Monday, October 20, 2014
MONDAY MORNING PLACEKICKER: What is happening with the Seahawks?
If you're reading this, I trust you have not run to your emergency bunker in the woods to escape the Seahawks Panic of 2014 — Like Ebola, But Worse. Maybe you haven't burned all your gear and pulled the sticker from your car and changed your baby's name from Percy to Russell. If that is you, congrats. You're a true Seahawks fan and know that the run of greatness had to have some bumps to follow.
But to the bunker dwellers, it does make sense after this weekend, which begun on Friday afternoon with Seattle trading away Percy Harvin, their highly paid wide receiver/kick returner/frequent injury sufferer.
This happened, reportedly, as the team was getting ready to head to the airport for the flight to St. Louis. Not the best way to start a road trip. And to make it a little worse, the Seahawks didn't really get much in return for that trade. This is, it turns out, because Harvin is an a-hole who punches teammates and refuses to play in football games, despite clamoring for playing time.
So the Hawks take the field in St. Louis yesterday and looked like the shock hadn't worn off for the entire first half. They couldn't move the ball, got tricked by an insane punt return and went into halftime down 21-6. Things were not looking good. But a very, very different Seahawks club came out in the second half, with Wilson and Lynch marching down the field, and the defense finally stepped up. Then, the Seahawks Panic of 2014 hit a fever pitch when St. Louis managed a fake punt that prevented what seemed like a likely Seahawks comeback. And then there was a ridiculous fumble that went inexplicably unreviewed and the game was over, and panic continued. Here's a great rundown of everything wrong with the team right now from Grantland's Bill Barnwell.
In a typical season, veteran Seahawks fans would be fine with a 3-3 record in late October. But this is not a typical season. The Seahawks travel to Carolina next week and here's hoping for a antidote to Seahawks Panic soon. If that doesn't come, I may build my own bunker.
IDAHO WINS!
For the first time since September 28, 2013 the Idaho Vandals won a football game. The homecoming win over equally awful New Mexico State ended a 13-game losing streak, the longest in all of the FBS.
The victory ensures that second-year head coach Paul Petrino will not go winless in the Vandals first season in the Sun Belt Conference, which has seen them lose games to squads like South Alabama and Georgia Southern. If history is any indicator, Idaho may not win another contest, seeing as how the team has just one victory in each of the two prior seasons. In 2011, they were better, winning two games!
ZAGS RANKED HIGH ENOUGH? OVERRATED? DOES IT MATTER?
On Thursday, the USA Today preseason coaches poll was released and it had Gonzaga's men squad in the 13 spot, above teams like Michigan (23) and last year's national champion UConn (15).
Last season, the Zags were ranked 14 going into a season that saw them win 29 games, including 15 WCC contests. In case you forgot, the Zags advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year, where they were utterly destroyed by Arizona. Speaking of which, Gonzaga heads to Arizona on December 6 to play what is currently the No. 2-ranked team in the country.
So, does it matter where Gonzaga is ranked preseason? Judging from history, not really. Their deepest run into the NCAAs came when they entered the season unranked back in 1998-1999, and were at No. 22 going into the 2012-2013 campaign when they won a school record 32 games.
The Zags open their regular season against Sacramento State on Nov. 14 at home.
WOMEN'S MARCH MADNESS RETURNS TO SPOKANE
Continuing our reputation as Basketball City, USA (or something like that) the Spokane Arena again scored the privilege of hosting the NCAA tournament.
The Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds of the NCAA Women's tournament will land in Spokane on March 28 and 30. This is the first time since 2001 that Spokane has hosted such a prominent round of the tournament.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 24 at ticketswest.com and at the Spokane Arena box office.
But to the bunker dwellers, it does make sense after this weekend, which begun on Friday afternoon with Seattle trading away Percy Harvin, their highly paid wide receiver/kick returner/frequent injury sufferer.
This happened, reportedly, as the team was getting ready to head to the airport for the flight to St. Louis. Not the best way to start a road trip. And to make it a little worse, the Seahawks didn't really get much in return for that trade. This is, it turns out, because Harvin is an a-hole who punches teammates and refuses to play in football games, despite clamoring for playing time.
So the Hawks take the field in St. Louis yesterday and looked like the shock hadn't worn off for the entire first half. They couldn't move the ball, got tricked by an insane punt return and went into halftime down 21-6. Things were not looking good. But a very, very different Seahawks club came out in the second half, with Wilson and Lynch marching down the field, and the defense finally stepped up. Then, the Seahawks Panic of 2014 hit a fever pitch when St. Louis managed a fake punt that prevented what seemed like a likely Seahawks comeback. And then there was a ridiculous fumble that went inexplicably unreviewed and the game was over, and panic continued. Here's a great rundown of everything wrong with the team right now from Grantland's Bill Barnwell.
In a typical season, veteran Seahawks fans would be fine with a 3-3 record in late October. But this is not a typical season. The Seahawks travel to Carolina next week and here's hoping for a antidote to Seahawks Panic soon. If that doesn't come, I may build my own bunker.
IDAHO WINS!
For the first time since September 28, 2013 the Idaho Vandals won a football game. The homecoming win over equally awful New Mexico State ended a 13-game losing streak, the longest in all of the FBS.
The victory ensures that second-year head coach Paul Petrino will not go winless in the Vandals first season in the Sun Belt Conference, which has seen them lose games to squads like South Alabama and Georgia Southern. If history is any indicator, Idaho may not win another contest, seeing as how the team has just one victory in each of the two prior seasons. In 2011, they were better, winning two games!
ZAGS RANKED HIGH ENOUGH? OVERRATED? DOES IT MATTER?
On Thursday, the USA Today preseason coaches poll was released and it had Gonzaga's men squad in the 13 spot, above teams like Michigan (23) and last year's national champion UConn (15).
Last season, the Zags were ranked 14 going into a season that saw them win 29 games, including 15 WCC contests. In case you forgot, the Zags advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year, where they were utterly destroyed by Arizona. Speaking of which, Gonzaga heads to Arizona on December 6 to play what is currently the No. 2-ranked team in the country.
So, does it matter where Gonzaga is ranked preseason? Judging from history, not really. Their deepest run into the NCAAs came when they entered the season unranked back in 1998-1999, and were at No. 22 going into the 2012-2013 campaign when they won a school record 32 games.
The Zags open their regular season against Sacramento State on Nov. 14 at home.
WOMEN'S MARCH MADNESS RETURNS TO SPOKANE
Continuing our reputation as Basketball City, USA (or something like that) the Spokane Arena again scored the privilege of hosting the NCAA tournament.
The Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds of the NCAA Women's tournament will land in Spokane on March 28 and 30. This is the first time since 2001 that Spokane has hosted such a prominent round of the tournament.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 24 at ticketswest.com and at the Spokane Arena box office.
Tags: Monday Morning Placekicker , Seahawks , Idaho , Zags , Sports , Image , Video
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