The watch party at my house got a little rough Saturday. While there was plenty of beer and food, one of us got punched in the mouth celebrating the first score ('twas unintentional, but the recipient didn't seem to understand that point), and another rolled his ankle stepping in a gopher hole while tossing the ball around at halftime. All told it was just another awful viewing experience at my house for a road game; I really need to stop hosting watch parties.
This week in the bag, I'll perform some mop-up work on the OSU game, ponder special teams, run around football nation, and eulogize my pathetic White Sox.
Click below for the bag...
Showing posts with label Mike Bohn Memorial Fire Dan Hawkins Road Trip (Sponsored by Cinch Jeans). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mike Bohn Memorial Fire Dan Hawkins Road Trip (Sponsored by Cinch Jeans). Show all posts
Monday, September 26, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
UPDATED: OSU preview: the Mike Bohn Memorial Fire Dan Hawkins Road Trip, sponsored by Cinch Jeans
When the Buffs inked this game last season, without the guaranteed return trip befitting a program of CU's stature, I couldn't help but think of all the 1-AA schools who travel the country looking for ass-kickings and a quick paycheck. Sure, the Buffs are getting a massive non-con appearance fee, but it's still football prostitution at its finest (with Mike Bohn as the pimp). It's an awkward situation, being hamstrung by not only the typical CU budgetary woes, but also paying-off a disastrous failure of a coach and not receiving any TV money to boot. While CU seems to have caught OSU at the perfect time, with the Buckeyes hurting more than they have in a decade, it's still a massive challenge to walk into the Horseshoe, and the whole scenario boils down to a cash grab.
The long and the short of it is we needed the cash. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and all that.
So bring on OSU with their deep pockets, and bring on whatever horrors await in the shadows of the Horseshoe. Things will not always be this way, but, for one weekend at least, we are the Little Sisters of the Poor. However the game goes on Saturday, I'll be humming "Take the Money and Run" all day long.
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The final non-conference test of the season kicks off at 1:30 MT. Since you probably aren't going to Columbus for this one, I suggest tuning into ABC (or ESPN2 if it's blacked out in your area) to catch the 5th all-time matchup between the Bucks and the Buffs.
Click below for the preview...
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| Mike, you gotta keep that pimp hand strong! |
So bring on OSU with their deep pockets, and bring on whatever horrors await in the shadows of the Horseshoe. Things will not always be this way, but, for one weekend at least, we are the Little Sisters of the Poor. However the game goes on Saturday, I'll be humming "Take the Money and Run" all day long.
--
The final non-conference test of the season kicks off at 1:30 MT. Since you probably aren't going to Columbus for this one, I suggest tuning into ABC (or ESPN2 if it's blacked out in your area) to catch the 5th all-time matchup between the Bucks and the Buffs.
Click below for the preview...
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
UPDATED: Buffs and the eastern road trip jinx
Please, allow me a slight digression into a painful bit of CU history...
When the Buffs head east this weekend to the palatial confines of Ohio State's Horseshoe, they'll not only be carrying their 5 year-long road losing streak and playing a more talented team, they'll also be fighting against a historical predilection to defeat on eastern road trips. While the Buffs hold a barely over-.500 overall road record, bolstered by a 103-57-4 record in road games played in Colorado, east of the Mississippi River CU is only batting a paltry .317. (For comparison, outside of Colorado, yet west of the Mississippi, CU holds a somewhat respectable .452 winning percentage.)
While the program's most important win, the '91 Orange Bowl, came in the very eastern city of Miami, something happens to the Buffalo mojo once the team crosses the "Big Muddy." Hell, even in that magical year of 1990, the Buffs suffered their only loss of the season when they crossed the Mighty Mississippi to play Illinois.
In order to better understand the program's historical difficulty with eastern excursions, I went through the season archives at CUBuffs.com, and came up with this spreadsheet of results from games played east of the Mississippi.
Not surprisingly, CU started out their history of disastrous eastern road trips with a 35-0 loss to Amos Stagg's Chicago Maroon juggernaut in 1921. Since that date, the Buffs have slogged to a 13-27-1 all-time record in trips eastward. Of those 41 trips, including 9 bowl trips, the Buffs were held to 10 points or less 19 times.
Outside of the 11 seasons from 1969-1979, where CU went 8-7 in the east, the Buffs are a dreadful 5-20-1. More worryingly, since Rick Neuheisel whupped the Wisconsin Badgers in his first game as head coach in '95, CU has yet to win east of the Mississippi, having been outscored 258-119 in 8 trips.
