Let's Get Weird

Hello All,

Things officially got weird on Thursday night.

It started with the uniforms.

It continued with the game itself.

And now it is reflected in the ACC standings.

Has there ever been an 18 point win the felt as shaky as this one?

Virginia Tech out ran the 'Canes. Virginia Tech out passed the 'Canes. Virginia Tech out third - downed the 'Canes. Virginia Tech out-goitered the 'Canes.

And yet, the 'Canes won 30-12...and it could have been worse.

You want to talk weird?

Miami was lead to victory by a SOFT defense that has 20 underclassmen in the 2 deep. Youngsters like Olsen Pierre and Eddie Johnson played key roles and...gasp...are gaining steam down the home stretch.

Curtis Porter, the very talented, very injured junior came back and saw his first action of the season...and provided consistent pressure from...gasp...the defensive tackle position.

Miami, playing Virginia Tech, the Kings of Beamer Ball, dominated on special teams. A blocked punt and a 81 yard kickoff return set up two first half scores, and turned the momentum on the game.

How's this for weird?

Miami was held without a third down conversion until the fourth quarter and won.

Miami had 4 consecutive 3 and outs in the 3rd quarter...and the score did not budge from 20-12.

Miami's 115th ranked defense forced 2 Red Zone turnovers.

Logan Thomas, minus one busted play up the middle in which he went for 73 yards and a touchdown, would have been held to 51 yards rushing on 21 carries. That is a pretty nice average. And minus that one busted play... Miami did not give up a touchdown.

Flying in the face of message board fans everywhere, these young 'Canes bellied up to the bar on Thursday night.

A defense that kept doing its job and giving the ball back to the offense never broke.

An offense that struggled all night planted the dagger with a prolonged, back breaking drive late.

A team coming off three straight losses and dealing with mounting injuries came together and pulled out an impressive win against a tough, albeit not as tough as usual, Hokies squad.

Now, how's this for REALLY weird?

In a season that was supposed to result in 4 or 5 wins, a team made up overwhelmingly of 19 and 20 year olds controls its own destiny. Win road games against perennial bottom dwellers Duke and Virginia and you go to the ACC Championship Game. Neither is a gimme, but you gotta like your odds if you're the 'Canes right now, right?

Let's say the 'Canes pull those two out. And assume FSU doesn't trip up again. All of a sudden, the ACC Title Game is a rematch of Miami - FSU. And this time, Miami would be coming off of 4 wins (presumably), not 2 tough losses.

Now, let's get really crazy. Say Miami is able to play the same type of defense as it did in the regular season meeting. And maybe Miami is able to hit on a couple of the big plays it missed by inches in the regular season meeting. Is it that hard to see Miami pulling off the upset?

And let's say Miami pulls it off. Now you are looking at a BCS Bowl that makes the decision to self-impose a bowl ban VERY, VERY difficult (for the record, I'd be against this).

You are looking at a team made up for freshmen and sophomores that is a conference champion (even at 8-4 or 7-5) and playing in a BCS game (maybe against Louisville and Teddy Bridgewater?)... 2 years ahead of schedule.

This is all a lot of speculation. And to be honest, I don't know if I trust the team to pull it off. Duke can throw the ball around with their high octane offense, and Virginia always plays us tough. Plus, going on the road ANYWHERE with a young team is unpredictable at best.

But these kids played like men the past few weeks, and finally got back in the winning column to show for it.

I love the way the team is playing, and eventually it will all come together. The offense will click, the defense will get them the ball and the special teams will make a big play or two.

And at that point, who is to say what is likely and what is not? It might not be pretty. But Miami's team of pups has officially made everything really weird, and that is a pretty cool thing to watch.

One side note: shut the fuck up Logan Thomas. You do not call out a team, then get your ass whupped by them, then duck the media after. Grow a set. If I am an NFL GM, you just came off my draft board.

-- --

Now, the picks.

Last week Big Stein went 5-3 straight up AND against the spread. While watching football all day with Kevin Frazier and Marcus effing Allen. Sometimes Los Angeles is ok.

Anyway, the season record is now 30-24 (24-26).

aTm over MISS STATE (+7)

WEST VIRGINIA (-5) over TCU

All my old rules seem to be out the window this year. Like "always take TCU and the points". Or "don't write a blog that might jinx the 'Canes".

