Here are the important headlines in the aftermath of the 8th week of college football, brought to you in a new all-audio format.
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Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Headlines Week7 2018
Rainy Afternoon in Memphis Leads to Dramatic Turnaround
Riding the nation's longest winning streak of 18 games, the UCF Knights faced their toughest test of the year on a road trip to play the Memphis Tigers. After the Knights scored the game's 1st touchdown on a short run by running back Taj McGowan, UCF eventually fell behind by a score of 20-7 five minutes into the 2nd quarter. UCF's star quarterback McKenzie Milton cut the deficit in half with a 75 pass completion for a touchdown to wide receiver Gabe Davis, but Memphis responded with a drive that ended with a field goal. The Knights' offense then went cold, giving the Tigers the ball right back, an opportunity they used to complete a quick touchdown drive. UCF tallied a field goal before the half but still faced a sizable 30-17 deficit.
Things looked much the same until a light rain starting to fall in the 3rd quarter. The drizzle increased to a steady rainfall, which caused 3 consecutive turnovers by the teams. However, the Knights adjusted quicker to the changing conditions and on 4th and 1 play in the third quarter, the comeback began. Using a clever play in which they snapped the ball quickly after a lot of big lineman strode up to the line of scrimmage, a play that you can rely on to usually get you a yard or two, Taj McGowan instead broke completely through for an unexpected 71 yard TD run. The Knights would end up take the lead on a brave touchdown run by McKenzie and barely hang on for a one-point victory. The 31-30 triumph extends their winning streak to 19 games!
Another Exhilarating Week of Chaos
Like a jokester that comes around to poke you in the ribs, the sneaky character known as "Chaos in the Top 25" made another appearance. A total of 7 teams in the Top 25 were defeated Saturday, including 4 in the Top 10 alone. For sake of brevity I will focus on those.
The #2 ranked Georgia Bulldogs traveled to face the LSU Tigers in the hostile confines of a stadium known as "Death Valley" and lost by a large margin of 38-13, their tails. between their legs. #7 Washington was tripped up by the Oregon Ducks in a narrow loss in overtime 30-27. Back in the eastern part of the country, in Pennsylvania, Penn State hosted unranked Michigan State but had a poor offensive performance and fell 21-17.
But, the most meaningful upset to me was Iowa State's shocking victory over undefeated West Virginia 30-13. It was a momentous win, especially because Iowa State had a losing record prior to the game, and the fans had no qualms about rushing the field just after the final play.
It reminds me of a similar win by Iowa State 7 years ago. This time it was a Thursday night game in which they derailed Oklahoma State's well-defined track to the National Championship Game with a come-from-behind victory that finished up in overtime. The fans rushed the field then too, filling the night air with their voices singing along to "Sweet Caroline," the song they traditionally sing after important home victories. The cameras continued to roll, showing a little girl hoisted atop her father's shoulders singing along too. I stayed glued to the TV, soaking up all I could of the magical moments being shown. It's just something about the enthusiasm of the fans, the surprise of an upset, and the passion of the fans that is so wonderful to watch. This was definitely one of the moments that endeared college football to my heart.
Wolverines Win Big in "The Big House."
Michigan's gigantic stadium seats over 100,000 people, and the Michigan faithful were treated to some satisfying action.
I was dining at Scotty's Brewhouse, an excellent sports bar in Punta Gorda, watching this game. But distracted by conversation with some fellow football enthusiasts and the other games on the various TV's, the first quarter was over before I knew it. I thought, "That's traditional Big Ten football for you, offense predicated on running the ball and controlling the clock." At that point, the score was knotted at 0-0, but that soon changed when Michigan scored their first rushing touchdown of the game . Wisconsin's reply came in the form of a touchdown of their own by way of a 33 yard scoring run by wide receiver Kendric Pryor.
After that, however, it was all Michigan. The Wolverine defense, statistically the best in the nation, lived up to their billing, locking Wisconsin's offense down tight, giving Michigan plenty of time to start dominating with their running game. The Wolverines ended up with 320 yards rushing, with a rushing touchdown for each of their top three running backs. The Michigan defense scored as well with an interception return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter and the game was just about put to bed.
With this win, Michigan appears to the top challenger to Ohio State in the Big Ten East. However, their rivalry game will be played in Ohio State's famous "Horseshoe" Stadium, not "The Big House."
Riding the nation's longest winning streak of 18 games, the UCF Knights faced their toughest test of the year on a road trip to play the Memphis Tigers. After the Knights scored the game's 1st touchdown on a short run by running back Taj McGowan, UCF eventually fell behind by a score of 20-7 five minutes into the 2nd quarter. UCF's star quarterback McKenzie Milton cut the deficit in half with a 75 pass completion for a touchdown to wide receiver Gabe Davis, but Memphis responded with a drive that ended with a field goal. The Knights' offense then went cold, giving the Tigers the ball right back, an opportunity they used to complete a quick touchdown drive. UCF tallied a field goal before the half but still faced a sizable 30-17 deficit.
Things looked much the same until a light rain starting to fall in the 3rd quarter. The drizzle increased to a steady rainfall, which caused 3 consecutive turnovers by the teams. However, the Knights adjusted quicker to the changing conditions and on 4th and 1 play in the third quarter, the comeback began. Using a clever play in which they snapped the ball quickly after a lot of big lineman strode up to the line of scrimmage, a play that you can rely on to usually get you a yard or two, Taj McGowan instead broke completely through for an unexpected 71 yard TD run. The Knights would end up take the lead on a brave touchdown run by McKenzie and barely hang on for a one-point victory. The 31-30 triumph extends their winning streak to 19 games!
Another Exhilarating Week of Chaos
Like a jokester that comes around to poke you in the ribs, the sneaky character known as "Chaos in the Top 25" made another appearance. A total of 7 teams in the Top 25 were defeated Saturday, including 4 in the Top 10 alone. For sake of brevity I will focus on those.
