Mid Day Rant: Special Teams

After a wild weekend in sports, I could have gone a number of ways with this.  I could have discussed John Lackey or Theo, the World Series, Tim Tebow, yet for personal reasons I am choosing special teams.  We all now the Badger special teams have been subpar the past two weeks.  One could say that they have cost us a chance at the Rose Bowl and the NCG.  Had those punts not been blocked, we could be sitting at 8 – 0.  Instead, we are sitting at 6 – 2 with our sights set more on the Capital One Bowl.

Maybe Terrific Tom should have attempted
the onside kick

                The Badgers were not the only team to have a falter in special teams.  The Patriots also had a brief misfortune with their legs.  If you watched the game yesterday, you most likely saw the awful onside kick with three minutes left in the game.  I think I could have given the kicking team a better shot at recovering the ball.  Now, the Patriots were out played in this game so to me, it was not as awful as the Badger mishaps.  However, the Patriots have not executed a successful onside kick since 1994, 6 years before the Belichick era.  In his defense, there have not been many situations over the past 11 years where they needed an onside kick.  However, the way the Pats defense has been playing; it might be something they want to spend a little more time on during practice.   

An Inescapable Nightmare

Although Russell had a stellar fourth quarter, a lack
of offense during the second and third
might have cost the Badgers a Rose Bowl berth. 

Did that just really happen… again!?  Another weekend ruined due to the late game heroics of an opposing team's quarterback and a failed prevent defense.  How can we let this happen again?  How can we put ourselves in this situation again?  How do special teams and our defense fail us...again?!! (Seems like I am saying again a lot) Badger fans across the country are asking themselves those questions.  Some are even questioning the coaching staff.

                After two tragic finishes, those questions are legitimate ones to ask.   This is shaping up to be one of the most disappointing season’s in recent Badger history, if not ever.  Prior to Russell’s transfer, I had hopes of Rose Bowl redemption.  Now, we have dug ourselves into a hole and we need help to make the Big Ten Championship game.  Nine days ago we were a shoe-in and the discussion was who would be the opposition.  Now after last night, it has all gone astray.  

Once again, the Badgers came roaring out of the gate last night to score on their second drive and it looked like we would roll over the Buckeyes.  However we did not put points on the board again until there was five minutes left in the third quarter.  What were we doing during that 30 minute time span?  We have one of the most efficient offenses in the country with weapons all over the field.  It is inexcusable that we could not score during that time frame.  Not to mention we were able to cross the goal line twice in the last four minutes of the game.  Where was that urgency during the whole game, why were we not able to move the ball on the Buckeyes the other 40 minutes?  (It all seems oddly familiar to last Saturday)

What is lost in all of this is Russell’s performance.  He had another stellar performance on paper along with two drives in the last four minutes to give Wisconsin the lead.  The run was clearly not working at the beginning of the game.  Had we let Russell throw more, we might have been able to open it up to allow the Badgers to get more points on the board earlier on.  This is my one complaint for Mr. Wilson.  As a leader of the team, Russell needs to take over the game when he sees our offense faltering.  Russell eventually did this but it was too little to late.  We should have been up 2 - 3 scores on the Buckeyes yet were only up three points.  

 Ohio State was shutting down our run early and often.  We were about 150 yards short of our average.  This is due to our offensive line was playing with no tenacity.  They were getting dominated by Ohio States front four giving up three sacks, getting called for crucial false starts, allowing pressure on Russell, and providing no holes for our backs.  It is a young line, and that seemed to show on Saturday night. 

The Badgers only netted 89 yards on Saturday night,
well below their season average. 

 The same goes for our special teams.  You would think after last week’s disaster our coaches would have been all over them in practice.  Apparently not enough; another blocked punt lead to a Buckeye score to give them a double digit lead.  The same goes for our prevent defense.  AGAIN, we lose in a last minute play on (a now boycotted word in Madison) another Hail Mary.   This is inexcusable to happen for a second week in a row.  Now in a span of 8 days, the season is hanging on by thread. 

