Althouse: "The Rose Bowl will be a fascinating matchup of football physics."

December 30, 2010

"The Rose Bowl will be a fascinating matchup of football physics."

"Wisconsin’s average offensive lineman stands 6-foot-5 and weighs more than 320 pounds. The largest T.C.U. defensive lineman, Cory Grant, is 6-2, 305 pounds. The Badgers (11-1) have plowed over the competition, but their offense is far from plodding."

31 comments:

Automatic_Wing said...: This business where announcers and sportswriters make a big deal over the fact that Team X's offensive linemen outweigh Team Y's defensive linemen is one of the dumbest traditions in sports. Offensive linemen typically weigh more than defensive linemen and have for years. It's inherent in the job descriptions of each position - defensive linemen need to chase down quarterbacks and other ball carriers, so they tend to be smaller and more athletic than offensive linemen. Sports journalists know all this, but still like to discuss these routine weight differences as if they're noteworthy. Gives them something to talk about, I guess.; 12/30/10, 11:29 PM
Wince said...: The Rose Bowl will be a fascinating matchup of football physics.

Really, exactly how many football players that you know study physics?; 12/30/10, 11:29 PM
Opus One Media said...: Thank God the Michigan State beat UW like a rented mule otherwise their heads would cease to fit into their helmets.; 12/30/10, 11:50 PM
Peter Hoh said...: What's up with all the BCS games being on ESPN?

Damn, I'm gonna have to drop in on some relatives.; 12/31/10, 12:11 AM
chickelit said...: We got the shirts and badger-phernalia in the mail for Christmas so now I guess I'll have to watch.

Go Big Red!; 12/31/10, 12:26 AM
Mike said...: Ya gotta root for a team called the Horned Frogs, just like I've gotta root for the Ducks against Auburn!; 12/31/10, 1:01 AM
rhhardin said...: I couldn't name the participants in any Rose Bowl ever, which suggests that "fascinating" might be wrong.; 12/31/10, 3:57 AM
Toad Trend said...: Football is guts, will, and a bit 'o chess.

Football talkers are superfluous, a symptom of the sports cycle.

Hence, 'fascinating' (not really) and 'football physics' (redundant).

Really, fodder for those that don't really understand the game.; 12/31/10, 5:57 AM
Unknown said...: So, can we look forward to seeing Ann and Meade on one of the floats at the Rose Parade?

(When writers start using phrases like "football physics", you know they're trying to keep people from finding out that there journalistic, as well as athletic, scholarships are oxymoronic); 12/31/10, 6:18 AM
Daniel Fielding said...: Go Badgers!!!!!!!!:):)

( said with a bit of sadness, because my and Ann's Wolverines have been no good for a few years now); 12/31/10, 7:09 AM
DADvocate said...: Really, exactly how many football players that you know study physics?

Are you displaying the age old bigotry/jealousy against jocks? My football playing, lineman son made an "A" in high school physics. He's not graduated form H.S. yet.; 12/31/10, 8:15 AM
kjbe said...: This going to be so fun to watch. The more I read about TCU, I just hope the Badgers can keep up with them; 12/31/10, 9:24 AM
Humperdink said...: Don't forget Ann, speed is the answer here. Not pounds/ lineman. That being said, I will cheer for Wisconsin since they are a big ten team (PSU alum here).

BTW.....Michelle O would be disappointed in reading that being 320# is an attribute.; 12/31/10, 9:31 AM
al said...: Best part about the Rose Bowl this year is that Marcus Luttrell is part of the pre-game festivities and the coin toss.; 12/31/10, 9:39 AM
Rocco said...: DADvocate, responding to EDH, said:
"Really, exactly how many football players that you know study physics?

Are you displaying the age old bigotry/jealousy against jocks? My football playing, lineman son made an "A" in high school physics. He's not graduated form H.S. yet."

