Big 12 (Lack of) Power Poll: Week 13
With the Big 12 regular season concluding and with me being completely devastated by Saturday’s Bedlam game, I’m making this the final Big 12 (Lack of) Power Poll of the year. It’s just too painful to go on.
1. Kansas (3-9, lost to Missouri 35-7): A couple weeks after Nebraska held the Jayhawks to a measly 87 total yards of offense and 3 points, Missouri locked Kansas down for an only-slightly-better 141 yards and 7 points. When you’re Kansas Jayhawks Football 2010, you gotta like that kind of improvement.
2. Texas (5-7, lost to Texas A&M 24-17): With their bowl eligibility on the line, the home crowd behind them, and their hated in-state rival on the other side of the field, the Longhorns… looked pretty much like they did all year.
3. Colorado (5-7, lost to Nebraska 45-17): The Buffaloes salvaged an ounce of pride by winning two of their final three games, but the historic loss the Kansas haunts them.
4. Iowa State (5-7, idle): Things looked so promising for the scrappy Cyclones at 5-4. Nothing a three-game losing streak couldn’t cure.
5. Texas Tech (7-5, beat Houston 35-20): Going from an 11-win season and a share of the Big 12 South crown in 2008 to a fifth-place finish in the south this year is most definitely a big disappointment.
6. Kansas State (7-5, beat North Texas 49-41): Pulling out a nail biter against the Mean Green isn’t necessarily the best way to build confidence for your bowl game.
7. Baylor (7-5, idle): The Bears season came off the tracks a little at the end thanks to the two Oklahoma schools, but a 4-4 conference record is really pretty huge for this program, historically speaking.
8. Missouri (10-2, beat Kansas 35-7): The Tigers quietly make it to 10-2, although somehow with a lot less fanfare than OSU, OU or Nebraska. They’re probably kicking themselves for the loss to a very average Texas Tech team, which in the end kept them out of the Big 12 title game.
9. Oklahoma State (10-2, lost to Oklahoma 47-41): How do you go from riding a wave of football ecstasy to feeling like you had the worst season ever in one night?
10. Nebraska (10-2, beat Colorado 45-17): Nebraska bounced back into form with Friday’s rout, but it was against a Colorado team that now stands at 5-7. Things won’t come so easy in the Big 12 title game.
11. Texas A&M (9-3, beat Texas 24-17): Texas A&M is hot after winning six in a row to close the season. Is it safe to say Jerrod Johnson’s errant heaves against OSU cost the Aggies the south division crown?
12. Oklahoma (10-2, beat Oklahoma State 47-41): I’m pretty sure if OSU and OU played 100 times, that OU would only win once, and that just happened to be Saturday night. That’s a true statement right there. And there’s no way OU’s defense or third-down proficiency had anything to do with the outcome.
Marshall announces pair of developments
Greetings, beer fans. I trust everyone out there had a great Thanksgiving and enjoyed some quality beer and football time over the weekend. I’ve got a couple news items to pass your way regarding Marshall Brewing.
First, Marshall’s newest beer, the excellent and intriguing India-style black ale El CuCuy, is being released to wholesalers this Wednesday, which should mean it will be on liquor store shelves by the weekend. You can read more about El CuCuy at this link.
And second, the long-awaited release of Marshall Sundown Wheat six packs is expected this weekend as well. Good news on both fronts!
The truth behing Mustang Brewing, Vol. 763
I hope you liked the snarky title I picked for this post. I’ll explain why that title is so sarcastic, but first, some background.
Over the past couple weeks I put on the annual Beer Championship Series. It’s a fun competition where everyone votes for their favorite beer. Last year, Mustang Brewing sent a beer to the Elite Eight. This year, Mustang Washita Wheat advanced to the finals.
Another thing that happened each of the past two years was several people getting on the blog and trying to skewer the Mustang brand because:
1. Mustang beer isn’t even made in Oklahoma.
2. Mustang is undertaking some massive cover-up to hide the fact their beer is not brewed in Oklahoma.
3. Because the beer is not made in Oklahoma, all the sudden everyone involved in making the beer is some sort of horrible monster.
OK, so I embellished No. 3 a little bit. Point being, I’m worn out from all these so-called arguments and hate-mongering concerning Mustang beers. Everyone is entitled to like or not like a particular beer, but let’s give a rest to this notion that Mustang beers are deficient in some way simply because they’re brewed out of state.
(For the record, I’m not saying the beers are deficient in any way. Washita Wheat is one of my favorite beers.)
