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.