College football Saturday open thread (UPDATED)

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(scroll down for update)


No. 25 Mississippi St. hung with No. 3 LSU for a while until LSU's physicality wore on the Bulldogs in the 2nd half for a 19-6 victory for the Tigers on Thursday.


And last night, No. 4 Boise St. dispatched the Toledo Rockets, 40-15, with Bronco QB, Kellen Moore throwing for 5 and 455.


Today:

No. 15 Michigan St. at Notre Dame. Will the Domers go 0-3 or will an always-talented Sparty squad find yet more imaginative ways to melt down at the end of the ball game? Must see TV, gang. 11:30 PDT on NBC.



No. 23 Texas at UCLA to avenge last years thumping by the Bruins in Austin.



No. 10 South Carolina vs. Navy... a game we know B-Daddy will be watching with great interest.



The Probation Bowl: ESPN is very happy they decided in advance to televise this game between No. 17 Ohio St. and Miami (FL) which are both under continuing investigations and suspensions.


And the Primetime featured matchup: No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 5 Florida State. After being one of the dominant programs in the nation through much of the 80s and 90s, the 'Noles have been a program seemingly adrift over the past several years. Long-time coach and program architect, Bobby Bowden, finally stepped down before the start of last season to make way for Jimbo Fisher who had been brought over from LSU to be coach-in-waiting. Obviously, a statement game for FSU as they can say they are back as one of the nation's elite programs with a win over the Sooners this evening. Either way, the winner of this game can claim the mantle of "National Title Contender".


Enjoy your college football Saturday.



* Pictured is Andrew Luck, Heisman contender and QB of No. 6 Stanford who will be at Arizona tonight.



(UPDATE #1):So, you don't like to punt the ball? You like going for it on fourth down... no matter what your field position is? And you somehow see it unmanly to kick away the ball after a score opting instead for onside kicks? You're a real tough guy, huh? Yeah, didn't think so but this guy is.

Meet Kevin Kelley of Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Kelley has become a cult figure among both football coaches and the sports analytics community for his disregard -- contempt even -- for traditional football wisdom. He's been featured in Sports Illustrated. He figured prominently in Scorecasting. He's been a regular at coaching clinics and at the annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.

For one, Kelley doesn't believe in punting. His Bruins teams go for it on fourth down, even in the most extreme situations. His playbook is filled with tricks and gimmicks. He often forbids his players to return punts, reckoning that the odds of a fumble outstrip the incremental yards that can be gained from a return. After his team scores, it almost always attempts an onside kick. There are 12 varieties in the playbook -- including one in which the ball is placed flat on the ground -- and Kelley figures that the chance of recovery outweighs the risk of allowing the opposition to start a drive near midfield.

In a recent game against Arkansas prep power, the Cabot Panthers, Pulaski went up 29-0... before Cabot ever touched the ball and which Pulaski wound up winning 64-34.

Here's the on-side kick highlight reel from the game.



1:35 OK, now they're just showing off.

Seriously, just how much fun would it be to play for this guy?

College football Saturday open thread

'Twas the Saturday before Thanksgiving and Ohio St. plays... Iowa?

Chipping away, bit by bit and time-honored tradition by set-your-watch-by-it tradition, conference realignment and the BCS are turning college football into NFL-lite.

Time was, November 20ish was the true rivalry weekend: Ohio St. - Michigan, Army - Navy, USC - UCLA, Cal - Stanford... oh, wait, Cal is playing Stanford today. You get the point: Rivalry weekend is now spread out over the last two weekends in November and the first weekend of December. A depressing development in our book.



The ranked matchups:


#9 Ohio State at #20 Iowa


#13 Arkansas at #21 Mississippi St.


#8 Nebraska at #19 Texas A&M


#24 Miami hosts #16 Virginia



Other games of note:

Both #1 and #2, Oregon and Auburn are off.


The subway alum get their fighting Irish at Yankee Stadium against Army.


BCS busters: #4 Boise St. whupped Fresno St. 51-0 last night and #3 TCU, after surviving a scare against San Diego St. last week, has the day off.


Michigan hosts #7 Wisconsin. Word around the campfire is that Rich Rodriguez needs to win one of the two remaining games on the schedule (Ohio St., next Saturday) to hold onto his job. The zone-read spread attack he installed 3 years ago has taken hold, it's the deplorable defense there at Ann Arbor, however, that may be his undoing.

