So here I am today watching coverage of the inauguration festivities when both Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd were removed from the luncheon due to illness.
So I thought - "Hey, what does Wikipedia have to say about this?"
I've seen Kennedy's death inserted into his article twice already. Apparently no one using Wikipedia cares about Senator Byrd.
I should probably just get ready for work and move on with life.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sunday, December 7, 2008
One last whine
Under the utterly unnoticed Your RHS playoff plan, this would have been the upcoming week in college football...
Troy (Sun Belt Champion, #16) at Texas (At large, #1)
Penn State (Big 10 Champion, #9) at USC (Pac 10 Champion, #8)
Virginia Tech (ACC Champion, #13) at Utah (Mountain West Champion, #4)
Ball State (At large, #12) at Boise State (WAC Champion, #5)
East Carolina (Conference USA Champion, #14) at Florida (SEC Champion, #3)
Cincinnati (Big East Champion, #11) at Alabama (At large, #6)
Buffalo (MAC Champion, #15) at Oklahoma (Big 12 Champion, #2)
Ohio State (At large, #10) at Texas Tech (At large, #7)
Could Iowa and South Carolina still play in the Outback Bowl under this system? Hell yes. It wouldn't be any less meaningful a game than it is right now.
Oh well. Someday it will happen. The laughable notion that there's no playoff because the schools are worried about the academic progress of their students will eventually go away when the money is right.
Of course, that won't be until 2015 at the earliest thanks to the sweet new BCS/ESPN deal.
Troy (Sun Belt Champion, #16) at Texas (At large, #1)
Penn State (Big 10 Champion, #9) at USC (Pac 10 Champion, #8)
Virginia Tech (ACC Champion, #13) at Utah (Mountain West Champion, #4)
Ball State (At large, #12) at Boise State (WAC Champion, #5)
East Carolina (Conference USA Champion, #14) at Florida (SEC Champion, #3)
Cincinnati (Big East Champion, #11) at Alabama (At large, #6)
Buffalo (MAC Champion, #15) at Oklahoma (Big 12 Champion, #2)
Ohio State (At large, #10) at Texas Tech (At large, #7)
Could Iowa and South Carolina still play in the Outback Bowl under this system? Hell yes. It wouldn't be any less meaningful a game than it is right now.
Oh well. Someday it will happen. The laughable notion that there's no playoff because the schools are worried about the academic progress of their students will eventually go away when the money is right.
Of course, that won't be until 2015 at the earliest thanks to the sweet new BCS/ESPN deal.
The only end, my friend
Is the regular college football season actually over?
Judging from the tears on my cheeks and the empty feeling in my soul, it must be over.
Oh, sure, the bowls are coming, but... but...
WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!? Why must it go away every year?
Your final regular season Your RHS College Football Top 25 (formula tweaked slightly to emphasize strength of schedule) (VERY slightly, actually)
1. Texas (11-1, 3)
2. Oklahoma (12-1, 5)
3. Florida (12-1, 6)
4. Utah (12-0, 2)
5. Boise State (12-0, 4)
6. Alabama (12-1, 1)
7. Texas Tech (11-1, 8)
8. USC (11-1, 9)
9. Penn State (11-1, 10)
10. Ohio State (10-2, 11)
11. Cincinnati (11-2, 12)
12. Ball State (12-1, 7)
13. TCU (10-2, 13)
14. Pitt (9-3, 17)
15. Georgia (9-3, 14)
16. Michigan State (9-3, 16)
17. BYU (10-2, 15)
18. Oklahoma State (9-3, 19)
19. Georgia Tech (9-3, 21)
20. Oregon (9-3, 22)
21. Virginia Tech (9-4, NR)
22. Missouri (9-4, 20)
23. Boston College (9-4, 18)
24. Nebraska (8-4, NR)
25. Oregon State (8-4, NR)
Dropped out - Western Michigan (9-3, 24), Northwestern (9-3, 25), Tulsa (10-3, 23)
Other teams of note...
