You know how it works. 15 positive football observations, 7 “not so” positive football observations and one “oh no” moment from outside the world of football.

(As a reminder, we don’t do Baltimore Ravens analysis here. We do PLENTY of that elsewhere. This is about the rest of the world of football.)

15 Positive Observations…

1. I’d use new terms to describe Tim Tebow’s most recent comeback win but I don’t own a thesaurus.

Drew Forrester, Nestor Aparicio had a late celebratory dinner with our fantastic attorney Sunday night at Fogo De Chao. As I walked in, I said to Drew “is Tebow going to do it again?” He responded “nah…it’s like 10-0 at the end of the game.”

I responded “um…actually it’s 10-7.”

Within moments we were all doing this…

So that I’ve covered myself here, a LOT of credit for the Denver Broncos’ win over the Chicago Bears has to be given to the fact that Marion Barber absolutely fell apart late and Matt Prater’s UNREAL game-tying boot. In fact, Prater’s boot was so incredible it deserves another look…

Just stop already. Just stop. Frank Reich might want to go ahead and make the congratulatory call to Tebow, because you KNOW “The Mile High Messiah” is going to eventually break his record for the greatest comeback in National Football League history.

As far as the Bears go, it’s over for them. You have to have a quarterback. It would be over in Charm City if Tyrod Taylor had to play.

That is…of course…ENOUGH about the Bears. Tim Tebow played Sunday. We’ll be talking about it until next Sunday.

2. My gut tells me it can’t last, but it’s hard to not feel good for the Houston Texans right now.

Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe you DON’T have to have a quarterback. Maybe T.J. Yates is enough…

With Andre Johnson sidelined, Kevin Walter was the hero. I’m so confused by everything happening here. I know the other teams barely tried, but aren’t the Texans supposed to screw this up so that these t-shirts are never printed???

A large crowd welcomed the AFC South champs back to Reliant Stadium Saturday night. No word on whether or not they had all sent Peyton Manning Thank You cards or not.

3. While Navy’s win Saturday over Army was the closest margin in years, it makes their dominance no less impressive.

Even if I had to make a trip to Landover and that AWFUL dump known as FedEx Field, it was worth it for Army/Navy.

My highlight this year? The press box (which Dan Snyder and company placed in the WORST possible location otherwise) was directly behind the brigade of Midshipmen, allowing me to hear every word of “The Goat is Old and Gnarly.”

If you’re not an Annapolis regular, you might not be familiar. Here’s a 4 year old singing it…

The Mids were 27-21 winners thanks to 4th quarter heroics from kicker Jon Teague. The game (as always) was “more than football”. Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama attended, watching one half of the game on each side. At halftime, he was walked from side to side through a tunnel formed by members of each branch. The word “goosebumps” fits.

4. With their season perhaps on the line, Matt Ryan & the Atlanta Falcons really manned up Sunday.

Down 23-7 at the half and watching their Wild Card hopes crumble, the Falcons became energized and clinched a win with this 75 yard TD to Julio Jones…

After finishing the win over the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons had quite the scare when coach Mike Smith felt chest pains and was taken off the team flight and instead to a Charlotte hospital. When reached for comment, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger described Smith as a “pansy.”

5. I warned you a week ago. The San Diego Chargers are still dangerous.

Crap. Crap crap crap.

The Bolts are pretty healthy and playing really well just in time for a date with the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. Phillip Rivers is playing well. Vincent Jackson is playing well. Ryan Matthews is playing well. Antonio Gates is playing well. They kept their slim playoff hopes alive while ruining any hopes the Buffalo Bills had Sunday.

Crap.

WNST will be in San Diego next weekend, partnering with Los Angeles Ravens fan club The West Wing. That means Perry Hall High School alum Daniela Pane will be in the house…

It’s a shame she has to compete with me every year for the “most popular alum” award. Otherwise she’d probably have it nailed down.

(Also-I know flights aren’t cheap…but…you know…)

6. Robert Griffin III’s run to the Heisman Trophy was one of the more improbable in the history of the award.

Before the season began-what, maybe 10% of college football fans could name the Baylor Bears quarterback? Just before Christmas, RG3 has not only won the sports’ highest honor, he’s also started a craze in footwear…

Superman socks. Actually quite awesome. Everyone else is so much cooler than me.

7. For as much as everyone thinks the Greg Jennings injury will hurt the Green Bay Packers, I just don’t get that feeling.

There were a handful of goofs who thought the Oakland Raiders could give the Packers a run for their money. Here are some highlights-or at least the best I could find on YouTube…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbtul3e5l60

If Greg Jennings really does have a torn ACL, the Packers are hurting. But this is a team that has Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, ah you get the point. They’re going undefeated and they’re probably going to win the Super Bowl.

Have a Happy Monday!

