And it wears #11. Meet future Heismann candidate, Blaine Gabbert. This kid, while only a sophmore, has Tiger fans almost giddy after his performance yesterday. Who am I kidding, "almost"? We're downright ecstatic. Tigerboard is going nuts, people already comparing him to Tim Tebow but with a more accurate arm. Who the fuck knew? I certainly didn't. I didn't know what to expect from this team after losing so many key players last year. Chase who?
Let me direct your attention to the laser beam throw #11 makes at the 22 second mark of this highlight reel. I jumped right the fuck outta' my chair and was like OH. MY. GOD!!!
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:58 pm
by King Crimson
pretty impressive W for a team you'd think would have a lot of question marks replacing Daniel, Maclin, Coffman, and both coordinators.
Illinois' db's look dreadful.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 7:24 pm
by TheJON
Its 1 game. Illinois quit before the game even started. Gabbert was not making tough throws, though it's not like any college QB has to make a lot of tough throws. Let's wait and see what they do once conference play rolls around. They looked BCS bound early last year and ended up 9-4 and needing some luck to win the Alamo Bowl. So many people start drinking the kool-aid after 1 game when their team just beat a horrible opponent that wasn't even trying.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 7:29 pm
by Van
"I've seen the future of Mizzou football."
So have the rest of us, and it looks pretty much like the Mizzou football past: meh.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 7:31 pm
by MgoBlue-LightSpecial
That was a pitch and catch with no defender. I mean, nice throw, but pretty basic stuff.
When Mizzou can hold Texas or OU below 40 and win a big game, that'll be the time to care.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:23 pm
by TheJON
Van wrote:When Mizzou can hold Texas or OU below 40 and win a big game, that'll be the time to care.
Now that is spoken like a true fairweather fan.
Wow, you must be a USC fan!
Only care when the team's winning national titles, right?
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:40 pm
by Van
Relevance would be nice. Playing defense would be good. Winning a big game would be a plus.
Lacking those things, you have the future of Mizzou football. They'll put up nice numbers in games which don't matter, then they'll get their heads kicked in in the games which do matter, because they play no defense.
Nothing much to get excited about there.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:42 pm
by TheJON
Van wrote:Relevance would be nice. Playing defense would be good. Winning a big game would be a plus.
Lacking those things, you have the future of Mizzou football. They'll put up nice numbers in games which don't matter, then they'll get their heads kicked in in the games which do matter, because they play no defense.
Nothing much to get excited about there.
So their fans shouldn't care about their team?
Like I said.......how very USC fan of you!
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:51 pm
by Van
They should care about as much as they ever cared; no more, no less. There's no reason to be 'ecstatic', and no reason to think they've turned some corner.
The other team will still get the ball, fully half the time, and Texas and OU still haven't quit the conference.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:54 pm
by TheJON
Van wrote:They should care about as much as they ever cared; no more, no less. There's no reason to be 'ecstatic', and no reason to think they've turned some corner.
The other team will still get the ball, fully half the time, and Texas and OU still haven't quit the conference.
You should care just as much regardless of how good your team is. I support my team's when they're finishing in the Top 10 no more than when we're 3-9.
But like I said........how very USC fan of you to think that way.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:02 pm
by Van
They should care about as much as they ever cared; no more, no less.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:08 am
by War Wagon
Van wrote:Relevance would be nice. Playing defense would be good. Winning a big game would be a plus.
Lacking those things, you have the future of Mizzou football. They'll put up nice numbers in games which don't matter, then they'll get their heads kicked in in the games which do matter, because they play no defense.
True enough.
Excuse my irrational exuberance, but I believe they have turned a corner, especially on defense.
We'll see soon.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:08 pm
by PSUFAN
I was also impressed by the defense...but that Illini team looks much reduced even before Benn goes down.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:25 pm
by M Club
jon's spent most of this thread railing against his prevailing meme for the week.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:49 pm
by TheJON
M Club wrote:jon's spent most of this thread railing against his prevailing meme for the week.
How so??