36. Iowa (8-4, 35)
81. UTEP (5-7, 82)
114. Iowa State (2-10, 114)
115. Idaho (2-10, 116)
120. North Texas (1-11, 119)
That's right. Washington's won in the end based entirely on the quality of teams they lost to, and the bumped up to #119 in the final poll. Drama!
Nebraska fans are bummed because they get Clemson in the Gator Bowl. They think Clemson is beneath them. I've had a good laugh at their expense listening to them cry on local sports radio.
"Yeah, it's a New Year's Day bowl, but Clemson?!? Come on! Why isn't it Florida State?!?"
Honest to God. It isn't 1995 anymore.
Judging from the tears on my cheeks and the empty feeling in my soul, it must be over.
Oh, sure, the bowls are coming, but... but...
WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!? Why must it go away every year?
Your final regular season Your RHS College Football Top 25 (formula tweaked slightly to emphasize strength of schedule) (VERY slightly, actually)
1. Texas (11-1, 3)
2. Oklahoma (12-1, 5)
3. Florida (12-1, 6)
4. Utah (12-0, 2)
5. Boise State (12-0, 4)
6. Alabama (12-1, 1)
7. Texas Tech (11-1, 8)
8. USC (11-1, 9)
9. Penn State (11-1, 10)
10. Ohio State (10-2, 11)
11. Cincinnati (11-2, 12)
12. Ball State (12-1, 7)
13. TCU (10-2, 13)
14. Pitt (9-3, 17)
15. Georgia (9-3, 14)
16. Michigan State (9-3, 16)
17. BYU (10-2, 15)
18. Oklahoma State (9-3, 19)
19. Georgia Tech (9-3, 21)
20. Oregon (9-3, 22)
21. Virginia Tech (9-4, NR)
22. Missouri (9-4, 20)
23. Boston College (9-4, 18)
24. Nebraska (8-4, NR)
25. Oregon State (8-4, NR)
Dropped out - Western Michigan (9-3, 24), Northwestern (9-3, 25), Tulsa (10-3, 23)
Other teams of note...
36. Iowa (8-4, 35)
81. UTEP (5-7, 82)
114. Iowa State (2-10, 114)
115. Idaho (2-10, 116)
120. North Texas (1-11, 119)
That's right. Washington's won in the end based entirely on the quality of teams they lost to, and the bumped up to #119 in the final poll. Drama!
Nebraska fans are bummed because they get Clemson in the Gator Bowl. They think Clemson is beneath them. I've had a good laugh at their expense listening to them cry on local sports radio.
"Yeah, it's a New Year's Day bowl, but Clemson?!? Come on! Why isn't it Florida State?!?"
Honest to God. It isn't 1995 anymore.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Sigh
Stevie Hicks died recently.
It's one thing when some local sports star I remember from my youth passes, but Stevie was a tad bit more recent than that.
Reports make it seem as if he either jumped from an overpass, fell off an overpass, or was thrown from an overpass. None of the three are particularly better than the others.
The poll this week is a little late as I've been "working" at my "job" to pay for my "living space". I'm looking forward to the week before Christmas when I make my latest triumphant return to the Hawkeye State. A wise man once told me that if he were given a form to fill out that asked for his ethnicity, he'd write "Iowan." Allow me to give a hearty, "Me too."
And so we come to yet another weekly RHS FBS College Football Top 25...
1. Alabama (12-0, 1)
2. Utah (12-0, 2)
3. Texas (11-1, 3)
4. Boise State (12-0, 4)
5. Oklahoma (11-1, 5)
6. Florida (11-1, 6)
7. Ball State (12-0, 7)
8. Texas Tech (11-1, 9)
9. USC (10-1, 10)
10. Penn State (11-1, 8)
11. Ohio State (10-2, 12)
12. Cincinnati (10-2, 16)
13. TCU (10-2, 14)
14. Georgia (9-3, 11)
15. BYU (10-2, 17)
16. Michigan State (9-3, 19)
17. Pitt (8-3, 22)
18. Boston College (9-3, 23)
19. Oklahoma State (9-3, 13)
20. Missouri (9-3, 15)
21. Georgia Tech (9-3, 24)
22. Oregon (9-3, NR)
23. Tulsa (10-2, NR)
24. Western Michigan (9-3, 18)
25. Northwestern (9-3, NR)
Dropped out - Oregon State (8-4, 20), Florida State (8-4, 21), Central Michigan (8-4, 25)
Other teams of note...
