Natalie Cole and her father Nat King Cole in “Unforgettable” duet
We begin this week with a high quality defensive player, and a father/daughter signing duo for the ages.
Boston College senior defensive end Wyatt Ray is a force onto himself, but he can’t hold a helmet to his grandfather, or his aunt, who just happen to be; Nat King Cole, and his daughter Natalie.
Grandfather Nat crooned some legendary notes such as; “Ramblin Rose,” “Unforgettable,” “Mona Lisa,” and “Route 66,” while Natalie won a slew of Grammy’s with her version of her dad’s classic “Unforgettable.”
If grandson Wyatt, displays half the ability of his grandfather and aunt, he’ll be a star at the next level.
This weekend, let’s see which teams hit every high note, leaving it alums harmonizing another winning tune, and which, looks like it should be “Ramblin” on “Route 66.”
No. 6 Michigan at No. 24 Michigan State (FOX, Noon) It’s easy to spot a classic.
The Eifel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the photo of Marilyn Monroe in her white dress standing over the subway grate, or Guy Lafleur flying down the right wing with his dirty blond mane flowing in the air stream, are just a few that come to mind.
This Saturday in East Lansing, another classic will be unfolding on the gridiron, as the 111th renewal of the Wolverine State’s version of the “Hadfields and McCoys” aka Michigan versus Michigan State will be kicking off at high noon, with “Big Blue” holding a 69-36-5 advantage.
But the Maize and Blue’s “Ram Helmeted” faithful, remain edgy, fully aware that Sparty, much to the chagrin of its “savior” coach Jim Harbaugh (1-2), has captured 8 of the last 10 Paul Bunyan Trophies.
The result will also tell us if these “Sons of Tom Harmon” are as fraudulent as Elizabeth Warren’s Native American DNA, or as authentic as Chuck Yeagar.
Michigan QB Shea Patterson and Coach Jim Harbaugh AP photo
And the reason for the optimism engulfing the Ann Arbor campus is traced to QB Shea Patterson, the Ole Miss transfer, who has nearly singlehandedly scrapped most of the barnacles off an offense that operated like a moldy blueprint of the dusty cloud days of Bo and Woody.
UM’s gritty dual-threat leader, is assisted by its bulldozing tailback Karan Higdon (7 yds. a carry – 5 TDs) and a trio of wideouts Zach Gentry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Nico Collins, who are as dependable as the bells of London’s Big Ben ringing on New Year’s Eve.
Michigan’s D, under the guidance of its Fischer-esque chess master, coordinator Don Brown (formerly Northeastern and UMass), tenderizes opponents behind its All-America caliber end Chase Winovich (10.5 tfls-3 sacks), backer Devin Bush, and safety Tyree Kinnell, and can stifle an offense better than Archie did to Edith.
At the moment, the roster of the “Sons of Duffy Dougherty” mirrors a MASH Unit after a bloody battle against the Persians.
And for Sparty, this is much more than just a rivalry game.
It’s also an unexpected gifted opportunity for the “Sons of Bubba Smith” to climb off the cold morgue slab, and back into relevance in the Big Ten East race.
Spartans QB Brian Lewerke AP photo
MSU’s offense, under the command of its disappointedly erratic QB Brian Lewerke (8 TDs-7 Ints-60%), has been severely hamstrung by its inconsistent Rutgers-like ground attack (114th), featuring Connor Heyward, and Jefferson La’Darius (under 4-yards a carry), along with a mixture of receivers Felton Davis, and Brandon Sowards, that is as stagnant (83rd) as the water around Florida’s Cape Coral Yacht club.
The Spartans D is the antithesis of the symmetrical balance of the amazing “Flying Wallendas.”
It leads the nation in stoning runners (62-yds. a game), but leaks like a breached flash-flood dike in North Carolina (117th), when trying to defend an aerial assault.
In a game that will have more trash talking than the Larry Bird Celtics, and more hits than Casey Kasem’s Top-40 show, we think it will be Harbaugh’s Boys who climb over another hurdle, in what is building as a special season in Ann Arbor.
No. 16 NC State at No. 3 Clemson (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.) The last time the Wolfpack stood a high-cotton 5-0, W was early into his first term – 2002, and future NFL Hall of Famer, Phillip Rivers, was torching the skies over Raleigh.
NC State QB Ryan Finley AP photo
This year’s version is directed by another rocket-armed gunslinger, Ryan Finley (10 TDs-3 Ints-69%), who will be extended an invitation to continue plying his craft on Sunday afternoons, is assisted by a trio of glue-fingered wideouts; Kelvin Harmon, Jakobi Meyers, and Emeka Emerie.
Unfortunately, NC State’s running attack led by tailbacks Reggie Gallaspy, and freshman Ricky Person, is as weak (95th) as the income stream for today’s cab drivers.
On D, these “Sons of Mario Williams” led by backer Germane Pratt, end James Smith-Williams, and safety Jariss Morehead, stones runners, but has some fissures defending the pass, which in not the best recipe for defeating the Tigers.
