Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Gotta Have It

OK, I was wrong.  I had this theory that NFL-Video gets more NCAA views than NFL views.  The stats of likes or views or whataever they are is simple.  Kansas City rules.  Have you ever been to Kansas, Kansas City, or even Missouri?  I have.  I'd rather be in Southern California.  I still wonder what all the NCAA views add up to.

Those of us who need it gotta have it.  Michigan is a big dud so I have to look elsewhere.

I have this other theory:  if the world is right, USC beats Nebraska.  I know Nebraska's coach is a former big-time NFL coach who was at least well paid and sought after even if he has been a little bit of a weenie lately.  Nebraska was making strides.  Recently those strides have been teenie-weenie if not backward.  

Hard times in talent rich Nebraska.  Quick check, Nebraska has had championships as defined by Wiki since the Big 8 broke up in 1996 and became the Big 12.  Tom Osborne was still there and Frank Solich did rather well record-wise (58-19).  Solich was not good enough for the greedy Huskers who will always demand a return to some former world where cornfields rule.  Just about the only truth in NCAA football is that instability.

The question isn't if Matt Rhule is a good coach or not, it is how the hell is he going to do it in Nebraska?  Look at who you are up against!  The Big Ten has three (now 4) teams in the top 5.  James Franklin, Luke Fickell and Kirk Ferentz are better coaches than Sherrone Moore and so are PJ Fleck, Jonathan Smith and possibly others too.  Washington, USC, and maybe even UCLA are sleeping giants; all three are great schools in big metro areas with gorgeous campuses.

Note to self and others:  the new TV deal is great.  Out with ESPN and ABC; in with CBS and NBC with the best announcers and coverage existing.  There's still BTN for those non-big games like Michigan.  There is no secret behind it.  These schools are powers; they are the biggest and the best.  It is a fluke that the geographical area includes Nebraska.

Indiana isn't on a par with Oregon or Ohio State (or, sorry, forgot Penn State) but they show no signs of slowing down.  We're sitting here watching Coach Moore fumble and attempt to matriculate; Michigan is completely out of the picture.  Even Rutgers; Greg Schiano hasn't shown an ability to build Rutgers into something more but at least they are competitive.  Maryland has regressed.  Purdue is dead.  

Looking more closely at the Big Ten:  Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and Rutgers are decent teams that are going to bowls.  Oregon, Indiana, Ohio State, and Penn State are killing it.  Michigan belongs with Maryland, Northwestern, and Purdue.

It is now Friday before the big Michigan-Northwestern game.  I'm still watching USC-Nebraska.  Brock Huard is my favorite analyst.  Nebraska plays like Michigan--a little emotion--correction, useless swagger--with players who think they are better than they are (this is of course not including the Michigan players who actually give a damn). Man, that is a beautiful stadium.  USC plays at the Colloseum and UCLA at the Rose Bowl.  This is third time I have really tried to watch the whole game; you have to watch the whole game.  It has been worth it.  I already know USC is going to win big and that the world is right again.


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