You know how it works. 15 positive football observations, 7 “not so” positive football observations and one “oh no” moment from outside the world of football.

(As a reminder, we don’t do Baltimore Ravens analysis here. We do PLENTY of that elsewhere. This is about the rest of the world of football.)

15 Positive Observations…

1. I have no concrete proof that Towson University is building a statue for Rob Ambrose, but I don’t know why they wouldn’t.

A lot of people are surprised by the Tigers’ success, but not me. I’m so effing stunned I’m still not a hundred percent certain it actually happened…

There’s no way anyone…in the world…could have ever seen a CAA Championship coming this season. This team still has more work to do though. They won’t feel incapable of beating anyone they play in the NCAA playoffs, starting with Lehigh December 3rd at Unitas Stadium.

Seriously…this is Towson we’re talking about. This can’t be real.

2. I thought I was happier to see the Washington Redskins lose when they play miserably, but I think I was even happier to see their fans suffer heartbreak Sunday.

I will admit that I thought those a-holes in DC were done after Tony Romo hit Jason Witten from 59 yards away…

…but somehow Mike Shanahan’s team stayed in the thing long enough to have a kick to win in overtime. Graham Gano of course missed the kick and DeAngelo Hall channeled DeAngelo Hall to help the Cowboys survive.

I celebrate your misery, clowns. May you never win another game…unless for some reason you play the Steelers. Even then, I dunno.

3. Tony Sparano is giving Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross something very similar to what Lou Brown gave Rachel Phelps.

Does anyone remember earlier this year when the Buffalo Bills were good? No? I swear I thought they were…

Stephen Ross started interviewing coaches before bothering to fire Sparano. Sparano used that to fire up his team, convincing them to win in order to piss off the ownership there that wanted to get new players and coaches. Suddenly Matt Moore and Reggie Bush are playing like real National Football League players and there’s a problem on South Beach…at least for now.

It’s very similar to what Lou Brown did back when he was managing the Cleveland Indians…

Did we ever find out if Brown won American League Manager of the Year that year? He was a hell of a skip.

(Side note. Every time the Orioles tried to hire a General Manager this offseason I assume the calls went awfully similar to that time when Charlie Donovan called Brown at Tire World to offer him the gig with the Tribe.

“How would you like to be the Birds’ GM?”
“Gee. I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? This is your chance to be a Major League Baseball General Manager!”
“Let me get back to you, will you Peter? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.”)

4. Andrew Luck has an impressive lateral motion towards the Heisman Trophy.

Do you get the feeling the Stanford quarterback is saying to himself, “Well, if no one else wants it…”?

I’d show you something from the Cardinal’s win Saturday night over rival California, but there wouldn’t be anything that would convince you Luck has locked up the award.

Instead, here’s Lee Corso dropping the “f-bomb” on ESPN’s College Gameday Saturday morning from the University of Houston. There’s no real reason to share the video, other than the fact that it includes the f-bomb.

5. If ANYONE has put their name back in the Heisman mix, that person is Baylor QB Robert Griffin III.

The Bears’ QB almost singlehandedly made sure next weekend’s “Bedlam” game was uninteresting to the rest of the country by throwing (and running) all over Oklahoma Saturday night…

It’s probably too little, too late as far as the Heisman is concerned-but it is certainly a reminder that RG3 has been one of the most entertaining players in the country all season. This TD pass to Kendall Wright however is probably not one he should take credit for…

Also humorous? Erin Andrews took the worst of a Gatorade shower intended for Griffin…

AND…in the hysteria on field after the win in Waco, America fell in love with a gal rushing the field on crutches…

6. At times, Matthew Stafford is one of the best quarterbacks in the world.

But if he did this more often the Detroit Lions wouldn’t have to make dramatic second half comebacks week in and week out like they did Sunday against the Carolina Panthers…

This game also involved Lions TE Tony Scheffler invoking an AT&T Flash Mob commercial in a TD dance…

And a note to Fantasy Football owners: Lions RB Kevin Smith ran for over 100 yards in this game. The physics of that alone are stunning, really.

I’m well aware it’s a different guy, but can we talk about this picture for a second? I say this as a HUGE Silent Bob fan. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? Are those shorts? Is it some sort of jean skirt? Is it a denim quilt? Holy hell.

7. No one knows how to pronounce his name, but Chris Ogbonnaya had himself a fine day Sunday.

Well, I feel like a bit of a silly goose for taking fantasy advice and playing the Jacksonville Jaguars defense against the Cleveland Browns Sunday.

The only meaningful highlight in this one came from Jags RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who invoked Cleveland “hero” LeBron James by tossing powder in the air after scoring a TD…

And in an unrelated story, here’s a 6 year old kid crying about the New York Jets after their loss to the Denver Broncos the other night. He has an awful mother…

El oh el.