The #2 ranked Georgia Bulldogs traveled to face the LSU Tigers in the hostile confines of a stadium known as "Death Valley" and lost by a large margin of 38-13, their tails. between their legs. #7 Washington was tripped up by the Oregon Ducks in a narrow loss in overtime 30-27. Back in the eastern part of the country, in Pennsylvania, Penn State hosted unranked Michigan State but had a poor offensive performance and fell 21-17.
But, the most meaningful upset to me was Iowa State's shocking victory over undefeated West Virginia 30-13. It was a momentous win, especially because Iowa State had a losing record prior to the game, and the fans had no qualms about rushing the field just after the final play.
It reminds me of a similar win by Iowa State 7 years ago. This time it was a Thursday night game in which they derailed Oklahoma State's well-defined track to the National Championship Game with a come-from-behind victory that finished up in overtime. The fans rushed the field then too, filling the night air with their voices singing along to "Sweet Caroline," the song they traditionally sing after important home victories. The cameras continued to roll, showing a little girl hoisted atop her father's shoulders singing along too. I stayed glued to the TV, soaking up all I could of the magical moments being shown. It's just something about the enthusiasm of the fans, the surprise of an upset, and the passion of the fans that is so wonderful to watch. This was definitely one of the moments that endeared college football to my heart.
Wolverines Win Big in "The Big House."
Michigan's gigantic stadium seats over 100,000 people, and the Michigan faithful were treated to some satisfying action.
I was dining at Scotty's Brewhouse, an excellent sports bar in Punta Gorda, watching this game. But distracted by conversation with some fellow football enthusiasts and the other games on the various TV's, the first quarter was over before I knew it. I thought, "That's traditional Big Ten football for you, offense predicated on running the ball and controlling the clock." At that point, the score was knotted at 0-0, but that soon changed when Michigan scored their first rushing touchdown of the game . Wisconsin's reply came in the form of a touchdown of their own by way of a 33 yard scoring run by wide receiver Kendric Pryor.
After that, however, it was all Michigan. The Wolverine defense, statistically the best in the nation, lived up to their billing, locking Wisconsin's offense down tight, giving Michigan plenty of time to start dominating with their running game. The Wolverines ended up with 320 yards rushing, with a rushing touchdown for each of their top three running backs. The Michigan defense scored as well with an interception return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter and the game was just about put to bed.
With this win, Michigan appears to the top challenger to Ohio State in the Big Ten East. However, their rivalry game will be played in Ohio State's famous "Horseshoe" Stadium, not "The Big House."
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Headlines Week 6 2018
Red River Shootout
The annual showdown between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns is called the Red River Rivalry, taking its name from the Red River which forms much of the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma. The venue is the original Cotton Bowl Stadium, one half filled with fans clad in burnt orange (Texas) the other half in maroon (Oklahoma). What's makes this a truly unique event is the fact that the Texas State Fair, complete with ferris wheels, rides, and carnival games is going on right outside.
Unlike in recent years, Texas controlled the game almost from the beginning, the offensive line gave quarterback Sam Ehlinger plenty of time and space to use his cannon for an arm and his physical running style to run roughshod over the Oklahoma defense. Ehlinger passed for a touchdown and ran for another as the Longhorns scored 24 1st half points, the most points they scored in the first half against Oklahoma since they won the national championship in 2005.
The Texas stampede continued in the 3rd quarter. Ehlinger threw another touchdown pass and also ran for two more, proving Texas could impose their will at the line of scrimmage. Oklahoma, however, rallied back in the 4th quarter, erasing a 21-point deficit. A 67 yard touchdown run by speedy quarterback Kyler Murray certainly helped. But Texas got the last laugh, putting together an effective drive, the most important play of which, you guessed it, a designed quarterback run for Ehlinger. The kicker, Cameron Dicker (pause to consider the rhyme) came on and booted a majestic 40 yard field goal to provide jubilation to Texas players and fans alike. A season defining program win had been achieved by the Longhorns, which I can assure you has been a long time in coming.
Notre Dame's Continued Rise
The Fighting Irish hadn't won a road game against a ranked team in 4 years and they faced just such a test as they traveled to face 24th ranked Virginia Tech. After a half of play, the Irish held a razor thin 14-13 lead. Then, great punt by Virginia Tech, after their first drive, pinned Notre Dame down at their own 5 yard line. Running back Dexter Williams lost a couple yards on first down, but the blocking of his teammates improved drastically on 2nd down, opening up a big gap in the defense that allowed him to race 97 yards for a game-changing touchdown.
The rest of the 2nd saw the Irish flex their offensive muscles. Forgive the pun but ever since the coaching staff decided to turn the page on original starter Brandon Wimbush for new QB Ian Book, the offense has been energized. He tossed two touchdowns in the 2nd half, both to receiver Myles Boykin. Dexter Williams added another 31 yard touchdown scamper late in the 4th and Fighting Irish rolled out of Blacksburg, Virginia with a win that cements their place as a top 5 playoff team.
Gator-Tiger Battle in the Swamp Leads to Surprising Result
The LSU Tigers, ranked in the top five for the first time in years, came into the Gators' stadium in Gainesville, called the Swamp, ready to play the an upstart Florida team, fresh off a 13-6 upset of ranked Mississippi State. Florida's defense was the reason they won that game and Tim Tebow spoke to the team before this game to encourage the defense to continue playing well and perhaps inspire the offense to perform better.
The offense, led by improving sophomore feleipe Franks, answered the call the second quarter. The Tigers led 7-0 but we're pinned deep in their own territory by a good Florida punt. The Gators defense forced a three and out, necessitating a punt by the Tigers that gave Florida great field position. 7 productive running plays, followed by a Franks touchdown pass to tight end Moral Stephen's tied the game at 7. LSU tallied a field goal with three minutes left in the half but the Gators responded with a seven play 75-yard TD drive to take a 14-10 lead heading into the half.
The only points scored in the third quarter was a field goal by the Tigers. Florida's offense went silent, and a LSU scored a touchdown early in the 4th quarter but failed on the two-point conversion, giving them a 19 to 14 lead.
