Saturday Recap - It Was a Wild Ride

Whew I'm glad that's over. I'm not sure I can take much more of that. What am I talking about? How about yesterdays Michigan Wisconsin game. Watching that game yesterday was like being on a roller coaster of emotions. In the first half I went from trying to figure out if they would ever win another game this year, to are they ever going to score again, to are they ever going to get another first down again. I knew a year ago when Michigan lost its entire offense and hired a new coach to instill a new offensive system this could be a long ugly year. I just didn't think it could get this ugly. Then the second half started. I mean how bad could Michigan lose? 38-0? I didn't think so because Wisconsin is the type of team to come out and run the football to take time off the clock, of course I was counting on Michigan not turning the football over 5 times in the second half too.

Then it started, slowly at first, you could see the game starting to change. Michigan's defense started to exert themselves, and let's give the defense huge props here because they never quit, they stopped Wisconsin on several 3 and outs. Meanwhile the Michigan offense started to eek out a first down here and there. Pretty soon they are moving the football. Michigan finally scores and the game is now 19-7.

There's a pulse, the stadium is finally coming to life, the offense is starting to show flashes of what it can do. Another 3 and out for the Wisconsin offense. The Michigan defense is starting to take over the line of scrimmage. Meanwhile the offense gets the ball back and promptly drives down the field and scores another touchdown, score 19-14. Now I am on the edge of the couch urging the defense on to stop them again and give the offense another chance. I didn't have to wait long, I didn't even have to wait for the offense to get another chance. The defense took matters into their own hands and intercepted the first pass and returned it for a touchdown. I am no longer sitting on the edge of the couch I'm now standing, celebrating with the 109,000 fans in the stands and the countless others watching on TV, silently singing the Victors fight song in my head while the band is playing it on TV in the background. The score is Michigan 20 Wisconsin 19.

There is still a lot of time left on the clock, too much time on the clock if you ask me. How long does it take for 8-9 minutes of a football game to tick off a clock? When it is your favorite football team and they are struggling for wins this season and are hanging on by a thread that 8-9 minutes seems like an eternity.

Then Michigan stops them again and the offense gets the ball back. A long run by Threet, classic spread offense play, a few runs up the middle and Michigan pounds the ball in the end zone again. I can't believe what I have just witnessed. Michigan down 19-0 at half, only 1 first down in the first half, 5 turnovers in the first half, and now they are ahead 27-19 with 4-5 minutes left in the game.

Michigan isn't out of the woods yet. They only have an 8 point lead and all Wisconsin needs is a touchdown and 2 point conversion to tie it up. If you are a Michigan fan you know they are capable of blowing a lead like this and end up breaking your heart. The last 4-5 minutes are a nervous time trying to get the clock to speed up trying to get this game to end. Wisconsin had other ideas, they drive the ball down the field and score with only 13 second left on the clock. The score is now 27-25, within one 2 point conversion of being tied. Now it's time to pray. This isn't Notre Dame where touchdown Jesus presides over the football field and miracles just happen, nope this is Michigan where is seems bad things tend to happen to the home team. I didn't want overtime, regardless what happens Wisconsin still is the better team and I figured if it went into overtime Wisconsin would pull out a victory. I am now sitting back down nervously waiting for the 2 point conversion try. Wisconsin quarterback drops back, passes, and caught in the end zone.

DAMMIT!!!

I slumped back into the couch thinking overtime. But I was also thinking I don't care how this game comes out Michigan showed me something today. They showed me they won't quit as a team. They showed me they can be competitive this year. They showed me what is in store in the future with the spread offense at Michigan and all the athletes Michigan has. The defense showed me they are a presence to be reckoned with, they will keep Michigan in games this year and if the offense can muster a little bit of offense they will have a chance to win. Regardless of what happens I am extremely happy with the second half.

But wait a minute, there is a flag on the play, a penalty. Who is it on? Come on, please be Wisconsin.

Ref: "Penalty Wisconsin, illegal formation, 5 yard penalty, replay 2 point conversion attempt."

I can't believe it, is Touchdown Jesus in the Michigan tunnel somewhere looking over the Wolverines? I don't care what it is Michigan has a second chance. Now I am back to standing up to watch the last play.

The Wisconsin quarterback drops back and fires the ball through the end zone.

