Blog Entries for Zach

Yellow Is a Fitting Color for Oregon

Zach

The resurgent Oregon Ducks have spent their first ten games trying to ditch the quitter’s moniker they justifiably earned in 2006. They got the national media to buy into their sham and even their players did their best to show that a leopard could change their spots. But the crumbling of Dennis Dixon’s left knee proved to be a metaphor for who the Ducks really are.

Faced with real adversity for the first time this season, Oregon decided to hide in the corner ra [...]

The Finest of Messes

Zach

College Football begins its furious run down the home stretch with the Top 12 BCS teams all having a legitimate shot at winning (and losing). If you shake your crystal ball and look into the future, you will see that the first half of the season was just a preview of the chaos that will ensue and that the best is yet to come.

Top ranked Ohio State inherited their position atop the polls and I don't think there is a person outside of Ohio who thinks they are the best team in t [...]

Once Upon A Time There Was a Team Called Nebraska

Zach

Once upon a time Nebraska used to be good, but if you were born after 1990 you probably will have to take my word for it. But during this time, if you played the Big Red it meant either they would stay atop the polls or there was an upset that would rock the very foundation that held up college football. These were the days of Tom Osbourne, Turner Gill, Steve Taylor, Broderick Thomas, Mike Croel, Ken Clark, Mike Rosier and other names that are synonomys with the golden era of college football. [...]

Upsets Could Make the Losing Teams Happy

Zach

Saturday was an exciting day in college football, chock-full of upsets and text messages saying "did you see that!" The dust has finally settled and what is clear to me is "Shakedown Saturday" didn't really shake up anything. Although Oklahoma, Florida, West Virginia and Texas lost, only the Mountaineers and Longhorns were virtually eliminated from the BCS Title hunt with the Sooners and Gators still very much alive.

Hear me out before you accuse me of bei [...]

Mike Gundy Loses (Again)

Zach

The state of Oklahoma is constantly fighting the stereotypes that accompany Middle America and gets few opportunities to sidestep the snickering. 14-days out of the year, the University of Oklahoma thrusts the Sooner state into the national spotlight with a beautifully choreographed offense and a take no prisoner defense. They play football to move the needle and alter the perception of the region. But leave it to the "opies" from Stillwater to knock down the blocks and replace thes [...]

Boosters Tell Coaches, "Air Raid or It's Your A$$"

Zach

It's "Win Now" in college football. It is no longer acceptable to sacrifice the season and rebuild your program. $16-Million dollars in BCS money means you must pound the panic button at the threat of a 7-5 season and play pimple faced kids who are four months removed from their prom. The maturation process has given way to the unrelenting pressure that does not subscribe to the term, "rebuilding."

One of football's toughest transitions is going from domi [...]

Michigan has "Gone Blue"

Zach

Nine months after the Michigan Wolverines season ended with another humbling loss that defined the Lloyd Carr era, the Michigan season is effectively over again, before Labor Day.

There were a lot of reasons to "Go Blue" for Saturday's season opener. 107,000 screaming fans eager to replace last year's memory of back-to-back losses to rivals Ohio State and USC; Mike Hart kicking off his Heisman Trophy campaign; and a showcase of the #5 team in the country. But [...]

BCS to Cinderella: Go Make Me a Sandwich...

Zach

Despite 99% of college football fans getting on their hands and knees and begging, we are still without a playoff. It’s 2007 and we remain saddled with Bowl tradition and odds are we will have another Championship Game determined by politicking on talk-shows instead of plays on the field. College football presents the rare opportunity where our worst nightmares are confirmed. Where the bully wins and it is in your best interest to step on others in an effort [...]

It's Christmas in September...

Zach

Get out the 'ol college jersey and strike up the band because its Christmas time...in September. While most "traditionalists" wait until December, I am celebrating three-months early with a full slate of college games. It is time to find out if Notre Dame can rebuild, LSU can reload, Ohio State can recover and if Florida will repeat.

The first weekend in September means its time to begin unwrapping 8-months of anticipation, highlighted b [...]