football college

well, sad as it is, college football is now officially over
this year had a great bowl season
[as opposed to last year, which definitely didn't]
my predictions were also a lot better this year
i was 12–4 [last year was 1–6]
ooh-ra

also, congrats to alabama
first heisman winner, a national championship, and an undefeated season
that's a hell of a year to have
roll tide

——————

this kinda harkens back to my complaint about commentators
namely their very biased commentary
i'm not going to add to that rant
[that horse is already dead, why keep beating it?]
this is gonna bitch about their excuses for teams
mostly cuz it's annoying

when a good team has something unexpected happen to it
like losing a key player or coach
that person becomes the focal point of the entire game
all the commentators do is talk endlessly about it
and the end result invariably is this:
either they lost because of their problem
or they pulled it out despite of it
note the lack of credit for the other team

here's an example from today:
afc wild–card, part 2: ravens at the patriots
last week in houston the patriots lost wes welker
he tore his left mcl and acl
[which basically means he completely blew out his knee]
it was a season ender for him, at least
and hopefully not a career ender
but, welker was seen as one of the pats' key playmakers
so now, they were out their main wide receiver
oh lawd, what is dem patriots gon' do?

though, in the part of the game i watched, i didn't hear anything like that
i know that it's what's been thrown around in analytical circles
i've seen reports and heard commentating saying it
and in the end, the ravens schooled the patriots like only they can
which means, of course: the patriots lost because they lost wes welker
oh man, if they had welker for this game,
they totally woulda pulled it out, am i right?
NO


this is the same kind of bullshit argument they made in the bcs bowl game
colt mccoy, all-american quarterback for the texas longhorns?
well, he got taken out 4 minutes into the game
he took a brutal shot to his throwing arm, which pinched a nerve
he even said it himself, his arm was completely numb
so, backup qb garrett gilbert played the rest of the game
and, for a backup, he was pretty impressive
[considering the pressure that was suddenly put on him]
but, throughout the game [and the ensuing days]
a lot of people seemed to put the brunt of alabama's win on mccoy
'oh, if mccoy'd played, things woulda been different'
'man, if colt hadn't been injured, texas would've won hands down'
yeah, football doesn't work like that

and, just for good measure, one more:
the jets beating the colts was a huge story
they played clips of painter being sacked over and over
and what was the gist of the analysis?
'oh, the jets got lucky because the starters were benched'
'indy would've drove their asses into the ground if peyton was there'
well, you know what? that's bullshit
the jets didn't upset an invincible powerhouse team without help
the colts have a terrible second–string group on offense
they obviously didn't bother practicing these guys during the week,
even knowing they'd be in to finish the game
that's just shoddy coaching

one person shouldn't [and doesn't] carry an entire team
losing a key player should not derail your performance
that's why there are second- and third-string players
to avoid having that exact situation happen
collapses happen because these backups are played enough
if you sit on a bench long enough, you're gonna get rusty
and that all falls on the coaching staff
gotta keep the whole team ready to go,
not just the eleven guys on the field
the real credit goes to every team that beats these teams
ravens, jets, alabama, everybody
they won because they knew how to exploit those weaknesses
the colts didn't lose, neither did texas or the pats
the other guys won
and that's all there is to it


getting back to alabama for a while
among their many accomplishments this year,
they achieved an unblemished record
that's right, the holy grail of every sport:
a perfect season
that's right, the lust in every sportsman's eyes
the secret [or not so secret] desire in all their hearts
and in american sports,
no sport is more obsessed with it than football

to date, there has only been one completely undefeated team:
the 1972 miami dolphins
they lead a clean sweep that year, going 17–0
for a long time, they remained the only team to have accomplished it
and then, along come the 2007 patriots
that year, they became the second team to have an undefeated season
they went 16–0 during the year, and then 2–0 in the playoffs
but, in what's probably the biggest upset this decade,
they lost the super bowl to the giants, ending their run at perfection

every year, teams make runs for perfection
sometimes they get close, sometimes excruciatingly close
but only one teams has ever gotten there
this year, there was a 'battle of the undefeateds':
the saints and the colts
they happened to be the only two undefeated teams for a while
they eventually both made it to 13–0
then the saints lost to dallas, and then the colts to the jets
both teams were criticized for their losses,
but the colts got the brunt of it
why?
because they sat their starters

sitting starters at the end of the season is a long-standing trend
[and one i completely disagree with, by the way]
the rationale is that it will allow them to rest their key players,
and that this rest will allow them to do well in the postseason
usually only teams that are assured a spot do this,
but sometimes even questionable teams do this
[like this years broncos, for example]
these losses are waved off and overlooked
and then we get on with the playoffs

