PITTSBURGH HAS NO INTEREST IN YOUR RED RIVER SHOOTOUT

Texas QB Colt McCoy - no relation to Shady

Hoping to watch the huge Texas-Oklahoma game on WTAE this afternoon, Pittsburgh? Me too. Unfortunately, the game is not being broadcast in our city in lieu of the highly anticipated Rutgers-Cincinnati tilt. That's OK, the game's being broadcast on ESPN360.com. I love watching sports on a laptop. Let me go try and watch it there. What's that? My internet provider doesn't offer ESPN360.com? Fantastic. What next, there's no Pitt game this week, either?

Steelers vs. Colts...vs. Boise State vs. Oklahoma...vs. Texas vs. USC

OK, it's time to get to that argument I teased in Monday's weekend wrapup...

So I'm watching the Colts/Chiefs playoff game with my Dad and a huge debate breaks out. He keeps telling me that Boise State/Oklahoma was the most exciting game of all time. I agree that it was up there, but I tell him he has a short memory. I argued that the Steelers/Colts playoff game in January, 2006 was equally if not more exciting, based on the roller coaster ride that was the fourth quarter, and that it at least belongs in the discussion. And I also made the case that the USC/Texas Rose Bowl in 2006 was a more exciting game than BSU/OU given the stakes at hand.

These games were all exciting for different reasons. In the case of Boise State, their program had never experienced a win in a game so big, on such a large stage. The Steelers, on the other hand, were playing this game as part of an unprecedented run through the NFL playoffs. No six-seed had ever won a Super Bowl or won three road playoff games in a row. USC-Texas was the culmination of a collision course involving two mega-powers, and the game exceeded the lofty expectations.

Before I get slammed, I know there were big, exciting games played before 2006. I enjoy the history of sports. But today, I'm not trying to debate the entire history of instant classics. This was a unique case of three memorable games played in the past year, and I'd like to hear other opinions as to which one you think was the most exciting.

Let's examine the three thrillers, present some facts and other relevant information, and see where that gets us.

Pregame expectations

BSU/OU: Boise State was ranked #9 with a 12-0 record, winning the WAC championship. They did not play any ranked opponents. Oklahoma was #7 at 11-2. They had a controversial one-point loss at #18 Oregon and lost by 18 against Texas. They had three wins over top-25 opponents. At gametime, OU was a seven-point favorite. So let's not get carried away here. BSU wasn't some 40-point underdog.

Steelers/Colts: Of the "national media", only Merril Hoge predicted the Steelers to win (as I remember), and he picked them every week. In fact, I remember Dan Patrick asking Michael Irvin what chance the Steelers had to win, to which Michael responded, "Not a chance, Dan!". I always enjoy the opportunity to make Michael Irvin look more foolish than he usually does on his own.

USC/Texas: This was arguably the most-anticipated NCAA football championship of all time. USC entered with a 34-game winning streak and were the defending champs. Texas was riding a 19-game winning streak. The combined 53 games were an NCAA record. There were two Heisman winners on the USC side (Bush & Leinart) as well as a Heisman runner-up (Vince Young) on the Texas side. Even before the game was played, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit and Mark May declared USC as the second-best college team of all time, trailing only the '95 Nebraska Cornhuskers in their minds.

Blown Leads and comebacks

BSU/OU: Boise State's largest lead was 28-10 in the 3rd quarter. The game went into OT tied at 35.

Steelers/Colts: The Steelers nursed a 21-3 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Colts brought it back to 21-18 and attempted a Mike Vanderjagt field goal to tie.

USC/Texas: USC led 38-26 with 6:42 remaining in the game. Texas would rally for a 41-38 win.

Big Plays/Momentum-Changing Plays

BSU/OU:

BSU: Marty Tadman's 49-yard INT return at 8:05 of the 3rd---puts BSU up 28-10

OU: Quentin Chaney's 5-yard TD at 1:26 of the 4th ties the game at 28.

