Desert Sapper's Blogistan

OU Football and my world

2007/11/26

Week 14

@ 01:45 PM (24 months, 6 days ago)
Another wild and woolly College Football week.  On Thursday, we watched USC finally look like the team everybody hyped them as before the season started, when they annihilated #7 ASU in Tempe by 20 points.  On Friday, we watched #1 LSU lose another 3 OT game, this time at home to unranked Arkansas.  Then Texas dropped its second straight 'Lone Star Shootout' to unranked A&M (who followed the win over their biggest rival by firing Dennis Franchione).  UGA, Oklahoma, and Florida all hammered their in-state rivals, while the Iron Bowl managed to live up to its legacy, Auburn edging Alabama by a TD.  Which brings us to the game most of the country had been waiting for: the border war between Mizzou and KU.  Mizzou came out swinging, and KU was flat through most of the game, trailing 21-0 at one point before finally getting back into the game late in the fourth.  The Jayhawks clawed and scratched their way back into it and only trailed by 6 points with a minute left and a ton of momentum, before Quarterback Todd Reesing was sacked in the endzone for a safety.  End one cinderella story.  KU is no longer undefeated.  But Mizzou, surprise of all surprises, is the number 1 team in the land.
 
Which brings us to where we are this weekend. 
 
LSU, despite their latest thrilling overtime defeat to an unranked opponent, is still ranked #5 in the country and is still headed to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game against a somewhat surprising Tennessee team.  As in, surprising that they managed to win the SEC East despite glaring blowout losses to Cal, Florida, and Bama.  It is a Jeckyl and Hyde prospect for UT.  This same team plastered UGA and Arkansas (yes, the Arkansas that won last week in triple OT in Baton Rouge).  This same team did what LSU could not: beat Kentucky in Overtime in Lexington.  By the same token, the Vols also beat Vandy and South Carolina by the skin of their teeth.  The Vols will need to find a way to move the ball against the #3 total D in the country, while stopping a pretty potent offense that scored more than 40 points per game this year.  The question of the week in the SEC:  Which Vols show up this time?
 
The Hokies earned a rematch against the BC Eagles in the ACC Championship game this Saturday in the best way imaginable for a Hokie fan: by beating UVA in Charlottesville.  It was a dominant performance, one that featured two great QBs for Va Tech: Sean Glennon and true frosh Tyrod Taylor.  The emotional rollercoaster following the tragedy in Blacksburg is nearing its apex.  At the same time, BC is fighting for a BCS berth, as well, in another storybook season.  Will the Hokies be heading to the Orange Bowl, or will Matt Ryan climb back into Heisman consideration?
 
So, Kansas had its season crushed by the Mizzou Tigers.  The Tigers are #1 across the boards, and they earned a rematch with the Oklahoma Sooners.  OU beat the Tigers in Norman by 10 points the last time they played.  Now it will be on neutral turf.  Chase Daniel is still in pursuit of the Heisman Trophy, and a win would likely secure not only that, but a trip to New Orleans and a chance for the first National Championship in Missouri history.  But the Sooners have plans of their own.  Despite soul-crushing upsets at Texas Tech and Colorado, OU has stood strong in the face of adversity, blasting in-state rival Oklahoma State by 32 points last weekend.  Phenom Sam Bradford set the NCAA record for most TDs in a season by a freshman last saturday, and the Sooners pushed the Cowboys all over the field on the way to more than 300 rushing yards.  Will Boomer Sooner be the song of the day in San Antonio, or will Mizzou win its first Big XII title?
 
Army-Navy is not just a rivalry, it is the rivalry.  Say what you will about any other rivalry, but very few hold such importance across the globe.  In times of war, the importance of the game is even more significant.  With men huddled around television sets in morale tents in Iraq and Afghanistan, the mood will be intense until that one play breaks free.  And although the reciprocal is equally voiced by my brothers in arms on boats, in planes, and walking the ground in dangerous places around the world, there is no question for me on this: GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY!
 
So, finally, we reach the battle royale in So-cal.  UCLA travels to USC to battle in the coliseum in a game that could decide who travels to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl.  The Trojans are up for the contest, and humiliated ASU in Tempe last week to jump back into the picture.  Meanwhile, the Bruins shutout a Dennis-Dixon-less Oregon.  Will the men of Troy smell roses, or will their cross-town rivals do them in?
 
Stay tuned sports fans.  All of these questions and more find an answer this week.  Championship week.
 
