ES Game Day: MSU at Minnesota. 'Tis the end of Roushar, Lord have mercy.

Wow, didn't expect to be here.  The ES is gonna give kudos to both the Sloth and to CHock for their pre-season picks on MSU.  Both guessed 8 wins, and were closest to the prediction of MSU winning AT BEST 6 games in the regular season. CHock called it best: "But we will lose at least one because of inexperience by our rookie QB. Cousins was really, really good and we’ll miss that." 

Looks like this is the buffoon's last game - offensive coordinator Dan Roushar may be a goner.  We will all toss some salt over a shoulder, kiss a rabbit's foot, and say a Hail Mary or three that it is the end for the dolt calling the plays for MSU.  When an assistant coach apologizes to the faithful - he's on the chopping block.

That said, tomorrow is THANK GOD the season finale.  This is the final preview of the season.

Time: 3:30 ET.
TV:  BTN
Weather: 34 and partly sunny
Spread:  MSU favored by 8

Sagarin Rankings: MSU #42, Minny #66


Predictions: 

• CFN/Scout MSU 20-13
• Freep Rexrode MIN 17-16, Sharp MIN 24-14, Seidel MSU 27-17
• BTN.com Tom MSU 27-14, Brent MSU 19-16
• ESPN.com  Ritteberg MSU 20-16, Bennett MSU 24-17

ES sez:  How dumb can the Spartan coaching staff be?  Is MD trying to instill confidence, or is he instead misdiagnosing his team when he sez: "When we win Saturday -- and I'll say when -- we'll be a 6-6 football team."  Why in god's name would the Doctor give the Gophers bulletin board material, especially after watching the MSU buffoonery on the sidelines and the poor decision-making on the field ALL YEAR LONG? 

OK, this is easy.  Let's predict this real quick.  #1 - Is Maxwell starting on Saturday at QB?  YES.  #2 - Is Roushar still the offensive coordinator for MSU on Saturday?  YES.

'Nuff said.  Each will find a way to screw it up in as stupid, maddening, and unnecessary way as possible.  The ES hopes a nor'easter or a massive blizzard from the Yukon swipes over Minneapolis to make life miserable tomorrow.  Lord have mercy.  ES sez:  Minnesota 26, Michigan State 24.  

Ohio State: Cheatin', lyin', scandalous. Burn the vest, Tressell gets canned.

The Vest is gone. Lovely. Arguably one of the most embarrassing eras in the history of college football, that continues today at Ohio State University. And it will continue. Jim Tressel, the hypocritical coach at OSU -- donning a persona of values yet failing to live up to his own standards -- has resigned after increasing pressure from the college football nation. Tressel's lies, pleas of ignorance, and general disregard for institutional values caught up with him...

But this era of trouble and mayhem is not over, with continuing investigations of 1) lack of institutional control over the players selling wares; 2) Tressel knowingly lying about his knowledge of the players' actions; 3) freebies from Ohio car dealerships... and who knows what else. Where are the values? This, and not to mention the cost ($250,000-plus) of the investigations and more importantly the cost to the perception of Ohio State University as a cheatin', lyin', scandalous football program.

He's not only embarrassed himself, the OSU football program, and Ohio State University, but also college sports and painted the NCAA with a black eye. The NCAA looks incredibly foolish in its initial suspension-after-we-let-them-play-in-a-bowl-game, with the impending findings of Tressel lying about his knowledge. Tressel had to be fired (or did he resign? what is the difference).

The Big Ten will be richer, better, more respectful, and more honorable without that trash continuing with Ohio State football under the leadership of Tressel. It will be good to be rid of a football coach who is bigger than the institution... Nick Saban, Les Miles, take note and tread lightly.

Why is this on the ES message board? 'Cause I don't like the vest and I can't wait until we kick their tail this fall. You hear that Buckeye Nation? For once, welcome to our world.



Oh, and Tressell will be laughing all the way to the bank, as he will probably get a $10 million golden parachute and you'll see him in the ESPN College Game Day booth or on ABC Sports earning $1 million or more per year as an analyst. Losers always win.

