Off the mat
posted by LW, Friday, October 23, 2009
Picked Florida State to win last night knowing it wasn't the brightest idea in the world.
There were one or two or 20 reasons to go against the Seminoles.
It was a Thursday night, and the home team rarely loses on Thursday night.
Butch Davis had an extra two weeks to prepare his team for his one, factoring in an open date and an easy win over I-AA Georgia Southern.
The Coastal Division has towered over the Atlantic thus far, winning every game against its counterpart.
And, oh yeah: Those Seminoles appeared to be in the tank after a home loss to Georgia Tech saddled them with their third straight defeat.
But some of us are smarter than the rest of you. Some of us fearlessly pick an upset and relentlessly stand behind that pick, even when our pick is down 18 points and playing positively putrid football.
There was never a doubt in my mind.
Yeah, right.
Can't say I saw that one coming.
I'd be willing to bet that teams that complete a 98-yard touchdown pass win 98 percent of the games in which those plays occur. Maybe Clemson stat man Tim Bourret can dig up that one for me.
Now the obvious question: Can Florida State ... still win the division?
The remaining games: N.C. State, at Clemson, at Wake Forest, Maryland.
I'm certainly not saying it's gonna happen. But if the Noles (1-3 ACC) beat the Wolfies in Tallahassee, the Nov. 7 trip to Death Valley looms as fairly monumental.
Or as monumental as games can get in the Atlantic Division.
Here's the game story from the Tallahassee Democrat.
Good grief, how much has Christian Ponder grown from his erratic 2008 season?
"I wouldn't trade my guy for anyone in America," FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. "He's tough. He competes. He does everything a quarterback does."
In the Orlando Sentinel, a column that reeks of being written when the score was 24-6, and then hastily re-written after the comeback.
Gotta love those newspaper deadlines.
It reminds me of the 2004 Georgia Tech-Clemson game, the one where the Jackets surmounted a 24-14 deficit in the last couple of minutes and won 28-24 thanks in large part to that bad punt snap.
That game started at 8 p.m. and ended really, really late. I've never seen so many reporters, who'd been writing the "Clemson wins" story, scrambling to figure out what the heck happened so they could write it and make deadline.
It was the most clueless I've ever felt at the end of a game. And I can be pretty clueless.
Here's a column on last night's game from Ed Hardin of the Greensboro News & Record.
These two paragraphs pretty much sum everything up:
Thursday night, against a team FSU has dominated for years, the Seminole coaches screamed at players and referees for much of the game, yelled into headphones and gestured to each other as North Carolina ran away with the game. And then suddenly, out of the disorder came a calming influence over a team that has long fed on pandemonium.
FSU, making foolish penalties to the very end, ran down squeamish North Carolina in the yellow glow of an odd night in Kenan. In winning a game it had no business winning, the Seminoles gave the old man another win and waved off the vultures for at least another week.
Good story here in The State on the old Big Thursday games in Columbia.
Quoted in the story is Jimmy Howard, primarily known for being the son of the late Frank Howard. And also known for offering the coldest beer in Clemson at the Sloan Street Tap Room.
Great place. Just don't dare try using their restroom. It's uh, old-school. Meaning, it probably hasn't been cleaned since Clemson last won the ACC.
Maybe someone lost a bet or something...
Also in The State, a story on Billy Napier's familiarity with Miami defensive coordinator John Lovett, under whom he served as a grad assistant in 2004.
Interesting story in the Post and Courier on fewer high school prospects leaving the state of Florida.
The most likely reason:
While some of the decline can be traced to recruiting strategy -- including Chuck Amato and his ties to Florida vacating N.C. State -- another major factor is four Florida universities joining the Football Bowl Subdivision since 2001: South Florida, Central Florida, Florida International and Florida Atlantic.
South Florida has ascended the quickest, joining the Big East, and earning a ranking as high as No. 2 in 2007.
Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier said South Florida has challenged Clemson for recruits, and some see the Bulls on a similar track as Florida State in the late 1970s under Bobby Bowden -- FSU, which South Florida defeated this season.
