Record Review: The Replacements / Dead Man's Pop - by Jeremy Porter


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In early 1989 expectations were high for The Replacements as they were about to follow up two major-label commercial misses with their third record for Sire, Don’t Tell A Soul. They’d always been under-the-radar, under-appreciated, and under-achieving, but there was a buzz in the air that this might be the one that breaks the curse. The album would live in infamy as their best-selling, highest charting and most polarizing release. What hasn’t been said about Don’t Tell A Soul? It’s got some great stuff on it, but the dated, murky, reverb-and-chorus drenched 80’s production has haunted its legacy ever since the grunge movement gave us a kick in the pants and a harsh reminder that albums were better when they sounded like they were made by real bands playing real instruments.

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Still – they were going for it, for better or worse. They were on TV, there were magazine covers, posters in record stores, a big-time summer tour opening for Tom Petty, and even [gasp] a real video. Where it went from there is, well, depressing. Many see DTAS as the beginning of the end (though I might argue that moment came when Bob Stinson was fired in 1986). Their 1991 swan-song follow-up All Shook Down, while more organic and loose sounding, lacked the teeth of any of their previous records, and they limped to the finish line, sounding tired and sober, promoting a record that was decent, but more or less a Westerberg solo album from the start.

I’m in the “like the album, hate the production” camp when it comes to DTAS. I missed Bob, but I liked Slim, and I understood even then that bands evolve and why they made that change. “Talent Show,“ “I’ll Be You,“ “They’re Blind,” and the under-rated “Back to Back” stood out to me, and I think “Achin’ to Be” is up there with Paul’s best. I hated the trying-too-hard-not-to-try tracks like “Rock and Roll Ghost” and “I Won’t.” The rest is somewhere in the middle – it’s no ”Let it Be” but God knows I played the hell out if it that summer and saw them three times on that tour. (Read about a couple of those times here.) While I struggled with the fact that they weren’t “my” band anymore, I was happy to see them getting some of the attention they deserved. Like everyone else I watched with a big smile when they played “Talent Show” on the International Rock Awards that spring, flanked by performances from Keith Richards and The Bangles while Matt Dillon watched and smiled, one of the few in the building that “got it.”

Over the years the legacy of the album took a beating. Only the most loyal and biased fans claim the album as a favorite and the production as an asset. There were always rumors of an original mix, the one the band wanted, but not the one that the label released. The story goes that Paul hated the final mix, and that’s probably a part of why I hated it too. Hearing what the band had in mind for these songs has always been at the top of hard-core fans’ wish lists, right along with a live DVD (that we’ve yet to see) and a proper live album (which we got in 2017 with the incredible For Sale: Live at Maxwell’s 1986). 

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Then, earlier this year came word about Dead Man’s Pop – a 4CD/1LP and limited edition cassette release. This is the holy grail we’ve been waiting for, from the post-Bob era anyways. As excited as I was about For Sale two years earlier, I’d been listening to a great bootleg recording of that show for 30 years. This was different – a ton of stuff no one’s ever heard, a sweet package, and hopefully the redemption that material deserves.

Disc One is the Matt Wallace mix of the album. This is a new mix, but one that recalls the original that the band had in mind before the label got involved. Gone is the polish and spit-shine that muddied up the sound. The backup vocals are louder, the guitars are more present and clear, and the drums sound more natural, just like we'd hoped. The takes are mostly the same, but the performances shine. They sound like what they were - a band struggling to bridge their rambunctious past with their more-focused present, while not letting either get too close or too far away.

Stripping the production down exposes more than just the sounds they were making - there's an exciting spontaneity and beautiful vulnerability present now, offering up that elusive element in great music that we love but can't often define. The differences between these mixes and the originals are present throughout, but less obvious in songs like "Achin to Be" and "I'll Be You," and more so on "They're Blind," "Darlin' One," and "Rock and Roll Ghost." Even my least favorite song on the record "I Won't" sounds like it should - pissed off and ornery, more like "IOU" from Pleased to Meet Me and less like some aging punks trying to sound half their age. The guitar solo on "They're Blind" is one of my favorite moments on the original release, but the alternate solo here might be even better. This is the record it was supposed to be, and had it been, we can only wonder how history would look back on it.