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:07 pm
by M Club
you're prevailing prevailing meme is that what applies to iowa applies to the rest of cf. this week's version is that the first game doesn't matter much. van also took that stance here and you've seen fit to argue against yourself.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:17 am
by TheJON
M Club wrote:you're prevailing prevailing meme is that what applies to iowa applies to the rest of cf. this week's version is that the first game doesn't matter much. van also took that stance here and you've seen fit to argue against yourself.
So you're saying that if I were a Misery fan, I should totally masterbate right now to a quarterback that just made a bunch of easy throws against a team that quit 2 plays into the game?????
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:23 am
by M Club
no, what i'm saying is that van made a comment about mizzou fans getting ahead of themselves, and right on cue you chimed in with jonsense.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:25 am
by TheJON
M Club wrote:no, what i'm saying is that van made a comment about mizzou fans getting ahead of themselves, and right on cue you chimed in with jonsense.
How so? I said the same thing that Misery fan should not get ahead of themselves. Point me to my statement that was so crazy????
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:28 am
by M Club
TheJON wrote:
Van wrote:When Mizzou can hold Texas or OU below 40 and win a big game, that'll be the time to care.
Now that is spoken like a true fairweather fan.
Wow, you must be a USC fan!
Only care when the team's winning national titles, right?
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:37 am
by TheJON
M Club wrote:
TheJON wrote:
Van wrote:When Mizzou can hold Texas or OU below 40 and win a big game, that'll be the time to care.
Now that is spoken like a true fairweather fan.
Wow, you must be a USC fan!
Only care when the team's winning national titles, right?
And what's wrong with that?? That was a fairweather type statement and it sounded like a true USC fan. I care about Hawkeye football just as much when they're 3-9 as I do when they're competing for Big-10 titles. My interest in the team does not change.
What does anything in that post have to do with Misery fan getting ahead of themselves???
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:45 am
by Bizzarofelice
I don't know if illini quit. just the heralded quarterback that got all the hype from the gameday folks was held in the pocket and couldn't move the team in the air. maybe ron zook's ability to coach quit.
Weird that Illinois would get good yards on a fake up the middle leading to option, but barely used that in the 2nd half. Guess they were too far behind to stay on the ground.
And excuse the fans for being pleasantly surprised by how well their new team handled a senior opponent. don't know why Van's gotta pee on war wagon's parade.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:49 am
by TheJON
And excuse the fans for being pleasantly surprised by how well their new team handled a senior opponent. don't know why Van's gotta pee on war wagon's parade.
Nothing wrong with being excited, but like I say to Michigan.......it's 1 game. Lot's of teams play great games the first week of the season and then fall flat on their face. It happens all the time. Week 1 is not the time to be drowning yourself in the Kool-Aid. That's all I'm saying.
But you'll have to excuse Van........he's a fan of a program that has nothing but fans that think they're so incredibly superior to everyone else because their team is good and everyone else on this planet is not totally awesome like them because of that.
Only fans of teams that win national titles every year like USC does should ever enjoy supporting their favorite team.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:38 am
by War Wagon
PSUFAN wrote:I was also impressed by the defense...but that Illini team looks much reduced even before Benn goes down.
Maybe, I dunno. Juice lit them up last year so it was reasonable to expect that he'd do it again. Instead, he looked pretty mediocre. I don't know if you give credit to the Mizzou defense or say that Illannoy just sucked. The prevailing opinion seems to be the latter.
What I do know is that Pinkels squad was way more prepared to play this game than Zooks squad was. Way more. And to think how we've unmercifully bashed Pinkel while he was quietly building this program, one Missouri in-state recruit after another, and I am ashamed.
Stubborn as a mule Mizzoufans are.... it's tough to admit we were wrong about a coach, but Jon Sunvold on a popsicle stick, we were waaay wrong about Gary Pinkel.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:42 am
by Van
Bace, all I said was there no reason to be 'ecstatic' - WW's word - about Mizzou just yet, or Blaine Gabbert's ability to complete easy passes against meh opponents.
I made a comment about Mizzou's future - again, per WW's thread title - and I said that it'll be just like their past, unless and until they can compete defensively against good teams...and win a big game.
