College Football Week 16 – Auburn vs. FSU for the crystal football
No Winners, Four Losers and
Thank God for Michigan State

A lot went down Saturday.  No less than seven conference championships were decided.  An eighth was solidified.  A ninth was decided the night before and who cares about the Sun Belt.  Regardless, there were winners and there were losers.

But more on the conference titles later.  A lot went down Thursday afternoon in Tallahassee too.  That was the day State Attorney Willie Meggs announced he would not charge Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with sexual assault – apparently, not enough evidence.  Regardless, there were no winners and there were four losers.

Loser number one was Jameis Winston.  Yes, I know.  He’s a winner on the football field.  And he’ll most likely be a winner this Saturday night at the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York.  But he’s a winner with an asterisk by his name.  There will always be doubt in the minds of many, if not most.  Did he or didn’t he?  Until Winston has the balls and the decency to come forward and speak, there will always be doubt.  Maybe a couple years from now when he’s in the NFL, he’ll write a “tell all” book.  I’m sure it will be a best seller in North Florida.

Loser number two was the accuser.  If she lied about the assault, she was a loser to begin with – a loser from the get go.  If she was telling the truth, then the incompetency of the Tallahassee Police Department, along with Meggs’ decision made her a loser.  They have destroyed her integrity and most likely her self confidence.  She has dropped out of school.

Loser number three was the Tallahassee Police Department who should have resolved and settled the case months ago.  The Tallahassee police mishandled the alleged assault – mishandled it badly.  They have come across as a Barney Fife-like outfit – a bush league, unprofessional organization, stereotypical of a small town North Florida police department.  They bungled the case.  Heads should fall in the Tallahassee Police Department.

Loser number four was Leon County State Attorney Willie Meggs.  Meggs turned the announcement of his decision – to charge or not – into a three-ring circus.  He made a grand stand out of the announcement by promoting it 24 hours in advance and holding it on the lawn of the Leon County Court House.

A huge crowd gathered, bellowing the Seminole war chant and executing the tomahawk chop.  There were shirtless college students with the letters “J-A-M-E-I-S” painted on their chests.  Car horns were honking.  The atmosphere was like ESPN’s College GameDay.  The only thing missing was Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler providing analysis.  And Lee Corso, making his prediction by putting a large Jameis Winston caricature on his head. 

After Meggs announced that Winston would not be charged, people began cheering and making jokes.  The event turned into a laugh-fest.  But what else would you expect from Meggs – a native of Tallahassee and a graduate of Florida State, a quintessential North Floridian.  I wouldn’t be surprised but what there were two tickets to the BCS championship game on his desk when he returned to his office.

I don’t knock Meggs for his decision not to charge.  I knock him for the way and manner in which he conducted the announcement – tacky.

Speaking of Florida State, Florida Gator fans were quietly resigned to the fact that they were going to have to cheer for the Seminoles in the BCS championship game.  That is until Saturday night.

“Thank God for Michigan State,” Gator fans were screaming.  You see, when it was assumed that Florida State and Ohio State would be playing in the BCS title game, there was no way Gator fans could or would cheer for the Buckeyes.  Not as long as Urban Liar……I mean…..Urban Meyer was coaching Ohio State.  There are only one or two things Gator fans hate worse than Seminoles and Urban Meyer is one of them.

But along came Michigan State and saved the day for Gator fans.  The Spartans beat the Buckeyes, 34-24, in the Big Ten championship game, knocking the Buckeyes out of the BCS title game.  With Ohio State out of the picture, Gator fans no longer have to cheer for Florida State.

Auburn, who beat Missouri, 59-42, in the SEC title game, replaced Ohio State as Florida State’s opponent in the BCS championship game.  Gator fans not only can cheer for Auburn, but also they can wear their orange and blue.  Granted it’s not quite the same shades – Gator orange and blue is prettier than Auburn orange and blue – but it will do in a pinch.    