Disc Two is a collection of outtakes, demos, alt-mixes, and a few tracks from the session with Tom Waits that produced the "I'll Be You" B-Side "Date to Church." While this stuff is solid gold to a dork like me who's been waiting to hear it for 30 years, it's more typical of a deluxe-edition package for real fans rather than a cohesive, flowing collection. Still there's great stuff to digest. The up-tempo, solo-acoustic take on "Rock 'N' Roll Ghost" is maybe the most honest of all the versions. "Talent Show" and "We'll Inherit The Earth" are significantly more rockin' than any other renditions, and the stripped down "They're Blind" is a more intimate take than heard on the album. The greatly restrained "I'll Be You" is interesting, but pales against the Wallace mix or even the original release, and might have fit better on the equally restrained All Shook Down. A couple previously unheard songs "Last Thing In The World" and "Dance on My Planet" are welcome, as is any unheard song written and sung by Paul Westerberg, but do little to dispute my long-standing opinion that bonus tracks more often than not didn't make the album for a reason.

The Tom Waits tracks are a novelty, and as a huge Waits fan, I take no joy in saying that with the exception of a few brief moments, they'll likely have little staying power and don't add much beyond a document of a drunken night in LA. To hear Waits croon "If Only You Were Lonely" or Westerberg sing "Ol' 55" with some real effort would have been diamonds here, but the former is a sloppy, half-assed struggle and the latter was sadly left off the collection. Of the Waits tracks, the full-band version of "We Know The Night" is easily the standout, and drives home the fact that the rehearsal take that preceded it could have been excluded. The Wallace remix of "Date to Church" is refreshing, fits perfectly with the first disc, and reminds us that something productive and worthwhile actually came out of that session. It's safe to say that disc two will get the fewest spins of this collection, but this is material that deserves to be heard, belongs on this collection, and is far from a wash.

 Discs three and four are a live recording from the 1989 Milwaukee show that produced the "Inconcerated" promo EP. While it's not the gloriously raw and in-your-face explosion that For Sale: Live at Maxwell's is, it's a spirited, up-tempo, energetic and abrasive document of that tour. They can't be accused of phoning it in this night. This was Slim's second tour with the `mats and his presence is felt - his lanky figure meandering around stage left, goofy smile, crazy hair, and tasty riffs. It's the best version of "Talent Show" that there is - studio or live. "We might even win this fucker, ya never know." Paul sings, ad-libbing like he did better than anyone when he felt like it. His vocals lead the way throughout, often going up when he stayed level on the record. There's warts too - Slim's amp shorting and squealing throughout "The Ledge" has Paul agitated, tuning issues ruin “Little Mascara” and “Can’t Hardly Wait”, and “Here Comes A Regular” suffers as both rushed and lazy at the same time, but they left them in, as they should have. It's imperfect, it’s fun, it's raw, it's rock and roll, it's The Replacements.

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The box set delivers - it's a fantastic package that covers what should have been, the journey there, and the live culmination of that demo-record-tour cycle that is such a big part of this bands legacy. It takes a miss and makes it a hindsight-hit. There's a dose of healthy nostalgia here too, talking me back to Ann Arbor, March 10, 1989 on the opening night of that tour. They say there's plenty more in the vaults, but I'm not sure anything could match this due to the sheer NEED for the redemption that "Don't Tell a Soul" deserved alone. It's Christmas time, Replacements fans. Drink it up.

Jeremy Porter lives near Detroit and fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos - www.thetucos.com

Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit -
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Bucks travel to Lincoln for Primetime Matchup: Baver Answers Colin's Questions, Husker Week

Colin: So here we go. Night game on the road with ESPN Game Day in town to whip the locals into a frenzy. What does Ohio State have to do to win this game?

