Week 1 Results/Thoughts

Quite a 1st week for the Football Challenge. Here were the week 1 results:
MR: 11-4
JG: 9-6
JR: 8-7
MK: 7-8

TOTAL 35-25 (.583)

Not too bad for week 1. MR storms off to an early 2 game lead with the NFL coming into play this week. Nobody turned in a 5-10 or 4-11 clunker, so maybe we really have improved. Only time will tell.

GOPHERS
Interesting start Saturday night for our favorite club. I think they played much better than the whole world is giving them credit for this week. If they stop the 2 huge pass plays, which were both very preventable, they win in a rout. Offense sputtered at times when it shouldn't have, but I think that will change as Brew works in the more athletic, young WR's and benches Kuznia/Spry. The OL was also made up of a bunch of youngsters making their first starts, and they were without Burris who is probably their best overall OL. Weber looked sharp, for the most part. No turnovers is a huge improvement over last year. I was very impressed with the new defense. They totally shut down the high powered NILL running game, and only allowed the 2 long pass plays (without those we only would have given up about 150 yards passing). Both came on 3rd down, and those sturggles will have to improve to be a better defense. What I don't get is the sentiment that we have zero chance next week and are going to get crushed?!? People need to remember that we are playing Bowling Green, not Ohio State. We nearly beat them last year after playing one of the ugliest halfs of football you'll ever see with zero defense and breaking in a brand new offensive system. The offense is better, I think the defense is much improved, and Bowling Green is really still the same team. The win over Pitt last week is getting over-hyped as well. BGSU only had 250 total yards against Pitt, and took advantage of 4 turnovers. They gave up 400 yards of offense to Pitt, but the turnovers didn't allow them to score. Overall, Pitt isn't as good as the "experts" thought, and BGSU didn't do too much to impress in this victory. I just don't understand how so many people are counting us out already for next week...makes no sense to me.

OTHER NOTES
CLEMSON - I didn't believe the hype of National Title hopes, but I didn't think Saban and his group of 19 year olds would blow their doors off like that. They can still win the ACC, but that was just one in a long list of brutal ACC performances this week.
MICHIGAN - painful. It is going to suck watching Michigan be terrible this year, I feel really bad. Zero QB play, zero running game...yikes. This will not be a bowl team, in my opinion.
USC - how did we not all see this coming? don't bet against Carroll on the road in an opener. I love this squad to dismantle the Buckeyes in 2 weeks...but that could change.
SPARTY/ILLINI - nice road efforts on Nat'l TV, but neither team has enough to challenge in the B10 race this year. How about Juice for 458!! WTF?
SHERMANATOR and AGGIES - nice start Mike. Lose at how to ARKST...too early to start looking for that next job?
AUBURN - scary good, under the radar, new and improved offense...I see a sneaky Nat'l Title sleeper right here. All big games at home...I have a new SEC favorite.
TENNESSEE - how do you lose that game. while watching most of the 2nd half it was obvious to me that TN clearly has the better team and athletes, but they were unable to make a stop when necessary...and they have a shitty kicker.
UCLA - this is Neuheisel at his finest, he rolls in year one and gets the program on the national scene, then he causes problems, plays guitar, and start a gambling ring before he leaves. exactly the same start as he had in COL and WASH.
FRESNO - finally turned on the O in the 2nd half...Rutgers is not going to be very good. Look out Becky!! Fresno is hyping that thing up as the biggest game in the history of the program.

We have a decent slate for week 2 - I will post the games (NCAA and NFL) and send out an email.

Later guys.