THURSDAY THROWDOWN 11/20/08: RIVALRY EDITION

Scoops McCracken: High School question here to start things off: How is it that Cretin, with their endless supply of talent, has only won 1 state football title?
Peoria Pliers: I don't know, but my guess is that their endless supply is relatively limited to very top end talent...I think depth is probably an issue for them since they have to recruit kids and they don’t have 3000 kids to choose from.
Scoops McCracken: I think it has to do with the fact that when they actually get in a tough situation, they buckle like a belt. I think toughness has more to do with it than depth.
Peoria Pliers: That and the fact that Joe Mauer hucked a ball across his body 30 yards into the secondary in 2000 to seal the deal. That cost them.
Scoops McCracken: Well, at least it was the last bad throw he's made at the Metrodome since.
Peoria Pliers: That is true. So what’s the story with Rivalry week this year? No Iron Bowl? No Cal/USC? What gives?
Scoops McCracken: Iron Bowl is next weekend....and I'm pretty sure Cal & USC already played, didn't they? I think the USC/UCLA game is now usually the same day as the SEC title game. Probably smart since the Big Ten shuts everything down by Thanksgiving and it shows come bowl time. Question for you. You attend an Ivy League game or two.....does Harvard & Yale & the ivies play in the 1-AA tournament or not?
Peoria Pliers: No they do not, they disqualify themselves for some reason
Scoops McCracken: I guess I'm just trying to prepare for the cluster-F that's about to occur should Texas Tech lose either this weekend or against Mizzou and Alabama loses to Florida. And was wondering why the academic card isn't played in terms of the 1-AA tourney.
Peoria Pliers: Well Alabama WILL lose to Florida, which is certain if you ask me. It would be nice to see a bunch of cluster-F to push the pro-playoff agenda on Obama. I'm not sure that is why they don't participate, but it certainly takes the wind out of that argument
Scoops McCracken: Last week, we had some differences (I think you had all of them right, by the way). This week, we had some similar picks.
Peoria Pliers: This week seems like an easier week of picks...which usually means I'm about to go 0-8, but I do like where we agree. Northwestern is going to beat Illinois since they are, along with Tennessee, in full Tail Spin mode
Scoops McCracken: Tennessee lost to freaking Wyoming. That was as bad as it gets. And the funny thing is: who would want that job? The recruiting base sucks; you're competing against Richt & Meyer every single year, not to mention Saban & Miles in the other division. And they expect you to be in the national title hunt with those others their lurking. I'd much rather take the Clemson job.....they'll pay what an SEC school pays, and it will be easier to beat a bunch of basketball schools.
Peoria Pliers: You must have read the Mandel Mailbag too. Tennessee’s program is in deep trouble. That stadium is going to look really funny with 50,000 fans in it instead of 117,000. Not much pressure at Clemson
Scoops McCracken: Some pressure, but definitely not as much as Tennessee, and it will be easier to succeed. So what was your favorite Metrodome memory?
Peoria Pliers: Well, let me count them...
5. Getting run over by Mike Lehan during the old Classic Lake Dome game
4. Gene Larkin stepping on home plate
3. Watching the Vikes beat New Orleans 43-3 when I was like 7 years old
2. Rhys Lloyd sprinting to the BADger bench to take the Axe back
1. The Call by Jack Buck when Kirby hit the walk-off, "...And we'll see you tomorrow night!"
Maybe I was just supposed to name Gopher moments....but I only have the one. Sorry. So is Texas Tech/Oklahoma going to be the game of the year, or did we already see it with the Texas/Texas Tech game?
Scoops McCracken: It's asking an awful lot for the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game to top the TT/UT game. My guess is it won't be just because rarely do big games live up to the expectations. Off hand, what games have? 2006 Rose Bowl with Texas & USC. 2003 Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State & Miami. 1988 Notre Dame & Miami. 1991 & 1992 Miami & Florida State. What game was better? 2007 Fiesta Bowl between Boise State & Oklahoma or 2006 Rose Bowl?
Peoria Pliers: 2006 Rose Bowl if you ask me. Just as much drama, no upset value, but SO MUCH on the line
Scoops McCracken: That had more on the line, but the Fiesta Bowl was a chalkboard come to life. The Oklahoma comeback to tie it, the INT for a pick 6, hook & latter, AP's final college carry being a filthy powerful 25 yard TD run, plus the HB pass & draw. Probably the most exciting 15-20 minutes in sports history minus the last 15 minutes of 1980 USA-CCCP
Peoria Pliers: That might be correct...I'd agree that the last ten minutes were amazingly exciting...but watching Vince Young literally carry his entire team down the field against one of the greatest college football defenses of all time and top it off with a winning score for the Nat'l Championship tops the list for me. Of course if Beano Cook were here, he'd tell you all about the 1949 Notre Dame squad and how great it was. Or the epic 1946 game versus Army...Zero to Zero.
Scoops McCracken: I always love that stuff.....Army in 1940 was the greatest team of all time. I know you have to be relative to the time period, but 1940 would have lost to the 2005 Music City Bowl runner-up Golden Gophers by 20+ points. Ole Beano.......what a classic.