Baver: On O, the Bucks have to continue to mix things up well, something Ryan Day excels at. The Huskers haven’t been strong stopping the rush or the pass, even with their weak schedule so far. If the Buckeyes don’t do NU favors with turnovers, the Huskers are going to have problems holding OSU under 40. But Dobbins, Fields and Teague have each lost fumbles in September. On D, they can’t let Adrian Martinez extend too many plays with his legs. If he starts to do so, Memorial Stadium will get loud, and could be a big boost for the home team.  

Colin: Bucky Badger took Michigan to the woodshed last week. Is there any hope for this Michigan squad, and is Michigan that bad or Wisconsin that good?  

Baver: It’s not a matter or either/or....Wisconsin is really good and Michigan is a train wreck. And I keep hearing people say “...anyone could run behind that Wisconsin line”. While this is once again a great Badger O-line, Jonathan Taylor is the best tailback in the country. 

I’d say “very little” hope for Michigan. I thought the bettors and sportswriters had them overrated in August, but still thought they would be better than most OSU fans thought they would be. Then I watched most of the Michigan’s first two gms on DVR, and it was obvious they had real problems on offense. Now it’s obvious they have real problems everywhere. If you want an in-depth breakdown as to why Michigan is falling apart, read Tony Gerdeman’s excellent piece from THEOZONE linked HERE. 

Colin: If Notre Dame runs the table will their loss at Georgia be treated as a “win” allowing them to sneak back into the playoffs? 

Baver: Probably not. Ohio St got the benefit of the doubt getting into the 2016 Playoff, but then got slaughtered by Clemson. That humiliation played a factor in 2017 and 2018 with OSU narrowly missing the Playoff both years. The Irish got annihilated by Clemson last year, which will also factor in if ND is on the bubble come December. I think after OSU’s 2-year Playoff hiatus, there will be more push to put Ohio St in the show this year if they are borderline once again. Colin, you know I’m usually hesitant to go out on a limb, but either Wisconsin or Ohio St is heading to the Playoff this year, and Notre Dame is NOT.

Colin: Has Brian Phillips recovered from last week’s Washington State loss to UCLA and should we bet the over on the Cougs this week too? 

Baver: Good lord...it was 42-17 Cougars with less than 7 minutes left in the 3rd qtr! I didn’t bother to look at the score after that, and didn’t know about the comeback until Sunday. I see the over/under for WSU’s game against Utah this week is only 57. This, after you could have cashed a ticket that had “UCLA vs Was St: Total Pts Over 129” printed on it last week!

Colin: What could be the recipe for disaster?

Baver: This is going to get way overblown by ESPN, but OSU has to keep track of do-it-all Husker freshman Wan’Dale Robinson. Ohio St of course got lit up by Purdue do-everything, freshman Rondale Moore a year ago. And you of course have the rhyming first names that ESPN will want to talk about all night if Robinson is fueling a possible upset. Wan’Dale isn’t quite at Moore’s level, but requires quite a bit of attention. And I touched on this before...OSU has to at least be adequate in keeping Adrian Martinez in the pocket.

Colin: Is this a bigger statement game for the 2019 Silver Bullets or Justin Fields?

Baver: Probably for Justin. Almost all of the Buckeye defensive players that will play Saturday night have played in a white-out in Happy Valley before. Justin Fields has not yet started a game in a hostile environment during his CFB career. His only road game was at Ohio Stadium West in Bloomington, Indiana.

Colin: Final thoughts and prediction on OSU v Nebraska?

Baver: In August, this is one of the games I feared the most. But from what I have seen from both teams so far, NU may get stomped. There is a big talent differential, and while Ohio St has looked like a machine, the Huskers look like they are at least a year away. I don’t see the Nebraska holding OSU under 40 pts. And while I think NU will challenge the Buckeye D, I don’t see them scoring north of 30. I’ve got Ohio State 45-24. 

Colin: What other games and lines will you be keeping an eye on this weekend? 

Baver: Not much, so I’ll add this first. Ohio St cannot lose this game. If they do, the word “fraud” will be mentioned over a million times next week after OSU looked almost flawless burying their sub-par opponents. If OSU is not on their game and gets pushed to the wall, they have to find a way to win in what will be the 372nd consecutive sellout in Memorial Stadium. 