The Michigan State-Ohio State game Saturday was the most exciting of all the championship games – exciting to the very end.  In the ACC title game, Florida State walloped Duke, 45-7, and Stanford rolled over Arizona State, 38-14, in the Pac-12 championship game.

The Auburn-Missouri game was exciting for three quarters.  Then Auburn ran away from Missouri in the final period.  Out West, the MWC title game didn’t become exciting until the fourth quarter.  Fresno State dominated Utah State through three quarters.  But the Aggies came alive in the final period and made it exciting.  Fresno State hung on to win, 24-17.  Rice hammered Marshall, 41-24, to win the C-USA title.

In the Big 12, all Oklahoma State had to do was beat intrastate rival Oklahoma to win the Big 12 title.  But the Sooners upset the Cowboys in a thriller, 33-24.  Okie State’s loss left the Big 12 championship to the winner of the Texas-Baylor game.  No contest – Baylor beat the Longhorns, 30-10.  What will Mack Brown do?

Although the Knights didn’t need to win, UCF solidified its AAC title on Saturday, beating SMU, 17-13.  Friday night, Bowling Green upset Northern Illinois to grab the MAC championship.  The Falcons beat the Huskies, 47-27.

And for those who care, Louisiana-Lafayette’s 30-8 loss to South Alabama Saturday, kept the Rajin’ Cajuns from winning the Sun Belt conference outright.  Instead, Louisiana-Lafayette finished in a two-way tie with Arkansas State for the Sun Belt championship.

Yes, Michigan State not only saved Gator fans from having to cheer for Florida State, but also the Spartans saved us all from having to watch a wipe out in the BCS title game, as Florida State would have demolished Ohio State.  We all remember how bad the Buckeyes were in the 2006 and 2007 BCS championship games when Florida and LSU respectively wiped up on Ohio State.

Auburn-Florida State should be a good matchup.  Sunday night, the Seminoles were established as seven-point favorites over the Tigers.

In some coaching announcements, North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl has been named the new coach at Wyoming.  Meanwhile, Rutgers coach Kyle Flood fired three of his assistants – defensive coordinator Dave Cohen, quarterbacks coach Rob Spence and offensive line coach Damian Wroblewski.  And Wake Forest is courting Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson.  

The Gators may not be going to a bowl, but Swamp Mama is happy.  Texas Tech is playing Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.  Ooh, Swamp Mama will be staying up late on the night of December 30.
  
And one last time, thank you Michigan State!

Touchdown Tom
December 9, 2013
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


Weekend Recap

GAME OF THE WEEK:  A game of spurts – Michigan State 34, Ohio State 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Ohio State 28, Michigan State 20).  This game could have gone either way until the Spartans Jeremy Langford scored on a 26-yard run with 02:16 on the clock in the fourth quarter.  That iced the game for Michigan State.  The Spartans jumped out to a 17-0 lead halfway through the second quarter.  But Ohio State came back and scored 24 unanswered points.  The Bucks led 24-17 halfway through the third quarter.  The momentum had definitely changed.  But that was it for the Buckeyes.  The Spartans regained their momentum, took charge and scored 17 unanswered points.  MSU’s Connor Cook passed for 304 yards.  A crowd of 66,002 attended the game in Indianapolis.

RUNNER UP:  What an offense! – Auburn 59, Missouri 42 (Touchdown Tom said: Missouri 26, Auburn 24).  For three quarters, you couldn’t ask for a more exciting game.  Auburn led 45-42 as the fourth quarter began.  Mizzou ran out of steam in the final period.  The teams combined for 1,211 yards of offense – 545 of the yards were rushing yards for Auburn.  Tre Mason rushed for 304 of those yards.  A crowd of 75,632 attended the game in Atlanta.

