Baver with Thoughts on The Game and Terry Glenn

Colin: Terry Glenn….has there or will there ever be another WR who came out of nowhere to explode the way he did at Ohio State in 1995?

Baver: No and no. The guy was a joy to watch. I was sitting in A Deck for the Notre Dame game, pretty close to where Glenn caught the 10-yard pass that he turned into an 82-yd TD. That was the loudest I can ever remember Ohio Stadium. Horrible news about his death. 43 years old - too young to die, and he had overcome so much in his life. Rest in peace, Terry Glenn.

Colin: UM has had a Browns-esque revolving door at QB for the past decade. How can a major school with such strong history at that position been unable to find an All Big Ten quality starter?

Baver: I don’t know exactly, but some of it is probably due to simple bad luck. I mean, 11 Michigan players were taken in the most recent NFL draft, a UM program record. So they are recruiting and developing talent “overall”, no doubt. The recruiting rankings would tell you that they are landing QBs you would expect a school like Michigan to land. So with QBs, maybe they just missed on their scouting, aren’t developing them, or both. Peters did look like he was coming along before his injury last Saturday.

Colin: Will the Buckeyes be able to move the ball consistently in the hostile Big House environment? 

Baver: If the OSU offense does move it consistently, Michigan almost can’t win the game without Ohio State committing a handful of turnovers. The emergence of Mike Weber the past two weeks has to be causing Michigan DC Don Brown some heartburn this week. I don’t think the Bucks will score 48 pts on Michigan like they did on Sparty, but I think they score north of 30, which will put a lot of pressure on a shaky Wolverine offense. The Buckeyes will have to be conscience of #7’s whereabouts on the UM defense at all times. That would be Khalake Hudson, who replaced Jabrill Peppers at that Viper spot. Hudson leads the Big Ten in tackles for losses and has better #’s than Peppers in basically every defensive stat.

Colin: Speaking of that, where does the Big House rank among toughest places to play in the Big Ten?

Baver: I’ve been to four OSU-Michigan games up there (’85, ’97, ’99 & ’01) and three games in Happy Valley (’05, ’14 & ’16). This is shameful of me to admit, but I have never been to a game in Madison. It’s much crazier and louder in Beaver Stadium than the Big House. Beaver Stadium traps in the sound, where it seems to escape more in the Big House. Michigan Stadium seemed much more intimidating when Michigan owned Ohio State in the 80’s and 90’s. But now the tables have turned, and it doesn’t seem so intimidating anymore, does it?

Colin: The Michigan O has struggled all season. How many points would be a good day for them against the silver bullets?

Baver: Looking at the spread and over/under, Vegas projects a Buckeye win in the ballpark of 31-19. If Michigan can find a way to score 24+ points in a 60-minute regulation game, then I think things will be interesting. If Iowa can score 55 on Ohio State, then it’s certainly possibly for UM’s struggling offense to score 24+.

Colin: Final thoughts and prediction?

Baver: John O’Korn is probably going to get the call for Michigan at QB, and I don’t think that’s a good thing for UM. If Brandon Peters was truly knocked out cold against Wisconsin, I don’t think there is any chance he plays tomorrow. In today’s day and age, you just don’t take chances with guys coming off of concussions. Could we see Wilton Speight? Maybe. It probably doesn’t matter, as Michigan QB’s have combined to throw 8 TD’s on the season. To put that into perspective, Johnnie Dixon has 17 catches for Ohio State this yr….8 of those 17 catches have gone for TD’s.

Michigan’s best hope on offense is with their ground game, with the running-back-by-committee trio of Karan Higdon, Chris Evans, and Ty Isaac. That’s been a solid threesome that has combined for 2,016 yds, 5.9 ypc, and 18 TDs on the ground this season.

I think Michigan’s defense, which is strong on the line, at LB and in the secondary, gives them a fighting chance in this game. If they can fluster JT then this is a game that may go down to the wire.

In the end, I think Michigan’s offensive woes likely lead to yet another loss to their bitter rivals. I like Ohio State 34-16.

Bob Ufer's memorable call of the 1973 Michigan-Ohio State pre-game where Ohio State coach Woody Hayes urged his Buckeyes to try and tear down the "GO BLUE M Club Supports You" banner.

Baver Previews "The Game" Part One. And Apple Cup?

Colin: How devastating was Michigan's loss to Ohio State last year? 

