COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 8: A visit to Baylor High
KEEPING UP WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Every Sunday starting in October, after the first BCS rankings are out, Mack Brown gathers his team and talks about the landscape of college football.
Where the Longhorns are ranked; who’s ahead of them and who’s creeping up. Where Texas stands in the Big 12 South and who they might be playing from the North in the Big 12 title game.
What were the big upsets from the previous and what were the close calls.
Brown said he does that to inform his players, who will be asked about it all week, so they might as well know.
Then there’s Bob Stoops, who says he never talks to his team about other games or rankings or standings.
Stoops said spending energy or focus on other teams is a waste of time. “You can’t do anything about it,” Stoops said. “Focus on what we have to do. We still have five Big 12 games left. A lot could change and has in the past.”
I’m not saying one method is right and another wrong. I’m not saying one method is better than another. To me it’s just interesting that two highly-successful coaches approach a similar situation in such drastically different ways.
BAYLOR HIGH
Going to a game at Baylor is fun. It’s sort of a throwback. Like going to a high school.
No offense intended. But you can drive right up to the stadium. We parked on some grass, walked right in. That’s the way you do it at most high school stadiums. I’ve never done that anywhere in college football, with the exception of Northern Illinois, and that’s going back a quarter century.
The fans turned out decently and cheered, but it wasn’t life or death. The post-game was low key. Didn’t need an army of security officers.
Baylor, of course, would like to change all that. But there’s something charming about going to a game in Floyd Casey Stadium.
TEN BIGGEST LOSERS OF THE WEEK
10. Southern Cal defense: Remember when the Trojans had a defense for the ages? You know, back in September. USC held Ohio State to 15 points, Washington to 16 and Cal to three. But in victories over Notre Dame (34-27) and Oregon State (42-36), the Trojans have proven vulnerable. Oregon State had 482 total yards and 22 first downs.
9. Louisiana-Lafayette: Only one carrot exists for a Sun Belt team. Win the league and go to the New Orleans Bowl. The Ragin’ Cajuns were keeping step with Louisiana-Monroe and Troy - and had both of those foes at home – until a 51-29 home loss to Florida Atlantic.
8. Indiana: The Hoosiers were flirting with bowl eligibility, with a 4-3 record and a 28-3 lead over Northwestern. But the Wildcats scored the final 26 points of the game, including a game-winning field goal with 21 seconds left. Now IU is 4-4 with Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State awaiting.
7. Lane Kiffin: The Tennessee coach had a chance at a landmark victory - an upset of second-ranked Alabama, in Tuscaloosa. But Bama blocked a 44-yard field goal on the last play of the game, and Kiffin was partly to blame. He let the clock run down in the final 30 seconds, settling for a 44-yarder. Kiffin must have thought he still was in the NFL, where a 44-yard field goal is close to automatic. Not so on campus.
6. Michigan: Rich Rodriguez’s rebuilding has gone awry again. The Wolverines lost 35-10 at home to Penn State, and while 5-3 Michigan will make a bowl, it will be hollow. Other than Notre Dame, the Wolverines’ victims are Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Indiana and Delaware State.
5. Notre Dame hearts: Unbelievably, the Irish played their sixth straight game that went right down to the wire. Notre Dame beat Boston College 20-16 only when Brian Smith intercepted a pass with 98 seconds left in the game. That game was a rout compared to the final-seconds finishes the previous five weeks.
4. Miami: The Hurricanes were on a BCS track until the longest volley since Evert-Navratilova. Miami and Clemson took turns scoring in a game with 10 lead changes; Clemson won 40-37 in overtime and knocked Miami into fifth place in the ACC Coastal Division.
3. South Florida’s reputation: The Bulls’ collapse is happening again. In 2007, South Florida started 6-0 with victories over Auburn, North Carolina and West Virginia but finished 9-4. In 2008, USF started 5-0 with victories over Kansas and North Carolina State but finished 8-5. USF this year started 5-0 with a win over Florida State but has lost two straight, 34-17 to Cincinnati and 41-14 at Pitt.
2. Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson: Bo Pelini has returned big-time defense to Lincoln, but Nebraska’s offense is awful. The Huskers committed eight turnovers in a 9-7 home loss to Iowa State, a week after a 31-10 home loss to Texas Tech. Husker fans have been calling for a quarterback change. Soon enough, they will call for a coordinator change.
1. Mike Leach: Sometimes, the emperor wears no clothes. Texas Tech’s 52-30 home loss to Texas A&M brought out the worst in Leach, who referred to his players listening too much to their “fat little girlfriends.” Then Leach declined to revise his comments. Hey, I know you love Pirates, Mike, and I know pirates were mean. But let’s just admit it. A&M’s toy soldiers took it to your pirates.
REALITY RANKINGS
Rankings based not on what we think a team might do but what a team has done.
1. Iowa:
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. Cincinnati
5. Georgia Tech
6. Southern Cal
7. Boise State
8. TCU
9. Oregon
10. Texas
RADIO WARS
Driving back to Dallas from Waco on Saturday evening, we went old-fashioned and listened to football on the radio. Texas Tech-Texas A&M and Texas-Missouri.
A&M’s radio crew was not very good. Way too emotional. Couldn’t really follow the game. UT’s Craig Way, of course, is a fantastic announcer. Texas-Missouri was a much less interesting game but much more listenable simply because of the broadcaster.
TEN BIGGEST WINNERS OF THE WEEK
10. MiQuale Lewis & Cory Sykes: The Ball State tailbacks set an NCAA record for single-game rushing yards by two teammates. In a 29-27 victory over Eastern Michigan - in a battle of winless teams - Lewis rushed for 301 yards on 26 carries and Sykes for 203 yards on 23 carries. And it was a good thing; Ball State completed just two of 10 passes for 1 yard.
9. San Diego State: Brady Hoke’s first year with the Aztecs got a big boost with a 42-28 victory at Colorado State, With a home game against New Mexico approaching, San Diego State could get its first two-game winning streak since Chuck Long’s 2007 team.
8. Running game: Navy did not throw a pass in beating Wake Forest 13-10. In a torrential downpour, Navy ran triple option to raise its record to 6-2. Navy also beat SMU a year ago without attempting a pass, becoming the first team since Ohio U. in 1997 to not throw a single time.
7. Oregon mindset: The Ducks dismantled Washington 43-19 in Seattle, the same site where the Huskies upset Southern Cal. That should soar Oregon’s confidence going into this week’s USC-Oregon showdown in Eugene.
6. West Virginia fans: The Mountaineer fan base gave Connecticut a standing ovation as the Huskies took the field in Morgantown, in recognition that UConn was playing with a heavy heart in the wake of the murder of cornerback Jasper Howard. West Virginia’s fans were treated to a good game, too, won 28-24 by the Mountaineers on Noel Devine’s 56-yard TD run with 2:10 left in the game.
5. Houston Nutt: Arkansas didn’t want Nutt as coach after the 2007 season, so Nutt went to Ole Miss and now Nutt twice has whacked the Razorbacks, 23-21 a year ago in the Ozarks and 30-17 Saturday in Oxford.
4. TCU’s BCS hopes: The Horned Frogs went to Brigham Young and rolled the Cougars 38-7. Now TCU has moved ahead of Boise State in the BCS and might stay there.
3. Christian Ponder: Florida State has had quarterback problems since Chris Weinke won the Heisman in 2000. But those days seem gone. Ponder threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns as the Seminoles rallied from a 24-6 deficit and beat North Carolina 30-27. Ponder this season has completed 70 percent of his passes with 12 TDs and one interception.
2. State of Iowa: Few days have been so glorious in the Prairie State. First, Iowa State crossed the state line and won in Nebraska, 9-7, for the first time since 1977. Then Iowa protected its unbeaten season with a thrilling 15-13 win at Michigan State, earned when Ricky Stanzi threw a seven-yard TD pass to Marvin McNutt on the last play of the game.
