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senna
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Football in America
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Aug 12 04:30 UTC 2001 |
It's august. The days are getting shorter. The polls are out, and the
preseason has begun. Football is coming. Rejoice. Discuss.
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| 84 responses total. |
gelinas
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response 1 of 84:
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Aug 12 04:37 UTC 2001 |
'Twill be interesting to see who becomes the Michigan quarterback. I'm also
hoping to watch them play in Pasadena on New Year's Day.
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senna
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response 2 of 84:
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Aug 12 04:38 UTC 2001 |
In college, Florida is the preseason #1 in both polls, edging Miami. The
state of Florida and the Big 12 monopolize top spots in both, in fact, with
Florida State hitting #5 in the coaches poll and Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas
all placing in varying order. Michigan is 10th in the coaches poll, 12th in
the AP, and is generally considered to be worse than that. Michigan State
is unranked and dangerous and could have the second-best offense in the Big
Ten next to favorite Northwestern.
Those of you less than inspired by football might note that while all the Big
Ten teams are still shooting for the Rose Bowl again this year, the standards
are substantially tighter than normal: the top two teams in the country will
play there for the national title this time around. A Big Ten (or Pac Ten)
team will have to run the table to have a legitimate shot.
The Lions have a new coach, a new system, and a new attitude for their last
year in the Silverdome, by the way. The way things have been going in the
NFL, they're a good shot for the Super Bowl.
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senna
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response 3 of 84:
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Aug 12 04:39 UTC 2001 |
Joe slipped in. The Rose Bowl is on Jan 3 this year. :) Well, next year.
John Navarre looks like the starter, but Spencer Britton and Jermaine Gonzalez
could unseat him by opening day. I don't think it will happen, though.
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gelinas
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response 4 of 84:
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Aug 12 04:46 UTC 2001 |
I'd forgotten that. So we can give Pasadena a pass this year: College
Football ends on New Year's Day.
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senna
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response 5 of 84:
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Aug 12 06:04 UTC 2001 |
Not anymore, unfortunately. I wish they'd go back to the New Year's day
football feasts... the most channels you need to flip between now is usually
two, only three for a brief period early in the afternoon. After that, it's
all ABC.
Actually, as I've stated elsewhere, I would like for a Big Ten Team and a PAC
Ten team to meet this year anyway. It's conceivable, if a Big Ten team can
somehow go undefeated throught he conference and one of the Oregon teams or
Washington wins out. Actually, if USC and Michigan somehow teamed up to shock
the world and meet each other, it would be the ultimate appropriate finish.
I wouldn't mind Michigan and Northwestern both going undefeated and meeting
each other, either. :)
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edina
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response 6 of 84:
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Aug 13 00:54 UTC 2001 |
The English Premiership kicked off today, with the Charity Shield being played
in CARdiff between Liverpool and Manchester United. Happily, LIverpool won.
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senna
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response 7 of 84:
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Aug 13 02:18 UTC 2001 |
Actually, the Premiership kicks off later. The Charity Shield can actually
be played by one team that is not in the premiership, unlikely as it is. Man
U has now lost three charity shields running. It doesn't seem to affect their
performance later in the season.
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edina
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response 8 of 84:
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Aug 13 14:05 UTC 2001 |
The Premiership kicks off next week - my mistake. The only effect that it
has on Man U is that Beckham came out and said that they wanted to win *every*
game this season, as it's Ferguson's last season.
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jep
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response 9 of 84:
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Aug 13 16:09 UTC 2001 |
This item is linked as summer 2001 agora #131 and sports #110.
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ric
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response 10 of 84:
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Aug 13 17:14 UTC 2001 |
It'll be interesting to see how Michigan does this year.... after losing 4
offensive line starts to the NFL draft, along with their starting quarterback,
their starting wide receiver, and their starting running back.
There are a LOT of question marks, not just at quarterback.
