A few hot toddies while waiting for Santa

College Football Week 17 – 5-star recruit Spence commits to Ohio State

A few hot toddies while waiting for Santa

Potential changes in the BCS, the never-ending coaching carousel, talk of quarterback transfers and more bad news out of Penn State.  Even though the regular season is over, the college football scene never fails to hold our interest and keep us intoxicated.  It never suffers from a dull moment.  And, oh yes, the first three bowl games are history.

While we are waiting for the national championship game between LSU and Alabama, changes to the BCS could be coming down the pike.  In fact, not only could be, but most likely, will be.  But you will have to wait until 2014.

The current BCS setup is contracted for two more seasons – 2012 and 2013.  Nothing, other than a possible minor tweaking or two, should change the BCS format for the next two years.  But after the 2013 season, the whole BCS concept is open for change – major changes.

Here’s what’s being discussed among athletic directors and conference commissioners.  For starters, in 2014, the national championship game may become the only BCS bowl.  And it may be played in Dallas, Atlanta, Tampa, etc.  The Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar Bowls would cease to be BCS bowls.  They would revert back to their selection process prior to the BCS days.

Basically, they would invite whoever they want to invite.  But most likely the Rose would be tied to the Big Ten and Pac-12, the Sugar to the SEC and so on.  The BCS championship bowl would still take the two teams finishing first and second in the final BCS poll.  But the Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar would not be tied to the BCS poll or BCS conferences.  There no longer would be BCS conferences.  No such thing as automatic qualifiers.  This concept has strong support from many, if not most, athletic directors and conference commissioners.  Stay tuned!

Here’s what else is being discussed – a seeded playoff among four teams – the Top 4 teams.  This is a concept known as the “Plus One” or “Seeded Plus One.”  It would match the No. 1 team in the final BCS poll against the No. 4 team, and the No. 2 team against the No. 3 team.  These two games would be played on January 1 in two of the traditional bowl games – Fiesta, Orange, Sugar, etc. 

The winners of the two games would meet about seven or so days later in the national championship game.  If the “Plus One” concept had been in place this season, LSU would play Stanford and Alabama would play Oklahoma State in bowl games on January 1.  The winners of those two games would meet about a week later in the BCS national championship game. 

Although not as popular, the “Plus One” scenario is gaining support.  The boost in support was precipitated recently by the controversy over the LSU-Alabama rematch in the BCS national championship game.

The feeling being by some that Oklahoma State and not Alabama should be playing LSU.  Don’t be surprised to see this format in place in 2014.  Stay tuned!            

The coaching carousel continued to be active last week.  Several schools named their new coaches, while several new coaches began filling their staffs.  Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain was hired at Colorado State as the Rams new head coach.  Likewise, Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was hired at Arkansas State as the Red Wolves new coach.

The Malzahn news came as a bit of a surprise.  Malzahn is taking a pay cut, moving from the staff position at Auburn to the head coach position at Arkansas State.  And just days before the Arkansas State announcement, Malzahn was vying for the head coach positions at higher profile schools – North Carolina, Ole Miss and Kansas.  He failed to get the job at those schools.

Malzahn’s departure from Auburn is a double whammy for Tiger coach Gene Chizik.  Earlier, Chizik lost his defensive coordinator Ted Roof.  Roof left to become the defensive coordinator at UCF.  Some claim that Chizik’s program is imploding.

While folks are still scratching their heads over the hiring of Charlie Weis at Kansas, Weis named former Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus as his quarterbacks coach.  Weis is also in the running to get Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist.

Crist, who lost his starting job this season to Tommy Rees, graduated from Notre Dame this month.  He announced that he is transferring to Delaware, Kansas or Wisconsin.  Crist has a year of eligibility left and since he has graduated, he can play next season without having to sit out a year.

If Crist chooses Wisconsin, it would be the second year in a row that the Badgers have landed a transfer quarterback who could play immediately.  Wisconsin’s quarterback this season, Russell Wilson, was a transfer from N.C. State.  Like Crist, Wilson had graduated and still had a year of eligibility left.

BYU quarterback Jake Heaps, who lost his starting job to Riley Nelson during the season, is also transferring.  Like Crist, Heaps is strongly considering Kansas.  Unlike Crist, Heaps would have to sit out next season.  But that would seem to fit his plans perfectly, knowing that Crist would only be there for one year.  That is if Crist chooses Kansas over Delaware or Wisconsin.

Todd Graham resigned his head coaching job at Pitt to take the same position at Arizona State.  That seemed to come as a shock and surprise to Pitt officials and fans.  Graham just finished his first year with the Panthers.  Toledo promoted its offensive coordinator Matt Campbell to the head coach position.  At 32, Campbell is the youngest coach in FBS football.           

And Fresno State hired Texas A&M defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter as its new coach.

New Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is building his staff.  Meyer named Luke Fickell and Everett Withers as his co-defensive coordinators.  Both Fickell and Withers were interim coaches this season – Fickell at Ohio State and Withers at North Carolina.  Fickell has since been named a candidate for the opening at Pitt.  The other two candidates for the Pitt job are Florida International coach Mario Cristobal and Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst.

Speaking of offensive coordinators, Florida coach Will Muschamp has interviewed former Florida quarterback Kerwin Bell for the OC position.  Bell is currently the coach at Jacksonville University.  It also has been reported that Muschamp has his eye on former Alabama coach and quarterback Mike Shula.  Shula is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL.

The bad news continues at Penn State.  Following a practice session on Saturday, Nittany Lions quarterback Matt McGloin and receiver Curtis Drake got into a fight.  During the scuffle, Drake knocked-out McGloin.  McGloin suffered seizures and was hospitalized for a brief period.   

The Mountain West Conference has asked the BCS for an automatic bid for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.  Currently, the MWC is a non-BCS conference.  The MWC loses TCU after this season and Boise State after the 2012 season.  It gains Fresno State and Nevada next year and Hawaii in 2013. 

Of course, if the BCS should do away with BCS conferences after the 2013 season, as mentioned above, then a lot of these conference changes are really a moot point.  It may come back to haunt some of these teams.

Next season, West Virginia is scheduled to play Florida State in Tallahassee on September 14.  There is strong speculation out of Tallahassee that Bobby Bowden will make that occasion his first appearance back at a Florida State game since he was forced out after the 2009 season.  Bowden also is a former coach of West Virginia.  

And speaking of West Virginia, the judge who is hearing WVU’s plea to have the Big East’s suit against the school dismissed is expected to announce his decision this week.  The Big East is suing West Virginia to keep the school from pulling out of the conference this summer.  WVU has requested the suit be dismissed.

And speaking of announcements this week, the SEC is expected to announce its 2012 conference football schedules this week.  The East and West Divisions will each have seven teams next year with the additions of Texas A&M in the West and Missouri in the East.  Each SEC team will play the other six teams in its division and two teams from the other division. 

ESPN college football analyst Craig James announced last week he is going to enter the primary race to run for the U.S. Senate from Texas.  James, a Republican, will be seeking the seat of Kaye Bailey Hutchinson, who is stepping down.

Six schools are still looking for their new head coach – Penn State, Akron, Hawaii, Southern Miss, Houston and Pitt.  All five should be close to naming a coach.  As it stands right now, 25 schools will have new head coaches in 2012.  That could change if any of the above five schools choose an existing FBS head coach.

Five-star recruit Noah Spence has committed to Ohio State.  He is a defensive end from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Spence is ranked as the No. 4 overall football player nationally.

The first three bowl games were played Saturday and if we learned anything it is that football teams from the East are better than those from the West.  Of course we knew that already.  Temple beat Wyoming, Ohio beat Utah State and Louisiana-Lafayette beat San Diego State.

We also learned that the Mid-American Conference is off to a 2-0 start in bowl games and could finish 4-0 if Western Michigan beats Purdue and Northern Illinois beats Arkansas State.  Stay tuned!  We also learned, with the losses by Wyoming and San Diego State, that the Mountain West Conference wasn’t very good this year.  And that tells me that Boise State was overrated in 2011.      

