College Football Week 21 – Hit the pause button until August 28
‘Ain’t it funny, how time slips away’

“Well, hello there. 
My, it’s been a long, long time”

Remember back to preseason?  The weather was a little warmer.  The topic of conversation was hot too.  All the buzz was about – who else – Johnny Manziel, 2012’s Johnny Football.  But instead of Johnny Football, Manziel had gathered a number of other nicknames over the summer.

Yeah, everybody was talking about Johnny Manziel alright.  The Texas A&M quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy holder had quite an off-season.  It was about as far off as you can get.  From January to August, Manziel was constantly into one thing or another.  And none of it was good.

Most recently, Manziel was accused of selling his autograph – a violation of NCAA rules, if true.  Folks were wondering if Manziel would have to sit out the first few games – or even if he would play at all.  Yeah, instead of Johnny Football, he was being called Johnny Goofball, Johnny Freefall, Johnny Airball, Johnny Outlaw and Johnny Paycheck.

In the preseason polls, Alabama was No. 1 and Ohio State was No. 2.  The Crimson Tide and the Buckeyes were solid picks for the Top 2 spots.  No one else was real close, but Oregon, Stanford and Georgia were breathing down their necks – according to the polls. 

And where was Florida State, you might ask?  Well, the Seminoles were a consensus No. 10 in the preseason polls.  And how about Auburn?  Don’t laugh, but the Tigers were a consensus No. 46.  If you are looking for a laugh – the preseason polls had Florida a consensus No. 9. 

On the Thursday night before Labor Day weekend, North Carolina at South Carolina got the season started in Week One.  The Gamecocks beat the Tar Heels, 27-10, but Jadeveon Clowney was a no show.  Clowney was winded – gasping for air.  He spent much of the game on the bench. 

That weekend, Johnny Football got yet another nickname or two – Johnny Halfgame and Johnny Halftime.  In the Aggies opener, Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin pulled Manziel from the game at halftime for rude behavior.  Meanwhile, we learned that a dynasty might be coming to an end, as Washington downed Boise State, 38-6. 

Saturday night, Clemson beat Georgia, 38-35.  So much for Uga breathing down Alabama’s or Ohio State’s neck.  Labor Day night, we were properly introduced to Jameis Winston.  The Florida State quarterback was nothing short of impressive, as the Seminoles beat Pitt, 41-13.    

And it was also the week that those of us over 60 learned a new word – “twerk.”

“How am I doing?
Oh, I guess that I’m doing fine”

Week Two, Swamp Mama went on a date with her boss to Florida Tech’s inaugural football game, including a pregame dinner at Hardee’s.  I stayed home to watch West Virginia on television.  Florida Tech beat Stetson, 20-13.  WVU lost to Oklahoma, 16-7.  I guess Swamp Mama got the better end of that deal.  Well, maybe not the dinner.

Uga was resuscitated as Georgia beat South Carolina, 41-30.  Jadeveon Clowney was a no show again, blaming his coaches for his poor play this time.  Michigan beat Notre Dame, 41-30, and Miami beat Florida, 21-16.  Washington State stunned USC, 10-7, while BYU pounded Texas, 41-20.  Longhorns coach Mack Brown fired his defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz, the next day. 

Week Three, Sports Illustrated published a scathing story on Oklahoma State, scandalizing the football program.  Okie State officials denied all the charges in the story.  Alabama beat Texas A&M, 49-42, but the Aggies racked up 628 yards of offense on the Tide, scoring six touchdowns and averaging 5.1 yards a carry in the game.  A well-behaved Johnny Manziel passed for 464 yards, completing 72 percent of his passes.  But Manziel threw two interceptions.   

Michigan almost lost to Akron.  The Wolverines escaped with a 28-24 win over the Zips.  UCLA blasted Nebraska, 41-21, and UCF beat Penn State, 34-31.  Grambling State fired its coach, Doug Williams.  And it was becoming apparent to me that I was going to be watching a lot of Texas Tech football games on TV during the season.  Swamp Mama was developing a long-distance love affair with Kliff Kingsbury.

The slate of games was so unappealing in Week Four that ESPN chose to broadcast its College GameDay show from Fargo, North Dakota, home of North Dakota State.  But instead of locating the show’s set on the North Dakota State campus, the GameDay show was broadcast from the streets of downtown Fargo.  That left us wondering:  Is North Dakota State’s campus that ugly?  Or does North Dakota State even have a campus?

It wasn’t a good week for Nebraska coach Bo Pelini.  A video of Pelini ranting about Nebraska fans surfaced.  In the video, which was made two years prior after a Nebraska-Ohio State game, Pelini uses the F-word nine times in eight sentences.  Later in the week, Pelini verbally bashed former Husker quarterback Tommie Frazier, after Frazier said that changes need to be made at Nebraska.   

Then at Alabama, word leaked that Nick Saban’s agent Jimmy Sexton was talking to Texas about Saban becoming the Longhorns coach.  Apparently Sexton had been contacted by a University of Texas regent.  As expected, Tide fans got a little upset.  At a press conference, Saban vented his displeasure about the gossip. 

Stanford beat Arizona State, 42-28, and Notre Dame edged Michigan State, 17-13.  Tyler Murphy came on to quarterback Florida to a 31-17 win over Tennessee, after Jeff Driskel broke his leg early in the game.  In Blacksburg, Virginia Tech struggled to beat Marshall, 29-21, in three overtimes.  And LSU beat Auburn 35-21.  Little did we know then that it would be Auburn’s only loss during the season.

“It’s been so long now,
But it seems now, that it was only yesterday
Gee, ain’t it funny, how time slips away”

Week Five turned out to be a good Saturday to be a couch potato from noon to the wee hours of Sunday morning.  There were several good games on TV.  First, South Carolina escaped UCF, beating the Knights, 28-25.  But Jadeveon Clowney didn’t play.  He said his ribs were sore.  West Virginia upset Oklahoma State, 30-21.  Then Georgia beat LSU 44-41.

Boston College gave Florida State fits, leading the Noles 17-3 in the second quarter and trailing by only four points in the third quarter – 24-20.  FSU went on to win, 48-34.  Oklahoma downed Notre Dame, 35-21, and Texas A&M beat Arkansas, 45-33.  Ohio State got by Wisconsin, 31-24, while Nevada beat Air Force in a thriller, 45-42.  And finally (in the wee hours of Sunday morning) Arizona State beat USC, 62-41.  As soon as the Trojans arrived back at the airport in Los Angeles after the game, Lane Kiffin was fired.

Meanwhile, sales of t-shirts depicting Jameis Winston as Jesus Christ and calling him the “chosen one” were banned on the Florida State campus.  And former LSU, Army and South Carolina coach Paul Dietzel died.  Dietzel was famous for his “Chinese Bandits” defense.   

In Week Six, Bootsie, Rockledge Gator, Swamp Mama and Touchdown Tom spent the weekend in Gainesville, attending the Arkansas-Florida game.  The foursome began tailgating at 11 a.m. for a game that didn’t start until 7 p.m.  It was a long day.  Florida beat Arkansas, 30-10.  In other games that week, Stanford beat Washington, 31-28, and Georgia escaped Tennessee, 34-31 in three overtimes.  Also, Notre Dame downed Arizona State, 37-34.  

Meanwhile, Connecticut fired Paul Pasqualoni and Miami (Ohio) fired Don Treadwell.  Former Texas quarterback James Street died.  Street led the Longhorns to the national championship in 1969.

Week Seven turned out to be a “Shakedown Saturday.”  There were lots of upsets in the Top 25.  Texas shocked Oklahoma, 36-20, and Utah stunned Stanford, 27-21.  Penn State outlasted Michigan, 43-40, in four overtimes, while Missouri surprised Georgia, 41-26.  Boston College was at it again.  This time the Eagles gave Clemson a scare.  But the Tigers rallied to beat BC, 24-14.  USC won its first game under interim coach Ed Orgeron, beating Arizona, 38-31. 