In Clemson, fours are wild in Death Valley.
The Tigers are a perfect 6-0 for the fourth consecutive season, and remain on track for its fourth consecutive ACC Title, as well as a fourth consecutive trip to the college football playoff.
Needless to say Number 4, Bobby Orr, would heartily approve.
Clemson’s freshman QB Trevor Lawrence AP photo
These “Sons of Dwight Clark,” have developed into a national power, and have captured 28 of its last 30 versus ACC opponents. The Tigers are directed by its true-freshman wunderkind, QB Trevor Lawrence (11 TDs-2 Ints-69%) who has a better supporting cast than the 1970-71 Bruins.
The long haired swashbuckler with the Namath coolness, gets a big assist from the nation’s sixth leading rusher Travis Etienne (761 –yds. 9.2 yds. a pop, 11 TDs), who is the tone setter on the nation’s fourth best (280 a game) rushing attack.
The kid also enjoys the added luxury of selecting from on a quartet of chain-moving targets; Amari Rodgers, Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross, and Hunter Renfrow all of whom understand their particular role.
The nation’s sixth stingiest (14) D, anchored by its fearsome NFL caliber front four consisting of three All-Americas; ends Clelin Ferrell (8 tfls-6 sacks), Austin Bryant, and tackle Christian Wilkins, with the added expertise of tackle Dexter Lawrence, ranks in the top-15 in every major defensive category.
The last two meetings have been fingernail chewers for the Tigers faithful, and NC State will not be intimidated, but we don’t think the “king” is ready to surrender its crown, as Clemson notches the W and remains on track for that fourth consecutive playoff invite.
No. 22 Mississippi State at No. 5 LSU (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.) The career of Bulldogs Coach Joe Moorhead’s has moved faster than a Japanese Bullet train.
Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead AP photo
Three years ago, this offensive guru was the head honcho of the Fordham Rams, before being plucked by Penn State Coach James Franklin to handle the QB’s, and even more impressively, to run the Penn State offense.
But when Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen left for the greener$$$ fields of the Florida “Swamp,” the Bulldogs enthusiastically welcomed Moorhead as its new head ball coach.
The offense of these “Sons of D.D. Lewis” behind a Gibraltar hardened offensive line, rumbles more than the Pamplona bulls, or the Kenyans training camp in the Rift Valley.
The Bulldogs creative instigator is QB Nick Fitzgerald (4 TDs-3 Ints – 49% – 513 yds. rushing 7 TDs) who is assisted by a pair of intimidating downhill terrors; tailbacks Kylin Hill, and Aeris Williams, both of whom are averaging nearly 7-yds. a touch.
The nation’s stingiest (12 pts.) D, anchored by end Montez Sweat, (second in America with 10 tfls), All-America tackle Jeffrey Simmons (8.5 tfls), and safety Jonathan Abram, hits harder than Nick Nolte’s blackjack in “Mulholland Falls.”
In Baton Rouge “The Pitchfork Society,” established specifically for the removal of Coach “O” (Ed Orgeron) has been officially disbanded due to a lack of interest, courtesy of its third victory over a top-10 team. [Note: HOF and LSU alum Jim Taylor passed on Monday at the age of 83.]
LSU grad-transfer QB Joe Burrow AP photo
The igniter of this Death Valley renaissance is its dual-threat Ohio State grad-transfer QB Joe Burrow (6 TDs-2 Ints – 52% – 4 rushing), whose unifying leadership is a non-existent entity in the West Wing of the “Two-Scoops” White House.
As just like the springtime bullfights held in Plaza de Toros Maestranza de Caballeria de Sevilla, the signature dish in Death Valley remains its “Taylor-esque” ground assault, led by the Redford-Newman pairing of Nick Brossette, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who have combined for 1115-yards and 14 TDs.
And when the Purple and Gold’s commander takes to the jambalayan skies, receivers Justin Jefferson, Stephen Sullivan, and Dee Anderson are quality field-stretching targets.
But most soothing sight for LSU’s rabid faithful, nearly as comforting as the blanket for Linus, is the Tigers jet-propelled, anvil-hammering D.
This group, anchored by All-America backer Devin White, safety Grant Delpit, and backer Michael Divinity is as deadly, when challenged, as the XV nerve agent that was used by Kim Jong Un on his half-brother. (Don’t you just hate those family squabbles?!)
Even though a visit by Alabama is looming on the horizon, Coach O will not allow his troops to overlook the Bulldogs, and we think, to paraphrase Hank Williams, it will be a; “Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun, on the Bayou,” type of Saturday night.
No. 12 Oregon at No. 25 Washington State (Fox, 7:30 p.m.) The top spot in the Pac-12 North is riding on the outcome on the Palouse.
Oregon’s starry QB Justin Herbert AP photo
QB Justin Herbert (17 TDs-5 Ints – 63%) whose bazooka arm could strip the rust off the Tobin Bridge, and who may be the first quarterback chosen in the 2019 draft, is the incontestable leader of Phil Knight U, aka the Ducks of Oregon.