BEST OF THE REST:  Mismatch – Florida State 45, Duke 7 (Touchdown Tom said: Florida State 33, Duke 19).  Duke made it a game for one quarter.  Then the rout was on.  FSU scored 38 points over the next two quarters and for good measure added another seven points halfway through the fourth.  Then Jimbo Fisher called off the dogs.  FSU ended with 569 total yards compared to 239 for the Dookies.  A crowd of 67,694 attended the game in Charlotte.

The Trees spread roots in the sand – Stanford 38, Arizona State 14 (Touchdown Tom said: Stanford 28, Arizona State 27).  Early on it was a ball game.  But soon it became obvious that Stanford came to play.  The Trees swarmed all over the Sun Devils.  Leading 28-14 at the half, the Stanford defense held ASU scoreless in the second half.  Meanwhile, the Stanford offense added another 10 points for good measure.  The Trees had 277 yards passing and 240 yards rushing.  You can’t be more balanced than that.  A crowd of 69,535 attended the game in Tempe.

Birds of prey – Bowling Green 47, Northern Illinois 27 (Touchdown Tom said: Northern Illinois 31, Bowling Green 28).  The Falcons were a team that found themselves during the season and once they got going there was no stopping them.  Meanwhile, NIU was a team that often fell behind at the start, but always rallied to win.  The Huskies fell behind Bowling Green, 31-13.  But this time there was no rally.  The Falcons defense wouldn’t let the Huskies rally.  BG’s Matt Johnson passed for 393 yards.  A crowd of 21,106 attended the game in Detroit.

Pokey Pokes – Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma State 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Oklahoma State 29, Oklahoma 25).  Okie State had the better stats, but the Sooners had the most important stat – the final score.  The Cowboys led 24-20 late in the fourth quarter, but the Pokes defense couldn’t stop OU when it needed to – on the final drive of the game.  The Sooners marched down the field and scored with 00:19 left in the game.  Then they quickly scored again as time expired when Okie State fumbled.  A crowd of 58,520 attended the game in Stillwater.

Tight – Louisville 31, Cincinnati 24 (OT) (Touchdown Tom said: Cincinnati 28, Louisville 26).  It was no wonder this game went down to the wire – overtime.  The teams were about as evenly matched as you can get.  Louisville had 432 total yards; Cincinnati had 428.  The Bearcats were a little better passing; the Cardinals were a little better rushing.  Cincinnati had one more turnover than Louisville.  The Cardinals were penalized a little more than the Bearcats.  A crowd of 35,097 attended the game in Cincinnati.

Fiesta! – Baylor 30, Texas 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Baylor 34, Texas 33).  Baylor had 508 total yards to 217 for Texas.  The Bears shut down the Horns.  Texas only had 54 yards passing.  Tied 3-3 at the half, Baylor outscored Texas, 27-7, in the second half.  Bryce Petty passed for 287 yards.  A crowd of 51,728 attended the game in Waco.

Dog bite – Fresno State 24, Utah State 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Fresno State 40, Utah State 32).  Fresno State took charge early, building up a 24-7 lead over the Aggies at the end of the third quarter.  But Utah State rallied scoring ten points early in the fourth quarter.  We had us a ball game.  Then it became a taffy pull for the final nine minutes of the game.  Neither team scored.  Neither team could run the ball either.  Fresno State had 56 yards rushing to Utah State’s 51 yards.  It was an aerial game.  Derek Carr passed for 404 yards.  A crowd of 31,362 attended the game in Fresno.

The Owls were wise – Rice 41, Marshall 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Marshall 29, Rice 24).  Both teams could pass, but only Rice had a running game.  The Owls jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and increased it to 34-10 by the end of the third quarter.  The Herd was playing catch up all game and their catch up wasn’t working.  A crowd of 20,247 attended the game in Houston.


….AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON: 

BCS here we come – UCF 17, SMU 13 (Touchdown Tom said: UCF 26, SMU 14).  UCF scored a touchdown with 00:14 left in the third quarter and that’s how the game ended.  There was no scoring in the fourth quarter.  The players were probably too cold to score.  What offense there was – both teams – was mostly through the air.  There was no running game.  A crowd of 12,589 attended the game in Dallas.