It was the week that David Pollack, Pat Dye and Bobby Bowden said that Condoleezza Rice shouldn’t be on the committee to select the four teams for the playoff next season.  Pollock’s comment drew an angry response from Fox’s Erin Andrews. 

Déjà vu, as Week Eight turned out to be like Week Seven – a repeat of “Shakedown Saturday.”  Four teams lost for the first time – Clemson, Houston, Louisville and UCLA.  Florida State blasted Clemson, 51-14, while BYU edged Houston, 47-46.  UCF rallied to beat Louisville, 38-35, and Stanford dumped UCLA, 24-10.

Then there were five shockers in the SEC.  Vanderbilt stunned Georgia, 31-27.   Tennessee surprised South Carolina 23-21.  Missouri easily beat Florida, 36-17.  Auburn stunned Texas A&M, 45-41, and Ole Miss beat LSU, 24-21.

In two other games, Arizona State beat Washington, 53-24, and Notre Dame edged USC, 14-10.  Meanwhile, improving its record to 5-2, Duke was beginning to catch the country’s eye.   

“Seems like it was just the other day
Gee, ain’t it funny, how time slips away”

In Week Nine, Swamp Mama and Touchdown Tom went to Florida Tech’s homecoming game.  The Panthers beat Warner, 37-3.  Earlier in the week, Swamp Mama participated in the Florida Tech Homecoming 5K in downtown Melbourne, while Touchdown Tom drank beer with her boss and a friend at Meg O’Malley’s.   

South Carolina rallied from a 17-0 deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Missouri, 27-24, in two overtimes.  Duke knocked off Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, 13-10.  The Dookies improved to 6-2.  Minnesota stunned Nebraska, 34-23, and Oklahoma beat Texas Tech, 38-30.  Oregon pounded UCLA, 42-14, while Ohio State downed Penn State, 63-14.  And, in a press conference, Nick Saban complained about Alabama fans leaving at the end of the third quarter. 

Bobby Bowden returned to Doak-Campbell stadium for the first time since he retired in 2009.  Before the game, Bobby even got to plant the flaming spear in the ground.  But he didn’t ride the horse.  Florida State beat NC State, 49-17.   

By Week 10, we were coming down to the final stretch and the race was on between Oregon, Florida State, Baylor, Ohio State and Alabama.  Stanford, Clemson, Oklahoma, Missouri and Auburn were still in the chase.  Fresno State and NIU weren’t in the chase but they were still in the running for a BCS bowl spot. 

Florida State beat Miami, 41-14, and Georgia beat Florida, 23-20.  It was Will Muschamp’s third loss to Georgia in three tries.  Nebraska beat Northwestern, 27-24, on a 49-yard Hail-Mary pass as time expired. 

Florida Atlantic coach Carl Pelini was fired for smoking crack and marijuana.  And former Arkansas and Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt applied for the Connecticut vacancy. 

In Week 11, Stanford knocked off Oregon, 26-20, and Alabama beat LSU, 38-17.  Baylor bested Oklahoma, 41-12, while Pitt beat Notre Dame, 28-21.  In Morgantown,   Texas beat West Virginia, 47-40, in overtime, and in Gainesville, Vanderbilt surprised Florida, 34-17.  Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan fired Ron English.  School officials said he had a potty mouth.  He also couldn’t win games. 

“I gotta go now
I guess I’ll see you around”

Week 12 was the week for miraculous catches – two of them.  First, J.J. Worton made a big catch for UCF in a game against Temple.  It was a one-handed, diving catch in the corner of the end zone, with less than two minutes left in the game.  UCF beat Temple, 39-36.

The second miraculous catch became known as the “Prayer at Jordan-Hare.”  It occurred in Auburn’s game against Georgia.  On fourth-and-eighteen, with less than a minute on the clock Auburn trailed Georgia, 38-37.  That’s when Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall heaved a desperation pass down the field.  The ball was coming up short of its intended receiver, but the Georgia defender – attempting to intercept the pass – deflected the ball into the hands of the Auburn receiver.   The Tigers Ricardo Lewis, briefly bobbled the ball, but held on to it and ran into the end zone for a touchdown.  Auburn beat Georgia, 43-38. 

Elsewhere that week, Northwestern lost its sixth-straight game after beginning the season 4-0.  Michigan beat Northwestern, 27-19.  And Texas Tech, who began the season 7-0, lost for the fourth-straight time.  Baylor beat Texas Tech, 63-34.  Maryland beat Virginia Tech, for the first time since 1990, 27-24 in overtime.  Duke beat Miami, 48-30, for first time since 1976.  And Michigan State beat Nebraska for the first time ever, 41-28. 

Boston College’s Andre Williams rushed for 339 yards, as the Eagles beat NC State, 38-21.  And out west, USC beat Stanford, for the first time since 2008, 20-17, and UCLA downed Washington, 41-31.   

In Week 13, Andre Williams added another 263 yards rushing, as Boston College downed Maryland, 29-26.  Trying to outscore their basketball teams, North Carolina beat Old Dominion, 80-20, while South Carolina downed Coastal Carolina, 70-10. 

It took them three overtimes, but Navy hung in there to beat San Jose State, 58-52.  Oklahoma State upset Baylor, 49-17.  Arizona State downed UCLA, 38-33, while Florida got a big time surprise from Georgia Southern.  The lower-division Eagles beat the Gators, 26-20.  Gator fans were calling for Will Muschamp’s ouster.  Meanwhile, Duke won again, but Northwestern lost its seventh straight.

There were wild parties and wild games in Week 14 – Thanksgiving week.  The Friday after Thanksgiving, LSU had to rally in the fourth quarter to beat Arkansas, 27-21.  In California, San Jose State handed Fresno State its first loss of the season.  The Spartans beat the Bulldogs, 62-52.  The loss knocked Fresno State out of a potential BCS bowl spot. 

In the Civil War, Oregon just got by Oregon State, 36-35.  Bowling Green won the MAC East Division, beating Buffalo, 24-7.  Iowa gave Nebraska a whipping, spanking the Huskers, 38-17.  After the game, Huskers coach Bo Pelini dared Nebraska officials to fire him.     

On Thanksgiving weekend Saturday, Michigan gave Ohio State a scare.  The Buckeyes escaped with a 42-41 win, as Michigan’s two-point conversion attempt at the end of the game failed.  Duke beat North Carolina, 27-25.  The win gave the Blue Devils the ACC Coastal Division title and a 10-2 season record.

Auburn had another miraculous finish at Jordan-Hare.  The Tigers returned a failed field goal attempt for a touchdown as time expired to beat Alabama, 34-28.  The win gave Auburn the SEC West Division title.  The SEC East Division title went to Missouri, as the Tigers knocked off Texas A&M, 28-21.

In other games on Thanksgiving weekend, South Carolina beat Clemson, 31-17, and Georgia got by Georgia Tech, 41-34 in two overtimes.  Penn State upset Wisconsin, 31-24, and Stanford downed Notre Dame, 27-20.  Rice beat Tulane, 17-13, to win the C-USA West Division title.  UCLA beat USC, 35-14, and Texas Tech lost its fifth-straight game.

In a week for being thankful, Nick Saban’s wife Terry told the Wall Street Journal that Alabama fans weren’t thankful for Nick.   “They don’t appreciate him.”  But Terry assured everyone that Nick was not going to Texas.  Will Muschamp, Bo Pelini and Brady Hoke should have been thankful.  The athletic directors of Florida, Nebraska and Michigan announced that their respective coaches would be back next year.

But everyone wasn’t thankful.  Wake Forest fired Jim Grobe and Wyoming fired Dave Christensen.  Meanwhile, Florida fired offensive coordinator Brent Pease and offensive line coach Tim Davis.  

“Don’t know when though
Never know when I’ll be back in town”

The circus came to Tallahassee during Week 15.  In a carnival-like atmosphere on the lawn of the Leon County Courthouse, state attorney Willie Meggs announced that Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston would not be charged for rape.  Meggs said there wasn’t enough evidence.

