Tag Archives: College Pigskin

Hoopaholic’s/ Pigskin Gazette/ Palaver: 11/04

Random inconsequential arguably interesting bits of irrelevant anecdotia about intercollegiate hoops and pigskin, presented in random and confusing order.

Every once in awhile even an inveterate it-was-better-back-in-the-day guy must admit that some things are sweeter nowadays.

Like how on a whim I can purchase Baskin Robbins Chocolate Chip ice cream at the Dirty Krogers just a couple blocks away. (Which frankly is not good for my waistline or cholesterol count.)

And like, oh, the beginning of the hoops season.

Once upon a time, it always commenced the first Saturday night of December.

There’d be an apéritif the weekend before, the frosh vs varsity game.

So, celebrate with me that the real deal starts this very day. First Monday in November. Which is, no calculation necessary, a whole month ahead of back when. Continue reading Hoopaholic’s/ Pigskin Gazette/ Palaver: 11/04

U of L CardFile: Clemson

U of L Coach Jeff Brohm displayed an interesting trait above others as his solid but not especially great career matured when he was roaming the sidelines in NW Indiana.

His usually undermanned Purdue Boilermakers would out of the blue fashion an upset against a top-ranked team when it was unexpected. Several times.

In his final season at Purdue he did it twice, vaulting his underdogs to the conference title game. Minnesota was Top 25 and went down to the Boilermakers. As was Illinois.

In the ’21 season, that Brohm trait was even more prevalent. Purdue beat Michigan State 40-29 when Sparty was #5 in the land. More impressive was the 24-7 beatdown of Iowa in Iowa City when the Hawkeyes were ranked 2d in the country.

So, maybe it shouldn’t have been such the surprise when the meandering Louisville Cardinals captured their first victory ever in Clemson, S.C. Saturday night.

Still the 11th ranked Tigers had won 22 straight night games in Death Valley, and were rollin’.

But, “Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . .”

Ye should fear no evil and all that. Continue reading U of L CardFile: Clemson

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week X

It was with a wry smile that I reacted to the recent news of changes to this year’s WSP, World Series of Prediction.

The organization that rules said premier of postseason events, CPPPPOCE (College Postseason Prediction Playoff Oligarchical Council of Elders) has in their wisdom decided to stay in lockstep with the CFP, expanding from 4 contenders to a dozen.

Why I greeted the news thusly should be obvious. Another 4-1 weekend — Pitt, Texas, IU, U of L right, UK wrong) propels me to 43-12 on the campaign.

Glossy.

In former years, with that record I’d easily be in the Final Four (for the first time I feel compelled to share), competing with only three others. Now there shall be twelve of us, and as it has been said, on any given weekend . . .

Given that I’ve just about lapped the field in the SM-NM Region (South Middle-North Midwest), known among us as the Big Mid, I’m pretty much assured a first round bye.

Absent some meltdown of Seminolian proportions, of course.

But, it’s still early.

Maybe baby come back next week, and I’ll be on a losing streak.

This week’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week X

U of L CardFile: Boston College

Louisville (5-3, 3-2) 31, Boston College (4-4, 1-3) 27.

Good.

Cardinals came back from a pretty much self induced 20 point deficit to posit themselves a victory away from this year’s realistic goal: Bowl Eligibility.

Been to Shreveport in December?

But, frankly, this game was meh.

Another escape against a mediocre conference rival, a W that by most all accounts should have been easier.

The Eagles turned a couple Cardinal turnovers, and some defensive secondary ineptitude into a 20 zed advantage. The Cardinal offense was, as it has disturbingly been too often, out of sync early.

The first two BC tallies through the air saw receivers as wide open as a lonely jogger through Boston Commons.

Louisville’s touchdown a smidge over a minute left before halftime righted the ship somewhat. And arguably was the key score of the game.

How do matters play out if U of L heads to a Brohm tongue lashing in the locker room fully skunked? Continue reading U of L CardFile: Boston College

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week IX

Edited 1/24 6:10 am: I originally stated that Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh is Friday night. That game is on Thursday. Which means I have no idea whom the announcers will be. The Louisville/ Boston College battle is Friday night, which, given the networks normal MO, Andre Ware will be misannouncing the U of L game. Which is bad. But does allow non-vaccinated viewers an extra day to protect themselves. 

Corrections below. 

Is this where I sigh, go “ho hum” yet again, then advise that Jimmy the Greek has agreed to join my personal mentor Joey the Vig to introduce me when I’m inducted into the Prognosticators Hall of Fame?

Guess so.

I’ll provide the link where it shall be streaming when advised by that august body.

Thus, here we go, ho hum.

5-1 for last weekend.

Duke beat hapless Florida State. Woe is unto the Seminoles. Colorado beat somebody, and is actually improving, as loathe as I am to admit it. Billy Napier continues his escape from the Dead Man Walking list. The Gators beat, you know already, that team up the road. The Indiana Cignetti’s continued their unblemished dream season with a downright massacre of the Cornhuskers. They did lose their QB for a few weeks though. A thumb thing.