Short of those two things, Mizzou's future looks just like their past: eminently forgettable.
Doesn't mean a fan of Mizzou shouldn't still follow and care about their team. I simply said they shouldn't care any more or less now than before, and that they have a long way to go before their fans ought to get as excited as WW got over a win over a bad Illinois team which loses every year to Mizzou.
Is that peeing on WW's parade? Maybe so, but nobody should be holding any parades just yet, not after only one game against a shitty opponent.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:58 am
by MgoBlue-LightSpecial
Some BTN talking head broke down some stats on how Juice's first two possessions will indicate how he plays the rest of the game. Dude just doesn't seem to have it all there mentally.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 3:19 am
by M Club
TheJON wrote:
And what's wrong with that?? That was a fairweather type statement and it sounded like a true USC fan. I care about Hawkeye football just as much when they're 3-9 as I do when they're competing for Big-10 titles. My interest in the team does not change.
What does anything in that post have to do with Misery fan getting ahead of themselves???
1. you've been trotting out your 'one game' meme ad nauseum in just about every thread that even hinted towards, 'wow, we look better than i thought we would.'
2. van beat you to the punch in this particular thread by telling mizzou fans it was just a single game. but get this: he used a different sequence of words, which has apparently confused you, because:
3. your response to van pointing out to mizzou fans that it was but a single game was to on an unrelated tangent about bandwagoning, because why shouldn't fans be excited about their team, right?
sorry i had to explain logic to you.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 3:30 am
by War Wagon
Not having any parades, but Illinois was a 6-1/2 point favorite in this game. Are they a "bad" team? Guess we'll see when Penn St. visits Champagne.
They were playing hard, just got clowned by a more prepared team.
I love how everyone immediately jumps to the conclusion that a team must suck because they got beat badly, rather than give credit to the team that administered the beating.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:00 am
by Van
WW, you're conveniently forgetting the rest of that equation:
1-The team that got stomped in this one usually sucks, and they usually get stomped in this game.
2-The team that did the stomping in this game usually stomps in this game, then they go out and get their heads kicked in when they play somebody good.
So, to those of us with no rooting interest, this looks exactly like the same thing we see every year with these two teams.
Now, I'll go out on a limb and add this prediction, based on that game: Illinois will go on and be horrible this year, with flashes of promise, and Mizzou will put up nine or ten wins, none of which will be impressive, and none of which will matter, once they get rolled again when it matters.
Should it turn out that I'm correct, then...so what?
Same ol', same ol'.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:49 pm
by indyfrisco
War Wagon wrote:Stubborn as a mule Mizzoufans are.... it's tough to admit we were wrong about a coach, but Jon Sunvold on a popsicle stick, we were waaay wrong about Gary Pinkel.
And as soon as misery drops a shitty season out there, you'll have "been right about him all along..."
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:38 pm
by TheJON
1. you've been trotting out your 'one game' meme ad nauseum in just about every thread that even hinted towards, 'wow, we look better than i thought we would.'
2. van beat you to the punch in this particular thread by telling mizzou fans it was just a single game. but get this: he used a different sequence of words, which has apparently confused you, because:
3. your response to van pointing out to mizzou fans that it was but a single game was to on an unrelated tangent about bandwagoning, because why shouldn't fans be excited about their team, right?
sorry i had to explain logic to you.
No, you misunderstood everything I was saying. I took Van's initial response as "you should only give a fuck about your team if your team is super awesome". That's how it seemed when he said the following......
When Mizzou can hold Texas or OU below 40 and win a big game, that'll be the time to care.
and I responded with....
Now that is spoken like a true fairweather fan.
That had nothing to do with Missouri specifically, but more to do with being a fan in general. Again.......I care about Iowa when they're 3-9 just as much as when they're winning Big-10 titles.
Do this statement not sound fairweather to you??
When Mizzou can hold Texas or OU below 40 and win a big game, that'll be the time to care.[/
It sure does to me.
I think you're arguing against something I did not say.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:15 pm
by indyfrisco
TheJON wrote:Do this statement not sound fairweather to you??
