College Football Week 20 – 227 days until the next kickoff
‘The moon just went behind a cloud’

“I’m so lonesome I could cry”

This is always a bittersweet time of the year for me.  The college football season is over.  The last game has been played.  Seven long, lonely months lie ahead.  On the other hand, Lou Holtz, Brent Musberger and Lee Corso all have been put back in their straitjackets and placed in their cells, never to be heard from again for seven months.  It can’t be any worse, yet it can’t be any better.  I’m crying and smiling at the same time.

But before we go and say a final farewell, let’s take one last look back on the 2012 college football season – a season that brought us expectations and disappointment, happiness and sadness, thrills and chills, joy and excitement.  It was a season that took us on an emotional rollercoaster ride – up one week, down the next.  But most of all, it was a season that left us with memories that will last for a lifetime.

Perhaps there is no better place to begin than in State College, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, September 1.  That’s when Penn State, under the cloud of the Sandusky scandal, opened its season for the first time in 46 years without Joe Paterno as coach.  Under new coach Bill O’Brien, the Nittany Lions lost 24-14 to Ohio.  They went on to lose the following week to Virginia, 17-16.  That’s when ESPN’s Mark May and others said that Penn State would be lucky to win three games all season.  But the Nittany Lions won eight of their next 10 games to finish the season at 8-4.  And O’Brien was on everyone’s candidate list for Coach of the Year.

Coming off a 70-33 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl, West Virginia began the season with high expectations.  The Mountaineers did not disappoint – at least not at first.  WVU got off to a great start, beating Marshall in the opener, 69-34.  The Mountaineers went on to win their next four games, including a 48-45 thriller over Texas in Austin.  WVU’s offense looked unstoppable, but the defense was vulnerable – very vulnerable.  After five games, Quarterback Geno Smith had yet to throw an interception.  He was the No. 1 candidate for the Heisman.  Then it all came crumbling down.  The Mountaineers lost their next five games.  Smith’s name disappeared from all Heisman lists.  A season that began at 5-0, ended at 7-6. 

Former Florida coach Urban Meyer began his first and much anticipated season at Ohio State.  Meyer and talented quarterback Braxton Miller led the Buckeyes to a 12-0 season.  There were some close calls along the way – 35-28 over California; 17-16 over Michigan State; 52-49 over Indiana; 29-22 (OT) over Purdue; 21-14 (OT) over Wisconsin, and 26-21 over Michigan.  But in the end, the Buckeyes’ record was unblemished, spotless, except for one issue.  Ohio State went through the 2012 season on probation – a probation that included a bowl ban. 

Alabama was on its way to a perfect season until Saturday afternoon, November 10.  That’s when Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel took on a 9-0 Crimson Tide in Bryant-Denny Stadium.  The Aggies beat Alabama in a thriller, 29-24.  Manziel all but secured the Heisman that day.

And speaking of Johnny Manziel, alias Johnny Football, the Texas A&M quarterback came from nowhere, unheard of, at the beginning of the season to win the Heisman Trophy at the end of the season.  The redshirt freshman beat out Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o and Kansas State’s Collin Klein for the coveted trophy.     

Along with Ohio State, Notre Dame was the only other team to finish the regular season undefeated.  But the Irish sure had their share of close calls – 20-17 over Purdue; 13-6 over Michigan; 20-13 (OT) over Stanford; 17-14 over BYU; 29-26 (3OT) over Pitt, and 22-13 over USC. 

“Did you hear that lonesome whippoorwill?
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
And I’m so lonesome I could cry”

Vanderbilt (9-4) won nine games for the first time since 1915 and beat NC State 38-24 in the Music City Bowl.  Northwestern (10-3) won a bowl game for the first time since 1949, beating Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl, 34-20.  The Wildcats were the only Big Ten team to beat an SEC opponent on New Year’s Day.  In the Pac-12, Stanford (12-2) won the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1972, beating Wisconsin, 20-14.          

Florida State got off to a good start at 5-0, but who can forget that strange night in Raleigh on October 6 when the Noles went scoreless in the second half, losing to NC State, 17-16.  FSU went on to win the ACC and finish the season at 12-2.