28. Nebraska (8-4, 31)
35. Iowa (8-4, 33)
82. UTEP (5-7, 72)
114. Iowa State (2-10, 114)
116. Idaho (2-10, 116)
120. Washington (0-11, 120)
Am I the only one who thinks this season was made for a playoff?
It's one thing when some local sports star I remember from my youth passes, but Stevie was a tad bit more recent than that.
Reports make it seem as if he either jumped from an overpass, fell off an overpass, or was thrown from an overpass. None of the three are particularly better than the others.
The poll this week is a little late as I've been "working" at my "job" to pay for my "living space". I'm looking forward to the week before Christmas when I make my latest triumphant return to the Hawkeye State. A wise man once told me that if he were given a form to fill out that asked for his ethnicity, he'd write "Iowan." Allow me to give a hearty, "Me too."
And so we come to yet another weekly RHS FBS College Football Top 25...
1. Alabama (12-0, 1)
2. Utah (12-0, 2)
3. Texas (11-1, 3)
4. Boise State (12-0, 4)
5. Oklahoma (11-1, 5)
6. Florida (11-1, 6)
7. Ball State (12-0, 7)
8. Texas Tech (11-1, 9)
9. USC (10-1, 10)
10. Penn State (11-1, 8)
11. Ohio State (10-2, 12)
12. Cincinnati (10-2, 16)
13. TCU (10-2, 14)
14. Georgia (9-3, 11)
15. BYU (10-2, 17)
16. Michigan State (9-3, 19)
17. Pitt (8-3, 22)
18. Boston College (9-3, 23)
19. Oklahoma State (9-3, 13)
20. Missouri (9-3, 15)
21. Georgia Tech (9-3, 24)
22. Oregon (9-3, NR)
23. Tulsa (10-2, NR)
24. Western Michigan (9-3, 18)
25. Northwestern (9-3, NR)
Dropped out - Oregon State (8-4, 20), Florida State (8-4, 21), Central Michigan (8-4, 25)
Other teams of note...
28. Nebraska (8-4, 31)
35. Iowa (8-4, 33)
82. UTEP (5-7, 72)
114. Iowa State (2-10, 114)
116. Idaho (2-10, 116)
120. Washington (0-11, 120)
Am I the only one who thinks this season was made for a playoff?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Kapow
What a week. Except for the flu/food poisoning my wife and I are suffering through...no, wait. That makes it all bad. I don't particularly care for calling in sick; however, in this case, it does give me time to post the latest RHS College Football Poll...
1. Alabama (11-0, 3)
2. Utah (12-0, 4)
3. Texas (10-1, 2)
4. Boise State (11-0, 5)
5. Oklahoma (10-1, 7)
6. Florida (10-1, 6)
7. Ball State (11-0, 8)
8. Penn State (11-1, 10)
9. Texas Tech (10-1, 1)
10. USC (9-1, 9)
11. Georgia (9-2, 11)
12. Ohio State (10-2, 13)
13. Oklahoma State (9-2, 17)
14. TCU (10-2, 19)
15. Missouri (9-2, 15)
16. Cincinnati (9-2, 18)
17. BYU (10-2, 12)
18. Western Michigan (9-2, 21)
19. Michigan State (9-3, 14)
20. Oregon State (8-3, 25)
21. Florida State (8-3, NR)
22. Pittsburgh (7-3, 20)
23. Boston College (8-3, NR)
24. Georgia Tech (8-3, NR)
25. Central Michigan (8-3, 16)
Dropped out - Air Force (8-4, 23), North Carolina (7-4, 22), Miami (FL) (7-4, 24)
Other teams of note...
