Rites of Autumn

Game of the Week? For Illini Nation it is in Champaign-Urbana!

Some folks may say it is taking place in Autzen Stadium.  Others may say it is in Tampa tonight.  For those of us who are "Illini," the game of the year is in Memorial Stadium on the beautiful campus of the University of Illinois.  Yea, I am not happy that the Chief will not be seen tomorrow.  Political correctness gone bad with that move.  But it has been since 1993 that the Illini were 1-0 in the Big 10.  For those of you who are shaking your head, that is correct.  Our youngest, who is now a sophomore at Iowa, was 5 the last time the Illini went into a Big Ten game with one win and NO losses.  Just got off the phone with some of the folks we will be tailgating with; the town is alive and well and Penn State motorhomes can be seen all over town.   Can't wait to get there.

Don't know what to think of Penn State.  Their schedule has been soft and they did not look good last week at Ann Arbor.  But then you go back to the bowl game last year and they were pretty "salty" against Rocky Top.  Illinois has played a tougher schedule although not by much.  So who wins tomorrow is a mystery to me.  But I do know that I will be there with the Orange and Blue on, hoping we finally win one against the Paterno boyz.  Coach Zook and the team will be in the stands if we win.  I emailed him 2 years ago after the 63-10 pasting of the Illini by Penn State his first year.  He emailed back Sunday morning early and said it was unacceptable and that they were going back to work to get better. 

Cal @ Oregon

This is the game I'd like to be at this weekend.  I've seen Oregon in person; Jeremiah Johnson is the real deal.  Jonathon Stewart is a load also.  Dixon doesn't like to get hit and if they keep him "clean" then I think Cal could be in for a long day.  Cal has to play the perfect game to win on the road in probably one of the loudest venues in the country.  For some reason, I think they can get it done with Mr. Jackson continuing to look like a Heisman candidate.  The young Bear RB's rushing for 200 yards gives Cal the way to win on the road.  Cal Bears in a shootout, 49-45.

Our "Hawkeye" in her days of Orange and Blue.  Picture taken in 1991, the last time the Illini started the Big 10 season, 2-0.  She will be in the first 2 rows of the student section Kinnick South, tomorrow, when Iowa takes on Indiana for homecoming.  She says the Hawks win easily over the Hoosiers...

RIVALSflag in the desert

Friends of ours in Arizona sent this pic of their Michigan RIVALSflag flying in Arizona.  Mike and Connie are die hard Michigan fans; they are retired and now live in Arizona.  I am envious, Mike lives on a golf course and plays all the time.  They are originally from Michigan and were season ticket folks for the Maize and Blue.  They watched my 2 times to the Big House end in utter futility.  We got smoked from the opening kick in both.  Kind of what Oregon did to Michigan when I was up there 2 weeks ago is how we took it on the chin.  Monster game for the Wolverines tomorrow against Penn State.  The winner gets to continue a run at Wisconsin and Ohio State for the Big 10 title.  The loser's road will be a lot tougher.  I imagine that flag has a Penn State banner on it today  Thanks for the pic Mike and Connie...

Send in your photos of your RIVALSflag and we'll get them in a post or in the Road Album!

SEC thriller, another Saturday night?

Akabama's win over Arkansas cannot be underestimated.  They jumped on them early and went into cruise control.  Then after 2 terrible turnovers, they find themselves down by 7 with 6 minutes to go.  They were still able to crank it back up and make 2 drives and a defensive stop.  Impressive especially since the Razorbacks have such a pounding running game.  Alabama has a freshman playing middle LB'er that is pretty good now but give him a few more games.  Watch for him, #25 in the middle. He looks like a defensive end (6'5" 268) and runs like a strong safety. 

Now comes Georgia, already 0-1 in the SEC thanks to the Old Ball Coach.  They will be hungry and a little desperate; they go down 0-2 in the SEC East and things don't get any easier.  Florida looms large and there are other SEC teams that will take their shot at the Bulldogs (Auburn but they have their own problems right now).  We will know a lot more about the SEC West and East after Saturday night.  Expect a great one Saturday night in Bryant town.  Who do you like and why?

RoA

Week3, What do we know?

There are 4 really good teams (OU, LSU, USC and FLA) and one really bad team, ND. 

The 4 metioned as really good are ALL really good.  Don't know how you differentiate between them?  There are some other teams that are good but we're not quite sure yet (Cal, WVU, Alabama, Ohio State, WIsconsin, Penn State, Oregon).