A ranking of 10th is a testament to people's believe in Michigan's ability
to "reload"... and they were only what.. 9-3 last year?
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senna
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response 11 of 84:
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Aug 13 17:21 UTC 2001 |
I think it's a testament to reputation. :) But then, Michigan has pulled
through in nearly impossible situations for years running now. Who knows?
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ric
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response 12 of 84:
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Aug 14 14:20 UTC 2001 |
The offense was a vastly unknown quantity in 1997, too. Griese was
experienced, but he was only 5-5 in games he started. I think there were more
known quantities on the defense, then though.
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lk
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response 13 of 84:
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Aug 17 03:27 UTC 2001 |
...and defense wins championships!
What can I say, I'm a traditionalist. Thus I'm looking forward to Michigan
taking on Stanford in the Rose Bowl, repeating history of 100 years ago,
and clobbering them 49-0! (:
Two weeks, 1 day, 12 hours and counting....
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senna
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response 14 of 84:
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Aug 17 22:29 UTC 2001 |
One week to the kickoff of competitive football in our sphere of knowledge,
by the way. The high school season starts friday the 24th, and the college
"preseason" starts on Saturday. The preseason, to me, has always been a dull
way to start things, with few good games and perhaps one or two matchups at
best that mean anything. I'll be glad to see it go.
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lynne
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response 15 of 84:
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Aug 18 00:46 UTC 2001 |
I dunno...the UM vs Washington State game (9/8? I think?) is slated to be one
of the best matchups of the season. <tries not to think about that bastard
deserter QB from last year>
Hmmm, I seem to be particularly profane tonight. My apologies.
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lk
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response 16 of 84:
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Aug 18 04:02 UTC 2001 |
That would be UM vs. Washington (9/8, 3:30, ABC).
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hematite
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response 17 of 84:
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Aug 18 04:30 UTC 2001 |
(Is that the same SOB who's playing *baseball* down here in
Columbus. :) <ducks>
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senna
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response 18 of 84:
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Aug 18 15:17 UTC 2001 |
Can't blame him. Anyway, it will be a good game, but a more interesting one
on the national landscape will be Washington's trip to Miami the next week.
At least it's their first game, which gives us some extra time to coordinate
things.
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ric
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response 19 of 84:
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Aug 19 01:52 UTC 2001 |
re 14 - by preseason, are you referring to the annual "kickoff classic" and
"pigskin classic" football games?
Boring?
I take it you're forgetting the year Michigan participated by playing Virginia
in a "preseason" game, when Scott Driesbach engineered a 17 point 4th quarter
to give the Wolverines a 17-16 victory..
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senna
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response 20 of 84:
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Aug 19 04:07 UTC 2001 |
I'm not. Name three games with similar drama that have taken place since
then. :)
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lynne
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response 21 of 84:
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Aug 19 21:38 UTC 2001 |
Two weeks! Two weeks till they start showing watchable sports again! <does
a happy dance and moons the entire !*#&(! baseball community>
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ric
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response 22 of 84:
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Aug 20 00:15 UTC 2001 |
re 20 - understood. It's generally because no big team wants to play if they
have to play someone good. Michigan has refused opportunities to play in
excellent games since, because the level of competition was "too high".
It's a shame, really.. understandable, but a shame nonetheless.
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senna
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response 23 of 84:
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Aug 20 17:36 UTC 2001 |
Well, big teams play occasionally, but the games are rarely watchable (USC
Penn State, anyone?) Season opening games often look rather... ugly. From
the odd assortments of pre-school year fans in the stands, to the play, to
the heat, it's not good football. It's a whole heck of a lot better than no
football, though.
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ric
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response 24 of 84:
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Aug 21 16:25 UTC 2001 |
This weekend pitts powerhouse TCU against Nebraska, and Syracuse against
Georgia Tech. Neither of which are particularly interesting games, both
featuring a ranked team versus an unranked team.
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