While you didn't say which side of the ball he plays on, offensive linemen as a group tend to be the 2nd smartest guys on the field after the quarterback.; 12/31/10, 9:39 AM
garage mahal said...: Hole punchers. Should be a fascinating game. Have a lot of respect for TCU, I just don't see how they hang with Wisconsin and their offense for 4 quarters. Bucky is big, athletic, and have that nastiness they get from their coach.; 12/31/10, 9:49 AM
Phil 314 said...: I'm hoping for a TCU win We need more evidence AGAINST the BCS system.

A TCU win combined with a blowout in the Fiesta Bowl (i.e. Oklahoma 55 Connecticut 6) would be further evidence against the system. (Not that it will change.); 12/31/10, 9:49 AM
traditionalguy said...: So if lineman A is 5% heavier than lineman B what is the force delivered? Physics still says force is mass times speed. Therefore lineman B can easily win that matchup.; 12/31/10, 9:50 AM
MayBee said...: Saw the TCU Horny Toad walking down Sunset last night, heading toward the team tour bus. It looked like he had been at Boa.

Nothing weirder than seeing a big giant bumpy head crossing the street in front of your car. At first I thought it was the Tree Man. Who could cheer for that?
Go Wisconsin!; 12/31/10, 10:02 AM
garage mahal said...: Maybee
Bet you bumping into some Badger fans eh? A big reason why the bowls like Wisconsin, their fans travel and spend money. Man I wish I was out there.; 12/31/10, 10:09 AM
MadisonMan said...: F = ma for the win.

I won't be watching any games, though. We don't have cable.; 12/31/10, 10:11 AM
Crimso said...: No, tradguy, that's momentum, which might still be applicable here. Force is mass times acceleration. Either way, they're still missing part of the equation.; 12/31/10, 10:12 AM
AllenS said...: I hope that the tv and radio broadcasts are in sink, so I can listen to Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas call the game. WEVR out of River Falls should have the game on.; 12/31/10, 10:24 AM
MayBee said...: Garage- " Bet you bumping into some Badger fans eh?"

Wow! As a Spartan, that would have been hard to take. Glad I didn't wander into Santa Monica yesterday.
I do hope the Badger fans were cautious last night. They were setting up sobriety checkpoints outside the hot spots.; 12/31/10, 10:40 AM
garage mahal said...: I heard they had over 20,000 at the pep rally yesterday at the Santa Monica Pier. I'd bet beer sales around it were stellar.; 12/31/10, 10:55 AM
Donna B. said...: I don't remember my daughter being a big football fan when she was attending TCU, but as an alumnus she certainly is.

And my grandchildren look great in purple!

Go Frogs!; 12/31/10, 11:34 AM
SteveR said...: Is Ezra Klein a sportswriter for the NYT?; 12/31/10, 12:50 PM
David said...: There's a better article in today's Wall Street Journal. It focuses mostly on what these big boys eat, and their chores on the farm.; 12/31/10, 2:57 PM
traditionalguy said...: I for one hope that the referees call a delay of game penalty on the Wisconsin players for running too slow and for deflating the football whenever they fall on it with their love handles. I also hear that the referees have made a special appeal to TCU players to avoid excessive celebrations in the end zone. We will all see the results by this time tomorrow.; 12/31/10, 4:06 PM
Milwaukie guy said...: Ducks, Ducks, Ducks, Ducks, Ducks, Ducks, Beavers, Ducks, Ducks.

DUX ROX.

wv: squahed: just those of us who are Scandis.; 12/31/10, 4:12 PM
Stan said...: I remember when Ron Dayne and the huge Wisc offensive line played Georgia and their little, itty bitty defensive line. Bulldogs were outweighed about 50 lbs a man. Dayne's yardage in the first half may have been positive. Perhaps even a couple of yards or so. Probably another dozen or so against the Ga 2d team defense after the game was a 4 or 5 TD blowout.; 12/31/10, 8:39 PM