Belichick going soft?

An article from Dan Wetzel at Yahoo today noted that Belichick seems to have become a more chipper, carefree, and basically happy person this season (I exaggerate a bit, but not by much). Indeed, the signs have been coming for a while. In several press conferences this season, Bill has actually stated that he is proud of the team. Yes. Proud. And today he even handed out trick or treat candy to the press. Yes. Really. Bill Belichick. Candy. Press. Reiss reported it.

So what is happening hear? Last year the man was all doom and gloom despite the fact that he was coaching the greatest football team in the history of the game (I don't care what you naysayers think, the 2007 Pats were the greatest team ever because they not only went 18-1 which is still better than your team ever but also because they set the most single-season records). This year he seems happier. Chipper. Carefree.

I think that part of this new attitude stems from the fact that everything just got so darned serious last year. There was this ridiculously phenomenal offense and you expected every week that they would go out and do something ridiculously phenomenal, like a 98-yard pass to Randy Moss in quadruple coverage with the sun in his eyes and while completing a triple lutz. Any time we were close to being down by 10 points at the half last year I panicked (I don't think we ever were). This is no way to live life.

This year, in contrast, I breathe a sigh of relief any time Cassel completes a pass. And so we take pride in these achievements, especially since we've been overcoming the difficulties. It shows that even with two gigantic holes in our line-up (Brady, naturally, and now Harrison), we are still out there battling and doing a great job. Which makes me happy. And it all seems much less like we need to have these ridiculously phenomenal plays that need to be made all the time.

Reiss has Indy over the Pats 20-10 this week. Maybe then Bill will demand the candy back and return to normal. I was glad to see he cut his hair, it was getting to be a bit much with the headband during the Denver game.

USF wrap-up/NHL

The USF Bulls (23) were back last night and....did not look very impressive. At all. In fact, they got beat fairly and squarely by Cincinnati (number < 25), which means it's pretty much a guarantee that they are out of the rankings for this week. What happened exactly? Grothe made some seriously dumb throws, although there also seemed to be some miscommunication/screw-ups from people who just weren't where they should have been. One play in the third quarter, for instance, saw Grothe throw to the far corner of the end zone with absolutely no one there. Other throws included several interceptions when he pitched it straight into traffic. From the flip side, the receivers were just not up to it last night at all.

USF started the season strong, they had a fabulous game against Kansas (and I was there! Right next to the band! Thank you Schnettler!), but since then have struggled, particularly in the division (I believe we are now 1-3....and I can't be bothered to look it up right now). I guess it stands to reason that we couldn't keep improving forever, there had to be a plateau at some point. The program has accomplished a lot, but it would have been nice for them to build on where they got last year. And I really hope they can get it together for next year, when Grothe will be a senior.

Incidentally, Grothe, CUT YOUR HAIR! The mohawk or Rayhawk, or whatever that is, it needs to go. Actually, I am now officially declaring a public prohibition on all Rayhawks after the Rays lost the World Series. Evan Longoria got rid of it. Everyone, please follow his cue.

From the NHL: Montreal is a-w-e-s-o-m-e....that needed to be all extended to show their awesomeness. First place in their division and 'way far ahead of the icky Leafs. The Habs are having a great season and from what I saw in their game against the Florida Panthers last week they looked really good. I am hoping for good things. So Montreal has won the Stanley Cup in every decade since forever (okay, since the 1910s) and I would hate to see that streak end. It's the 100 anniversary of their founding as well. GO HABS GO!

Pats are part of 'a tough stretch'!

From a Yahoo article about Sanders possibly returning for this week's game vs. the Pats:

'Indy has lost two straight, fallen four games behind unbeaten Tennessee in the AFC South and begins a tough stretch against New England on Sunday night. Then Indy visits Pittsburgh, hosts Houston and has consecutive road trips to San Diego and Cleveland.'

SCORE! We're part of 'a tough stretch'! Who would have guessed that after the catastrophe against the Chargers?

I should probably be more worried about the fact that Sanders might be returning, but I still haven't quite figured out why Indy has fallen so mightily this year. I don't think his absence is the sole reason somehow.