Georgia (-14) over OLE MISS

Or "UGA might be a nice dark horse national title pick".

NEBRASKA over Michigan State (+1.5)

Ladies and gentlemen, the Big 10 Game of the Week!

TEXAS TECH (-7) over Texas

OREGON over USC (+8.5)

I will be in attendance. And yes, I will be rooting on the Trojans. Stein on the Sidelines is Latin for "glutton for punishment".

K STATE (-9) over Okie State

'Bama over LSU (+8)

And for the love of God, if betting, bang the under.

Bent, Not Broken

Hello All,

Due to this week's bye, I decided to take a little time to reflect before writing this post.

So as to NOT overreact on emotion.

I am glad I waited, because aside from some immediate anger on Saturday night, my reaction to this game is actually pretty upbeat.

Losing sucks. Losing to FSU REALLY sucks....especially at home.

There is no such thing as a moral victory; that being said, I was damned proud of our boys last Saturday night.

The defense rose to the occasion for the most part.

Realistically, FSU's roster is where we want our roster to be in two years. The fact that we had them on the ropes for as long as we did was an accomplishment.

Even more uplifting was the style with which these young 'Canes put them on the ropes.

Hard hits. Forced fumbles. Tight coverage downfield. Onside kicks. Throws down the sideline.

To win big time football games with a less talented team, you have to create some breaks for yourself.

Miami had their shots, and more importantly, pulled the trigger. At the end of the day, they played too poorly to win. And yet, they played to win. Which is a lot better than a lot of football we have seen over the past 7 years.

-- --

And now, the picks.

Last week: 5-4 (2-8)
Season: 25-21 (19-25) - Don't use these picks.

K STATE (-7.5) over Texas Tech

OLE MISS over Arkie (-6)

Carolina (-7.5) over The 11 Year Old NC STATE

ARIZONA (+6.5) over USC

GEORGIA (+7) over UiF

Eventually, I will call the Florida loss we all know is coming.

TCU over Okie State (-7)

MICHIGAN over Nebraska (-2)

Battle of the Arm Punts!

OKLAHOMA (-11) over Notre Dame

-- --

Always guard the inbound passer.

Little Brother

Hello All,

I am a realist.

I understand that Miami will probably lose to FSU this weekend. I understand that if Ryan Williams is the starting quarterback, Miami will probably get blown out; nothing against the kid, but we need a playmaker at quarterback at this juncture and he isn't a playmaker.

However, to all the fans that are already inking this one is as a loss, I say "pump the brakes".

Miami and Florida State is beautiful because anything is possible.

In a sport marked by chaos, these are two programs that overturned the apple cart more beautifully than just about anyone. This rivalry is a walking, talking, breathing advertisement for the "on any given day, anyone can beat anyone" mantra that coaches love so much.

This is a rivalry that has meant more to football over the past 25 years than any other. It is played between two schools that rose out of oblivion in the 80's and became the only two programs, frankly, that really mattered; they were the whipping boys that decided "enough is enough" and started doling out some lashes of their own.

Within the rivalry, as we all know, there is never a dull moment. Just when you think that FSU has run out of ways to choke these games away, they find a new one. Got sick of Wide Rights? How about a Wide Left?! Sick of missed field goals? How about a dropped ball in the end zone?!

Anything can happen in Miami vs. FSU. That is what makes it a great rivalry. The schools just have too much in common for it to be any other way.

Renegades.

Outlaws.

Counter culture.

Whatever you want to call them, Miami and FSU have a common bond buried deep down.

They are brothers. Miami is the older brother, the overachieving, overly competitive winner. FSU is the talented, mercurial younger sibling that always seems to shoot itself in the foot. But the gap that separates the two is pretty damned small, and the similarities are overwhelming. Hell, a lot of the kids on the two teams grew up playing on the same teams, for the same coaches, at the same high schools.

So is it possible for one school to blow the other out? Of course it is.

Hell, FSU whupped our ass in our own stadium two years ago; it was so bad that the coach got fired.

The rivalry is cyclical, and right now we are in an FSU cycle.

But as has happened throughout this rivalry, Miami looms as a potential pot hole on FSU's expected romp.

There have been times when Miami has been counted out of this rivalry, only to see unexpected heroes emerge.

