TOUGHEST NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULES
When rating team schedules certain things impress me:
- BCS teams that still put together a tough slate even though their conference schedule will be no walk in the park.
- Teams that aren't afraid to travel.
- Non-BCS teams that know that if they want to be taken seriously they need to prove it on the field and schedule any and every challenger.
I found 2 teams that meet that mold and went far beyond most teams when putting together this seasons schedule.
FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS
This is the non-BCS team that could show up in a big-time bowl this season if they take care of business on the field. The Bulldogs have put together a schedule that will quiet any skeptics from the big time conferences if they can finish 4-0. The schedule includes 2 trips across the country, 2 top 25 opponents and only 1 home game. The 1st month of the season look like this for Fresno State.
Sept 1 @ Rutgers
Sept 13 vs Wisconsin
Sept 20 @ Toledo
Sept 27 @ UCLA
Toledo is the only gimme of the group here and that may not even be a walkover. You never know how a team will react to playing a noon game after traveling across the country the day before.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Normally a BCS team coming off a 4-9 season would order up more cupcakes then Mark Mangino at a bake sale fund raiser, but that is not the case with the Huskies. Washington loaded up the slate for their 3 non-conference games this season. With 2 teams in the top 20, and 1 looking for a big bounce back season , this schedule won't make that seat any cooler for Huskies head coach, Tyrone Willingam. Here is a look at the Huskies non-conference schedule.
Sept 6 vs BYU
Sept 13 vs Oklahoma
Oct 25 vs Notre Dame
While the Huskies don't travel in these 3 games it is still unlikely they win any. Props for bringing in great teams for your fans to watch, but normally you would like to win at least 1 of them.
TOMORROW:
Teams that get a failing grade with their non-conference schedule
ONLY 26 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE SEASON!!!!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Day 3
I'll be coming from the Outer Banks, North Carolina this week, Hopefully I will be able to continue the once a day preview, but if not, to bad, I'm on vacation, LEAVE ME ALONE!
THE 5 BEST NON-CONFERENCE GAMES TO WATCH FOR
These are in order of when the games are being played, but no matter when they are played these are 5 games you will not want to miss this football season.
AUGUST 30th
Missouri vs Illinois (in St.Louis)-
This is a classic match-up of 2 teams that should be right in the middle of their conference races, that could take a big win over their rival a long way. The Boarder War will face a Illinois team with great team speed on defense against one of the most explosive offensives in the game in Missouri.
SEPTEMBER 12th
Kansas @ South Florida-
Playing at Raymond James Stadium on a weeknight is not fun for opposing teams, just ask Pat White and West Virginia. Kansas will be tested early this season after eating-up all their cupcakes during the non-conference last season.
SEPTEMBER 13th
the Ohio State University @ Southern Cal-
This is no question the game of the year with these two top 5 teams going head to head. The winner is on the fast path to the National Championship game, and everyone outside the state of Ohio is pulling for the Trojans so we don't have to watch another blowout in the title game.
SEPTEMBER 20th
Georgia @ Arizona State-
Georgia, who seems to be everyones early favorite, takes on a tough task of traveling across the country for a big-time showdown with the riding power in the PAC-10. If Georgia wants to prove they are for real this season, this is the game to do it. Everyone should be watching.
OCTOBER 23rd
Auburn @ West Virginia-
Normally nobody leave Morgantown with a win on a prime-time Thursday night game, but Auburn may have a little edge for their trip north. New Auburn D-Coordinator, Paul Rhoads, is the same guy who put in the game plan last year for Pitt when the Panthers ruined the Mountaineers title hopes, holding them to just 7 offensive points.
TOMORROW:
Props to the team with the best non-conference schedule
ONLY 27 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE 1st SATURDAY OF THE SEASON!!!!
THE 5 BEST NON-CONFERENCE GAMES TO WATCH FOR
These are in order of when the games are being played, but no matter when they are played these are 5 games you will not want to miss this football season.
AUGUST 30th
Missouri vs Illinois (in St.Louis)-
This is a classic match-up of 2 teams that should be right in the middle of their conference races, that could take a big win over their rival a long way. The Boarder War will face a Illinois team with great team speed on defense against one of the most explosive offensives in the game in Missouri.