"With South Florida, Central Florida, (Florida Atlantic) and (Florida International), there are a lot more options for kids to stay," Butch Davis said. "There are enough athletes that it's enticing, not only for ACC schools, but probably about every conference in the country prudently tries to recruit in the state of Florida.
"But it's become tougher."
Story in the Greenville News on Michael Palmer.
His skill and intelligence were quickly evident and as a freshman Palmer played in all 13 games, started three.
“He had no business starting as a freshman at 225 pounds,” Dabo Swinney said. “He’s just that smart. He understands it.
“I don’t even know if he could throw a spiral, but I would bet money he could go and play quarterback for us. That he could operate and function.
“He cares about winning as much as any kid I’ve coached.”
Looks like Randy Shannon has not been happy with his team's play of late.
Looks like the Canes are relatively healthy.
Emphasis on "relatively."
Interesting piece on Jacoby Ford and Miami's recruitment of him.
Four years ago, the University of Miami offered Jacoby Ford a scholarship. But it wasn't the type of scholarship he wanted.
The Hurricanes offered a track scholarship and Ford, a two-sport star at Cardinal Newman, wanted one in football.
The Hurricanes didn't budge and neither did Ford, who signed with Clemson where he's developed into one of the conference's most dangerous receivers and kick returners.
"I came really close to going there," Ford said of UM.
Good story here on Chris Chancellor from the Miami Herald.
It was going to be a happy return home for the senior and Thorpe Award candidate until what happened at the University of Connecticut this past weekend. Now, Chancellor is not only coming home to see his family and former coach, but also to bury and honor one of his closest friends, former Miami Edison High teammate Jasper Howard, who was stabbed to death early Sunday during a skirmish after a dance on the UConn campus in Storrs, Conn.
``It's going to be very emotional coming back to Miami -- he's going to be on my mind,'' said Chancellor, who got permission from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and teammate Jacoby Ford to wear Howard's No. 6 Saturday.
``It's going to be very joyful to celebrate the life of Jazz.''
Rest in peace, Mr. Howard.
LW
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Picked Florida State to win last night knowing it wasn't the brightest idea in the world.
There were one or two or 20 reasons to go against the Seminoles.
It was a Thursday night, and the home team rarely loses on Thursday night.
Butch Davis had an extra two weeks to prepare his team for his one, factoring in an open date and an easy win over I-AA Georgia Southern.
The Coastal Division has towered over the Atlantic thus far, winning every game against its counterpart.
And, oh yeah: Those Seminoles appeared to be in the tank after a home loss to Georgia Tech saddled them with their third straight defeat.
But some of us are smarter than the rest of you. Some of us fearlessly pick an upset and relentlessly stand behind that pick, even when our pick is down 18 points and playing positively putrid football.
There was never a doubt in my mind.
Yeah, right.
Can't say I saw that one coming.
I'd be willing to bet that teams that complete a 98-yard touchdown pass win 98 percent of the games in which those plays occur. Maybe Clemson stat man Tim Bourret can dig up that one for me.
Now the obvious question: Can Florida State ... still win the division?
The remaining games: N.C. State, at Clemson, at Wake Forest, Maryland.
I'm certainly not saying it's gonna happen. But if the Noles (1-3 ACC) beat the Wolfies in Tallahassee, the Nov. 7 trip to Death Valley looms as fairly monumental.
Or as monumental as games can get in the Atlantic Division.
Here's the game story from the Tallahassee Democrat.
Good grief, how much has Christian Ponder grown from his erratic 2008 season?
"I wouldn't trade my guy for anyone in America," FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. "He's tough. He competes. He does everything a quarterback does."
In the Orlando Sentinel, a column that reeks of being written when the score was 24-6, and then hastily re-written after the comeback.
Gotta love those newspaper deadlines.
It reminds me of the 2004 Georgia Tech-Clemson game, the one where the Jackets surmounted a 24-14 deficit in the last couple of minutes and won 28-24 thanks in large part to that bad punt snap.
That game started at 8 p.m. and ended really, really late. I've never seen so many reporters, who'd been writing the "Clemson wins" story, scrambling to figure out what the heck happened so they could write it and make deadline.