The Gators immediately responded with a nine-play drive that showcased just how much Franks has improved as a quarterback since last year. He fired a big 25 yard completion to wide receiver Van Jefferson and ran for 12 yards on a third down later in the drive. The next play was a trick play in which Frank's handed the ball off to tight end Lucas Krull and received a pass back from him, advancing the Gators down to the 2 yard line. Running back Lamical Perine busted into the endzone to give Florida the lead.
The sharp-toothed Gators defense came up big during LSU's last three drives intercepting two passes, returning one for an interception that was the deciding play of the game. The packed house of 90,000 Florida fans were soon celebrating a season-changing win that propels them into the top echelons of the SEC East.
The annual showdown between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns is called the Red River Rivalry, taking its name from the Red River which forms much of the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma. The venue is the original Cotton Bowl Stadium, one half filled with fans clad in burnt orange (Texas) the other half in maroon (Oklahoma). What's makes this a truly unique event is the fact that the Texas State Fair, complete with ferris wheels, rides, and carnival games is going on right outside.
Unlike in recent years, Texas controlled the game almost from the beginning, the offensive line gave quarterback Sam Ehlinger plenty of time and space to use his cannon for an arm and his physical running style to run roughshod over the Oklahoma defense. Ehlinger passed for a touchdown and ran for another as the Longhorns scored 24 1st half points, the most points they scored in the first half against Oklahoma since they won the national championship in 2005.
The Texas stampede continued in the 3rd quarter. Ehlinger threw another touchdown pass and also ran for two more, proving Texas could impose their will at the line of scrimmage. Oklahoma, however, rallied back in the 4th quarter, erasing a 21-point deficit. A 67 yard touchdown run by speedy quarterback Kyler Murray certainly helped. But Texas got the last laugh, putting together an effective drive, the most important play of which, you guessed it, a designed quarterback run for Ehlinger. The kicker, Cameron Dicker (pause to consider the rhyme) came on and booted a majestic 40 yard field goal to provide jubilation to Texas players and fans alike. A season defining program win had been achieved by the Longhorns, which I can assure you has been a long time in coming.
Notre Dame's Continued Rise
The Fighting Irish hadn't won a road game against a ranked team in 4 years and they faced just such a test as they traveled to face 24th ranked Virginia Tech. After a half of play, the Irish held a razor thin 14-13 lead. Then, great punt by Virginia Tech, after their first drive, pinned Notre Dame down at their own 5 yard line. Running back Dexter Williams lost a couple yards on first down, but the blocking of his teammates improved drastically on 2nd down, opening up a big gap in the defense that allowed him to race 97 yards for a game-changing touchdown.
The rest of the 2nd saw the Irish flex their offensive muscles. Forgive the pun but ever since the coaching staff decided to turn the page on original starter Brandon Wimbush for new QB Ian Book, the offense has been energized. He tossed two touchdowns in the 2nd half, both to receiver Myles Boykin. Dexter Williams added another 31 yard touchdown scamper late in the 4th and Fighting Irish rolled out of Blacksburg, Virginia with a win that cements their place as a top 5 playoff team.
Gator-Tiger Battle in the Swamp Leads to Surprising Result
The LSU Tigers, ranked in the top five for the first time in years, came into the Gators' stadium in Gainesville, called the Swamp, ready to play the an upstart Florida team, fresh off a 13-6 upset of ranked Mississippi State. Florida's defense was the reason they won that game and Tim Tebow spoke to the team before this game to encourage the defense to continue playing well and perhaps inspire the offense to perform better.
The offense, led by improving sophomore feleipe Franks, answered the call the second quarter. The Tigers led 7-0 but we're pinned deep in their own territory by a good Florida punt. The Gators defense forced a three and out, necessitating a punt by the Tigers that gave Florida great field position. 7 productive running plays, followed by a Franks touchdown pass to tight end Moral Stephen's tied the game at 7. LSU tallied a field goal with three minutes left in the half but the Gators responded with a seven play 75-yard TD drive to take a 14-10 lead heading into the half.
The only points scored in the third quarter was a field goal by the Tigers. Florida's offense went silent, and a LSU scored a touchdown early in the 4th quarter but failed on the two-point conversion, giving them a 19 to 14 lead.
The Gators immediately responded with a nine-play drive that showcased just how much Franks has improved as a quarterback since last year. He fired a big 25 yard completion to wide receiver Van Jefferson and ran for 12 yards on a third down later in the drive. The next play was a trick play in which Frank's handed the ball off to tight end Lucas Krull and received a pass back from him, advancing the Gators down to the 2 yard line. Running back Lamical Perine busted into the endzone to give Florida the lead.
The sharp-toothed Gators defense came up big during LSU's last three drives intercepting two passes, returning one for an interception that was the deciding play of the game. The packed house of 90,000 Florida fans were soon celebrating a season-changing win that propels them into the top echelons of the SEC East.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Headlines Week 5 2018
Haskins Overcomes Rough First Half to Lead Heroic Comeback
One of the greatest sights in college football is a White Out at Penn State. Over 100 thousand fans clad in while, all shaking white pompoms. It goes without saying the noisy generated by all these fans can be quite intimidating. The cheers had their desired effect as Ohio State's quarterback Dwayne Haskins looked rattled and off his game, making the offense so ineffective it was hard to watch. The Buckeyes defense picked up the slack holding the Penn State Nittany Lions to 13 1st half points and recovered a very important fumble late in the half. Haskins completed a well timed screen pass soon after for a touchdown that pulled the Buckeyes within 6 heading to halftime. The Buckeyes managed to score a touchdown on the first drive of the 3rd quarter but returned to their sluggish form until halfway through the 4th quarter. By that time, Penn State had a 12 point lead. But Haskins respondee by stepping up his game leading two straight touchdown drives, the second being a game-winning march down the field starting at their own 4 yard line. The Buckeyes strode out of the Nittany Lions' stadium having overcome the white noise.
