College Football Week One – Mama mia, here we go again!
Swann Song for the WAC,
WVU to the Heartland,
Can it get any Wackier?
Yeah, just wait until next year – San Diego State to the Big East.

But that’s next year.  For now, let’s just stick with this year.  It’s wacky enough.  And speaking of wacky, we won’t be able to say the Wacky WAC much longer.  The conference disbands next summer at the end of the academic year.

For 50 years, whenever folks talked or thought about the Western Athletic Conference, otherwise known as the WAC, they always thought of the Wacky WAC.  It was wacky because that is exactly what its offenses were – wacky.

It was nothing for WAC teams to score 50, 60, 70, even 80 points a game – mostly on passing and a lot of wacky plays.  And the defenses were just as wacky.  There weren’t any – defenses.  And when WAC teams played each other, the scores were often 70-56 or 65-63. 

The WAC was founded in 1962.  Charter members were Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.  Along the way, some teams left and others joined. Over the years WAC members also included, at any given time, Colorado State, UTEP, San Diego State, Hawaii, Air Force, Fresno State, UNLV, Rice, SMU, TCU, Tulsa, Nevada and Boise State.

Today the WAC consists of Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Texas State, UT San Antonio and Utah State.  But next summer, Louisiana Tech and UT San Antonio depart for C-USA.  San Jose State and Utah State leave for the Mountain West.  Texas State joins the Sun Belt.   And Idaho and New Mexico State….well….the Vandals and the Aggies aren’t going anywhere.

The WAC totally disintegrates next summer with five of the remaining seven members moving on to other conferences.  Idaho and New Mexico State asked to join the MWC, C-USA and the Sun Belt.  But the two schools were turned down by all three conferences. 

Idaho has since announced that it will become an Independent in football and join the Big Sky Conference for all other sports.  At last report, New Mexico State plans to follow a similar route.  Football will compete as an Independent and the school is looking for a conference for its other sports.

Sixteen years ago if someone told me West Virginia would be competing in the Big 12 Conference in 2012, I would have told them they were crazy.

But here we are in 2012 and, sure enough, West Virginia is in the Big 12.  I’m not sure stranger things have happened.  After years and years of encounters with Pitt, and Syracuse, and Rutgers and a few other schools, WVU is abandoning its neighborhood for the Heartland.  It’s abandoning the hills, the valleys, the trees and the mountains of the East for the farms, the tumble weeds, the plains, the sage brush and the prairies of the Midwest. 

It’s a new life and a new beginning for the Mountaineers.  It’s also a new life for TCU who has joined the Big 12, along with WVU.  But in some ways, it’s a renewal for the Horned Frogs who are reconnecting with some of their old Southwest Conference companions – Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor. 

In all, seven of the 11 FBS conferences have changed their appearances for the 2012 season – the Big 12, SEC, Big East, Mountain West, Mid-American, WAC and Sun Belt.  Only the Big Ten, ACC, Pac-12 and C-USA enter the 2012 season looking the same as they did last year.

Here’s the rundown: The Big 12 lost Missouri and Texas A&M and added TCU and West Virginia.  The SEC added Missouri and Texas A&M.  The Big East lost West Virginia and added Temple.  The Mountain West lost TCU and added Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada.  The Mid-American lost Temple and added Massachusetts.  The WAC lost Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada and added Texas State and UT San Antonio.  And the Sun Belt added South Alabama.

That gets us up-to-date on the status of the conferences for the start of the 2012 season.

Yes, it’s here.  We don’t have to wait much longer.  College football is back!

We don’t know how, but we suddenly lose control
There’s a fire within our soul
Just one game and we can hear a bell ring
One more game and we forget everything, o-o-o-oh

Mama mia, here we go again
My, my, how can we resist you?
Mama mia, does it show again?
My, my, just how much we’ve missed you

But before we go any further, let’s get up-to-date on the new rules for the 2012 season.  They are:

1. Kickoffs will be moved to the 35-yard line from the 30-yard line.
2. Touchbacks will move from the 20-yard line to the 25-yard line on kickoffs and free kicks after a safety.  Touchbacks on punts rolling into the end zone or fumbles into the end zone will remain at the 20-yard line.
3. Players will be forbidden from leaping over other players when blocking punts.
4. Players who lose their helmets during a play (except when caused by grabbing the face mask) will have to sit out the next play.
5. Offensive players in the tackle box at the snap who are not in motion are allowed to block below the waist legally without restriction.  All other players are restricted from blocking below the waist with some exceptions (i.e. blocking straight-on).

