Apparently the Pitt men’s soccer team is now nationally ranked. I still don’t care, but Pitt decided it was worth a press release.

First off, I would like to enthusiastically second Chas’s condemnation of Ron Cook’s column in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cook is almost as light on the facts as the New York Times was when they accused Maurice Clarett of academic fraud (as opposed to the lying to the police and the NCAA investigators about the car theft, which justifiably earned Maurice a suspension). Of course sensationalist hacks never have let the facts get in the way of a chance to accuse somebody else of hypocrisy. I entirely blame the one-too-many-bong-hits journalism school professors for this.

Seriously though, you suck, Cook.

Now, on to putting my 3-1 record against the spread from last week on the line. Unfortunately, this is a rather boring week coming up in college football. Only three games really interest me…

Kent State (+30.5) at Pittsburgh: OK, so this game doesn’t actually interest me (or anybody else) beyond the fact that I’ll be there and have to find a parking spot near the suddenly sold out Heinz Field (bandwagoners). I’m not quite sure how to pick this blatant of a sucker bet. Let me try playing a quick round of rock-paper-scissors with the pair of scissors laying on my desk.

Damn. I took paper and lost. So I’ll take the points here. Pitt always starts out slow, Rod Rutherford will probably be at least something of a distraction, and 30.5 points is a @#*% of a spread.

Boston College (+10) at Penn State: Jeez. I don’t know which one of these teams disappointed me more last week… Oh wait. I do know. Boston College disappointed me a lot more.

Penn State’s offensive line and running game, featuring the intriguing Austin Scott, will be too much for Boston College over four quarters. Likewise, Penn State’s defense, especially its secondary, should slow the Eagles unreliable passing attack to a near halt. I think that the Big East is gonna take another one on the chin thanks to the Chestnut Hill gang. I’m regrettably taking Penn State and giving the points (and hoping that I turn out to be wrong).

Florida (+14.5) at Miami: This will be the big game of the week nationally. What I saw of Florida’s offense last week looked a little more impressive than last year’s version. And underdogs are always tough in the Florida cross-state games. So for no real defensible reason, I’ll take the Gators and the points here.

Hail to Only Having Four Days Left

Pitt starting QB Rod Rutherford was only accused of assault, not actually charged (yet). He may still be charged, but right now it is a he said/she said thing. No real injuries reported, though there is apparently a broken car window.

Not that this hasn’t stopped the Ron Cook of the Post-Gazette from deciding that Rutherford should immediately be suspended.

If ever there was a night for a Pittsburgh athlete to stay in and avoid the risk of trouble, it seemed as if it would have been Sunday night. But there Rutherford was, at a Station Square establishment late Sunday and in the early hours of Monday, perhaps in violation of Pitt’s team rules. An incident with a woman allegedly took place. A car window was said to be shattered. The police were notified.

Suddenly, Rutherford was in the jackpot and had joined Porter in the headlines for all of the wrong reasons.

Pitt Coach Walt Harris should suspend him if for no other reason than sheer stupidity.
…
Harris has to suspend Rutherford at least for the Kent State game, doesn’t he? This involves more than just the one player. It involves the team. Harris has to send a message that he won’t tolerate that kind of behavior from anyone, not even the star quarterback. If being involved in an incident at a bar in the early-morning hours during a game week doesn’t qualify as conduct detrimental to a college team, it should.

Oooooh. Sounds reckless and lurid. Shame, though that Cook couldn’t be bothered to read his own paper.

The incident took place outside Philthy McNasty’s in Station Square, where Rutherford and several other Pitt football and basketball players attended a private party Sunday night.

[Emphasis added.]

Oops. That does not exactly sound like he was out drinking and carousing without a thought. Of course, facts never interfere with a chance to complain about how college athletes are out of control and coaches need to crack the whip.