THE COMMON TIES OF RED SOX NATION AND MOUNTAINEERS NATION

The sun didn't shine Sunday, nor is it shining today

Sure, there’s daylight, but it wasn't a good yesterday because of everyone begrudgingly canceling all of their NOLA travel plans.

In a matter of one week, we have experienced college football's highest of highs, and of course lowest of lows.

Some would say the Pitts.

Over the past months, the hopes of Mountaineer fans have hinged on needing a series of major upsets.

We've watched and secretly cheered as USF, USC, Cal, Oklahoma, Oregon, BC, LSU, Ohio State, Kansas, and LSU have fallen one by one.

Finally, all the upsets and stars aligned to thrust our beloved Mounties into the right position, Almost Heaven.

Well, live by the sword, die by the sword.

All those teams against whom we have cheered against over the course of this crazy season along with the media pundits got the last laugh Saturday night.

Once again, as we have experienced throughout the long and somewhat depressing history that is Mountaineer Football, we took that unexpected punch in the gut.

It's not any different than any of the following:

* 1955 Sugar Bowl disaster,

* 1970 36-35 loss to Pitt -
after leading 35-8 at half,

* 1972 Peach Bowl loss to N. C. State,

* 1975 undefeated season, lost to Penn State (20-0) then lost to Temple the next week,

* 1982 24-0 loss to Penn State when we were undefeated and out gained them 2 to 1.

* 1982 16-13 loss to Pitt after leading 13-0 in the 4th quarter.

* 1984 (3) losses to end a season after we had posted the 2 greatest
back to back wins in school history.

* 1988 loss to ND in the national championship.

* 1993 Sugar Bowl loss to Fla.

* 1994 Kickoff Classic vs Nebraska 34-0 - embarrassment on National TV where the only good play was a 92 yard punt

* 1996 loss to Miami - blocked punt in the final seconds (undefeated no more).

* 1997 loss at ND when a win was definitely within the team's grasp.

* 2004 losses to BC and Pitt

* 2006 fumbled opportunity at Louisville.

* 2006 loss to USF.

* 2007 fumbled opportunity at USF.

There are probably more, but the pain of this loss is blocking my memory.

Last night was probably the combination of a lot of things; all of which were needed for Pitt to win a game that really shouldn't have been close.

Missed opportunities and missed field goals.
Missed blocking assignments and reads.
Over confidence.
Lack of focus.
Lack of preparation by the coaches and players.
Fumbles!

While it is the end of a dream that started with the 2005 Louisville comeback, it isn't the end of our hopes.

We still have one of the best coaches in the sport. Rich Rod will make the adjustments needed and get things corrected. Look what he did in taking a defense from the low of last year to the strength of this year.

We will ask questions and Monday morning quarterback this game for weeks, months and probably years.

Is our offensive line average at best?

Why didn't we throw the ball across the wide open middle?

Why did we limit the touches by Devine, Reynaud and Schmidt?

Why has Rich, who talks about the importance of the Pitt Rivalry only have a 4-3 record against what is certainly a lesser opponent during his tenure? Two of these losses have been really expensive - 2004 costing us a BCS bowl and 2007 costing us a BCS title game spot.

Disappointment is historic for Mountaineer fans.

But, keep in mind that if you are going to play this game at the highest of levels, which we really are, than the disappointments will be magnified.

Think how many Wide Rights and Wide Lefts have keep Bobby Bowden from winning national championships.

None of this explains how a 28-1/2 pt underdog beats a team with the opportunity to play for a national championship.

But, what makes sense in this season of college football, or in the history Mountaineer Football

Here’s the deal….we are the Boston Red Sox of college football….…NOW that being said…..you have a choice…love ‘em or leave ‘em, because as much as the Red Sox Nation has been through years of frustration, disappointment and pain, and as much as they “whine” about said frustration, and wear the disappointment around their necks like an albatross……They LOVE THEIR TEAM!

SO PICK YOURSELVES UP OFF THE MAT MOUNTAINEERS FANS BECAUSE WE HAVE A TEAM TO SUPPORT AND A FIESTA BOWL TO WIN!
Let’s Go Eat Some Tostitos!