Watching Temple beat Wyoming 37-15, I couldn’t help but think why wasn’t Steve Addazio that good at play calling when he was at Florida?  Then I got to thinking maybe the problem in 2010 was Urban Meyer and not Addazio.  Addazio was about as popular as Charlie Weiss at Florida. 

Bootsie and Rockledge Gator will be visiting children and grandchildren in Alabama and Georgia during the holidays, as will be Swamp Mama and I visiting with children and grandchildren in the Panhandle – North Florida.

Karlene Tuttle delivered her bourbon balls last week.  I’ve got my fix for the holidays.  Thank you Karlene!

Enjoy your hot toddies!

Happy Holidays!....Merry Christmas!....Season's Greetings!....Happy Hanukkah!

Touchdown Tom
December 19, 2011

Review of the Bowls (so far)

Cowboys come to a Screeching halt (in the New Mexico Bowl) – Temple 37, Wyoming 15 (Touchdown Tom said: Wyoming 32, Temple 28).  Temple was all over Wyoming in this game, leading 28-7 at the half and 37-7 in the closing seconds of the game.  The Cowboys second score came with 0:03 on the clock in the final quarter.  The way Temple played you have to wonder how the Owls ever lost four games in MAC play during the season.  Steve Addazio is off to a good start with the Owls finishing 8-5.  If he keeps this up, he won’t be there long.  A crowd of 25,762 attended the game in Albuquerque.

Bobcats mash the Aggies (in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) – Ohio 24, Utah State 23 (Touchdown Tom said: Utah State 30, Ohio 19).  The outcome was predictable.  Ohio scored with 0:13 remaining to win the game.  Utah State had a habit this season of losing games, it should have won, in the closing minutes, sometimes seconds, of the contest.  Aggies coach Gary Andersen may want to look for a new defensive coordinator.  The Aggies had two backs each rush for more than 100 yards – Michael Smith (159) and Robert Turbin (101).  Ohio won its first bowl game in six tries.  The Bobcats finished the season at 10-4.  A crowd of 28,076 attended the game in Boise.

Aztecs get their heads sucked and their tails pinched (in the New Orleans Bowl) – Louisiana-Lafayette 32, San Diego State 30 (Touchdown Tom said: Louisiana-Lafayette 31, San Diego State 28).  In a thriller, the Cajuns’ Brett Baer kicked a 50-yard field goal as time expired to give ULL the win.  Baer’s kick came only 35 seconds after the Aztecs had scored a touchdown to take a 30-29 lead – a lead that appeared to be safe for San Diego State.  Both teams rushed for less than 80 yards each, but they passed for a combined 905 yards.  It was the Cajuns’ first bowl game as a FBS team.  ULL finished its season at 9-4.  A crowd of 42,841 attended the game in New Orleans.

Comment: Off to a precarious start with my bowl picks: 1-2. 

 

Superlatives

Impressive Passers:  Louisiana-Lafayette’s Blaine Gautier – 24-40-1 for 470 yards and San Diego State’s Ryan Lindley – 28-49-0-413.   

Impressive Rushers:  Utah State’s Michael Smith – 159 yards.

Weekend Review

Division I-AA Semifinals

Sam Houston State 31, Montana 28

North Dakota State 35, Georgia Southern 7

Division II Championship

Pittsburg State 35, Wayne State 21

Division III Championship:

UW-Whitewater 13, Mount Union 10

Quotes of the Week

“Defense wins championships.  Alabama and LSU this year are kind of a different breed.  Their defenses are devastating,” former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden.

“He knows where I live.  He knows my phone number,” former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, on not having heard from current FSU coach Jimbo Fisher, since Bowden stepped down.

“I don’t want to say he’s a great player, but he makes the guys around him better.  Everybody plays better that plays with him,” former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, on Tim Tebow.

“Clearly, the last piece of the Tebow puzzle is to get him to play the first three quarters the way he plays in the finale.  Maybe the Broncos need to get him warming up in the bullpen.  And I will never have any issue with his religious zeal, unless of course it inspires a reprise of the worst sports-related song ever, Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goalposts of Life,” USA Today writer Tom Weir.

“I’ve been on the Tebow bandwagon for so long, I get priority boarding.  But Tebow didn’t kick two 50-yarders Sunday or strip the ball in overtime.  Tebow is special, but can we stop the nonsense that he’s getting a divine boost?  God doesn’t root for an NFL team.  I know because I’ve bargained with him to intervene when I’ve been in Vegas,” USA Today writer Reid Cherner. 

“It was kind of a no-brainer,” former Florida coach Urban Meyer, on accepting the Ohio State job.

“I’ve retired from football, but not life.  I don’t want to do nothing,” former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. 

In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly won the Bronco Nagurski Award given to college football’s top defensive player….  UCF sophomore quarterback Jeff Godfrey has decided to transfer to another school….  Notre Dame and Stanford are thinking about playing their 2013 game in China.

Florida’s non-conference slate in 2012 consists of Bowling Green, Louisiana-Lafayette, Jacksonville State and Florida State….  Former Kansas coach Turner Gill is the new head coach at Liberty….  The Football Writers Association of America named Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy the national coach of the year, presenting him with the Eddie Robinson Award.

Connecticut quarterbacks coach Joe Moorhead is the new head coach at Fordham….  Mars Hill College running back Jonas Randolph was named the Division II player of the year….  Mississippi State has added Middle Tennessee to its 2012 schedule.  The game will be played in Starkville.

Extra Points

On the Internet – College Football Week now has a Website and can be found at www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com.

Touchdown Tom will be off next week, celebrating the holidays.  The next CFW will appear on the morning of January 3 (the day after the New Year’s Day bowl games, which are on January 2).

Touchdown Tom

P.S.

Not directly college football related, but during the pre-Christmas days of December as college football fans were drinking eggnog and eating fruitcake with visions of what ifs, bowl games and Santa Claus dancing in their heads, the number one song in the country…

…75 years ago this week in 1936 was “In the Chapel in the Moonlight” by Shep Fields

…70 years ago this week in 1941 was “Elmer’s Tune” by Glenn Miller

…65 years ago this week in 1946 was “Ole Buttermilk Sky” by Kay Keyser

…60 years ago this week in 1951 was “Sin (It’s No Sin)” by Eddy Howard

…55 years ago this week in 1956 was “Singing the Blues” by Guy Mitchell

…50 years ago this week in 1961 was “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens

…45 years ago this week in 1966 was “Winchester Cathedral” by The New Vaudeville Band

…40 years ago this week in 1971 was “Brand New Key” by Melanie

…35 years ago this week in 1976 was “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” by Rod Stewart

…30 years ago this week in 1981 was “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John

…25 years ago this week in 1986 was “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles

…20 years ago this week in 1991 was “Black or White” by Michael Jackson

Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there were five passings of note last week – Joe Restic, Christopher Hitchens, Billie Jo Spears, Vaclav Havel and Kim Jong Il.  

Joe Restic, Harvard’s longest-serving football coach, died last week in Boston.  He was 85.  Restic lived in Milford, Massachusetts.  Restic won 117 games and five Ivy League titles as Harvard’s coach from 1971 to 1993.  Prior to Harvard, Restic was coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League.  Joseph Restic was born on July 21, 1926, in Emeigh Run, Pennsylvania.  A Villanova graduate, he played end for the Philadelphia Eagles for one season in 1952.  He was an assistant coach at Brown and Colgate before coaching in Canada.  Restic’s son Joe was a punter and safety for Notre Dame in the 1970s.

Christopher Hitchens, a slashing polemicist in the tradition of Thomas Paine and George Orwell and a best-selling author, died last week.  He was 62.  Hitchens lived in Washington, DC, and was a writer and contributing editor for Vanity Fair magazine.  One of his best-selling books was “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.”  Hitchens was known for his quick wit with a keen appetite for verbal combat.  Christopher Eric Hitchens was born on April 13, 1949, in Portsmouth, England.  His father was a career officer in the Royal Navy.  Hitchens graduated from Oxford in 1970 and began his career as a journalist and writer.  He moved to the United States in 1988 and later became a U.S. citizen.     