                After last weekend, Badger fans thought the nightmare was over only to see it re-appear on Halloween weekend.  We no longer control our own destiny which is a worst case scenario for a team heading into the final month of the season.  In order to make it to the Big Ten Championship, Wisconsin needs Penn State to lose 1 of their next 2 games and Ohio State to lose 1 of their next 4 games they play .  This scenario is possible as Penn State has to play Nebraska at home and at Ohio State.  Ohio State has a game at the Big House and the Wolverines are thirsty to end their 7 game losing streak to Brutus.  Either way, it is not a good feeling.  What looked like a year where Badger fans could be heading to New Orleans, we are now praying at an opportunity to go to Indy.

*After Thought – I still think the Badgers will make it to the Big Ten Championship game.  We will see Penn State lose at home to Nebraska and also OSU on the road.  I lastly think OSU will lose at the Big House giving the Wolverines a chance in Indy.  

Mid Day Rant: Who can rant on a Friday? – Game Projections

Who could rant on a Friday, especially the Friday before Halloween weekend?   Therefore, instead of a rant I will give you my projections for five of the biggest games for College Football tomorrow.

I will obviously be starting with the Badgers.  Earlier in the week I mentioned how I was extremely nervous for the MSU game, this week I am not.  I think Russell will come back with a strong performance and there will be no sign of a hangover for the badgers.  The Buckeyes can move the ball on the ground but to keep up with the Badgers, you need to be able to throw.  In the Buckeye’s last game, they had 1 pass for 19 yards, that will not cut it.  Badgers 41 – Buckeyes  17.

One of the best rivalries in the SEC also comes hand in hand with the biggest cocktail party in the world.  Although I could not be there this year, I should be attending next year with my college roommate (Shout out Jesse) who currently goes to law school in Jacksonville.  I think Georgia has no problem in this game and extends their winning streak to six.  Georgia  27 – Florida 17

One of the most important games tomorrow takes place in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Michigan State is riding there (sigh…) three game winning streak and has a crucial match-up against the Huskers.  The winner of this game will have the inside track to win the Legends division and make it to the Big Ten championship game.  With two stingy defenses, this game could really go either way.  However, I think Kirk Cousins out performs Taylor Martinez to lead the Spartans to victory, setting up a collision course for a rematch with Wisco in Indy.  Spartans 24 – Nebraska 21

My first upset bid for the week will take place in Atlanta when the Tigers visit Georgia Tech.  Clemson has been on a roll lately thanks to the connection of Tajh Boyd to Sammy Watkins.  I do not think GT has the defense to slow them down yet I think they have the offense to stay in the game.  GT has had the most plays in the NCAA of 50 plus yards and therefore has the ability to put up points on a subpar Clemson defense.  A defense who has let up almost 900 yards in the past two games.  This one will be a shootout folks.  Georgia Tech 41 – Clemson 38

Now for the College Gameday’s matchup of the week, Stanford @ USC.  I think we see a second undefeated team bite the dust this week as Stanford visits the Coliseum tomorrow night.  It was only a short time ago Stanford beat USC in SoCal for one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history.  I think the Trojan’s return the favor lead by Matt Barkley and USC’s running attack.  Luck is surrounded by weapons, but with the Trojan’s still on suspension, this is their bowl game.  USC 34 – Stanford 27

Why Russell’s Biggest Run Isn’t Over Yet

RussellMania was in full force in Sept and
Mid - Oct, no reason it can't pick up again

Late April- as the winter snow was melting, and the Rose Bowl hangover succumbing, the Badger faithful got wind of a possible transfer at the quarterback position.  Many fans, including myself, were skeptical at first, wondering if a one and down quarterback was the right move for our beloved Badgers.  Three months later, Wilson was scurrying into the end zone for a 46 yard touchdown against UNLV.  It was official, RussellMania was here and the NC and Heisman hype started in full force.

Up until last Saturday, Russell Wilson was delivering a nearly perfect season.  However, due to the heart breaking loss in East Lansing, Badger fans saw their National Championship dreams squashed along with Russell’s Heisman bid.  Listening to Scott Van Pelt today, they did not even mention Russell’s name when discussing the race.  In Adam Rittenberg’s analysis this week, he stated how another Heisman hopeful saw their dream’s squandered at the hands of the Spartans. 

