A date that will live in infamy: Apple Cup 2008 November 5, 2008 11:03 AM Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller And so it begins: The countdown to the 2008 Apple Cup on Nov. 22. Likely winless Washington and its lame duck coach Tyrone Willingham visits woeful state rival Washington State, owners of a single victory over an FCS foe as well as the first defense in college football history to give up more than 60 points four times in a season. Calling it a train wreck does a disservice to train wrecks. Oh, but you know you can't turn away. This is like a throwdown between "Plan 9 from Outer Space" vs. "Gigli". This is like the 2003 Detroit Tigers vs. the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, if we can be allowed to mix sports mediums. This is like, well, the 1987 "Toilet Bowl" between Kansas and Kansas State, which finished in a 17-17 tie. The Jayhawks finished the season 1-9-1, the Wildcats at 0-10-1. This is like the less heralded but perhaps even more pathetic encore in 1988 in which Kansas beat Kansas State, providing the only win between them. Those two squads were outscored that season 944-360. Of course, the Huskies and Cougars combined scoring deficit -- 776-224 with four games remaining -- blows that out of the water. In fact, the Cougars likely will enter the NCAA record book in the ignominious "Most points allowed in a season" category, even before they play their 13th game at Hawaii. They have surrendered 443 points -- 49.2 per game -- and the record is a mere 566, yielded by Eastern Michigan in 2002. Hey, we know that statistics can sometimes make a person's eyes glaze over, but consider these fun facts. Both teams rank between 111th and 119th (worst) in the nation in these minor statistical categories: scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense, total defense, rushing offense, rushing defense. Washington has five sacks (119th); Washington State has six (118th). Combine their total: 11. 99 teams have recorded 11 or more sacks. Washington State is tied for last in the nation with a turnover deficit of negative-2.22 per game. Washington has caused the fewest turnovers in the nation: 5. 105 teams have caused at least double that total. Washington State is last in the nation in third down conversion percentage: 26.4 percent. Washington is last in the nation in pass efficiency defense. Foes are completing 71 percent of their passes, which is only slightly lower than if the opposing offense were merely running routes without a defense. Washington State ranks last in the nation in points allowed (49.2 per game) and next to last in points scored (12.3), which obviously means that no team has a larger average margin of defeat this season. It's not unfair to say that the loser of the Apple Cup will earn mention as one of the worst teams to emerge from a major conference in the modern era, joining such squads as 1981 Northwestern, 1959 Virginia and 2000 Duke. What is remarkable, though, is how far these programs have tumbled: Both have played in Rose Bowl's this decade.   Washington won the 1991 national championship and finished ranked No. 3 in 2000 after winning the Rose Bowl. Washington State won 10 games in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and finished ranked in the top-10 each of those seasons. Both teams finished in the final top-25 AP poll in 2001. The Apple Cup used to be meaningful annually in the Pac-10 race for at least one of the participants. Now, for the third time in four years, the stakes are avoiding finishing last in the conference. Reporters asked Huskies coach Tyrone Willingham this week how he keeps his team motivated. Willingham pointed to one of his favorite inspirational quotes from Martin Luther King: "If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.''' While it's likely not Willingham's intended meaning, we can reap wisdom from this. The Huskies and Cougars have been called to be a national punchline this year. So when they meet in the 2008 Apple Cup, perhaps the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say: Here played two great terrible teams who did their job well.

Obama, McCain on what to change in sports

Obama, McCain tell ESPN what they would change in sports

Staff
AP News

Nov 03, 2008 19:15 EST

Gundy Beer Ad

 

At the end of the season, Ty Willingham, coach of the University of Washington Football team is going to quit. 

I love college football for the sheer fact that it is very unpredictable. The last couple of years of the BCS games have proven that nothing is for certain when it comes to what team will win.  It’s all about what team wants it more. Last year we saw the likes of 6 teams make it to #2 in the polls only to see them loose the very next week to a much lesser opponent.