Billie Jo Spears, a country music singer, died last week at her home in Vidor, Texas.  She was 73.  The cause was cancer.  Spears was best-known for her 1975 hit “Blanket on the Ground.”  The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Music chart.  Spears rose to prominence in the late 1960s. “Mr. Walker, It’s All Over” was her first Top 10 single.  Spears placed 26 singles in the country Top 40, including five in the Top 10, from 1968 to 1984.  Billie Jean Spears was born on January 14, 1938, in Beaumont, Texas.  She moved to Nashville in 1964.    

Vaclav Havel, the Czech writer and dissident whose dissections of Communist rule helped to destroy it in revolutions that brought down the Berlin Wall and swept Havel into power, died Sunday.  He was 75.  Havel served 14 years as Czech president.  He came to personify the soul of the Czech nation.  Havel was born on October 5, 1936.

Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s mercurial and enigmatic leader, died Saturday.  He was 69.

Hang Your Favorite Team Upon the Highest Bough

College Football Week 16 – Mora to UCLA; Sumlin to Texas A&M

Hang Your Favorite Team Upon the Highest Bough, And Have Yourself a Merry Little Bowl Game Now

You better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I’m telling you why
TT’s picks are coming to town

Touchdown Tom’s Annual Bowl Game Forecast: 

New Mexico Bowl – Albuquerque, New Mexico

(University Stadium)
2 p.m. ET, December 17 – ESPN
Cowboys do all the Hooting
Wyoming 32, Temple 28

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, Idaho

(Bronco Stadium)
5:30 p.m. ET, December 17 – ESPN
Aggies peel the Bobcats
Utah State 30, Ohio 19

New Orleans Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana

(Louisiana Superdome)
9 p.m. ET, December 17 – ESPN
Cajuns make gumbo out of the Aztecs
Louisiana-Lafayette 31, San Diego State 28

Beef O’Brady’s Bowl – St. Petersburg, Florida

(Tropicana Field)
8 p.m. ET, December 20 – ESPN
Panthers savor Beef o’ Buffalo
Florida International 29, Marshall 16

Poinsettia Bowl – San Diego, California

(Qualcomm Stadium)
8 p.m. ET, December 21 – ESPN
Kermit avoids the gig
TCU 30, Louisiana Tech 21

Las Vegas Bowl – Las Vegas, Nevada

(Sam Boyd Stadium)
8 p.m. ET, December 22 – ESPN
Broncos hold ’em, Sun Devils fold ’em
Boise State 35, Arizona State 17  

Hawaii Bowl – Honolulu, Hawaii

(Aloha Stadium)
8 p.m. ET, December 24 – ESPN
Eagles make the Wolf divorce the Pack
Southern Miss 32, Nevada 22

Independence Bowl – Shreveport, Louisiana

(Independence Stadium)
5 p.m. ET, December 26 – ESPN2
Heels spike the Tigers
North Carolina 24, Missouri 23

Little Caesars Bowl – Detroit, Michigan

(Ford Field)
4:30 p.m. ET, December 27 – ESPN
They shoot Horses, don’t they?
Purdue 27, Western Michigan 20  

Belk Bowl – Charlotte, North Carolina

(Bank of America Stadium)
8 p.m. ET, December 27 – ESPN
Wolfpack go on a shopping spree
N.C. State 22, Louisville 15

Military Bowl – Washington, DC

(RFK Stadium)
4:30 a.m. ET, December 28 – ESPN
Rockets trump Jets
Toledo 35, Air Force 25

Holiday Bowl – San Diego, California

(Qualcomm Stadium)
8 p.m. ET, December 28 – ESPN
Brown Sugar
Texas 27, California 22

Champs Sports Bowl – Orlando, Florida

(Florida Citrus Bowl)
5:30 p.m. ET, December 29 – ESPN
Fear the Spear
Florida State 27, Notre Dame 23

Alamo Bowl – San Antonio, Texas

(Alamodome)
9 p.m. ET, December 29 – ESPN
RG3 turns the Huskies into R2D2
Baylor 34, Washington 22

Armed Forces Bowl – Dallas, Texas

(Gerald J. Ford Stadium)
12 noon ET, December 30 – ESPN
Cougars tank Tulsa.
BYU 32, Tulsa 27  

Pinstripe Bowl – Bronx, New York

(Yankee Stadium)
3:20 p.m. ET, December 30 – ESPN
Cyclones strike out
Rutgers 26, Iowa State 23  

Music City Bowl – Nashville, Tennessee

(LP Field)
6:40 p.m. ET, December 30 – ESPN
Deacons aren’t country enough for Nashville
Mississippi State 29, Wake Forest 13

Insight Bowl – Tempe, Arizona

(Sun Devil Stadium)
10 p.m. ET, December 30 – ESPN
Hawkeyes end up on the menu at Landry’s Seafood
Oklahoma 25, Iowa 17

Meineke Car Care Bowl – Houston, Texas

(Reliant Stadium)
12 noon ET, December 31 – ESPN
Wildcats flush the Aggies’ radiator
Northwestern 22, Texas A&M 21

Sun Bowl – El Paso, Texas

(Sun Bowl)
2 p.m. ET, December 31 – CBS
The Sun is Yellow
Georgia Tech 23, Utah 20

Liberty Bowl – Memphis, Tennessee

(Liberty Bowl)
3:30 p.m. ET, December 31 – ABC
Vandy gets rubbed (the wrong way)
Cincinnati 32, Vanderbilt 29

Fight Hunger Bowl – San Francisco, California

(AT&T Park)
3:30 p.m. ET, December 31 – ESPN
Feast for the Bruins, famine for the Banned Indians
UCLA 24, Illinois 21

Chick-fil-A – Atlanta, Georgia

(Georgia Dome)
7:30 p.m. ET, December 31 – ESPN
Tigers eat mor Wahoo
Auburn 24, Virginia 22

Ticket City Bowl – Dallas, Texas

(Cotton Bowl)
12 noon ET, January 2 – ESPNU
Nittany Lions make stubs out of the Cougars
Penn State 21, Houston 20

Outback Bowl – Tampa, Florida

(Raymond James Stadium)
1 p.m. ET, January 2 – ABC
Sparty muzzles the Dingo
Michigan State 26, Georgia 25

Capital One Bowl – Orlando, Florida

(Florida Citrus Bowl)
1 p.m. ET, January 2 – ESPN
Herbie turns Cocky into a Cornish Hen
Nebraska 28, South Carolina 26

Gator Bowl – Jacksonville, Florida

(EverBank Stadium)
1 p.m. ET, January 2 – ESPN2
Gators look nice without Weis
Florida 23, Ohio State 21

Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California

(Rose Bowl)
5 p.m. ET, January 2 – ESPN
Ducks are red, Badgers are blue
Oregon 33, Wisconsin 30

Fiesta Bowl – Glendale, Arizona

(University of Phoenix Stadium)
8:30 p.m. EST, January 2 – ESPN
Cowboys saddle the Trees
Oklahoma State 31, Stanford 28

Sugar Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana

(Louisiana Superdome)
8 p.m. ET, January 3 – ESPN
Hokies gobble the Brady Bunch
Virginia Tech 25, Michigan 24

Orange Bowl – Miami Gardens, Florida

(Sun Life Stadium)
8 p.m. ET, January 4 – ESPN
Moon(shine) over Miami
West Virginia 30, Clemson 27

Cotton Bowl – Arlington, Texas

(Cowboys Stadium)
8 p.m. ET, January 6 – Fox
Pork chops the Wildcats
Arkansas 28, Kansas State 23

Compass Bowl – Birmingham, Alabama

(Legion Field)
1 p.m. ET, January 7 – ESPN
Panthers pin the tail on the Pony
Pitt 31, SMU 24

Go Daddy Bowl – Mobile Alabama

(Ladd-Peebles Stadium)
8 p.m. ET, January 8 – ESPN
Hungry like a Wolf – a Red Wolf
Arkansas State 30, Northern Illinois 29

BCS National Championship Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana

(Louisiana Superdome)
8:30 p.m. ET, January 9 – ESPN
Tide takes the Honey out of the Badger
Alabama 16, LSU 13 

Touchdown Tom

December 12, 2011

Weekend Review

Cadets overboard – Navy 27, Army 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Navy 25, Army 22).  Navy rushed for 296 yards and beat Army for the 10^th straight time.  The Middies quarterback Kriss Proctor rushed for 97 yards and fullback Alexander Teich rushed for 93 yards.  Two fourth quarter Navy fields goals was the difference in the game.  A crowd of 80,789 attended the game in Landover.