Okay, other games/lines....I’d take Northwestern +24.5 at Wisconsin, and I see Notre Dame is now a 12.5 pt fav at home against Virginia. Both ND and Wisc are in tough situational spots after last weeks’ huge gms; I like the dogs in both games. That’s a solid Va team and Pat Fitzgerald teams usually up their game starting in late September.

 

Pencilstorm Interview: John J. Kulewicz for UA Council

There are five candidates running for three seats on Upper Arlington City Council.  Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters.  Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually leading up to the election and reposting all their answers together the last week of October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our second candidate, John J. Kulewicz, is featured below.

John J. Kulewicz
http://www.jk4ua.com/

What’s your vision for a potential Community Recreation Center?
In going door-to-door (which is most of what I do in my City Council campaign), the concept of a community center is the subject about which people ask most frequently.  And they ordinarily pose the question in a hopeful way.   

My response is the same to everyone: I am in favor of a community center if there is a suitable location and acceptable way to pay for it.  A highly-experienced Community Center Study Group is at work on examining the subject in order to find and present the information necessary to let the community decide.  If we can find the right place and a fiscally-responsible way to build and manage such a center, I would support it.   

Recreation would be an important part of such a center, in my view, but not the only purpose.  We could significantly increase the space available for meetings, exhibitions, entertainment, lectures, classes and other programs and functions with such a facility.  Our senior citizens, who built this community, also need a new facility. With higher taxes and rising property values squeezing them, this could be a way to give them more value in the community.  And we could help to define the character and future of UA with a community center. 

Keeping up with other suburban communities is a factor, of course, but I do not  believe that it should be decisive.  We have a lot of things in Upper Arlington that are the envy of most other places -- the quality of our homes and schools, the talent of our population, the relative stability of our surroundings and the proximity to OSU and downtown Columbus.  As an already exceptional community with a bright future due to these attributes, we should go about any innovation proactively and not defensively. 

Upper Arlington has had a record amount of development this year and continues to have increasing development pressure.  How do modernize our city while controlling the traffic and maintaining the community feel that makes us special?
The projected growth of Central Ohio’s population to three million people in the next decades will present great opportunities and challenges for Upper Arlington.  Our community will become increasingly attractive to new families and businesses due to the quality of our homes and schools and our proximity to OSU and downtown Columbus.  At the same time, the anticipated upsurge will pose increased demands on our basic city services and the aesthetics that we love here.  

Measures that we should consider to address increased vehicular traffic on the 346 miles of paved roads in UA include: (1) strict enforcement of speed limits; (2) one-side street parking (also a safety issue, to allow unimpeded fire and police access to homes and businesses); (3) development of systems for drone deliveries; (4) more and wider pedestrian sidewalks; (5) sensors that connect with apps to give us up-to-the-minute information as to traffic flow; (6) adaptive traffic signals and other means to improve timing at the fifty-two signalized intersections in UA; (7) more street lights; and (8) preparations for autonomous vehicle usage.    

The City Council can do its part in preserving the essential character of our neighborhoods by careful scrutiny and, if necessary, updating of the development ordinances and zoning codes.  We should always keep buffer zones and step-down areas between the specific commercial corridors of UA and our residential areas. It is no less important that the City Council keep an intensive focus on continued steady improvement of our fundamental municipal services. 

The one thing that we cannot do is fail to innovate.  To take no risks at all under these circumstances would be the biggest risk of all.  The best way to calculate the risks and take the appropriate ones is to engage the community as widely as possible before the die is cast on any significant change.  As one who has conducted most of his City Council campaign by going door-to-door in every neighborhood, I have seen first-hand the wealth of talent, insight, creativity and commitment that abounds in our community.  We have the solutions to the future right in our midst.      

