Goodgers Begin Unprecedented Run at Fourth Blue Ox

Bucky Beatwriter

Today our beloved Goodgers begin their campaign for an historic fourth Blue Ox Bowl title. It promises to be an interesting campaign. Experts around the BTFFL believe that no team will dominate the league this season. And the Goodgers are under fire for a curious recruiting draft. But several players who have been critical to the Goodgers success return, including a healthy Mike Hart and stars Drew Stanton, Albert Young, and Dorien Bryant. Big things ae expected from another returning player, Curtis Painter. Those players will keep the Goodgers in the hunt even with the departure of Michael Robinson, Brett Basanez, and Deon Butler.

The Goodgers open this week at the hapless Halifax Spitfires. The Spitfires have been basement dwellers two seasons running in the BTFFL. But there is excitment once again among the Spitfire faithful. The arrival of several new players bring with them the possibility of scores breaking the 100 mark.

The Goodgers lineup will be full of familiar faces as well as several newcomers:

QB Drew Stanton
QB Curtis Painter
RB Mike Hart
RB Albert Young
WR Dorien Bryant
WR Steve Breaston
WR Greg Orton
K Kevin Kelly

With the apparent parady in the BTFFL, it may take a few breaks going the Goodgers way for once for them to rererepeat. But if any team deserves to finally catch a break and have things go its way in the BTFFL, it has to be the Goodgers!

Here's to the BTFFL! Let the season begin!

Deep Fried Blue Ox on a Stick

In honor of the Minnesota State Fair it's the 1st annual preseason Blue Ox Bowl on a Stick BTFFL predictions. Ah, the Blue Ox Bowl. What late November in the fall would be complete without the championship of the BTFFL, the Blue Ox Bowl. It's the dream of many a child in Minnesota to lead their fantasy team to a Blue Ox Bowl championship and have their teams name enshrined on the Blue Ox! Who will do it this year. Well, as we head into week 1 of the 2006 season, I'll tell you who will take it home.

In what will probably be the most balanced and competetive season in the history of the BTFFL I think the Golden Goblins will put together another great season and win the BTFFL regular season and another trip to the BOB. The race for 2nd will be extremely tight down to the final week, but I think this is finally the year the Halifax Spitfires pull it out, and get to that elusive BTFFL championship game.

1. Golden Goblins 7-4
2. Halifax Spitfires 6-5
3. Bucky's Goodgers 5-6
4. Fighting Famers 4-7

Now to the winner of the Blue Ox.......in a dramatic close game, the Spitfires will win the Blue Ox Bowl 2006! Mmmmm....doesn't that deep fried Blue Ox on a stick taste good? The Ox will headed to Halifax for the winter.

The best of Dave Lee's play-by-play: Week 1

"Cupito looks into the end zone...caught...............that will be a first down for the Gophers at the 4 yard line."
Huh?

"Cupito back to pass, throws, it's dropped............................."
To who? Where? What happened? Argh!

".....and that looks like a......................yes, a fumble and the Gophers have it."

"The give to Daniels.....a big hole..........and he gains about 2 on the play."
WTF just happened?

"Hand off, Pinnix.....hole opens up...he sees it, and he spins for a gain of about 7."
Somehow I think the play was over before he even said "hole opens up."

Remainder of Farmer's Starters; Week 1

RB Tony "Akron Zips"Hunt-ing
RB Javon "is this guy a" Ringer
RB Jehuu "my team may be up a Caul Crick without a paddle"
WR Ted Ginn-a get me some touchdowns
WR Derrick Williams, enough said
K Taylor row your boat a shore Melholff

I may have not started my highest single scoring game back this season in the Plow, Alex Daniels. ...and this stupid move may have cost me this week, but his brilliant draft selection could vault me into a potential high playoff bid for this season. Do the Farmers now have a viable 3 to 4 back rotation? Will Chris Wells live up to the hype? Are two lousy quarterbacks enough for BTFFL competition? We will soon see in the coming weeks of the BTFFL.
Go Farmers!