Yes, we’ve been brokenhearted
Blue since the last game ended
Why, why did we ever let you go?
Mama mia, now we really know
My, my, we could never let football go

And just to get our sites fixed for the season, one team – California – is back in its home stadium, following a year’s absence, while two teams – Washington and Massachusetts – will vacate their home fields for awhile.

Out in Berkeley, the renovations are complete at California Memorial Stadium, home of the Golden Bears.  The stadium even received a seismic retrofit.  Cal Memorial sits on the Hayward Fault.  The capacity of the stadium was actually reduced from 71,800 to 62,700, but it is a much nicer (and earthquake safer) facility to watch a football game in now.  Last year, Cal played its home games in Candlestick Park and AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, up Interstate 5 from California, Husky Stadium, home of the Washington Huskies, will be undergoing renovations this season.  Washington will play its home games in CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders FC.  The Huskies will be back in Husky Stadium for the 2013 season.

And finally, Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, home of the Massachusetts Minutemen will be undergoing renovation work for two seasons – 2012 and 2013.  The Minutemen won’t return to their stadium until the 2014 season.  In the meantime, Massachusetts will play its home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.  Gillette Stadium is home of the New England Patriots.  Even though UMass will be back in its stadium in 2014, the Minutemen will continue to play one home game a season in Gillette Stadium from 2014 to 2016.             

Speaking of Massachusetts, the Minutemen are one of four schools competing in FBS football for the first time this season.  The other three are South Alabama, Texas State and UT San Antonio.  All four have stepped up from the FCS level.  That brings the FBS to a total of 124 teams.

We think you know that you won’t be away too long
You know that we are not that strong
Just one game and we can hear a bell ring
One more game and we forget everything, o-o-o-oh

Mama mia, here we go again
My, my, how can we resist you?
Mama mia, does it show again?
My, my, just how much we’ve missed you

So, now we know who will be playing in what conferences, what the new rules are, what stadiums have been or are undergoing renovations and what teams are new to the FBS.  The only thing left to do is get the season started. 

College football 2012 kicks off at 7 p.m. (EDT), Thursday, August 30, in Nashville, Tennessee – Vanderbilt hosting South Carolina.  And that’s just the beginning.  It’s five-straight days of football, covering the full Labor Day Weekend from Thursday through Monday.  It doesn’t get any better than that.

There are several big games on the lineup for opening weekend, including Michigan vs. Alabama (in Arlington, Texas), Boise State at Michigan State, Clemson vs. Auburn (Atlanta, Georgia), Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech, Washington State at BYU and NC State vs. Tennessee (Atlanta, Georgia).

South Carolina at Vanderbilt (August 30) is one of six crucial, early season SEC games that are going to tell us a lot about how the SEC will pan out in 2012.  Florida is involved in two of those games and both are on the road for the Gators – Florida at Texas A&M (September 8) and Florida at Tennessee (September 15).  The other three games are Auburn at Miss State (September 8), Georgia at Missouri (September 8) and Alabama at Arkansas (September 15).  Those are the only six SEC conference games played during the first three weeks of the season.  But those six games may define the season for some if not all of those teams involved.  Stay tuned!

Yes, we’ve been brokenhearted
Blue since the last game ended
Why, why did we ever let you go?
Mama mia, now we really know
My, my, we could never let football go 

The biggest game this weekend has to be the Michigan-Alabama game.  Both teams are ranked in the Top 10, in the various preseason polls.  It’s been a while since the Wolverines and the Crimson Tide last played.  And I have to tell you, it sure brings back memories.

