Thoughts From The Valley

The Hangover

How I am feeling: As happy as I've been all year. Why, you ask? Simple: On Saturday, I first watched the Nittany Lions crush then-No. 19 Wisconsin 38-7 (a win that put the Nits back in the Top 25--in one poll, at least), then saw the Cleveland Indians--Warriors of the Lakefront, if you will--topple the Yankee-esque Boston Red Sox, 13-6, to take Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, tying the series at 1-1 and making all of New England justifiably nervous. Folks, you could try convincing me there is a better month in the year than October. But you would not be successful.

What I am drinking: Flying Fish Brewing Company Abbey Dubbel. I got a call at halftime of the Nittany Lions-Badgers game from former TCFA Champion Mike Unger. We chatted about the day's events and then Mike asked what I was drinking. I replied: "Flying Fish Brewing Company Abbey Dubbel." At this point he laughed and said, "Tim, you are a true connesieur." I don't know if that was a compliment or not. Regardless, this beer is darn good. And if you need something to calm your nerves during an ALCS game (nothing is more nervewracking than playoff baseball, folks), the Fish's Abbey Dubbel is good bet. Besides, it's nearly 7 percent ABV. But tasty.

What I am listening to: The Pogues, "The Very Best of the Pogues." I am half Irish, folks. But when I listen to Shane McGowan and the Pogues--the first and only band that was able to pull off a musical mixture of traditional Irish music and early alternative rock--I kind of wish I was fully Irish. As wrote the Philadelphia Weekly earlier this year: "For the young, the uninitiated or the culturally bereft, the Pogues were one of the truly magnificent bands of the ’80s—or any other decade, for that matter. They sang songs for the dispossessed and the Irish diaspora; were (initially) criminally unfashionable; played with a splenetic fury that could confound, infuriate and overjoy; and in Shane MacGowan they had a truly iconic frontman whose songwriting and lyrical prowess place him in a long lineage of Irish romantics, rebels and poets stretching from Brendan Behan to Flann O’Brien and beyond." Wondering what the fuss is about? Click here to hear the transcendant, "If I Should Fall From Grace From God."

My thoughts on the weekend: So here's where we are, folks: South Florida, No. 2. Ohio State No. 1

What?

All due credit to both the Bulls and Buckeyes. They've taken care of business. Every week. As good teams do.

But are these great teams? I don't think so, folks. And I am not alone. The fact is, the Buckeyes and Bulls both yet to be fully tested. While the nation's other top contenders--LSU and Oklahoma, Cal and Oregon--have at least faced one or two legtimate Top 10-quality teams, the Bulls and Buckeyes have, for the most part, gotten by thanks to the weakness of ther schedules.

In fact, the Buckeyes' slate has been even weaker than the Bulls'. While South Florida has at least knocked off Auburn and West Virginia (both solid, solid wins), the Buckeyes can brag about, well, what? The win over unranked Washington? The spanking of unranked Purdue? Maybe those wins over Youngstown State, Akron and Kent?

My question: When do the Bucks actually face a test?

Answer: Now.

Ohio State's next five games (and last five games, to be exact) are as follows: Michigan State, at Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, at Michigan.

Is it murderers' row? Well, not quite.

But there are at least a couple teams on that list that may well give the Buckeyes trouble. Illinois, with that newfound team speed and century-long rivalry with the Bucks, is one. Michigan, obviously, is another. As as for that date at Happy Valley? Certainly the Bucks are the better team in 2007. But keep this in mind: The Buckeyes have lost 5 of their last 7 at Penn State. Including 4 of their last 5.

I will say this, folks: Through point in the season, there is no better team than the Ohio State Buckeyes.

If they're going to keep that distinction through November, they're going to have to earn it. I am not entirely sure if they're up to the challenge.

But we're going to find out pretty quick.

Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust

Three ...: So I'm sure most of you had switched over to the Indians-Red Sox game by the time overtime had started down in Lexington, but if you missed the end of LSU-Kentucky, let me inform you that Kentucky is no fluke: No, that win over then-No. 1 LSU is all the proof we need that Rich Brooks' Wildcats are, indeed, for real. Kentucky's win--in triple overtime, behind the tremendous play of quarterback Andre Woodson and a much-underrated defense--was their first over a No. 1 team in four decades, and also proves what Thinking Men in College Football have known for years: If you give a good coach enough time, he can win anywhere. See: Frank Beamer at VPI. See: Jeff Tedford at Cal. And now, see Brooks at Kentucky. Said Woodson: "We've come a long way from being a doormat in the SEC to competing with the best teams in the SEC--and getting some wins."

Two ...: One of the more painful moments of this season--nay, one of the more painful moments of my entire life--occurred on Sunday afternoon, when The Three Meatheads of Fox's NFL team--Jimmy Johnson, Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long--were brought together to discuss the release of the season's first BCS poll. The problem? Well, there are actually two: 1) Each of those individuals are NFL-obsessed meatheads who can't read; 2) They have clearly not seen a college football game in at least 10 years. My favorite part of the broadcast came when Jimmy Johnson declared that Ohio State had an easier schedule remaining than South Florida. But then had no idea what each teams' remaining schedule was.

One ...: What to make of Penn State, folks? I am not sure. I do know the following, however: There is not a better linebacking duo in this great nation than Dan Connor and Sean Lee. Those guys never miss tackles. I mean, never. I also know that tailbacks Rodney Kinlaw and Evan Royster are better than Austin Scott has ever been. Finally, I know that when Anthony Morelli is right--and he was certainly right on Saturday against Wisky--he is pretty damn good. We just won't talk about what it's like when he's bad.

Touchdown ...: Ah, the perils of recruiting. This time last year, if you asked the so-called recruiting gurus to name the top high school senior in the nation, they would have all chosen now-Notre Dame freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Besides, those gurus would have said, Clausen in his high school career had thrown for 18,000 touchdowns, gone undefeated against a schedule that included the 2001 Miami Hurricanes and 1985 Chicago Bears (snore), walked on water, and thrown a spiral so perfect that it cured cancer. See, according to the gurus (and Charlie Weis, and ESPN ...), Clausen was bound for stardom. Well. Where do we stand today? Here's where we stand today: Notre Dame is 1-5. Clausen has been awful. And now, coach Charlie "Genius By Decree of YankeESPN" Weis says Clausen may be on the cusp of losing his job. Said Weis: "Things happen a lot faster on game day than they do in practice. They happen a lot faster. I think in practice, [Clausen] has got everything under control. On game day, obviously, the games happen faster."