"INCOMPLETE, IMPCOMPLETE, MICHIGAN WINS, MICHIGAN WINS!!!!!!"

Now I can go to the party tonight where all the Wisconsin grads will be and not have to listen to them tell me how Michigan is a terrible team and is not longer relevant.

While watching the first half I couldn't help but think it looked more like men verses boys out there and sadly to say Michigan was the boys. It was hard to watch, the fumbles, the interceptions, the futility of the entire offense. It's a good thing Michigan has a good defense. I know they gave up 19 points in the first half but the offense kept putting them in bad field position. Out of those 19 points there was only one touchdown scored.

But today the boys grew up a little bit. Do I think Michigan football is back and a force to be reckoned with? No, I am realistic and I know there will be plenty of rough stretches ahead with this young team. I am just hoping they finish at least .500 so they get to a bowl game. This is a team that can beat any team in the Big 10 but at the same time they can lose to any team in the Big 10 and I think their chances of losing are better than their chances of winning. I have said it before and I will probably say it again this team will only go as far as their defense can take it.

If nothing else at least for one day they gave me some hope.

I watched some of the MSU game and I have to say I am not as impressed with them this week as I was for the last 3-4 weeks. Maybe they had a slight letdown after their big win over ND last week, it wouldn't surprise me if that is what happened. I thought their defense was better than they played yesterday and the offense looked to one dimensional. MSU is relying on Jevon Ringer too much and somewhere down the line they will pay. I'm not sold on MSU anymore and I will have to give them a couple of more weeks to see how they play.

I didn't get to watch the Notre Dame game but it looks like they got their offense untracked. Now let's not forget this was against a terrible Purdue defense but ND still managed to score 38 points and for that we must give them their props. ND has an easy schedule from here on out (other than USC) and it wouldn't surprise me if they play on new years. Shoot let's be honest ND can have 4 losses and play on new years and still be in a BSC game. I can't complain to much though because Michigan gets bowl games they don't deserve too.

Michigan Tech didn't fare to well this weekend. They traveled to that team in Grand Rapids and played. Here is the article from the Michigan Tech website this morning.

"ALLENDALE, Mich. — No. 2-ranked Grand Valley State controlled tonight’s battle of nationally-ranked teams, defeating No. 23-ranked Michigan Tech, 52-6. The Lakers improved to 4-0, while the Huskies fell to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

GSVU scored on each of its first five drives and seven-of-nine possessions in the first half to grab a 45-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Tech took its opening drive to the endzone. Phil Milbrath chewed up 34 yards before Steve Short found Keith White open across the goalline. Tyler Cattelino’s extra point bounced off the right upright, leaving the score 45-6.

After stopping the Lakers on their first drive of the second half, Tech’s Akeem Cason broke off a 63-yard run to the GVSU 10. The visitors worked their way to a second-and-goal situation before turning the ball over on downs.

Grand Valley capped the game’s scoring at the 5:29 mark of the fourth quarter.

Cason finished with game-high 98 yards on 11 carries. Short was 8-of-15 for 66 yards.

Defensively, Tech posted nine tackles for loss including four sacks. Eleven different players had tackles for loss. Drew Vanderlin recorded seven tackles including 1.5 sacks. Freshman Chet White had a team-high nine tackles in the game.

Michigan Tech will return to Sherman Field next Saturday (Oct. 4) for Homecoming. The Huskies host Ferris State for a 1 p.m. kickoff."

Next week will be another tough test with Ferris. Let's hope for a better outcome.

Regarding this weeks top five I think we are in a highly fluid situation. With the best teams in the SEC and Big 12 conferences they will continue to knock each other in and out of the top 5. With the limits being place on scholarships the big time programs like Michigan, ND, LSU, Florida, USC, etc. can't horde all the players out of high school anymore. This has evened out the competitive edge in college football and made it much more exciting to watch. You never know anymore who will win or who will lose.

Here is this weeks top 5 and I am sure it will change by next week.

1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Missouri
4. LSU
5. Texas

A lot of people have Penn State in their top 5 this week but all I can say is sorry I am not sold on any team in the Big 10 or the ACC.

This weeks top Heisman candidates again in no particular order.

