Watching several college football games over the weekend, it was once again obvious that the difference in athletic talent at the various levels is a major factor between wins and losses. There are many coaching staffs that are extremely knowledgeable and experienced, true leaders and motivators of young men, who toil in relative anonymity but lack the resources to recruit top-notch players.
The old saying that “it’s not so much the X’s and O’s as it is the Jimmies and Joes” applies in many cases when it comes to sports of all sorts. Case in point, do you think that Penn State’s staff knows more than Illinois’ coaches? Probably not, but the Nittany Lions just had more talent on the field than the Fighting Illini over the course of a hard-fought game Saturday. Coaching does make a difference, especially if you have two teams of equal ability, but it most often comes down to who has the horses and who has the ponies.
Speaking of Joes, do you think that Browns fans would love to have Joe Flacco back wearing the orange and brown? Flacco made his debut as a Colts backup QB against the Steelers Sunday and led Indy to a 27-24 victory. Subbing in after Colts’ starter Anthony Richardson went down with an injury, the 39-year-old Flacco threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns, reminiscent of his performance last season when he rallied the Browns to the playoffs after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury. Here’s today’s first trivia question—where did Flacco play college ball?
After the Bengals finally won their first game of the year over the Panthers (was good to see ex-Bengal QB Andy Dalton play well for Carolina wasn’t it?) and the Steelers and Browns losses, the Stripes are still in the hunt in the AFC North with a 1-3 record, same as Cleveland. With Pittsburgh now sporting a 3-1 mark and the Ravens at best being 2-2 (if they knock off the Bills later Sunday night) there is still hope that ten or possibly even nine wins will make the playoffs.
Great game between Georgia and Alabama wasn’t it? And how about Kentucky knocking off Ole Miss down at The Grove in Oxford? Looking for a few “sleeper” teams to make the 12-team playoffs at season’s end? Think Iowa State, UNLV, Boise State, and Arizona.
Trivia question number two—what is the significance demographically about the first week of October?
Rain and wind were the order of the day throughout West Central Ohio, especially Friday night. High school games went on either as scheduled or moved to Saturday when conditions were somewhat better. When everyone had dried off Tipp and Xenia had established themselves as the class of the MVL; Troy claimed honors over Piqua in the oldest rivalry in Ohio; Preble Shawnee and Ansonia continued on a collision course to an October 18th meeting with WOAC honors at stake; and Coldwater and Marion Local marched on in the MAC.
How good is Marion Local? The reigning champions of small school ball in Ohio ran all over a good Versailles team and look to be a good bet to once again make the trip to Canton in December for a state title contest.
Here’s something that caught my eye—according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 10.5% of American men between ages 25 and 54 “are neither working nor looking for employment.” It’s an economic mystery why that number has grown over the past few decades, but education appears to be “an important predictor.” What a waste of manpower and talent, something that puts a real damper on our economy!
What were the odds in April that the Royals and Tigers would make the American League playoffs this fall? For that matter, how likely was it that the National League “wild cards” would involve the results of a doubleheader Monday between the Mets and Braves with the Diamondbacks awaiting the outcomes? Lots of action on the FanDuel and DraftKings websites, I would think!!
Finally the answers to the trivia questions—Joe Flacco, the 2013 Super Bowl MVP while playing for the Baltimore Ravens, started his college career at Pittsburgh before transferring to the University of Delaware. As the Blue Hens starting quarterback, he improved enough to be chosen by the Ravens in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft!
The first week of October traditionally sees more births in the US than any other time of the year. Why you might ask? New Year’s Eve celebrations!! Have a safe and healthy week!
