Twelfth Night

As we enter the last weeks of the college regular season (who's excited about the season getting irregular? Anyone?), a lot of people are complaining about how "boring" the season is. Florida and Alabama are on a collision course, Texas looks to be a lock... ho hum. Why even bother with the rest of the games, right?

Wellsir, that type of attitude would have deprived us of the goin's on this week. Starting in South Bend, where the Offensive Sooper Genius has surely spent his last afternoon on the Notre Ame sidelines. Losing is one thing, losing at home another, but losing on senior day to a team that wasn't even above .500 for the season? That's a paddlin'. Granted, UConn was playing for their fallen comrade, and we salute their effort and remember his family. But we also rejoice with the autumn whispers swirling over the Irish' campus. Sounds like... "We told you so..." For the record, I always get my "autumn whispers" and "Willingham whispers" confused- comes from living in Seattle.

Speaking of Geniuses, the Mad Hatter is looking a bit more like the old western adage- "all hat, no cattle". It's bad enough to have lost to Ole Miss, but to do so in such a boneheaded fashion has got to be a new low. I haven't seen that level of clock ineptitude since . And at least be honest and own up to the mistake, champ. Because, as they say, the internet never forgets. And before the rebels and Coach Giggity get their fans too excited, let's remember the other story out of Oxford this week. When the Klan shows up, you know there's going to be all kinds of stupid happening.

Weis' impending exit has garnered a lot of speculation regarding who would replace him. Amongst the names bandied about (Sorry, word of the day calendar) is "Big Game Bob" Stoops, who continued to watch the Sooner collapse this week against Texas Tech. For a system guy, he sure seems to struggle when his personnel changes throughout the year. I would, for what it's worth, wholeheartedly support a coach from the game heading to South Bend- Mike Leach at Notre Dame press conferences would be worth whatever they wanted to charge to attend. I'd also pay to watch meetings between him and the University president... those would be amazing.

As always, I'll defer my gloating regarding the Annual Beatdown to others more adept than I. However, I will make these observations about the Ohio State/TTUN tilt:

• Mr Shaw- Keep your mouth shut until you've actually done something. Having one net yard for the game is not worthy of bluster. Mike Hart (previous #20) should have filled you in.
• Mich1gAAn's front was their strength (anchored by Graham, who will be a great NFL athlete), but the Buckeyes ran for over 250 yards none the less. Fancy? Nope. Worked? Yup. Don't need ribbons or glitter on the sledgehammer.
• Is that really the game that you wanted to bring all your recruits to, Rich? Especially those who are also considering playing in Columbus? Unless you're selling "We need help NOW!", it seems to have been not well thought out.
• Finally, they decided to honor the 1969 team at the game. For those of you living in Rancho Cucamonga, 1969 is the year that Bo Schembechler led Mich1gAAn to upset what Woody Hayes called his greatest team ever. The metaphor is clear- "These guys shocked the world... we will too". However, if we're going to honor those guys every time UM is an underdog to Ohio State, it feels like we'll be seeing a lot of them.

Speaking of "Mich1gAAn Men", remember last week when I said that Stanford's Harbaugh understood the importance of The Game? Yeah, I'm an idiot- his Cardinal fell to rival Cal in The Big Game. You'd think adding the modifier "Big" would improve his team's focus, but I'm just a lowly blogger.

Over on the Left Coast- a great game between Arizona and Oregon last night ended in overtime. Also ending last night- Arizona's hopes of their first Rose Bowl, and any impression that Wildcat fans are not jerks. Until you get to the show, think classy and you'll be classy. When you get to the show, you can do this kind of stuff and people will think you're colorful- until then, they'll think you're a slob.

In the world of disappointments, Georgia's season came to a train wreck when they fell to Kentucky at home. While you never hear Mark Richt's name as one on the hot seat, it surely didn't help Dawg faithful feel any better about their prospects, especially with arch rival Florida continuing their dominance. Sure, Florida's playing a correspondence school, but still.

