Teams Ready to Take a Dive: 2015 Swimsuit Edition

Mike Merrell Humor

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out This is the third annual preseason report on teams that I don’t think are going to live up to the hype. Why bother to read another preseason projection? So far — for 2013 and 2014 — I’m 5 for 6 in picking overrated teams. And this is the swimsuit edition. Or is that “addition” — hard to …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: Oregon Can’t Beat Ohio State

Jason Fowler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Did it start in 2012 when the Ohio State Buckeyes robbed the Oregon Ducks of highly touted all-purpose back Dontre Wilson right under their noses? Or did it begin before that when Ohio State out-recruited Oregon for top high school prospects? Either way, the 2015 recruiting class will not be different, with the Buckeyes winning this contest by a large margin …

13 Thoughts on the Rose Bowl

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Under the old system, this game doesn’t even happen. The BCS would have assembled a final of Alabama and Florida State, the current participants in a hypothetical bronze medal game (Wait, why isn’t there a third-place game?) instead of the finalists of Oregon and Ohio State. The Buckeyes don’t get in either under the old system, and the 2010 Rose …

FSU: Fans Accept Glory in Winning at Any Cost

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out Throughout history, entire populations have been duped into following charismatic leaders with no scruples whatsoever. The unwitting populace draws power from the promise of the spoils of war, and celebrates the exclamation that they are the chosen, that they are the master race, that they are better than everybody else. Under these leaders, hubris and disregard for …

2014 Florida State Seminoles: Undefeated and Enigmatic

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out Florida State’s ability to win close games this year is an enigma. Is it a team strength that the Seminoles always seem to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat? Or is it a weakness that they find themselves needing to often enough to give their fans ulcers? In 2012 and 2013, Stanford was that sort of …