I played on some offensively challenged teams at Illinois but after 3 games we could have fallen forward and had more than 19 rushing yards which is ND's total. (I know sacks are taken off the total but STILL?).  Something is going on there as far as chemistry and effort; they have shown neither to this point.  Why?

If I had to pick right now who is going to be in the NC game, well I couldn't do it.  There is still a whole lot of football to be played.  And that is the beauty of college football...and we'll be watching from home or in the stands.

RoA

Know a lot more after this weekend...

Some monster games in the SEC as well as some intersectional games that will tell us a lot.  Here they are with my commentary (what it is worth):

#1 USC at Nebraska

I'm not buying it yet that USC is not that good.  The opener was a scrimmage to work on some things, LIVE.  I expect the USC defense to win this one.  Not so sure Big Red will be able to run the ball and once the USC front four can focus on the pass rush with Pete Carroll's blitz packages, it could be another long night for Sam Keller against the Trojans.  Only way Nebraska stays in it is with turnovers.

Tennessee at Florida SEC East

Until Florida is beaten, they are National Champs and I think they may have better QB play with Tebow.  Tennessee has proven that they are not road warriors.  The Swamp will be hot, humid and LOUD.  Florida makes it look easy with a lot of offensive pressure on Rockytop's D.

Arkansas at Alabama

Bryant Denny will be alive for the first "big game" of the Saban era.   Arkansas won last year, that was last year.  Bama stays undefeated, with continued inspired play in front of the home folks from all phases of the game. 

Ohio State at Washington

The game probably comes down to Washington's O line holding up against the Buckeye front 7.  If Washington can run the football their chances for the "upset" are greatly enhanced.  I think they can and go into conference play undefeated.  Overall team speed and the road are too much for the Buckeyes to overcome.

Fresno State at Oregon

This one should be closer than most think but in the end Oregon finds a way to win in Autzen and goes into Pac 10 play undefeated.

The Pac 10 has been the surprise of the first 2 weeks in my mind.  You have 5 teams that will probably go into conference play undefeated (Arizona State, Oregon, Cal, UCLA, and USC).

Off to Gameday...

RoA

Devine is FINE!

If you didn't get a chance to watch West Virginia last night, their freshman RB Noel Devine was very, very impressive.  WVU runs the perfect offense for his skills and did those skills ever show last night.  His stats were something; 136 yards in five attempts.  Only a mere 27 yards per carry.  Don't get me wrong, Slaton is still the man but WVU has something in this new kid.  I'm happy for him, he had a tough life growing up without parents and to see the kid have some success just warms your heart.  Unless you are an opponent of WVU.

Historic Michigan Loss and more

Well, I wrote a post last night when I got home at midnight but deleted it.  What can be said other than Michigan got beat yesterday by a more talented team.  Historic in that a loss of that nature had not been endured in A2 for 40 some years.  They were beaten in all phases of the game physically.  Plain and simple, Oregon ran faster, tackled harder, and blocked better all day.  I left midway through the 3rd quarter; the frosh QB was not riding in on a white horse and saving Michigan this day.

Listened to the LSU game on the drive home.  Made it look easy against Va Tech.    That defense from the Bayou is the REAL DEAL.

With how the first 2 weeks have played out it looks like this to me.  The PAC 10 champion is going to be battle tested with having to play everyone in their conference.  The schedule does not favor the #1 team in the land with road dates at Cal, at ASU, at Washington, and at Oregon.  And LSU is a ton from the SEC but Florida looms large...Gators and the Volunteers next weekend in an early SEC East monster game.

Oklahoma/Texas game may put the winner into the mix for the National Title.  They both were impressive in their respective games this weekend.  The Red River Shootout looms large for RIVALSflag also.  Dick's Sporting Goods is taking RIVALSflag to the game in their mobile store.  Wish me luck, both flags look awesome.

Ohio State at Washington this coming weeked looks to be a real test for the Buckeyes after 2 pretty easy non-conference contests.  Like I said, I've been very impressed with what I have seen from the Pac 10 so far this season.  Dennis Ericson has them playing in the "oven" of Tempe and with all those home games and an experienced QB?

Had a great time going to the Big House (just as I remembered only spruced up a bit); seat was great, on the 40 yard line 4 rows behind the Michigan bench.  Met some folks from Oregon and Michigan that were outstanding to talk to at the tailgate.  Bad day at Black Rock for the Wolverines and their faithful but it's always an outstanding environment to be in on gameday...

