Its Bowl Season!

While all the attention will be on the BCS Championship game between undefeated Auburn and Oregon, I will be focusing on two of the more unheralded bowls. No, it does not involve UVA, which will be playing in the “Spring” Bowl. Nor does it involve Ohio State, which despite only one loss will only be playing in the Sugar Bowl. My attention will be on two bowls with a combined 13 years of history between all unranked teams.

First, my only cousin’s Miami of Ohio team faces off against Middle Tennessee State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. The Redhawks completed an incredible worst to first turnaround by winning the MAC championship game last week. Coach of the year hopeful Mike Haywood improved his squad by eight games, going 7-1 in the conference. Miami has reeled off five victories in a row, four of which on the road. Meanwhile the Blue Raiders are only 6-6 in the Sun Belt, but have better statistical rankings than the Red Hawks. Formerly called the GMAC Bowl, the game takes place in Mobile on January 6^th on ESPN. Despite being the 34^th ranked bowl game, it looks like there will be some fun activities planned, and I’m sure there will be plenty of Danica Patrick commercials on TV

Meanwhile eight days earlier in DC, Maryland and East Carolina face off in the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman. My girlfriend and her company help manage the event, so maybe I’ll hang out with John Wall doing his dance while punching Dwight Howard for beating the Cavs. Now with a different major sponsor, hopefully there will be some sweet flyovers or cannon shots after each touchdown. RFK will be the site of a possible shootout since the 6-6 Pirates are 112^th in defense and 12^th in offense while the Terps are 42^nd or better in both. Strangely enough Maryland had the second biggest turnaround in the nation to Miami. Terps are bitter they are going to a lower seeded ACC bowl, but if you cannot attend a bowl game a couple metro stops from your campus, you do not deserve to play in warm weather. I’ll be going just to boo the Twerps the whole time.

What about the other bowls? Try naming all 35 of them first.

Week 13 Recap

Browns 13, Dolphins 10

In one of the most boring football games I have ever seen, Cleveland pulled out a late victory over Miami to improve to 5-7. Hillis had an off game, while Delhomme did not throw a pick six, despite hitting the cornerback in his hands. Joe Haden continued his hot streak with his fourth pick in a row and earned defensive rookie of the month. With the Bills and Bengals coming up, the Browns have a chance to get to .500. Sweet.

Redskins 7, Giants 31

Well this season is done. Jacobs and the GMen ran all over the depleted and heartless Skins in a game that was over before halftime. I was only two weeks off from my July prediction of when Haynesworth would be want to be traded/cut. With four tough games coming up, it is time to see who will be worth keeping around next year.

Colts 35, Cowboys 38

It’s getting pretty scary for Indy now. After their third straight loss, the Colts are now on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Once again, Peyton struggled with four picks against only 17 carries for 40 rushing yards. With no running game and reliable receivers, the defending AFC champs have only one more win than the Skins and Browns, and will be asking the age old question.

RedHawks 26, Huskies 21

In one of the most thrilling college football games I’ve ever seen, my only cousin and the rest of the Miami of Ohio squad defeated ranked Northern Illinois in the last minute. The RedHawks won the MAC title with a 9-4 record, completing their worst to first turnaround. After converting a 4^th and 20, their redshirt freshman qb threw the game winning td on all out blitz. Miami will face Middle Tennessee State in the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile on January 6^th.

Cavaliers 57, Hokies 54

During the middle of a NFL Sunday, the ACC men’s basketball season tipped off with a UVA upset of a VT team hungover from their football title victory the night before. The Wahoos finished their six game road trip with two huge wins against #13 Minnesota and a Hokie team that was projected to finish near the top of the ACC standings. Tony Bennett’s freshmen laden team will surprise a bunch of people this season.

