Rex Hudler

Well here are the matchups for this week's ACC/Big Ten Challenge. If someone knows how to do one big poll in a separate thread that would be cool. Monday Michigan @ NC State - 6:00 ESPN2 Tuesday Maryland @ Illinois - 6:00 ESPN Florida ST @ Wisconsin - 6:30 ESPN2 Penn St. @ GA Tech - 7:00 ESPNU Indiana @ Duke - 8:00 ESPN Miami @ Northwestern - 8:30 ESPN2 Wednesday Michigan St @ Boston College - 6:00 ESPN Virginia @ Purdue - 6:30 ESPN2 Iowa @ Va Tech - 7:00 ESPNU Ohio State @ North Carolina - 8:00 ESPN Clemson @ Minnesota - 8:30 ESPN2 I don't see too many sure Big Ten wins in there. Thoughts??

The prospective bowl matchups could provide some interesting games. If everything holds form next week, we will likely see the following lineup: Championship Game - USC vs. Ohio State -- speed, speed, speed! Rose Bowl - LSU vs. Michigan -- great matchup. Lots of playmakers on the field. Always love a Big Ten-SEC game. Sugar Bowl - Notre Dame vs. Florida -- Personally I like it. I don't think Florida is that good and I think the Irish will compete here. Orange Bowl - Louisville vs. Wake Forest -- could just as easly be Rutgers vs. Ga Tech, but think about how many points will be scored if this matchup comes to fruition. It could be like the Louisville-Boise St. game last year. Fiesta Bowl - Boise St vs. Oklahoma -- classic matchup of offense vs defense, of little guy against big guy.

I never really figured out why they went away from Mustain in the first place. They were winning with him. While they were doing it mostly with the running game, I don't recall him playing poorly enough to be benched. I was thinking the same thing Friday. If Dick was so bad, why not bring in Mustain. Anyone care to shed some light on this?

USC outclasses Notre Dame tonight, which will earn them a deserved spot in the title game. This assuming they beat UCLA next week which while it should be, is not a given. I've seen stranger things happen, but at the time time, I wouldn't hold my breath. The weird thing about the BCS is that Wisconsin looks as if they will finish somewhere around #5, yet not be eligible for a BCS Bowl. Lastly, I do not want to see a rematch of Michigan and Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl. I wish they could match up Michigan and Florida (assuming UF beats Ark.), but that will never happen. Another possibility is Michigan and LSU, which would be a good matchup. LSU scares me a bit, however.

Greasy, your ring is now up to $30,200 with 7 days left in the auction. You in on the bidding yet??

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Nov 25, 2006 -> 08:15 PM) Well Wisconsin won today and shot much better from 3-point land. If they had shot anything like that yesterday they probably would have won. Hopefully they dont fall to far in next weeks poll, but its still early so just winning games and getting better is the biggest goal. How did Auburn look? I had forgotten they had a basketball program.

Step one of my master plan to get Michigan is complete. Now, all that has to happen is Notre Dame needs to find a way to beat USC tomorrow night and Arkansas to bounce back next week against Florida. It's not too far-fetched.

Butler hammering Gonzaga 37-20 late in the first half in the NIT Season Tip-Off Final in Madison Square Garden. If they win, they will have had to beat Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga to do it. Not a bad lineup to take down for the mid-major from Indianapolis.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Nov 22, 2006 -> 12:11 AM) Your brine turkey is going to rock, Rex. And the compound butter rub is the way to go. Don't skimp on the rosemary! Never did upside down turkey, but I have done the turkey in a brown paper bag trick (to keep it from getting too brown on the top) with good results. Thanks Jim, I hope you are right. I made the brine tonight out of vegetable stock, kosher salt, light brown sugar and peppercorns. It's soaking now. Tomorrow, I will stuff the bird with an apple, lemon, some chopped onion, rosemary and thyme (fresh, not dried). I'm looking forward to it. I'll let you know how it comes out.

I've had deep friend turkey, but have never done it myself. The first time I had it was in 1998 or 1999. The White Sox came to Birmingham for an exhibition game before the season and one of the Sox players (can't remember which one) hired this guy from South Alabama to come up and cook turkeys for the team. They were by far the best turkey I ever had. Fortunately, I was able to sneak some out of the clubhouse before the game, because the players absolutely destroyed it after the game. I am cooking a turkey myself for the first time ever this year. Going to do the brine and then add a herb butter mixture underneath the skin. I'm confident it will turn out well, but we shall see. Anybody ever cooked a turkey in the oven upside down?