And let’s also give a rest to this idea that Mustang is trying to hide the fact their beers are brewed out of state. Last week, Mustang president Tim Schoelen sent out this newsletter, which thoroughly and clearly explains the company’s entire business model. It all makes sense. Just like it made sense the last time Schoelen sent out a newsletter explaining his company’s business model in Oct. 2009. Just like it made sense every time Schoelen has taken to the blog or Facebook or Twitter to defend his company’s name. How many times does the poor guy have to go through this deal?
Yes, Mustang beer is not brewed in Oklahoma. But no, Mustang Brewing is most certainly not trying to hide that fact, and in fact has gone above and beyond to make efforts over the past couple years to be fully transparent in that regard.
My stance on beer in Oklahoma has always been the more the merrier. Here we’ve got an Oklahoma company that just wants to make beer for Oklahomans. This, beer fans, is not something to be lamented. Rather it should be celebrated.
If you don’t like a beer, that’s fine. But let’s put an end to using rumor and innuendo as justification for why you don’t like it.
Big 12 (Lack of) Power Poll: Week 12
And so it all comes down to Saturday’s match-up in Stillwater. What was improbable when the season started is sitting there right in front of us now, just staring at us. Can someone tell that thing to stop looking at me? I can’t take the pressure! (Stay tuned later this week for my Bedlam preview column.) Now, on to the rankings.
1. Kansas (3-8, lost to Oklahoma State 48-14): Kansas actually looked pretty decent for about 1.5 quarters, but then they remembered they were the 2010 Kansas Jayhawks.
2. Texas (5-6, beat Florida Atlantic 51-17): A home win against a sub-.500 Sun Belt Conference team won’t score you a lot of points in this poll.
3. Iowa State (5-7, lost to Missouri 14-0): Despite out-gaining Missouri, the Cyclones’ season ends with a loud, lonely thud as they go from 5-4 and on the verge of bowl eligibility to a three-game losing streak that finishes them off.
4. Kansas State (6-5, lost to Colorado 44-36): The Wildcats win the Scuffling Team award after starting 5-1 and going 1-4 since.
5. Colorado (5-6, beat Kansas State 44-36): The Buffaloes all the sudden are tearing through the league! OK, so they beat Iowa State and Kansas State in consecutive weeks. Still, better than the alternative, right? Now they can find out how real their mojo is when the travel to Lincoln on Friday.
6. Texas Tech (6-5, beat Weber State 64-21): Nothing like a little Weber State For the Soul to help the Red Raiders attain bowl-worthy status.
7. Baylor (7-5, lost to Oklahoma 53-24): Baylor has three straight losses, two of them of the “We just got taken to the woodshed for 50-plus points” variety. Still, based on historical standards, this is a good year for the Bears.
8. Missouri (9-2, beat Iowa State 14-0): I’m pretty sure Missouri is the quietest 9-2 team in the country. Nothing wrong with being 9-2, but you sure never hear anything about these Tigers.
9. Nebraska (9-2, lost to Texas A&M 9-6): Dropping Nebraska from 12th to ninth might seem a little harsh based on the Texas A&M outcome alone, but I’m looking at several factors, including the inexcusable home loss to Texas, the poor offensive showing at home against Kansas and the mistake-filled offensive struggle against the Aggies. Plus, without Taylor Martinez on the field, or with an injured Martinez on the field, this team boasts an average-at-best offense going forward.
10. Oklahoma (9-2, beat Baylor 53-24): Sooners have posted two straight shellackings, but those wins have come against Texas Tech, which needed a match-up against Weber State to reach six wins, and Baylor, which has been exposed as having zero defense. Point being, they’ll have a chance to pass a real test on Saturday.
11. Texas A&M (8-3, beat Nebraska 9-6): A&M is on a roll after five straight wins. The turnover-fest in Stillwater continues to haunt them.
12. Oklahoma State (10-1, beat Kansas 48-14): I was hesitant to put Oklahoma State here based on the fact that they’ve never been here before in these rankings, but when you compare all the numbers, at this point, they deserve to be here. Best record in the conference, undefeated on the road, sweep of Texas teams. It all adds up.
Marshall Brewing responds to BCS win
I just spoke to Marshall Brewing Co. brewmaster Eric Marshall about claiming his second Beer Championship Series win with Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale. Here is his response:
“We are all thrilled with the outcome! It is very gratifying to win this award two years in a row! The important thing to note however, is not that we won (no disrespect to the award), but that the last three rounds this year were composed of all Oklahoma-based beers. I am thrilled that the Oklahoma Craft Beer scene has grown to the point where no matter how the brackets are set-up, Oklahoma beers dominate to the end. The fact that so much good beer is being made in this state and people are supporting us so we can do what we love, is the real victory! I think I speak for all of my fellow Oklahoma Brewing brothers in saying thank you Nick for your support of the industry and most of all thanks to everyone out there who is drinking and spreading the love of Craft Beer! Cheers- Eric Marshall.”