It was the most clueless I've ever felt at the end of a game. And I can be pretty clueless.
Here's a column on last night's game from Ed Hardin of the Greensboro News & Record.
These two paragraphs pretty much sum everything up:
Thursday night, against a team FSU has dominated for years, the Seminole coaches screamed at players and referees for much of the game, yelled into headphones and gestured to each other as North Carolina ran away with the game. And then suddenly, out of the disorder came a calming influence over a team that has long fed on pandemonium.
FSU, making foolish penalties to the very end, ran down squeamish North Carolina in the yellow glow of an odd night in Kenan. In winning a game it had no business winning, the Seminoles gave the old man another win and waved off the vultures for at least another week.
Good story here in The State on the old Big Thursday games in Columbia.
Quoted in the story is Jimmy Howard, primarily known for being the son of the late Frank Howard. And also known for offering the coldest beer in Clemson at the Sloan Street Tap Room.
Great place. Just don't dare try using their restroom. It's uh, old-school. Meaning, it probably hasn't been cleaned since Clemson last won the ACC.
Maybe someone lost a bet or something...
Also in The State, a story on Billy Napier's familiarity with Miami defensive coordinator John Lovett, under whom he served as a grad assistant in 2004.
Interesting story in the Post and Courier on fewer high school prospects leaving the state of Florida.
The most likely reason:
While some of the decline can be traced to recruiting strategy -- including Chuck Amato and his ties to Florida vacating N.C. State -- another major factor is four Florida universities joining the Football Bowl Subdivision since 2001: South Florida, Central Florida, Florida International and Florida Atlantic.
South Florida has ascended the quickest, joining the Big East, and earning a ranking as high as No. 2 in 2007.
Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier said South Florida has challenged Clemson for recruits, and some see the Bulls on a similar track as Florida State in the late 1970s under Bobby Bowden -- FSU, which South Florida defeated this season.
"With South Florida, Central Florida, (Florida Atlantic) and (Florida International), there are a lot more options for kids to stay," Butch Davis said. "There are enough athletes that it's enticing, not only for ACC schools, but probably about every conference in the country prudently tries to recruit in the state of Florida.
"But it's become tougher."
Story in the Greenville News on Michael Palmer.
His skill and intelligence were quickly evident and as a freshman Palmer played in all 13 games, started three.
“He had no business starting as a freshman at 225 pounds,” Dabo Swinney said. “He’s just that smart. He understands it.
“I don’t even know if he could throw a spiral, but I would bet money he could go and play quarterback for us. That he could operate and function.
“He cares about winning as much as any kid I’ve coached.”
Looks like Randy Shannon has not been happy with his team's play of late.
Looks like the Canes are relatively healthy.
Emphasis on "relatively."
Interesting piece on Jacoby Ford and Miami's recruitment of him.
Four years ago, the University of Miami offered Jacoby Ford a scholarship. But it wasn't the type of scholarship he wanted.
The Hurricanes offered a track scholarship and Ford, a two-sport star at Cardinal Newman, wanted one in football.
The Hurricanes didn't budge and neither did Ford, who signed with Clemson where he's developed into one of the conference's most dangerous receivers and kick returners.
"I came really close to going there," Ford said of UM.
Good story here on Chris Chancellor from the Miami Herald.
It was going to be a happy return home for the senior and Thorpe Award candidate until what happened at the University of Connecticut this past weekend. Now, Chancellor is not only coming home to see his family and former coach, but also to bury and honor one of his closest friends, former Miami Edison High teammate Jasper Howard, who was stabbed to death early Sunday during a skirmish after a dance on the UConn campus in Storrs, Conn.
``It's going to be very emotional coming back to Miami -- he's going to be on my mind,'' said Chancellor, who got permission from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and teammate Jacoby Ford to wear Howard's No. 6 Saturday.
``It's going to be very joyful to celebrate the life of Jazz.''
Rest in peace, Mr. Howard.
LW
For questions or comments on this blog entry, please visit The West Zone message board.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
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