Heisman Trophy Presentation:

Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy.  Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck came in second, followed by Alabama running back Trent Richardson (third), Wisconsin running back Montee Ball (fourth) and LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (fifth).

FCS (Division I-AA) Quarterfinals:

Montana 48, Northern Iowa 10
Sam Houston State 49, Montana State 13
Georgia Southern 35, Maine 23
North Dakota State 24, Lehigh 0

Division II Semifinals:

Wayne State 21, Winston-Salem State 14

Pittsburg State 49, Delta State 23

Division III Semifinals:  

Mount Union 28, Wesley 21

UW-Whitewater 20, St. Thomas 0

SWAC Championship Game:   

Grambling State 16, Alabama A&M 15

Quotes of the Week

“Boise State is relegated to the Maaco Whatever Bowl because it doesn’t belong to the conflict-ridden monopoly that’s parading as the BCS,” USA Today writer Tom Weir.

“Throwing Boise State overboard and then keeping a straight face while telling us how fans were served?  I give the BCS credit for showing a level of hubris so rare that it deserves study by future generations.  Whether you give it the smell, laugh, or pregnancy test, it fails them all,” USA Today writer Reid Cherner.

“I would not kick to him.  I would not throw at him.  I would not want to get hit by him.  It’s far better to watch the ‘Honey Badger’ from the comfort of your home than to poke at him in person in his lair,” USA Today writer Reid Cherner, on LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu.

“You better buckle your seat belts and you better hold on, because it’s going to be a wild ride,” new North Carolina coach Larry Fedora to Tar Heel fans at his introduction press conference.

“Charlie Weis leaves Florida after one pathetic year as offensive coordinator and takes over the head-coaching job at Kansas.  In memoriam, all Gainesville area Krispy Kremes are flying their flags at half-staff,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“To do anything 10 straight times is hard to do,” Navy quarterback Kriss Proctor, after the Army game.

“I’m tired of this feeling,” Army linebacker Nate Combs, after the Navy game.

Friday’s Television Schedule – December 16

Mount Union vs. UW Whitewater (Division III Championship) – 7 p.m. ET – ESPNU

Montana at Sam Houston State (FCS-Division I-AA Semifinal) – 8 p.m. ET – ESPN2

Saturday’s Television Schedule – December 17

Wayne State vs. Pittsburg State (Division II Championship) – 11 a.m. ET – ESPN2

Georgia Southern at North Dakota State (FCS-Division I-AA Semifinal) – 2:30 p.m. – ESPNU

In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Stanford’s Andrew Luck won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to college football’s top quarterback….  Nebraska has added Florida Atlantic to its 2014 schedule.  The game will be played in Lincoln….  Pitt has added Youngstown State to its 2012 schedule….  Colorado’s non-conference slate in 2012 consists of Colorado State, Sacramento State and Fresno State.

Boise State, Houston, San Diego State, SMU and UCF will join the Big East Conference, starting in the 2013 season.  Boise State and San Diego State will join as football members only.  Houston, SMU and UCF will be full-fledged members – all sports.  The Big East is still trying to lure Air Force and Navy as football members only….  Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino fired his defensive coordinator Willy Robinson….  Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora was named the new coach at North Carolina.

TCU offensive coordinator Justin Fuente was named the new coach at Memphis….  East Carolina’s 2012 non-conference schedule consists of Appalachian State, Navy, North Carolina and South Carolina….  LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis won the Broyles Award given annually to the top college assistant coach….  Auburn defensive coordinator Ted Roof is the new defensive coordinator at UCF….  Toledo coach Tim Beckman is the new head football coach at Illinois.

Eastern Illinois hired Dino Babers as its new head coach.  Babers was the receivers coach at Baylor….  Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Herman has been hired by Urban Meyer as the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ohio State….  Former Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora was named the new coach of UCLA.

Houston coach Kevin Sumlin is the new coach at Texas A&M….  Dylan Favre, nephew of Brett Favre, has decided to leave Mississippi State, transferring to another school.  Favre, a redshirt freshman, was a backup quarterback at Miss State.  Longtime Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker will retire after the Hawkeyes participation in the Insight Bowl on December 30.  Parker, 70, has been Iowa’s defensive coordinator for 13 years.

Extra Points

On the Internet – College Football Week now has a Website and can be found at www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com.

Touchdown Tom

P.S.

Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there were three passings of note last week – Harry Morgan, Dobie Gray and Bob Burnett.

Harry Morgan, the character actor best known for playing Colonel Potter in the long-running television series M*A*S*H, died last week at his home in Los Angeles.  He was 96.  He appeared in more than 100 movies and several other TV shows, in addition to M*A*S*H.  Some of the movies he was in include “The Ox Bow Incident” (1943) with Hendry Fonda, “A Bell for Adano” (1945), “All My Sons” (1948) with Edward G. Robinson and Burt Lancaster, “The Big Clock” (1948) with Charles Laughton, “Yellow Sky” (1949) with Gregory Peck and Anne Baxter, “High Noon” (1952) with Gary Cooper, “The Glenn Miller Story” (1954) with James Stewart, “The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) with Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford, “Inherit the Wind” (1960) with Spencer Tracy and Fredric March, “How the West Was Won” (1962), “John Goldfarb Please Come Home” (1965) with Shirley MacLaine and Peter Ustinov, “The Flim-Flam Man” (1967) with George C. Scott, “Support Your Local Sheriff” (1969) with James Garner and Walter Brennan and “The Apple Dumpling Gang” (1975) with Tim Conway and Don Knotts.  Harry Morgan was born Harry Bratsburg on April 10, 1915, in Detroit.  His parents were Norwegian immigrants.  After graduating from Muskegon High School, he went to the University of Chicago and majored in pre-law.  His debating classes stimulated his interest in the theater and he dropped out to pursue an acting career.

Dobie Gray, a versatile singer and songwriter who had a handful of hits in various pop genres, but who was best known for his 1973 hit “Drift Away,” died last week in Nashville.  Gray had his first Top 20 hit in 1965 with “The ‘In’ Crowd.”  Gray was born on September 26, 1940, near Houston, Texas.  He left Texas in the early 1960s for Los Angeles, where he worked with Sonny Bono.  Gray left Los Angeles in 1978 for Nashville and began writing and performing country music.

Bob Burnett, who blended his smooth tenor tones into the harmonies of the folk-revival group the Highwaymen, died last week at his home in East Providence, Rhode Island.  He was 71.  The five members of the Highwaymen formed as a singing group in 1958 while they were freshmen at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.  By the fall of 1961, they had the No. 1 song in the country – “Michael.”  The Highwaymen performed until 1964 when they broke up.  By then, they had recorded eight albums and had more singles hits, including “Cotton Fields” and Gypsy Rover.”  Burnett later graduated from Harvard Law School in 1967.  In 1990, when Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson formed a group called the Highwaymen, the original Highwaymen filed suit.  As a solution, the new Highwaymen asked the original group to open for them at a concert in Los Angeles.  They did and began performing together again in concerts on weekends and recorded five more CDs.  Robert Sherwin Burnett was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on February 7, 1940.

