College Football Week 15 – Northern Illinois crashes the BCS party
Three coaches hired, two more fired,
bowl slots filled, some fans thrilled,
it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go.

Sometime in the early evening on Saturday I had this blog headlined, “How ’bout them Dawgs.”  And then….and then, along came Jones….I mean….along came Richt and let the clock expire.

On the final drive of the SEC Championship game, trailing Alabama, 32-28, and with no timeouts, Georgia continually let precious seconds elapse on the clock just waiting to get the ball snapped.  Then with a first-and-ten on the Alabama 8 with just 15 seconds remaining, Georgia failed to spike the ball.  Strange, very strange.

Oh well, clock management never was one of Mark Richt’s virtues.  He’s had a history of clock management problems.  Richt was two French fries short of a happy meal again.

But at least Georgia played a good game.  It went down to the wire.  The Dawgs have nothing to be ashamed of.  That’s more than you can say about Nebraska.  The Huskers should be ashamed – big time.  In the Big Ten Championship game, Nebraska lost to Wisconsin, 70-31.  The same Wisconsin team the Huskers beat during the season, 30-27.

But then Bo Pelini has a problem beating a team for the second time in the same season.  Two years ago, Nebraska beat Washington, 56-21.  Then in a rematch against the Huskies in the Holiday Bowl, the Huskers proceeded to lose to Washington, 19-7.

Nebraska’s thrashing from Wisconsin was reminiscent of the beating the Huskers took from Ohio State during the season.  In that game, the Buckeyes beat Nebraska, 63-38.  I have to believe the “Cornfield Biggies” in Lincoln aren’t going to put up with those kinds of losses.  I’d say Bo better have a darn good year in 2013 or he may become his brother’s defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic.   

For a while in the ACC Championship game, I thought it was going to become a repeat performance for Florida State.  A repeat of the performance FSU had against NC State on October 6.  In that game, the Noles led at the half, 16-0.  Then FSU was held scoreless in the second half and lost to NC State, 17-16.

Saturday night, Florida State led Georgia Tech at the half, 21-3.  Lo and behold, in the second half, the Yellow Jackets held the Noles scoreless.  I thought maybe Paul Johnson had called Tom O’Brien on his way out of Raleigh and gotten the skinny on how to keep FSU from scoring in the second half. 

While holding the Noles scoreless in the second half, Georgia Tech scored 12 points and trailed FSU, 21-15.  But unlike NC State, the Yellow Jackets couldn’t manage a last second score to beat the Noles, 22-21.

Well, it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas last week.  Every year, the firing and hiring of coaches is a tradition of the season.  Two more coaches were fired – Southern Miss’ Ellis Johnson and South Florida’s Skip Holtz.

Johnson’s firing may be a record.  He was canned after only one season at Southern Miss.  Of course the Eagles were 0-12 this season.  That’s pretty bad considering that Southern Miss had not had a losing season since 1993.  And the Eagles have been to a bowl game every year since 1997.  That is until this year.

Johnson was a well-known defensive coordinator throughout the South before he became head coach at Southern Miss.  I’ve always felt that some coordinators are not meant to be head coaches.  A few days after Johnson’s firing, Southern Miss announced it was moving next year’s game with Nebraska from Hattiesburg to Lincoln.  Nebraska is guaranteeing Southern Miss a $2.12 million payout for the game in Lincoln.  Southern Miss needs the money to buyout Johnson’s contract.

Holtz just finished his third season at South Florida.  The Bulls lost to Pitt, 27-3, Saturday.  South Florida was 3-9 (1-6 in the Big East) this season and 16-21 over three years under Holtz.        

Sunday, Virginia coach Mike London fired his defensive coordinator, defensive line coach, running backs coach and tight ends coach.  Next year, I suspect London will get fired if the Cavaliers don’t improve.  After three years in Charlottesville, London is 16-21 – 4-8 this season.  And speaking of firing several assistant coaches, I would expect West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen to do something similar.  But maybe not until after the bowl game.  Stay tuned!

