The Big Book of Lists

Time for some lists.

First off, if I did my Big 10 power rankings last week before the first ball was kicked in anger it would have looked like this:

1. Michigan
2. Wisconsin
3. Ohio State
4. Penn State
5. Iowa
6. Illinois
7. Purdue
8. Indiana
9. Michigan State
10. Minnesota
11. Northwestern


Ok, so a few changes need to be made. As of Saturday morning week 2:

1. Wisconsin: beat the best team of anyone in the Big 10 and seemingly answered their #1 question mark in doing so
2. Penn State: If this team can score a lot of points, they will be dangerous
3. Ohio State: A deep team that should be tough by the end of the season
4. Michigan: I'm keeping them in my top 4- too much talent on offense. The defense might be a lot worse than we all thought, however.
5. Iowa: Unimpressive against NIU. I think that is about how Iowa will play all year
6. Purdue: They won, but I don't think they are that good
7. Indiana: They have enough playmakers for 6 wins, one of which could be an upset
8. Illinois: They showed they can score points
9. Michigan State: could be higher, but I think they will struggle mightily in the Big 10
10. Northwestern: Not a very good team
11. Minnesota: BRUTAL


Also, I dont believe in polls until the beginning of October, but since I will be gone for the next 3 weeks, I am polling now. Let's go:

1. USC: Simply the best
2. Florida: Last year they were better than all the rest
3. LSU: They could be rolling on a river close to home in January
4. West Virginia: I hate them, but what's love got to do with polls?
5. Wisconsin: I can't think of any other Tina Turner lyrics
6. Nebraska: You watch, they will win the Big 12
7. Cal: Great win in week 1
8. Georgia: They will stomp my cocks tonight
9. Louisville: Um, play some defense please
10. UCLA: Pac-10 is underrated this year
11. Oklahoma: Big 12 is overrated
12. Texas: See 11
13. Penn State: Should have an easy win over ND today
14. Virginia Tech: Terribly overrated. I see them getting smashed by LSU tonight
15. Ohio State: A Solid team
16. Arkansas: Only if Houston Nutt stops his in-game texting
17. Rutgers: Interesting to see if they can build off of last season's success
18. Tennessee: Ran into a buzzsaw last week
19. Wake Forest: Interesting matchup today vs Nebraska
20. Appalachian State: Why not them
21. Oregon: Big game in the big house
22. Michigan: Whatever, you can't tell me there are 25 better teams in the country than Michigan. People need to shut up
23. Clemson. Seriously. Put Michigan on the same field as Clemson and Michigan wins by 2 scores. People really need to shut up. If Michigan was in a different conference no one would be trying to make their rankings a moral case.
24. South Florida: DANGEROUS, and still not better than Michigan.
25. Iowa: Because I cannot think of anyone else that deserves to be ranked, and yes, I am sure I missed a handful of rankable teams (that would all lose to Michigan)- deal with it.


And now for some fun. My 10 favorite college football teams:

1. Wisconsin
2. The real USC (the one in Columbia, SC)
3. Georgia
4. Penn State
5. Stanford
6. Northern Illinois
7. Clemson
8. LSU
9. Texas Tech (I know, random)
10. The other USC

Although after the top 2 I start reaching.


Ranking the college stadiums I have seen games at:

1. UCLA's Rose Bowl
2. Ohio State's Horseshoe
3. Wisconsin's Camp Randall
4. Penn State's Stadium
5. USC's Williams-Brice
6. Iowa's Kinnick Stadium
7. Michigan's Big Hizzle
8. Illinois' Memorial Stadium
9. UTEP's Sun Bowl
10. Miami's future home of Jack Murphy or whatever it is called


Top 10 places I would like to see games at:

1. Georgia
2. LSU
3. Clemson
4. Oregon
5. Michigan State
6. Notre Dame- just because
7. UNLV (when the Badgers play there in 2011)
8. Florida
9. Tennessee
10. Nebraska

Soldiering the Gates

While we were away in Madison for the Badger opener, word is the Windy City looked like IOWA (Idiots Out Walking Around) threw up all over it. 45,000 fans streamed through the gates of Soldier Field to see their Hawks earn a solid, if underwhelming victory over Northern Illinois. The sold out venue (61,000) makes it an attractive option for later Husky games, namely the 2009 contest versus our very own Wisconsin Badgers. Book it!

Is the Grass Greener

I could comment on the Badger's 42-21 win yesterday. I could go on and on about how solid Tyler Donovan looked and how good Luke Swan was. I could share my feelings on the Big 10 preview and I could update that after the results from yesterday. Heck, I could even take a shot at Notre Dame who lost 33-3 yesterday (thank God Charlie Weis is an offensive genius or else lord know how bad they would have lost). Instead, I'm going to take a shot at The University of Michigan, who was ranked #5 at the beginning of the year and lost to Appalachian State (school of Miss Teen South Carolina, btw) in the Big House.

Oh, and as you can imagine the natives are getting restless up in Michigan. Lloyd Carr has been on a warm seat the past few seasons and now that seat has gotten extremely hot. But what would life look like for the Wolverines if they did get rid of Carr. Afterall, Lloyd has kept this team competitive and shared a national title during his tenure in Ann Arbor. Would they really be better off with someone else and who would that someone else be if Carr got the axe in the off-season.

Let's look at who some of the likelier candidates could be if the Wolverines decided to make a change, broken down into several categories:



No Way in Hell is It Going to Happen, but let's mention their names and get it out of the way:

Bob Stoops
Mack Brown
Charlie Weis- although it would be hysterical to watch the reactions of both fan bases
Pete Carroll
Urban Meyer
Steve Spurrier


They might get a call, but there are too many reasons why the won't get the job:

Nick Saban- unless the money is right. This guy will do anything for cash
Steve Mariucci- I dont think Michigan fans would be too happy with this one
Jerry Moore- Not sure who he is? Yeah, that's the coach who beat them yesterday


Fringe Candidates:

Les Miles- I can't see him leaving a good gig at LSU, but he would be a good hire
Jack Del Rio- an NFL name that might be available, but unlike other NFL names he is more suited for the NFL game
Tommy Tubberville- see Nick Saban
Rick Nieuheisel- way too much baggage


Could be good candidates:

Pat Hill- The Fresno State coach seems to be more inclined to go after a NFL job, but he is a solid smaller school option
Barry Alvarez- a great Big 10 name, someone who can get to (and win) Rose Bowls
Kirk Ferentz- this might be the most likely name so far. It's not hard to see him leaving for Ann Arbor
Bill Cowher- he wants to coach again, probably in college. But he might not be a long-term hire.
Rich Rodriguez- he'll certainly be at the top of the list
Tommy Bowden- could be looking for a job come this winter


The guy I would hire:

Jon Gruden

Seriously. He made noise a few years ago that he might be interested in the Notre Dame job. He has struggled enough in Tampa that he could also be available this winter. Like Cowher, he has won a Super Bowl, but unilke Cowher he is younger and might be able to stay at one program for 10 more years. Will bring instant credibility to recruiting and should be able to employ a sophisticated offense. Think of him as the next Pete Caroll.


So there you have it, a handful of NFL retreads and some good college coaches who will turn down the job in .4 seconds. Hill, Rodriguez, and Ferentz would certainly be the top choices amongst college coaches. My feelings, however, is that the Wolverines would go for someone who has had success at the pro level. If any of these guys would actually be better than Lloyd Carr remains to be seen.