Observations and Ruminations

What Have We Learned This Week?

  There is a reason why they play the game.  How many times does that phrase get brought out after a game like the Seahawks/Saints game?  But it’s deserved after a week of the national media treating the Seahawks like an eight-seed in a six-team tournament.  When NFL segments got into picks throughout the week, the hosts and analysts would just breeze through this matchup that really was not worth discussion to get on to other “real” contests.

  I mean, it’s not like we should take into consideration that a good quarterback might have a stellar performance at least one more time in his career.  We could discount the fact that the stronger defense might leave holes in coverage that the above quarterback could pick apart.  That strong defense of the defending world champions just might not bring it for 60 minutes and at the end allow one of the most impressive runs in NFL playoff history because eight players missed tackles.

 No, this one did not play out “like it should have” on paper.  But the Seahawks did win that game.  It might mean a thing in Sunday’s matchup in Chicago, but for now at least, a team that still has a losing record is alive and well in the NFL playoffs.

Return of the Predictions

  It’s been awhile since we’ve done predictions here at Outside the Arc, so let’s start the new year with some NFL Wild Card picks.

• New Orleans at Seattle   Well, I really hate to pick against my Seahawks … so I won’t.  The Saints have lost another running back and they will be hurting without Pierre Thomas.  Sure Reggie Bush will likely score his first rushing TD of the season, but it won’t be enough.  The NFC West champs, complete with the return of Matt Hasselbeck, will play inspired ball in front of the home crowd. > ‘Hawks 26, Saints 24

• N.Y. Jets at Indianapolis   Is there anything that can make Rex Ryan shutup?  I’d say Kryptonite, but he’s no Superman.  Peyton Manning, on the other hand…

Manning’s skill and ability to control a game + Jets’ secondary issues = another Colts victory over Rex Ryan. >  Indy 38, N.Y. 21

• Baltimore at Kansas City   Baltimore doesn’t seem to garner the same attention that Indianapolis and New England do.  Manning and Tom Brady have something to do with that, as well.  But the Ravens are steady on offense and solid on defense.

  Kansas City has surprised many people this season. They won’t surprise Baltimore, even in Arrowhead. > Ravens 20, Chiefs 13

• Green Bay at Philadelphia   Seriously, does anyone really believe the rumors that Michael Vick is going to be benched for this playoff game?  Barring a traumatic injury or being sacked 8-9 time in the first half, this just isn’t going to happen.

  The way the games have fallen, the league (and networks) have given us as the final game of the weekend what will likely be a shootout.  Vick and Aaron Rodgers both have led their teams well this season and both offenses can score.  The Eagles will score just a little bit more at home and avenge their early season loss to the Packers. > Philly 41, G.B. 38

Broyles Will Return

  Oklahoma's standout wide receiver, Ryan Broyles, will return to play for the Sooners again in 2011, according to The Oklahoman.

Observations and Ruminations

What Have We Learned This Week?
• There is no question now (and really never should have been) that TCU can play with the “Big Boys”.  It was a close win, but a win nonetheless.  And though Andy Dalton and the offense get a lot of deserved credit for what the Horned Frogs do on the field, the performance of the defense on New Year’s Day was impressive. A Wisconsin team that had been very hot at the end of the season, scoring 48.2 ppg in their final 7 games (all wins), was held to just 19 points in the Rose Bowl.

  It’s a shame that this school felt the need to ignore geography and join the Big East just to get a chance to play for a national title.

• The Big Ten started off 2011 with a complete thud!  Oh-fer five on Jan.1.   Wow.

  Hey, Nebraska, how inviting does that league look right now?  Well, I suppose with the loss to a mediocre Washington team in a rematch it makes you feel right at home.

  If you’re a Big Ten fan, you have to feel at least a little better about the fact that Ohio State finally got over its fear of the Big Bad SEC and won a bowl game against them for the first time in school history.

• In an effort to make the final week of the season mean more than just a week for playoff-bound teams to rest their starters, the NFL set up the schedule so that all of the Game 17 matchups would be between division rivals.  It was a good decision.

  Yes, there were games in which first-stringers (read here Dallas) took on second- and third-stringers (read here Philadelphia).  But it also gave us the Seattle/St. Louis matchup for a division title and the final playoff spot in the season’s final game.  And likely will bring more intrigue in future seasons if they decide to stick with this format.

7-9 Was All It Took

  I have cheered for the Seahawks for more than 25 years, but I know the difference between a good Seattle team and one that is not so good.  The 2010 Seahawks fall into the latter category.  The losses that have mounted against them in the late part of this season have been documented on this website.