Three schools hired new coaches last week.  Kentucky named Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops its new coach.  Stoops replaces Joker Phillips at Kentucky.  Then NC State announced that Northern Illinois head coach Dave Doeren has been hired to coach the Wolfpack.  He replaces Tom O’Brien at NC State.  Doeren was 23-4 in two years at NIU.  This year, the Huskies finished high enough in the BCS standings to qualify for a BCS bowl from a non-AQ conference.  NIU will play Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

And finally, Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino was named the new coach at Idaho, where he replaces Robb Akey.  Petrino, brother of former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, would most likely have lost his coordinator position at Arkansas when the new coach replacing John L. Smith is named.  Jon Gruden told Tennessee last week that he is not interested in coaching the Vols.  Scratch one candidate off Tennessee’s list.

In addition to Tennessee, 10 schools are still looking for their new coach – Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College, California, Colorado, Purdue, Southern Miss, South Florida, UTEP and Western Michigan.  I suspect most of those school will announce their new coach sometime this week.  Cincinnati coach Butch Jones has interviewed for the Purdue opening.

The Mad Hatter was at it again last week.  LSU coach Les Miles pulled-off another trick play.  Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long, a good friend of Miles from their Michigan days, put out word that he was offering Miles $27.5 over five years to become the coach at Arkansas.  Miles, of course, had no interest or intention of taking the job at Arkansas.  But LSU took the bait and that’s what he was hoping for.  LSU upped Miles’ salary from $3.8 million annually to $4.3 million.     

In the on-going, never-ending conference expansion drama, the ACC announced that Louisville had been voted into the conference as the replacement for Maryland.  That announcement came as a bit of a surprise as the thinking had been that the ACC would bring in Connecticut.  Just as Les Miles pulled a trick play on LSU, Louisville outmaneuvered UConn for membership in the ACC.

The Big East announced the addition of Tulane and East Carolina.  The two schools are replacing Rutgers and Louisville.  East Carolina is joining the Big East as a football only member.  Meanwhile, two schools said “no” to the Big East – BYU and Air Force.  

Upon losing Tulane and East Carolina, Conference USA announced the addition of Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic – both currently Sun Belt Conference members.  Subsequently, the Sun Belt Conference announced it is considering the addition of New Mexico State and Idaho.  The Sun Belt also is considering Georgia Southern, currently an FCS school.  But Georgia Southern has plans to move up to the FBS.  

Confused yet?  Stay tuned, it’s probably going to get more confusing before it’s over.  Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said his conference is not interested in expanding yet, but if they do expand, Boise State and San Diego State are the likely candidates. 

Well, the bowl pairings were announced Sunday evening.  Some schools are happy, some aren’t.  Some fans are happy, some aren’t.  As expected, Alabama will be playing Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Bowl.  And, as expected, Stanford will play Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, and Oregon will meet Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl. 

However, unexpected are Florida State vs. Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl and Florida vs. Louisville in the Sugar Bowl.  It was supposed to be Florida State vs. Louisville in the Orange Bowl and Florida vs. Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.  Northern Illinois’ qualification for a BCS bowl altered the landscape.  Oklahoma came out the loser.  And FSU is not thrilled about playing Northern Illinois.

The pairings for the other 30 bowls were announced too.  I will release my annual bowl game preview on Friday, December 7. 

I’m worried about Rockledge Gator.  I haven’t heard from him in a while.  I sent him a text message during the Georgia-Alabama game, asking if he was watching.  But he didn’t respond.  I hope Bootsie hasn’t done him in.  She may have him in the penalty box.  

Touchdown Tom
December 3, 2012
(www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com)


Week 14 Review

GAME OF THE WEEK:  Spikeless in Atlanta – Alabama 32, Georgia 28 (Touchdown Tom said: Alabama 28, Georgia 26).  Why, why, why?  With the ball on the Alabama eight-yard line, first down, 15 seconds on the clock, no timeouts and trailing 32-28, why didn’t Aaron Murray spike the ball?  Had Murray spiked the ball, Georgia would have had time to execute at least two and possibly three more passing plays.  Instead, Murray took the snap and then, instead of throwing the ball into the end zone, he threw a supposed fade pass that was tipped into the hands of a Georgia receiver on the five-yard line – a receiver who had defenders all over him and had no chance of scoring a touchdown.  The receiver was tackled and the clock ran down as Georgia couldn’t stop it.  A pass into the end zone would have given Murray and Georgia another chance of scoring.  Some people think fast on their feet, some people don’t.  Obviously Aaron Murray and Mark Richt don’t.  Alabama won the game on the ground.  The running of Eddie Lacy (181 yards) and T.J. Yeldon (153 yards) was incredible.  The two running backs just bowled their way through the Georgia defensive line time-after-time, again and again.  Alabama had 350 yards rushing to Georgia’s 113.  The lead changed hands in the game no less than five times.  A crowd of 75,624 attended the game in Atlanta.