Jayson Werth $126 million, Adam Dunn $56 million

Also lost among football season was the hot stove of the MLB off-season, until the Nationals made a big splash on Sunday. After not offering Adam Dunn enough years or money last week, Washington signed former Phillies Rightfielder Jayson Werth to a 7 year, $126 million deal. A seven year deal for a 31 year old! While his numbers stack up w/ Dunn’s, he’ll be making $18 million a year seven seasons from now at 38. In the past three seasons with a stacked Philly lineup, Werth went .273/24/67, .268/36/99, and .296/27/85 while on the Natinals, Dunn batted .236/40/100, .267/38/105, and .260/38/103. While Werth is a better defender, Washington offered him more per year for more years than fan favorite Dunn. If this is some sort of grand scheme to make the Nats competitive and abandon the youth movement, then why not resign Soriano and Capps? It just looks like a kneejerk reaction to not re-signing Dunn for a team without a winning record in their history, without their biggest draw for all of next season, and without crowds. Eventhough it’s a Dunn deal, I do not think it is Werth it (I had too).

Lebron James: Public Enemy #1?

Ever since “The Decision,” Clevelanders have been waiting for the day the “Chosen One” makes his return to Quicken Loans Arena. Well tonight, the only 11-8 Miami Heat face off against the Cavaliers on TNT. In his Nike commercial, Lebron asks what he would do, but now it is time to ask what will the fans he stabbed in the back do? Will they boo the entire game or just when he is introduced? Will they cheer when he is introduced, but boo during the game, like when McNabb returned to Phily? Will they throw stuff, like at the Browns game? Will Lebron do his chalk warm-up routine he stole form Garnett? Will James cry when 20,000 people who used to cheer his every move now despise his every step? What about Big Z? Will he be cheered even though he left as well? We will see tonight.

Is Lebron even the most hated sports figure in Cleveland though? Tonight he will be, but once the dust settles, where will he rank in the hall of Cleveland villains? Art Modell moved the most beloved team and left the town without football for three seasons. Bill Belichick cut one of the most beloved football players and somehow saved his best coaching for the Pats. Those two actively ripped Cleveland’s hearts out. Meanwhile Tim Couch, Braylon Edwards, and Courtney Brown are hated for being busts for the Browns, not necessarily deliberate actions. Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, CC Sabathia, and Cliff Lee were loved in Cleveland, but left to chase championships, but are not hated like Lebron. Meanwhile players who choked under pressure like Ernest “The Fumble” Byner and Jose “Blown Save” Mesa were reviled, but how much can you fault a guy for one bad play or a couple bad pitches? Cleveland has it's fair share of enemies outside of the city too, like John Elway and Michael Jordan, but is the hatred deeper from your own team or their opponents? Will be fans’ hatred of Lebron last for the failed expectations, the betrayal of leaving your home team, or the ill advised ESPN show? Only time will tell.

All this for the 20th game of an 82 game regular season between two third place teams.

Week 12 Football Recap

Browns 24, Panthers 23

Whew. That was way too close. I know Cleveland has nothing to play for anymore, but blowing a game like that, against a 1-9 team, still would have hurt. The Browns need to learn to tackle for 60 minutes, since this is the third game in a row the D gave up a big play late due to poor tackling. Colt McCoy better be back soon because Delhomme has a 1/6 td/int ratio with a pick 6 in EACH* of his three starts. (*In week 1 the defender returned it 64 yards to the 3 and they scored a TD on the next play, so I’m counting it.) Can the MVP come from a 4-7 team? My new favorite Peyton ran for 131 yards and three first half touchdowns and is 39% of the offense for the season and first in receptions as well. Before I get his jersey, he needs to at least make a pro bowl, so please vote for my coolness sake.

Cavaliers 7, Hokies 37

Well that was a giant thud to end the season. The outcome is about what you would expect from a team with only two D1 wins against one that had won nine straight. I would have liked to have seen some more heart to make the second half watchable. I know it’s a new coach and our offense went from 118^th to 41^st in the country, etc, but outside of the Miami win and USC loss, there wasn’t much to cheer for this year and many games were unbearable blow outs. Not sure if I’ll get season tickets again. Is it spring yet?

