Back again and trying to improve on last week's terrible start. Oh well that is why they play the game, for me to talk about it. Sarcasm. Either way I like to think so. Studying for my Anatomy Lab exam might be what I should be concentrating my efforts towards. No worries parents and grandparents, I studied earlier today so I would have time for to write to my faithful followers.
LSU vs. Auburn- Seriously can any one stop Auburn quarterback Cam Newton? If LSU does they win the game easily. Besides Newton please tell me how Auburn would have scored any points this season. Nope, you can't do it. Like I said last week I know have complete respect for him but am not ready to crown the War Eagles (I know Auburn fans. It's so the two teams are not confused.) the SEC West champion, much less the winner of the whole league and I know that the Bayou Bengals will have to say something about it too. All this said, or written, for my more literal readers, I don't see the Mad Hatter being able to rub the rabbit's foot and pull out a win here.
Alabama vs. Tennessee- Remember when the 3rd Saturday of October meant something? It is OK if you don't. It's been a few years. Since Nick Saban has arrived to Tuscaloosa he has handled the Volunteers all three years. Last year's epic game in which Terrance Cody blocked a potential game-winning kick to win the game was just that, epic. I don't see this one being nearly as close as the Crimson Tide continues to get their roll on and handles this road game easily.
Mississippi vs. Arkansas- This game has started to mean something since the head coach of the Rebels is the former Razorback coach. Yet again, Houston Nutt will get a hearty welcome from his former home crowd. By hearty I mean the loathing will come straight from the heart. Petrino, who was berated earlier this week by a former co-worker during his stint with the Atlanta Falcons, the Cincinatti Bengals Defensive Coordinator, will be looking to show his home crowd that he couldn't be happier in Fayetteville. Arkansas' Ryan Mallet is back from his concussion and has a big week against a subpar pass defense from Ole Miss.
Oklahoma vs. Missouri- The matchup in Columbia is the home to College Gameday, which always bring a little extra excitement to the air. Add in two undefeated teams, one of which is the new BCS number one, and you have as big of a weeknd as you can have in Missouri (outside of Branson of course, Grannie). I am not a believer in the Tigers yet but this would boost nationwide credibility. I can't say that I see it happening though. Heisman candidate, DeMarco Murray runs wild and Oklahoma gets a big win to boost their already top BCS score.
Wisconsin vs. Iowa- Here is Wisconsin's or Iowa's chance to make some serious headway in their quest for the Big 10 title. This will be one of the hardest hitting games of the weekend with both clubs having serious size on the line. I was again impressed by John Clay and the Badger running game that I think they can pull out a tough road game against the most consistent team in America. Wisconsin goes on the road for a mini-upset and separates themselves as the team to beat in the Big 10.
Other Winners (in bold)
North Carolina vs. Miami
South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt
Georgia vs. Kentucky
Notre Dame vs. Navy
Georgia Tech vs. Clemson
Michigan State vs. Northwestern
Syracuse vs. West Virginia
UAB vs. Mississippi State
Whoever Boise State plays vs. Boise State
I have mostly visitors winning which makes me a little nervous but I am ready for Saturday. Who's with me?
Showing posts with label Grannie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grannie. Show all posts
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
NFL Hard Hits
It is one of the biggest reasons we watch the game. The casual fan will tune in just in the hopes of seeing one. The NFL sells videos and pictures from all teams of collections of these. It is what makes Moms everywhere cringe when their son wants to play football (another reason my Mama loves me more, I was in the band).
If you search YouTube and type in NFL the first thing that comes up is "hardest hits." There are 1000s of videos online of the classic bell-ringers. I have to admit I have watched some Arkansas hits more than 50 times a piece (USC game on kick off return, JPW of Alabama trying but not trying hard enough to get out of bounds and it destroyed by a Razorback LB). Without a doubt it is the most entertaining part of the game.
I bet former New England Patriot Safety Rodney Harrison had no idea the beast he would unleash when he and Coach Tony Dungy discussed an unusually rough weekend during NBC's coverage of the Colts vs. Redskins game Sunday night. He said that the League should start suspending players because the $15K- $20K fines do not mean anything to a person making a couple million a year. Harrison himself was known around the league for his rough and sometimes dirty play. In fact he had a designated fund set aside at the begining of the year to pay for the fines and was ultimately fined more than $250,000 throughout his career.
