Oregon Ducks opulent weight room with Brazilian ipe wood floor, reported to be strong enough to bend a nail
We begin this week a team whose facilities are so opulent, that it would be the envy of a Saudi Prince, a $34 billion alum, who made his mark in the running community, and wrote the check for most of the funding to create his vision of a gridiron palace.
The philanthropist is Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and his dream is to see his beloved Oregon Ducks win a national title before the octogenarian departs this earth.
Here are a few highlights of the Oregon Football facilities.
It is a six-story black steel and glass football edifice, with 145,000 square feet of meeting space, that contains every possible amenity; including a barber shop with a professional hair-cutter, aftershave in the lounge, pools, and a 25,000 square foot weight room facility.
No expense was spared, and it truly is; the best of the best.
This weekend, let’s see which neatly coiffed teams go out and trim the opposition, and which are in need of some much needed grooming both on and off the field.
No. 2 Georgia at No. 13 LSU (Ch.4, 3:30 p.m.) This game will measure just how much bite is in the Dawgs.
And despite its Westminster pedigree, the Bulldogs offense, has at times sputtered like a Senate bill sponsored by Bernie Sanders.
One of principle reasons is that these “Sons of Hershel” are rolling out its fourth different offensive line combination, which currently includes three freshman starters.
The other, is a bit more esoteric.
Coach Kirby Smart is frustrated by his team’s lack of maturity, which translates into committing too many drive altering penalties.
But outside of Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson, the rest of college football would be salivating as deliriously as Jack Nicholson in “The Shining,” at the thought of being able to attack with a roster like Georgia.
Georgia’s starry QB Jake Fromm AP photo
The director of this Park Ave eleven, is its starry sophomore QB Jake Fromm (12 TDs-2 Ints-72%), the nation’s fourth most efficient passer, who hits his target with the precision of a Navy Seal sniper.
The Athens aerial artist is assisted by a quartet of wideouts led by Mecole Hardman, Riley Ridley, and Terry Godwin, along with a stable of tailback thoroughbreds featuring; Elijah Holyfield (7 yds a pop, and the son of the former Heavyweight Champion Evander), D’andre Swift, James Cook, and Brian Hersien, all of whom are quality chain-movers.
The nation’s second stingiest (13) D, featuring backers D’Andre Walker, Monty Rice and safety J.R. Reed, swarms like Old Testament locusts, and hits with the ferocity of Senator Grassley’s gavel trying to maintain civil order in his Judiciary Committee hearing room.
In Baton Rouge, Coach O (Ed Orgeron), like General Eisenhower agonizing over the D-Day battle plans, is fully aware of the imminent danger the next three home games represent to his future employment on the Bayou.
LSU grad-transfer QB Joe Burrow AP photo
These “Sons of Bert Jones” are directed by dual-threat Ohio State grad-transfer, QB Joe Burrow (6 TDs -2 Ints-53%), with assists from a bruising senior tailback Nick Brossette (8 TDs-4.9 yds.), and a trio of wideouts Justin Jefferson, Stephen Sullivan, and Dee Anderson.
But overall, the Death Valley offense (80th overall, 95th passing) remains as inconsistent as the Vatican regarding the status of retired Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
But just like the swallows return to Capistrano, or Hemmingway sipping on a late afternoon martini in Cuba, the LSU turbo-charged D, with apologies to Joni Mitchell, remains as “constant as a northern star,” anchored by backer Devin White, safety Grant Delpit, and corner Greedy Williams, and will ultimately determine the fate of the LSU season.
One of the more difficult tasks in college football is to walk out of Death Valley with the W.
But we think the Bulldogs remain on its showdown path with Alabama for supremacy of the SEC.
No. 7 Washington at No. 17 Oregon (ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.) This is the 111th meeting (Washington leads 60-45-5) between these bitter Great Pacific Northwest rivals with the top spot in Pac-12 North riding on its outcome.
As its faithful are well aware, there has been an unexplainable season long power-outage (72nd scoring) around Husky Stadium which has hindered the dogs in its hunt for conference bragging rights.
UW QB Jake Browning AP photo
These “Sons of Warren Moon” are directed by its seasoned senior QB Jake Browning (9 TDs-5 Ints-66%), who despite his three-years of big-game experience, has frustratingly continued to make freshman-like mistakes.
Another reason for the offensive outage, has been the performance of its breakaway tailback, Myles Gaskins (4.5 yds. – 5 TDs), who has stumbled like he’s mushing on a snowless Iditarod trail.
