Random thoughts from a cluttered mind...
JAGUARS My, my, my. How things can change in a moments’ notice in the National Football League.
A week ago we were all thinking the Jaguars were on cruise control to a playoff slot and who-knows-what afterwards. That is, until the Texans decided to urinate all over the Jaguars’ ambitious plans.
And now, all of the sudden, the Jaguars are being looked-upon as a mediocre squad with paltry WR’s and poor coaching. Even though there is a whole lot more that can happen in the next seven weeks, many people think the Jaguars are in trouble. I think the reason for this is because so many Jaguar fans grew up as Gator or Seminole fans, and they are very used to dominating teams and winning seasons, as if it should be commonplace. Unfortunately, that’s not the way things go in the NFL.
And now, with all this drama unfolding, here comes Tommy Coughlin and his New York (football) Giants, fresh off a disappointing loss to the Bears. Coughlin’s troops are quite banged-up, with a number of starters out. However, the Giants are still a damn god football squad, and the Jags will certainly have their hands full on Monday night. I believe the Jacksonville fans will welcome Coughlin back in many ways, having respect for the work he did here in starting the Jaguar team from scratch. It should all provide for an electric atmosphere for Monday Night Football here in town.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Last week I suggested things were starting to sort out in the NFL. Damn, was I wrong! Among other oddities, the Jets beat the Pats in Foxboro, and the Browns beat the Falcons in Atlanta! These kinds of occurrences aren’t supposed to emerge all at once, especially in the NFL.
The marquee games of the weekend include the Colts heading to Dallas to face the Cowboys, while the Broncos will host the Chargers. Both of these games should feature some good play and interesting outcomes.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL And so FINALLY it is time for us all to view ‘The Game’, with all due respect to Yale and Harvard, who are also playing this weekend. Ohio State will host Michigan for the Big Ten title and the right to play in the BCS Championship in Arizona in January.
These two squads come in undefeated, and the rivalry will be very intense for this game. The media coverage has been huge, and obviously, this could almost be considered the championship for college football, pure and simple.
The game will certainly center on the play of the two QB’s, Chad Henne for Michigan, and Troy Smith for Ohio State. But plenty more can come into play here, and it should be an exciting contest. What’s amazing is that no one is even giving consideration to other traditional rivalry games, like Auburn/Alabama and USC/Cal.
Meanwhile, the Florida Gators should have no problem this weekend with Western Carolina, and Florida State should be able to handle western Michigan. Seminole fans should be quite happy, now that Jeff Bowden will be riding off into the sunset in resigning from the Offensive Coordinator position. They feel like the offense can now only get better, no matter who is in the saddle. Meanwhile, Jeff’s father Bobby can’t be 100% happy, and it will be interesting to see who he chooses to take over that job.
OTHER NOTES This weekend the Boys will do their final race of the season, downstate in Hempstead, which is an area few NASCAR fans are even familiar with. Jimmie Johnson has the lead for the Nextel Cup and ‘the Chase’, with Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, and Denny Hamlin all within striking distance. If Johnson finishes the race in tweflth place or higher, he’s got the trophy in the bag.
Of course, anything can happen in a race, and so it will be interesting to see how things evolve. I think NASCAR needs to find a better location for their final race, instead of a place that carries no tradition and little fanfare.
Tom Weppel talks trash on Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. on WIOJ-AM 1010, and on SportsAvengers.com 24/7.
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