The image above is not photo-shopped. Some genius thought that staging a tackle football game at a place known as "the friendly confines" would be a swell idea. The good news: late this week, Big 10 officials put their considerably larged-sized thinking hats on and decreed that both offenses would be directed away from the ivy-less though padded though still possibly paralysis-inducing outfield wall of Chicago's Wrigley Field. The bad news: this momentous occasion is wasted on Illinois and Northwestern.


#6 Stanford at the cramping Cal Bears


#5 LSU, in their 13th home game of the season, hosts Ole Miss.


USC goes to Corvallis where they have dropped two straight to take on Oregon St.


And deep into the heart of Saturday night, #23 Utah comes out here to the coast to play a resurgent San Diego St. Considering affairs of late with the Aztec program, perhaps, "surgent" would be more appropriate.





And finally, Montana Tech football coach Bob Green announced his retirement yesterday after 24 years with the NAIA Diggers. Why is it only now that we find out about this guy?

College football Saturday open thread

Some very nice match ups today:



#1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas

#12 South Carolina at #17 Auburn

#5 Oregon at Arizon State

#16 Stanford at Notre Dame

And in the primetime, #24 Oregon St. travels to the Smurf turf of #3 Boise St.

Take the 17-1/2 points that the Beavers are getting. OSU recruits athletes, particularly from the L.A. area that were overlooked by USC and UCLA - they have a chip on their shoulder and as evidenced by what they have done to USC in recent years, they would love nothing more than to come into Boise and deflower America's undefeated little darlings. And all we're asking is that they not lose by more than 17. Lock it up.

Apparently, enough to give one some heart palpitations

Owing to the fact it went down late Saturday night, there is the distinct possibility you did not see this as the NFL took over as soon as the Saturday college football news cycle was wrapped up.

The perennially under-achieving Michigan State Spartans pulled off the play of the year so far, going for the win in OT against Notre Dame instead of a game-tying field goal, beating the Irish 34-31 in East Lansing.

State coach Mark Dantonio suffered a mild heart attack shortly after the game and while he is fine now, he will be taking an indefinite leave of absence.




Run it back and look how it appears the Notre Dame defenders think the right end, #24,and who is looping underneath, may be trying to sneak out for a pass catch while it is in reality #83 as #24 successfully takes out two ND defenders.

Amazing.

College football Saturday open thread

As the rest of the top teams in the nation get somewhat of a breather this week, we’re devoting top-billing to potential BCS-buster, the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University (#4) who after thrashing San Diego St. last Saturday take on the Utah Utes (#16) in Abilene. This is TCU’s last chance to pick up any computer love in the BCS algorithm as they will get no help from playing Wyoming and New Mexico whom remain on their schedule.

They’re still playing football in the Midwest as Iowa (#10) goes on the road to Columbus to take on Ohio St. (#11).

And the Charlie Weis death watch kicks into high gear as Notre Dame, coming off their second straight home loss to Navy and which knocked them out of the running for the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy, go to Pittsburgh (#12) to take on the Panthers. Pitt is one of those programs that are presented with program-defining games every few years and which finds a way to fail in epic fashion in each of those same games (see also: West Virginia).

Look for Notre Dame, a 7 point dog, to circle the wagons, win the game, get the girl and perhaps save their coach’s career.

We may check in later but if we don’t, please enjoy the rest of your college football Saturday.

College football Saturday open thread

Our good friend “Jerry” is in Dallas for work and will be trying to get into the Oklahoma-Texas game aka The Red River Rivalry.

Other good games abound:

Trojans on the road against fortunate-to-be 4-1 Notre Dame.

And later on this evening, #4 Virginia Tech will be in Atlanta taking on #18 Georgia Tech and #2 Alabama will be hosting #22 South Carolina.

We may check in later but if not enjoy the rest of your college football Saturday.

Please, no references to long bombs

How desperate is Notre Dame to get the ’09 football season off on the right foot? They went over to Japan to play Japan’s national team, eeking out a 19-3 victory in the soon-to-be fabled Notre Dame Japan Bowl.

Actually, it wasn’t Notre Dame’s current varsity squad but an “all-star” team of Domer alum coached by former ND coach Lou Holtz who, of course, did his best to play up the Japanese team like he did Fielding Yost’s Michigan teams back in the day.

Story, here.

P.S. Love the commenters who seem more than ready to dump Weis and bring back the Lisper.

Quickies

Some unfinished and unaddressed business we wanted to get around to...

We got a good chuckle at this headline from the NYT regarding the President’s graduation engagement at the United States Naval Academy last week.