Arkansas, Virginia Tech and USC all had high expectations at the start of the season.  In the Consensus of Preseason Polls, Arkansas was No. 11, Virginia Tech was No. 15 and USC was No. 2.  None came close to meeting those expectations.  The Razorbacks set the stage for their season on September 8 when they lost to Louisiana-Monroe, 34-31 (OT).  Arkansas went on to finish its season at a disappointing 4-8.

The Hokies’ early indication that it might not be a good season came on Saturday, September 15 in Heinz Stadium, when Pitt upset Virginia Tech, 35-17.  The Hokies lost five of their next nine games to finish the season at 6-6, before salvaging a 13-10 (OT) win over Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl.  And USC, who many thought would be playing for the national championship, finished the season at 7-6, including a 21-7 loss to Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl.

By the end of the season, four coaches were fired in the SEC, including Auburn’s Gene Chizik and Tennessee’s Derek Dooley.  After winning the national championship two years ago, Auburn failed to win a game in the SEC in 2012, going 0-8.  The Tigers finished 3-9 overall.  That was enough for Auburn officials to send Chizik packing.  Meanwhile, at Tennessee, the Vols didn’t fare much better at 1-7 in conference play and 5-7 overall.  In his third year at Tennessee, Dooley was terminated prior to the season’s last game.      

In a strange situation in the Big Ten, Wisconsin finished third in the Leaders Division of the conference, but still played in the Big Ten Championship game.  It turns out the Badgers were the best team in their division who weren’t on probation.  Ohio State and Penn State, who finished first and second respectively in the Leaders Division, were both on probation.  Then in the championship game, a 7-5 (4-4 in Big Ten) Wisconsin stunned Nebraska 70-31 in a rematch of a game played during the season.  In the earlier game, Nebraska beat Wisconsin, 30-27.

Under similar circumstances in the ACC, Georgia Tech fell into the conference’s championship game.  Finishing third in the Coastal Division, the Yellow Jackets found themselves in the ACC title game because No. 1 North Carolina was on probation and No. 2 Miami was idled by a self-imposed bowl ban.  It was the second-straight season the Hurricanes were contained under self-imposed restraints.

Speaking of conference championship games, who can forget the thrilling SEC title game between Alabama and Georgia that ended with the Dawgs on the Tide five-yard line as time expired.  Bama won, 32-28.  With a first down, no time outs and 15 seconds on the clock, Georgia coach Mark Richt elected not to spike the ball.  Had the Dawgs chosen to spike it they most likely would have had three opportunities to complete a pass into the end zone.     

“Did you ever see a night so long
When time goes crawlin’ by?
The moon just went behind a cloud
And I’m so lonesome I could cry”

Two Big 12 teams turned around their seasons after a shaky start.  Texas, losing back-to-back games to West Virginia and Oklahoma (63-21 to the Sooners) at mid-season, won five of its next seven games, including a 31-27 win over Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl.  The Longhorns finished 9-4.  And Baylor, off to a dubious 3-4 start, won five of its next six games, including a 49-26 win over UCLA in the Holiday Bowl. 

Talk about going from nowhere to somewhere how ’bout Texas A&M.  After losing its first game of the season to Florida, 20-17, the Aggies, led by Johnny Manziel, won 11 of their next 12 games, including a big 41-13 win over Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.  And all under first-year coach Kevin Sumlin.

Missouri and Texas A&M played their first season in the SEC, while TCU and West Virginia played their first year in the Big 12.  Meantime, Maryland and Rutgers announced they were leaving the ACC and Big East Conferences respectively and joining the Big Ten.

Who can forget November 17 – the day when the cast of teams for the BCS National Championship game was reshuffled.  Undefeated Oregon and Kansas State, the top two BCS teams in the country both lost.  Oregon was stymied by Stanford, 17-14 in overtime.  At the same time, Kansas State was rocked by Baylor, 52-24.  It would be the only regular season loss for both teams.  Instead of meeting in the BCS Championship Bowl, the Ducks and the Wildcats met in the Fiesta Bowl.  Oregon won 35-17.

That same night in Morgantown, West Virginia, Oklahoma scored with 24 seconds left on the clock to beat the Mountaineers, 50-49.  Noteworthy in the game was WVU’s Tavon Austin.  Austin finished the game with 344 yards rushing, four receptions for 82 yards and eight kick returns for 146 yards for a total of 572 all-purpose yards.              