Speaking of future schedules, I found some interesting tidbits... Ohio State will play USC in 2008 and 2009. They will play Army in 2009 and 2010. They add Miami, FL to the schedule in 2010 and 2011. Cal steps in for 2012 and 2013. Va Tech 2014 and 2015 and finally Oklahoma joins the fray in 2016 and 2017. Florida State joins Alabama's schedule next year. Penn State and 'Bama are slated to go head-to-head in 2010 and 2011. Florida State welcomes Oklahoma to the fold in 2010 and 2011. Michigan gets a return game from Oregon next year (returned from a few years back). West Virginia and Auburn go toe-to-toe in 2008 and 2009. Miami takes on Oklahoma in 2007 and 2009. An addition to Notre Dame's schedule is they have a date with Navy on Sept 1, 2012 in Dublin, Ireland. I don't know why, but I found that to be pretty cool.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Nov 21, 2006 -> 03:42 PM) People only see what they want to see. Schedules aren't made 2 months before the season starts, either. Year to year ND has what should be a tough schedule, period. You can't control how good those teams are a few years ahead. You schedule quality programs. Playing the service acadamies is the same (actually better) as scheduling Ball St or any 1-AA teams that the super powers schedule. You beat me to it. Schedules are made many years in advance. Hell, ND has six games already scheduled for the 2015 season, which includes Oklahoma, Rutgers and Pitt. I'm sure 9 years from now if Oklahoma is struggling again, bashers will say ND scheduled a name while they were down. Here is the ND tentative schedule through the year 2016 Notre Dame Future Schedules

Where did all that Creed footage come from? I don't remember seeing half those bits.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Nov 20, 2006 -> 04:01 PM) I really wonder how people would have been talking this game had CBS had the rights to air it. ESPN had a countdown three weeks before the game started, they had dramatic montages playing left and right, coverage you don't see for the National Championship for christs sake. God, I hate ESPN. Had it been covered on CBS, this rematch shenanigans wouldn't even be talked about. Boo Michigan! That makes no sense whatsoever. ESPN would have covered the game no differently had CBS been broadcasting. They still would have been there for GameDay and the game still would have been hyped the same. It was #1 vs. #2! How hard a concept is that to understand? And damn ESPN for covering sports and hyping such a game. If they were a real network they would have ignored such a game and been hyping Harvard-Yale and Army-Navy, cause those are the games everyone is really interested in. I'm sure if ESPN didn't hype it as they did, the approx 15 million mindless people who watched would have migrated to pro bowling or something! QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Nov 20, 2006 -> 11:39 PM) I'd like to know how Michigan is hands down the undisputed #2 team in the nation. Because they played Ohio St "close"? Yeah close is in quotes because they gave up 500+ and the game was never in doubt. They don't deserve a rematch, time for someone else to give it a try. We know they aren't #1 and that's all that matters. Nothing Saturday proved that Michigan is THE #2 team in the nation, nothing. Besides, how is their resume so good? The fact that they beat ND (who apparently sucks according to many of you). Wisconsin at home? Wowee USC has easily as many comparable wins as they do: Nebraska, Arkansas, Oregon, Cal, and possibly ND coming up. You aren't just based on the quality of your "one loss." Look at the rest of the body of work, there's plenty of other teams comparable to Michigan. If this is true, hypothetically a team that played all D1-AA teams and lost to OSU should be in the championship game. Never in doubt? Yes, OSU was always a step ahead of Michigan in that game, but they were one recovered onside kick from having a legit shot to win or tie. While a Michigan win seemed unlikely, saying it was never in doubt when an onside kick could have changed the outcome is not real accurate.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Nov 20, 2006 -> 11:14 AM) I don't get it, yes it was a close game (by the scoreboard) but at no time in the game did I actually think Michigan was going to win that football game. OSU was the better football team even after making mistakes and it will be an absolute JOKE if Michigan gets a rematch. USC, ND or Fla/Ark should be playing. If both Fla and USC win well that will be interesting as can be because both deserve it over Michigan but I can't make a legitimate case for why either deserve it over each other. And if ND wins I still think they are screwed just because of that loss to Michigan (even though we played like absolute crap with a zillion turnovers). Best case for Michigan is if ND and Ark win. Even then I don't think they deserve to play OSU again. Yada Yada yada....close score, but if you watched the game unbiasly I dont think anyone can tell me that it really was that close. People could say the Fiesta bowl at times last year was a close game (score wise) but as a ND fan I could tell you that we were completely outclassed by OSU and never had a chance to win that football game. The big question is, do you think any of these other teams would beat Michigan or play OSU better? If Florida or USC win out, I'd give them a nod. There is no argument that ND should make it ahead of Michigan. NONE. Notre Dame isn't screwed at all. ND screwed themselves by pissing down their collective legs at home head to head against the Wolverines. Arkansas is an interesting case and if they get the nod I wouldn't yell and scream. But to think it would a "joke" for Michigan to get the nod is awfully narrow-minded. If you want the two best teams, then Michigan likely gets the nod. If you want to just give someone else a shot whether they are the 2nd best team or not, then I guess it would be a joke. I just prefer to live in a world where you earn it. I do not think any of those other teams have "earned it" more so than Michigan. Hell, I'll go as far as to say that if Michigan and OSU play again and Michigan wins, there should be a split National Championship. That ought to start some debate......... QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Nov 20, 2006 -> 09:14 PM) Does anyone know what the deal is with that Alabama WR Tyrone Prothro, is his football career done from that injury he had last season or is he going to try and make a comeback next season? He hopes to be back next season, but there are still obstacles to overcome. He has had some setbacks in rehab. Those cannot continue if he is going to be able to play.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Nov 19, 2006 -> 04:19 PM) Well they won't win out since Arkansas is a far superior team, however even if they do win out, the computers aren't going to let them pass Michigan. That Western Carolina game they played yesterday was too big of a hit. Far superior?? What are you smoking these days?

