Not What I Was Hoping For But I'll Take It

It wasn't a very pretty win, but MSU came out on top of Gardner-Webb, 31-15. That moves State's record out to an impressive 3-1. That sounds good doesn't it? MSU even got a vote in the coaches poll. I'm serious, go check it out for yourself. It was a sloppy victory though and makes me worry about the rest of the season. Here's what I have been able to glean from other people:


-For the 3rd week in a row the defense returned an interception for a touchdown. This time it was De'Mon Glanton. That really is amazing, 3 games in a row with a defensive touchdown. I wonder when was the last time that happened?

-Unfortunately, I don't think we can count on the defense scoring every week. They're good, but nobody is that good. So, looking at offensive scoring we see only 24 points. This offense can only muster a pitiful 24 points against Gardner-Webb? Now admittedly they probably took their foot off the gas in the second half but still, 24 points? Come on.

-On to the QB mess. I am sick and tired of Crooms incessant B.S. and utter ignorance when it comes to this situation. More on that in just a few minutes. As far as this game is concerned, both Caroll and Riddell played and all reports indicate that Riddell was CLEARLY the better QB. The stats back it up too. Caroll was 4/8 for 42 yards and had 33 yards rushing. Riddell was 8/11 for 124 yard with 1TD and 1 int. Its pretty obvious who played better and for me at least, that is 2 weeks in a row that Riddell has looked better than Caroll. I thought he looked better against Auburn as well though that can be debated. Common sense dictates that the man who plays better in the games would start, but Croom never has cared much for common sense. It must not be the "right way". Once again, I'll elaborate in a few minutes.

-MSU was rolling in the first half to the tune of 28-0 at halftime. Apparently everybody forgot there are 2 halfs in football. An honest mistake, it could've happened to anyone and we all know how forgetful Crooms can be. In the second half, GW was having their way with MSU. They marched up and down the field at will and got MSU into one 3 and out after another. They did tend to stall in the redzone which saved this from being a disaster. Note to Croom, 28-0 at the beginning of the 3rd quarter is not an insurmountable lead. Next time can we try to play 100% for at least 3 quarters? Unless that isn't the "right way" of course.


Okay, enough about Gardner-Webb. I might be unhappy with what went on in the game, but ultimately I am thrilled to be 3-1. Ecstatic. What I read this morning tempered that just a tad. So lets get into this whole Croom/QB fiasco. From the Clarion Ledger:

But Croom said Riddell's performance wasn't necessarily as good as it looked to the untrained eye.

"Josh was inconsistent with his performance," he said. "I know everybody saw the big-play passes, he was very lucky on a couple of those. The touchdown he threw to Tony, that was a misread. ... Another time, against another safety, that one's going the other way."

I hate you Croom. Where do I begin? The touchdown to Burks was a misread? Tony Burks was wide-freaking-open in the endzone. Yeah, what a terrible read that was by Riddell, throwing to a wide open receiver. That clearly isn't the "right way" to do things. We know you'd rather throw a 3 yard pass to Lance Long on 3rd and 10. Or better yet run reverses with Lance Long, the most unathletic receiver on the team. Yep you guessed it, neither scenario ever works, but its the "right way" so we keep doing it.

A TD pass to a wide open WR is a misread. What a joke. What does it say about this offense that it takes a "misread" to get a freaking passing TD? So lets get this straight, Riddell throws a TD pass and all Croom can say about it is that it is a misread and another safety in some parallel universe, we'll call it WeBeCroomin', would have picked it off. Henig on the other hand throws 6 picks against LSU, 3 of them to the same safety, 2 of which there was no WR within 10 yards. What does he have to say about that? There was nothing fundamentally wrong with Henig and he didn't understand how LSU got all those INTs. Henig is still our guy, bless his heart. So recap: Riddell throws a TD to receiver open by a mile=lucky pass/Misread/safety should have picked him off--------Henig throws 6 interceptions, 2 directly to a safety with no WR around=Henig didn't do anything wrong/fundamentally sound/He's our guy! The double standard makes me absolutely sick. Somehow in Croom's little fantasy land, 6 INTS by Henig>a TD by Riddle. It makes absolutely no sense, but it must be the right way, eh Croom? If I was Riddell I would tell Croom to take his "right way" and misread crap and stick it where the sun don't shine.