The last meeting occurred on January 1, 2000.  It was the Orange Bowl.  I watched the game on TV with my future son-in-law.  But I didn’t know he was to be my future son-in-law when the game started.  Little did I know what he had in mind.  But he knew.  He knew to ask me for my daughter’s hand when I was most vulnerable – when I was watching a college football game.  How could I say no?

Michigan beat Alabama in that game, 35-34 in overtime.  Michigan overcame a couple of 14-point deficits to win the game.  Tom Brady quarterbacked the Wolverines.  Michigan wide receiver David Terrell was named the game’s most valuable player.   

Overall, Michigan is 2-1 against Alabama.  In addition to the Orange Bowl, the Wolverines beat the Tide in the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl.  Alabama beat Michigan in the 1997 Outback Bowl.  

Did I mention that Rockledge Gator suffered an injury a while back?  He was injured trying to fold-up his grandson’s stroller.  Fortunately, for Rockledge Gator, he wasn’t on the disabled list too long.  Hopefully, he never has to fold up his grandson’s portable play pen.  That could be disastrous.  And speaking of Rockledge Gator, the poor guy is back on kitchen appliance probation again – something about oatmeal in the microwave this time.  Bootsie’s about to lose her wits. 

Now, if the football players at West Virginia only could play football like the WVU students can party, then West Virginia, hands down, would be national champions every year.  Yes, the Princeton Review released its annual Top Party School list last week and West Virginia was the No. 1 party school again.  The Mountaineers were followed by 2. Iowa, 3. Ohio, 4. Illinois, 5. Georgia, 6. Florida, 7. UC Santa Barbara, 8. Florida State, 9. Miami (Ohio) and 10. Syracuse.

Mama mia, here we go again
My, my, how can we resist you?

It’s time for chili dogs, cold pizza and beer for breakfast on Saturday mornings.

Mama mia, does it show again?
My, my, just how much we’ve missed you

Touchdown Tom
August 27, 2012
(www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com)


Quotes of the Week

“Joe Paterno comes across as sort of a stuffed mascot, monstrously indifferent to all around him.  The former Penn State coach comes across as a self-mythologizing monster, consumed by his legacy of winning on the football field,” Wall Street Journal writer Tim Marchman, reviewing the book 'Paterno' by Joe Posnanski.

“I’m just ready to explode,” Florida running back Mike Gillislee.

“The biggest difference between Alabama of last year and this year is not the seven new defensive starters.  It’s the schedule,” CBSSports.com writer Tony Barnhart.

“We’re feeling pretty good about 10 teams.  We’re also feeling good we brought in two ranked football teams in exchange for the two that moved out,” Big 12 Conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby.

“Do you expect anyone to take you seriously, Graham Spanier?,” CBSSports.com writer Gregg Doyel, on the former Penn State president.

“The Dolphins have named rookie Ryan Tannehill as their starting quarterback.  Is this a reward or a sentence?,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“He needs to be more consistent as far as his assignments are concerned, finishing plays down the field, and continue to work at those things,” Florida coach Will Muschamp, on the inconsistent play of Gator receiver Andre Debose.


Opening Weekend’s 20 Hottest and Most Intriguing Games.…and then some

GAME OF THE WEEK:  1. Michigan vs. Alabama – (Big Ten vs. SEC) (TV: ABC, 8 pm ET, Saturday) – Alabama will be facing tougher quarterbacks on the road this season and Michigan’s Denard Robinson is the first one.  Robinson and Wolverine running back Fitz Toussaint will test the Alabama defense.  But the Tide will do some testing of their own.  It’s the No. 1 team in the Big Ten against the No. 2 team in the SEC, or so the preseason polls say.  The SEC comes out on top – Alabama 18, Michigan 16.

RUNNER UP:  2. Boise State at Michigan State – (MWC vs. Big Ten) (TV: ESPN, 8 pm ET, Friday) – Last year, Boise State went into Atlanta and whipped up on Georgia in its season opener.  It was worse than Sherman marching through the Peach State.  But that was last year.  This is this year.  Boise State ain’t the Broncos they were last year.  Le’Veon finds a rose – Michigan State 30, Boise State 19.   

