Welcome to the last whether of the year & my last Sun Bowl preview post. Those of you who already left for El Paso will miss my official pick! Ha!
Say Josh, tell me whether...
...the city of El Paso is welcoming Cats fans with open arms.
According to the chamber of commerce, and I quote, "Yes."
...the city of El Paso is welcoming Bruins fans with open arms.
Arms, yes. Small arms, specfically.
...you had a nice Christmas.
Why yes I did. You're so considerate. Did you enjoy the holiday?
...you really think I can answer that.
I don't see why not.
...you believe these questions come from an actual person.
I guess I hadn't thought about it. Where do they come from.
...we can just do the pick and be done with this.
Fine. Bitchy little non-entity you are.
Sun Bowl pick after the jump.
...you're picking the Cats in a mild upset.
Wait for it....of course I am. I'm nothing if not a guy who always picks the Cats to win. I've got the line as UCLA -3, O/U 74.5. I'm going with NU 41, UCLA 34. That's right, 13 FGs and a safety. You heard it here first, people.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Sun Bowl Road Trip Guide
A bowl game, as opposed to a regular-season road trip, offers greater opportunities for side trips and planned vacation-y events. If you're there for a few days, you'll need to spend the time somehow. Also, there are frequently more friends and NU-ites around a bowl game. So, here are some large group suggestions for your time in El Paso.
Go see NUMB
A marching band is a great sight-seeing event for large groups, because it typically costs nothing to watch them and they play in large venues. Don't limit yourself to the pregame pep rally though. Seek out NUMB in it's natural habitat: it's hotel or practice field. Remember that the band is there to entertain, so insist that NUMBers dress in uniform and perform for you at all times. You're not paying top dollar on this vacation for nothing.
Go to Mexico
We all know by now that El Paso is right on the border with Mexico. Many people will want to take the opportunity to visit a foreign country. Go for it! Pile in some cars and drive over there. People may tell you that it's easy to sneak across the border, but go the legit way through an official crossing. Once you're in Mexico, you may feel like experiencing an authentic experience. Do it! Spend time time learning about real life there. Then maybe you'll abandon your group and sneak back into the States. You can see which route is fastest!
Build a Fort
All of the harassing NUMB and getting arrested will get you pretty tired. When you retire to your hotel room, you'll want to be comfortable. But, you're on vacation so you should still live a little while you rest. Build a fort in your room. Use available materials, or bring some supplies with you. Recommended: duct tape, pen, paper, twine, screwdriver. Just remember, "Fort Awesome" is a registered trademark of Josh Held Escort Service, Inc. Come up with your own name, huh?
See you in El Paso!
Go see NUMB
A marching band is a great sight-seeing event for large groups, because it typically costs nothing to watch them and they play in large venues. Don't limit yourself to the pregame pep rally though. Seek out NUMB in it's natural habitat: it's hotel or practice field. Remember that the band is there to entertain, so insist that NUMBers dress in uniform and perform for you at all times. You're not paying top dollar on this vacation for nothing.
Go to Mexico
We all know by now that El Paso is right on the border with Mexico. Many people will want to take the opportunity to visit a foreign country. Go for it! Pile in some cars and drive over there. People may tell you that it's easy to sneak across the border, but go the legit way through an official crossing. Once you're in Mexico, you may feel like experiencing an authentic experience. Do it! Spend time time learning about real life there. Then maybe you'll abandon your group and sneak back into the States. You can see which route is fastest!
Build a Fort
All of the harassing NUMB and getting arrested will get you pretty tired. When you retire to your hotel room, you'll want to be comfortable. But, you're on vacation so you should still live a little while you rest. Build a fort in your room. Use available materials, or bring some supplies with you. Recommended: duct tape, pen, paper, twine, screwdriver. Just remember, "Fort Awesome" is a registered trademark of Josh Held Escort Service, Inc. Come up with your own name, huh?
See you in El Paso!