  St. Louis is an up and coming team with a very good rookie quarterback.  They have found momentum as the season has gone on and their coach is doing well with what he has this year.  Everything about this scenario says that the Rams should win this matchup going away.

  And yet…  Seattle 16, St. Louis 6.

  Somehow this Seattle team, complete with a backup quarterback leading what could kindly be described as a miserable offense, managed to come out victorious tonight.  Granted, there was a horrible spot on third down in the fourth quarter that really favored the Seahawks.   And the Rams dropped some very catchable Bradford passes.  But the worst rushing team in the league got yard

  Olindo Mare was 3-3 in field goal attempts, but actually it turned out the Whitehurst to Williams touchdown on the first drive of the game would prove to be the game-winner.

  The Seahawks now own the distinct honor of being the NFL’s first-ever division winner to have a losing record.  And it’s an honor that, for tonight and this week at least, they are happy to have.

  Wild Card Weekend vs. the defending Super Bowl champions in six days… 

The Sixth Time's The Charm

Maybe now Bob Stoops and the Sooners can stop answering questions about their BCS bowl woes after taking down Connecticut 48-20 in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl on Saturday night.  Oklahoma finally lived up to the massive point spread that was expected of them coming into a Fiesta Bowl matchup and won a BCS game after five straight losses.

  Landry Jones had a fantastic night, passing for 429 yards and three touchdowns.  He completed his first 12 passes.  (Actually, he completed his first 13, if you count the pass complete to Connecticut’s Dwayne Gratz, who returned it for a touchdown.)  With this big performance, Jones has surpassed Sam Bradford’s mark for passing yards in a season.

  Jones found six different receivers with his 34 completions.  Ryan Broyles led that group with 13 receptions for 170 yards and touchdown.  Like OSU’s Justin Blackmon, there is much speculation about the receiver’s future in college.

  Senior running back Demarco Murray closed out his Sooner career in style with 25 carries for 93 yards.  Although he didn’t quite reach the 100-yard milestone in this game, he did cross the goal line for a touchdown, which was his 50th career touchdown.

  The Sooners kept the UConn offense out of the endzone.  This extended the Huskies’ offensive struggles, who have now gone over eight quarters without an offensive TD.  UConn got points from Gratz’ pick six and Robbie Frey’s 95-yard touchdown on a kickoff return.

  With as much youth as Oklahoma has returning for the 2011 season, many people are already pointing the possibilities of the Sooners playing for a national title again in a little over a year.

Blackmon May Return

If this is true, OSU fans have a lot to be excited about.
Check out the report from Cowboys Ride For Free.

Bedlam 2010

#1 > Oklahoma Sooners 47, Oklahoma State Cowboys 41 Nov. 27

  We’ve remembered a lot of great games from 2010, but since this site has a specific emphasis on sports in Oklahoma, of course this has to be the top game on our list.

  It was the third of three games from Thanksgiving weekend that really seemed to be worth listing in a Top Ten.  This Bedlam matchup had more pre-game hype than any Bedlam game since OU was No. 2 and OSU was No. 3 back in 1984, although a lot can be said for the amount of talent that was suited up for both teams in 1987.

  The two teams went back and forth with eight scores, four apiece, throughout the first three quarters, with the scored tied at 24-24 at the end of the third period.  It was in the fourth quarter that things really got wild.

  The Sooners really won the game with their ability to convert on third down.  They picked first downs on seven tries on third down late in the third quarter and through the fourth.  This was especially big on the 17-play drive that culminated in a field goal early in the fourth that ultimately gave OU the lead for good.  The two teams would score 40 points in the final period that featured a 76-yard TD pass, an 86-yard TD pass, and an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

  Landry Jones outdueled Brandon Weeden in passing yards, 468-257, but the majority of the stats for the game showed equality for both teams.  (Incidentally, Jones' 468 passing yards is an OU record, tied with Sam Bradford.)  Each team had three interceptions.  Weeden was picked off midway through the fourth quarter, when the Cowboys were still within one score of taking the lead.  But the signature play of the game was when Broderick Brown leapt up at the sideline and knocked an errant pass from Jones back inbounds to Shaun Lewis to complete the interception.

  The Sooner win put both teams at 10-2 and for the season, also tied with Texas A&M.  BCS ranking gave OU the Big XII South championship and the Sooners defeated Nebraska 23-20 in the Big XII title game.  Oklahoma State would go on to dismantle Arizona 36-10 in the Alamo Bowl and claim the school’s first-ever 11-win season.  We’ll find out tomorrow whether OU stop a five game BCS Bowl losing streak in the Fiesta Bowl against Connecticut.