Redskins 13, Vikings 17

Any chance Washington had at a wild card berth disappeared after this game. The injuries and lack of a running game caught up to the Skins. At least they keep most games close and entertaining in true .500 team fashion. But to lose on old man Favre’s scramble, on a broken ankle with no Peterson at home to a team that just fired their coach, is pretty disappointing.

Colts 14, Chargers 36

I know Indy matches up poorly with San Diego and struggled recently against them, but I was not expecting four ints and Manning’s worst loss at home. Obviously the injuries are mounting in the O Line and receiving corps, and Reggie Wayne is not having his best year. Once again, they ran the ball under 20 times compared to 49 passing attempts, continuing the losing trend. Luckily though, the Jags lost to the Giants, so the Colts can still get healthy and win the division.

On a more personal note, my only cousin’s Miami of Ohio team is headed to the MAC Championship game on Friday night. Luckily, the Redhawks played nationally televised games on ESPN the last couple weeks so I was able to watch him play. First it was the fog bowl winning field goal against Bowling Green, then a victory over Akron, with a red shirt freshman quarterback making his first start. Finally Miami manhandled Temple last week and benefited from Ohio blowing their chance against Kent State to make the title game in Detroit against Northern Illinois. After going 1-11 last year, the Redhawks are 8-4 (7-1 in the MAC), the largest turnaround in the country. Maybe their second year coach Mike Haywood will join the Cradle of Coaches one day.

Week 11 Football Recap

Browns 20, Jags 24

You have to win the game when you get six turnovers. You just have to. Ugh. Cleveland forced four picks and two fumbles, but only managed ten points off of them, and seven of those were from the defense. The offensive line play was atrocious, allowing six sacks and only opening up holes for 2.4 yards a Hillis carry. Peyton has to stop hurdling defenders as like a ballerina so he does not hurt himself. For the second week in a row, the Browns D gave up a horrible game clinching play due to poor tackling. Avert your eyes. At least these losses mean we have a better chance at drafting a top wide receiver in the draft next year, like A.J. Green.

Cavaliers 17, Eagles 13

Considering Boston College was playing for bowl eligibility and UVa is just playing for pride without Dowling and Payne, a four point loss on the road is not too bad. Unfortunately allowing two separate runningbacks to go over 100 yards is brutal. The only highlight of the game was that for the first time in Virginia history, two receivers had 700 yards or more in a season. Hopefully VT rests its starters next week in the Commonwealth Cup game since they already clinched an ACC title berth so the Wahoos can win in November for the first time in 13 tries.

Redskins 19, Titans 16

How is McNabb’s cardiovascular endurance now? Donovan led Washington on a couple two minute drives in a surprising win over Tennessee. Despite losing eight players to injury, including another one in warm-ups, DC kept its playoff hopes alive in another close game. McNabb had to throw 50 passes in the game but converting 8-16 3^rd downs goes a long way towards winning. It helps to get three penalties for 35 yards on the game winning drive though. Portis returned to action for the first time since week four and of course promptly injured himself again. At 5-5 the Skins will need to go on a big run in order to make the playoffs which will be tough with seven NFC teams ahead in the standings and upcoming games against the Buccaneers and Giants twice.

Colts 28, Pats 31

In one of their least anticipated matchups, Brady outdueled Manning in a game that will have later playoff seeding ramifications. It was definitely not Peyton’s day with three picks. However, considering the Colts are without Addai, Clark, Sanders, and others, Manning’s late comeback on the road against an 8-2 team was still impressive despite the failed outcome. Once again, Indy will not win many games with Peyton throwing 52 times compared to 20 rushes. In fact, this balance is key to the outcome of their games since in all four losses the Colts carried the ball 20 times or less while passing for 46 times or more, while they maintained a balance in all of their wins.

On a side note, I had my best FFL week this year, going 3-0 with wins by 19, 33, and 48 point margins, including 101 points in the SRO league, the highest in my team’s 18 seasons, and one point away from the league record.

Week 10 Football Recap

This week of football had three separate collapses.