When Mizzou can hold Texas or OU below 40 and win a big game, that'll be the time to care.[/
It sure does to me.
That was more Van just attempting (and succeeding) to be pompous, arrogant, superiority complex, etc. Name your elitest adjective. He was saying "Beat t.u./OU and then get back to us."
Now, his comments on how he is not passionate about U$C THIS YEAR because he's already written off the opportunity for a national championship sounds fairweather if you want to use that as an example.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:44 pm
by Paul
Van wrote:WW, you're conveniently forgetting the rest of that equation:
WRONG, and I'll tell you why:
1-The team that got stomped in this one usually sucks, and they usually get stomped in this game. Ummm, they played a shoot-out last year last time I checked.
2-The team that did the stomping in this game usually stomps in this game, then they go out and get their heads kicked in when they play somebody good. Wrong again- last year Mizzou KICKED ASS for six weeks until they ran into a better-prepared OSU Cowpoke squad and misstepped. I don't exactly call that "getting their heads kicked in".
So, to those of us with no rooting interest, this looks exactly like the same thing we see every year with these two teams.
Now, I'll go out on a limb and add this prediction, based on that game: Illinois will go on and be horrible this year, with flashes of promise, and Mizzou will put up nine or ten wins, none of which will be impressive, and none of which will matter, once they get rolled again when it matters. Nine or ten wins DON'T MATTER???? Whatever you say.
Should it turn out that I'm correct, then...so what?
Same ol', same ol'.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:49 pm
by TheJON
That was more Van just attempting (and succeeding) to be pompous, arrogant, superiority complex, etc. Name your elitest adjective. He was saying "Beat t.u./OU and then get back to us."
USC fan act "elitist"?? Noooooo waaaayy!!
My favorite part about the tailgating experience of the Iowa-USC Orange Bowl was this airhead Trojan fan drives his SUV through a sea of Hawkeye fans, rolls down his window and attempts to be humorous by yelling "hey Hawkeye fans, isn't it like cold in Iowa right now? hu hu hu". I'm not sure what was more pathetic........his failed attempt at humor or the fact that he actually thought he was cool because he just got off some weak temperature smack.
Like I've always said, I have never been around such a pathetic fan base. I did not meet one SC fan worth shooting the shit with and that's the only team I can say that about. They are incredibly fairweather, non-interesting, and don't know a god damn thing about football. They barely knew who Carson Palmer was. Fortunately there weren't very many of them down in Miami so I only had to deal with a few of these losers.
I laughed my ass off a few years back when the TV announcers mentioned USC has sold out 3 straight games and talked like that was some sort of accomplishment. Wow, 3 whole games!!?? Whoopee!!
Don't think I'll ever make a road trip to LA for a USC game. Wouldn't waste my money on something that seems so boring. Do they even tailgate out there? Shit, do they even CHEER out there? Looks very pedestrian to me on TV. They have a great program and it's a shame because they sure as fuck don't deserve it.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:17 pm
by TheJON
Of course, the reason why places like Baton Rouge, Norman, Iowa City, and Lincoln sell out is because there's not really much else to do there. In Los Angeles, there are other options.
That's an absolute load of crap, Jsc, and you know it.
If I live in LA, I can go to the fucking beach any god damn day of the week.
The fact is, their fans are lame just like most Pac-10 teams fans. It's not because there's more to do where they live, it's simply them being lame as shit.
For the record, I would rather sit and watch my favorite team play than go surfing anyways. There's nothing you can do in Los Angeles that beats tailgating and experiencing the gameday atmosphere of college football.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:54 am
by M Club
jon, i guess only van can answer for his intentions, but right after WW exhibited some excitement about his team van rolled in with: uh, ja, get back to me when they beat someone. his subsequent explanations have been along the lines of mizzou's history of beating shite teams and losing to anyone with a pulse, which echoes your sentiments about not getting ahead of ourselves after a game. i don't think he was suggesting WW wait a month or so to get on the bandwagon.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:57 am
by M Club
TheJON wrote:
Of course, the reason why places like Baton Rouge, Norman, Iowa City, and Lincoln sell out is because there's not really much else to do there. In Los Angeles, there are other options.