Michigan State knocked off Ohio State, 34-24, in the Big Ten Conference title game, and Auburn downed Missouri, 59-42, in the SEC championship game.  Auburn’s Tre Mason rushed for 304 yards in the game.  Oklahoma kept Oklahoma State from winning the Big 12 Conference, beating the Cowboys, 33-24.  As a result, Baylor won the Big 12, beating Texas, 30-10.  In the MAC title game, Bowling Green upset Northern Illinois, 47-27.  The loss knocked the Huskies out of a BCS bowl.  
 
In Week 16, Navy beat Army for the 12th-straight year, 34-7.  Florida State’s Jameis Winston won the Heisman Trophy.  Winston was followed in the voting by Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch, Boston College’s Andre Williams, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and Auburn’s Tre Mason.

Texas fired Mack Brown.  But it was a big week for hiring.  Wake Forest hired Dave Clawson, Boise State hired Bryan Harsin, Connecticut hired Bob Diaco, Eastern Michigan hired Chris Creighton, Florida Atlantic hired Charlie Partridge, USC hired Steve Sarkisian and Washington hired Chris Petersen.
  
During Week 17, anticipating the BCS National Championship game, Florida State fans were showing up everywhere, coming out of the woodwork and out of the closet.  Army fired Rich Ellerson, but Arkansas State hired Blake Anderson.  An Alabama couple named their new-born son, Krimson Tyde.  And the first four bowl games were played.   

Swamp Mama and Touchdown Tom traveled to the “north country” – north Florida, in Week 18.  College football and the country celebrated Christmas.  Army hired Jeff Monken and Will Muschamp found his new offensive coordinator – Duke’s Kurt Roper.  Boise State quarterback Joe Southwick was sent home prior to the team’s bowl game in Hawaii for urinating off a balcony at the team’s hotel.

South Carolina’s Jeremy Clowney got his second speeding ticket in three weeks.  Tim Tebow left the unemployment ranks as ESPN hired the former Gator quarterback.  Fifteen more bowl games were played.  Of note, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had his best performance of the season, as the Cardinals pounded Miami, 36-9.   

And finally, in Week 19, Bill O’Brien resigned from his position at Penn State to become the coach of the NFL’s Houston Texans, and Louisville’s Charlie Strong was named the coach at Texas.  The last 16 bowls were played.  In the finale, Florida State beat Auburn, 33-31, in a thrilling game to win the BCS National Championship. 

“But remember, what I tell you
In time, football has another day
Ain’t it surprising, how time slips away”

If anything, the 2013 college football season was the year of the underdog.  For the most part, it was not the year of the favorite.  Alabama and Ohio State were the favorites to win their respective conferences and play for the national championship.  They didn’t.

Instead, Florida State and Auburn played for the national championship.  Florida State wasn’t even supposed to win its division in the ACC.  Clemson was.  And Auburn was picked to finish at or near the bottom of West Division in the SEC.  So was Missouri, for that matter, who won the SEC’s East Division.  And Duke?  Yes, the Dookies!  The Blue Devils were picked to finish at the bottom of their division in the ACC.

Baylor, who won the Big 12, was only considered to be a dark horse – at best – to win the conference.  Michigan State was only considered to be a contender for the Legends Division title in the Big Ten Conference.  Michigan and Nebraska were the favorites.

Boise State, Louisville and Northern Illinois were the favorites to win their respective conferences – the MWC, AAC and MAC.  None of them did.  It was supposed to be East Carolina vs. Tulsa for the C-USA championship.  Instead, it was Rice vs. Marshall.

The only favorites that won their conferences in 2013 were Stanford in the Pac-12 and Louisiana-Lafayette in the Sun Belt.      

2013 also was the season where we wondered: What happened to the famous SEC defenses?  It seems that most SEC teams forgot how to play defense in 2013.  It was the year that Georgia State played its first season at the FBS level.  A season the Panthers may want to forget.  Georgia State finished 0-12.

And it was the year that Charlotte and Florida Tech played football for the first time, while Stetson and Mercer resumed football after a long absence. 

2013 was the last year for the Leaders and Legends Divisions in the Big Ten.  (I always called them the Losers and Laggards Divisions.)  Next season, the Big Ten will use logic, offering us the geological East and West Divisions.  Now, if only the ACC would use common sense and follow suit, changing to North and South Divisions.  Enough of this Atlantic and Coastal nonsense.  That sounds more like a magazine. 

And speaking of sounds like, Louisville’s hiring of Bobby Petrino sounds more like a case of hiring the devil you know versus the devil you don’t know.  Meanwhile, Vanderbilt’s James Franklin is the new ‘Paterno wanna-be’ at Penn State.  LaVar Arrington can't be a happy camper.  And Lane Kiffin may be the next offensive coordinator at Alabama.  Then again, maybe not.  Stay tuned! 

Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury started out hot at the beginning of the season – hot with the victories and hot with the women.  Then he cooled off with the victories – and with the women.  Even Swamp Mama kicked him out of bed.…..I mean……out of her head.  That is until December 30 when Texas Tech beat Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.  The next day, Swamp Mama wanted to go on a holiday to Lubbock. 

My, how time slips away.

Well, it’s about that time to put my alter ego to bed.  Hopefully, when Touchdown Tom awakens in August, we’ll meet up again.  Here’s hoping you have nothing but happy trails during the off-season. 

Yes, ain’t it funny how time slips away?

Good night college football fans.  It’s been a pleasure.

Touchdown Tom
January 13, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

P.S. “Funny How Time Slips Away” is a song written by Willie Nelson in 1959 and first recorded by Billy Walker in 1961.  Since then it has been recorded by 27 other artists, including Jimmy Elledge, Willie Nelson, Johnny Tillotson, Arthur Alexander, Joe Hinton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Joe Royal, The Supremes, Georgie Fame, Terry Reid, Joe Tex, Elvis Presley, Al Green, Lulu, Bryan Ferry, Narvel Felts, Dorothy Moore, The Spinners, Linda Ronstadt, Lyle Lovett, Cybill Shepherd, Francine Reed, George Jones, B.B. King, Juice Newton, Mario Biondi and Hanne Boel.




One Last Look at the Bowls

Won/Lost Records of the Conferences

Sun Belt – 2-0
SEC – 7-3
Pac-12 – 6-3
Ind. – 2-1
Big 12 – 3-3
C-USA – 3-3
MWC – 3-3
ACC – 5-6
AAC – 2-3
Big Ten – 2-5
MAC – 0-5



Bowl Game Attendance

Rose Bowl (Michigan State-Stanford) – 95,173
BCS National Championship Bowl (Florida State-Auburn) – 94,208
Cotton Bowl (Missouri-Oklahoma State) – 72,690
Orange Bowl (Clemson-Ohio State) – 72,080
Sugar Bowl (Oklahoma-Alabama) – 70,473
Chick-fil-A Bowl (Texas A&M-Duke) – 67,946
Alamo Bowl (Oregon-Texas) – 65,918
Fiesta Bowl (UCF-Baylor) – 65,172
Gator Bowl (Nebraska-Georgia) – 60,712
Liberty Bowl (Mississippi State-Rice) – 57,846
Capital One Bowl (South Carolina-Wisconsin) – 56,629
New Orleans Bowl (UL Lafayette-Tulane) – 54,728
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (Kansas State-Michigan) – 53,284
Holiday Bowl (Texas Tech-Arizona State) – 52,930
Music City Bowl (Ole Miss-Georgia Tech) – 52,125
Outback Bowl (LSU-Iowa) – 51,296
Russell Athletic Bowl (Louisville-Miami) – 51,098
Sun Bowl (UCLA-Virginia Tech) – 47,912
Pinstripe Bowl (Notre Dame-Rutgers) – 47,122
Belk Bowl (North Carolina-Cincinnati) – 45,211
Compass Bowl (Vanderbilt-Houston) – 42,717
Las Vegas Bowl (USC-Fresno State) – 42,178
Armed Forces Bowl (Navy-Middle Tennessee) – 39,246
Heart of Dallas (North Texas-UNLV) – 38,380
AdvoCare Bowl (Arizona-Boston College) – 36,917
Go Daddy Bowl (Arkansas State-Ball State) – 36,119
Fight Hunger Bowl (Washington-BYU) – 34,136
Texas Bowl (Syracuse-Minnesota) – 32,327
Military Bowl (Marshall-Maryland) – 30,163
Hawaii Bowl (Oregon State-Boise State) – 29,106
New Mexico Bowl (Colorado State-Washington State) – 27,104
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Pitt-Bowling Green) – 26,259
Poinsettia Bowl (Utah State-Northern Illinois) – 23,408
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (San Diego State-Buffalo) – 21,951
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl (East Carolina-Ohio) – 20,053




Quotes of the Week

“I think it is a kick in the face,” Texas billionaire booster Red McCombs, on Texas athletic director Steve Patterson hiring Charlie Strong.

