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Ohio State v Wisconsin has been one of the more exciting Big Ten matchups over the past three decades, with the Bucks holding only a 13-10-1 advantage since 1980.
In fact, there has even been some animosity that has carried over onto the field in the past.
Remember 2003 in Madison, Buckeye LB Robert Reynolds tackling then-Badger QB Jim Sorgi, choking the QB and knocking him out of the game?
Ironically Ohio State choked the game away, giving up a late 80-yard TD pass to Lee Evans, losing 17-10.
At the time, my grandpa claimed the 1993 (14-14 tie) game ended on a blocked field goal by Ohio State because they had 12 players on the field. He was old, so was that, and this is 2009. Let’s move on.
Instead of showering today, I would rather talk about the football stadiums in the Big Ten and rank them top to bottom for various reasons while pointing out their typical fan bases. The one thing that draws me into being a huge college football fan (even before College Gameday started traveling) is the atmosphere that stadiums and teams generate.
On a side note, that is why I was a huge opponent of the Miami Hurricanes leaving the Orange Bowl and moving 20 miles north of their campus to Landshark Stadium. It is also home to the lackluster fan bases of the Dolphins and Marlins.
But let’s talk Big Ten since this is by and for Midwest sports fans.
I was excited to see Indiana’s newly renovated stadium on the Big Ten network and I am equally excited to see Minnesota leave the horrible Metrodome. Maybe their awesome new outdoor field will give them a home field advantage and some college atmosphere that they have been lacking. At least, they have since I have been alive.
That said, having a unique and imposing home field gives football teams the advantages they need to compete in the Big Ten, hosting visiting fans to a good experience, and sometimes an edge in recruiting.
Nicknamed “The Horse Shoe,†but not a horse shoe anymore since the 2001 renovation. The top spot is really a toss-up between Penn State and Ohio State. Penn State just joined the Big Ten in 1993 though, so the tie-breaker goes to the Buckeyes (and include in that tie-breaker my years growing up in Columbus).Â
Ohio State has a raucous crowd that usually makes it deafening for the opposing squads. Plus “The Best Damn Band In All The Land†marches across Woody Hayes Drive and onto the field before every game to form the famous Script Ohio, as seen below.
Fans run with the marching band and into the stadium as if they were scrambling to see an approach shot by Tiger Woods after a drive on the 18th hole. Other teams’ fans are annoyed at the obnoxious Buckeye fans as much as the British golf commentator is at the “GET IN THE HOLE!†guy at Augusta.
I just got goose bumps thinking of the craziness that occurs once the senior tuba player high steps his way to dot the “I†and the band belts out the oft played fight song. Everybody sings the words and yells O-H-I-O, each side owning one of the letters in order.
The Olentangy River runs right next to the stadium and serves as a great sight when walking through the miles of tailgates on fall Saturdays. The capacity expands to 105,000+ during big games, especially the Michigan game. You will have a hard time finding a sizeable road crowd during Big Ten games as the home fans just won’t give up their tickets so road fans can watch their team lose.
There is a reason there is a recruiting “fence” around the Ohio border and that reason is the memories conjured, the tradition, the size, and the atmosphere inside and out of Thee Ohio Stadium. I wanna go back to Ohio State, to old Columbus Town!
[Editor's Note: And those of us who don't bleed scarlet and gray like you are now ready to vomit.]
The capacity is 107,282 and they have stuffed 110,000+ during big match-ups. Kirk Herbstreit deemed Happy Valley with the best student section in college football with the senior student section forming a block “S†in blue and white shirts or body paint.
I absolutely agree with Kirk. And so do my dead brain cells after partying with some of the craziest party people I ever met when I lived on South Beach. “They Were! Penn State!†(graduates).
The “White Outs†and the noise make this the hardest place for a road team to get any sort of rhythm in the Big Ten. If the crowd wasn’t loud enough, they have a huge Jumbotron and booming sound system that plays a cat-like roar, making the crowd’s roar just as intimidating.
Unlike Ohio Stadium, it is nice to see they have the crew smart enough to keep lush natural grass every year. This Saturday afternoon football church in Happy Valley reeks of Preparation H for old alumni, liquored up party people with flasks, and sexy college co-eds. In a good way.
Though not as large as Beaver Stadium, Wisconsin’s student section rivals that of Penn State. To reference dead brain cells again, some of the craziest party people I know in Indianapolis and Chicago are Wisconsin graduates.
The UW band sets off the crowd playing drinking songs, pop songs, and dance songs. And, of course, the sound man gets everyone jumping before the fourth quarter during “Jump Around†by House of Pain, a tradition that started against Purdue in 1998. The video below takes place during an Indiana game…which I am sure Wisconsin won.  By a lot.
Video: Fans Jump Around at Camp Randall Stadium
Come to think of it, that would be a great nickname and slogan for the stadium: “Welcome to the House of Pain.â€
The marching band was also suspended in 2006 and 2008 because of some off-the-field antics including hazing and sexual misconduct on road trips (sounds like a good time to me).