Browns 20, Jets 26

In the battle of the Ryans, and Mangini’s revenge game, Hillis pounded the rock for 84 yards and a td against one the best defenses, while Colt McCoy displayed his poise again tying the game on a two minute drive. Both teams had opportunities to win the game but missed field goals and fumbles extended the overtime period. With 16 seconds left before a tie, Sanchez threw a quick out to Santonio Holmes and the defense, which had held the Jets to 20 points after nearly five quarters, collapsed with three missed tackles causing the game winning play. There are no morale victories in football. While losing in overtime with 16 seconds left to a 7-2 team would have been impressive two months ago, the Browns squandered a golden opportunity. If Cleveland had prevailed, at 4-5 they were facing five straight winnable games and a possible playoff push. Now at 3-6 with Cribbs dislocating four toes and Fujita injured, the Browns will be playing spoiler and for momentum for next season, which is a lot less fun to follow.

Cavaliers 23, Terrapins 42

On senior day, UVa took a 23-21 lead in the third quarter including another trick play on special teams. Unfortunately after the picturesque sunset, the Wahoos collapsed in the fourth quarter. Two picks, 16 penalties, and 21 points later the Cavs fell to 4-6. With two road games left, and Ras I Dowling injured for the rest of the year, there’s not much to root for until next season. Hopefully VT loses to Miami next week, so our game will mean something since we could be able to prevent them from going to the championship game.

Redskins 28, Eagles 59

Wow, that was embarrassing. With a national audience watching, coming off a bye week, the Skins laid a huge egg against a division rival. The only fireworks from the Skins were during the player intros as the Eagles jumped to an historic 35-0 lead. After the first play which Vick flicked his wrist for a 70 yard bomb, Washington’s collapse was almost comical. It was like watching a game of Madden on rookie. Including the last quarter of the UVa game, and the first quarter and first play of the 2nd quarter of the Skins game, I witnessed my teams get outscored 56-0. Combined with the pouring rain, here was the FedEx crowd to begin the second half. Of course the big news was Donovan McNabb’s absurd contract extension, which he proved its worth with three picks against his former team and understudy. The other bloated contract showed his pass rushing prowess by laying on the ground like a beached whale allowing Vick to stand in the pocket for seven seconds and find an open receiver in the end zone. It doesn’t get any easier going to Tennessee and scrambling QB Vince Young next week.

Colts 23, Bengals 17

The only team to win this week was my 1%, just great. I barely saw any of the game since I was watching and following the Browns. Manning had one of his worst statistical games and TO’s TD streak ended. Blah.

Week 9 Football Recap

Browns 34, Pats 14

While the Saints win was impressive, and the one over the Steelers last year was surprising, this beatdown of New England was especially awesome. Earlier embattled Mangenius outsmarted his former mentor and Cleveland enemy Belichick. The Pats came in with a NFL best 6-1 record, but left embarrassed by Peyton Hillis and the Browns. The stud runningback continues to impress as he rumbled for 184 yards and two touchdowns, including the game clinching drive, running on all six plays. You gotta love the fumblerooskie/ oak-e-doke for a score as well. Hillis was not the only star, as rookie Colt McCoy outplayed pretty boy Brady, who was actually pulled after rout was on. The best play of the game was McCoy’s touchdown scramble, helped by a monster block by Cribbs. Unfortunately, it does not get any easier with 6-2 Jets coming into town. In fact, when looking at the Browns schedule, it is a miracle they are 3-5. Eight of their first nine opponents are at least two games above .500. Of the eight NFL teams that have six wins, Cleveland has played six of them!

Cavaliers 48, Blue Devils 55

We did not deserve to be in this game. In what would be considered a low scoring basketball game, neither defense showed up in this shootout. The defense that held Miami scoreless for three quarters gave up seven touchdowns to a team without an ACC win yet. Once again an option quarterback offense torched the Hoos’ front seven, rendering our strong but injured secondary useless. The blame is not all on the defense though. Starting the game with three picks and seven first half penalties are tough to overcome, despite 643 total yards of offense. Even after all that, UVa still had a lead with 1:10 left and after consecutive sacks, Duke was facing a 4^th and 20. FAIL! Giving up a conversion like that is unacceptable, especially since it ruins any chance of a bowl and is the third straight loss to Duke (yes, in football). I’m not going to remember Verica setting a school record for passing yards, or Inman’s 239 receiving yards, but horrible, horrible defense on that play/drive/game.