REST OF THE BEST:  3. Clemson vs. Auburn – (ACC vs. SEC) (TV: ESPN, 7 pm ET, Saturday) – Make no mistake about it, Dabo Sweeny needs this game more than Gene Chizik.  Chizik is still basking in the glory of Auburn’s national championship – even though it’s been two years.  But Sweeny never really has cut the mustard at Clemson.  And that 70-33 smashing the Tigers took from West Virginia in the Orange Bowl still has Clemson fans gnashing their teeth.  Sweeny breathes a sigh of relief – Clemson 26, Auburn 24.

4. Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech – (ACC vs. ACC) (TV: ESPN, 8 pm ET, Monday) – The five-day Labor Day Weekend closes out with this contest Monday night.  It should be a good one.  Either team could win.  But on paper, the Tech from Virginia should win.  And the game is in Blacksburg.  Logan’s run – Virginia Tech 27, Georgia Tech 22.

5. South Carolina at Vanderbilt – (SEC vs. SEC) (TV: ESPN, 7 pm ET, Thursday) – The upset alert is out on this game.  Vandy has a history of playing Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks tough.  South Carolina comes into the game flying high – ranked in the Top 10 and Marcus Lattimore is back.  But Vandy is flying below the radar with Zac Stacy and Jordan Rogers.  Commodore coach James Franklin has been busy tuning up Vandy.  Commodores are henpecked – South Carolina 26, Vanderbilt 22.

6. Washington State at BYU – (Pac-12 vs. Ind.) (TV: ESPN, 10:15 pm ET, Thursday) – Middle-aged women will be out in full force at this game – it’s the Cougars against the Cougars.  It’s also the return of Mike Leach to college football.  To his liking, Leach has a good quarterback at Washington State – Jeff Tuel.  But to his disappointment, he doesn’t have much else.  Still, BYU isn’t all that much better.  BYU throws the book at Wazzu – BYU 32, Washington State 26.

7. NC State vs. Tennessee – (ACC vs. SEC) (TV: ESPNU, 7:30 pm ET, Friday) – Both coaches need this win in a bad way.  One – Derek Dooley – is definitely on the hot seat.  It couldn’t be any hotter.  The other – Tom O’Brien – is only on a warm seat.  But he could use a big win.  O’Brien has been okay in Raleigh, but not great.  Dooley’s seat gets hotter – NC State 28, Tennessee 27.

8. Southern Miss at Nebraska – (C-USA vs. Big Ten) (TV: ABC/ESPN2, 3:30 pm ET, Saturday) – There was a time, in recent years, when Southern Miss could have come into Lincoln and knocked off the Huskers.  But there is no chance of that now.  The Eagles have a new coach – Ellis Johnson – and first games under new coaches don’t always go well.  Johnson is a defensive genius, but Nebraska’s offense shouldn’t have any problems.  It could be a big day yardage wise for Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead.  But will Husker coach Bo Pelini miss his brother Carl, running the defense?  Only John Papuchis can answer that.  We don’t need no stinkin’ helium to raise our Corn – Nebraska 38, Southern Miss 16.

9. Texas A&M at Louisiana Tech – (SEC vs. WAC) (TV: ESPNU, 7:30 pm ET, Thursday) – This contest has the makings of an upset.  Texas A&M is going through a transition – new coach, new quarterback, new conference.  Meanwhile, La Tech is a veteran team.  The Bulldogs have had the Aggies in their sights since spring practice.  And if La Tech wins, Sonny Dykes won’t be long for Ruston.  Aggies in a squeaker – Texas A&M 26, Louisiana Tech 25.

10. Marshall at West Virginia – (C-USA vs. Big 12) (TV: FX, 12 noon ET, Saturday) – If Marshall has any hopes of beating WVU, the Herd better get it done in this game.  The two schools aren’t scheduled to meet again anytime soon – in fact not at all.  Oh, they will eventually get back together one of these days, but it probably won’t be for a long, long time.  Let the party begin in Mo’town – West Virginia 35, Marshall 14.