                I don’t think this is the case at all.  Yeah, Russell has some work to do and it might take a bad game by Luck or Richardson, but I would not say it “Removes him from the Heisman Race.”   The major reason why the media states this claim is because Wisconsin now has a 1 in the L column, yet this means nothing!  The reason people think that this is because the last two Heisman winners, Cam Newton and Mark Ingraham, had undefeated seasons.

Bradford was the last one loss
QB to win the Heisman

Looking back, 8 out of the last 13 Heisman winners suffered a loss during the regular season.  The most recent Heisman winner to take the stage with a loss was Sam Bradford in 2008.  However, look back a year earlier when Timmy was dubbed Heisman, he had three losses in the regular season!  One loss, let alone a loss that came down to a hailmary, should not knock a candidate out of the running.

Although he had his mistakes, Russell fought to the very end through the adversity against MSU.  He single handedly brought us back into that game.  Without him, there was no historic hailmary pass, just a double digit loss handed out by the Spartans.  After using his feet to bring us within seven, he went a perfect 4 -4 on the last drive including a pass to Ball to tie the game up.  Even the college game day crew tweeted “That was a Heisman-esque drive.”  If the hailmary never happened and Russell had led us to victory in OT, I believe the media would be saying the exact same thing. 

Can Luck keep up his momentum
in SoCal?

Looking at the body of work for the season, Russell’s numbers are up there with the other candidates.  When you look at total yards (rushing and passing), only Tajh Boyd has more with a combined 2,544 yards (Thanks in part to Sammy Watkins).  Russell, Kellen and Luck are all within a 30 yard range of each other slightly under 2,000.  The same goes for touchdowns, Tajh has the lead with 28 but Kellen, Russell and Luck are close behind with 24, 20 and 22 respectively.  Lastly, Russell is only a point behind RG 3 in QB passer rating.  Russell will most certainly claim the lead in that category this weekend once the Bears visit the Cowboys in Stillwater.  

The most important stat for my case is 8/15.  There has only been eight weeks of college football with seven remaining.  After last weekend, I think it is safe to say anything can happen.  If Russell has a phenomenal night this weekend at OSU, who knows how the race could shake up.  Luck could stumble this week at USC and Richardson could have an off night when LSU comes to town Nov 5th.  Also, looming down the road is a potential rematch with MSU where Russell can find redemption and steal the show.  Either way, I will assure you Russell will be dressed to the nines on December 10th. 

As you can see, you do not need to go undefeated to win the Heisman. 

Mid-Day Rant: Trade Collusions and Taxi Cabs

                Yesterday I was traveling to Minneapolis for business (hence no rant) and at lunch I was checking my personal email.  What do I see?  Two fantasy football trades proposed from the most inactive manager to another team.  Put it this way, he was that inactive that he still had Peyton at QB.  Now I have to give a shout out to a colleague of mine (Heyoo JOE) for alerting me that some collusion could be going on in the next couple days.  Sure enough, he was right.

Do not be afraid to use the power
of the Veto

                The main controversy heated up when I saw the inactive manager giving away MJD for Joe Flacco and Percy Harvin.  Why would a manager who cannot make the playoffs trade a top ten fantasy running back for a mediocre QB a subpar receiver to a fantasy division leader?  The excuse, he was trying to play spoiler to teams trying to make the playoffs.  Well, he has Hassleback at QB who is having his best year since 2007 and if you’re trying to play spoiler, you might want to keep your best player.  Bottom line, trade conspiracies happen, maybe not often, but when you see it, VETO!

                As I mentioned I was traveling yesterday and once again I found myself sitting in the cab for five minutes at the curb at the airport.  Why might you ask? Because it took that long for my credit card to process! Chicago cabbies need to take a note from their New York Brethren and get up to date machines in their cabs.  So if you are planning a trip to Chi-Town any time soon, carry some cash or you might find yourself waiting in the back of a smelly cab.     

