The Dawgs Ramblings

Rules and More

Make sure to check out the bet this year. Click on the 'Steak Dinner' link on the right for the contest between myself, Moore, Jon and Ferris.

It was not until 2:30 on Sunday that Simons asked me if I had seen the California score. So, when he told me that they won 66-3 I was a little shocked. California was not on anyone’s chart coming into the season but with Saturday's rout of Pac 10 foe Washington St. on the heels of an impressive victory against Michigan St. they have jumped onto the national radar. Next week they travel to Maryland, then are at home to Colorado St. and should be 4-0 before Arizona St. comes to town. The amazing stat about the game is that they only passed for 114 yards. I wonder if they even passed in the second half. The other impressive thing is that California’s out of conference schedule with the aforementioned teams deserves recognition. Two BCS schools and a solid non-BCS program. Apparently California does not believe that the rigors of the Pac 10 requires them to waterdown their schedule.

Larry Farina. That’s the crew I will be following this year. Larry Farina is the head of the crew that enforced ‘Rule 9, Section 2, Article 1’ of the rule book: A player commits unsportsmanlike conduct if, “after a score or another play, the player in possession” doesn’t “return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot. Unfortunately for Washington Husky quarterback, Jake Locker, he committed the cardinal sin of throwing the ball into the air after diving into the end zone capping a late 4^th quarter drive that pulled them to within 28-27 to the BYU Cougars. For years, I have lamented the aggressive interpretation of unsportsmanlike calls as giving too much power and influence to referees in the outcome of the game. To some degree, unsportsmanlike calls need to be made but they should be called within the sphere of common sense. Most officials and people know when someone is hot-dogging after a play or disrespecting an opponent. That was not the case Saturday and Locker’s tremendous playing on that drive was negated by a call that did not need to be made. It simply inserted a rule into an athletic event when the game was being decided in spectacular fashion by the participants. It defied the spirit of the contest and demonstrated how games can be ruined by officials. The real sad part is that the crew and referees can hide behind the letter of the law. There is no disputing that the rule was broken. If it were any other institution than the NCAA then I would say that the drafter of the rule did not intend for its implementation to be the defining and most memorable moment of a football game. But, 10 years from now, this call will persevere

Oregon has officially reached national program status. I think if people see Oregon on the TV schedule their passing thought is decent football program and maybe I’ll check it out. They have moved beyond just a program that has a great year and absconds. (See Washington St.)

Was watchin the Godfather 2 and I was curious whatever happened to the child actor that played the young Vito Corleone. From the IMDB. He did some spot acting in Italy..

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049764/

Remember that Shawn Halloran, BC’s starting quarterback post Flutie, was 1-3 to begin his college career. BC than rattled off 8 straight wins and ended the season by beating Georgia in a bowl game. I say this to at least encourage a little hope before we write off Chris Crane completely. He needs time to develop. Unfortunately, BC does not have the time for a 5^th year starter player making his first starts.

Florida St. scheduled the correct directional Carolina, Western not East. They hammered them 69-0 with Ponder getting the start at QB. They now play Tenn-Chattanooga before hosting Wake Forest. Are 2 games against awful teams going to prepare Florida St. for the well-coached Fightin Grobes? Doubtful. Mississippi gave Wake a great test and the Deacons will learn a lot from that game and be well prepared to handle a Florida St. team that will put up a fight but will not be able to execute.

posted by oceanjay @ 7:46 PM