HA HA HA HA HA.......................

With all the stuff going on yesterday-Ohio State opens,Suns finish the home portion of their season,Pirates in action,I would not have bet much that our lead story would involve our most hated team in all of sports.
But thanks to the Appalachian State Mountaineers,it is just that.
Congratulations to michigan(Small m is not a typo) and all their fans sitting in the "Big Outhouse" in Ann Arbor for providing the perhaps the biggest upset in college history.
Appalachian State 34 michigan 32!
Now I thought the Wolverines were overrated because their defense (that was far from stellar last season) lost most of their stars and I thought that would catch up to them when they played someone that would capitalize on that.
But not in my wildest dreams could I ever thought that the team to do it would be Appalachian State!
Even if the blocked field goal from michigan ,at the games end,had been good,the fans of um had to realize this season was not going to be what they hoped for.
I mean really, giving up 31 pts to a 1-AA school?
The press conference was priceless too,as Mike Hart (he of the mouthy quotes from ten minutes after the 2006 OSU game to...,well about ten seconds after the Appalachian State contest) defiantly proclaiming michigan to be the better team (gee,really Mike?) to our favorite befuddled coach Lloyd Carr,who looked like a fellow walking to the plank.
I could almost see someone writing Carr's press release behind the curtains as he spoke!
I don't care if michigan runs the table,wins the conference etc,the humiliation from today will never be lived down for them and their wonderful followers!
I cannot express any further happiness over a michigan game!!!!!

Meanwhile the Buckeyes kicked off their season with a methodical 38-6 win over Youngstown State.
Todd Boeckman made his starting QB debut a winning one,as he threw for 225 yards and 2 short touchdowns.
Brandon Saine made his running debut as well,most notably rushing for a touchdown that was called back due to a penalty.
Ohio State was able to get 3 quarterbacks some playing time as Rob Schoenhoft and Antonio Henson each were able to get some snaps in after the game was decided.
Two worries from this game though...
Chris Wells only rushed for 46 yards on 16 carries,although he did have 1 touchdown run.
Wells needs to be the horse for the Bucks and needs to pick things up from yesterdays rather pedestrian numbers.
Also starting defensive end Lawrence Wilson suffered a broken leg and will miss a large chunk of the season,but is not necessarily out for the season.
Look for the Buckeyes to rotate several players at Wilson's position until someone stands out.
Ohio State plays Akron next Saturday at the Horseshoe at 12 noon.

The Pirates were smacked around in Milwaukee losing 12-3 in a game that looks to be remembered only as the debut of Steven Pearce as a Pirate.
Pearce played right field in a smart move to find at bats for him,but may get some time at 1st base,as Adam LaRoche left the game with a mild knee injury after fouling a pitch off his knee.
Pearce did collect his first 2 major league hits in the defeat.
Shane Youman lasted less than 3 innings in losing for the 5th time against 3 wins.
Freddy Sanchez collected two of the 3 RBI with Jose Bautista getting credit for the other.
The series concludes today at 2:05

Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh: Tom Gorzelanny (13-7) at Milwaukee: Jeff Suppan (8-11) 2:05

Bullpen Notes

Think the Big Ten network was thrilled to be the only network that had the Appalachian State win on TV and could result in added leverage with cable systems to pick it up?
The BTN also had the overtime battle between Bowling Green and Minnesota in the evening.
Time will tell if the opening week results helps the network gain access to more homes.

The Seahawks swapped players with the Houston Texans from the 2004 draft.
Defensive end Jason Babin,the Texans top pick in 2004 comes to Seattle,while safety Michael Boulware (the Hawks 2nd rounder from the same draft) goes to Houston.
Babin adds depth to the defensive line that needed the help after the loss of Marcus Tubbs for the season due to a knee injury.

I will do a on the signing front next time when the news is less,but I did want to give the Hagerstown Suns some credit for a good job yesterday and giving the fans 1 choice from many items on their Fan Appreciation Day.
Sure beats last years bookcover.
I wrote about this in April comparing the Suns to the Frederick Keys and others and offered this as a possible improvement.
Whether they listened to this or not,I do not know,but full credit given for the addition!

Now the chasing of the collectors from the "Suite area" (not me) on the last day of the season because some "big wigs" were coming was very bush league.
Funny that not one person was seen in that area during the game.
Oh,well.
Sometimes improvements are taken in small steps............

Finally,a HUGE boo to the Hagerstown Herald Mail.
This has been a while in coming,but when you give less space to the ONLY professional sports team in town than to that of GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER,you are deserving of criticism.
Those of you locally that get today's Herald Mail should look at the front page of the sports section for the proof.
Simply ridiculous.

Back either later or tomorrow with some more thoughts on the 2007 Suns,the final homestand,on the signing front,a little on the Bowling Green win over Minnesota and "Snicker"
maybe more on the Appalachian State-michigan game

Photo Credits
Scoreboard-Julian Gonzalez-Detroit Free Press
Dopey Fan-Mandi Wright-Detroit Free Press
OSU-YSU-Lisa Marie Miller-Columbus Dispatch