11-16-2003, 10:20 AM
OK. I lied. I have lots of insults to toss about as well as a slew of lousy analysis so let's get right to it.
1. Miami 45, Marshall 6 - For the first time since re-entering the MAC, Marshall will not be the East Division champions. As good as Miami is playing, they should roll in their last two games. Were it not for a season opening loss to Iowa, Miami might just be knocking on the BCS door. As it is, their fans will be debating whether they'd rather go to Detroit or Mobile. Why in the hell anyone would debate whether they'd rather go someplace it's sunny and 75 or someplace that's cloudy, windy and -75 is beyond me.
2. Zippers 35, Ohio U 28 - As a team, Akron rushed for a mere 98 yards while the Housekitties rushed for 221. Moreover, the passing stats for Akron weren't great either 17-31 for 277 and Ohio actually had 190 yards through the air. Time of possession was almost dead even. Did I mention that Ohio had a 21-0 lead? How in the hell do you lose a game like that? Oh yeah. Just noticed. You coach, in a brilliant move, decides to go for it on 4th and 1 from YOUR OWN 34 with the game tied. Then, you allow the opponent to score the go ahead touchdown and your offense quits. Yep. That'll do it. 9,102 excited, er, I mean apathetic, fans decided to show up.
3. EMU 38, Testicle Tech 14 - Hey Cardinals. Beating Toledump does NOT mean you have won your division. You still have several games remaining after that. Apparently, Ball U forgot about that unfair requirement. Not that it will stop them but this game should remove all moral authority from Toledump fans who so enjoyed Marshall's loss to Troy State. Think about it. Ball U actually made EMU look good. Scary. Attendance was worse than a high school playoff game at 5,075.
4. WMU 44, CMU 21 - I have absolutely no idea what Western needs to do. One week they look good, the next week they look bad. Unfortunately for the Broncos, this has been a theme over the last few years. Regardless, what I don't see in WMU is the fire to go out and play hard every single game. CMU OTOH, is giving EMU a run for the money in vying for the title of "worst team in the State of Michigan."
5. Toledump 49, NIU 30 - Just for NIU fans, <a href='http://www.ou.edu/oupd/choke.htm' target='_blank'>First Aid for Choking</a>
6. BUGS 42, Kent 33 - BUGS still controls their own fate in the West but they appear to be going backwards. Ekeing out a win over Kent is not exactly giant killer type play. Once again, Cribbs proved why he needs to just get the hell out of Kent and showcase his skills in either the NFL or, more likely, the CFL. BUGS was up 35-14 early in the 4th before Cribbs put on a one man show for the rally. Still, I'll revise my earlier statement. Looks more like BUGS thought they had the game in the bag and went to sleep.
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Final thoughts.
My theme for the conference this year? Inconsistent. Marshall gives Tennessee all they want and beats Kansas State. Then, they lose to Troy. Toledump gets hammered by Ball State but handily beats NIU. NIU does their normal choke but only after beating Alabama and Maryland. BUGS beat Purdue and came close against the Buckeyes but, if they lose to the Rockettes, they'll complete the picture.
The bowl picture for the MAC just got very interesting. NIU may have taken themselves out of any bowl consideration by losing to Toledump. They have EMU at home on the 22nd and if they only have 10k or so show up, a strong likelihood given the fact that they've now been eliminated from the MAC West, there is no way a bowl takes them. As usual, the BUGS/Toledump game is for the West with the winner going to a bowl. But, is the loser out? Maybe. But, if the MAC gets a 3rd bowl bid and if it goes to Marshall, will it finally shut up those ignoramuses that think bowls have anything to do with the quality of teams and everything to do with people actually showing up for the games? Probably not. OTOH, there are still those that insist the earth is flat and an incredible number of people insist that the universe was made in six 24 hour periods about 6,000 years ago.
1. Miami 45, Marshall 6 - For the first time since re-entering the MAC, Marshall will not be the East Division champions. As good as Miami is playing, they should roll in their last two games. Were it not for a season opening loss to Iowa, Miami might just be knocking on the BCS door. As it is, their fans will be debating whether they'd rather go to Detroit or Mobile. Why in the hell anyone would debate whether they'd rather go someplace it's sunny and 75 or someplace that's cloudy, windy and -75 is beyond me.
2. Zippers 35, Ohio U 28 - As a team, Akron rushed for a mere 98 yards while the Housekitties rushed for 221. Moreover, the passing stats for Akron weren't great either 17-31 for 277 and Ohio actually had 190 yards through the air. Time of possession was almost dead even. Did I mention that Ohio had a 21-0 lead? How in the hell do you lose a game like that? Oh yeah. Just noticed. You coach, in a brilliant move, decides to go for it on 4th and 1 from YOUR OWN 34 with the game tied. Then, you allow the opponent to score the go ahead touchdown and your offense quits. Yep. That'll do it. 9,102 excited, er, I mean apathetic, fans decided to show up.
3. EMU 38, Testicle Tech 14 - Hey Cardinals. Beating Toledump does NOT mean you have won your division. You still have several games remaining after that. Apparently, Ball U forgot about that unfair requirement. Not that it will stop them but this game should remove all moral authority from Toledump fans who so enjoyed Marshall's loss to Troy State. Think about it. Ball U actually made EMU look good. Scary. Attendance was worse than a high school playoff game at 5,075.
4. WMU 44, CMU 21 - I have absolutely no idea what Western needs to do. One week they look good, the next week they look bad. Unfortunately for the Broncos, this has been a theme over the last few years. Regardless, what I don't see in WMU is the fire to go out and play hard every single game. CMU OTOH, is giving EMU a run for the money in vying for the title of "worst team in the State of Michigan."
5. Toledump 49, NIU 30 - Just for NIU fans, <a href='http://www.ou.edu/oupd/choke.htm' target='_blank'>First Aid for Choking</a>
6. BUGS 42, Kent 33 - BUGS still controls their own fate in the West but they appear to be going backwards. Ekeing out a win over Kent is not exactly giant killer type play. Once again, Cribbs proved why he needs to just get the hell out of Kent and showcase his skills in either the NFL or, more likely, the CFL. BUGS was up 35-14 early in the 4th before Cribbs put on a one man show for the rally. Still, I'll revise my earlier statement. Looks more like BUGS thought they had the game in the bag and went to sleep.
_________________________
Final thoughts.
My theme for the conference this year? Inconsistent. Marshall gives Tennessee all they want and beats Kansas State. Then, they lose to Troy. Toledump gets hammered by Ball State but handily beats NIU. NIU does their normal choke but only after beating Alabama and Maryland. BUGS beat Purdue and came close against the Buckeyes but, if they lose to the Rockettes, they'll complete the picture.
The bowl picture for the MAC just got very interesting. NIU may have taken themselves out of any bowl consideration by losing to Toledump. They have EMU at home on the 22nd and if they only have 10k or so show up, a strong likelihood given the fact that they've now been eliminated from the MAC West, there is no way a bowl takes them. As usual, the BUGS/Toledump game is for the West with the winner going to a bowl. But, is the loser out? Maybe. But, if the MAC gets a 3rd bowl bid and if it goes to Marshall, will it finally shut up those ignoramuses that think bowls have anything to do with the quality of teams and everything to do with people actually showing up for the games? Probably not. OTOH, there are still those that insist the earth is flat and an incredible number of people insist that the universe was made in six 24 hour periods about 6,000 years ago.
