WWTBAM Bored

Over on ESPN.com, I came across this little nugget:

From a historical point of view, Notre Dame needs to win [on Saturday] to maintain its standing in all-time wins. As ESPN researcher Brett Edgerton pointed out, Texas has pulled into a tie with Notre Dame at 829 wins (Michigan is No. 1 at 872). Ho-hum? Hardly -- Michigan and Notre Dame have been the top two teams since Oct. 15, 1932. On that day, the Irish broke a tie for second with, of all teams, Navy.
.

Since this seems to be a day for taking umbrage, I'll jump into a sports thread!

Michigan and Notre Dame have been the top two teams since Oct. 15, 1932. On that day, the Irish broke a tie for second with, of all teams, Navy.[/i].

"Of all teams"?

Seems to me that, in 1932, college football had not become the semi-pro business that is today; therefore, it's not surprising at all that either of the military academy teams would have been competitive with other collegiate teams.

MarleysGh0st wrote:Since this seems to be a day for taking umbrage, I'll jump into a sports thread!

Michigan and Notre Dame have been the top two teams since Oct. 15, 1932. On that day, the Irish broke a tie for second with, of all teams, Navy.[/i].

"Of all teams"?

Seems to me that, in 1932, college football had not become the semi-pro business that is today; therefore, it's not surprising at all that either of the military academy teams would have been competitive with other collegiate teams.

I may have to check the article, but the author may have used "of all teams" based on the fact that Notre Dame plays Navy this week. (ND needs to beat Navy so that it can maintain a position that it had minimally held since the Navy game 76 years ago. Kind of a "small world", coinkydink use of the phrase.)

All interesting (to me):

Heading into the season, there were 4 Division I-A schools that had won 800 games: Michigan, ND, Texas, and Nebraska. Ohio State has since joined the club. With 11 wins and 13 wins, respectively, Penn State and Alabama can join the club.

In one season, the club could grow from 4 to 7.

Appa23 wrote: I may have to check the article, but the author may have used "of all teams" based on the fact that Notre Dame plays Navy this week. (ND needs to beat Navy so that it can maintain a position that it had minimally held since the Navy game 76 years ago. Kind of a "small world", coinkydink use of the phrase.)

<Emily_Litela>
Oh. That's different.


Nevermind.
</Emily_Litela>

Navy beat Notre Dame last year, the first time in 44 years, and this year they're playing in Baltimore at the M&T Bank Stadium! I think I'll root for Notre Dame, since my parents grew up by West Point and my co-worker just graduated from there last year.

MarleysGh0st wrote:Since this seems to be a day for taking umbrage, I'll jump into a sports thread!

Michigan and Notre Dame have been the top two teams since Oct. 15, 1932. On that day, the Irish broke a tie for second with, of all teams, Navy.[/i].

"Of all teams"?

Seems to me that, in 1932, college football had not become the semi-pro business that is today; therefore, it's not surprising at all that either of the military academy teams would have been competitive with other collegiate teams.

College football wasn't a semi-pro business. It was far bigger than the pros, and probably the US #2 sport to professional baseball. Nevertheless both Cadets and Midshipmen were among top teams in a least some years, and IIRC from the great old writers I used to read, the Army-Navy game was second only to the Rose Bowl.

It also helps to have been playing continuously since 1891.

etaoin22 wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote: It also helps to have been playing continuously since 1891.

The poor teams must have been getting arthritis by 1932!

MarleysGh0st wrote:

etaoin22 wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote: It also helps to have been playing continuously since 1891.

The poor teams must have been getting arthritis by 1932!

And with the eyesight going, it's even harder to see that snitch ...