In 2007, on the road, the 'Canes were down 2 scores with a bad team in the 4th quarter. Out of nowhere, Kirby Freeman turned in to Ken Dorsey and lead the 'Canes on their own version of The Drive, taking the life out of Doak Walker.

This was Kirby 'Kirnobyl' Freeman, the same guy who a couple weeks later would go 1-15 in a FULL GAME...at home...in a loss.

And so that is why I say "hold on a sec" to all the naysayers.

Miami will probably lose, but this is a rivalry between two schools that, more than anything else, are brothers.

I have a little brother. There are things he is better than me at and things I am better than him at. However, there has not been a single time that we have ever competed in anything and it has been easy. We both have too much pride, and there is no such thing as a foregone conclusion.

That's the thing about brothers. It is rare that one lays down for the other. And that makes for unpredictable outcomes.

So maybe FSU does blow Miami out. Quite frankly, I have no idea how the hell Miami's defense is going to stop the FSU run game.

I do know this...if there was going to be one game that the defense would rise up for, I would bet on this one. And I know that if I were FSU, the last person I would want to see between me and the finish line is a pissed off, disrespected big brother.

So don't be apathetic. Don't be negative. Don't be resigned to a bad fate.

This is Miami - FSU. It always matters, and it is always unpredicatble.

Go Canes, Go to Hell FSU.

-- --

Last week's picks were 2-4 overall, 3-3 against the spread. That brings the old season record up to 20-14 (17-17). As always, please don't take my advice if you are looking to actually make money.

Okie State (-13.5) over IOWA STATE

Don't underestimate Paul Rhoads.

LSU over aTm (+3.5)

Will Manziel emerge with his head intact? Is there a more annoying nickname than 'Johnny Football?' These are the things we wonder.

VAG TECH over Clemson (-7.5)

The ACC...a Tire Fire, as the gentlemen over at The Solid Verbal would say.

DENARD ROBINSON (-9.5) over Michigan State

CACKALACKY over UiF (-3.5)

The SEC...this season's surprise Tire Fire.

TCU (+1) over Texas Tech

The Big 12...a smoldering, smoldering Tire Fire.

WVU (-2.5) over Kansas State

ALABAMA over Tennessee (+20.5)

*in his best Keith Jackson voice*

"The thirrrd Saturday in October, Tennessee and Al - a - baMMa."

Stanford over CAL (+2.5)

The Big Game... a Tire Fire next to a chemical plant.

This is the biggest C.F. of a college football season I have seen since 2007. I don't know who is any good except Alabama. Essentially, always take Alabama and the points and then pray like hell.

UNC Week

Hello All,

To the dozens 2 of you that tried to tell me I was ducking everyone by not posting since the debacle that was Notre Dame, I hear you. 

I have been a little tied up with work. 

Orioles fever...I mean, c'mon.

And to be honest, maybe I was ducking everyone a little.

No matter, I am here now, and the dozens 8 of you that faithfully read my erratic posts can rest assured.

I am bent, but not broken.

Now, let's get something straight. I am not going to dwell on the Notre Dame game, because quite frankly I would like to keep that as blacked out as possible.

Just know this: IF Dorsett catches one of those touchdowns and IF A.J. Highsmith snags that interception, the 'Canes are up at least 10-0. And that is a different ballgame.

This week the opponent is North Carolina, and they have a high powered offense featuring the #1 running back in the conference in Gio Bernard.

Yes, he will probably run for eleventy billion yards.

Yes, at least once, you will be very pissed off during this game.

Yes, you will question why you ever started rooting for this team.

But the 'Canes will battle. I am not sure to what result, but they will fight. They are too young to know any better.

Prepare yourselves for the inevitable shootout and probable emotional roller coaster. If you have plans on Saturday night, make sure to budget in some nap time beforehand. 

(That is, unless you're the type of fan that takes naps during the game. Not to name names.)

With these two quarterbacks, it could resemble Baylor - West Virginia 2: Electric Bugaloo.

And I am looking just as forward to it as to the Orioles staring down the Yankees tonight at 5PM EST.

-- --

Last week I went 3-4 (2-5). No, there are no remiburements if you used my picks; in fact, if you used my picks for actual gambling purposes I am going to have my friend Tommy come hit you on the head with a tack hammer. Season record: 18-10 (14-14).

The picks:

TEXAS over Oklahoma (-3)

Find me something cooler than the overhead shot of the fans at Red River and I will give you $20 out of my pocket.

