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Saturday College Football Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 09:56:31 AM EST
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I have a little time before I have to start working again so I thought I would share my thoughts on today's college football slate.

Miami (Florida) -15½ over Duke (2 units); Oklahoma State -21 over Kansas State (4 units); Oklahoma -14 over Texas A&M (5 units); Mississippi -2 Kentucky (3 units); Cincinnati -3½ over Pittsburgh (2 units); Notre Dame -14 over Wake Forest (3 units); Iowa +4 over Michigan (2 units); Army +17 over Air Force (2 units); Texas Tech +14 over Texas (2 units); Nebraska -17½ over Northwestern (4 units); Connecticut -2 over Syracuse (2 units).

In this year's Game of the Century, I like LSU +5 over Alabama (3 units.) I also expect a fair amount of points to be scored and am taking Over 42 (3 units.)

Go Gators!

Open Thread.

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    Saturday College Football Open Thread | 26 comments (26 topical)

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    Kudos to former (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by KeysDan on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 01:16:56 PM EST
    Lee Strasberg Institute (Manhattan and West Hollywood) method acting student, Congressman Joe Walsh.  No, not the Academy Award, but the "True BLue Member of Congress " recognition by the Family Research Council for "unwavering support of the family."  President Tony Perkins said "Congressman Walsh and other True Blue Members have voted to repeal Obamacare, de-fund Planned Parenthood and government funding for abortion, uphold DOMA... I applaud their commitment to uphold the institution of marriage and family."  

    The  Tea Party-supported Republican from suburban Chicago humbly accepted his award, saying that "I am proud and honored to be recognized by the FRC as the only member from Illinois with a 100 percent pro-family voting record--defending American values have always been one of my top priorities.  

    The Congressman (aka the Deadbeat Dad) is involved in a litigious dispute with his first wife wherein he is being sued for $117, 437 in back child support. Walsh  admits that he did not pay support from Mar 2008 to Dec 2010 but claims his ex-wife is a liar since they had a verbal agreement that exempted him from payments although not modified in court.  Currently, $2000/month is deducted from his congressional salary.  His first wife is asking the Court to suspend his driver's license and freeze his assets.  The Congressman, in turn, is asking for his Court costs.  There was no reported comment from the ex-wife on receipt of Walsh's family values award.

    Touchdown (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Edger on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 02:45:32 PM EST
    Occupy Oakland Children's Brigade, marching from the public library to Oscar Grant Plaza.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZuycZhh9e8

    Because the general strike statment had various times for gatherings (9/noon/5) it got teachers union buy-in. So the library (city unions) had teach ins, teachers were able to take kids to see democracy in action.

    Let's see them try tear-gassing or rubber-bulleting that.

    Perverse. FYI: ISU beat Iowa. Surely (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 11:46:41 AM EST
    Michigan can best Iowa too.  

    Then they'd better get busy n/t (none / 0) (#2)
    by rdandrea on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 12:23:34 PM EST


    Parent
    Hmmm. I see what you mean. (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 12:25:32 PM EST


    Parent
    If you're not watching this... (none / 0) (#16)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 02:07:10 PM EST
    you're seriously missing out.  I swear the Hawks are just trying to give me a coronary.

    Parent
    Happy Freakin' Birthday to Me! (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 02:12:40 PM EST
    Go Iowa Awesome!!!

    Parent
    So...Iowa gave you a surprise present afterall! (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by christinep on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 02:21:25 PM EST
    Happy Day, MileHi.

    Parent
    Happy B-Day (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by rdandrea on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 02:24:17 PM EST
    Very exciting finish.

    Parent
    IIRC, you're a Penn State fan? (none / 0) (#4)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 12:35:54 PM EST
    Is this sex abuse scandal out of the blue or has it been out there for awhile?  

    Parent
    Out of the blue, at least to me (none / 0) (#6)
    by rdandrea on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 12:50:42 PM EST
    I learned about it yesterday reading the Centre Daily Times (the State College paper).  They had been scooped by about an hour by the Harrisburg Patriot.  I've been reading the CDT for years and there was no inkling, at least to me, that there was anything going on.

    It makes me sick.  Even when we had a lousy football team, we always had our reputation as "good guys."  Now that's gone and we STILL have a lousy football team.

    According to news reports out of the PA papers, a grad student reported an incident to Joe, and Joe reported the incident the next day to his supervisor (Athletic Director Tim Curley).  That's not what PA law says to do, but I'll bet if there's a policy manual there somewhere, that's what the manual says to do.  Many organizations (at least back when I had a real job) want you to report up the chain of command rather than go right to law enforcement.

    Joe did testify before the Grand Jury.  The fact that he wasn't charged suggests that at least someone thought he was telling the truth and did what he was supposed to do.

    I'm sick for the kids.  And I don't mean the football team.

    Parent

    Addendum: this did NOT come out of the blue (none / 0) (#7)
    by rdandrea on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 01:14:53 PM EST
    The Harrisburg paper first reported it in March.

    From today's Centre Daily Times:

    Sandusky has been the subject of a state grand jury investigation for the past two years. The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News in March broke the story of the investigation, reporting that it began in 2009, when a 15-year-old told authorities that Sandusky had inappropriate contact with him over a four-year period, starting when he was 10.


    Parent
    Agreed, it is sickening. (none / 0) (#8)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 01:15:02 PM EST
    40 counts is just sad and mind boggling.  I read he was working with kids after his retirement--just wonder how much more there is to this.  

    I'm sure JoePa went by the PSU book, but it doesn't sound like the AD handled it properly--perjury and failure to report.  I imagine he's gone.  

