon.  Texas, Alabama, Penn State...those are REAL uniforms.

Watched Auburn-Miss St last night and was impressed with Auburn's QB.  6'6", 250...he will be fun to watch this season.  Also, Auburn had a defensive end who had an AWESOME game.  Will be interesting to see if this game was an anomoly.  Miss St looked decent, too.

In checking the Aggie stats after the week, I was disappointed to NOT see Von Miller's name in the sack department.  Turns out he got hurt (ankle) and didn't play much.  Not sure he'll play this week against La Tech.  I think he wants to play but the coaches want to save him.  This shouldn't be a game where his presence is essential, so might be smart to let him rest for a week.  We shall see.

Watching West Va-Marshall right now.  Ummmm.

Looking forward to tomorrow...many fun match-ups. 

It is BOOLEY Time!

I just lurve college football...and the 2010 season has begun.  Over the weekend I watched a bunch of games and saw bits and pieces of others.  Here are my impressions:

Texas v. Rice---ho hum.  I was not impressed with Texas QB, Gilbert, but I expect he will improve. 

Tx Tech v. SMU---Tech is a better team by far but once the Red Radars got ahead, they mailed it in and almost managed to lose.  Even with 4 turnovers, SMU hung in there.  Props to the Mustangs.

LSU v. NC State---I think LSU has now become the most gutless, underachieving, lame-ass team since the Kansas State teams of a few years ago.  NC State was playing without 13 players, including its entire secondary (I believe) and still almost won that game.  Les Miles needs to do something to get those idiots' attention.

Florida v. Miami of Ohio---I only saw a little but the Florida offense looked B-A-D!  The defense was another story, however.

Eastern Carolina v. Tulsa---why, you may ask, did I watch this game?  Because the new coach is Ruffin McNeill, former d-coordinator at Texas Tech.  And am I glad I watched this.  No defense whatsoever but tons of lead changes, back and forth, excitement...you name it.  Last play of the game:  with 5 seconds left at the Tulsa 30 (or so) yardline, the EC qb throws into the end-zone to a 6'8" freshman receiver who caught it amidst a crowd to win the game.  It was awesome.  YAY Ruffin!

TCU v. Oregon State---this was a little more exciting than I wanted it to be.  TCU's defense was a little porous and Dalton threw a couple of ints.  Still, a win is a win.

Didn't see Fla State but the game marked the start of the no-Bobby-Bowden era.  Exit, Bloviating Gasbag.

Also didn't see OU v. Utah State (?) but was delighted that OU had trouble.  Only thing better would have been a loss.

And, because it wasn't televised, I didn't see the Aggies play but I followed on game tracker (how cool is that, by the way?)  Johnson was 23 for 35, 2 TDs, no ints, 1 running TD.  Final score was 48-7, Aggies.  They beat a team they should have beaten but YAY anyway.  GIG EM AGGIES.

SOME BIG GAMES NEXT WEEK:

OU v. Fla St  (could they both lose, please?)
Ala v. Penn St
Ohio St v. Miami (not of Ohio)
Michigan v. Notre Dame (pretty much hate em both)

Score One for Leach

For now, Mike Leach's lawsuit is going forward.  Maybe the depos of Craig James and his little girl, Adam, will make their way onto the internet.

Olio

Norm Chow isn't going back to USC.

Von Miller, studliest of all Aggies, has announced that he is returning next year.  YAY! 

Apparently, someone has a bone to pick with Lane Kiffin.  Harsh.

I Lurve College Football

Well, well, well.  USC has hired Lane Kiffin as head coach.  Kiffin left USC only a year ago to become head coach at Tennessee, which went 7-6 this year.  I bet the Vols are NOT happy right now.  So Tennessee is looking for a new coach.  How about Cincinnati...has it hired a new coach yet?  And more news from Lubbock:  new head coach, Tommy Tuberville, has hired an offensive coordinator and is interviewing for the defensive coordinator position.   New OC, Neal Brown, comes from Troy and potential DC, James Willis, from Alabama.  Sounds like the real deal.  Maybe all is not lost at Tech.