As you should know by now, Drew Forrester and I announced WNST’s 2nd annual Holiday Charity campaign a few weeks back. We titled this year’s event “Coats & Cans in Memory of Fergy” to honor Fernando Commodari (listener “Fergy in White Marsh”), a cherished member of the WNST community who died this year in a car accident.

We are currently very much in the midst of our canned goods drive, as we have collected over a thousand canned goods that will be donated next Tuesday to the Canton Baptist Church & The Bea Gaddy Thanksgiving Dinner.

We have so many people to thank for the donations that have already been made. The gang at Santoni’s made a very significant donation. Brian Radcliffe’s Period 1 & Period 2 classes at Perry Hall High School have each made great contributions. Other individuals have been so thoughtful in their donations that I don’t want to mention just one or two because there are so many I’d be forgetting.

Last year we donated in the area of 2,400 cans. We’re not quite to that level yet, but we have another few days to match the total or surpass it. We have hopes to reach 5,000 cans, but we’re aware that number is very difficult at this point.

We’re looking to make one final push before we shift our focus to collecting cold weather clothes leading up to Christmas.

On Thursday night, the WNST.net gang will be headed to Glory Days Grill in Towson (1220 East Joppa Road) for a major Canned Good drive.

A thank you to the fantastic people at GDG, who have partnered with us to offer specials for members of the WNST community who come to the event (we will have a special area for us, just let them know on your arrival you are there for our event). They have agreed to offer $5 appetizers during our event hours (6-9pm) along with their regular Happy Hour specials. They will continue the $5 appetizer price until midnight for those who want to hang out after the event.

This is not a sales event. We are not trying to sell you any sort of beer, liquor, soda or anything else. This is merely an event for us to hang out, have a drink together and lift up the community we all care so much about.

The Maryland-Alabama basketball game tips off at 5pm, so we’ll definitely watch the 2nd half of the game before the New York Jets-Denver Broncos game kicks off around 8pm. Loyola and UMBC are also on TV tomorrow night, so we’ll put that on as well. It will be a fun night to hang out, enjoy a beer and some $5 appetizers and talk about the one thing that ties us all together-Baltimore sports.

In order to attend Thursday night’s event, you must bring at least three canned goods for us to donate.

Here’s a look at some of the cans (and boxes of cans) currently living in the basement of the WNST studios at 1550 Hart Rd…

We’d like to see the entire basement filled after Friday night.

For those who make significant contributions Thursday night, I still have a purple sign autographed by Baltimore Ravens LB Ray Lewis, one signed by Ravens WR Torrey Smith & LB Brendon Ayanbadejo and three signed by Ravens CB Cary Williams to offer in return for your kindness.

This charity drive means the world to us. I’ve shared on air a few times that I’ve had multiple members of the WNST.net community come up to me in the past 12 months and tell me that their donation was particularly meaningful because at a different time in their life they counted on such charity just to be able to celebrate holidays.

To quote Ravens QB Joe Flacco, “that’s powerful stuff, man.”

For those who can’t make it out, we will still be accepting donations up until Tuesday morning. Musician Victoria Vox will be joining Drew in studio during “The Morning Reaction” Friday on AM1570 WNST.net and we’ll have an “open house” event.

We will announce the total number of cans donated Wednesday. We are also asking you to pledge to make a donation to the scholarship fund that has been set up for Fergy’s kids. Please commit to a donation of $.01 per total can collected to The Cameron & Adrianna Commodari Scholarship Fund. Please let myself (glenn@wnst.net) or Drew (drew@wnst.net) know of your commitment via email.

After Thanksgiving we will shift our focus to collecting coats and other warm gear to give to the men at the Helping Up mission downtown.

Thursday night. 6-9pm (or beyond). Glory Days Grill in Towson. Canned goods collection. PLEASE be there.

Flexing my mic muscles since 1983…

-G

You know how it works. 15 positive football observations, 7 “not so” positive football observations and one “oh no” moment from outside the world of football.

(As a reminder, we don’t do Baltimore Ravens analysis here. We do PLENTY of that elsewhere. This is about the rest of the world of football.)

15 Positive Observations…

1. The Towson University football team is a win away from a CAA Championship? The Towson University football team is a win away from a CAA Championship.

Terrance West ran for 265 freaking yards as the Tigers beat the New Hampshire Wildcats Saturday. They’re now a win over Rhode Island next week away from claiming the CAA title…

This can’t be right, can it?

2. Tom Brady hasn’t lost three straight games since 2002. Holy hell.

I don’t know what’s more embarrassing for New York Jets fans-the fact that Mark Sanchez was eaten alive by some dude named Rob Nankovich or that Deion Branch owned Fireman Ed after catching a touchdown…

Rob effing Nankovich. A dude named Rob Nankovich just played hero for the New England Patriots. Maybe Bill Belichick really is better than the rest of us.