It has been the nation’s third stingiest (13) D, featuring a pair of All-Americas; safety Taylor Rapp (4-sacks), and corner Byron Murphy, who comprise the best secondary in America, along with backer Ben Burr-Kirven which gives the Emerald City faithful its belief that a 2018 Pac-12 championship banner might possibly be flying over its Stadium next season.
Oregon’s starry QB Justin Herbert and his bazooka arm AP photo
In Eugene, the “Sons of Dan Fouts” directed by its Herculean-sized (6-5, 231) future Sunday playing QB Justin Herbert (15 TDs-5 Ints-64%), whose bazooka arm could zip it past the Yankees Aaron Judge, also has his sight laser focused on the Pac-12 title.
Coach Mario Cristobal QB marksman is the director of the nation’s 12th highest scoring (45) squad, assisted by a trio of defense stressing receivers; Dillon Mitchell, Johnny Johnson, and Jaylon Redd, who have combined for 9-TDs, while averaging over 16-yards per catch.
And when the Ducks choose to plow the earth, the tailback three-pack; CJ Verdell, Travis Dye, and James Brooks, have rushed for a high-cotton 873-yards and 7 TDs.
On D, coordinator Jim Leavitt, who was enticed to remain in Eugene by a sweet smelling $1.7 million annual nest egg, attacks with backers Justin Hollins (8 tfls-4-sacks), Troy Dye, and corner Kaulana Apeio who are solid against the run, but has display some troubling fissures defending against the pass.
When the faithful of Phil Knight U, aka Oregon are clicking, the decibel level at Autzen Stadium pierces more ears than a vintage ’78 Yankee’s screaming match between George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin.
We think that cacophony could be matched on Saturday afternoon, as the Ducks knock off its rival and grab control of the Pac-12 North.
No. 15 Wisconsin at No. 12 Michigan (Ch.5, 7:30 p.m.) The task facing the visitors from Madison, is nearly as daunting as the daily spray-tan coloring choice by “Two-scoops” aka the POTUS.
And since taking over three-plus years ago, the former Badger QB, and current coach Paul Chryst, has compiled a highly successful run of three-consecutive 10-win seasons, and a stellar 38-8 resume.
Wisconsin’s All-America tailback Jonathan Taylor AP photo
The director of these “Sons of the Iron Horse, Alan Ameche” is junior QB Alex Hornibrook (7 TDs-2 Ints-64%), but the tone setter on the country’s fourth best rushing attack (287) is All-America tailback Jonathan Taylor (6.7 yds. a pop, 8 TDs), who has better moves than a Harlem R&B queen, and capable of breaking away every time he touches the ball.
And when the Cheese Heads field general takes to skies over Madison, A.J. Taylor, and Jake Ferguson are inviting field-stretching targets.
The D of the Mad-Towners anchored by backers Ryan Connelly, T.J. Edwards, and safety Scott Nelson isn’t dominant, but stands as Chamberlain-tall in the red zone, surrendering a miniscule 16-points a game which places it twelfth best in the nation.
In Ann Arbor, if one was asked what would be the best word association between Harbaugh and Michigan Football? The answer would be; defense.
Michigan D-coordinator and former Northeastern coach Don Brown exhorts his troops AP photo
Coordinator extraordinaire Don Brown, who arrived in Ann Arbor by way of Northeastern, UMass, and UConn, is the I.M. Pei of that Wolverines D, which once again, is stronger than, to quote Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, when asked by President Trump, as to how strong he (McConnell) was on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh said: “stronger than mule piss.” Must be a Bluegrass State thing!
This elite eleven, the nation’s tenth (15) stingiest, is anchored by All-America backer Devin Bush, end Chase Winovich (10.5 tfls-3-sacks), and safety Tyree Kinnel, and equally defends both the pass, and run with the efficiency of a Jim Rice homerun swing, and is harder to penetrate than the security at the Bush Kennebunkport Compound, during daughter Barbara’s recent wedding.
Unfortunately on the offensive side, Big Blue’s offense flows more like the Rio Grande in El Paso in late July.
Even though Ole Miss transfer, QB Shea Patterson (10 TDs-3 Ints -68%) has added some juice to these creaky “Sons of Tom Brady,” with assists from a hard charging tailback Karan Higdon (5.8 yds. a pop, 5 TDs), and a trio of receivers; Zach Gentry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Nico Collins, this squad is as mundane as a floor speech from Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Ultimately, this game is like a Fisher-Spassky chess match, between Don Brown’s D, and Wiscy’s relentless ground assault. We’re siding with our native son from Spenser, as the Maize and Blue checkmates itself into a huge poll climbing victory.
