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Seems to me that a lot of…

Seems to me that a lot of our rooting strategy depends on whether you a)assume we’re in and are only concerned about seeding or b)still worried about crazy scenarios that could keep us out. If it’s the former, then sure it’d be great if Q loses 2 straight to RPI - presumably about the only scenario in which we might pass them in PWR. If it’s the latter, then we want Q to win ECAC (and Cornell to not even make the finals), and tOSU to lose. Similarly, if we’re concerned about just getting in, then I think we want home team CC to lose two straight to a lower ranked team. If we’re just concerned about tournament seeding, we probably want them to win in three, which would be the least helpful scenario for them and/or UNO in that series.

Another reason our chances…

Another reason our chances look so good now is that each of the 6 teams ranked from 11-16 plays one of the others this weekend. Should take at least a few of our competitors off the board. 

(That is, if Finland had…

(That is, if Finland had beaten us by three or more and Sweden-USSR had ended in a tie.)

Though if Finland had beaten…

Though if Finland had beaten us and the Sweden-USSR game (played after) had ended in a tie (instead of a USSR blowout), then the Fins would've won the gold. In fact, if they'd beaten us by 3 or more goals, we wouldn't have won a medal at all. 

A bit of a misnomer (which a…

A bit of a misnomer (which a lot of people use) to refer to the game as a "semifinal." The medal round that year was a round-robin, i.e. we would've played Finland regardless of the outcome of our game against the USSR. While going into Sunday, there were scenarios for each of the four teams in the medal round to win gold, as it happened, w/the Soviets beating Sweden, had we lost to Finland the Soviets would've won the gold. 

I remember very clearly watching the game on tape delay and not knowing the outcome. Eruzione scored w/exactly 10 minutes left. My Dad, not wanting me to get my hopes up too high said, well, I'm sure the Soviets will still win. With 5 minutes left, well, maybe there'll be a tie. And then... 

Long time SI subscriber. Sad…

Long time SI subscriber. Sad to see what's become of it. I don't know why anyone thought moving from weekly to monthly was a sensible idea. And as others have noted, referring to us as "Big Blue"? Yeesh. 

Michigan Panthers? Showing…

Michigan Panthers? Showing some USFL love... 

Made it home yesterday on…

Made it home yesterday on time, but man, the landing in DC was rough. 

Many, many thanks for this…

Many, many thanks for this. I note that there’s a fannin lot a stop or two south of the stadium, and another one a few stops north of it. Would either work? Any thoughts on how early you’d need to arrive to get a spot in one of these places? 

And I take it your comment about the neighborhoods around the stadium means we shouldn’t look for on street parking in areas just west of it? (I’ll be coming in from Austin.) 

The stupidity at the end of…

The stupidity at the end of the half was just remarkable. First Mizzou getting called for the PF, saving tOSU from having to punt from their own end zone. Then tOSU letting their 3rd string QB throw the ball on 3rd and ten, when running the ball all but runs out the clock. Then Mizzou getting a delay penalty on a FG attempt. 

In the book that Bo co-wrote…

In the book that Bo co-wrote w/JUB, Bo says that he focused on having his team ready to execute, and did not focus on being an innovator on offense. His results very much reflect this approach: against teams where we had a clear talent advantage (i.e. the “Little Eight”), his record was outstanding (15 losses in 21 seasons). Against a team that was basically our mirror opposite, he was slightly over .500. Against teams that had similar talent levels and were willing to be more creative (ND + bowl teams), his record was pretty bad, even accounting for some bad luck. (I realize this says nothing about our poor bowl record post-Bo.) 

The networks, who alas, are…

The networks, who alas, are really the final word on all of this, don't particularly care if the B10 title comes down to some BS tiebreaker rules among, e.g., 4 one loss teams. But they do care about having M and tOSU playing the LA schools. Any system that reduces the volume of that won't fly, however much sense it might otherwise make. 

My 340 points were good for…

My 340 points were good for 3 tickets at $675 per, in the 500 section. 