Walkin' In A Bowl Game Wonderland

College Football Extra – Touchdown Tom’s Bowl Game Preview
Walkin’ in a Bowl Game Wonderland

2011 Bowl Game Preview

Surprise!  Surprise!  There are no new bowl games this season.  We have the same number of bowls in 2011 that we had last season – 35.  That means 70 teams needed to qualify to fill those 35 bowls.

Well, 73 qualified.  And a 74^th, UCLA, got a waiver from the NCAA to be bowl eligible.  The Bruins finished the season at 6-6.  That made them bowl eligible.  Then they lost the Pac-12 championship game to Oregon.  That made them ineligible.  But UCLA requested and was granted permission to go to a bowl game on the basis that they won the Pac-12 South Division and finished the regular season bowl eligible.

Miami (Florida) qualified.  But school authorities felt it was in the Hurricanes’ best interest not to participate in a bowl this year.  That’s due to all the shenanigans that have been going on at Miami, along with the NCAA’s investigation of those shenanigans.  So the Canes are sitting out the bowl party due to a self-imposed bowl ban.  Shalala got out her shillelagh.    

Then there’s poor Western Kentucky (7-5) and Ball State (6-6).  Both teams qualified for a bowl, but no bowls wanted the Hilltoppers or the Cardinals.  And since all bowl slots were filled, they can’t be wondering if the invitation got lost in the mail.       

There may be no new bowl games, but three bowls have changed their names and/or locations since last season.  The Humanitarian Bowl (Boise, Idaho) is now the Famous Potato Bowl.  No comment.  The Texas Bowl (Houston) is now the Meineke Car Care Bowl.  And the Meineke Car Care Bowl (Charlotte) is now the Belk Bowl.  Meineke didn’t die, it just moved from North Carolina to Texas.

The Big Ten has the most teams in a bowl game at 10.  Right behind the Big Ten is the SEC with nine.  The ACC and the Big 12 are represented with eight teams each in a bowl game.  The Pac-12 comes in at seven teams.  Next, the Big East, C-USA, MAC and MWC all have five teams playing in a bowl game.  Two conferences – the Sun Belt and WAC – placed three teams each in a bowl.  And finally, two Independents are bowling this season. 

The 35 bowl games are played-out over a 24-day period, beginning on December 17 and ending on January 9.  Three bowls – the New Mexico, Famous Idaho Potato (no comment) and the New Orleans – kick off the bowl season.  The finale on January 9 is the National Championship Bowl, this year in New Orleans.

The three busiest bowl days are December 30, 31 and January 2, when 15 games will be played – four on December 30, five on December 31 and six on January 2.  There’s a break in between on January 1 – a Sunday. 

Three weeks and three days of bowl games – almost a month.  What a high for bowl junkies!  Time to stock up on your favorite football game munchies and brew.  I’m stocking up now on pecan pie, bourbon balls, buckeyes (chocolate covered peanut balls) and cherry peppers stuffed with prosciutto ham and provolone cheese.  Make sure you get enough to last you 24 days.  And leave a note to be checked into the Betty Ford Center on January 10.  Do they treat bowlaholics there? 

Footballs fly, are you watching?

In the stadium, horns are glistening
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight
Walkin’ in a bowl game wonderland

The New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque between Wyoming (8-4) of the MWC and Temple (8-4) of the MAC has the pleasure of kicking off the 2011 bowl season.  Wyoming was a surprise team in 2011 and certainly not expected to be in a bowl game.  Picked to finish sixth in the eight-team MWC, the Cowboys finished third, behind TCU and Boise State.  The team’s two best wins were over San Diego State and Air Force.  Temple, on the other hand, was expected to have a good season.  Under first-year coach Steve Addazio, the Owls lived up to their expectations.  Addazio, the former offensive coordinator at Florida under Urban Meyer, replaced Al Golden at Temple.  Golden had turned around the program before leaving to take the job at Miami (Florida).  The Owls have a great running back in Bernard Pierce.  Temple’s best win this season was over Maryland, 38-7.  The Owls barely lost to Penn State, 14-10.

Next up on December 17 is the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise between Utah State (7-5) of the WAC and Ohio (9-4) of the MAC – a game between the WAC and the MAC.  Why isn’t this just the Potato Bowl?  I guess they are trying to tell us that all potatoes from Idaho are famous, while potatoes from the other states are just common-taters.  Let’s hope it doesn’t become the Infamous Idaho Potato Bowl.  And is Dan Quayle doing the coin toss?  Like Wyoming, Utah State was a bit of a surprise in 2011.  The Aggies were picked to finish sixth in the eight-team WAC.  Instead, they finished second in the conference.  And who can forget opening weekend when Utah State almost beat Auburn.  The Tigers had to score twice in the closing minutes to win, 42-38.  The Aggies’ best win was over Wyoming, 63-19.  Utah State was 2-5 after seven games, but then the Aggies rolled off five-straight wins to finish the season strong.  Ohio pretty much lived up to its expectations.  The Bobcats won the MAC East Division, only to lose to Northern Illinois in the MAC title game.  Ohio’s two best wins were 44-7 over Marshall and 35-31 over Temple.  The Bobcats are coached by former Nebraska coach Frank Solich, who is 49-40 finishing up his seventh season in Athens.         

And finally, the December 17^th bowl action comes to a close in New Orleans where Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4) of the Sun Belt plays San Diego State (8-4) of the MWC in the New Orleans Bowl – the first of three bowl games to be played in the Crescent City.  The Rajin’ Cajuns had an exceptional season under first-year coach Mark Hudspeth.  Hudspeth previously was the receivers coach and passing-game coordinator for Dan Mullen at Mississippi State.  ULL, picked to finish last in the nine-team Sun Belt Conference, finished third.  The Rajin’ Cajuns’ best win was over Florida International.  ULL began the season hot at 6-1, then cooled their heels, finishing 2-3.  San Diego State had a good season under first-year coach Rocky Long.  Brady Hoke left the Aztecs well-stocked when he bailed-out for Michigan.  San Diego State has a strong backfield with quarterback Ryan Lindley and running back Ronnie Hillman.  The Aztecs’ best wins were over Washington State and Air Force.        

After a two-day break, the bowl action continues on December 20 in St. Petersburg, Florida, (not Russia) at the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl between Marshall (6-6) of C-USA and Florida International (8-4) from the Sun Belt.  Marshall’s two best wins came earlier in the season over Southern Miss and Louisville.  The Thundering Herd has a flashy and improving quarterback in freshman Rakeem Cato.  FIU started the season strong, winning its first three games.  And the Panthers ended strong, winning their final three games.  In between, FIU was 2-4.  The Panthers’ best wins were over Louisville and UCF. 

The next day, December 21, TCU (10-2) of the MWC meets Louisiana Tech (8-4) of the WAC in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego.  This is kind of a lowly bowl for TCU who finished 15^th in the Coaches Poll and 16^th in the AP Poll – a lowly opponent too.  The Horned Frogs had another great season with good wins over BYU and Boise State.  TCU finished strong, winning its last seven games.  It was a great season for Louisiana Tech, under second-year coach Sonny Dykes, son of former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes.  The Bulldogs, picked to finish fourth in the WAC, finished first and were WAC champions.  Louisiana Tech had good wins over Ole Miss, Nevada and only lost to Houston by one point.  The Bulldogs, 1-4 at the start, won their last seven games. 

Boise State (11-1) of the MWC tangles with Arizona State (6-6) from the Pac-12 in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 22.  Also a lowly bowl and opponent for Boise State who finished 6^th in the Coaches Poll and 8^th in the AP Poll.  The Broncos are led by their quarterback Kellen Moore, a Heisman finalist in 2010, and their running back Doug Martin.  Boise State’s best win was over Georgia in the season opener.  Arizona State began the season hot.  The Sun Devils were 6-2 after eight games.  Then they fell onto hard times, losing their final four games.  Head coach Dennis Erickson was fired.  ASU has a solid quarterback in Brock Osweiler, one of the tallest quarterbacks in college football.  He’s 6-8.  The Sun Devils best wins were over Missouri, USC and Utah.

