Report from the National Championship Game

[ThadFilms]

.... and it's a short one.

Garrett Gilbert ain't no Kyle Padron.

Guys I was with had no ties to SMU (other than my hiring them to work on this stuff I am doing) said something along the lines of "if Padron backed up McCoy Texas would be the National Champions right now."

And crap, McElroy wasn't anything special.


I will say this, very cool to go to a National Championship game even if I (a) didn't have a dog in the hunt, and (b) - like most everyone - would love to see a playoff. It was a very cool thing to be at, and it was almost a great game. Would have loved to have seen an overtime.

[Centexpony]

Let's remember what Padron looked like vs little ole Houston in his emergency duty game. And we will see what Gilbert looks like next season when it's his turn. I love Padron but my bet is Gilbert looks pretty damn good when the offense is tuned to his skill set.

[ThadFilms]

I was there at Houston. He looked better that day (albeit in a loss) than Gilbert looked today. Your point is well taken, though. I also thought that - and I am sure the entire stadium agreed with me - Mack and staff showed that they had no faith in Gilbert. Alabama certainly saw that. I couldn't believe it. I just wanted to see a good game and Mack clearly didn't trust the kid to do anything but hand the ball off. And Bama was like so what we'll stack it up and take the backs down. And if your coach doesn't seem to trust you to throw the ball + it's kind of a big game, well then how are you supposed look any good in constant third and longs???

JJ's first play for Padron was a pass, it was a little dump off to Shawnbrey... but seriously, if the kid has to go in, let him play! It would be one thing if it was one play then see if McCoy's okay. But it was so obvious that Mack wasn't confident in the kid. It was tiresome really. (Yes, I know it was the National Championship Game, but you have to show your opponent that you aren't afraid to sling it with your new guy.)

[Oliver]

couple pictures from where I was, another great day at the rose bowl!
http://twitpic.com/x69jc

http://twitpic.com/x69oq

[mrydel]

One of my two daughters that attended the game texted me and said she passed by someone wearing an SMU shirt.

[PK]

One of my two daughters that attended the game texted me and said she passed by someone wearing an SMU shirt.

Thad?

[PK]

Seems that UT had a little of the same ailment TCU had...pass dropitis. When you are in a game like that, your receivers HAVE to make the catches...particularly in the endzone.

[mrydel]

One of my two daughters that attended the game texted me and said she passed by someone wearing an SMU shirt.

Thad?

Had it been Thad I am sure she would have asked for his autograph. She would have recognized him from when I showed her the 8 x10 glossy I keep on my bedside table.

[PK]

One of my two daughters that attended the game texted me and said she passed by someone wearing an SMU shirt.

Thad?

Had it been Thad I am sure she would have asked for his autograph. She would have recognized him from when I showed her the 8 x10 glossy I keep on my bedside table.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

One of my two daughters that attended the game texted me and said she passed by someone wearing an SMU shirt.

Thad?

Had it been Thad I am sure she would have asked for his autograph. She would have recognized him from when I showed her the 8 x10 glossy I keep on my bedside table.

What? You replaced Oscar's pic with Thad's? Might want to watch your back!

[mrydel]

Thad's picture is what I use to keep Oscar away. Kind of like a scarecrow.

[Oliver]

One of my two daughters that attended the game texted me and said she passed by someone wearing an SMU shirt.

I was wearing an SMU hat, so must have been another loyal pony : )

[ThadFilms]

I wore a Dickerson jersey to the Rose Bowl last year. This year I just wore a non-committal shirt that advertised my favorite bratwurst stand in Austin. The Best Wurst.

I went up to Pasadena without a ticket... and spent only $95 over face. Figured I might end up buying the ticket from a fan, and at least something that alluded to something Austin might help loosen up a Texas fan. It did. The guy who bought the ticket just needed to unload it.... he had paid $1100 for it. I took it off him for $360. Yes, I could have bought a PS3, but you are only miles from a National Championship Game and you can go, why not?

One of my two daughters that attended the game texted me and said she passed by someone wearing an SMU shirt.

I'm afraid.

[SMU89]

Bottom line, Mac/Gilbert got back to within 3 pts and had the ball with a few minutes on the clock.

While the play calling and QB play might have been reduced, it got them to where they had a chance to drive down and put it away.

[SMUMan02]

Padron played against a bunch of CUSA defenses. Gilbert was in there against a very good SEC defense. Impossible to compare.