Notre Dame Makes a Statement
In the cross-regional rivalry between Stanford and Notre Dame, one team emerged with gusto. That team was Notre Dame whose imposing 38-17 triumph stated the case that they belong in the playoff discussion. A major part of Notre Dame's rise in recent weeks has been the stellar play of quarterback Ian Book. In the past two weeks he has passed for over 600 yards and 6 touchdowns after being named the starter over the incumbent Brandon Wimbush. The Fighting Irish will need to keep on winning to remain a playoff team by the end of the year, starting with a ranked matchup against Virginia Tech on Saturday Night.
Tumultuous Result of Quarterback Battle at Clemson Leaves Tigers Vulnerable
The big story for Clemson heading into last week's game against Syracuse was their quarterback situation. After a battle that raged for 4 weeks of the regular season between freshman Trevor Lawrence and senior Kelly Bryant, Head Coach named Lawrence the starter going forward. In a hasty and selfish decision Bryant decided to transfer the day after he learned the news. That disappointing decision would hurt the Tigers against the Syracuse Orange.
Syracuse also came into the game undefeated and proved how capable they were by bottling up Lawrence and Clemson's talented running backs, allowing only 7 points in the 1st half. Meanwhile, their offense led by senior quarterback Eric Dungey scratched together 16 points. Making matters worse for the Tigers Lawrence went down after a hard hit just before the half and left the game with concussion-like symptoms.
It was now up to inexperienced freshman Chase Brice to come in and be the hero. The stable of running backs behind Brice helped him out, helping the Tigers to two field goals in the third quarter. But after a Syracuse touchdown early in the fourth quarter, things were looking desperate for the Tigers. Fortunately, the Tigers responded quickly with a quick drive containing two good completions by Brice and a long touchdown run by Travis Etienne.
Then, after a great effort by the Clemson defense, the Tigers got the ball back with 6 minutes to play. Starting at their own 6-yard line Clemson drove the length of the field, moving the ball largely on rushes by Etienne and his fellow running back Tavean Feaster. Brice came through as well, completing a critical pass on 4th and 7. Etienne ran the ball into the end zone with 41 seconds left in the Tigers would go on to pull off a narrow victory that keeps them in the hunt for the playoffs. Whether they can live up to that will depend on how quickly Lawrence returns from his injury.
One of the greatest sights in college football is a White Out at Penn State. Over 100 thousand fans clad in while, all shaking white pompoms. It goes without saying the noisy generated by all these fans can be quite intimidating. The cheers had their desired effect as Ohio State's quarterback Dwayne Haskins looked rattled and off his game, making the offense so ineffective it was hard to watch. The Buckeyes defense picked up the slack holding the Penn State Nittany Lions to 13 1st half points and recovered a very important fumble late in the half. Haskins completed a well timed screen pass soon after for a touchdown that pulled the Buckeyes within 6 heading to halftime. The Buckeyes managed to score a touchdown on the first drive of the 3rd quarter but returned to their sluggish form until halfway through the 4th quarter. By that time, Penn State had a 12 point lead. But Haskins respondee by stepping up his game leading two straight touchdown drives, the second being a game-winning march down the field starting at their own 4 yard line. The Buckeyes strode out of the Nittany Lions' stadium having overcome the white noise.
Notre Dame Makes a Statement
In the cross-regional rivalry between Stanford and Notre Dame, one team emerged with gusto. That team was Notre Dame whose imposing 38-17 triumph stated the case that they belong in the playoff discussion. A major part of Notre Dame's rise in recent weeks has been the stellar play of quarterback Ian Book. In the past two weeks he has passed for over 600 yards and 6 touchdowns after being named the starter over the incumbent Brandon Wimbush. The Fighting Irish will need to keep on winning to remain a playoff team by the end of the year, starting with a ranked matchup against Virginia Tech on Saturday Night.
Tumultuous Result of Quarterback Battle at Clemson Leaves Tigers Vulnerable
The big story for Clemson heading into last week's game against Syracuse was their quarterback situation. After a battle that raged for 4 weeks of the regular season between freshman Trevor Lawrence and senior Kelly Bryant, Head Coach named Lawrence the starter going forward. In a hasty and selfish decision Bryant decided to transfer the day after he learned the news. That disappointing decision would hurt the Tigers against the Syracuse Orange.
Syracuse also came into the game undefeated and proved how capable they were by bottling up Lawrence and Clemson's talented running backs, allowing only 7 points in the 1st half. Meanwhile, their offense led by senior quarterback Eric Dungey scratched together 16 points. Making matters worse for the Tigers Lawrence went down after a hard hit just before the half and left the game with concussion-like symptoms.
It was now up to inexperienced freshman Chase Brice to come in and be the hero. The stable of running backs behind Brice helped him out, helping the Tigers to two field goals in the third quarter. But after a Syracuse touchdown early in the fourth quarter, things were looking desperate for the Tigers. Fortunately, the Tigers responded quickly with a quick drive containing two good completions by Brice and a long touchdown run by Travis Etienne.
Then, after a great effort by the Clemson defense, the Tigers got the ball back with 6 minutes to play. Starting at their own 6-yard line Clemson drove the length of the field, moving the ball largely on rushes by Etienne and his fellow running back Tavean Feaster. Brice came through as well, completing a critical pass on 4th and 7. Etienne ran the ball into the end zone with 41 seconds left in the Tigers would go on to pull off a narrow victory that keeps them in the hunt for the playoffs. Whether they can live up to that will depend on how quickly Lawrence returns from his injury.
Friday, September 28, 2018
Week 4 Headlines 2018
2018's (First?) Week of Chaos
The one certainty in college football is its uncertainty. On any given Saturday, a team viewed as strong or nearly unbeatable lets overconfidence get the best of them, performing below their usual standards. Or sometimes they simply suffer a defeat because their opponents play well enough to pull off an upset.
