Kirk Herbstreet does a six team Top 6 poll. I don’t think that’s enough given we all assume it won’t be long before we have a twelve team playoff at some point.
We have Iowa vs. Penn State next week-end plus Texas vs. OU. So next week’s Top 12 will be in flux just like this week when four Top 10 teams lost…Oregon, Florida, Notre Dame, and Arkansas.
What a Saturday of college football! In part I think I watched twelve games and part of the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 loss to the pathetic Chicago Cubs.
Before I get to OU’s 37-31 road win at K-State..I’m giving out my No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 helmet stickers.
No. 3 goes to Texas running back Bijon Robinson who is back on my Heisman watch list after his scintillating performance over TCU on the road. I sincerely hope the OU linebackers understand what they have in front of them next Saturday in Dallas. The tackling will need to be much better than it was in Manhattan.
No. 2 goes to Cincy QB Desmond Ritter who got his team a Top 15 resume win on the road in South Bend against Notre Dame. Kudos to that young man and the entire Bearcat program.
No. 1 goes to Auburn quarterback Bo Nix who was one of the very reasons beyond El Boutte that I picked LSU to win in Death Valley. Bo Nix after being benhed last week for his abysmal performance against Georgia State and then being benched again last night for a period of time responded with one of the guttiest performances I’ve seen in a while in college football.
Nix brought his team back from a 13-0 hole on the road in the toughest stadium in the country to be playing a road game. LSU fans are noriously nasty. I wouldn’t surprise me a bit if most of them have ‘Hang Mike Pence’ T-shirts in their trucks. But Bo Nix on this night was my Player of the Week in college football.
His father was crying in the stands as the final seconds ticked off and it was a reminder of what competition is supposed to look like in college football beyond the transfer portal and NIL deal.-
I gotta tell you…it put a lump in my throat. You saw in the father’s face how tough the past week was for the entire Nix family.
Now…OU’s 37-31 road win over K State. First off it was Lincoln Riley’s first win over Wildcat coach Chris Klieman… so that’s a positive.
In fact I would describe most of the second half as positive with the exception of Tyrese Robinson’s boneheaded personal foul penalty which gave K State the opportunity for that last kickoff return touchdown. Stupid football plays won’t get it done in Dallas. Just an incredibly stupid football play. There’s a time and a place to hit someone in the mouth. That wasn’t the time.
As Pat Jones said to Garrett Limbrick back in ’88 when his team choked in Bedlam, ” Son…you can’t play like an unchained idiot out there.”
Otherwise mostly positives:
Spencer Rattler was sharp and played like the best quarterback in the Big 12.
Kennedy Brooks ran like he did two years ago before missing last season to COVID precautions.
Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line played its best game of the year. I think it helps that Raym and Morris now have more defined roles at center and tackle.
Gabe Brkic was excellent as usual.
WR receiver Mike Woods continues to evolve and Marvin Mims became a factor again in the offense.
Jaden Hazlewood’s block on the goal line took out three Wildcats and enabled OU to score an impressive late rushing touchdown.
Lincoln finally seems to be of the thought Eric Gray is a finesse runner and receiver outside the the tackles while Kennedy Brooks will be the main guy between the tackles running back.
It was nice to Jeremiah Hall see get involved carrying and catching the ball again. He needs to be a sigfificant piece of the offense moving forward. I would love to see the wheelhouse route out of the backfield in Dallas for an early touchdown.
I thought Brandon Willis made a few big catches as well. Spencer Rattler will need both Brandon and Austin Stogner to bring their best games of the season in Dallas in the Red River Rivalry.
For all of you who booed because Caleb Williams didn’t replace Spencer Rattler last week…how did you feel when Caleb couldn’t catch a somewhat tough snap on the one yard-line and in essence gave K State four points. Would you have booed him if this game was in Norman?
The game in Texas like it used to be back in the Wilkinson, Switzer, and Stoops days will literally be the crossroads game for this OU football season.
The one thing which I cling to most is that Texas got gashed on the ground to the tune of 330 rushing yards in their loss to an Arkansas team which got tossed around like little girls in Athens yesterday.
It should be a great game and possibly a preview of the Big 12 Championship Game at Jerry’s World showcasing the two best quarterbacks in the conference in Spencer Rattler and Casey Thompson.
I would think OU will be somewhere around a Vegas 2.5 favorite. Spencer Rattler has played in this game…Casey Thompson hasn’t. That’s where I get the 2.5 point spread otherwise I would call it pick em’. You’ll recall Spencer had a few Bo Nix moments last year in Dallas which caused Lincoln to sit him for a bit of time.
The last positive is that despite not hitting on all clyinders—this OU team to date has shown an ability to make plays late in games in tight fit one possession games. Plus, OU has the best placekicker in college ball. So there’s that.