Conference Realignment…ohhhh the greed

West Virginia to the Big 12, are you kidding me?  It seems like every week we have another team playing hop scotch between the major conferences.  I understand the Big East might be dying and West Virginia is covering their rear end but when will all of this stop.   And we all know the motivation behind this conference shuffle, greed.

Universities are looking to put themselves in a position to capitalize on lucrative T.V. contracts and sold out stadiums.  Sure West Virginia might also be looking for a stable conference with the demise of the Big East looming ahead, but why did they even leave?  Why did Syracuse and Pittsburgh all vacate the conference they have called home all these years?  Money!

Could WV and Oklahoma become
a new rivalry?

It is not just the Big East teams either; it is Texas A&M, Missouri, Colorado.  You would think maybe the schools care about tradition and history and rivals.  Nope, the Big East, one of the most storied basketball conferences is now in shambles.  What about Rivalries?  Calhoun – Boheim, the Backyard Brawl, Nebraska –Oklahoma, all are after-thoughts. 

Now we all know the football is the money maker, it is the music behind this game of musical chairs.  This might be why we see schools leaving the Big East.  I mean it is no surprise to anyone that the Big East has the weakest BCS football conference.  Yah, they might be the powerhouse in college basketball but what does that mean these days.  Out of the top 50 revenue generating athletic teams in college sports, only 12 were basketball.

West Virginia will get a tremendous upgrade in their athletic program. Imagine being able to tell a recruit they get to play schools such as Texas and Oklahoma versus Rutgers and Syracuse (and it will be nationally televised).  With the better recruits come better programs, which lead to sold out stadiums.  How about a school like Texas A&M, not only are they joining the best football conference in the country, they also join the conference with the best T.V. contract.  No matter which you way you look at, it will always come down the greenback. 

I could not write this post without mentioning the forgotten athletes.  The men’s soccer team’s and women’s volleyball teams of the college athletic world who do not really get to soak in the glory of moving into a superior conference.   What do they get?  Frequent flyer miles.  The distance between Morgantown and Austin is 1,358 miles.  Multiply that by the five other teams in the Texas/Oklahoma area and that is a lot of free flights.  But at the end of the day, it’s probably the sold out Football game versus Oklahoma that is paying for those flights.  Like I said, it all about the dolla dolla bills ya’ll.  

Mid-Day Rant: Thanks Ravens

I am going to try this out for a while on my blog, the mid-day rant.  As long as I have time and have access to a computer, I will be providing a small rant. It does not always have to be about sports but today, it most certainty will be about the Baltimore Raven's and their awful performance.

I was only seven points down in my fantasy league to a colleague of mine (shout out Kamps) who had no one playing on MNF.  As an undefeated team, I wanted to keep the streak going which I thought would be no problem because I had Ray Rice playing.  Well, the Raven's did not have a first down until the third quarter and provided as much offense as the Minnesota Gophers.  Therefore I am no longer undefeated thanks to his performance.

Thanks Timmy, for ruining my
perfect record.

To make matters worse, the only reason I lost was because Kamp's had Tebow, YES FREAKIN TEBOW, in at QB.  So Congrats, Ray Rice and to the Ravens to being the first subject of my mid-day rant.  Also, thanks for making me waste my time watching this awful performance and missing an awesome world series game.

Hey, Occupy Wall Street, why don’t you occupy the BCS?

Maybe you should take your efforts
elsewhere, like the BCS

Every day on my walk home from work I pass the band of misfits who deem themselves Occupy Chicago. They are part of the larger movement known as Occupy Wall Street that has taken the national media by storm. Now, some of them might be protesting for a greater cause yet there are some, the long haired, tub pounding, unemployed, who are just there to join the party. I ask this crew of the 99% to take their cause elsewhere, to the BCS system, where a modification is actually needed.  


This is where we need change, a change that Obama promised and has not delivered on (Let’s see if he gets my vote next year). Now, I did not write this article because the Badgers lost and we need a playoff (other than sheer chaos) to make the NCG. No, I have always hated the BCS system and no matter where you are in the country and what team you root for, you should have beef as well.