Baver: Extremely. Michigan fans will be talking about the JT 1st down spot years from now, much like the ‘Canes fans, who are still talking about the interference call in the 2002 Title game. Michigan had that game and gave it away. It wasn’t a first down spot that cost them the game….the majority of that loss is on the shoulders of one Jim Harbaugh. Why did he have a QB with concrete feet throwing out of his own end zone on 1st down, late in the first half in a game that Michigan was dominating? Then, you have Jimmy’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that helped the Buckeyes put 7 key pts on the board late in the 3rd quarter. It was Michigan’s day, and they let it get away. Not sure those North of the border will ever get over it.

Colin: How big would a win this year be for Harbaugh?

Baver: The Michigan so-called faithful are losing faith quickly. A win over Ohio State would help calm down the masses, at least for a bit. A loss means a long off-season, with Hairball dropping to 1-5 vs his chief rivals, Ohio State and Sparty. We’ll talk more about Jimmy’s offense on Friday, but the UM fans have about had it. I think they have faith that the defense will be good to great as long as Don Brown hangs around, but Harbaugh’s offense is laughable….and it is indeed HIS offense. Harbaugh desperately needs his offense to step up and desperately needs a win in this rivalry.

Colin: The Bucks have already clinched the Big Ten East and have a date with undefeated Bucky Badger. Any chance this team lays an egg like the Iowa loss?

Baver: After the Iowa game, I think we now know that about anything is possible. I don’t know if it would be laying an egg…I mean….is Ohio State that much better than Wisconsin? Or maybe I should ask, are they better than Wisconsin? That will be a tough game, especially coming off The Game against Michigan. 5 Dimes sportsbook has a current line on the game, and they have the Buckeyes favored by 6 ½. I think the B10 title game will be a dogfight, no matter how The Game with Michigan plays out.

Colin: You have been going on air with Brian Phillips and the CD1025 Morning show all season. Brian is a huge Cougs fan and this Apple Cup is shaping up to be a doozy. Any thoughts on that game?

Baver: With key injuries at the cornerback spots for the Huskies this season, they are going to have a tough time containing Washington St’s air attack. And Wazzu is off a bye. The Cougs have bounced back after losing 2 of 3 to finish October, posting solid wins against Stanford and Utah the last 2 weeks. But Wazzu hasn’t gotten a win in the Apple Cup since their OT victory in 2012, losing the last 4 gms by an avg of 23 pts per game. And WSU has to travel to Seattle for this one. It’s hard not to like Washington here but if you’re playing the spread, I think you take the Cougs and the 9 pts. I think the game will be decided by a touchdown, maybe less.

Colin: Give us an update on your picks and tell us what other games this weekend you will be keeping an eye on?

Baver: 18-15 against the spread on the year. Oklahoma has been known to lay eggs here and there when they are big favorites. Will they lay one this week against West By God? Probably not, but I’ll still take the 22 ½ pts the Mountaineers are getting in Norman…a few too many to be laying against a decent WVU squad, I think. Auburn is a solid team and may hang with Bama most of the way, but I will still take the Tide almost 100% of the time if they are laying less than a TD. I like Bama minus the 4 ½ at Auburn.

OSU-Michigan prediction coming Friday.

# Save the Crew and Playoff Preview with Brian Phillips and Greg Bartram

- Where are we with #savethecrew situation? What is best case, worst case and most likely case?

Greg B. - First off, there was no way that the mayor and Columbus Partnership folks were going to come home from NYC with an agreement. THere are just too many moving parts to something like this, and it doesn't happen all at once.

I would have preferred a bit more positivity in the statements, but I'm not terribly surprised. I'm not sure this can be saved, as there surely does seem to have been a longterm plan in place by PSV, but the #SaveTheCrew movement is absolutely setting the right tone. Positivity, activity...I'm REALLY impressed with them. Morgan Hughes' catchphrase, "If there's gonna be a funeral, we'll be too exhausted to attend" is gold, and really does seem to be the mantra

I think there are two critical parts to this...if the other owners are pressured enough, I don't think they'll vote to approve in order to keep the black eye offa their own faces. Secondly, the lawsuit by San Antonio has some real intrigue to it, and that isn't to be discounted.

I'm not giving up until there are trucks being packed.

Brian P. -  I really struggle with this one. The efforts from the grassroots organization Save The Crew have truly been remarkable. They've essentially served as the club's marketing arm the past month. My heart  wonders how the league could do this after the display of love for Crew SC here, and the amazing support from fans all over not only MLS, but clubs in lower levels, teams over seas etc. 
Meanwhile I can see and I can read. The league seems to be backing ownership on this one, and seem determined to walk away from this city forever. This is bizarre to me. 
Not ready to give up yet... The Columbus Foundation floated a proposal for a new facility between 5th and 6th near Mount Vernon Avenue. It's far from a done deal, but it's a proposal and that's something ownership contends has been lacking.
There's a very real posibility MLS Cup returns to Columbus. If the Crew get through we get the game here. Can you imagine! It's the movie Major League.

