The End Zone: 09-29
9/29/2011
It’s time to move on, Rocket Nation.
Yes, the blown call in Toledo’s 33-30 overtime loss at Syracuse last Saturday was a blunder of epic proportions. If it hasn’t been emblazoned on T-shirts yet, “Remember the Carrier Dome” will be stamped on the memories of UT fans for years to come. The pain, heartache, and anger are understandable too. After two weeks of getting kicked around by bigger programs and biased officials, the Rockets didn’t need another body blow.
The Falcons are getting set to play the toughest game on their schedule in Morgantown against West Virginia. But the fact that the Mountaineers are ranked No. 22 is only part of what makes this game difficult.
Sure, it’s easy to get a team excited for this game: BG will face a nationally ranked squad in front of 60,000 screaming fans. But there’s more to a season than just one game, even a game as big as this one. In fact, the gauntlet BG still has to run, which includes games against Western Michigan, Toledo, and Temple — three of the MAC’s best teams — will force coach Dave Clawson to make some tough decisions.
Luke Fickell is still learning this head coach thing. Ohio State’s young boss stopped the media in its tracks on Tuesday when asked if he was curious about what the outcome of the blockbuster Wisconsin-Nebraska showdown on Saturday night will be. “I didn’t know they were playing,” Fickell said about the game with huge Big Ten implications. Either it was a Pinocchio moment, or Fickell is so consumed by the job that he is also unaware of the uprising in Libya, the debt crisis in Greece, or Lady Gaga’s meat dress.
People are scared the other shoe will drop. They’re nervous that this season, like the two that came before it, will come unglued now that the Big Ten season has begun. They know if the Wolverines don’t improve they could be sent into a tailspin ending in another fruitless November.
But I’m not referring to you fine ladies and gentlemen, or even media types.