“I don’t have any doubt that Charlie is a fine coach.  I think he would make a great position coach, maybe a coordinator.  But I don’t believe he belongs at what should be one of the three most powerful university programs in the world right now at UT Austin.  I don’t think it adds up,” Texas billionaire booster Red McCombs, on the hiring of Charlie Strong.

“There are going to be statements made.  You can’t worry about that.  You just move on.  You have a job to do.  You can’t worry about what people say or think.  Once you win some football games, you’re going to change a lot of people’s attitudes,” new Texas coach Charlie Strong, responding to the negative comments from some Texas boosters.

“When I was a child, I remember who won the Sugar Bowl, who won the Orange Bowl, who won the Cotton Bowl, who won the Rose Bowl.  It was a big deal to go.  We act like that’s not a big deal now.  That’s one of the great things you have in college football.  We’re so involved in winning a championship that we’re forgetting the tradition and history of doing things,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, on moving from the BCS format to the four-team playoff.

“And how many times was the BCS ever wrong?  How many times did they ever get it wrong at the end?  We’ve still got the same problem.  You’re going to argue over who’s four and five or who’s two or three.  What’s the difference,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, on moving from the BCS format to a four-team playoff.

“This is an extremely young football team.  Got a couple of guys that possibly could leave early.  But those guys are having a good time here, and we have some great young players coming in behind those guys.  So I think we’ll look very, very similar to the team you just saw,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, after winning the national championship, on next season’s team.

“Because you learn the biggest lessons in life through adversity.  But I’m going to tell you, when everybody looks back on this team, they’re going to remember that it’s the biggest turnaround in college football history,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, after the loss to Florida State in the national championship game.

“I’ve made mistakes professionally and personally.  Something I’m not going to do again.  My first mistake was leaving Louisville.  I want everyone to know this is my destination job,” new Louisville coach Bobby Petrino.

“I believe Bobby Petrino’s a changed man.  Bobby has convinced me he’s a changed man,” Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich.

        
In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston announced he will play baseball again this spring for the Seminoles.  Winston was a member of the FSU baseball team last year….  Meanwhile, the lawyer for the woman who accused Jameis Winston of rape announced that a civil lawsuit will be filed against Winston, the Tallahassee Police Department and maybe Florida State University.

Western Kentucky coach Bobby Petrino was named the new coach at Louisville….  Vanderbilt coach James Franklin is the new coach at Penn State….  Former NFL executive Ray Anderson is Arizona State’s new athletic director….  UAB coach Garrick McGee has been hired to be Bobby Petrino’s offensive coordinator at Louisville….  Alabama offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has left the Tide to become the new offensive coordinator at Michigan….  Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm is the new coach of the Hilltoppers.

And finally, those from the world of football who departed us during the past football season included Art Donovan, 89 (Baltimore Colts player); Frank Tripucka, 85 (Notre Dame and Denver Broncos quarterback); Rick Casares, 82 (running back for the Chicago Bears); Paul Dietzel, 89 (college football coach); James Street, 65 (Texas quarterback), and L.C. Greenwood, 67 (Pittsburgh Steelers defenseman).

Also, Gordon Polofsky, 82 (Tennessee football player); Bum Phillips, 90 (NFL coach); Don James, 80 (coach of the Washington Huskies); Ace Parker, 101 (NFL player); Bobby Thomason, 85 (NFL quarterback); Todd Christensen, 57 (NFL tight end), and Mike McCormick, 83 (NFL player and coach).

Touchdown Tom
www.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 1944 was “Paper Doll” by The Mills Brothers

…65 years ago this week in 1949 was “All I Want for Christmas
(Is My Two Front Teeth)” by Spike Jones

…60 years ago this week in 1954 was “Rags to Riches” by Tony Bennett

…55 years ago this week in 1959 was “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” by David Seville and the Chipmunks

…50 years ago this week in 1964 was “There! I’ve Said It Again” by Bobby Vinton

…45 years ago this week in 1969 was “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye

…40 years ago this week in 1974 was “The Joker” by The Steve Miller Band

…35 years ago this week in 1979 was “Too Much Heaven” by The Bee Gees

…30 years ago this week in 1984 was “Say Say Say” by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

…25 years ago this week in 1989 was “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison

…20 years ago this week in 1994 was “Hero” by Mariah Carey




Not directly college football related, but those from the other sports who left us during this past football season included Dean Meminger, 65 (NBA player); William C. Campbell, 90 (U.S. amateur golf champion); Zelmo Beaty, 73 (NBA player); Ken Norton, 70 (boxer); Gates Brown, 74 (Detroit Tigers outfielder); Bob Kurland, 88 (basketball player), and Andy Pafko, 92 (major league baseball player).

Also, Bill Sharman, 87 (NBA player and coach); Johnny Kucks, 81 (MLB pitcher); Walt Bellamy, 74 (NBA player); Vern Mikkelson, 85, (NBA player); Lou Brissie, 89 (MLB player); Mike Hegan, 71 (MLB player and broadcaster); Paul Blair, 69 (MLB outfielder); Andy Granatelli, 90 (racecar entrepreneur); Johnny Orr, 86 (college basketball coach), and Jerry Coleman, 89, (San Diego Padres broadcaster).

Not directly college football related, but those from the world of entertainment who passed away during the 2013 football season included Karen Black, 74 (actress); Eydie Gorme, 84 (singer); Tompall Glaser, 79 (country musician); Marian McPartland, 95 (jazz pianist and NPR radio show host); Julie Harris, 87 (actress);
David Frost, 74 (British television broadcaster); Marvin Rainwater, 88 (country music singer/songwriter); Jane Connell, 87 (actress), and Marta Heflin, 68 (actress); Patricia Blair, 80 (actress).

Also, Ed Lauter, 74 (actor); Noel Harrison, 79 (actor and singer); Marcia Wallace, 70 (actress); Lou Reed, 71 (singer/songwriter); Jane Kean, 90 (Trixie on “The Honeymooners”); Tony Musante, 77 (actor); Paul Walker, 40 (actor); Dick Dodd, 68, (lead singer for the Standells); Eleanor Parker, 91 (actress); Don Mitchell, 70 (television actor); Peter O’Toole, 81 (actor); Joan Fontaine, 96 (actress); Tom Laughlin, 82 (actor); Ray Price, 87 (country music singer); Audrey Totter, 95 (actress), and Phil Everly, 74 (singer/songwriter).

And finally, not directly college football related, but well-known folks from other walks of life who passed on during the 2013 football season included Jack Germond, 85 (political columnist); Elmore Leonard, 87 (author); Christopher Koch, 81 (author); Tom Clancy, 66 (author); Scott Carpenter, 88 (astronaut); Auline Robinson, 92 (Swamp Mama’s mother), and Charlie Trotter, 54 (chef).  Peace!

College Football Week 20 – Bye Bye BCS, Hello Four-Playoff
FSU takes final BCS title,
Trophy returns to Florida

After a four year absence, the BCS trophy returned to Florida from Alabama with Florida State’s thrilling 33-31 victory over Auburn in last night’s BCS National Championship Bowl.