One of the most exciting occurrences in college football is when a bunch of these unexpected results burst onto the news on the same weekend! Week 4 of 2018 was one such week. Six top 25 teams lost last weekend, 5 of them in major upsets to unranked teams. Most shockingly, the winless Old Dominion Monarchs took down Virginia Tech by a 2 full. touchdowns 49-35. Also saddled by a 0-3 record, the Purdue Boilermakers nonetheless defeated a highly regarded Boston College team 30-13 with a impressive defensive effort.
In the southeast, Kentucky moved to 4-0 with a startling 28-7 smackdown of 14th ranked Mississippi State. And rounding out the upsets were Texas Tech's 41-17 defeat of Oklahoma State and Texas' 31-17 hard-fought victory over TCU. The question is: will 2018 contain a 2nd week that will flip our expectations upside down.
Oregon loses to Stanford at Autzen Stadium
Fans of the Oregon Ducks always pack the confines of Autzen Stadium to the max, making the atmosphere very loud for opposing teams. But just like in 2012, Oregon gave up a late lead at home in a big game against Stanford and lost. All Oregon had to do was kneel down 3 times to win, but instead they opt for a running play and the runner fumbles the ball while unnecessarily pushing for a few extra yards. Stanford uses the opportunity effectively, moving the ball far enough to set up for a field goal which kicker Jet Toner converts to send the game to overtime. Stanford gets the ball first in overtime, scores a touchdown, and prevents Oregon from doing so and notches a monumental win. So, now the Ducks are unranked once again. Perhaps they should choose a more fearsome team name.
The one certainty in college football is its uncertainty. On any given Saturday, a team viewed as strong or nearly unbeatable lets overconfidence get the best of them, performing below their usual standards. Or sometimes they simply suffer a defeat because their opponents play well enough to pull off an upset.
One of the most exciting occurrences in college football is when a bunch of these unexpected results burst onto the news on the same weekend! Week 4 of 2018 was one such week. Six top 25 teams lost last weekend, 5 of them in major upsets to unranked teams. Most shockingly, the winless Old Dominion Monarchs took down Virginia Tech by a 2 full. touchdowns 49-35. Also saddled by a 0-3 record, the Purdue Boilermakers nonetheless defeated a highly regarded Boston College team 30-13 with a impressive defensive effort.
In the southeast, Kentucky moved to 4-0 with a startling 28-7 smackdown of 14th ranked Mississippi State. And rounding out the upsets were Texas Tech's 41-17 defeat of Oklahoma State and Texas' 31-17 hard-fought victory over TCU. The question is: will 2018 contain a 2nd week that will flip our expectations upside down.
Oregon loses to Stanford at Autzen Stadium
Fans of the Oregon Ducks always pack the confines of Autzen Stadium to the max, making the atmosphere very loud for opposing teams. But just like in 2012, Oregon gave up a late lead at home in a big game against Stanford and lost. All Oregon had to do was kneel down 3 times to win, but instead they opt for a running play and the runner fumbles the ball while unnecessarily pushing for a few extra yards. Stanford uses the opportunity effectively, moving the ball far enough to set up for a field goal which kicker Jet Toner converts to send the game to overtime. Stanford gets the ball first in overtime, scores a touchdown, and prevents Oregon from doing so and notches a monumental win. So, now the Ducks are unranked once again. Perhaps they should choose a more fearsome team name.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Headlines Week 3 2018
Back-and-forth Affair Under the Lights in Dallas
In a marquee matchup inside the gleaming edifice of Dallas Cowboys stadium, the Ohio State Buckeyes battled the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs. It was truly a tale of two halves. When it mattered most, the Horned Frogs defense was suffocating in the 1st half, allowing the Buckeyes offense to score only 3 points. The TCU offense, led by quarterback Shawn Robinson, constructed a pair of touchdown drives that would give them the lead heading into the half. The lone Ohio State touchdown in the 1st half came when Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa sacked Robinson deep in his own territory and forced him to fumble. The ball was barely recovered in the endzone for a touchdown by Ohio State.
The Horned Frogs extended their lead on the running back Darius Anderson's 2nd rushing touchdown of the game. After that, however, the Buckeyes took control. Ohio State scored 3 touchdowns in a period of just under 4 minutes, the most exciting of which was a long reception from the arm of quarterback Dwayne Haskins to the hands of excellent receiver Parris Campbell. The more pivotal one, though, was an interception return for a touchdown by defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones. The Horned Frogs kept the game close with a long touchdown pass of their own, but Ohio State pulled away for good when Haskins sauntered into the endzone for a score at the end of a efficienct drive. And so, yet again, the Buckeyes departed the magnificent stadium with a huge victory.
I also have to tell you the story behind Dwayne Haskins. Ten years, he and his family visited the Ohio State campus. Upon touring the area showcasing the past glories of Ohio State sports, young Dwayne expressed his desire to one day attend college there. When his father inquired further as to why he wanted to be a Buckeye, Haskins declared, "I'm going to play quarterback here someday." Quite a vivid reason to dream big and try your hardest to achieve it.
The Annual "Battle of the Tigers" Comes Down to the Final Play
The yearly contest between the Auburn Tigers and the Tigers of Louisiana State University usually provides college football enthusiasts with one of the best games of the year. Aside from the obvious similarities, both teams compete in the hotly-contested SEC West division, often have championship hopes, and have fiercely loyal fan bases. Can you spell, R-I-V-A-L-R-Y!
These important division matchups are won or lost in the trenches, a term for the game-long shoving match between each teams' offensive and defensive lines. Looking at the final rushing stats, the result of that was basically a draw.
LSU quieted some of initial enthusiasm of the Auburn home crowd by taking a 10 point lead halfway through the 2nd quarter. Then, Auburn roared back with two rushing touchdowns to jump ahead 14-10 going into halftime.
Auburn jumped further into the lead at the end of a two minute drive when quarterback Jarrett Stidham completed a short TD pass to receiver Darius Slayton. After that, the LSU defense tightened up, refusing to surrender any more points. This allowed LSU to storm back in the final 20 minutes of play. They scored first on a field goal by Cole Tracy and then leapt to within 2 points after a long touchdown pass and catch from quarterback Joe Burrow to receiver Derrick Dillon.
