Upon Further Review

As I’m sure you’ve read or seen by now, Michigan’s loss to Appalachian State tumbled them from # 5 in both polls all the way through the floor (out of the top 25 completely). Upon further review, still more things are glaring from what was likely the biggest upset in college sports, and maybe all of sports. The mysterious thigh injury sustained by Mike Hart which kept him sidelined for nearly two quarters seemed to heal itself pretty quickly. Statistically, Hart had a tremendous game gaining 188 yards on 23 carries for an 8.2 ypc average and three touchdowns. Still, seeing Mike Hart on the sideline, I wonder if it was more of an ego bruise/temper tantrum that kept him out of the lineup rather than a thigh bruise.

One wonders if this video link is responsible for delivering all that talent to an as-it-stands D-IAA powerhouse. I’m thinking not but you be the judge.

One also wonders if Dan Hawkins had been in the locker room at halftime for Michigan, the outcome may have been different. “Go play intermurals brotha!”

Both the AP and the Coaches’ polls continue to prove that they are a complete joke. The biggest victim this week is the California Bears. Cal beat a ranked SEC team (Tennessee) by two touchdowns at home yet only rose two spots in the coaches poll and three in the AP. Meanwhile, Louisville moved up three spots in the coaches’ poll and two in the AP for destroying I-AA Murray State who finished 1-10 last season. That makes a whole lot of sense.

Memo to Coach Kragthorpe- very classy that you waited until the score was 56-10 in the third quarter to pull starting QB Brian Brohm. Crap like this only reinforces garbage scheduling and running up the score. Thanks a lot Coach K. I would never wish injury on any player- but if Brohm gets injured running up the score this week against Middle Tennessee State, I’ll be the first to say “I told you so”.

Other injustices include Georgia Tech moving from unranked to #21 in both polls (by virtue of their beat down of Notre Dame) while Clemson debuted at #25 in the AP and still not ranked in the coaches’ poll after they dispatched previously #19 Florida State. Huh? Let me get this straight- Georgia Tech destroys a team that should be in I-AA while Clemson beats a ranked team, and yet GT is ranked higher? What? Let’s look at it another way- who wins between Florida State and Notre Dame? Florida State wins 9 out of 10 (please don’t make me watch that this season). Ah…forget it. Who really cares anyways.

And then there’s CNNSI’s Stewart Mandel that thinks that Ohio State should drop in the polls simply because of their association with Michigan (even though they don’t play until November and have owned them over the last six meetings). Apparently Mandel’s logic resonates with voters- Ohio State dropped one spot in both polls after beating Youngstown State 38-6.

One thing that is very clear when scanning the polls from week one to two is that margin of victory is what really matters. The message is loud and clear- beat the piss out of any pansy opponent you can get your hands on and survive your conference schedule.

You’re welcome.