The win by the Seminoles over Auburn also snapped the SEC’s seven-year hold on the BCS title going back to January 2007 when Florida beat Ohio State for the championship.  Since then, LSU, Florida (again), Alabama, Auburn and Alabama twice more have won the title.  Auburn could have made it an eighth-straight year for the SEC had the Tigers won last night.

Instead, Florida State brought the title back to the ACC for only the second time in the 16-year history of the BCS.  Representing the ACC, the Seminoles won the BCS championship in January 2000.  That year, FSU beat Virginia Tech who was a member of the Big East Conference at the time.

Until last night, Florida State had not had a close game all year.  The Noles finished the season averaging a 42-point winning margin over their opponents – 53-11.  Auburn definitely gave Florida State a game.  In fact, the Noles had to fight back from an 18-point deficit, having trailed Auburn 21-3 late in the second quarter.  But in the end, Auburn’s defense – its main weakness all season – was the thorn in the Tigers’ side.

Auburn led FSU, 31-27, with 1:19 remaining in the game.  But in the next 66 seconds, the Tigers could not contain Jameis Winston and the Florida State offense.  The Seminoles drove down the field and scored with 13 seconds left on the clock to win the game.      

Not only did Florida State win the BCS title, but also the Seminoles won the last BCS championship to be played.  Next season college football moves to a four-team playoff to determine the national champion.

The BCS championship game ended the 2013 season and capped off a week of 16 bowl games from December 31 to January 6.  It was a week of several exciting games and several interesting coaching changes too.

The first thing I read on New Year’s Eve day was that Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo was the favorite to become the head coach at Georgia Southern.  Well, that probably wasn’t the first thing I read.  But it was the first football thing I read.  So that’s the first thing I remember that I read.  You know what I mean.

Meanwhile, back to Bobo, he has already interviewed for the job at Georgia Southern.  I know some Dawg fans who would be happy to see Bobo leave Georgia.  Hey, don’t complain to me about offensive coordinators.  However, to those Dawg fans I know – not to dampen on your wishes – but it’s not likely Bobo will go to Georgia Southern.    

Three of the four New Year’s Eve bowl games were mismatches.  The fourth, and last one of the day, was a classic.

In the first bowl on New Year’s Eve, Boston College’s offense looked like a typical Steve Addazio offense at Florida – flat.  Arizona beat the Eagles in the AdvoCare Bowl, 42-19.  After Dan Mullen left for Mississippi State, Addazio – now the head coach at Boston College – became Florida’s offensive coordinator and the Gators offense went to hell in a hand basket.  (It still hasn’t recovered.)  Addazio never was popular with Gator fans. 

Arizona redshirt freshman receiver Trey Griffey – the son of baseball star Ken Griffey Jr. – caught two touchdown passes in the game.  And in the battle of the running backs, Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey outperformed Boston College’s Andre Williams.  Meanwhile, after all those commercials, I’m still not really sure what AdvoCare is supposed to do for me.  But Drew Brees tells me all the pros use it.  Does that mean it’s illegal? 

In the second mismatch, UCLA pounded Virginia Tech to the tune of 42-12 in the Sun Bowl.  Bruin quarterback Brett Hundley riddled the Hokies defense, passing and running.  Virginia Tech began the season with a good defense and a bad offense.  The Hokies ended the season with a bad defense and a bad offense.  Maybe it’s time for Frank Beamer to start meeting Bobby Bowden and Mack Brown for breakfast at Cracker Barrel.      

Then Mississippi State totally steamed Rice in the Liberty Bowl, 44-7.  The Owls got the thrill of scoring the first – and their only – touchdown in the game.  Then I think they flew the coop after that.  They didn’t want to hang around for the rest of the Memphis barbecue.  They took a pretty good rubbing as it was.  Dan Mullen should have a good team in Starkville next season.     

The only exciting game on December 31 was the day’s finale – the Chick-fil-A Bowl between Texas A&M and Duke.  And boy, what a game it was!  The Aggies won, 52-48.  But A&M trailed Duke, 38-17, at the half.  Shock!  Shock!

But Johnny Manziel wasn’t shocked.  He was just waiting until the second half – when it was closer to midnight – to set off his fireworks.  And what a fireworks show it was!  Manziel put on one of the best quarterback performances of the 2013 season – all in the final two quarters of the game.  He was running, he was passing, he was firing up his teammates on the sidelines, rallying the Aggies to outscore Duke 35-10 in the second half and win the game.  I was impressed.

Duke’s offense was sensational in the first half.  It was non-existent in the second half.  I think Duke offensive coordinator Kurt Roper must have left the Georgia Dome at halftime to begin his trek to Gainesville.  Let’s hope Florida’s offense next season looks like Duke’s did in the first half.  And let’s hope Will Muschamp doesn’t put a muzzle on Roper’s play calling.   
 
The first thing I read on New Year’s Day was that Penn State coach Bill O’Brien would be named the new coach of the Houston Texans in the NFL.  Not that I hadn’t been hearing this already, but it was now official.  Apparently, O’Brien had had all he could take from the ‘Paterno Freaks’ in State College.   

As for O’Brien’s replacement, supposedly Penn State is interested in Greg Schiano, Al Golden and San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman.  And speaking of replacements, I read where Texas is looking at Louisville’s Charlie Strong, Baylor’s Art Briles, Vanderbilt’s James Franklin and Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio.

Does watching college football cure hangovers?  Not that I had one, but with six games on New Year’s Day from 12 noon to 12 midnight, I figure that would have to cure a hangover.  Of course, that’s assuming you don’t drink while watching the games.  And that’s assuming your favorite team doesn’t lose.

Well, I hope your favorite team isn’t Georgia.  The Dawgs lost to Nebraska, 24-19 in the Gator Bowl.  Maybe Dawg fans will pay Mike Bobo to go to Georgia Southern after that performance.  One thing is for sure:  When it comes down to the closing minutes and or seconds of a game and Georgia – with the ball – needs to score to win, you just know Mark Richt is going to blow it.  And he had two chances against Nebraska.

Meanwhile, the win was just what Bo Pelini needed to get back on the right foot with Husker fans.  That is until he puts his foot in his mouth again next season – or during the off-season.   

And I hope your favorite team isn’t Wisconsin or Iowa.  The Badgers lost to South Carolina, 34-24, in the Capital One Bowl, and the Hawkeyes lost to LSU, 21-14, in the Outback Bowl.  That gave the SEC a 2-1 mark over the Big Ten on New Year’s Day.  Yeah, Georgia, you embarrassed the SEC.
 
Buried among the big bowls on January 1 was the Heart of Dallas Bowl.  North Texas beat UNLV, 36-14.  It barely got any mention.  The bowl must have been buried pretty deep in Dallas’ heart.  So much so that it didn’t show up on the x-ray.  But of interest in the game, Jerry Rice Jr., son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, caught a 13-yard touchdown pass for UNLV.  Rice Jr. transferred to UNLV from UCLA. 

In the granddaddy of all bowls – the Rose – Michigan State upset Stanford, 24-20.  Shouldn’t Bette Midler be a grand marshal of that bowl?  This year it was Vin Scully.  And granddaddy?  As long as the Rose Bowl has been the granddaddy and with all the new bowls in recent years, shouldn’t it be the great-granddaddy of all bowls by now?

Yes, the Spartans won.  Combined with Nebraska’s win over Georgia, that made it a big day for the Big Ten – 2-2.  And I know it made it a big day for my friend Steve Waite.   

It sure wasn’t a big day for David Shaw’s play calling.  It got way too conservative in the second half.  Tyler Gaffney up the middle just wasn’t working.  It reminded me of Stanford’s strange, conservative play calling in the Utah game during the season.  The Cardinal lost to the Utes, 27-21.   

In the nightcap, Baylor embarrassed the Big 12 big time, losing to UCF, 52-42, in the Fiesta Bowl.  I can’t imagine that Texas is still interested in Art Briles after that game.  Briles is another one of those “don’t give a shit about my defense” coaches.  Briles should be pissed at his defensive coordinator.