1. Old coaches: Troy’s Larry Blakeney is 62. His team beat North Texas 50-26. Florida Atlantic’s Howard Schnellenberger is 75. His team beat Louisiana-Lafayette 51-29. Florida State’s Bobby Bowden is 79. His team beat North Carolina 30-27. Penn State’s Joe Paterno is 82. His team beat Michigan 35-10. Kansas State’s Bill Snyder is 70. His team beat Colorado 20-6. South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier is 64. His team beat Vanderbilt 14-10. Nevada’s Chris Ault is 62. His team beat Idaho 70-45. UTEP’s Mike Price is 63. His team beat Tulsa 28-24. San Jose State’s Dick Tomey is 71. His team didn’t play, which is good news for whoever they would have played. Old coaches had quite a week.
BLOCK PARTY
We ate dinner Saturday night at Uncle Julio’s a Mexican place at Wycliffe and Lemmon just north of downtown Dallas. Very good. I would go back.
And it was about the best people watching you’ll ever see. It was a block party in the Cedar Springs area, which meant tons of people in Halloween costumes strolled up and down the streets. Saw some wild stuff.
Dallas is an underrated city. I’ve always liked it. Lots of interesting neighborhoods. Traffic is bearable, if you know what you’re doing. Lots going on. And parts of it are very attractive. The Dallas skyline is gorgeous. You don’t have to have mountains or oceans to look cool.
BOWL PROJECTIONS
With the upheaval in the Big 12 North, did you know the Big 12 could have 10 bowl-eligible teams? Not that there are enough slots to go around.
New Mexico Bowl, Dec. 19, Albuquerque, N.M.
Air Force vs. Nevada
St. Pete Bowl, Dec. 19, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Connecticut vs. Central Florida
New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 20, New Orleans
East Carolina vs. Troy
Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 22, Las Vegas
Utah vs. California
Poinsettia Bowl, Dec. 23, San Diego
BYU vs. Oregon State
Hawaii Bowl, Dec. 24, Honolulu
Tulsa vs. Fresno State
Emerald Bowl, Dec. 26, San Francisco
Kent State vs. Stanford
Motor City Bowl, Dec. 26, Detroit
Marshall vs. Central Michigan
Meineke Bowl, Dec. 26, Charlotte, N.C.
Clemson vs. Pittsburgh
Music City Bowl, Dec. 27, Nashville, Tenn.
Boston College vs. Georgia
Independence Bowl, Dec. 28, Shreveport, La.
Texas A&M vs. Tennessee
Champs Sports Bowl, Dec. 29, Orlando, Fla.
North Carolina State vs. South Florida
EagleBank Bowl, Dec. 30, Washington, D.C.
UCLA vs. Navy
Holiday Bowl, Dec. 30, San Diego
Oklahoma vs. Oregon
Humanitarian Bowl, Dec. 30, Boise, Idaho
Wyoming vs. Idaho
Texas Bowl, Dec. 30, Houston
Nebraska vs. Northern Illinois
Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 30, Fort Worth, Texas
Colorado State vs. Texas-El Paso
Sun Bowl, Dec. 31, El Paso, Texas
Kansas State vs. Arizona
Insight Bowl, Dec. 31, Tempe, Ariz.
Northwestern vs. Kansas
Chick-fil-A Bowl, Dec. 31, Atlanta
Miami vs. Kentucky
Outback Bowl, Jan. 1, Tampa, Fla.
Michigan vs. Ole Miss
Capital One Bowl, Jan. 1, Orlando, Fla.
Wisconsin vs. South Carolina
Gator Bowl, Jan. 1, Jacksonville, Fla.
Virginia Tech vs. Notre Dame
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, Pasadena, Calif.
Iowa vs. Southern Cal
Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1, New Orleans
Alabama vs. Boise State
Cotton Bowl, Jan. 2, Arlington, Texas
LSU vs. Oklahoma State
Liberty Bowl, Jan. 2, Memphis, Tenn.
Houston vs. Auburn
International Bowl, Jan. 2, Toronto
Rutgers vs.Ohio
PapaJohns.com Bowl, Jan. 2, Birmingham, Ala.
West Virginia vs. Arkansas
Alamo Bowl, Jan. 2, San Antonio
Minnesota vs. Texas Tech
Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 4, Glendale, Ariz.
Penn State vs. Cincinnati
Orange Bowl, Jan. 5, Miami Gardens, Fla.
TCU vs. Georgia Tech
GMAC Bowl, Jan. 6, Mobile, Ala.
Missouri vs. Temple
Big Bowl, Jan. 7, Pasadena, Calif.
Florida vs. Texas
Who will win the Big 12 … South?
I asked Bob Stoops who will win the Big 12 North. He laughed and said, “Who’s going to win the Big 12 South?”
That, my friends, is an example of optimism. Stoops isn’t giving up, not yet, on catching the Longhorns and the Cowboys, who play Saturday night for South Division supremacy after the Sooners seemingly have been kicked to the curb.
You can’t blame Stoops for standing in swinging. Twice in the last three years he’s lost to Texas and still won the Big 12 title. But 2009 will be a harder road for such a script.
OU needs Texas to lose twice. It’s happened before and I suppose could happen again, but not likely, in this watered-down conference that might be as bad as it’s ever been. Heck, even if OSU beats Texas on Saturday, the Cowboys might need someone else to beat Texas.
OU has a puncher’s chance at a three-way tie. If OSU beats Texas and OU beats OSU, and the teams win out the rest of the way, then presto, under three-way tie. But this time, Texas almost certainly would advance as the South representative, because of the BCS standings. The Longhorns would be ranked higher than both OU and OSU under such a scenario.
So the Sooners need Texas to lose somewhere else. Either at Baylor on Nov. 14, or home vs. Kansas on Nov. 21, or at Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night. You can’t rule out an upset by the Aggies –they’ve done it before — but it’s not very likely.
At least the Cowboys have their fate in their own hands. Beat Texas and win out, and OSU is the South champion. Of course, winning out is doubly difficult for State, since the Cowboys have to play in Norman on Nov. 28. The Sooners have lost just two games at Owen Field since the John Blake days.
Let’s give OSU, Texas and OU victories in all the other games in question. What kind of chance does each have?
Let’s say OSU has a 35 percent chance against Texas. I think that’s about right. Let’s say OSU has about the same chance against OU. Let’s say Texas has a 90 percent chance against A&M.
So, Texas’ chance of winning the South is 81.5 percent. OSU’s chances: 12 percent. OU’s chances: 6.5 percent. Tall, tall odds for anyone besides the Longhorns winning the South.
Mack Brown: Tip-toeing through the tulips
The Austin American-Statesman’s Kirk Bohls asked Mack Brown a simple question Monday. Do you believe in the law of averages?
Mack said yes. Well then, Kirk responded, doesn’t that concern you Saturday vs. Oklahoma State, which has been snakebit vs. the Longhorns and is due a little luck? Isn’t it about time an OSU program that has been ridiculously close in this series finally beats the Longhorns?
Well, no, Mack said. “I’d rather be in our position than theirs.”
As soon as he said it, Mack regretted it. He wondered how that quote would play on Stillwater bulletin boards. The truth is, Mack didn’t mean anything by it and was simply being honest.
Mack started stammering. “I like my wife, she likes living in Austin,” he said, trying to humorously explain his position comment. Then he turned analytical. “I always look at facts,” Mack said. “Look at stats, conference stats more than out of conference. I look at depth charts. Those all are things that are in our favor over time.”
Hey, Mack. It’s not complicated. Texas is in a better position for two reasons. 1. The Longhorns have been better than OSU over these last 11 years, when the ‘Horns have won every game in the series despite some wild shenanigans. UT has finished with a better record than the Cowboys every single year. 2. Texas is in a much better position this year, unbeaten and ranked third, while the Cowboys are 6-1 and ranked 14th.
And finally, it gets down to this. OSU, and most every other program in the Big 12, is trying to be like Texas, in terms of winning and support. That kind of status is what OSU and Missouri and Tech aspire to.
