College Football 2010: So it begins

[Solomwi]

Interesting game. Its the first time I've watched Oregon play a complete game. Watching them is kinda like watching a rugby match (southern hemisphere). Kudos to them for not being blown out despite that they do not have the same caliber of talent. In a way, I'd have to say they were the better "team". Was it just me, or did Newton stink last night? He was so slow!

Newton didn't have his best game, but I thought he ran it all right, particularly later in the game. Early on, Oregon was determined not to let him run it. He had more bad throws than we're used to seeing, and wasn't helped by a few key drops by the receivers.

1. Auburn
2. Oregon
3. Stanford
4. TCU
5. tOSU

[Solomwi]

Guy, come down off the ledge.

Miles is staying in Louisiana.

[Guynemer]

No Les Miles:

Probably Brady Hoke:

[Guynemer]

It is officially Brady Hoke.


You know, if he hadn't been DL coach ten+ years ago in Ann Arbor, his name never ever ever would have come up. I am not optimistic--at all--about this hire, but I will remain hopeful. At least there aren't the ethical concerns as there would be with Miles.

[Lord Avalon]

You put your left foot in, you put your left foot out ...

I'm not excited about this hire, but I hope he does well.

But I may place an order with Ann Arbor Torch & Pitchfork now for the special coach & AD combo. Waiting list is three years, right?

[Guynemer]

What makes me nuts is, if it was going to be Hoke, why wait this long? We could've hired him the second after the Gator Bowl ended.

Brandon said he was willing to shell out big bucks for a coach; it'll be interesting to see how much Hoke is going to get. If it is more than RR... angar.

[Lord Avalon]

Maybe it was supposed to be Harbaugh, then it was oh **** now what?

Hopefully Hoke will hire some excellent assistants.

[Boris Godunov]

Newton didn't have his best game, but I thought he ran it all right, particularly later in the game. Early on, Oregon was determined not to let him run it. He had more bad throws than we're used to seeing, and wasn't helped by a few key drops by the receivers.

His second quarter was dynamite, and he definitely had key 3rd down conversions in the 2nd half.

As for my ratings for the Ducks for the game:

GOOD:
-Oregon's defense actually stepped up and delivered a strong performance. While they had their moments of confusion, I think Aliotti deserves credit.
-Casey Matthews played great and had that clutch strip of the ball from Newton (and a baffling penalty after--did anyone actually see it? Seemed like a phantom call, and totally out of character for Matthews). He'll join his brother as a defensive monster in the NFL.
-Cliff Harris did something no one did all season--intercept a throw from Newton. Really, he did it twice. I don't agree with the ref's call on the second one. Oh, and he didn't fumble the ball due to stupid hotrodding around the field like he was prone to do during the season on kick/punt returns.
-Jeff Maehl had several amazing receptions that kept Oregon in the game, including the 2 point conversion attempt that tied the game. I think he's one of the most underrated players of the year.

BAD:
-Chip Kelly choked on the play calling. With all the concern about nerves of the players, really he is the one who dropped the ball. The cutesy trick play attempts on the kick returns that failed were a bad sign. And then the insistence on trying to run LaMichael James or Kenjon Barner up the middle when that wasn't working all night. He should have gone for the field goal when they were stopped at the goal line in the 3rd quarter, too. And what the hell was with calling that time out at the end of the 1st half, when Auburn had the ball and two of their own time outs left? He was lucky that didn't bite the Ducks in the ass.
-Darron Thomas was jittery and didn't play his best game. He telegraphed his reads and the snap count all night long. He threw too many errant passes, and should have been intercepted twice more than he was but was saved by the slippery fingers of the Auburn D. He's only a sophomore, though, so his future is very promising.
-the ref, for saying "Or-ah-GON." It's "ORE-uh-gun," dumbass.

I'm glad that most of the starters are returning next season, although losing Maehl and Matthews and some other D linemen will hurt. I understand that Auburn's going to lose a huge swath of their lineup, isn't it?

Anyway, final top ten:

1. Auburn
2. Oregon
3. TCU
4. Stanford
5. Boise State
6. Ohio State
7. Wisconsin
8. LSU
9. Nevada
10. Oklahoma

[Imran Siddiqui]

1. Auburn
2. Oregon
3. Texas Christian
4. Stanford
5. Ohio State
6. Boise State
7. Oklahoma
8. Wisconsin
9. Louisiana State
10. Oklahoma State

Oh, and I guess I was slightly vindicated in ranking Ohio State where I did all season (though I don't begrudge anyone putting Wisky above them).

[Solomwi]

Our biggest loss will be four of our starting OL and most of the DL (Clayton, Blanc, Carter, Goggans, possibly Fairley), and that's where the game was won last night. That said, I don't expect to see either Fairley or Newton playing on Saturdays next year. We also lose LBs Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens, SS Zach Etheredge, and CB Demond Washington. Offensively, Zachary is the only WR we lose, and Mario Fannin the only RB, which doesn't bother me in the slightest with McCalebb, Dyer, and the rest of the receivers coming back. There are talented guys waiting to step up at all those spots, but they're just that: talented and largely inexperienced.

Agree completely on Matthews and Maehl. Those two are impressive. I was pleased with Shoemaker's punting, which has been a glaring liability all season. He especially did a good job of not letting Harris get a chance to return one once he took over from Barner. Aliotti and Roof both more than earned their paychecks for the past month or so. Talk about rust and the layoff all you like, but both defenses played really well for the most part.

the ref, for saying "Or-ah-GON." It's "ORE-uh-gun," dumbass.

Thank you! I've always wondered if I was mispronouncing it ORE-uh-gun. On a somewhat similar note, Brent Musberger is a dumbass, too. I think he mispronounced Corey Lemonier's name seven different ways, but his nadir was "Again, Auburn will have to settle for a field goal" as we lined up for our first FG attempt of the night.

[Solomwi]

Boris, I forgot to point out one omission from your "bad" list: Thomas picking his nose right as the camera framed him for a closeup with 10 seconds left in the game.

[Boris Godunov]

On a somewhat similar note, Brent Musberger is a dumbass, too. I think he mispronounced Corey Lemonier's name seven different ways, but his nadir was "Again, Auburn will have to settle for a field goal" as we lined up for our first FG attempt of the night.

Wrong. Musberger's nadir was when he said "This is for all the tostitos." He should be banned from television for life for saying that line.

Yeah, I forgot to mention our punter, Rice. Probably a mental block. He didn't have a great night, either. They should have benched him and let Rob Beard do the punting, if just because Beard is sexy.

[Tupac Shakur]

It is officially Brady Hoke.

Jesus Christ, Michigan. Couldn't you have gotten Bill Callahan?

Better yet, give Jim Tressel whatever amount of money it takes and then air "The Decision 2.0" on ESPN to announce the hire. Ohio would consume itself in flames overnight.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Wrong. Musberger's nadir was when he said "This is for all the tostitos." He should be banned from television for life for saying that line.

I actually really enjoyed that line *runs*

[Solomwi]

Wrong. Musberger's nadir was when he said "This is for all the tostitos." He should be banned from television for life for saying that line.

Yeah, I forgot to mention our punter, Rice. Probably a mental block. He didn't have a great night, either. They should have benched him and let Rob Beard do the punting, if just because Beard is sexy.

Touche, but at that point, I was too busy pulling my hair out for anything Brent said to register. I should have said Musberger's first moment that made me say out loud, "Jesus Christ, Brent, you're a ****ing moron."