SEPTEMBER 12th
Kansas @ South Florida-
Playing at Raymond James Stadium on a weeknight is not fun for opposing teams, just ask Pat White and West Virginia. Kansas will be tested early this season after eating-up all their cupcakes during the non-conference last season.
SEPTEMBER 13th
the Ohio State University @ Southern Cal-
This is no question the game of the year with these two top 5 teams going head to head. The winner is on the fast path to the National Championship game, and everyone outside the state of Ohio is pulling for the Trojans so we don't have to watch another blowout in the title game.
SEPTEMBER 20th
Georgia @ Arizona State-
Georgia, who seems to be everyones early favorite, takes on a tough task of traveling across the country for a big-time showdown with the riding power in the PAC-10. If Georgia wants to prove they are for real this season, this is the game to do it. Everyone should be watching.
OCTOBER 23rd
Auburn @ West Virginia-
Normally nobody leave Morgantown with a win on a prime-time Thursday night game, but Auburn may have a little edge for their trip north. New Auburn D-Coordinator, Paul Rhoads, is the same guy who put in the game plan last year for Pitt when the Panthers ruined the Mountaineers title hopes, holding them to just 7 offensive points.
TOMORROW:
Props to the team with the best non-conference schedule
ONLY 27 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE 1st SATURDAY OF THE SEASON!!!!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW day 2
TOP 8 CONFERENCES
1. SEC-
Year in and year out this is always the best conference in football, and it has been proven the last two Januarys. With 3 teams ranked in my preseason top 10 the SEC doesn’t show any signs of weakening. The conference is deep again, and I can see as many as 9 teams possibly making a case to be ranked at some point this season. The rigorous schedule that each of these teams go through during the season prepares them to take on anyone when it is time to play for the National Championship.
2. BIG XII-
The Big XII surprised the nation last year when both Missouri and Kansas had breakout years in the Big XII North. This year Colorado and Nebraska should show up in the North to challenge as well. The South is Oklahoma’s to lose, but the Sooners will be challenge by rival Texas and the explosive offense of Texas Tech. The downfall in the Big XII is that their bottom end teams are going to be REALLY bad this season. For as good as OU, Missouri and Texas will be expect K-State, Baylor and Iowa State to that bad.
3. PAC-10-
The PAC-10 may not be as top heavy as the other two conferences or have the depth, but they do have USC and as long as they keep winning the PAC-10 will continue to be an elite conference. We have seen the likes of Cal and Oregon try to challenge the Trojans the past few years to no prevail. That theme should stay true this year as well. The big challengers should be Arizona State and Oregon this year, but look out for Oregon State to make a big jump and don’t be surprised to see Rick Neuheisel lead UCLA to some big wins this season either.
4. Big East-
When the co-Champions from last year are picked to finish second to last by the media at the conferences media day it says two things. 1) The conference must be pretty deep. And 2) There is no clear-cut favorite and the conference is completely up for grabs. Both are true for this seasons Big East. UCONN finished tied with WVU last year, yet were picked 7th by the media day this week. If WVU can hold everything together after a very crazy off-season, then they should be the front-runner and again a legit NC contender. If not I can see any of 5 teams challenging the Mountaineers for the conference bragging rights.
5. Big Ten-
PAGING ANY TEAM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SHOW UP AND CHALLENGE OHIO STATE THIS SEASON…The Ohio State University is once again the cream of the crop in the Big Ten. And once again nobody is sure what team, if any, will show up to compete with them. Illinois knocked them off last year in Columbus, so they seem to be the favorite to finish second with Penn State and Wisconsin there too. Expect Michigan to drop off big time for a year or two until RichRod can get his system in place. The big problem with the Big Ten this year is depth, after those top 4 teams nobody is a real threat.
6. Mountain West-
This years Cinderella BCS team very well may be BYU from the Mountain West this season. However it is not a one-team conference, TCU and Utah should both be very competitive as well. Each of these schools did a nice job in non-conference scheduling so that if any of these teams can run the table they will be legit BCS worthy teams (unlike Hawaii last year).
