Michigan defeated Minnesota 28-14 this weekend, but before I even had time to watch the replays my State fan friends were already talking smack.
“If Michigan was so good why did they only win by 14.”
I must have heard this at least three times since Saturday. People downplaying a fourteen point win, yet when we talk about USC’s 28-14 win over Michigan in the 2004 Rose Bowl- USC thumped them. Isn’t this a double standard? And didn’t Michigan State just lose Illinois? How comments are like that even remotely justified.
Thoughts on High School errrr Michigan State Football Reading the newspaper today I realized that Michigan State cared more about who was planting what on the 50-yard line after Saturday's game- than what was on the scoreboard.
And it's not like a team that just lost to bottom feeding Illinois even has the right to oppose a flag plant in the first place- but the ironic thing is they were the ones who started the flag planting in the first place.
Forget about Notre Dame and the Golden Megaphone trophy- nobody brings the Megaphone trophy to the games anyway. What is important is that the players are more motivated to fight after games they lose, and taunt the Irish after wins, than they are to beat a team with as much prestige as my flag football team.
Say what you want about who was right or who was wrong but ask yourself a question: Would Ohio State ever flag plant, or get in a fight after a game? What about Auburn, USC, Michigan or Texas? Definately not. So if John L. Smith wants his team to become elite like the powerhouses I've mentioned maybe he needs to have his team act like one. Otherwise they will never play like one.
And its not like he's going to have a long time to do it. Surely the search for John L.'s replacement began moments after the loss to Illinois but is there anyone really out there. Gary Barnett and Rick Nueheisel and Steve Mariucci come to mind as great replacements for the Spartans. They would surely help continue the trend of Spartan coaches who couldn't control their teams actions on and off the field.
Mid-Major coaches are a tough breed to choose from too- Smith has proven that since he came up from Lousville as did Dan Hawkins with this terrible thing he calls a football team over in Colorado. Then you have the coordinators and assistants from around college football in the NFL, but would anyone really leave a job in the NFL to coach for MSU and risk career suicide? And would anyone leave a cushy job as a play caller to take the reigns of a program struggling to breathe right now?
Probably not.
Thoughts on Howie Long’s thoughts on the Lions:
During Sunday’s NFL pre game show on FOX Howie Long stood up for Matt Millen crediting Millen with a tough job in managing the Lions. As if his Radio Shack commercials aren’t bad enough, he has the nerve to support Matt Millen the worst general manager in the history of sports. Yes he is way worse than Isaiah Thomas.
When the Lions hired Millen in 2001 he was in charge of rebuilding a mediocre team who had limited success in four previous decades. A few sporadic playoff appearances, a couple wins, and a whole slew of 8-8, 9-7 and 10-6 records. The Lions needed a little help to become a little more consistent, take some shape, and become a contender now and then. But with Millen, the best they have done is 5-11. Basically, Howie Long supports a guy who has managed to rebuild so poorly that it needs to be rebuilt again. He supports a general manager who drafts terrible players, chooses poor coaches, makes bad media decisions (calling Johnny Morton ####) and offends fan more than anything else. He also supports a team president who has presided over the worst stretch of Lions football ever. You look it up. In the pantheon of terrible Lions stretches has there ever been a worse five years for them? No.
I could go on for hours but the point is clear, the Lions have always been terrible, Millen has made them intolerable, he is just as bad, if not worse than any one else in the organization. Every one is to blame, and if Howie Long doesn’t think so, maybe he should ask himself how he would evaluate the situation if this was his favorite team.
Maybe it’s his throwback jersey from the University of Oregon that crowds my enormous football jersey collection, maybe it’s because he’s a nice guy. Whatever the reason may be – I believe in Joey “Ball Game” Harrington.
Maybe I am the only one, but I see something in him that makes me believe he has a future in the Motor City. However, my ideology is not shared by many. Harrington has played himself into a mediocre career as the starter for the Detroit Lions. When he plays well he has the full support of the fans – but when he plays poorly the familiar boo birds show their faces.
Harrington plays well with No. 11 on his side.
When he plays poorly, I may be the only one in his corner – besides his mother, Matt Millen and maybe opposing defenses. Everyone seems to have an opinion about why he isn’t winning games. Some say he isn’t vocal, others like Micheal Smith blame Harrington’s intelligence, my dad thinks he’s lost control of the locker room because he is ####.
Now I am not here to argue for a starting quarterback based on sexual orientation. Don’t ask. Don’t tell. But seriously Dad have you heard any Jeff Garcia rumors in the last year? What I am here for is to lobby for Harrington based on pure stats.
2005 Quarterback comparisons (excluding each players worst games)
Jeff Garcia: 76 completions, 661 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions.
