This Week in College Football 9/27 - 10/1

[Damaramu 0]

Kansas State sucks. Not just a little bit, they're terrible. They're probably not one of the top 75 teams in the country. OU blowing them out means absolutely nothing.

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Dude don't be an ass. I've realized that everytime I've mentioned OU this season you've had something to say. They had trouble beating fucking Tulsa who is worse than KSU. So that's why this gives us some hope. They're still not good but any shred of something good on offense is a good thing for this team.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Dama is right. You dont go 3-0 by sucking. This could be a great moral victory for OU.

[iggymcfly 0]

Hey, I wasn't trying to "be an ass". I just noticed that Kansas State's a lot worse than people think. They damn near lost to Marshall who just ended the longest losing streak in the country. I'm not saying that Oklahoma couldn't win 6 or 7 games still, especially with the way the Big XII's been playing. I'm just saying that Kansas State's not really much of a test.

[Guest Ether]

Miami is up 20-0 on South Florida, somewhat fullfilling Cabbageboy's prediction.

 

A blocked field goal ends Vanderbilt's perfect season 17-15 against MTSU. Drat.

[Damaramu 0]

I'm just saying that OU struggled against Tulsa who is worse than KSU. And they got good play on both sides of the ball in this game so it gives some hope for the rest of the season.

And hey! They actually threw a TD pass!

I just wish the defense wouldn't give up towards the end of the game.

[Urban Warfare 0]

A blocked field goal ends Vanderbilt's perfect season 17-15 against MTSU.  Drat.

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Damn. They were leading the SEC East for about three hours.

[Damaramu 0]

Oh and the other cool thing is that OU did all of this without AD.

Without AD we just add our other RBs up to hopefully equal AD.

[therealworldschampion 0]

Looks like Notre Dame is going to put near 50 on Purdue tonight, 49-21.

[Guest Ether]

A blocked field goal ends Vanderbilt's perfect season 17-15 against MTSU.  Drat.

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Damn. They were leading the SEC East for about three hours.

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Technically, they still are. MTSU was a non-conference game. Vandy is still 2-0 in SEC play.

[cabbageboy 0]

Miami beat USF 27-7...not quite as bad as I was thinking it would be. I was expecting 49-7 or so. I actually don't think Miami covered here, so at least USF accomplished that much.

 

I have no idea who will win the Big East. It's a bunch of mules fighting over a turnip. I'm guessing whoever wins the game in a couple weeks with U of L vs. WVU.

[snuffbox 0]

Should (will) Wisconsin move up a couple spots tomorrow?

[Guest Ether]

In regards to Pitt, they're even more of an embarrassment.  I'm amazed anyone can defend Wannstedt here and try to trash Walt Harris.  Hell, Pitt was a mediocre team last year but somehow won the BE at 8-3 and got to the BCS.  Wannstedt is using most of the same players and the record likely will be reversed (3-8).

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I'll assume this was directed at me. Aside from being at work all day, I wanted to wait till all the games were over to respond to this.

 

First off, I'm not a Walt Harris basher. I graduated from Pitt in 1998. I endured an era - where the adminstration did not care about football - that included Ohio State beating Pitt 72-0 including a punt return for a tocuhdown with Ohio State only having eight men on the field. The team was viewed in such little regard that the head coach of Temple, a road-favorite that blew a double-digit lead to Pitt in the final minutes resigned out the spot after the game. There are plenty of other disasters. Walt Harris did save the program. But he became convinced that you could not win at Pitt. That, among other things, was why he was shown the door. Now, if you really believe that Pitt would be unable to win with anybody as a coach, whether it's Pete Carroll to Bear Bryant reincarnated, then maybe you are right. But Pitt fans don't believe that - and nor should fans of any program. Dave Wannstedt was hired because he was believed to be the best person available for the job. Whether he will be that person, time will tell. You've said yourself, this year and last, he has a mediocre team to start with. He's doing well so far in recruiting players. We'll see if he can continue the recruiting and develop those recruits into top-level college and pro players.