So before you count your chickens for the championship, please keep this in mind:

#1 Texas – Strength of schedule: 6^th of 120

•          Remaining schedule: @#8 Texas Tech (8-0), Baylor (3-5),@ #23 Kansas (5-3), Rival Texas A&M (3-5)
  
•          Big 12 championship game against probably #15 Missouri (6-2) or Kansas again.
  

Texas has a very hard schedule and will be lucky to make it to the national championship without a loss. I think even if they finish the season with one loss, they could be ahead of Penn State considering the strength of schedule.

• #2 Alabama – Strength of schedule: 62^nd of 120
• Remaining schedule: Arkansas State (4-3), @#19 LSU (5-2), Miss State (3-5), Auburn (4-4)

-          SEC championship game with probably #7 Georgia or #10 Florida.

This is not an ideal situation for the Championship game. With one loss I can see Penn State leap frog them to #2 in the BCS and go to the title game. This once again puts in to question the validity of the BCS system because the Big 10 not having a championship game.

#3 Penn State – Strength of schedule: 54^th of 120

• Remaining schedule: @Iowa (5-3), Indiana (3-5), #21 Michigan State (7-2)
  
• No championship game
  

Talk about a b-line to the championship game. The only hold up would be Michigan State, and that is a home game. I see Penn State winning out, but will it be enough to make it to the championship even if Texas has one loss and Alabama is undefeated. Time will tell.

I don’t know what will happen in the next month, but I do know what the BCS wants. Texas and Alabama undefeated and in the Championship Game. That would probably put USC and Penn State in the Rose Bowl. Certainty in a very uncertain system.

The Onion

 

DAWWAS—Cowboys medical personnel confirm that quawterback Tony Womo injured his thwowing hand in last week's 30-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and is expected to miss the next month after suffewing a sevewy bwoken wight pinkie-winkie.

Team doctors originally believed Womo's poor, poor bwoken fingey was merewy spwained, despite the quarterback insisting that his pinkie felt really, really, really ouchie after being hit by wots and wots of big mean mans during the first play of overtime.

The Cowboys are denying rumors that Womo will require weconstwuctive pinkie surgewy, insisting that it is only a bad owie and that Womo will not be placed on injuwed weserve.

"Tony has been very, very bwave through all this and barely cried at all when he heard his widdle fingey was in fact bwoken," coach Wade Phillips said Monday, explaining that Womo was "westing comfiwy" and watching cartoons at home and had thus far managed to keep his pinkie out of his mouth. "I'd say he's week to week, but it's up to the team medics to say when he's completely all-better-now."

The Cowboys originally sensed something was wrong when Womo threw three straight incomplete passes to begin the overtime after being sacked three times and knocked down 19 times during regulation by meanie-bullies who hate him. Their suspicions were confirmed when Womo blubbered to them on the sidelines while holding up his hurted fingey.

Womo was immediately given an orange-flavored St. Joseph aspirin and a wowwypop while a SpongeBob SquarePants Band-Aid was applied to the pinkie. When this proved inadequate, Cowboys head pediatrician Daniel "Doctor Danny" Cooper inspected Womo's pinkie while trainers distracted Womo by making a spoon into an airplane and "flying" chocolate ice cream into the quarterback's mouth.

"This was more than just the normal boo-boo," Cooper told reporters. "Tony has played through boo-boos before, like any team weader and big gwown-up boy has to. But when I saw the quivering chin, the big wet eyes, and the way he was hopping from foot to foot while holding up his widdle bitty widdy fingey, I knew this one was bad."

The NFL said no fine would be given on the hit, as it seemed to be an honest accident and no flag for roughhousing the passer was thrown on the play. It is not known whether Womo will stomp his widdle foot and complain louder to the NFL regarding the decision.

Phillips confirmed that 40-year-old backup quarterback Brad Johnson will start as long as Womo's pinkie is still an ouchie pinkie.

"It's unfortunate for the poor tyke to have to go through something like this," said Johnson, who hasn't started an NFL game since 2006. "But you know, when they're little quarterbacks they sometimes take big spills. This will just make Tony-wony tougher when he grows up. I hope."