RUNNER UP:  Trees bud – Stanford 27, UCLA 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Stanford 28, UCLA 24).  Stanford took the lead on a 36-yard field goal by Jordan Williamson with 6:49 left in the game and held on for the win.  The lead changed hands four times in this game.  The Cardinal couldn’t stop Johnathan Franklin (194 yards rushing), but they stopped the rest of the Bruins.  The game was played in a steady rain throughout.  Stanford’s next game is the Rose Bowl.  A crowd of 31,622 attended the game in Palo Alto.

BEST OF THE REST:  “We own Texas” – Kansas State 42, Texas 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Kansas State 27, Texas 23).  That’s what the K-State fans were chanting.  The Wildcats beat the Horns for the fifth year in a row.  Late in the third quarter, Texas led 17-14.  That must be when Mack Brown had to take his nap.  K-State proceeded to score four unanswered touchdowns to take a 42-17 lead late in the fourth quarter.  Texas’ Case McCoy had 314 yards passing, but again, the lack of a running game hurt the Horns.  Collin Klein passed for 184 yards and rushed for 103.  A crowd of 50,912 attended the game in Manhattan.

Cards deck the Knights – Louisville 20, Rutgers 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Louisville 29, Rutgers 26).  John Wallace kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:41 remaining in the game to give Louisville the lead and the win.  The teams combined for 606 yards passing, but only had 96 yards rushing – 42 for Louisville and 54 for Rutgers.  Three turnovers hampered the Knights.  The Cardinals are headed to the Sugar Bowl.  A crowd of 52,798 attended the game in Piscataway.

Flashes in a pan – Northern Illinois 44, Kent State 37 (2OT) (Touchdown Tom said: Northern Illinois 29, Kent State 23).  NIU held Kent State to just 70 yards rushing, while outgaining the Golden Flashes in total yards 524 to 260.  The Huskies’ Jordan Lynch passed for 212 yards and rushed for another 160.  NIU has won 12 straight.  A crowd of 18,132 attended the game in Detroit.

Kermit held at bay – Oklahoma 24, TCU 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Oklahoma 35, TCU 26).  Oklahoma dominated the game, but the Sooners couldn’t quite shake the Horned Frogs.  TCU was persistent.  The Frogs never led, but they never let the game get away from them.  A crowd of 47,501 attended the game in Fort Worth.

Badgers feed on Corn – Wisconsin 70, Nebraska 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Nebraska 28, Wisconsin 25).  Late in the first quarter, the Huskers only trailed the Badgers, 14-10.  But that’s when the Badgers turned the Corn into fodder.  Wisconsin reeled off 35 unanswered points and led Nebraska, 49-10, by early in the third quarter.  By the start of the fourth quarter, Wisconsin led 63-17.  The Badgers only had 101 yards passing.  However, they made up for that with an amazing 539 yards rushing.  Three Wisconsin backs rushed for more than 100 yards each – Melvin Gordon 216, Montee Ball – 202 and James White – 109.  The Huskers can’t spell “defense” much less play it.  A crowd of 41,260 attended the game in Indianapolis.

O’Leary blows it again – Tulsa 33, UCF 27 (OT) (Touchdown Tom said: UCF 26, Tulsa 24).  Tulsa’s ground game was too much for UCF’s defense.  The Golden Hurricane had 290 yards rushing, with two backs running for 100 yards or more – Trey Watts – 134 and Alex Singleton – 100.  It was Tulsa’s second win over the Knights.  Two weeks earlier, Tulsa beat UCF, 23-21.  A crowd of 17,635 attended the game in Tulsa.

Sammy spears an insect – Florida State 21, Georgia Tech 15 (Touchdown Tom said: Florida State 33, Georgia Tech 19).  The Noles’ offense was hush, hush in sweet Charlotte.  FSU led 21-3 late in the second quarter and like the NC State game earlier in the season, the Noles’ offense up and quit.  The Jackets held the Noles scoreless in the second half.  Tech whittled away at FSU’s lead and the Jackets pulled within six points, 21-15, about half way through the fourth quarter.  A crowd of 64,778 attended the game in Charlotte.