3. Still think the San Francisco 49ers haven’t proved themselves?

It’s crazy how much the Niners are different under Jim Harbaugh. Justin Smith is playing like a Defensive Player of the Year, Carlos Rogers is playing like a capable National Football League cornerback and Alex Smith…wait, Alex Smith is still playing semi-respectable football? No way…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfX7gbCnlRg

I’m trying to put a Ravens-related spin on some of the things in the 15-7-0 this week. For example, the 49ers are a GOOD team, so when they play the Ravens on Thanksgiving we can be certain the Ravens will win, right?

4. Brandon Weeden was brilliant and Kansas State/Texas A&M was incredible. Ladies and gentleman, your weekend in the Big 12.

After a big performance in Oklahoma State’s rout of Texas Tech Saturday, Weeden’s Cowboys are now two wins away from the BCS Championship Game…

The Wildcats and Aggies played a four overtime thriller IN Manhattan. It was way more fun to watch than the game I was at Saturday night…

5. After a disastrous week for everyone at Penn State, almost everything that happened Saturday in Happy Valley was positive.

The Nittany Lions fell short against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but this pre-game moment will probably be more memorable…

Elsewhere in the Big Ten…you know there wasn’t all that much going on elsewhere in the Big Ten. Well, Goldy Gopher DID attempt to frog splash Bucky Badger through a table; but not much else.

6. The Dallas Cowboys might have just put more points on the Buffalo Bills.

Let me get this straight. The Cowboys beat the Bills 44-7 and after the game the only thing anyone was talking about was the ONE Bills TD???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6WvmOGoZ2E

The story is that Bills WR David Nelson caught a TD and then gave the ball to his girlfriend Kelsi Reich, who is a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. This is a fantastic reason for me to post a picture of Kelsi Reich…

7. The Chicago Bears defense scored more fantasy points than a number of quarterbacks this weekend. 

Included in the Bears’ huge NFC North win was (inexplicably) ANOTHER punt return TD for Devin Hester…

What’s the worse idea? Predicting the Orioles will sign a significant free agent or kicking the ball to Devin Hester?

With things clearly not going their way, the Detroit Lions started fighting with the Bears. It’s weird because nothing about the team made me think they’d do something like that for no reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqyyZDR1kxA

Honorable Mention: Pro Wrestling: TNA Turning Point (Sunday 8pm from Orlando live on Pay-Per-View); Golf: Australian Open (Wednesday-Saturday 8pm from Sydney live on Golf Channel), LPGA Tour Lorena Ochoa Invitational (Thursday-Sunday 4pm from Guadalajara, Mexico live on Golf Channel); Auto Racing: NASCAR Kobalt Tools 500(Sunday 3pm from Phoenix live on ESPN); Women’s College Basketball: Loyola @ Maryland (Friday 7pm Comcast Center), Georgetown @ Maryland (Sunday 2pm Comcast Center); Tennis: ATP Tour BNP Paribas Masters (Tuesday 5am Wednesday & Thursday 4:30am  Friday 8am & 1:30pm Saturday 8am Sunday 9am from Paris live on Tennis Channel)

10. Foo Fighters/Social Distortion (Friday 7pm Verizon Center); Daughtry (Saturday 7:30pm Patriot Center); Everlast (Wednesday 7pm Recher Theatre); Howie Day (Saturday 7pm Baltimore Soundstage); Chuck Brown (8pm & 11pm Rams Head on Stage); Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (Wednesday & Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club), Fitz and the Tantrums (Sunday 7pm 9:30 Club), Manchester Orchestra (Monday 6pm 9:30 Club); Rockapella (Thursday 8pm Strathmore); Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience (Thursday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Sting (Thursday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall), Kansas (Friday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall), 3 Doors Down (Sunday 7pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Joe Bonamassa (Friday 8pm Hippodrome)

My buddy Chad Lamasa and I are headed to see the Fighters of Foo Friday night. He got the tickets, so I have to bring the Mentos. They kick a little ass…

I REALLY shouldn’t enjoy Chris Daughtry, but I totally do. I wish he was bringing Timbaland to Fairfax with him…

Fitz and the Tantrums are one of my absolute favorite bands of 2011. Before you watch a video of them playing with Daryl Hall, let’s debate whether it would be more fun to spell favorite “favourite”. I say yes.

If you’re not stoked for Rockapella, you and I disagree on the topic. I respect your feelings however.

9. Pauly Shore (Thursday-Saturday Magooby’s Joke House); Michael Ian Black (Saturday 9pm Ottobar); Maryland Irish Festival (Friday-Sunday Timonium Fairgrounds); “J. Edgar” out in theaters (Friday)

I believe Pauly Shore was voted “Most likely Hollywood star to be playing at a joint called Magooby’s Joke House in the future” 15 years ago. I’d call his fall from stardom surprising if it was. It isn’t.

