Quick WITS

What I Think, Sports edition

Oh, Furman.  You hurt me so. It would help if you'd get the offense rolling before the 4th quarter.

I don't know what Notre Done and Oklahonot are going to do with the rest of their season.

Speaking of being eliminated, if Clemson were to be Louisville, Florida state would be able to single-handedly deny their own conference a playoff berth by winning out.

If Clemson doesn't win the ACC, at least their season so far has given coaches a lot of film to teach players. The score so far - dropped passes, letting an inferior opponent hang around, dropping the ball before reaching the endzone, and (by SC State) tossing a kickoff to a ref in the endzone without downing it.

So if North Dakota St wins a 6th consecutive FCS championship to go with its 6 wins in a row over FBS schools, can we just slot them into the FBS playoff?

Because unless Baylor wins out or the PAC 12 doesn't cannibalize itself, there's going to be an open slot.  more than one if Houston stumbles.

At this point the Big 12 might want Houston joining...now.

The ACC contenders are going to be making noise in the first half of the season, the Big 10 the second half.  Be interesting to see how the national championship committee scores that as time goes on.

I feel like I'm forgetting something.  Oh yeah...

Fantastic Furman...aww, hell...WooHoo!!!!

It's a cloudy, cool fall afternoon at Paladin Stadium. 

Apparently we can't afford long pants for all cheerleaders.

A showdown with the Wofford Terriers is the day's agenda.  Victory will yield a share of the Southern Conference championship.  This and a win by the Samford Bulldogs will bring an automatic bid to the playoffs, ending a nine year drought.

The band is ready

So lets kick this thing off.  Paladins take the field!

Yes! Flawless entrance! Ooo, Sir Paladin looks impressed!

Didn't get thrown today. Boo yah!

Furman gets the ball first.  We've done well on first drives at home.  But today the offense stalls out. a condition which persists for the entire first quarter and most of the second, while Wofford is able to scratch out two long touchdown drives.  A 14-0 deficit is no way to kick off a playoff run. 

Sir Paladin's trusty mount, Fury, is getting anxious.

And then, in the middle of the 2nd quarter,  a long Furman drive.  Smeeling the end zone, the Paladin QB lobs a pass...into the hands of a Terrier defender. (Yap, yap, yap!) Le sigh!

Wait! What's this? Fumbllleee!  Throw it up top! TOUCHDOWNNNNN!!!!

A stop.  A drive.  A field goal.  And Furman trims the margin to 14-10 at halftime.

In the second half, the Paladins add to the momentum. A first drive stop is followed by a touchdown drive, and Furman takes the lead.

Still the Terriers are not the kind to fold their tents.  They drive into Furman territory and attempt a fake punt only to be turned back on an interception.  Furman converts the turnover into 7 points.

Again Wofford drives, threatening the endzone; only to be intercepted there as well.  again the Paladins convert a turnover into points.  A field goal makes the score 27-14 in favor of the Paladins.

Wofford takes the ball with 6:41 on the clock and drive to the Furman 7.  There they face a fourth and two, and gain only one yard! The Paladins take over with just over 2 minutes left.  And facing 3rd and 3, they do this...

In case, you can't tell, that is a 25 yard run!  And down 13 point with under two minutes left, Wofford coach Mike Ayers shows he's a class act and leaves his last time out in his pocket. 

Victory formation!

And now, a brief aside.  Furman is an institution that prides itself on graduating its student-athletes.  Despite its rigorous academic demands, from the late 70's to the early 90's, Furman was a football powerhouse.  Even becoming the first (and until a few years ago only) private school to win the NCAA I-AA (FCS) national championship.  The football team has won more SoCon titles than any other school.  But after a revival in the late 90's and early 2000's (including a national title runner up in 2001) it had not even sniffed a conference title since 2004 or a playoff appearance since 2006.

So I hope you can understand how special this moment is:

Let the flag wave proud.

Any comment, Sir Paladin?

That's right. Go Paladins!