Bears stampede the Cowboys – Baylor 41, Oklahoma State 34 (Touchdown Tom said: Oklahoma State 39, Baylor 37).  Okie State briefly lead, 3-0, early in the game, but it was mostly all Baylor after that.  The Bears led the Cowpokes, 24-3, early in the second quarter.  The teams combined for 1,175 yards of offense – passing as well as rushing.  Baylor’s Nick Florence passed for 296 yards and the Bears’ Lache Seastrunk rushed for 178 yards.  A crowd of 39,203 attended the game in Waco.

Raiders looking blue – Arkansas State 45, Middle Tennessee 0 (Touchdown Tom said: Arkansas State 30, Middle Tennessee 25).  Ark State showed up and Middle Tennessee didn’t.  Ryan Aplin was 19-for-21 passing for 238 yards.  He rushed for another 64 yards.  Gus Malzahn had a great first season with the Red Wolves.  But will he stay?  A crowd of 31,243 attended the game in Jonesboro.

Horse sense – Boise State 27, Nevada 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Boise State 39, Nevada 22).  The teams were about as equal as you can get in stats.  Boise State had 22 first downs, Nevada had 23.  Boise State had 434 yards of offense, Nevada had 430.  Boise State had 219 yards passing, Nevada had 203.  Boise State has 215 yards rushing, Nevada had 227.  Boise State won the game by six points.  A crowd of 30,017 attended the game in Reno.

No bowl for the Huskies – Cincinnati 34, Connecticut 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Cincinnati 26, Connecticut 25).  UConn only trailed Cincinnati, 21-17 at the start of the fourth quarter.  But the Huskies were outscored 13-0 in the final period.  Neither team could run the ball.  Cincinnati had 72 yards rushing and UConn only 36.  The win gives the Bearcats a share of the Big East crown.  A crowd of 33,112 attended the game in East Hartford.

The firm of Austin, Bailey, Smith and Woods – West Virginia 59, Kansas 10 (Touchdown Tom said: West Virginia 35, Kansas 23).  The Mountaineers ended the season the way they began it.  In their opening game, the Eers beat Marshall, 69-34.  Geno Smith was 32-for-36 passing.  Saturday, the Eers beat Kansas, 59-10 and Geno Smith was 23-for-24 passing.  Now, if it only could have been like that throughout the season.  WVU had 647 yards of offense – 407 passing and 240 rushing.  The Mounties handed the Jayhawks their worst loss of the season.  A crowd of 51,112 attended the game in Morgantown.

Skippy fired – Pitt 27, South Florida 3 (Touchdown Tom said: South Florida 24, Pitt 21).  How pathetic, South Florida had 117 yards of offense – 109 passing and 8 rushing.  The Bulls also suffered four turnovers.  No wonder they fired Skippy.  A crowd of 35,141 attended the game in Tampa.

AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON: 

On Broadway – Louisiana-Lafayette 35, Florida Atlantic 21 (Touchdown Tom said: ULL 31, Florida Atlantic 24).  Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Terrance Broadway passed for 168 yards and rushed for another 123 yards.  ULL’s Alonzo Harris rushed for 127 yards.  FAU’s Graham Wilbert passed for 379 yards.  The Owls were hurt by three turnovers.  A crowd of 11,522 attended the game in Boca Raton.

Week 14 Picks:    12 Correct,    4 Wrong   (75.0 percent)
On the Season:    230 Correct,   87 Wrong   (72.6 percent)

In the only three other games played Saturday, Texas State blasted New Mexico State, 66-28; Oregon State humiliated Nichols State, 77-3, and Hawaii downed South Alabama, 23-7.


Superlatives

Impressive Passers:  West Virginia’s Geno Smith – 23-24-1-407; Florida Atlantic’s Graham Wilbert – 25-38-2-379; Oklahoma State’s Clint Chelf – 30-51-2-333; Texas’ Case McCoy – 26-34-2-314, and Baylor’s Nick Florence – 23-39-0-296. 


Impressive Rushers:  Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon – 216 yards; Wisconsin’s Montee Ball – 202 yards; UCLA’s Johnathan Franklin – 194 yards; Baylor’s Lache Seastrunk – 178 yards, and Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch – 160 yards. 