College Football Fruit Basket Turnover

Can you believe that Pete Carroll is leaving USC to return to the pros?  And to Seattle, no less?  Wouldn't it be fun if USC had the nads to hire Mike Leach?  I would love to see those first class USC atheletes in the pirate offense.  And, as Oxey has asked, why in the wide world of sports would Tommy Tuberville take the Tech job?  He must really miss coaching.  Oxey and I discussed whether Tuberville, a defensive guy, will keep Riley, the Tech receivers coach who called the plays in the Alamo Bowl, and the Leach offense.  And I still am waiting to see who Sherman hires as defensive coordinator for A&M.

Rivalry Weekend

The Texas-A&M and Alabama-Auburn games exemplify why Thanksgiving weekend is the best weekend the in College Football season, better even than bowl week.  The Aggies shouldn't have had a chance but they played a great game; same for Auburn.  Tonight there is Fla State-Tebow, which I predict will NOT be like those other 2 games.  I think the Tebows will roll.  But before that, there is Okie St-OU (my pick: Okie St); Va Tech-Va (my pick: Va Tech); Georgia Tech-Georgia (my pick:  Tech); and many more.  Also, TCU takes on hapless New Mexico and though not a rivalry game, it is critical for TCU.  However, I don't think there is anything that TCU can do to get to the championship game.  Oxey suggests that if Texas loses to Nebraska next week, then TCU leaps Texas and goes to the championship game against the SEC winner.  Oxey also notes that both the offense and defense of TCU are in the top 5 in the country, unlike the Tebows, the Tide, and the Horns.  Interesting. 

Heisman:  criminal if McCoy doesn't win it.

Where the hell are we recruiting?

I am glad to see the Ags won. Especially against a team that has lost its last 8 road games, but, our star is Uzoma Nwachukwu?

Hardee-har-har

My dad would be ashamed of me today because I am relishing USC's loss to Washington, thereby being a really bad sport. (Dad encouraged us to demonstrate good sportsmanship--graciousness in both victory and defeat, etc. Personally I prefer bbljr's definition, which he shared with me when I was a child: being a good sport means "don't cheat". As you might expect, graciousness sometimes wasn't apparent in bbljr's play.) I don't know why I despise USC but I most assuredly do. I'd be happy if they never, ever won another game in any sport. Sorry, Pop.



As I am writing this, Va Tech just beat Nebraska coming from behind in a last minute drive. Unbelievably exciting, though I was for Nebraska.



Now the serious business begins and I must start tracking the Ags. In less than an hour, the Texas-Tech game begins, so I'll being watching that, tracking the Aggies on the computer, and finishing a fantastic book called "The Match" (which I will post about after completion. I know you can't wait for that.)

College Football: Week Whatever

Here is how you avoid college football frenzy: do NOT watch College Gameday on ESPN. After 2 hours of Chris. Lee, and Kirk, I'm fired up about games like Ball State-Army and Indiana-Akron. Ok, admittedly Corso can be a little hard to take but looking at Kirk makes up for it. So here are some of my predictions for today:

The Tebows stomp Tennessee
Notre Dame beats Michigan State, drat it
Cincinnati beats Oregon State (just cause)
Mormons over Seminoles
Hogs top Dawgs
Horns over Red Radars, with apologies to Dorko
Aggies over Mormonettes
Whomever over the Illini, with apologies to Drumski, unless the Illini are off, in which case it may be close

While waiting for the more interesting games to begin, I am watching Cal v. Minnesota and Minnesota ought to lose just because of their uniforms: one of the top five ugliest uniforms in the history of ever.

The Dorko Cometh

Greetings and salutations to Dorko the Humble, our newest contributor. A Red Radar from dusty Lubbock, Dorko will bring his sandy insights to our otherwise (mainly) maroon and orange blog. We are really glad to have you, Dorko, especially in light of the Texas-Tech matchup this weekend. Speaking of which, I kinda wish this matchup wasn't so early in the season. Last year I went to Lubbock for the game (though I didn't get a ticket and ended up watching it on t.v.) and being on campus before the game reminded me why I lurve college football. It was absolutely electric. There was so much on the line. This year, not so much. Have to say, I think the Horns will roll. And Dorko, what is up with Crabtree? You need to go out to California and shake some sense into him.