RoA

Nostalgia "Rains" on a Wednesday Night

Finally getting some rain around these parts.  Just finished a set of music DVD's featuring Marshall Tucker, Lynard Skynard, Bruce, Jackson Browne and The Band's "The Last Waltz."  God it is hell to get old.  I miss the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team as I miss The Bear kicking tail on the SEC.  Keith Jackson calling a Saturday afternoon college game can never be replaced.  Or Dale Earnhart or Muhammad Ali.  I miss Bo and Woody going at each other for the Big 10 title or seeing Earl Campbell running through some DB from SMU.  I usually get this way in the late summer/early fall when I go out and try to run to stay in shape.  Five knee surgeries and degenerative knees always let me know that try as I might, to keep on going will mean hobbling for days.  And just bring on those knee replacements just a little sooner than me or the doc had planned.  Golf and tailgating are now my sports.  I miss those college days when the girls were pretty and Frank Sinatra belted out "My Way" on the jukebox at Kams (Illinois grads will know what I am talking about, a great watering hole just off the Quad on campus).  I miss those Friday afternoon walkthroughs and the anticipation of the competition the next day; Mom's postgame meals were something to behold and she fed everyone parked close to our motorhome for hours.  I miss seeing Kirk Gibson wearing #23 for the Michigan State Spartans lope gracefully as he burns us for another touchdown or #7 Rick Leach of the Michigan Wolverines running the option to perfection in the Big House on a bright sunny day.  I love my family and hope for great things ahead but in my mind my best days are probably behind me.  Bending into a huddle on the road with the crowd screaming wildly I would always look across the elongated circle and would meet eyes with our tight end, Mike Sherrod.  Whenever the play would be mine he never failed in saying, "Come on baby, pound that rock."  I miss those days.  I guess that is why I am so passionate about the college game.  Those days were not so good in wins and losses but god did we have some fun. Returning to campuses all over this great land I see kids doing pretty much the same thing.  And it takes me back if just for an instant.  Maybe I am in the "proverbial midlife crisis" or something like that but what I do know is, that the older I get, the more that youth of mine was a damn beautiful thing...

So who is going to surprise someone this weekend?  I think Boise State will be in for a game at Washington this Saturday.  In fact I like the Huskies to surprise the nation and be 2-0 when the Buckeyes come calling on September 15.

RoA

Big Boys Kick it off tomorrow...

The NFL kicks off the 07 season tomorrow night.  Who is going to be the Super Bowl Champions?  I know we are trying to get a license to produce a "pro version" of RIVALSflag; any big boy football fans out there want to tell us what would be your teams biggest rival.  I watch the NFL but am not as passionate about it as I am the college game but do enjoy it.  Being from Illinois there are SO many Bear fans and I'd have to think they would want the Packers as their main rival.  Then again, maybe not.  So you tell us who is your team and what team you would want as the rival on your team's RIVALSflag.

Say it Ain't So Bo, Part Deux

This guy puts it all in perspective for those who all they can do is RIP on Michigan's coaching staff and players.

Posted by jackthewolverine on Sep 02, 2007 12:29 PM

How can the fans even call themselves fans? No other team in the nation has such fairweather fans than Michigan. I don't care who you are or what team you cheer for, if it is YOUR team, it is your team to stand by in wins and losses. Last fall when we killed Notre Dame on their field, their fans were all there at the end singing their fight song and showing their appreciation for the boys on the field. I would rate our fans with a D. Our cheers are boring, un-creative, and un-original. I know we played badly, in many respects, and we were outright beaten fair and square, but how dare fans sit up comfortably in the stands putting down the program! If fans think what is going on is so horrible, I would like to see any one of them get themselves on the field or even go through one practice that those guys go through and see if they come out alive. Or even try to balance taking classes, playing football, and maintaining some semblance of a social life when you are only age 18-23 and see how easy that is. What are those guys on the field playing for? They live for their fans and they give their bodies up everyday for our petty enjoyment and it is all for nothing when they are booed off of the field. We are the winningest program in college football history, have some f-ing loyalty!!! Those players are more than random guys on the team, they are people too, just like us and they need our support now more than ever. Think about it, can you truly call yourself a Michigan fan with all that that implies? For most people in that stadium, I'm afraid the answer is no. There were some, but far too few. Keep our boys' heads up, show your support, and believe in them and the program. If nothing else, just have some respect for them as people. -- Go Blue

Well said jackthewolverine...