Plus/Minus: The EVERYBODY PANIC Edition

by Grady. on Sep 8, 2008 8:16 PM PDT in Cougar Football

In 1997, my Dad and I traveled down to Pullman to watch WSU play the Southwest Louisiana Rajun Cajuns, a team which I only recently learned was not created for the movie "The Waterboy". The Cougs mopped the floor with them, 77-7.

On Saturday, I got to feel the exact opposite of what I felt that day. It was embarrasing. Humiliating.

It was meaningless.

You see, whether you lose 96-0 or 28-27, it's still a loss. At the end of the day, it's just one tally in the "L" column. Were we really expecting to beat Cal? Did we really think that a stagnant offense from the week before could come to life and overpower a team with more talent on both sides of the ball?

Yes, it was historically bad. The worst loss in 104 years of Cougar Football. But you also have to consider the following things about history:

Jeff Tedford is a no-class loser swell guy who enjoys flowers and rainbows, who went for it on fourth down and goal, up 52-3.
Before about 1940, most football games were 7-0, 3-0, or 0-0 ties.
Before 1950, a large number of teams probably discouraged or flat out banned black athletes from playing.
Jahvid Best runs 100 meters about 0.6 seconds slower than Usain Bolt.
Offenses are so predicated on speed and scoring today that a 66-3 whipping is nowhere near as bad as a 42-0 defeat would have been 40 years ago.
The Cougars have been blessed with great offenses over the years, to the point where we have the second longest shutout avoidance streak in the nation (Michigan is #1). In other words, the more you score, the less embarrassing the final score is, even in a blowout. (For example, which looks worse: losing 79-28, or 51-0? It's the exact same margin)

Which brings us to the positives and negatives for this week. Yes, there are positives. In fact, I'll start with one of them. Stop rolling your eyes.

+ Wayne Patrick Rooney: Rooney gets top billing - but not just for the ability to kick the ball five yards deep into the end zone. He also belongs here for running off the field after each boot acting like he was going to run his fist through some drywall, Andy Bernard-style. Seriously, he was jacked up after every kick. And he has a good leg. If he keeps up the good work we may be able to cross off kickoff-coverage from our mile long list of special teams concerns.

+ Reid Forrest: Bill Doba has some explaining to do. Mainly, how he allowed Forrest to do the rugby-style punt time after time when the reality is that he can, apparently, boot a ball 58 yards with no bounce required. I'm also glad that unlike the Doba era, we now have a backup punter (Dan Wagner) who is actually a punter.

+ Special Teams: Three pluses in a row after this game? Yep. Mainly because the only large cheers from the crowd in this game came after special teams plays: the Grasu 43 yard field goal, the Rooney kickoffs, the Forrest punts, the two 60+ yard kickoff returns from Staden and Ivory (one each). Want a stat that makes you want to cringe? Special teams had almost twice as many return yards (306) as the offense had total yards (167) ! In one game, Chantz Staden went from "who's that guy?" to a pretty decent return man.

via graphics.fansonly.com

- The QB Controversy: Gary Rogers (a.k.a. Seth Rogen, judging by his picture) waited four years for a chance to be the Cougar starter. Now he gets six quarters and that's the end of the rope? Nothing against Kevin Lopina, who is a great talent in his own right, but at least give Rogers a chance to start through the cupcake game against Portland State. Rogers' struggles are well documented, but how much of it is Gary and how much of it is the offense as a whole? Yes, his decision making hasn't been the best at times, but both Lopina and Lobbestael threw interceptions in this game despite having less attempts, and playing a reserve-heavy Cal defense.

- The offense: Oh, it's bad. 65 plays. 167 yards. That's 2.6 yards per play. Last week, Nuss spent a whole post breaking down how awful the offense was. They averaged 5.3 3.3 yards per play in that game. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.

- The D-Line: My X-factor decided the game, alright. Too bad it was in favor of the Cal Bears, who put on a track meet to the tune of 391 yards. 391! That's 9.8 yards per freaking rush. If the line doesn't show up in Waco with a chip on their shoulders this Saturday, I will be very disappointed. It was a bad, bad day.

+ Glenn Johnson: "Sean Young is back to return the punt... again." If you don't love Glenn Johnson, please leave the internet.

- Jeff Tedford: Going for it on fourth and goal up 52-7 is the football equivalent of shoving a 10 year old kid out of the way while trying to catch a foul ball at a MLB game. I'll say it again: classless.

+ Martin Stadium: The new scoreboard is amazing. The "Martin Stadium" sign above the East end zone is scrumtrillescent. The "guard tower" elevator to the new Cub is premium freeloader seating (if you can avoid the CMS attendants). The new concourse on the East side makes the old walkway look like an alleyway in downtown Pyongyang. It's amazing how a few little improvements can make such a big difference. It's beautiful, modern and hopefully a middle finger to the Husky boosters who want taxpayer money for their redesign.

