Much like Al and George, Blitz readers are showing a more civil side this week. The Mag's Bruce Feldman is happy to meet them halfway.

From: Paul Smith
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2000 2:59 AM

You're right about Morgan. He is a stud. But how about some pub for NC State? The Pack is always getting shorted.

Thanks Paul. But I do think people are giving NC State credit, especially Philip Rivers. I have a buddy who coaches at State and he raves about some of their young DBs and Lavar Fisher, a linebacker who deserves to be mentioned right up there with Polley, Allen and Keith Adams as the ACC's best. And I think everyone already regards WR Koren Robinson as an All-American candidate.

-Bruce

From: Don Brown
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2000 12:53 AM

Dan Morgan is a good player but not the best player on the field. Chris Weinke was at 75% and threw for 496 yards against a great athletic team. That is just 12 yards short of the FSU single game record. FSU lit up the Miami defense for nearly 600 yards. How could there ever be a defensive star on a team that gave up 600 yards? Didn't Nebraska just get dropped in the polls for giving up 475 yards? Clearly FSU shot itself in the foot with bad decisions. If FSU had won the game, you would be saying Weinke was the best player on the field. The media just doesn't get it.

Hey Don,

Weinke's a really good QB and made some great plays Saturday, but UM stuffed their running game and Morgan made the huge plays that really changed the game. Miami was playing a fairly soft zone most of the time and Weinke threw around 60 times and did make a few costly errors. It was a great effort on Weinke's part, but to me what jumped out was FSU has three really good LBs (especially Polley and Allen), but they weren't having near the impact as Morgan did.

-Bruce

From: Joel Andrews
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2000 3:11 PM

Bruce,

Thanks for the props about the Wildcats in your most recent article, especially your comments about Chris Johnson. He has really broken out this season. He and Monty Beisel were arguably the only two Wildcats who even played well against Iowa that first week, and both have been playing superbly since. Johnson is undersized, but having been a running back in high school really helps out his speed and agility at the end position. Great article about guys who are often heroes to their home teams, but little-known across the nation.

Joel Andrews

Thanks Joel. I think if Johnson plays anywhere near as good as he did against KU this weekend against the Sooners, he won't be a secret any more.

-Bruce

From: Drew Wagner
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2000 12:30 AM

Mr. Feldman,

I read your tidbit about how Ohio State is donating $1 from every program sold this weekend to the Adam Taliaferro Fund and I was very impressed. Thank you very much for showing readers that Ohio State has been very classy overall when it comes to this tragic situation. I truly respect the fact that you wrote about the other side of the story as well. Do you think the Bucks have any chance at running the table and going to the Orange Bowl? I honestly think that they have to lose at least once by the end of the season. There are too many good teams in the Big Ten. Purdue and Illinois are both tough road games. Then there is the always huge game against Michigan. I'm from Michigan so I can't imagine any better way to end the season this year than by clinching a Big Ten Championship against them. I can't remember a season since the one that Michigan lost to Colorado, that I have seen a Michigan team give up after a couple losses. I expect them to play tough football all the way up until the big game. Once again, I really admire the fact that you wrote about the other side of the story as well.

Thanks,
Drew

Hey Drew,

I do think they have a chance, but I agree with you I think they will slip and I believe it happens before they face Michigan (probably at Purdue or Illinois). I don't think Illinois matches up that well against OSU, but I wouldn't be surprised if they lost in a shootout over at Purdue.

-Bruce

From: Erick D.
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2000 3:15 PM

If I recall correctly, Ohio State threw 4-5 passes in the final drive with their new QB. Several of them were in the 20-30 yard range. Not real sportsmanlike when the game was already a blowout.

Erick,

Are you saying I'm being soft on Cooper?

-Bruce

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