Peoria Pliers: My unofficial count puts FIFTEEN players on the 2005 USC team in the NFL right now. And that does NOT count shoe-ins like Rey Maualuga and Mark Sanchez
Scoops McCracken: You want to see talent on a field....watch early 90s & early 00s Miami & Florida State. I think it was an upset that Nebraska was within 50 points of Miami in the 2002 Rose Bowl
Peoria Pliers: Yeah those are great ESPN classic moments. I caught the Miami team with Warren Sapp AND Ray Lewis on it...and Lewis had that bad-ass jersey on with his stomach showing...that usually looks REALLY gay. But when Ray Lewis does it, you get a little scared for your personal safety
Scoops McCracken: That was my favorite part about mid 80s to early 90s college football......the short jersey with the bare stomach showing.
Peoria Pliers: Wow, I just pulled up the 2002 hurricane roster...that is scary. Very, very scary. Dorsey, Davenport, Portis, Shockey, Johnson, McKinney, Joaquin Gonzalez, McDougle, William Joseph, DJ Williams, Jonathan Vilma, Mike Rumph, Ed Reed, Phillip Buchanon....wow.. My head is spinning. They also had Frank Friggen Gore! And Willis McGahee, if I'm not mistaken? I want to say that there are like five Pro-Bowlers in that mix
Scoops McCracken: Don't forget the late Sean Taylor as all, who was probably the biggest badass of them all.
Peoria Pliers: My God. That is so scary. I remember when Reed left, everyone talked about how it might be an upgrade...I thought they were crazy...but they were right. Taylor was a TERROR in college
Scoops McCracken: If you want good stuff, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9od2uODVeoU&feature=related CBS Intro, Clemson vs. Florida State, 1988.
Peoria Pliers: it's amazing that the song hasn’t changed in 20 years
Scoops McCracken: It was cool then and it's still cool even now. You don't try to chizzle for a diamond when you have a huge golden nugget right in front of you.
Peoria Pliers: You sound like a post game Bobby Bowden press conference. "Our team looks like a coon-hound with peanut butter on it's nose and a couple'a ice skates on its feet...lord knows we cant find where we want to go, but even if we did, we would slip and fall anyway"
Scoops McCracken: Speaking of Bobby Bowden, not as good, but the NBC Intro to the Notre Dame-Florida State 1993 game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cipJq3ZhuuQ And the best of them all: 1986 Miami vs. Oklahoma: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qUakS5BG2M&feature=related
Peoria Pliers: Brent Musberger is my idol. And nothing says Bad Ass Miami/Oklahoma football quite like Phil Collins...
Scoops McCracken: He has kept it in 5th gear for over 20 years for sure.
Peoria Pliers: What did he do to get fired from CBS anyway? As we both scramble to Wikipedia to figure it out...good news...He did get into a fistfight with Jimmy the Greek! Now he really is my idol!
Scoops McCracken: I thought it was for pissing in public at first. Funny, Greek failed to mention that to me during his interview.
Peoria Pliers: He was probably too embarrassed
Scoops McCracken: Since we're on a youtube kick, here's a great Musburger one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pj2zV5FdYU
Peoria Pliers: That one is classic...that girl ended up in Playboy a while back. She had the goods, I'll give her that
Scoops McCracken: I want him to do play-by-play at my funeral. Think of the into before the casket is brought down the aisle........
Peoria Pliers: Well the intro HAS to be done by Ron Franklin. Musburger can do the Eulogy
Scoops McCracken: Depends if music is involved or not......Franklin can set the stage great when it's just him waxing nostalgic with the history angle, but Musburger is throwing 99mph fastballs for 8 innings in those CBS 80s intros.
Peoria Pliers: So what song would be your funeral background intro for Musburger?
Scoops McCracken: I think a CBS college football theme with pictures of past Scoops as a youngster with Musburger doing his thing: "In 1978, Scoops McCracken started his hard hitting, no non-sense style that showed no signs of slowing down" Back to football: Pliers' BCS crystal ball says what?
Peoria Pliers: Hmmmmmmmmmm....I see....I see.....Florida and.....hhmmmmmm....Texas Tech! I have no idea. Who you got?
Scoops McCracken: Florida & Oklahoma in the title game. Penn State & USC in the Rose. Georgia Tech & Utah in the Orange. Alabama & Texas in the Sugar. Cincinnati & Ohio State in the Fiesta
Peoria Pliers: I would love to see a Ga Tech/Utah game. Alabama getting pounded by Texas in New Orleans would be awesome. That is a dream BCS outcome, really....what happens to Texas Tech? You sayin' they get left out in the cold? They're the odd man out....if Oklahoma wins this weekend, they probably move up to the title game.....and I'm guessing they'll take Texas because of who they are.
Scoops McCracken: Texas Tech then either wins by 100 points in the Holiday Bowl or loses because they don't care about being there.
Peoria Pliers: That makes this weekend even more important for Tech...I like 'em to win
Scoops McCracken: Bob Stoops' home record is 59-2!
Peoria Pliers: About to be 59-3. The Mad Bomber is in town. Plus, doesn’t Jesus love an underdog?
Scoops McCracken: Jesus was the original underdog. And Jesus vs. Satan was the original rivalry with a trophy. Only fitting that He be fired up for Rivalry weekend!