The Two Left Standing May Surprise You! Ohio State plays West Virginia in the National Championship Game

Am I crazy? Try this on for size.

This weekend....
(4) Missouri beats (2) Kansas
(3) West Virginia beats (20) UConn
(1) LSU in a panic over the thought of Miles bolting for Mich., the team falls to Darren McFadden and the Arkansas Razorbacks
It's McFadden's chance to win the Heisman on National TV, a Friday no other big games really on except for Texas vs Texas A&M. It's the Hogs chance to save their season to a certain extent. Plus they are playing for Coach Houston Nutt for possibly the last time. They will more than likely play in a bowl, but what better way to show you care than playing your heart out for your coach and beating the #1 team in the nation on their turf?

After this weekend the BCS standing will breakdown like this....

(1) Missouri will leap frog West Virginia because they played the higher ranked team.
(2) West Virginia could conceivably be in the drivers seat
(3) Ohio State moves up because all the rankings have been this season is nothing more than an escalator, and
(4) Georgia who won't even get to play in the SEC Championship game but is ranked the highest in the Conference

The next weekend...
Missouri loses to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game because it's the only way the Sooners can manage to salvage their season

WVU beats Pitt in the 100th Backyard Brawl

Ohio State sits on the couch and watches the whole thing unravel and then is handed a place in the National Championship Game on a silver platter.

The Craziest Season in recent college football memory ends and the media is left scratching their heads and asking the question WHY? They also have 38 days to discount West Virginia's cred by saying that if it wasn't for every other team losing the Mountaineers wouldn't even be here. Tim Brando of CBS will be the one who fires the first shot, and oh yes, we can't forget Colin Cowherd who thinks the Big East should move down a level into the Sub Championship bracket. OK that's maybe exaggerating it a little but Colin has been less than nice to the conference, and the Mountaineers.

Ohio State fans get excited because this should be a cake walk.

Hold on to your hats fans....last year it was the Boise State Broncos who were, I believe 17 point, underdogs to the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl, and those same West Virginia Mountaineers were 12 point underdogs in the 2006 Sugar Bowl to the Georgia Bulldogs, both won their respective games handing college football what could have been a sign of the birth of the new age of college football. Maybe the establishment has some company and those teams aren't going to be able to walk over the mid-level teams any longer.

Call me crazy, but I said after the Mountaineers loss to South Florida, "If West Virginia wins out they will play for a National Championship." Save your breath when talking about WVU's weak schedule. Focus on Kansas and Missouri's before you criticize the Mountaineers.

Maybe I am not so crazy after all.

Without playing head-to-head, how do we know which team is truly the best?

As the chaos continues in college football, the question is, "Does anyone really want to win this thing?"

Kansas appears to be the most determined team out there, and can prove itself worthy of the title by winning out.

KU's remaining schedule includes #5 Missouri and #4 Oklahoma. If the Jayhawks can get past the Tigers.

Win those games, and KU will be the only 13-0 BCS Conference Champion.

Shouldn't that be enough to get them a title shot?

Or, did KU start too low in the popularity contest initially to make it to the Title Game?

Lose to Missouri and the Jayhawks will enjoy the spoils of a BCS game, just not the BCS title game.

Without a couple of upsets, the teams in the title game will likely be the winner of the off-field popularity contest known as major college football.

A one-loss LSU will most certainly get a shot at the BCS title.

After all, they would boast a resume that includes winning the title of the self-proclaimed "best conference in college football." Plus, they may be able to say that they beat the champion of another BCS conference, Virginia Tech.

This could potentially leave several one-loss conference champions scratching their heads wondering what it takes to get to the coveted BCS Title game.

Did Ohio State, who until this past weekend was seen as a lock to get in, mess-up because they lost late in the season rather than early like Oregon, Oklahoma, LSU, Missouri and WVU? Or, were they pretenders with an advantageous schedule.

Can Oklahoma, who lost to a bad Colorado team really lay claim to being the best team in college football?

If Oregon and WVU win out, and that may be a big if, they will have a lot to ponder in the off-season.

Two plays for both of these teams could be the difference between these teams playing each other in the Title Game.

