College Football Quiz: 1) Who is the all-time leading rusher at Michigan? 2) Michigan State? 3) Missouri? [All either played in the NFL or currently are.] Answers below.
Robert J. Miller
Last week, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously to Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller for his service in Afghanistan. From the official citation:
“While conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol [in Afghanistan’s Konar Province on January 25, 2008], Staff Sergeant Miller and his small element of U.S. and Afghan National Army soldiers engaged a force of 15 to 20 insurgents occupying prepared fighting positions. Staff Sergeant Miller initiated the assault by engaging the enemy positions with his vehicle’s turret-mounted Mark-19 40 millimeter automatic grenade launcher while simultaneously providing detailed descriptions of the enemy positions to his command, enabling effective, accurate close air support.
“Following the engagement, Staff Sergeant Miller led a small squad forward to conduct a battle damage assessment. As the group neared the small, steep, narrow valley that the enemy had inhabited, a large, well-coordinated insurgent force initiated a near ambush, assaulting from elevated positions with ample cover. Exposed and with little available cover, the patrol was totally vulnerable to enemy rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons fire.
“As point man, Staff Sergeant Miller was at the front of the patrol, cut off from supporting elements, and less than 20 meters from enemy forces. Nonetheless, with total disregard for his own safety, he called for his men to quickly move back to covered positions as he charged the enemy over exposed ground and under overwhelming enemy fire in order to provide protective fire for his team.
“While maneuvering to engage the enemy, Staff Sergeant Miller was shot in his upper torso. Ignoring the wound, he continued to push the fight, moving to draw fire from over one hundred enemy fighters upon himself. He then again charged forward through an open area in order to allow his teammates to safely reach cover. After killing at least 10 insurgents, wounding dozens more, and repeatedly exposing himself to withering enemy fire while moving from position to position, Staff Sergeant Miller was mortally wounded by enemy fire. His extraordinary valor ultimately saved the lives of seven members of his own team and 15 Afghanistan National Army soldiers.
“Staff Sergeant Miller’s heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty, and at the cost of his own life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.”
“Every evening, I write notes to families of young Americans, as I did to the Millers, who have given this country the supreme sacrifice. They are our country’s best, the nation’s sons and daughters, who answer the call of service to defend this country in a time of war….
“Whenever Rob’s team was given a particularly challenging mission, Rob would be the first to volunteer. At just 24 years old, Rob was the true embodiment of that special breed of warrior that he had long aspired to become. Rob’s uncommon qualities, his intellect, his curiosity, maturity and determination, were in demand and on display in his two tours in Afghanistan.
“Even as he was winning the trust of the local peoples, Rob never stopped being a warrior. And that is why, on that night in the rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan, heavily outnumbered, mortally wounded, Rob charged ahead, when he so easily could have taken cover. That’s why he put the lives of his brothers in arms, Afghan and American, ahead of his own, and that is why they returned home and he did not.”
Can Boise State Really Do It?
The first BCS standings are released this coming weekend and ESPN’s Brad Edwards attempted to estimate what the standings would look like utilizing the BCS methodology, which includes the USA TODAY coaches’ poll, the Harris poll, and other computer generated data. AP is not part of the BCS process, which is why more than ever it is important because you could easily have a BCS 1-2 matchup at year end that doesn’t jive with the wishes of the AP voters, i.e., more controversy.
For example, Edwards’ work has the following projected BCS standings prior to this coming weekend’s action.
1. Boise State .913
2. Oregon .863
3. TCU .854
4. Oklahoma .8425
5. Ohio State .8421
6. LSU
7. Nebraska
8. Auburn
9. Michigan State
10. Alabama
Ohio State may be No. 1 in the Harris and USA TODAY polls, but the BCS computers, he projects, place them 10th because of the Buckeyes’ strength of schedule thus far compared to the other unbeaten teams.
But while Boise State has already played the tougher part of its schedule, Ohio State and other big conference teams face stiffer competition in coming weeks.
Back to the AP…here are the more important contests down the road:
1. Ohio State…does not play Michigan State; Michigan Nov. 27 [still could be huge if Denard Robinson is healthy]
2. Oregon…No. 24 Oregon State, Dec. 4*
3. Boise State…No. 19 Nevada, Nov. 26
4. TCU…No. 23 Air Force, Oct. 23; No. 11 Utah, Nov. 6
5. Nebraska…No. 20 Oklahoma State, Oct. 23; No. 21 Missouri, Oct. 30
6. Oklahoma…Oklahoma State, Nov. 27
7. Auburn…No. 12 Arkansas, this week; No. 9 LSU, Oct. 23; No. 8 Alabama, Nov. 26
*As noted each week, Oregon State continues to play a role in Boise State’s and TCU’s fate, but the Beavers suffered a huge loss last weekend as wide receiver James Rodgers’ season is over due to a knee injury. Among active players, Rodgers has accumulated the second most all-purpose yards in the nation. He’s so important, I’m not sure Beaver Nation can come up with too many more wins in the Pac-10. Hope I’m wrong.