 

As far as returning players, many returned, but some important players, especially on the o-line, did not. Specifically, left tackle Rob Petitti, whose presence, if you looked at Pitt last season, had a lot to do with their success or failure. When he was out or not near 100%, Pitt struggled mightlily, such as against Temple and the Fiesta Bowl. The number three tackle from last year's team, who would otherwise be his replacement, is a walk-on transfer from Bucknell that had to be moved to center because there was no replacement for the graduating center. A converted d-lineman, Charles Spencer who played left guard last year, became his replacement. Spencer's replacement is a freshman. So yes, the cupboard was left bare. And it's hard to win without a decent o-line. Didn't that Louisville team you thought would crash the BCS have a lot of talent at the skill positions but not as much on the lines?

 

Yes, maybe with Walt Harris or with Wannstedt and Matt Cavanaugh running an offense more like Walt the team would have a better record right now. Then again, Pitt under Walt Harris always flopped when expectations were high (see 2001 and 2003) so who knows. And hey, Pitt is only a few plays away from being 4-1 right now. But if setting up a more balanced offense and bringing in better recruits leads to future 9-2, 10-1 records on a regular basis (something Walt did not believe could happen), then I'll survive this year.

[Guest]

Thoughts on the day:

 

I knew Michigan would win against MSU. When was the last time that they've lost their first 2 Big Ten games of the season? Michael Hart was the key in this game, and if they had him against Notre Dame and Wisconsin, things could have been a whole lot different.

 

Alabama crushed Florida, which was a surprise because I felt that Florida's defense was much better than they played today. Florida will bounce back, and Alabama should be in the top 10.

 

USC committed way too many penalties in the 1st half. It seemed like they committed a penalty on every 3rd down, and 2 every drive. Their foolishness really cost them, but they persevered and made the big comeback. I thought they would come back and win, but I had no idea that they would play so well on defense during the 3rd quarter.

 

Minnesota was awful on the road, can that be attributed to the crowd?

 

Can South Carolina run their offense?

 

Kansas State sucks, and people overreacted about the demise of OU. They are good enough to win 7 or 8 provided they win their bowl game.

[therealworldschampion 0]

Notre Dame whipped Purdue 49-28. While I don't think they can beat USC in 2 weeks, they are good enough to catch Tennessee for an upset in South Bend. I see them going 8-3 or 9-2 this year provided they have no slip-ups against inferior teams, and with the recruits that Charlie Weis has attracted already and will attract, they are on their way back to being a national player again.

[Guest Ether]

Thoughts on the day:

 

I knew Michigan would win against MSU.  When was the last time that they've lost their first 2 Big Ten games of the season?  Michael Hart was the key in this game, and if they had him against Notre Dame and Wisconsin, things could have been a whole lot different.

 

Alabama crushed Florida, which was a surprise because I felt that Florida's defense was much better than they played today.  Florida will bounce back, and Alabama should be in the top 10.

 

USC committed way too many penalties in the 1st half.  It seemed like they committed a penalty on every 3rd down, and 2 every drive.  Their foolishness really cost them, but they persevered and made the big comeback.  I thought they would come back and win, but I had no idea that they would play so well on defense during the 3rd quarter. 

 

Minnesota was awful on the road, can that be attributed to the crowd?

 

Can South Carolina run their offense?

 

Kansas State sucks, and people overreacted about the demise of OU.  They are good enough to win 7 or 8 provided they win their bowl game.

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Don't Minnesota and Michigan State always follow big wins with crushing losses the following week?

 

South Carolina doesn't have the personel yet to run Spurrier's offense. Funny how the commentators are giving Spurrier a pass on this until he can recruit his type of players.

[Guest]

I don't think Minnesota has had a big win since I've been born, or much longer.

[Urban Warfare 0]

Holy shit..