Meanwhile Leonardo DiCaprio was voted “Most likely Hollywood star to be releasing another awesome movie this week” about 10 minutes ago. He’s so freaking good. The J. Edgar Hoover movie looks incredible, but it would take a lot of work for someone to make a movie half as good as “Catch Me If You Can”…

I’m going to do my best to come by the Irish Festival Saturday. Mostly because I want to eat a meal that resembles this…

You know how it works. 15 positive football observations, 7 “not so” positive football observations and one “oh no” moment from outside the world of football.

(As a reminder, we don’t do Baltimore Ravens analysis here. We do PLENTY of that elsewhere. This is about the rest of the world of football.)

15 Positive Observations…

1. If you have to make a trip to Orono, Maine you might as well go ahead and get a victory.

Which is what I guess the Towson Tigers figured they would do to move back into a first place in the CAA…

Terrance West ran all over the Black Bears, much like he’s done to everyone else in the conference. Towson has a completely legitimate chance to win the conference. I almost can’t believe I’m typing that.

2. Julio Jones did something Sunday you’re not capable of.

The Atlanta Falcons traded away many things to get this man on their team. If he keeps playing like he did against the Indianapolis Colts it will go down as one of the greatest decisions in National Football League history…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yNx7EyDECQ

As far as Indy in concerned, things have gotten so bad that at one point QB Curtis Painter threw two forward passes on the same play. No really, this actually happened. He wears the same number as Bert Jones. That’s where the similarities end.

3. Remember when the New York Giants and San Diego Chargers swapped Eli Manning & Phillip Rivers? The Giants put another point on the scoreboard Sunday.

There were many amazing things about the Giants’ come from behind win over the New England Patriots in Foxborough, notably the plays made from Eli Manning to Jake Ballard to win the game. But NOTHING I could share with you would be as good as the footage of Michael Strahan celebrating the win while the cameras were “off” at FOX…

During the Sunday Night Football halftime show, Bob Costas pointed out that Ballard’s number (85) was the same number worn by David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII. Pretty good.

(Puts on “Superfriends” announcer voice)

“MEANWHILE….IN SAN DIEGO….”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPr0Z4q_vXk

Phillip Rivers nearly figured out a way to beat the NFC (and NFL)’s best team. The reason why he “nearly” figured it out is because part of beating the best team in the the league is NOT repeatedly throwing the ball to them.

I feel like Aaron Rodgers is getting dangerously close to “so good we can’t possibly like him” territory by the way.

4. You only get to win a “Game of the Century” every now and then, so I’m pretty LSU doesn’t care how ugly things were Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.

And now we deal with the fact that we might well have to see the Tigers face Alabama again in the BCS Championship Game if Oklahoma State and Stanford falter.

Don’t get me wrong, this was a great game even if it wasn’t always beautiful to look at. LSU now has the fast track to a national title and it’s hard to imagine anyone not named Alabama beating them.

5. While Kellen Moore has done no wrong, Andrew Luck can clinch the Heisman Trophy next week against Oregon.

Kellen Moore wasn’t necessarily brilliant, but he surpassed Colt McCoy as the all-time winningest quarterback in NCAA history in Boise State’s win at UNLV…

Kellen Moore’s season only remains interesting however if Luck begins to stumble. Their national TV (ABC) game Saturday night against Oregon will be Luck’s chance to follow up on his performance against USC with a “clincher”. Probably. He had some early struggles, but was good again Saturday against Oregon State…

Trent Richardson remains third on my list-but he’s currently third on a list of two. Case Keenum heads the “others receiving votes” category.

6. Tim Tebow we love you again…at least for now.

Tim Tebow by no means beat the Oakland Raiders on his own (Denver Broncos teammates Willis McGahee, Eddie Royal & Eric Decker certainly helped), but what the hell do we care about anyone who plays in the Mile High City not named Tim Tebow?

By the way, the Broncos are only a game out of first place in the AFC West. And thank God the Raiders solved all of their problems by trading for Carson Palmer.

7. The New York Jets have bounced back well enough that Rex Ryan should say something idiotic any moment now.

The Jets kicked the Buffalo Bills’ asses Sunday in Orchard Park. Instead of showing the highlights, let’s all laugh at Mark Sanchez flinching when lined up out wide against Drayton Florence…

That’s more humorous than Ashton Kutcher on “Two & A Half Men.” But then again, what isn’t?

There’s a mess atop the AFC East, as these teams and the Pats all have three losses. I hope they all end up with six personally.

I wrote 18oo words of criticism about the Perry Hall High School boys soccer team situation Thursday night.

You never got to see a single word (as you can tell we’re making changes here at WNST.net), and that’s okay.