None of that really has anything to do with the law of averages. I agree with Mack. I believe in them, too. Keep playing close games with OSU, and Texas will start losing some of them. Maybe Saturday.
So long, Sam: Bradford’s place in OU history
Before the season, it seemed almost certain that Sam Bradford would become the greatest quarterback in OU football history. Of course, before the season, Bradford’s shoulder wasn’t in a sling.
Bradford effectively announced his retirement from the Sooners, saying he would have shoulder surgery Wednesday and then hopefully enter the NFL draft. Bradford’s shoulder was separated twice this season in trips to Greater Dallas, the latter against Texas on Oct. 17.
So Bradford’s career ends after two seasons and change. Alas, he won’t move up on the list of greatest Sooner QBs.
Before the season, I ranked Bradford No. 4, despite a Heisman Trophy season in 2008 and a stellar rookie year in 2007. I had Jack Mildren No. 1, Josh Heupel No. 2, Jason White No. 3.
If you want to rank that trio in a different order, I have no great quibble. Here are the factors I use to historically judge a quarterback’s career.
Stats: Always important, but you have to analyze them within context. Quarterbacking in the 2000s is different from quarterbacking in the 1970s, which was different from quarterbacking in the 1950s.
Honors: Important, but don’t follow them off the cliff. Voters all over America gave Bradford in 2008 and White in 2003 enough ballots to win the Heisman but Heupel in 2000 and White in 2004 not enough. I’m not inclined to let a TV reporter from Providence or a writer from Sacramento decide who is the greatest quarterback in Oklahoma history.
Longevity: How many great seasons did a quarterback have? Two great seasons are better than one. Three great seasons are better than two.
Value: This is an intangible. What kind of impact did a quarterback make on the program?
The latter is where Mildren and Heupel soar. Both changed the culture of Sooner football. Mildren really was outstanding for just a year-and-a-half, while Heupel was a junior college transfer who played only two seasons. But their impact was profound.
Bradford couldn’t match Heupel or Mildren on importance, but he clearly was going to reign above them on everything else. His stats, even adjusted for the crazy offense of the 21st century, are off the charts. His honors were either going to be the equal of White’s or better, and clearly superior to Heupel or Mildren. And Bradford’s three-year career would have elevated him to the top.
No quarterback in OU history, with the possible of exception of Jack Mitchell in the 1940s, has played three superb seasons. Bradford absolutely was going to achieve such status, and that would have lifted him above the other epic Oklahoma quarterbacks.
Instead, his career ends in disappointment. Bradford had two great years, but his two years clearly were not as great as White’s. White won a Heisman and finished third in another Heisman vote. If Bradford falls shy of White, then he falls shy of Mildren and Heupel, too.
Bradford leaves OU one of its five Heisman winners and its most popular player ever. But Bradford is not the greatest Sooner quarterback ever.
Big 12 North: Wild, wild race
The leaders of the Big 12 North are Kansas State and Iowa State. When the sun rises next Sunday morning, the leaders might very well still be Kansas State and Iowa State. Who would have thought?
The crazy results of Saturday — Iowa State’s 9-7 upset of Nebraska in Lincoln; North favorites Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas all losing for the second straight week — means literally any of the six teams could play in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 5.
Here are the six teams and their remaining schedules:
Kansas State 3-1: at OU, Kansas, Missouri, at Nebraska. If the Wildcats can sweep those two home games against KU and Mizzou, they will finish no worse than 5-3 and probably win the division. But if KSU splits those games, it could be looking at 4-4.
Iowa State 2-2: at Texas A&M, OSU, Colorado, at Missouri. The Cyclones, only one win shy of becoming bowl eligible, could go anywhere from 2-6 to 6-2. The best guess would be 4-4.
Kansas 1-2: at Texas Tech, at Kansas State, Nebraska, at Texas, Missouri in Kansas City. The Red Raiders suddenly seem vulnerable, but the Jayhawks have a rough schedule. Getting to 4-4 would be a major feat.
Nebraska 1-2: at Baylor, OU, at Kansas, Kansas State, at Colorado. Again, no telling. The Huskers play great defense and horrid offense. Nebraska should win in Waco, but otherwise, who knows? Again, 4-4 would be a solid finish.
Colorado 1-2: Missouri, A&M, at Iowa State, at OSU, Nebraska. I figured the Buffs had two automatic wins in conference — A&M and Iowa State. Not now, not after Saturday, when the Aggies rolled in Lubbock and I-State pulled the Lincoln shocker. I still think Colorado has an excellent chance to get to 4-4 or even 5-3.
Missouri 0-3: at Colorado, Baylor, at Kansas State, Iowa State, Kansas in KC. The schedule finally softens for Mizzou, but it might be too late. If the Tigers can win in Boulder, they just might play KU at the end of the season with a shot at the title. Lose to CU, and the season is in official free-fall.
So, how should we analyze the North? Let’s do this. Let’s project the standings with games we’re pretty sure about, then list the remaining games.
K-State 3-2: KU, Missouri, at Nebraska.
Iowa State 2-3: at A&M, Colorado, at Missouri
Kansas 1-3: at Tech, at KSU, Nebraska, Missouri
Nebraska 2-3: at KU, Kansas State, at Colorado
Colorado 1-3: Missouri, A&M, at Iowa State, Nebraska
Missouri 1-3: at Colorado, at Kansas State, Iowa State, Kansas.
So Kansas State has a clear advantage. A game or two edge. We could project further and just give the home team a win in the tossup games, though home teams certainly didn’t earn such consideration with their performances Saturday.
Doing that leaves us with standings that look like this:
Kansas State 5-3
Colorado 4-4
Iowa State 3-5
Nebraska 3-5
Kansas 3-5 (winning vs. Mizzou at Arrowhead)
Missouri 2-6 (losing vs. KU at Arrowhead)
So there you have it. Kansas State appears to be in the driver’s seat, with Colorado next in line.
Emails in on OU scheduling & Dez Bryant
The new emails are in, and there’s OU-Texas talk and lots of Dez Bryant dialogue but even more response to my column imploring Bob Stoops not to abandon his competitive non-conference schedules. And here’s the interesting part. Every OU fan agreed with me.
Sixto: “Really enjoyed your column about scheduling. OU had a heck of a schedule this year, and even though the team has been decimated by injuries, in retrospect they acquitted themselves quite well. The losses hurt like hell, but what this team’s youngsters have gained in terms of big game experience is invaluable. Sooner Magic has definitely jumped off the Schooner this year: a few plays here and there, a few breaks falling our way, and I can certainly see this OU team sitting at 5-1 or even 6-0 through this gauntlet. I am looking forward to the rest of the season and to a nice mid-tier bowl game in December that will most likely feature a pretty intriguing matchup (would love another crack at LSU). And those who have beaten OU had better get their licks in this year, because with the experience this team is accumulating, they will be salty and ready to take their rightful place again next year. Especially if Bradford decides to return, which I am thinking he probably will to bolster his plummeting draft stock.”
Well, I don’t think Bradford’s coming back, but I do think OU will be pretty good next year. Offensive lines tend to improve, and no way the Sooners can be any worse at receiver. Much more importantly, the defense should be stout again.
Larry: “I remember the old days when I couldn’t wait to see next years’ schedule and get excited about a big-name program that I would actually see in person. I didn’t want to see Southern Arkansas A&M. I wanted to see another marquee team that otherwise I would never see in person. What would John McKay, Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Hayden Fry, Grant Teaff, Chuck Fairbanks, Ara Parseghian, any of these guys say about playing Northwest Mexico School of Arts and Sciences? It would be beneath them to play anyone other than a top quality, tough, scrapping opponent of equal capabilities, personnel, coaching and facilities. Beyond my little realm of reality of Stroud, OU played these big names that I would never travel to or see - Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Syracuse, Notre Dame (I couldn’t even control myself), Clemson, Navy, Wisconsin. Stay on board and stand up for what is right, not what has evolved.”