7. ACC-
Boy is this conference bad. Virginia Tech is the only team over the past 4-5 years that has been at all consistent. The Hokies have won 10 or more games each of the last 4 seasons, no other team has won at least 8 games in that span. The Hokies will once again be towards the top of the conference. This year’s flash in the pan team seems to be Clemson. They have all the talent to compete for the conference, but they always seem to get tripped up by a team they should handle easily (Georgia Tech last year, Maryland the year prior). If they can keep it together for 12 games, a VT-Clemson title game might be fun. As for the rest of the conference, well, at least they have basketball teams.
8. WAC-
Fresno State is putting it all on the line this year, with what might be the best team that Pat Hill has had in his 12 years leading the Bulldogs. The non-conference schedule is brutal and would quickly silence any critic if they get selected to the BCS. Throw in Boise State and a Nevada team with a gimmick offense and the WAC should be a fun conference to watch this season.
Tomorrow:
The Top 5 Non-Conference games of the season
ONLY 28 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE 1st SATURDAY OF THE SEASON!!!!
1. SEC-
Year in and year out this is always the best conference in football, and it has been proven the last two Januarys. With 3 teams ranked in my preseason top 10 the SEC doesn’t show any signs of weakening. The conference is deep again, and I can see as many as 9 teams possibly making a case to be ranked at some point this season. The rigorous schedule that each of these teams go through during the season prepares them to take on anyone when it is time to play for the National Championship.
2. BIG XII-
The Big XII surprised the nation last year when both Missouri and Kansas had breakout years in the Big XII North. This year Colorado and Nebraska should show up in the North to challenge as well. The South is Oklahoma’s to lose, but the Sooners will be challenge by rival Texas and the explosive offense of Texas Tech. The downfall in the Big XII is that their bottom end teams are going to be REALLY bad this season. For as good as OU, Missouri and Texas will be expect K-State, Baylor and Iowa State to that bad.
3. PAC-10-
The PAC-10 may not be as top heavy as the other two conferences or have the depth, but they do have USC and as long as they keep winning the PAC-10 will continue to be an elite conference. We have seen the likes of Cal and Oregon try to challenge the Trojans the past few years to no prevail. That theme should stay true this year as well. The big challengers should be Arizona State and Oregon this year, but look out for Oregon State to make a big jump and don’t be surprised to see Rick Neuheisel lead UCLA to some big wins this season either.
4. Big East-
When the co-Champions from last year are picked to finish second to last by the media at the conferences media day it says two things. 1) The conference must be pretty deep. And 2) There is no clear-cut favorite and the conference is completely up for grabs. Both are true for this seasons Big East. UCONN finished tied with WVU last year, yet were picked 7th by the media day this week. If WVU can hold everything together after a very crazy off-season, then they should be the front-runner and again a legit NC contender. If not I can see any of 5 teams challenging the Mountaineers for the conference bragging rights.
5. Big Ten-
PAGING ANY TEAM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SHOW UP AND CHALLENGE OHIO STATE THIS SEASON…The Ohio State University is once again the cream of the crop in the Big Ten. And once again nobody is sure what team, if any, will show up to compete with them. Illinois knocked them off last year in Columbus, so they seem to be the favorite to finish second with Penn State and Wisconsin there too. Expect Michigan to drop off big time for a year or two until RichRod can get his system in place. The big problem with the Big Ten this year is depth, after those top 4 teams nobody is a real threat.
6. Mountain West-
This years Cinderella BCS team very well may be BYU from the Mountain West this season. However it is not a one-team conference, TCU and Utah should both be very competitive as well. Each of these schools did a nice job in non-conference scheduling so that if any of these teams can run the table they will be legit BCS worthy teams (unlike Hawaii last year).
7. ACC-
Boy is this conference bad. Virginia Tech is the only team over the past 4-5 years that has been at all consistent. The Hokies have won 10 or more games each of the last 4 seasons, no other team has won at least 8 games in that span. The Hokies will once again be towards the top of the conference. This year’s flash in the pan team seems to be Clemson. They have all the talent to compete for the conference, but they always seem to get tripped up by a team they should handle easily (Georgia Tech last year, Maryland the year prior). If they can keep it together for 12 games, a VT-Clemson title game might be fun. As for the rest of the conference, well, at least they have basketball teams.
