Thursday night football open thread
I'm headed out to the USF/Cincy game. It is almost a sellout, which is extremely rare down here, and should be a great game. I was able to get a ticket inside the forty for $35 from ticketmaster; I only mention this because I remember how difficult and expensive it is to get those kind of tix at the Big House.
Cincy has beaten USF three times in a row, and USF won't be taking them lightly. In addition, USF's DC, Joe Tresey, was fired last year by Cincy coach Brian Kelly. This is reminiscent of ND having first Greg Mattison and now Corwin Brown on their staff to help them against UM, or Jon Gruden's dismantling of Oakland in the Super Bowl; there is a lot of potential for the game to be affected by inside info. In addition, a Cincy WR insulted Tresey this week, saying his coaches are "licking their chops" to face Tresey.
For UM fans, there is ex-UM recruit BJ Daniels, who could have really helped at UM last year, leading USF and really not skipping a beat after replacing injured Matt Grothe.
This game has a little something for everyone, and should be an entertaining way for football fans to spend Thursday night.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:39 PM ^
be an exciting game - both offenses have some firepower, but I think Cinci will be too much for S.Fla to handle.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:42 PM ^
Cincy is -1, -2, -2.5, and -3 on the boards I've checked. Most O/U's are around 49.
I'm not sure what to take on this. USF has surprised a couple teams even without Grothe. Add that it's at South Florida, and I'm just stuck.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:44 PM ^
is that I like the over.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:53 PM ^
I want to get the Nielson ratings on this game once it's over. This has the potential to be the best Thursday game we see this season. Very smart scheduling by the AD's and the Big East.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:30 PM ^
There's been some solid games already:
Week 1
Blount Punch in Oregon @ Boise State
Week 2
GT defeats Clemson
Week 3
Miami blew out GT
Week 4
SoCar upsets Ole Miss
Week 5
Stretching it for Colorado's 11 point loss to WVU
Week 6
Nebraska scores 27 in the 4th quarter to win 27-12 in heavy rain
Week 7
This current game
Skip down to Texas & Texas A&M for Thanksgiving, and then finish it off with Oregon & Oregon State.
Some of those games early one the schedule are pretty tough to top.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:58 PM ^
[edit: meant as reply @ Jim Harbaugh Scramble]
No doubt that Cincy has been a nice team this year and have had some nice wins, but the Bulls will be the best team they have played this year. National spot light game...I don't think Cicny has played in a spot like this recently.
Now, Cincy's offense is pass heavy and is the sort of offense that if you dont click fuggetaboutit. South Fla's D is pretty friggin good.
On the flip, South Florida is a run heavy, ball control type offense. Cicny's run D has been pretty solid but I think they've been putting people away pretty early and making them pass to get back in, so maybe their run D is a little inflated right now. Good D + ball control is a proven plan for an upset.
I'll still take Florida St. (SFla's best win) over Oregon St. and Fresno St. (Cincy's best wins). Not b/c those teams arent aiight, but Florida St has played a BRUTAL schedual this year--lost to Miami (FL) close, beat a cupcake, killed BYU, lost to South Florida, lost to Boston College on the road, lost to Georgia Tech close. That's not a bad 2-4.
I like SoFla FTW but I'll take +3 too.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:05 PM ^
on Thurday November 26, I would think that game would draw the biggest TV audience for a Thursday game.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:07 PM ^
I'm really liking the Natty here.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:46 PM ^
BJ Daniels is an exciting player to watch, and USF's defensive line is going to get into the backfield and rough Tony Pike up. Hopeful thinking on my part? Never.
USF 34-31.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:48 PM ^
Not in this game in particular, but you gotta love a program that is just invented like in play station 3 and is ranked like 3 years later. Fun to watch, cool uniforms, pretty cool coach, (though obnoxious at times), one of my favorite non UM teams.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:01 PM ^
I have a feeling there will be some Michigan fans out there tonight saying to themselves "damn, we almost had BJ Daniels".
October 15th, 2009 at 6:15 PM ^
Well we would of had him, but his dad or Daniels wanted money from RichRod.
October 15th, 2009 at 7:44 PM ^
I remember these vague murmurs when we suddenly fell off his radar, who actually came up with this theory/information?
That being said, I'm excited to see him play tonight...