The real question gets to be: "What defines the #1 team in Major College Football?"

Is it the best team, or is it the most consistent team, or is it the luckiest team, or a team with the right schedule, or the most popular team?

Is time to take the media out of the mix and give it to a computer? Honestly!

ESPN is constantly telling you one week that TEAM A is a lock to play for a national championship, only to watch TEAM A go down in flames over the weekend. Then the next week they move on to TEAM B, "who is deserving and are now the lock."

My question is, "Where is the responsible journalism?" Does no one have to take take some owership in their words or show some accountability, step up and say, "I WAS WRONG?"

No they don't because they think you hang on their every word. Egomaniacs, that is what the media has become. Leave the teams alone let them play the games and let's have a playoff! Geez, it's not rocket science. I don't want the National Championship in college football left to bunch of Know-it-alls with no accountability.

How about this. All of the "so-called" experts can continue to spew their knowledge, but if they are incorrect, how about an electric shock every time they get it wrong?

This my friends is what the NCAA, and the current BCS system gives us.

Questions, nothing but questions, along with a healthy dose of confusion from the media and their so-called expertise. CONFUSION is COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

Without playing head-to-head, how do we know which team is truly the best?

Now that is THE question.

Sal-Pal Nice Question

Sal Palintonio interviews New England Patriots QB Tom Brady after his team's exciting win over the Indianapolis Colts. In the interview Palintonio says, "You're 9-0, and I know you. You're not into 9-0. What's this team's ultimate goal?"

I know you. You're not into 9-0. What's this team's ultimate goal?

Are you kidding me? Brady should have answered, "Well Sal, I think our ultimate goal is to go undefeated and lose in our first playoff game. That's the goal we set in training camp and we are focused on achieving that goal."

ESPN used this as their, Sunday Conversation." Wow! Come on Palintonio, can you come up a better questions than that?

It's Hard to Root Against Joe Torre

I recently caught Bob Costas' interview with former Yankees and new Dodgers manager Joe Torre on the latest episode of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumble. As I watched the interview I couldn't help but think about how much I despise the Yankees, but love Joe Torre. He is without a doubt on of the classiest figures in sports today, and he seems to be a players manager.

Being a Red Sox fan second to being a Pirates fan, it's very hard to watch the Yankees let alone cheer for them, and baseball season is over, so let's not get into the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry, ESPN does that enough for us all. Not to mention when it comes to the poor Pittsburgh Pirates, the small market basement dwellers, the Yankees are all that's wrong with baseball. The "evil empire," if you will. Huge salaries, and plucking any decent talent from small market teams so they can position themselves for a title run. Greed. It's all wrong, but I will save that revenue sharing post for another time, (insert sarcastic tone)

because I know baseball is doing everything correct and the NFL and NHL with their salary caps and revenue sharing don't know what they're doing. Let's face it, being a GM and owner in a parody-laden league allows you the opportunity to show off your talents at managing personnel. Anyone can buy or trade for a championship.

I am sorry about getting off on a rant but, Joe Torre is different, and in watching the HBO interview I couldn't help but think about what an honest person he is. It was difficult to cheer against him, and it's a shame that we sometimes get so caught up in a sports-type of hatred for a the team and everyone associated with it, when nearly all of the people associated with that hated team are decent individuals.

To me Joe Torre fits into that category. I am not a Dodgers fan, but I can honestly say that if he would take the Dodgers to the World Series and win it, hopefully not at the expense of my Pirates and Red Sox, I would say in the end, "He deserves it and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

Forget March Madness, I'll Take Fall Frenzy!

Things to take note of when it comes to these teams:

OHIO ST
BOSTON COLL
LSU
OKLAHOMA
WEST VIRGINIA
ARIZONA ST
OREGON
KANSAS
MISSOURI

1. Each team has at least one game against a team currently ranked in the BCS Top 25.

2. Either Oregon or Arizona St will likely fall out of this group after this weekend.

3. All of these teams should be favored in the games that are to be played the week of Nov. 10; it's likely that there will be an unexpected upset that weekend.
Especially if LSU would lose to Alabama on this weekend. This could create too much thinking by young college football players, fans, and talking heads.