8. WAC-
Fresno State is putting it all on the line this year, with what might be the best team that Pat Hill has had in his 12 years leading the Bulldogs. The non-conference schedule is brutal and would quickly silence any critic if they get selected to the BCS. Throw in Boise State and a Nevada team with a gimmick offense and the WAC should be a fun conference to watch this season.
Tomorrow:
The Top 5 Non-Conference games of the season
ONLY 28 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE 1st SATURDAY OF THE SEASON!!!!
Friday, August 1, 2008
2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Day 1
A MONTH LONG COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Here at The Rant, we know how to do important things right, which is why we are dedicating the entire month of August to college football. Nothing about the MLB trade deadline (I love the Pirates moves!!) and nothing about the Steelers (that will probably continue through the rest of this blogs existence).
So first things first, let’s look back on how I did last year with my preview, because why would you want a preview from someone who doesn’t know jack about what they are talking about.
MY PRESEASON TOP 10:
1. USC – finished #2 in AP
2. LSU – finished #1
3. WVU – finished #6
4. Texas – finished #10
5. Florida – finished #16
6. Wisconsin – finished #21
7. Oklahoma – finished #8
8. Michigan – finished #19
9. Cal – finished unranked
10. Louisville – finished unranked
THE ACTUAL AP FINAL RANKINGS:
1. LSU – my #2
2. USC – my #1
3. Georgia – my #13
4. tOSU – my #14
5. Missouri – my #17 (pretty good for a team most thought came from no-where)
6. WVU – my #3
7. Kansas – not ranked in mine or ANY other preseason Top 25
8. Oklahoma – my #7
9. Virginia Tech – my #11
10. Texas – my #4
I also predicted 5 of the 6 conference champions correct, only missing on the Big Ten.
All in all I think I did pretty damn good last year and I look to improve upon it this year. So keep checking back every day this month for another college football preview and update.
Tomorrow:
RANKING THE CONFERENCES FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON
ONLY 29 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE 1st SATURDAY OF THE SEASON!!!!
Here at The Rant, we know how to do important things right, which is why we are dedicating the entire month of August to college football. Nothing about the MLB trade deadline (I love the Pirates moves!!) and nothing about the Steelers (that will probably continue through the rest of this blogs existence).
So first things first, let’s look back on how I did last year with my preview, because why would you want a preview from someone who doesn’t know jack about what they are talking about.
MY PRESEASON TOP 10:
1. USC – finished #2 in AP
2. LSU – finished #1
3. WVU – finished #6
4. Texas – finished #10
5. Florida – finished #16
6. Wisconsin – finished #21
7. Oklahoma – finished #8
8. Michigan – finished #19
9. Cal – finished unranked
10. Louisville – finished unranked
THE ACTUAL AP FINAL RANKINGS:
1. LSU – my #2
2. USC – my #1
3. Georgia – my #13
4. tOSU – my #14
5. Missouri – my #17 (pretty good for a team most thought came from no-where)
6. WVU – my #3
7. Kansas – not ranked in mine or ANY other preseason Top 25
8. Oklahoma – my #7
9. Virginia Tech – my #11
10. Texas – my #4
I also predicted 5 of the 6 conference champions correct, only missing on the Big Ten.
All in all I think I did pretty damn good last year and I look to improve upon it this year. So keep checking back every day this month for another college football preview and update.
Tomorrow:
RANKING THE CONFERENCES FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON
ONLY 29 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE 1st SATURDAY OF THE SEASON!!!!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
RANDOM THOUGHTS
From My Head to Your Computer...
BRET FAVRE-
He is retired, until he applies for reinstatement he is still retired. SO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!!!!
If he wants to play so badly then he will file the proper paper work to come out of retirement and put the pressure on the Packers. As for him calling the Vikings and now the Packers filing tampering charges against the Vikings, AGAIN he is retired. As long as he is retired he should be allowed to call and talk to anyone in the league that he wants to.
