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
OMG you poor people.. Sorry 10 wins is 10 wins. Don’t care how they get them Your job as a college football squad is to get them. Pinkle is buidling this program and I think he is doing a great job. Every major school starts off on the soft schedule, then again how many of them start off with a potential top 25 school like Illinois? Please why stomp this or last season in a mud hole. These kids play very well I enjoyed watching them and I’m ready for next season. Oh and Missouri has the better J-School period hands down. Only thing Iowa or Notherwestern can beat us at is snow and they can keep that
i’m b-a-a-a-c-k!! did any of you supposed football geniuses noticed who laid the one loss on Penn State this year? i suppose not! to put the “hawkeyes” in the same grouping as Vandy, Indiana, or even Illinois is sooo bad!! you can check the Hawks out vs the Steve Spurrier South Carolina team, yet!! you’ll see a real running back in Shon Greene!!
about that journalism school over in Columbia-i didn’t know literacy existed in Missouri until 1980!! And, is there a writer’s workshop school as well known as the one in Iowa City?? i don’t THINK SO!!
however, both Mizzou and the Hawkeyes have the colors right!! Black and Gold!!
In addition to the insanity of losing 4 to 5 yards to center the ball for Wolfert at the end of regulation, I was also baffled by the previous possession when we were down by three and had plenty of time to go for the win. Apparently the coaches were so freaked out by Daniel’s sudden inability to hit a barn that they feared an interception would end the game. So they ran a couple of plays to set up the field goal that led to a tie. You simply couldn’t hide the coaches lack of confidence in Daniel at that point. But at the end of the day, I’m glad Daniel pulled it out with a good strike to Maclin for the win. Good ending to a good career. As far as next year goes, I’m looking forward to a new O.C. as the offensive scheme has simply gotten too cute. On the defensive side of the ball, I’m not sure if they need better athletes in the secondary or a simplified approach to coverage. Probably both…
Bernie,
I, for one, was screaming at the set for Pinkel to take Daniels out. I feel terrible for doing it too. But, the kid either has a concussion or was experiencing a major domo meltdown and if he was hurt, then he should have pulled the kid for Patton. That last regulation series of plays just baffles. The coaching staff must have been hit by the same truck Daniels was hit by? All in all, I am glad that Woffert didn’t have that missed fg to haunt him and I think he might be the ’surprise’ pro selection…what an incredible career he had for the black and gold.
Shamrock Jim, your standards are not particularly high, eh? 10 wins is 10 wins…As I stated prior, Mizzou’s athletic (not just football) mediocrity in the last 35 - 40 years has dumbed down not just schedules, but expectations as well. Geez, all the sports Mizzou plays, and all the years and they only have one national championship (baseball, 1954). I would like to win something now and then. I don’t care if it is tennis, volleyball, softball, whatever, we are never an elite team in any sport, period. It is very doubtful that Mizzou will have the chances at football greatness again, as they have had the past two years. Sorry, but beating the Nevadas of the world don’t provide me with the same feeling as I had when we beat Notre Dame in ‘78, Nebraska in ‘78, USC in 75 or 76 and Alabama around the same time period. Also, I do believe Alden has made statements about the deliberate easing up of the schedule. This year, 10 wins or not, has been frustrating and disappointing, and further confirmed the mediocre coaching of Gary Pinkel.
Right before the last field goal try by Mizzou, the announcers were wondering why not try the kick on 3rd down so in case there was a bad snap, the holder could throw the ball away and Mu would still have another chance. What I was wondering was why not on 3rd down (with one time out left) line up for the FG and run a fake. If it doesn’t work, you call time out and then kick. Northwestern would have been completely fooled. I think it may have worked b/c have you ever seen anyone try that in such a circumstance before.
As far as scheduling goes, why not mandate that if you are in a conference, every team in that conference has to play each other. Every Big 12 team plays one another, likewise Big 11 play each other,PAC 10, SEC, etc. Any extra game(s) must be played against a team from the schools own NCAA sub-division.
Bernie, I agree w/ you about “Rescue Me” and Fontella Bass. Great, great song
Excellent point on the Baseball America ranking Bernie. A farm system can only be judged as successful when the prospects it produces make a major contribution to the success of the major league team. Strongly heralded prospects are just that….young players with potential who have yet to prove themselves at the major league level. Let’s hope that the next step happens and we need it to start in the 2009 season.
I would like to know finally know what happened to Chase Daniel in the Okie State game. He was never the same player for the remainder of the season after getting his bell rung in that game.
I am sure Chase is the type of player that would not admit to any health problems if it would have kept him from playing.
Am I alone in wondering about this?
hey redbirds are you watching the blues? young players giving them a chance, and getting bigshow min.
pay attention
Bernie, Maclin will be in a Rams uniform right after the Cardinals sign a top tier free agent and we all know when that will be–NEVER! As much as I’d like to see a decent punt/KO return guy (whoa! that gives me chills), we would still end up with no offense and no defense. Since Maclin can’t play quarterback, offensive line or Linebacker, we would still have some huge holes to fill.
Here’s one for the draft wiennies to salivate over: Let’s trade down so we can get Maclin, Coffman and Daniels in the first 2 rounds!! Why, we could trade the phenoms Klopfenstein and Incognito to make it all happen. (Hold on, gotta take a sip of the Coolaid)…
While we’re at it, why don’t we go after Shannahan. Billy D said the coach is the face of the franchise, and I can’t think of anyone better suited to be coach and GM, with Billy playing a key role in the background. The only problem with this is Shannahan would bring in a couple more power backs and the Dome guys would have to replace the turf every year due to a pounding ground game that would chew up the field turf at an alarming rate. Instead of Chuck Knox’s 3 clouds of dust, 1 pass and a punt strategy, we would have to modify it to 3 clouds of turf clippings, 1 pass and a punt.
On a separate note, here’s wishing our boys in Blue a healthy and prosperous 2009! God know they need it! Can we step up and get a top-tier stopper anytime soon? Manny’s a great guy but he’s Manny and not a big dog among those that stop the puck.
As well, here’s to Billy D Jr. and Johnny M. over at the Cardinals–have a great 2009 guys, unfortunately it doesn’t look like the fans will. Can you say 4th place in the Central?