11. Kentucky at Louisville – (SEC vs. Big East) (TV: ESPN, 3:30 pm ET, Sunday) – Louisville is considered to be the best team in the Big East, while Kentucky is considered to be the worst team in the SEC.  This game shouldn’t be close.  And it may not be.  But the Joke is on the Wildcats – Louisville 27, Kentucky 21. 

12. SMU at Baylor – (C-USA vs. Big 12) (TV: FSN, 6:30 pm ET, Sunday) – Under June Jones, SMU has been trying to turn the corner.  But the corner has been mighty big.  Baylor provides the Mustangs yet another chance to get around the bend.  A win would be big for SMU.  But it won’t happen.  The Bears get the job done even without RG3 – Baylor 34, SMU 24.

13. Ohio at Penn State – (MAC vs. Big Ten) (TV: ESPN, 12 noon ET, Saturday) – It’s a new dawn.  It’s a new day.  It’s Michael Buble.  No, no, it’s Bill O’Brien.  O’Brien is the man who has been charged with putting the Happy back in Unhappy Valley.  With Larry, Moe and Curley (Graham, Gary and Tim) still hanging around spewing their sickening denials, that may take a while.  But football Saturday’s in State College should gradually get the school back into the partying spirit.  After all, Penn State only fell to 11th on Princeton Review’s Top Party School list – just barely out of the Top 10.  Ohio is supposed to be the premier team of the MAC so the Bobcats may cause some problems for O’Brien’s debut.  Nittany bobs the Cats – Penn State 24, Ohio 19.
 
14. Navy vs. Notre Dame – (Ind. vs. Ind.) (TV: CBS, 9 am ET, Saturday) – And ‘tis from Dublin, Ireland, no less.  It will be Breakfast at Aviva.  I know….it doesn’t have quite the ring to it that Breakfast at Wimbledon does.  But that is the name of the stadium in Dublin – Aviva.  And what better excuse than this to be having beer for breakfast back in the States.  Well, as long as it is Guinness.  Or rum if you are a Navy fan.  Bottoms up.  The Middies forget to kiss the Blarney Stone – Notre Dame 30, Navy 15.

15. Miami (Ohio) at Ohio State – (MAC vs. Big Ten) (TV: BTN, 12 noon ET, Saturday) – The Urban Meyer era begins in Columbus.  Will the spread work on the banks of the Olentangy?  If it doesn’t, the Urban Meyer era will be over in Columbus.  Urban spreads the RedHawks – Ohio State 38, Miami (Ohio) 14.

16. Miami (Florida) at Boston College – (ACC vs. ACC) (TV: ABC/ESPN2, 3:30 pm ET, Saturday) – These two coaches need to have a good season.  Frank Spaziani is barely hanging onto his job at BC.  And Al Golden has not been all that golden in Miami.  In fact he is rather tarnished.  Both teams could suffer through the season, but one has to win this game.  Frank pawns the Golden one – Boston College 22, Miami 20.

17. Toledo at Arizona – (MAC vs. Pac-12) (TV: ESPNU, 10:30 pm ET, Saturday) – Rich Rodriguez must be the Horace Greeley of college football coaches – “Go West young man, go West.”  From West Virginia to Michigan to Arizona, Rich Rod has made his trek.  He’s gone from the mountains to the rusted out assembly plants to the desert.  Maybe he will find his way in the desert.  Perhaps not this season, but he will in this game – but it won’t come easy – Arizona 30, Toledo 20.

18. Florida International at Duke – (Sun Belt vs. ACC) (TV: None, 7 pm ET, Saturday) – What?  The Dookies aren’t opening against Richmond.  Don’t they always open against Richmond?  I mean, if it’s opening weekend of college football, Duke must be playing Richmond.  I guess the Spiders were too tough for the Dookies.  Well, let me tell you, the Dookies are jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, switching from Richmond to FIU.  If they thought Richmond was tough, boy are the Dookies in for a surprise – a big surprise.  FIU loves Devil’s Food Cake – FIU 25, Duke 19.           