Beginning with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the game, Burrow, a transfer from Ohio State, led his team on a methodical, 14 play drive receiver that included a clutch 4th and 7 completion to Dee Anderson. Later in this critical drive, a pass interference call on Auburn guaranteed LSU would at least get a chance for a last second field goal. Kicker Cole Tracy, who had missed a long field goal in the first half, came on to attempt a 42 yarder with 2 seconds to go. Tracy became the hero on campus for the next week when he nailed the kick right down the middle. With that, the LSU Tigers are now the top challenger to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC West.
The Struggle of First Year Head Coaches
In the current world where fans expect results quickly, there are plenty of fan bases dissatisfied with their first year head coaches.
Let's start with Kevin Sumlin at Arizona who is 1-2 after two head-scratching losses where the offense played poorly, followed by a easy win over a weak opponent. Then you have Willie Taggert at Florida State whose team got manhandled in a big opening game against Virginia Tech, barely defeated little known Samford, and then got blown out by Syracuse.
Scott Frost, who coached UCF to an undefeated season last year, has yet to secure a win at Nebraska. His Cornhuskers have suffered two close losses, the first in a well-fought rivalry against Colorado, which I wrote about in Week 1, and an upset loss to the Trojans of Troy, Alabama. However, that result is more understandable when you know that the Trojans marched into LSU's home stadium and upset them last season as well.
Most surprising is Chip Kelly's terrible 0-3 start at UCLA. He is a well-regarded former NFL head coach, originally viewed as one of the best of the new coaching hires. But the college game is very different from managing professionals. His Bruins were even listed as underdogs against the Fresno State Bulldogs, a team from a weaker conference. When the Bruins lost that game on Saturday, Vegad was proved right.
The one bright spot has been Herm Edwards at Arizona State. He is best known as an NFL analyst and had not coached in 10 years! But he is sitting comfortably at 2-1, mainly because one of those victories was a superb upset of #13 Michigan State.
In a marquee matchup inside the gleaming edifice of Dallas Cowboys stadium, the Ohio State Buckeyes battled the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs. It was truly a tale of two halves. When it mattered most, the Horned Frogs defense was suffocating in the 1st half, allowing the Buckeyes offense to score only 3 points. The TCU offense, led by quarterback Shawn Robinson, constructed a pair of touchdown drives that would give them the lead heading into the half. The lone Ohio State touchdown in the 1st half came when Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa sacked Robinson deep in his own territory and forced him to fumble. The ball was barely recovered in the endzone for a touchdown by Ohio State.
The Horned Frogs extended their lead on the running back Darius Anderson's 2nd rushing touchdown of the game. After that, however, the Buckeyes took control. Ohio State scored 3 touchdowns in a period of just under 4 minutes, the most exciting of which was a long reception from the arm of quarterback Dwayne Haskins to the hands of excellent receiver Parris Campbell. The more pivotal one, though, was an interception return for a touchdown by defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones. The Horned Frogs kept the game close with a long touchdown pass of their own, but Ohio State pulled away for good when Haskins sauntered into the endzone for a score at the end of a efficienct drive. And so, yet again, the Buckeyes departed the magnificent stadium with a huge victory.
I also have to tell you the story behind Dwayne Haskins. Ten years, he and his family visited the Ohio State campus. Upon touring the area showcasing the past glories of Ohio State sports, young Dwayne expressed his desire to one day attend college there. When his father inquired further as to why he wanted to be a Buckeye, Haskins declared, "I'm going to play quarterback here someday." Quite a vivid reason to dream big and try your hardest to achieve it.
The Annual "Battle of the Tigers" Comes Down to the Final Play
The yearly contest between the Auburn Tigers and the Tigers of Louisiana State University usually provides college football enthusiasts with one of the best games of the year. Aside from the obvious similarities, both teams compete in the hotly-contested SEC West division, often have championship hopes, and have fiercely loyal fan bases. Can you spell, R-I-V-A-L-R-Y!
These important division matchups are won or lost in the trenches, a term for the game-long shoving match between each teams' offensive and defensive lines. Looking at the final rushing stats, the result of that was basically a draw.
LSU quieted some of initial enthusiasm of the Auburn home crowd by taking a 10 point lead halfway through the 2nd quarter. Then, Auburn roared back with two rushing touchdowns to jump ahead 14-10 going into halftime.
Auburn jumped further into the lead at the end of a two minute drive when quarterback Jarrett Stidham completed a short TD pass to receiver Darius Slayton. After that, the LSU defense tightened up, refusing to surrender any more points. This allowed LSU to storm back in the final 20 minutes of play. They scored first on a field goal by Cole Tracy and then leapt to within 2 points after a long touchdown pass and catch from quarterback Joe Burrow to receiver Derrick Dillon.
Beginning with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the game, Burrow, a transfer from Ohio State, led his team on a methodical, 14 play drive receiver that included a clutch 4th and 7 completion to Dee Anderson. Later in this critical drive, a pass interference call on Auburn guaranteed LSU would at least get a chance for a last second field goal. Kicker Cole Tracy, who had missed a long field goal in the first half, came on to attempt a 42 yarder with 2 seconds to go. Tracy became the hero on campus for the next week when he nailed the kick right down the middle. With that, the LSU Tigers are now the top challenger to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC West.
The Struggle of First Year Head Coaches
In the current world where fans expect results quickly, there are plenty of fan bases dissatisfied with their first year head coaches.
Let's start with Kevin Sumlin at Arizona who is 1-2 after two head-scratching losses where the offense played poorly, followed by a easy win over a weak opponent. Then you have Willie Taggert at Florida State whose team got manhandled in a big opening game against Virginia Tech, barely defeated little known Samford, and then got blown out by Syracuse.
