Welcome to October football!
With apologies to the WHO, “Meet the old boss same as the new boss”.
It was billed as a game of speed, versus power.
Unfortunately, for the Gator Faithful, Alabama displayed more power than an electric company, in its 38-10 destruction of the Boys from the Swamp.
It was the worst Florida home loss, since the “bad old” days of Ron Zook, nearly a decade ago.
In its last three meetings, the Tide has crushed the Gators by a combined score of: 101-29, and displayed its defensive dominance by limiting Florida, (a team that was averaging 259 yards on the ground), to an eye-popping 15 total rushing yards; 4 for Jeffrey Demps, and 4 for Chris Rainey. Yikes!
It was a classic Saban game plan, pound the ball behind its Heisman Trophy contending horse, Trent Richardson (a career best 189 yards), who is riding a streak of four consecutive 100 yard games, mix in a pass from steady QB A.J. McCarron, and make the opponents offense one dimensional, by taking away what it does best.
It also showed how far old friend Charlie Weis and company have to travel, before the Gators climb back to the top of the SEC ladder
Speaking of Ron Zook, the Illini faithful are popping Champaign corks in Champaign, as Illinois football is 5-0 for the first time since; ”Give-em Hell Harry,” Truman (1951) was playing poker in the White house.
The Fighting Zookers, down 18 late in the third quarter, rallied to score 28 of the game’s last 35 points, with the winning touchdown coming with 13 seconds left, as it defeated its intra-state rival Northwestern; in a thriller; 38-35.
It was a record day for Illinois receiver A.J. (what is it with A.J.’s yesterday) Jenkins, who snared 12 passes for a school record 268 yards and 3 touchdowns.
There are no Champaign corks being popped at the Heights of Boston College, as the Eagles (1-4) are in free fall, after yesterday’s 27-19 loss to Wake Forest, and are now staring at the very real possibility of a 1 win season. Double Yikes!!
Lay the majority of the blame at the door step of AD Gene DeFilippo.
He is responsible for creating this mess. His hiring of former coach and buddy Jeff Jagodzinski, who not only walked away from the job, but he left the cupboard bare with his poor recruiting.
That in turn, left good guy Spaz, whose real strength is as a coordinator, not as a head coach, in an impossible situation.
Where’s Mark Whipple when you need him?
In its Big Ten debut, Nebraska was exposed as the frauds, that they are, routed 48-17, by It was also the first meeting of top ten teams at Camp Randall Stadium, since a skinny kid from Massachusetts, was smoking cigars on the White House balcony.
As we have previously stated, we equate the Huskers to Mike Tyson; a bully, who, as soon as its opponent punches back, falls as quickly as John Henry on his yacht.
The Cornhuskers lacks imagination, and QB Tyler Martinez (3 interceptions), which lead to 21 Badger points, is too one dimensional to carry a team to a national championship.
Under Bo Pelini, “Mighty” Nebraska is 1-6 against top ten opponents, and is a jaw-dropping, 2-16, since the start of the century!
Where are Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne when you need them?
Meanwhile, in Madison, Wiscy QB, Russell Wilson (why did old friend Tom O’Brien ever let him out of his scholarship) has showed the nation, that just maybe, a Big Ten team can compete for a national championship.
What’s brewing in Clemson?!
Dabo Swinney’s Tigers, (5-0), went into Lane Stadium, in its first road test, and gave Virginia Tech its worst home defeat (23-3) in three decades.
In the process Clemson’s D held VaTech to no touchdowns, for the first time, since the Clinton Administration of 1995.
Clemson is the first ACC team to defeat three consecutive ranked opponents, in what Swinney has hailed his; “Shock the World Tour.” Very Ali-like.
So far so good, but Clemson better watch-out, mighty BC comes a calling next week!!
What’s up with A&M and the second half?
Once again the Aggies (2-2) took a commanding 35-17 lead into half-time, only to came out like a pancake, outscored, and embarrassed, by the Razorbacks of Arkansas 25-3, losing another gut wrencher; 42-38.
What’s more troublesome for the Aggie faithful and the soon to be SEC team, is its D, which, was once again gashed through the air (school record 510 yards) as the Hogs wideout; Jarious Wright, caught 13 passes for a school record 281 yards!! Yikes.
It could be a very long year in College Station, which had high hopes for a BCS bowl invite.
Hold the basketball season, and hail the smart kids.
The Dukies (3-2) have won three in a row.
David Cutcliff, (think Mississippi would like him back), and the Duke Blue Devils won a come from behind road game against a good FIU squad 31-27, as starry QB Sean Renfree, passed for over 300 yards in leading the Boys from Durham to the victory.
It’s time for JoPa to call it a career.
Penn State continues to sleep-walk, as evidenced by its lackluster 16-10 victory over a very inept Indiana squad. The Lions appear stale and unimaginative, and at the half, the game was tied 3-3. Yikes!
In Athens, Georgia (3-2) has “Richted the ship,” as Mark Richt’s Bulldogs won its third in a row with solid defense and stellar play from its sophomore QB Aaron Murray.
In Ann Arbor, the Denard Robinson show continues to roll on as Michigan finds itself 5-0 for the second consecutive season.
But before the Maize and Blue start to make Rose Bowl reservations, its season takes an exponentially more difficult trail in the coming weeks.
But Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood is fun to watch.
In Annapolis, Air Force blew an 18 point fourth quarter lead, only to win in overtime; 35-34, when Navy missed its “extra long” extra point.
After scoring first in the OT period, a Navy player was flagged for taunting, which added an extra 15 yards to the PAT try, which, you guess it, was wide. Ouch!!
Think that Middie might have a few extra marching duties this week?!!
Finally a few thoughts: whatever happed to the word defense at USC?
The Gamecocks of South Carolina are the nation’s most overrated eleven, while Old Man Bill Synder and his KState Wildcats, are a team to be reckoned with, and may be, the most underrated team in America.
That’s it from cyber space. We’ll be up and running Wednesday night with our week six analysis.
Until then, Peace. Pk
Saturday Football 