Q&A on Mountainlair

I had the honor of being posted on another blog, as Mountainlair, a great blog for West Virginia Mountaineer information. To read my brilliant insights...ok, at least to read my blather, please feel free to surf over to Mountainlair and take a gander. Thanks to John at Mountainair for giving me the chance to babble...now here's also hoping my prediction comes true.

Go RU!

80

I am a child of the 70's, but I remembert the 80's. Reaganomics and that whole gang...parachute pants, breakdancing, garbage pail kids, the other Bush, and lots and lots of Rutgers losses. But another 80 sticks out in my mind as well, as in 80-7.
This was the score of one of the most infamous games in recent Rutgers history. A crappy West Virginia team decided to not just take out its frustrations on Rutgers, not just to shove this loss far up into the deep recesses of our worst fears, they also decided to fill the hole created by that deep planting with concrete to indelibly leave a mark on all who watched, listened, or just got updates on the web. Now, this was when the web was a pledgling thing, and I figured the GameCast on ESPN was screwed up because the score kept changing so fast and how could it get to 59-0 at the half? It didn't make sense, and it still doesn't make sense.
The thing is, we remember that game, they way we remember an especially bad breakup where you discover your girl not only won't be dating you, but she has been secretly dating your soon to be ex-best friend, and they had their first "experience" in your bed, when you were getting a soda or something, and you, know, it just happened....yeah, like 80 points can just happen.
We remember that embarassment, the players, the coaches, it is burned in. And like a bigger kid who kicked your ass, but you couldn't do anything about it...until now.
Now, we are ready to answer for that. Sure it has taken a few years, but the scars are still bright and fresh. We remember 80-7 and we are still pissed. I doubt it is the same for the players, because as a football player you have to have a short memory for things like that, but it still makes my stomach tighten when I think about that game, and I still want revenge. Schiano isn't exactly the run it up type of guy, and I have read that he and Rodriguez (WVU's head coach) are somewhat friends...
But screw that. I want to hang 60 on them, and finally delivery punishment for that crime with 80 counts of cruelty.
80-7...walk to the light CarolAnn...80-7

Madness

Ok, so maybe the national spotlight has left the banks, but I remain. It is a crazy system, and one that is rife with prejudice and historical bias. I don't want to hear about the Big East as a weak conference anymore. Every conference, every team, is vulnerable (see USC at Oregon State, Texas v. A&M, and Florida v. South Carolina while not a loss, but a clear indication of their vulnerability). Ok, so we don't have a long list on national championship teams, but even the teams that left, Miami, Va Tach, BC, who everyone called the class of the conference, are not exaclty conquering the world. It's like a broken record, that conference sucks, this conference is the strongest...if the teams had a chance to play, there would be a definitive answer, but instead we are stuck in a self-fulfilling NCAA edict to keep it a murky national scene, so many teams can remain in contention, and many arguments can carry on about who deserves to be there. Playoffs? I know it is some kind of taboo word....too many teams would end their season with a loss, thus too many coaches would be judged a failure...I don't see why 4 or 8 teams couldn't play an extra week or two to give a chance to a somewhat fair amount of teams...or why not do January madness and invite the top 64 football teams? Now that would be exciting....

Kirk Derpstreet

Uh, while I have appreciatted Kirk's enthusiasm over Rutgers turning things around, have you heard the one about the pollster who forgot to put a team on his list? Thanks Kirk. Lose to Cincy...off his radar.
Must have been high on Buckeye mania.