[Editor's Note: Midwest Sports Fans does not explicitly endorse KVB's idea of a good time.]
Established in 1917, Camp Randall is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten and the atmosphere (literally) is host to horrible weather conditions that stifles many road teams. The visiting locker room has been painted pale pink in the past and now a pale blue supposedly to distract the road teams.Wisconsin is currently 30-3 at home since painting it the distracting “prison blue†color.
If you travel there for a night game, expect the bad weather and bad play by your team. Even the Green Bay Packers play one preseason game a year at Camp Randall Stadium. In turn the Wisconsin marching band attends at least one Packers game at Lambeau Field a year.
They are adding more seats to reach 108,000 plus by 2010. Insert “The Big House†and the fans that sit on their hands in silence here.
M. (for Michigan) Night Shymalan, Super Wolverine, and the Wrist Band Warrior
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One of two things is happening here. A) Michigan just lost to Appalachian State; or B) The guy in the bottom right hand corner of the picture just farted. Or perhaps both? (photo credit: LON HORWEDEL, THE ANN ARBOR NEWS)
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And by the way, if you don’t remember what inspired the despondent looks on the faces of the Michigan turds fans above, watch the first few minutes of the video below:
Video: Appalachian State Upsets Michigan
Interesting to me is that Ann Arbor only has an 114,000 person population so you know the town basically shuts down until football is over. That is how college football Saturdays should be.
You have no idea the size of the stadium on the outside since it is built with the stands and the field going down and underground from where you walk up to the ticket gates. One thing I will say about Michigan fans (like Buckeye fans) is that a road fan will be hard pressed to find extra tickets because the fan base is so loyal. Even if they are not that loud or intimidating, or that idiotic or drunk.
Michigan Stadium has hosted Wolverine football since 1927 and the famous Fielding Yost. As an Ohio State fan, I find it funny that they played on “Ferry Field†before Michigan Stadium. I couldn’t make that up. Never.
Another stadium holding a pink-painted visitors locker room, but this wasn’t done by mistake like perhaps the drunk and stoned Wisconsin students in Madison. Former coach Hayden Fry majored in psychology at Baylor University and believed the pink color had a calming effect that could make visitors have less mental toughness and be less aggressive after pissing in a pink urinal.
Some women and those in the gay/lesbian community have protested for it to be changed saying it is a slap in the face to their lifestyle. (This furthers my believability that grassroots campaigns did in fact legalize gay marriage in the state earlier this year.)
Back to the stadium, it is about as boring as the dunkards who live in Iowa. But I will give Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner (Nile Kinnick) and Hayden Fry credit for instilling some excitement on Saturdays and creating a real loyal fan base. Iowa, which stands for Idiots Out Walking Around, takes a break from doing that every Saturday and they travel well as I noticed at the 2003 Orange Bowl.
And here we have the first major drop off in atmosphere on this list.  I have a hard time giving a lot of Purdue football fans any credit. Unfortunately I’ve probably been to 30 or so games at Ross-Ade, so I can say that.
Every top-10 matchup in Ross-Ade is invaded by the road team’s fans. Most Purdue fans were born and bred on Hoosier basketball, thanks to the movie and Coaches Knight and Keady. Hence, they know nothing about football, how it is played, and of all people the likes of Jim Everett and Joe Tiller taught the fans what winning takes. No, not loyal support, hard work, and consistency; but rather gimmicks and repetitive passing systems that have a hard time lining up when smash mouth, goal line situations are needed.
Tiller first took the Big Ten by storm with the spread and now every time there is a run up the middle the crowd groans and boos. That takes stupidity like calling an offense “Basketball On Grass†as some do. I’ve never seen a more boring ragtime marching band entertainment at halftime than Purdue’s, the “World’s Biggest Drum†and a dance team of fatties dancing the charleston included.
Purdue fans hate it when I say this stuff, but that is because it is true.
A good thing is they did a great renovation enclosing the stadium, have an incredibily large video board, and there is not really a bad seat in the house. So you might as well go see your favorite team in West Lafayette and piss in one of the troughs installed in the restrooms (it’s a Northern Indiana thing, you wouldn’t understand).
Now back to crappiness.
About 15,000 University of Oregon fans took over Ross-Ade last year! The natural Bermuda grass is supposedly a credit to Purdue’s agricultural department finding prescription athletic turf. Good for them. I personally love natural turf. (This paragraph is brought to you by, “Obnoxious Ohio State Fan†mentioned earlier in the article. He’s righteous!)
Sorry I’ll be much more positive the rest of the way. Just make sure you send #6 to an IU fan. They need some cheering up come football season.
And speaking of Memorial Stadium, also the name of IU’s stadium, the older of the two is in Champaign and opened in 1924 with Red Grange scoring six touchdowns against Michigan on its official dedication game in October. This Memorial Stadium is a dedication to the men and women who died in the World Wars and has sported artificial turf since 1974.