19. UCF at Akron – (C-USA vs. MAC) (TV: None, 7 pm ET, Thursday) – The return of Terry Bowden to FBS football.  Speaking of the diminutive Bowden, have you seen Terry lately?  Man, has he ever put on some kind of weight.  I believe he is now as wide as he is tall.  He won’t be running onto the field with his Zips…..he’ll have to waddle onto the field.  And with Chuck “Chuckles the Clown” Amato, his defensive coordinator.  Those two will be some sight to see.  This could be George “Resume” O’Leary’s last season at UCF.  There are a number of issues and problems with the program.  But not enough to keep the Knights from winning – UCF 32, Akron 17.    

20. Texas State at Houston – (WAC vs. C-USA) (TV: CSNC, 8 pm ET, Saturday) – This is Texas State’s debut game as an FBS team.  The Bobcats decided to kick it up a notch.  But the Cougars take them down a notch.  Houston baptizes the Bobcats – Houston 42, Texas State 17.


…AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON: 

21. UT San Antonio at South Alabama – (WAC vs. Sun Belt) (TV: None, 7:30 pm ET, Thursday) – This is the first FBS game for these two teams.  Both only started playing football recently – UTSA last year and South Alabama in 2009.  The Roadrunners, that’s UTSA, are coached by former Hurricane coach Larry Coker.  The Jaguars make Road Kill out of the Roadrunners – South Alabama 26, UTSA 23.


YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS: 

Bowling Green at Florida – (MAC vs. SEC) (TV: ESPN, 3:30 pm ET, Saturday) – So this is how Florida gets back at Urban Meyer.  The Gators go beat up on the school where Meyer first coached.  And that is exactly what the Gators will do regardless of character issues in the locker room.  Make no Mustake about it, Muschamp will win – Florida 38, Bowling Green 12. 

Buffalo at Georgia – (MAC vs. SEC) (TV: SEC Network, 12:20 pm ET, Saturday) – Last year, Georgia began the season 0-2.  That won’t happen this year.  The Dawgs will be at least 1-1.  Uga shuffles off the Buffaloes – Georgia 49, Buffalo 9.

Eastern Kentucky at Purdue – (Ohio Valley vs. Big Ten) (TV: BTN, 12 noon ET, Saturday) – Purdue is playing EKU because Boiler coach Danny Hope used to be the head coach there before he came to West Lafayette.  He may be back there next year.  Hope is running out for oh Danny boy.  He’s 16-21 after three years at Purdue.  The fans will be there in sunshine, but not in shadow.  Hope springs – Purdue 33, Eastern Kentucky 16.

Wyoming at Texas – (MWC vs. Big 12) (TV: LHN, 8 pm ET, Saturday) – Mack Brown begins his 15th season herding the Bovines in Austin.  And the last two weren’t any fun – not for Mack or the Texas fans.  The Cows lost seven games in 2010 and five last year.  But they did end the 2011 season on a positive note, beating California in the Holiday Bowl.  Smackwater Mack lets it all hang loose – Texas 37, Wyoming 12.


AROUND FLORIDA: 

Florida State opens at home against Murray State….  South Florida entertains Chattanooga….  Florida Atlantic hosts Wagner….  Florida A&M travels to Tennessee State….  Bethune-Cookman is home against Alabama State….  Jacksonville U. is on the road at Georgia Southern.


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Texas named sophomore David Ash the starting quarterback for the Longhorns’ opener against Wyoming.  Ash beat out Case McCoy….  Stanford named junior Josh Nunes the starting quarterback for its opener against San Jose State.  Nunes beat out sophomore Brett Nottingham….  Auburn named sophomore Kiehl Frazier the starting quarterback for the Tigers’ opener against Clemson.  Frazier beat out Clint Moseley.

Oregon named redshirt-freshman Marcus Mariota its starting quarterback for the Ducks opener against Arkansas State.  Mariota beat out third-year sophomore Bryan Bennett….  Mississippi State is undergoing NCAA investigation for potential recruiting violations….  Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Mark Bradley predicts that Georgia will finish the regular season at 11-1, losing only to South Carolina.

