Mark Warner: If not for the former Virginia governor, the ACC would have added Syracuse instead of Virginia Tech. The Hokies are 43-12, with two conference titles, since joining the ACC. The Orange? After Saturday's loss to Akron (Chuck Amato's on Line 1, Greg Robinson), the 'Cuse is 7-30 under Robinson.
The only ACC team unhappy with the Orange's exclusion is Duke.
East Carolina: No late-game special-teams heroics were necessary in the Pirates' 24-3 win over then-No. 8 West Virginia. As WVU quarterback Pat White put it: "They beat us up." No disrespect to Conference USA, but ECU's schedule is wide open for a dream season. How do you think the Orange Bowl suits would feel about ECU vs. the ACC champion? There's a lot of hockey left, but it could happen.
Excessive celebration: Pac-10 officials (remember the Oregon-Oklahoma sham from '06?) struck again by penalizing Washington's Jake Locker for excessive celebration after the quarterback tossed the ball in the air after he scored a potential tying touchdown with three seconds left against BYU. The subsequent longer point-after attempt was blocked, and Washington lost 28-27.
The referees shouldn't determine the outcome. They did Saturday, and it will be cost coach Ty Willingham and his staff more than just a game.
Maryland: Losing to Tennessee is one thing, but Middle Tennessee? The Fridge was already feeling the heat after a lackluster opener, and this doesn't help his cause. He should really consider rehiring Ron Vanderlinden to recruit,
since Fridge did more with the former beleaguered coach's players than his own.
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WORST WEEK EVER/BEST WEEK EVER
VH1 must have some influence over the college football schedule, that's only explanation for the wild swings in quality from Sept. 6 to Sept. 13. The cable channel clearly needed fodder for its "Best Week Ever" vehicle.
To wit: Just one week after we were treated to Florida State-Western Carolina (69-0), Oregon-Utah State (66-24) and Missouri-SE Missouri State (52-3), we get No. 1 USC vs. No. 5 Ohio State, No. 13 Kansas vs. No. 19 South Florida and No. 10 Wisconsin vs. No. 21 Fresno State.
Even the ACC schedule picks up, only one team (Florida State), plays a team formerly known as I-AA, down from five in the previous week. That's not good news for the ACC, but it is for the rest of us.
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COACHSPEAK- TO-ENGLISH TRANSLATION
"That's not just the quarterback. That's all 11 guys."
— Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski on the Eagles' three turnovers, all by quarterback Chris Crane.
Translation: Is it too late to get Matt Ryan back?
Comments
JPG, whats up with the
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 14:12 — gvillegatrJPG,
whats up with the "there's a lot of hockey left" statement. thats the second time, in a week, i've heard you use it. doesn't make much sense to me. where'd you get that from!?
and, yes, it sucks what happended to UDub but you're boy, Locker, did more than just "toss the ball over his shoulder." He slung the ball over his shoulder and he and his team acted like they had won the BCS championship game. then again, when Ty's your coach, you cherrish EVERY game you are in!
hockey left
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 14:18 — jpg (author)Just a Tudorism from the hockey playoffs. Any time you thought the game was over, it just kept going and going.
— JPG
Syracuse
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 12:28 — JPDOhioI didn't see the Duke-Northwestern game, but I was at Northwestern's season opener against Syracuse the week before. (Hey, I was in Chicago for the weekend and it was the only college football game in town!). Anyway, Syracuse could be the worst BCS team in the country, although apparently Utah State might give them a run for their money.