I love that the original drawing for this stadium was to support more than 80,000 people and have a tall phallic monument in the North end zone. They eventually settled on the smaller capacity and no monument.
In 2002 the stadium hosted the Chicago Bears while Soldier Field was getting renovated.
Spartan Stadium fell a lot on my list because I have seen too many big games blown on their own field. Most people blame the coach for this, but I just drop their home field advantage down a notch. Heck, their best win in the 90s was against #1 Ohio State in Ohio Stadium. How do this not hurt Ohio Stadium instead of Spartan Stadium? Simple. The ineptitude since then.
The most exciting things Spartan fans see on TV or at the stadium lately have been an introduction to the basketball team or a sideline reporter interviewing Tom Izzo in the middle of the second quarter while the team was losing. I can hear Mark Dantonio now…”I get no respect, no respect.”
Well, you’re right considering the high school talent that floods your stadium’s gates.
Gopher fans finally have a stadium on their campus and outdoors. This really makes me happy. There probably wasn’t a worse college football atmosphere than the Metrodome. This new stadium, on the other hand, could move up in the rankings once it opens this year.
TCF Bank Stadium includes an apparent easy-to-80,000 person capacity renovation that could take place if the team shows success on the field and makes some extra money in bowl games. It will also include the third largest outdoor HD video board in the nation.
The con here is it is outdoor and cannot bat down opposing team’s punts during games. Though I cannot imagine anyone in the Minnesota administration would have the arrogance of Jerry Jones, refusing to move such a video board if it did get in the way. HD really has us by the nuts doesn’t it?
I love how this Memorial Stadium in Bloomington is dedicated to a rock while Illinois’ is dedicated to war heroes. That’s solid, solid as a rock. Very Charlie Brown in the Halloween episode. I did see the renovations to the stadium on TV and it is finally a Big Ten-worthy stadium. Too bad it wasn’t built for a better program, but I suppose IU does have its moments. While most people complain the top Big Ten teams don’t have a tough conference, IU fans complain their conference schedule is way too tough to compete.
[Editor's Note: As an IU fan and alum, I can categorically say that I've never complained about the conference schedule being too tough. Except when we play Minnesota and Northwestern at home. Â Those games are haaarrrrrddd!]
I know I said I would get shorter with my writing as the list fell lower on the list. So in lieu of saying anything about Ryan Field, just watch the video below. It makes me happy, and unless you’re a douche it will make you happy too.
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Really though, Evanston is a great section of Chicago because of this campus.
Well, now you’ve seen my rankings. Â What do you think?
It is that time of year on the South side of Chicago. I don’t know if I am just having deja vu, but after two months of not holding a solid lead (or any lead) in the AL Central, the Sox players are getting threatened with change by management more than the Democrats preached change while winning the 2008 election.
“Somebody has to change because if we don’t do what we’re supposed to do, I’ll take the blame because that’s my job,” Guillen said.
Ozzie Guillen was furious with his offensive production after the game one loss to the Tigers on Monday afternoon’s double dip.
Watching the White Sox inability to lay down bunts, sac fly a man home, and hit with runners in scoring position is excruciating pain for me. I can only imagine how this boils the blood of Ozzie’s spicy Latin temperament, especially if you remember the hard working, smart, aggressive player Guillen was when he played (1985-2000).
“If this was the 1980s, [none] of these guys would be in the big leagues right now, because if you hit .210-.230 and you can’t execute, I don’t think you should be out here,” Guillen said.
He’s right. This is not one of those “laugh out loud-Ozzie’s mad-here is some video and quotes†articles (which is not as bad as Jay Mariotti’s hater columns). This is to show Ozzie is right.
“When you can’t bunt, hit-and-run, squeeze and move the guy over, you better hit 40 home runs and drive in 140.”
Ozzie’s right because our offense is only capable of half of that: Home runs. That is bad news because nobody on this team is on pace for 40 dingers or pace for anything higher than 110 RBI’s, except maybe Jermaine Dye. And to win consistently you would still need more than one guy doing that.
Ozzie did not call out anyone individually but Josh Fields, and Alexei Ramirez could be put in that category.
Fields is getting less playing time with Gordon Beckham being called up and before the game Josh was openly questioning why management is so impatient with him. Fields responded with an 0-4 day and a costly error on a routine ground ball that eventually scored the Tigers’ game winning run in the 9th. Before that Chris Getz was on third after a 1-out triple and Fields grounded out to Brandon Inge at third and Getz had to hold and was left there stranded.
Oh and Alexei? Simply put he can bunt for a hit but has to be the worst sacrifice bunting number 2 hitter in the majors right now. He missed a bunt attempt on a 1-0 pitch located in the left handed batter’s box across from him. WGN’s Hall of Fame director James Angio immediately cut to Guillen in the dugout slamming his fist and holding his head down in embarrassment.
“I wish I was home and had some fun,” Guillen said. “It’s not easy to walk to the park and play and hope you can win the game. I’m a competitor. I like to win. When you lose … I think I got spoiled in the past by winning. And I don’t like to lose.”
