By Paul Casey Gotham
What if we give it away?
How do you turn a three-point advantage into a 20-point deficit? Just ask Butch Davis and the UNC (University of Non-Compliance) Tar Heels. The Heels took a 10-7 lead over Les Miles and the LSU Tigers with 8:24 to go in the second quarter. Fourteen plays from scrimmage, one poor kick-off coverage, a porous punt coverage, a blown coverage and one bad rush defense later and the Tiggers (misspelling intentional) had a 30-10 lead.
WITH 2:37 REMAINING IN THE HALF!!!!
Geez.
No sooner did the depleted Heels grab the lead when they allowed a Russell Shepard 50 yard rushing TD on the first play from scrimmage AFTER taking the lead. Oh yeah, almost forgot the 47-yard kick-off return. Carolina’s Hunter Ferr bobbled the ensuing kick-off in the end zone. What did he do? OF COURSE. Ferr tried to run it out. He got to the four-yard line. Three plays later, in the shotgun, UNC QB, TJ Yates is checking off when …DOH!! the ball is snapped and the Tiggers get the safety.
Good news. The Heels stopped the next drive when Richard Murphy fumbled.
Bad news. UNC went three and out, punted and Patrick Peterson returned it 87 yards for the 23-10 lead.
Carolina almost used a minute and a half of clock in their next three and out. LSU’s first play from scrimmage after the punt, Rueben Randle goes 51 yards (probably 45 AFTER the catch) for six. Extra point later and the University of Non-Compliance trailed 30-10.
At some point, the cameras panned to one of the suspended Tar Heels in the crowd. In response to which, a Carolina administrator said: “We have no iea how he got here.”
Despite all this, the Heels saved some of their own dramatics for the fourth quarter. Yates connected with Jheranie Boyd for 97 yards. 30-17.
Eight minutes and a 13-play drive later and UNC climbed to within six when Yates found Erik Highsmith for a 14-point TD.
Hmmmm…How important is special teams? Geez, had the Heels done anything in the second quarter on punt or kick coverage, the game was theirs for the taking. Imagine an SEC team falling to a depleted ACC team.
Carolina took possession of the ball on their own 27 with 68 ticks remaining on the Timex. The drive ended on the Tigger six.
Houston, we have a problem
Ole Miss dealt with a worse fate than the Tiggers – okay, so LSU didn’t have it that bad. They did win. But really? They made a Butch Davis-coached team look exciting. Is that any reason to ring the home area code?
Houston Nutt’s Rebels fell in double OT to Jacksonville State of the Football Championship Subdivision. So much for those 20 extra scholarships that Ole Miss gets (someone please check my numbers). The best thing about this game might be that the Gamecocks went for the win with a two-point conversion. How sweet is that? After getting six, Coty Blanchard lofted a pass to Calvin Middleton for the 49-48 win.
Fumbling with the blues
Times are tough in the SEC. Les (funny, we don’t even have to do anything with his name to have fun. Just keep repeating Les…) Miles and his Tiggers turn a Butch Davis squad into Bourne Identity. Houston’s team busts a …(you know what) against JSU, and now we know why Sub-Urban Meyer had a one night stand with retirement. The Gators made taking a snap in the shotgun look like rocket science. The offense accounted for 26 yards through the first three quarters lost three fumbles. Nonetheless, Sub-Urban’s gang beat Miami, Ohio AT HOME…IN THE SWAMP, 34-12. One can only imagine had that game been played in Miami.
Guess it was just a rough weekend for the SEC.
“You know the bartenders all know my name
And they catch me when I’m pulling up lame
And I’m a pool-shooting-shimmy-shyster shaking my head
When I should be living clean instead”
Magnanimitas
Say it slowly. Break it down into five syllables. It’s a tongue-twister. It’s also the mantra of the Georgia State Panthers. After a 14-year hiatus from the sidelines, Bill Curry made a triumphant return as the Panthers won their first-ever game in a school history, 41-7. More important is how Curry leads the Panthers.