Well said, Eric. And really, no need to thank me. It really is a blast to not only put on the BCS, but also to cover the craft beer industry here in Oklahoma. It’s a great bunch of people putting out a great product and putting Oklahoma on the national map.
And the Beer Championship Series winner is…
It started back in March, with beer regular season action in 24 beer conferences. Your conference winners earned spots in the 64-beer bracket. Once in the bracket, the beers had to survive three grueling weeks of survive-and-advance drama. And now, after three weeks of competition, 63 different match-ups and thousands of votes, we have a winner in the third annual Beer Championship Series!
By a score of 62.59 percent to 37.41 percent, your winner is…
Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale!!!
Congratulations to Marshall Brewing Co. for claiming back-to-back BCS titles! McNellie’s Pub Ale has been crowned by beer fans as Oklahoma’s favorite beer in 2010, earning Marshall the coveted Golden Tap Handle Trophy.
And congratulations as well to Mustang Washita Wheat and Mustang Brewing Co., which made a strong run through the bracket to claim the runner-up spot.
Here’s a look at the final, completed bracket.
With that, we bring the BCS to a close for another year. Thanks to all the beer fans out there who voted! It’s clear from the impressive BCS voter turnout this year that Oklahoma’s beer fan base is a growing group. Until next year, keep aiming high and keep reaching for that Golden Tap Handle Trophy. Cheers!
The polls are closed!
Well, folks, the third annual Beer Championship Series has come to a close. It was a great three weeks of competition, and tomorrow morning I will announce our well-deserved winner.
Congrats to all the beers that took part, and thanks to all the beer fans who took time to vote!
Vote now in the Beer Championship Series Final!
It all comes down to this, Oklahoma beer fans: The Beer Championship Series Final!
Today is the day to vote for a champion. The winner receives the Golden Tap Handle Trophy and the title of Oklahoma’s favorite beer. For your reference purposes, check out the journey our two finalists took to make it this far.
On one side of the bracket, you’ve got the defending champion, Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale, trying to hold on to its title. On the other side, Mustang Washita Wheat, representing the west in this east-west Oklahoma battle. To increase the drama, I’ve hidden the voting results today, just to build up some suspense. Check out the blog Friday morning for the announcement of our winner.
And now, on to the voting. As always, please remember the voting rules: Maximum 10 votes per beer, per person. Voting will end at 9 p.m. Let’s keep it classy, Oklahoma.
The Beer Championship Series: It’s down to two
What a crazy day of voting today in the Beer Championship Series Final Four. Both match-ups were close all day, but I’ve never seen a closer contest than that between COOP DNR and Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale. At the end of the day, the beers were separated by a mere 5 votes. McNellie’s Pub Ale — the defending champion — earned the hard-fought victory and will have a chance to defend its title. It will go up against Mustang Washita Wheat, which held a slim lead over COOP Zeppelin German Wheat through most of the day and pulled away late in the evening to secure the win.
Here is the updated bracket. And for the record, here are the Final Four results:
Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale – 50.68 percent
COOP DNR – 49.32 percent
-and-
Mustang Washita Wheat – 58 percent
COOP Zeppelin German Wheat – 42 percent
Congratulations go first to COOP Ale Works, which is clearly a fan favorite in Oklahoma. COOP sent four beers to the Elite Eight and then two to the Final Four. As the brewery’s cans become more popular, it is clear COOP will be a force to be reckoned with in the BCS for years to come.
Meanwhile, our two finalists will now take center stage. The BCS Final will be tomorrow. One beer will win the Golden Tap Handle Trophy and be crowned Oklahoma’s favorite beer. See you tomorrow!
Vote now in the BCS Final Four!
Voting is now underway in the Final Four of the Beer Championship Series. Who will advance to the finals for a chance to claim the Golden Tap Handle Trophy? Who will be crowned Oklahoma’s favorite beer? Vote now to have your say!
(Reminder: I know we are all passionate about our favorite beers, but please let’s keep the voting clean. Maximum 10 votes per beer, per person, per day. Votes are tracked by IP address and any voting irregularities will result in possible disqualification of votes. OK, enough with the disclaimer stuff — let’s get this thing going! Voting ends at 9 p.m. Cheers!)
