BIG-12 UGLINESS, UPSETS, UPSETS, UPSETS & IS CHARLIE WEIS HISTORY?
The Big-12 continues it's messy way toward Texas representing it in the BCS Championship. Other than the Longhorns, the pre-season picks to compete in this conference continue to disappoint. With the exception of Nebraska, who is in the running for the North Division crown. They have almost zero offense, but, for the most part, their defense has returned to a level Nebraska fans expect. The Huskers have no talent at quarterback, 39 yards passing Saturday night is symptomatic of the issues Bo Pelini's team has right now. Even if they get by Kansas State, which isn't a certainty, Texas will shut down Roy Helu Jr. & it will be game, set & match. Texas Tech, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma & Oklahoma State have all underachieved. The Sooners & Cowboys have been beset with injuries, crippling their hopes early on in the conference schedule. Tech has started 3 different QB's, Kansas, Missouri & Colorado have almost no defense to speak of & both MU & KU can't run the ball either. I don't see Mizzou winning at Manhattan Saturday, it's been said defense & a running game travel well, the Tigers have neither. Blaine Gabbert has been exceptional considering he doesn't have a running game. WR Danario Alexander ranks 5th nationally in yardage with 1,038 on 71 receptions. After those 2, only OLB Sean Weatherspoon could be considered an impact player. Kansas plays no defense, don't run the ball & now they can't protect QB Todd Reesing, causing his production to drop. The lopsided rushing totals of 266 for K-State to KU's 60, point out the Jayhawks' shortcomings. If anyone wondered why K-State named their stadium after coach Bill Snyder, one stat says it all, Snyder has beaten in-state rival Kansas nine straight times in Manhattan. OU's Landry Jones had 5 interceptions on a 26 of 58 passing performance. Certainly not an effort that will win many road games. Colorado stormed back 3 times in the 2nd half to nip A&M, 35-34, but I don't see coach Dan Hawkins surviving another season in Boulder. Most likely 8 teams from this conference will be offered bowl bids, but overall, it's been a very disappointing season in Big-12 land.
I told you before the season began to keep an eye on Mizzou's super-soph, DE Aldon Smith. The 6' 4 1/2" 255-pound Raytown grad has the strength, quickness, speed & focus to be the very best to ever play defensive line at Missouri. He recorded his 9th sack Saturday & is ranked 8th nationally. He won't be able to leave for the NFL until after next season & with the lack of a collective bargaining agreement, he might just stay as a senior. As he learns more, gets stronger & adds a few more pounds to his chiseled frame, he can move into top-10 land as far as the NFL Draft is concerned.
It was a college football "Who's Who" of upsets Saturday. Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State & Oregon all went down to defeat. With the exception of Iowa who lost their starting quarterback, Ricky Stanzi, the others were embarrassed. The Irish beaten for the second time in 3 years by unranked Navy. Penn State barely showed up against Ohio State, losing 24-7 at home. The Nittany Lions managed just 201 yards of total offense in a must-win showdown with the Buckeyes. Iowa can still go to the Rose Bowl by beating the Buckeyes in Columbus this Saturday. Unfortunately, they'll have to do it without their QB. Don't see it happening. The Hawkeyes have been living on the edge this season, playing from behind week after week & it caught up with them against a highly motivated Northwestern Wildcat team last Saturday. Iowa actually jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the 1st quarter, something they haven't done in weeks, it would be the last points they scored. Oregon's defense was as bad as they were good last week against USC. Stanford rolled the Ducks 51-42 & ran up 505 yards of offense. Stanford was dead last in the PAC-10 in redzone efficiency coming into the game but scored 5 touchdowns in 6 trips inside the 20 Saturday, adding a field goal on the 6th. Oregon had no answer for Cardinal RB Toby Gerhart's 223-yard rushing, 3 touchdown performance. It doesn't get any easier for the Ducks as they travel to Arizona in 2 weeks & their annual "Civil War" grudge match with in-state rival Oregon State.
USC managed just one offensive score Saturday night in Tempe, beating Arizona State 14-9. I really thought the Trojans would get back on track after their beatdown at Oregon last week. USC never got untracked against the lesser Sun Devils. Cincinnati ran up 711 total yards with backup QB Zach Callaros running the show. They needed every yard of it, barely beating the UConn Huskies, 47-45. The Bearcats may well have a QB controversy if they try to insert the original starting QB, Tony Pike, when he returns from arm surgery. The undefeated Bearcats haven't missed a beat on offense with Collaros at the helm.