When CompuServe was still headquartered in Upper Arlington, local income taxes from that commercial property represented approximately 35% of the City’s income tax revenue stream. Now that the Tree of Life court case is over, what should the city do to maximize that property and significantly boost our income?
The Tree of Life property is the largest block of commercial real estate in the City of Upper Arlington.  And the courts have now confirmed the validity of local zoning ordinances and other home rule measures as applied to such premises.   In looking to maximize its future, we need to start by respecting the fact that the land is privately owned.  The City has considerable development tools at its disposal, including targeted infrastructure development and support, tax increment financing and other property tax incentives, development finance programs and additional means.  Because of the huge scale of the Tree of Life property and the unique now-or-never timing, the cost-effective use of these tools in a way that will maximize the net benefits to UA taxpayers should be the top priority of the UA Community Development Department.        

If there’s one thing you could fix within our parks and recreation, what would it be?
As an avid marathon swimmer who owes my love of the sport to the first morning swim laps that I took at the Tremont Pool years ago, I want to find out if there is any reason that the City cannot have a program, in our existing public pools, through which every child in UA learns to swim by age five (a public health and safety issue, because drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children age fourteen and under).  I also want to actively examine ways in which we can create convenient access to the new Quarry Trails Metro Park across Riverside Drive. 

Remembering that Pencilstorm is typically a Rock N Roll blog, we’d like to end with a music question.  What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to and why?
The Rolling Stones concert at Barclay Center in Brooklyn in December 2012.  My entire family was able to go.  If we decide to build a community center, we should play “Gimme Shelter” on opening day.  

Pencilstorm would like to thank John Kulewicz for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about John at his website: http://www.jk4ua.com/. Look for responses from future candidates in the coming days. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.

Pencilstorm Interview: Michaela Burriss for UA Council

There are five candidates running for three seats on Upper Arlington City Council.  Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters.  Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually leading up to the election and reposting all their answers together the last week of October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our first candidate, Michaela Burriss, is featured below.

Michaela Burriss
www.citizensforburriss.com

What’s your vision for a potential Community Recreation Center?
I’m very supportive of the goal of a community center in Upper Arlington and will be following the Task Force commissioned by Council to examine the feasibility of a community center very closely.  

Currently while canvassing, I rarely hear from members of our community about specific items within a center that would be desirable. Instead, I often hear about support for a center generally and programming options they would like to see. There are elements that would add value to a potential center (auditorium, indoor pool, meeting spaces, recreational courts, rooms for health screenings, etc.) that I support, and have heard from our neighbors that they support. I’d like to continue to formulate my vision around what residents want and need.  

Community Centers in theory could have anything and everything, but in Upper Arlington we will need to examine space and cost challenges.  We are landlocked. Seeing our city maximizing the land available and going to the public with feedback on land acquisition, private-public partnerships, location, and cost will be necessary if we wish to present a ballot item to voters and hope for its success. I’m eager to do more listening and supporting our Task Force as they work through some of these questions, which must include how to balance these competing interests. 

Upper Arlington has had a record amount of development this year and continues to have increasing development pressure.  How do modernize our city while controlling the traffic and maintaining the community feel that makes us special?
In 2017, I proposed Neighborhood Commissions as a vehicle to consistently have engagement between residents and developers, allowing for more dialogue prior to plan submissions to BZAP. I stand by this or other proposals that will, in a proactive way, strengthen development projects and ensure they align with what UA wants to see within their community. 

The neighbors near Westmont had to hire an attorney, circulate petitions, and threaten ballot action to bring developers to the table. Having done so, they reached an agreement that allows for change and growth while addressing their greatest concerns, which included traffic.  This should have been Council’s role or could be the on going role of a Neighborhood Commission, sparing heartache, money, and time on both sides of the issue, thereby reaching a desirable outcome that grows our economic base. 

The issue of transportation, traffic, and safety was a motivator in my decision to run for office, and an area where my expertise and passion can add value to Council. If you are genuinely listening to our residents, it’s clear when development projects are proposed that this is their main concern (not building density and aesthetics). It’s our job to enhance the quality of life for UA residents. Whether they fear increased fuel and parking costs, carbon emissions, or automobile accidents, we must really listen to our residents when they voice their concerns about the traffic that will accompany growth. 