Perry Hall principal George Roberts announced Friday he had reversed his decision to suspend the entire Gators team one game for performing the popular “Bernie” dance after their late goal to defeat Dulaney High School 2-1 in the MPSSAA 4A North region playoffs.

The suspension initially meant the team would forfeit their game against James Hubert Blake High School (Blake) in Montgomery County, but that game will instead be played at 2pm Saturday.

It’s good news all around.

The outrage from Dulaney family members and fans was misplaced, as was admitted by head coach Jerry Tana to PHHS coach Pete Eibner in an email obtained by Patch.com. The adults in the situation were overly emotional and acted in a way that did not represent responsible parenting. They were unaware that the dance was a popular celebration performed by NFL players like Baltimore Ravens LB Terrell Suggs & RB Ray Rice. They were unaware that the craze was popular on YouTube based on a bizarre song by rapper ISA mocking the 1993 comedy “Weekend at Bernie’s II”.

The powers that be in the situation decided to invoke the “unsportsmanlike conduct” rule regarding the situation and suspend the team for one game-which would have lead to the forfeit.

Thankfully, the powers that be were ultimately willing to admit something that is INCREDIBLY difficult for us to admit as adults.

Sometimes-even when it comes to governing children-we might not know or understand everything.

Sometimes, we’re just simply wrong.

In this case, the adults involved in the situation were wrong. It’s just nice to know that they were able to correct their mistake before the ultimate damage was fully done.

The Gators may end up losing Saturday to Blake. Their season might not continue, they might not face the Poly/Westminster winner for the right to advance to the state semifinals. But that outcome will rightfully be determined on the field instead of the principal’s office.

The school (and the state) might need to make the decision to outlaw any form of organized dance celebrations by athletes to avoid similar confusion in the future. But the kids who were not informed of that beforehand did not deserve to be penalized for a bylaw introduced after the fact.

The athletes will be forced to take an online course about sportsmanship. While even that is a bit of a stretch if you ask whether the punishment truly fits the non-existent crime, it’s certainly a much more reasonable penalty to offer and a good way for the adults in the situation to save face based on their initial overreaction.

In the end, the decision to suspend the players was wrong and I am grateful to see that the adults involved were willing to admit that. As we all know, it’s not an easy thing to do.

All parties who stood up for the kids deserve credit as well. It was an awkward and uncomfortable week around the school, but it was ultimately handled in a much more appropriate way. They got things done the right way, they just didn’t take the easiest road to get there.

Uncomfortable words were exchanged. Students were put in the crosshairs and administrators had to back down from initial decisions.

It’s not something we’re used to seeing, but it was absolutely the right thing. Even some parties from both schools who initially told me they supported Roberts’ decision ultimately messaged me back to say “you know what-we were wrong too.”

In the end, the fact that the final verdict was reached this way in some ways is more improbable than had the decision never been made to suspend in the first place.

As a Perry Hall alum, I’m thrilled to be able to offer congratulations to everyone involved.

By admitting wrong was done, the situation was finally made right.

Kudos.

-G

Honorable Mention: Boxing-Lucian Bute vs. Glen Johnson (Saturday 9pm from Quebec City, Canada live on Showtime); Golf: World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions (Thursday & Friday 12am, Friday & Saturday 11pm from Shanghai, China live on Golf Channel), Champions Tour Charles Schwab Cup Championship (Thursday-Sunday 4:30pm from San Francisco live on Golf Channel);  Soccer: MLS Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals-Colorado Rapids @ Sporting Kansas City (Wednesday 8pm from Kansas City live on Fox Soccer Channel), Philadelphia Union @ Houston Dynamo (Thursday 8:30pm from Houston live on ESPN2/ESPN3.com); Western Conference Semifinals-Real Salt Lake @ Seattle Sounders (Wednesday 10pm from Seattle live on ESPN2/ESPN3.com), New York Red Bulls @ LA Galaxy (Thursday 11pm from Carson, CA live on ESPN2/ESPN3.com); College Soccer: Wake Forest @ Maryland (Thursday 7:30pm Ludwig Field); America East Tournament Quarterfinal: Hartford @ UMBC (Saturday 7pm Retriever Soccer Park); Tennis: ATP Tour Swiss Indoors Basel (Tuesday 10:30am Wednesday & Thursday 11am Friday 9am Saturday 9:30am Sunday 9am from Basel, Switzerland live on Tennis Channel); New York City Marathon (Sunday 9am from New York live on Universal Sports); Canadian Football League: Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Calgary Stampeders (Saturday 4pm from Calgary live on NFL Network); Exhibition Women’s College Basketball: Messiah @ Maryland (Tuesday 7pm Comcast Center), Holy Family @ Maryland (Sunday 7pm Comcast Center)