My top 10:
1.  West Virginia - Talk about a statement game - 66-21.  Ouch.
2.  Mizzou - Looked awesome until the fourth quarter
3.  Hawaii - looking more and more like the best WAC team ever
4.  Kansas - much better 4th quarter nearly dug them out
5.  Ohio State - Big 10 Champs
6.  Oklahoma - Very powerful performance against O-State
7.  USC - Finally looking like a championship team
8.  LSU - Twice a loser in Triple OT?  Ugh.
9.  UGA - 6 game winning streak since getting belted by UT
10. Va Tech - Great performances since the loss to BC

2007/11/20

Wk 13

@ 03:01 PM (24 months, 11 days ago)
I apologize if I have nothing profound to say this week.  I watched Oregon lose their QB in the first quarter against Arizona and proceed to lose with Brady Leaf at the helm.  Then on Saturday, probably in karmic retribution to all the Sooner fans that cheered Dennis Dixon going down (along with the National title hopes of his team), Sam Bradford went out in the first quarter to Texas Tech, and the Sooners proceeded to lose with Joey Halzle at the helm.  Granted, Halzle is not to blame.  His 4th Quarter heroics nearly put the Sooners back in it.  But alas, it was not to be.  This week features games to determine the Big XII Championship Game Matchup:
 
Texas takes on A&M in College Station.  Texas has some hope to go to San Antonio with a win.
 
OU hosts O-State.  With a win, they're in.
 
KU hosts Mizzou.  The winner goes to San Antonio.  Who'd a thunk the Mo-kan would be for the Big XII North?  Goes to show what preseason stuff is worth.
 
Arkansas travels to LSU on Friday.  As very little a shot as I give them, an Arkansas upset would complete the circle of life.
 
And of course, the Iron Bowl.  Always intense, always fun to watch.
 
Stay tuned and watch what happens.
My Top 10:
 
1. KU - Still unbeaten
2. LSU - Looking strong
3. Hawaii - still alive after a close call
4. Mizzou - very good team
5. West Virginia - best run offense in the nation
6. Ohio State - made michigan look non-existant
7. Arizona State - in contention for the Pac 10
8. UGA - playing as well as anybody right now
9. Oklahoma - Came back late, but not enough
10. Oregon - Better hope Leaf starts playing well

2007/11/13

Wk 12

@ 03:39 PM (24 months, 18 days ago)
Ohio State fell victim to the curse.  No chance LSU was going down to La Tech.  So the upstart Illini came into the 'shoe and made it happen.  It appears LSU has dodged some sort of bullet as #2, as Oregon finds themselves in the unenviable position of #2, and LSU is back at #1.  Oregon must travel to Arizona, and LSU must travel to Ole Miss.  Granted, neither team is likely to pull off a victory over the top two in the country, but that's what makes college football exciting.  Everybody but Kansas and Hawaii has lost this year, and it is doubtful (however possible) that either of those two will escape undefeated.
 
So the game we all were waiting for, Ohio State's trip to the Big House, is not what we thought it would be.  Both the Buckeyes and Wolverines lost last weekend, to Illinois and Wisconsin, respectively.  This game is still for the Big 10, thanks to the losses on both ends.  It should be an interesting and exciting game, and Big Blue is looking to avenge the last three seasons' disappointment.  Will the Wolverines claim the Big 10 title and complete their recovery from the Appalachian State loss, or will the Buckeyes get back on track for the national championship?
 
Boston College, once the wearer of the cinderella slipper, reached midnight a couple weeks ago, and is now struggling.  They must now travel to Clemson, where they face a Tiger team that struggled mid-season against the Techs, and is now back in full form, hammering Wake Forest last week by 34 points.  This game is seemingly for full control of the Atlantic Division driver's seat.  The winner will face one of the two Virginia schools for the ACC crown on December 1.  Will BC take the reigns, or will Clemson kick them to the curb?
 
Kentucky barely beat Vandy last week to stay alive after dropping the two games following their upset of LSU.  Amazingly, they are still able to win the East with some help.  They must first take care of UGA and UT.  If they do, and Florida and South Carolina get beat, they own the SEC East.  But I digress... UGA is in a much more feasible position.  If they beat UK, and Tennessee loses a game, they travel to Atlanta.  Tennessee is in if they win out (by virtue of the beatdown they handed out in Neyland in the beginning of October).  So, now that you've seen all the math of the SEC and your head is hurting, let's be simple...Will the Wildcats produce another upset, or will the Dawgs step up between the hedges?
 
Oklahoma has been impressive at times and at others, well...not so much.  The Sooners struggled with Baylor's spread offense for a half last week...in Norman.  Now they must travel to Lubbock, where Bob Stoops is 2-2, to face a better version of the same spread.  Tech got in the kind of game Mike Leach relishes last week: a score-a-thon.  They lost, but they also put up 43 points on the Texas Longhorns.  Leach has probably been rubbing his hands together for the past year, waiting to get the Sooners back in the land of the pirate.  Stoops has probably been showing his players the video of the last time the Sooners were in Lubbock...they lost 21-23 on the last play of the game.  Will the Sooners avenge getting 'jobbed in Lubbock' in 2005, or will Leach's Raiders pull off the upset, yet again?
 
