Why is there so much football when there shouldn't be football?

There were two football games last night. Yes, I was surprised. I always forget that there could be Thursday games (except last year, when the Thursday night schedule I believe began with the Pats vs. the Jets...at any rate, that game I was aware of):

1) SF beats Chicago 10-6: I would say Chicago is down and out. McDaniels looks like a genius for unloading Culter, who threw 5 interceptions yesterday. Looks like Kyle Orton was definitely the way to go there.

Yahoo commentator Tony G has a few suggestions for the Bears:

'1. Get Jay cutler an eye exam.2 .make greg olsen a wide reciever.3. Get a real tight end that can block and protect the quarterback.4.Get the defence to play like they did tonight. 5.Get a front line that can block and creat opportunities for forte. 6.Lovie need to go coach a high school team. Where a dissapointment !!!'

2) USF gets schooled by Rutgers 31-0: that is an ouchie score and only the second time that USF has been shut out. Apparently also an error-ridden game. USF will get a bowl game because they are still 6-3 overall, but should be glad that they had so many gimme games at the start of the season. They may beat Miami, but who knows (since Miami has also been somewhat unpredictable this year).

Blame Canada

Because I am currently in Canada, I cannot see the USF Bulls Bowl game via:

1) ESPN 2 (at home) because we have TSN (The Sports Network) instead of ESPN...even though they borrow shows from the American network. If you're wondering, TSN is currently broadcasting the PGA. Don't even ask me. I'm pretty sure that PGA season has not started yet, but I could be wrong on that point. Hey, it's not curling (figure skating just ended on CBC if you were curious).

2) ESPN 360, which is not available outside of the US

3) Florida radio, because it is not available in Canada. This point strikes me as particularly stupid because I can get Canadian radio in the States with no problem (and in fact, that is how I listen to most of my hockey games).

4) The local sports bar down the street because they don't have ESPN (they do have a subscription to the NHL Network)

5) The big sports bar down the road because currently I am vehicleless and about 5 miles away and it's -17 C out.

6) Yahoo Game Channel because apparently that only works on PCs. Come on!

My solution: Yahoo Box Score, which truly captures the kinetic excitement of football. Taken directly from the feed:

1st-10, Memp43	A. Love rushed to the left for 5 yard gain
2nd-5, Memp38	M. Grothe passed to B. Williams to the right for 12 yard gain
1st-10, Memp26	M. Grothe passed to T. Johnson to the left for 26 yard touchdown

Wasn't that thrilling? Notice that USF did score at the end there. It's entirely possible that you missed it. They could at least put TOUCHDOWN or touchdown! or something.

Here's to hoping that they play a good first half and that I feel it is worthwhile to get to the local sports bar to see the second half.

UPDATE: I just discovered ESPN Gamecast. Much better. And compatible for stupid computers (aka Macs).

USF Bulls at the half

It's not looking good. The score is currently Rutgers 21 - Bulls 10. And although I have been cleaning and not watching the game exclusively, from what I've seen, it's not been great football from our side.

Jim Levitt, our coach, took a timeout with 7 seconds remaining which was not actually credited until 4 seconds. He then spent the timeout yelling at the linesman whose fault it was. Maybe not the best use of a timeout...there is nothing you can really do about what the referees do or do not do, apart from making them angry.

They can come back (they did against Kansas earlier this year) but I'm starting to wonder if maybe this is not going to be their year. The Big East is getting more competitive with Cincinnati seeming strong. Ah well. It's college. Anything, anything, can happen.

Oh, I just learned that there is a player on USF named Ron McClain, which if you are Canadian and just listening to the game is freaking hilarious.

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!