10. Jay-Z/Kanye West (Tuesday 7:30pm 1st Mariner Arena, Thursday 7:30pm Verizon Center); Buddy Guy (Saturday 7pm Rams Head Live), Marsha Ambrosius (Sunday 7pm Rams Head Live); Misfits (Thursday 6:30pm Recher Theatre); Orgone (Friday 8pm 8×10 Club); BoDeans (Tuesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Shelby Lynne (Monday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Willie Nelson (Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club), Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers (Saturday 6:30pm 9:30 Club), Cold War Kids (Monday 7pm 9:30 Club); Donald Glover/Childish Gambino (Tuesday 7pm Fillmore Silver Spring), Jamey Johnson (Saturday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Soulive (Friday 7pm State Theatre); Florence + The Machine “Ceremonials” & Wale “Ambition” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

There’s nothing I can say about HOV and Ye that you don’t already know. I assume they’ll be going HAM on the Civic Center Tuesday night…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdQ0kueR2DU[/youtube]

Marsha Ambrosius comes off to me as sort of a female version of Maxwell. Am I right?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lgbUptkC28&ob=av2e[/youtube]

I feel like “Sabotage” is the track I’m digging most early from Wale’s new record. Someone ask him to play “Everybody Beats Glenn” against me this week on “The Reality Check” on AM1570 WNST.net…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz8FltiaPJk[/youtube]

Who was the guy that spent the cash for the new FATM record the MINUTE hit iTunes? That was Glenn Clark. Seriously, this band has TOTALLY avoided the sophomore slump issue.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbN0nX61rIs&ob=av2e[/youtube]

9. Jeff Dunham (Saturday 8pm Patriot Center); Louis C.K.(Friday 7:30pm & 9:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); Carlos Mencia (Tuesday 7pm DC Improv), Jim Breuer (Friday-Sunday DC Improv); “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” out in theaters (Friday)

If you’re a Saturday Night Live mark the way I am, you might be willing to check out Jim Breuer…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUjmGSMGUt4[/youtube]

I don’t know that I’m signing off on the new Harold & Kumar flick, but the first one is STILL funny…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSWnmOvgyKc[/youtube]

You know how it works. 15 positive football observations, 7 “not so” positive football observations and one “oh no” moment from outside the world of football.

(As a reminder, we don’t do Baltimore Ravens analysis here. We do PLENTY of that elsewhere. This is about the rest of the world of football.)

15 Positive Observations…

1. With the entire country winning, Andrew Luck looked like a Heisman Trophy winner and future #1 pick Saturday night in Los Angeles.

It’s a shame the USC Trojans gave the ball away just outside the endzone in overtime number three against Stanford. Not only because I picked the Cardinal to lose last Thursday when I played John Allen (of Charm City Devils fame) in “Everybody Beats Glenn”, but also because it was a hell of a game.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx7vpD_D4g0[/youtube]

I’ll go ahead and move Luck ahead of Boise State QB Kellen Moore on my Heisman Watch list. Yeah, I guess I’m a sellout. But it’s hard not to like what you see with this kid. Alabama RB Trent Richardson is third on my list; which now ends at three because one of those guys will be your winner.

Going back to Saturday night, Andrew Luck also did this…

2. Marvin Lewis is (very deservingly) the winningest coach in Cincinnati Bengals history.

I get more and more concerned about the Ravens’ pending matchups with the Bengals every time I watch them…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0an-M9us5Y[/youtube]

They did all of that without Cedric Benson and they were playing the Seahawks IN Seattle.

By the way, did you know Adam “Pacman” Jones was still in the NFL? Me neither.

3. I’ll assume Frank Gore is particularly happy to no longer be thought of as “the best player on a bad team.”

Also part of the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the Cleveland Browns? Joe Staley playing the role of “Offensive Lineman” in “Offensive Lineman makes catch, runs with football”….

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDTJcYX4hQA[/youtube]

Just beautiful. By the way, I guess the Niners have to be number two in my new NFL power rankings, right? How’s that possible?

4. Penn State controls their own destiny to reach the Big Ten Championship Game, but their schedule leads you to believe Ohio State is still very much in the mix.

Joe Paterno passed Eddie Robinson as the all-time winningest coach in Division I history as Penn State beat Illinois. It was the only time the word “pass” was used in Happy Valley Saturday. I don’t care for much of anything about the Nittany Lions, but I respect their students for packing in behind the goalposts to try to make the Illini’s tying field goal try harder…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-4XhbiILGI[/youtube]

Things get VERY difficult for PSU now, as they host Nebraska in State College next week before finishing conference play with trips to Columbus and Madison. Speaking of which…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwuXzK5Mehs[/youtube]

Wisconsin fans were once again hoping a penalty flag could save them, but Braxton Miller did NOT cross the line of scrimmage before throwing the game winner to Devin Smith. Russell Wilson’s Heisman hopes are totally up in smoke, and the Badgers are now a long shot (at best) for the Rose Bowl, while the Buckeyes are still very much in the picture.