Michigan: "You officially suck"

The Sloth lays it on the line with his NEW "effing sports blog". Here's a sample with his take of watching Rich Rod and Michigan duke it out in the gutter.

"The net effect? Michigan has already lost Rodriguez recruits with the uncertainty surrounding Rodriguez, and is quickly pissing away the recruiting window to close on pending recruits with a new staff for the 2011 season. It is looking more and more stupid, and very publicly, for not having already fired a coach that everybody (even Mark May, for Chrissakes) agrees should have been fired, and for not having a new coach ready to step in and transition into the job.

Congratulations, University of Michigan, what was already a lousy situation (from your perspective, not mine) is even worse (or better). You officially suck, perhaps even worse than my beloved Spartans or any of my various beloved Detroit sports teams have ever sucked. Your football program is in the shitter, and you have successfully alienated some of your most-successful program alums (Harbaugh, Miles, among others)."

SIMPLY FANTASTIC. ES is all warm and fuzzy, thanks Sloth!

Rich Rod firing at Michigan is a mistake

Rich Rodriguez fired today at Michigan, reported by Fox 2 Detroit at 3 pm. My guess is Stanford's Jim Harbaugh will be hired by tomorrow. scUM AD David Brandon wouldn't fire Rodriguez unless he had someone else lined up. And, right after the Stanford game? Too much of a coincidence.

But, if Harbaugh ain't available, it might be this Brady Hoke guy the ES has never heard of down at San Diego State. That would be beautiful -- another noname, and from a non-BCS conference... HOPE FOR HOKE!

It's too bad. Rodriguez was the greatest coach in recent memory for the Wolverines. His style of play was perfect for the Big Ten. The ES thought his "You Raise Me Up" performance at the season ending banquet sealed the deal - he was quintessentially a perfect fit in Ann Arbor...

Incidentally re: Harbaugh, if the ES was a coach at Stanford or Cal and was offered the position to coach at Michigan State... "sorry" - the ES bleeds green and northern California is God's-own country, the most beautiful and fun place on the planet - the ES would stay at Stanford or Cal. Matter of fact, the ES hopes on getting a faculty gig out there sooner than later.... why go shovel snow for 5 months a year when instead you can enjoy warm weather, the bread-basket/vineyards/hoplands of the year for 12 months? Sorry, the ES would stay and one wonders if Harbaugh will, too.... (FYI - the SAME could be said for Hoke down at San Diego, except warmer with a better beach!)

TTU's Leach FIRED in advance of Alamo Bowl

Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach was fired today three days before the Alamo Bowl vs Michigan State. As the ES stated earlier last night, "word to the wise: DON'T SUE YOUR EMPLOYER. You're just going to piss them off more."

As predicted, it happened. Leach was fired this morning just prior to the hearing before court to have him reinstated as coach for the Alamo Bowl. They are speechless over at the Double T Nation.

According to ESPN, "(Leach attorney) Ted Liggett said that Texas Tech general counsel Pat Campbell approached him outside the courtroom and told him that win, lose or draw in the hearing, Leach was out, effective immediately." After being notified in writing, Liggett told the judge there was no need for the hearing.

As the ES said, you can't treat a football player under your responsibility like meat after they have been diagnosed with a concussion. You can't play doctor and give out a treatment method. It is better that you listen to the player for his welfare - if you don't get along with the player, then get rid of the kid (terminate the scholarship), but don't throw them in a closet for 3 hours (twice).

Stupid action #1: don't listen to player or trainer, and put James in a shed
Stupid action #2: don't listen to player and put James in a shed again
Stupid action #3: act like a tough guy and don't apologize to a high-profile family for your selfish, incorrect actions
Stupid action #4: take your employer (the university) to court five days before you are due $800,000

What a dummy. As a university who previously employed Bobby Knight in basketball, why would you want this nonsense around? Don't take my word for it? Listen to what Kirk Herbstreit says...