Sports-Related Thoughts
[Guest post by DRJ]
I had two sports-related thoughts today, one of which I read online and the other that just occurred to me.
First, from the LA Times sports blog:
“[H]ere’s how wacky this season already is:
Arizona State did not play Saturday but got four merit-raises to advance to No. 4 in the BCS standings. In the USA Today coaches’ poll, Arizona State moon-hopped from No. 12 to No. 7. The Sun Devils jumped over USC, which cheapened itself with a crushing 38-0 win over Notre Dame.
It’s come to this: Playing nobody is better than beating Notre Dame.”
Ouch.
Second, something that just occurred to me:
I was discussing exercise with a friend and then I realized – you’re definitely getting older when your idea of working out is going to physical therapy … and you like it.
Ouch again.
— DRJ
For the first bit, my father will be ammused.
He’s a Kansas State fan…
Scott Jacobs (425810) — 10/23/2007 @ 8:22 am“It’s come to this: Playing nobody is better than beating Notre Dame.”
And they wonder why schools run up the score, leaving their first string offenses on the field attempting 75-yard pass plays in the 4th quarter in blowouts.
USC loses position because they shut out Notre Dame by “only” 38 points.
Paul (146bba) — 10/23/2007 @ 8:33 amThough it be fair, it isn’t the winning team’s job to keep the score down…
Scott Jacobs (425810) — 10/23/2007 @ 8:44 amWasn’t it Bear Bryant who went into a 4th quarter holding a 45-0 lead and gave the team a pep-talk consisting of “Don’t hold up, boys. God only knows what they’ll come up with this quarter”?
Techie (c003f1) — 10/23/2007 @ 9:20 amHaving just seen the Eagles blow it in the last 2 minutes I really identify with the Ouch part.
driver (faae10) — 10/23/2007 @ 11:32 amBear was right, Techie. Remember Houston-Buffalo?
DRJ (fb1a22) — 10/23/2007 @ 11:37 amRemember Houston-Buffalo?
That 38-point rally overtime win by Buffalo happened not only because of Frank Reich cementing his reputation as the Greatest Comeback Quarterback in History (for a time, Reich owned the biggest comeback rallies in both college and NFL history) but because Houston stupidly didn’t shorten the game by running the ball. Houston QB Warren Moon threw a bunch of incompletions, stopping the clock each time. Had Houston simply pounded the ball with their two primary running back system during the second half (throwing a pass every now and then to keep the Buffalo linebackers and secondary honest) Buffalo would not have had enough time to score 35 points.
And I think you guys are missing my point: I am talking about running up the score when it’s obvious that there is not enough time for a comeback; like running 75-yard pass plays when the clock is under 5 minutes in the 4th quarter.
Paul (146bba) — 10/23/2007 @ 11:56 amI forgot to add “while up 38-0.”
Paul (146bba) — 10/23/2007 @ 11:58 amPaul,
Houston led 35-3. Few remember that the Bills actually took 38-35 late lead and the Oilers managed to kick a field goal in the final seconds to send the game into overtime.
aunursa (1b5bad) — 10/23/2007 @ 12:24 pmPaul,
I get your point but big comeback games are fun to talk about, too. Dallas’ Roger Staubach (and his sub Clint Longley in a Thanksgiving Redskins game), countless Steelers, Packers, Colts, and 49ers games – not to mention a million AFC games, and too many college games to even remember them all (except Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary, of course). But nothing beats the Plano East-Tyler John Tyler 1994 high school football game where Plano trailed 41-17 with 3 minutes left but scored on 4 straight possessions to take the lead 43-41 with only 24 seconds left in regulation. Despite that, Plano East lost the game when the Tyler John Tyler kick returner returned the kickoff for 98 yards and a touchdown. Isn’t football great?
DRJ (fb1a22) — 10/23/2007 @ 12:28 pmUSC lost ground because their strength of schedule in the computers dropped alot when Notre Dame was added, as well as with Nebraska losing (again, and again….even the famed “Black Shirts” stopped wearing their shirts in shame of their defense)….
reff (bff229) — 10/23/2007 @ 12:38 pmFew remember that the Bills actually took 38-35 late lead and the Oilers managed to kick a field goal in the final seconds to send the game into overtime.
Correct. But if Houston had run the ball more to shorten the game, that late field goal wouldn’t have been necessary.
Paul (146bba) — 10/23/2007 @ 12:43 pmDRJ, if we’re going to talk about comebacks, we have to include the infamous Heidi game. That Oakland Raider comeback over the New York Jets in 1968 is why networks delay regularly scheduled television programming until the game is over. Not just football, either.
Paul (146bba) — 10/23/2007 @ 12:48 pmtoo many college games to even remember them all (except Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary, of course)
And the 1982 Cal-Stanford game featuring The Play. How many games can you recall that had two lead changes in the final five seconds?
aunursa (3f1fc9) — 10/23/2007 @ 8:18 pmThe agony and the ecstasy of college and professional football … but great memories for fans.
DRJ (fb1a22) — 10/23/2007 @ 9:36 pm