College Football Week 1 – Quarterbacks start your engines!
This Magic Moment ….

So different

It’s different all right. Here are the rules changes for the 2014 college football season:

1. Removal of the yardage penalty upon overturn of the player disqualification. When the Instant Replay Official reverses the disqualification of a player charged with a targeting foul and the foul was not accompanied by another personal foul, the 15-yard penalty is not enforced.

2. Games without instant replay: halftime video review. If a player is disqualified in the first half, at the option of the conference or by pre-game mutual agreement of the teams in the inter-conference game, during the intermission between halves the referee will be provided a video of the play in question for his review in the official’s private secure location. The referee will review the video to determine whether the disqualification is reversed. The decision of the referee is final.

3. Low hits on passers. When an offensive player is in a passing posture with one or both feet on the ground, no defensive player rushing unabated shall hit him forcibly at the knee area or below. The defensive player also may not initiate a roll or lunge and forcibly hit this opponent in the knee area or below. Note: (1) It is not a foul if the offensive player is a runner not in a passing posture. (2) It is not a foul if the defender grabs or wraps this opponent in an attempt to make a conventional tackle. (3) It is not a foul if the defender is not rushing unabated or is blocked or fouled into this opponent.

Good change. It was ridiculous last year when, upon review, the ref ruled that the targeting wasn’t a flagrant/personal foul, but the 15-yard penalty still stood.


and so new

And yes, it’s so new. We have a four-team playoff this season.

Also, Louisville begins its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Maryland and Rutgers play their first season in the Big Ten Conference. East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa are new members of the American Athletic Conference.

Old Dominion and Western Kentucky debut in Conference USA. And Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Idaho and New Mexico State compete for the first time in the Sun Belt Conference.

And believe it or not, we have four new bowl games.


Was like any other

There are no changes to the Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, MAC and MWC Conferences.


Until the ref’s whistle blew

Yeah, when the Texas A&M-South Carolina game kicks off Thursday evening, you can forget the past. This is a new season.


Sweeter than wine

I sure hope Bootsie and Rockledge Gator don’t drink too much wine at the Arkansas-Auburn game Saturday afternoon.


Softer than the summer night

I had fun this summer watching the Paul Finebaum show on TV. One evening, a Crimson Tide fan called Paul to express his concerns and anxiety about rookie Alabama quarterback Jacob Coker in the Tide’s first game. Paul responded, “Hell, what are you worried about. Alabama could start Larry Coker at quarterback and still beat West Virginia.”

I hope Dana Holgorsen was watching that night. That comment should be posted in the West Virginia locker room.


Everything I want I have

I’ve got plenty of cold pizza, chili dogs and beer for Saturday morning’s breakfast.


Nothing else can be so right

Well, I’ll wait until the end of the season before I comment on that one.


This magic moment
While the game is on the line
Will last forever
Forever ’til the end of time

Forever ’til the end of time comes on January 12, 2015. That’s when the national championship game will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In the four-team playoff, the two semifinal games will be played on January 1 in the Rose and Sugar Bowls.

The thirteen-member selection committee for the four-team playoff consists of chairman Jeff Long (Arkansas athletic director); Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin athletic director and former Wisconsin coach); Mike Gould (a retired three-star general in the Air Force, former Air Force football player and former superintendent of the Air Force Academy); Pat Haden (USC athletic director and former USC quarterback); Tom Jernstedt (former NCAA director and Oregon football player), and Oliver Luck (West Virginia athletic director and former WVU quarterback).

Also Archie Manning (former Ole Miss quarterback); Tom Osborne (former Nebraska coach); Dan Radakovich (Clemson athletic director); Condoleezza Rice (Stanford professor and former U.S. Secretary of State); Mike Tranghese (former Big East Conference commissioner); Steve Wieberg (former USA Today sports writer), and Tyrone Willingham (former Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington coach and Michigan State quarterback).

Every Tuesday, beginning on October 28, the selection committee will release its Top 25. The Top 4 teams in the December 9 Top 25 poll will compete in the playoff, with No. 1 meeting No. 4 and No. 2 playing No. 3 in the semifinals.

The best thing about college football – every game during the season is a playoff game. Every game counts.

Florida State and Alabama are the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams respectively and favored to play for the national championship. But there are a lot of analysts out there who think that this season’s national title game could be a repeat of last season – Auburn vs. Florida State. Yeah, a number of pundits think Auburn has the right ingredients to make it back to the championship game. Stay tuned!

