Totally agree - we're playing different games. The Terrelle Pryor saga offered a glimpse of how far some programs are willing to go to win, and how much winning football games means to their universities' constituents. 2012 was a banner year for "different" motivations: LSU and Alabama played each other, again, for the national championship (OSU had a one-year ban that year) and showed that there is a long-term, if not permanent, advantage for schools that lower standards enough to win; the Penn State child abuse scandal resulted in almost no punishment, and you heard things like "it's not fair to the students to take away the football experience" offered as a reason not to impose meaningful punishment on a program that valued winning over children's safety and well-being, and the right not to be raped; evidence continued to mount showing links between football and CTE (see link below, then the dozens of subsequent studies):
2012 was when I reached the point Brian mentions above - I don't care enough about the Michigan football program winning to offset the other, often contrary, things I care about. Fun to tune in every once in a while, but I'd rather Michigan stand for greatness in ways more impactful than football.
And Juwan Howard is wiping the floor again, so, off to Twitter....
but as a non-NU alum I like how simple and cheap it is. I like Ryan Field for the same reason. And the fans are quite bearable.
Best other stadiums I can think of are Folsom Field at CU (prior to ugly luxury box addition), Tiger Stadium at LSU (night games are amazing and renovations have been done pretty well), and the old World Arena in Colorado Springs where Colorado College played hockey (not sure the ice was even full size and the place was a tinder box, but it was such a small, odd stadium for a D-1 program that I really like it).
Maybe a little walk down memory lane tonight. Another throwback memory: I think I got it from Columbia house or BMG - one of those CD clubs where you sent in a penny and got to pick 8 CDs if you bought more at full price later. Great way to stock up on things like DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, MC Hammer and Paula Abdul (for my sister!!!).
He looks much more comfortable than I would expect - not only because he was an untouted freshman but because he's often coming in to relieve Burke and has to feel some pressure from that. Sweet passes, clutch threes, no problem.
at Butler. He may still be swayed by UCLA (how could you not be tempted) but he has everything he needs to compete at Butler and doesn't run the risk of an angry mob calling for his head when an inevitable dry spell comes along.
problems for Duke to actually win), but Duke because I live in NC and am actually much more annoyed by UNC and NC State fans than Duke fans ("y'all, they all went back north, y'all!!!!") I kind of like watching everyone's head explode when Duke wins since I have no real ACC rooting interest.
which I am struggling to stick with as my overall winner. I'm still thinking Louisville is the lower risk pick, but this makes it more interesting I guess.
Branch Rickey would have been a good choice. Helping to break the color barrier is pretty cool, unless your idea of cool involves cone shaped undergarments and fake accents.
with the same situation as traditional conferences but with media rights concentrated in two entities at the top, can't all the conferences just merge right now and save us the hassle? Oh yeah, conference leaders are idiotic and myopic, so we get to watch this train wreck for the next couple years.
and then realized how tough (and unsatisfying) it would be to sit there watching when Michigan does something amazing and eventually wins. Like tantric sex I guess? Just waiting for the release.
Haughty contempt and mocking smiles have their place, and are usually my preferred method of expressing disapproval, but biting my tongue during big plays would be difficult. Definitely understand your decision not to go, even if I don't know if I'd make the same one.
and one of the announcers, Danny Kanell I think, said something like, "Jake Ryan is unorthodox, but he gets the job done." Just struck me as an odd comment - why I am surprised by odd comments coming from announcers is my own problem I guess. What's unorthodox about a 6'3" 240 lbs. linebacker who plays like Ryan does? Maybe because he's not always just moving in a straight line and is more athletic than typical college linebackers?
I had been to the Michigan v. Notre Dame game the previous year at Notre Dame. Even after that experience I remember thinking that Michigan Stadium was just insanely cool - my only other reference point for college football at that point was Falcon Stadium at the Air Force Academy.
My dad bought me a Wheatley jersey and I saw the law quad/library, which made enough of an impression that I came back 13 years later for law school - that was at least part of the reason.