Forecast Wrong: Sun Rises

Ok, ok, so maybe the world ending is a bit dramatic. But talk about getting kicked in the groin by the Bearcats of Cincy...and give them no credit, all they did was show up and not vomit all over themselves. And I don't totally blame Teel. Sure, he didn't play the best of games, but there was the usual cast of dropped passes and you can toss in a bunch of lingering injuries, and a defense that allowed a bevy of big plays...ugh. The WR's will eventually learn that the ball is a precious thing, and they need to cling to it when it comes in their general direction, and if a bad pass is floating in their direction, feel free to turn into a DB and try to deflect the pass, or maybe, gasp make a tackle on a guy who is about to streak 80+ yards for a TD.
Is there a worse penalty than 15 yards for defensive pass interference? I counted at least three times Cincy defenders were beat and just decided to tackle an RU WR, and instead of a big gain, it is just a fifteen yard and an automatic first down. One foot in bounds, and clock stopping on first down are cool college quirks, but the leniency on pass interference seems like a strategic move by a defender that is not punished properly.
Yes, the sun did rise Sunday, but only through a thick fog. My expectations for this season were 7-4, 8-3 at best, so I should be happy with the 9-1 predicament they are in, but have you ever been to Duke's football stadium or Northwestern's field? I'm not saying that the Knights of Scarlet are headed into a similar quick tailspin, but you never know. And when they are riding at 9-0 and #7 in the nation, I would rather they take advantage of the situation and go as far as they can. Don't talk about taking steps right now, don't try to give my an upbeat tone because of the laurels, right now, I am rightfully pissed that we gacked away an opportunity to be national champions of NCAA Division I football. Maybe it was a slim chance and we have 137 years of bad pub to overcome and Ohio State would have smoked us...I wanted the ride to last as long and as far as it could, and a bad effort to Cincy stings and doesn't feel like it should have ended that way. When you lose because the other team is better, still bitter, but at least legit. When you lose because you didn't show up and played poorly, ugh.So, yes, I admit, I was riding the dream wave of Buckeyes versus Scarlet Knights, only to have it dashed amidst a Bearcat "signature Big East win."
I feel weird to have the cache to give anyone a signature anything, and I should take solice in the fact that my Ohio State friend (Stiffy, you bastard) took the time to rub in the loss. Usually I would have a call of pity not derision...I guess we have come far.

Go R.U.

Sun May Not Rise

Trap This

I know, I know. We haven't been here before, we don't know how to not look past any game, and how in the world can we come off the biggest win in team history and not have a let down?
Plus, Cincy is hungry to be bowl eligible, and we are on the road.
I could mention the chopping coach, or the superman fifth year senior who overcame broken beer bottles on his car, or the sophomore who keeps getting stronger, or the much maligned QB who just keeps plugging away, but there is a better reason why this whole season has been for real, with no disrepect to anyone on the offensive side of the ball.
Rutgers defense is for real. No one has run up the score, no one has dominated us for a whole game, and although the no name group is starting to get some name recognition, they remain a solid, team oriented bunch of speedy, and maybe a bit unsersized group of crazies.

So trap yourself in happiness, the ride is not over....

Remember the Titans...and Canes, Eagles, and Hokies

How sweet it is, and continues to be.

Notwithstanding the doubters, Matt Hayes on Sporting News, and Dennis Dodd on Sportsline, who still think Rutgers is a pretender and won't win on Saturday night,
most of the nation is giving Rutgers respect. No one in their right mind thinks an undefeated Rutgers has some kind of guaranteed birthright to get into the national title game. The biggest factor is history. USC, Florida, Notre Dame...these names evoke majesty in terms of college football, a loss or bump in the road indicates a normal progressiona for a championship team, and they have the history to back it up. Make no mistake that the powers that run college football like the debates that no playoffs spark. The talk keeps college football on the minds and lips of people, and keeps serious interest in the regular season. In sports such as the basketball, the regular season is about maneuvering for position, and while the banner for winning your conference is nice, it doesn't really mean much.
But football is a different animal. Each game, and by extension, each play can drastically change a season (see South Florida dropping a two point conversion, or Ray Rice's game changing rommp against Pitt). And the Scarlet Knights will be in playoff games the rest of the regular season, and potentially, as the schedule makers knew, their finale against West Virginia will be just like every other conference's title game.
What I don't understand is the posturing that the Big East is a weak conference. Rankings being as subjective as they are, are still generated by writers and coaches, (and sometimes they don't get it right by their own admission) and if you look at them, apparently people think Rutgers, L'ville, and West Virginia are for real, and three of the best 25 teams in the country. They don't list them with asterisks, I assume the rankings mean that if a lower ranked team played a higher ranked team, the team ranked higher would win. Right? So what is the confusion? The last time I checked, the ACC is the worst conference in America, they are the joke, and not the powerful force with the cream of the Big East crop. It may be a perfect storm this season having a former doormat (RU), a former Conf USAer (L'ville), and the team that just so happened to smoke the SEC champion LAST YEAR (WVU), but past history doesn't indicate current success (see White Sox, Red Sox, Hurricanes, and Lightning).