Obama Is Embraced at Annapolis

Noting the dust-ups surrounding his visits to Arizona St. and Notre Dame, the Times falls all over itself with respect to the warm reception he received at Annapolis. We suppose we can’t really blame the Times, though. The extent to which they offer insight to the military entails leaking classified information on anti-terrorism efforts. As such, this condition might obscure the fact the Times would confuse military protocol and respect for the position and title of Commander-in-Chief for adoration.

And speaking of Notre Dame… the Domers are in talks with the Yankees regarding playing Army at the new Yankee Stadium as early as 2013. The old Yankee Stadium was the site of some epic matchups between the two in the first half of last century. Army had no comment regarding eventually dumping Notre Dame in order to upgrade their schedule.

The conventional wisdom holds that the history of President Bush’s policies regarding the War on Terror will need some time (years?) before it can be written. The conventional wisdom is wrong. It’s only taken 4 months as it is the current President who is writing and vindicating it as we speak. Read more here, from Charles Krauthammer.

And finally... wondering what to pick up in the way of "flair" for the Fridays waiter or waitress in your life? Check out these groovy gift ideas, here.

And now for something a little more serious in nature

We realize that technically speaking, it's still spring but this weekend will mark the unofficial beginning of summer and with that the roll-out of college football preview issue magazines.

We must say, we’re quite looking forward to this season for no other reason than 3 of the top quarterbacks in the land from last season have chosen to return for their senior years. Tim Tebow (Florida, and Heisman winner one year removed), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma, and defending Heisman winner) and Colt McCoy (Texas).

One thing we will try to refrain from this year that has become somewhat of a cottage industry (even within this blog) is BCS-bashing. We hate it. You hate it and you all know we hate it. It’s a dead horse that has a large stick setting next to it that we will try our darndest to leave be.

One thing we will not stop bashing however is Big 12 defenses. And, yes, this would stem in no small part to being subjected to the same criticisms of our homer Pac-10 conference. I do not recall, however, at any time over the years where half the Pac-10 QBs rolled up passing completion percentages that if converted into grades would’ve garnered them a C+/B- in school.

And you know who else we’re not going to stop bashing? Notre Dame, that’s who. Especially when they and their pompous coach, Charlie Weis, make it so easy to do. This year’s edition of the Notre Dame media guide has omitted the losing season from his year-by-year biography because the athletic department wants to treat him as if he were an assistant coach… or something. Read more, here.

Tolerance for ye but not for thee?

But Obama called for "open hearts, open minds, fair-minded words" in the midst of such persistent debates.

"I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. Because no matter how much we may want to fudge it -- indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory -- the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable," Obama said.

That was from the President's address at the Notre Dame commencement ceremonies on Sunday. For a man that has a AAA rating from NARAL and a voting record that exhibits absolutely zero wiggle room on the subject of abortion, we're curious as to how he would define "debate".

And here's Trinity Washington University president, Patricia McGuire speaking at Trinity's own commencement exercises on the protesters at Notre Dame:

"The real scandal at Notre Dame today is not that the president of the United States is speaking at commencement," McGuire said. "The real scandal is the misappropriation of sacred teachings for political ends. The real scandal is the spectacle of ostensibly Catholic mobs camping out at Notre Dame for the specific purpose of disrupting the commencement address of the nation's first African American president. This ugly spectacle is an embarrassment to all Catholics. The face that Catholicism shows to our new president should be one marked with the sign of peace, not distorted in the snarl of hatred."

Because nothing says "fair-minded words" like slamming young people for exercising their 1st amendment rights and thinly-veiled charges of racism and accusations of hatred for daring to express views contrary to hers.

H/T: Hot Air

Returning to some core competencies

OK. Here are the BCS standings and accompanying mystic numerology going into this weekend’s action with the Top 10 below:

1. Alabama .9814
2. Texas Tech .9715
3. Texas .8798
4. Florida . 8640
5. Oklahoma .8444
6. USC .7896
7. Utah .7692
8. Penn St. .6839
9. Boise St. .6783
10. Georgia .6156

At this point, ‘Bama, Texas Tech and Florida control their own destiny, everybody else is going to need some help. Potential regular “trip-ups” prior to the SEC and Big 12 championship games are Alabama at home to Miss. St. on Saturday, Florida at home Saturday to the Gators’ ol’ ball coach Steve Spurrier and South Carolina and then on the road Nov. 29 vs. a resurgent 19th-ranked Florida State. Texas Tech will play its own elimination game against Oklahoma on Nov. 22 at Oklahoma. BCS honchos are indeed praying for a “win out” scenario as it’s the least chaotic, although we know that’s not going to happen.