Touchdown Tom
(www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com)


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but as the Labor Day weekend approached and college football fans were stoked for the start of another great season, the number one song in the country…

…70 years ago this week in 1942 was “Jingle Jangle Jingle” by Kay Keyser

…65 years ago this week in 1947 was “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” by Tex Williams

…60 years ago this week in 1952 was “Auf Wiedersehn Sweetheart” by Vera Lynn

…55 years ago this week in 1957 was “Tammy” by Debbie Reynolds

…50 years ago this week in 1962 was “The Loco-Motion” by Little Eva

…45 years ago this week in 1967 was “Ode To Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry

…40 years ago this week in 1972 was “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass

…35 years ago this week in 1977 was “Best Of My Love” by The Emotions

…30 years ago this week in 1982 was “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor

…25 years ago this week in 1987 was “Who’s That Girl” by Madonna

…20 years ago this week in 1992 was “End Of The Road” by Boyz II Men

Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there were eight passings of note last week – Phyllis Thaxter, William Windom, Scott McKenzie, Tony Scott, Phyllis Diller, Steve Van Buren, Don Raleigh and Neil Armstrong.

Phyllis Thaxter, who got her start in the movies during World War II and had her final role as Superman’s mother, died last week in Longwood, Florida.  She was 92.  Thaxter made her movie debut in the 1944 film “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” (Van Johnson).  Her movies included “The Sea of Grass” (Spencer Tracy), “Blood on the Moon” (Robert Mitchum), “She’s Working Her Way Through College” (Ronald Reagan), “Springfield Rifle” (Gary Cooper), “Jim Thorpe – All American” (Burt Lancaster) and “The Breaking Point” (John Garfield and Patricia Neal).  She made TV appearances on “Wagon Train,” “The Twilight Zone,” “The Fugitive” and “Murder She Wrote.”  Thaxter was born on November 20, 1919, in Portland, Maine.

William Windom, who won an Emmy Award and appeared on “Star Trek” and “Murder She Wrote,” died last week at his home in Woodacre, California.  He was 88.  He also appeared on “The Twilight Zone,” “The Streets of San Francisco” and “The Rookies.”  Windom was born September 28, 1923, in New York City.  He also appeared in the movies “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Americanization of Emily,” “Brewster McCloud” and “She’s Having My Baby.”

Scott McKenzie, who performed the 1967 ballad “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair),” died last week at his home in Los Angeles.  He was 73.  “San Francisco” was written by John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas.  McKenzie and Phillips were good friends.  McKenzie later wrote “Kokomo” for the Beach Boys.  McKenzie was born Philip Blondheim in Jacksonville, Florida, on January 10, 1939. 

Tony Scott, director of exuberant action films, including “Top Gun” (1986), died last week.  He was 68.  He also directed “Enemy of the State” (1998), with Will Smith and Gene Hackman and “Days of Thunder” (1990), with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

Phyllis Diller, whose stand-up comedy helped open the door for generations of funny women, died last week at her home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.  She was 95.  Phyllis Ada Driver was born on July 17, 1917, in Lima, Ohio.

Steve Van Buren, the Hall-of-Fame running back who led the Philadelphia Eagles to NFL titles in 1948 and 1949 died last week in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  He was 91.  The former LSU star, nicknamed “Wham-Bam” for his quick and punishing running style, joined the Eagles in 1944 as a first-round pick.  Van Buren was born in La Ceiba, Honduras.  His parents died when he was 10, and he moved to New Orleans to live with his grandparents. 

Don Raleigh, a New York Rangers All-Star center in the 1950s who became the first NHL player to score sudden-death overtime goals in two consecutive games of a Stanley Cup final series, died last week in Kingston, Ontario.  He was 86.  Raleigh played 10 seasons in the NHL, all with the Rangers.  James Donald Raleigh was born on June 27, 1926, in Kenora, Ontario, and grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

Neil Armstrong, the U.S. astronaut who was the first man to walk on the moon (July 20, 1969), died last week. He was 82.  Neil Alden Armstrong was born August 5, 1930, on his grandfather’s farm near Wapakoneta, Ohio.  He flew combat missions over North Korea during the Korean War.  Armstrong graduated from Purdue in 1955.  He made his first space flight in 1966 on Gemini 8.