You know what I remember? I remember the flags that used to rim the top of OU’s Memorial Stadium. A flag for all the non-conference teams that the Sooners had played. North Carolina and Maryland and Navy and all the other opponents. Somehow, I don’t think Chattanooga and Idaho State belong in the same league.
Rick, obviously no OU fan, disagreed with the premise: “Here we go again. What a load of crap. I know it is your job to sell newspapers and coddle these poor Sooner fans, but have you ever thought about printing the TRUTH? Here are the three main problems I have with your article. 1) You act like Bob scheduled these games when you and I both know that Joe is the one who makes the schedule. 2) You state that Oklahoma football stands for something. Big stages and big games. But yet two weeks ago when Bob was asked if he would play Iowa, he said, ‘I do not see any need to unless it is for a championship.’ Does that sound like a coach who is not afraid of a big game? 3) Sooner fans don’t care who they play as long as they can beat them. I have five friends who are so-called Sooner fans, yet every one of them sold their tickets to the Texas game this year. I asked every one of them if they did it because they thought Texas would win. Every one said yes.”
Lighten up. What are you so angry about? Enjoy life. If football eats at you this much, go find something else. Golf. Water skiing. Sailboating. All kinds of great things out there. Don’t let something ruin your life. As for your ridiculous statements, which show you to be someone without a clue on college football: 1. OU doesn’t pull the trigger on any scheduling without Stoops’ OK. 2. Stoops wants to avoid Iowa not because the Hawkeyes are good, but because that’s his alma mater and he has a lot of friends there, including the head coach. I disagree with him on this, but if you ask him if he’d be willing to play Michigan or Michigan State or Wisconsin, the answer would be, “sure.” 3. You need a better class of friend.
Greg has an idea to improve scheduling: “I know the teams who play in BCS bowls have to cough up a portion of their winnings to their conference, but what about having a rule that requires those BCS teams to cough up some portion of their winnings to each of the non-conference teams they beat to get to the game in the first place? The money could be proportionate to the level of non-conference opponent. In other words, Idaho State would receive more than Brigham Young and Miami more than Brigham Young, etc. That way maybe a school gives a little more thought to who it schedules since it may have to pay twice (first for the home game, then for its BCS appearance). And the school that receives the gift winnings will have extra to help its program.”
If you’re going to make a rule like that, why wouldn’t you just make a rule imposing scheduling standards?
Joe: “Enjoyed your OU article focusing on the scheduling. I agree. As a fan of OU, I would much rather see the high intensity games than the gimmes. If we get beat, so be it, at least the game was worth watching. I’m glad OU is known for its difficult schedules and isn’t lumped into the groups like Texas, Florida, K-State, etc. who make a joke of competition.”
Let’s be fair. There are three classes of schedules. The total give-ups, who schedule no one. The serious schedules, like OU’s and USC’s and Georgia’s. Then the large mass in the middle, in which teams schedule one legit foe and three easy games. Ohio State and Florida are prime examples.
Billy: “You’re right. Would we have played LSU and Florida in the Big Show if we played a sissy schedule?! I doubt it. AD Joe is doing the right thing.”
The answer is no.
Joe: “Could not agree with you more. I’ve been a fan since the Jack Mildren days. It has been a tough year, but I guess this makes the championships and wins against the Shorthorns even sweeter. I’m in Washington state, what is the feeling down there? I hate to say, but I think the rest of the season will be a struggle.”
I would say the feeling is more encouraged now than after the other two losses. Less angst.
Steve: “You were right on target. I would rather play tough schedule and perhaps lose than have a game over by the first quarter playing a much lesser squad.”
It goes back to the Kosmo Kramer theory. Remember on Seinfeld, when Kramer was dominating in karate class, only to find out he was fighting 9-year-olds? That’s what it’s like playing Idaho State. It’s immoral.
Roger: “I agree with you and the article you wrote regarding OU playing a tough and respectable schedule as opposed to playing a cupcake schedule and being ranked in the top five. I personally have no respect for high profile programs who play cupcake schedules and strut around like they’re top dogs. Sure, they’re in the top five or 10 or whatever and they’ll play in some major BCS or bowl game. Big deal. That’s why we need but will not have in my lifetime, a playoff system.”
I’m not sure a playoff system would help. The wrong kind of playoff system would weaken the schedules even more.
Russell: “Good advice in your column today. My sentiments exactly. If the injury problems did not strike OU this year, I have no doubt they would be at the top of the BCS polls. Pride, honor and self respect do matter.”
Oh, I don’t know if OU would be 6-0 without injuries. Probably they would. But OU hasn’t played well even factoring in the injuries. That’s not the issue. The issue is standing strong even when others choose to flee.
Ed: “Your column was right on. I was there Saturday and proud of my team. We didn’t always play smart, but we played hard and courageously. I’ll take that any day. I’m now 0-7 at the Cotton Bowl and 0-9 in games away from Norman, but I’m already looking forward to being at the Cotton Bowl next Oct. 2. Texas is not much better than we are right now, even in our wounded condition, and the reason they win 10 each year is to a considerable extent because of the Louisiana Monroes and UTEPs of the world.”
You know, I think Texas deserves the bad rap it has on scheduling. But it might only be temporary. The Longhorns once played tough games. UCLA and Ole Miss are coming up soon. Maybe the ‘Horns will rejoin the prideful.
Eddie: “Right on with your view on the Sooner schedule. I love playing a diverse, tradition-rich schedule. I started taking my son to away games in 1996 when he was 13, thought it would be a great way to keep a bond through his teenage years. Fourteen seasons and three grandkids later we still go every week (his wife has latched on, also). Lots of overnight driving. I’m very excited about future games. I say all this to illustrate that although losses still eat at me for days (2001 OSU still!), us and thousands others enjoy our place among the hierarchy and wouldn’t have missed out on so many trips and memories.”
You’re exactly right. Idaho State makes no memories.
Jim: “After reading the article, I wanted to stand up and sing, ‘Glory, Glory, Hallelujah.’”
Everyone should. Maybe the greatest lyrics ever written.
Bradley: “I agree. Leave that soft schedule stuff to Kansas State.”
See what I mean? K-State actually has been playing decent schedules this decade. Louisville, USC, UCLA. But it’s hard to shed such a reputation.
Jonny: “As a Texas fan, I admit that I wish the Longhorns would schedule more marquee names. However, we need to keep in mind that these games are scheduled 4-6 years in advance at times and no one knows how good a team will be. Sure, the USCs, Ohio States and Oklahomas of the world tend to be great teams, but every once in a while they have a down year. No one can predict when that may occur. On the flip side, no one knows when a top 40 team suddenly has a great streak and becomes a top 25 squad. That is what’s going on with BYU, and Miami is starting to come out of their years of mediocrity. Sure, we know that Miami will most likely field a better squad than Arkansas State, but it doesn’t mean Miami will have any real chance of winning. By the way, Idaho State is on the schedule and that was a “money game” for OU. Can’t have pride 11 weeks out of the year. Gotta go all the way.”
So that’s the Texas battlecry? You played Idaho State? And you’re pulling out the old schedule-in-advance argument? Silly. Miami in its worst year is better than Wyoming, Central Florida or UTEP in its best.
Tom: “Although I respect the job Snyder did at KSU, the one thing I never appreciated about him and I think held him back in the esteem of many was the pathetic year after year scheduling. I have some other non X and O’s (I leave that to the coaches) concerns about the program right now. I listened about two weeks ago to an interview with a respected former SEC coach about the problems that led to the Fulmer termination. Looking at the game on Saturday, some of the things the old coach brought out about the Tennessee problems brought chills and the thought could this be occurring as incrementally and really not noticed as in Tennessee. I sure hope not. Some of the points included assistants that left for head jobs not replaced by equally talented assistant coaches, lack of fire in recruiting, getting the bottom of the best not the top of the best (not to infer bad just not the top) based more and more on reports and less and less on personal interaction to judge not just the 40 time but the entire person, an incremental element of complacency among support staff etc. and an element of cautious optimism and lack of willingness to take a chance as was done in the early years.”