On Christmas Eve, Southern Miss (11-2) of C-USA meets Nevada (7-5) of the WAC in Honolulu in the Hawaii Bowl.  Southern Miss won the C-USA championship, beating Houston in the title game and handing the Cougars their only loss of the season.  The Eagles are led by a good quarterback in Austin Davis.  At one point during the season, Southern Miss won eight-straight games.  The Eagles best wins were over Louisiana Tech, Virginia and, of course, Houston.  Southern Miss is coached by Larry Fedora, a former offensive coordinator at Florida under Ron Zook.  Fedora has been mentioned as a candidate at some of the openings around the country.  And he was just named the new coach at North Carolina.  Nevada started the season rough, losing three of its first four games.  Then the Wolf Pack reeled off five-straight wins.  Nevada finished tied for second in the WAC.

The day after Christmas, in Shreveport, Louisiana, North Carolina (7-5) from the ACC plays Missouri (7-5) of the Big 12 in the Independence Bowl.  It was a strange year for North Carolina, playing under interim coach Everett Withers.  The Tar Heels started out hot at 5-1.  Then they lost four of their last six games.  UNC’s best wins were over Rutgers, Virginia, Louisville and Wake Forest.  The Heels looked good in close losses to Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.  North Carolina has talent in the backfield with running back Giovani Bernard and quarterback Bryn Renner.  After nine games, Missouri was 4-5, but the Tigers won their final three.  Missouri had good wins over Texas A&M and Texas.  The Tigers are led by quarterback James Franklin.

The first of two bowls on December 27 takes place Detroit where Western Michigan (7-5) of the MAC tangles with Purdue (6-6) of the Big Ten in the Little Caesars Bowl.  Pizza, pizza!  Western Michigan has one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the country in Alex Carder.  The Broncos had good wins over Connecticut and Ball State.  From September to December, Purdue was one of the most improved teams in the country.  The Boilers looked awful at the beginning of the season, but as the season progressed, they were good enough to beat Ohio State – their best win. 

The second bowl on December 27 pits N. C. State (7-5) of the ACC against Louisville (7-5) from the Big East in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte.  I can just hear the public address announcer now, “Attention Belk shoppers.  Athletic supporters are on sale on the 5-yard line.”  Like its counterpart in Chapel Hill, N.C. State was a strange team in 2011 too.  The Wolfpack were losing games they should have won and winning games they should have lost.  But the Wolfpack won the most important one – they beat the Tar Heels.  State also had good wins over Virginia and Clemson.  Louisville has to be the most improved team over the season.  At one point, the Cardinals were 2-4, with losses to Florida International and Marshall – both at home.  Then they got hot and finished 5-1, with wins over Rutgers and West Virginia.  Louisville finished in a three-way tie with Cincinnati and West Virginia for the Big East crown.  The Cardinals’ coach – Charlie Strong – a long-time defensive coordinator at Florida has been mentioned as a candidate at some of the openings around the country.                               

The next day, there are two games.  The first one is the Military Bowl in Washington, DC, between Air Force (7-5) of the MWC and Toledo (8-4) of the MAC.  Air Force was down this year compared to recent years, but the Falcons still won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, beating both Army and Navy.  At one point, the Falcons were 3-4, but then they won four of their final five games.  Toledo finished the season tied with Northern Illinois for the MAC West Division title, but NIU won out, having beaten the Rockets in head-to-head competition during the season.  Toledo lost that game 63-60.  The Rockets scored 44 or more points in seven of their 12 games.  Toledo had good wins over Temple and Western Michigan.  They only lost to Ohio State by five points.

In the other game on December 28, California (7-5) of the Pac-12 meets Texas (7-5) of the Big 12 in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.  Cal won its first three games, then lost five of its next nine.  The Golden Bears had good wins over Utah and Arizona State.  Throughout the season, Cal was an up-and-down team.  Texas started out hot.  The Longhorns won their first four games and were 6-2 after eight contests.  Then they lost three of their final four games.  Many Longhorn fans were calling for Mack Brown’s hide at the end of the season.  Texas had a losing record in Big 12 Conference play – their second in two years.  The Longhorns had good wins over BYU and Texas A&M.   

The bowl action moves to Florida on December 29 for the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando between Florida State (8-4) of the ACC and Notre Dame (8-4) an Independent.  It was a disappointing year for Florida State.  At preseason, the Noles were ranked in the Top10.  Five games into the season and FSU was 2-3.  Noles fans were calling Jimbo Fisher – Dumbo Fisher.  They were calling Mark Stoops – Mark Oops.  The situation improved as FSU won its next five games.  Then came the loss to Virginia.  The Noles had good wins over Miami (Florida) and N.C. State.  Notre Dame got off to a rough start, losing its first two games.  Then the Irish won eight of their next 10.  Notre Dame had good wins over Michigan State, Pitt, Purdue and Wake Forest.

From Florida, the scene moves to Texas where Washington (7-5) from the Pac-12 plays Baylor (9-3) of the Big 12 in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.  Washington started out good and the Huskies were 6-2 after their first seven games.  Then the Huskies lost three straight, before winning their season finale.  Washington had good wins over California and Utah.  Baylor, led by sensational quarterback Robert Griffin, had a sensational season.  It began with a big win over TCU and ended with another big win over Texas.  Along the way, the Bears beat Missouri and Oklahoma.  In addition to Griffin, Baylor has an outstanding running back – Terrance Ganaway – who continued to improve throughout the season.  The Bears should have a big following in San Antonio.

The Armed Forces Bowl in Dallas between BYU (9-3) an Independent and Tulsa (8-4) of C-USA is the first of four bowls on December 30.  BYU began the season 1-2, but then won eight of its next nine games.  The Cougars switched starting quarterbacks during the season, going from Jake Heaps to Riley Nelson.  BYU’s best win was over Utah State.  Tulsa got its season off to a rough start at 1-3.  But the Golden Hurricane’s three losses were to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Boise State.  That’s excusable.  Then Tulsa won seven in a row, before losing at the end to Houston.  The Hurricane’s best wins were over SMU and Marshall.  Tulsa has an exciting quarterback in G.J. Kinne.

Still on the 30^th, the action moves to the Big Apple, where Rutgers (8-4) of the Big East tangles with Iowa State (6-6) from the Big 12 in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City.  Rutgers had a pretty amazing season, considering the Scarlet Knights were picked to finish last in the Big East.  RU didn’t win the Big East, but the Knights were far from last place.  Rutgers’ best wins were over Pitt and Cincinnati.  The Knights got off to a 5-1 start and finished the season 3-3.  Iowa State’s biggest claim to fame was being the only team to beat Oklahoma State.  And that’s pretty big.  The Cyclones were streaky.  They won three, lost four, won three and lost two.  ISU’s best win, in addition to Okie State, was over intrastate rival Iowa.

From Broadway to Music Row we go as the bowl scene continues in Nashville, where Wake Forest (6-6) of the ACC plays Mississippi State (6-6) of the SEC in the Music City Bowl.  Wake Forest began the season on a positive swing.  The Demon Deacons were 5-2 out of the gate.  Then they fell upon hard times down the stretch, going 1-4.  The Deacons’ best wins were over N.C. State and Florida State.  Mississippi State was a big disappointment in 2011.  A lot was expected from the Bulldogs and it never materialized.  Miss State finished 2-6 in SEC play.  And the Bulldogs had no good wins during the season. 