Both quarterbacks are clearly putting up less than acceptable numbers. Obviously Harrington has taken more snaps than Garcia who has had an injury plagued season. Funny thing about Harrington though – he has never missed a game because of an injury. Just last season Harrington led the Lions back on the Vikings before a botched extra point snap ruined the game. Harrington spent the morning with an IV stuck in his arm because he was that sick. But according to Tony Siragusa isn’t a meat and potatoes guy – probably only because Siragusa ate them all. By the way, while I am ranting about Siragusa – besides John Kruk – is there any other less talented former athlete journalist in the nation? Because I can’t think of any.
This man ate all the meat and potatos.
Regardless of his mental and physical toughness (taking abuse from Lions fans for two years) #### Jauron has continued his Jeff Garcia love fest. Okay that last sentence sounded really bad, but I really didn’t mean it that way. But how can Juaron side with someone like Jeff Garcia – a quarterback who went on sports talk radio every Monday morning to bad mouth Joey Harrington before becoming the starter.
It isn’t like Garcia is a pro bowl player anymore those days are behind him and chances are so is another guy. Wow. Yeah, that one was on purpose. You can send my hate mail to gunnell2@msu.edu.
Harrington got benched for this guy. An injury prone, convicted drunk driver who bashes he teammates on talk radio. Some question his sexuality. I question his football intelligence when he makes errant throws. Besides he even had his girlfriend go on local radio to defend his honor and call out Joey Harrington - who stat wise is the better passes and rusher and game winner. What kind of man does that?
Moving on.
Surprisingly enough Harrington also has more rushing yards than Garcia who has been pegged as a more mobile quarterback see 69:51. You can also check out Harrington’s season record, 3-4 which by no means is good – but surely triumphs over Garcia’s 1-6 performance.
Harrington does not have to be the savior in Detroit. But that doesn’t mean he can’t start under center. With a healthy offense Harrington led Detroit to two of his three wins. In the opening week against Green Bay Harrington had two touchdowns and no interceptions – which can be partially attributed to healthy offensive weapons. Kevin Jones, Roy Williams, and Kevin Johnson were all healthy and provided Harrington with enough options to help win the game. A strong defensive performance helped Harrington which makes it apparent that Harrington doesn’t need to win the game he just needs not to lose it – something Garcia has not learned. Garcia can be seem bi-weekly playing Santa giving opposing teams early Christmas presents ranging from interceptions, awkward passes turned fumbles and even the occasional overtime victory.
I hate to dwell on Garcia’s performance against the Bear’s because to be honest Harrington had a poor game at Soldier field weeks earlier. The difference is however, Harrington’s interceptions were off of miscommunications – altered routes, tipped passes, and the Bill Schroeder delight (short arming passes). Garcia’s are a result of poor decision making.
Now you tell me who would you rather have under center for your team? Or the Lions for that matter? The competitor who puts in the effort but doesn’t always get the results – despite having no support whatsoever? Or do you want the injury prone hypocrite who speaks out about his offensive counterparts on local radio stations, who doesn’t think before he throws? I know what my decision is and I know what yours is too.
You could say Harrington has dug himsel####rave by the way he has performed in the past but look what the man was dealing with. Marty Morninwheg – taking the wind – are you serious? Starting receivers named Bill Schroeder, Az-Hakim, and Smokey McBroken Collarbone (I mean Charles Rogers), an offensive line that doubles as a strainer. No wonder Harrington has struggled as the starter. The whole team has.
The Lions have been poorly managed and poorly coached for years. The only real consistency the Lions have had throughout the 90s and today remains their strong defense. But injuries have even plagued young and veteran players across the Lions defensive unit. Dre Bly, Teddy Lehman, Boss Bailey, and Fernando Bryant are a few of the names that come to mind. The results of these injuries - guys named Andre Goodman playing strong side corner. Possibly the worst three year starter in the NFL, Goodman couldn’t cover a pool with a tarp.
Offensively, it’s been at least five seasons since a Lions receiving core has gone without one season ending injury. The ones who remain drop enough passes to be benched on a normal basis – which has been happening. Meaning more playing time for practice squad players, and late round draft picks like David Kircus, Glenn Martinez, Reggie Swinton, and Scottie Vines.
With all these problems and so many more ( I haven’t even mentioned that dreadful general manager) how can Harrington be blamed?
The answer is simple – he shouldn’t. Part of the Lions mess ups are his fault, but most of them are not. It is not fair that he assumes all responsibility for a club that has the first winning percentage since 2002. It is not fair that he has been riding the bench this season while Garcia can be seen throwing moon balls to Chicago, Minnesota and Cincinnati. It’s not fair that Harrington probably will be uprooted this off-season – to him and the fans. But maybe it is for the best. Maybe Harrington unlike Garcia can still salvage his career elsewhere. Because as Rick Carlysle, Steve Mariucci, and Dave Lewis learned nice guys finish last in the Detroit sports race.