Curry’s quest with the Georgia State program has received considerable air time because of his past tenure with ESPN. Fans have had a chance to see Curry motivating his players asking each to reach inside themselves for the greater good. The idea is that each human being possesses unique talents and skills that can help the group. Curry encourages mutual respect and the idea that each individual should want to bring out the best in everyone around them. Therefore, making everyone better in the long run. Refreshing. Certainly, not as popular as the profanity of Hard Knocks, but definitely more refreshing.
First time for everything
Not much changes around State College. JoePa still roams the sidelines. The Nittany Lions beat Youngstown State. No big deal. It was a nice warm up. One difference was who took snaps. Rob Bolden lined up under center for Penn State and for the first time in 45 years a true freshman started at quarterback. Bolden completed 20-29, two TDs and one pick. Not bad for the first time around. No time to get comfortable. The Nittany Lions head to Alabama for a soiree with the Crimson Tide.
Under Pressure
File cabinets, extended practice time and a losing record record in the Big House. Where is Rich Rodriguez supposed to turn. Lord knows, he’s not going to the cemetery to pray over Bo Schembechler’s head stone. Bo would probably make him do up-downs all the way back to Morgantown. Did any coach feel more pressure than R-Rod this weekend? Somehow, the Wolverines pulled off a 30-10 victory over UConn. Good thing Syracuse won because it certainly was not an impressive weekend for the Big East. Unless of course, you consider South Florida’s victory over Stony Brook to be noteworthy.
“Insanity laughs under pressure we’re cracking
Can’t we give ourselves one more chance
Why can’t we give love that one more chance”
Heisman watch
Kendall Hunter Oklahoma State – 21 rushes for 257 yards and four TDs as the Cowboys beat Wash. St. 65-17
G.J. Kinne Tulsa – 28 completions in 43 attempts for 399 yards and five TDS as the Hurricane lost to ECU 51-49
Dominique Davis East Carolina – 27 completions in 46 attempts and 5 TDS as ECU beat Tulsa 51-49.
Matt Barkley USC – 18 of 23 for for 257 yards and 5 TDS as the Trojans beat Hawaii 49-36. All Lane Kiffin and his folly have to play for are individual awards and the AP.
Got ANY college football splinters? Share them here.
Davis ran for a TD, too, giving him 6 total. That was a great game.
Whoa – getting a little vulgar in here, Casey.
Demarco Murray:
35 rushes
218 yards
2 Touchdowns
Stays healthy, the team plays a hell of a lot better than they did Saturday, and Murray has an excellent chance to win the Heisman.
Paul – good call! The Sooners / Utah State game was a good one. I caught a few minutes of it.
At this rate, the Hokies should get it to midfield about halfway through the second quarter.
Is there a thing as too much instant replay???
What a game last night … great win for Boise State on the road! That team is resilient and never quits. Kellen Moore led the late comeback, and his 3 TD/ 0 INT game in front of the national audience in a critical game should get the attention of Heismann voters. I know it’s WAY EARLY, but BSU had to win this game and right now are as deserving as anyone for the #1 ranking.
I loved the play of Austin Pettis. He did it all last night.
Agreed … Pettis was instrumental in the W. Like I said before, Boise State is run like one of the military acadamies but with better players. The kids are very well-coached, team-oriented, disciplined, tight knit, focused and prepared. They give 110% for 60 minutes and don’t panic … kinda like Navy or Air Force but, again, with better players/athletes.
Herbstreit mentioned this last night and it bears repeating … BSU gets surprisingly good line play … and they’re a lot tougher than you think.
Boise made believers out of the Hokies. Wow! I figured the Broncos would have to show they could take a punch and recover. Instead, the Hokies were the ones pulling themselves off the canvas. And you are right, Boise’s line play was outstanding.