Things were going well last Monday entering a home stand after sweeping Greinke and the Royals in their awesome, newly renovated stadium. Today, the White Sox have already had nine straight at US Cellular in this stretch. This chart provides the cold hard numbers about the struggles to score runs.
Home Streak Stats
TEAM
R w/ HRs by Total Runs
Team LOB
RISP
Result
OAKLAND
4 of 6
7
1-6
win
OAKLAND
shutout
6
0-4
loss
OAKLAND
2 of 3
4
0-4
loss
OAKLAND
shutout
6
0-10
loss
CLEVELAND
shutout
4
0-4
loss
CLEVELAND
1 of 4
5
1-6
win
CLEVLAND
3 of 4
9
1-11
loss
DETROIT
3 of 4
8
0-6
loss
DETROIT
4 of 6
5
2-4
win
TOTALS
17-26 (65%)
54
5-55 (.090)
3-6
65 percent of your runs relying on home runs are bad news when you’re batting .090 (!!) with runners in scoring position and get shutout three times. If anything they are lucky to have three wins in nine games when you think about how good the pitching staffs of Oakland and Detroit are. On the same note, we scored 8 runs in three games against one of the worst staffs in baseball in Cleveland.
In the 80s Steve Perry said, “Don’t stop believing!â€
White Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson has been saying, “This is a good team, playing really bad.â€
Or you can go with Ozzie’s outlook, “Good teams don’t hold meetings, horse sh*t teams hold meetings. We have to have a lot of meetings right now.â€
Right now, Ozzie is right but Steve Perry is always right. Then again, no Journey psych outs…please:
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Rams majority owners Chip Rosenbloom and LuciaRodriguez are looking for buyers for the team. This is not much of a surprise since they have been open to offers after inheriting the team after their mother and long time owner Georgia Frontiere died in January of 2008. And as the columnist Bernie Miklasz reported, Goldman Sachs (one of the strongest financial companies even during Wall Street’s sour months and best last name ever) is now leading the charge to find the highest bidder.
I checked my checking account this morning and I am a wee bit short of their last Forbes value report ($979 million).But the thing about finding the best offer to buy the 60 percent majority from Rosenbloom and Rodriguez is that keeping the team in St. Louis is no longer a priority. It was priority when Rosenbloom himself first floated the “open to offers†idea to only St. Louis based investors. But G-Sachs nullifies that because “IT’S ALL ABOUT MONEY! GOD DAMN MONEY!” as coach Pete Bell said in Blue Chips.
I have been a fan of the Rams since they were in Los Angeles and now in St. Louis, so I don’t really care if they move cities. As long as they don’t move to a random place that I hate (i.e. Ann Arbor, Chicago’s yuppie North side, Celebration Florida, or any where in Tennessee) while changing the team nickname and colors. I mean how could I even convince myself to still be a fan at that point? If I could get someone at G-Sachs to invest my checking account in the stock market and multiply it by 979 million, I would choose LA (yes, I‘m a double stack and frosty away from an overdraft fee). This also got me thinking what random possibilities are there?
Los Angeles Rams – This is the best-case scenario if you ask me. I know LA isn’t “random†but a Hollywood big wig buying the team majority would be. Imagine Jack Nicholson owning the team and living out of a tinted window luxury box. A sex tape would surely surface on the Internet and on DVD before Week 3 and he could get his return on the investment before week 17. “Viagra Stadium†would also help his investment and help the possibilities of said sex tape. Yes, I would still be a fan if they changed their name to the L.A. 4-Hour Boners. There are some hilarious possibilities of things to give out to the first 10,000 fans at the door, but lets move on.
London Rams – The NFL has leaked interest in putting a team over seas and scheduling the one game a year there has added to this interest. That would definitely open the door to Simon Cowell being owner/head coach. The pro is the funniest post-game tirades since Jim Mora got the boot from Indianapolis. The con is the nightmare that Ryan Seacrest would be saturating himself into NFL Sundays. Never mind, Fox already did that. The con would actually be Amy Winehouse would shag the whole team. This would birth the most herpes infested locker room ever and make the Cleveland Browns staph infection problem look healthy.
North Chicago Lovable Losers – This is the worst-case scenario and I would NOT be a fan. Though Carlos Zambrano could be an awesome Ray Lewis style LB with that “mean streak†everyone talks about. If the team were made up of all Cubs players they would have to forfeit all their games coinciding with baseball season but at least it would be guaranteed they could start their season before October. With an early bye week they would only start 0-3 at the very worst. Playing on Wrigley Field would save the owner money; it would be reason number 4,807 why I would adopt a new favorite NFL team, and one more reason for the yuppies to get hammered drunk on the rooftops.