Colts 24, Eagles 26

Despite a plethora of injuries, Indy had a chance to win a game in which Vick outplayed Manning. Without Addai, the Colts only ran the ball 19 times compared to 51 passes by Peyton, which is the imbalance that leads to most of their losses. Somehow Indy was still within striking distance on a late drive, with another key 4^th and long on the weekend. This time the Colts got a gift of a penalty allowing them to score a touchdown to bring it to within two points and setting up a later failed game winning drive. Even though helmet to helmet hits are getting all the attention, accusing the NFL of turning into flag football, a personal foul for hitting a quarterback’s head while going for a sack/fumble is way more wussified, even if it is a coddled superstar quarterback. That’s why they wear a helmet!

Week 8 Football Recap

Cavaliers 24, Hurricanes 19 – That’s more like it. UVa put together its best win in several years, upsetting #22 Miami for their first victory against a ranked opponent since October 2008. It helps to jack-up the Canes’ starting quarterback in the second quarter. The U’s backups proceeded to throw four more interceptions, including an incredible one by Chase Minnifield above. The junior cornerback now leads the NCAA in interceptions at six. Payne added two more rushing touchdowns bringing his ACC leading total to 12. Even the Star Wars themed halftime show by the marching band was pretty sweet. Despite the 24-0 performance through three quarters, the game ended on a scary note since Miami scored three straight touchdowns late to force the Hoos to convert two key third downs to preserve the victory. While storming the field after defeating a barely ranked opponent may be a little much, this guy always makes me laugh. With four games remaining, Virginia will need to win at least three to become bowl eligible and have winnable games against Duke, Maryland, and BC coming up.

Redskins 25, Lions 37 – Really? The Lions again? Washington played down to its competition again in a stunning loss to now 2-5 Detroit. The offense line was just atrocious leading to the McBenching. Even if Donovan was in shape or knew the offense up to Shanahan’s standards, no quarterback was going to stand up to that pressure. I wonder what these two were talking about when Grossman was blowing the game? Instead of going after Randy Moss, the Skins need to somehow incorporate special teams stud Brandon Banks into the offense. The Burgundy and Gold has kept six of their eight games to six points or less contests. The other two? Blow out losses to St. Louis and Detroit. At least they have a bye this week to sort out this disaster.

Colts 30, Texans 17 – In a battle of my two favorite quarterbacks, Manning out dueled Schaub, to take over first place in the AFC South. Despite missing Clark, Collie, and Addai, Peyton avenged the Week 1 loss to Houston with a 268 yard two td, no pick performance. The defense stepped up, pressuring Schaub and the fifth ranked Texan offense all night, leading to three sacks, a pick six, and only 17 points. After the Steelers and Jets lost this week, it’s looking like the two best teams in the league are the Pats and Colts. We’ve heard that one before.

Week 7 Football Recap

Browns 30, Saints 17

Who dat going to beat dem Saints? Apparently 1-5 Cleveland. In one of the two biggest wins for the Browns since their playoff season 8 years ago, Cleveland blew out the defending champs in their own house. The defense held the high powered Saints offense to only 10 points before junk time, and the special teams had a 68 yard fake punt. Colt McCoy and the offense did not have a turnover and the team only committed four penalties. It also helps when the Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees throws four picks. Strangely enough, two of the picks went to David Bowens, days after Brees welcomed in a son named Bowen. The 265 pound linebacker then rumbled, stumbled and bumbled those two picks for scores, and who doesn’t love seeing the fat guys score? The Browns better enjoy playing the spoiler role with 5-1 Patriots and 5-1 Jets coming up after a bye.