First 11-Win Season

 Quite simply, there was too much Oklahoma State talent on the field Wednesday night.  The Cowboys dismantled the Arizona Wildcats 36-10 in the Alamo Bowl.  Yes, OSU coach Mike Gundy had his team ready to go.  Dana Holgorsen, as usual called a brilliant game. And Arizona coach Mike Stoops couldn’t seem to buy a call.  But the fact is that Oklahoma State, now 11-2, simply outmatched Arizona at every position.

  Cowboys QB Brandon Weeden was 24 of 41 through the air for 240 yards and touchdowns Almost half of those yards (117) went to Justin Blackmon.  Blackmon picked up those yards with nine catches, two of them for the two touchdown passes from Weeden.

  It was the 12^th consecutive game in which Blackmon had at least 100 yards receiving and at least one TD reception.  Blackmon also now owns the single-season records for yards receiving and TD receptions (20).

  The future of both of these players is in question right now as either or both might try to make the jump to the NFL.  And with Blackmon, who won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver, and who was named the Big XII Offensive Player of the Year, there may not be much incentive to return to the collegiate ranks next season.  Money may be a bigger incentive.

  Gundy would like to see them stay, however.  “I think they both need to come back,” he said.  “Both of them can mature.”

  One future that is not in question is that of Holgorsen.  The Cowboys’ offensive coordinator extraordinaire is headed to West Virginia to fill that position for Mountaineers in 2011 and assume the position of head coach in 2012.  The part he played in the first-ever 11-win season for Oklahoma State really can’t be overstated.

  And senior running back Kendall Hunter suited up for the Cowboys for the final time.  He carried the ball 10 times for 32 yards.  Hunter finishes his career as the fourth leader rusher in OSU history.

  Senior Dan Bailey also capped off his Cowboy career with 12 points.  He had a rare miss on a point-after attempt, but still finishes as the all-time leading scorer in Oklahoma State history with 370 points.  On top of that, this year's Lou Groza Award winner also took over punting duty for the absent Quinn Sharp.

  Arizona fell to 7-6 on the season.  The Wildcats lost their final five games.

One Play Can Win a Ballgame, But One Play Can't Lose It

#4 Nevada Wolfpack 34, Boise State Broncos 31 [OT] Nov. 26

People across the country had many and varying reasons for cheering for Boise State in college football.  The team from the northwest, who had become the NCAA football counterpart to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in NCAA basketball, was seen as an outsider trying to get into the party that was invitation-only and for insiders.  Many people wanted to see another undefeated Bronco team be turned away at the door of the “National Championship” game in hopes that it would be another step toward the implosion of the BCS.

But in 2010, this was not to be.  Late on a Friday night in Reno, Boise State and Nevada played an incredible game that will most likely and unfortunately be remembered for two missed field goal attempts.

Boise State jumped out to an early lead and looked to be cruising to yet another win as they held a 24-7 lead at the break.  But the Wolfpack offense came to life in the second half, led by senior quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who will leave big shoes to fill next season.  His rushing TD got Nevada on the board in the second half and the 7-yard TD pass to Rishard Matthews with 13 seconds left looked like it was all that Nevada would need to send the game into overtime, tied at 31. Instead, it was a missed opportunity for Boise State that would force an extra session.

With just nine seconds remaining in regulation and on his own 38-yard-line, Bronco QB Kellen Moore flung a 53-yard pass down the field to Titus Young and Boise would have it at the Nevada 9 to set up a potential game-winning FG from 26 yards away.  Unfortunately for the usually reliable Boise kicker, Kyle Brotzman, he pushed it and the Broncos would have to try to win this one in OT.

Even more unfortunate for Brotzman was that Boise State couldn’t get the ball across the goal line in overtime and needed his services again.  This time, he pulled a 29-yard attempt and the game remained tied.  It was tied, that is, until Reno’s hometown hero Anthony Martinez connected on a 34-yard attempt, bringing Boise State’s perfect season to an end, 34-31. 

Largest Viewing Audience Ever To Watch "The Who"

#5 > New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17 Feb. 7

Super Bowl XLIV was the most watched program in television history. (Yes, something finally surpassed the series finale of M*A*S*H back in 1983.) And it really was a game worth watching.

At this point, the Department of Full Disclosure here at Outside The Arc mandates that we let you know that we were cheering for Indy at our house. My wife and I have been Peyton Manning fans since his days at the University of Tennessee and would like to have seen him get his second ring. But Drew Brees is a pretty good guy himself and he led his team admirably throughout the game.

