Lions pretty much had to win to win this week, and they did. But if this isn’t the saddest “undefeated” team. Not from a roster standpoint, just, it is incredibly Lions to have the worst tie ever week 1, follow by an impressively ugly win in week 2. And then for the entire fan base to make the same joke, “hardy-har-har 15-0-1 unDEFEATED”. Just wait until we play a division game.
Dolphins are a really bad football team. They also might stay bad for another decade. It’s one of the few NFL franchises that make me happy I am a Lions fan. I used to rely on the Browns for that sweet hit of “it could be worse”. The Dolphins are the new Browns. Browlphins or the Do… Yeah Browlphins.
Colts, mannnnnn they look really good! Stacked roster, solid coaching, I’d say they are a quarterback away and a little luck from being an AFC title contender. I didn’t want to have to say that joke, but I know at least one person will laugh, and for some reason that outweighs the collective groan from everyone else.
The three most fun things to watch in the NFL right now are: Chiefs, Ravens, and the Browns. I just thought to myself, I wonder if any of those three teams play each other this year. I am happy to report:
Lamar vs Baker is a match made in video game heaven.
I would pay, and this is not an exaggeration, 200$ for NCAA Football 2020 video game. I would personally pay each player 2$ on the Michigan roster for their likeness to be used. I am not sure where I stand on the “pay the players” vs “they are student athletes” debate. I’m on the side that lets me play out my college football fantasies every Saturday after being disappointed by the real thing.
Speaking of disappointing. Michigan State!
Here is a breakdown of the game from a Michigan’s fan perspective. Beware this is a RAW conversation between four lifelong Michigan fans. Told strictly through Dantonio’s (Marky) facial expressions.
“Man if they had a real coach they would have never made such a special teams gaff on the last play of the game like that.” – Michigan State fans 2015 (probably)
Can’t believe they Coghlin’d that one up. (just a few more)
Dantonio must have never heard Herm’s famous speech. “You Play to Win the Game”
Last thing about that game that makes me smile (other than seeing ZERO Michigan State fans post for a sweet 24 hours):
AND YES. I REALIZE I WILL BE EATING CROW SOON. POSSIBLY AS SOON AS THIS SATURDAY BUT THIS IS WHAT I NEEDED. ONE LAST MOMENT OF JOY.
OKLAHOMA, SO GOOD IT HURTS. I WAS WRONG ABOUT THEM AND THE BIG 12 I THINK.
PAC 12 HAS A BUNCH OF RANKED TEAMS, PROVING YOU CAN SCHEDULE YOUR WAY IN TO APPEARING RELEVANT.
HOW IS OHIO STATE SO GOOD.
Lastly, I had the pleasure of going to Notre Dame to watch a football game. What a beautiful campus and just all around amazing place. They cut these long sight lines across the campus so you can see all the beautiful landmarks and architecture from every angle. I always had to laugh at the moniker of “touchdown Jesus” the nickname for the mural actually called “The Word of Life” (literally no one calls it that). But the monument is seriously impressive.
But more then that, Touchdown Jesus serves as a microcosm for all that is Notre Dame fandom. Religion and football here is a hand in glove fit. And I would say mostly in a good way! The national anthem, was followed by a serious, contextually specific prayer. The final moments of the warm-ups are concluded with the Lord’s Prayer. The hype video ends with the team signing off with “pray for us”. Each home game concludes with fans and players alike singing of a hymnal called “Alma Mater”. I’ve talked about how college football feeds into fanaticism, it could not be more apparent here. It isn’t god and then football, it’s God and football. One and the same thing (Christians should be able to understand that concept). Add men’s and women’s basketball and you’ve got yourself a holy trinity. I genuinely believe that Notre Dame fans think that God wants them to win. There is a deeper comparison to draw here, something along the lines of… If we could all set aside our differences as followers of Christ, and attack each problem with the same enthusiasm as a Notre Dame student section does, we could conquer so many barriers. Forget our differences, and unite under a single mascot (certainly not a leprechaun though), it could be a beautiful sight. Something along that line, maybe a comparison someone else can finish for me. All that being said, I truly enjoyed my experience there, it was a great atmosphere, a great campus, filled with great people. Allow me to resume my writer persona “Mr. Gamenotes” now:
HEY NOTRE DAME, NICE WIN OVER THE NEW MEXICO LOBOS. WHEN NEW MEXICO GOT THEIR SPORTS PROGRAM TOGETHER THEY TRIED TO PICK A LOSER NAME TO MATCH THEIR LOSER COLLEGE. AND THEY NAILED IT. LOBOS. SOMEONE BEHIND ME ASKED WHAT A LOBO WAS AND I TOLD THEM I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN A TRAIN. THEY WEREN’T EVEN SURE IF I WAS KIDDING. TALK ABOUT A LOWBLOW. YOU KNOW IT IS A BAD SIGN WHEN I WAS GENUINELY SHOCKED TO SEE SOME RED AT THE STADIUM. I LEGITIMATELY THOUGHT IT WAS PLAUSIBLE THEY WOULD HAVE 0 FANS THERE.
Browns win tonight. Michigan wins next Saturday and flips the narrative again. Auburn beats A&M. And give me ND over UGA.
It has come to my attention I forgot to post last week, but how many Tennessee jokes can you make before it starts to feel gratuitous.
Gamenotes 