that is exactly what the colts did in week 16
the offensive starters played the first half,
and then we benched for the second half
even though they were winning respectably at halftime
they got beat down handily by the end
[that's more to do with the inexperience of the backups,
and definitely the coaching decisions, but i already covered that]
the colts were disappointed, sure
and the fans definitely were
but life went on
....
wait, no, that's a lie, no it didn't

following this loss to the 'less than deserving' jets,
the media was all over the coaches and players for their explanations
commentators complained, analysts 'rationalized', and fans bitched
why? because they're obsessed with getting a perfect season
michael irvin's one of them:
he said more than once that, to be able to get a perfect season,
he'd be willing to give up all three of his super bowl rings
ALL THREE? say it ain't so, mike!
what a jackass
what kind of fucking fruitcake says something like that?
three superbowl rings? most players don't even have one
he won three super bowls, how much more do you need?
christ on a bike, how fucking greedy are you?
perfection is not something you need to aim for
it's nice, sure, and it's history making,
but it's not something you should make deals with the devil for

perfection isn't something you attain
perfection is something you are rewarded with
it's the gift at the end of a ton of hard work
if you are truly deserving of being perfect,
than you'll achieve it
the 1972 dolphins very much earned it
the 2007 patriots obviously did not [and i'm so glad about that]
if your team truly is that good, than one day you'll have a perfect season
and if you aren't, suck it up and work harder


and now, let's return to this benching the starters bullshit
like i said, it's a trend that's been around for a long, long time
wanting to protect your most valuable assets is understandable,
especially if you're poised to do great things in the playoffs
BUT
why would you rob your players of their purpose?
these are multi–million dollar players,
and they aren't even playing games
what a fucking waste that is
if you're going to spend that much on a valuable commodity
why wouldn't you use it to its fullest extent?

i do understand long–term vs short–term goals
the playoffs and the superbowl are the ultimate goal
and the last few games, especially when they don't have an impact,
really are nothing more than going through the motions
especially when they're up against shitty teams
but that doesn't absolve you of fulfilling your duties
if a football team really is good, they'll play every game the same
they treat every opponent as worthy and every win as necessary
which team would you hold in higher regard?
a 14–2 team that lost two heartbreakingly close midseason games,
but pulled themselves together and finished the season strong?
or a 14–2 team that won the first 14 in a row
and then lost two blowouts, scoring 22 points to the opponents' 59?
i'd go with the first one

there are times i enjoy when teams do that
namely when i get vindicated in the playoffs
i've seen plenty of teams rest their starters the last two games,
go into their first playoff game ready and confident
and then lose, sometimes badly
[can you say philadelphia? because i can... PHILADELPHIA]
there really is nothing better than seeing that happen
where's all your rest and prep time now?
yeah, sitting out your last two games really helped:
instead of possibly clinching home field advantage,
or maybe even a first–round bye,
you head into the playoffs and loose to a wildcard team
ah... sweet, sweet vengeance


also, a final note on this week's wildcard weekend
HOLY SHIT, SON
philly and cincy both got shutouts last weekend
so this week, they faced the same teams in the wildcard
[dallas and the jets, respectively]
this time, neither team got shut out
but, they both got summarily destroyed throughout their games
jesus christ, cincinnati, what the fuck happened?
where the hell was the cincy that beat the shit out of the steelers?
what the hell, philly? where was trademark andy reid passing game?
neither of those games were fun to watch
because seeing teams get killed like that is no fun
[unless it's minnesota or the patriots, which leads me to...]

THE RAVENS AT THE PATRIOTS
oh man, this one wasn't even close to the predictions
just to lay it out for all of you:
the patriots have never lost to the ravens in the postseason
they were playing at home in gillette stadium
they hadn't lost at home in the playoffs since 1978
they were seeded number 3, and the ravens at number 6
and, of course, they're the patriots
so how did the legendary patriots fare?
they gave the ravens a 14 point lead in only 4 minutes and 6 seconds
the pats had three turnovers [and baltimore scored off each one]
they missed their only field goal attempt
and, oh yeah, THEY LOST 33–14
god, that was a beautiful game to watch

of all the pregame talk, this was the best assessment:
'the difference is how these teams are gonna treat this game
the pats are expecting to win, but the ravens want to win'
how true, how true

also, as a final thought,
i'd like us all to think of the invariably un–classy head coach
that man being, of course, bill belichick
just think about all the shit he's pulled over the years
all the stupid, stubborn comments,
all the cheating controversy,
all the bad sportsmanship,
and, of course, all the bad hoodies with cutoff sleeves
[makes jim tressel's sweater vests look good in comparison, huh?]
now, with all that in mind,
think about the look on his face by the end of the game
that ugly frustration and resignation as they fell behind for good
it was great, wasn't it? yeah, it really was
makes me wish i could see it more often