Week 14 Picks:   5 Correct, 6 Wrong (45.5 percent)
On the Season:    204 Correct, 73 Wrong (73.7 percent)


ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA: 

South Florida lost to Rutgers, 31-6.  A crowd of 37,645 attended the game in Piscataway.


Superlatives

Impressive Passers:  Connecticut’s Casey Cochran – 36-54-0 for 461 yards; Fresno State’s Derek Carr – 36-53-2-404; Bowling Green’s Matt Johnson – 21-27-0-393; Florida State’s Jameis Winston – 19-32-2-330; Cincinnati’s Brendon Kay – 22-40-2-304; Michigan State’s Connor Cook – 24-40-1-304, and Missouri’s James Franklin – 21-37-1-303.


Impressive Rushers:  Auburn’s Tre Mason – 304 yards.


TT’s Annual Picks 

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

AAC:  George O’Leary – UCF; Runner-up: Tony Levine – Houston
ACC:  David Cutcliffe – Duke; Runner-up: (tie) Scott Shafer – Syracuse, Steve Addazio – Boston College    
Big 12:  Art Briles – Baylor; Runner-up: Bill Snyder – Kansas State  
Big Ten:  Jerry Kill – Minnesota; Runner-up: Kirk Ferentz – Iowa  
C-USA:  David Bailiff – Rice; Runner-up: (tie) Larry Coker – UTSA, Dan McCarney – North Texas
MAC:  Terry Bowden – Akron; Runner-up: Pete Lembo – Ball State
MWC:  Bobby Hauck – UNLV; Runner-up: Jim McElwain – Colorado State 
Pac-12:  David Shaw – Stanford; Runner-up: Todd Graham – Arizona State  
SEC:  Gus Malzahn – Auburn; Runner-up: Gary Pinkel – Missouri  
Sun Belt:  Bryan Harsin – Arkansas State; Runner-up: Mark Hudspeth – Louisiana-Lafayette
Ind:  Ken Niumatalolo – Navy; Bronco Mendenhall – BYU  


My choice for national “Coach of the Year”:

1. Gus Malzahn – Auburn
2. Gary Pinkel – Missouri
3. (tie) David Cutcliffe – Duke, David Bailiff – Rice


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

1. Jameis Winston – Florida State
2. A.J. McCarron – Alabama
3. Bryce Petty – Baylor


My choice for the most disappointing team of the season from each of the FBS conferences and the Independents:

AAC:  Rutgers
ACC:  (tie) NC State and North Carolina
Big 12:  TCU
Big Ten:  Michigan
C-USA:  Tulsa
MAC:  Miami (Ohio)
MWC:  Air Force
Pac-12:  Oregon State
SEC:  (tie) Florida and Ole Miss
Sun Belt:  Louisiana-Monroe
Ind:  Army


Quotes of the Week

“Sure Ohio State’s winning streak is impressive.  But that schedule?,” SI.com writer Michael Rosenberg.

“Can anyone watching (Florida state attorney Willie) Meggs’ news conference feel good about the way they saw, laughs and all?  Can anyone be certain that (Jameis) Winston did no wrong?  Or wasn’t it more like this: There just was not enough evidence to win the case for the state attorney’s office?,” USA Today columnist Christine Brennan.

“What made this case so confounding was the way the Tallahassee police handled it.  In hindsight, they look terrible, failing to properly investigate a serious matter, a possible felony, for nearly a year,” USA Today columnist Christine Brennan.

“Then consider the strong words from the accuser’s lawyer that she was advised by the police not to press charges, and this looks like a group of authorities in a stereotypical small town fumbling their legal responsibilities because they were so smitten by their football team.  That’s the face of justice in northern Florida in the 21st century,” USA Today columnist Christine Brennan.