    I'm still hoping for Penn State/Iowa rematch in the title game.  Penn State fans are still head and shoulder above Ohio State and Michigan fans in my book (sorry oc).

    Parent

    Not just the AD (none / 0) (#11)
    by rdandrea on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 01:27:45 PM EST
    But a university Vice-President as well.  The AD and VP were reportedly the ones who interviewed the grad student after the incident was reported by Joe.

    Yes, he was working with kids, but not directly as far as I know.  Back in 1977 he founded a charity called the "The Second Mile" that works with at-risk kids in Philadelphia.  He retired from PSU to spend full time with The Second Mile but kept an office on campus, I believe.  He told The Second Mile board in 2008 he was being investigated, but didn't resign from the organization until last year.

    More at this link.

    Parent

    It is somewhat out of blue here in Pgh (none / 0) (#34)
    by smott on Sun Nov 06, 2011 at 10:35:31 AM EST
    But yes it has been brewing awhile. Certainly the charges against PSU officials are news as of yesterday. I think they're done for.

    I'm not actually sure about Paterno. The Grad assistent basically said it appeared to be rape. You wonder if JoePa could have pushed more than he did.  
    The VP said nothign sexual was ever implied which seems like he was either seriously mis informed or covered it up.

    And of course, the police were not informed.

    Local writer here
    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11309/1187869-150-0.stm


    Parent

    The Grand Jury findings (none / 0) (#35)
    by rdandrea on Sun Nov 06, 2011 at 12:47:57 PM EST
    are here.

    Best to read them for yourself since all the press is doing is speculating at this point.

    Parent

    They're 8-1 (none / 0) (#12)
    by rdandrea on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 01:30:13 PM EST
    Because they played schools like "Sisters of the Blind" for three of the first four weeks of the season.

    I think they've won their last Big-10 game of the season already.  They finish with Nebraska, at Ohio State, and at Wisconsin.

    Parent

    Naw. (none / 0) (#14)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 01:58:43 PM EST
    With your defense you can (have to!) beat Nebbie at Happy Valley and Indiana is hanging with OSU today, so they're clearly not the Buckeyes of old and beatable this year--even at Columbus.  At Bucky is going to a tough one though.

    I'll definitely be rooting hard for the Lions against Nebraska.

     

    Parent

    I've watched all the games that were on TV (none / 0) (#20)
    by rdandrea on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 02:23:30 PM EST
    And listened to all the rest. (Thank you, WILK in Wilkes-Barre, for streaming PSU football on the web.)

    PSU has played down to every opponent.  They make a lot of mistakes and draw a lot of stupid penalties.  The two-quarterback merry-go-round is a bad joke.  Bolden belongs on the bench.

    If Moye comes back (he played a few plays against Illinois--enough to help them win) and JayPa quits experimenting with quarterbacks, they ought to be in each one of these games by the fourth quarter.  The defense is a lot less tough with Michael Mauti out for the season, but has played well enough to give them a chance to win.

    They have been a very sloppy team on offense this year, even against inferior opponents, so you never know.  Hard to imagine them winning out.  Easier to imagine them losing out.

    Parent

    That two game cushion sure helps. (none / 0) (#22)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 02:41:24 PM EST
    Agree on Bolden.  Pick a QB and stick with him!  Hard to get into an offensive rhythm when you're playing QB-go-round.

    I hope the D really tees off on T-Mart next week and Kenny Bell has a good game in a loss.

    Parent

    I've always been this way about PSU. (none / 0) (#31)
    by rdandrea on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 07:48:39 PM EST
    It's clearly a result of reading Joe in the Daily Collegian talking about how good the next opponent is.

    After a while, you start to believe him.  After a while, it sticks.

    They can never be good enough for me.  That comes with the territory.  PSU has been undefeated 5 times (1968, 1969, 1973, 1986, and 1994) and won its bowl games against "better" schools during the Paterno era, yet we have only only been "National Champs" twice (1982, when we weren't even undefeated, and 1986).  In 1973, it was Nixon who declared the champs.  And it wasn't us.

    If you're Penn State, you can never be too good.

    But this year, we really aren't "too good".

    Parent

    Aloha back atcha (none / 0) (#33)
    by rdandrea on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 09:02:08 PM EST
    n/t

    Parent
    Pearl Harbor (none / 0) (#38)
    by cal1942 on Mon Nov 07, 2011 at 11:34:17 AM EST
    49 years later.

    Parent
    Observation/question about Russian (none / 0) (#5)
    by observed on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 12:44:23 PM EST
    Now that my vocabulary includes some standard usages, I am noticing very frequent exact parallels between the meaning of Russian constructions and English---with words which are not obviously related linguistically.
    For instance, a Pravda story about free museum days, literally urged children to "tear their parents away" from something. The verb was "to tear", just as in English.
    I've seen several other examples, but I'm a bit tired now and can't recall.

    Does this relate to the common Indo-European root?
    Does the old language include some habits of mind in it? The other possibility is that I simply do not recognize common roots which are in the words.

    so BTD, (none / 0) (#26)
    by cpinva on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 04:03:27 PM EST
    if i understand you correctly, neither Alabama or LSU has a defense worth a damn? good to know in the future.

    in other college football news, UVA crushed MD. there is joy in charlottesville tonite.

    SITE VIOLATOR!!! n/t (none / 0) (#37)
    by caseyOR on Sun Nov 06, 2011 at 10:58:01 PM EST


    Saturday College Football Open Thread | 26 comments (26 topical)

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