We are about 3 weeks out for the opening of the "Bank" or the "Vault" or whatever we'll end up calling it. I got the tix in the mail on Wednesday - that hasn't helped the wait for Sept. 12. Not a whole lot going on this week, but thought I'd send out a note with a few quick updates and interesting notes.
First, I'm stoked to be heading down to the big city of LeRoy this weekend to defend my title in the infamous ROE/JOE tourney. Anna is really hoping for another victory so I can nicely display the 6' tall trophy for another year in our house. A new wrinkle this year - bean bag toss championship of the world as the post game...should be good times like always.
What I will be missing on Saturday is the first chance to get into TCF for the scrimmage. I'm sure some of you are going and hopefully you'll get a nice show. It sounds like it will be very similar to the Spring Game with 4 12 min running quarters. I'm sure there will be some highlights coming out of it - but I'm sure it will be super-vanilla and we won't get a true look at the new offense until Sept 5th.
Speaking of that game - the Orange fans think they're going to beat us. I get the pre-season optimism, but really...SYR?!? There are so many reasons not to pick SYR in this game...I'll list them in no particular order:
* 1st year head coach with massive system and personnel changes.
1st year head coaches went 1-17 in their first menaingful BCS games of the season last year...(5.5% winners). The only winner was Paul Johnson at GT, and that whole season was kind of out of left field in 2008. So the odds are not with the Orange on that one...remember Brew's first game in 2007 against Bowling Green? It just takes time to get things into place and get used to the new schemes...which is good for the Gophs
* Paulus is playing QB
I've said it before, but how can a guy that's been playing hoops for 4 years step in and become your starting QB in less than 2 weeks? Well, clearly you have zero other talent at the position and/or you are looking for a spark. I'm not denying that the guy was a nice player in HS, but he's no going to be ready for the speed and major changes that occur from HS to College football...especially at that position. I hope Cosgrove really taks advantage of his inexperience and confuses the hell out of him early and often.
* It's SYRACUSE!
Coming off some outstanding 2-10 and 3-9 seasons, they have had a ton of player defections with the new coaching staff coming in as well. I'm not sure if Marrone will be the answer for them in the long run or not, but instituting new schemes with 2 or 3 win talent will be disasterous in 2009. It just doesn't lead to success, especially when you're starting with zero talent like the Orange are.
* We are better
Believe it, we are. I've read lots of previews for our beloved club this season, and most seem very unsure about what we'll see. Pessimists bring up the huge collapse and how we barely won our early games in 2008. Optimists talk about the improvement from 1 win to 7 and a bowl game and how we should have probably won more (NW, WIS). The bottom line is that we have a ton of experience, a huge advantage in NCAA Football, and we have better players. The coaching is still a question, but I'll give us the edge over an entirely new staff for a 1st time head coach in his first game.
Sorry - I didn't mean for that to become a gameday type preview, but I just get sick of reading all the crap that is posted out there sometimes. There are people actually picking us to lose this game...I just can't comprehend that right now. Clearly, we still have no respect in the B10 or nationally, so it would be a good time to start gaining it with a 38-10 beat down.
In other opponent news, star RB for Cal Jahvid Best has been out for the last week with a toe issue, and the questions about his durability continue to come up. He's been injured every season at college, so let's hope he's banged up enough to be sitting out on Sept 19th.
There was a headline on the ESPN B10 Blog...Iowa fans ready for the Stanzi Show. How do you not laugh at that one. I don't think the guy is terrible, but he's not a guy who's going to headline the show and looks like Peyton Manning at Kinnick on Saturdays. He will be at his best as a "game-manager" (I hate that term) and handing the ball off and throwing to the TEs. That's Iowa's game...then they play D and hope to win a close one. If they plan on featuring Stanzi and throwing a lot (which might be possible with another Jewel Hampton injury happening LW) then the Hogeyes could be in some trouble.
I think that's all I can spit out for today. Please remeber to get me your $40 in the next 2 weeks sometime...I've gotten $0 so far. Next week will be the final one without football for quite a while, so enjoy it before you have to start sweating out your picks!
Don't forget Twitter - it's good stuff.
Well, I suppose I should comment on the Old man coming in to play QB for our guys in Purple. I'm for it - it gives them a chance to win something larger than the division. At least we'll be able to see every game on TV!
A quick excerpt from "RIVAL" to close
all my rivals will see what i have in store, my gun...
i've been harboring fleets in this reservoir, red sun...
and this nation's about to explode
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