* Did you see the boys totally handle the Hawkeyes on Saturday? Despite the offensive domination, I really have to think the Bucks’ defense was the standout crew. They held up against an experienced quarterback – probably the best in the Big Ten outside Troy Smith – and actually played very well against the run. I think we still have some problems to solve on special teams; no matter how good he is, Teddy Ginn needs a little more blocking before he can start breaking those long returns. And our biggest challenge is simply to remain sharp through a stretch of opponents who, on paper, shouldn’t be able to hang with us. One of those teams – Michigan State maybe, or even Illinois – is going to show up and push us harder than they should be able to. Remember Michigan State in 1998? I do. I hope Tressel does as well.
* As I mentioned before, The Wife and I finally dumped dial-up, in favor of a connection with our local cable company’s service. Wow. Fast. Did I mention fast? I’ve already jumped into the world of bittorrent, a file-sharing, uh, thingie used by tapers to distribute their stuff, starting with the set played by the Rhythm Devils – Billy, Mickey, Mike Gordon, Steve Kimock, et al – at the Gathering back in August. Next on the list? A copy of my first Phish show, at the Newport in December of 1992. I could have downloaded the Rhythm Devils set on the old connection, but it would have taken me about three days to complete. Today, it took a little more than three hours. Did I mention fast?
* The countdown is underway. It’s now early Tuesday, so I’m 10 days away from turning 40. I tend to get a little freaked out by birthdays; not so much by the event itself, but the rapidly escalating numbers associated with them. And this one comes with a little extra baggage. I have to start thinking about fun stuff like prostate exams and putting the cigarettes away for good. I’m sure there’s going to be fun associated with this as well; I’d like to stretch this out into three or four birthday celebrations if possible, because that’s how I like to do it. But. In the meantime, there’s that number. 40. Yikes.
Uncle Crappy 
uc, kewyson here
think of 40 as not even half way done yet.
I have a 4 year old child story with 40, my older one loves birthdays, so this summer when she was still 4, we’d talk about birthdays – (I have to preface this story by stating that we had to put down the big dog last spring – we told Callie that she was old, and now she is up in the sky with angels)
Neely just turned 2, Callie was going to be 5 in August, Mommy was going to be a year older in December, and Daddy – he was going to get old at his next birthday – without blinking an eye, she retorted “and you’ll go up into the sky with angels”. having your child speaking of your demise in such a frank manner was a bit disturbing.
as I said before – look at it as not even half way through yet
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I, too, was at the infamous Michigan State ’98 debacle. I arrived late and things turned ugly.
The creepy thing I remember most about that day, was walking back home with my father. We were waiting on the corner of High and Northwood and got the walk signal. I started out into the crosswalk when my father yanked me back onto the curb. I watched a COTA #2 bus (and my life, mind you!) whiz by before my eyes. It had ran the red light. My dad saved my life. It kind of put things into perspective for me.
Are you scrambling to watch the game, or will it be televised in your area? Southwestern Ohio, where I live, must not REALLY be a part of Ohio, because no channel has picked up the game. We are visiting my parents near Ashland this weekend…the Cleveland market picked it up.
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That game was a complete nightmare. I’ll probably never completely decide whether it was worse than the ’96 Michigan game; miserywise, they’re neck and neck.
We’ll actually be in Columbus, this time tailgating without my parents, who are using the BG game to steal a little time with their grandchildren. Remember your post about The Invasion Of The Grandparents? That apparently never really stops…
A thing about TV coverage. I noticed that pretty late during Cincinnati week — maybe even on Friday — the athletic department announced syndicated coverage of the ESPN Plus broadcast on something like 30 stations — including one in Pittsburgh! — that normally wouldn’t have carried the game. Being in Ashland, it sounds like you’ll be in good shape.
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