Eastern came in with a narrow loss to FBS Northern Illinois (34-27) and a 38-20 loss to Tennessee Chattanooga (Illinois next opponent)
And at first..the Redbirds forced a punt and then scored on their first possession possession off of a long drive. But Eastern answered with a drive of their own, getting receivers wide open over the middle. So, it was 7-7 in the first and I settled in for a shootout.
The Redbirds countered with another drive to lead 14-7..then the tide really started to turn.
A 41 yard interception return just before the half (Eastern tried for one last drive) made it 21-7 at the half.
It was to get worse.
Second half: the Redbirds had a fourth and short inside the Eastern 40 but decided to pooch punt it, and downed the ball at the 1! That paid off as a screen pass was intercepted at the 2 and run in for the score, and now it was 28-7.
The Redbird defense took over after than, getting a fumble recovery at the 4 yard line (after a bad shotgun snap..Eastern had trouble with this for much of the second half)
That made it 35-7, and then the Redbirds focused on running and grinding out the clock.
The Redbirds sacked the quarterback 4 times and had 11 tackles for losses. In fact, until the final Eastern drive, they had negative yards rushing.
No live football this weekend but a couple of Chiefs games on tap. Ok, I saw one last night; the Timberrattlers pitching kept the Chiefs at bay and allowed no hits through 7 innings; the Chiefs got 2 in the 8’th and even loaded the bases, but could only get one run. Still it was 2-1 going into the 9’th when the visitors got 2 more and won 4-1.
But there was at least a little bit of excitement. And it was fun to have the wife along.
TV football: I missed Illinois State getting run over by Wisconsin 38-0; I didn’t miss Navy getting outplayed by Delaware and losing 14-7. First 3 plays told the story: play one, Navy fumbled it to Delaware. Play 2: pass interference on Navy (obvious call). Play 3: Blue Hen touchdown.
I also watched Illinois lose to Indiana 23-20. The Illini were hurt by a bad call on a pass in the end zone
but still lead 20-16 with 2 minutes to go and the Hoosiers 75 yards away with no time outs. But the defense, which had switched to more blitzing to stop Indiana’s passing, played soft and allowed a march down the field.
Time and time again, the Illini made bad decisions and mistakes. Here, they passed on a field goal and went for it on 4’th down..leading by 1.
The positives is that the running game and short passing game looked decent for most of the night, and Virginia, the next opponent, gave up 170 rushing yards to FCS Richmond. But the problem will be Virginia’s passing: we don’t defend the pass well…not without blitzing. I still think this match up favors Illinois and I expect a hard fought win.
Workouts
Saturday: PT, walk 1 (hard 5K), weights. Then a slow second walk after watching a football game on TV.
The first one tired me out a bit; I went pretty hard.
Pull ups: 12 sets of 5 with either 30 seconds rest or PT rest, push ups: 3 sets of 30 incline, 10 flat
bench press: I found that I still had back issues with my feet on plates; legs up is the best:
5 x 156, 4 x 156, 10 x 134, 10 x 134 curls 3 sets of 10
high incline: 3 sets of 10 x 94
Then came the 2 mile walk (after watching TV); first 1.5 was very pleasant ..some issues in the final 0.5
Today still some stuff with the back; I have to remember to NOT arch when I roll.
Went out for a walk intending 1-2 but felt good enough to do a slowish 5K; some issues in the final 0.5 miles or so.
Note: my Garmin recorded my watch stops to cross roads; those amounted to about 30 seconds or a 10 seconds per mile faster pace, but it does not matter.
After that, shoulder PT and deadlifts:
low: 10 x 134, 10 x 184 backed off the heavier sets: 10 x 234 4 inch
10 x 260 8 inch (easy)
My back won’t allow for true strength training; I am working to keep tone in my glutes and legs.
Back: sometimes I get the radiating pain on my back when I roll, and I think it is because I am used to arching my back when I roll. I need to work on that, and I need to figure out a nice posture for my downhill walking. Flat walking and uphill walking is progressing nicely.