Cavaliers 48, Eagles 21

UVa finally got a victory over a D1 school albeit in ugly fashion. In the lowest attended game in 13 years, Eastern Michigan ran all over the Hoos for 290 rushing yards. At one point in the 3^rd quarter, Virginia was only up 24-21 against a 1-6 MAC team. It’s a sad statement on your defense when the scoreboard hit of the day was made by the pee wee team at halftime. While Verica rebounded with a clean game, and the Cavs scored 48 points, it was still not the best game to take your girlfriend to for the first time. The best highlight of the game came in the opening, when CavMan parachuted into the stadium. Next week Sebastian and the first place ‘Canes storm into town in a rematch of the game two years ago when UVa gave up a tying td with a minute left and lost in overtime after I got a speeding ticket and forgot my game ticket before the game. Hoping for a better day this time.

Redskins 17, Bears 14

This game set offensive football back five years. Nine combined turnovers? The 13 combined drives in the second half ended with five picks, three fumbles, three punts, a missed fg and a kneel down. Thankfully Haynesworth finally stepped up and DeAngelo Hall had a career game. Big Al had his best game as a Redskin, with a sack and stopping Cutler on a qb sneak with a scary jump over the line. Meanwhile DHall picked off four of Cutler’s ill advised passes including a sick one handed grab for a touchdown. The first player to pick off four passes in a game was also a Redskin, Slingin’ Sammy Baugh. Next week the Skins better not play down to the competition against Lions like they did against the Rams in Week 3 this year and Lions in Week 3 last year.

Week 6 Football Recap

Browns 10, Steelers 28 – The outcome and score of this game was predictable but Colts McCoy’s NFL debut was not as bad as expected. He looked poised and comfortable even though he threw two picks. I would leave him in there the rest of the season since what good is having Delhomme play for a 1-5 team do? Hillis needs to get healthy for a balanced attack in order to make the rest of the season’s games entertaining. Meanwhile the Steelers’ James Harrison should be fined for his head hunting on Cribbs and Massaquoi, especially since TJ Ward was disciplined earlier for a less violent hit. Some scary notes of the game, McCoy is the 11th QB to start for the Browns since Big Ben became the starter and the Browns next three opponents are a combined 13-4.

Cavaliers 10, Tar Heels 44 – For the third straight game, UVA got blown out, but this time to a team of equal talent level. While going into the season UNC had high expectations, seemingly half their team has been in trouble each week and the Heels had not won in Charlottesville since 1981. When the first play of the game is an 81 touchdown pass with several missed tackles, you know it is going to be a long night. It was encouraging to see Matt Snyder get the start at wideout but when your quarterbacks throw five picks, it does not really matter who they are attempting to throw to. Payne got back on track with 107 yards, but 49 of that was on one play in a drive that ended in a pick anyway. Three different quarterbacks threw picks in the redzone, which has to be some sort of record. The lone highlight of the night was the warm chili at the tailgate on a surprisingly chilly night. Next week might be the only win left on the schedule, when 1-6 Eastern Michigan comes to town with the 98th ranked scoring offense and 119th scoring defense.

Redskins 24, Colts 27 – Due to my 100% theory I was pulling for Washington over Indy here and was wearing my Portis jersey instead of my Manning jersey during this game to prove it. The Skins once again took a game to the wire (almost last play this time) and made it entertaining. Washington missed several opportunities including dropping interceptions and not capitalizing on the turnovers they did get. McNabb had an opportunity to win it at the end, but could not come up with the big play or drive. He is obviously an improvement over Campbell and any other quarterback in the past decade, but it’s looking like he is not the quarterback that will be able to carry a team to clutch victories every week in a playoff run. After Torain’s solid performance (110yds, 2tds), it is looking like the Portis era is done in Washington. Of course there was Haynesworth drama as the $100 million distraction missed too many practices to play, but his 335 pound frame would have been useless against the Colts fast paced offense anyway. With the Giants and Eagles winning, the Skins fall to second place at 3-3, and face 4-2 Bears next week. Meanwhile, Indy keeps pace with the Texans in the division at 4-2, and the winner of tonight’s 3-2 Jags vs 3-2 Titans game. The Colts are on a bye next week, which means I need a new qb for the week, AHHHHHHHH!