WNBA FIGHT-
If a fight happens in the WNBA and nobody cares about it, does it really matter?
I think everyone needs to slow down on the coverage of this fight. Think about it, this is the first time EVER that anyone is talking about the WNBA on a national stage. Everyone needs to shut up now and act like nothing happened. The more that people talk about this the more it will be shoved in our face.
DEVIN HESTER-
Devin Hester is a holdout from Bears training camp. Yes that is not a misprint, Devin Hester, the CB with 11 career tackles and a whopping two tackles last season is holding out of Bears training camp for more money.
According to an article on ESPN.com this is what Hester had to say about his currently salary, "I can't go out and play this year making $445,000. Come on, man."
I think it is a valid point, I mean, he is playing a game for 16 days a year for a living, it’s not like he is doing something like significant with his life.
Granted the kid is explosive returning the ball and in the past two years single handedly kept the Bears in games due to their inept offense, but how much more can you pay a guy that MIGHT touch the ball 2-3 times a game and only makes 2 tackles a season?
GRUMPY OLD MEN-
Can’t Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden just agree to tie for all-time wins or something? This is kinda getting ridiculous that these two guys just want to stay around for this record. Neither will admit it, but the writing is on the wall. Last week JoePa says he wants to coach “four, five, six years." And now this week Bobby Bowden comes out with this breaking news, "I'm still the head football coach." Thanks Captain Obvious! Nobody wants JoePa to be on the sidelines at Penn State for another 4 to 6 years, except maybe his wife Sue so he is at least out of her hair. Heck, I don’t think anyone at Penn State wanted him back 3 years ago, during his little slump which he rattled off a record of 26-33 from 2000 to 2004.
Let’s make a deal, you both leave us now forever and we will put both of your names in the record books…not like it matters, neither guy is catching Eddie Robinson.
BRET FAVRE-
He is retired, until he applies for reinstatement he is still retired. SO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!!!!
If he wants to play so badly then he will file the proper paper work to come out of retirement and put the pressure on the Packers. As for him calling the Vikings and now the Packers filing tampering charges against the Vikings, AGAIN he is retired. As long as he is retired he should be allowed to call and talk to anyone in the league that he wants to.
WNBA FIGHT-
If a fight happens in the WNBA and nobody cares about it, does it really matter?
I think everyone needs to slow down on the coverage of this fight. Think about it, this is the first time EVER that anyone is talking about the WNBA on a national stage. Everyone needs to shut up now and act like nothing happened. The more that people talk about this the more it will be shoved in our face.
DEVIN HESTER-
Devin Hester is a holdout from Bears training camp. Yes that is not a misprint, Devin Hester, the CB with 11 career tackles and a whopping two tackles last season is holding out of Bears training camp for more money.
According to an article on ESPN.com this is what Hester had to say about his currently salary, "I can't go out and play this year making $445,000. Come on, man."
I think it is a valid point, I mean, he is playing a game for 16 days a year for a living, it’s not like he is doing something like significant with his life.
Granted the kid is explosive returning the ball and in the past two years single handedly kept the Bears in games due to their inept offense, but how much more can you pay a guy that MIGHT touch the ball 2-3 times a game and only makes 2 tackles a season?
GRUMPY OLD MEN-
Can’t Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden just agree to tie for all-time wins or something? This is kinda getting ridiculous that these two guys just want to stay around for this record. Neither will admit it, but the writing is on the wall. Last week JoePa says he wants to coach “four, five, six years." And now this week Bobby Bowden comes out with this breaking news, "I'm still the head football coach." Thanks Captain Obvious! Nobody wants JoePa to be on the sidelines at Penn State for another 4 to 6 years, except maybe his wife Sue so he is at least out of her hair. Heck, I don’t think anyone at Penn State wanted him back 3 years ago, during his little slump which he rattled off a record of 26-33 from 2000 to 2004.
Let’s make a deal, you both leave us now forever and we will put both of your names in the record books…not like it matters, neither guy is catching Eddie Robinson.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
WWYW....