When the Colts got out to a 10-0 lead, it looked like this could be another Super Bowl blowout. Then the Indianapolis offense went silent and two Saints’ field goals kept the game close with a 10-6 halftime score.

Surely the Colts could get things going when they would receive the ball to start the second half, but that kickoff proved to be the turning point in the game. Coach Sean Payton’s decision to attempt an onside kick was gutsy and ultimately successful. And the Saints capitalized on this big play with a six play touchdown drive that gave New Orleans its first lead.

Indianapolis regained the lead on the next possession and held on to it, going into the fourth quarter up 17-16. The Saints went back on top for good on Brees’ second TD pass, capped off with an amazing catch by Lance Moore to complete the two-point conversion. A 74-yard interception return for a touchdown by Larry Porter sealed the deal for the Saints, who captured the first Super Bowl victory in team history.

The All-Powerful NFC West

My beloved Seahawks are 6-9, have lost 5 of their last 6 (while being outscored 202-128), and lost 7 of their last 9 (and outscored 294-174). And STILL... if they win next Sunday against Sam Bradford and the Rams, Seattle will win their division and grab the #4 seed in the NFC playoffs.

There are many people who are displeased with the fact that a team with a non-winning record will be in the playoffs, but that's just the way that the rules are set up. Deal!

Two Games Today

#7 > Auburn Tigers 28, Alabama Crimson Tide 27 Nov. 26

Because it’s Christmas Day, OTA will give you two games on our Top Ten for 2010 list today. No. 7 on the list is one of three games that took places in the same weekend. If you’re a college football fan, you had a lot to be thankful for during Thanksgiving weekend.

Of course, if you’re an Auburn fan, you’ve had a lot to be thankful for this season just having Cam Newton as the quarterback for your team. But for the first 20+ minutes of the 2010 Iron Bowl, Newton seemed almost human against the arch-rival Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama QB Greg McElroy and the Tide offense looked invincible in the early going. With a great offensive gameplan and very much momentum, Alabama moved ball through the air and on the ground and were up 21-0 at the end of the first period.

Then the game changed on a seemingly harmless fumble. With the Tide up 24-0, last year’s Heisman winner Mark Ingram fumbled on a long run toward the endzone, which would likely have been too much for Auburn to overcome. The Tigers came back and Newton finally got his game going. A touchdown pass to Emory Blake got Auburn on the board and down only 24-7 at the half.

The Alabama defense looked good for a half, but that was about as long as they could keep Newton down. Auburn outscored Alabama 21-3 in the second half and a big hit took McElroy out of the contest when Alabama looked to be making a final game-winning comeback. Auburn hung on for a one-point win, which probably sealed the deal for the arrival of the Heisman Trophy in the state of Alabama for the second consecutive season.

Outside The Arc's First Countdown

#10 > Arizona Cardinals 51, Green Bay Packers 45 [OT] Jan. 10

Outside the Arc would like to close out 2010 with some actual blog entries and also get ready for 2011. As there are in each calendar year, there were in 2010 some spectacular moments in the world of sports. OTA would like to submit a Top 10 worth of games that really were worth watching during the past 12 months. If you saw any one of these contests, you knew when it was done that you had seen something worth remembering. So let’s kick this off…

At #10, we take you back to the January and the highest scoring game in NFL playoff history. The Arizona Cardinals took a 17-0 lead into the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers, but quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Aaron Rodgers made watching the rest of the game like viewing a tennis match with all of back-and-forth scoring and momentum changes that followed. Warner actually had more touchdown passes (5) than he had passes fall incomplete (4).

Rodgers' touchdown pass to Spencer Havner with less than two minutes remaining tied the game at 45 and allowed for an overtime session. However, although the Packers won the toss and got the ball first, three plays into the extra period, Rodgers fumbled the ball and Karlos Dansby ran it in for the score. (Somewhere in the northwest, Seahawks fans were celebrating the poetic justice of the playoff loss for the Packers.)

And in a postscript, if there was any question as to the impact that Warner made during his tenure with the Cardinals, we submit to you Exhibit A: The 2010 Arizona season, complete with the blazing disarray at the quarterback position.

One and Done

Forgan 46, Victory Life 0.

The trip to the playoffs this season turned out to be long in driving time, but short in duration.

But still - it was a trip to the playoffs.

Latest on Alves

It's been an interesting season for the Durant Lions, but the last couple of weeks have been even more so.
Beau Simmons has the latest on Daryn Alves in his article in yesterday's Durant Democrat.