Las Vegas Rams – The NFL could steal the NBA’s random idea to put a team in Vegas, baby, so why not? How slutty hot would the cheerleaders be? The field goal uprights would save money on stripper poles for them right? So many questions would be answered week one at halftime and depending on your personal interests, the entertainment would never get old. And never get televised for that matter. I could see horse track style betting vendors outside the stadium making it the best place to tailgate in the NFL…EVER. Our very own BetOnline writer could sponsor the stadium as well. Not that Las Vegas needs any help but this would add another great attraction to the city. I myself would like to see the Reno 911! actors serve as stadium security, in character. The over under on them accidentally shooting a fan, player, or themselves during a game would be the second home game. I say under.
Obviously at this point the Rams moving out of St. Louis is a larger possibility than them staying or else a St. Louis investor (Budweiser) would have already made a significant offer. But maybe this will bring them to the table now that there is no longer the stipulation that a buyer needs to keep the team in town. Either way, I like the possible scenarios. Except the North Chicago scenario of course.
I was on Bucknuts.com today and noticed a message board post about a Maurice Clarett blog and I got interested. Knowing blog names range from Tirico Suave to Sharapova’s Thigh, I wondered if this was a joke. I think not after reading it.
Either I am getting duped or it looks like the imprisoned Maurice Clarett has just recently been posting his own blog.
As we gain some perspective, moving further away from the years when a 17-year old, 235-pound running back was dominating at Ohio State as a freshman, I feel his young age and fame that came way too much, way too fast, did affect his mental state. ( YouTube “Maurice Clarett is strange” )
I have snickered at this video in the past, as unfortunately you can see Maurice is lost and borderline losing his mind at Broncos training camp. Hell Jim Brown couldn’t even get through to him. (Though the conspiracy theory side of me thinks Jim Brown is in on the blog somehow).
Really, Clarett’s blog writings are a short source of reflection, hope (no football comeback intended), and positivity you might hear from a “young grasshopper.” Or maybe someone who wants to be released early? But who wouldn’t want to communicate in this way when you have expanded your mind and want to help troubled youth like he apparently does.
Overall, the Maurice Clarett blog shows growth from a more mature man with a troubled past. As far as who might be in on it, the latest post from The Mind of Maurice Clarett on March 1st opens against the idea that this is a ghostwriter or any sort of fraud, just true Maurice Clarett from prison. “One conscious thought and one inspirational quote at a time. I study from the best.”
The positivity I was speaking of goes like this in a February 18th post:
“At The beginning of this prison sentence I would have been willing to bet my life that I would have never read anything from Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Descartes, Spinoza, or Hume. I learned a very valuable lesson. That is: not to be closed minded to everything. I guess you have to gain some type of understanding on certain subjects in order to see if it is or is not for you. In this case, I can see that philosophy is for me. It adds value to my life. Philosophy goes beyond the classroom.”
Sounds like any one of ourselves at some point in our lives when we realize having an open mind can actually be a good thing. Even if it is something as simple as enjoying sushi or reading or…blogging. It seems that during his prison sentence he is allowed to take classes and that there is true rehabilitation. A word in the system that I laughed at when I got thrown in jail for possession of marijuana but a word that definitely applies to Clarett’s situation. He goes on about getting an education:
“14-0 felt good and please remember that I closed the deal in the big game. The next deal I plan to close is that regarding my college education. Trust and believe, when I return to the Shoe I will leave with my degree.”
Maurice Clarett is hopeful and fortunate in his words, goals, and thoughts. To me this open ended story is as satisfying as any Ohio State man seeing any victory on the football field. I hope and think Clarett will continue on his path, get embraced by the community, and help others beat their Michigan at the end of the day.
You have to love Joe Crede if you are a baseball fan. He gives it his all everyday, he plays through injury, he’s more clutch than Robin Ventura with the bases loaded, and he makes the most exciting diving stabs at third base — making even Hawk Harrelson lose his breath.
He will be missed and the reactions on Chicago’s 670 The Score this morning had the Southside callers sick to the stomach at the idea that Minnesota, of all teams, signed him. This sentiment will fade in due time, but if he’s in the playoffs this year and The Good Guys are not, I will cut myself.
Not really, but I will NOT root for the Twinkies.
Side note: I have thought about if anyone else would laugh (besides me) if Kirby Puckett made a come back and Bobby Jenks plunked him in his good eye, blinding him in both for good. Don’t judge. I always will laugh at multiple pudgy baseball statures like Bobby Jenks, Kirby Puckett, John Kruk, Fernando Valenzuela….Mike LaValliere.
Where was I?
Oh yeah, Joe Crede. I am afraid Crede’s career might not be totally over after the Minnesota signing, though it is only a one year deal. But then again I wouldn’t ever make that claim — unless, that is, the Cubs signed him (where every player goes to die). Rest In Peace Milton Bradley.
Joe, I hope you come to MSF, get this file, and download it to your IPod before you go hunting in Missouri and listen. Because Hawk Harrelson calling your clutch home runs is priceless. Thanks for giving us life at 3B after Robin Ventura. (FYI…I cut this from highlights played by Waddle and Silva on 670am The Score 06.08.2008:
This article will be meaningless in a couple months after spring training, injuries and other surprises but it is a quick preview as hype to the 2009 baseball season builds. At this point even Tampa Bay Rays fans…er that’s no longer a good analogy…Kansas City Royal fans think their team has a shot at the world series.
