Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill for October 07, 2022

So the “Thorp Special” is… a forward pass? On 3rd-and-10 in American football?! Truly Gil is a tactical genius such as the sporting world has never before seen.

Rodney Barnes does WHAT again? Run the “Thorp Special?” Apparently, not for a touchdown—Marty’s crappy play-by-play doesn’t say what he did (again), other than go into halftime tied, and no PAT shown. Sheesh!

Is that anything similar to the Cleveland Steamer?

If Marty can read the play call, why not Goshen’s coach? And didn’t General Custer also say “it always works” ?

What the hell has happened to this strip? It used to be enjoyable but it’s absolutely awful now.

THEEIIRRRRRR BAAAAACCCKKK! Who doesn’t love them some UNC blue uniforms worn by Milford’s opponents?

Fistpump Man is showing out at this game. Oh Sign Man, where art thou?

In all reality , what’s with the "trap door " on the center’s uniform pants ? On cold days does the QB put his hands inside to keep them warm ? Inquiring minds want to know !

I’ve also been reading this strip for more years than I can remember, and I don’t recall ever seeing the “Thorp Special” before. Unless it’s part of the loofah drill. And I’m embarrassed that an alcoholic low life in his Crap Shack recognized it before any of us snarkers. I just woke up, but I think I need a drink.

I usually like a fresh take on an old strip but this is just bad. If I want family drama BS I’ll go read Mary Worth.

P3- The perception is Milford scored a TD. Cortez Beecher clone Rodney Barnes does it again? Never saw what he did the first time.

“The Thorp Special”, give me a break! I’m the one that came up with it, but, heaven forbid “The Great One” doesn’t have his name attached to anything good.

How many sharks can one comic strip jump?

Elias should be benched for questioning Gil’s decision.

P2: At first I thought Gilpa had changed into an official’s shirt. That’s real home field advantage. Yep, the “Red-33” signal is a dead giveaway the Thorp special’s going to “be done”.

Shouldn’t it be “run” the Thorp Special? Do the Thorp Special sounds like a dance.

What’s so special about it if even that old boozer Marty can tell what it is before they run it?

C’mon Vito, Goshen’s not covering that spread. It’s time to start breaking some limbs.

Elias is never going to see the promised land with that attitude

Tied at halftime 42-42. Setting up Toby for a 50-yard field goal on the last play of the game

It always work against the Hapless Goshen Clowns, anyway.

You can’t stop the “Thorp Special”, you can only hope to contain it!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXY68bgEISA

P2: Fistpump man had better not make a Maude Flanders move, standing up there.

P2: Goshen in Carolina Blue

P2: If Marty can recognize the call all the way up in the booth, Goshen’s coaching staff shouldn’t be surprised when Kaz fires all of them next year.

P2: Interesting offensive formation. Either Elias is getting the football from nobody, or the angle is odd but the center is at the end of the line.

P3: Goshen back to pastel teal.

P3: How did Rodney actually catch that ball with that hand position while he’s being tackled?

I’ve been reading this strip since the early ’90s (living in a Milford myself, it felt necessary). But honestly, for the last decade it was only the Comics Curmudgeon that kept me reading. I think this is the first time in a while that I am reading everyday without a side of snark. I am here for it!

Apparently Milford received billions in Covid relief. Kaz now lives in a penthouse and Milford stadium looks like The Big House in Ann Arbor.

I remember the “Red Lodge” in Twin Peaks. What’s the “Red Hut”?

Sherlock’s song of the day (P-3) “Put Your Arms Around Me and Hold Me Tight”.

P1- “But Coach, that’s the parking lot”.

Okay, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Moon didn’t know The Thorp Special was being set up based on the formation, but that he was just wondering out loud if this was the right situation to call for it. Although having the broadcaster know all your plays is a bit disconcerting. And speaking of disconcerting, it would be very disconcerting if you were to skip reading today’s Mopped Up Thorp.

https://moppedupthorp.wordpress.com/