4. WVU, OSU, Oklahoma, and Oregon probably have the easiest remaining schedules.

5. There are 35 games remaining for the above teams; 10 of these games involve ranked opponents.

6. Because they play each other on 11/24 either Missouri or Kansas will fall out of this group.

7. All of these teams control their destiny towards earning a BCS Bowl Bid and winning their Conference Title.

8. WVU needs to win the remainder of its games, at least 4 upsets and good politics to get into the BCS Title game.

9. Did you know that there are several teams not in this Top 9 that control their on destiny in winning their conference?
A. Bama controls its destiny in winning the SEC West.
B. A 3-loss UCLA team can win the PAC-10 if they win out (their schedule includes Arizona St., Oregon, & USC).
C. UCONN wins the Big East if they win out (Rutgers, Cincinnati, & WVU).
D. VA Tech can win the ACC if they win out.
E. A 3-loss Tennessee team can win SEC
F. A 3-loss Oklahoma St team can win the Big-12 (Their remaining schedule includes Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma & Baylor)
G. Throw UVA, Wake Forest, & Va Tech can win the ACC.

Imagine some of the BCS games if UCLA, Tennessee, UCONN, and/or Oklahoma State win their leagues. Oklahoma Vs. Hawaii in the Fiesta anyone?

All this tells me that it there is still a lot of football to be played, and that WVU fans need to focus on beating Louisville, and let the chips fall where they will.

Maybe College football needs a playoff, or a plus-one game to truly determine a champion.

Many including me love the excitement and drama of March Madness, but that only lasts 3-weeks - the Fall Frenzy known as College Football lasts at least 3 months.

Who's the Pressure Really On?

Can You Imagine Living in Alabama or Louisiana this week?

He may not want to be the story but as game time in Tuscaloosa draws closer he becomes more of the focal point. I am referring to Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. Everyone who follows college football knows by now that Saban, two years after leading the team to their first national championship in 45 years, left Louisiana State University to become head coach of the NFL's Miami Dolphins for two seasons, only to leave Miami to become head coach at one of LSU's bitterest of rivals.

Can this be paralleled to your father divorcing your mother and marrying another woman? OK, that may be a stretch, because I honestly feel LSU fans would say it's worse.

Coach Saban obviously did what he felt he had to do, and even though Tigers fans will never forgive him, they should be a little more worried about the present and future and not the past.

LSU Head Coach Les Miles could possibly be offered the job at his alma mater Michigan at the end of the season, IF and it's a big IF, Michigan's administration gives Wolverines fans the Christmas present they want, a new coach. Although I don't forsee that happening since Lloyd Carr has managed to turn the team's season around and they are again fighting for a Big 10 title and headed for a showdown with Ohio State.

So at least in Saban's case the good news is, his team gets to play LSU at home. The bad news is eventually he will have to face the music and head to Baton Rouge, but that's next year.

This year the Crimson Tide is presently in a tie with LSU for the top spot in the SEC West Division. There's litterally a lot at stake in SEC land when it comes to this game. The winner will more than likely have the inside track to the Georgia Dome (SEC Championship), and a shot a the Sugar Bowl.

Alabama beats LSU and goes to the SEC Championship and maybe the Sugar Bowl in Louisiana? Meanwhile LSU, a team that has national championship aspirations, will possibly settle for the Peach Bowl? AGAIN? How will that set?

Which brings me to the point of this post.

The pressure isn't on Nick Saban, the pressure is on Les Miles.

All Saban has to do this year is get to a bowl game and win it. Notice, I said "a bowl game." This year that will satisfy Crimson Tide Fans. Next year will be a different story however.

As for Les Miles. All of the pressure of big time college football has been placed squarely on his shoulders. Tigers fans have never accepted losses to the Alabama Crimson Tide and they sure aren't going to settle for them now. This is a deal-breaking, must-win game for Les Miles every year until that Michigan job becomes available.

Job pressure? Uh, yeah.

I also think the Alabama Crimson Tide wins this game, and unfortunately the LSU fans will have to sit and let this stew for another year. But remember where the game is played next year Alabama fans because I know you will be talking about being national championship contenders in 2008. Paybacks are hell.