Two years ago the Rutgers University football team played well on a Thursday evening on national television. They beat then third-ranked Louisville on ESPN. It’s true Rutgers had a decent team that year, but the magic-in-the-bottle can be condensed to that one game.
With the nation’s attention on the Scarlet Knights, the following game was a stinker as Cincinnati dropped Rutgers 30-11. Rutgers rebounded against Syracuse before losing the final game of the season to West Virginia. The New Jersey team then prevailed in the Texas Bowl. Bravo!
The Piscataway business university parlayed the 2006 season into a money grab. With a decent team, it was time to expand the 1993-built football stadium to hold the influx of fair-weathered new fans. There was much outrage for the project and the $102 million price tag to add 15,000 seats. In fact, so much so that Gov. Corzine did not commit tax dollars to the project. All he did was write a personal check and spearhead a fundraising drive.
The football team followed the magical 2006 season with an 8-5 record including the Invitational Bowl (the what?) win against Ball State in 2007. The grid iron gang is off to an inauspicious 0-2 record this year after it was spanked last night, a Thursday game on ESPN, by North Carolina 44-12.
Play like this isn’t going to bring in the donations to expand the stadium. It seems to me that those who are in charge of this project are on the public payroll. Isn’t it short-sighted to expand a stadium based on one game two years ago? I’d like to see some heads roll over this.
Who would have predicted I would be thinking of my Miami Dolphins today. Early on in the game I realized that as much as I loathe the Giants, I did not want the Patriots to be undefeated. I began rooting for the dreaded Giants.
The game seemed well played. It was a much different game than I anticipated. The Giants came prepared. Moss barely touched the ball until late in the game. When Manning connected with Tyree, I clapped with joy. I really felt that was going to be it.
To the Pats’ credit, they marched right down with ease and scored. So much for momentum. While the Giants had played well, there is no celebrating second place.
Damn, Eli came through today. The catch by Tyree off his head was stellar. With 35 seconds to go, the Giants scored. It was late, but Mercury, Bob, Czonka, Larry Little, Shula, et al. can finally pop the bubbly.
I really enjoyed this game. Obviously, the play had much to do with it. But I also was able to neutralize the worst announcer, Joe “Slamma-lamma-ding-dong!” Buck. I listened to my iPod throughout the game. Nothing better than Garcia and Grisman picking. And even if there is, it sure as hell beats listening to Buck.
I paused the iPod for Tom Petty. I am not much for halftime shows, but I was pleased with their four-song set. I thought Refugee should have been played, but I suppose that would not have fit as well.
Commercials are overhyped. I recall chuckling at one, but other than the Victoria Secret ad, cannot recall the advertisements, which I say every year. Companies spend a lot of money and I don’t get the humor and cannot even recall the products. It must work on some.
Just to get this out there prior to the game . . .
I do not see how the Patriots can lose this game. They’re 18-0 with no glaring weaknesses in their game. Sure, anything can happen on any given Sunday. The Giants played the Pats tough earlier in the year during the stretch when several teams did. They still lost.
The two weeks off between the championship game and the Super Bowl can cool any team off. I think this is a mistake on the NFL’s part. The delay would seem to be the most disadvantage to the Giants who had been on a hot streak.
I am conflicted about the game. I am a fan of neither team. On top of that, I rather dislike the Giants. Play in New Jersey for 30+ years but wear NY on your helmet. Blech! And, they’re a New York team. Being from the Philadelphia area, well, this is pretty much in my blood.
I grew up a Dolphins fan. The Pats were our door mat for decades. I never liked teams in the division. But I did live in Boston for four years and have a small liking for them. Yet, a win dulls the ‘72 Dolphins shine just a bit. While a few of that team have been a bit outspoken of late, it is still my childhood team.
The Pats will complete their perfect season with a 38-17 win over the Giants.
With just a couple minutes left, the Eagles were ahead of the Cowboys by four points. The ball was handed off to Brian Westbrook and he brook loose. Instead of heading into the end zone, Westbrook went down on his own at the one yard line.
Scoring would put the Eagles up by two scores with little time left.
On the other hand, the Eagles could control the ball the rest of the way if he knelt down.
Was this pure genius? Would you have done this? I honestly do not know what to make of this play.