Scott Frost, who coached UCF to an undefeated season last year, has yet to secure a win at Nebraska. His Cornhuskers have suffered two close losses, the first in a well-fought rivalry against Colorado, which I wrote about in Week 1, and an upset loss to the Trojans of Troy, Alabama. However, that result is more understandable when you know that the Trojans marched into LSU's home stadium and upset them last season as well.
Most surprising is Chip Kelly's terrible 0-3 start at UCLA. He is a well-regarded former NFL head coach, originally viewed as one of the best of the new coaching hires. But the college game is very different from managing professionals. His Bruins were even listed as underdogs against the Fresno State Bulldogs, a team from a weaker conference. When the Bruins lost that game on Saturday, Vegad was proved right.
The one bright spot has been Herm Edwards at Arizona State. He is best known as an NFL analyst and had not coached in 10 years! But he is sitting comfortably at 2-1, mainly because one of those victories was a superb upset of #13 Michigan State.
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Headlines Week 2 2018
Thriller in Texas
Texas A&M's Kyle Field can hold a near national high capacity of 102,000 fans, and most of them were cheering in raucous fashion for the home team as the Aggies battled the highly ranked Clemson Tigers. Clemson eventually built a 15 point lead largely on the fine performance of senior quarterback Kelly Bryant. Also providing a valuable contribution was freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence. His best play was his first, when he fired a beautiful pass to receiver Tee Higgins who caught it dodged a defender and raced for a long touchdown. However, Texas A&M proved to be a very worthy opponent, mounting a determined comeback in the 4th quarterback, as quarterback Kellan Mond and his cadre of receivers showed their own amazing skills. The comeback came up just short, though, when their two point conversion attempt failed with under a minute to play. Teams facing Texas A&M in the future better get ready for a ferocious battle
Good News for Kansas At Last
The Kansas Jayhawks are known as a team that struggles to win, especially on the road. They had lost 46 road games in a row before an impressive defensive effort helped them end the streak against Central Michigan. The Kansas defense forced 5 turnovers and quarterback Peyton Bender tossed 2 touchdown passes as the Jayhawks could finally return home with a satisfying victory.
A Renewed Rivalry Provides a Nail-biting Finish
Nebraska is known for having a long string of consecutive sellouts at home and Saturday was certainly no exception as the Colorado Buffaloes, who used to be a conference rival, came rumbling into town. The teams were neck-and-neck throughout the contest, as they were tied or within a point 3 different times. A trio of rushing touchdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 2 by freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez, gave them a 21-17 lead at the half. The star for Colorado was their quarterback, Stephen Montez, who threw for a total of 351 yards and 3 touchdowns. The most important of these came in the closing minutes, after a totally unnecessary and stupid hit by a Nebraska player, who I will leave unnamed for his own good, extended a Buffaloes' drive. Montez fired a perfect pass that sailed over two defenders to wide receiver Laviska Shinault Jr. who snagged it for the touchdown. Nebraska tried to mount a furious comeback in the final minute with backup quarterback Andrew Bunch forced to play as Martinez had suffered an injury earlier in the final quarter. He played admirably and led his team to a position to attempt a game winning scoring pass. Unfortunately, for Cornhusker fans his final desperation pass fell incomplete and the Buffaloes would gallop away with the victory.
Also of note, Colorado wide receiver Jay McIntyre, son of head coach Mike McIntyre, caught a short touchdown pass. Mike was very emotional about that in a post game interview.
Texas A&M's Kyle Field can hold a near national high capacity of 102,000 fans, and most of them were cheering in raucous fashion for the home team as the Aggies battled the highly ranked Clemson Tigers. Clemson eventually built a 15 point lead largely on the fine performance of senior quarterback Kelly Bryant. Also providing a valuable contribution was freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence. His best play was his first, when he fired a beautiful pass to receiver Tee Higgins who caught it dodged a defender and raced for a long touchdown. However, Texas A&M proved to be a very worthy opponent, mounting a determined comeback in the 4th quarterback, as quarterback Kellan Mond and his cadre of receivers showed their own amazing skills. The comeback came up just short, though, when their two point conversion attempt failed with under a minute to play. Teams facing Texas A&M in the future better get ready for a ferocious battle
Good News for Kansas At Last
The Kansas Jayhawks are known as a team that struggles to win, especially on the road. They had lost 46 road games in a row before an impressive defensive effort helped them end the streak against Central Michigan. The Kansas defense forced 5 turnovers and quarterback Peyton Bender tossed 2 touchdown passes as the Jayhawks could finally return home with a satisfying victory.
A Renewed Rivalry Provides a Nail-biting Finish
Nebraska is known for having a long string of consecutive sellouts at home and Saturday was certainly no exception as the Colorado Buffaloes, who used to be a conference rival, came rumbling into town. The teams were neck-and-neck throughout the contest, as they were tied or within a point 3 different times. A trio of rushing touchdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 2 by freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez, gave them a 21-17 lead at the half. The star for Colorado was their quarterback, Stephen Montez, who threw for a total of 351 yards and 3 touchdowns. The most important of these came in the closing minutes, after a totally unnecessary and stupid hit by a Nebraska player, who I will leave unnamed for his own good, extended a Buffaloes' drive. Montez fired a perfect pass that sailed over two defenders to wide receiver Laviska Shinault Jr. who snagged it for the touchdown. Nebraska tried to mount a furious comeback in the final minute with backup quarterback Andrew Bunch forced to play as Martinez had suffered an injury earlier in the final quarter. He played admirably and led his team to a position to attempt a game winning scoring pass. Unfortunately, for Cornhusker fans his final desperation pass fell incomplete and the Buffaloes would gallop away with the victory.