31. Nebraska (7-4, 35)
33. Iowa (8-4, 39)
72. UTEP (5-6, 67)
114. Iowa State (2-10, 112)
116. Idaho (2-10, 114)
120. Washington (0-11, 120)
Perfection is in sight for the Huskies. Just one little game against Cal left to go.
1. Alabama (11-0, 3)
2. Utah (12-0, 4)
3. Texas (10-1, 2)
4. Boise State (11-0, 5)
5. Oklahoma (10-1, 7)
6. Florida (10-1, 6)
7. Ball State (11-0, 8)
8. Penn State (11-1, 10)
9. Texas Tech (10-1, 1)
10. USC (9-1, 9)
11. Georgia (9-2, 11)
12. Ohio State (10-2, 13)
13. Oklahoma State (9-2, 17)
14. TCU (10-2, 19)
15. Missouri (9-2, 15)
16. Cincinnati (9-2, 18)
17. BYU (10-2, 12)
18. Western Michigan (9-2, 21)
19. Michigan State (9-3, 14)
20. Oregon State (8-3, 25)
21. Florida State (8-3, NR)
22. Pittsburgh (7-3, 20)
23. Boston College (8-3, NR)
24. Georgia Tech (8-3, NR)
25. Central Michigan (8-3, 16)
Dropped out - Air Force (8-4, 23), North Carolina (7-4, 22), Miami (FL) (7-4, 24)
Other teams of note...
31. Nebraska (7-4, 35)
33. Iowa (8-4, 39)
72. UTEP (5-6, 67)
114. Iowa State (2-10, 112)
116. Idaho (2-10, 114)
120. Washington (0-11, 120)
Perfection is in sight for the Huskies. Just one little game against Cal left to go.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Well then!
6 wins? Bowl eligible.
7 wins? Bowl security.
8 wins? Bowl warmth.
On to the poll.
1. Texas Tech (10-0, 1)
2. Texas (10-1, 3)
3. Alabama (11-0, 2)
4. Utah (11-0, 4)
5. Boise State (10-0, 5)
6. Florida (9-1, 6)
7. Oklahoma (9-1, 7)
8. Ball State (10-0, 8)
9. USC (9-1, 9)
10. Penn State (10-1, 10)
11. Georgia (9-2, 11)
12. BYU (10-1, 13)
13. Ohio State (9-2, 12)
14. Michigan State (9-2, 14)
15. Missouri (9-2, 16)
16. Central Michigan (8-2, 23)
17. Oklahoma State (9-2, 18)
18. Cincinnati (8-2, 21)
19. TCU (9-2, 17)
20. Pitt (7-2, 19)
21. Western Michigan (9-2, 25)
22. North Carolina (7-3, 15)
23. Air Force (8-3, 22)
24. Miami (FL) (7-3, NR)
25. Oregon State (7-3, NR)
Dropped out - Florida State (7-3, 24), Tulsa (8-2, 20)
Other teams of note...
35. Nebraska (7-4, 43)
39. Iowa (7-4, 50)
67. UTEP (5-5, 77)
112. Iowa State (2-9, 111)
114. Idaho (2-9, 113)
120. Washington (0-10, 120)
My dream scenario is that one day a 16 team playoff will settle things in college football. It could start two weeks after the regular season, freeing up teams as they lose playoff games to go to bowls (don't give me the bs about it rendering bowls meaningless - do you care who wins the EagleBank Bowl?) and allowing the two teams who play in the title game to be determined on the field. Every conference champion would get in as well as the five highest ranked remaining teams in the BCS standings. Play everything but the championship on the campus of the higher seed in the game.
A playoff will happen eventually. It'll start small - probably 4 teams. It'll grow over the years. The money is too big to ignore.
In the mean time, let's hope Iowa kicks holy hell out of Minneeeeeeesoda this weekend, keeps Floyd of Rosedale for another year, and then dashes off to Florida for New Year's Day. Not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination, but I have to believe the Outback Bowl would be happy to bring Iowa back yet again.
7 wins? Bowl security.
8 wins? Bowl warmth.
On to the poll.
