Saturday Football

It is Saturday and that can only mean college football. It should mean grading as I got papers yesterday, but I like to prioritize.

Obviously everyone is looking forward to the Michigan v Ohio State game. I have only one thing to say .... GO BLUE! Apart from my connections to Michigan, I developed an intense dislike for the Buckeyes when they snuck past ASU in the 1997 Rose Bowl. Joe Germaine quaterbacked a 12 play, 65-yard drive in the final 1:40 for the winning touchdown. It is thus with some satisfaction that I note that Germaine's NFL career went nowhere and that he's now playing arena football for the Utah Blaze. You could argue that the career of the ASU quarterback that evening also went nowhere, but that's a discussion for another day ...

Speaking of ASU, they (6-4, 3-4) are taking on UCLA (5-5, 3-4) later in the evening. We're coming off the 47-14 rout of Washington State while the Bruins upset Oregon State 25-7. The games is actually being televised so between that and the Michigan game, my day is set and grading doesn't stand a chance of getting done.

Update: So Michigan lost in a game that was much higher scoring than I expected. As I type, Cal is leading USC 9-6 as the start of the third. 

Tonight is Seniors Night at ASU. Nineteen seniors will be playing their last home game for ASU, including some relatively big names: Randy Hill, Jamaal Lewis, Terry Richardson, Stephen Berg, Andrew Carnahan, Zach Catanese, Kyle Caldwell, Jordan Hill, Beau Manutai, Derron Ware, and Jesse Ainsworth. Odds are that this is Zach Miller's last home game as well - he is most probably a first round NFL draft pick come 2007.

Update: Halftime at the ASU game and UCLA lead 14-9. The Sun Devils aren't out of the game, but they aren't looking particularly impressive either. Certainly this season they have missed Carnahan, Hill, Berg and Richardson - all seniors and all missing due to injury.

Arizona beat the Oregon Ducks 37-10 and became bowl eligible. That is their third straight win against a ranked opponent. Next Saturdays game for ASU isn't going to be as easy as we all imagined at the start of the season.

Update: Yeah, well that was forgetable. UCLA win 24-12 and ASU falls to 6-5, 3-5 in the Pac-10. ASU didn't manage a single touchdown and Carpenter was 11 of 24 for 137 yards and one interception. I predict Arizona will beat us next week. I hate myself for that. I really really do.

At least we have tomorrows hoops game to look forward to - the #11 ASU women take on #5 Tennessee.