Probably the most painful of those 8 recent failures, at least in my eyes, was the '09 trip to Toledo, OH. Fresh off a stunning loss in Folsom to 'little brother,' CU headed to the Glass Bowl in hope of turning the season around. Instead, CU ran headlong into a Rocket powerhouse that would burst to a 5-7 (3-5) record in '09. Had the nation been interested, they could've tuned into ESPN that night to see the hapless Buffs give up 624 yards of offense to a mid-level MAC school. The vaunted rockets would score on 5 of their first 6 possessions, en route to a 54-38 victory that wasn't nearly as close as the scoreline would suggest.
Such is life for CU east of the Mississippi.
I'm not saying that CU is doomed on Saturday. Stranger things have happened, and THE Ohio State University did look particularly awful last weekend in Miami, but it's a steep historical slope that CU will need to trudge up to claim victory.
When the Buffs head east this weekend to the palatial confines of Ohio State's Horseshoe, they'll not only be carrying their 5 year-long road losing streak and playing a more talented team, they'll also be fighting against a historical predilection to defeat on eastern road trips. While the Buffs hold a barely over-.500 overall road record, bolstered by a 103-57-4 record in road games played in Colorado, east of the Mississippi River CU is only batting a paltry .317. (For comparison, outside of Colorado, yet west of the Mississippi, CU holds a somewhat respectable .452 winning percentage.)
 |
| Crossing the Mississippi River has been a difficult task for CU in the past. |
Not surprisingly, CU started out their history of disastrous eastern road trips with a 35-0 loss to Amos Stagg's Chicago Maroon juggernaut in 1921. Since that date, the Buffs have slogged to a 13-27-1 all-time record in trips eastward. Of those 41 trips, including 9 bowl trips, the Buffs were held to 10 points or less 19 times.
 |
| While Bobby Anderson had no problems crossing the Mississippi for the '69 Liberty bowl, CU has often struggled when crossing the river. |
Probably the most painful of those 8 recent failures, at least in my eyes, was the '09 trip to Toledo, OH. Fresh off a stunning loss in Folsom to 'little brother,' CU headed to the Glass Bowl in hope of turning the season around. Instead, CU ran headlong into a Rocket powerhouse that would burst to a 5-7 (3-5) record in '09. Had the nation been interested, they could've tuned into ESPN that night to see the hapless Buffs give up 624 yards of offense to a mid-level MAC school. The vaunted rockets would score on 5 of their first 6 possessions, en route to a 54-38 victory that wasn't nearly as close as the scoreline would suggest.
 |
| CU seemed a bit slow that night in Toledo. I'm telling you, weird shit happens on eastern road trips. |
I'm not saying that CU is doomed on Saturday. Stranger things have happened, and THE Ohio State University did look particularly awful last weekend in Miami, but it's a steep historical slope that CU will need to trudge up to claim victory.
(Updated for @BupsJones: While there have been plenty of trouble spots, things haven't always been bad east of the Mississippi. Take for example this game here. There is always hope!)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Post-Memorial Day Grab Bag: I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I spent the past 5 days holed up in my cave of a room, trying to recover as quickly as possible from eye surgery. I had grown tired of my glasses, and decided that now, as an adult, I should take control of that shit. Luckily, everything seems to be progressing fine, although a little haziness persists, and I'm seeing 20/15. For the record, the first thing I did with my new eyes was run upstairs to check out the Flatirons in new razor-sharp RumblinVision; it was awesome.
Today in the bag, I'll be turning my newly improved sight towards the growing ugliness in Columbus, the disaster that was the Bulls final 4 games with the Heat, and baseball standings.
Click below for the bag.
Today in the bag, I'll be turning my newly improved sight towards the growing ugliness in Columbus, the disaster that was the Bulls final 4 games with the Heat, and baseball standings.
Click below for the bag.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
CU calls Big XII's bluff and the the Big XII folds
CU will start play in the Pac-12 next year, and ends up paying a lot less than previously thought to do so. CU will only have to forfeit $6.863 million of this years estimated $9.135 Big XII payout to head west a year early. This is an incredible win for the athletic department. Not only do we get to move west on the timetable we desire (the Big XII and Pac-12 too, btw), but we end up only giving up a relative pittance to do so.
(WOOOOO! 12-PAC! -link)
Think back to the day the conference switch was announced. Soon after the announcement, UT and its 4 little brothers decided to stick with the Big XII and immediately started up the PR machine to say that we'd have to pay $40bajillionzillion to leave the conference. "The financial hammer is falling and CU can't even afford to fire it's coach" the "orangebloods" scoffed. When UT returned to earth, and realized that CU leaving in 2011 is the best option for everybody, they "authorized" the Big XII to begin negotiations with a forfeiture of $15mil. For almost 2 months CU called their bluff.