Workout: some rehab, 31 minutes cycling (6 miles harder) after deadlifts:
10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 228 every 3 minutes: 3 x 271, 5 sets. First were so easy that i did the last one with the smaller ball just to be sure.
Single with 305 (not easy…legs fatigued); best in decades. My hips shot up too soon; legs were trashed.
But that was it; no high handle work today.
Last night; watched the Bradley women beat Wisconsin 64-57; it was close for a long time but the team kept it together.
Today: watched Illinois State lose to Indiana State 15-10 in a game that saw ISU red score on their first play from scrimmage and went up 10-0 on the last drive before halftime…but that was pretty much it for the offense.
Indiana State outgained the Redbirds but mostly between the 20’s; they missed 2 field goals. Still, an interception set up the TD that cut it to 10-8 and a fumble on the final possession sealed the game.
I watched Illinois beat Penn State 20-18. Ok, this went to 9 overtimes, with overtimes 3-9 being a single 2 point conversion attempt. It was 10-10 in regulation and the teams traded 5 unsuccessful attempts at a 2 point conversion. Then in the 8’th, both teams made them.
Statistically, SAVE THE TURNOVERS, Illinois dominated the game, running almost at will between the 20’s. This was the mirror image of the Wisconsin game. But at the end of regulation, it was 10-10.
But this time, Illinois made the plays.
After that, I switched on ESPN+ to watch the conclusion of the Illinois State vs no. 15 South Dakota and the Redbirds held on to win, 20-14, making a stop on downs with 2 minutes to go (at the 4 yard line) and then getting an interception to seal the win.
Today: North Dakota State (undefeated FCS powerhouse) at Illinois State: it went more or less the way I expected: 20-0 Bison. It was 10-0 at the half and going into the 4’th quarter. The Redbirds failed to gain 100 yards in offense (sound familiar?) though one good 4’th down stand and two red zone interceptions kept the score down.
This is one of the interceptions:
I worked out yesterday (weights only) and today (weights and exercise bike). I’ll have to get up extra early to get a few minutes of spinning on the bike so I can get a good stretch.
Yesterday:
pull ups: 40 singles, 10, 2 sets of 5 chins push ups two sets of 20 sissy, 2 sets of 20 feet elevated, 20 almost flat (super-set with pull ups) some shoulder rehab: curls: 3 sets of 10, rows: 3 sets of 10; 94, then 116, 116,
shoulder presses: 10 x 65, 10 x 75, 10 x 81 (went ok)
more rehab.
Today: 31:30 on the bike; rehab…deadlifts came first:
10 x 94, 10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 224,
work sets: 5 sets of 3, every 3 minutes; 256, 256, 256, 261, 261
4 inch handles: 3 x 274 (easy), 3 x 301 (tough, but had another rep or 2 left)
Yes, they had limited fans but I am not vaccinated so..none of this for me until I am. ISU lost to South Dakota 27-20..the Redbirds took a 17-0 lead and then turned the ball over 7 times. The first 4 of those lead to 24 points.
Our bat is hanging around outside…a bit cold, I think.
Workout notes
Weights then a slow but deliberate walk in lovely weather; unseasonably warm for this time of year.
pull ups: did sets of singles: 15, 10, 10 then a set of 5, 10 and 5. Last 5 were chins and 1 of the 10 singles was a chin (watch: elbow pain)
bench: 10 x 134, 3 x 184, 2 x 184, 2 x 184, 3 x 174, 3 x 174, 5 x 165
rows: 3 sets of 10 x 134 shoulder: 8 x 105 (crackle in right shoulder), 2 sets of 10 x 94, 1 set of 10 x 44 dumbbells.
curls: 2 sets of 10 with 10k on both sides with 1 kg collars: 22-23 kg I think (yes, light).
pushups: 40, 30 , 10
then a leisurely, pain free walk at 16:20 mpm.
