A quick note about polls: They’re rubbish. I’m not even sure why they exist now with the College Football Playoff except for people to tout their votes and sometimes even the work they put into them and then to critique the CFP voting, which is the only one that matters.

If we’re being honest, what the polls and the CFP have done is give teams like WVU two ladders to climb during the season. I count seven teams in last week’s CFP ranking with no losses or one loss. The Mountaineers are lowest in the rankings at No. 16 meaning nine two-loss teams were above them. The other six of the no-loss or one-loss teas were the top six. Each was ranked in the top 25 in both presaeson polls. It took WVU a third of the season to get into the top 25, and if you don’t think the polls establish a starting point or a train of thought for the CFP, I don’t know what to tell you.

That said, the media and coaches poll stimulate interest, discussion, matchups and attention, and that’s very good for our fair sport, but they’re still rubbish. I’ll confess I went to bed Saturday night Sunday morning under the assumption WVU would be a top-seven team in the polls, but that’s only because I assumed people have affection for Texas and voters would drop teams that lost and elevate teams that won.

Nope. Nope.

Many people are mad about this. People were mad about a lot of stuff Sunday, like ESPN choosing Western Michigan, which is a really cool story, for College GameDay. I’d like to comfort you by saying I’m certain WVU is relieved by this, not for the disrespect but for the ability to focus on the Sooners without having to devote time and effort to all the ancillary stuff that comes with GameDay. And if you’re miffed about not getting the spotlight, man, where have you been? WVU is a top-10 team that has a chance to win the Big 12. All the games are on national TV. Things are just fine, and the 8 p.m. spot on ABC is as good as it gets. Deep breaths.

As for the polls, I’m perplexed but not surprised. You can take just a little time to make a case that supports the order – or to dismiss it – but I’m not sure why anyone would care. Now, Tuesday night? Different story. From now until the CFP reveal, we can ponder the possibility of the Big 12 champion getting into the final four. It didn’t look good before, but a two-loss Oklahoma has a shot, so it’s not impossible for the Mountaineers. If WVU finishes 11-1/8-1, that could do it, but I think WVU better be in the top 12 Tuesday, and I don’t know how that’s going to be the case.

I wish that I could stay forever this young. Not afraid to close my eyes. Life’s a game made for everyone, and love is the prize. My edits are in [brackets].

9:02 a.m.:
OMG we just saw Bevo go by in his trailer.

10:47:
I’m still depressed, can WVU football save me? Will TFGD provide me peace?? I mango farming hope so!

11:14:
Is it Noon yet?

11:14:

11:35:
Already fightin’ [fight] yeah

11:54:
Desmond, Joel McHale & Herby all just took Texas. Corso was the lone wolf. uh-oh.

11:56:
Texas’s band just played our alma mater song. Not gonna lie. I cried a little.

12:03 p.m.:
Nervous about this one

12:03:
I actually like Charlie Strong. He seems like he doesn’t take himself that seriously.

12:16:
Oh Lort.

12:16:
They’re gonna score 100

12:16:
noble out?  not good news

12:16:
Dawgs are puppies right now

12:16:
Thankfully they passed

12:16:
Just saw a wv fan with a flying WV shaved into his back hair.

12:18:
McCoy looks good.

12:19:
Eli never seems to make that catch

12:23:
Pass to FB or TE just pointless unless it’s someone who can actually catch

12:23:
Can we just stay in our lane with Eli? More blocky. Less catchy.

12:23:
KaRaun got new gloves

12:23:
KaRaun needed that! Gotta get back on the horse!

12:24:
Wtf is going on with the damn O-line?

12:31:
I need Skyler to not be Skyler today.

12:31:
Bunch of mango farmers

12:32:
out of FG range?

12:32:
Molina personal best. needed

12:32:
Career long!

12:32:
FUMBLE!

12:32:

 

12:32:
How do they not throw it? With a receiver open?

12:32:
And…. there ya go.

12:32:
where’s the new usual quick whistle?

12:32:
So it’s now legal for one guy to hold you up and the other to strip you?

12:32:
For like 20 seconds?

12:32:
trade FGs. trade TOs. = 3-3

12:32:
AND THEN WE GIVE IT RIGHT BACK!?

12:32:

12:34:
Play was dead by rules

12:34:
Pissed off Holgorsen activate

12:51:
Not sure HCDH should go off on JJ like that

12:51:
howard gets gibson killed

12:51:
Hung Gipson out to dry

12:51:
Targeting!