- Pac-10 officiating: I'm a Cougar, and I think the celebration call against Locker was not only ridiculous, but goes against everything college athletics should be about. He wasn't taunting, he wasn't dancing and he was caught up in the moment. If you call that on Locker, you need to go back and charge 798 technical fouls to Brook Lopez for pounding his chest last season (actually, not a bad idea). Luckily my fiancee was there to hear me say "Offff course" when ESPN said it was a Pac-10 crew.

+ The fans that stayed until the end: Support your team. You can go eat and drink and all that fun stuff later.

- Parking and traffic management: A lots. B lots. AA and BB lots. Green permits, President's permits, Chartreuse permits. Lots that are normally free blocked off to charge people for parking. Traffic direction that isn't usually any better than what the traffic lights normally do. Welcome to Pullman, where Parking Services is your master.

+ Cougar Football: So, we lost. Big deal. There's always next week. It's great to be back in Pullman.

0 recs | Comment 21 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Saturday

I was at the game on Saturday at least a couple hours early. It was a beautiful day for some Cougar football, and I was totally stoked. The first 90 seconds were extremely disheartening, and I could sense the energy draining from the crowd – it was not a good feeling. The rest of the game just didn’t feel quite like Cougar football to me. A ton of people left, but I insisted that my friends and I stay. I can only imagine what it’s like as a team to see so many of your fans walking out on you.

There was one particular Cougar couple sitting near the bottom of the Cal section, and I kept checking to see how long they would last, especially surrounded by all those Bear fans. I was proud to find that they stayed the entire game.

by brlogan on Sep 9, 2008 4:27 AM PDT 0 recs

Harsh

Dude, the bitterness of a loss really isn’t an excuse for some of the stuff you’re saying. Calling Tedford a “no-class loser?” Seriously?

Did you consider that when he went for it on 4th and goal he had 2nd and 3rd stringers in the game? If your D can’t stop a pack of scrubs who play on the practice squad maybe you should be throwing bad names at your staff, rather than the opposition.

Come on, guys. You’re supposed to have more class than throwing these kind of bombs. Like you said, you lost. Big deal. But suck it up, This whinging after the fact isn’t very becoming of you.

Go Bears!

by SoCal Oski on Sep 9, 2008 8:16 AM PDT 0 recs

Tedford went for it on 4th and goal, after there were two very late hits on our quarterback and the stadium announcer decided to start taunting him for not putting in his reserves in the first half.

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 9, 2008 8:38 AM PDT up 0 recs

Tedford hate stuff is sad

There is a coach that Couger fans should be upset with. Yes, Wulf has very little talent to work with; but these ARE pac10 scholarship players. There is no excuse for allowing a 60 point loss to a conference opponent. That’s coaching. Doba had issues but I would be wishing for him back at this point.

Complaining about Tedford passing too late in the game? We had just over 100 yards passing the ENTIRE GAME. Going for it on fourth down? What should he have done kick a field goal for those much needed points? He ran the ball right up the middle with the 3rd stringers on the field to make it easy to stop and it wasn’t.

What was he supposed to with 2 and a half quarters of garbage time. We’ll see what Baylor does next week when they’re up big.

by falseintellect on Sep 9, 2008 8:57 AM PDT 0 recs

My responses

1. Yes, I did consider that he had reserves in the game. Makes no difference.
2. There were late hits on Cougar QBs in this game, including a pretty blatant one that wasn’t called. I’m not sure where PA announcer Glenn Johnson was “taunting” – that doesn’t really make sense.
3. I didn’t mention anything about Tedford passing too late in the game. And the FG at least gives your kicker some experience. Running, especially when you’re averaging 9.8 yards per carry, gives you a much higher likelihood of running up the score.
4. Great stuff from brlogan. When the crowd got behind the Cougs, even down 21-3, it was awesome to see the support. I hope in the future we could get that for a full game. Even if it’s a blowout.

by Grady. on Sep 9, 2008 9:29 AM PDT 0 recs

that's why we didn't run

We would’ve if we wanted to beat our best score 127-0 against St Mary’s

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Sep 9, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up 1 recs

I’m not sure where PA announcer Glenn Johnson was "taunting" – that doesn’t really make sense.

From here:

SPEAKING OF QUARTERBACKS, WSU’s stadium announcer, Glenn Johnson, had fans flipping through their programs with several seconds left in the first half on Saturday when he suggested that perhaps it was time to see Brock Mansion in the game.

Brock Mansion is Cal’s third-string quarterback. Glenn made the suggestion — the likes of which I can’t ever remember a PA announcer doing at any game at any level — after Cal first-string QB Kevin Riley fired a long bomb to the end zone, even though the Bears were ahead 42-3.

After announcing a play he said in a flat voice “I don’t know why Brock Mansion isn’t playing”. Over a speaker to an entire stadium of people, that’s calling out Tedford.

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 9, 2008 4:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wait a sec

Isn’t that more of a shot at our team for being in the position of playing against Cal’s backups in the first place? And being down 42-3? How was it a shot at Tedford, who should darn well be resting his starters with that kind of lead? If I was a Cal fan and saw Best play a single down in the second half I would’ve been irate.