Incrementally? I’d say so. The Sooners remain the reigning Big 12 champions, three years running. I know that mantle is about to be lost, but for crying out loud, this is getting silly. The Tennessee saga is interesting and worth looking into. But the idea that OU has fundamental flaws in its system is absurd.
Since we’re starting to talk this season and coaching, let’s get right to it. James: “Your defense of our coordinators is pathetic. Could you stop being a bootlicker for once. Venables has been an assistant for 15 years. If he’s so great why has no one hired him to be a head coach? Bob Stoops has become just like Phil Fulmer. Lazy and complacent. He only hires his buddies and cronies. That’s OK. We’ll just keep losing games and Stoops will end up like Fulmer and Tuberville and all the other complacent coaches. P.S. Sonny Crockett called and he wants his hairdo and wardrobe back.”
Hey, I got a haircut. But don’t expect Stoops to fire a coach who just turned Colt McCoy into a dazed and confused quarterback.
Bob: “I have to admit that I was wrong about the defense going brain dead sometime in the game. They did not give up the big pass to Shipley. It was a great game. Reminded me of the games of old where the score was 17-14 instead of 45-41.”
Well, yes, I certainly think Brent Venables shed a lot of burden from his back.
Mark, a Venables critic: “Had to reply. Venables put together an incredible defensive scheme with different personnel which worked great. You were right, I was way off base. Frustration brings out the finger pointing, therefore lesson learned. Lost in all of the articles, Clayton’s hands. He could have scored once or twice if he catches the ball, bummer. Those are the plays this team is lacking, which has cost them three games.”
I actually cut Clayton some slack. Catching the ball is not his job. Linebacking is.
And some general Sooner talk. Josh: “If OU tanks the rest of the year and goes 6-6 or 7-5, they could go to the Independence Bowl. From the 1999 Independence Bowl to the 2009 Independence Bowl with a national championship and a rollercoaster ride of 10 years in-between. In 1999, if you would have told me that we were playing in the Independence Bowl in 2009, I would have thought we would have gone through another two or three coaches.”
Well, no way OU is going to the Independence Bowl. First off, I don’t think the Big 12 will fill all its bowl slots. And the Insight or Sun or someone will take the Sooners before the Independence comes along. And I don’t know what I thought in 1999, when the Sooners were just glad to be back in the bowl business.
Derek: “We watched the game at Caesar’s sports book in Vegas. The Texas contingent was quite large - and disappointing. On the play in which Sam went down, they cheered lustily. That’s OK for the play. It was a big sack and all. But when the replay ran showing Bradford hurt, they cheered again. I never recall Texas fans acting in such a boorish fashion. They aren’t Nebraska fans, of course, but I always held Texas fans to a higher standard. Oh well.”
I wouldn’t think Vegas is the best place to judge a fan base.
Brian: “Texas fans obviously cheered the sack on Bradford, as they should. It was a big play. Then that roar quieted down, as all cheers do. But when Bradford went back down, obviously injured and in pain, the Texas fans erupted in cheers. You could see thousands of them jumping up and down, arms raised in jubilation, the fans in a prolonged cheer. It was obvious from the stands that the Texas fans were cheering the injury, not the play (they had already cheered the play 20 seconds before). I’ve never seen anything so classless, and I attended the 2004 Sugar Bowl against LSU. And it wasn’t just a few fans– it was a huge percentage of their end of the field, maybe even a majority. Texas fans, players, coaches and administrators should be ashamed of their fans’ behavior. They owe Bradford an apology for cheering his injury. My question is why haven’t you or anyone else written about this?”
OK, so maybe the Texas fans were the same in the Cotton Bowl as in front of the slot machines. Anyway, I didn’t write about it because I don’t think it was out of the ordinary. Most fan bases display little class. Decent people act indecently when in a crowd. OU runs a video in which Boren asks the fans to treat the visitors with hospitality and courtesy. Then 30 seconds later, the other team runs onto the field and OU fans boo. That’s just the way fans are.
Terry: “It seems like the last time OU had a QB that could also run when needed or as an actual offensive threat was Jason White (pre-first knee injury). It also seems that the most successful college teams of late have had a QB who could run. Landry Jones, who appears to be the OU QB for the rest of 2009 and beyond, doesn’t look like he has any special running ability. Do you think OU is missing something here?”
No. Vince Young and Tim Tebow were quite the runners. Matt Leinart was not. OU chooses the classic pocket passer, and it’s worked great. It’s worked great for USC. Other schools have running QBs and that’s worked great for them. The key is to have a great QB, not a certain kind of QB. Know what you want, then go get a great one.
Chad: “How did the talent level at OU get so bad on offense? I thought big programs just reloaded?”
Easy. OU’s recruiting slipped on receivers. Chalk that one up to the coaches. And it culminated in a year when the line was rebuilding and the franchise quarterback goes down. Not a good competition.
Bert: “You seem to acknowledge OU would have won had Sam not injured his shoulder. I guess that’s a change of opinion because not you, not anyone on your staff thought that when you unanimously voted with Texas to win the game. There’s something called loyalty, Berry. When a team’s fans and supporters don’t think a team can win, then sometimes that team, when the hour is darkest, loses confidence in themselves. For a team that should have won this game in your ‘what-if’ scenario, it sure would have been nice to see some loyalty by the Oklahoman staff. Suggesting otherwise on Sunday morning is just a little late.”
Bert, if you’d go downtown and talk with your buddy Ernie, you would learn that predicting games that haven’t played and analyzing games that have been played are two different things. And for the record, athletes by their own testimony are more motivated by negative reinforcement from the media. In other words, the Sooners would rather us pick against them. Not that it worked.
Enough OU. Let’s go on to Dez Bryant. Some OSU fans commented on my Dez Bryant column. Craig: “Your article on Dez Bryant hit the proverbial bulls eye dead center. Excellent thoughts with regard to the statement, ‘A good lawyer would have helped Dez. A good father would have helped more.’”
That’s not to be construed as saying a good father who is a good lawyer is best of all.
Brad: “On the Dez issue, I feel like with the NCAA’s power, maybe someone like Boone or whoever, if he were to make a huge issue out of how unfair the NCAA is being, maybe they will just hold off even longer or pick on the Cowboys even more to make an example.”
Maybe this is a ship I’ll go down on, but I refuse to believe the NCAA plays favorites or holds grudges. People smarter than me swear it’s true, but I refuse to believe it.
Clay: “I would like to commend you on your article concerning Dez Bryant. Your analysis regarding this OSU ballplayer is 110% correct, and this comes from a huge OU supporter. It irks me to no end that the QB from Ohio State a few years ago takes money, ala Rhett Bomar, and gets a two-game suspension, while Dez Bryant is put in perpetual purgatory for lying. There is no justice whatsoever in the NCAA. Brian Bosworth was right.”
Let’s not get carried away. But you make a great point. NCAA justice is uneven. Much like the American judicial system.
Tony: “Thanks for the article about Dez. Great article. As a long-time OSU fan (I’m only 30 years old but have been a Cowboy fan my entire life), I understand the need for consequences. With that said, I agree with all points in your article.”
You know, I think Boone Pickens is right. The problem here isn’t necessarily the penalty. It’s the waiting. Make a decision, NCAA. Justice delayed is justice denied.
Kenneth: “I’m glad I don’t get in this much trouble every time I lie. ‘Yes officer, I saw the light, but I thought it was still yellow … Oh, I’m not allowed to claim that as a business expense on my taxes … Yeah, I’m calling in sick, I must have ate some bad tuna.’ If I was a college athlete, I’d add lawyer to my need for school supplies.”
Hey, I’m not exonerating Dez. He lied. He should be punished. I just think he’s been punished enough.
Hiram: “Thank you for your constant efforts to bring back Dez. Not because of football, but because a young man of his character deserves the grace and mercy you are exemplifying.”