The NFL took his words and has in the last few days issued larger fines for the tough hits this past weekend, totaling more than $175,000. There has been an uproar from the fines and penalties for these helmet to helmet hits. Super Bowl MVP James Harrison has threatened to retire all together because he "is not playing football anymore." Sports media has exploded with debates about whether this is the right thing for the league to do. Monday Night Football host Stuart Scott felt so passionately against the new concentration he was all but standing up on set in an argument with Steve Young, a quarterback that suffered more than six concussions during his career.
Knowing what I have learned over the years about concussions I know that it is not the first one that is damaging to the brain but second impact syndrome, the repeated harm done to the brain. The syndrome can lead to seizures, migraines and recent research show a connection to Hodgkin's, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, and Parkinson's. I am OK with leading the tackle with the shoulder it is the head-to-head hits that are so devastating. I also agree with most of the football pros in saying that it is a choice to play football and playing with that risk is just part of the game. I also know post retirement on football players is one of the hardest in all pro sports because the damage done to the body starts to catch up.
Maybe a change is necessary but with the change rules on the defensive side of the ball need to be looked at too or defenses do not have a chance. The passing game is already glorified in the NFL and hard hits are some of the only ways defensive players have a chance because of the strict pass interference penalties and how well the quarterback is protected. I am ready to see the Week 7, watching how the linebackers and safeties handle the new attention to be paid to the blows they deliver.
On a side note, Grannie, "How 'bout them/your Cowboys?" They have to get it together. I can see her now on the couch as frustrated as anyone in America with the way her 'Boys are playing.
Oh and how about a Thursday night game with the No. 1 team in the nation? ESPN lucked out there.
On the other hand, the Yankees are not lucking out and my childhood favorite Texas Rangers look like they are headed to the World Series. Hope those back at home are enjoying the one piece of Ranger memorbillia we still have, a glass cup.
If you search YouTube and type in NFL the first thing that comes up is "hardest hits." There are 1000s of videos online of the classic bell-ringers. I have to admit I have watched some Arkansas hits more than 50 times a piece (USC game on kick off return, JPW of Alabama trying but not trying hard enough to get out of bounds and it destroyed by a Razorback LB). Without a doubt it is the most entertaining part of the game.
I bet former New England Patriot Safety Rodney Harrison had no idea the beast he would unleash when he and Coach Tony Dungy discussed an unusually rough weekend during NBC's coverage of the Colts vs. Redskins game Sunday night. He said that the League should start suspending players because the $15K- $20K fines do not mean anything to a person making a couple million a year. Harrison himself was known around the league for his rough and sometimes dirty play. In fact he had a designated fund set aside at the begining of the year to pay for the fines and was ultimately fined more than $250,000 throughout his career.
The NFL took his words and has in the last few days issued larger fines for the tough hits this past weekend, totaling more than $175,000. There has been an uproar from the fines and penalties for these helmet to helmet hits. Super Bowl MVP James Harrison has threatened to retire all together because he "is not playing football anymore." Sports media has exploded with debates about whether this is the right thing for the league to do. Monday Night Football host Stuart Scott felt so passionately against the new concentration he was all but standing up on set in an argument with Steve Young, a quarterback that suffered more than six concussions during his career.
Knowing what I have learned over the years about concussions I know that it is not the first one that is damaging to the brain but second impact syndrome, the repeated harm done to the brain. The syndrome can lead to seizures, migraines and recent research show a connection to Hodgkin's, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, and Parkinson's. I am OK with leading the tackle with the shoulder it is the head-to-head hits that are so devastating. I also agree with most of the football pros in saying that it is a choice to play football and playing with that risk is just part of the game. I also know post retirement on football players is one of the hardest in all pro sports because the damage done to the body starts to catch up.
Maybe a change is necessary but with the change rules on the defensive side of the ball need to be looked at too or defenses do not have a chance. The passing game is already glorified in the NFL and hard hits are some of the only ways defensive players have a chance because of the strict pass interference penalties and how well the quarterback is protected. I am ready to see the Week 7, watching how the linebackers and safeties handle the new attention to be paid to the blows they deliver.
On a side note, Grannie, "How 'bout them/your Cowboys?" They have to get it together. I can see her now on the couch as frustrated as anyone in America with the way her 'Boys are playing.
Oh and how about a Thursday night game with the No. 1 team in the nation? ESPN lucked out there.
On the other hand, the Yankees are not lucking out and my childhood favorite Texas Rangers look like they are headed to the World Series. Hope those back at home are enjoying the one piece of Ranger memorbillia we still have, a glass cup.
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