The BCS system is everything that is wrong with college football these days. The opposition might tell me that the BCS system makes for the most exciting regular season in all of sports. And I agree, however, it does not mean that we do not need a playoff. The system I would install would not diminish any of the luster the current regular season provides us. But let’s first expose some flaws.


Of course, I am going to start with the Badgers. Now as awful as Saturday night was, we lost on a play that happens in meaningful games about once every 30 years. Due to this fluke, we will not have a chance at the national championship. We also dropped 8 spots in the BCS standing, down to number 15, one spot below Nebraska, a team we man-handled. The average computer ranking for the Badgers is 21, two of the computers don’t even have us in the top twenty five. Most analysts will say this is due to our strength of schedule; Houston is ranked 14. Take a look at their schedule and then get back to me.

Will Stanford be snubbed by the BCS this
year even with an undefeated season?

To prove I am not bias, let’s look at Stanford. Andrew Luck and Co. did what they had to do on Saturday and steamrolled Washington 65 – 21. Apparently, one of the computers did not think that this was up to par for the Trees and dropped them from 12 to 21 in the rankings. This gave them an average score of nine, which was two less than the average score for the Sooners. In case you didn’t hear, the Sooners not only lost to a 28 point underdog, they lost at home which has not happened in 39 games. 

I could look at a number of scenarios proving the BCS system is a joke. Yet I will save that for later in the season as I can guarantee this is not my last post on the dreadful system. The change that is needed from the current system is an eight team playoff. There are currently five major conferences in college football. The champion of these leagues would get automatic bids into the playoffs. The remaining three teams would receive at large bids. The top three teams in the BCS rankings who did not win their conference championship are awarded an at large bid into the playoffs. The only catch is that no conference can have more than two teams in the eight team playoff. The rest of the seeding would also be decided on the BCS standings, still giving the computers some say.


I do not see how this system would not be a win – win for everyone. Any possible complaints? The BCS bowls are concerned about their money; there would be two extra games to reap profits. The regular season would not matter. No it would, you still have to put yourself in a position to play for your conference title which already presents challenges. What about the other bowls? What about them, it would be business as usual at the Papa Johns.com Bowl. A longer season for college players - I do not think they would complain for a chance at the crystal ball.


For the benefits, well I think that is obvious. First off, it would allow teams who suffer one heartbreaking loss a chance to still play in the national championship game. TV ratings would be through the roof for a playoff system that would rival March Madness. Conference Rematches (UM vs OSU, LSU vs Alabama). Boise State would finally have the opportunity to play for the NCG, ending the six years of endless nuisance. The Fat Cats who control the BCS bowls (Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange) can rotate every other year in hosting a $econd BC$ game. Plus the many more reasons that are bound to emerge throughout the season. 

So, Mark Cuban, Occupy Wall Street Protesters, anybody, please help us change this system. Sports fans across the entire country can benefit from a CFB playoff. Duck fans should not have to lose hope of redemption because of a week one loss to the best team in the country. After all, it’s only a matter of time until your team is also snubbed by the BCS.

Bielema made the right call

I am going to squash any accusations on whether Bielema made the right decision to call time out at the end of the game on Saturday.  HE ABSOLUTELY MADE THE RIGHT DECISION!  We had all the momentum, we had them right where we wanted them, and he was playing to win the game. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMk5sMHj58I – “YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME”

It was 2^nd and 20 and our defense was all over them.  Had we stopped them and gotten the ball back and scored, everyone would have praised his decision making.  I would prefer our coach to have an aggressive mindset compared to a coach who is playing not to lose.  

Alcohol has nothing on this hangover

This morning’s hangover was easily the worst I have ever had and I have had some bad ones:  five Mifflin block parties, a weeklong bender in PCB and South Padre, and endless Thursday nights at Johnny O’s.  I know hangovers and today’s has been my worst.  No swift jog or Advil could cure my pain.  This hangover was not from last night’s alcohol; it was from Kirk Cousin’s improbable Hail Mary pass that fans only dream about.

