From: marsden@ioctl.cs.fsu.edu (Jonathan Marsden)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Re: ND vs FSU vs Michigan (Rose Bowl?)
Date: 12 Sep 92 14:21:47 GMT
Reply-To: marsden@nu.cs.fsu.edu
Distribution: usa
Organization: Florida State University Computer Science

In article <BILLMS.92Sep11165356@z.eecs.umich.edu> billms@eecs.umich.edu (William Mangione-Smith) writes:
>
>Well, you've got a point here.  Pounding up the middle with Desmond and
>Tyrone Wheatly won't get us past Washington.  And while Elvis is fantastic
>running off tackle (hey, that is why he was selected america's favorite qb
>last year, right?), he can't pass worth shit.
>
>Take a look at the team before you start talking like an expert.  What do you
>know: they even use the no huddle!  Is that also a cornerstone to smashmouth
>football? 

Hey, don't get me wrong, Michigan is a great team...  I guess subconsciously
I was referring to the Big-10 in general.  Having offensive linemen the size
of a Sequoia tree is conducive to run-it-up-the-middle football.  I remember
Michigan's lethal passing attack with Grbac and Howard.  What really
bothers me is this Rose Bowl agreement between the Pac-10 and the Big-10.
It was just so frustrating watching Washington whip Michigan.  I didn't
think Washington was ever tested last year.  The same may go for this year.
If Michigan doesn't have an extremely outstanding team this year, Washington
will again win the MNC.

Aside: The Big-10 may be revitalized with the inclusion of Penn State next
year.

>What are you talking about?  Michigan and ND schedules go back much longer
>than 2 years.  Or did you mean ND vs. FSU?  Maybe it wasn't clear: I don't
>know whats going on with the Irish and was only talking about michigan.  

Actually, I was referring to ND against FSU.  However I wouldn't mind if ND
played Michigan in Tallahassee?  Maybe next year...

>I've still gotta wonder why you think somebody is scared to come to play at
>FSU.  The real issue is: does FSU want them to come play there, and do they
>have the clout to make it happen?  Sounds to me, based solely on what you've
>been saying, that they don't. 

I used the word "scared" in order to illicit some response (got your fired
up a bit!?!).  Basically, what I meant is that most teams would like to get
a crack at teams lke ND and Michigan (there is a lot of tradition there --
like you didn't know).  These elite (don't take this the wrong way)
football programs have the ability to pick and choose who and where they
play.  Since Michigan isn't on FSU's schedule for the remainder of the
century and with the Rose Bowl agreement, FSU wouldn't play Michigan until
at least the next millennium unless Michigan had an off-year along with FSU
(in which case the game wouldn't have any NC significance).  Sad...
Suggestion: If it isn't #1 vs #2 in the Rose Bowl (and one of these teams
is #1 or #2), let that #1 or #2 play the #2 or #1 (respectively) in another
bowl.

Back to Notre Dame...  FSU wanted to play ND in Tallahassee, but ND would
only play a home and home with FSU if FSU's home game was scheduled for
Orlando.  FSU finally agreed since they have the confidence that they can
beat ND anywhere (Wooh -- what a bold statement).  This isn't intended to be
a "Woof" since at the time of the agreement we didn't (and still don't) know
what the two teams would be like.

Jonathan Marsden
(marsden@cs.fsu.edu)