Five Minutes for Blogging, Early Edition Dec. 30
It’s 3:55 a.m. and the night is young.
Crazy football game, eh? Mizzou wins over Northwestern 30-23 in OT.
I’ll always remember the Alamo Bowl…
1. FOR MUCH OF THE GAME I HAD TO RESIST THE URGE TO THROW A BOTTLE OF CHILLED GREY GOOSE THROUGH THE TELEVISION SCREEN, BUT AT THE END I WAS HAPPY FOR CHASE DANIEL: I’m telling you, as I watched Daniel struggle through those gadawful series in the second half, when he was freaking out, sailing passes and drifting swiftly into madness, I started thinking… you know what? We’ve seen this before. Or at least something like it… Rick Ankiel, on the mound, peppering the screen behind home plate with his wild throws during the NL playoffs. But late in the game, Daniel gathered himself and put together money drives to force a tie and carry this ordeal into overtime. And he threw a perfect strike to J. Maclin in the OT for the winning TD. Daniel surely can be irritating; some of his junior-year success swelled his ego. And he’s been in decline. He threw only one INT in the first five games of the season, but was picked off 17 times in the last eight games, including three on Monday. But considering all that he’s done for Mizzou football — all of those magic moments, all of those wins — it would have been a shame to see Daniel finish his MU career on depressing, dirty lowdown evening of failure. The Texan rallied himself. He didn’t go out like Ankiel against the Braves, Ankiel against the Mets, in 2000. Daniel went out a winner. And the kid deserved that.
2. WHAT THE HECK WAS GARY PINKEL THINKING ABOUT? Chance to tie the game, or win the game, less than a minute left in the 4th Q, ball at the Northwestern 23 yard-line. OK, Jeff Wolfert is a helluva kicker, as reliable as they come in the college game. He’s facing a 40-yarder there. Not a gimme putt, but a high-percentage kick. Except that Mizzou — instead of trying to carve out a few more yards to advance the ball and give Wolfert an easier shot — ran two passive plays that lost between four and five yards. (Pinkel apparently was trying to position the ball closer to the left hash mark for Wolfert. Heck if I know). So now all of a sudden, Wolfert is staring at a 44-yarder. Yes, I know up to that point he’d made 6 of 7 field goals from distances between 40 and 49 yards this season. But anything from 40+ is fraught with risk, especially at the end of the game. It’s never an easy kick. Not for Wolfert, not for anyone. You just don’t back your kicker up and put more pressure on him. You run a couple of low-risk plays there, maybe get Wolfert another six or seven yards, and let him hit the field goal attempt from about 33, 34 yards out. But you don’t push him back and give him a more difficult kick. That’s just goofy. Well, now… Wolfert, as you already know, missed the 44-yarder and the drama spilled into OT. And Wolfert didn’t deserve to have this on his conscience as he concluded his final game for MU. But for Wolfert’s sake, and Pinkel’s, the Mizzou offense and defense sharply disposed of Northwestern in the bonus stanza.
3. WHICH REMINDS ME OF FONTELLA BASS: It is my humble opinion that the greatest song recorded by a St. Louis Rock N’ Roll, R & B or pop artist is “Rescue Me,” by Ms. Bass. Controversial choice, I know. I’m not trying to diss all of that wonderful stuff from Chuck Berry, Nelly, Ike & Tina Turner, Uncle Tupelo or any number of acts we could mention. Yes, even “The Cheater” cranked out by Bob Kuban and The In-Men, featuring the late Walter Scott on lead vocals. But “Rescue Me” always jumps, always hits it, and never gets old. Feel free to discuss, and dissent. But “Recue Me” certainly applied to Daniel, Wolfert and Pinkel on Monday night.
4. JEREMY MACLIN, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: The kid’s gotta declare and head to the NFL, right? Mizzou’s sensational sophomore wideout, return man and blaze runner is going to make a lot of money in the pro game, and it is time for him to get paid instead of risking another major injury that could jeopardize his NFL draft status in 2010, or 2011. (Whisper: Maclin thrills the Rams’ scouts.)
5. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO BASEBALL AMERICA … I don’t care where the Cardinals’ player-development system is ranked. Sure, it’s nice to know that the Cardinals are apparently doing better in stocking the system with more talent. But until I see this brigade of wunderkinds, phenoms and prodigies up in the majors, tearing it up over the course of several seasons, I’m not going to buy into the hype. No sale. Not now. I want to see the players getting it done in the majors, and then I’ll be happy to start singing their praises. Until then, I’m not going to go Pavarotti and belt out “Nessun Dorma” in a tribute to a bunch of kids who may or not play in the majors. Let’s hold off on the parade, OK? Thanks.
First 30-second bonus: Missouri winning at least 10 football games in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history is a significant achievement — even if the diabolical Mizzou hater Joe “El Diablo” Strauss only gives the Tigers credit for several legit wins over the two-year period because of the soft schedule.
Second 30-second bonus: Debate topic for all of you former or current J-Schoolers out there. The Alamo Bowl got me thinking (which can be dangerous). Who’s got the better journalism school these days, Missouri or Northwestern? Let the throwdown begin. Keep it clean.
-Bernie
With Maclin’s speed, ability to catch the ball and also return kicks, yes indeed it would be nice to see him in a Ram’s uniform.
And while we’re wishing let’s throw in Chase Kaufman also!
With a little bit of creativity maybe Billy Devaney could make it happen.