Miami bested the Cardinals, which I infamously predicted, much to the chagrin and ire of some loyal readers. They wish for me to claim responsibility. Which I shall not do, given that I wasn’t in the coaching booth, nor on the sideline with a headset, nor in pads trying to block and tackle.

Georgia did what Georgia has smartly done in recent times. They underwhelm early on. We begin to question them. Then they dominate the alleged #1 contingent, on the latter’s home turf. That’s my miss.

I have not gotten more wrong than right any week the entire campaign. Only in Week I, when we really didn’t know much, did I mistake more than two. And that’s happened only thrice, meaning one L weekends, to tag along with a couple perfectos.

Excuse me for a second, I need to get treatment for my arm which I just wrenched out of joint patting myself on the back.

39-12 for the year.

This week’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week IX

Hoopaholic’s/Pigskin Gazette/Palaver: 10/21

Yes, kids, it’s that bilingual time of the year.

A glorious coagulation of yours truly’s favorite sporting endeavors.

Bronconagurskians and Naismithiuns unite!

A new era in University of Louisville basketball commences this evening in the Yum!.

Be there, or be square.

While the football season is still unfolding — unraveling — before us.

Thus, I am compelled to talk out of both sides of my mouth.

Simultaneously.

At the same time.

 * * * * *

Everyone who had heard of Young Harris College before the Georgia DII school appeared on the U of L Cardinals’ schedule raise your hand? Continue reading Hoopaholic’s/Pigskin Gazette/Palaver: 10/21

U of L CardFile: Miami

This shall not be a subcutaneous dive into Miami’s back and forth 52-45 survival Saturday afternoon at the L&N.

Some because the game exhausted me.

Partially because of its nature.

It was a great football game.

The kind which are dubbed these days to be an “instant classic.

Also because the Louisville Cardinals went toe to toe, punch to the solar plexus punch to the solar plexis with the Hurricanes. Who, make no mistake, are a legitimately really good team, legitimate Top 10, legitimate Final Dozen.

Cards lost.

I’m bummed.

But disinclined to play coulda woulda shoulda.

Both teams made big plays.

Both teams made major gaffes.

Both teams were jobbed as is come to be expected by sketchy ACC zebras.

Both teams caught a break by the come to be expected sketchy ACC refs. Continue reading U of L CardFile: Miami

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VIII

Ho hum, another 4-1 weekend for the kid.

But, ya know, it never gets boring.

And the one I missed: Kentucky.

So be it.

Vandy is pretty good we now have to admit. That Pavia kid is A Footballer.

Oregon escaped because the Buckeye’s transfer portal QB had a faulty inner clock. And Coach Lanning’s crafty use of the rules and the clock.

Texas won because Brent Venables  was a really good, actually great defensive coach and when Oklahoma came calling should have listened to that inner voice that turned down down previous offers for the first chair. Which it appears

Pitt won because it hit the jackpot when choosing its TPQB, and Cal was just tired enough from that time zone travel.

Louisville won.

So, the tally: 4-1 on the weekend, pushes my already lofty season numbers to 34-11.

This week’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VIII

U of L CardFile: Virginia

OK, you can exhale.

Louisville 24, UVa 20.

Of course, one is inclined to offer cliché– All’s Well the Ends Well — but it really would not tell the whole story of what played out in Charlottesville Saturday afternoon.

At halftime, I texted my former editor at The Louisville Cardinal, inquired if he might have a nifty play on words for the opposite of “Instant Classic.”

The opening 30 minute impersonation of a P4 football game ended 7-7.

The Cardinals committed 5 penalties for 26 yards. They were 1/4 on 3d downs, 0/1 on 4th. The Cavaliers about the same.

Louisville was uninspiring. Jeff Brohm’s play calling uninspired. Louisville’s defense meh. Though Ashton Gillotte was wrecking some havoc.

Former Editor’s response: “A Titanic Battle in Pursuit of Mediocrity.”

Not bad on the spur of the moment. Verbose enough to fit my stylistic modus operandi.

But, Mr. Former Editor, I advised, these two teams were already firmly entrenched in mediocrity.

 * * * * *

When it mattered, Louisville did what they needed to do to prevail. Continue reading U of L CardFile: Virginia

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VII

When on the telecast of Syracuse at Vegas I heard the unique if not so dulcet voice of my favorite college football analyst Petros Papadakis, I took it as a harbinger of another boffo prediction weekend ahead.

The Orange prevailed Friday evening. As did the Aggies and Cornhuskers and still undefeated Hoosiers on Saturday as was foretold in this space last week in advance of the games.

Which means that Louisville’s disturbing L to SMU in the L&N was my only miscue.

As for the Cardinals, I just don’t like the sound of Head Coach saying five games into the season with the hard part of the schedule yet ahead that U of L needs to change some things. It is never a good sign when culture and systemic changes are necessary in October.

Here’s a start, beat the Hoos on Saturday.

Anyhow, 4-1 for the weekend, lifts me to 30-10 for the year.

Which if my arithmetic is correct is 75% correct.

That works.

This week’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VII