That's an absolute load of crap, Jsc, and you know it.
If I live in LA, I can go to the fucking beach any god damn day of the week.
The fact is, their fans are lame just like most Pac-10 teams fans. It's not because there's more to do where they live, it's simply them being lame as shit.
For the record, I would rather sit and watch my favorite team play than go surfing anyways. There's nothing you can do in Los Angeles that beats tailgating and experiencing the gameday atmosphere of college football.
I'm with Jon here. LA doesn't necessarily have more to do than other towns, it just has more of what everyone else has. The reason SC doesn't sell out consistently is because of their fairweather fan base, not because there's sooooooo much to do. Ohh, the beach! I'm pretty sure some Nebraska hillbilly faces the same conundrum when it comes to choosing between football and killing deer.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:32 am
by TheJON
Exactly. I suppose there's nothing to do in New York because their pro sports teams regularly sellout games. Same with Chicago. Nothing to do there I guess. Heck, even when the Bulls are shitty they still sellout. Must be due to the beaches along Lakeshore not being open in the winter. Of course the Cubbies regularly sellout in the summer so I guess that argument doesn't hold water.
I hear this bullshit excuse from Trojan fan all the time and the fact that they actually believe this garbage to be true proves what fucking morons they are.
Here's what my normal day in Des Moines consists of during the week.....
Work, surf the web, watch ESPN, maybe catch a bit of Steve Wilkos, eat lunch, send trash talk emails to friends constantly, play golf (once a week). Then at night, eat dinner (once a week at a decent restaurant), hopefully at least get a BJ from my wife (preferably intercourse as well), watch some stupid crap she likes on TV and pretend to actually be paying attention, play some pick-up football/basketball with friends (usually once a week) or play organized league baseball/basketball, surf the internet on my BlackBerry, begin preparing my work day for tomorrow.
That's a typical day for me.
Now here's what my normal day would be if I lived in Los Angeles during the week.....
Work, surf the web, watch ESPN, maybe catch a bit of Steve Wilkos, eat lunch, send trash talk emails to friends constantly, play golf (once a week). Then at night, eat dinner (once a week at a decent restaurant), hopefully at least get a BJ from my wife (preferably intercourse as well), watch some stupid crap she likes on TV and pretend to actually be paying attention, play some pick-up football/basketball with friends (usually once a week) or play organized league baseball/basketball, surf the internet on my BlackBerry, begin preparing my work day for tomorrow.
Big difference, hu??
What about weekends though?
In Des Moines.......
If it's football season, go see my favorite team play on Saturday. Tailgate before and/or after game. Go crush some beers at my favorite watering hole on Friday night. Either hit up the bars or invite the fellas over for booze, ballgames, and beer pong on Saturday night. Go play some football/baseball/basketball with friends on Sunday, grocery shop, maybe hit up the casino and play some poker, get Honey-Do chores done around the house, prepare my work week, and try and relax in the evening.
And if I lived in Los Angeles.........
If it's football season, go see my favorite team play on Saturday. Tailgate before and/or after game. Go crush some beers at my favorite watering hole on Friday night. Either hit up the bars or invite the fellas over for booze, ballgames, and beer pong on Saturday night. Go play some football/baseball/basketball with friends on Sunday, grocery shop, maybe hit up the casino and play some poker, get Honey-Do chores done around the house, prepare my work week, and try and relax in the evening. Go to the beach once every 2 months because I'm over 21 and anyone over the age of 21 that regularly hangs out at the beach is a fucking loser.
Again.......quite a big difference.
Other things I like to do are sightseeing (I do this on vacations, I don't need to do this on a regular basis), going to different ballparks/stadiums (again, I do this on vacation or a weekend road trip), and going to Royals games (it's less than a 3 hour drive and I do this regularly in the summer).
So, as you can see, the whole "USC fans don't go to games because they've got more to do in LA" argument is just flat out garbage. Anyone that honestly believes that is DUMB. Period.