Nebraska has found it's way again, it seems, bolstering their defense to the point that KSU's Bill Snyder couldn't be certain that Osborne wasn't on the other sidelines. Bo Pelini is the Anti-Rich Rodriguez; he came in and decided to restore the defensive excellence that the Blackshirts have been known for, and is content winning games 10-3. In Ann Arbor, the philosophy seems to be "let's just outscore them"... so far, it's not working all that well.

As mentioned last week, we dispatched an intrepid correspondent to the TBPU/Colorado game, where he watched the Buffaloes fold against the Black Plague. At least, given the photo he sent back from the game I think that's the new Cowboy nickname.

Black unis- nice look. Of course, most would have sent me a photo of the game's action, but I'm not going to judge if he wants to report on fashions. This would have won the "best photo from a game" award for the week, if it weren't for this glamor shot from the CPD. Yup, that's the same Jeff from the league.

Free Shoes also broke out the all-black Nike "combat and death and lots of money" gear this weekend, sending longtime coordinator Mickey Andrews out with a come from behind win over Maryland. Interviewed after the game, Coach Bowden was reported to have said "I thought that Andrews boy died years ago..."

Other games of note: State Penn beat MSU in a game that I forgot was not in Happy Valley; Texas squashed Kansas (and Mangino didn't assault anyone as far as we know), Houston and TCU and Boise State continued to roll, The Nerds upset the Badgers, UCLA (pronouced UHK-la) won, Purdue claimed the Bucket, and Vandy is still the second class football program in Tennessee.

Small schools- Trine upset Case; last year the Thunder did not even score in their playoff game, this year they hung 51 points on their rivals. Kean overcame Ursinus to win the ECAC Southeast Bowl, or as it's known around here- "another bowl game Mich1gAAn won't be going to".

In the Pick League, it looks like Aaron is going to win this thing going away. Yet another week where he out-preformed the competition, this time to the tune of a two pick differential:

Interestingly enough, though, Cat only finished two points behind in spite of her 6-4 record for the week. Wise stewardship of resources, Catherine...

Dan and Jordy have given up, it seems... so we've got no Pac-10 representation, unless Nate is a Ducks fan. Update- Jordy did play, and went 4-6 for 14 points. I'll update this next week. Sorry, Jords...

Terry is back in his rightful place at the top, but new daddy (again) Jake is charging hard. It would be pretty amazing to have Jake and Aaron win, given that they've both had recent additions to their families. It would be more amazing to have Amanda and Emily win, but they have an excuse, I think.

Matt, you've only got one more week to beat Michael... and the rest of the year to hear about it if you don't. Just sayin'.

With one week left in the season, and Turkey Day just around the corner, here are the matchups that will be defining many people's postseason... otherwise known as "games with cute nicknames". There's "Bedlam" as TBPU and Oklahoma meet, the "Battle for the Victory Bell" between UCLA and U$C, Alabama and Auburn's "Iron Bowl", Lone Star Showdown of aTm and Texas, Pitt and WVa enjoy the "Backyard Brawl", Kentucky and Tennessee meet up in the "It's All Relative" game, Clemson and USCarolina renew the "Battle of thePalmetto State", we've got the crApple Cup with WSU and UW, the "Egg Bowl" between MSU and Old Miss, while the Border War occupies Kansas and Missouri fans. Georgia and Georgia Tech host "Clean, old fashioned Hate", and BYU and Utah enjoy the "Holy War". ASU and UA have a "Duel in the Desert", while the Battle for Carolina happens in Carolina (duh). Boringly enough, Florida/FSU doesn't have a nickname,nor does Nebraska/Colorado. Stanford hosts Notre Ame in "Charlie Weis' Last Game". I'm gonna' buy a t-shirt.

Finally, there's only one small schools game to highlight- the Frisco Bell game in suburban St. Louis. This annual matchup between Kirkwood and Webster's Grove is the 102nd meeting. Here's information from the centennial meeting, including an article in the New York Times.