Fortunately, we are living in the most consequential region in the country when it comes to transportation technology. Central-Ohio’s receipt of the federal Smart Cities grant is bound to quickly change the way we move. Upper Arlington must have a seat at the table. As a Council Member, this will be a top priority for me. 

Mass transit is not just buses. We must partner with our residents’ major regional employers on automated ride sharing, shuttle services, etc. that will decrease traffic and put more money in our neighbors pockets. We must also work with COTA to provide information on routes and ridership interest. 

As community leaders, we have the opportunity to grow the perception of mass transit within UA and create a culture that improves our health and finances while making UA’s small businesses more accessible to a region becoming increasingly less dependent on cars.

When Compuserve was still headquartered in Upper Arlington, local income taxes from that commercial property represented approximately 35% of the City’s income tax revenue stream. Now that the Tree of Life court case is over, what should the city do to maximize that property and significantly boost our income?
Having spent 4 years with Small Business Majority, a national nonprofit small business organization, I’m uniquely qualified and connected to Central Ohio’s entrepreneurial community. 

Because entrepreneurs and new, small businesses present the greatest economic growth potential, leveraging that space for tech (ideally bio) and startups could allow for great partnership opportunities with Ohio State University. Incubators and other entities that are focused on start up growth would be attracted to UA’s educated population and proximity to downtown/OSU. 

Additionally, our residents want more things to do nearby. This includes additional retail/entertainment options. Retail is changing, however. Because of this, and like all other future projects and opportunities, it would be great to first ask residents what they believe would be most sustainable and what they feel they would most likely consume if located there.

It is valuable to note that at this time the use and options for the building ultimately fall to the property owner, so long as they meet our zoning laws. 

If there’s one thing you could fix within our parks and recreation, what would it be?
Upper Arlington is a high achieving community with high expectations. While I’m thankful we have a center for our seniors, it does not meet the high standards our community expects for city facilities and services. “Fixing” the senior center as part of a plan for intergenerational recreation and facilities, while maintaining the great services and programming provided to seniors, would be a priority for me. 

Remembering that Pencilstorm is typically a Rock N Roll blog, we’d like to end with a music question.  What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to and why?
Patrick’s first birthday after we were married, I surprised him at work in the afternoon. All his coworkers were in on my elaborate surprise: taking him to a Hall and Oates concert. They helped convince him to leave, and we went to one of his favorite places downtown (Nada). He was convinced we were going to The Avengers at the Arena Grand. I started worrying he would be upset when he found out otherwise. 

Concertgoers started arriving at the restaurant in black and white Hall and Oates t-shirts. He loved the shirts, and asked if WE were going to the concert. I panicked. Acting fast, I asked one of the t-shirt wearers, “Is there a Hall and Oates concert tonight??” Patrick, who never met a stranger, made conversation and fast friends. Meanwhile, I whispered to others nearby that he was being surprised with tickets. 

They sent birthday margaritas to our table. He was in such a joyful mood. It seemed everyone was in on it but Patrick, and everyone was working together to make sure his birthday was the best. We finished dinner and I asked, “Hey, do you want to see if they’re selling those shirts outside the venue?” He gleefully said, “YES!” 

We walked over, holding hands and laughing. We were at the intersection just before Express Live when I turned and said, “actually, honey, we’re going to the concert.” He was so overwhelmed and laughing so hard. When he finally could get a few words out, all he said was, “awww you’re a rich girl,” in reference to their popular song. 

That surprise concert for my husband’s 30th birthday is one of my fondest memories with him, my best friend. After all the singing and dancing to their hit songs, before heading home for the night, we bought two of those black and white Hall and Oates t-shirts.  We joke that it was more fun than our wedding!

Pencilstorm would like to thank Michaela Burriss for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Michaela at her website: www.citizensforburriss.com. Look for responses from future candidates in the coming days. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.

Dobbins, Fields, Sparty, Mich @ Wisc - Baver Answers Colins Questions: Miami Week

Colin: What impressed you about the OSU performance last week in Bloomington? 