In other Cowboys news, Adam "Pacman" Jones is still grounded for the rest of his life, or at least until he learns to stop back-sassing, and receiver Terrell Owens is listed as "probable" for Sunday's game despite suffering a chronic case of turf piggy.

 

According to the NFL League office, Super Bowl tickets will break the $1,000 threshold for the Club and Suite levels in Tampa. This is an increase of $100. In return 1,000 of the "cheap seats" will lowered to a palpable $500 from $700.

That means they only increase revenue by $6,8000,000 instead of $7,000,000.

The article also shows ticket prices on stub hub go for $4,300 and that 43 years ago tickets were $6, $10, and $12.

Thanks NFL for pitching in to help the little guys!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/10/16/tickets.ap/?cnn=yes

The Dolphins decided today to use their QB to sell season tickets to fans that have dropped their membership. A recording was used by a telemarketing company that according to the company spokesman were neither creepy nor pathetic.  

Here is the article: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/16/ap5566454.html 

 

 

Fortunately we were able to obtain records of the test calls:

 

Ex Dolphin Ticket holder: Hello?

Pennington: Hello Mr. Jones, it looks like you have not seen the dolphins lose 25 of the last 35 games we have played and we are wondering why?

Ex Dolphin Ticket Holder: Well I don't like wasting my money.

Pennington: We lowered the drinks to $10 for a 12 ounce beer and hot dogs are only $6. How does that sound?

Ex Dolphin Ticket Holder: That is really expensive don't you think?

Pennington: Not if you love your 1972 Dolphins.

Ex Dolphin Ticket Holder: Are you kidding me? You guys have been using that to dismiss all the crappy seasons, bad management, and high prices for 36 years. Don't you think it's time to move on?

Pennington: I'll play catch with your son

Ex Dolphin Ticket Holder: My son can catch, I'm afraid you would not know what to do with yourself. 

Pennington: ummm, What are you wearing?

Ex Dolphin Ticket Holder: What? Why did you raise the pitch of your voice? 

Pennington: That sounds hot...

Ex Dolphin Ticket Holder: "click"

Pennington: Not again...

 

 

 

 

Saturday and Sunday I was driving around to different sports bars in the area trying to find where fans watch their games. I went to several in the area that were packed with various fans and some with a concentration of one team. I also drove down for the Duck - UCLA game Saturday night. 

I must have talked with over 100 people in all my traveling and I noticed one subject never came up: the economy. This was refreshing considering most people saw their savings and retirement cut by 20% in 7 days. The other subject that never came up was the election. The only conversation was sports.

I can't speak for everyone else, but watching sports is a needed distraction for me from the real world. For 3 hours feel the louder I cheer the better my team does. The feeling of impact and raw enthusiasm for the game makes life simple if only for 3-5 hours. 

I don't think the world's, much less America's problems are near solved, but at least I can take comfort in the fact that every Saturday and Sunday I can watch my teams play without a care in the world.

UOAA Write Up

Yesterday the University of Oregon did a write up about FanSpan. The article talks about how we help fans find fans and how enjoying a game with others trumps watching the game alone. We are honored to have been featured in this article and know it is the first of many. We're getting the word out! Thanks everyone for all the help!

The FanSpan Team (Kevin and Ryan)

You can read the article here: http://www.uoalumni.com/enews/0810/fanspan.php

FHM compiled the coolest soccer videos of all time. Huge time waster on a monday if you don't want to work.

http://www.fhm.com/site/customPage/defaultPlain.aspx?ID=46809

I thought this was a very clever twist on the Sonics recent move. Published originally in the Portland monthly, the writer tries to welcome Sonics fans to the Blazer family. I guess it's good for the team to have more fans, but the groveling will get a little old.

Check it out

http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/issues/archives/articles/1008-mudroom-rebound/

Well,

2 years later and nothing seems to change. Nice coaching Reily, nice choking USC. Well, I guess the rose bowl will have to be good enough for the #1 pac-10 team.

