Every football coach shudders at the idea of player injury for the usual humanitarian and competitive reasons, though not always in that order. But injury to the starting quarterback adds a third layer of dread.
Revel in your football today. Throw on your replica NFL jersey, invite some friends over, wolf down some wings. Meticulously add and project your fantasy league points. High-five your buddy when a particularly vicious hit is delivered. Maybe even lament that the last labor agreement didn’t allow the league to add two more weeks to this wonderment.
The humor can come with the edge of a skate blade in the D Division of Eagles Rec Hockey League – the over-35, whose-turn-to-buy, past-the-primes-they- never-had division. Except that more often than not, the players will aim it at themselves. For instance, Jere Sullivan was asked if there was an E Division.
The humor can come with the edge of a skate blade in the D Division of Eagles Rec Hockey League – the over-35, whose-turn-to-buy, past-the-primes-they- never-had division. Except that more often than not, the players will aim it at themselves.
He bought himself a snub-nosed football shoe in the ninth grade to further his ambitions as a place-kicker, so instantly – and forever – Joe Tofflemire was known as “Toe.” But soon enough he grew into a complete player – one of the most honored linemen in Pacific-12 Conference history, a second-round NFL draft pick – and, to his family and friends, a complete inspiration.
He bought himself a snub-nosed football shoe in the ninth grade to further his ambitions as a placekicker, so instantly – and forever – Joe Tofflemire was known as “Toe.”
In front of 10,422 witnesses done medium- well, Eastern Washington returned to the red Saturday in an atmosphere charged with possibility as anxious as it was eager. Soon we discovered why.
In front of 10,422 witnesses done medium- well, Eastern Washington returned to the red Saturday in an atmosphere charged with possibility as anxious as it was eager. Soon we discovered why.
MISSOULA – So what do you think? Ball on the 50, 8:46 to go, 17-14 Montana. This is going to be the drive that puts Eastern Washington on top and in command – coming as it does after Montana blows it on fourth down with a pass delivered behind a wide-open receiver. The momentum, the moment – all Eastern.
After falling to Montana 17-14 on a Saturday when the football was the least glorious part of the afternoon, Eastern finds itself down five runs in the ninth with two out. Do the Eagles start swinging for a six-run homer?
Jim Sterk ran the athletic department at Washington State longer than anyone in the last 40 years and hired 17 head coaches, including the men who revived the flat-lining basketball and baseball programs. There were three bowl games and a Sweet 16 in there, and the athletic graduation rate on his watch was second only to Stanford in what was then the Pac-10. And football went all to hell.
Jim Sterk ran the athletic department at Washington State longer than anyone in the last 40 years and hired 17 head coaches, including the men who revived the flat-lining basketball and baseball programs.
Could have sworn there was a national champ- ionship team around here someplace. Anyone seen it? This isn’t a metaphorical rip. No commentary on last weekend’s toe-stub at South Dakota intended. Football happens.
PULLMAN – To borrow shamelessly from YouTube’s Greatest Coaching Rants, they are who we thought they were. Oh, not Washington State. The Cougars’ first two opponents.
It’s Hall of Fame weekend at Washington State, or as it’s better known, story hour. Doug Flansburg dials the clock back to 1964 when Bert Clark had taken over the Washington State football program, and the “two” in two-a-day practices stood for cruel and unusual. Except that two practices a day in the preseason weren’t enough for Bert, so he added a third.
SEATTLE – Class warfare can be fun. Naturally, this was a tough sell to the aristocratic tastes of Seattle, where never until Saturday had the University of Washington deigned to mix it up with the football proletariat. Play the rabble from the 63-scholarship ranks? What’s next? Screwtop Chardonnay and Velveeta at the tailgate party?
This is probably hair-splitting of Miami-cheating proportions, but it’s time for federal regulation of the surprise team industry. “Biff, who’s your surprise team in college football this year?”
Speed guys? Easy to spot. They wear single-digit jerseys, or maybe something in the 20s or 80s. Wide at the shoulders, narrow in the hips – they’re A-list mesomorphs. Almost regal in bearing, but with a studied nonchalance about their gift.