Projected Batting Order from Whitesox.com :
1. CF Jerry Owens:
.276 BA, .346 OBP, 30 SB at AAA Charlotte in 2008 (2007 MLB: 356 AB, .267 BA, .324 OBP, 32 SB, )
2. C A.J. Pierzynski:
.281 BA, 13 HR, 60 RBI in 2008
3. LF Carlos Quentin:
.288 BA, 36 HR, 100 RBI, .394 OBP, .571 SLG in 2008
4. DH Jim Thome:
.245 BA, 34 HR, 90 RBI, .362 OBP, .503 SLG in 2008
5. RF Jermaine Dye:
.292 BA, 34 HR, 96 RBI, 41 2B, .541 SLG in 2008
6. 1B Paul Konerko:
.240 BA, 22 HR, 62 RBI in 2008
7. SS Alexei Ramirez:
.290 BA, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 13 SB in 2008
8. 3B Josh Fields:
.246 BA, 10 HR, 35 RBI for Charlotte in 2008 (2007 MLB: 373 AB, .244 BA, 23 HR, 67 RBI, .958 FPCT)
9. 2B Chris Getz:
.302 BA, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 11 SB for Charlotte in 2008
There is nothing wrong with this projection. Center Field and Second Base are the only positions up in the air and will be decided by Ozzie during spring training. The only other CF options are veterans Brian Anderson with Dewayne Wise being the underdog and fan favorite. One of the two will make the team regardless.
At 2B the options are young or experienced. Besides Getz, Wilson Betemit will get a look as he came from the Yankees in the Swisher trade. In this Baseball-Reference.com linkBetemit’s seven year career stats are compared to that of Joe Crede (he gone) who was missing from the lineup more than half of the games in 07 and 08. This also opened the door for Josh Fields getting a solid 100 of major league experience in 2007.But back to Betemit specifically, he could easily get a lot of time if the inexperienced Getz doesn’t impress Ozzie. Though there is a lot of confidence verbally from Ozzie already. Whoever has the better glove in spring training will start the season.
The pitching staff is closer to being in order after the Bartolo Colon signing by GM Ken Williams. Mark Buerhle is still the number one and has been for some time. Gavin “Pretty Boy” Floyd and John Danks look to improve on stellar 2008 campaigns. Both youngsters were the main reasons “The Good Guys” even made the playoffs last year.
The fifth position with Clayton Richard could be good enough if the former Michigan quarterback can get more strikeouts and give up less base hits. If that doesn’t hold to be true in his first full season in the majors you might see Jose Contreras be the man if his ruptured achilles is healed by the All-Star break.
Aaron Poreda is one of the challengers if Richard doesn’t impress in spring training or catches the injury bug. Poreda is looked at as one of the best pitching prospects in the organization and also the biggest ( 6′6″ 240 lbs). He just turned 22 years old in October and has a dominant stat line after a short 2007 in rookie league and a 2008 season in single and double A: 2.69 ERA 1.09 WHIP 207.1 IP 166 K and only 7 home runs given up in that span.
Pitchers and catchers will report Sunday February 15th so the season is fast approaching. I would say I have the White Sox finishing in first place this year but that wouldn’t be different then any other year. GO GO WHITE SOX!
Sitting here in snowy Northern Michigan I am watching the Backyard Brawl (Pitt-WVU) and have just found out Tennessee is to hire Lane Kiffin after this final weekend of regular season ball.
This agreement should come from the University just a couple days after Tennessee’s last game and their Phillip Fulmer appreciation day, Saturday versus Kentucky. I can only assume appreciation day means Coach Fulmer will be receiving a lifetime supply of Krispy Kreme’s from Peyton Manning before the game. In which I can only assume again that Peyton will get the endorsement for Krispy Kreme commercials after the game.
Lane Kiffin’s baffling head coaching career is a 5-15 record with the Raiders, after being hired at age 32. Before that Lane was recruiting coordinator and co-offensive coordinator with USC and obviously got early NFL recognition with his dad being Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
Tennessee fans should be excited about that last fact because Monte (considered a defensive guru) could end up being apart of the Tennessee program as early as next year. With many people (including those who fired Fulmer) having the opinion that Tennessee has talent but they are underachieving, a Lane and Monte Kiffin combination could produce results early on.
Phillip Fulmer had 35 great years with Tennessee as a player, assistant and head coach but have no fears Volunteers. You may not have to endure a rediculous transition period like a Michigan, Arkansas, or Texas A&M has.
Of course those are programs who had a winning record in their predecessor’s last season.
I am not picking the Browns for the rest of the season. I did have a great time at the Browns Backers Club this past Sunday in Dallas. Big thanks to JRod and Josh’s family for the good time, despite the loss. And still a good time despite my horrible hangover after my birthday and the Buckeyes bashing the Wolverines the previous night.