Michigan lost, but I was still hooked - the next year hurt pretty badly when CU beat Michigan and I had to hear it from everyone in my Colorado high school who all of a sudden loved CU.
Bad game, obviously, but definitely a fun atmosphere. There were a few people there who apparently never miss a game and some other semi-regulars, as well as some out-of-towners (like me).
Losses to Nebraska and a bowl opponent (Oregon in the Rose, probably). Might get robbed by getting excluded from championship game (USC vs. one-loss Alabama)
The alternate Arizona helmet is pretty sweet. They claim to be the first team to ever wear a copper helmet, which is somehow surprising even though I can't think of a school with copper as a color.
You might be fine selling a Honda - lots of interest and still a going concern. I took a 2005 Saab 9-3 with low mileage there and they offered me $5K. Sold it a week later for $10K to a private party. CarMax seems best suited to 2-3 year old broadly appealing cars - everyone I know who's been OK with the experience has sold a 2008 or newer Toyota, Lexus or Honda.
for the drive to Hilton Head - hoping for clear skies so the convertible can be fully utilized. Golf, beach, tasty beverages at Pool Bar Jim's. Why is my boss still here?!?!?
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Totally agree - we're playing different games. The Terrelle Pryor saga offered a glimpse of how far some programs are willing to go to win, and how much winning football games means to their universities' constituents. 2012 was a banner year for "different" motivations: LSU and Alabama played each other, again, for the national championship (OSU had a one-year ban that year) and showed that there is a long-term, if not permanent, advantage for schools that lower standards enough to win; the Penn State child abuse scandal resulted in almost no punishment, and you heard things like "it's not fair to the students to take away the football experience" offered as a reason not to impose meaningful punishment on a program that valued winning over children's safety and well-being, and the right not to be raped; evidence continued to mount showing links between football and CTE (see link below, then the dozens of subsequent studies):
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/sports/study-bolsters-link-between-routine-hits-to-head-and-long-term-brain-disease.html
2012 was when I reached the point Brian mentions above - I don't care enough about the Michigan football program winning to offset the other, often contrary, things I care about. Fun to tune in every once in a while, but I'd rather Michigan stand for greatness in ways more impactful than football.
And Juwan Howard is wiping the floor again, so, off to Twitter....
but as a non-NU alum I like how simple and cheap it is. I like Ryan Field for the same reason. And the fans are quite bearable.
Best other stadiums I can think of are Folsom Field at CU (prior to ugly luxury box addition), Tiger Stadium at LSU (night games are amazing and renovations have been done pretty well), and the old World Arena in Colorado Springs where Colorado College played hockey (not sure the ice was even full size and the place was a tinder box, but it was such a small, odd stadium for a D-1 program that I really like it).
the sarcastic tag at the end of emails to point out jokes.
/NS
but I'd like to see a solid Pac-12 team (preference would be Cal, UCLA, or Stanford). That or Rutgers, you know New York market and all.
depth and nuance of the first installment. I'll touch that hot stove for myself, thank you very much.
Really wish he would have signed with the Broncos though.
Maybe a little walk down memory lane tonight. Another throwback memory: I think I got it from Columbia house or BMG - one of those CD clubs where you sent in a penny and got to pick 8 CDs if you bought more at full price later. Great way to stock up on things like DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, MC Hammer and Paula Abdul (for my sister!!!).
Somehow that's my favorite line.
He looks much more comfortable than I would expect - not only because he was an untouted freshman but because he's often coming in to relieve Burke and has to feel some pressure from that. Sweet passes, clutch threes, no problem.
bullshit.
swatted back in your face will feel all that different from a women's ball.
at Butler. He may still be swayed by UCLA (how could you not be tempted) but he has everything he needs to compete at Butler and doesn't run the risk of an angry mob calling for his head when an inevitable dry spell comes along.
problems for Duke to actually win), but Duke because I live in NC and am actually much more annoyed by UNC and NC State fans than Duke fans ("y'all, they all went back north, y'all!!!!") I kind of like watching everyone's head explode when Duke wins since I have no real ACC rooting interest.
which is definitely a first. And I'm expecting retribution today.