Cincinnati coach Butch Jones left the Bearcats for Tennessee, and Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville abruptly left the Red Raiders to fill the open slot at Cincinnati.  Meanwhile, after only one year on the job, Southern Miss coach Ellis Johnson was fired.  The Golden Eagles were 0-12 – the only team that finished winless.  In a big surprise, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema left the Badgers for Arkansas.  

Syracuse was a rags to riches story in 2012.  Six games into the season, the Orange were sitting at 2-4.  Then the Cuse won five of their next six games to finish as co-champions of the Big East Conference.  The Orange (8-5) went on to beat West Virginia in the Pinstripe Bowl.   

Conversely, Michigan State was a disappointment in 2012.  No. 13 in the Consensus of Preseason Polls and picked my many to win the Legends Division of the Big Ten, the Spartans finished fourth in the division with a 3-5 conference record and 7-6 overall.  

“Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves begin to die?
That means he’s lost the will to live
And I’m so lonesome I could cry”

Duke finished the season at 6-6 and went to a bowl game for the first time since 1995.  The Blue Devils (6-7) lost to Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl.  Florida vastly improved on its 7-6 record in 2011, going 11-1 during the regular season.  The Gators only loss during the season was to Georgia, 17-9 – a game in which Florida had six turnovers.  The Gators went on to lose their second game in the Sugar Bowl to Louisville, 33-23.

South Carolina had its second-straight 11-win season, culminating with a thrilling last-minute 33-28 win over Michigan in the Outback Bowl.  Who can forget Jadeveon Clowney’s jaw-dropping, bar-jarring hit on Michigan running back Vincent Smith that resulted in a fumble recovery for the Gamecocks.   

After struggling for several years, UCLA found success in 2012.  Under first-year coach Jim Mora, the Bruins won the South Division of the Pac-12, finishing the season with a 9-5 record.

2012 was a season that saw a number of former, well-known coaches return to the sideline to take up their former positions as head coaches – Terry Bowden (Auburn) at Akron, Mike Leach (Texas Tech) at Washington State, Rich Rodriguez (West Virginia and Michigan) at Arizona and Charlie Weiss (Notre Dame) at Kansas.  Of the four, only Rodriguez had any success, guiding the Wildcats to an 8-5 season, including a 49-48 come-from-behind win over Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl.  Bowden was 1-11, Leach 3-9 and Weiss 1-11.

Picked to finish at or near the bottom of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference, Mike Riley coached Oregon State to a 9-4 record (6-3 in the Pac-12).  The Beavers finished third in the North Division. 

An unprecedented seven teams from the Mid-American Conference were chosen for bowl games at the end of the season.  One of the seven – Northern Illinois – became the first team form the MAC to qualify for a BCS bowl.  The Huskies lost to Florida State in the Orange Bowl. 

In the last season for the WAC – Western Athletic Conference – three of the teams from the conference had terrific seasons – Utah State (11-2), San Jose State (11-2) and Louisiana Tech (9-3).  Utah State beat Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 41-15.  The Aggies only two losses during the season were to Wisconsin by two points, 16-14, and to BYU by three points, 6-3. 

San Jose State beat Bowling Green in the Military Bowl, 29-20.  The Spartans only two losses were to Stanford by three points, 20-17, and to Utah State.  Louisiana Tech was unjustly overlooked by the bowls.  The Bulldogs three losses were to Texas A&M by two points, 59-57, to Utah State in overtime and to San Jose State by nine points, 52-43.

Ironically, at the end of the season, the three coaches of those schools – Utah State, San Jose State and Louisiana Tech – were hired to coach bigger programs.  Utah State’s Gary Andersen is the new coach at Wisconsin, San Jose State’s Mike MacIntyre is the new coach at Colorado and Louisiana Tech’s Sonny Dykes is the new coach at California.  Meanwhile, next season, Utah State and San Jose State will compete in the Mountain West Conference and Louisiana Tech will compete in Conference-USA.

“The silence of a fallin’ star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I’m so lonesome I could cry”

Speaking of conferences disappearing, the Big East Conference continued its self mutilation in 2012.  Pitt and Syracuse, both headed for the ACC, played their final seasons in the league.  Pitt will be in the Coastal Division and Syracuse will be in the Atlantic Division of the ACC.

Louisville announced it was departing for the ACC in 2014.  Boise State, scheduled to join the Big East in 2013, announced it would remain in the Mountain West Conference.  San Diego State is teetering and may remain in the MWC too.  Houston and SMU are scratching their heads.  And Connecticut and Cincinnati are on their knees, begging for another conference to take them.   