It Begins Today! - here's my prediction

1. Iowa = 12-0 / 8-0
2. Ohio State = 10-2 / 7-1
3. Penn State = 10-2 / 7-1
4. Purdue = 9-4 / 5-3
5. Michigan = 8-4 / 5-3
6. Wisconsin = 8-4 / 4-4
7. Michigan State = 7-5 / 4-4
8. Northwestern = 5-7 / 1-7
9. Minnesota = 4-8 / 1-7
10. Indiana = 4-8 / 1-7
11. Illinois = 3- 9 / 0- 8

Farmers Starters for week 1 for MN

QB Cupito
WR Wheelwright

Sorry, but it's 5AM and I'm in no mood for fancy dialouge.

Best Pick/Worst Pick 2006 BTFFL Draft

I should not be bloggin' about the BTFFL but a quick post with a few impressions from the draft. Nothing has happened yet, so these are just prejudical guesses, but what the hell, here we go:

Halifax Spitfires:

Best Pick: It seems likely that by years end it will be one of Lance Smith, Kevin Grady or EJ Jones. But until one of those guys gets a chance I'm going to say the 2 best picks were those acquired through trade: Mario Manningham and Rashard Mendenhall. Manningham flashed huge possibility last year and may very well be the #1 Michigan WR for years to come. Mendenhall appears to be set up to start at RB for an improving Illinois team. I like PJ Hill and Anthony Morelli as well.

Worst Pick: Blake Powers. Powers started strong against inferior competition but faded against real college football teams. Indiana will struggle all year long and I suspect Max Powers will too. I really think the Spitfires will regret passing on Ted Ginn, Jr. And I will be shocked if Brian Hoyer is on this team after week 3 (even more confusing with CJ Bacher still on the board and Mike Kafka already on the team).

Golden Goblins:

Best Pick: This is tough -- like the Goodgers, the Goblins faced a tough task trying to upgrade after the Spitfires and Farmers got to the feeding trough first. Adrian Arrington might be a big contributor to the Michigan offense, he was impressive in very limited action last year. Amir Pinnix could be an absolute steal even if he doesn't live up to Barber, Maroney and Russell's legacy. Even if the real GG don't return to form, Pinnix could still be a respectable fantasy performer and he certainly has a shot at outperforming many of the 8 RBs selected before him.

Worst Pick: Dion Butler. "Dion Butler!" you say. Yes, Dion Butler. I love Butler and he played well last season and he will be a great fantasy performer this year. I just believe that the other Penn State WR on the board, Derrick Williams, will be better.

Fighting Farmers:

Best Pick: Tyler Melhoff. Just kidding, not Tyler or Taylor Melhoff. I like the top of the Farmers draft. Hunt, Ringer and Ginn, Jr form a very good core for the Farmers. Of course, it really all rides on the Farmers #1 pick and I'm not prepared to pass judgement on that. Can it be a bad thing to select the concensus best RB coming out of college? Ask Kevin Grady perhaps? I also like the Caulcrick pick. He'll be a possible spot starter picked in the 10th Round. Stocking up on Gopher prospects might work out too.

Worst Pick: It's hard to have a worst pick after the draft is over but Todd Boeckmann is not even the back up in Ohio State.

Bucky's Goodgers:

Best Pick: It's my draft so it's hard to have any real perspective but I like the bottom of my draft, beginning with Juice (who I really was not planning on taking but am pretty excited about having). I think Breaston dropped far farther than his disappointing Junior season justified. I like Greg Orton's chance of being a number one or two target on Joe Tiller's pass happy offense. Maurice Wells was another forgotton man in our draft and selected in the 16th Round may very well contribute to Ohio State's National Championship run.

Worst Pick: Although I believe he will work out, it seems clear from the groans in the room that Herb Grigsby could have been picked at least a round later, if not more. And while I feel that my hand was forced, it pains me even now to think that I devoted 2 of my first 3 picks in this draft to the Indiana running game. Urgh! Finally, Calvin Davis reminds me a lot of Ray Williams, a Senior who could never get into the starting lineup before at the top of the depth chart by seniority and not merit. I drafted Ray last year.