Originally Posted by
cspan37421
Just returned from downtown Chatt where App State just dismantled Delaware. It was hard to believe from the score (49-21, never very close), but the total yards were very similar (ASU over 500, Delaware over 400), and the score difference wasn't due to turnovers.
A few random thoughts to follow. But first: maybe I'm old, maybe I don't remember what it was like, but the ASU fans were the most whiny and foul-mouthed classless fans I've ever heard. Any call that went against them - no matter how obvious (e.g., late hit) - they cursed and declared that they were so good the refs had to help the other team, as ESPN's request. This occurred with regularity. I understand being a homer when a call is close - I recall at Duke the "ref, you suck, you really really suck" chant. But these guys were at that for every call. Ever heard of a sore loser? These guys were sore winners.
They also nearly prevented the game from being completed, having gone over the wall (police crowd control gets an F-; they didn't even try).
OK, that said:
ASU's team was fast. Once past the line of scrimmage, they often broke free for long and Delaware rarely caught up with them.
Their QB (Edwards) executes play fakes really well, so much better than UD's.
The ratio of beards to fans was very high. The Mountaineer mascot is well chosen, for half the male undergrads look just like him. Don't ask about the girls, but I think the homecoming queen was chewing tobacco. Just kidding.
Chattanooga has a nice site for it and had record (for Chatt) attendance - I think the count was 23,010. But their loudspeaker/PA was malfunctioning over half the game. The jumbotron is quite small, too, but I guess that goes with being a 500,000 pop MSA. The field appears to be field turf now. It used to be grass and a mess, drainage wise. It looked good and appeared to play very well.
Nice fireworks after the game and at other points.
Amazing parachuting in by Army Rangers. This was in the dark, about 7-8 of them at once. They had sparks coming off of themselves to light up their descent (I'd think that's pretty dangerous!) and coming in such quick succession, that struck me as risky too. One guy looked like he lost control as he came in at a very sharp angle, swinging wildly. Turns out he had a helmet cam, so maybe it was for show. He landed fine.
The refs did make mistakes - but to me, a neutral observer - against both teams. Far too many plays seemed to go to video review, and the reviews took way too long. The first half took 1:40 to play.
ASU cheerleaders handed out santa hats with bells on the pom pom, and on them written "I was there 12-14-2007" and "ASU" on the other side. They also of course produced student newspapers with big headline "DYNASTY" with about 5 min to go.
Tickets were only $15. For a freakin' national championship football game! How about that! Parking near the stadium cost 2x as much. [we only paid $5 though].
It was quite an experience, but overall, I wish it had been a better game. It was 14-0 after 1 and I think 28-7 at half. It was really never competitive. OTOH, if it was a nailbiter, I can't imagine how embittered the ASU fans would have been after every call (or non-call). My 8 year old got an earful of their endless obscenities and I guess that's the risk you take going to a sporting event these days. But these guys were winning by so much, they were going for 3 straight NCs, and they were so desperate and blind. Pathetic and classless. It was a negative lesson in good sportsmanship.