But hats off to UCF.  I don’t want to take anything away from the Knights – or for that matter, their outstanding quarterback Blake Bortles.  UCF has arrived.  The Knights are an established program.  Well done George O’Leary.

January 2, I read where Penn State athletic director David Joyner said the new Nittany Lions coach could be announced in a matter of days.  At the same time, I read where former Penn State defensive standout LaVar Arrington said we wants the new coach to be either Al Golden or Greg Schiano.  Arrington said the new coach should be a “Penn State man.” 

I got a nice message from my friend Larry Brewer, the former WMMB radio personality.   By the way Larry, the ‘Duchess of Indialantic’ says she’s upset with you.  She hasn’t heard form you in a long time.

No sugar for the Tide.  Well, maybe Katherine Webb gave A.J. McCarron a little sugar after the game.  God knows he needed some.  Yeah, Oklahoma came to play, beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, 45-31.  OU quarterback Trevor Knight was a surprise.  I’m sure he got his share of sugar after the game.     

I picked Alabama to win, but only by seven points.  I didn’t pick them to slaughter OU like Lou Holtz, Mark May and all the other so-called experts on ESPN.  Yeah, I thought Bama would win.  But I was not surprised the Tide lost.

Alabama really played a weak schedule this season.  The only defense Alabama faced all season was Virginia Tech, in the first game.  And Bama won that game because Virginia Tech’s offense was so bad.   The Tide only played two teams with an offense – Texas A&M and Auburn.  Alabama beat A&M because the Aggies defense was awful.  And you know what happened in the Auburn game.  Yeah, Bama’s offense and defense were overrated, as the Sooner fans were letting them know in the closing minutes of the game – “Overrated! Overrated!”

After Baylor’s pathetic performance in the Fiesta Bowl, the Big 12 needed the Sugar Bowl win.

So now I’m reading where Texas is interested in UCLA’s Jim Mora.  Mora must have replaced Art Briles on the list.  Penn State has added Vanderbilt’s James Franklin and Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak to its list of candidates.  Meantime, Jim Mora says no to Texas.  That relationship was short lived.

During the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl games Friday night, the media reports that Miami’s Al Golden is the new coach of Penn State.  LaVar Arrington should be happy.  Golden is a graduate of Penn State where he played tight end for the Nittany Lions.  Stay tuned.     

At the same time, media reports also said that Louisville’s Charlie Strong would be the next coach of Texas.  According to the reports, Strong had been offered the job and he was expected to accept it.  Stay tuned.

Speaking of the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl games, it was unfortunate and frustrating they were on at the same time.  Both were exciting games.  The outcomes of both went down to the final minutes.  I was getting dizzy flipping the channels back and forth – jumping from Texas to Florida to Texas and back to Florida.   

In Arlington, Texas, Missouri beat Oklahoma State, 41-31.  But with only about 60 seconds remaining, it was 34-31 and the Cowboys had the ball on the Tigers 27.  Okie State was driving – a field goal to tie, a touchdown to win.  Or a fumble to lose.  And that’s what the Cowboys did – they fumbled.        

At the same time in Miami Gardens, Florida, Clemson and Ohio State were in a thriller.  Up 40-35 on Ohio State with 01:27 remaining, Clemson’s Tajh Boyd was intercepted near mid-field.  The Buckeyes just needed a touchdown to win.  But two plays later, Braxton Miller was picked off and the Tigers ran out the clock. 

Late in the Clemson-Ohio State game, Buckeye coach Urban Meyer won an Oscar for his performance in the role of Nick Saban, throwing a conniption fit on the sidelines.  

Saturday – January 4 – Vanderbilt beat Houston, 41-24, in the Compass Bowl in Birmingham.  It was one of the strangest of all the bowls.  Vandy jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead.  Then the Cougars outscored the Commodores 24-0 and the game was tied going into the fourth quarter.  Vandy outscored Houston 17-0 in the final period.

The only thing I can figure is that Vanderbilt coach James Franklin left the stadium at halftime for his interview with Penn State.  Fortunately, for the Commodores, Franklin returned from the interview at the start of the fourth quarter.  

Meanwhile, Charlie Strong to Texas is gaining momentum, while Al Golden to Penn State may be losing some steam.  LaVar Arrington must be sweating.  But new to the gossip vine – Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops to the Cleveland Browns.  Stay tuned.     

Sunday, Al Golden said he is staying on South Beach.  Apparently, Golden likes the Miami sand better than the sand in State College.  But don’t worry, LaVar.  Mike Munchak is a Penn State man.   

But Texas made it official.  The Longhorns announced Charlie Strong as their new coach. 

Sunday night, in what may have been the most obscure bowl game of all, Arkansas State beat Ball State, 23-20, in the Go Daddy Bowl.  Did anyone know it was on?  Did anyone watch it?  Ball State’s loss left the MAC with a 0-5 record in bowl games.  So much for the mighty MAC. 

Apparently the attempt to mate…..I mean…..match Bob Stoops with the Cleveland Browns didn’t take.  One didn’t find the other appealing.   

And that brings us back to Florida State’s win over Auburn.  The game was a classic.  It had all the thrills and excitement you could ask for in a football game.  It was the perfect ending for Florida State fans.  And for Auburn fans, it was the perfect turnaround season – from 3-9 in 2012 to 12-2 in 2013.  Be proud.

Brent Musburger behaved himself this year.  Apparently none of the Auburn or Florida State players have good looking girl friends.      

Before the game, I read where Florida governor Rick Scott was going to give Alabama governor Robert Bentley a key lime pie if Auburn beat Florida State.  Somehow, I just don’t associate key lime pie with Tallahassee.  Maybe if Miami was playing, I could make the association, but not with Florida State.

Boiled possum would make more sense.  It would have been a more appropriate gift.  After all, the annual Possum Festival is held every year about an hour west of Tallahassee.  Boiled possum would be a great gift for the governor of Alabama.  He could chew on it all day.

But, Auburn didn’t win.  And I don’t think I read or heard what Governor Bentley was going to give Governor Scott.  If I did, I don’t remember.  A gift from Alabama – what would that be?  Butter beans?  Yeah butter beans.  Governor Scott could chew on them all day.

My favorite performance by a quarterback in all the bowls was a tie between Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater.  The runner-ups were Texas Tech’s Davis Webb, South Carolina’s Connor Shaw, Michigan State’s Connor Cook and Oklahoma’s Trevor Knight.

My favorite performance by a running back in all the bowls was Pitt’s James Conner.  The runner-up was LSU’s Jeremy Hill. 

The best performance by a coach – hands down – was Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio.  Not only for coaching the Spartans to a win over Stanford in the Rose Bowl, but – perhaps more importantly – for his skillful and artful dodging of the Gatorade bath at the end of the game.   
 
Touchdown Tom
January 7, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com




Bowl Game Review

Ka’Deem carries, Andre waddles (in the AdvoCare Bowl) – Arizona 42, Boston College 19 (Touchdown Tom said: Arizona 30, Boston College 26).  Boston College was basically a no show in this ball game, scoring 13 of its 19 points in the final 12 minutes of the game when they were already down 42-6.  It was supposed to be a battle between the two All-American running backs – Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey and BC’s Andre Williams.  Carey was ready (169 yards rushing), Williams wasn’t (75 yards rushing).  A crowd of 36,917 attended the game in Shreveport.

The Bruins shine (in the Sun Bowl) – UCLA 42, Virginia Tech 12 (Touchdown Tom said: UCLA 24, Virginia Tech 17).  The sun was shining on UCLA.  Virginia Tech must have been in the shade.  Actually, a good ballgame through the third quarter – UCLA led 14-10.  But in the fourth quarter, the Bruins outscored the Hokies, 28-2.  UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley passed for 226 yards and rushed for another 161 yards.  A crowd of 47,912 attended the game in El Paso.