Knowshon Moreno - Georgia - Running Back
Tim Tebow - Florida - Quarterback
Chase Danials - Missouri - Quarterback
Jeremy Maclin - Missouri - Receiver
Javon Ringer - MSU - Running Back
Colt McCoy - Texas - Quarterback

And one last thing for a Saturday recap we must mention the passing of Paul Newman. He was one of my favorite actors while growing up. He will always be remembered for his movies but let's not forget about his foundations and charity work. He has donated over $250,000,000 to charities over the years. He is a true patriot.

Week 4 - Detroit Lions vs. The Bye Week

Boy oh boy what a week for Lions fans. The ax finally fell on Matt Millen even if it was 2 years to late. I don't mind giving someone a chance but 7 years of futility? Come on Mr. Ford, no wonder your auto company has problems. In his seven years of drafting he drafted a wide receiver 4 different times. What other team has ever done this? I don't have a problem with Roy Williams or Calvin Johnson, both are worthy of a number one draft pick but Mike Williams and Charles Rogers? If the Lions did their homework on these two guys they would never have drafted them. Rogers had problems with illegal drugs while at MSU and Williams never had a good work ethic while at USC. These are things that a good scouting department will find out BEFORE they draft a player.

The first thing Millen did when he joined the Lions was fire the head of scouting for the Lions. I can't remember the guys name but can you guess where he ended up? How about the Pittsburgh Steelers. And we all know what they have done for the last seven years. I'm not saying the Lions would have the same success if they would have kept this scout but I really doubt if they would have sunk to such lows if he was still in charge of scouting.

Right now this team is a mess with the seven years of incompetent scouting. Millen has left the team with little talent but at least he is gone. Hopefully the Lions will get it right this time and hire someone with experience in building football teams. I am hoping for Floyd Reese or Ron Wolfe. Reese built the Tennesse Titans who went to the super bowl a few of years ago and Wolfe rebuilt the Packers from nothing. Whoever they hire can't do a worse job then Millen.

Let's talk about this weeks game. The Lions vs the bye week. Tough call but I give the advantage to the bye week.

Sunday Dinner - 21 September 2008

The summer of 2008 has come to a close but the weather is still nice enough to grill outside. It's hard to tell how many more nice Sundays we will get for grilling but I am taking advantage of them while I can.

I try to do simple Sunday Dinner Episodes that are easy to reproduce in the home or outside on the grill. I think this weeks episode is a great example of this. Let me introduce you to Brick Chicken....

This is one of those things I have been wanting to try for sometime now. I was going to do it last weekend but the weather prevented me from trying. I really doesn't get much easier than this for cooking. Just follow along and see.

First the cast of characters for the first scene of this episode.


You may recognize these characters if you have been following along for the last few months. That's right these characters are for brining a chicken. But before we an brine the bird we have one thing that needs to be done.

We must cut the backbone out so the chicken will lay flat on the grill. Once the backbone is out we can mix up the brine, insert the bird and put everything in the ice box for a few hours.

When it comes time to grill take the bird out of the brine, rinse off and pat dry with paper towels. Patting the chicken dry is what will make the skin golden brown and crispy.

Time to get ready to introduce the cast of characters for scene 2.....

Pretty simple eh? I told you this would be simple cooking with simple ingredients. Brush or spray on olive oil and season with whatever seasonings you like. What is in the picture is what I chose, okay I didn't choose these ingredients they came from the my Weber grilling cookbook.

Now this is where this version of cooking chicken is different than others. You place the bird skin side down over high indirect heat and place bricks on top of it.


So you don't think that looks like bricks on top of the bird? Well good eye, since I don't own any bricks I used my cast iron frying pan with a lid on it.

The reason for the bricks (or frying pan) is it presses the skin down onto the grill for more even cooking. The second reason is the bird is suppose to cook a lot more even throughout.

After about 40 minutes flip the bird over and finish cooking it for 5 minutes or so directly over medium hot coals.

After it's cooked and plated with the rest of the meal it looks like this.....


That corn on the cob is best, I cooked it just like I did a couple of weeks ago. The chicken will get a 4.75 out of 5 forks. Nice and juicy, cooked evenly through and nice browning from the weight of the bricks, opps I mean frying pan. Definitely worth another try especially because how easy it is to cook.

In the end though let's be serious, it's just another way to cook chicken.