After three seasons in Tampa, Skip Holtz was fired by South Florida.  But Holtz landed on his feet at Louisiana Tech.

In all, 29 schools changed head coaches at the end of the season.  Fifteen schools fired their coaches, two retired their coaches and 12 schools lost their coaches to other schools or the NFL. 

Perhaps there is no more appropriate place to end than back in State College, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 2013.  Penn State remains under the cloud of the Sandusky scandal as now Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett believes the Penn State players, and not the molested young boys, were the bigger victims of the scandal.  Corbett and Pennsylvania are suing the NCAA over the sanctions that were levied against Penn State.  It leaves you to wonder if the people of Pennsylvania will ever get it.

2012 was quite a season for college football.     

2012 was quite a season for Rockledge Gator too.  First he was placed on probation for blowing up oatmeal and setting a tea bag on fire in the microwave. Then he was placed on the disabled list when he got injured trying to fold up his grandson’s stroller.  Recovering from the injury, Rockledge Gator was out to dinner with Bootsie one night when he discovered his shoes didn’t match and his underpants were on backwards. 

Early in the season, Rockledge Gator ditched Erin Andrews for Samantha Steele and later went into a catatonic state when Samantha married Christian Ponder.  Let’s hope, for his sake, Honey Boo Boo doesn’t get married.  Coming out of the catatonic state, Rockledge Gator was heard singing, “I’m a lonely little petunia in an onion patch.”  And Bootsie….well, she’s just glad she still has her sanity.

And one last time, Alabama beat Notre Dame, 42-14, to win the BCS National Championship.  If you have Crimson Tide friends, they will be hard to live with for another year.  But if you are an Auburn fan, just remind them where Katherine Webb went to school.  If you don’t, Brent Musberger will.

“Yeah I….I could cry”

Touchdown Tom
January 14, 2013
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

(“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” written by Hank Williams)


One Last Look at the Bowls

Won/Lost Records of the Conferences

WAC:  2-0
Conference-USA:  4-1
SEC:  6-3
ACC:  4-2
Big East:  3-2
Pac-12:  4-4
Sun Belt:  2-2
Big 12:  4-5
Big Ten:  2-5
Independents:  1-2
Mid-American:  2-5
Mountain West:  1-4

Bowl Game Attendance

Rose Bowl (Stanford-Wisconsin) – 93,359
Cotton Bowl (Texas A&M-Oklahoma) – 87,025
BCS Championship Bowl (Alabama-Notre Dame) – 80,170
Orange Bowl (Florida State-Northern Illinois) – 72,073
Fiesta Bowl (Oregon-Kansas State) – 70,242
Chick-fil-A Bowl (Clemson-LSU) – 68,027
Alamo Bowl (Texas-Oregon State) – 65,277
Capital One Bowl (Georgia-Nebraska) – 59,712
Compass Bowl (Ole Miss-Pitt) – 59,135
Music City Bowl (Vanderbilt-NC State) – 55,801
Liberty Bowl (Tulsa-Iowa State) – 55,687
Holiday Bowl (Baylor-UCLA) – 55,507
Outback Bowl (South Carolina-Michigan) – 54,527
Sugar Bowl (Louisville-Florida) – 54,178
Meineke Car Care Bowl (Texas Tech-Minnesota) – 50,386
New Orleans Bowl (Louisiana-Lafayette-East Carolina) – 48,828
Gator Bowl (Northwestern-Mississippi State) – 48,612
Heart of Dallas Bowl (Oklahoma State 55, Purdue 14) – 48,313
Belk Bowl (Cincinnati-Duke) – 48,128
Russell Athletic Bowl (Virginia Tech-Rutgers) – 48,127
Sun Bowl (Georgia Tech-USC) – 47,922
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (Michigan State-TCU) – 44,617
Independence Bowl (Ohio-Louisiana-Monroe) – 41, 853
Armed Forces Bowl (Rice-Air Force) – 40,754
Pinstripe Bowl (Syracuse-West Virginia) – 39,098
Go Daddy Bowl (Arkansas State-Kent State) – 37,913
Poinsettia Bowl (BYU-San Diego State) – 35,442
Fight Hunger Bowl (Arizona State-Navy) – 34,172
Las Vegas Bowl (Boise State-Washington) – 33,217
Hawaii Bowl (SMU-Fresno State) – 30,024
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Utah State-Toledo) – 29,243
New Mexico Bowl (Arizona-Nevada) – 24,610
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Central Michigan-Western Kentucky) – 23,310
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl (UCF-Ball State) – 21,759
Military Bowl (San Jose State-Bowling Green) – 17,835


Quotes of the Week

“The college ranks is where I belong, and I’m really happy and at peace with all that,” Alabama coach Nick Saban, ending all speculation about his moving back to the NFL.
 