What a glorious day in Deer Creek. Another half inch of precip hit the rain gauge just before dawn. The first real football weather day of the season so far in Oklahoma with temps in the lower seventies.
I plan on watching wall to wall college football today into the night. Cooked omlettes for both me and Pauli this morning. I’ve upped my cooking game since COVID quite a bit. I became an addict watching some of those cooking shows…primarily Simply Ming and A Chef’s Life with whatsername in North Carolina…Vivian Howard ..I think is her name. She had me at hello with her fried sprimp burger with cole slaw.
Potentially crossroad games in every conference today with the exception of the ACC which is looking at the real possibility of being the worst football conference among the Power 5 this season. Advice to Dabo…buddy, nobody in this day and age can’t take players from the transfer portal. You’ll have to change that mindset if you want to become big boy relevant again. Even Gundy goes to the portal. Just saying.
Iowa appears to be the real deal. They create points off turnovers like no one else so far this college football season. Ole Miss at Bama. Arkansas at Georgia. Auburn at LSU.
Since it’s my birthday tomorrow and I’m an old person…Chris Jackson has agreed to give me three picks today to his two.
No. 1 Auburn at LSU… A game of two Tigers. Max Johnson seems to be getting better every week hitting his star WR ‘El’ Boutte. To me that’s primarily the game. LSU at home has a big league big play threat. I’m taking LSU.
No. 2 Texas Tech at West Virginia… West Virginia at home versus a porous Tech defense which gave up seventy points to the Longhorns. Plus, Tech QB Tyler Shough is down for a month with an injury. I’ll take West Virginia.
No. 3 Ole Miss at Alabama…I’m taking Bama at home and giving the 14. I would think the winning QB becomes the Heisman frontrunner in this one.
I’m staying away from the Arkansas vs. Georgia. I don’t want to sweat out point spreads. I just want to relax and watch the two premier SEC games of the day while I’m watching OU at K State as well.
For me in Manhattan today… no way would I get near this game. I actually think though the hostile crowd might help OU wake up a bit. Big game for Lincoln Riley and his Sooners. If OU wins the coin toss they should take the ball and not defer. First OU possession needs to be a touchdown statement.
Have a great day watching college football out on your back decks and patios. Autumn has finally arrived in Oklahoma..
We’ve got some great college football games coming up tomorrow, plus the major league baseball playoffs get started with the wild card games.
I mean…Arkansas at Georgia and Ole Miss at Alabama is about as lit as you can get in Week 5. Kudos to Arkansas for what they’ve done so far…but here’s the thing with their schedule…it’s tougher than who the Denver Broncos have played in their first three games. Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU, Alabama and even Auburn are still in front of the Hogs. Miss State with Leach and maybe Auburn with Bo Dix appear to be the only reasonable games left on their schedule. Sam Pittman…hang in there.
I’ve pretty much pulled back on writing about Donald Trump. Why even bother?
But this came across the wire this morning and as an objective non partisan who’s a complete non-ideologue… I thought to myself…why not put this on the blog as I try to figure out these SEC point spreads.
Putting politics aside…SEC football is something, the Big 12 is a backup band…that’s for certain. OU has some work in front of them in the next two years as far as recruiting physicality on their offensive and defensive lines.
This song is dedicated to my sister-in-law Kathy who is about the nicest person alive. But I just today after all these years found out she’s a closet Biker Girl.
Lincoln should play this for defense before they take the field for their first possession tomorrow. Maybe it would fire them up so the ‘Cats don’t hold the ball for the first ten minutes of the game. Rain expected in Manhattan, Kansas tomorrow. Rain and an iffy situation with QB Sklar Thompson…stay away from that game would be my thought.
What a truly great last day of September it is in Oklahoma. The cool front and the rain came as predicted. We’ve had about just under an inch so far at my official Deer Creek Weather Station. Brand new rain gauge and everything after I accidently destroyed the one my wife bought in May with a weed-eater. It can happen. She gave me that same look way back when I almost caught the outdoor sofa on fire smoking a Dominican cigar.
I do not drink coffee in the summer. This was my first official autumn cup of coffee and it was a perfect fit to today’s beautiful weather.
We missed the 3-4″ precip just two miles to our southeast, but still an inch is much appreciated after going completely rainless out here for the first twenty-nine days of September. We would have gone 0.00 as far as September precip if not for this morning.
Saw on the local news there was a mountain lion spotting in Luther. I totally believe it since Pauli and I spotted a mountain lion at dusk on the forest ridge of our property about three years ago.
Some of the neighbors out here thought I was becoming senile until the big cat showed up on my neighbor’s camera at night in his backyard.
Pauli’s was sitting next to me when they were talking about this on the news. It’s almost as if she knew what they were talking about. The fur rose on her back…kid you not. Prolly have to walk her along the ridge at dusk this evening to calm her down before Thursday Night Football.
