Game Day Bits

The Flea Flicker has touched on it before but technology has made being a California Minnesota Vikings fan much more enjoyable. A Vikings appearance on Monday Night Football, as they are this week, was at one time the only time that I could see them. Thanks to Directv's Sunday Ticket I can see the Vikings play every week. I no longer have to hope for those prime time appearances. The Internet has created a smaller world. Up to the minute Vikings news is at my fingertips. I can get Minneapolis and St. Paul newspapers on a Kindle. Podcasts have brought the local Vikings radio programming to my ears. Its all so wonderful. If it weren't for the beautiful, year round weather, I'd think that I was in the land of all those lakes.

The best sign in Palo Alto for ESPN's College Game Day: I Love Signs

I question the accuracy of yardage totals being the basis of defensive rankings. The Green Bay Packers have a strong defense yet the yardage that they've given up say otherwise. Last week they gave up a ton through the air to the San Diego Chargers. They also took two interceptions back for touchdowns. Its just not accurate to call that a poor performance. Keeping opponents out of the end zone, getting off the field on third downs, and turnovers are a better indication of a strong defense. This is not to say that the Packers defense is perfect. They have some work to do. They are simply far better than the yardage totals indicate. They give the ball back to that crazy good offense.

I watched some of the Rice-Northwestern game yesterday. I just wanted to take a look at Rice safety Corey Frazier. I just missed seeing him get an interception. Frazier is the son of Vikings coach Leslie Frazier. The elder Frazier had his Chicago Bears career cut short by an injury in Super Bowl XX. He was at the top his game as an excellent cornerback for that fantastic Bears defense. The younger has the skills for an NFL career.

That blue field of Boise St. is a damn shame but Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore is a terrific football player on any field. I'm really surprised that they lost to a TCU team just getting its stride after replacing Andy Dalton.

Congratulations to Deltha O'Neal on his induction into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame. Excellent as a cornerback and as a kick returner. He was at his best in the 1999 Big Game. Cal could do nothing that day. O'Neal did everything. Stanford couldn't stop him. That game was competitive when it really shouldn't have been. All because of Deltha O'Neal. That performance likely sealed his first round selection by the Denver Broncos in the 2000 NFL Draft.

Speaking of Cal, their 23-6 victory over Oregon St was a solid performance. Running back Isi Sofele is looking like much more than a change of pace back. More like a game changing back. I wish that they would cut down on all the penalties. Cal needs near perfect games against Stanford and Arizona St. to finish the season with wins. That won't happen with this many penalties.

Big Game week. Always a fun time. Go Bears!

Oregon is fast approaching, maybe even passed, USC as the most annoying football team in the nation. Preening, prancing, pushing, talking, shoving. Talented, sure, but not too disciplined. Just an annoying team. At least USC has won championships. Their fans could really use some originality too. That stupid "O" hand sign is a blatant rip off of the Miami "U".

Another Sunday of football without the Vikings. This day is littered with fine games. Steelers-Bengals, Texans-Buccaneers, Saints-Falcons, even the Bills-Cowboys in the morning. Lions-Bears and 49ers-Giants in the afternoon. Capped with Patriots-Jets in the evening. Biggest question: can the Colts take the Jaguars for win #1?

Football is fun!