Bully is treated with pudding (in the Liberty Bowl) – Mississippi State 44, Rice 7 (Touchdown Tom said: Mississippi State 26, Rice 23).  Miss State’s defense totally dominated Rice’s offense, holding the Owls to only seven first downs and 145 yards of offense – 84 passing and 61 rushing.  The Bulldogs had 28 first downs and 533 yards of offense.  The Owls scored first, but never saw the goal line again.  Miss State quarterback Dak Prescott had 283 yards passing and 78 yards rushing.  A crowd of 57,846 attended the game in Memphis.

Johnny Firecracker (in the Chick-fil-A Bowl) – Texas A&M 52, Duke 48 (Touchdown Tom said: Texas A&M 39, Duke 29).  It was all Duke in the first half and all Texas A&M in the second half.  The Dookies led 38-17 at halftime.  The Aggies outscored the Dookies 35-10 in the second half.  Both quarterbacks were good, but Johnny Manziel was sensational.  Manziel passed for 382 yards, completing 79 percent of his passes, and he ran for 73 yards.  The only turnovers in the game were two interceptions thrown by Duke’s Anthony Boone.  Both were killers for the Dookies.  One was returned for a touchdown and the other ended a game-ending drive in the closing minutes that could have resulted in the winning touchdown for Duke.  The teams combined for 1,202 yards of offense.  A crowd of 67,946 attended the game in Atlanta.

The Dawgs couldn’t pop the Corn (in the Gator Bowl) – Nebraska 24, Georgia 19 (Touchdown Tom said: Georgia 30, Nebraska 20).  Other than a brief 3-0 lead early in the second quarter, Georgia never led in the game.  The Dawgs were constantly trying to catch up to or go ahead of the Huskers.  Nebraska’s biggest lead was 24-12 late in the third quarter.  Georgia cut it to 24-19 with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.  That was as close as the Dawgs got, in spite of a couple chances to take the lead late in the final quarter.  The Dawgs dominated most of the stats – 22 first downs to 14 for Nebraska and 416 total yards to 307 for Nebraska.  But when it came down to it, the Dawgs didn’t have a running game – only 96 yards rushing.  A crowd of 60,712 attended the game in Jacksonville.

Standin’ Rebels (in the Heart of Dallas Bowl) – North Texas 36, UNLV 14 (Touchdown Tom said: UNLV 21, North Texas 20).  Tied 7-7 at the half, the Mean Green scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to take a 28-7 lead midway through the fourth quarter.  It was all over for UNLV.  Each team added one more touchdown late in the final quarter.  The Mean Green limited UNLV to only 66 yards rushing.  A crowd of 38,380 attended the game in Dallas.

Cocky holds onto his feathers (in the Capital One Bowl) – South Carolina 34, Wisconsin 24 (Touchdown Tom said: South Carolina 26, Wisconsin 22).  This was a tight game until midway through the fourth quarter when South Carolina grabbed a 10-point lead.  The Gamecocks led early on – 13-7 midway through the second quarter.  But the Badgers had a 14-13 lead at the half and increased it to 17-13 early in the third quarter.  South Carolina retook the lead late in the third quarter and increased its lead to 27-17 early in the fourth.  On the ensuing kickoff return, Wisconsin returned it for a touchdown, reducing the Gamecocks’ lead to three – 27-24.  Then South Carolina all but put the game away about five minutes later, scoring a touchdown.  The teams were pretty even in the stats.  South Carolina was the better passing team, and Wisconsin, as expected, was the better running team.  Four turnovers hampered the Badgers.  A crowd of 56,629 attended the game in Orlando.

Tigers get the Bloomin’ Onion (in the Outback Bowl) – LSU 21, Iowa 14 (Touchdown Tom said: LSU 27, Iowa 23).  With the running of Jeremy Hill, LSU jumped out to a 14-0 first half lead on Iowa, and then held to beat the Hawkeyes.  Hill rushed for 216 yards.  Iowa cut the lead to seven midway through the third quarter.  But LSU answered with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.  The Hawkeyes added another touchdown with 01:42 remaining, but failed to get the ball on the ensuing onside kick.  LSU only had 82 yards passing, and Iowa was held to 76 yards rushing.  The Hawkeyes were hampered by turnovers.  A crowd of 51,296 attended the game in Tampa.

Red roses for a green Spartan (in the Rose Bowl) – Michigan State 24, Stanford 20 (Touchdown Tom said: Stanford 22, Michigan State 20).  Michigan State held on for the Rose Bowl crown in a game the Spartans never led until early in the fourth quarter.  Stanford had a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, and maintained a 17-7 lead late in the second quarter.  But the Spartans cut it to 17-14 just seconds prior to the halftime break.  Late in the third quarter, the Spartans tied the game 17-17, and then went ahead for good – 24-17 – early in the fourth quarter.  The best the Cardinal could do was kick a field goal with 04:15 remaining to cut the Spartans lead to four.  Stanford held Michigan State to 65 yards rushing, but the Spartans out passed the Cardinal 332 yards to 143.  A crowd of 95,173 attended the game in Pasadena.

Bryce was nice, but Bortles chortles (in the Fiesta Bowl) – UCF 52, Baylor 42 (Touchdown Tom said: Baylor 40, UCF 30).  UCF jumped out to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter and Baylor played catch up for the rest of the game.  The best the Bears could do was tie the score at 28-28 early in the third quarter.  The Knights outscored Baylor 24-14 after that.  The teams combined for 1,106 yards of offense.  UCF quarterback Blake Bortles passed for 301 yards and rushed for another 93.  The Knights managed to win in spite of suffering three turnovers.  A crowd of 65,172 attended the game in Glendale.

Sooners had a good Knight (in the Sugar Bowl) – Oklahoma 45, Alabama 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Alabama 28, Oklahoma 21).  This was a good game right up until 00:47 left on the clock when Oklahoma returned an Alabama fumble for a touchdown and went ahead 45-31.  The Tide and the Sooners played tit-for-tat until late in the second quarter when OU got two quick scores to go ahead 31-17.  The Sooners never again trailed in the game.  But Bama kept it close, pulling within seven – 31-24 – midway through the third quarter, and then again midway through the fourth quarter when the Tide closed the gap to seven at 38-31.  Bama bested the Sooners in both passing and rushing yardage, but five turnovers were a killer for the Tide.  The two quarterbacks combined for 735 yards passing.  OU’s Trevor Knight was a real surprise.  A crowd of 70,473 attended the game in New Orleans.

Cowboys couldn’t rope a Tiger (in the Cotton Bowl) – Missouri 41, Oklahoma State 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Oklahoma State 31, Missouri 30).  In an excellent game, Mizzou took the early lead and maintained it until early in the fourth quarter.  That’s when Okie State – never behind my more than 10 points – tied the score at 24 all.  The Cowboys finally went ahead for the first time at 31-27 with 05:04 left in the game.  The Tigers quickly retook the lead and survived a serious scare from Okie State to hang on and win.  Mizzou’s final score was on a 73-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 00:55 on the clock.  The teams combined for 1,010 yards of offense.  Okie State was the better passing team – 377 yards; Mizzou was the better running team – 256 yards.  A crowd of 72,690 attended the game in Arlington.

Tigers crack the Nuts (in the Orange Bowl) – Clemson 40, Ohio State 35 (Touchdown Tom said: Clemson 30, Ohio State 28).  Clemson held a slim lead throughout most of the first half until Ohio State grabbed 22-20 lead with 00:12 on the clock prior to the halftime break.  Midway through the third quarter, the Buckeyes increased their lead to 29-20.  Then the Tigers rallied to take a 34-29 lead just as the third quarter ended.  The fourth quarter was a nail biter.  Ohio State retook the lead at 35-34 early in the final period.  Five minutes later, with 06:16 on the clock, Clemson went back up 40-35.  The teams were equal in running, but Clemson was the superior passing team, throwing for 378 yards.  The Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd also rushed for 127 yards.  A crowd of 72,080 attended the game in Miami Gardens.