Heading into last night’s game, everyone I spoke with thought it would be a somewhat easy win in East Lansing.  However, the entire week I was on the verge of a heart attack whenever the game was brought up because I knew it could be our BCS buster.  Half way through the first quarter, it looked like my friends were right and the fourth best defense in the country could not touch our offense.  But then the Badgers imploded. 

Most of you know I like to have a drink every now and then but when the punt was blocked, my cup slid from my hands and I did not have another sip of alcohol until Russell scampered into the end zone for six at the beginning of the fourth quarter.  The surge the Badgers had at the end of the game only made this morning’s hangover that much worse because we had hope.  Russell Wilson did what he had to do to get us back into the game and I was sure he would lead us to a victory in overtime.

Then, my heart stopped beating by an event that took the life out of Will’s North Woods as well as crushed the hearts of every Badger fan across the country.  DID HE REALLY OVERTURN THAT CALL?!?!? Can you 100% confidently say that the ball crossed the line?  Because that is what you need to overturn the call on the field. 

The next two hours were some of the darkest hours I have had as a passionate sports fan and I have had a lot:  the loss at the Rose bowl (TCU), Aaron Boone (Redsox Fan), Manning to Plax (Pat’s Fan), and Nick Bonino (Scored in double OT in my HS state championship game).  However, this feels worse.   The last thing I wanted to do last night was go to sleep because I never wanted the morning to come, I did not want to see the aftermath. 

I woke up at 7:45AM not being able to go back to sleep as my mind played last night over and over. Pain was racing throughout my body and it was not from the consumption of alcohol the night before.  This pain stemmed from the utter disbelief of last night. Walking around my house, stepping over passed out badgers, all I could do was shake my head.  I walked straight out of my apartment into a desolate Chicago street.  It was a beautiful day, however, it was almost as if you could hear a pin drop on the ghostly and empty streets.  It felt like there was a continued silence from the bar last night.  The silence triggered by the ref and his two hands in the air signaling Michigan State’s touchdown.  It was eerie and a perfect setting for this morning’s nightmare. 

The pain is still unbearable and will not subside anytime in the near future. It took me about a week to recover from my alcoholic hangover after the Nebraska game a couple weeks back.  This one will take years.  It will take until we get another shot at the BCS title game.  This was our year, this was Russell’s year, this was the Badger’s coming out party.  Now because of one play, we will not have a shot.  That is why this is so painful; we are the better team and can play with anyone in the country. But it is the computers who think differently.  Now we go back to being the team with no respect when we could have had it all. 

What to do now?  Drink our sorrows away with Jameson?  While that may seem like the ideal solution according to my college buddy, Travis Topp (aka Topp), the rest of badger faithful needs pick ourselves up just like the players are going to do starting tomorrow.  We need to keep supporting the team, keep cheering, keep downing the Diaz before the games and inhaling brats at half time. In six weeks we will most likely be on the national stage again with the Spartans and this time at a neutral field.  Although a Rose Bowl berth means nothing compared to the NCG, the seniors deserve it and so does Russell.  So next week on Halloween weekend, I’ll be wearing my jersey instead of a costume in support of our boys.  But it’s the pain of last nights game that will linger longer than any hangover I’ve contracted from the first Sunday in May.  

The Intro

Hi Everyone,

I have decided to start a blog mostly because my girl friend, Samantha, has convinced me to do so.  She has told me I am very passionate about sports and always have a lot to say so blogging would be perfect for me.  Personally, I think she was sick of listening to me and she was looking for a solution.

Well, I will give it a shot and if this whole finance thing does not work out maybe I will look into journalism, who knows.  Most of you know, my typing skills are not the best so look out for errors but I promise it will get better.

For those of you who are not Badger fans my articles will not be focused strictly on the badgers or strictly on football.  However, it is the heart of college football season so that is where I am starting.  Please give me your honest feedback and feel free to post after articles. I will post new entries on twitter at @JordanUWKennedy.

-Jordan