Actually, Dez’s character is the problem. He deserves no grace. But that’s what grace is. Mercy for the undeserved.
James: “I couldn’t accept the NCAAgetting uptight about a simple ‘no’ answer to the question, ‘Did you meet with Deion Sanders?’ I suspect the NCAA thinks that the meeting was an agency-broker deal and they probably have some slight proof to that. Nothing else makes sense. Sanders’ denial on ESPN about arranging a meeting with his broker makes me suspicious. He’ll do anything for a referral fee, and Dez is a big-time prospect.”
I don’t know if Deion Sanders is looking for referral fees, but he does long for the spotlight. And it’s getting innocent, naïve athletes caught in his snare.
Gary: “Why is it that everyone finds infractions Dez Bryant’s and others’ as being so drastic as to call for somewhat severe penalties and yet USC continues to go scott free after the Reggie Bush, and others, debacle. Does USC have a seat on the NCAA infractions committee?”
Here’s my question for all the USC conspiracy theorists? Why the Trojans? Why would the NCAA prop up USC? Maybe there’s a reason. I just don’t know what it is.
Vince: “I’m not normally one to give a guy a pass on lying, but certainly his upbringing has to be considered. He won the ovarian lottery in the talent pool but clearly lost the lottery in the parent pool. Too bad for the kid. He’s a once in a generation type receiver for OSU.”
I’m not really advocating consideration of Dez’s upbringing. I’m advocating consideration of most players’ upbringing. These guys are placed in strange and difficult situations and expected to conform. It doesn’t always go smooth.
And then, the general topic writers. Larry: “After watching the Florida-Arkansas replay and after further reflecting on all the other instances I’ve witnessed in recent years when phantom penalties saved highly-ranked Mighty Powers’ bacon late in close games versus rank outsiders, I am really starting to wonder if ABC/ESPN/CBS haven’t corrupted major college football. Let’s face it, there’s big dinero involved, and the BCS conferences know precisely which teams the networks would prefer to see in the BCS bowls and in the national championship game. If the networks could literally restrict those January games to the same 9-10 schools year after year, they would be perfectly happy to do so. The leagues get the message, and it shows up in crunch time. I hate to think it, but every year, it seems, something otherwise inexplicable happens to hand-deliver a game (or two or three) to a member of The High and the Mighty, thereby saving their seasons from derailment at the hands of some underdog. It just happens too often. It has started to reek of fish.”
Well, I don’t believe it, of course. And is it true that powers get the good calls? I mean, Oklahoma’s Texas Tech (2005) and Oregon (2006) fiascos certainly swim against this theory. But I also don’t believe the networks have a huge stake in protecting the big guy. The networks love upsets. And if the networks only loved the big guy, they would fund a reorganization that would ban the little guy.
Thunder: Time to draft AC/DC
AC/DC, the rock band whose “Thunderstruck” has become a theme song of the NBA team here in Oklahoma City, plays in Dallas on Nov. 2. AC/DC then has a day off before a Nov. 4 concert at the Ford Center in OKC. On Nov. 3, the Thunder hosts the Lakers.
Are you thinking what I’m thinking? I’m thinking what a reader thought when he emailed me with the idea of having lead guitarist Angus Young, a rock legend, show up and play “Thunderstruck” into riff.
“That would be a blast,” the reader wrote. And I agree.
Clay Bennett, Gary Desjardins, Mo Cheeks, Kevin Durant, I don’t care who. Somebody call in some markers and get AC/DC and Angus Young in the building for the Lakers. Not that Oklahoma City needs amped up for Kobe and the lads, but the Ford Center would rock like never before if AC/DC jump-started the atmosphere.
College Football Week 7: Options galore
BRING BACK THE ‘BONE!
Georgia Tech is 6-1 and ranked 12th. The Yellowjackets are 4-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and play brain schools (Virginia, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Duke) between now and Georgia on Nov. 28.
So I think we can agree that Georgia Tech’s rough part of the schedule is over and we can adequately analyze how the ‘Jackets’ triple-option offense has fared.
Famously is the answer.
Paul Johnson’s offense, imported from Navy for the 2008 season, ran for 309 yards against Virginia Tech in a 28-23 win last Saturday. The Jackets rushed for 401 yards vs. Florida State, 317 yards vs. North Carolina, 301 yards vs. Clemson and 213 yards vs. Mississippi State (but with 266 passing yards, on just 11 completions).
And if you think that sounds a lot like Barry Switzer’s old wishbone days, here’s the kicker. Georgia Tech ran for just 95 yards on Miami. Switzer knows that feeling, too.
Football is a copycat game. If Paul Johnson can win by running the option at Navy and Georgia Tech, someone else will try it. The offense will spread like the spread.
Will it work in other ports?
“Sure it could,” said Bob Stoops. “It would still be effective.”
The benefit of the triple option in the current climate is the mystery. Few teams run it, so defenses rarely see it.
“You have to spend more time understanding it,” Stoops said. Then you don’t get to use any of those principles the rest of the year.
Time was, Mike Leach’s offense had the same advantage. Now, all kinds of teams use Leach/Hal Mumme principles. You see it all over the Big 12, for example.
The option, not so much. As in any.
“”It makes it challenging,” Stoops said.
You would think a school like Iowa State or Vanderbilt or someone would embrace the option. In a way, Northwestern has, with some success.
But as Georgia Tech is proving, the option doesn’t have to be the home of the downtrodden. A school with a fighting chance should install the option and send its conference mates into a frenzy. A Stanford. A Purdue. A Pitt.
In fact, here’s the perfect school to go back to the option. Colorado. The Buffs have shown over the decades that they can recruit. Run that option in the thin air, and no opposing coach would get a wink of sleep the entire week he’s playing Colorado.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SKYSCRAPER
One of my favorite lines from the David and Goliath story is this.
When they David to stay away from the giant, they said, “He’s too big to kill.”
David responded, “He’s too big to miss.”
I thought of that story Saturday morning getting to the Cotton Bowl.
We left our Las Colinas hotel at 8:38 a.m., 23 minutes later than planned. Had a parking-pass miscue and some miscommunication and some general punctuality problems, so five of us piled into a Grand Cherokee at 8:38.
I was supposed to do my Sports Animal radio gig at 9:20. Seemed like a longshot to make it. In fact, some of the rookies in the backseat speculated how close to kickoff we would cut it.
I guessed we would park by 9:10. Johnny Damon Fontenot, our trusty videographer, had the faith. He said 9:14.
We pulled in at 9:12. Here’s how we did it. We drove towards downtown until the tiniest bit of traffic backup. Then we got off I-35.
Do not - I repeat DO NOT - sit in game-day traffic in Dallas. That’s for suckers.
Even if you don’t know where you’re going, you can find the Cotton Bowl, because you can find Fair Park, because you can find downtown. They’re too big to miss.
Fair Park is about a mile, mile and a half, east of downtown, just south of I-30. So anytime you’re driving to the game, get off, go towards downtown, then get east.
It’s not complicated at all. There are no specific streets. Dozens will get you there.
Now, this getting off the trail and going all Lewis & Clark sometimes doesn’t pay off.
I’ve always heard that if you back up in Denton going into town - and you always back up in Denton - to get off on State Highway 380, go east to the Tollway and then south.
Well, Denton backed up even before we got to Denton, so when we reached 380, off we went. But we didn’t go all the way to the Tollway. We meandered south and back west and then back east, trying to find I-35 in Lewisville, where the road usually opens up.
It did and we did. But it took a long time. Not sure we saved anything. But I saw some country I’d never seen before. Bartonville, for example, where these gorgeous housing additions just spring up out of nowhere.
Anyway, I always recommend getting off the freeway. It’s a chance to see America. And it’s a chance to get to the stadium on time.
TEN BIGGEST WINNERS OF THE WEEK
10. Tony Moeaki: Not since 1985 has Iowa started 7-0 (Chuck Long, anyone?), but this Hawkeye tight end made sure the drought would end. He had a 24-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter to tie - Moeaki’s third long TD catch in the last two games - and a tough catch in traffic in the fourth quarter to set up a game-sealing field goal.
