Monday, December 29, 2014

College Football Week 19 – Harbaugh to Michigan
Bowl games, hook ’em down, bourbon balls,
a trip to the panhandle and where were the
girls in bikinis? Christmas week was fun

Christmas week began with Colorado State announcing that Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is the Rams new head coach. From what I hear, many Dawg fans were cheering when they heard this news. Bobo’s offense never has been popular with many of the Georgia faithful.

And this is the second-straight time Colorado State has picked an offensive coordinator from the SEC to be its head coach. Three years ago, CSU hired Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain. Now McElwain is the coach of Florida. Maybe three years from now, Bobo will be the coach at Georgia.

The first bowl of Christmas week was the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl. I’m not sure where they came up with Beach in the name of this bowl. There was nothing Beach about it. I can imagine how disappointed the players were when they took the field and there was no sand, no surf, no sea shells, and no girls in bikinis. They must have felt duped.

What a sham – Miami Beach Bowl? The game was played on the mainland in Miami, not in or on Miami Beach. More specifically, it was played in Marlins Park, the home of the Florida Marlins baseball team. I’m sure Beach in the name made the bowl sound sexier. Who wants to go to a bowl called the Miami Mainland Bowl. There’s nothing sexy about that. But where were the girls in bikinis?

There were more BYU and Memphis players on the field than there were fans in the stands at Marlins Park. I figured the fans must have been over on Miami Beach looking for the stadium.

Memphis beat BYU in the Mainland….I mean….Beach Bowl, 55-48, in two overtimes. But the best part of the game was the fight that ensued at the end. No sooner had Memphis intercepted a BYU pass that gave the Tigers the win in the second overtime and a fight erupted. For a while, I thought the fight was going to last longer than the game itself. It was a real donnybrook – the fight, not the game.

Well, the game did have its exciting moments. Memphis scored with 45 seconds left to put the game into overtime. But where was the sand, the surf, the sea shells? And the girls in bikinis? Maybe that’s why the players were fighting.

It was a beautiful day in east-central Florida on December 22. Swamp Mama and I went for a stroll on the beach. It was a sunny day with temps in the high 70s. Sure didn’t feel like Christmas.

The pundits keep saying that Jim Harbaugh is torn between the Oakland Raiders and the University of Michigan. They say Harbaugh definitely will be coaching one of those two teams next season. Stay tuned!

And they are saying that Pitt has its eyes on Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi.

Two days before Christmas and it is obvious that Michigan wants Harbaugh bad. The Wolverines not only want Harbaugh, they are obsessed with getting him – almost to the point of being freaky – sick. Kind of like one of those movies.

I see where Butch Davis said that if Miami ever gets rid of Al Golden, he would like to coach the Canes again. Davis must be a desperate man. He went after every opening in the country at the end of the season – some before the season was over. Now he’s going after the Miami job and it’s not even open.

Baine Kerr, the lawyer for Jameis Winston’s accuser, called the recent Florida State code of conduct hearing “biased” and a “sham.” He said “the fix was in.” The hearing cleared Winston of any wrong doing.

I have no judgment on the hearing one way or the other. I just thought it was interesting that when Winston was asked by the judge if the girl gave consent to their sexual encounter. Winston replied, “Yes.” The judge asked how she gave consent. Winston said, “She moaned.”

Whenever Swamp Mama moans, I know to stay as far away from her as I can get.

Speaking of Swamp Mama, she and I went to The Fresh Market in Vero Beach during the day. We have to get our fix every couple months. Next year (2015) a Fresh Market is opening in Brevard County. We won’t have to go as far to get our fix. And I suspect we’ll be getting our fix more often too.

Well, Pat Narduzzi to Pitt appears to be a done deal. But the official announcement won’t be made until after Christmas. Narduzzi will be Pitt’s fifth coach in the last five years, seventh in the last 20 years and 10th in the last 30 years. Plus four interim coaches in the last 22 years.

New Florida coach Jim McElwain announced that Michigan offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier will be the Gators’ OC. When McElwain vacated the offensive coordinator job at Alabama at the end of the 2011 season to become the head coach at Colorado State, he was replaced by Nussmeier.

Alabama won a national championship in the 2012 season with Nussmeier running the Tide’s offense. He left Alabama after the 2013 season to become the OC under Brady Hoke at Michigan. At Michigan, Nussmeier’s offense was 111th in the country.

I made a big batch of the Chex party mix. I love that stuff. It’s the second batch I’ve made in a week. Already went through the first batch. The Chex party mix is great to munch on while watching bowl games – that and Karlene Tuttle’s bourbon balls. And Deb Gum’s stollen. It’s a wonder I don’t make myself sick.