As mentioned earlier, there are four new bowl games this year – 39 in all. I know what you are thinking: “That’s all we need – another bowl game.” The debut bowls will be played in Montgomery (Alabama), Miami, Boca Raton and Nassau (Bahamas). Montgomery, Alabama? Are you kidding me? Going to Montgomery is not a reward for a winning season. It’s punishment.

In case you missed it, two FCS teams got a head start on everyone else over the weekend. On the red carpet in Cheney, Washington, Eastern Washington beat Sam Houston State, 56-35, Saturday afternoon. Eastern Washington at Washington on September 6 could be interesting.

For the big boys, it all begins Thursday evening with Texas A&M at South Carolina and runs five-straight days, ending on Monday night with Miami (Florida) at Louisville. Five days in a row of college football!

Let the playoff begin!

Oh magic moment!

Touchdown Tom
August 25, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

(My apologies to Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman the composers of “This Magic Moment.” The song was recorded first by Ben E. King and The Drifters who took it to No. 16 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1960. It was later recorded by Jay and The Americans who took it to No. 6 on the Billboard chart in 1969.)


Quotes of the Week

“The Demon Deacon looks like Abe Lincoln and Lee Corso had a baby together,” Late Night show host Jimmy Kimmel.

“I know for a fact he will win the Heisman,” Auburn backup quarterback Jeremy Johnson, on teammate and quarterback Nick Marshall.

“If not for the defending national champion Seminoles and their No. 1 preseason ranking heading into the 2014 season, the state of Florida would be nothing more than Mississippi with more people and less chickens running around in our front yards,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi, on the sad state of football in Florida.

The Gators? What does it tell you when eight wins would be considered enough to save Will Muschamp’s job? Former coach Ron Zook got fired for eight-win seasons,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

Good grief, former Miami coach Larry Coker got fired for better seasons than Al Golden is currently choreographing,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“Thank goodness for Steve Spurrier and Les Miles. None of the other coaches in the SEC are any fun,” Rockledge Gator.


Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for
Opening Weekend’s 15 Biggest and Most Intriguing Games.…and then some

GAME OF THE WEEK: 1. Clemson at Georgia – (ACC vs. SEC) (TV: ESPN, 5:30 p.m. ET, Saturday) – These two teams met last year in their season opener. It was a big game. Both quarterbacks – Tajh Boyd (Clemson) and Aaron Murray (Georgia) – were returning starters. Clemson won in a thriller, 38-35. The teams meet again this year in their opening game. It’s a big game. Neither quarterback – Cole Stoudt (Clemson) and Hutson Mason (Georgia) – is a returning starter. But Mason does have a couple games under his belt. And Georgia has some horses in the backfield. The Dawgs win in a thriller – Georgia 28, Clemson 24.

RUNNER UP: 2. Wisconsin vs. LSU – (Big Ten vs. SEC) (TV: ESPN, 9 p.m. ET, Saturday, NRG Stadium, Houston) – Wisconsin comes in under second-year coach Gary Andersen. LSU enters the game under veteran coach Les Miles. Both teams are starting new quarterbacks. Wisconsin has a Heisman candidate – Melvin Gordon – in its backfield. LSU has some studs on defense. The Badgers are favored to win the Big Ten West Division. The Tigers are picked to come in third in the SEC West Division. But third place in the SEC West is better than first place in the Big Ten West – LSU 27, Wisconsin 20.

REST OF THE BEST: 3. Texas A&M at South Carolina – (SEC vs. SEC) (TV: SECN, 6 p.m. ET, Thursday) – The Gamecocks often have a tendency to play sloppy in their opening games. Playing sloppy in this year’s opener could be dangerous. Granted, Johnny Manziel is no longer with the Aggies, but Kevin Sumlin has been recruiting well. And one assumes the Aggies will play defense this year. The “Head Ball Coach” has been up to his ol’ tricks again – dissing his opponent. On Texas A&M: “They haven’t played the bigger teams.” Gamecocks win sloppy – South Carolina 26, Texas A&M 19.

4. Florida State vs. Oklahoma State – (ACC vs. Big 12) (TV: ABC, 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas) – The defending national champions are heavily favored. This will be one of those rare times when the Indians beat the Cowboys. It never happened that way in the movies. I’m just wondering if the crab legs taste as good in Arlington as they do in Tallahassee. Noles turn AT&T Stadium into a crab shack – Florida State 33, Oklahoma State 15.