Houston had a problem (in the Compass Bowl) – Vanderbilt 41, Houston 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Vanderbilt 29, Houston 22).  At halftime, Vandy led 24-0.  By the end of the third quarter, the score was tied – 24-24.  In the fourth quarter, Vandy woke up from its third quarter nap and outscored Houston, 17-0.  Houston was the better passing team – 238 yards.  Vandy was the better running team – 211 yards.  Both quarterbacks completed less than 43 percent of their passes.  A crowd of 42,717 attended the game in Birmingham.

The Wolves deflated the Ball (in the Go Daddy Bowl) – Arkansas State 23, Ball State 20 (Touchdown Tom said: Ball State 32, Arkansas State 24).  Ball State led throughout the first half until 00:48 left in the second quarter when Arkansas State tied the score at 10-10.  The Red Wolves took the lead early in the third quarter and led until 01:33 left in the game when the Cardinals retook the lead at 20-16.  Then Arkansas State scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 00:32 left on the clock to win 23-30.  It was a wild game throughout.  Arkansas State was the better running team.  Ball State was the better passing team.  A crowd of 36,119 attended the game in Mobile.

Auburn didn’t have a Tiger in its tank (in the BCS National Championship Bowl) – Florida State 33, Auburn 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Auburn 34, Florida State 33).  Midway through the second quarter, Auburn jumped out to a 21-3 lead.  But the Tigers couldn’t sustain their success.  Little-by-little, FSU whittled away at Auburn’s lead.  The Noles closed the gap to one point, trailing the Tigers, 21-20, early in the fourth quarter.  Auburn added a field goal, but on the ensuing kickoff, FSU returned it for a touchdown and took a 27-24 lead with 4:31 remaining – the Noles first lead in the game.  Auburn retook the lead, 31-27, with 1:19 on the clock.  FSU answered with a touchdown in 66 seconds and won the game.  The stats were pretty close, with a slight edge to Auburn.  The Tigers Tre Mason rushed for 195 yards.  A crowd of 94,208 attended the game in Pasadena.

Last Week’s Bowl Picks:  8 Correct, 8 Wrong (50.0 percent)
Total Bowl Game Picks:   18 Correct, 17 Wrong (51.4 percent)




Superlatives

Impressive Passers:  Duke’s Anthony Boone – 29-45-2 for 427 yards; Alabama’s A.J. McCarron – 19-30-2-387; Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel – 30-38-0-382; Clemson’s Tajh Boyd – 31-40-2-378, and Oklahoma State’s Clint Chelf – 33-57-2-377.

Also, Baylor’s Bryce Petty – 30-47-1 for 356 yards; Oklahoma’s Trevor Knight – 32-44-1-348; Michigan State’s Connor Cook – 22-36-1-332; Georgia’s Hutson Mason – 21-39-1-320; South Carolina’s Connor Shaw – 22-25-0-312, and UCF’s Blake Bortles – 20-31-2-301.   




Impressive Runners:  LSU’s Jeremy Hill – 216 yards; Auburn’s Tre Mason – 195 yards; Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey – 169 yards, and UCLA’s Brett Hundley – 161 yards.   




Weekend Review

FCS Championship Game

North Dakota State 35, Towson 7




Quotes of the Week

“We have a Heisman quarterback, so it’s hard to talk about the running backs when you have a Heisman quarterback.  Jameis is doing his thing.  The backs, we’re not those guys that care if we get attention or not,” Florida State running back James Wilder.

“Georgia’s play matched the weather.  Messy.  Ugh,” Susan Stewart Eaton, after the Gator Bowl.

“You can print this.  You can print that I don’t really give a **** what the Paterno people think about what I do with this program.  I’ve done everything I can to show respect to coach Paterno.  Everything in my power.  So I could really care less about what the Paterno faction of people, or whatever you call them, think about what I do with the program.  I’m tired of it,” former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien on December 4, 2013, in an interview with David Jones of PennLive.com that was published January 1, 2014.
 
“For any ‘Paterno person’ to have any objection to what I’m doing, it makes me wanna put my fist through this windshield right now,” former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien, on December 4, 2013, in an interview with David Jones of PennLive.com that was published January 1, 2014.

“We’re a 13-1 football team, and we won the Rose Bowl.  Can’t get much better than that,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, after the Rose Bowl.

“We’re the first team from South Carolina to ever win a BCS game,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, after the Orange Bowl, getting a jab in on intra-state rival South Carolina.

“It’s been pretty clear that Jimbo Fisher’s blueprint for Florida State football was to build a team that looks like an SEC team,” ESPN analyst and former Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell.

“They physically look like an SEC football team.  They play SEC-type football,” Nevada coach Brian Polian, on Florida State.

“The bricks are there.  I just need to put another brick on top of it.  It’s time to put this program back on the national stage,” new Texas coach Charlie Strong, upon accepting the Longhorns’ job.



In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football…. Boise State and Cincinnati have agreed to a two-game, home-and-home series to be played in 2019 and 2020….  Mike Summers was hired as the new offensive line coach at Florida.  Summers was the O-line coach at USC during the 2013 season….  Former Kansas coach Mark Mangino has been hired as the new offensive coordinator for Iowa State. 

Touchdown Tom
(www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com)




P.S.

Not directly college football related, but sadly there were three passings of note last week – Johnny Orr, Phil Everly and Jerry Coleman.

Johnny Orr, a college basketball coach at Michigan and Iowa State who led the Wolverines and Cyclones to several NCAA tournament appearances, died last week in Des Moines.  He was 86.  Orr had a 12-year run at Michigan, taking the Wolverines to the NCAA final in 1976 and amassing a record of 209-113 in Ann Arbor.  Then after the 1979-80 season, he surprised many by leaving Michigan for Iowa State.  Before Orr arrived, the Cyclones had not been to the NCAA tournament since just after World War II.  During 14 seasons, he took them to the NCAA tournament six times, reaching the Sweet 16 in 1986.  Orr retired in 1994 with a record of 218-200 with the Cyclones.  John Michael Orr was born on June 10, 1927, in Taylorville, Illinois.  He played college basketball at Beloit College where he graduated in 1949.  In 1963, he was named the coach at Massachusetts.  Five years later, he went to Michigan and his Wolverines reached the Elite 8 three times.  One of his players at Iowa State – Jeff Hornacek – is now the coach of the Phoenix Suns.

Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, whose hits with his older brother Don carried the harmonies of country tradition into pioneering rock ‘n’ roll, died last week in Burbank, California.   He was 74.  With songs like “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Bye Bye Love,” “Cathy’s Clown,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream” and “When Will I Be Loved?,” the brothers were consistent hit makers in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Phil Everly was born in Chicago on January 19, 1939.  The family had left Kentucky, where Don was born in 1937.  They soon moved on to Iowa, where the family did music shows on the radio.  The family moved on to radio shows in Indiana and Tennessee.  In 1955, Phil and Don settled in Nashville where they were hired as songwriters before starting a recording career.  Other hit songs included “Bird Dog,” “Devoted to You,” “(Till) I Kissed You” and “Let It Be Me.”  Their hit making streak ended in the early 1960s, but they continued to tour and make albums.  The Everly Brothers had a summer variety series show on CBS in 1970.  The duo broke up in 1973 and then reunited in 1983 when they did a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London that was filmed as a documentary. 

Jerry Coleman, a former fighter pilot who played in six World Series as a New York Yankee but who made his most lasting mark as a broadcaster, first for the Yankees and then for the San Diego Padres, died Sunday in San Diego.  He was 89.  Coleman’s playing career was unspectacular.  But he was named the most valuable player in the 1950 World Series when the Yankees swept the Philadelphia Phillies.  As a Marine pilot, Coleman flew in the Pacific during World War II.  He became the broadcaster for the Padres in 1972.  Gerald Francis Coleman was born on September 14, 1924, in San Jose, California.  After he retired from baseball, he went into broadcasting on the advice from Howard Cosell.  He joined the Yankees broadcast team in 1963 and remained in the Yankees booth until 1969.  Coleman moved to California and worked three years for the Angels organization, before he began broadcasting for the Padres in 1972.  He left the broadcast booth to manage the Padres for one year in 1980, but returned to broadcasting after that season.