Two shoutouts have to go to SMU who beat Rice 31-28 to move their record to 5-4 & closer to bowl eligibility. The Mustangs haven't been in a bowl game since 1984. Purdue also deserves a salute for their upset win at the "Big House" beating Michigan 38-36. It was the Boilermakers' 1st win in Ann Arbor since 1966. TCU continued their undefeated march to Saturday's monster showdown with Utah. The Horned Frogs rolled San Diego State, 55-12 & it propelled them into the #4 spot in the BCS Poll.
The concussion Cal's Jahvid Best sustained Saturday night against Oregon State was truly frightening. As he approached the goaline, he leaped over an Oregon State defender who just clipped his foot, sending him head-over-heels about 10-feet in the air & landing on the back of his head. Best was knocked unconscious & remained so for over 4 minutes. After 15 minutes, they wheeled him off the field on an ambulance gurney, his pads & jersey stripped off & his face covered by an oxygen mask. It was scary, but I'm glad to report he was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon, but it's doubtful he will play again until any bowl game the Bears might be offered.
My Heisman hopeful, Houston quarterback, Case Keenum, was impressive yet again in the Cougars come from behind 46-45 win at Tulsa. Keenum was 40 of 60 for 522 yards & 3 touchdowns, giving him 28 against just 3 interceptions. The Cougars scored a touchdown with 00:21 left in the 4th quarter but missed a 2-point conversion that would've tied the game. They recovered an onside kickoff & Keenum three 3 completions to get kicker Matt Hogan in position for a 51-yard field goal attempt. Hogan, a true freshman, had a previous long FG of 34, but he boomed the 51-yarder thru with no time left to move the Cougars record to 8-1. Keenum leads the country in passing with 3,815 yards, 824 more than any other QB. This kid is as cool as they come, he very calmly called the play, got everybody lined up & ran the plays, even with time running out. Other Heisman contenders on my very short list include Alabama RB Mark Ingram, who had 144 yards on 22 carries against LSU & Texas QB Colt McCoy, a 470-yard passer versus Central Florida. McCoy's roomie, WR Jordan Shipley, caught 11 balls for 273 yards.
How much longer will Notre Dame go with Charlie Weis? A 35-24 record at South Bend has been a major disappointment. The Irish have 3 straight top-5 recruiting classes under Weis. So why hasn't all this talent translated into victories? They are a sloppy, undisciplined team that turns the ball over way too often & incur too many penalties. The Notre Dame squad knew before their game with Navy they were near a BCS at-large bid. So they come out flat, turning the ball over in the redzone, committing penalties in the redzone & allowing Navy 348 yards rushing. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen is a top-5 QB, WR's Michael Floyd & Golden Tate are most definitely top-10 receivers, they have a veteran offensive line & a very expensive coaching staff. This team plays down to it's opposition & has all year. They barely beat Purdue(4-6), Michigan State(5-5) & Washington(3-6). It was projected by many, the Irish would win at least 9 games this season & make it to a BCS Bowl game. The reality is with trips to 8-1 Pitt & 6-3 Stanford, their goals for this year will once again fall short. Unless Notre Dame wins all 3 of their remaining games, I think Weis is finished in South Bend.
I told you before the season began to keep an eye on Mizzou's super-soph, DE Aldon Smith. The 6' 4 1/2" 255-pound Raytown grad has the strength, quickness, speed & focus to be the very best to ever play defensive line at Missouri. He recorded his 9th sack Saturday & is ranked 8th nationally. He won't be able to leave for the NFL until after next season & with the lack of a collective bargaining agreement, he might just stay as a senior. As he learns more, gets stronger & adds a few more pounds to his chiseled frame, he can move into top-10 land as far as the NFL Draft is concerned.
