Spook-tacular
The Bucs didn’t lose this weekend, which was expected (obligatory Bye week joke). The week off is going to be good for the bangs and bruises that are a threat to this little rally we have going. The Pewter ones are in a precarious position right now. Kansas City is going to be in for a good game. The Zooker again was able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory this weekend. Though the Gators were not alone among the state’s major football programs.
Today’s TALB is actually going to be TMLB due to having a full afternoon of voting and appointments.
The Thrill Of The Bye
A bye week is a strange phenomenon in football. College of course has had it around for a while. With only an 11 or 12 game regular season they had to toss in some off weeks to stretch the TV schedule. But it’s a fairly new rule in the NFL, having been added only a scant 14 years ago. The bye week is the bane of fantasy football players. That hot quarterback or tight end is off and you’ll have to sub in your “other” guy who is also a backup on his own team. Or maybe he’s playing for a team where his position is not emphasized as much. The greatest hurdle to becoming successful at fantasy football is to manage your bye weeks.
Totally Obnoxious
Damn Terrell Owens. Why does he have to be so good? If he was just running his mouth while being simply competent at his position it would be easier to keep him quiet. But instead he gets to run his mouth about Jeff Garcia’s sexuality and how horrible it would have been to play in Baltimore. Then he
wonders why the media stirs “trouble” when he’s about to play any of the teams involved. TO, buddy, if you would maybe shut your trap there wouldn’t be anything for the media to latch on to and stir up.
Fl0rida
Florida lost. Florida State Lost. Miami Lost. Heck, even UCF and FAMU lost. We already know the Gators are headed for the Lowered Expectations Bowl (or more likely mom’s house). Hell, the Gators have to win 2 more just to be bowl eligible. But it now seems that the Noles, with two conference loses, is also going to appear on ESPN’s Bowl Week rather than in the BCS. There’s even a fair chance the Canes could suffer the same fate. Imagine the egg on the faces of those involved if the first champion of the beta version of the “new” ACC is Virginia or Virginia Tech. That would make me giggle.
Dawg Ownership?
The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party kicked off this weekend under the cloud (or rainbow) of Ron Zook’s firing. Fireronzook.com is back online in case you cared. So, the Bulldogs won. Making the Gators 0-for-Dawgs this season. I’m okay with it. Remember, Georgia fans, you lost to Ron Zook twice. If the Bulldogs get to win oncout six or seven attempts I can live with that. Though I do wonder how David Pollack can push down a Gator offensive lineman and we get called for holding.
Know What I Mean Verne?
Verne Lundquist and Todd Blackledge must be trained by CBS News. Presumably they are watching the game that is laid out in front of them. And presumably the words that come out of their mouths would have some relation to said game. Yet, again and again these two can’t seem to figure out what is going on, even when presented with the facts. Alternately, they will blather on about things not related to the game at all (see Madden, John). Here are a few examples from this past Saturday’s Florida-Georgia collision.
Example 1: Gators wide-out heads around from the end and takes the hand-off from Chris Leak. Verne screams “It’s A Reverse!” Yet it is simply the pedestrian end-around play run time and time again across football gridirons.
Example 2: “Reverse The Curse” must have exited Verne’s lips two dozen times during the game. Of course, that phrase is associated with the Boston Red Sox and their journey to get out from under the fabled “Curse Of The Bambino”. Verne used it in relation to Georgia’s inability to win against the Gators of late, even when playing against Ron Zook coached teams.
Example 3: The Gators run a play. It ends and there is a flag on the field. After conferring with each other the referee keys his mic and announces that there was an illegal formation and that a player was left “uncovered”. Fair enough. However, Verne and Todd then proceed dissect the replay to see who committed the false start. The false start that never occurred and was not called by the officials. You see, the hand signal for false start and illegal formation are the same. So, Verne and Todd are secretly deaf it would seem. Since the referee took the time to explain the penalty, including the type of penalty, why it was called, and who was at fault.
Fantasy Note
Even with an injury to my stud running back I came out ahead this week against the team leading my division. The key pickup being at Tight End. I have been having bad luck all season at that position. So I picked up Witten from the Cowgirls, guy brings me 10 points. Though I won by 15 (no players left for either of us) anyway. We’ll see how the injury to Dillon plays out. But Pittman is coming on strong lately, so it’s probably not all bad. I even had four players put up goose-eggs. Next week I face the team that I tried to trade with. They had only one QB, Vick, and a ton of good running backs. It is so fitting that this week Vick is on a bye and they were forced to pick up Drew Bledsoe to fill in. Bledsoe has scored 50 points so far in our league. My backups have 61 and 84. I had proposed trading Harrington (the 84). Too bad for “The Wife Beaters” I guess.
Running Items
WTF?
The Gators, for the first time in a very long time, are in danger of not being bowl eligible. At 4-4 with three games to go things could get dicey. Even Ron Zook can’t lose to Vandy, but who knows. South Carolina is a lot better this year than in years past. And of course there’s Florida State.
Seriously, WTF?
The Gators are Vandy’s homecoming opponent.
Grated Cheese
If you’re a G-Dub supporter, the Packers’ win is a bad omen. And, Favre-Beans got injured again. But in all seriousness, I hope his wife comes through okay.
Breath Of A Salesman
Holy crap. There’s a spot for Motorola (I think), that is blowing my mind. It features dogs and big purple pirates, and chicks in bubbles. The dogs freak out every time they see it.
Current Football Wish
That the Gators beat FSU so that they too can taste defeat at the hands of Ron Zook before he leaves.
Super Bowl XXXIX
Pa in ts vs. Eagles
Next Week: Stop The Chop, Dandy in Vandy, and results of the latest NFL recount.