Re: I've seen the future of Mizzou football
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:07 am
by War Wagon
Ok, back on topic... Blaine Gabbert, remember?
Funny article from Whitlock today.
Missouri’s Gabbert is the new QB love of my life
JASON WHITLOCK COMMENTARY
“Jason, what is this nonsense about you dumping Jeff George for a younger quarterback?” Dr. Brian Anthony Homer asked at the beginning of our weekly therapy session. “It’s completely irresponsible. You don’t walk out on a 30-year relationship for a 19-year-old who has played one game. This is nuts!”
Doc, have you seen Blaine Gabbert? He’s 6 feet 5, 240 pounds. When he throws a pass, I get goosebumps and feel young again. He makes me feel the way Jeff used to, like a state championship, national title or Super Bowl are all possibilities.
“Are you really this stupid, Jason?” asked Dr. B.A. Homer, Kansas City’s leading sports therapist. “You really want to throw away 30 years over a teenager who probably doesn’t even remember your name?”
The truth is, Doc, this isn’t about Jeff. The passion has been gone in our relationship for at least two years. I mean, he hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2001. I’m always going to love Jeff and his right arm, but love is never enough. I’m just a fan. I have needs. I need game action.
“Jeff still wants to play,” B.A. Homer reminded me. “He hasn’t retired. In fact, he put out that workout tape this summer and did a string of radio interviews. You saw Jeff this summer. He’s in terrific shape. He looks 30. He needs you now more than ever. These are his golden years.”
I’m a sports writer at the midpoint of my career. I need something new, fresh and hot.
“We talked about this, Jason,” B.A. Homer said. “Did you get the new expensive sports car like I suggested? And what happened to you settling down with the 20-something divorcee my wife set you up with?”
Wrecked the car. And LaTisha was a wreck.
“You can get new ones,” Dr. Homer pleaded.
It’s football season, Doc. I need a quarterback to love.
“Why not Tom Brady? He’s coming off a knee injury. Why not Donovan McNabb? He’s your favorite NFL player. You told me how proud you are that McNabb took Michael Vick under his wing.”
They don’t make me feel the way Blaine Gabbert did Saturday.
“He’s a kid, Jason! He’s going to make a fool out of you. You think you’re the only sports writer trying to woo this kid? Bryan Burwell and Bernie Miklasz have been chasing Blaine since high school. He grew up in their backyard. Burwell’s been talking this kid up for two years.”
So? Blaine will see that they don’t care about him the way I do.
“Jason, the truth is, you flirt with every young quarterback who bats an eye at you. You watched Brad Smith light up Illinois in 2002 and thought he was the second coming of Michael Vick. Heck, just last year you lost your mind over Todd Reesing and saw him as the next Doug Flutie. Do you remember predicting that Chad May should be in the Heisman race and would have a long NFL career?”
There’s a gigantic difference between harmless flirting and real love.
“Oh, just admit it. You’re easy. Any college quarterback after a 300-yard passing day could have his way with your laptop. You’ll dump Blaine for Reesing or Carson Coffman next week.”
No. This is the real thing. Blaine and I could easily be together for the next 20 years. He has everything I want in a quarterback — big frame, strong arm, sound throwing motion, confidence in and out of the pocket, touch, swagger and he wears No. 11, the same number Jeff wore at Illinois and when he broke into the NFL.
“So that’s all this is, you trying to recapture your youth? It’s not about what’s best for Blaine?”
I am what’s best for Big Blaine.
“That’s ridiculous. He needs a sports writer closer to his own age, someone he can relate to, someone who won’t add to the immense pressure he already feels trying to replace Chase Daniel. I think Gabe DeArmond of PowerMizzou.com would be a perfect match for Blaine. From what I understand, Gabe is the one who told you to compare Blaine to Ben Roethlisberger. And Gabe came up with the nickname Big Blaine.”
Gabe doesn’t have the necessary experience. Grooming Blaine for NFL stardom is a man’s job.
“Oh, you did a fantastic job with Jeff George. Do us a favor and stay away from Blaine Gabbert. Go groom Colt McCoy or Tim Tebow.”