“It’s okay Notre Dame this happened to the Jets every week,” model Kate Upton on Twitter.

“We always try to capture interesting story lines and the relationship between an Auburn grad who is Miss Alabama and the current Alabama quarterback certainly met that test.  However, we apologize that the commentary in this instance went too far, and Brent understands that,” ESPN, apologizing for Brent Musberger’s comments during the Alabama-Notre Dame game.

“I tell you one thing, it’s seven in a row and it never gets old.  It’s an extraordinary record and everybody talks about how records are made to be broken, but I really can’t conceive of anyone doing this again,” SEC commissioner Mike Sleeve, on the SEC winning the BCS national title for the seventh-straight year.

“And is it just coincidence that Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly decided to interview with the Philadelphia Eagles after that Bama beat down?  Nick Saban must be one bad hombre.  He beat Urban Meyer so badly, Meyer quit at Florida a few days later.  And now he’s beaten Notre Dame so badly, Kelly is thinking about high-tailing it to the NFL,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“Rob Chudzinski being named the new coach of the Cleveland Browns is what I like to call a Nancy Pelosi hire – not very sexy,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“Can you believe everybody cast their ballots and nobody got voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame?  Hey, that sounds like a Florida election,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“And isn’t it time we started referring to A.J. McCarron as Katherine Webb’s boyfriend,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.


Looking Ahead to Next Season

What does the 2013 season have in store for us?

Well, if recent history is any indication, Alabama won’t repeat as the national champions.  Although the Crimson Tide are ranked No. 1 in the early preseason polls for 2013 that may not be a good omen.  For the past several years, the team generally ranked No. 1 at preseason has not won the national championship. 

Here are two of the preseason polls that have been published in the media:

The Orlando Sentinel preseason poll for 2013:  1. Alabama, 2. Ohio State, 3. Oregon, 4. LSU, 5. Georgia, 6. Oklahoma, 7. Florida, 8. Clemson, 9. South Carolina, 10. Stanford, 11. Notre Dame, 12. Oklahoma State, 13. Louisville, 14. Texas A&M, 15. Florida State, 16. TCU, 17. UCLA, 18. Nebraska, 19. Oregon State, 20. Texas, 21. Boise State, 22. Michigan, 23. Wisconsin, 24. Baylor, and 25. USC.

Athlon Sports preseason poll for 2013:  1. Alabama, 2. Ohio State, 3. Oregon, 4. Texas A&M, 5. Georgia, 6. Stanford, 7. Notre Dame, 8. South Carolina, 9. Clemson, 10. Louisville, 11. Florida, 12. LSU, 13. Boise State, 14. Oklahoma State, 15. TCU, 16. Oklahoma, 17. Florida State, 18. UCLA, 19. Texas, 20. Wisconsin, 21. Oregon State, 22. Nebraska, 23. Michigan, 24. Arizona State, and 25. Northwestern.

The two polls agree on the Top-3 teams and both have 23 of the same teams in their Top 25.  They only disagree on four teams.  Where the Orlando Sentinel poll includes Baylor and USC, the Athlon Sports poll has Arizona State and Northwestern.  Boise State is the only non-BCS conference team listed in the polls.

Speaking of BCS, 2013 is the last year for the BCS poll and the BCS Championship Bowl.  The new four-team playoff format begins in the 2014 season.  The only unknown is the voters in the poll that will be used to determine the Top-4 teams.  But there is plenty of time for that.