 

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- One person was killed in an explosion in a traffic circle about 100 yards from a packed football stadium at the University of Oklahoma on Saturday night in what authorities were calling a suicide.

 

"We are apparently dealing with an individual suicide, which is under full investigation," OU President David Boren said in a statement.

 

There were no other reports of injuries. There was no word on the identity or sex of the person who died.

 

The loud noise of the explosion could be heard clearly inside Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where 84,000 people were watching the Oklahoma Sooners play Kansas State.

 

Officers cordoned off an area west of the stadium, known as the South Oval, and nobody was allowed out of the stadium immediately after the blast, which occurred shortly before 8 p.m. People were allowed out of the stadium about 8:30 p.m.

 

A police bomb squad detonated explosives found at the site of the blast. The detonation could also be heard in the stadium area. The area near the stadium was searched by bomb dogs.

 

"At no time was anyone in the stadium in danger," Boren said.

 

Kerry Pettingill, Oklahoma homeland security director, said the incident was under criminal investigation and the motive behind the explosion was not known.

 

As fans streamed out of the stadium after the game, they were routed around the crime scene. Some fans leaving the stadium were escorted by police to buses that were parked near where the explosion occurred.

 

The state Medical Examiner's Office was on the scene as was the Norman Police Department, firefighters, the FBI and officials of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said an FBI bomb technician was providing assistance to local police. Emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, surrounded the area.

 

OU police Sgt. Gary Robinson said the body had not been removed as of late Saturday night as a bomb team continued to check the area for possible explosives before detectives could move in for their investigation.

 

Jaclyn Hull, an OU freshman, said she was leaving the game shortly before the explosion.

 

"We saw a little bit of smoke, about as much as you would see coming up from a grill," she said.

 

Stan Hilton of Tulsa said he heard the explosion while he was watching the game from his seat near the field.

 

"I became afraid at halftime when they had us locked in the stadium," he said after he left the stadium.

 

Larry Lucas II, an OU senior, said at the time of the explosion he was in the university's architecture building near where the blast occurred.

 

"At first I thought it was a prank because that's where the Kansas State buses were parked," he said. Lucas said he saw Kansas State players leave the bus before the game.

 

Authorities could be seen searching Kansas State players and coaches amid tight security as they boarded buses to leave the area.

 

SI.com

[Damaramu 0]

Problem with USC is that listening to their players talk they think they can turn it on whenever they want. There's going to come a time when they're facing a good team(like ND) and try to turn it on and realize it's not them playing sloppy but it's the other team being good and they'll be out of it. They have a very bad bad attitude to have in sports.

 

Suddenly Texas doesn't look like they'll roll on OU. I still think Texas will finally beat OU but it doesn't look like a 65-10 type of game. OU is getting better with each game and the defense is really keeping them alive. They held KSU to negative rushing yards in the first half and really only allowed KSU to score when they turned it off in the 2nd half. Let's not forget they also bottled Maurice Drew up and then let him go in the 4th quarter.

Unfortunately in the past OU has just bottled up Vince Young and the RB's and forced Young to pass to beat them and he couldn't do it.

I think this year OU will once again contain Young and the RB's and force Young to throw to win. Only this year Young can and will throw to win.

If AD doesn't get back then OU is screwed in that game although they played well without him. Bomar is getting better with each game and the O-Line is working better together.

I know the Red River Shootout just went from being a blowout to a good game. Although I still will pick Texas to win it even though I'll root for OU.

 

I can see OU getting better as the year goes on in the same vein as Ohio State last year. I think they'll finish off strong with a strong bowl win at the end of the year.

 

Meanwhile our cross-state rivals started out with a weak 3-0 but 3-0 nonetheless and then went out and got whipped today. I don't think Oklahoma State wins a conference game. Honestly. Maybe against Baylor. But other than that I don't think they can beat any other teams in the Big XII.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah that's some crazy shit in Norman. The South Oval is the main part of campus that everyone walks on and where most classes are. It's weird to think that happened in a place that I walk through everyday.