When she saw that mountain lion she was like White Fang with the grizzly bear. Swear to God. The dog is fearless.
What a great day to listen to music and stalk a mountain lion with your alpha champion diva lab.
This is prolly what we’ll listen to just about 7:15 pm as we prepare for the hike-expedition. Pauli loves this. It gets her stoked like Rocky running those stairs. No gun. We just want to see him again. Maybe he’ll eat my little MAGA neighbor at some point. Just kidding. Seriously…I was kidding.
Well, shit…it’s over. They came up flat the night after clinching their playoff spot. Milwaukee 4- St. Louis 0. It happens. If they can just get past the Dodgers in the wild card game they could have a chance of getting to the World Series.
One game with Wainwright on the mound they have a chance. But in a seven game series with that Dodger pitching staff might be tough. Let it all ride with Adam Wainwright would be my take.
I looked it up…sixth longest win streak in modern era of baseball since 1906. The 1916 Giants hold the record with 26 straight wins.
I was just thinking with all this baseball on my blog this week so far…what’s my favorite baseball movie ever?
This is a tough one for me. But in the end I have to go 1 Bull Durham, 2 Major League 3 Field of Dreams, then maybe 4 The Natural.
But Bull Durham No. 1.
Kostner with Bull Durham, Tin Cup and Draft Day is in my mind an iconic figure in sports movies. Dances With Wolves….highly overrated. I thought the The Bodyguard was better. But none of these four are what the Academy looks for in a motion picture…which says something about The Academy.
Anyway…OU at K State on Saturday is a game I’ve had this game circled since the schedule came out. This is a big one. This game actually scares me more than Texas. We can only hope sixth year Skylar Thompson doesn’t play at QB on Saturday in Manhattan. If it rains Saturday…. I may run up to Manhattan and see if I can get in the stadium on the Farewell Big 12 Tour. This is one of the few venues in the Big 8/Big 12 where I’ve never seen an OU game.
Glass half full take is that you have to figure the Kansas State student section will be nicer to Spencer Rattler than the OU student section was on Saturday night versus West Virginia.
Note to Academy…this is what great motion picuture making is all about. A great movie does not have to have a a great social message everytime out of the gate. Not saying I didn’t love Schindler’s List and Twelve Years A Slave… but sometimes we need to collectively smile in a movie theatre.
St. Louis extended their streak to 17 games on Tuesday night with a 6-2 home win over the Milwaukee Brewers. I think it would be fair to say the Cardinals are in a zone. They have five games remaining…two more against the Brewers then a closing three game set with the once again pathetic Chicago Cubs to close the regular season.
I have a special affinity for Nolan because I played starting third base for a AAU state championship team when I was in junior high. Then as I moved up in age and played for John Marshall in high school … I was moved to left field. My bat was top five on my high school teams, my arm was average. Hence… the move to left field.
But I’ve always had a deep respect for players who play the hot corner. It’s a beautiful thing watching a player like Nolan who takes as much pride in his defense as he does his offense.
On Tuesday night Nolan had a sac fly RBI and then a home run in the seventh inning. He now stands at 34 HRs and 103 RBIs for the season.
Just your basic Nolan Arenado season…except this time around the entire baseball world will be taking note because he now plays for the St. Louis Cardinals.
When I see Nolan…I can’t help but think of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the Thunder and wonder when he will tire of playing for marginal at best teams in Oklahoma City and ask to be traded to a relevant team like Paul George did several years ago.
My thoughts are with your season, Nolan Arenado.
Go for it.
So…if I had become a famous major leaguer…what would I have chosen as my walk-up song? It sure as hell wouldn’t be Baby Shark or anything by Travis Scott.
It would have been Smooth by Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas.
This past winter the St. Louis Cardinals fleeced the Colorado Rockies in a trade which originated because Nolan Arenado desired to be traded to a viable contender.
From a baseball standpoint…earlier in life I was a Pittsburgh Pirate fan because of my eternal love for Roberto Clemente. But when Oklahoma City became the Triple A affiliate of the LA Dodgers …my attention to baseball primarily became following the Dodgers because I watched some of their current stars at the AAA level in OKC over the years.
This past winter the Rockies granted Nolan his escape. The reaction in Denver was predictably brutal towards the Rockies organization. I was in Denver the week after the trade and the letters to the editor of the Denver paper were brutally tough on the Rockies’ GM… who was fired not long after.
The Rockies today stand thirteen games below the .500 mark and 30 games out of first place in the West Division in the National League. Keep in mind this is a Rockies franchise which tied the Dodgers for the division championship as recently as 2016.
With my son’s family in Denver it became natural I would become a Nolan Arenado fan. Like the young man in this video above I view Nolan as the best third baseman in the game with Anthony Rendon being just a rung behind.