The Prudential-sized righty, and director of the nation’s 11th highest scoring eleven (43), is assisted by a pair of chain-moving tailbacks; CJ Verdell, and Travis Dye, (averaging over 5-yards a carry), while wideouts Dillon Mitchell, Jaylon Redd, and Johnny Johnson, scoot along with 16-yards a grab, and have the ability break open a game open, faster than a slap-shot by Bobby Hull.
The Ducks D, led by backers Troy Dye, Justin Hollins (9tfls-4 sacks), and Kaulana Apelu isn’t elite, especially when defending the pass, which may be a major issue in taking on the Cougars.
Leach’s Cougs, despite being as unbalanced as the Tower located in Pisa, are one of the season’s better stories.
The running attack (127th) of Wazzu’s Air-raid offense resembles a claiming entry at Suffolk Downs (71-yards a game), but its aerial display would challenge the Big Apple’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, leads the nation, averaging a jaw-dropping, tendinitis inducing, 413-yards per game.
Wazzu QB Gardner Minshew AP photo
The sky pilot of this pass gorging eleven, is East Carolina grad-transfer Gardner Minshew (19 TDs-4 Ints-68%), who was headed to Alabama, before Mike Leach made an offer he couldn’t refuse.
He asked, “How would you like to be the leading passer in the country?”
And as they say in detective school: case closed.
The gunslinger, who fires more bullets than a Taliban firefight, is assisted by a three-pack of wideouts; Tay Martin, Ensop Winton, and Dezmon Patmon, whose hands are stickier than the “Sugar Daddy” factory workers.
Traditionally on the Palouse, defense has been treated like an extra tooth brush, something that just takes up some space, just in the way until the offense gets back onto the field.
But this year’s version, led by its stellar backer Peyton Pelluer, his partner Jahad Woods, and safety Thomas Skyler, is one of the more dynamic squads that Wizard of Pullman has strung together in his six-plus year tenure at Wazzu.
This is another intriguing game, in the unpredictable Pac-12 Conference, but we believe, the Ducks on the road, will do much more than just thread water.
Maryland at No. 19 Iowa (ESPN2, Noon) Despite being saddled by the unresolved suspension of its head coach DJ Durkin, (who is still being paid), Maryland’s interim headman, and offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, has equaled the Terps win total of last season.
Maryland interim coach Matt Canada AP photo
These turbo-charged “Sons of Randy White” have flourished behind its misdirection attack, led by its “Road Running” tailbacks Ty Johnson, and Anthony McFarland, both of whom are averaging over 8-yards a carry. And when Tayo Fleet-Davis is added to the equation, this threesome has combined for over 1000-yards (1065 to be precise) and scored 8 TDs.
QB Kasim Hill ( 6 TDs-2 Ints-53%) is the ring master, or more appropriately, traffic cop of the attack, while receivers Taivon Jacobs, and DJ Turner, have combined for a Service Academy total of just 27-catches on a passing offense that sits a bottom-feeding 124th overall.
The D, led by backers Tre Watson, Isaiah Davis, and end Byron Cowart, is tops the Big Ten in both turnover margin, and interceptions (12), giving its offensive brethren almost as many opportunities as that of Deval Patrick.
In Iowa City, Coach Kirk Ferentz is embarking on his 20th year of piloting the USS Iowa.
And as a Hayden Fry disciple, Ferentz is about as fancy as a vanilla cone with colored jimmies, or a pair of maroon penny-loafers.
[Note: Here’s an example of Hayden Fry humor, “Welcome to the Salvation Army. I’ve never been associated with an offense so nice about giving the ball away.”]
Iowa’s starry tight end T.J. Hockenson AP photo
The offense of these “Sons of Ed Podolak” is directed by its sturdy junior QB Nate Stanley (15 TDs-5 Ints-62%), who lasers on a pair on a pair of Teton-sized (6-5, 250) tight ends; Noah Fant, and T.J. Hockenson (17-yds. a grab), while the Hawkeye’s usually dependable ground attack, featuring Toren Young, and Mekhi Sargent has surprisingly been as mild (86th) as Mr. Rogers in his neighborhood.
Iowa’s relentless D, directed by its “tough love” coordinator Phil Parker, and anchored by end Parker Hesse, backer Djimon Colbert, and safety Amani Hooker is worthy of a Park Avenue penthouse, ranked fifth overall, third stopping the run, and surrendering a superb average of 16-points a game.
Iowa is fully aware of the dangers presented by the speedy visitors from Maryland, but we think the “Boys of the Corn,” are the better team, and get the job done in Kinnick Stadium, which is one of the country’s toughest places for a visitor to notch a victory.
Last week: 3-2. Season record; 23-12.
That’s it from cyber-space. We’ll be up and running with our recap on Sunday afternoon. Until then, Peace, and listen to the music. PK
Saturday Football 