The Pittsburgh Penguins just played a game that could go down as one of the greatest WWYW Games in Pittsburgh sports history.
Where Were You When…Max Talbot, broken foot and all, crashed the Detroit Cup party just 35 seconds before it began?
Or…
Where Were You When…Petr Sykora’s Babe Ruth like moment when he called his shot in the Stanley Cup Finals after playing an obsolete part in the first 5+ games in the series?
For Pittsburghers you have the Good:
WWYW Franco caught “The Immaculate Reception”?
I obviously was not alive, but I know that my dad was in his car driving through the Liberty Tunnels on his way home from a RUSH event that prevented him from attending the game.
OR
WWYW Maz went yard in the bottom of the ninth off of Ralph Terry to win the ’60 World Series?
Again, I obviously wasn’t born, but I know my Gramma was at the game, decked out in her homemade Pirate hat with cards of all the players attached to it.
Us Yinzers also have the Bad:
WWYW Sid Bream scored?
I was lying on my living room floor and started crying when the game was over. Honestly, I might start crying again if I had to watch it today, so no video on that one.
As for national headlines and happens that most sports fans remember:
WWYW Carlton Fisk waved fair his home run in the ’75 Series?
I bet New Englanders can answer that one pretty fast.
WWYW Al Michaels asked every American if they “believe in miracles?”
WWYW Buster Douglas found out Iron Mike Tyson wasn’t indestructible?
Not sure why we were there, but I was at the Dugan household. I don’t remember watching the fight but I remember Jason and JJ (now known as Jeremiah) were watching it at a neighbor’s house and they ran into the house telling everyone that Tyson just lost.
WWYW Michael Jordan hit his last shot as a Bull to win his sixth title?
I was in Ryan Faloon’s gameroom watching the game with friends from high school.
If the Pens win the Cup, those 2 questions from last night’s game will be able to be answered without hesitation by Pittsburghers for years to come.
Oh yeah, for Max Talbots goal, I was at work in the sports department at KDKA and for the game winner I was on my couch watching the game with my dad.
Where Were You When…Max Talbot, broken foot and all, crashed the Detroit Cup party just 35 seconds before it began?
Or…
Where Were You When…Petr Sykora’s Babe Ruth like moment when he called his shot in the Stanley Cup Finals after playing an obsolete part in the first 5+ games in the series?
For Pittsburghers you have the Good:
WWYW Franco caught “The Immaculate Reception”?
I obviously was not alive, but I know that my dad was in his car driving through the Liberty Tunnels on his way home from a RUSH event that prevented him from attending the game.
OR
WWYW Maz went yard in the bottom of the ninth off of Ralph Terry to win the ’60 World Series?
Again, I obviously wasn’t born, but I know my Gramma was at the game, decked out in her homemade Pirate hat with cards of all the players attached to it.
Us Yinzers also have the Bad:
WWYW Sid Bream scored?
I was lying on my living room floor and started crying when the game was over. Honestly, I might start crying again if I had to watch it today, so no video on that one.
As for national headlines and happens that most sports fans remember:
WWYW Carlton Fisk waved fair his home run in the ’75 Series?
I bet New Englanders can answer that one pretty fast.
WWYW Al Michaels asked every American if they “believe in miracles?”
WWYW Buster Douglas found out Iron Mike Tyson wasn’t indestructible?
Not sure why we were there, but I was at the Dugan household. I don’t remember watching the fight but I remember Jason and JJ (now known as Jeremiah) were watching it at a neighbor’s house and they ran into the house telling everyone that Tyson just lost.
WWYW Michael Jordan hit his last shot as a Bull to win his sixth title?
I was in Ryan Faloon’s gameroom watching the game with friends from high school.
If the Pens win the Cup, those 2 questions from last night’s game will be able to be answered without hesitation by Pittsburghers for years to come.
Oh yeah, for Max Talbots goal, I was at work in the sports department at KDKA and for the game winner I was on my couch watching the game with my dad.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Nice win, but...