Sun Bowl Weather Forecast
The official forecast for Friday in El Paso is 64 degrees and sunny with no chance of rain. Yeah, so I guess that's pretty nice. Not really football whether though. My personal forecast calls for Chicago area NU fans to collect some snow before they get on their planes. Bring that snow and throw it the Bruins. See if they're as hardy as their mascot would imply.
Cats win!
Cats win!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Pam Ward: Now with less hate
ESPN college football and basketball broadcaster Pam Ward has officially dropped to a lower hate level in my tiny little mind. Thanks to a funny interview appearance on the Mister Tony show, she moves out of the ranks of Jay Mariotti and joins such minor hatees as Mike Lupica and Stu Scott.
Listen Live to Mister Tony [sportstalk980] (free registration required)
Listen Live to Mister Tony [sportstalk980] (free registration required)
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Sun Bowl Preview: Part 3
The last part of my Sun Bowl preview starts with special teams. This is a tough one to call. On one hand, both teams stack up pretty evenly against each other. UCLA has slightly better punt returning, but NU is better on kickoffs. UCLA covers punts better, but NU covers kickoffs a little better, due mostly to squib and pop-up kicks.
Running back Maurice Drew is UCLA's main punt returner, and the national leader in that category. If NU's punting is improved a little bit from the end of the season, this shouldn't hurt them. But big plays on special teams could be a difference if it's a close game.
Names after the jump!
Just call him "Ryan" and be done with it - Shawn "Ryan" Oatis (Fr, S) from Chino, CA.
Band of Brothers - Korey & Kyle Bosworth (Fr, LBs), Joe and Patrick Cowan (Jr, WR & Fr, QB), Marko & Nikola Dragovic (Sr & So, DEs), Chad & Chase Moline (Jr, LB & Fr, DE).
Positionally named - Gavin Ketchum (Fr, WR).
For the last time in 2005 - Baumgartner, Carter, Havner, Heater, Meyer, Pitre, Rauscher, Sieber, Slater, Taylor (x2), Turner, Walker.
Running back Maurice Drew is UCLA's main punt returner, and the national leader in that category. If NU's punting is improved a little bit from the end of the season, this shouldn't hurt them. But big plays on special teams could be a difference if it's a close game.
Names after the jump!
Just call him "Ryan" and be done with it - Shawn "Ryan" Oatis (Fr, S) from Chino, CA.
Band of Brothers - Korey & Kyle Bosworth (Fr, LBs), Joe and Patrick Cowan (Jr, WR & Fr, QB), Marko & Nikola Dragovic (Sr & So, DEs), Chad & Chase Moline (Jr, LB & Fr, DE).
Positionally named - Gavin Ketchum (Fr, WR).
For the last time in 2005 - Baumgartner, Carter, Havner, Heater, Meyer, Pitre, Rauscher, Sieber, Slater, Taylor (x2), Turner, Walker.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Sun Bowl Preview: Part 2
Welcome back to my Sun Bowl preview. Today we'll focus on when Northwestern has the ball on offense.
NU will need to keep it's offensive balance to score the points needed to win this game. Fortunately, I hope, UCLA may offer that opportunity. The Bruins' defense is fairly poor. Overall, it ranks 111th in the country. 64th against the pass and 117th against the run. They give up 4 more yards per game rushing than Illinois. The defense is led in tackles by senior linebacker Spencer Havner
If Tyrell and Baz can rush for 200+ yards, the passing game should open up nicely. UCLA's average pass defense should be a good opportunity for the Cats to spread the ball to many receivers.