12:51:
AS GAWD IS MY WITNESS, SHELTON GIBSON IS BROKEN IN HALF! ([frankly] that was a vicious hit. I felt it all the way back here)

12:15:
It’s not targeting in the pure sense, but Gibson is totally defenseless and the DB uses his helmet as a weapon. And no one blinks.

12:52:
Skyler would be good at horseshoes.  just get it close

12:52:
Look at Shorts auditioning for GAM

12:52:
I SEE YOU KENNEDY!

12:52:
crowd not a factor

12:52:
The stars at night… are big and bright! Deep in the end zone at Texas! It’s

12:52:
Keep that [kick] in the end zone, Molina

12:52:
13! Whew

12:52:
PASS RUSH

12:52:

12:52:
Is Shelton dead?

12:52:
Wide receivers are some badass mofos!

1:30:
how about that.   concentration!

1:30:
HE. CAUGHT. THAT.

1:30:

1:30:
KaRaun’s new gloves working well

1:30:
Yips this, Caz!

1:30:
What an amazing catch!

1:30:
Prob quickest review ever

1:30:
Texas defensive coaches right now;

1:30:

 

1:30:
White is now catching everything near him. Clearly reading blog comments. Throw it within twenty yards and he will catch it.

1:30:
Eat [Scallops] Pitt!!!!

1:30:
Warms my heart to chant “eat [scallions] pitt” at Texas Memorial Stadium with my fellow Mountaineers.

1:30:
#big12refs at it again….

1:30:
So we have reached the point where realize they dont want us to win.

1:31:
Im so tired of these officials. Even the texas diehard next to me agreed that was not pass interference.

1:31:
dropsies = punt

1:31:
reviewable?  did not touch returner?

1:31:
That’s a [shoddy] [filthy] call

1:31:
Terrible!!!

1:31:
Swing of events here. 2 drops, bad call, Foreman

1:31:
Sheezus this Foreman…..

1:31:
Classic example of a defender guessing who has it and not reading the play.

1:31:
Nobody wants to tackle Foreman.  I swear I saw someone run away from him.

1:31:
Oh hi there, Big 12 refs.

1:33:
[Bollocks]! Complete [bollocks]! Horrible call!

1:33:
So they call a [bologna] call to allow for a texas TD and then don’t thibk Skyler’s pass is catachble enough to call penalties

1:33:
Uncatchable

1:33:
D dropping it too

1:37:
Once again, this is pathetic.  We can’t stop Foreman and offense has disappeared.

1:45:
started well. lost mental edge

1:45:
I don’t know how you put up with dana and this injury [sorcery]. His best player on O and D aren’t gonna play an no on discloses it?

1:45:
Do they even tell you in the game that Noble and Shell are out and will/won’t play? That’s embarrassing for a program.

2:04:
good news: fallen leaves have improved digital antenna reception  bad news: now i can see mark may very, very clearly

2:04:
Depth issues are going to be issues in the second half.

2:04:
Matt Lineart tho…sigh. Why is he SO annoying? Lmaooooo

2:08:
Good thinking Skyler

2:12:
Approaching a level of post election angry drunk that no one needs to witness.

2:12:
Skyler just gave that damn pass away

2:12:
No reason to throw that pass.

2:12:
This is why we can’t beat good teams

2:12:
This game is effectively over.  We haven’t done anything worth a shot since the 1st quarter.

2:20:
Also, these Big 12 refs are no good!

2:20:
target review. goodbye

2:20:
about time we get one of these

2:20:
Shell needs to sit down…his ankle is jacked. Nice try though.

2:20:
32 from Texas is an [annoyance]. That is all.

2:24:
Tha Big Shorts

2:38:
This stadium smells like sewage

2:39:
Shelton is so clutch for the long ball! Best red zone drive I have seen in weeks!

2:39:
Rasul’ll snatch yo [scissors]

2:39:
13!

2:42:
DAMN IT SKYLER SMARTEN UP

2:42:
[Fred] [Frank] [Felipe] bull [frothing] [snake]

2:42:
GOT THE MANGO FARMING GAME IN OUR HANDS AND YOU PULL THAT [CHICANERY]. COME ON SKYLER!!!

2:47:
Man I hate YOLO Skyler

2:47:
Can Kennedy McKoy play quarterback?

2:47:
OMG. That was a worse flop than I’ve ever seen in the NHL.

2:47:
These refs want Texas to win.

2:52:
Two [bad] calks have resulted in touchdowns. But who’s counting?

2:53:
Somehow we’re winning (for now), but we look like a pile of Bevo poop.