Meanwhile the actual Crew are back in the final four. What should we expect from this series? Who needs to step up?

Greg B. - This is gonna be a tough series. Lets not forget that Toronto ate our lunch in a 5-0 match earlier this season, and did so without Altidore or Giovinco. Having said that, Crew SC have been a totally different team the second half of the season. Hottest team in the league going into the playoffs, and I don't put a lot of stock in the 2-0 loss to a desperate NYCFC team. Keys? The back four have to be the wall that they have been at the top of the team's form this season. We have to contain and control Ricketts, who is all kinds of dangerous. Crew SC has to take advantage of their opportunities when presented with them, and make opportunities when not presented.

This team can definitely advance, but none of the soccer illuminati in the US expect it. They also didn't expect the team to advance past Atlanta. Or NYCFC. Crew SC in a close one. I sincerely believe we can host MLS Cup again, and the players deeply want to give that to the fans. This one's gonna be a monster atmosphere.

Brian P. - Such a great opportunity in game one. Toronto are missing Sebastian Giovinco (yellow card accumulation) and Jozy Altadore (sent off against Red Bulls, must sit out game as result). That's a ton of goal scoring power watching from the press box.
Columbus needs to play their game. Come out attack minded and keep the foot on the gas. They'll be getting a ton of energy from what will be a raucous crowd. One thing I will be watching is the center defense. Josh Williams and Jonthan Mensah need to do a much better job taking care of the ball. Way too many unforced turnovers of late. If we do that goalie Zack Steffen is more than capable of making the saves necessary. 
Bottom line... Columbus will look to go into leg two in Canada with a big lead.

Brian Phillips hosts the CD1025 Morning Show and you have seen Greg Bartram's photos everywhere. They are both fans of the Columbus Crew.

Do the Bucks Deserve to Make the Final Four? Baver Answers Colin's Questions

Colin: Whoa. Buckeyes roll Sparty while Iowa cannot move the ball or stop Bucky Badger. What a difference a week makes. Can you explain what just happened?

Baver: Iowa…66 yards of offense in Madison? It about makes you want to puke, doesn’t it? This Buckeye team seems to be carried by emotions more than previous OSU teams. I thought it would be a tight game, but I noted last week that MSU appeared to have been doing it with mirrors all year long. The Spartans can’t run the football and with the Buckeyes executing almost flawlessly on offense, the Spartans were no match for Ohio St.

The Buckeye O-line played their best game of the year. And OSU’s use of unbalanced sets, with trip WRs and the fullback to one side, caused Sparty all kinds of problems. On D, the Buckeye hit Brian Lewerke a couple times early, and I think that rattled him.

Colin: A Mike Weber 2017 coming out party this past Saturday, huh? 

Baver: It was reported in early summer that Mike Weber ran the 4th fasted 40 on the team, and I’m not sure many fans believed it. With Weber finally looking healthy, we got to see that speed. The kid has reportedly worked his ass off to get to where he is now…a good story there.

Colin: On the downside, JT seems to be struggling with confidence again. The two picks were bad, but the under thrown ball to the wide open Baugh was JT at his least effective. How concerned should we be?

Baver: Reasonably concerned. With Michigan and (probably) Wisconsin on the horizon, JT’s accuracy is going to be key.

Colin: On the upside, JT is putting together perhaps the most successful QB career in Buckeye history. How good has this kid been? What are some big wins early in his career people seem to forget or take for granted anytime the offense struggles in 2017? What records will he leave behind?

Baver: JT, with a sprained knee, refused to come out of the 2014 Penn St game in Happy Valley, and ran for 2 TDs in the OT periods to propel OSU to a win. A few weeks later, he threw for 300 yards, running for another 86, and accounted for 5 total TDs, as the Buckeyes upset Sparty in East Lansing. Prior to this year’s Penn St game, that was JT’s best day as a Buckeye, and it launched Ohio St into the Nat’l Title hunt.

JT holds 29 OSU records and isn’t done yet. That includes the record for career-passing yards, and he should break Braxton’s career QB rushing record tomorrow. He also holds the Big Ten record for TD passes (99) and total TDs accounted for (137). Think about that….137 touchdowns….that is about absurd.