9. Jahvid Best: California had fallen from Pac-10 contention and Best had fallen from Heisman Trophy contention. A 45-26 rout of UCLA probably won’t jump-start the Bears’ Rose Bowl hopes, but it might bring the spotlight back to Best, who had a 93-yard touchdown run and a 51-yard TD catch. Best needed those big plays; in Best’s other18 touches (17 runs, one catch) he accounted for just nine yards.
8. Tyler Hansen: The Colorado quarterback was handed the reins at the expense of Cody Hawkins, son of coach Dan Hawkins, and Hansen responded by leading a 34-30 upset of Kansas. Hansen becomes CU’s quarterback of the present, not to mention the future. The only question is, will that future include Dan Hawkins?
7. SEC squabbling: First Lane Kiffin and Urban Meyer. Now Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban. Spurrier accused Alabama of using tape to mark the spot for placing the ball on field goals. Saban says Bama won’t do it again.
6. Texas: The Longhorns survived what is annually their toughest test, Oklahoma, 16-13, and now are on track to reach the national title game, if they can win in Stillwater.
5. Matt Barkley: The true freshman quarterback wasn’t perfect. He threw an interception that gave Notre Dame life. But Barkley completed 19 of 29 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns and served notice that another Heisman Trophy could be in USC’s near future.
4. Pac-10 shootouts: 45-26 (Cal over UCLA), 34-27 (USC over Notre Dame), 24-17 (Arizona State over Washington on Danny Sullivan’s 50-yard TD pass to Chris McGaha with five seconds left) and 43-38 (Arizona over Stanford). The latter game was the best, as Mike Stoops’ team rallied from 15 points down. Stanford’s Andrew Luck (423 yards) and Arizona’s Nick Foles (415 yards) had the two biggest passing games of the week. But it was two long TD runs - Greg Nwoko’s 43-yarder, Nic Grigsby’s 57-yarder - in the fourth quarter that lifted ‘Zona.
3. ACC races: Both divisions tightened. The loaded Coastal was set up for a possible three-way tie when Georgia Tech beat Virginia Tech 28-23. Virginia Tech routed Miami, but Miami routed Georgia Tech. And that trio doesn’t even lead the Coastal; Virginia is 2-0 in the ACC with victories over North Carolina and Maryland. In the Atlantic Division, Clemson’s 38-3 rout of Wake Forest forged a logjam. Boston College leads at 3-2, followed by Clemson and Wake at 2-2.
2. Cincinnati quarterback carousel: The Bearcats reached the Orange Bowl last season despite a string of quarterback injuries, which gave Tony Pike a chance to shine. Thursday night, Pike suffered an arm injury in the second quarter against South Florida, yet backup Zach Collaros built on Cincy’s 17-10 lead. Collaros ran for two touchdowns, including a 75-yard burst, as the Bearcats won 34-17.
1. Mark Ingram: The Alabama sophomore stamped himself as a Heisman Trophy contender (maybe the leader?) with a 246-yard rushing game against South Carolina. Ingram now has 905 yards in seven games.
ANCHORS AWEIGH
Deer Creek’s Tyler Tidwell, who played linebacker at Navy from 2003-06, was named to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium’s all-time team last week.
Tidwell helped lead Navy to three straight Commander-In-Chief trophies and three straight bowl games. Navy was 27-10 in Tidwell’s four years, including a 10-2 mark in 2004. As a junior, Tidwell recorded a school-record 10 sacks, while his 19 tackles for a loss are the second most in school history. He finished his career with 16 sacks, the third most in school history.
The team was selected as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, which is No. 2 on my bucket list of college football venues I want to visit.
Oh heck, I’ll just give you the whole list.
1. Army’s Michie Stadium
2. Navy’s Marine-Corps Memorial Stadium
3. Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium.
4. California’s Memorial Stadium.
5. Penn State’s Beaver Stadium
6. LSU’s Tiger Stadium
7. Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium
8. Brigham Young’s Lavell Edwards Stadium
9. Michigan’s Michigan Stadium
10. Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium.
I’ve been to most of the other great ports in college football.
PICNIC TIME
Saturday night we left the Cotton Bowl later than expected, after 8 p.m., and had to run back to the hotel and pick up our car to drive home. Everyone was beat, and the Boss declared, hey, if you want to stay another night, it’s not that expense. Our rooms were $79 a night at the Courtyard; you can always get great weekend deals in Las Colinas.
Anyway, the vote said stay, so that’s what we did, and it gave us a chance to watch OSU-Missouri.
We walked across the street to a Boston Market and got takeout. I’ve never been to Boston Market; it’s sort of a Furr’s to go type of place.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I love Furr’s.
Boston Market was just OK, I thought, but the ensuing picnic was fun. It’s sort of a tradition.
Twice at the Fairfield in Kansas City during NCAA Tournaments, we’ve gone down the street to Gates Barbeque and brought it back to the Fairfield dining room to watch hoops. So that’s what we did at the Courtyard, sat in their lounge area and watched OSU-Missouri, five of us, not counting a random fan who sat and watched and seemed intently interested even though I never could figure out if he was an OSU or a Mizzou man.
Anyway, a hotel picnic, watching ball after a hard day’s work, not a bad way to unwind.
REALITY RANKINGS
1. Alabama: Seven wins, all by double digits.
2. Iowa: Hawkeyes piling up the road wins.
3. Cincinnati: Just like last year, Bearcats roll no matter who plays QB.
4. Florida: Close call vs. Arkansas.
5. USC: Trojans finish with three straight home games.
6. Boise State: Beware game at Hawaii.
7. Miami: Schedule opening up for ‘Canes.
8. Georgia Tech: Beware game at Virginia.
9. Oregon: Ducks host USC on Halloween Night.
10. TCU: Showdown at BYU this Saturday.
FREE ADMISSION
I walked into the Fair without showing my pass or without getting my bag checked.
I went to a line that turned out to be some kind of entrance for players’ tickets. Some Texas guy seemed all perplexed about something and kept the line stagnant.
I walked around to see what the problem was, and no one seemed to notice me. So I just kept walking.
Everyone feel safe.
TEN BIGGEST LOSERS OF THE WEEK
10. Nebraska defense: The Cornhusker D played great against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders were held to 259 total yards - 263 under their average - and just 47 in the second half. But Tech stuffed Nebraska’s offense, and the Huskers lost 31-10, damaging their Big 12 North hopes.
9. Gene Chizik: The Auburn coach was on top of the world two weeks ago. But after a 21-14 home loss to Kentucky, the Tigers are 5-2, and with games remaining against LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama, the losses could keep mounting for the coach ripped for his poor record at Iowa State.
8. Mike Sherman: A 62-14 loss at Kansas State, which a week earlier had lost 66-14 at Texas Tech? How can it get any worse for the second-year Texas A&M coach? Here’s how. A&M goes to Tech this Saturday.
7. Heisman Trophy race: When Jimmy Clausen’s pass fell incomplete, letting Southern Cal escape Notre Dame with a 34-27 victory, and Tim Tebow again failed to excite despite Florida’s victory over Arkansas, the Heisman race went wide open, not with interesting candidates, but lack of the same.
6. Baylor bowl hopes: What began as such a promising season - a road win at Wake Forest, led by quarterback phenom Robert Griffin - has disintegrated. The Bears lost 24-10 at Iowa State to fall to 3-3, and with games remaining against Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech, Nebraska and Missouri, Baylor’s chances of going 6-6 are remote.
5. Ron Zook: The Illinois coach reached the Rose Bowl in 2007, his third year on the job, but now the Illini have bottomed out. They are 6-13 in their last 19 games, including 1-5 this season after a 27-14 loss at lowly Indiana which sentences Illinois to last place in the Big Ten.