5. Boise State vs. Ole Miss – (MWC vs. SEC) (TV: ESPN, 8 p.m. ET, Thursday, Georgia Dome, Atlanta) – There was a time when Boise State used to come east and beat up on some pretty good teams – Virginia Tech, Georgia. But this ain’t Chris Petersen’s Boise State anymore. Meanwhile Bo Wallace and Ole Miss have a lot to prove this year. The Rebel Bears win their first case – Ole Miss 30, Boise State 15.

6. Miami (Florida) at Louisville – (ACC vs. ACC) (TV: ESPN, 8 p.m. ET, Monday) – Bobby Petrino is proof that you can go home again. Who would have ever thought that Louisville would invite him back? But how many football games he wins will determine how long he can stay. Has anyone checked to see when volleyball season begins at Louisville? Al Golden isn’t banned from the volleyball games at Miami. But he will be banned from the school if he doesn’t start winning more games. Cardinals are happy chirpers in their ACC debut – Louisville 27, Miami 24.

7. Ohio State vs. Navy – (Big Ten vs. Ind.) (TV: CBSSN, 12 noon ET, Saturday, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore) – Urban Meyer starts his second season with the Buckeyes. With the loss of Braxton Miller, this game may be closer than originally thought. Then again, it may not. Ohio State recruits well – very well. We don’t need no Braxton Miller – Ohio State 28, Navy 19.

8. West Virginia vs. Alabama – (Big 12 vs. SEC) (TV: ABC/ESPN2, 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Georgia Dome, Atlanta) – Alabama fans leave at the end of the third quarter when the Tide is winning big. WVU fans leave at the end of the third quarter when the Mountaineers are losing big. Something tells me the Georgia Dome will be empty in the fourth quarter. Dana Holgorsen enters the season on the hot seat and the scheduling gods weren’t kind to him. Either I’m dumb or I’m being kind to WVU – Alabama 28, West Virginia 14.

9. Arkansas at Auburn – (SEC vs. SEC) (TV: SECN, 4 p.m. ET, Saturday) – Bret Bielema has only been at Arkansas one season and already he is on the hot seat. The Hogs were 3-9 last year, losing their last nine games after a 3-0 start. They are about to lose their 10th-straight game. Last year, Auburn won its last nine games, before losing to Florida State in the national championship. Tiger fans are expecting another run for the national title. Why not? Nick Marshall is back. And the defense should be better. Bootsie and Rockledge Gator will be at the game. We allow them to cheer for Auburn every now and then – as long as they don’t overdo it. Aubie steps on the Pigs’ feet – Auburn 30, Arkansas 18.

10. Fresno State at USC – (MWC vs. Pac-12) (TV: Fox, 7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday) – A new regime takes over in Troy. Former Washington coach Steve Sarkisian has been hired to lead the Trojans. He’ll have his hands full in the opener. Fresno State loves to get after the Trojans. But the Bulldogs don’t have the jowls to do it this year. The Sarkisian way – USC 34, Fresno State 19.

11. UCF vs. Penn State – (AAC vs. Big Ten) (TV: ESPN2, 8:30 a.m. ET, Saturday, Croke Park Stadium, Dublin, Ireland) – This game is scheduled to be played in Dublin, but it may end up being played in the good ol’ USA. Neither team may get a chance to fly to Ireland. It all depends on Iceland’s Bardarbunga volcano. If Bardarbunga decides to blow its top, the volcano could disrupt the air traffic between the U.S. and Europe. The two teams aren’t scheduled to fly out until Tuesday evening. Even worse is the thought that the two teams could get stuck in Ireland. If Bardarbunga erupts later in the week, Penn State and UCF may not be able to return to the U.S. And the Nittany Lions have a game against Akron on September 6. More reason the game could end up in the U.S. UCF has a new quarterback and Penn State has a new coach – James Franklin. The Knights stepped into the big time last year, beating Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. But this is a new year. Nittany go Bragh – Penn State 24, UCF 20.

12. UCLA at Virginia – (Pac-12 vs. ACC) (TV: ESPN, 12 noon ET, Saturday) – Jim Mora has done wonders in Westwood. He has put the Bruins on the map again. Of course it didn’t hurt having quarterback Brett Hundley. Hundley – a Heisman contender – brings his show east to demonstrate his talents. The Bruins are likely the first nail in Mike London’s coffin this season. The Bruins cover London in fog – UCLA 30, Virginia 20.