A tip of the hat to a class act that has had a remarkable career in Columbus.

Colin: Let's look past Illinois and talk about THE game. You know damn sure Harbaugh and company have seen the film of our linebackers exposed in pass coverage. Can that be fixed in 10 days? 

Baver: We’ll see. UM TEs Sean McKeon and Zach Gentry have 37 catches between them and will likely be a focus of Harbaugh’s attack against OSU after seeing what the Iowa tights did to the Bucks. New starting QB Brandon Peters hit both of them for TDs last week. Hopefully with Worley likely back at his more comfortable position of manning the strong side, this Buckeye LB group will hold up against UM’s short passing game.

Colin: Lots of upsets last weekend has the Buckeyes sort of back in the playoff conversation. Do you truly, in your heart, think this team deserves to make the final four? 

Baver: Right now? Probably not. But ask me again after The Game. I do now think that if the Buckeyes win out, they are close to a 50/50 shot of making the playoff….deserving or not.

Colin: Give us an update on your picks to date and games / lines you will be keeping an eye on this weekend?

Baver: Been a bloodbath the last two weeks. Still,17-13 against the spread on the year. As bad as Illinois is (0-7 in the B10), I think the Illini +41 is the play. Highest Big Ten spread I can ever remember, and I think Urban will want to get his guys out early with TTUN on deck. I’ve got the Bucks winning 41-7. I like Temple at home catching 2 TDs against undefeated UCF. I think the Knights undefeated season could come to an end if the chips fall right for the Owls tomorrow. I liked UM getting 10 in Madison, but that line has dropped to 7 ½. Still, I think you take the points in that one.

Was JT's Performance the best in OSU history? Baver answers Colin's Questions - Iowa Week

Colin: Where does that win over Penn State rank in all time great Ohio State games?

Baver: It’s hard to believe what Ohio St overcame to win that game. They trailed for the first 58 minutes, committed 10 penalties, were minus-2 in TOs, were down 18 pts twice, had 3 colossal kickoff gaffes, and although they intercepted two passes in the end zone, both calls were overturned, with Penn St instead scoring 14 pts. Oh….and the Bucks were down 38-27 with the ball at their own 24 with 5:37 left on the clock. Certainly one of Ohio St’s greatest comebacks and finales ever, and they did it against the #2 team in the land. But so much of it was painful to watch. Still, this one ranks right up there.

Colin: All things considered, was that performance by JT Barrett the best in the history of Ohio State football? What even comes close? 

Baver: JT put on a clinic Saturday….one for the ages. It probably tops three other Buckeye performances that come to my mind…those being: freshman Ted Ginn scoring on a reverse, a punt return, and a 58-yard game winning TD catch-and-run against Sparty in ‘04; Eddie’s George’s 314-yard rushing effort against Illinois in ’95; and Chris Spielman’s 29-tackle game against Michigan in ‘86.

Colin: How much better is this OSU offense than the one that struggled against Oklahoma? What's different now?

Baver: Light years better. JT, the O-line, and the WRs have come so far. These guys weren’t in sync with the offensive coaches early on this year, but they clearly are now. It’s gone from “Bench JT” to “Barrett deserves the Heisman.” I know I had my doubts about him after the Oklahoma game. Wow…what a transformation.

Colin: Is this defensive line really as special as it appears? Does the D have a weakness that can be exposed?

Baver: The D-line is ridiculous. Their depth wore down Penn State’s O-line, to the point where it was a mismatch in the 4th quarter. The Buckeye defense registered 13 tackles-for-losses, which someone told me was the most in a Big Ten game since 2008. The weakness is still OSU DBs in pass coverage, and yes….if they face a good passing offense, they can certainly be had again. But will they face a QB with a big arm again this year? Maybe in the Playoff, if they get there.

Colin: Special teams WTF?

Baver: You called it. You asked if Urban would be stupid enough to kick to Barkley. I guess I was naive. The Buckeye kickoff coverage is “…a joke right now” ….Urban’s words, not mine. It’s both the personnel and the scheme. OSU has been using 4 current or former walk-ons on this unit, which may be part of the problem. And the Buckeyes appear to be sorely missing Eric Glover-Williams. EGW was probably the best coverage guy they had. As for the scheme, Penn St saw that once you create a crease on the right side, there’s little help to the left in this uncommon Buckeye scheme. With Saquon’s speed, the crease was all he needed….bingo, 6 points.

Colin: Iowa City is a tough place to play. Should Buckeye fans be worried?