1. Texas Tech (10-0, 1)
2. Texas (10-1, 3)
3. Alabama (11-0, 2)
4. Utah (11-0, 4)
5. Boise State (10-0, 5)
6. Florida (9-1, 6)
7. Oklahoma (9-1, 7)
8. Ball State (10-0, 8)
9. USC (9-1, 9)
10. Penn State (10-1, 10)
11. Georgia (9-2, 11)
12. BYU (10-1, 13)
13. Ohio State (9-2, 12)
14. Michigan State (9-2, 14)
15. Missouri (9-2, 16)
16. Central Michigan (8-2, 23)
17. Oklahoma State (9-2, 18)
18. Cincinnati (8-2, 21)
19. TCU (9-2, 17)
20. Pitt (7-2, 19)
21. Western Michigan (9-2, 25)
22. North Carolina (7-3, 15)
23. Air Force (8-3, 22)
24. Miami (FL) (7-3, NR)
25. Oregon State (7-3, NR)
Dropped out - Florida State (7-3, 24), Tulsa (8-2, 20)
Other teams of note...
35. Nebraska (7-4, 43)
39. Iowa (7-4, 50)
67. UTEP (5-5, 77)
112. Iowa State (2-9, 111)
114. Idaho (2-9, 113)
120. Washington (0-10, 120)
My dream scenario is that one day a 16 team playoff will settle things in college football. It could start two weeks after the regular season, freeing up teams as they lose playoff games to go to bowls (don't give me the bs about it rendering bowls meaningless - do you care who wins the EagleBank Bowl?) and allowing the two teams who play in the title game to be determined on the field. Every conference champion would get in as well as the five highest ranked remaining teams in the BCS standings. Play everything but the championship on the campus of the higher seed in the game.
A playoff will happen eventually. It'll start small - probably 4 teams. It'll grow over the years. The money is too big to ignore.
In the mean time, let's hope Iowa kicks holy hell out of Minneeeeeeesoda this weekend, keeps Floyd of Rosedale for another year, and then dashes off to Florida for New Year's Day. Not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination, but I have to believe the Outback Bowl would be happy to bring Iowa back yet again.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
So...
I'm pretty sure I overheard this conversation yesterday...
BCS: Thank you!
My Beloved Iowa Hawkeyes: You're welcome.
Thank God I no longer live in Iowa City, or I may have been there to see Iowa stick it to Penn State yet again.
Did you know President-elect Obama and I are both in favor of an NCAA playoff? We're peas in a pod, I tell you - until I hit that $250k and up tax bracket, at which point he can go straight to he...well, you know.
On to the latest poll!
1. Texas Tech (10-0, 2)
2. Alabama (10-0, 1)
3. Texas (9-1, 5)
4. Utah (10-0, 3)
5. Boise State (9-0, 6)
6. Florida (8-1, 7)
7. Oklahoma (9-1, 8)
8. Ball State (9-0, 9)
9. USC (8-1, 12)
10. Penn State (9-1, 4)
11. Georgia (8-2, 13)
12. Ohio State (8-2, 14)
13. BYU (9-1, 15)
14. Michigan State (9-2, 16)
15. North Carolina (7-2, 18)
16. Missouri (8-2, 17)
17. TCU (9-2, 11)
18. Oklahoma State (8-2, 10)
19. Pitt (7-2, 23)
20. Tulsa (8-1, 19)
21. Cincinnati (7-2, NR)
22. Air Force (8-2, NR)
23. Central Michigan (7-2, 20)
24. Florida State (7-2, NR)
25. Western Michigan (8-2, NR)
Dropped out - Cal (6-3, 21), Georgia Tech (7-3, 24), Minnesota (7-3, 25), Northwestern (7-3, 22)
Others of note...
43. Nebraska (6-4, 46)
50. Iowa (6-4, 56)
77. UTEP (4-5, 85)
111. Iowa State (2-8, 111)
113. Idaho (2-8, 115)
120. Washington (0-9, 120)
If the Huskies could just pull one win out of their ... well, you know ... it would be a real horse race for #120. North Texas, Washington State, SMU, San Diego State - all impressive. And all of them (save SMU, most likely) will probably have different people wearing the headset next season.