13. Utah State at Tennessee – (MWC vs. SEC) (TV: SECN, 7 p.m. ET, Sunday) – This should be a no brainer for the Vols, but the Aggies are a feisty bunch. They have a nifty quarterback in Chuckie Keeton. In his second season in Knoxville, Butch Jones needs to improve on last year’s 5-7 record. Chances are he will. Jones needs to get the Vols in a bowl. The Vols melt Chuckie’s cheese – Tennessee 33, Utah State 22.

14. UTSA at Houston – (C-USA vs. AAC) (TV: ESPNU, 9 p.m. ET, Friday) – This should be a fun game to watch. UTSA is an up-and-coming team. Former Miami coach Larry Coker has done a good job developing the program in San Antonio. The Roadrunners are picked to win the C-USA West Division. Houston is a contender for the AAC crown. The Cougars have an upstart quarterback in John O’Korn. Cougars escape by a whisker – Houston 32, UTSA 30.

15. Rutgers vs. Washington State – (Big Ten vs. Pac-12) (TV: FS1, 10 p.m. ET, Thursday, CenturyLink Stadium, Seattle) – Mike Leech is making improvements in Pullman. In his second season last year, he coached the Cougars to a bowl game. They should be better this year. Rutgers is like a cat chasing its tail. The Scarlet Knights aren’t sure where they are going – round-and-round, up or down. But probably down. The Cougars outpoint the Knights – Washington State 36, Rutgers 28.


…AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

16. BYU at Connecticut – (Ind. vs. AAC) (TV: ESPN, 7 p.m. ET, Friday) – The Cougars should be awesome on offense in 2014 with Taysom Hill at quarterback and Jamaal Williams at running back. That’s a powerful duo. A non-Power 5 Independent, BYU may struggle to maintain its football legacy. But the Cougars shouldn’t struggle against UConn. The Huskies are under their third coach in five years. Huskies can’t get out of the dog house – BYU 34, Connecticut 25.


YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS:

Idaho at Florida – (Sun Belt vs. SEC) (TV: ESPNU, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday) – This is the make or break season for Will Muschamp in Gainesville. Eight wins and it’s probably a make. Less than eight wins and it’s a break. Muschamp has a hot new offensive coordinator – Kurt Roper. Roper performed wonders at Duke. As long as Muschamp keeps his mouth shut, Roper should perform wonders at Florida. Muschamp knows defense. But he doesn’t know doodley-poop about offense. Florida needs to keep Muschamp gagged when the Gators have the ball. Albert handles the Vandals – Florida 49, Idaho 7.

Florida Atlantic at Nebraska – (C-USA vs. Big Ten) (TV: BTN, 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday) – Are you kidding me? Nebraska is opening against the school that fired Bo Pelini’s brother last year. Granted, Carl Pelini was getting high with a little help from his friends. And I’m not talking about alcohol. But still, Bo has to be pissed. Not at his brother, but at FAU. After all, Bo likes to get a little help from his friends too. No mercy from Bo and the Huskers – Nebraska 56, Florida Atlantic 0.

Elon at Duke – (Colonial vs. ACC) (TV: None, 6 p.m. ET, Saturday) – Ding-dong, Elon calling. There was a time when the Dookies would open against a team like Elon and either lose or barely win. But this ain’t your grandmother’s Dookie team anymore. Your grandfather’s either. This is David Cutcliffe’s Dookies. They’re good. Avon…..I mean…..Elon gets its bell rung – Duke 31, Elon 9.

Western Michigan at Purdue – (MAC vs. Big Ten) (TV: ESPNU, 12 noon ET, Saturday) – Some say this could be Purdue coach Darrell Hazell’s last year in West Lafayette. Last year? He’s only been there one year. Hazell must have made one heck of an impression last year. Well, the Boilers were just 1-11 in 2013. The one win was against Indiana State – and only by six points. Thank goodness Southern Illinois is on the schedule or this might be the Boilers only win in 2014. Boilers break the Broncos – Purdue 27, Western Michigan 22.

North Texas at Texas – (C-USA vs. Big 12) (TV: LN, 8 p.m. ET, Saturday) – The Charlie Strong era begins in Austin. It took Mack Brown eight seasons to win the national championship at Texas. Then it took him eight more seasons to get fired. Strong should be happy with 16 seasons at Texas. He’ll be ready to retire then. But he’ll need a national championship to last that long – and maybe sooner than eight seasons. No problem in his debut. Bevo takes the Mean out of the Green – Texas 37, North Texas 12.


ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA:

Western Carolina at South Florida – (Southern vs. AAC) (TV: None, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday) .... Bethune-Cookman at Florida International – (MEAC vs. C-USA) (TV: None, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday) .... Florida A&M at Jackson State – (MEAC vs. SWAC) (TV: None, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday).