Go RU.

CHOP HOUSE

I know I wrote about this before, but this name came to me in a flash in Thursday night.

The nickname for Rutgers stadium should be simple, yet evoke pride and a sense of the frebzy that occurs when a team tries to come into our confines and escape with a win. The easiest , simplest, most effective way to capture that essence...

THE CHOP HOUSE.

It's visual, and we wouldn't be one of those culturally insensitive group of fans that do a fake native american scalping motion. Instead we would continue the chopping motion of an ax against wood, chopping our hand axes into our palms...although maybe there is a morbid beheading thing in the dark recesses of your mind.

Toasting

Pinch Me

I am still shocked and I will admit it.

I have always believed they would eventually win...
I have always wished that they would eventually win...

It is nirvana, heaven, redemption, gratification, and it isn't over yet.

I stopped to smell the roses yesterday, to savor the possibilities, and maybe take a moment to dream. Down 25-14 at the half, I had a weird feeling, they were set-up nicely. Just like RU had learned from UConn about letting up a little at the half, RU came out like mad chopping dogs, and shook the foundations of college football. Yes, the foundations.

And, I cried, literally cried tears of joy watching the highlites this morning.

Go RU.

G.E. (Schiano), He brings good things to life.

"I am a man of constant sorrow..."
Yes, you know the infectious song from O Brother, Where Art Thou, and quite frankly the theme song for a generation of Rutgers fans. Can you imagine if you were born in 1976? There's no way you remember any of the events of that Rutgers season. And maybe by the time you were 5 or 6 in 1981, Deron Cherry had graduated and you were lucky enough to see tht scintillating 3-0 victory over Virginia at Giants stadium, or the heartbreaker to the Wayne Hardin led Temple Owls (who were only two years removed from their win over Cal in the Garden State Bowl...)
You were watching the end of an era as Frank Burns (who was drafted by the Eagles in 1949) was heading out the door, and Dick Anderson was on his way in the door, followed by the Graber era, and the Shea error...and then along came Gregory Edward Schiano....hmm, remember the old general electric jingle? G.E. we bring good things to life? Certainly true again...

Just for another historical note...I found this little nugget in the NY Times archives...dated Jan. 7, 1984:

SPORTS PEOPLE ; Then There Were 10

Published: January 7, 1984

The Rutgers football schedule for 1984 includes Miami, the final No. 1-ranked team, and four other teams that competed in bowl games this past season. But if the opponents look tough, preparing for them has been even tougher, especially because the Scarlet Knights do not have a head coach.

An advisory committee headed by David A. (Sonny) Werblin has pared a list of candidates to 10, but while it continues the selection process, the recruiting is being handled by the nine assistant coaches, none of whom are sure they will be retained by the new coach. Jerry Petercuskie , one of the assistants to Frank Burns , who was dismissed after the Knights' 3-8 season, said that not a single high school player had committed himself to Rutgers. ''Some have said they'll wait and some have not,'' Petercuskie said. ''We lost some because of the fact we don't have anybody here.''

From not a single player in the state committing to NJ State U., to now, where these kids weren't even gleams in their parents eyes...

