I Have a Friend Who Is a Bit Weird

Opps, that’s a bit strong. Perhaps it would be better to say she is a bit strange. A bit strange perhaps only to me. This is because of one reason. This friend is looking forward to the first snowfall. Then, not only that, but she is actually looking forward to the time when she has to shovel her driveway.

Now think about it.

Most of us in the normal world would prefer a winter completely without snow. Of course, that would mean moving to Florida, certain places in California… or to Hawaii. This brings me to a question for my readers: just what are you looking forward to??? What’s that??? Me?????

Well, I’m looking forward to many different things over the next few months. Most of them I’m not telling anyone. They will remain my secret. However, I will tell you one thing I AM NOT looking forward to. This Saturday’s Big Ten clash between Penn State and Ohio State. And I’ll even tell you why. Penn State — of which I am a solid rooter — has become an enormous disappointment to me. The Nittany Lions, after staring 4-0 are not 4-2. In their last two games the wearers of the Blue and White have stumbled twice… and both very badly. First, they were never in the game against Northwestern and secondly they failed to do anything with a fairly weak Michigan team while losing 18-13.

Now the boys from State College take on a real toughie… greeting power-packed Ohio State in an 8 p.m. affair in Beaver Stadium. The early odds have the Buckeyes a fat 13 & 1/2 point choice over Penn State. I think it should be closer to 20 points.

Ohio State, once ranked among the top ten college gridiron clubs, has slipped a bit and the 5-1 club is now listed at No.12 on the Amway poll, No.13 on the AP poll and No. 13 on the Sagarin football ratings. Penn State, once as high as No.26, have been placed at No.48 on the Saragin (the only poll in which the Lions are listed). First year head coach James Franklin insists (this mainly for media consumption) the Nittany Lions are ready to tangle with the Buckeyes.

Baloney.

Penn State doesn’t have the personnel to compete evenly with Ohio State. The Buckeyes come to Beaver Stadium after scoring 50 points or more in each of their last four games (a school record). I expect Ohio State will make that five games of 50 points or better. If I’m wrong I’ll gladly eat a crow. However, I expect to be dining on something else Sunday afternoon.

PITT, SUDDENLY VIABLE again after flattening a decent Virginia Tech team last weekend, takes on another better-than-average club when it hosts Georgia Tech at Heinz Field at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The Rambling Wreck is 5-2 while the Panthers bring in a 4-3 card. The odds-makers say Pitt is four-points better than Georgia Tech while the Saragin ratings have them equal. Locally, we all will be watching to see if Pitt running back — McDowell’s James Conner can total up more than 41 yards to reach 1,000 for the year. Conner is currently rated No.8 in the nation with 959 total yards. I don’t know exactly what to say about Pitt. I didn’t think the Panthers would top Virginia Tech. However, now I am about to register as a Pitt fan. Who knows what will happen on Saturday???

HAVE YOU EVER wondered why some major companies have setbacks??? I have… and I don’t know if there are any answers. But, as a for instance, according to USA Today, Coca-Cola earnings and revenue have both fallen recently while earnings at McDonald’s dropped a “worse-than-expected” 30 percent during the third quarter. Hmmm… I must admit I don’t drink any Coke products (I prefer diet 7-Up) and I rarely eat at McDonald’s. Say, do you suppose that I’m the reason for the setbacks?? Hmmmm?

I WASN’T AT ALL surprised to read (Erie Times-News edition of October 23) that the poor and middle class in Erie donate “a large percentage of their income to charity than (do) the county’s wealthiest residents”… and I didn’t need a new national study to tell me this. It’s been that way since time began. The local residents with an income of $25,000 (or less) gave an average of 7.2 percent to charity while those with $200,000 or more gave 2.1 percent. Without the poor or middle class, most charities would fold. This fact has always bothered me somewhat. Just thought you might want to know.

SO HOW IS YOUR World Series pick doing??? Remember, I’m rooting for Kansas City… and the Royals did right well after losing the opening game by a 7-1 count. KC more than made up for that with a 7-2 victory Wednesday night to know the affair at 1-1. Oh, there’s not doubt that the San Francisco Giants are still favored… especially with the next three games to be played in Frisco. But, KC has been resilient all season and I expect the Royals to stay that way until they are the first to win four games. The Series nowadays do seem to get less publicity than does the college and pro grid games. It wasn’t always that way… believe me. But, it certainly is now.