It was a college football "Who's Who" of upsets Saturday. Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State & Oregon all went down to defeat. With the exception of Iowa who lost their starting quarterback, Ricky Stanzi, the others were embarrassed. The Irish beaten for the second time in 3 years by unranked Navy. Penn State barely showed up against Ohio State, losing 24-7 at home. The Nittany Lions managed just 201 yards of total offense in a must-win showdown with the Buckeyes. Iowa can still go to the Rose Bowl by beating the Buckeyes in Columbus this Saturday. Unfortunately, they'll have to do it without their QB. Don't see it happening. The Hawkeyes have been living on the edge this season, playing from behind week after week & it caught up with them against a highly motivated Northwestern Wildcat team last Saturday. Iowa actually jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the 1st quarter, something they haven't done in weeks, it would be the last points they scored. Oregon's defense was as bad as they were good last week against USC. Stanford rolled the Ducks 51-42 & ran up 505 yards of offense. Stanford was dead last in the PAC-10 in redzone efficiency coming into the game but scored 5 touchdowns in 6 trips inside the 20 Saturday, adding a field goal on the 6th. Oregon had no answer for Cardinal RB Toby Gerhart's 223-yard rushing, 3 touchdown performance. It doesn't get any easier for the Ducks as they travel to Arizona in 2 weeks & their annual "Civil War" grudge match with in-state rival Oregon State.
USC managed just one offensive score Saturday night in Tempe, beating Arizona State 14-9. I really thought the Trojans would get back on track after their beatdown at Oregon last week. USC never got untracked against the lesser Sun Devils. Cincinnati ran up 711 total yards with backup QB Zach Callaros running the show. They needed every yard of it, barely beating the UConn Huskies, 47-45. The Bearcats may well have a QB controversy if they try to insert the original starting QB, Tony Pike, when he returns from arm surgery. The undefeated Bearcats haven't missed a beat on offense with Collaros at the helm.
Two shoutouts have to go to SMU who beat Rice 31-28 to move their record to 5-4 & closer to bowl eligibility. The Mustangs haven't been in a bowl game since 1984. Purdue also deserves a salute for their upset win at the "Big House" beating Michigan 38-36. It was the Boilermakers' 1st win in Ann Arbor since 1966. TCU continued their undefeated march to Saturday's monster showdown with Utah. The Horned Frogs rolled San Diego State, 55-12 & it propelled them into the #4 spot in the BCS Poll.
The concussion Cal's Jahvid Best sustained Saturday night against Oregon State was truly frightening. As he approached the goaline, he leaped over an Oregon State defender who just clipped his foot, sending him head-over-heels about 10-feet in the air & landing on the back of his head. Best was knocked unconscious & remained so for over 4 minutes. After 15 minutes, they wheeled him off the field on an ambulance gurney, his pads & jersey stripped off & his face covered by an oxygen mask. It was scary, but I'm glad to report he was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon, but it's doubtful he will play again until any bowl game the Bears might be offered.
My Heisman hopeful, Houston quarterback, Case Keenum, was impressive yet again in the Cougars come from behind 46-45 win at Tulsa. Keenum was 40 of 60 for 522 yards & 3 touchdowns, giving him 28 against just 3 interceptions. The Cougars scored a touchdown with 00:21 left in the 4th quarter but missed a 2-point conversion that would've tied the game. They recovered an onside kickoff & Keenum three 3 completions to get kicker Matt Hogan in position for a 51-yard field goal attempt. Hogan, a true freshman, had a previous long FG of 34, but he boomed the 51-yarder thru with no time left to move the Cougars record to 8-1. Keenum leads the country in passing with 3,815 yards, 824 more than any other QB. This kid is as cool as they come, he very calmly called the play, got everybody lined up & ran the plays, even with time running out. Other Heisman contenders on my very short list include Alabama RB Mark Ingram, who had 144 yards on 22 carries against LSU & Texas QB Colt McCoy, a 470-yard passer versus Central Florida. McCoy's roomie, WR Jordan Shipley, caught 11 balls for 273 yards.
How much longer will Notre Dame go with Charlie Weis? A 35-24 record at South Bend has been a major disappointment. The Irish have 3 straight top-5 recruiting classes under Weis. So why hasn't all this talent translated into victories? They are a sloppy, undisciplined team that turns the ball over way too often & incur too many penalties. The Notre Dame squad knew before their game with Navy they were near a BCS at-large bid. So they come out flat, turning the ball over in the redzone, committing penalties in the redzone & allowing Navy 348 yards rushing. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen is a top-5 QB, WR's Michael Floyd & Golden Tate are most definitely top-10 receivers, they have a veteran offensive line & a very expensive coaching staff. This team plays down to it's opposition & has all year. They barely beat Purdue(4-6), Michigan State(5-5) & Washington(3-6). It was projected by many, the Irish would win at least 9 games this season & make it to a BCS Bowl game. The reality is with trips to 8-1 Pitt & 6-3 Stanford, their goals for this year will once again fall short. Unless Notre Dame wins all 3 of their remaining games, I think Weis is finished in South Bend.
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