As for this weekend, aside from No. 12 Arkansas at No. 7 Auburn (3:30 ET); the only other big game to me is No. 1 Ohio State at No. 18 Wisconsin. C’mon Badgers!!! [Sorry, Buckeye fans, but an upset would suddenly really clear the way for Boise State.]
Back to Auburn, they have suddenly become the really intriguing team because of who they have remaining on their schedule. If they keep winning, they’d most likely finish ahead of both Boise State and TCU in the polls.
And of course you still have the conference championship games to deal with in December.
One other note on a different matter involving college football. The scandal at North Carolina involving improper benefits from agents keeps getting worse and three players, including future NFL star defensive tackle Marvin Austin, were booted off the team for good. Austin issued a statement that said in part:
“I deeply regret my actions and the embarrassment I brought to the university and to the football program. I will pay a severe price for my poor decisions by not being able to play my entire senior season.”
Austin had been suspended back on Sept. 1 pending the investigation. The other two players lied numerous times to both school officials and NCAA investigators and received substantial benefits from agents.
[In the new issue of Sports Illustrated, former sports agent Josh Luchs talks of paying more than 30 college players from 1990 to ’96, including $10,000+ to quarterback Ryan Leaf, who proved to be a bust in the NFL.]
Reader Bill C. passed along writer John Feinstein’s blog from this past weekend and it turns out he was also at the Wake Forest-Navy game, doing radio for Navy. In part:
“Among the many great ‘Peanuts’’ strips drawn by the immortal Charles Schulz, one of my favorites is the one in which Linus is telling Charlie Brown about the ending of a football game. I’m paraphrasing, but he says something like: ‘It was amazing Charlie Brown, our team was behind with one second left in the game and we were on the one-yard line and the quarterback threw a pass all the way down the field and the receiver caught it and ran in for a touchdown. Everyone was screaming and yelling and celebrating. You should have seen it!’
“At that point Charlie Brown looks at Linus and says: ‘How did the other team feel?’
“That strip ran through my head right after the final play of Navy’s 28-27 victory over Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on Saturday night. Needless to say I was thrilled for Navy and enjoyed watching the players and coaches pour onto the field to celebrate after Wake’s final pass had fallen incomplete ending a wildly entertaining (and, for the record, poorly officiated) football game.
“Then I looked at the Wake players, some sitting on the field in shock, others walking slowly across the field to congratulate the Midshipmen. I felt it even more when the Demon Deacons followed the Mids to the far corner of the field to stand at attention for the playing of the Navy alma mater. Wake’s always been a class school and Jim Grobe is a class coach. My guess is his players are the same way. This was their second consecutive loss when the opponent scored in the game’s last 30 seconds.”
Lastly, Georgia tailback Caleb King was suspended for two games after being arrested for failure to appear at a court date for a speeding ticket. I mention this because he is Georgia’s 11th player to be arrested this year! Geezuz.
Brett Favre
“One of the incontrovertible truths of life in the NFL is that you have to know when to leave the party. Timing is everything.
“The party is over for Brett Favre. He just doesn’t know it. Or maybe he does and can’t bring himself to leave.
“Make no mistake: Favre continues to be a master of the big moment in the dramatic spot.
“On Monday night, Favre shook off a lethargic first half and led Minnesota to three second-half touchdowns….
“At 41, Favre is at the point of his career when he sets a record just about every time he climbs out of bed. He started his NFL-record 289th game. With a completion to Harvin in the third quarter, Favre became the first to throw for 70,000 yards. His touchdown pass to Moss was the 500th of his career, also a record….
On the scandal, Rhoden asks, “Why do we care about this?”
“Perhaps because of our fascination with how celebrities live in their protective bubbles and by what happens when the bubbles burst….
“Favre could have walked away two seasons ago, with his good name and football legacy intact.
“He was never more popular – and will never be more popular – than he was in Green Bay, where he was the heart, soul and savior of the franchise….
“But Favre had more fade routes to throw. He had more to prove. So, after a tearful goodbye and an angry parting of the ways, he leapt to the Jets out of anger and pride, determined then, and now, that he can still play.