Pens Still Have a Ways to go
It was nice to see the Penguins get back to the friendly confines of the Igloo tonight. The fans were rowdy from the moment that the NBC coverage started and I’m sure even before that. It took about 10 minutes into the first period for the Pens were able to get that comfortable and confident. Both teams used that 10-minute span to feel out the new line match-ups spent the, but once they did it was all Penguins. The Pens were outshot 9-1 to start the game, but came on strong and got on the board first late in the 1st period. It all started when the Penguins started playing the way most Pittsburghers thought they would have played the first two games of the series in Detroit. They came out and started hitting the Red Wings in the mouth. They forced the tempo and they were the ones dishing out hits and putting pressure on the defensemen in their own zone. That led to the first goal, a simple and short break out pass that was not connected on by a Red Wing defensemen and just like that the Pens were on the board for the first time in the series and finally were able to play with a lead. After that it was more of the same, relentless forechecking and a lot of puck possession by the Penguins and suddenly the Red Wings were back on their heels. The Penguins had a chance to put the game away at the end of the first period but Hossa and Malkin both missed chances on the power play as time expired.
The biggest thing that I noticed tonight was the way the players went balls to the wall, 100% all out. Guys like Gary Roberts and Brooks Orpik hitting everything in sight, finally making their presences felt. The Penguins just like the Red Wings play great defense once they have a lead and did so again tonight. However they did it with a little attitude as well. They sent a message that even though the Red Wings had thoroughly dominated them in every aspect of the game in Detroit that the Penguins were a long way from throwing in the white towel (or t-shirt).
The Penguins certainly impressed me with their performance tonight, but it will mean absolutely nothing if they do not come out with the same intensity and effort Saturday night. The Penguins proved they want to be in this for the long haul, but they still need the “W” on Saturday to make this a series. There is a sports playoff series saying that goes, “You can’t judge a series until the home team loses a game.” If the Penguins were to be that home team that loses a game the verdict would be in, RED WINGS WIN THE CUP. The Penguins have to make sure this doesn’t happen. Sixty more minutes like tonight, on Saturday, will go a long way to making sure nobody can judge this series until we are back in Detroit.
It was nice to see the Penguins get back to the friendly confines of the Igloo tonight. The fans were rowdy from the moment that the NBC coverage started and I’m sure even before that. It took about 10 minutes into the first period for the Pens were able to get that comfortable and confident. Both teams used that 10-minute span to feel out the new line match-ups spent the, but once they did it was all Penguins. The Pens were outshot 9-1 to start the game, but came on strong and got on the board first late in the 1st period. It all started when the Penguins started playing the way most Pittsburghers thought they would have played the first two games of the series in Detroit. They came out and started hitting the Red Wings in the mouth. They forced the tempo and they were the ones dishing out hits and putting pressure on the defensemen in their own zone. That led to the first goal, a simple and short break out pass that was not connected on by a Red Wing defensemen and just like that the Pens were on the board for the first time in the series and finally were able to play with a lead. After that it was more of the same, relentless forechecking and a lot of puck possession by the Penguins and suddenly the Red Wings were back on their heels. The Penguins had a chance to put the game away at the end of the first period but Hossa and Malkin both missed chances on the power play as time expired.
The biggest thing that I noticed tonight was the way the players went balls to the wall, 100% all out. Guys like Gary Roberts and Brooks Orpik hitting everything in sight, finally making their presences felt. The Penguins just like the Red Wings play great defense once they have a lead and did so again tonight. However they did it with a little attitude as well. They sent a message that even though the Red Wings had thoroughly dominated them in every aspect of the game in Detroit that the Penguins were a long way from throwing in the white towel (or t-shirt).
The Penguins certainly impressed me with their performance tonight, but it will mean absolutely nothing if they do not come out with the same intensity and effort Saturday night. The Penguins proved they want to be in this for the long haul, but they still need the “W” on Saturday to make this a series. There is a sports playoff series saying that goes, “You can’t judge a series until the home team loses a game.” If the Penguins were to be that home team that loses a game the verdict would be in, RED WINGS WIN THE CUP. The Penguins have to make sure this doesn’t happen. Sixty more minutes like tonight, on Saturday, will go a long way to making sure nobody can judge this series until we are back in Detroit.
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