“In this atmosphere, if Thursday’s news had been delivered with seriousness and sincerity, it not only would have been beneficial to those of us watching, it also would have helped build a much more compelling case for (Jameis) Winston.  It’s much easier to trust the authorities when they seem to be taking their work seriously than when they act as they did in that news conference,” USA Today columnist Christine Brennan.

“Sadly and surreally, this is what happens when sexual-assault accusations and college football fans come together on the same courthouse lawn.  Florida State football fans treated (State attorney Willie) Meggs’ announcement as if it were a victory over the Gators, but there were no winners on Thursday.  Not really.  In this case there were only losers,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi, on the Jameis Winston announcement in Tallahassee.

“The biggest thing this year that he’s showed is that he’s clutch.  This guy has got that ‘it’ factor that you look for in a quarterback,” ESPN NFL analyst Todd McShay, on UCF quarterback Blake Bortles.

“You’re asking the wrong guy.  If I knew the answer to that we would have stopped them,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, when asked after the SEC title game how do you stop an offense like Auburn’s.

“I’m confident that he’s got things in perspective as opposed to two years ago.  He’s got perspective now.  It’s not life or death.  It’s just not,” Urban Meyer’s wife Shelley, after the Buckeyes lost to Michigan State.


Touchdown Tom’s Prediction for
This Week’s 1 Biggest and Most Intriguing Game…and then none

Army (3-8) vs. Navy (7-4) – (Ind. vs. Ind.) – They really should just change the name of this event to “The Navy Game.”   Although invited, Army hasn’t shown up for this affair in years.  Maybe somebody needs to give the Mules directions to the stadium.  Maybe their tanks break down on I-95.  Whatever the reason, the Mules never make it to the game.  The Middies are third in the country in rushing, averaging 320 yards a game.  The Sailors also are averaging 34.4 points a game.  Just 4-4 a few weeks ago, Navy has won its last three games.  Meanwhile, the Cadets have lost their last four games.  Surprisingly, Army is first in the country in rushing, averaging 324 yards a game.  Mules are a no-show again – Navy 31, Army 18.  


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Penn State coach Bill O’Brien fired his linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden and his quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher….  Houston offensive coordinator Doug Meacham has been hired by Gary Patterson to be the new OC at TCU.  Patterson fired his co-offensive coordinators Rusty Burns and Jarrett Anderson.

Grambling State named McNeese State tight ends coach Broderick Fobbs as its new head coach….  Kansas State has added UTEP to its 2014 schedule.  The game will be played in Manhattan. 


2013 Conference Champions

AAC:  UCF
ACC:  Florida State
Big 12:  Baylor
Big Ten:  Michigan State 
C-USA:  Rice
MAC:  Bowling Green 
MWC:  Fresno State
Pac-12:  Stanford
SEC:  Auburn 
Sun Belt: (tie) Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State

Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

P.S.

Not directly college football related, but sadly there was one passing of note last week – Dick Dodd.

Dick Dodd, the lead singer of the Standells, the California rock group best remembered for “Dirty Water,” which became a hit in the mid-1960s and a Boston sports anthem decades later, died last week in Fountain Valley, California.  He was 68.  “Dirty Water” was the Standells’ biggest hit, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard pop chart in 1966.  The Standells opened for the Rolling Stones, appeared on the sitcom “The Munsters” and performed the song “Riot on the Sunset Strip” in the 1967 film of the same name.  The Red Sox began playing “Dirty Water” in 1997 after every win at Fenway Park.  “Dirty Water” was also adopted by the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics.  Joseph Richard Dodd was born on October 27, 1945, in Hermosa Beach, California.  He began his entertainment career as a Mouseketeer on the original “Mickey Mouse Club” television show.  Annette Funicello was a fellow Mouseketeer.  Dodd joined the Belairs, best known for their surf rock song “Mr. Moto,” in the early 1960s.  He and the band’s guitarist Eddie Bertrand left to form Eddie and the Showmen, who opened for the Beach Boys and Sonny and Cher.  Then Dodd joined the Standells.