Evansville blasted Buffalo today to move to 2-2. They bounced back after losing a heartbreaker to Miami to beat Cleveland State yesterday and Buffalo today. They still have a long way to go, but they do have a nice group of seniors who hopefully will give them a season to build on.

Looks like we have a nice Big Ten/SEC matchup tonight with Iowa and Alabama in the Paradise Jam tournament. I'd love to see Iowa take one here. Alabama will likely be without Jamareo Davidson again, which should help the Hawkeye's chances.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Nov 19, 2006 -> 12:48 AM) Pittman had less carries for more yards, and he didn't even play all that well. And I just saw what Mike Hart said, he guaranteed it would go differently if they played again. He was being a b**** sore loser, just like Leinart after they lost to Texas last year. A better team beat you Mr. Hart, get over it. Oh, and Adrian Peterson is way, way better than Mike Hart as well as McFadden and Steve Slaton. Heck, even Marshawn Lynch isn't too far off. And if OSU's defense wasn't that good, what does it say about Michigan's? And there is a big difference between 2 turnovers you almost never commit (one of which was unforced, another on a deflection) and allowing big plays because your defense was getting beaten. Actually Hart had more yards rushing than Pittman. Pittman's average per carry was higher because of one run. Again we are splitting hairs because Pittman is very good as well. My comment was that Hart is as good as anyone in the country. I stand by that. Hart's comments had nothing to do with Michigan's defense. He was discussing OSU's defense. So that is a moot point.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Nov 18, 2006 -> 11:42 PM) Did you watch the game? Hart wasn't even the best running back on the field, let alone player. I didn't hear what he said, but whatever it was, he was wrong. Ohio State made 2 uncharacteristic mistakes that gave Michigan 10 free points (and a 3rd that Michigan failed to take advantage of), and still won the game. Not sure how people could debate who the better team is, other than the whole turf excuse. And after all, the bad field helped Ohio State, since they are a team based more on speed and cuts, rather than the power that Michigan likes to use. Not sure what game you were watching, but Mike Hart was indeed the best running back on the field today. And yes Ohio State made two uncharacteristic mistakes that gave Michigan 10 points. But Michigan made two uncharacteristic mistakes in allowing the two big runs, which netted OSU 14 points. This game was a game of two heavyweights. OSU was favored and won. If they played again, I am not sure if the result would be the same. That is basically what Mike Hart was saying. He didn't come off well, like Brian said, but he was just saying what he felt. He said OSU's defense wasn't that good and that Michigan squandered some opportunities. He felt if they played again, their defense would play better and they could still score like they did today. Mike Hart is as good as any running back in the country. Darren McFadden may be the only back better and at that point you are splitting hairs. That said, I still would consider Troy Smith the best player on the field today.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Nov 18, 2006 -> 06:30 PM) If you have 3 timeouts there, even 2, who knows what happens. It was bad use on his part. The personal foul was 100% the right call, i don't even know how that can be debated, he nailed him with his helmet right to the facemask and it looked out of bounds. OSU was in the same situation with timeouts. Sometimes in big games, you gotta use 'em. Better to use one when needed than have two left at the end you don't need. I agree on the personal foul call. Not because it was a late hit, but because it was a hit direct to the head. I don't think that is called if he hits him lower. Both teams were playing hard and you can never assume Troy Smith is going to quit, so the hit had to be made and that was proper. It was simply too high. Either way, it was a great game. I'd have liked to see it played on a good surface, but then again it could have been snowing. Kudos to OSU for getting it done. As Bob Davie said at the end of the broadcase, today was the real national championship, not a game 50 days from now.

I played two Michigan @ OSU games today on PlayStation2. The first game Michigan won 16-13. The second, Ohio State won 27-17 and I played horribly! This isn't really relevant, I just thought I'd share.

I sure as hell don't see Hawk as a HOF'er. Just one man's opinion, but he is average at best and as far as signature phrases "He Gone" is horrible. It reeks of mediocre homer.

Sorry if this has already been answered, but I wasn't reading 6 pages........ Does the PS3 play games from the previous versions? Or are all PS2 games obselete on the PS3?

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Nov 15, 2006 -> 09:47 PM) You got your wish Rex. Crawford has just signed, right before the early deadline ended. Sweet! Way to stay on top of things.