There have been quite rightly many accolades heaped upon Bum Phillips following the announcement of his passing away. However I haven't seen any mention of his greatest and most enduring contribution to football. When Phillips was still a high school coach in Texas way back in the 1950's, he developed a numbering system for communicating defensive front alignments. This vocabulary has become a universal language in football--I wouldn't be surprised if 99% of all high school, college, and pro programs utilize it. You even hear those innumerable talking heads on TV using it when they refer to a "3 technique tackle" or a "5 technique end." (btw, the words "technique tackle" and "technique end" are redundant; that info is already inherent in the specific number) Phillips originally designed it as a simple, concise means of telling his defensive front where to line up; it became a precise means of identification, both for offenses and defenses. A hundred years from now if football is still being played, they'll still be using Phillips' numbering system.
Another influential coach passed away this weekend. Don James, who made the University of Washington a national power, died at the age of 80. James revived a moribund program, taking the Huskies to six Rose Bowls and winning a national championship. He coached many outstanding players, both at Washington and Kent State, and was a mentor to many outstanding coaches. Both Nick Saban and Gary Pinkel played and coached for him; they're now the head coaches of Alabama and Missouri, two currently undefeated schools ranked in the top 5 in the first BCS poll of this season.
Broncos fall from the unbeaten ranks after an uninspired, sloppy game against the Colts, 39-33.
I think the Colts had a lot to do with the Broncos losing. Indianapolis basically punched 'em in the mouth . . . and Denver couldn't effectively respond.
Another terrific weekend of football . . . and a sobering string of serious injuries.
At the collegiate level, four teams ranked in the top 10 lost.
The Florida State-Clemson game resulted in more questions than answers. Are the Seminoles that good or was Clemson that overrated? And with Jameis Winston's performance, will there be a second consecutive redshirt freshman Heisman Trophy winner?
Speaking of which, not even another stellar performance from Johnny Manziel could overcome a horrible Texas A&M defense. How can one team be so good on one side of the ball and so terrible on the other?
Watching Stanford pound out a win against UCLA was like watching Big 10 football from the 50's and 60's. It was kinda refreshing in a retro sort of way.
Missouri, playing without its star QB who is lost for the season, continues to remain unbeaten with an impressive victory over Florida. They're definitely the big surprise of this season.
Will anybody play defense against Baylor? More video game numbers from the Bears.
Washington State threw 89 passes against Oregon. 89! I'm old enough to remember when a lot of college teams didn't throw 89 passes in an entire season.
As Beemer pointed out, the Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the NFL. And they're winning the old fashioned way, with defense.
Weird penalty which affected the outcome of the Jets-Patriots game. I think it might have been the first time it's been called.
NFL Red Zone is one of the best things ever put on TV.
I think the Colts had a lot to do with the Broncos losing. Indianapolis basically punched 'em in the mouth . . . and Denver couldn't effectively respond.
I agree... The Colts were clearly the aggressors.
That said, the Broncos had too many costly and critical turnovers and penalties, which is why I thought they were sloppy.
Quote:
Watching Stanford pound out a win against UCLA was like watching Big 10 football from the 50's and 60's. It was kinda refreshing in a retro sort of way.
UCLA doesn't get any time to lick their wounds, either: they head up to Oregon for a game Saturday with the number three-ranked Ducks.
Wife tasered after Bears-Packers bet
Updated: November 6, 2013, 2:18 PM ET
By John Roberts | ESPNChicago.com
The Green Bay Packers' loss to the Chicago Bears was particularly painful for one Packers fan who was tasered by her husband, who is a Bears fan, to settle a bet after Monday's game.
John Grant, 42, of Tinley Park, Ill., told police that he and his wife made the wager as they watched the game at a bar in Mayville, Wis., but his wife told police that she didn't think her husband would follow through with it.
After the Bears beat the Packers 27-20, Grant and his wife, who police say had both been drinking, went outside to an alley next to the bar to smoke cigarettes. Grant tasered his wife twice in the buttocks while she filmed it with her cellphone camera.
Mayville police chief Christopher MacNeill said the woman was laughing during the first two taserings caught on video, but when Grant tasered her a third time in the thigh, this time not on video, she apparently considered that over the line. An argument ensued that led to the woman calling the police.
"You can't make this stuff up," MacNeill said. "It takes the rivalry to a whole new level."
MacNeill said at first the woman said Grant tasered her without her consent but after the officer viewed the cellphone video and saw her laughing, he determined that he did not have enough evidence to arrest Grant for battery. Grant was charged with felony possession of an electronic weapon.
Grant made his initial appearance in court Tuesday where they advised him of the charges, and he was given another court date that has not been released.
MacNeill, who has been tasered before as part of police training, said: "I don't think I would volunteer to be tasered if my team lost."
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:36 am Post subject:
While Pete Carroll struggled in his first head coaching job with the Jets, you've got to admit he's done pretty well with his last three pro teams, New England, Seattle, and USC.
Joined: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 11363 Location: �I�[�X�g�����A Country:
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 6:27 am Post subject:
bmwracer wrote:
I like the Niners... And the Broncos... And the Packers...
Packers and Broncos I can do... but Niners? eeech!
gmark wrote:
While Pete Carroll struggled in his first head coaching job with the Jets, you've got to admit he's done pretty well with his last three pro teams, New England, Seattle, and USC
Could be worse . . . he could've been a Cowboys' fan.
I have recently realized that you can now watch football games being broadcast live every night of the week. I don't think that's ever happened before. Besides the usual times (Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and in the last decade Thursdays), this season they've been televising MAC conference games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In the last several years, Fridays, which had been traditionally off limits because of high school football, has now been appropriated by (who else?) ESPN to televise games featuring BCS schools.
Football seven days a week . . . I never would've imagined it.
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