SPEAKING OF FOOTBALL… what do you believe the Pittsburgh Steelers will do when they face the Indianapolis Colts at PNC Park this Sunday? Well, you know what the odds-makers are saying, don’t you? In case you didn’t know, they are listing the Colts as a three-point favorite. One reason for this is Pittsburgh’s pattern of alternating wins and losses each weekend. Last Monday they posted an uninspired 30-23 verdict over Houston — meaning the Black and Gold are scheduled to lose this weekend. A better reason for the projected loss would be the Steelers’ 17th ranked scoring defense — giving up an average of 23.1 points-per-game. However (there is always a “however” you will note), should the threesome of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Leveon Bell (5.1 yards per carry) get it together, Pittsburgh could (note — I said “could) outscore the Colts. The USA Today Sports Weekly says the Colts will win 27-24.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns, who, apparently, cannot stand prosperity — face another win-less team with Oakland. Remember what happened last week when they faced win-less Jacksonville. That’s right — it was a Cleveland loss. The Browns are being tabbed as a seven-point  choice. But, nowhere did I see them given more than a three-point victory… the last one a 20-17 triumph. I really have little faith in the coaching staff in Cleveland. So, I’ll be holding my breath until this weekend is complete — hoping that the Browns can top the 0-6 Raiders.

Then there are the Buffalo Bills. The 4-3 Bills are going up against the 1-6 New York Jets… with the Jets favored by three points. Hey. Really now. The Bills SHOULD win thise one. Oh, it won’t be any kind of an easy romp… more like a 17-14 squeezer. Still, I do think Buffalo will do it.

ACCORDING TO AN NFL reporter, the 5-1 Denver Broncos are rated No.1 on the latest Power Ratings with the 6-1 Dallas Cowboys No.2 and the Indianapolis Colts (5-2) at No.3… Among “Erie’s teams” — Buffalo is ranked No.15, the Steelers are at No.17 and the Browns are listed 21st. Oakland is placed at the bottom in the No.32 spot.

AND A FINAL NOTE… I see where us Social Security recipients are going to get a 1.7 percentage cost-of-living raise this coming January. That means I’ll be given a whopping $34 a month increase. Wonder how much of that will go towards the usual Medicare increase? Bet I won’t be able to increase my rent or buy much of anything with the balance!!!

– Jack

WOE, WOE, WOE and yet another woe!!!!! Hey, that’s FOUR woes. And that’s just what the past weekend was… at least FOUR WOES!!! I’ll enumerate them for you.
1. Penn State lost to a very unrespected Northwestern.
2. Pitt lost to equally thought of Akron.
3. The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to what could be the worst team in the NFL – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
4. The Cleveland Indians failed to nail down a playoff spot in the American League.
I could mention another couple of things that didn’t go the right (meaning “MY WAY”) way… but I think there’s already enough on my plate. Let’s take a look at those four woes… starting with Penn State’s 29-6 pounding at the hands of Northwestern.
The Wildcats came in with a 1-2 record, being blasted by a Northern Illinois (a Mid-American Conference team). The oddsmakers said they would get hammered by the undefeated Nittany Lions by at least 11 points. Someone forgot to tell Northwestern that. One published pre-seaon report stated… “the Wildcats may have stepped back somewhat but failure to take this team seriously in 2014 could be a real problem for opponents.” Boy, was that statement true as far as Penn State was concerned. The home-standing Lions, with 102,910 fans at Beaver Stadium looking on, quickly fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and never did make a game of it. Penn State’s first-year coach James Franklin was quoted afterwards with “We weren’t ready to play. We’re having the same issues that have popped up all year long – consistently being able to run the ball (PSU had a mere 50 yards rushing) and protecting the quarterback (QB Christian Hackenberg was harassed throughout the game). “We will get it fixed. I promise and guarantee you that. We will get it fixed.” Harumph… I certainly hope so. If not, the final seven games on the schedule will prove to be more unnerving than was Saturday’s loss. I’m a deep Penn State rooter… and I turned the game off the television early in the fourth period. That’s how bad the Nittany Lions looked.