 

I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed, but there seems to be an imbalance of talent happening in college football. Because of rules changes that effect how many scholarship players are on a team, it seems slower developing or under the radar players are getting picked up by lesser known programs and flourishing. Take for example the WAC. They were a blip on the screen until Boise State rocked OU's proverbial shit in the Fiesta Bowl. Everyone thought it was a fluke, and that they would be losing all their 1 shot recruiting class of 4 years ago, but here they come again out coaching and out playing Oregon at Autzen.

Then there is the Mountain West Conference. 3 teams that are 3-0, TCU, BYU, and Utah. All three are serious threats and potentially could knock out the Pac-10 if they keep blowing them up in non-conference play.

And don’t get me started on Appalachian State giving Michigan the business at the big house.

I like the shift and love seeing other schools get fired up about football as much as OSU and Penn State have been enjoying for decades. 

 

Although I do love the fact that we will have another American contender in the field, I wonder how strong Lance will come back. Lance was on GMA explaining he is doing it for himself and for cancer, which is cool.

I just not sure sure he can pull it off, but time will tell.

 

I stumbled upon this article in the Oregonian. Pretty good read and puts things into perspective for Harrington's career

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2008/09/harrington_unemployed_but_not.html

Eugene, OR (Sports Network) - Oregon quarterback Justin Roper will be out two to four weeks because of a partially torn ligament in his left knee. Ducks coach Mike Bellotti said Roper injured his knee late in a 32-26 overtime victory at Purdue on Saturday and that a preliminary diagnosis indicated a partial tear of Roper's medial collateral ligament. Further tests were scheduled for Monday to determine the extent of the damage. Roper was picked to start for 17th-ranked Oregon (3-0) the week before the team's opener against Washington when projected starter Nate Costa injured his left knee in practice. Costa had surgery and is expected to miss the season. In three games this season, Roper went 40-for-77 for 484 yards along with two touchdowns and four interceptions. He also added 88 yards on the ground on 11 carries with a score. The Ducks host Boise State on Saturday, and the team is expected to use backup Jeremiah Masoli and true freshman Chris Harper at quarterback. Bellotti did not specify who would start Saturday's game, but he did say that both would see action in the contest.

As football season is upon us I see the official skill games of drinking are being dusted off and brought out of the closet. Although I enjoy almost all games immensely, Cornhole in my mind is the chess of tailgate games. Cornhole has taken many different names to try and grow its popularity because of obvious "perversions" of the term. The game is referred to as corn toss, bean bag and bean toss. All of these would be great names if someone had thought of them first, but for the integrity history and tradition, I will be calling the game by its original name of Cornhole.

I have seen Cornhole courts built and bought. The purchased version (from Wal-Mart) I find is flimsy and cannot withstand the constant beating of corn bags landing on its surface. In this blog I will write not only the dimensions of how to build your Cornhole court, but also the best method to find materials, smooth the landing surface and personalize the graphics. 

Tools and Materials 

In building your Cornhole platforms you will need:

Drill, circular saw, jigsaw, 90 and 200+ grit sandpaper, 50 2 1/2" phillips head screws, (2) large foam paint brushes, (4) 4 1/2" crown bolts w/nut, 1/2 drill bit, Cornhole bags http://www.cornholesupplies.com/order.html,Your favorite team decals (these guys are good http://www.footballdecals.com/highdef.htm) wood putty fill, 1 quart of high gloss white paint and 1 quart of Behr Log Home Gloss Finish.

 

Wood Materials

Although I take this game seriously, I do not believe you should purchase this small amount of wood unless you truly have to. There is always some construction job happening around that has scrap wood you can usually take. I would warn to first ask if it cool to take the scrap. You will need:

A. (2) pieces of 1/2 thick plywood measuring 24x48 inches. Avoid particle board and anything with nail holes to reduce surface sanding time.

B. (4) pieces of 2x4 boards measuring 49", (4) pieces of 2x4 boars measuring 25" and (4) pieces measuring 12".  These boards don't have to be perfect, but try not to get anything that is warped.