Lastly, to pick at myself a little - Iowa beats the #3 team in the country and they only jump 6 spots? I suck.
West Coast football contributor Salieri sends a long a couple of Pacific Northwest "football" nuggets...
- Washington State is offering tickets to the Apple Cup match up this year at a 50% discount
- Here's a picture of the pre-game crowd at the Washington/ASU game yesterday in Seattle. Note the scoreboard, which will tell you that this picture was taken 6 minutes and 54 seconds before kick off. I grew up with the notion that Washington was a powerhouse program. Rose Bowls every couple of years. Now they're awful. The Pac-10 desperately needs a counter balance to USC, and it won't happen until Washington is resurrected.
He also brings up the possibility of a Hawkeye/Husker bowl match up. Yes, I'm giddy at the prospect, although if Iowa plays to their ability they should end the season 8-4 and end up in Florida on New Year's Day. We'll see how it all pans out, I guess.
Enjoy your week!
BCS: Thank you!
My Beloved Iowa Hawkeyes: You're welcome.
Thank God I no longer live in Iowa City, or I may have been there to see Iowa stick it to Penn State yet again.
Did you know President-elect Obama and I are both in favor of an NCAA playoff? We're peas in a pod, I tell you - until I hit that $250k and up tax bracket, at which point he can go straight to he...well, you know.
On to the latest poll!
1. Texas Tech (10-0, 2)
2. Alabama (10-0, 1)
3. Texas (9-1, 5)
4. Utah (10-0, 3)
5. Boise State (9-0, 6)
6. Florida (8-1, 7)
7. Oklahoma (9-1, 8)
8. Ball State (9-0, 9)
9. USC (8-1, 12)
10. Penn State (9-1, 4)
11. Georgia (8-2, 13)
12. Ohio State (8-2, 14)
13. BYU (9-1, 15)
14. Michigan State (9-2, 16)
15. North Carolina (7-2, 18)
16. Missouri (8-2, 17)
17. TCU (9-2, 11)
18. Oklahoma State (8-2, 10)
19. Pitt (7-2, 23)
20. Tulsa (8-1, 19)
21. Cincinnati (7-2, NR)
22. Air Force (8-2, NR)
23. Central Michigan (7-2, 20)
24. Florida State (7-2, NR)
25. Western Michigan (8-2, NR)
Dropped out - Cal (6-3, 21), Georgia Tech (7-3, 24), Minnesota (7-3, 25), Northwestern (7-3, 22)
Others of note...
43. Nebraska (6-4, 46)
50. Iowa (6-4, 56)
77. UTEP (4-5, 85)
111. Iowa State (2-8, 111)
113. Idaho (2-8, 115)
120. Washington (0-9, 120)
If the Huskies could just pull one win out of their ... well, you know ... it would be a real horse race for #120. North Texas, Washington State, SMU, San Diego State - all impressive. And all of them (save SMU, most likely) will probably have different people wearing the headset next season.
Lastly, to pick at myself a little - Iowa beats the #3 team in the country and they only jump 6 spots? I suck.
West Coast football contributor Salieri sends a long a couple of Pacific Northwest "football" nuggets...
- Washington State is offering tickets to the Apple Cup match up this year at a 50% discount
- Here's a picture of the pre-game crowd at the Washington/ASU game yesterday in Seattle. Note the scoreboard, which will tell you that this picture was taken 6 minutes and 54 seconds before kick off. I grew up with the notion that Washington was a powerhouse program. Rose Bowls every couple of years. Now they're awful. The Pac-10 desperately needs a counter balance to USC, and it won't happen until Washington is resurrected.
He also brings up the possibility of a Hawkeye/Husker bowl match up. Yes, I'm giddy at the prospect, although if Iowa plays to their ability they should end the season 8-4 and end up in Florida on New Year's Day. We'll see how it all pans out, I guess.
Enjoy your week!
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