LamarCheeks

After a week off, we have our last noncon tilt before diving deep into the B1G season. Oakland (4-6) played the two Michigan B1G teams and got thwacked pretty good -- 102-47 to Sparty and 88-42 to the maize and blue. They're not what you'd consider an offensive juggernaut -- averaging just 61 points a game and getting outcored by 9 a game. Hoosiers (8-3) have won four in a row and are coming off a 34-point win over Bellarmine. If you can read between the lines, this should be an easy win. @Class of '66 Old Fart is out of pocket for a while, and wanted to ensure women's game threads were taken care of in his stead, so to quote Jackie Gleason -- "And away we go ..." Radio Live stats BTW -- if you're planning to attend the game and have a spare teddy bear (or can pick one up), take it to SSAH and toss it onto the court at halftime. They'll be collected and distributed to local kids in need.

Looks as if Syd might play a little tomorrow ... https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-womens-basketballs-lenee-beaumont-out-for-the-year-sydney-parrish-nearing-return/

Wow. Rickey Henderson died. A phenomenal ballplayer -- also had the unique distinction of throwing left-handed and batting right-handed. RIP

Hoosiers: 85 Tennessee state birds: 73

Though it was very early, I definitely thought that was a turning point. We had first down at the ND 17. Rourke throws a pick, and the next play is the 98-yard TD run. Pretty much a 14-point swing there.

This seems a little odd to me ... After last night's game, I'm on YouTube and what pops up? A quick video from Rich Eisen -- former ESPN dude who hosts a daily radio show and works for the NFL Network -- trashing us, trashing last night's game and trashing the CFP committee for including us. (FWIW -- he's a Michigan alum). And he cries about poor, mistreated Alabama sitting home -- which is nonsense, considering they lost to Vandy and got curb-stomped by Oklahoma. Not sure why he felt the need to post the "bonus" video. Are people really clamoring for Rich Eisen content? Were people waiting with baited breath for his reaction to the game? He couldn't wait till his next daily show to shart all over us? Just seemed kinda ... weird.

Fun season. Probably won't sniff the CFP again anytime soon, which is why I wish the playoff didn't swallow up all the good bowls. Just let it stand on its own -- or maybe just have the semifinals be bowls, and let them rotate. For those schools that don't get in, a trip to the Orange, Sugar, Fiesta or Rose bowl would be a nice consolation prize. But after the CFP, all that's left are Citrus, ReliaQuest, Music City, Pop-Tart, etc. I suppose after sucking for so long, any bowl is nice, but the aforementioned games just aren't all that inspiring.

How sweet of McDonough and McElroy to take the final minutes of garbage time to trash us.

If it is fourth down, do we punt? LOL.

So, after fair-catching just about every kickoff, punting when we shoulda gone for it and in general, playing very conservative -- we're going for 2 after a garbage-time TD? Okey-doke.

For most of the season, Rourke looked as if he knew exactly where to put the ball and exactly where his receivers would be. Tonight, it seems as if he's just throwing it out there and hoping someone will catch it.

That shoulda been offsetting penalties -- unsportsmanlike on both sides. How is the kid standing over Lawton after riding him 4-5 yards out of bounds and nearly breaking his leg not taunting?

As great as Kurtis has been this season, in today's game -- you gotta have a QB who can run. You don't want him running 20 times a game, but to really make the offense work, he's gotta be able to pose that threat.

C'mon -- that's a lame take. For all but a couple games, he's been really good this year. We aren't 11-2 without his play this season.

Why punt? Especially with our punter doing the punting.

Rourke is trying to make throws when nothing is there.

ND and O$U are on a completely different level talent-wise. Not throwing in the towel (well, OK -- I am), but that we won 11 games with our holdovers and a bunch of transfers is pretty impressive.

If Jones woulda gone low on him, he'd have made that tackle.

Our defense is not good at tackling.

Goddamn Rourke -- he was WIDE open.

We can't run. We can't pass. That's kinda limiting our offensive options.

We had the stop -- and now we're gonna give them 3 points. This game is a friggin' train wreck.

How can you be that FREAKIN' STUPID!

Oh Jeezus -- WTF was that. Don't hit the guy out of bounds.