Furious Football Fever

I didn't make it to the Furman home game this week.  I had a sore throat and fever and didn't sleep well.  But I was able to monitor via internet as Furman consistently turned over and turned away the Samford Bulldogs.  While they did allow over 500 yards of offense, the Paladins got the job done 35-17.  And they thereby kept alive the slight chance of a conference championship and playoff berth. Go Paladins!

But my illness did grant me the opportunity to grogily view the "Greatest Thursday in College Football History-y-y-y!!!". (If anyone could fix the exact date ESPN ceased being a sports network and became and endless, inane hype machine, please let me know.)  And the night went swimmingly from my perspective.

1) Baylor looks to be a legitimate contender in the Big 12.
They dominated inferior competition, as great teams should, leading up to the match up with a quality Oklahoma Sooners team.  And then they dominated the game.

2) Oregon lost. 
Don't get me wrong, I like the Ducks.  And had they made it to the national title game, I'd have rooting for them.  But an Oregon victory would have all but guaranteed a PAC 12 championship, meaning the only spots for Oregon in the bowl season would have been Rose Bowl or National Championship Game.

But a non-PAC 12 champion Duck team and Big 12 champion Baylor Bears team can meet in the Fiesta Bowl.  That doesn't mean they will.  Odds are against it.  The Fiesta Bowl would get a champion Baylor team for sure.  But then they choose last.  And if the current Alabama-Florida State national championship tilt holds up, the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl would each get two selections before the fiesta Bowl picked an at large team.

But I want to see the two best offenses in college football on the same field.  I want to see a points total that will exceed most of the upcoming college basketball games.  And I want to see the Bears' "Brass" helmets

on the same field with the Ducks' "Sonic Boom" helmets

and "Lightning" uniforms.

That is what I want.  Odds are against getting that match up.  Odds are against them wearing those helmets and uniforms.  And considering the Oregon-Auburn match up from a few years ago, odds are very much against two teams with long layoffs putting up those kinds of points.

But a man can dream.

Fabulous Furman Football

No photos this week.  There was a threat of rain so I eschewed taking my technology with me.

Squirrel!

Ahem.

As you may recall, we last left our heroes, the Furman Paladins, struggling on the field, failing to execute their entrance onto the field, and with the paladin laid out on the ground after being thrown by his horse.

I was very miffed this week when, with no camera, the music, band, cheerleader, paladin, and team all expertly choreographed their parts in the entry of the Paladins.  Or I was miffed until the guy behind me pointed out the paladin laying on the ground again with both teams' trainers rushing to him.  (The horse's name is Fury. Indeed.)

And then the announcer declared the score would be kept on the field because the scoreboard wasn't working.  Actually the video screen, the advertising banner, and the opponent side of the scoreboard worked fine.  Only the part where Furman's score would be was down.  No ill omens here; move along people.

This weekend was the farewell to Appalachian State.  The mountaineers and the Georgia Southern Eagles are moving up to the Sunbelt Conference next year.  So the Paladins, of course, want to make a lasting impression by beating them.  Alas, Elon is also leaving, and we didn't do so well there.

A Pondering on Penalties

Coming into this game, Furman was among the nation's least penalized teams.  Only 12 penalties for 99 yards issued over the first 5 games.  The Paladins would amass 80 yards worth of flags in the first half.  And they would come at the worst times, as Furman approached the end zone.

The Paladins would make their so far customary long first drive of the (home) game.  But penalties would force them into a 53 yard field goal attempt.  And it's gooood!
An App State fumble would put Furman inside the Mountaineer 25.  Furman would go backwards and kick another field goal.
Furman would force a punt.  Another long drive.  Another series of penalties.  and this time they would miss the field goal.

And the the purple partisans' stomachs would gurgle as Appalachian state gained momentum.  They would kick a field goal to halve the lead.  A Paladin drive across the 50 would end in a fumble.  And the Mountaineers would drive down to the Furman 2 yard line.  A trick play...a reverse...no, a reverse pass!  And the receivers throws the ball...directly into the gut of a Paladin defensive end!