TT’s Annual Picks 

My choice for “Coach of the Year” from each of the FBS Conferences:

ACC:  Al Golden – Miami; Runner-up:  David Cutcliffe – Duke  
Big 12:  Bill Snyder – Kansas State; Runner-up:  Art Briles – Baylor
Big East: Doug Marrone – Syracuse; Runner-up:  Kyle Flood – Rutgers
Big Ten:  Bill O’Brien – Penn State; Runner-up:  Pat Fitzgerald – Northwestern
C-USA:  David Bailiff – Rice; Runner-up:  Bill Blankenship – Tulsa
MAC:  Dave Doeren – Northern Illinois; Runner-up: Darrell Hazel – Kent State
MWC:  Rocky Long – San Diego State; Runner-up:  Tim DeRuyter – Fresno State
Pac-12:  David Shaw – Stanford; Runner-up:  Mike Riley – Oregon State
SEC:  Kevin Sumlin – Texas A&M; Runner-up:  James Franklin – Vanderbilt
Sun Belt:  Gus Malzahn – Arkansas State; Runner-up:  Rick Stockstill – Middle Tennessee  
WAC:  Mike MacIntyre – San Jose State; Runner-up:  Larry Coker – Texas-San Antonio
Ind:  Brian Kelly – Notre Dame; Runner-up:  Ken Niumatalolo – Navy  


My choice for national “Coach of the Year”:

1. Brian Kelly – Notre Dame
2. Bill Snyder – Kansas State
3. Bill O’Brien – Penn State


If I had a vote for the Heisman, my ballot would be cast as follows:

1. Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M
2. Manti Te’o – Notre Dame
3. Collin Klein – Kansas State


My choice for the most disappointing team of the year in each of the FBS conferences:

ACC:  Virginia Tech
Big 12:  West Virginia
Big East:  South Florida
Big Ten:  Michigan State
C-USA:  Southern Miss
MAC:  Western Michigan
MWC:  Wyoming
Pac-12:  (tie) USC and Utah
SEC:  (tie) Arkansas and Auburn
Sun Belt:  Florida International
WAC:  New Mexico State
Ind:  Army


Quotes of the Week

“It just doesn’t matter.  It doesn’t matter what they do.  It doesn’t matter where the ball is.  If we do our job, if we play to the best of our ability, then it really doesn’t matter,” Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, on the mentality of the Notre Dame football team.

“Any candidate willing to take the Auburn job should be crossed off the list, because he must be a moron,” CBSSports.com writer Gregg Doyel.

“This season has been incredibly surreal.  It’s been beyond my wildest imagination,” Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

“How can Nick ‘The Hypocrite’ Saban say the Gators don’t belong in the Sugar Bowl?,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“Alabama coach Nick Saban thinks it’s okay for his team, which didn’t even play for the SEC Championship last season, to have gained a spot in the BCS national title game, but he doesn’t think it’s okay for the Florida Gators to gain a spot in the Sugar Bowl.  What a self-serving hypocrite,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.
   
The odds are against Georgia winning.  I know this because I keep hearing analysts break down the Alabama-Notre Dame game,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz, prior to the Georgia-Alabama game. 

John Swofford dreamed the other night that he was eaten by 12,000 tarantulas.  Unfortunately, he woke up to the real nightmare of his deteriorating conference title game,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz, on the ACC championship game.

“Tickets for Saturday’s ACC title game between Florida State and Georgia Tech are selling online for as low as $3, which is no surprise considering what a punch line the ACC has become as a football league.  And the joke became even more laughable Wednesday when the ACC and its shortsighted leadership added Louisville to its stable of mules, donkeys and Shetland ponies,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“John Swofford and his ACC colleagues have absolutely no vision when it comes to the future of their football league.  It’s no wonder so many Florida State fans and boosters want out of the ACC.  FSU is a football school hopelessly trapped in a league being run by a bunch of basketball boneheads,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.
 
“We had that ‘I will not be denied attitude today’,” Alabama coach Nick Saban, after the Georgia game.

“I’m a defensive guy.  This is the SEC.  It’s a physical conference.  I realize that.  I want to be tough and I want to be physical.  We have to build this foundation with great defense.  There’s no way around it.  If you don’t play great defense, you’re not going to win consistently,” new Kentucky coach Mark Stoops at his introduction in Lexington.