My son Chris took me to the Rockies last regular season game in 2016 in Denver when Bryce Harper played his last game for the Washington Nationals. Colorado won that game 14-1 to tie the Dodgers for the division on that memorable fall day. Bryce Harper hit two towering gap doubles while Nolan hit two home runs over the left field wall. It’s one of my favorite baseball memories.
Nolan was traded to the Cardinals this past winter and the expectations became sky high as in World Series or bust.
In the first three fourths of this season in every aspect of the game—the Cardinals were not making the plays when they needed to be made. Their bullpen was expecially bad in multiple clutch situations to close out games. It was a team deal.
Just several weeks ago the Cardinals stood at 71-69 looking into the abyss of not making the playoffs. Of being the biggest underachiever in major league baseball this season.
I felt horrible for Nolan because in reality he’s such a humble team guy who wants to win. This was going to be his real introduction to those baseball fans who only watch post season games.
But lo and behold the Cardinals in a magical way got their act together. They are now winners of sixteen straight games with a record of 87-69 and clinchers of a wild card spot in the upcoming MLB playoffs. Their opponent if the season were over today would be the LA Dodgers. Go figure.
The sixteen game winning streak is one of the most memorable in modern baseball history because it’s taking place in September heading into October at the goal acheiving portion of the season. I have to go back and check, but I think it might be the fourth longest winning streak in modern baseball history.
The transformation in this season came when the stars started playing like stars and the role players started doing their jobs. Nolan, Goldschimdt, and O’Neill have all passed the thirty home run marker. Forty year-old Adam Wainwright has steadied the starting pitching rotation. Roles have been altered in the bullpen. It’s been a team thing with a next man up mentality.
From a baseball standpoint this almost has that Washington Nationals look back in 2017.
Dodgers vs. the Cardinals in the wild card. Who will I be rooting for? Nolan is my favorite player, the Dodgers are my favorite team.
This is last year’s Thunder preseason press conference when the abbreviated NBA season got off to a delayed start. The schedule was cut to 72 games and the Thunder had a problem in they had Big Al Horford and George Hill on their roster on opening day.
The Thunder eventually shed those two vets and then benched Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enroute to a 2-23 finish and an overall record of 22-50.
The youngsters who finished the season in Oklahoma City did play hard to their credit amidst the tank and even to the detriment of the tank itself won late season games against Boston and the LA Clippers which they shouldn’t have won.
So forgive me for not posting the press conference Sam Presti just gave prior to this edition of the Thunder playing NBA basketball in Oklahoma.
I’ll paraphrase. The tank is still very much in place in Oklahoma City. Last time I checked Vegas had OKC’s 2021-22 win total at 22.5 games in an eighty-two game schedule.
The best player on the team will be Shai-Gilegous Alexander who along with Devin Booker was on the selection bubble prior to last season’s NBA All-Star Game. The Thunder also have Lu Dort and Mike Muscala back in the mix. I like both of those guys.
After that the Thunder have second year pro Kid Poku who skipped the Summer League so he could work on his body shaping with Little Nick Gallo, Royce Young, and I’m to assume Nick Collison. Can’t wait to see Hulk Poku in the flesh.
Then there’s Australian teenager Josh Giddy who was the 6th player taken in the draft by the Thunder. From what I’ve read on the Daily Thunder messageboard ( which banned me for life) this is better than having Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Jon Kuminga, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, or Giannis.
The rest of the roster will be more young guys showing what it takes to be a Thunder team honor member three years from now when Clay Bennett and Sam Presti will be resuming legitimate NBA games being played in Oklahoma or somewhere else.
Wouldn’t it be karma if the Thunder ended back up in Seattle when the luster has worn off that city’s new NHL team the Krakens?
This is why I’m more than okay with OU staying in the Big 12 for the next two or three years. Reason being…I’ll have the best college basketball conference in America playing its games in two venues less than an hour from my home.
I’ve been an avid NBA fan since I was maybe eight years of age and grew up adoring Billy Cunningham, Hal Greer and the Sixers. Then Dr. J and Mo Cheeks. Then the whole league itself as David Stern grew the NBA brand.
I’ll be fine we won’t have NBA basketball in Oklahoma City on a legit competitive basis. I have eight or so teams on my watch list for the coming NBA season…how sad the Thunder in Oklahoma view tanking as their only path to sustainability.
Note to Sam Presti…the Milwaukee Bucks who just won the O’Brien Trophy did this with a 15th pick in Giannis, a 17th pick in Jrue Holiday, and a second round pick in Khris Middleton.
You could even go on to say the Phoenix Suns were aimlessly tanking for around a decade before you saved them from themselves by trading Chris Paul to the Valley of the Sun.
So really… no one in Oklahoma really knows how long the Thunder will be tanking, but we do know it will be a long process.