[therealworldschampion 0]

Holy shit..

 

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- One person was killed in an explosion in a traffic circle about 100 yards from a packed football stadium at the University of Oklahoma on Saturday night in what authorities were calling a suicide.

 

"We are apparently dealing with an individual suicide, which is under full investigation," OU President David Boren said in a statement.

 

There were no other reports of injuries. There was no word on the identity or sex of the person who died.

 

The loud noise of the explosion could be heard clearly inside Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where 84,000 people were watching the Oklahoma Sooners play Kansas State.

 

Officers cordoned off an area west of the stadium, known as the South Oval, and nobody was allowed out of the stadium immediately after the blast, which occurred shortly before 8 p.m. People were allowed out of the stadium about 8:30 p.m.

 

A police bomb squad detonated explosives found at the site of the blast. The detonation could also be heard in the stadium area. The area near the stadium was searched by bomb dogs.

 

"At no time was anyone in the stadium in danger," Boren said.

 

Kerry Pettingill, Oklahoma homeland security director, said the incident was under criminal investigation and the motive behind the explosion was not known.

 

As fans streamed out of the stadium after the game, they were routed around the crime scene. Some fans leaving the stadium were escorted by police to buses that were parked near where the explosion occurred.

 

The state Medical Examiner's Office was on the scene as was the Norman Police Department, firefighters, the FBI and officials of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said an FBI bomb technician was providing assistance to local police. Emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, surrounded the area.

 

OU police Sgt. Gary Robinson said the body had not been removed as of late Saturday night as a bomb team continued to check the area for possible explosives before detectives could move in for their investigation.

 

Jaclyn Hull, an OU freshman, said she was leaving the game shortly before the explosion.

 

"We saw a little bit of smoke, about as much as you would see coming up from a grill," she said.

 

Stan Hilton of Tulsa said he heard the explosion while he was watching the game from his seat near the field.

 

"I became afraid at halftime when they had us locked in the stadium," he said after he left the stadium.

 

Larry Lucas II, an OU senior, said at the time of the explosion he was in the university's architecture building near where the blast occurred.

 

"At first I thought it was a prank because that's where the Kansas State buses were parked," he said. Lucas said he saw Kansas State players leave the bus before the game.

 

Authorities could be seen searching Kansas State players and coaches amid tight security as they boarded buses to leave the area.

 

SI.com

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At first when I heard "OU" and "bomb" I thought USC had scored again....

 

I kid, I kid...

[Art Sandusky 0]

Crap, I forgot Tennessee has to play Notre Dame.

 

Oh well, gotta take care of Georgia first. Yet another blockbuster game between two top ten teams in the SEC.

 

I know they'd have to lose eventually, but I had a little wish for the Tennessee/Vanderbilt game to be a real rivalry game between two teams with one loss or something.

[UZI Suicide 0]

Problem with USC is that listening to their players talk they think they can turn it on whenever they want. There's going to come a time when they're facing a good team(like ND) and try to turn it on and realize it's not them playing sloppy but it's the other team being good and they'll be out of it. They have a very bad bad attitude to have in sports.

 

I don't think they feel that way. Guys like Darnell Bing, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and Lendale White, who are the leaders of the team, have all been around for 3 years (and more in Leinart's case), they are "Veterans" by college standards at this point and they tasted defeat at Cal, so they know it's never going to be a cakewalk.

[Art Sandusky 0]

USC's not that complacent about things. They just know what has to be done and what not to do. That's why they've won 25 straight. Maybe they just happened to get a couple of tests in the last couple of weeks. #1 teams are allowed to have these scares. What makes them #1 is that they're just scares, not losses.

[AboveAverage484 0]

So, uh, Kotz? Gettin' a little nervous about headin' to Tuscaloosa now?

[Art Sandusky 0]

I am, but I think it's gonna be a hell of a game. We match up way better than Florida did. It'll pretty much be the SEC championship game if Georgia drowns in the sea of orange next week. I can honestly see Alabama potentially becoming this year's Auburn.