“Favre barreled onto Broadway and played lights out through 11 games, then collapsed down the stretch. He said he was finished, then signed with Minnesota, which was all too happy to have one of the NFL’s great drawing cards. Fueled by revenge and pride, Favre led Minnesota on a great run to the NFC Championship game.
“But then the gunslinger’s recklessness that has haunted Favre’s career – that limited him to one championship ring instead of two or three – kicked in. His fourth-quarter interception against New Orleans in that conference title game brought on the end of the Vikings’ season. The game should have been the end of a brilliant career as well.
“Favre took a hellacious beating in New Orleans, and the photograph of him walking off the field reminded me of the classic 1964 photograph of Y.A. Tittle, kneeling, bleeding, groggy after being sacked in the end zone by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ John Baker as he threw a pass. The pass was intercepted for a touchdown.
“The difference between Favre and Tittle is that Y.A. knew the end had come. He retired after the season. Favre is still out there slinging, but now his reputation is imperiled. Favre has cultivated an image of being a good ol’ boy and a dedicated family man. Of course, if we learned anything about the Tiger Woods episode, it is that this whole public persona of superstar athletes is largely little more than a news-media-enabled masquerade designed to attract volume and hits. They’ll be whoever we want them to be.
“The Minnesota Vikings aren’t particularly good right now and maybe won’t be this fall and winter, so the loss to the Jets felt like the beginning of a slow exit, if not a formal goodbye.
“It has always been that combination with Favre: bursts of athletic brilliance and triumph, doses of disappointment and big public drama….
“Last year, you got the feeling Favre was dying to play; this year, it seemed like he did it for the guys more than himself. And now Favre finds himself the quarterback of a 1-3 team, hurting and embattled.”
[The whole Favre investigation hinges on whether Jenn Sterger and the two unidentified massage therapists cooperate. If they don’t…the case dies. Commissioner Roger Goodell needs the evidence to act in accordance with the league’s “personal conduct” clause. Sterger, as of this writing, evidently has yet to talk but she could be angling for money, a la the Tiger babes. Goodell said on Tuesday he has no timetable for completion of the investigation.]
—The Giants and Braves staged a compelling four-game series with San Francisco prevailing 3-1, all one-run games. Atlanta could not recover from Brooks Conrad’s three errors in game 3 as the Giants’ starters compiled a 0.93 ERA in 29 innings.
As for the retiring Bobby Cox, he leaves the game after 29 seasons the fourth-winningest manager in history…2,504 regular-season wins. But, in his 16 trips to the postseason, only one World Series title, 1995. [The Braves have now lost six straight postseason series.]
It was a cool moment, though, at the end of Monday’s clincher when Cox took a curtain call and the Giants players applauded him. The game will miss Bobby.
–And on Tuesday, Cliff Lee hurled Texas to a deciding Game Five win over Tampa Bay and the right to face the Yankees.
Lee is interesting. He had that monster season in 2008, 22-3 and the Cy Young, and suddenly he is up there with the best.
But then look at his last two seasons…14-13 and 12-9 (injured early this year). Hardly spectacular.
But then you also realize he is now 6-0 the last two seasons in the postseason! In 16 innings against Tampa Bay, 0 walks and 21 strikeouts. [On the season, Lee struck out 185 and walked but 18 in 212 innings.]
So it’s this last item, 6-0, that will have the likes of the Yankees lining up to pay him $20 million per in the offseason.
–Speaking of pitching…the ERA for the Division Series games was a record low 2.61. The combined batting average was .213, second-lowest for the DS.
–And a note on Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford. Watching the game Tuesday, I forgot that Crawford has already been around 9 seasons. This is a guy who could end up with 3,000 hits. [At 29, he’s halfway there.]
But he also has 105 triples. And what’s significant about this? If you look at the all-time triples list and just focus on those who played in the modern era (say post-1950), you have:
Stan Musial…177
Roberto Clemente…166
Willie Wilson…147
Heck, Crawford has a legitimate shot at 177, and perhaps 200, assuming he keeps his wheels in shape. Not bad…not bad at all.
–Phil W., fellow Wake alum, went to the Navy game Saturday night, then on Sunday was at the Carolina-Chicago contest in Charlotte. The Bears went to 4-1 in defeating the now 0-5 Panthers, 23-6, but that’s only part of the story.
I’ve told you in the past I don’t care about quarterback ratings, but sometimes they can be quite instructive. As in I can see why Phil said the Panthers’ game was the absolute worst he has ever attended, save for a few Wake-Duke 3-0 battles.
QB Jimmy Clausen absolutely sucked. 9 of 22, 61 yards, an interception…29.7 rating.