5. Nebraska is firmly back in the race for the Other spot in the Big Ten title game, and Michigan is by no means out of the picture.

Michigan State had no magic left after an incredible two weeks-or more realistically had no answer for some dude named Rex Burkhead, who reportedly plays for the Cornhuskers…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiYLzEwG16Y[/youtube]

Elsewhere in the world of bizarre football names, the Wolverines stomped Purdue thanks to a running back whose name is (seriously) Fitzgerald Toussaint. Shouldn’t he be playing for Dartmouth?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXTWG9xmjgs[/youtube]

Not part of the Big Ten title picture? Iowa. They lost to Minnesota. Yes. That Minnesota.

6. Stephen Tulloch may have shut down the internet after sacking Tim Tebow in the Detroit Lions’ win over the Denver Broncos.

We’ll start with the highlights…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc7Zp6FdEVU[/youtube]

And now for those that missed it in the video…

I like Tim Tebow. I also like this. It is what it is.

7. I guess we can assume the Philadelphia Eagles are just fine at this point.

The Eagles DESTROYED the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Sadly the highlight of the game was a Laurent Robinson catch that didn’t count at all…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FwDZz-a6r8[/youtube]

The SNF broadcast was obsessed with Philly O-Line coach Howard Mudd. I actually have no issue with that. Howard Mudd is awesome. Otherwise they’d have been obsessed with Rob Ryan, and I’m about done with that.

Also of note, Jason Kelce snapped the ball off his own ass at one point…

Honorable Mention: Pro Wrestling-Maryland Championship Wrestling Tribute to the Legends (Saturday 6:30pm New Green Room Dundalk); Golf: PGA Tour CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia (Thursday-Sunday 1am from Selangor, Malaysia live on Golf Channel); Auto Racing: NASCAR Tums Fast Relief 500 (Sunday 1:30pm from Martinsville, VA live on ESPN); Boxing: ShoBox-Brandon Gonzalez vs. Ossie Duran (Friday 11pm from Atlantic City live on Showtime); Canadian Football League: Edmonton Eskimos @ BC Lions (Saturday 10pm from Vancouver live on NFL Network); Soccer: MLS Playoffs-New York Red Bulls @ FC Dallas (Wednesday 9pm from Frisco, TX live on Fox Soccer Channel), Seattle Sounders @ Real Salt Lake (Saturday 10pm from Salt Lake City live on Fox Soccer Channel), Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union (Sunday 4pm from Chester, PA live on ESPN2); Stony Brook @ UMBC (Wednesday 7pm Retriever Soccer Park)

10. Butch Walker (Thursday 7pm Rams Head Live); Charm City Devils (Friday 7pm Recher Theatre), Pietasters (Saturday 8pm Recher Theatre); Queensryche (Sunday 7pm Baltimore Soundstage); Ra Ra Riot (Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club), The Naked & Famous (Friday 8pm 9:30 Club), Panic! At The Disco (Monday 6:30pm 9:30 Club); Moby (Wednesday 7pm Fillmore Silver Spring), Ziggy Marley (Sunday 7pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Tedeschi Trucks Band (Friday 8pm Warner Theatre), Marsha Ambrosius (Sunday 8pm Warner Theatre); Sting (Saturday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Ray Manzarek & Robby Krieger of The Doors (Monday 7:30pm Birchmere); Coldplay “Mylo Xyloto” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday); Pearl Jam 20 available on DVD (Tuesday)

I’m not the type that thinks Butch Walker is the greatest thing to ever happen to music, but I AM eternally grateful for Marvelous 3…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Obkkxng-0g[/youtube]

I’m hoping John Allen will join me to play “Everybody Beats Glenn” Thursday before the CCD show Friday night. Someone pressure him on this. I’m a fan!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUB08-RuwdM[/youtube]

I dig The Naked & Famous probably more than I realized initially…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YuSg4mts9E[/youtube]

I missed seeing the Pearl Jam documentary Friday night on PBS because I went to see 50/50 in Hunt Valley. It was really good, and even included a hell of a Pearl Jam tune…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhcnKYvzfZc[/youtube]

9. John Oliver (Saturday 7:30pm Warner Theatre); The Great Big Halloween Parade of Light & Luminari (Saturday 7pm Patterson Park); Carlos Mencia (Thursday 8pm Baltimore Comedy Factory), Kevin Brown (Friday & Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Shawn & Marlon Wayans (Friday-Sunday DC Improv)

With Halloween in mind, here’s the “Party Rock Anthem” Halloween house video for the 5-6 of you that haven’t seen it on Facebook yet…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfcNoMnKjrY[/youtube]

And since we’re not legally allowed to post anything that doesn’t involve the name Tim Tebow, here’s John Oliver at a Florida State Homecoming event…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN7LEgi7szQ[/youtube]