Baver: Iowa and Kirk Ferentz can be pesky…at the very least. And a Penn St hangover is a real concern. The Iowa defense, led by LB Josey Jewell, DE Anthonly Nelson, and DB Josh Jackson is stingy. While I tend to think Iowa will hang around for awhile, I think Ohio St puts them away in the 2nd half, wearing them down on both sides of the ball, much like they did against Penn St. Iowa starts freshmen at both OT spots, as both of their preseason starting tackles are now lost for the season. The frosh are going to be no match for Bosa, Hubbard, and company. I like Ohio State 34-13. If I’m a bettor, I would lay the 17 ½ pts here.

Colin: Does this first Playoff Poll mean anything?

Baver: No.

Colin: Give us an update on your picks and other games around the country you will be keeping an eye on this weekend?

Baver: 17-7 against the spread – still knockin’ ‘em dead. I think Miami’s magic runs out against the Hokies. I like Va Tech to win and cover as a 2 ½ pt favorite at Miami. Notre Dame is a very good football team; I like the Irish to cover the 14 pts at home against an improved Wake Forest team. No real feeling about the Bedlam game….Okie State laying 2 ½ at home against the Sooners seems about right to me - that game could go either way. And I think Penn State laying 9 in East Lansing seems about right as well.

Crew Chatter with Brian Phillips and Greg Bartram - #savethecrew

--Have you guys ever seen a more exciting 0-0 game than the one in Atlanta last Thursday?

 BP - Me? I'm sure I have, but this one was right up there. End to end, some posts and cross bars struck. Great goalkeeping. Tons of running. Great game!

GB - Really don't think I have. I sure can't remember one, of for no reason than it was a win-or-be-done knockout match. And to look at the scoreline doesn't do the match justice. Lots of opportunities, and lots of offense. I was on my feet the last 40 minutes.

--Crew goalie Zach Steffen looked to these eyes to be playing at a World Cup level. Was he just having a good night or is he destined for big things?

BP - Whatever happens to Crew SC this kid needs a serious look. So athletic! That save he made to open the PK shootout is as good as it gets. As the ESPN guys pointed out he had to essentially reach behind himself to flick it out of danger. You can't teach that shit.

GB - Let's not just look at this game. Lets not forget that he robbed Eurolegend David Villa the game prior, both on a PK and on a point-blank shot as well. When the season started, I wasn't sure what to make of him, but he's absolutely made a statement. The USMNT would be crazy not to give him a look. Tim Howard and Brad Guzan aren't the youngest of guys, and by the time you tack on four more years in age and wear-and-tear, I think it'll be time for the next generation to step in and make their statements.

--When a Crew goal was taken away for offside and not reviewed my conspiracy senses started tingling. Isn’t the Crew advancing embarrassing for the league?

BP - I won't buy into conspiracy theories because MLS linesmen have always been garbage. Nothing new. Is a Crew SC run potentially embarrassing? No. I don't think they're capable of embarrassment. Is it awkward? Maybe. I don't know. These people used to have a good business plan. I think they threw it out a few years back.

GB - Here's the thing on that. The whistle blew. That stops the play and prevents review. Was the whistle premature? Absolutely. Did the official let play go on longer shortly after this one, which would have allowed a review if it had been needed? Yep. Conspiracy? I'm not ready to go there. Alternately, the official realized on the Crew SC goal/nongoal that he'd screwed the pooch, and made sure he administrated correctly the next time. As far as Columbus advancing, I don't think it's an embarrassment so much as simple business. We talk about it every year when a smaller market NFL or NBA team goes to the finals...the leagues are going to want the markets to advance that will put the most eyeballs on the most television sets in order to maximize their visibility. Simple business. The embarrassment goes around Teh Drama. There are eyes all over the soccer world on #SaveTheCrew signs, from College Gameday (WELL DONE, FANS!!!) to other supporters' groups around the league. The unspoken secret here would be that, the farther Columbus advances, the more eyeballs that are gonna be drawn to it, with Columbus Crew SC playing the Little Engine That Could., and picking up support from those other teams' supporter groups at least for the short-term.

--Along those lines,with the USA failing to qualify for the World Cup, isn’t this possible move of an original team another black eye for the sport?

BP - Yes. Terrible black eye. The fact that MLS doesn't seem to see that is a huge problem.