 

I've been high on them since Mike Shula showed up, and I saw when Croyle was healthy that they played damn fine football. Look at that one game where they went stride-for-stride with Oklahoma, in 2003 I think. It was a huge game of the week caliber game, and they showed up to play, although they lost to an OU team that was eventually in the BCS title game so you can't put a lot of shame on them.

 

But all I could say while watching that Florida/Alabama game was "DAMN I loves me some SEC football!" Did you see how hard those guys were hitting out there? Yikes! They'll play way more physical than LSU and have a scare with Auburn, but the key is Tennessee on that fabled Third Saturday in October. It's a game that'll have national implications if, say, USC or Texas or even VT lose down the line. I still think OU can beat Texas, and Cal or ND can beat USC (although the latter is more likely to happen). VT's just stuck in the ACC, where there are so many solid teams that can pull a shocker at any time, and some big ol' heavyweights too.

[Guest Ether]

I don't think Minnesota has had a big win since I've been born, or much longer.

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People were viewing the Purdue win as big. That may have been a bit premature.

 

How many straight years had it been that they were undefeated but found a way to lose the Michigan game?

 

But all I could say while watching that Florida/Alabama game was "DAMN I loves me some SEC football!" Did you see how hard those guys were hitting out there? Yikes! They'll play way more physical than LSU and have a scare with Auburn, but the key is Tennessee on that fabled Third Saturday in October. It's a game that'll have national implications if, say, USC or Texas or even VT lose down the line. I still think OU can beat Texas, and Cal or ND can beat USC (although the latter is more likely to happen). VT's just stuck in the ACC, where there are so many solid teams that can pull a shocker at any time, and some big ol' heavyweights too

 

The only heavyweight VT has to contend with is Miami, and possbily Florida State should they play in the ACC title game. It will be much harder for Bama to go through unscathed having to put up with LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, and any other SEC heavyweights (including the SEC title game should they make it).

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Problem with USC is that listening to their players talk they think they can turn it on whenever they want. There's going to come a time when they're facing a good team(like ND) and try to turn it on and realize it's not them playing sloppy but it's the other team being good and they'll be out of it. They have a very bad bad attitude to have in sports.

 

No offense, but you've been wrong about USC all year long, dating back to before the Orange Bowl. So for my sake, please stop talking about them. It's just annoying.

 

Edit: I mean by being wrong as in:

 

1. Thinking OU would beat USC in the Orange Bowl...

2. Thinking Oregon would upset USC

3. Thinking ASU would upset USC

 

And didn't you say you couldn't even watch their games? How the hell can you make judgments on how good they are/how arrogant? I don't claim to know how OU is just because I read their stats because I know I'd have to actually watch them before knowing what they are like. I've watched every USC game this year. Yes, they make mistakes but they are smart enough to know to adjust their plan if it's not working. Take the ASU game. They came out trying to pass. ASU didn't have none of that. They found themselves down 21-3. This is when I saw the ASU defense start relaxing, hence my comments earlier in the thread about ASU falling asleep. They got too comfortable with their lead. USC went to the locker room and made adjustments. What did they do in the next half? Proceed to drop 35 points while only allowing 7. How? They went to a rushing game, which ASU wasn't prepared for. LenDale White went 197 and Bush went 150+ with a couple of TDs each. USC has shown great ability to adjust if their initial plan failed. This is a mark of a good team because a bad team would just try to stick with the plan and keep failing miserably. Just because you don't like them, Damaramu, doesn't mean you know jackshit about them. So like I said, please refrain from talking about USC, a team you have likely NOT seen at all this year. Talk about Texas or something since it seems you've all but abandoned OU.

[Damaramu 0]

Abandoned OU? Have you looked at my signature!? Have you listened to what football games I've watched every minute of for the past billion years?(and i'll give you a hint. it ain't texas) I was still stubbornly watching OU play last night when the game was wrapped up and my friends were saying "Let's go somewhere. OU has won. We don't have to watch all of it."