There was Mike Bohn bemoaning to the Daily Camera that we will probably have to stay (awwww shucks). There was Pac-10(12) commissioner Larry Scott flippantly observing that the chances of CU heading west in 2011 as less than 50/50 (Oh noes! Woe is us). They created a lose-lose situation for the Big XII. Either we stayed an extra year, which they certainly didn't want, or they let us off the financial hook. All-the-while Chancellor DiStefano worked the back rooms to whittle that $15 million down. Even though CU would've settled for $9mil, DiStefano kept hammering away and got the final forefeiture under $7mil. The Big XII caved, for all intents and purposes, and CU won. As opposed to Nebraska, who had an "academic curiosity" to see if they could get their forfeiture down to zero, CU knew they'd have to give up something; but to end up giving up over $2mil less than your lowest acceptable figure is an incredible win.
Added in is the fact that CU will receive a loan from the Pac-12 to cover the forfeited revenues, so the loss in revenues won't cause CU to make it up using state funds or any other nonsense. Over the next few year we will have to pay that money off, obviously, but it'll be paid out of significantly higher revenues. While we were expecting $9.135 from the Big XII this year, in the Pac-12 we could see double that after you factor in a new television contract, equal revenue sharing, and the new Pac-12 championship game. The $6.863mil loan will be a drop in the bucket spread over the next few years: hell, CU is already reporting a 400% increase in donations from the state of California. I can't believe how good this turned out, and neither can the Regents:
On a side note: what about the estimated $2mil (after television money is factored in) from the Ohio St game next year? Wasn't that supposed to go towards the Big XII exit? That's what I thought too, but since the Pac-12 is covering that for us, we can use that money elsewhere if we'd wish. Hrmmmm.... what else costs about $2mil.... DAN HAWKINS CONTRACT BUYOUT!!!!! So from now on, I shall refer to next years trip to OSU as the Mike Bohn Memorial Fire Dan Hawkins Road Trip (sponsored by Cinch Jeans).
(WOOOOO! 12-PAC! -link)
Think back to the day the conference switch was announced. Soon after the announcement, UT and its 4 little brothers decided to stick with the Big XII and immediately started up the PR machine to say that we'd have to pay $40bajillionzillion to leave the conference. "The financial hammer is falling and CU can't even afford to fire it's coach" the "orangebloods" scoffed. When UT returned to earth, and realized that CU leaving in 2011 is the best option for everybody, they "authorized" the Big XII to begin negotiations with a forfeiture of $15mil. For almost 2 months CU called their bluff.
There was Mike Bohn bemoaning to the Daily Camera that we will probably have to stay (awwww shucks). There was Pac-10(12) commissioner Larry Scott flippantly observing that the chances of CU heading west in 2011 as less than 50/50 (Oh noes! Woe is us). They created a lose-lose situation for the Big XII. Either we stayed an extra year, which they certainly didn't want, or they let us off the financial hook. All-the-while Chancellor DiStefano worked the back rooms to whittle that $15 million down. Even though CU would've settled for $9mil, DiStefano kept hammering away and got the final forefeiture under $7mil. The Big XII caved, for all intents and purposes, and CU won. As opposed to Nebraska, who had an "academic curiosity" to see if they could get their forfeiture down to zero, CU knew they'd have to give up something; but to end up giving up over $2mil less than your lowest acceptable figure is an incredible win.
Added in is the fact that CU will receive a loan from the Pac-12 to cover the forfeited revenues, so the loss in revenues won't cause CU to make it up using state funds or any other nonsense. Over the next few year we will have to pay that money off, obviously, but it'll be paid out of significantly higher revenues. While we were expecting $9.135 from the Big XII this year, in the Pac-12 we could see double that after you factor in a new television contract, equal revenue sharing, and the new Pac-12 championship game. The $6.863mil loan will be a drop in the bucket spread over the next few years: hell, CU is already reporting a 400% increase in donations from the state of California. I can't believe how good this turned out, and neither can the Regents:
"Very pleased," Steve Bosley said. "You have to be realistic. You always go into a deal saying, 'What's the worst? What's the most?' . . . I don't think we anticipated it to be quite this low. I was prepared for a little bit more." (-link)The AD staff has done a great job. Unlike other schools (*cough* BAYLOR *cough*) we've handled the changing landscape of college football with style, professionalism, and class. We can be proud of the way our institution worked the situation to our favor, and kept us relevant for years to come. Kudos all around!
On a side note: what about the estimated $2mil (after television money is factored in) from the Ohio St game next year? Wasn't that supposed to go towards the Big XII exit? That's what I thought too, but since the Pac-12 is covering that for us, we can use that money elsewhere if we'd wish. Hrmmmm.... what else costs about $2mil.... DAN HAWKINS CONTRACT BUYOUT!!!!! So from now on, I shall refer to next years trip to OSU as the Mike Bohn Memorial Fire Dan Hawkins Road Trip (sponsored by Cinch Jeans).
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