Championship Saturday Notes...

Starting with a definite non-championship outfit--Notre Dame. Their arrogance has hit an amazing high for at least the second time PYB can recall, as the Irish decline a bowl bid due to "unique circumstances." Let's go over what those unique circumstances might be, since the Domers didn't bless us with an explanation:

1. Your team is no good, and would suffer the likely indignity of losing in the Humanitarian Bowl. In this case, just act like that bowl game is beneath you.

2. A 1-9 record in your last 10 bowl games (with the one win being the lollipop they got tossed vs. Hawaii last season)

3. The ludicrous TV contract with NBC (is there any wonder why NBC is #4 in network standings?) pays you so much that the few hundred grand you might get for the game isn't worth the time? Well, ND would likely lose a bit of money, but lord knows the program needs the exposure and extra practice time. This extra time might allow the Irish the fine-tuning it needs to take out the likes of Navy and UConn. And the exposure might sway a recruit or two away from a real football program (choose from 50) or a real academic institution (Stanford) that isn't stuck in the Rust Belt with no good looking snatch.

4. An overblown sense of self-worth. Notre Dame has not been good since 1991. Notre Dame has not mattered since at least 1993. Somehow this is listed still as a marquee program and a marquee coaching job. Spare me, just let us all know when you find your next puppet. And please save us the moaning about financial concerns.....NBC can bail you out and, if that fails, you can always ask that the good folks at mass pony up 15% of their incomes instead of 10.

Nebraska vs. Texas
Don't think it, Nebraska fans. Don't believe it. Don't talk yourselves into thinking that NU can beat the Longhorns. The offense is bad....brutally bad. Unless the defense and special teams can account for 17 or more points, there is no chance. Hell, Nebraska couldn't even beat UT when they were three notches above them in talent and fortitude. So, NU fans, just accept that you blew $1000 to go to Dallas to see the Cowboys' new stadium...when you could have see it on a YouTube video for free. Texas has everything that has owned Nebraska this season:

-Scrambling QB
-Accurate QB, who can find spaces between zone defenses AND hit big plays
-Good receivers
-Smart coaching (not great, but smart enough to make sure Sean Fisher and Will Compton are on the field for the Blackshirts. Which, by the way, has there been a worse LB performance than Fisher supplied us last week in Boulder?)
-Stout defense
-Speed

Even worse for NU, their QB stinks and is even shakier against real competition. Their only receiver gets fat against weak competition, but is nowhere to be found against teams of any magnitude. We could delve into the numbers, but is it really necessary?

NU's strength is in the Blackshirts. PYB was mortified to watch last week, as Colorado totally exposed the unit's main weakness. When Fisher & Compton have to be on the field depending against power sets.......they're screwed. Pelini & Pelini would be better off staying in the nickel or dime and letting undersized DBs play than they would letting two scrubs plod four steps behind Texas' RBs all game.

Anyway, PYB hopes for a win. But it's not coming. Too bad, because Texas is overrated. Texas is soft. Always has been--it's the tradition that pussies like Chris Simms instilled in Austin. They prey on creampuffs in non-conference. They use their excess talent to win games they should lose. In tough times, they fold. Too bad NU doesn't quite have enough firepower to make the times tough enough Saturday. Maybe soon.

AND, just a postscript for those of you who need numbers to quantify your thoughts. A reader submission is posted below:

From: Donger, Lincoln, NE
OK, so how good a season was this, really? Does NOT include Texas.
Played (and lost to) one team in the last BCS Top 25 (VT - #11). Did
play (and beat) the following teams in the bottom 35 of the FBS -
Arkansas State (#106), Florida Atlantic (#103) and Colorado
(#84)....with Baylor at #75...technically beat 4 teams in the bottom 40%
of the Sagarin rankings....

9 Wins - FAU, ULL, ASU, MU, BU, OU, KSU, KU, CU
Combined Record - 46-60, .433%
Combined Score - 275 - 77
Average Margin of Victory - 22.0 Points
Non-Con Combined Score - 142 - 12
Non-Con Average Margin of Victory - 43.33 Points
Conference Combined Score - 133 - 65
Conference Average Margin of Victory - 11.33 Points


3 Losses - VT, TT, ISU
Combined Record - 23-13, .638%
Combined Score - 32 - 56
Average Margin of Loss - 8.0 Points

Sorry, ridiculously bored today...and I think we're gonna get blasted
Saturday. Now, more than ever, I think it's been smoke and mirrors all
year...