Down the sideline he runs!  His teammates swarm to him!  He almost runs out of gas, but the convoy gets him to the endzone.  And he runs through the endzone, almost into the band!  Touchdown!

The band lives here during the game

Both teams would then exchange punts on drives cut short by penalties.  And App State would have a short drive before halftime.  The Paladin's held a (what felt like shacky) 13-3 lead.

First drive of the second half, App State fumbles the ball away!  A long pass inside the 5!  And the Paladins punch it in!

The teams exchange punts.  The mountaineers fumble again.  A long pass to the end zo-o-one! Touchdown! Huzzah! Huzzah! (What? Paladins are olde times. Huzzah is technically correct!)

And that in essence was the game.  The Paladins would punt on the last 3 drives.  App State would fumble, punt, score a touchdown, and have the game end.

There were numerous penalties on both sides.  App State would have 8 for 60 yards, including one that negated a successful onside kick.  Furman would finish with 11 for 112 yards.  In fact, looking at the statistics, Furman was outgained by over 100 yards.  They won the turnover battle and not much else.

But it was a 27 to 10 victory!  Fare thee well App State.

Furman Football Funtime

Another bright sunny Saturday at Paladin Stadium! (I remembered sunscreen this time.)

And the luxury boxes are finished

The band is playing, the helmet and tunnel are ready for the Paladins to take the field.

 And now a word about quarterbacks.  Furman's starter missed the first game of the season due to injury.  His backup was injured in that game and will miss the season.  The starter was hurt again the previous week.  So a true freshmen and the junior "wildcat" quarterback lead Furman into this game.

Let's kick it off!

Another home game.  Another successful first stop, and another successful first drive for a touchdown.  And once again it all fell apart.

Furman was pinned deep all day by some monster punts.  The freshman QB threw an interception for a touchdown on his second drive.  The defense gave up a long touchdown drive.  The wildcat QB threw his first pass of the season...for an interception.  And a tired defense gave up another TD.

Only a field goal kept the game within reach at halftime, 28-10 Elon Phoenix (formerly Fighting Christians) leading.

Sadly many of then probably didn't arrive until 2nd quarter.

Most of these folks won't return.

 Furman Hall of Fame inductees.

 The 3rd quarter also started poorly, as the wildcat QB went out with a season ending injury.  The Phoenix were driving for what looked like a clenching TD.  Fumble!!! recovery by the Paladins!

Still buried deep in their own territory, Furman would drive.  And drive.  And drive.  84 yards later the Paladins would punch in a touchdown and a two point conversion to pull within 10 points.

A stop. Another ridiculous punt.  But the true freshman QB would prove up to the task.  93 yards later, Furman would pull within 3.  the defense would get a stop.  And another stop.  But each time deep punt would pin Furman.  A fourth down pass would fall incomplete.  And Elon would run out the clock.  Elon 28, Furman 25.

Oh, and at the end the Paladin was thrown from his horse.

Sigh!

The Eurythmics in Mudville

If you despise college football, or just are 'meh' about it, this post is probably not for you. It's mainly about me (ego trip!), but fair warning.

I don't know what it says about me that I know omens (or 'almon(d)s as Dad calls them) are all in my head, but I still go there when circumstances suitable to their perception arise. but I do.

As Dad and I approached the gate for the first home game of the ferocious Furman Paladins (wait...are Paladins ferocious?), promised and much dreaded rain began to fall. At first we took shelter beneath the concrete and steel of the stadium seats and our meager rain gear. But as the rain intensified it became obvious that the stadium was not built to be waterproof, and we crowded with others under an awning where someone was usually selling something (still not sure if anyone was at that moment).

It wasn't until the combination of even heavier rain and wind plus the splashing from the rain and water leaking through the stadium began soaking into the left (outward facing) side of my shorts, as well as both socks and my left shoe, that I began to wonder that the turnover plagued first loss the previous week at Sanford [but not Son] was about to be repeated.

(Yes, that's a tortured sentence(?). welcome to my blog [and brain].)