VTech (-9.5) over DUKE

Congrats universe, you win.

STANFORD over Notre Dame (-7)

Old grudges die hard.

BAYLOR (-7) over TCU

It would certainly help if TCU, ya know, had a quarterback.

USC over WASHINGTON (+13)

Really tempted to pick Washington in the upset. Actually, ya know what? Screw it.

WASHINGTON (+13) over USC

LSU (-3) over Cackalacky

Repeat after me: you do not win at Death Valley at night.

Go Canes, and Go Orioles.

Bad Blood

Hello All,

"Scrawny Lou Holtz takes pride in telling that, doesn't he?" Jimmy (Johnson) says now. "It's funny, but you never heard those kind of stories come out of Notre Dame when they were losing those games.

"He should just be happy the Big Ten official gave him that game or he wouldn't have won his one national championship and I would've won my second. He should just be happy about that."

He chuckles and says again, "Scrawny Lou Holtz."

And with those words in the Sun Sentinel this week, Jimmy Johnson hammered home a point that every fan worth their salt knows: Notre Dame week is here, and old grudges die hard.

We all know the story...once upon a time, this was the definitive rivalry in college football.

Miami and Notre Dame played games that directly impacted at least three national titles in the 80's, and probably more.

Miami almost certainly would have a 6th national title if they had not been absolutely jobbed on a call in South Bend...as Johnson mentioned above. 

(Sidenote: the DPI call in 2003 was the worst call of all time, but the fumble call on Cleveland Gary in South Bend has to be a CLOSE number two)

Then Notre Dame cancelled the series...ostensibly out of fear.

And that brings us to present day. This is the first regular season matchup between the schools in 2 decades.

It does not matter as much as it once did, but don't tell the fans that.

As far as between the lines, this looks like a matchup worthy of the former rivalry.

Miami has found a groove on offense, and Notre Dame has done the same on defense.

Manti Te'o is the best linebacker in the country. Stephen Morris is coming off a 500+ yard passing day.

You want a combustible combination? You got it.

This is a fun Miami team. I don't know how good they are ,but they are definitely fun.

You get the sense that they are too young to know any better...mistakes seem to roll off their back.

And yet, Notre Dame presents much the same challenge as Kansas State, the only team that shook these 'Canes: they are big, physical and like to take the air out of the ball.

The biggest things that Hurricanes have going for them are that they have been on the road plenty already, they are HEAVY underdogs and Notre Dame has not seen an offense anywhere close to this good yet.

This is shaping up to be an epic game. I expect it to be close, and both teams to have their moments. The question is, who will gut it out best?

I know Vegas disagrees, but I think this Miami team has more to it than people think.

And just remember one thing: God made Notre Dame #1. Miami made them #2.

(Even the t-shirts were better in the 80's)

Go 'Canes.

-- --

Last week I went 6-0 overall, and 4-2 against the spread. Season numbers are now at 15-6 (11-9).

The Picks:

AUBURN (-10) over Arkie

Never betting on Arkansas to do anything ever again. Arkansas is the New York Jets of the NCAA.

VAG TECH over Carolina (-4)

Just a classic ACC "who the hell knows?" matchup.

LSU over UiF (+2.5)

MICHIGAN over Purdue (+3)

A CLOSE cover.

WEST VIRGINIA over Texas (-6.5)

Let's see Ash outduel Geno...then we can crown his ass.

GEORGIA over Cackalacky (-2)

Georgia was my preseason title pick and I have seen nothing to make me change that. Except for maybe Alabama. But still...

OHIO STATE (-3.5) over Nebraska

Oregon (-24) over WAHSINGTON

Also, if there was a line, would Washington's uniforms be -25 against Oregon's? -30? -50?

NC State Preview: Just Another Brick in the Wall?

Hello All,

And here we are again, at the type of crossroads that has been the downfall of this team too many times over the past 8 years: the follow-up to an emotional win.

We all know the drill: after a draining win, a team can go one of two ways. It can carry over the confidence and momentum gained to its next battle; or, has been the case for the 'Canes too often, it can come out flat, unable to get back up to the level required to win in major college football on a weekly basis.

North Carolina State is a solid team with the ability to be great in spurts.

Sean Glennon is a solid quarterback that can be great when given time to scan the field.