THE PITT PANTHERS LOOKED somewhat better than Penn State, but the results were the same – a horrendous 21-20 loss to unhearlded Akron, a 20-point underdog. The Panthers made a game of it statistically… getting outgained by only 382-to-349 yards. However, as far as the scoreboard was concerned – the Zips scored a pair of second half touchdowns while holding the Panthers to a weak field goal. Pitt, once a 3-0 team, is 3-2. Losing twice to teams it was expected to beat. McDowell’s James Conner, Pitt’s number one ball carrier, was held to 92 yards on 25 times with the ball. He was held down by an attacking (some called it “swarming”) defense… something future foes will attempt to simulate. A team such as Akron should NEVER be able to handle a team like Pitt… but the Zips did it with comparative ease on Saturday. The Panthers travel to Virginia next Saturday, the 3-2 Cavaliers whipping Kent State 45-13 last week. If Pitt doesn’t get its act together, there could be a third straight setback, which is no way to gain a post-season bowl spot.

NOW, WE COME TO the Pittsburgh Steelers. There is absolutely nothing good you can say about the Pittsburgh loss. Tampa Bay, supposedly reeling from a 56-14 pounding at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons, was to be nothing more than a slight workout for the Steelers. Instead, due mainly to missed catches, extreme penalties and even more weak coverage than was expected, the Black and Gold suffered the worst defeat of the young campaign by falling to the Bucs 27-24 on a touchdown pass with just seven ticks left on the clock. It was actually sickening to watch. The Steelers were flagged 13 times – which cost them 125 walk-off yards, plus additional ground which they had gained. This makes a total of 44 penalties for the year… and 387 penalized yards. That’s simply too many and too much. It appeared, for a while, that Pittsburgh had overcome an early 10-0 Tampa Bay lead when the home team rallied to take a 17-10 halftime lead. But, the Steelers didn’t have enough offense to put it away… and that defense (with its glut of penalties) couldn’t hold off the lightly-regarded Buccaneers. Oh, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did hit 30-of-41 aerials for 331 yards and a total of three touchdowns. And, Pittsburgh did outgain Tampa Bay 390 to 350 net yards. But, it all went for naught when the penalties – and the questionable Steeler defense – did the home team in. The Pittsburgh brass keeps talking about “fixing” the situation. I don’t have any idea of how they plan on doing that. The Steelers are now 2-22-2 with winless Jacksonville (0-4) next on the schedule. This one is no sure-shot win for Pittsburgh… not considering the way it played Sunday. I suppose I could have added Buffalo’s 23-17 loss to Houston as another woe, but the Bills weren’t expected to win. Buffalo’s 2-0 season start was nothing more than aberation.

AS FOR THE CLEVELAND INDIANS, well – they did make a fight of it before bowing out of the post-season action… missing the playoffs by just three games. Still, I did have hopes that they just might sneak in. As far as my “closet team” is concerned… the New York Yankees have more to be worried about than replacing the retiring Derek Jeter. Just what are they going to do with Mark Tiexeira? The highly over-paid first baseman ended the season with a woeful .216 batting average. His $23,125,000 yearly salary is way out of line. What the Yankee brass intends to do about it – that is, if there is anything they can do – is completely unknown. I do know that it is untenable.

OH, OH… THERE WAS one more woe I forgot. That took place in Scotland where the European Team whipped the American squad by a whopping (well, in golf it is) 16 ½ – 11 ½ to retain the Ryder Cup. It made the European Team post an 8-2 record over the last 10 meetings. Yech!

HOWEVER, THERE WERE TWO bright spots for the area this past weekend. One has to be the Erie Otters going 3-0 in their season-opening three-game road trip. The Otters open their home slate this Saturday when they face Sarnia at 7 p.m. At the Erie Insurance Arena. The other sparkler is Gannon University’s football team. The Goldon Knights blasted a tough Clarion squad 33-7 to move to 4-0 for the season. The Lancers just might be championship material. Meanwhile, both Edinboro and Mercyhurst are now 0-4 this year.

I SEE WHERE at least one major college football poll has Alabama taking over the top spot from Florida State. The Seminoles had to rally after North Carolina State (a 19-point underdog) opened with a 24-7 first quarter. Florida State came back strong in the second half to win it going away 56-41. Alabama, now 4-0, was idle Saturday – but the Crimson Tide still managed to take over the Sagarin Football Ratings – but only No. 3 in the AP Poll. Bama travels to No. 11 Ole Mississippi this coming Saturday while Florida State is expected to crush Wake Forest.

AND A FINAL NOTE… On a personal note – I’m still battling this virus after a solid month of coughing… with the doctors still mystified as to what it exactly is… Oh well….

-Jack Polancy