The kickoff was delayed until rain, wind, and lightning had cleared the area.  Then occured the joyous first kickoff of the home portion of the season. Followed five minutes later by the culmination of the first frustrating long touchdown-drive-given-up. (facepalm)

Over the next twenty-five minutes the Paladins and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (yes the state of South Carolina has two teams whose mascots are male chickens) would combine for a blistering nine points, leading to Furman facing a 10-6 deficit, and injured starting quarterback, at the half. That score would hold up until Furman had a brilliant and crowd rousing defensive stand late in the third quarter. At which point they would muff the punt (double facepalm) on their own 12 yard line and give up a touchdown, leading to a crowd silencing 17-6 score with under eighteen minutes left in the ball game. Sigh!

It's the fourth quarter. Here comes the rain again. Falling on my head like a tragedy. My shorts and socks had just gotten dry too! And as the rain intensified, and Furman's offense struggled thorough the mud; it became clear that my hat-and-hood-on-the-head, rain-coat-on-torso, and poncho-on-legs not only did not protect my socks and short's seat from dripping, but had a hole somewhere as my shirt became soaked on the left side as well. [Maybe that's why the left side is the sinister side] {Quiet, you! No vocabulary observations!} [::pout::]

Midway through the fourth quarter the rain began to slacken. To my right appeared a double rainbow (sadly no picture, even if my phone wouldn't have gotten wet it takes only 320x240 pics) [And you call yourself a nerd, sir!], and to my left...a Furman touchdown! And setting up for a two point conversion to cut the lead to three with half a quarter still to go! And the pass IS THROWN AND...promptly intercepted and returned for two points for Coastal, followed by a sixty yard kickoff return and field goal that puts the Chanticleers up 22-12 with 4:12 on the clock and Furman having used all its time outs. (triple facepalm) [You can't do that; you only have two {SHUT UP, DUDE!}...sorry, sorry]

And then it all became a blur...the rain stopping...the desperate drive down the field to the endzone...the heartbreaking reversal of a blocked extra point leaving the Paladins still down four...the shockingly well executed onside kick!...the determined Furman offense, behind a true freshman quarterback striking for SEVEN FREAKING POINTS...a squib kickoff stranding Coastal at their own 35 yard line, down three points, with :35 on the clock...the soaked, stalwart, crowd roaring!!! As a stupid, @#$%!*&^%, PREVENT defense gives up 40+ yards on 2 plays setting up the tying field goal as time expires! (double facepalm, double footpalm...any comments?) [errr...no]

Breathe.

Overtime #1:
Furman sacks Coastal's QB on first down, pushing them out of field goal range! On second down, they give up a touchdown pass.

Furman strikes for a touchdown on it's first play, a 25 yard pass to Will King! (Side note: to the blond in the Will King jersey in Section 3 Row L: I don't know if you're family or his girlfriend...but DAMN!)

Overtime #2:
Furman rumbles for 25 yards and a TD on first down.

Coastal throws for 25 yards and a TD on its first down.

Overtime #3:
Coastal scores a TD. At least it takes two plays. By rule, after the second overtime, you must go for two after a touchdown. Coastal calls time out. Analyzes the Furman defensive tendencies. Calls a reverse; Furman overpursues -- a valiant defender charges across the field and dives at the five yard line, but just misses the runner.

Furman runs the ball three times, blasting into the endzone. Calls time out. Calls a  fade to the left side of the endzone.

Somewhere people are laughing,
Somewhere the sun is out,
But there is no joy in Greenville (SC),
The mighty Paladins just crapped out.

The pass is too long.

Coastal 47, Furman 45. :(

Damn, I think we've found a quarterback. :)

Up next: #12 Clemson University, 84,00 seat stadium, 20 more scholarships, offensive juggernaut, the return of All American WR Sammie Watkins. :``(

(For the record, I'm also a Tiger fan, but I do not look forward to what's probably going to occur next week. Furman has problems getting its defensive calls in against normal offenses. And Clemson runs plays as fast as humanly possible. With three mistakes by Ball State this weekend, the Tigers put up 28 points in less than four and a half minutes. ::Shiver::)