If the defense continues to improve, and can get pressure on the pocket, then Glennon will force some bad throws and our increasingly effective secondary will have a chance to make some plays.

If not...well...see College, Boston.

The play that resonated most for me from the Georgia Tech game, in reflection, is the 4th and 1 stop in overtime.

Last year, the defense would have folded like a cheap suit in that situation.

This year, they fought and, in the end, won.

Is that toughness going to transcend the season for this team, or was it a flash in the pan moment for a young team?

That is the question we will see answered, and NC State is a good yardstick. Toughness doesn't just mean hitting hard, it means being able to tune out everything in the atmosphere and concentrate solely on the task at hand.

It means following up an emotional win with a strong performance, and not going through the first half motions.

That is the crossroads the 'Canes face, and the one they must master, before they have any chance of returning to elite status.
__ __

Last week, I went 7-1 overall, and 4-3 against the spread, to bring my season record up to 9-6 (7-7).

OHIO STATE over Michigan State (-3)

Something tells me Sparty is going to have a tough time scoring enough to win this game. Maybe its that they barely beat a Directional Michigan last week. Who ever knows?

aTm (-14.5)  over ARKIE

Arkansas is a dumpster fire but I highly doubt the Ags have the dogs to beat them by three scores with a freshman quarterback. John L's boys will cover. SMIIIIILLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

GEORGIA (-14) over Rocky Top

This is always one of my favorite games to watch. I love the uniforms, I have a soft spot for the schools, and Tyler Bray melting down in the 3rd quarter of a road SEC game is always must see television.

CLEMSON over Boston College (+9)

This is easy....

TEXAS over Oklahoma State (+2)

almost too easy....

OREGON STATE over 'Zona (-3)

Yup, there it is. He had to pick a road dog in the Pac 12. Guess you can't teach an old moron new tricks.

Clear eyes, full hearts, Go 'Canes.

Stunned Disbelief

Hello All,

I type this as a I sit at my computer in silence, smiling.

It is Monday morning, and yet I cannot get images of Mike James hugging his sister in that corner of the nation's oldest stadium out of my head.

This is what college football is at its finest: the kid that you want to be the frontman for your program (a Freddie Mercury for Football, if you will) is the hero in overtime, and he wants nothing more than to hug his sister afterward.

No line to sell, no brand to build, just the joy of a kid honoring his late mother after the biggest game of his career.

It was hard not to get a little dusty on Saturday afternoon.

You could see it on Al Golden's face after the game.

When a young team goes on the road and fights their ass off, it resonates on a level beyond football. It makes you proud to be a human being attached in some faroff way to what you just saw on the field.

THIS is what it is about.

Between the huge momentum swings of that game (Up 19, Down 17, 23 straight to win it) and the carnage it brought (it was hard to shake an image of a fallen Malcolm Lewis embracing, and being embraced by, Golden as his gnarled ankle was reset)...that game was exhausting to watch.

And euphoric.

I still can't figure out what my favorite part was.

Coming out gunning and taking the 19-0 lead?

James submitting a Pantheon performance?

(Sidenote: all the great individual performances result in a game being dubbed the "PLAYER NAME X" game...this is DEFINITELY going to be forever known as the Mike James Game)

The much embattled defense coming up with an all-time heroic goal line stand?

Or was it the post game celebration in the bleachers, where you forgot for a second that this was an away game and that these were football players and for a brief period these were just college kids interacting with their friends and family in jubilation?

It doesn't matter.

The whole thing was awesome.

Afterward, there was a rush to figure out if this was a "corner turner" or a "signature win" or a "program builder".

Normally I would be writing something about that, reading more in to it than I probably should.

However, I have done that too many times before. While we are constantly searching for context and deeper meaning, we often lose sight of exactly what college football is about.

It is about rooting for Mike James, the ultimate team player. The kid who lost the mother that raised him to a car crash...and skipped the funeral to play in the bowl game. The kid who is always smiling and just received a national award...for community service.

It is about your team not giving in, even when they give up 36 straight points to the nation's number one rushing offense, at their place.

It is about rising and falling with your team, and feeling like when they win, YOU win.

It was the players on the field who got it done and deserve the credit.

When a team that has been through so much submits a performance like that, the context doesn't matter.

WE won on Saturday. And THAT is all I care about this week.

Go Canes.