This weeks lesson: "Never look past the underdog. This is college football. Anything can happen." Of the 10 unbeaten teams that headed into Saturday only five escaped unscathed. Four of the losing five lost to un-ranked teams. Long-time rivalry emotions, trap games, and just bad luck may have been to blame - in part. But bottom line: the underdogs came ready to play. It was the day of the underdog.
W E E K L Y W R A P
There were four losses in the Top 10 (Florida, OU, USC and Oregon State). And 1-loss, talent-laden USC let the trap game get to them before they meet up with Oregon next week. (And Oregon needed USC to win to help pad the Ducks BCS stats). And besides all that...there were a few close calls in the Top 25 as well (Louisville, Texas, and SCar).
I am becoming a K-State believer. And a Notre Dame believer. And 'Bama and Oregon look downright unstoppable. There are plenty of 1- and 2-loss teams that look very good and I am predicting a very exciting bowl season...as long as they match up the right teams. (Please don't match up a 1-loss team with a 4-loss team!).
BYU: Where has this team been hiding? Six TDs, holding the nations #3 rush attack to zero TDs, a blocked punt, 67% completion rate, converting a fourth-and-goal on the first drive, etc. Wow! There must not have been any caffeine-free Coke available in Atlanta.
And, the annual "Border War", "War for the Oar" (aka "The World's Largest Cocktail Party") was quite memorable (at least for UGA fans). Another pre-game scuffle, two sputtering offenses, two take-no-prisoners selfish defenses, eight turnovers, 227 penalty yards, multiple injuries, coaches yelling at players, two shots for a lead change or tie that resulted in end zone turnovers, and the winner never converted a 3rd down. UGA's Shawn Williams and his "soft" teammates man'd up and played with heart. Jarvis Jones and sidekick Bacarri Rambo outplayed the UF offense and were unstoppable and at times appeared downright super-human. Watch a 2 1/2 minute game summary HERE (note the best safety blitz ever at the 1:30 mark and the two UF players missing the goal line tackle at the 1:55 mark).
W E E K L Y W H I N E
A call out to Oregon: just stop. Really? 70 to 14? OK, OK, OK. We know you're good. Great, even. You have an explosive offense that can outright execute better than anyone. But please stop rubbing it in. Your weekly uniform style updates along with your excessive style points are wearing me out. Save it for the big games and stop beating up on the little guys. It's bad karma - and it will come back on you 10-fold.
E N D Z O N E
Although I am not a "Gator Hater", and I very much respect the coaches and talent that Florida has, and has had, in recent years, there are few things as satisfying as derailing the potential championship season of your biggest rival. Long live the under"dawg"!
W E E K L Y W R A P
There were four losses in the Top 10 (Florida, OU, USC and Oregon State). And 1-loss, talent-laden USC let the trap game get to them before they meet up with Oregon next week. (And Oregon needed USC to win to help pad the Ducks BCS stats). And besides all that...there were a few close calls in the Top 25 as well (Louisville, Texas, and SCar).
I am becoming a K-State believer. And a Notre Dame believer. And 'Bama and Oregon look downright unstoppable. There are plenty of 1- and 2-loss teams that look very good and I am predicting a very exciting bowl season...as long as they match up the right teams. (Please don't match up a 1-loss team with a 4-loss team!).
BYU: Where has this team been hiding? Six TDs, holding the nations #3 rush attack to zero TDs, a blocked punt, 67% completion rate, converting a fourth-and-goal on the first drive, etc. Wow! There must not have been any caffeine-free Coke available in Atlanta.And, the annual "Border War", "War for the Oar" (aka "The World's Largest Cocktail Party") was quite memorable (at least for UGA fans). Another pre-game scuffle, two sputtering offenses, two take-no-prisoners selfish defenses, eight turnovers, 227 penalty yards, multiple injuries, coaches yelling at players, two shots for a lead change or tie that resulted in end zone turnovers, and the winner never converted a 3rd down. UGA's Shawn Williams and his "soft" teammates man'd up and played with heart. Jarvis Jones and sidekick Bacarri Rambo outplayed the UF offense and were unstoppable and at times appeared downright super-human. Watch a 2 1/2 minute game summary HERE (note the best safety blitz ever at the 1:30 mark and the two UF players missing the goal line tackle at the 1:55 mark).
A call out to Oregon: just stop. Really? 70 to 14? OK, OK, OK. We know you're good. Great, even. You have an explosive offense that can outright execute better than anyone. But please stop rubbing it in. Your weekly uniform style updates along with your excessive style points are wearing me out. Save it for the big games and stop beating up on the little guys. It's bad karma - and it will come back on you 10-fold.
E N D Z O N E
Although I am not a "Gator Hater", and I very much respect the coaches and talent that Florida has, and has had, in recent years, there are few things as satisfying as derailing the potential championship season of your biggest rival. Long live the under"dawg"!