After processing the records into a magical computer here they are below. Everyone got a loss in the Eagles game that tied. Don’t go McNabb on me and say you didn’t know you could pick a tie in your predictions. … Continue Reading
In recent years we have seen The Game between Ohio State and Michigan create about as much hype as any rivalry in any sport.
In 2006, it was the first #1 vs. #2 match up in The Game’s rich tradition. It was the first time the two teams entered the game undefeated since the 1970s Bo vs. Woody days.
Only a day after the passing of Michigan great Bo Schembechler, The Game ended 42-39 with Ohio State being victorious and it was the highest point total in the history of the rivalry. And easily one of the most exciting, regardless of which side you are on.
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Now we have a plethora of firsts in this weekend’s Ohio State-Michigan game, even though it is nothing College Game Day would set up shop for, as they did in Columbus in 2006.
One reason is that the 19 point spread in favor of the Buckeyes is the largest spread in the history of The Game. Two, win or lose, at 3-8 it is already Michigan’s worst record in the football program’s history. Three, Ohio State is going for their fifth straight victory over for the team up north which would be a first in Ohio State’s rich history. Four, this is the first time these two teams will both start Freshman quarterbacks: Terrelle Pryor and Steven Threet (though Threet is questionable with a shoulder injury). That fourth historic first might bring out the over used but realistic saying, “Throw the records out for this one.”
I would never miss this game no matter what the situation is and I have often gone into this weekend (always the weekend by or on my birthday) on the other end, salvaging the season by busting Michigan’s Rose Bowl berth with an upset. That is what Michigan has to play for this year and if you don’t know, Jim Tressel-coached teams always seem to have trouble defending against spread offenses. Last week, Illinois’ spread offense diced up the Buckeyes defense with 455 total yards of offense.
If you are laughing at my cautioned tone about the game this weekend I have two words for you: John Cooper. Coop’s 2-10-1 record versus Michigan is branded into my head and I know all too well the better team doesn’t always in this one. Since polls were started in 1936, the lower ranked team has won 21 times, most recently in 2004 when the unranked Buckeyes won 37-21 over #7 Michigan in Troy Smith’s first season.
We know John Cooper is no Jim Tressel, when JC called the rivalry with Michigan “Just like any other game” and called the established 1922 Ohio Stadium, “Buckeye Field.” 2-10-1, it still burns doesn’t it Buckeye fans?
And Michigan’s 57-41-6 advantage will make us feel like the underdog for at least the better part of this century won’t it?
Ohio State I know cannot wait to beat Michigan now when they are down. And say what you want about Rich Rod, Michigan cannot wait to beat Ohio State now when they are flying high.
This post was written a few weeks ago, and included the wishful thinking of an Ohio State fan who wanted the Buckeyes to make it to the Rose Bowl. Follow the link to view the 2008 college football schedule, which will be filled in with all the matchups once they are set. You can also view the updated BCS Bowl projections, with Ohio State likely going to the Fiesta Bowl.
We are down to the final two weeks of Big Ten football play and I am pretty sure every fan believes their team underachieved this year. This probably doesn’t include Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota but all three got destroyed by Ohio State (30 plus point losses). All three teams probably lost a lot of their fan base before this year. Speaking of losing a fan base, I look at Indiana and Purdue in last place and Notre Dame barely bowl eligible and Ball State is the only exciting team in Indiana.
Anyway, moving on to the top of the Big Ten we virtually have a three way tie for first. Michigan State sits atop at 6-1 and they have a bye this week to prepare to go to Happy Valley for the Penn State rivalry game November 22nd.
Penn State is playing at home against IU this weekend and it could get ugly since they are coming off the last second FG loss at Iowa. The sports media world took a collective sigh of relief because they were not ready to cover a national championship game where a Big Ten champ gets their asses handed to them for a third straight year. Plus one model should be the motto for the future of the Big Ten conference so they can have a championship game.
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes go to Illinois for a noon game (ESPN) and they have revenge on their minds after last year’s 28-21 loss in Columbus. The Illibuck Trophy is up for grabs in Champaign which will be playing in freezing temperatures, maybe some flurries, before they get the Wolverines at home in The Game November 22nd. Now on to Bowl projections:
ROSE BOWL (Jan 1st) – Ohio State v. USC - The Buckeyes have a not so outside shot at a rematch against USC with a Michigan State win at Penn State. If the Spartans do win, Ohio State couldn’t be happier going to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1997 when they beat Jake “The Snake” Plummer’s Arizona State team 20-17. If Penn State wins out look for the Buckeyes to be in the BCS at-large game (Fiesta or Sugar) against maybe Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Utah, or even Ball State.
CAPITAL ONE BOWL (Jan 1st) – Michigan State v. Georgia - The Spartan faithful would enjoy a trip to the Capital One Bowl with a win at Happy Valley. Javon Ringer would go pro after this game if can run wild on the recently porous Georgia defense. The last four #2 Big Ten v. #2 SEC match ups have gone to the Big Ten squad in this January 1st Bowl game. Michigan, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, and Iowa over Florida, Arkansas, Auburn, and LSU respectively.