The last game on December 30 pits Oklahoma (9-3) of the Big 12 against Iowa (7-5) from the Big Ten in the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Arizona.  Oklahoma was picked to win it all this year – the Big 12 and to play for the national championship.  Instead, the Sooners finished no better than third in the Big 12 and they are not playing for the national championship.  It all began well, as OU quickly moved out to a 6-0 start.  Then disaster set in and the Sooners went 3-3 in their final six games.  They were never quite the same after that quirky loss to Texas Tech.  OU has a solid quarterback in Landry Jones, as long as Landry throws the ball to his receivers and not to the other team’s defenders.   The Sooners had good wins over Florida State, Missouri, Texas, Kansas State and Texas A&M.  Iowa was an up-and-down team all season.  But the Hawkeyes definitely improved by the end of the season.  Iowa’s best wins were over Pitt, Northwestern, Michigan and Purdue.

The Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston, Texas, kicks off the action on New Year’s Eve with a game between Texas A&M (6-6) of the Big 12 and Northwestern (6-6) of the Big Ten.  Texas A&M was a big disappointment in 2011.  So much so that the school fired head coach Mike Sherman.  The Aggies had a decent start at 5-2, but then lost four of their final five games.  A&M’s backfield of running back Cyrus Gray and quarterback Ryan Tannehill never lived up to their expectations.  The Aggies only good win was over Baylor.  Northwestern was a big disappointment during the first half of the season.  After seven games, the Wildcats stood at 2-5.  Then they woke up and won four of their final five games.  Northwestern’s best victory was a 28-25 win over Nebraska in Lincoln.  The Wildcats have a capable quarterback in Dan Persa.                               

The second of five bowls on New Year’s Eve is the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, between Utah (7-5) from the Pac-12 and Georgia Tech (8-4) of the ACC.  Some thought Utah might win the Pac-12 South Division in their first year in the conference.  That didn’t happen.  In fact, after seven games, the Utes were a paltry 3-4.  Then Utah won four in a row before the strange season-ending loss to Colorado.  Utah’s best wins were over BYU, Pitt and UCLA.  The Utes have an outstanding running back in John White.  He is capable of making the difference in a game.  Georgia Tech was a hot team early in the season.  The Yellow Jackets started out 6-0.  Then they lost their focus and were 2-4 in their final six games.  Tech had good wins over North Carolina, N.C. State and Clemson. 

Next up on December 31 is a game between UCLA (6-7) of the Pac-12 and Illinois (6-6) from the Big Ten in the Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco.  A better name for this bowl would be the Fired Coaches Bowl.  Both teams fired their coaches – Rick Neuheisel (UCLA) and Ron Zook (Illinois) – at the end of the season.  The Bruins were an up-and-down team all season.  UCLA’s best wins were over California and Arizona State.  Illinois was one of this year’s strangest teams.  The Banned Indians started out 6-0.  They finished up 0-6.  Illinois’ only good wins were over Arizona State and Northwestern. 

The finale on New Year’s Eve is the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta between Virginia (8-4) of the ACC and Auburn (7-5) of the SEC.  The Chick-fil-A is traditionally the last bowl game of the year, generally ending shortly before midnight.  It has often been one of the better bowl games.  Virginia was one of the surprise teams of 2011.  Picked to finish near the bottom of the ACC’s Coastal Division, the Cavaliers challenged Virginia Tech for the division title right down to the final game.  The Cavs were only 4-3 at mid-season, but finished strong, going 4-1 in their final five games.  Virginia had good wins over Georgia Tech, Miami (Florida) and Florida State.  Auburn was a bit of a mystery coming into the 2011 season.  Having lost Cam Newton to the NFL, it was a given that the Tigers would be down.  But just how far down was uncertain.  As it turned out, Auburn looked wobbly at times, even in some wins, and was basically up-and-down all season.  The Tigers’ best win was over South Carolina.  If on, Auburn running back Michael Dyer can be a threat.          

The first bowl and college football game of 2012 is the Ticket City Bowl in Dallas on January 2 between Houston (12-1) of C-USA and Penn State (9-3) of the Big Ten.  First let me say, I think Penn State should have declined a bowl bid.  However, it is good the school is donating its proceeds from the game to a children’s fund.  I hope Penn State has sense enough to keep its band and cheerleaders home so they can make a bigger profit on the game for the kids.  And besides, it’s not a time for Penn State’s band and cheerleaders to be celebrating.  That said, the Nittany Lions got off to a good start, going 8-1 in their first nine games.  Then they dropped two of their last three.  Penn State never demonstrated much of an offense all season.  Its defense kept them in the games.  The Nittany Lions had good wins over Temple, Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern and Ohio State.  Houston was all set to go to a BCS bowl until the Cougars lost to Southern Miss in the C-USA title game.  It was Houston’s first loss of the season.  And many attribute it to coach Kevin Sumlin preparing more for his interviews at other schools than preparing his team for Southern Miss.  Houston is loaded on offense with quarterback Case Keenum.  Keenum broke about every passing record in the books this year.  The Cougars had good wins over UCLA, Louisiana Tech and Tulsa. 

The second of six bowls on January 2 is the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida, between Michigan State (10-3) of the Big Ten and Georgia (10-3) from the SEC.  Michigan State had a great season.  The Spartans won the Legends Division of the Big Ten, but lost to Wisconsin in the conference title game, after beating the Badgers during the season.  The Spartans are led by a solid quarterback in Kirk Cousins.  State had good wins over Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern.  Georgia had a strange season.  The Dawgs lost their first two games and then won their next 10, before losing to LSU in the SEC title game.  The interesting thing is that Georgia only played three good teams all season and those were the three teams the Bulldogs lost too.  All three of those teams – Boise State, South Carolina and LSU – finished the season in the Top 10.  Still, it was quite a comeback year for Georgia, after being down for a couple seasons.  The Dawgs are led by quarterback Aaron Murray.       

Next up, Nebraska (9-3) of the Big Ten vs. South Carolina (10-2) of the SEC in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Florida.  What’s in your wallet?  It was Nebraska’s first year in the Big Ten.  The Huskers had hoped to play in the Big Ten title game this season.  They came close, but no banana.  Nebraska had strength in the backfield with running back Rex Burkhead and quarterback Taylor Martinez.  But Burkhead and Martinez could be inconsistent at times.  Same for the Huskers defense – inconsistent at times.  Nebraska got off to a great start – 7-1 after eight games.  Then they split their final four games – 2-2.  The Huskers had good wins over Washington, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State and Iowa.  South Carolina may have been the best team in the SEC East, but a tougher conference schedule kept the Gamecocks from winning the division.  The Cocks were also hurt when they lost the services of running back Marcus Lattimore to a season ending injury.  South Carolina’s best wins were over Georgia and Clemson.         

Still in Florida, it’s the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville between Ohio State (6-6) of the Big Ten and Florida (6-6) of the SEC.  Also known this year as the Urban Bowl.  Usually, the Gator Bowl selects better teams, but they couldn’t resist taking the Buckeyes and the Gators with the Urban situation as it is.  Ohio State started off pretty good. The Buckeyes were 6-3 at one point.  Then they lost their last three games.  In spite of the losses at the end of the season, quarterback Braxton Miller was a much improved player.  Ohio State’s only good win was over Wisconsin.  This will be interim coach Luke Fickell’s last game coaching the Buckeyes.  Florida is lucky to be in a bowl game.  Somehow the Gators managed to beat Vanderbilt.  Florida had no offense in 2011 – none whatsoever.  It was vacationing in the Bahamas or somewhere.  Just when Gator fans thought this was the offense that would suit John Brantley, boy were they ever fooled.  Oh well, you have to give first year coaches a chance.  Saying that Florida’s best win was over Vanderbilt isn’t saying much.         