His substitute, Matt Moore, 5 of 10, 35 yards, 2 INT…18.8!
For the Bears, 38-year-old Todd Collins, pressed into play by the injury to Jay Cutler the previous week, was 6 of 16, 32 yards, and 4 INT!!! Rating? Try 6.2. 6.2!!! It was, statistically speaking, as poor a performance as has been seen in NFL history.
So no wonder Phil had to check himself into the hospital on Monday morning for extreme stress and a possible nervous breakdown. It didn’t help that his favorite player, Carolina’s Armanti Edwards, via Appalachian State (last year Phil and I went to see Edwards in action), came into the game in the wildcat formation, ran two plays and was yanked…as the fans booed Edwards’ not being given a further chance.
By the way, Phil. Didn’t know if you saw that the App State-Elon game on Saturday in Boone drew 31,581, a school record, while our Wake game against Navy drew 31,454. That could be a first. [The Apps prevailed 34-31.]
–According to CBS’ Charley Casserly, one of the reasons Randy Moss was traded from the Patriots to the Vikings could be a little spat he had with Tom Brady. It seems the two had an argument in the locker room and had to be separated by teammates. And what was it over?
It started when Brady, according to Casserly, told Moss to shave his beard and the receiver fired back that Brady should cut his hair because he looks like a girl. Brady does indeed look like one.
–In glancing at the obituaries this week, I saw one for Leona Gage, 71. It seems in 1957, Leona was named Miss USA but then pageant officials learned she was married and the mother of two. It turns out she was actually married at 14 and had her second child by the time she was 16. She also told pageant officials she was 21 when she was 18.
Born in Longview, Texas, Gage represented Maryland, hoping the contest would lead to a modeling career. Gage said she needed the money desperately. She later appeared on the “Ed Sullivan Show” in a highly rated segment. The rest of her life was one of failed marriages and poor health.
Top 3 songs for the week of 10/16/65: #1 “Yesterday” (The Beatles…number #1 four weeks, replaced by “Get Off Of My Cloud,” my favorite Stones song) #2 “Treat Her Right” (Roy Head) #3 “Hang On Sloopy” (The McCoys…perfect tune when you’re at a beach bar…this is on in the background…round five being served…you’ve had some chicken fingers…and your rental home is two blocks away…and the girl you had your eye on suddenly acts like she’s interested in you…and like you are thinking, goodness gracious, can this be?….but then you realize she’s looking at the stud over your right shoulder…and you go back to your rental to watch the end of the Mets game….in which they proceed to blow a 7-3, 8th inning lead…)…and…#4 “A Lover’s Concerto” (The Toys) #5 “Keep On Dancing” (The Gentrys…classic garage band tune…Mom: “Would you kids keep it down!”) #6 “The ‘In’ Crowd” (Ramsey Lewis Trio…great one) #7 “Just A Little Bit Better” (Herman’s Hermits) #8 “Baby Don’t Go” (Sonny and Cher…in my all-time top ten…really…just think musically it’s very cool) #9 “Do You Believe In Magic” (The Lovin’ Spoonful…got a ton of play on the early Ed Sullivan ‘Best Of’ tapes) #10 “Eve Of Destruction” (Barry McGuire…not to be confused with Mark McGwire, ‘Roid King)
College Football Quiz Answers: 1) Mike Hart (2004-2007) is Michigan rushing leader with 5,040 yards. Currently on Indianapolis. 2) Lorenzo White (1984-87) is Michigan State’s all-time rushing leader with 4,887 yards. He gained 4,242 yards in the NFL. 3) Brad Smith (2002-2005) is Missouri’s rushing leader from the quarterback position with 4,289 yards. Smith is number two in passing yards to Chase Daniel.
And it’s here, kids, I need to discuss the next few weeks; as in parts of it could be a mess. I’m off this weekend on a long, long trip…back to my island of Yap in Micronesia, and then Australia. There are going to be stretches when I’m out of touch, and I don’t plan on answering e-mails (hint hint). I will, however, have a paragraph or two at roughly the regular times, assuming I can get online. Frankly, I just hope I can keep up on the college football happenings, number one, and then the NFL. As for the World Series, when my Mets aren’t in the conversation, I don’t care that much. Which means in the past I have been apathetic for years on end. But since I said the Phils would win it all, I hope they beat the Yanks like a rented mule with A-Rod going 0-for-16. If the Series goes to a Game 5, though, I’ll be able to catch it as I work my way back home. One game I’m missing Saturday, however, that any baseball fan should be glued to, is Tim Lincecum vs. Roy Halladay. For the Giants’ sake, hope Lincecum is on his game.