OU: Marcus Walker takes back a Jared Zabransky pass 33 yards to the house. 35-28 OU with 1:02 to go

BSU: Jerard Rabb scores on a 4th-and-18 hook-and-lateral from Zabransky with seven seconds left. 35-35 going into OT

OU: Adrian Peterson rumbles 25 yards on the first play of OT. OU is up 42-35

BSU: Derek Schouman catches a 5-yard TD pass on 4th-and-goal in OT. 42-41, OU.

BSU: Zabransky executes the Statue of Liberty play, and Ian Johnson takes it in for the two-point conversion. 43-42 BSU

BSU: Johnson then drops to one knee and proposes to his girlfriend. This could be the tiebreaker in an excitement argument. Although if Big Ben were still dating Natalie Gulbis, that proposal would top Ian Johnson-Chrissy Popadics.

Steelers/Colts:

Steelers: Roethlisberger to Randle El for a six-yard TD at the 10:11 mark of the first quarter. An exclamation point on the first drive.

Steelers: Roethlisberger to Heath Miller for a seven-yard TD with 3:56 left in the first. Further digging Peyton Manning a hole.

Steelers: Jerome Bettis goes in from a yard out at 2:09 of the 3rd. 21-3 Steelers going into quarter four.

Steelers: Troy Polamalu interception gets overturned by ref Pete Morelli with 5:26 to go in the game

Colts: Edgerrin James takes it three yards to the house with 4:35 left. 21-18 Steelers, but the Colts are surging after the overturned INT.

Steelers: Joey Porter sacks Peyton Manning twice in a critical, "last gasp" drive for the Colts. Pittsburgh takes posession at the Indy 2 with 1:20 left.

Steelers: The Bus fumbles, it's recovered by stab victim Nick Harper, and Big Ben makes a TD-saving tackle. Colts take back the ball at their own 42, 1:09 left in the game

Steelers: Manning throws to the end zone for Reggie Wayne, but rookie Bryant McFadden defends. Brings up a 4th and 2 at the Steeler 28. 21 seconds to go.

Steelers: The NFL's all-time most accurate field goal kicker, Mike Vanderjagt, lines up for a 46-yarder and misses badly. Game, set, match. 21-18, Steelers

USC/Texas:

USC: The Trojans take the opening drive 46 yards in 1:10. Lendale White scores from four yards out, and USC sets the pace from the opening gun. 7-0, USC.

Texas: Vince Young runs for 12 yards and laterals to Selvin Young, who takes it the rest of the way. Texas takes their first lead at 4:47 of the 2nd Q, 9-7.

Texas: Ramonce Taylor rumbles 30 yards to the house. Texas builds a 16-7 lead at 2:34 of the 2nd.

USC: Lendale White takes it in once again, this time from three yards. USC regains the lead at 17-16 with 10:36 in the 3rd.

Texas: Vince Young runs for 38 yards and throws for 21 more on a seven-play drive. Texas reclaims the lead, 23-17...8:34 left in the 3rd.

USC: Lendale White scores a third time, adding a 12-yarder to his resume. Leinart throws for 72 on the drive. USC is up 24-23 and takes the lead into the 4th.

USC: Dwayne Jarrett reels in a 22-yarder from Matt Leinart for six. USC takes a 38-26 lead on a 4 play, 80 yard drive with just 6:42 left in regulation

Texas: Vince Young moves the Longhorns 69 yards in 2:39, capping the drive with a 17-yard TD run. 38-33, USC, with 4:03 remaining.

Texas: VY runs it in from 8 on a 4th-and-5. Texas takes over, 41-38. 19 seconds to go.

USC: Leinart-to-Bush for 26, the ball is on the Texas 43 with time for one more play

USC: Leinart's pass to Jarrett falls incomplete. Ladies and gentlemen, your NCAA Champion Texas Longhorns.