The bowl activity moves out west to Pasadena for the granddaddy of them all – the Rose Bowl between Oregon (11-2) of the Pac-12 and Wisconsin (11-2) from the Big Ten.  After losing their season opener to LSU, Oregon reeled off nine straight wins, before losing their only other game.  The Ducks are fast.  They pick up the pace.  Oregon is led by running back LaMichael James, a Heisman finalist in 2010.  The ducks best wins were over California, Washington, Arizona State and Stanford.  Wisconsin suffered a two-game bleep in the middle of their schedule, which kept them from a perfect season.  The Badgers were 6-0 and sitting pretty.  Then they not only lost one, but two games, and in a row.  The Badgers finished strong winning their final five games.  Wisconsin’s strength is in its quarterback Russell Wilson and its running back Montee Ball.  Ball is a Heisman finalist.  The Badgers had good wins over Nebraska, Penn State and Michigan State in the Big Ten title game.

The closer on January 2 takes place in Glendale, Arizona, where Oklahoma State (11-1) of the Big 12 tangles with Stanford (11-1) of the Pac-12 in the Fiesta Bowl.  Oklahoma State should be out to prove something in this game.  The Cowboys felt they should have been in the national championship game, playing LSU.  They would be if it had not been for one little slip up against Iowa State – the Pokes only loss.  Okie State was 10-0 when it lost to the Cyclones.  For the Cowboys, it’s a passing attack – Brandon Weeden to Justin Blackmon.  Okie State will be out to prove it can play defense too.  The Cowboys had several good wins over Texas A&M, Texas, Missouri, Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma.  Stanford has a lot of talent, but the Cardinal would not be where they are if it wasn’t for quarterback Andrew Luck – a two-time Heisman finalist.  Stanford was 9-0 when it lost its only game to Oregon.  The Cardinal can’t be taken for granted.  They can fool you.  Stanford had good wins over Washington, USC, California and Notre Dame. 

The next day, Michigan (10-2) of the Big Ten plays Virginia Tech (11-2) of the ACC in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.  This was Brady Hoke’s first year coaching Michigan and I think Wolverine fans are happy.  They beat Ohio State.  Hadn’t done that since 2003.  Hoke had the Wolverines playing better defense this season.  Michigan’s offense continued to roll behind quarterback Denard Robinson.  Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint came on strong in the latter half of the season.   The Wolverines won their first six games, and won their last three.  Michigan had good wins over Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State.  Many are questioning Virginia Tech’s right to be in a BCS bowl.  They think both Boise State and Kansas State belonged in the Sugar Bowl before the Hokies.  So right off the bat, the Hokies have something to prove, especially after that embarrassing loss to Clemson in the ACC title game.  Tech is loaded in the backfield with quarterback Logan Thomas and running back David Wilson.  The Hokies had good wins over Miami (Florida), Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia.                

On January 4, the action continues in Miami Gardens, Florida, at the Orange Bowl between Clemson (10-3) of the ACC and West Virginia (9-3) from the Big East.  Clemson was sailing along fine this season at 8-0.  Then the Tigers ran into Georgia Tech and absorbed their first loss.  That drubbing seemed to get the Tigers out of sync, because they lost their last two regular season games after that – and badly too.  But Clemson got its act back together for the ACC title game, where the Tigers thumped Virginia Tech.  The Tigers are led by quarterback Tajh Boyd – a sophomore.  Boyd, interestingly enough, originally committed to West Virginia when he was being recruited.  But before signing day, he reneged and signed with Clemson.  The Tigers also have a good running back in Andre Ellington.  Clemson had good wins over Auburn, Florida State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.  West Virginia, under first-year coach Dana Holgorsen, was picked to win the Big East.  But after losing to Syracuse and Louisville, it looked doubtful for the Eers.  But WVU won three-straight conference games to close the season and capture the Big East’s BCS bid.  The Mountaineers, strong on the pass and weak on the run, are led by quarterback Geno Smith and his favorite receivers Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin.  The Mountaineers won their first three games, their last three games and went 3-3 in between.  WVU’s best wins were over Rutgers, Cincinnati and Pitt.             

Two days later, on January 6, the bowl marathon resumes with the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, between Arkansas (10-2) of the SEC and Kansas State (10-2) of the Big 12.  The Cotton Bowl is really like a BCS bowl this season with Arkansas and Kansas State finishing 6^th and 8^th respectively in the final BCS poll.  The Razorbacks’ only two losses were to Alabama and LSU.  Arkansas is led by quarterback Tyler Wilson.  The Hogs best wins were over Texas A&M, Auburn and South Carolina.  Kansas State was, without a doubt, the biggest surprise in college football this season.  Picked to finish near the bottom of the Big 12, the Wildcats finished second.  Head coach Bill Snyder has been a miracle worker.  K-State is led by quarterback Collin Klein, who reminds people of Tim Tebow.  The Wildcats won their first seven games, dropped a couple and then won their last three.  K-State had good wins over Miami (Florida), Baylor, Missouri, Texas A&M and Texas.       

Next up is the Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama, on January 7, where SMU (7-5) of C-USA plays Pitt (6-6) of the Big East.  SMU started the season hot.  The Mustangs won five of their first six games.  Then the going got tough for SMU and the Mustangs only won 2 of their final six.  Distraction could be a problem for the Mustangs.  Coach June Jones accepted the job at Arizona State.  Then ASU pulled its offer.  Don’t know what that was all about.  SMU’s best win was over TCU.  Pitt, under first-year coach Todd Graham, apparently wasn’t happy with its season.  Graham fired three of his assistants, including his offensive coordinator.  Panther quarterback Tino Sunseri is up-and-down.  And that’s what the Panthers were all season – up-and-down.  Pitt’s best win was over Louisville.        

The bowl action remains in Alabama on January 8 where Arkansas State (10-2) of the Sun Belt meets Northern Illinois (10-3) of the MAC in the Go Daddy Bowl in Mobile.  This is the appetizer before the big bowl.  Arkansas State had an amazing season under first-year coach Hugh Freeze.  And now Freeze is off to coach Ole Miss.  He didn’t hang around very long.  The Red Wolves have an exceptional quarterback in Ryan Alpin.  Arkansas State was undefeated in Sun Belt play, with quality wins over Western Kentucky, Florida International and Louisiana-Lafayette.  Northern Illinois was the champions of the MAC.  The Huskies also have a first-year coach – Dave Doeren.  NIU also has an exceptional quarterback – very exceptional.  His name is Chandler Harnish.  Harnish can run and throw.  The Huskies had good wins over Western Michigan, Toledo and Ohio.        

And finally, it all comes down to the BCS National Championship Bowl between LSU (13-0) of the SEC and Alabama (11-1) also from the SEC in New Orleans on January 9.  The game is a rematch.  LSU beat Alabama during the season, 9-6 in overtime – a game of all field goals and no touchdowns.  Two Heisman finalists are playing in this game – Tide running back Trent Richardson, and Tiger cornerback Tyrann Mathieu.  Either could be the difference in the game.  They are that big of an impact on their teams.  Both teams are solid on defense, as demonstrated in the first game.  In fact these are the best two defenses in the country.  One would think Bama has the edge on offense.  Aside from LSU, no one came close to beating Alabama all season.  Likewise, aside from Alabama, no one came close to beating LSU all season.  The game is about as close a matchup as you can get.  Whoever wins, it’s going to be close.  You just can’t imagine one team running away from the other.  But will this one be another low-scoring affair?  Stay tuned!        

WARNING!: After 24 days of 35 bowls, withdrawal can be painful.

When it’s over, ain’t it thrilling?

Though your team gets a chilling    
We’ll frolic and play, the post-game way
Walkin’ in a bowl game wonderland

So, that’s your college football lineup for the Holidays and then some.  The seven-day week from December 27 to January 2 (21 games) should be awesome.  I hope my pecan pie, bourbon balls, buckeyes and stuffed cherry peppers hold out.  I’d hate to be running on empty come January 9.                                          

Have a good weekend college football fans!  Enjoy the Army-Navy game (Go Navy!) and the Heisman Trophy presentation.  See you Monday with my annual forecast of all 35 bowl games. 

Touchdown Tom

December 9, 2011

P.S.  Charlie Weis is leaving Florida to become the new head coach at Kansas.  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hal-le-lu-jah!!!

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