Baver: The Buckeye running backs. The real test for Dobbins will be when Sparty comes to the Shoe Oct 5th, but Dobbins is starting to look like the stud back he was when he arrived at OSU in 2017. His top-end speed looks much better than a year ago. At this point, one has to wonder if Dobbins dealt with injuries that were kept quiet last season, because he looks like a different back. And how about Master Teague? 10 carries for 106 yards last Saturday. Love the authority he runs with. Teague was injured much of August, and the RB position at OSU looked questionable heading into the opener. But that is now turning into a position of strength for Ohio St.

Justin Fields didn’t have his best stuff against IU, but I was impressed with his demeanor. There was some talk that Fields can get down when things aren’t clicking, but he’s looked pretty cool and collected so far. Yeah, the suspect competition he has faced is playing a role here, no doubt, but Fields has handled things better than I expected. And I’ll keep saying it again and again...Fields has Ryan Day coaching him, so expect Fields’ game to improve steadily during the two years he will play here.

Colin: Is there really anything to say about Bucks v Miami? 

Baver: Not much. The 39-pt spread tells you pretty much what you need to know. I guess the most interesting thing I can say about Miami is that their starting QB is true frosh Brett Gabbert, who is the younger brother of NFL QB and former Mizzou standout Blaine Gabbert. At 6-0, 207 lbs, Brett is quite a bit smaller than his big bro. Miami blew out Tennessee Tech (an FCS school) in Wk 2, but was no match for Iowa (38-14 loss) and no match for Cincinnati (35-13 loss). The Ohio State University will be paying Miami $1.3 million dollars to get the snot knocked out of them Saturday. I’ve got the Buckeyes winning 49-7, with reserves playing most of the 2ndhalf.

Colin: Sparty and Maryland humiliated the entire conference last week. Do loses like this contribute to OSU dropping in polls despite their dominating performances? 

Baver: I don’t really think so. LSU had to be moved up with a road win over a (then) top-ten Texas team. With that win, the Tigers own the best win in CFB this year. All this stuff usually works out in the end. If the Bucks lose once, but beat Michigan and win the Big Ten Title game again, right now I’d wager that they’ll get in the playoff. Last year was more of the exception than the rule. At worst, the Big Ten East is the second-best division in CFB. 

The Maryland loss didn’t surprise me, but it is unreal how bad Sparty’s offense is. Dantonio needed to do something with an offensive staff that greatly underachieved last year. He responded by switching the positional roles of each offensive assistant, and kept every one of them. If I’m a Sparty fan, I’m pretty ticked off right now. In comparison, Ryan Day needed to do something with a defensive staff that greatly underachieved last year. Day responded by retaining only one defensive coach, and look how the results he has seen with this Buckeye D.

Colin: Finally, two huge games this week. Thoughts on Michigan at Bucky Badger and Domers on the road at Georgia? 

Baver: As we talked about last week, that UM team has SO many problems. I think most thought the Badgers would be bigger than a 3.5-pt favorite at home. The logic against a bigger spread would be that there shouldn’t be many pts scored by either team in this game. And Michigan was a 6-pt favorite in this one at betonline.ag in August (in their Games of the Year lines). So, the spread has moved 9½ pts since then. I’m guessing a lot of bettors see the Wisconsin value now being deflated, if they were to bet Wisconsin at -3.5. Hence, not as much money being bet on the Badgers.

Still, I see a Michigan team with no heart. And though it may be a sucker bet, I’ve been called worse than a sucker before. So, sign me up. I like the Badgers -3.5. 

Brian Kelly has just not fared well against elite opponents, and Georgia is no doubt “elite”. Georgia eked out a win in South Bend two years ago, but has taken giant strides as a program since then. In terms of ND against elite opponents, the 2012 title game comes to mind where Bama beat them 42-14. The Irish lost 44-28 to OSU in the Fiesta Bowl to conclude the 2015 season. And ND of course got whitewashed 30-3 by Clemson in the CFB playoffs last year. I like the Dawgs giving the 14.5 here.

—Brent Baver and Colin Gawel