Also of note, Colorado wide receiver Jay McIntyre, son of head coach Mike McIntyre, caught a short touchdown pass. Mike was very emotional about that in a post game interview.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Headlines Week 1 2018
1. The most highly anticipated and important game of the week was certainly the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game which pitted 2 top 10 teams, the Washington Huskies and Auburn Tigers, against each other. The game took place in the dazzling new Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, giving Auburn a decided advantage in fan attendance because Auburn University is located in the nearby state of Alabama. It appeared like this had some effect on the game as Auburn jumped out to an early 12-3 lead. Washington caught up in the 2nd quarter when Huskies quarterback Jake Browning found his groove and his receivers made a couple of fantastic catches. But inability to score touchdowns in the red zone in the 2nd half doomed Washington when Auburn scored a late touchdown. This is yet another example of how the PAC 12, the conference that Washington is a part of, usually fails to win a big game on the national stage.
2. In Charlotte, North Carolina, West Virginia soundly defeated a capable Tennessee squad, 40-14 behind the 5 touchdown passes thrown by West Virginia quarterback Will Grier. This came as welcome news to me because it bolstered my theory that West Virginia will challenge Oklahoma for the Big 12 Championship this year.
3. Are the Knights of the University of Central Florida the best team in Florida? When my fellow college football expert George Winston asked who I thought the best team in Florida was, I quickly responded, "The UCF Knights!" He responded with a chuckle, which is understandable with teams like Miami, Florida, and Florida State who generally are more talented and play far tougher schedules. However, after games late in the weekend in which Miami was soundly defeated by LSU and Florida State was embarrassed at home by Virginia Tech, I might be onto something. UCF certainly played well in their 56-17 shellacking of UConn after a long trip up to Connecticut. This just goes to show that the Knights are no flash in the pan.
2. In Charlotte, North Carolina, West Virginia soundly defeated a capable Tennessee squad, 40-14 behind the 5 touchdown passes thrown by West Virginia quarterback Will Grier. This came as welcome news to me because it bolstered my theory that West Virginia will challenge Oklahoma for the Big 12 Championship this year.
3. Are the Knights of the University of Central Florida the best team in Florida? When my fellow college football expert George Winston asked who I thought the best team in Florida was, I quickly responded, "The UCF Knights!" He responded with a chuckle, which is understandable with teams like Miami, Florida, and Florida State who generally are more talented and play far tougher schedules. However, after games late in the weekend in which Miami was soundly defeated by LSU and Florida State was embarrassed at home by Virginia Tech, I might be onto something. UCF certainly played well in their 56-17 shellacking of UConn after a long trip up to Connecticut. This just goes to show that the Knights are no flash in the pan.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
2017: A Great Year With a Disappointing Finish
I have got to say that 2017 has been a great year of college football. It saw the Knights of UCF forge an incredible undefeated season, winning the American Conference Championship Game, and securing a spot in
the Peach Bowl where they faced Auburn. Even more spectacularly, UCF defeated Auburn in a monumental upset with the help of their head coach Scott Frost, who displayed an all too rare show of integrity by coaching the Knights despite his future plans to coach Nebraska.
But sadly, the Crimson Tide had to inject their all too predictable dominance into the tail end of the season. Their opponents in the National Championship Game were the fellow SEC member Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia played a marvelous 1st half, taking a 13-0 lead into the locker room thanks to a TD drive just before halftime.
Then the ever wily Nick Saban opted to put backup Tua Tagovailoa, a true freshman, into the game. I have to get Tagovailoa props for painting two crosses on his face with eye black to showcase who the glory really belongs to. The young gunslinger played exceptionally well, passing for 2 touchdowns and leading his team to 20 points in the 2nd half. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs only managed a single great offensive play after the half, an 80 yard touchdown strike from quarterback Jake Fromm to speedster Mecole Hardman.
The game went to overtime due to egregious missed field goal by Alabama kicker Andy Pappanastos on the last play of regulation. On Georgia's possession in overtime kicker Rodrigo Blankenship bailed out the struggling Bulldogs offense with a perfect 51 yard field goal. But an inexcusable blown coverage by the Georgia secondary allowed Tagovailoa to complete his third touchdown pass of the day to end the game in head-scrathing fashion.
Yet again, Alabama has achieved another championship that stuffs their trophy case and puffs them up with even more pride. I say that because quite a few times during the game the Alabama players pushed Georgia players around unnecessarily, acting like they were the kings of college football and no one had any right to defeat them. One Alabama player even shoved the head of the Georgia quarterback, an incredibly immature action which should have been called a personal foul. I can only hope that next year will end on a better note.
This is Jonathan Fry, signing off for this year.
the Peach Bowl where they faced Auburn. Even more spectacularly, UCF defeated Auburn in a monumental upset with the help of their head coach Scott Frost, who displayed an all too rare show of integrity by coaching the Knights despite his future plans to coach Nebraska.
But sadly, the Crimson Tide had to inject their all too predictable dominance into the tail end of the season. Their opponents in the National Championship Game were the fellow SEC member Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia played a marvelous 1st half, taking a 13-0 lead into the locker room thanks to a TD drive just before halftime.
Then the ever wily Nick Saban opted to put backup Tua Tagovailoa, a true freshman, into the game. I have to get Tagovailoa props for painting two crosses on his face with eye black to showcase who the glory really belongs to. The young gunslinger played exceptionally well, passing for 2 touchdowns and leading his team to 20 points in the 2nd half. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs only managed a single great offensive play after the half, an 80 yard touchdown strike from quarterback Jake Fromm to speedster Mecole Hardman.
The game went to overtime due to egregious missed field goal by Alabama kicker Andy Pappanastos on the last play of regulation. On Georgia's possession in overtime kicker Rodrigo Blankenship bailed out the struggling Bulldogs offense with a perfect 51 yard field goal. But an inexcusable blown coverage by the Georgia secondary allowed Tagovailoa to complete his third touchdown pass of the day to end the game in head-scrathing fashion.
Yet again, Alabama has achieved another championship that stuffs their trophy case and puffs them up with even more pride. I say that because quite a few times during the game the Alabama players pushed Georgia players around unnecessarily, acting like they were the kings of college football and no one had any right to defeat them. One Alabama player even shoved the head of the Georgia quarterback, an incredibly immature action which should have been called a personal foul. I can only hope that next year will end on a better note.
This is Jonathan Fry, signing off for this year.
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