GB - It's unbelievably shortsighted. The thing they missed is that, no matter how much other supporters' groups might make fun of our stadium here, every one of them love it when they come to support the USMNT here. Every single one of them. Dos A Cero took on a life of its own, and until the USMNT lost in the most recent Mexico qualifier, US Soccer, oth the men and women, were undefeated in Columbus. Considering that the US didn't make the World Cup, that can hardly be blamed on Columbus. There's an aura here for a US match that doesn't exist anywhere else. The players love coming here for that reason. The reaction around the league makes it look even worse for the decision makers. The fact that they're looking at a smaller market as an alternate doesn't do any better. The market has been unable to support USL teams, so it's a big risk as well. If you go there and it falls flat (as I believe it would), you have a bunch of smart people looking remarkably silly.

--Has Precourt been half assing on purpose to make the move easier?

BP - I think so. Look at the marketing for the playoff game. Nothing... It's on a Tuesday... On Halloween (there's your MLS conspiracy if you want one.) No marketing. Ticket sales entirely driven by the incredible people at #SaveTheCrew.

GB - There are a lot of folks who think so. I'm not so sure. I do think that parts of the business community don't take Columbus Crew as seriously as I wish they would. I look at things like the time it took to sell our stadium's naming rights or the difficulty in securing jersey sponsors. I don't know the cause of that in the case of the jersey sponsor, but I fear that the stadium rights took the amount of time it did because our stadium is the oldest in the league and was built on a budget. If you're spending Big Corporate Dough out of your marketing/advertising budget, you want the Newst/Shiniest, and our beloved stadium isn't that.

-- is there a scenario where the Crew stay? What is the mood like in Austin? What do they have that we don’t?

BP - I get the feeling Austin doesn't give a shit. It's a great town. They have UT sports, great live music, and kick ass food. Why do these shitheads need our soccer team? Fuck them. Sure Crew SC can stay. It seemed like a joke to compare this to the movie Major League, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a cut out of Precourt as crazy as this story is turning out to be. If the lads win MLS cup or even go deep in the playoffs I can't imagine the league would let this go forward, but I really don't know. I go back and forth.

GB - Can the team stay? I say yes. This groundswell has been incredible. Getting 2000+ out to the rally at City Hall was big. Had 200 people shown up, those visuals go everywhere, and the air comes out of the tires. That didn't happen. People are engaged, and a good kind of mob mentality takes over. The support from around the league has been impressive. At least one owner tweeted out support before deleting it. The owners in the league have to okay this for it to happen. The more team owners hear from their own supporters, the less likely they are to support a move. This doesn't end on Tuesday, or even this season. All eyes are going to be on the yellow benches at MAPFRE Stadium. If you can see them, then there aren't people sitting in them. The most critical statement that can be made is the economic one. The stadium has to look good throughout the season. Butts have to fill the seats, beer has to be bought, food has to be purchased...Columbus fans have to up their game, and show their support. If they get mad at PSV (Precourt Sports Ventures) and don't show up, they prove his argument, and we can't do anything but be sad. You want the team to stay? You gotta vote with your dollars. I don't know what they have that we don't, but I know what WE have that THEY don't...a team history and tradition that started in 1994 as the first franchise awarded.

--On to the game Tuesday, what should fans expect and how do you see it playing out?

BP - Crew SC will come out looking to get the jump on NYCFC. NY have some great skill, but throughout their brief existence they've lacked quality in the back. We play on a huge field compared to them in Yankee Stadium (very small for soccer.) Stretch em out and run at them. Get up big in game one. It's a two game total goal series. Americans hate this format, but soccer fans are used to it. (Champions League knock out play etc.

GB - The atmosphere in there is going to be insane. The Nordecke has sold out their section and are expanding to other sections. The place is gonna be nuts. Supporters' groups and the team both are setting up trick-or-treating (or trunk-or-treating in the parking lot before gates open) so kids don't have to miss out. That's going to lead to some insane adrenaline for our guys, but let's not forget that Atlanta had almost 70-freaking-thousand people there, and their fans couldn't will them over the top. Our guys have to, in the words of Alejandro Moreno during the 2008 MLS Cup run, do what they do. I'm hoping that Zack Steffen is inside NYCFC's heads. Those were a couple of major saves he put on Villa, and they've had some time to think about that. Josh Williams is in great form right now, and Pedro Santos is looking better and better every match. We have them on our field and dimensions for a match, but they get us in their little shoebox for the other match. We can make this work. We can advance. We're on a hot stretch and there's no reason to think we can't continue

Brian Phillips hosts the CD1025 Morning Show and you have seen Greg Bartram's photos everywhere. They are both fans of the Columbus Crew.