Superb Individual Performances

BSU/OU:

Ian Johnson, BSU: 101 yards rushing, 1 TD, and that game-clinching conversion. Plus a successful marriage proposal

Jared Zabransky, BSU: 19/29, 263 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT. And the greatest Statue of Liberty play in history

Marty Tadman, BSU: 2 INTs, one for a touchdown

Adrian Peterson, OU: 77 yards rushing, 2 TDs (1 in OT)

Juaquin Iglesias, OU: 6 catches, 120 yards

Marcus Walker, OU: 33 yard INT return for a TD in the final minute

Steelers/Colts:

Big Ben, Steelers: 197 yards, 2 TD (both in the 1st half), 1 INT

Hines Ward, Steelers: 3 catches for 68 yards, including a 45-yarder

James Farrior, Steelers: 2.5 sacks, 8 tackles, 2 assists

Joey Porter, Steelers: 1.5 sacks, but both were at crucial times

Steelers D: 5 sacks of Manning in all

Nick Harper, Colts: 9 tackles, and recovered & returned the Bettis fumble

Peyton Manning, Colts: 290 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, but invisible in the 1st half

Reggie Wayne, Colts: 7 catches, 97 yards

USC/Texas:

Matt Leinart, USC: 365 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Lendale White, USC: 124 yards rushing, 3 TD

Reggie Bush, USC: 82 yards rushing, 95 receiving, 102 kick return yards, 1 TD

Dwayne Jarrett, USC: 10 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD

Vince Young, Texas: 267 yards passing, 200 yards rushing, 3 rushing TDs, including the game-winner

David Thomas, Texas: 10 catches, 88 yards

Conclusion:

I think fans are so whipped up about BSU/OU because of the staggering number of trick plays called at absolutely crucial points in the game. Throw in the underdog factor and that could be your winner.... However, the Steelers win was as improbable as they come in the NFL. When you consider how they got thumped in their previous trip to Indy earlier in the season, plus the fact that the Colts were near-perfect in the regular season and rarely lose at home, the Steelers' win turned more than a few heads. So you could call that game the winner...But then again, how often do big games exceed the expectations? Just look at last night's Florida/OSU game. Would you call that a good game? By comparison, USC/Texas, featuring hoards of blue-chip NFL talent duking it out at the Rose Bowl, makes a strong case itself.

So I'm leaving this one up to you. Of the three games presented here, which game would you say was the most exciting, and why?

Football Fans are Obnoxious

I love football. LOVE it. But this past week made me realize all the things wrong with my favorite game.

The Steelers, reigning Super Bowl champions, lost a tough 9-0 game in Jacksonville. Jacksonville was a 12-4 team last year and a franchise that has traditionally given the Steelers fits. A loss should not have surprised anyone. Yet spoiled Steeler fans screamed like babies in the days afterwards, blaming the usual suspects: Quarterback, Coach, and Running Back.

I hear all the time about how smart Steeler fans are. So why are some of them already suggesting Najeh Davenport start in place of Willie Parker? Why are they saying Charlie Batch should have started, or at least came in as a reliever? Why are they blaming the coach? Because they aren't all smart fans.

Anyone with a modicum of football knowledge knows that the Steelers offensive line was being blown off the ball. Parker had nowhere to run; he was ducking tackles in the backfield. You can take Duce out of his sweats, you can pull Najeh from the dorm closet, you can ask Jerome to step out of the NBC booth, heck, you can call in Jim Brown from Cleveland's sidelines...but neither one would have had any more luck than Parker had on Monday.

Roethlisberger had little if any time to throw. The weak line play set up many 3rd-and-longs, when the defense knew the pass was coming. He has spent precious little time with the offense in game situations in the pre-season; an offense, keep in mind, that has several new contributors (Holmes, Washington, etc) that Ben has not yet meshed with. With all that in mind, as well as the fact that he did have some type of fever and he was just a short time removed from an appendectomy, his performance should not be much of a surprise. What if Cowher puts Batch in and the Steelers still lose? You have the same record and a still-rusty Roethlisberger going into a huge division game on Sunday. If the Steelers win? Cowher would then be asked when to bring Ben into the fold, since Batch would be 2-0 and the hot hand. Cowher had no choice; as long as Roethlisberger felt up to playing, he had to be in the game. You win with Ben, you lose with Ben. And as his 27-5 career record would indicate, you win with Ben most of the time.

