LamarCheeks

IU 47 State University of New Jersey 17

Since I'm a Cubs fan, I was gonna pout and not watch this postseason. But I'm not sure I'll be able to turn away from Astros-Yankees. A 107-win team against a 103-win squad? Should be epic. (Of course, now that I've written that, it'll last just five games and be sloppy and boring!)

You don't have any idea about the time Downing mentions Knight might go to an IU game this year, do you? ... I would love to give this a listen, but unfortunately, I just don't have nearly two hours to devote to it anytime soon.

Jimmy Johnson did OK.

So, after coaching six college football games (no, I don't count the three last season), Ryan Day is ready for the NFL? ... Is there a joke I'm missing here somewhere? ... And before somebody tells me he has coached in the NFL -- yes, I realize that. He was the QBs coach for two seasons for two different teams. To me, that is a completely inadequate resume for what's supposed to the the best football league in the world, so maybe I am missing something ...

Happy 68th Birthday to my favorite rocker and one of the great Hoosier fans: John Mellencamp. "Scarecrow" came out in the summer before my senior year in high school. As soon as I heard "Lonely Old Night" on the radio, I ran out (well, actually drove out) to the record store to get a cassette (yes, that was just before CDs). I played it so much that it wore out and I had to get another. Love this ditty, "Minutes to Memories." Reminds me a little of my pop, who passed away a little more than two years ago. I can just picture him as the 77-year-old on the bus, saying "Suck it up and tough it out and be the best you can." Happy Birthday, John -- and thanks for all the great music!

I shouldn't have written for you to stop putting labels on everybody and their opinions. I should've just said "I wish you'd stop" doing that. And you do categorize. You've done it plenty of times. And I never said anything about liking Tom Allen as a person, either. You are the one who wrote: "But....firing Tom Allen now is nothing more than a vindictive wish because some don't like him." And the fact that I may or may not want him fired doesn't mean I'm vindictive or that I don't like him. I can want him fired simply because I don't think he's a capable B1G head coach. That's not vindictive. Not at all. Again, that's you categorizing. Keep defending Tom Allen if you wish. You think he's an exceptional coach -- the best in the B1G -- and the greatest coach in the history of IU football, so debating it is fruitless. (See what I did there? I categorized your defense of Tom Allen into you thinking he's the greatest IU coach ever and the Big Ten's best, just as you do when you say people who want him fired are vindictive and don't like him. And just as you do when you say people are bitching for the sake of bitching). Have a nice day and carry on. Deal?

Why the hell do you have to always categorize everything as if you know what everyone is thinking? At one point, people who wanted Glass or Allen out were just bitching for the sake of bitching. And at another, people who didn't like Dan Dakich were just plain wrong because they don't know him like you do. And now, people who want Tom Allen fired are vindictive and don't like him. Here's my truth: I like Tom Allen. I think he's a good man. I have no reason to be vindictive toward him. And I think on certain levels, he's probably a pretty good football coach. I just don't happen to think he's a very capable B1G head coach. I wouldn't say I'm totally 100 percent on board with the "fire Tom Allen" crowd, but I'm leaning that way. To me, he's just a reincarnation of Mike Davis or Bill Lynch -- the convenient hire, and those usually don't prove successful. But there's nothing vindictive about my thoughts on Tom Allen and there's no hate toward him. Stop trying to label everything that opposes your viewpoint. Let people have their opinions without categorizing or labeling them or their thoughts. I thought that was kinda the point of this board.

Not that we have any success against B1G teams in general, but the previous conference split was much more equitable (though I hated the Legends and Leaders titles). This was pre-Maryland and Rutgers. Since we went to East and West, the East is 5-0 in B1G title games. Legends: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern Leaders: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin

There is some good news on the Tom Allen/IU football front: There's no way we lose today!

Had #16 beat on the road? Really? A three-point lead early in the fourth quarter does not equate to having someone beat. I guess that suits the narrative, but it's just not accurate.

So long, Joe ... Thanks for five exiting -- and at times, exasperating -- seasons (and four postseason runs) ... We'll always have 2016! ... All Cubs fans owe YOU a shot and a beer!

Every time someone writes something OF doesn't like or agree with, they're just bitching for the sake of bitching. It's almost as if in his eyes, nobody's entitled to have an opinion that differs from his. Then he writes about he knows more about IU athletics than anybody here. Then he writes about he's a better IU fan than anybody else. Then he writes about how he knows Dan Dakich, and he's a really, really terrific guy -- and if you don't agree, then screw you. Then he writes about how he plays golf with IU bigwigs. Then he writes about how he was probably angrier than anybody on this board about our basketball mediocrity over the past 10 years. Why is he the only one allowed to have an opinion, while everybody else who expresses one -- especially one that differs from his -- is bitching? It's getting rather boring and predictable.

Was there ever a Ramsey argument?

Gonna lose anyway, might as well give them an extra 6 points. WTF was that!!!

He just fell at the 1 -- smart play. ... We've got no chance now ... Won't get the ball back.

Too much time left!

Another overthrow -- that could've been 6 points.

This game is over ... When Penix overthrew Philyor by 6 inches and we missed out on a 88-yard TD (or whatever it would've been), that was it for the Cream & Crimson ... When playing on the road against a ranked opponent, you have, have, have to execute plays like that. And you can't have defensive holding after sacking the QB after he's had 10 seconds to throw, either. That's IU football, though.

This is a game I don't think we win if Penix is the QB ... I don't think we win even if Tom Brady is the QB!

As a Cubs fan for 45-plus years, it's kind of a sad day. And a nostalgic one. After 72 years of broadcasting Cubs games, WGN airs its very last one tonight. Like with just about every other MLB team, it's all about money for the Cubs -- they're forming their own "network" and are leaving WGN behind. Although the number of WGN games had dwindled over the past few years, they still were able to air a handful each season. But after tonight, that's it. I grew up in NW Indiana -- about a half-hour from Chicago -- and cannot tell you how many times I came home from school and flipped on Channel 9 to catch the last couple innings of the Cubs game, back when Wrigley had no lights and every home game was an afternoon tilt. Or how many games I've watched on that station in general. Jack Brickhouse, Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, Jimmy West, Milo Hamilton, Dewayne Staats, Thom Brennaman, Josh Lewin, Len Kasper, Chip Caray and of course, his grandfather -- the late, great Harry Caray. I heard 'em all call games. ... Kinda sad to see it end. ... So long, WGN -- thanks for the memories.

Sparty 30 Hoosiers 13

Not the actress ... She played basketball at IU while I was there ... She also played on the women's golf team and in fact, I think she quit basketball to focus on golf. ... We weren't friends, but I got to know her a little because she knew some relatives of mine ... Seemed like a very nice person ... I don't think her basketball career turned out the way she wanted, but at the time, she was a pretty big recruit for IU ... RIP, Courtney -- 48 is way too damn young.

When one guy on a really, really bad football team plants a guy from an even worse football team, then taunts him -- it's kinda funny.

Not only was that offsides, it was defensive pass interference.