By the way, for more about the newest trends, and how many recruits came to find respect for RU, Steve Politi from the Ledger is writing some very interesting articles leading up to the Luoisville game about historical decisions by coaches, recruits, and the program overall that led up to this era of Knights football.

Thump Thump...Thump Thump...

It started as a small pitter patter as Manny picked off the pass amidst the powder blue of the Northern Carolina. Then, the spanking of the Illini behind the shed, and the merciless Soliches and Bison slaughter had it thumping a bit harder. Then an odd trek began, on the road, and up the rankings. I remember when I happened to be in South Florida near Miami when Rutgers was in Tampa. A guy spotted my Rutgers shirt and said, "Hey, their having a nice year, but it is going to be tough tonight. You know, they lost to New Hampshire a few years back." Not understanding this unfounded attack, I responded, "Yeah, that was a few years ago, and times have changed...By the way, how is the U doing this year?" knowing that they hadn't had the best of starts, including a bad loss to FSU. The man responded, "What do I care? I root for New Hampshire." So, I knew odd things were afoot when Hurricane fans were jumping ship to root for a Div 1AA team. And after three exhillerating wins on the road, the cardiac kids block a punt, clamp down on UConn, and set-up Rutgers' biggest Big East game....ever.
But still, I have been having this odd feeling in the ticker, so I went to the doctor, and low and behold, he reported back the above image. I have Rutgers Heartworm. I can't eat as much, and I am frequently starting conversations with random people about Rutgers. My doctor said that I am not in any immediate harm, but he was curious about all the scars. I had to explain that I have had the heart muscle rebuilt several times from being broken with all kinds of actions, missed field goals, turnovers, penalties, injuries, etc. Someone, the joy of this season has not only healed many wounds, it has made my muscle stronger and ready to grow even larger.

Is it Thursday yet?

But did I mention?

By the way, the significance of tonight's game is only for one of those teams to rise into a tie for first place with the Scarlet Knights...

Burning Sofas and Red Birds

Important Big East games not inclusing Miami or Virginia Tech (hey, BC never really meant much to anyone right?) didn't often happen in the big east. Now, the BE has the appetizer for the second most important game of the regular season, giving full due to the Bucks and Big Housers. I have often wondered what would happen when you cross a bearded mountain guy with a loaded musket and a redish bird with a mean scowl on its face? It seems like the Mounts have the upper hand in this game. All their offensive weapons running amuk, and a defense that does what it needs to do to keep things in order. But, like everyone likes to ponder, who have the Mounts played?
Marshall? 3-5
Eastern Washington? 2-7
East Carolina? 4-4
Mississippi State? 2-7
Syracuse? 3-6
UConn? 3-5.
The only school that even seems like a good win is Maryland which stands at 6-2. I know, I know, you can only win the games on your schedule, and no one in the "Pwer" conferences is jumping at the chance to go to Morgantown, but the bearded hilltopper hasn't exactly been going through the SEC grinders like Floria and Auburn have experiences.
On the other hand, let's ponder Louisville opponents thus far:
Kentucky 4-4
Temple...ugh, not quite a high school JV squad, 1-8 (bowling green should be ashamed...)
Miami, 5-3, and the Card beat them pre-brawl
K State, a respectable 5-4
Middle Tenn St., 5-3, but the best team in their conference, the Sun Belt
Cincy, 5-4, a tough Big East squad,
Syracuse, 3-6

Just based on strength of schedule, it seems like the Cards are a stronger team, plus this game is in Louisville, the site of their only win in the brief 7 game series. And don't forget, that while the Michael Bush show is sidelined for the year, the huge o-line Louisville is still opening holes worth 151+ yards per game.
So, in the game that will determine who will battle Rutgers down the stretch for the Big East title, I predict, with a big apology to my man Brownie, a 20-17 Louisville victory. Thus will set up the next in this season long series of "the biggest games in Rutgers history...."