The Steelers line was unable to block; they couldn't run, and they couldn't set up the pass. Sure, I was disappointed, as well as every other Steeler fan. But it was one game. GET OVER IT. There are 14 more to be played. This is a team that was 7-5 and on the edge of elimination last season and still won the Super Bowl. I don't think one loss to a quality opponent on their home field is anything that should cause the panic button to be pushed as frantically as it has this week.

When it comes to the voice of the fan, Steeler supporters are no better or worse than any other team's following. Denver, who went to the AFC Championship with Jake Plummer, wanted to bench him after week one. Dallas, who some picked to go to the Super Bowl with Drew Bledsoe, also had calls to bench him after week one. Football fans and patience are no longer a happy marriage. In fact, it's a divorce: football fans have no patience.

College fans are equally as impatient, if not worse. Larry Coker's career record with the Miami Hurricanes is 54-11. He was coach of the National Champions in 2001. He is on the hot seat. Phil Fulmer's career record at Tennessee is 130-38, winning the National Championship in 1998. He is on the hot seat. Lloyd Carr's career record at Michigan is 105-35, with a title in 1997. He is on the hot seat. Charlie Weis's record at Notre Dame is 11-4, the same as his predecessor, Tyrone Willingham, who was run out of town after just three seasons. Willingham was basically playing with previous coach Bob Davie's players. Which I find funny, because the players Weis has been winning with, including Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija , and Tom Zbikowski, were all Willingham recruits.

Even the patriarch of college football himself, Joe Paterno, was on the hot seat, as witnessed by such sites as Firejoepaterno.com. I assume all the loyal Penn State faithful have backed off the coach with a career mark of 358-118-3 after their 2005 season.

The ugliest part of football has been the downright scary nature of devoted "fans". Ohio State fans are allegedly some of the most loyal in sports. If that's the case, why would they taunt their own tight end with death threats last year after he dropped a touchdown pass against Texas?

As soon as the media identified the woman that hit Big Ben on his motorcycle, I correctly predicted that she would receive death threats from Steeler fans. Probably the same group of sickos that would find out Tommy Maddox's home address and litter it with trash. Let's just say our own fans hold their own with the crazies of the football world.

Most recently, the behavior of Oklahoma and their fans in the wake of their controversial loss at Oregon was equally appalling. For those of you who don't follow college football, all the replays for a huge onside kick call seemed to favor Oklahoma. The problem was that the official and the replay official were both from the PAC-10, Oregon's home conference. Oregon got the call, and Oklahoma got the "L". Totally unfair, but let us not forget a playoff game last season when a replay failed to produce the correct call on a Polamalu interception. Sometimes these things happen.

In the aftermath of the loss, Oklahoma was quite outspoken with their thoughts on the game. The President of OU, David Boren, the Governor of Oklahoma from 1975-79 and a U.S. Senator from 1979-94, called for the game to be struck from the record books. This is coming from a man who expressed public regret for his voting of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. So you would think he knows that mistakes do happen.

Oklahoma has threatened to not play a scheduled game against Washington in 2008. And shortly thereafter, yep, you guessed it...the death threat of referee Gordon Riese from Oklahoma fans. It seems like death threats are so predictable in moments like these, you can set your watch to them.

This is not a Pittsburgh thing, this is not an Oklahoma thing, this is not a Columbus thing. This is a United States thing. In a country where football is presented as the be all and end all for most of our society, these things will continue to happen. Kids will continue to be harrassed by their teachers for wearing jerseys of opposing players; more death threats will be called in to players and referees; and the media will be right there with their Power Rankings, getting football fans' collective panties in a bunch when their team is ranked too low after week two.