A few more cupcake games (are we done yet?) but enough shake-up in the Top 25 to start making the season very interesting. Now it gets fun...
W E E K L Y W R A P
I expected more out of USC. I really thought they had the right mix this year to make a run at the top. Nothing against Stanford but USC must have gone in big-headed and un-prepared. Even top teams still have to prepare. But they weren't the only ones un-prepared: VaTech and Michigan State didn't prep well either.
Tennessee looked like the real thing. Yes...they lost to a good Florida team but UT has some very, very talented players, aggressive play calling, and they are definitely on their way to make the SEC-East more powerful (and interesting).
The Holy War (BYU vs Utah) did not disappoint. Another down-to-the-wire game like so many in recent years (we'll not count the 54 - 10 BYU loss last year). You will not see a finish like that ever again (read summary here). It was an emotional, chippy-from-the-start, flag-fest of a game that was decided mostly by Special Teams: deep punts, bad punts, huge returns, missed field goals, rabid fans, etc. BYU should have switched out QBs in the 3rd (Nelson was good but notably rattled and shaky). That likely would have settled everyone down and allowed BYU to pull off a win. I'll repeat my most common comments about BYU losses: "too little, too late" and a "failure to capitalize" on lucky shots and lucky calls. (Of course, it's a good thing that last second field goal at midnight bounced out off the upright instead of in. Otherwise, BYU would have been forced to play on Sunday...and they'd never hear the end of it from those pesky Utes).
W E E K L Y W H I N E
Let's just take a quick gander at the Top 10. I just have a few issues with the voters and the commentators and how they are already "electing" the National Champion (much like the press is electing our next president). I heard twice yesterday that FSU could be national champs. Really? If I didn't know better I'd say some of these guys are being bought off to promote certain teams. IMHO there should just be a little more thought to it all.
1. 'Bama: Deserving. They look like national champs right now.
2. LSU: Hmmm...they beat N TExas, UW and winless Idaho. Now they play 1-2 Auburn and then an FCS team before taking on any meaty teams.
3. Oregon: Hmmm...they have beat AR State, Fresno State and FCS Tenn Tech. Worthy of #3?
4. Fl State: Hmmm..they have beat two FCS teams and WF. Does that really merit a #4 rankning? They will get taken down by Clemson this week.
5. Oklahoma: Two wins against mid-conference teams. We'll see.
6. Georgia: Two wins agaisnt mid-confferecen teams. We'll see. They are looking decent but will not be really tested until Tennessee visits in two weeks.
7. WVU: Two wins against mid-conference teams. We'll see.
8. SCar: Deserving. Three wins against decent teams.
9. Clemson: Three wins against so-so teams. Appear deserving and I think they will take out FSU on Saturday.
10. Texas: Deserving and will move up soon.
11 thru 25: Stanford had a great win but still ranked too high too early. Florida, ND, UCLA and AZ look for real. Ohio State has yet to be tested.
E N D Z O N E
Wow...only 300 fans showed up to Miami's home game Saturday. Yes...they were only playing an FCS team but 300 people in the stands? A few bad seasons, NCAA sanctions, questionable practices...all that equals empty seats. It can happen. Even to a former powerhouse like Miami.
W E E K L Y W R A P
I expected more out of USC. I really thought they had the right mix this year to make a run at the top. Nothing against Stanford but USC must have gone in big-headed and un-prepared. Even top teams still have to prepare. But they weren't the only ones un-prepared: VaTech and Michigan State didn't prep well either.
Tennessee looked like the real thing. Yes...they lost to a good Florida team but UT has some very, very talented players, aggressive play calling, and they are definitely on their way to make the SEC-East more powerful (and interesting).
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W E E K L Y W H I N E
Let's just take a quick gander at the Top 10. I just have a few issues with the voters and the commentators and how they are already "electing" the National Champion (much like the press is electing our next president). I heard twice yesterday that FSU could be national champs. Really? If I didn't know better I'd say some of these guys are being bought off to promote certain teams. IMHO there should just be a little more thought to it all.
1. 'Bama: Deserving. They look like national champs right now.
2. LSU: Hmmm...they beat N TExas, UW and winless Idaho. Now they play 1-2 Auburn and then an FCS team before taking on any meaty teams.
3. Oregon: Hmmm...they have beat AR State, Fresno State and FCS Tenn Tech. Worthy of #3?
4. Fl State: Hmmm..they have beat two FCS teams and WF. Does that really merit a #4 rankning? They will get taken down by Clemson this week.
5. Oklahoma: Two wins against mid-conference teams. We'll see.
6. Georgia: Two wins agaisnt mid-confferecen teams. We'll see. They are looking decent but will not be really tested until Tennessee visits in two weeks.
7. WVU: Two wins against mid-conference teams. We'll see.
8. SCar: Deserving. Three wins against decent teams.
9. Clemson: Three wins against so-so teams. Appear deserving and I think they will take out FSU on Saturday.
10. Texas: Deserving and will move up soon.
11 thru 25: Stanford had a great win but still ranked too high too early. Florida, ND, UCLA and AZ look for real. Ohio State has yet to be tested.
E N D Z O N E