2:53:
let’s do everything we can to lose this

2:53:
Aaaaaand we’re one more Skyler pants pooping from losing this one.

2:53:
Hooooooo boy

2:53:
Why in the world do you throw that

2:54:
Bad Skylark this half

2:54:
Skyler makes me want to drink. I can’t.

2:54:
That’s it.  I’m back to hating Skyler

2:54:
I think Skyler hit his ceiling so hard in the first qurarter that he has a concussion. That’s the only explanation for this [circus].

2:54:
He’s not even close

2:54:
Skyler’s gonna lose this game for us.

2:54:
How did he think he was going to get it to a guy with defenders in front of and behind him?

4:02:
Skyler’s fulfilling his dream of winning a game for the Longhorns in DKR.

4:02:
Btw, this is why fans on the road don’t boo him, but fans at home do.

4:02:
KYZIR MISSLE GO BOOM!

4:02:
So. Many. Turnovers. On both sides of the ball.

4:02:
Bueshelle – welcome to Kyzir

4:02:
Fumble!

4:02:
The ball came out but they won’t reverse the call

4:02:
it’s out. zebras better get this one right. hand out not on ball

4:02:
Like clearly out

4:03:
they got one right

4:03:
Refs came through on that review.  Not sure what to feel right now.

4:03:
Alright now let’s just hope Skyler stops channeling Uncle Rico

4:03:
Kyzir filling up the bingo card :  sack, fumble, fumble recovery, felony assault

4:03:

4:03:
I’m naming my next dog Poona Ford

4:03:
So Dana was lying when he said Shell was available?

4:03:
hand it mckoy please

4:03:
Kinney is a way better punter than O’Toole

4:03:
D is gonna have to win this one

4:03:
thank you D

4:03:
adventures in punt returning

4:03:
painful words “half the distance to the goal”

4:03:
The Gary Jennings Act is tired. Catching it is fine. Catching it, losing 2 yards and risking every possession is not fine.

4:08:
I don’t know who wants to lose this game more WVU offense or Texas offense

4:08:
Obvious QB draw and, as a metaphor for everything, Skyler comes up short.

4:08:
The only worse playmakers are the goddamn OL

4:08:
How many times is the defense going to be asked to hold this lead?

4:08:
WVU’s offense has absolutely [soiled] the bed since the end of the first quarter.

4:08:
stopped.  SHORT!

4:08:
13!

4:08:
When did Lonnie Galloway start coaching the Texas WR’s?

4:08:
MANGO FARMING 13!!!!!!!!

4:08:
run the damn ball please

4:08:
P_lease GOD run the clock out

4:08:
Ok, just don’t turn it over.

4:08:
In retrospect, if Texas would’ve run the ball the whole fourth quarter, it wins. It needs a second running back like WVU does with Shell/McKoy/Crawford.

4:08:
We aren’t keeping Tony Gibson past this year are we

4:08:
Do a Phil Brady!

4:09:
Texas defense is [soft].  Offensive line just choked on a huge play.

4:09:
Holgersen is losing his [hair] right now

4:09:09
1:25. can’t run off quick enough

4:09:
Jesus. Texas has all damn day in the box.

4:09:
Dana losing his (shelves) dot gif.

4:09:
heart.    racing.    ball game

4:09:
escape with a win

4:09:
BY GOD!

4:09:
what the ?!?? are they reviewing?

4:09:
For the love of all things good and holy. 12 guys???

4:09:
YESSSS!

4:09:
seriously. my internet gummed up and i had nothing for the last two minutes. i thought i was going to have a heart attack.

4:09:
We can beat them with 10 on D

4:09:
And Charlie is fired. Write the story.

4:09:
I still don’t understand how we won that game.

4:11:
I’ve developed this weird habit during WVU football games. I keep doing this thing where I pick up my wallet and throw money at the screen when Tony Gibs

4:11:
on appears on TV.  I hope Shane Lyons has the same habit.

4:30:
Postgame thoughts from Mack … Skyler did absolutely nothing from quarters 2-4 to win the game.

4:31:
And Rasul Douglas is the best coverage guy WVU has ever had. Ever!

4:41:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This guy is why we won. He deserves a spot in TFGD.

4:47:
Dana gonna have a keg of Red Bull in the seat beside him on the flight home after that so he can find his zen.

5:03:
Heard Texas students are protesting the loss because it’s simply not fair. #snowflakes:

12:32 a.m.:
My God, I don’t know if Glenville would hire Rich over Gibby. He’s a dumpster fire since Michigan broke him.