OSU…I tried to cheer for you to spread the Big Ten love. And you let me down again. This is twice in a row, you asses.

 In any case, I still love college football, and I will miss it terribly until next season. Here’s a recap of the game…and why I LOVE college football:

1. Early in the game, Ohio State made things interesting. With over 9 minutes left in the first quarter, Ohio State was up 10 to ZILCH. The announcer’s reaction? “Don’t let Jim Tressel’s sweater-vest fool you.”

2. Hester is amazing tonight. He FOUGHT for yards on every play where he touched the ball. Cheering for OSU, I was literally yelling, “DON’T GIVE IT TO THAT LITTLE SHIT.” When I get that riled up about a player on the other team, its a good thing. (Editor Note to Hester: I don’t really think you are a little shit. It’s just the game. You understand.)

3. LSU wasn’t about to lie down. And I love that about them. College football is nothing if the team play doesn’t have a little heart. End of the first quarter, LSU hadn’t caught up, but they did get a field goal on board to make the score 10-3.

4. College football is all about TAKING opportunities. After getting a facemask call which moved LSU a lot closer to the end zone, Dickson took the ball and didn’t look back, putting more points on the board for LSU. They were practically screaming, “This game is NOT over!”

5.  Two words: Blocked Kicks. They’re hot and a bit rare…but LSU pulled one off, keeping the score tied during the beginning of the second quarter.

6. High-scoring games are another reason I love college football. About half-way through the quarter, the Tigers claimed a touchdown at the end of another great drive, putting them up 17-10. To me, that’s an exciting game. It isn’t that the defenses are bad…the offenses are just really on point tonight. Flynn’s touchdown throw this time was perfect. Then, they came back with yet another touchdown. 24-10…great game.

7. College football is unpredicatable. Going into the game, many pegged OSU to win. After the first ten minutes, everyone was chanting “It’s all over” already. In the third quarter, LSU raised the stakes to 31-10. Ouch, OSU.

8. You can always come back. OSU picks off a throw for an interception, takes it to the 11, gets denied the touchdown on the first few plays, but makes it on 4th and 5 to bring the score to 31-17.

9. In a game like this, coverage is TIGHT. It really doesn’t GET any tighter, actually. Fumbles, tackles, interceptions, and break ups have ruled the game.

10. When it is over, teams still play. After an interception and a score that remained at 31-17…and then went to 38-17. Yet, OSU staying in game-mode. At that point, it was about doing their best. You ALWAYS do your best, not matter what the scoreboard says. And they scored because of that, taking the score to 38-24.

Post from: EveryJoe

Reasons I Love College Football: The 2007 National Championship Game Recap

Smart move. SMART. Since taklking about it early this week, I’ve thought a lot about the pros and cons for Miles to leave to coach the Wolverines. And you know what? I think staying at LSU will be the best move of his career. I love Michigan (well, love them like one Big Ten team fan loves another Big Ten team), but what does Miles have to gain from moving there? Big Ten is an exciting conference, but it’s not as good as the SEC (most years). By staying at LSU, he also gets to be the hero instead of the traitor. Michigan would have welcomed him, but they’re losing a great coach in Lloyd Carr – and that would be a constant reminder, that he (Miles) isn’t Carr. Whenever there is a legendary coach, it’s hard to step out of his shadow.

What do you think about Miles’ decision to stay at LSU?

Post from: EveryJoe

He’s Staying at LSU

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville–great Casey has struck out.

Ok, wrong sport…but I imagine that’s the general feeling on the LSU campus today. The Tigers, ranked #1 going into their Saturday evening match up with Kentucky (ranked #17), Were looking to go undefeated to the championship, and by the looks of their schedule, they probably would have done it too.

What made this game so exciting was that it wasn’t one of those major upsets like we’ve been seeing with teams like Stanford beating USC. No, everyone knew that Kentucky was good. Still, no one expected a game like this.

Both teams had a good day as far as turnovers go, with just 1 by LSU and 2 by Kentucky. However, Kentucky’s Andre Woodson dominated the game, throwing 21 completions in 38 attempts for a total of 250 yards. Those stats may no seem all that impressive, but compared to Matt Flynn’s, Woodson is golden. Flynn only made 17 of his 35 attempts for a total of 130 yards.

But give LSU some credit here – they killed in rushing, led by Charles Scott (7 carried for 94 yards), with the help of the team’s bulldozer, Jacob Hester (18 carries for 61 yards). Hester was injured during overtime, which may have accounted for the team’s final loss. Well, what do you expect when you play in three overtimes and have Kentucky’s defense slamming into you again and again?

That’s right – three overtimes. And you thought the Hawaii – San Jose State game was exciting! Kentucky almost won during regular game plan on a huge last-minute 57-yard field goal attempt by kicker Colt David, but the ball swung to the side just slightly (although, amazingly, had it gone straight, it would have made it).

During overtime, Kentucky started off with the ball and a false start penalty. At that point, fans were biting their nails, hoping the team could at least make it forward a bit to put them back into field goal range. Kentucky’s MVP for the night? LSU’s Tyson Jackson. During the first overtime play, he got called for roughing the passer, a huge 15-yard penalty. Derrick Locke rushed in for the touchdown and Lone Seiber’s field goal attempt sailed right in.

LSU wasn’t rattled, and Flynn passed to Demetrius Byrd, who walked into the endzone. David’s point was also good, putting the game into the second overtime. This time, LSu started with the ball. They were forced to kick a field goal, and David’s attempt was good. Not to be stopped, Seiber made a 43-yard field goal kick look easy. Game still tied, and the players headed into the third overtime.

When Locke’s rushing attempt didn’t gain any yardage and Kentucky got called for delay of game, things looked a bit grim. Woodson pulled it out of the fire on the third down on the play of the game – an endzone pass to Steve Johnson. College rules say that you have to go for the two-point conversion during third overtime, and Kentucky failed…but that wouldn’t matter. LSU put Hester in the game and gave him the ball 3 times for a total gain of 8 yards. Hester limped off the field, and Scott tried to pick up those 2 yards they needed for a first down…and failed.

Cue sea of blue to the field.

It was one of the most exciting games I’ve seen in a long time. Personally, I was cheering for Kentucky because I’d like to see a Big Ten school win the championship, which they are now in the position to do. In any case, though, watching this game made me again realize how much I love college football!

AP Photo/Ed Reinke

Post from: EveryJoe

More Thoughts on the LSU – Kentucky Game