The One Hottest and Most Intriguing Game of the Week…and then none

Army (2-9) vs. Navy (7-4) – (Ind. vs. Ind.) (TV: CBS, 3 pm ET, Saturday) – This so-called rivalry has become a major embarrassment for Army.  Navy has won the past 10 games and 12 of the last 13.  Army wasn’t even close in its last 11 losses to Navy except for last year – Navy won, 27-21.  Both teams started the season bad.  After four games, Navy was 1-3 and Army was 0-4.  But the Middies seemed to get their act together, winning five in a row to improve to 6-3.  They split their last two games.  Army on the other hand mostly continued to lose, going 2-5 in their last seven games.  Army coach Rich Ellerson’s fate may depend on the outcome of this game.  An Army win and Ellerson is back for sure.  An Army loss and he could well be gone from West Point.  Both teams beat Air Force, so the winner here grabs the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.  Interestingly, Army looked good in its two wins over Boston College and Air Force.  But the Cadets looked bad in their nine losses.  Army definitely has the incentive.  Navy is going to a bowl game and the Cadets aren’t.  So this is Army’s bowl game.  And its Army’s chance to beat Navy for the first time since 2001.  Anything could happen, but I say the Goat gets the Mule – Navy 29, Army 26.          


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football … The 2012 finalists for the Broyles Award, honoring college football’s top coordinator, are Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Stanford defensive coordinator Derek Mason.

USC defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, father of Trojan head coach Lane Kiffin, announced he was resigning from his son’s staff, effective after USC’s bowl game….  Former LSU star Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu announced he will enter the NFL draft this spring….  Indiana State coach Trent Miles was named the new coach of Georgia State.  Miles replaces Bill Curry, who retired at the end of this season….  Jacksonville State football coach Jack Crowe was fired.  In 13 seasons with the Gamecocks, Crowe was 87-57.  J-State finished this season at 6-5. 


2011 Conference Champions

ACC:  Florida State
Big 12:  (tie) Kansas State and Oklahoma
Big East:  (tie) Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers and Syracuse
Big Ten:  Wisconsin
C-USA: Tulsa
MAC:  Northern Illinois
MWC:  (tie) Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State
Pac-12:  Stanford
SEC:  Alabama
Sun Belt: Arkansas State
WAC:  Utah State

Touchdown Tom
(www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com)


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but with the gray skies of early December upon us, the college football season was fading fast.  As the fans were talking about new coaches, bowl games and the Heisman Trophy, the number one song in the country…

…70 years ago this week in 1942 was “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby

…65 years ago this week in 1947 was “Near You” by Francis Craig

…60 years ago this week in 1952 was “Why Don’t You Believe Me” by Joni James

…55 years ago this week in 1957 was “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke

…50 years ago this week in 1962 was “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by The 4 Seasons

…45 years ago this week in 1967 was “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees

…40 years ago this week in 1972 was “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations

…35 years ago this week in 1977 was “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone

…30 years ago this week in 1982 was “Truly” by Lionel Richie

…25 years ago this week in 1987 was “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle

…20 years ago this week in 1992 was “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston


Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there were two passings of note last week – Earl “Speedo” Campbell and Rick Majerus. 

Earl “Speedo” Campbell, the lead singer of the 1950s doo-wop group the Cadillacs, died last week in New York City.  He was 75.  The Cadillacs were the first of the singing groups to incorporate rigorously choreographed dance moves into their performances.  The group, which flourished for about a decade starting in the early 1950s, had hits with “Gloria,” “Speedoo” and “Peek-A-Boo.”  Carroll later spent two decades with the Coasters.  Earl Carroll was born in New York City in 1937. 

Rick Majerus, a longtime, men’s college basketball coach who led Utah to the NCAA final in 1998, died Saturday.  He was 64.  Majerus recently left St. Louis University, where he had coached for the past five years, for health reasons.  In 25 years, Majerus coached at four schools, taking 12 teams to the NCAA tournament.  He only had one losing season.  Majerus’ record was 517-216.  His record includes two 30-win seasons and 15 20-win seasons.  Rick Majerus was born February 17, 1948, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  He grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from Marquette.