Hell I was still watching OU play USC until the final gun when we all knew the game was over in the 2nd quarter!

So don't give me this abandoning OU shit. Just b/c I'm not being a massive homer this season doesn't mean I've abandoned the team. Jesus christ.

 

And I've seen them this year. I watched all of the Hawaii game and have seen plenty of highlights of their other games. And when I say USC is too arrogant I'm talking about listening to them after the games. Seeing them get unsportsman like conduct penalties called on them. Seeing Reggie Bush do that god damn roll into the end zone when he should be flagged everytime he does it. That fucking Hawaii game where Dwayne Jarrett acted like a child when he got tackled.

Not to mention ESPN can't get USC out of their mouth. That's the most irritating part. Ok yes USC is very good. Best ever? No. Best offense ever? Maybe but right now no. So I wish they'd stop going on about it. They find a way to bring USC into discussion when they're talking about other teams and during other games as well. And they're the ones that brought up the USC turning it on and turning it off bullshit.

And on top of that I heard Reggie Bush after the Oregon game and this game going on about how they were the only ones that could beat USC(as in USC can only beat USC) and that's about the most dangerous attitude you can have.

They will fall. All great teams do. And when they fall hard I'll be interested to see how quickly ESPN leaps off of the bandwagon.

They jumped off of the OU and Miami bandwagons pretty quickly.

 

Oh and about being wrong? Well a lot of people thought Oregon and ASU could win. Hell a lot of people thought OU could win.....they were favored! So it's not like I was making wild claims out of the blue and saying USC was going to lose to SMU or something.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

THEN STOP TALKING ABOUT THEM! IF YOU DON'T LIKE HOW ESPN IS ON THEM (which I seem to recall OU getting similar treatment in the past few years and you didn't complain... how convenient, eh?) THEN JUST DISREGARD ESPN AND USC! YOU'RE COMING OFF SOUNDING LIKE A BITTER OU HOMER WHO CAN'T STAND THE ATTENTION BEING ON SOMEONE ELSE THAN OU! God this is the last time I actually open your windows. Sorry buddy but don't bother addressing me anymore because I won't read your posts anymore. IGNORED.

[Damaramu 0]

Oh ouch I've been ignored. I'm so hurt.

OU and Miami and other teams that were on top never got the attention USC did. It annoys me when ESPN goes nuts about anybody.

I never hated USC before. Even after they beat OU's ass all over south beach I didn't hate them.

It wasn't until this season began that I started gaining a strong dislike for them. And it was because of listening to ESPN suck dick repeatedly.

I never had a problem with Barry Bonds really until ESPN wouldn't shut up.

I never had a problem with the Yank....ok I always hated the Yankees. But ESPN doesn't make it any better.

Fucking TO is on my favorite football team(and if you ask my family they'll say i like the Eagles more than OU) and I'm starting to hate him, not because of his actions over the summer but b/c of the way ESPN won't shut the fuck up about him.

Hell I didn't have a problem with Kobe and the Lakers until ESPN started going on constantly. Hell I like Dwayne Wade. But now that Shaq is there ESPN is sucking dick for the Heat as well and I'm beginning to dislike them.

This is the problem with ESPN. What they do isn't journalism. It's them trying to get ratings by pumping someone up to god like status and then never shutting up about them.

So for the record. I didn't dislike USC until this season began. And the Heisman poll? There are players other than Bush and Leinart that deserve it but ESPN has them two pumped up at the top for reasons I can't figure out.

So hate me all you want but I could care less because I will still feel the way I do.

 

Oh and on a different note. Why is nobody talking about Florida State? They're undefeated and I think about to creep into the Top 5. But I haven't really heard much mention of them. Does everyone think they'll lose at some point this season and choke it? I mean what if they don't lose? What if they go into the title game against VT and it's a battle of unbeatens? Wouldn't that be something for the first ever ACC title game?