The Lion

As requested:

Bell Cow

When a commentator calls a football player the "bell cow" of the defense or offense, do most people have any idea what that means? Most people haven't lived with a herd of cows just outside their window. Doesn't most of America find the term a litte confusing?

Slouching Towards Bethlehem

With the new deal between the UAW and GM the automaker has apparently staved off what some analysts were calling "Armageddon." Can the state do the same thing? The deadline for a new budget is looming and the governor still insists that has had a 12% drop in median income since 2000 needs higher income taxes. A government shutdown could finish off what's left of the state's reputation economically. Is there any way out?

Fumblerooskie

The Spartans final score in their 31-14 victory over Notre Dame was a trick play, not a botched one, according to Coach Mark Dantonio. "He waved the ball a little bit at the ground. That is a called play. We've practiced that since the spring. Every time it gets us (the defense)." It was a brilliant call since Hoyer had killed a potential MSU scoring drive with a fumbled snap earlier in the game. The win put MSU at 4-0 for only the fourth time since 1967 (that sounds kind of pathetic). It's also the first time ND has gone 0-4 in 119 years of playing football.

SCREEN!

You'd think the Lions have never seen a screen pass before. Geez.

Iron Man

Phrases You Can't Read Without Wincing

"Dislocated elbow."

"Groin strain."

Phrase of the Day

"Incandescently stupid" by Jonah Goldberg.

This is only a test

A group recently did a study to see how much college students knew about American history and political theory. The results were hideously depressing, with no school tested averaging better than a "D", including Ivy leagues, which where actually worse than average.

Take the test here:

http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx

Post your results in the comments, if you dare.

Arrrrr!

It's "International Talk Like A Pirate Day" today. I feel sad because I didn't find out until 5pm (this would have never happened at my old job). Anway, celebrate as you will.

Believe

"Orch Dork"

There's an interesting interview at Yahoo! Sports with Detroit WR Roy Williams. Check it out.

Higher Standards

Donovan McNabb thinks that black quarterbacks face greater scrutiny than white QBs, partly because there are relatively few of them, also because he thinks there are many who didn't want to see them playing the position. (Quick demographic note: according to Wikipedia, the US population is 12.12% African American. There are 32 NFL starting QBs, 12.12% would be 3.8784. There are currently 6 black starting QBs, which is 18.75% of the total. So, in comparison with the rest of the population, black QBs are actually overrepresented.)

Is this true? The most direct comparison I can think of is Charlie Batch vs. Joey Harrington. My perception would be that Batch actually had it easier than Harrington, but maybe I'm wrong. Vick had taken significant criticism before his recent troubles, but he also had a completely unique style that played a large part in the controversy. McNabb was also known for his ability to move, at least at the beginning of his career. Could it be that the amount of criticism of some black QBs has to do with how heavily they are marketed (cough, Vick, cough) BEFORE they've become true stars? What do you think?

Quote of the Day

"They just jumped on us like a spider monkey."
-San Diego fullback Lorenzo Neal after a 38-14 loss to the Patriots.

Starting Over

Notre Dame is so bad that Charlie Weis has decided to start the season over. The losses won't go away, but the Irish are treating today like the first day of training camp. They need to, given how historically awful they are. They have -4.7 rushing yds on the season. Yup, that's three games and less than zero rushing yards. It makes me a little nauseous just typing it. If they lose to MSU next weekend, and they should with MSU having a last year's embarassment to avenge, they will be 0-4 for the first time in team history, and 10 losses doesn't seem out of the question when you look at the schedule.

Memories

680 items from Tiger Stadium are being auctioned off starting today, according to the Detroit News. So, if you've always wanted the home dugout urinal, check out this link. It's overwhelmed by traffic right now, but it should be up sometime soon.

What!?!

Russell Crowe is a Michigan fan? How did THAT happen? He's from Australia for crying out loud. MSU is going to have to get Gerard Butler to give a speech before the MSU-UM game.

What is your profession?

One more clip for the day: MSU's new 3rd down cheer. Forget jingling keys. (It's not quite edited down enough, but close.)

You Can't Handle the Truth

I can't really add anything to all the talk about the Patriots videotape scandal. However, I really liked this article about it. Why? Because I love that Trent Green compared Bill Belichick to Col. Jessep in "A Few Good Men." Funny 'cuz it's true. Also, it gives me a perfect excuse to post this:

Thunderstruck

Hey

I think Troy got a hold of some old CCHS uniforms:


Maybe not, but it sure caught my attention when I saw the game on TV.

Move

Dead Sound of Misery

Just how bad can it get for Michigan? Senior QB Chad Henne will not play against Notre Dame. Now, the Irish have looked every bit as awful as the Wolverines, but you hate to lose one of your best players. But don't worry Michigan fans, Mike Hart says the Wolverines will win the game.

One more thing: How many teams are putting a "Statue of Liberty" play in their offense this week?

Revolutionary

Tuesday Morning Quarterback has long decried punting in various situations where going for it would prove more beneficial. Now, with the backup of statistics from 10,000 simulated games, TMQ has unveiled the new sure-fire punting rules that will increase your odds of winning:

• Inside your own 20, punt.

• From your 21 to 35, go for it on fourth-and-2 or less.

• From your 36 to midfield, go for it on fourth-and-3 or less.

• From the opposition 49 to opposition 30, go for it on fourth-and-4 or less.

• From the opposition 29 to opposition 3, go for it on fourth-and-3 or less.

• From the opposition 2 or 1, go for it.

• Exception: inside the opponent's 25, attempt a field goal if it's the fourth quarter and a field goal causes a tie or gives you the lead.

TMQ also saw Michigan's upset loss coming, sort of. Here's a quote from last year:

"It's coming – I can feel it – the Revenge of the Cupcakes is in the air. College football's second echelon is tired of being hired to be clobbered. Sometime this season, a cupcake team is going to stage a major upset of a top 25 school. Thus sayeth the football gods."

There's also the expected TMQ all-haiku NFL season predictions. Read it all here.

Piling On

The University of Michigan joins the "Directional Michigan" schools(Central, Eastern, Western) in ESPN's Bottom 10 this week. Ouch. At least the Wolverines have Notre Dame to keep them company.

Thud

That sound you heard is Michigan falling out of the Top 25, a drop which ranks among the largest single-week drops in college football history. If you're looking for some perspective, here's a list of the biggest upsets in college football history. No, Michigan isn't #1 on the list.