USA takes on Japan today at 2:30 for the right to play for the gold.

Two days ago, the USA beat the Japanese 19-5. Now, they must beat them again to advance to the World Games title game.

If you are Coach Pressler, do you play the starters the majority of the game hoping to improve on team chemistry?

Or do you rest them knowing full well that a titanic grudge match against John Grant Junior’s behind the back shot awaits Saturday morning?

This is often a hot button issue during the final month of the NFL season when playoff spots have been determined. But in the NFL, you have days to recover and days to lose momentum before your next game.

There is just one off day separating the semi finals from the finals.

The US will have played 6 games in 8 days heading into the gold medal game. Only the Canada game was close and that was played July 17th.

If you believe the team is well rested and can recover in time for Saturday, you can play the starters as normal.

If you do not believe they are rested or need more time to heal nagging injuries, you play them one quarter or less.

Two sides to your faceoff coin.

Here’s what’s going to happen today.

Coach Pressler isn’t going to draw any attention to the idea of resting players for Canada. Because identifying the need to be 100% healthy for the next game suggests that we are the under dogs and more importantly it suggests that we are afraid we’ll lose again and all the criticism of the roster selection will boil over.

This is a a fragile team. Some of the players on the roster likely feel like they don’t belong in lieu of the preliminary round loss.

Coach Pressler has to do anything and everything he can to remove pressure on this unit.

How does he do that today?

Don’t mention Canada.

Play the starters for at least 75% of the game. Maybe they’ll find something new. But at least they’ll stay sharp.

Saturday morning is going to be an amazing.

STX tweaked their homepage.

In comes graduated senior Gavin Petracca who led the Heels last year with 48 points.

Things We’d Buy

This shirt from Barstool Sports.

Among others.

Any of these new custom socks from Elevation.

More examples here.

Team socks have gotten so big one of the UNC players said he’d rather they get rid of two of their four helmets and spend that money on socks.

Then, as if to reinforce the notion that he didn’t care for extra helmets, he gave one away to a camper.

Things We’d Buy if We Lived in the UK

Yes even with the Department of Redundancy Redundancy Division checking in on the sleeve.

You can think about all the things you would buy if you were in England here.

What happens when whales take PEDs.

Intrepid indeed. Might as well have named it Sea Weed.

Who let this happen?

For the record, Katie Holmes cannot act.

For the record, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is one of the most amazing humans of all time.

What lunatic cast Katie Holmes as Jackie O?

Doesn’t matter that this is for a History Channel miniseries. This casting decision is as offensive as Alex Trebek’s microphone size.

Wait, I don’t get it.

I thought he was in jail.

Notes

Coaching moves at Dartmouth

Laxpower’s 64 team high school tournament is back

Interview with our favorite author Bret Easton Ellis on his new book Imperial Bedrooms

Atlanta Thrasers ban the vuvuzela at home games

Last chance for Rocket Pops. The ice cream truck is pulling away.