Many thanks for the update…

Many thanks for the update. Wonderful to hear, and great donation suggestions. 

We can be coached by Hayden…

We can be coached by Hayden Epstein and the ghost of Benny Friedman. All training table meals catered by Zingerman's. 

I would much rather us play…

I would much rather us play FSU than one of the Pac-12 teams - especially if we end up in the Rose Bowl, which seems the more likely possibility. I think the best chance of that happening is Oregon winning a really close one against UW and FSU absolutely blowing out Louisville. This also assumes UGA beats Bama. If Bama wins, then I think we want UW to win and FSU to win a close one that keeps them in 4th. And yes: Texas or FSU winning likely eliminates tOSU. Unclear what committee would do with teams whose only loss came in their conference championship (UW and UGA if they lose). In any event, onto Indy. Go Blue! 

Best. Promotion. Ever.

Best. Promotion. Ever.

I can’t open up the board at…

I can’t open up the board at all (I.e. the three bars drop-down doesn’t work) from my admittedly ancient iPad. 

Of course, this might create…

Of course, this might create a bit of a conflict for Santa, who is a U of C alum.

I can't believe Nic Caraway…

I can't believe Nic Caraway changed his name. I wonder if he ever hangs out w/MLB ump Jordan Baker. 

Is it true that Bosniak…

Is it true that Bosniak cysts can be caused by insufficient use of bubble screens? 

Instead of "StalionsGate,"…

Instead of "StalionsGate," this nonsense should be referred to as Wyld Stallyns. (Apologies to the Millenials and Gen Z folks who have no idea what I'm talking about.)

Buffalo stampede

Navarre…

Buffalo stampede

Navarre runs free on the turf

Great Jug comeback win

Jug Security

Always at a…

Jug Security

Always at a premium

So says Brady Hoke

And The Athletic completely…

And The Athletic completely ignored this point: even if it's true that there aren't more commercials, there's less game action (not a ton less, but still), so a higher percentage of the broadcast is ad time. 

Backup QB you say? Has…

Backup QB you say? Has anyone called Todd Collins?

"It's a free cheeseburger,…

"It's a free cheeseburger, when you've already paid..." 

Yes, the Chargers won the…

Yes, the Chargers won the 1963 AFL title. And at the risk of being really picky to the OP, the Vikings' NFL title wasn't before the Super Bowl era, it was during it - right before they got blown out in SB IV by Stram, Dawson, et al. - the last game before the merger. So they were the last NFL champs not to win the SB. Still waiting... 

Favorite part of this: on…

Favorite part of this: on the fumble/perhaps incomplete pass clip, Chris Schenkel (I think that's him doing PBP?) quickly throwing in, "we welcome the viewers of Yale-Brown" (!). Yeah, I'm sure that one was a real barnburner... (Yale 21, Brown 0.) 

One thing I haven't seen…

One thing I haven't seen discussed yet is whether/how 5 vs. 4 home games will be figured into tiebreakers for making the B10 Championship. As it is now, you have the same number of home games as the other teams in your division. W/no divisions, that balance will be lost. 

I was at that game. Since it…

I was at that game. Since it was Michigan's 4th Rose Bowl in the last 5 years, interest was a bit low on our side - I don't think the game was even a sellout. As a result, I ended up sitting on the 40. (By contrast, 5 years later I was in the end zone, which seemed like a much worse place to be... until Woodson's INT right there.) When Wheatley ripped off that 88 yarder, I almost passed out. As others have said, one of the ultimate 'what ifs' is how many yards he might've had if he hadn't been hurt in the 2nd half. In any event, a great, fun game. Thanks for the re-cap. 

Once we were slaves in the…

Once we were slaves in the land of the shoe, until the Lord, acting with a strong arm and great enthusiasm, brought us forth. Now we are free men and women, in the land of milk, honey, and the great and mighty house, which provideth great bounty and many zuzim for NIL. 

I look forward to Gach…

I look forward to Gach singing a lovely song of peace to opposing defensive linemen as he crushes them into the turf. 