Note: shoulder, wrist, elbow, ..one of those days where I felt all of the small niggles…eyes burned a bit.
I wasn’t terribly motivated but I did walk 11 miles in 3:00:14. It was the River, Goose loop, Ball field (port-o-potties), Glenn Oak, Prospect, finish via sort-of-Boredom via Broadway (lots of traffic!).
I felt a bit heavy legged. Glute pain: minimal that wen’t away.
Of interest: on the goose loop, I saw another walker who was trying to follow the planets. I directed her to the trail and the small trail past Glenn Oak; that sped me up slightly.
Second: I got some nods of approval from the “Trump supporter gray goatee crowd”..I didn’t understand it until I realized I was wearing a Memorial Salute 5K t-shirt: it was read and has a US flag on it.
I am feeling just a bit guilty relaxing a bit this weekend but, well, I am going to be ready for tomorrow.
Football wise, I saw Texas rally from 56-41 down late in the 4’th to beat Texas Tech in OT, then I saw the Bears rally from 26-10 down in the 4’th to win 30-26 vs. the Falcons. Yeah, this is TV, not in person. I didn’t feel safe going to the Colts vs. Jets. But…if COVID simmers down by March, maybe some ISU Redbird football at Hancock?
Last year’s star Redbird running back is starting for the Jaguars this season.
I finally slept well…I might know why. We’ll see; I do have a revision of a paper to do and yet another paper to finish. Busy winter break for me.
Yesterday: nice “hill” workout: jogged to Bradley Park, (took a 1 mile route to get there) and did the “run hard up the hills” (and one flat sprint) and walk, then jog recovery. I got out of breath on the hills, which is the point. But my body felt ok. Long and gentle today.
I watched a couple of games; Illinois State football season came to an end with a hard fought 9-3 loss at North Dakota State; the defense played very well, and this was very different from the 37-3 kicking I saw earlier this year. So ISU went 8-4 in the regular season and won 2 more games, prior to losing in the quarterfinals. Great season!
Then I watched Navy polish off Army 31-7, getting 301 yards rushing from its quarterback (and all of 1 yard passing..from a wide receiver). Army had won the previous 3 in a row; once it was an “upset” and the other two times, Army was just better. Not today.
The Black Knights thought they had Malcolm Perry…but he had other ideas.
Interestingly enough, I complained (with hashtag) about Trump wearing a campaign ball cap to the coin toss. I incorrectly called it a MAGA hat (it was a KAG campaign hat, so the substance of my complaint: wearing a campaign hat at a CIC type of event, still stands.
I don’t have a big Twitter presences (only 44 followers on my sports account, and many of them are probably bots) but the tweet generated some heat.
Did Trump have to wear that MAGA hat for the coin toss? Army-Navy is NOT a campaign prop. #ArmyNavyGame
Ok, it is the end of the semester rush; I should do ok if only I organize myself well. It will be a challenge to do that; lots of midnight oil over the next two weeks.
I did see some basketball though.
On Thursday, the Bradley women held off North Dakota State 70-64. Though NDSU did not have great record coming in, they have played better recently. And, only 4 Braves scored at all (one lady got 30..so that helped).
On Friday: Bradley opened up a 32-28 half time lead and went on to cruise 83-52; the victim was an out-manned North Carolina A&T team.
Last night: Tracy came over to watch Ohio State beat Wisconsin to move to the football “final four”. Note: Illinois State football moved to the “elite eight” but now has a rough assignment vs. North Dakota State, up there.
Workout notes:
Saturday: run..jog to Bradley Park, run up the hills hard, walk briefly, then jog down. 1:04 for the 5 mile. Today: 10 mile walk at an easy pace (2:52 for just over 10: to the Riverfront, goose loop, dam, etc. Not much of an effort, but ..well, 10 miles is now challenging. I have not gone “double digits” since October 13 (walk/jog half marathon); it is amazing at how quickly I lose distance conditioning. And I am feeling the leg weights/dead lifts.
Life of an old goat 