No. 8 Penn State at Michigan State (BTN, 3:30 p.m.) For the third consecutive season, the Nittany Lions are roaring behind the leadership of its dual-threat, All-America caliber QB, Trace McSorley (10 TDs-2 Ints-52%), who loses a game (26-5) about as often as Sandy Koufax in his prime.
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Penn State’s All-America caliber QB Trace McSorley AP photo
The resilient commander, who is tougher than Washington’s beleaguered troops stationed at Valley Forge in the winter of 1776, operates the nation’s fifth highest scoring (49) eleven, with assists from a chain-stretching tailback Miles Sanders (6-yds. a carry), and featured wideout KJ Hamler, who averages a Lance Alworth-ian 23-yards per catch.
On D, the “Sons of Matt Millen” anchored by end Shareff Miller (6.5 tfls-3-sacks), and backers Jan Johnson, and Cam Brown isn’t Falstaffian stout, particularly defending against the run, but hits with the ferocity Mike Smith’s whip driving Justify down the stretch at Belmont to capture the Triple Crown.
In East Lansing, these “Sons of Duffy Daugherty,” warmed by the security of 18-returning starters, appeared to be like Sparta in the Peloponnesian War, perched and equipped to conquer the Big Ten Conference.
But something happened on its way to the field of battle.
A frustrated Mark Dantonio coach of Michigan State AP photo
To quote the poet Robert Burns; “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry,” and the (3-2) Spartans are one of college football’s most disappointing teams.
It traces to its highly touted QB Brian Lewerke (6 TDs-6 Ints), who has played more like the “Johnny Football” directing the Montreal Alouettes, while its floundering (109th) bottom feeding running attack, looks like it was taken over by the Marx Brothers, as tailbacks Connor Heyward, LJ Scott, and La’Darius Jefferson, are averaging a jaw-dropping Rutgers-esque 3.5 yards per carry.
Even Sparty’s D, led by backer Joe Bachie, end Kenny Willekes (8 tfls-4 sacks), and corner Justin Layne despite topping the nation in stoning runners, drops into a puzzling abyss (122nd) defending the pass, and opposing teams have, and will continue to take full advantage.
A victory would be a season saver for the uninspired Spartans, but there is no reason to believe that McSorley, and the rest of the visitors from Happy Valley will be leaving East Lansing with anything but another victory.
Baylor at No. 9 Texas (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.) The Baylor Bears have awakened from its painful and public self-induced hibernation.
These “Sons of Del Shofner,” under its second year savior Coach Matt Rhule, are a pair of victories away from bowl eligibility.
Baylor QB Charlie Brewer AP photo
The “Sons of Cotton Davidson” are directed its sophomore QB Charlie Brewer (9 TDs-2 Ints -64%) the mama-bear behind the nation’s ninth most-potent passing attack, and assisted by a pair of glue-fingered receivers Jalen Hurd and Denzil Mims, while tailbacks John Lovett, and JaMycal Hasty, won’t conjure up any memories of Walter Abercrombie, they do represent a dependable change of pace.
On D, the “Sons of Mike Singletary” featuring backers Jordan Williams, Terrel Bernard, and tackle James Lynch has more holes (96th in points allowed, 98th stopping the run, 90th in total D) than the walls of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and will be “exposed” by the Horns.
Texas QB and leader Sam Ehlinger AP photo
In Austin, Coach Tom Herman’s “Sons of Bevo,” under the direction of its gritty dual-threat QB Sam Ehlinger (11 TDs-2 Ints -65%), have won five in-a-row, (3-0 against ranked teams), and has moved from Dante’s Eight Circle (Fraud) into the sunlight of legitimacy and relevance for the first time in a decade.
The Horns leader, who is tougher than trying to solve a quadratic equation with just a piece of chalk, and a blackboard, is assisted by a pair of game breaking targets; Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Collin Johnson, who have combined for 8 TDs, while tailbacks Keaontay Ingram, and Tra Watson, aren’t scintillating, but will keep a defense honest.
On D, the “Sons of Tommy Nobis” led by safety Brandon Jones, end Charles Omenihu (6 tfls-4 sacks), and backer Gary Johnson, are solid against the run, but defense the pass, about as well as Leon Spinks defended his Heavyweight title which might mean trouble against the Bears.
This is a game that Texas must win, to truly show that it’s a legitimate Big 12 Conference threat. A loss would kill all the good will bubbling in Austin, but not to worry a victory is exactly what the Horns are going to hook.
Last week: 2-3 Season record: 20-10.
That’s it from cyber-space. We’ll be up and running with our recap Sunday afternoon. Until then, Peace, and listen to the music! PK
Saturday Football 