*like I said, don't steal. Ask and offer beer.*

Cutting

Cut your big pieces of 2x4 first down to (4) 48" boards. Next cut your (4) short 2x4 boards down to 21". Now cut your (4) leg 2x4 boards down to 11 1/2". Lastly, cut your deck (1/2 plywood) to measure 24"x48."

*Remember, measure twice; cut once and watch your thumbs*

Building

Now the fun part.

1. Build your frame: Screw the 48" 2x4's into the 21" 2x4 boards, sandwiching the 21" in the middle. Use 2 screws per joint (as it refers to the corners)

2.  Attach the deck to the frame using 1 screw per 10". Pre-drill holes to reduce the chance of pulling the plywood up.

3. Drill a 1/2 in hole in the side of the long frame 2x4. Should be in the top left and right corner, one inch off the deck and 2 inches off the top corner. This is for the folding leg bolt.

4. Drill matching holes in the 11 1/2" leg 2x4's in the top middle of one of the ends.

5. Attach the legs to the frame using your 4 1/2" bolt and nut. Make sure you gave yourself enough space to fold the legs under the frame with enough clearance.

6. The hole in the cornhole platform is next. It shall be six inches in diameter and be centered nine inches from the top and 12 inches from each side of the cornhole platform edges. I would recommend using a piece of paper a string 3" long and a pencil to draw a test hole. Cut out the hole, trace it onto the deck. Drill a hole large enough to slip in your jigsaw and cut the hole.

Should look something like this:

Sanding

Fill all screw holes with wood putty.

Sand and sand and sand until the deck and inside of the hole is uber smooth. Even when you think you are done...keep sanding. The paint will raise the splinters, so keep sanding.

Painting

1. Put on 3 coats of paint giving at least 12 hours between layers and sanding with the fine grit sandpaper to knock down splinters.

2. Apply decals of your favorite teams or rivals. Whatever floats your boat.

3. Start applying the clear coat. Sand in between layers using either the sandpaper, or steelwool. (I applied 15 coats before I was happy)

Once you have a smooth surface and a sturdy deck, you are done. I hope this has all been helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed making my Cornhole decks and I think it makes playing the game more fun.

If you did not find this helpful and want to save yourself some time and possibly thumbs,  just buy your boards and gear here: http://www.cornholesupplies.com/index.html    

 Cheers!

 

 

Yesterday I ran across a great article that looks at the changing shape to sports as it pertains to rising oil prices. It's an outstanding piece that details how dependent athletics is to cheap oil. I love going to games and seeing top talent play for my team, but those things are seriously strained when (1) you can't go to a game because it cost too much and (2) my team can't recruit top talent because it costs too much for them to visit other regions.

Anyways, I think this pertains to the values of FanSpan and what we are trying to do. By grouping people regionally by team, hopefully we can get close to reaching the experience we get by being there.

Here is the link: Http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3554492

Ryan

Watching game 3 and I have to say that Walton may be able to pass, but the rest of his game makes him look confused about why he is playing at all. I hope one day he will practice his shots. That is all.

After a debilitating knee injury that took the Ducks out of the national title hunt, will dixon be ready for the draft? I say no. Knee injuries are the most damaging and take the longest to recover. I think a lot of great college players have a hard time realizing the speed and intensity of the NFL and commonly under prepare for this level. This is why a majority of the 1st round drafts are only marginally better than their 2nd, 3rd and 4th round counterparts. In the NFL heart matters as much as god given talent and anyone that is even in the draft has talent. This is why Tom Brady is what he is. I am not a New England homer, but Tom Brady is where he is today because of hard work. He was drafted 199 not because of his talent, but because of his longer maturation timeline. If he were drafted higher, there is no way he would be given the opportunity to develop.

So I guess Dixon being drafted later is a blessing for his longevity in the NFL. As long has his team doesn't but him in a WR role and has the patience for him to develop, he could make a great quarterback.