Later That Same Day

If I were sbaskind, I would be driving around Dallas aimlessly right about now, turning the radio off and on every 15 seconds, cussing at irksome drivers, wondering why oh why didn't I go to a school without a football program, say...Mt. Holyoke or (bbljr's favorite) Little Sisters of the Poor. Anywhere but UT, which is barely leading Wyoming at the half. But hey, sbaskind, LISTEN UP: UT will win this, so just fill up the tank, put in a Beatles disc, pick up a cherry coke at Sonic, and try to relax.

Tennesse and UCLA are tied at 10. Of course, I hate all of the pretty-boy California schools but I don't much like Tennesse either, though I like it better now that that fool, Phil Fulmer, is gone. Plus the Vols usually have excellent wide receivers and defensive linemen who are fun to watch.

Why don't they just change the Florida mascot to the "Tebows" and get it over with. By the way, final score: Tebows 56, Troy-the-school 6.

I would rather watch Little Sisters of the Poor play Abilene Christian College than watch Michigan-Notre Dame. Yuck.

Big 12 news: Nebraska killed Arkansas. I hope the Hogs stay dead until AFTER the Aggies play them on Oct. 3.

Remember last week when I said that OSU looked beatable? Well, Houston is beating the Cowboys, 24-14, early in the 3rd quarter. However, OSU scored on the opening drive of the 2nd half and it is far from over. But for the moment, I am a FOOTBALL GENIUS.

As Kip Dynamite would say, peace out.

Hurry Up and Wait

Week 2 of college football and already something is bugging me: I hate it when the offense goes to the line, the QB approaches the center, the defense sets, and then the entire offense stands and turns to the sideline for new signals! Ack! COME ON! I get that the coaches want to see how the defense is lining up but this tactic is a total momentum killer...and a crashing bore for the viewers. I am, however, a big fan of the hurry-up or no huddle offense, and I think it is much more effective at keeping the defense confused. Yes, the hurry-up takes more discipline on the part of the offense but so what. Right now I am watching Troy (the school, not Aikman, though Troy-the-Aikman would have about as much chance as Troy-the-school) play Florida and Troy is using the annoying "look to the sidelines" strategy. Last week it was OSU using it against Georgia, if I recall correctly. Just makes me want to turn the channel. Unfortunately, my choices are lame (I was watching Iowa-Iowa St.---got to check out the Big 12, doncha know---but is was some kind of ugly football). Might have to go the Central Mich-Mich St game, which I could not care less about. Some good games later in the day, though, so I will just have to suffer my way through this b.s.

Big 12 Rocks it in Week One

With one ginormous exception, all Big 12 teams playing yesterday won. The exception? OU. Say what? Of course, the SEC did well, too, with only Georgia losing (to the Big 12's OSU). Apropos of nothing, SMU and North Texas won, also.

Saturday Observations

Sorry, Drumski, but the Illini looked B-A-D today. Yikes. Am now watching OSU v. Georgia. Close game, so sorta fun. Georgia has a good D, but offensively shot itself in the foot, repeatedly. OSU looks beatable to me; in other words, still a second-tier Big 12 team (though it looks like OSU is going to win this one). At halftime of the Ohio State-Navy game, Lou Holtz said that Charlie...uh, whats-his-name...of Notre Dame is the most underrated football coach in the country. Think about that one. Gotta go but looking forward to OU v. BYU tonight. Admittedly, I have mixed feelings. Since my team is in the Big 12, I generally cheer for Big 12 teams, because I want the conference to look good. But I HATE, HATE, HATE OU, and though Stoops is good (I guess), I don't like him much either, arrogant ass that he is. Of course, I don't like BYU either (flashback to A&M playing BYU in a bowl game and separating both of Ty Detmer's shoulders). So go Sooners, I guess, sorta (but if they lose...YAY!)

Oh, the Antici...pation

College football starts tomorrow! (Ok, so it started yesterday, but that doesn't count. I watched a little of the S. Carolina v. N.C. State game, hoping to see Spurrier get his rear kicked. Didn't happen, drat it.) But the real stuff happens tomorrow: Georgia v. OSU, OU v. BYU, Texas v. a direction in Louisiana, and...drumroll please...Texas A&M v. New Mexico. I just love, love, love college football. In fact, I lurve college football, lurve being several degrees stronger than love, like turning it up to 11. So...gig 'em and hook 'em and grill 'em and cook 'em. BOOLEY rules!