Jacksonville U. at SE Louisiana – (Pioneer vs. Southland) (TV: None, 8 p.m. ET, Saturday) .... Stetson at Warner – (Pioneer vs. Ind.) (TV: None, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday) .... Florida Tech opens next week.


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Former Texas running back Joe Bergeron has enrolled at Texas A&M-Commerce after being dismissed from Texas for undisclosed rules violations in July. Texas A&M-Commerce is a division II school…. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has named sophomore Patrick Towles the starting quarterback for the Wildcats this season…. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino has selected sophomore Will Gardner as the Cardinal’s starting quarterback.

Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay announced the school may drop football…. The Florida Atlantic board of trustees has voted to name the FAU stadium’s playing surface Howard Schnellenberger Field, honoring the man who coached FAU for the first 11 years of the program’s existence…. Sophomore Chad Voytik has been named the starting quarterback for Pitt when the Panthers open their season August 30 against Delaware.

True freshman Brad Kaaya has been named the starting quarterback at Miami (Florida)…. Texas Tech transfer Michael Brewer has been named the starting quarterback at Virginia Tech…. Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen has chosen Tanner McEvoy the starting quarterback for the Badgers…. Sophomore Patton Robinette has won the starting quarterback job at Vanderbilt….. Sophomore Jeff Lindquist has been named the starting quarterback at Washington.

Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but as the Labor Day weekend approached and college football fans were stoked for the start of another great season, the number one song in the country…

…70 years ago this week in 1944 was “Swinging on a Star” by Bing Crosby

…65 years ago this week in 1949 was “Some Enchanted Evening” by Perry Como

…60 years ago this week in 1954 was “Sh-Boom” by The Crew-Cuts

…55 years ago this week in 1959 was “The Three Bells” by The Browns

…50 years ago this week in 1964 was “Where Did Our Love Go” by The Supremes

…45 years ago this week in 1969 was “Honky Tonk Women” by The Rolling Stones

…40 years ago this week in 1974 was “(You’re) Having My Baby” by Paul Anka and Odia Coates

…35 years ago this week in 1979 was “My Sharona” by The Knack

…30 years ago this week in 1984 was “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, Jr.

…25 years ago this week in 1989 was “Right Here Waiting” by Richard Marx

…20 years ago this week in 1994 was “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories


Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there were four passings of note last week – Jim Jeffords, Jerry Lumpe, Don Pardo and Richard Attenborough.

Jim Jeffords, the former senator from Vermont who, in 2001, after a quarter-century as a moderate Republican lawmaker, declared himself an independent, died last week. He was 80. James Merrill Jeffords was born on May 11, 1934, in Rutland, Vermont. He graduated from Yale.

Jerry Lumpe, who played the infield for the New York Yankees in two World Series in the 1950s and was later an All-Star second baseman with the Detroit Tigers, died last week in Springfield, Missouri. He was 81. Lumpe was named to the All-Star team in 1964. Jerry Dean Lumpe was born on June 22, 1933, in Lincoln, Missouri. He was a basketball star in high school. Lumpe played basketball for Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University) in 1952 and 1953 when the school won the NAIA national championship. He played 12 seasons in major league baseball before retiring after the 1967 season.

Don Pardo, the long-time announcer for “Saturday Night Live,” died last week in Tucson, Arizona. He was 96. Pardo was with “SNL” for 38 seasons, beginning with its first episode in October 1975. For many years, he had been the announcer on “The Price Is Right” and “Jeopardy.” Dominick George Pardo was born on February 22, 1918, in Westfield, Massachusetts. Pardo’s career began in radio in 1944 and continued on television through to the end of “SNL’s” most recent season in May.

Richard Attenborough, who after a distinguished acting career reinvented himself to become the internationally acclaimed director of the movie “Gandhi” and other films, died on Sunday. He was 90. In London, he was the original detective in Agatha Christie’s play “The Mousetrap.” He found a trans-Atlantic audience when he appeared with Steve McQueen in the 1963 film “The Great Escape.” He was the British officer who masterminded the escape plan. Other movies included “The Flight of the Phoenix” (1965), “The Sand Pebbles” (1966), also with McQueen, “Doctor Dolittle” (1967), “Young Winston” (1972) and “A Bridge Too Far” (1977). He directed “Gandhi” in 1982. Richard Samuel Attenborough was born in Cambridge, England, on August 29, 1923.