September 11.
This week twenty years ago pushed the college football season to the first weekend in December. Indiana did not finish the season with a Purdue victory in the sideways rain in Bloomington that day. That season ended with a victory over Kentucky, in a game moved from that fateful week in September to the last game of the season on December 1st. It would also be the last game as head coach for the Hoosiers’ Cam Cameron.
Sitting here listening to Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising” album that was inspired by what happened on September 11, 2001.
My dear wife, Carrie, and I have been fortunate enough visit the 9/11 Memorial. I am glad we went. We learned so much. Much of it was very difficult to learn. I am haunted by the image of the lady in the green dress rubbing the name of an obvious loved one whose name is engraved in on of the two Reflecting Pools. I felt guilty capturing such a personal image. At the same time, it was a way to remember on a level most won’t experience. A poigant moment worth sharing. That is what I have decided. I pray it has been a good decision.
College Football Week 2 is here.
Last week was a football disaster, if you are an Indiana University Football fan. The team comes in ranked in the preseason for the first time I can remember in my 53 years. The last time they were ranked in the preseason I was 5 months old.
Though I had seen the I-O-W-A flags run up and down Indiana’s Memorial Stadium many times, it was my first trip to Kinnick Stadium last weekend. Made the trip with my friend Jerry Brown. That made even the lousy performance by the Hoosiers a good time.
Indiana didn’t show up. Jerry and I were more excited to be there than any player on the field I can tell you and they got their by plane. That happens. But like the old adage goes, THAT WAS A LONG WAY TO GO THE GET YOUR BUTT KICKED. On the other hand, if you take away three plays. Two of which were Santa inspired gifts from the boys in Red and White. Those were two easy pick-six passes. I felt for Michael Penix. He played awful. The other was a 59 yard run inspired by an IU brain fart on defense. 13-6 without those faux pas. At least that is what I keep telling my optimistic self. 34-6 was the final. No one expected that to happen.
The fans in Iowa were exceptionally nice all over town, save a couple middle finger waving guys in the second deck behind the endzone in front of us. Perhaps some of that was a by-product of the fact that they were selling beer in Kinnick Stadium for the first time ever. That still upsets me. That college stadiums are selling alcohol is troublesome. The players aren’t of age to buy it. So you shouldn’t sell. You should have to sneak it in, like Lewis Grizzard said was proper etiquette for college football games.
Last week we had 9 winners and 5 losers.
This week is cupcake week for many teams after a competetive first week.
Briefly…
Virginia beats Illinois…Illini won’t surprise again.
Minnesota beats Miami of Ohio…might be close.
Oregon beats Ohio State…Go Ducks Go! I will be willing to lose a game a week picking against the Buckeyes.
Pitt beats Tennesse…The Johnny Majors Bowl III Pitt won in 1980 and 1983. They will again today.
Penn State beats Ball State…Way too tempted to BSU upset.
NC State beat Mississippi State…Cowbells and Sword Swinging are at odds.
Texas beats Arkansas…So good to see these two playing again!
Indiana beats Idaho…Providing they find the stadium. I think they will. I still believe this team will go bowling again.
Kentucky beats Mizzou…QB in Blue had a nice start.
Ole Miss beats Austin Peay…Big crowd in Oxford. Everyone will play tonight!
Marshall beats NC Central…Go Herd or Go home!
USC beats Stanford… Student body right?
Oregon beats Michigan…And it won’t be pretty.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson