MichiganCardinal

After reading the USA Today article and reading Tucker’s comment where he admits to masturbating on the phone with a sexual assault survivor who was literally hired by the school to give talks to student-athletes on sexual harassment (!!!) I am FLOORED that Michigan State - of all the schools!! - did not placed him on paid administrative leave pending the results of this investigation. But instead they (probably illegally) dodged ESPN’s FOIA request and then conveniently scheduled the investigation hearing for a bye week five weeks into the season. Where are the adults??? Did they think that the alleged victim would not go public? Did they think they could just hide this? This absolutely reeks of a culture in the athletic program that learned absolutely nothing from the heinous acts of Larry Nassar and the tremendous shortcomings by the university in preventing further victimization.

And the other shoe…. Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker accused of sexually harassing rape survivor (USA Today)

Sources: Michigan St’s Mel Tucker subject of sexual harassment investigation (ESPN)

I’ll post the game thread after the Seahawks play tomorrow afternoon, but if the Lions can start 2-0 against two 2022 playoff teams, they will have set themselves up extremely well to “win” the first half of the season. The schedule in weeks 5-8 has what should be three very winnable games against the Panthers, Bucs, and Raiders. Week three’s bout against Atlanta should be winnable too, though they’ve made a lot of improvements and can’t be overlooked. And then there is going into Lambeau week four and going into Baltimore week seven, both very tall tasks. What game(s) will y’all be watching tomorrow?

Youngstown State is hanging with Ohio State early, despite Marvin Harrison Jr. putting up a 4/122/2 stat line in just the first quarter.

Some general thoughts on the game and Arrowhead: Arrowhead was great and I would definitely recommend it to football fans. It definitely gives off something of a college football feel to an NFL stadium. Maybe it's because I was in the upper deck, but I will say that I didn't personally think it was that loud. It definitely got loud when it mattered, but I found myself saying "Ford Field can beat this", which I think they can (and maybe will next Sunday), but I am also biased... I think an indoor stadium (particularly the way Ford Field's roof is designed) is naturally inclined to provide a louder environment when it's rocking than an outdoor stadium. Though I also know the decibel records disagree with me. I also think there was a not insignificant number of Lions fans there. The speckles and seas of Honolulu Blue reminded me (sadly) of the days 5-10 years ago of The Game in Ann Arbor, where masses of scarlet would be painting the maize. But that tells you that there were a lot of us there. And at the end, you could definitely hear the "Let's Go Lions" chants. It was great. There were some less than great aspects, which come with older stadiums. The scoreboards could definitely use an upgrade/renovation. Compared to what I've grown used to, and what the standard has become in the NFL, those things felt tiny... Also, the fireworks rained ash down on us in the upper bowls every time they went off. Judging by the comments from season ticket holder Chief fans around us, this was not usual, so not sure if it was just an abnormal wind or something. It wasn't a huge deal either, but I think I did end up drinking a bit of firework with my beer. The truly incomparable part of the experience for me though was the people. Chiefs fans are the best opposing fans I have ever met, bar none. Now granted, I'm sure it's easier to be nice when you're playing an out-of-conference lovable opponent after hosting five straight AFC Championship games and winning the Super Bowl. At the same time though, every fan I encountered was nothing but kind and welcoming. At the end of the game, as Goff took his final knee, the Chief fan behind us went out of his way to offer to take a picture of me and my friend. Truly phenomenal. Leaving the stadium, as I mentioned, I am sure many Lions fans came across as obnoxious with how boisterous we all were. But they remained kind and pleasant, making comments like "y'all go restore the roar now" and "hope to see you in Vegas". I didn't come across a single bad apple. Others have kind of beat the horse dead related to the game. I concur with everyone though. I think we brought a C+ performance and were still able to pull off the win, which is what good teams can do! I was very encouraged by the second-half defense and I think the offense is going to get things going in time. I thought Dan Campbell called a great game. I actually called the shot on the fake punt, which made everyone around us think there must be something in the water up here. The only thing I disagreed with was punting on the -40. I get that we don't have a Justin Tucker who can make a 57-yard field goal. Outside of getting someone who can though, I think we are better off going for it there than handing the ball to Mahomes, knowing that he can get the 30 yards back in one play, with ease. It worked out though. The officiating blunders were obvious from the upper bowl by the way, multiple times I saw the RT moving early and was calling it out, before even knowing that everyone across the country was seeing it too. I'm really looking forward to the Seahawks game. Ford Field is going to be absolutely electric in a way I don't think Ford Field will have ever experienced.

(not sleeping) The game against the Seahawks is about to be absolutely crazy. I think Ford Field may reach new volumes and reinvent Seattle’s 12th man.

17-0

I really didn’t think they could do it. Chiefs fans were leaving when they failed to convert the 4/25 and I was like “you don’t know this team like I do” 5:30am flight back home…. Will I sleep?

INSANE!!!! I’ve never experienced anything like the scene exiting Arrowhead tonight. Lions fans were EVERYWHERE. Embracing, hugging, chanting. Top moment I’ve experienced live in my lifetime.

Frustrating half. The 91-yard drive showed what could be. And then a couple dumb mistakes kept this from being a tie game. Likewise on the defense, one 3/17 stop from a tie game. Needs to happen. At the same time, it could be worse. Really need a stop coming out. Don’t need to go down two scores.

The secondary looked awful on the last three plays there. That’s not Mahomes. Any NFL wide receiver can get open on that.

Felt like 97 has been held a couple times without a call

I have to think that if there is a team who will come into Arrowhead and say “**** your dynasty” with a punch to the jaw, it’s the MCDC led Lions.

**** it. Lions 42 Chiefs 31

Bar hopping until 3ish, tailgating until 6ish, then to the game. It’s the way God intended.

Lions fans continuing to outnumber KC fans at the bar 3:1

OTD ten years ago...

Going with the all whites. Picking up where we left off.

Most 0-2 teams are bad so the playoff stats make sense. I don’t think starting 0-2 would mean the Lions are bad though. I think it’s a real possibility that each of their first three opponents make the playoffs. If you can get out of that at 2-1, you’ve done a good job, and if you get out at 1-2 I think you’ve survived. The bye week will be a better benchmark than week three. If they’re 4-4 they’re in good position to ascend like they did last year. If they’re 5-3 (or better), they’re in really good shape. If they have a losing record into the bye, I’ll start to worry.

I do think there is some value to this. I’d rather my elite receiving option miss one game, use ten days to rest, and be 80% at the next game than have him be at 30% for 4-6 games as he slowly nurses it and re-injures it on a weekly basis.

And an update from Facebook…

Update from the St. Louis airport…. LOTS of Honolulu Blue and a small “let’s go Lions” chant.