Some other thoughts:

At what point does the BCS start introducing some conflicts of interest? Take this weekend’s matchup of #7-ranked Utah vs. lowly San Diego State where State stands to lose $500,000 if they beat Utah. Utah, if it beats State and then No. 17 BYU next Saturday stands to play in a BCS bowl game which will result in a $9 million windfall for the Mountain West Conference of which $ 4 mil would be Utah’s take with the balance split between the other conference schools of which State is a member. Of course, we’re not suggesting anything untoward, but $ 500 large is not chump change to a struggling program like San Diego St and…. what’s one win against Utah in an already completely dismal 1-9 season? Stop it… stop it, right there.

Its faint, its quiet but for the first time you hear it. In the wake of Notre Dame’s “actually, could’ve been a lot worse” 17-0 loss at the hands of the hated little Catholics of Boston College, the mumblings regarding the fate of Charlie Weis’s coaching tenure at Notre Dame can be heard. Notre Dame is currently 5-4 with games remaining against at Navy, Syracuse and then out here on the coast against USC… so let’s just pencil them in for a bowl-eligible 7-5 (we’re being optimistic with that “win” against the mighty Midshipmen on Saturday). Upside: Weis could point to “progress” as their win total increased from 3 wins last season to 7 this season plus a bowl appearance. Downside: this season’s schedule was very manageable and many pre-season prognostications had them finishing with 9 wins. Bottom line: He is in year 3 of a 10-year contract. Our guess is that he is not going anywhere for a while.

Still not convinced that anyone plays any “D” in the Big 12. Take a look at some of these scores from last week. Half the conferences participants rang up scores of 35 points or more. Sorry, this shouldn’t be happening in the “best conference in the nation”.

Philip Fulmer is out at Tennessee after this season. Speculation is rampant on who will get the job. But is Tennessee a “good” job? Were not sure if Tennessee is a good job or not but it certainly is a strange job, at least in terms of its own conference. Tennessee is a football-crazy university in a state that is not necessarily football crazy. This puts it at odds with the other traditional powers in the SEC like Georgia, Florida and Alabama that are football-crazy institutions that also reside in football-crazy states that generate scads of Div. I-caliber talent that those respective schools do not have to cross state lines to recruit. As a result, Tennessee has always had to pursue a national recruiting strategy much like other schools that are in the same boat like Oklahoma, Nebraska and Notre Dame (actually, much of Oklahoma’s “national” recruiting strategy over the years has been the state of Texas). Former Raider head coach and USC offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin is supposedly in the running and with his ties to the West Coast and particularly the fertile prep recruiting grounds of Southern California, Tennessee’s inherent recruiting strategy makes Kiffin an intriguing pick.

Enjoy the games tomorrow!

... but just this once.

We’ve been instructed to wear white for tonight’s Penn St.-Illinois game as it will be a “White Out” in Beaver Stadium. We remember the White Out showing-up quite nicely in HD under the lights last year, though, Nittany Lion fans will be hoping for a different outcome this evening as Ohio State used the occasion to trounce the home team.

Anyway, these color-related themes have become all the rage. It used to be Notre Dame would break-out their green jersey every 3-4 years for big home games but now these color-related theme (gimmick?) games are occurring with greater frequency. In fact, the PSU-Illinois game will not be the only “color” game this weekend as Georgia is planning a “Black Out” for their big game against ‘Bama today.

We are willing participants this week as it will be a first for us and we, of course, want to be gracious guests but in the future, we see our participation in these “color” games being as enthusiastic as taking part in the “Wave”.

How Sweet It Is

Just had to say how good it felt to see Navy end 43 years of frustration against Notre Dame with today's triple over time win. Full disclosure: I have loathed Notre Dame football ever since a 1978 game in which an undefeated Navy team got plastered by Notre Dame. It wasn't the loss that upset me, but the deliberate way that Notre Dame set out to injure smaller Navy players. That injury depleted team lost their next two games, before recovering to beat Army and win the inaugural Holiday Bowl over Brigham Young 23-16.
Anyway, today's win was very sweet, considering how long it was in coming. The midshipmen struggled defensively, but came up with two big plays at the end of the game to win. Paul Johnson, their coach, was all class after what I considered a bad interference call that gave Notre Dame a second try for a two point conversion at the end of the third overtime. He just smiled and shook his head and got back to the business of coaching his team. Navy then proceed to stuff a run off tackle to win the game. Mrs. Daddy heard the yelling and wondered what all the commotion was about, but I am just still smiling.