Which brings us to Thursday night.  Oregon, sporting a Heisman candidate in Dennis Dixon, flashing fancy Nike uniforms, and sporting one of the best offenses (if not the best) in the country travels down to Tucson to take on the Wildcats.  Mike Stoops' 3rd year with 'zona has had its ups and downs.  Losing to BYU, New Mexico, Oregon State, and Stanford was not so good.  Winning at U-dub and last week against UCLA has them thinking about a potential (albeit far-fetched) bowl bid.  A bowl bid that would require beating the top two teams in the conference: Oregon and arch-rival Arizona State.  OK, so the likelihood is comparable to the likelihood of McDonald's opening a franchise on Mars next year, but the possibility is there, and it is enticing.  Will Oregon roll Arizona in Tucson, or will the Wildcats pull off the biggest upset anybody can think of right now?
 
Stay tuned, sports fans, these questions and more find an answer this week.
 
My top 10:
1. KU - Bam!  That's all Okie State heard.
2. LSU - Goin' down to Oxford
3. Oregon - Dixon looks good
4. OU - Sooners allowed 21 to Baylor...Tech?
5. Mizzou - Looking toward showdown with KU
6. WV - Unstoppable running game
7. UH - Maybe the most dominant WAC team ever
8. ASU - Tough but close loss to Oregon
9. UGA - Wow.  Auburn is still shocked.
10. the OSU - shocked by Illini, waiting for the battle in the Big House

2007/11/6

Week 11

Tags:
@ 05:23 PM (24 months, 25 days ago)
Illinois, once the cinderella of the Big 10 (when this season started) is now tasked with the unenviable trip to the 'shoe to take on the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes.  Ohio State proved last week against Wisconsin that it has much more than just a powerful D.  The Bucks have a superior offense to balance it out, and QB Todd Boeckmann is doing more than just not making too many mistakes, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 23 TDs.  Chris Wells is living up to the expectations he set as a prep standout, and is a tough player for any D to game plan for.  The Illini, on the other hand, only lost to Iowa in a bad fashion (in the sense that they really should have won, but 6 points was not enough).  They lost to a good Michigan club and a good Mizzou club.  They beat Wisconsin and Penn State and buried everybody else they played, including Minnesota last week.  Rashard Mendenhall and Juice Williams are dangerous when they touch the football, not to mention Arrelious Benn.  Will the Illini bring enough firepower, or will the Buckeyes prove dominant yet again?
 
USC travels to Berkley in their annual clash with Cal.  Surprisingly, no Pac 10 title is on the line like everybody thought at the beginning of the season.  The Trojans have seemingly stumbled from their lofty perch, dropping the shocker at home to Stanford and a tough one in Autzen stadium to Oregon a couple weeks ago.  Similarly, Cal lost back-to-back-to-back games to Oregon State, at UCLA, and at Arizona State before overcoming their skid (barely) against Wazzu last week.  Will the Trojans reestabilish themselves, or will Cal hand them a third loss?
 
Florida State travels to Blacksburg a week after doing what the Hokies could not: beat BC.  Now the Hokies must fight to stay atop the ACC Coastal standings with hopes of potentially challenging BC to a rematch.  Will the Hokies reign supreme, or will the Noles turn out the lights in Blackburg?
 
In what may have been pegged as a fight for the Big East Title at the beginning of the season, Louisville travels down to Morgantown to take on West Virginia.  The Cardinals have suffered through 4 losses by a touchdown or less (and a few agonizingly close victories), disappointing many that pegged them as the class of the Big East.  Meanwhile the Mountaineers' only loss (and only close game this year) was in Tampa to a tough South Florida team.  Will Louisville regain some pride, or will Steve Slaton and Pat White run roughshod on the Cardinals D, or both?
 
Auburn travels to UGA in what always amounts to an entertaining slugfest between the hedges.  Both are trying to stay alive for the SEC Championship Game, with UGA leading the SEC East.  While Auburn's hopes for the SEC West title are slim, with LSU leading the pack, the Bulldogs are very much alive.  This is the last game for Auburn prior to a two-week break before the Iron Bowl.  Will the Bulldogs stay on top of the East, or will Auburn lay it all on the line and keep a small glimmer of hope alive?
 
Stay tuned, sports fans.  All these questions and more will find an answer this weekend.
 
My top 10:
1. the OSU - waiting for the battle in the Big House
2. LSU - Survived Tuscaloosa unscathed.  Anybody else?
3. KU - When will the Jayhawks lose?
4. Oregon - Great O, tough D
5. OU - Sooners blasted the Aggies
6. Mizzou - Looking toward showdown with KU
7. WV - Unstoppable running game
8. UH - Maybe the most dominant WAC team ever
9. ASU - Tough but close loss to Oregon
10. BC - At home loss to FSU