OUTBACK BOWL (Jan 1st) – Penn State v. South Carolina – Joe Pa versus the Ol’ Ball Coach. Sounds ironic considering Spurrier is about 30 years younger right? Anyway, who knows who will show up in this 11am New Years Day bowl. Then again it is premature to discuss this potential game two weeks before the season is over and since I am probably underestimating Penn State who could get their starting QB back for the MSU game.
ALAMO BOWL (Dec 29th) – Iowa v. Missouri - Most would look at the QB match up here and would check the spread for Chase Daniel’s Tigers, bet their savings, and laugh all the way home. But Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes always stay competitive (or win) in these Bowl games that they are supposed to be over matched. They almost beat Texas last year, came close to Florida before that, and beat LSU and Florida respectively the previous years before the close losses.
CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL (Dec 29th) – Northwestern v. Miami (FL) - Two private schools, North versus South (or Thugs vs. Dorks whichever you prefer). Both programs are young and on the rise so if they meet here, the winner could build off the momentum and be pretty tough next year. The loser could as well.
INSIGHT BOWL (Dec 31st) – Illinois v. Nebraska - This is a coin flip between Minnesota and Illinois but I think Illinois will get the nod based off of fan base. It is unbelievable to me that the Fighting Zooks even have a chance to make a bowl after tanking it against WESTERN Michigan last weekend. Illinois has to beat Ohio State or Northwestern to even become eligible.
MOTOR CITY BOWL (Dec 27th) – Minnesota v. Ball State - The Gophers had a pretty good year but a lot of their Bowl eligibility has to do with a horrible non-conference schedule. Ball State is probably better than their non-conference and half of their Big Ten schedule. If Ball State runs the table while Utah and Texas Tech lose, then you would see Ball U in a BCS game and Central Michigan here against Minnesota.
Yes. Midwest Sports Fans National Football League Pick Em Standings have been updated.
After three weeks, Nick Gerlach has a game lead on Russell and Fraschetti (who picked the Rams over the Favre’s last week?!?!). At the bottom is Kaner. But I saw he posted new picks. Remember we started this late, but there are a lot of weeks left keep posting your predictions.
Feel free to hang out here and get all your election updates. And don’t forget to chime in over in the sidebar with your vote for who you are rooting for tonight.
As a White Sox fan this bit of MLB news is more interesting to me than anything about Bud Selig’s decisions on the currently stalled World Series or the lopsided Presidential race. The Chicago White Sox will not re-sign Ken Griffey Jr. for the 2009 season and this might have been a “You’re fired,” reply “No I quit.” circumstance.
Griffey’s short stint didn’t leave a lot of memories at the plate but neither did the team as a whole (besides what it took to even make it to the playoffs in the first place). I will always remember that we had him during the 2008 playoff push, and his incredible home plate gun-down in the Minnesota play-in game that helped preserve our 1-0 victory. That was an awesome game. I love Junior Griffey and I wish the first ballot hall of Famer the best.
Losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 wasn’t a major disappointment considering the White Sox ended their season with tough injuries that sidelined Team MVP and Almost AL MVP Carlos Quentin. as well as the playoff perfectionist Jose Contreras. We assuredly could have used Jose Contreras down the stretch when our 4 man rotation was limited to 3 days rest the final weeks of the season.
Word is Contreras’ ruptured 36 year-old achilles tendon will keep him out until the 2009 All-Star break, in which case he would finish the season coming out of the bullpen. That is only early speculation at this point but it is known that Contreras is already working hard to come back as early and healthy as possible.
There is now the starting position opening in CF for the Southside Good Guys and there are a lot of options (in no particular order):
Free expert NFL picks, NBA picks and MLB picks. ATS Consultants' top-ranked handicappers make all selections using the most up to date NBA lines, NFL lines, and MLB lines.
The capacity is 107,282 and they have stuffed 110,000+ during big match-ups. Kirk Herbstreit deemed Happy Valley with the best student section in college football with the senior student section forming a block “S†in blue and white shirts or body paint.
Another stadium holding a pink-painted visitors locker room, but this wasn’t done by mistake like perhaps the drunk and stoned Wisconsin students in Madison. Former coach Hayden Fry majored in psychology at Baylor University and believed the pink color had a calming effect that could make visitors have less mental toughness and be less aggressive after pissing in a pink urinal.
9. 
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It is that time of year on the South side of Chicago. I don’t know if I am just having deja vu, but after two months of not holding a solid lead (or any lead) in the AL Central, 
Ozzie did not call out anyone individually but Josh Fields, and Alexei Ramirez could be put in that category. 
According to the 
I checked my checking account this morning and I am a wee bit short of their last Forbes value report 
Los Angeles Rams
London Rams
North Chicago Lovable Losers
Las Vegas Rams