The 2013 season will begin on Thursday evening, August 29 – the beginning of the five-day Labor Day weekend.  There are a number of interesting and big games scheduled for the opening weekend, including Georgia at Clemson; LSU vs. TCU (in Cowboys Stadium); Virginia Tech vs. Alabama (in the Georgia Dome); North Carolina at South Carolina; Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi State (in Reliant Stadium); BYU at Virginia; Boise State at Washington; Penn State vs. Syracuse (in East Rutherford, NJ); Washington State at Auburn; Northwestern at California, and Rutgers at Fresno State.

Just one week into the season (September 7), we will be treated to Florida at Miami (Florida), Notre Dame at Michigan and Texas at BYU.      

A number of exciting players return in 2013, including Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, North Carolina’s Giovani Bernard, Baylor’s Lache Seastrunk, TCU’s Trevone Boykin, Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Ohio State’s Braxton Miller, Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez, Ohio’s Tyler Tettleton, Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch, Fresno State’s Derek Carr, Nevada’s Cody Fajardo, East Carolina’s Shane Carden and UCLA’s Brett Hundley.

Also, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and De’Anthony Thomas, Florida’s Jeff Driskel, Georgia’s Aaron Murray, South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson, Alabama’s A.J. McCarron and T.J. Yeldon, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Louisiana-Lafayette’s Terrance Broadway, Marshall’s Rakeem Cato, San Jose State’s David Fales, Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton and Notre Dame’s Everett Golson, among others.

Seven inaugural coaches in 2012 had tremendous success at their schools.  What will Ohio State’s Urban Meyer (12-0), Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin (11-2), Penn State’s Bill O’Brien (8-4), Rutgers’ Kyle Flood (9-4), Toledo’s Matt Campbell (9-4), Fresno State’s Tim DeRuyter (9-4) and UCLA’s Jim Mora (9-5) do for an encore in 2013? 

Conversely, several inaugural coaches in 2012 had disastrous seasons at their schools.  Will Akron’s Terry Bowden (1-11), Kansas’ Charlie Weis (1-11), Illinois’ Todd Beckman (2-10), Washington State’s Mike Leach (3-9), Hawaii’s Norm Chow (3-9) and Florida Atlantic’s Carl Pelini (3-9) make an improvement in 2013?

He’s back.  Former Louisville, Atlanta Falcons and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino will be back on the sidelines in 2013.  The motorcycle stuntman will be coaching Western Kentucky.  Some other interesting first-year coaching situations that will be worth keeping an eye on in 2013 are Butch Jones at Tennessee, Bret Bielema at Arkansas, Gus Malzahn at Auburn, Tommy Tuberville at Cincinnati, Gary Andersen at Wisconsin, Mark Stoops at Kentucky, Dave Doeren at NC State and Sonny Dykes at California to mention a few.        

Looking ahead to next season, will Johnny Manziel repeat?  Will Alabama three-peat?  Will the Big Ten keep its hands off the ACC?  Will Skip Holtz find success at Louisiana Tech?  Will Dana Holgorsen find a defense?  Will the Big East survive?  Can Will Muschamp beat Georgia?  Will Tommy Tuberville find happiness in Cincinnati?  Will Frank Beamer get his groove back?  Will the Beavers beat the Ducks?  Will Bret Bielema find sausages in Arkansas?  Will Bobby Petrino keep his hands off the volleyball players at Western Kentucky?  Stay tuned!   

2013 is going to be another good season.  I can’t wait.

          
In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Scott Shafer, who was the defensive coordinator under Doug Marrone at Syracuse, has been named the new coach of the Orange….  Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson hired Penn State defensive coordinator Ted Roof to be the new DC for the Yellow Jackets.

Fired Florida International coach Mario Cristobal is Al Golden’s new tight ends coach and associate head coach at Miami….  Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy fired his defensive coordinator Bill Young….  West Virginia senior Tavon Austin was named the winner of the Paul Horning Award, given annually to college football’s best all-purpose and most versatile player.

Quarterback Casey Pachall is back on the TCU football team and enrolled at TCU for the spring semester.  Pachall, the former starting quarterback for the Horned Frogs, spent the fall semester in an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center….  New Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury has hired Texas A&M linebackers coach Matt Wallerstedt to be the Red Raiders defensive coordinator.

And finally, those from the world of football who left us during the past season included, Steve Van Buren, 91 (Philadelphia Eagles running back); Art Modell, 87 (owner of the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens); Alex Karras, 77 (football player), and Beano Cook, 81 (college football commentator).