Good winning streak going; one or two fluke losses (Baylor and TCU) but nothing else too troubling; Withey is tall.
which I am struggling to stick with as my overall winner. I'm still thinking Louisville is the lower risk pick, but this makes it more interesting I guess.
Branch Rickey would have been a good choice. Helping to break the color barrier is pretty cool, unless your idea of cool involves cone shaped undergarments and fake accents.
so he can hang with Herbstreit when the OSU mob bans him from Columbus.
or you may get thrown off the prison roof.
with the same situation as traditional conferences but with media rights concentrated in two entities at the top, can't all the conferences just merge right now and save us the hassle? Oh yeah, conference leaders are idiotic and myopic, so we get to watch this train wreck for the next couple years.
from what I've heard.
and then realized how tough (and unsatisfying) it would be to sit there watching when Michigan does something amazing and eventually wins. Like tantric sex I guess? Just waiting for the release.
Haughty contempt and mocking smiles have their place, and are usually my preferred method of expressing disapproval, but biting my tongue during big plays would be difficult. Definitely understand your decision not to go, even if I don't know if I'd make the same one.
Or something.
and one of the announcers, Danny Kanell I think, said something like, "Jake Ryan is unorthodox, but he gets the job done." Just struck me as an odd comment - why I am surprised by odd comments coming from announcers is my own problem I guess. What's unorthodox about a 6'3" 240 lbs. linebacker who plays like Ryan does? Maybe because he's not always just moving in a straight line and is more athletic than typical college linebackers?
What a movie.
Including last night. If CU doesn't soil itself and lose by 30, then you know the other team is in the process of embarrassing themselves
I had been to the Michigan v. Notre Dame game the previous year at Notre Dame. Even after that experience I remember thinking that Michigan Stadium was just insanely cool - my only other reference point for college football at that point was Falcon Stadium at the Air Force Academy.
My dad bought me a Wheatley jersey and I saw the law quad/library, which made enough of an impression that I came back 13 years later for law school - that was at least part of the reason.
Michigan lost, but I was still hooked - the next year hurt pretty badly when CU beat Michigan and I had to hear it from everyone in my Colorado high school who all of a sudden loved CU.
Bad game, obviously, but definitely a fun atmosphere. There were a few people there who apparently never miss a game and some other semi-regulars, as well as some out-of-towners (like me).
Four scores each: Alabama gets one offensive TD, Michigan gets two.
When told of his stats in the UTL game. Showed how happy he is to be playing football and how he really had no idea how crazy his performance was.
The win tomorrow will be above reproach.
Losses to Nebraska and a bowl opponent (Oregon in the Rose, probably). Might get robbed by getting excluded from championship game (USC vs. one-loss Alabama)
And it's the closest quality football venue to Charlotte that I haven't been too.
Looks very official.
What did I miss about Ohio? Why are they so admirable? Their Strength axis seems a bit generous, too.
The alternate Arizona helmet is pretty sweet. They claim to be the first team to ever wear a copper helmet, which is somehow surprising even though I can't think of a school with copper as a color.
You seem to enjoy, or at least appreciate, good guacamole.
You might be fine selling a Honda - lots of interest and still a going concern. I took a 2005 Saab 9-3 with low mileage there and they offered me $5K. Sold it a week later for $10K to a private party. CarMax seems best suited to 2-3 year old broadly appealing cars - everyone I know who's been OK with the experience has sold a 2008 or newer Toyota, Lexus or Honda.
for the drive to Hilton Head - hoping for clear skies so the convertible can be fully utilized. Golf, beach, tasty beverages at Pool Bar Jim's. Why is my boss still here?!?!?
You even matched the syllables, which sometimes can be hard to do.
But happy to see that the convict doesn't have total control over the sentence.