Playoffs?! You want to talk about playoffs??!!

The Victory Life Eagles have been in the OSSAA for 3 years now, but due to the structuring of the districts, the Eagles' football program is enjoying membership for just the second year. And it's taken only 2 seasons to make the playoffs.

The Eagles 55-7 victory at Grandfield on Friday, coupled with the Corn Bible Academy loss to Temple, thrust VLA into the postseason. And with Thackerville's 22-point loss at Tipton, the Eagles slipped ahead of the Wildcats and into third place in District C2. One slot up in the district standings also means that, though the Eagles will have to make a journey almost out of our time zone, they will avoid a first-round matchup with Shattuck and its (current) 92-game winning streak.

A Brief Glance at Four Years

If you’ve listened to a Southeastern football broadcast over the past 4 years, then you know that I’ve been riding on the “Daniel Nichols Bandwagon” for almost that entire span. I was really sad to see Nichols’ collegiate career come to an end tonight – especially since he came so close to tying the receiving TD record and receiving yardage record. But his time at SOSU will be long remembered.
Here’s a very small glance at some of what Daniel Nichols has accomplished at Southeastern:

1st place All-time receptions – 192
1st place All-time points scored – 196
2nd place All-time receiving – 3036 yards
2nd place All-time receiving TDs – 32
4th best single season receiving – 971 yards, 2009
8th best single season receiving – 818 yards, 2007
11th best single season receiving – 797 yards, 2008
2nd most receiving TD in a season – 12, 2009
7th best single game receiving – 185 yards, Oct. 24, 2009, at NSU
8th best single game receiving – 183 yards, Nov. 10, 2007, vs. ECU
*Tied (with others) for most receiving TD’s in a game – 3, Nov. 10, 2007, vs. ECU and Aug. 27, 2009 vs. Henderson State

More on Daniel Nichols later...

How's everyone been?

Hey, everyone. Long time, no blog.
Let's start with a quick update.

SOSU 27, ECU 26
This one was a blowout early, and then the Savage Storm had to hang on at the end. Southeastern scored 27 points in the first quarter and didn't score in the final 46:24. But the Storm finishes at 7-4.

Victory Life 55, Grandfield 7
VLA not only makes the playoffs for the first time ever in the OSSAA, but snags the 3rd spot in District C2.

More about all of this later, but I needed to get back in the proverbial saddle.
See you.

Henderson State vs. Southeastern

Dallas McCutcheon started at quarterback for the first time in college and tossed 5 touchdown passes in Southeastern's 54-38 victory on Thursday night. The sophomore QB's record-tying performance helped the Storm to their 4th season opening win in the last five years.
Senior wide receiver Daniel Nichols also had a record-tying night as he hauled in three of those five touchdowns. He also had 131 yards on seven receptions, which brought him to within 139 yards of catching Pete Spratt for 2nd place all-time receiving at the school.
Baylen Laury also made his presence known on the field. The running back picked up 114 yards and rushed for two touchdowns as well. Southeastern's 54 points was the most for the Storm since xxxx
There was a huge turnout for the home opener and almost all of them stayed through the 35 minute weather delay, which temporarily stopped the contest with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter. And it was worth it for those who stayed as they witnessed a big offensive display.
Henderson State got on the board first with a 51 yard touchdown pass, but SOSU answered immediately with a 54 yarder of their own, McCutcheon to senior TE Jerrod Temple. Laury's two TD runs followed and the Storm went up 19-7.
Offensive miscues, a.k.a. two fumbles run back for HSU scores, kept the Reddies in the game and led 28-26 in the second quarter. But a Nichols TD reception right before the half put the Storm up for good.
Southeastern's defense dug in during the second half. They held HSU to 317 yards of total offense for the game. Newcomer Steven Harris led the way for the Storm with 8 tackles and Brandon Ford and Lionel Gillespie each had a sack. Both Bernard Daniel and Johnny Seals snagged interceptions.
The Storm's all-time leader in kickoff returns and kickoff return yardage, Jerome Hewitt, started off the year well, also. He return 6 kickoffs for 187 yards, only ten yards shy of the single game record.
The four TDs in the first half were matched by four more in the second and SOSU outscored Henderson State 28-10 after the break and went on to win, 54-38.
Though the Storm wound up winning going away, there is much work still to be done. The offense, defense, and special teams all showed that each can shine in 2009. But each squad also had significant breakdowns at times. Midwestern State will provide tougher opposition on Saturday.
All in all, a 1-0 open to the season is a good way to start.