NU will need to keep it's offensive balance to score the points needed to win this game. Fortunately, I hope, UCLA may offer that opportunity. The Bruins' defense is fairly poor. Overall, it ranks 111th in the country. 64th against the pass and 117th against the run. They give up 4 more yards per game rushing than Illinois. The defense is led in tackles by senior linebacker Spencer Havner
If Tyrell and Baz can rush for 200+ yards, the passing game should open up nicely. UCLA's average pass defense should be a good opportunity for the Cats to spread the ball to many receivers.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Sun Bowl Preview: Part 1
Welcome to the first of a three part preview of the Sun Bowl. The ApostroCats will be taking on the UCLA Bruins in what everyone expects to be a high-scoring affair. Not the kind of affair that you see on The Young and The Restless, although those have lots of scoring too. In that spirit -- the football one -- I'll try to break down my preview into three sections: When UCLA has the ball, when NU has the ball, and special teams. Today, we look at the UCLA offense matched up against the NU defense.
The big three, as every team must have, for UCLA are senior quarterback Drew Olson, junior running back Maurice Drew, and senior tight end Marcedes Lewis. Behind these three, plus several others (7 receivers with 10+ catches, 3 backs with 30+ carries) the Bruins' offense is in the top 25 overall nationwide and the top 20 in passing. Olson is the country's third best passer (QB rating or 165.2) and can be expected to make a lot of good decisions and good throws.
More after the jump.
The Wildcats will have to depend heavily on the linebacking corps and safeties to keep UCLA's rushing and middle-distance passing attack from creating too many big plays. As usual, this will fall more on the shoulders of senior middle linebacker Tim "Two-Ton" McGarigle. That's not his nickname, really. It's just one of the best nicknames ever in general, as far as I'm concerned. Staring LBs Adam Kadela and Nick Roach will factor heavily as well.
In the secondary, look for two safeties that didn't see much or any time at the end of the season. Freshman Brendan Smith should be back from his leg injury and junior Brian Heinz is said to be available for the Sun Bowl after missing the entire regular season with an injury. If both NU safeties put in strong games, the defense may hold UCLA down just enough!
The big three, as every team must have, for UCLA are senior quarterback Drew Olson, junior running back Maurice Drew, and senior tight end Marcedes Lewis. Behind these three, plus several others (7 receivers with 10+ catches, 3 backs with 30+ carries) the Bruins' offense is in the top 25 overall nationwide and the top 20 in passing. Olson is the country's third best passer (QB rating or 165.2) and can be expected to make a lot of good decisions and good throws.
More after the jump.
The Wildcats will have to depend heavily on the linebacking corps and safeties to keep UCLA's rushing and middle-distance passing attack from creating too many big plays. As usual, this will fall more on the shoulders of senior middle linebacker Tim "Two-Ton" McGarigle. That's not his nickname, really. It's just one of the best nicknames ever in general, as far as I'm concerned. Staring LBs Adam Kadela and Nick Roach will factor heavily as well.
In the secondary, look for two safeties that didn't see much or any time at the end of the season. Freshman Brendan Smith should be back from his leg injury and junior Brian Heinz is said to be available for the Sun Bowl after missing the entire regular season with an injury. If both NU safeties put in strong games, the defense may hold UCLA down just enough!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Cats ate Pirates
So, the NU Basketball Wildcats beat Seton Hall 44-42 out in Jersey this morning. The most interesting thing about the win from my perspective was not Hachad's game-winning shot with seconds remaining. It's not the fact that Double-V scored almost half our points -- 18 out of 44.
It's that I was sure the game was scheduled for tomorrow night. I don't know how I came to be so sure of that piece of falsitude. But, in double-checking the TV clearance for the game, I discovered it was already over. Good for me.
Time for my being aware of the basketball schedule now has come.
It's that I was sure the game was scheduled for tomorrow night. I don't know how I came to be so sure of that piece of falsitude. But, in double-checking the TV clearance for the game, I discovered it was already over. Good for me.
Time for my being aware of the basketball schedule now has come.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Bowl Predictions
Here are my bowl game picks for 2005-2006. I'm leaving the Sun Bowl out, so that I can pick that one later.