4. Ralph Friedgen: The Maryland coach started out great, going 31-8 his first three years (2001-03). But he’s 35-33 since, including a 20-9 home loss to Virginia, and Friedgen’s job security is about gone.
3. Terrelle Pryor: The Ohio State sophomore hasn’t developed as a quarterback. In a 26-18 loss at Purdue, Pryor committed four turnovers: two fumbles and two interceptions. He ran 21 times for 34 yards and completed 17 of 31 for 221 yards. Pryor’s season stats are incredibly mediocre: 56 percent completion, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Now even Pryor’s high school coach is questioning the Buckeyes’ use of Pryor.
2. SEC refs: Officials called an apparently-phantom personal foul penalty on Arkansas, extending a Florida drive that tied the game in the fourth quarter, and the Gators won 23-20. Not the first time this season an SEC crew that bungled a huge call. SEC commissioner Mike Slive suspended the crew until Nov. 14.
1. UConn: The most horrible thing that can happen to a football team - the death of a player - struck Connecticut when cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed and killed Sunday morning. Scoreboards and schedules no longer seem that important to the Huskies.
BOWL PROJECTIONS
Seems like a good time to start our weekly bowl projections, and here’s something to keep an eye on. The Big 12 probably won’t fill all its bowl slots. Right now, I project only seven Big 12 teams to get bowl eligible. Meanwhile, eight Pac-10 teams might get bowl eligible, even though the Pac-10 plays more conference games than does the Big 12.
New Mexico Bowl, Dec. 19, Albuquerque, N.M.
Air Force vs. Nevada
St. Pete Bowl, Dec. 19, St. Petersburg, Fla.
South Florida vs. Central Florida
New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 20, New Orleans
East Carolina vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 22, Las Vegas
TCU vs. California
Poinsettia Bowl, Dec. 23, San Diego
Brigham Young vs. Oregon State
Hawaii Bowl, Dec. 24, Honolulu
Tulsa vs. Fresno State
Emerald Bowl, Dec. 26, San Francisco
UTEP vs. Stanford
Motor City Bowl, Dec. 26, Detroit
Northwestern vs. Ohio
Meineke Bowl, Dec. 26, Charlotte, N.C.
Duke vs. West Virginia
Music City Bowl, Dec. 27, Nashville, Tenn.
Clemson vs. Georgia
Independence Bowl, Dec. 28, Shreveport, La.
Missouri vs. Kentucky
Champs Sports Bowl, Dec. 29, Orlando, Fla.
North Carolina vs. Minnesota
EagleBank Bowl, Dec. 30, Washington, D.C.
Connecticut vs. Navy
Holiday Bowl, Dec. 30, San Diego
Oregon vs. Texas Tech
Humanitarian Bowl, Dec. 30, Boise, Idaho
Utah vs. Idaho
Texas Bowl, Dec. 30, Houston
Tennessee vs. Arizona State
Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 30, Fort Worth, Texas
Colorado State vs. SMU
Sun Bowl, Dec. 31, El Paso, Texas
Kansas vs. Arizona
Insight Bowl, Dec. 31, Tempe, Ariz.
Michigan vs. Nebraska
Chick-fil-A Bowl, Dec. 31, Atlanta
Boston College vs. Ole Miss
Outback Bowl, Jan. 1, Tampa, Fla.
Ohio State vs. LSU
Capital One Bowl, Jan. 1, Orlando, Fla.
Wisconsin vs. Ole Miss
Gator Bowl, Jan. 1, Jacksonville, Fla.
Virginia Tech vs. Notre Dame
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, Pasadena, Calif.
Southern Cal vs. Iowa
Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1, New Orleans
Florida vs. Georgia Tech
Cotton Bowl, Jan. 2, Arlington, Texas
Auburn vs. Oklahoma State
Liberty Bowl, Jan. 2, Memphis, Tenn.
Houston vs. South Carolina
International Bowl, Jan. 2, Toronto
Rutgers vs. Toledo
PapaJohns.com Bowl, Jan. 2, Birmingham, Ala.
West Virginia vs. Arkansas
Alamo Bowl, Jan. 2, San Antonio
Michigan State vs. Oklahoma
Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 4, Glendale, Ariz.
Boise State vs. Penn State
Orange Bowl, Jan. 5, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Miami vs. Cincinnati
GMAC Bowl, Jan. 6, Mobile, Ala.
Wake Forest vs. Central Michigan
Big Bowl, Jan. 7, Pasadena, Calif.:
Alabama vs. Texas
Boone Pickens: Any ideas?
I got a note from Boone Pickens on Tuesday, after he read my column calling for Dez Bryant’s eligibility to be restored by the NCAA.
“Thanks for a succinct analysis of the Dez Bryant issue. It’s unfair to hold someone up. A sentence should be given for whatever it’s for. What else do they have to study? If you have any ideas on what else we can do to help, I’m all ears. Boone”
I told Pickens I had no idea how to make the NCAA move. My only idea was to shed some light on the unfairness of the situation. Maybe if enough people say, wait a minute, is this what you really want to do?, then something might move. As Pickens said, “It’s a sad deal for the kids.”
But isn’t it interesting? Pickens, the OSU benefactor who is like a collegiate owner, a man who has funded Cowboy football into a competitive franchise much like Phil Knight has at Oregon, isn’t calling for restoration of Bryant’s eligibility. He’s just asking the NCAA to decide.
Is that such a huge request? Think about it. As Pickens suggested, what else does the NCAA need to know? If the NCAA wants to stay hard-core in its punishment of Bryant for lying to investigators, fine. Say so. Say, hey bud, you’re gone for the rest of the season. If there’s room for leniency and a three-game suspension is sufficient, say so. Don’t make a three-game suspension a six-game suspension just because it’s more convenient for committee members’ schedules.
But isn’t it also interesting that Pickens feels helpless in this situation? This is one of America’s most influential businessmen. He’s a man who is accustomed to getting things done, usually his way. A man who thinks he can take on the task of changing American energy habits.
And yet Pickens’ hands are tied by the NCAA. Not that he could buy off the NCAA or even influence the NCAA committee. But it’s an odd juxtaposition. In Texas wildcatting or water rights, in hedge funds and billion-dollar deals, Pickens is right at home. But when it comes to getting an NCAA committee to decide one way or the other, Pickens is out of ideas and even asking for help.
I’m pretty sure Boone Pickens rarely is out of ideas.
Think about that the next time you hear about someone wanting to take on the NCAA.
Missing Dez but not Hunter
I wrote about Dez Bryant in today’s Oklahoman, and no doubt the Oklahoma State Cowboys miss their all-star receiver. Some say Dez would be a Heisman candidate, had he not missed those three games, and when you look at the lack of contenders for the award, they could be right.
Sam Bradford is out, Colt McCoy has slumped, Tim Tebow is playing OK but not spectacular. Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame might be the favorite. If Dez hadn’t missed those three games and was reeling in touchdown catches and returning punts for touchdowns — and there’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t be — then he would be in the discussion.
And the Cowboys have missed Dez, no doubt. But here’s what’s interesting. They haven’t missed their other all-American, tailback Kendall Hunter. Backup Keith Toston has always been a solid player (well, since that fumble-marred performance at Troy in September 2007 that allowed Hunter to ascend up the depth chart) but has become a force in Hunter’s absence.
Toston is running hard and catching well. Against A&M, Toston had 26 carries for 130 yards and two catches for 74 yards, including a 40-yarder. Against Missouri, Toston had 24 carries for 87 yards, plus seven catches for 54 yards. He was a big-play man vs. the Aggies and a workhorse vs. Mizzou.
Toston does not have the home run ability of Hunter. But Toston is tougher; he can produce the rugged yards in tight games that sometimes are needed.
OSU is best when it has both tailbacks. It would be great for the Cowboys if Hunter can return soon — coach Mike Gundy says Hunter has practiced for two weeks, it’s just a matter of when he can make full cuts and handle the hurt of a sprained ankle — but until he does, the tailback position is in good hands with Toston.