Any way, it was off-hand commentary that may have been mistakenly broadcast over the PA in the first place. If that offends people, too bad. If you knew Glenn Johnson you’d know the intent wasn’t to bash anyone.

And that Riley bomb to the end zone further strengthens my argument that Tedford did not handle the game with class.

by Grady. on Sep 9, 2008 5:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

And his exact words were:

Is Brock Mansion available?

Knowing what it means now I think it’s kind of funny.

But hey, being in the blog business means you have to take a little criticism now and then. I appreciate the feedback.

by Grady. on Sep 9, 2008 5:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wayne Rooney

Well, what do you expect when you get the top striker for the England national soccer team to do your kickoffs? I’m only surprised he didn’t kick it into the endzone bleachers every time. I was a little surprised he had eligibility, but I guess he’s only 22.

by johnnycougar on Sep 9, 2008 12:06 PM PDT 0 recs

Wow.

I am an idiot. My apologies to Patrick, yes Patrick, Rooney.

Does Wayne Rooney have eligibility? We are still only 50% for the year on PATs and FGs. I think he can improve upon that.

by Grady. on Sep 9, 2008 5:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

I’m relatively certain he could make 50 yard FGs with ease, though I’m not sure if the allure of a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University could compete with the millions he’s making for Manchester United.

Kidding aside, I was happy with the kickoffs. Didn’t we only have two though? Knowing our luck, next time out he’ll shank one out of bounds at the 40. OUR 40.

by johnnycougar on Sep 9, 2008 6:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

As an "unbiased" observer...

The Tedford smack is incredibly weak. When you run the ball with your scrubs, you’re not running up the score, even on 4th down. If he kicks in that situation, that could be considered “running it up” as well, because you’re just taking 3 points. When you’re up by that much, and that near the goal line, there is no right answer.

It doesn’t seem like Tedford was maliciously trying to get as many points as possible. He was playing a game out, with his backups. If he was calling something like fake punts, that’s one thing, but he wasn’t

I like the site, and you guys are doing a great job, but calling Tedford a “no-class loser” and harping on him just make you look small.

--www.AddictedToQuack.com, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Sep 9, 2008 1:05 PM PDT 0 recs

Again, wow.

It is my opinion. It’s commentary. You do not have to agree with it, and I respect your opinion. I really didn’t realize attacking a college football coach would strike such a chord even with the unbiased crowd.

Yes, calling him a “no-class loser” is unprofessional on my part. I could’ve chosen my words better. But it’s also extremely unprofessional to go for it on fourth and goal up 52-7. Take a knee or kick a FG. I really believe that is the right answer. They earned three points on that drive – they could simply take them and get off the field. Even if they hadn’t scored I would’ve been upset because the intent in that situation was still to score a TD.

by Grady. on Sep 9, 2008 5:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

Dude

You really do need to grow up a bit. I get that the loss was kind of hard, but there was absolutely nothing low-class about what Tedford did.

Take a knee with more than 10 minutes left in the game? Are you serious? He’s got the scrubs in working out situations and evaluating play. Any other coach in the country ANY OTHER would have done the same thing. Seriously, your calling it low class is more low class than that.

Woah, head rush.

Look, I don’t mean to come down on you, but you can’t go just popping off like that. Get some distance, take a breath, grab a beer, rub one out, do whatever you need to do to get back to your happy place and then re-evaluate. If the roles were reversed I doubt any Cal fans would be calling Wulff a “no-class loser.” Well, maybe one, but he’s special. Sure, we may mock his frighteningly large melon, but if he had his scout team out there and they scored, no one would call him out.

Commentary is fine. But you do need to learn to not simply post when angry or drunk (or both). That’s not right.

Like the Duck said, I like this site and think you guys are doing well, but this was just petty and bitter. Be better that that.

Go Bears!

by SoCal Oski on Sep 9, 2008 7:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

Just FYI

I wouldn’t ever expect a team to actually take a knee in that situation. But there have been running backs who fell down at the 1 in the interest of sportsmanship. I think a FG was a fair compromise as far as the Cal game was concerned.

by Grady. on Sep 10, 2008 2:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

no

kicking a FG in a blowout is usually what is considered running up the score. See: Florida-Miami game.

running right up the middle with third stringers is not.

by falseintellect on Sep 10, 2008 8:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

if you were playing your first NCAA game ever

and you had one shot to score a touchdown, because the odds are that you wouldn’t play for the rest of the season, would you fall down at the 1 yardline?

Go Bears!

by RollOnYouBears667 on Sep 22, 2008 4:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

I agree that it's your opinion. I gave mine.

It’s one thing to question the play calling, but the way that it was questioned looked very petty. And when one section of the post looks petty (and it reiterated), it degrades the quality of the rest of the post.

I love the site, and hope to see the great analysis continue, and you it is your prerogative to disagree with Tedford’s decision. But I was disappointed with how it was handled.

--www.AddictedToQuack.com, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Sep 9, 2008 8:43 PM PDT up 0 recs