Favorites in bold, where line is available:
New Orleans: Southern Miss 35, Arkansas St 10
GMAC: Toleda 42, UTEP 27
Las Vegas: California 27, BYU 20
Poinsettia: Navy 23, Colorado State 17
Fort Worth: Houston 20, Kansas 17
Hawaii: Nevada 33, UCF 28
Motor City: Akron 35, Memphis 31
Champs Sports: Clemson 20, Colorado 6
Insight: Arizona State 30, Rutgers 20
MPC: Boise State 33, BC 17
Alamo: Michigan 23, Nebraska 10
Emeral: Georgia Tech 21, Utah 14
Holiday: Oregon 37, Oklahoma 17
Music City: Minnesota 28, Virginia 27
Sun: Ha! You've gotta wait on this one.
Independence: South Carolina 20, Missouri 13
Peach: LSU 13, Miami 7
Meineke: USF 24, NC State 21
Liberty: Fresno State 27, Tulsa 13
Houston: TCU 30, Iowa State 20
Cotton: Alabama 14, Texas Tech 13
Outback: Iowa 23, Florida 14
Gator: Virginia Tech 28, Louisville 27
Capital One: Auburn 17, Wisconsin 13
Fiesta: Ohio State 20, Notre Dame 10
Sugar: Georgia 30, West Virginia 17
Orange: Penn State 13, Florida State 10
Rose: USC 35, Texas 33
Favorites in bold, where line is available:
New Orleans: Southern Miss 35, Arkansas St 10
GMAC: Toleda 42, UTEP 27
Las Vegas: California 27, BYU 20
Poinsettia: Navy 23, Colorado State 17
Fort Worth: Houston 20, Kansas 17
Hawaii: Nevada 33, UCF 28
Motor City: Akron 35, Memphis 31
Champs Sports: Clemson 20, Colorado 6
Insight: Arizona State 30, Rutgers 20
MPC: Boise State 33, BC 17
Alamo: Michigan 23, Nebraska 10
Emeral: Georgia Tech 21, Utah 14
Holiday: Oregon 37, Oklahoma 17
Music City: Minnesota 28, Virginia 27
Sun: Ha! You've gotta wait on this one.
Independence: South Carolina 20, Missouri 13
Peach: LSU 13, Miami 7
Meineke: USF 24, NC State 21
Liberty: Fresno State 27, Tulsa 13
Houston: TCU 30, Iowa State 20
Cotton: Alabama 14, Texas Tech 13
Outback: Iowa 23, Florida 14
Gator: Virginia Tech 28, Louisville 27
Capital One: Auburn 17, Wisconsin 13
Fiesta: Ohio State 20, Notre Dame 10
Sugar: Georgia 30, West Virginia 17
Orange: Penn State 13, Florida State 10
Rose: USC 35, Texas 33
Thursday, December 15, 2005
How to Play with a Piglet
Ahh. This is the wikiHow that I know and love! A site that routinely tells me how to do things I never would have thought about. And now I totally want to play with a piglet!
How to Play With a Piglet [wikiHow]
How to Play With a Piglet [wikiHow]
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Bowlognomy!
Out in the west Texas town of El Paso...is the only El Paso reference I can think of. So, yippee! We'll be taking on the UCLA Bruins on December 30th!
Go Cats!
Go Cats!
Friday, December 02, 2005
How not to explain how to be funny
So, I'm not usually a jerk here. And I try to mention things that are good and funny. And I usually like wikiHow a lot. But this one is just stupid.
The premise is, "How to Be Funny Without Telling Jokes."
The suggestions? Write out your jokes, so you're not actually telling them; do physical comedy; just go ahead and tell jokes.
Wow. Not exactly inspired, my good chums. Better luck next time.
How to Be Funny Without Telling Jokes [wikiHow]
The premise is, "How to Be Funny Without Telling Jokes."
The suggestions? Write out your jokes, so you're not actually telling them; do physical comedy; just go ahead and tell jokes.
Wow. Not exactly inspired, my good chums. Better luck next time.
How to Be Funny Without Telling Jokes [wikiHow]
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