It’s that binary time of the year.
When we try again to watch football with one eye, basketball with the other.
Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
Oh for the days of picture in picture. OK, not really. There
are laptops and iPads and phone apps, and we seem to be able to manage.
First, football.
It was a typical November Saturday in Kinnick Stadium.
Full house adorned in black and gold. And rain gear this time around. Hearty folks, those Hawkeye pigskin fanatics.
And a defensive slogfest, even though the visitors were the high powered O minded Oregon Ducks. It’s a Ferentzian imperative. Lots of ground game, not much aerial.
Such that Gary Danielson, whose verbosity may transcend mine, at one point observed, “This is Army/ Navy.”
It was still compelling, the locals almost pulling off the upset, until the visitors kicked a walkoff FG with a couple of ticks on the clock.
By the by, Iowa’s punter made a real heady play early on. Deep in his own territory, he had trouble handling a bad snap. The pigskin was tumbling around in the endzone. He kicked it out the end for a safety, preventing a recovery and TD by the Quack. 5 point play.
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But my favorite observation of the day came from Gus Johnson’s sidekick Joel Klatt as they were covering the battle in State College. Where IU showed up with enough White Out™ in a superduper comeback W at Penn State.
For most of the affair, the pedal to the metal don’t take prisoners Hoosiers didn’t fire on all cylinders, a lot because star wideout Waffle House didn’t play because of an injury.
Curt Cignetti, whose curmudgeonality surpasses mine, was not happy along the sidelines. At one point when the Indiana had to punt, Klatt observed, “Cignetti’s disgusted . . . as he usually is.”
One could almost hear his one has to assume heated postgame conversation with his Special Teams coach. After Omar Cooper’s Catch of the Century, there was still time on the clock for the Nittany Lions to come back. The Hoosiers inexplicably went squib kick, giving State a shorter field.
Made no sense.
Not only to me, but also to Cignetti, who alluded to his displeasure after the victory.
* * * * *
Hoops Interlude. Sorta.
The Alabama/ St. John’s game in the Gaaaahhhhhden was grrrrreaaaaatttt.
Back and forth. Lots o’ ballin’. Elite Eight kind of stuff.
My main takeaway: The Rick’s coif.
Like that werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic’s, his hair was perfect.
No gray. No bald spot. Resulting in plenty o’ observational/ judgmental snark from your reporter who has been shaving his head for decades.
But, his vanity and ethics aside, the guy can coach. As can Nate Oats.
The Crimson Tide and the Johnnies shall be factors all season and postseason.
* * * * *
Diego Pavia abides.
* * * * *
Jim Mora and the UConn Huskies have more ACC victories in the last two seasons than Mike Norvell and Florida State.
— c d kaplan