Also, Tom Coyle, 62 (former Michigan football player); Don Steinberg, 90 (Ohio State player in the 1940s); Darrell Royal, 88 (former Texas football coach); Joe Krivak, 77 (former Maryland football coach); Larry Morris, 79 (Georgia Tech and NFL player); Bryan Stoltenberg, 40 (Colorado football player), and Pete Elliott, 86 (Michigan football player and Illinois coach).

On behalf of Bootsie, Rockledge Gator, and Swamp Mama, have a good and safe seven months.  See you on August 12.

“The midnight train is whining low”

Take care, my friends.

Touchdown Tomwww.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but in mid January as college football fans closed the lid on another great season and shifted their attention to college basketball, the number one song in the country…

…70 years ago this week in 1943 was “There Are Such Things” by Tommy Dorsey

…65 years ago this week in 1948 was “Ballerina” by Vaughn Monroe

…60 years ago this week in 1953 was “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” by Perry Como

…55 years ago this week in 1958 was “At the Hop” by Danny & The Juniors

…50 years ago this week in 1963 was “Walk Right In” by The Rooftop Singers

…45 years ago this week in 1968 was “Judy in Disguise (with Glasses)” by John Fred & His Playboy Band

…40 years ago this week in 1973 was “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon

…35 years ago this week in 1978 was “Baby Come Back” by Player

…30 years ago this week in 1983 was “Down Under” by Men At Work

…25 years ago this week in 1988 was “Got My Mind Set on You” by George Harrison

…20 years ago this week in 1993 was “I Will always Love You” by Whitney Houston


Not directly college football related, but figures from other sports who departed us during the recent football season included, Don Raleigh, 86 (New York Rangers center); Art Heyman, 71 (Duke and New York Knicks basketball player); Chris Economaki, 91 (motor sports journalist and commentator); Eddie Yost, 86 (major league baseball player), and Slater Martin, 86 (NBA player).

Also, Margaret Osborne duPont, 94 (champion tennis player); Dave May, 68 (MLB outfielder); Milt Campbell, 78 (Olympic decathlon gold medalist); Carmen Basilio, 85 (boxer); Lee MacPhail, 95 (former American League president); Rick Majerus, 64 (college basketball coach), and Colleen Walker, 56 (LPGA golfer).


Those from the entertainment world who passed away during the recent football season included, Marvin Hamlisch, 68 (music composer); Judith Crist, 90 (film critic); Ron Pilillo, 63 (Horshack on “Welcome Back Kotter”); Phyllis Thaxter, 92 (movie actress); William Windom, 88 (actor); Scott McKenzie, 73 (singer-songwriter); Phyllis Diller, 95 (comedienne), and Tony Scott, 68 (movie director).

Also, Hal David, 91 (lyricist); Michael Clarke Duncan, 54 (actor); Joe South, 72 (singer-songwriter); Dorothy McGuire, 84 (one of the McGuire Sisters); Andy Williams, 84 (singer); Herbert Lom, 95 (actor); R.B. Greaves, 68 (singer-songwriter); Cleve Duncan, 78 (lead singer for the Penguins); Larry Hagman, 81 (actor); Deborah Raffin, 59 (actress); Earl “Speedo” Campbell, 75 (lead singer of the Cadillacs), and Dave Brubeck, 91 (jazz musician extraordinaire).

Also, Ravi Shankar, 92 (Indian sitarist and composer); Jimmy McCracklin, 91 (blues singer-songwriter and pianist); Lee Dorman, 70 (bass guitarist for Iron Butterfly); Jack Klugman, 90 (TV and movie actor); Charles Durning, 89 (actor); Ray Collins, 75 (the Mothers of Invention lead singer); Fontella Bass, 72 (soul singer); Harry Carey Jr., 91 (movie and TV character actor), and Patti Page, 85 (singer).


And finally, well-known folks from other walks of life who departed us during the past football season included, Helen Gurley Brown, 90 (author and magazine editor); Neil Armstrong, 82 (astronaut); Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, 86 (publisher of The New York Times), and Arlen Specter, 82 (former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania).

Also, George McGovern, 90 (former U.S. Senator from South Dakota); Russell Means, 72 (American Indian activist); Warren Rudman, 82 (former U.S. Senator from New Hampshire); Daniel Inouye, 88 (U.S. Senator from Hawaii), and Norman Schwarzkopf, 78 (U.S. Army General).