October 15th, 2009 at 6:27 PM ^
I am on the Bulls plus the points....always take the underdog when two 5-0 teams or better play each other in the regular season.
October 15th, 2009 at 7:31 PM ^
BJ Daniels just looks big.
KO time.
October 15th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^
listening to Lou Holtz and Mark May speak.
October 15th, 2009 at 7:51 PM ^
Thpit flyin everywhere.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:01 PM ^
That field looks worse than UM's old grass surface.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:12 PM ^
Jessie Palmer (I think) just said something like "the Tate Forciers of the world" in regard to freshmen not being nervous. Interesting that even nationally his force is recognized.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:18 PM ^
i think they are better than their #21 rank indicates
October 15th, 2009 at 8:18 PM ^
I wonder if USF is paying or has paid BJ? I wonder how much of that RR rumor is true??
October 15th, 2009 at 8:26 PM ^
Doubtful considering the school's most likely tiny endowment. I bet the coaching staff is probably just having someone do his homework for him.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:27 PM ^
Hey Shredder - I hadn't heard the B.J. Daniels rumor you're referring to. Do you have a link or a synopsis?
October 15th, 2009 at 8:26 PM ^
That last possession with three straight lousy passes was terrible.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:27 PM ^
he has some solid but not elite level speed - nice tackle by Cinci, just avoided a horse collar.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:30 PM ^
Cincy's looking craptastic right now.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:33 PM ^
Jinxed it
October 15th, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
Sorry
October 15th, 2009 at 8:33 PM ^
on that return - way to set up your blockers!
Bad throw.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:33 PM ^
MO just did a 180.
Let's see if USF can answer.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:34 PM ^
After that super long return to setup the TD pass, it's now 10-7.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:34 PM ^
Cincinasty all the way against USF.
1) Midwest, plus Brian Kelly coached in Michigan (then again, so does Mark D-Bag).
2) The state of Florida (other than our recruits)
3) Jim Leavitt is kind of a douchebag who can't handle assistants leaving him. Plus there are some shady dealings around USF, namely the allegations that athletes were cheating in school by having other people do their schoolwork for them.
4) Mardy Gilyard. There's something I like about him. Part of it has to do with this, even if the kid was wearing Buckeye gear. Gilyard seems like a guy with his heart in the right place.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
Awesome link to the Gilyard hug. It would have been pure class if he gave the kid his gloves or a wristband or something.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^
Interesting story about him.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/596/cincinnati-s-gilyard-thri…
October 15th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
Tony Pike's Dad looks like he is about 35 years old.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:55 PM ^
just because Gruden had 50 different QBs during his Tampa years does not mean he coached "a lot of great quarterbacks."
The only good qb he ever had was Rich Gannon during his Raider years.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:01 PM ^
20 yards in penalties on one guy in one play!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:03 PM ^
If Gilyard broke it outside on that screen he had 6.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
What a freaking catch! (maybe)
EDIT: No maybe. That catch was the shit.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
catch - laid out for it!
I like Pike's pocket presence.
Looks like a catch to me.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:08 PM ^
That was a fantastic catch. Great job of twisting his body as he was falling to keep his arm under the ball and keep it from hitting the ground. Very impressive.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:24 PM ^
big points for USF
October 15th, 2009 at 9:27 PM ^
THINTHANATTUH PLAYTH BOTH THMART AND INTELLIGENT
October 15th, 2009 at 9:35 PM ^
to paraphrase:
You wanna see your team catch balls not drop balls
October 15th, 2009 at 9:38 PM ^
If Cincy wins and Brian Kelly's stock keeps rising he'll be at a program that we play regularly and that would definitely not help our schedule when he does find a new home. Hell of a track record for that coach!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
Call me crazy...
but I see him landing a big time SEC gig in a year or two, namely Georgia because I think the university is gonna jump the gun and fire Mark Richt.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:49 PM ^
I wouldnt call that crazy, but I could see a big ten team or possibly Notre Dame (after they lose to USC and Navy) going after him. We'll see, but my bet is Cincinnati has him for only 1 more year.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:05 PM ^
Kelly just yelled at his QB. No way a program should hire him.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:08 PM ^
Reminds me of Threet's scamper last year, but faster.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:08 PM ^
Michigan needs to add that exact play. That was BEAUTIFULLY executed.