I know the Atlantic bid is…

I know the Atlantic bid is always in effect a bid stealer b/c outside of top 16, but it seems like  there's a big difference between regular season champ RIT (currently 22) and Canisius (43)/Holy Cross (44), who will play in their tournament final. It's a good year to be the overall #1. 

I think for the next year…

I think for the next year Derrick Walton is allowed to give random bootings to anyone. And the Aussies have to make their water drain in the correct direction. 

And by a huge margin. He (my…

And by a huge margin. He (my first sports idol) retired with 47,003 passing yards and 342 TD passes. No one else had 300 TDs or 40,000 yards. 
 

The Viking SB teams were somewhat like the Bills four time SB losers: first one, were probably outcoached, the other three were clearly not the better team. 
 

And I will die on the hill that they’ve never been the same since moving indoors. I’m sure Bud would agree. May his memory be a blessing.

Sugar Ray Leonard wouldn't…

Sugar Ray Leonard wouldn't find this weird at all. 

The dominant one! 

The dominant one! 

Sure would love to know who…

Sure would love to know who player 7 is: "I don't really like [Michigan State]. The culture wasn't a fit." 

Channeling Al Davis here: …

Channeling Al Davis here: "The other team's quarterback must go down. And must go down hard." (Obviously, "Just win, baby" works as well.) 

The only thing that would…

The only thing that would make this better is if he were from Battle Creek. Or transferring from Berlin Polytechnic. 

What a great story! 

1…

What a great story! 

1. What is it about boxers and camp? They day camp I went to as a kid was run by a retired trainer. 

2. I take it you’ve never again washed the cheek that Kimberly kissed? And did this succeed in making Leigh jealous?

3. Do Gabe Gunsberg’s parents realize what a great job they did naming their son?

Get well soon!

Get well soon!

The Wreck of the '22…

The Wreck of the '22 Terrapins is superb. 

C'mon, if anyone on this…

C'mon, if anyone on this team is destined to be a floor general, it's George Washington. 

Why can't they at least get…

Why can't they at least get the right shade of blue for the pants? 

Iowa currently with 5…

Iowa currently with 5 turnovers and 3 offensive points. If this holds, I declare it to be a Ferentz. 

Here's the problem, as we…

Here's the problem, as we all understand: everyone wants to preserve The Game. With us now back as legit competition for tOSU, there's simply nothing else like it in terms of national appeal, importance, tradition, etc. Certainly the networks want to keep it. But if we get rid of divisions, then you're putting both of those teams (and, let's face it, given recent history, us especially) at a huge disadvantage by ensuring that we play them every year while competing for a title against a bunch of teams that don't. (That's true a little bit now, since most West teams are competing for a spot in Indy w/o having to play tOSU, but at least we don't lose out on the East title to a team that didn't play them.) Before the addition of USC/UCLA, I liked Brian's inner/outer divisional structure - moving PSU, Rutgers, and Maryland to what's now the West in return for Purdue, Illinois, and Northwestern - which would've made the West stronger (though maybe we need to re-think that given how Purdue and Illinois are playing this year) while maintaining all major rivalries (except for the Jug, sigh) as intra-divisional games. With the addition of the LA teams, put them in the West, move Purdue to the East, and you accomplish more or less the same thing (much as I'd love to play the LA schools regularly). I don't want to play tOSU in October, or - even worse - not every year, and I don't want to lose a spot in the B1G title game to a team that didn't have to play them. 

Interestingly, when Illinois…

Interestingly, when Illinois' most (only?) famous fictional alum, Lt. Col. Henry Blake, tells the sad story of his screw-up as the team trainer in a tight game against tOSU, he doesn't mention the shame of losing the Illibuck as part of it. 

And I say yes: if we're playing Minny, regardless of time, place, circumstances, the Jug is up for grabs.  

I have fond childhood…

I have fond childhood memories of going to SUNY Albany games (now FCS, but D-III back then), especially on those rare occasions when we managed to beat evil Ithaca College. Not quite like being at the Big House, but still fun.