In the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl – notice they didn’t call it the Boca Raton Beach Bowl – Marshall beat Northern Illinois, 52-23. Actually, I don’t think Boca Raton has a beach. It’s a shame Marshall wasn’t matched in a bowl game against a stronger team. One of the better teams from the AAC or MWC would have been a good match. The Herd deserved a decent opponent. NIU wasn’t a decent opponent.

The Poinsettia Bowl was as bad, if not worse, than the New Orleans Bowl. It was every bit as B-O-R-I-N-G. Neither team played like it wanted to win. Navy beat San Diego State 17-16.

On the morning of Christmas Eve, Swamp Mama and I went to movies to see “The Theory of Everything.” We weren’t disappointed. Great flick!

About the only thing bad about the inaugural Bahamas Bowl were the commentators – Lou Holtz and Mark May. Otherwise, it was an excellent game if you like offense. Trailing 49-14 early in the fourth quarter, Central Michigan scored 34 unanswered points, only to come up short by one point. Western Kentucky beat CMU, 49-48.

After their final touchdown, the Chippewas attempted a two-point conversion, but failed. CMU’s final touchdown was scored as the clock expired. The only other bad thing about the bowl was the attendance. There were less people in stands than at that prize fight…..I mean…..bowl game in Miami.

In the nightcap on Christmas Eve, Rice had no gifts for Fresno State. The Owls barred the Bulldogs, 30-6 in the Hawaii Bowl. The Rice defense humiliated both Fresno State quarterbacks.

Christmas morning, Swamp Mama and I hit the road, driving to north Florida for our Holiday visit with Princess Gator, Bama Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe. It was a new experience for us – our first time driving on Christmas Day. But it may not be our last.

I have to tell you it was very pleasant driving the Florida Turnpike, I-75 and I-10 without any traffic. There were a number of cars, actually more than we thought there would be, but not a great number of them. The noticeable difference – and what a difference – was the trucks. There were none.

I’ve thought for some time that we need to get the 18-wheelers off the highways and transport our goods by rail. After driving 417 miles without any trucks, I’m convinced we need to do that.

Christmas Day and the day after (Boxing Day) were beautiful in Florida’s panhandle. The skies were clear and blue, the air was dry and the temps were pleasantly cool. It felt like Christmas without the snow.

After the first two bowl games following Christmas Day, one thing was very clear – Illinois coach Tim Beckman and North Carolina coach Larry Fedora will enter the 2015 on the hot seat – a very hot seat. Both coaches and their respective teams could not have looked worse.

First, Illinois lost to Louisiana Tech, 35-18, in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. The Banned Indians were pathetic. Then, North Carolina was just as pathetic – if not more so – in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Tar Heels lost to Rutgers, 40-21.

West Virginia announced that quarterback Clint Trickett will not play for the Mountaineers in its upcoming Liberty Bowl game against Texas A&M. Trickett, who has suffered multiple concussions, was not medically cleared to play in the game. And as expected, Pitt made it official the day after Christmas. Pat Narduzzi is the Panthers new coach.

In the nightcap on December 26, NC State beat UCF, 34-27, in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Notice it wasn’t called the St. Petersburg Beach Bowl.

Saturday was a mixed day in the Florida panhandle – mostly sunny with a few thin clouds early, but cloudier with some light rain showers in the afternoon. The skies cleared Saturday night. The temps remained pleasant.

Princess Gator, Bama Gator, Gator Gabe, Gator Babe, Swamp Mama and I released two sky lanterns Saturday night – out first experience at launching the lanterns. It was amazing how high and far they traveled. We joked about airplane pilots reporting strange objects in the sky.

Saturday was a busy day for bowl games – five in all. First up was the Military Bowl, where Virginia Tech beat Cincinnati, 33-17, while Hokie coach Frank Beamer watched (or coached) from the press box – shades of Joe Paterno and Barry Alvarez.

Entering the Sun Bowl Saturday, Duke last won a bowl game in 1961. Leaving the Sun Bowl, Duke still hasn’t won a bowl game since 1961. Arizona State edged the Blue Devils, 36-31.

The Independence Bowl featured two coaches who had disappointing seasons – Steve Spurrier and Al Golden. Very disappointing seasons. Both coaches were desperate for a win to finish the season on a positive note. Spurrier got the win, as South Carolina held off Miami (Florida), 24-21.

In the Bronx, in Yankee Stadium, Boston College committed the ultimate sin. The Eagles failed to split the uprights on an extra point kick in overtime. Penn State capitalized on its extra point kick. The Nittany Lions beat BC in the Pinstripe Bowl, 31-30 (OT). More fans went to the Pinstripe Bowl than Derek Jeter’s last home game.

In the nightcap Saturday, USC and Nebraska put on a typical offensive show in the Holiday Bowl. It wouldn’t be a Holiday Bowl unless a lot of points are scored. The Trojans and the Huskers combined for 87 points and 1,040 total yards. In the end, USC beat Nebraska, 45-42. The Huskers were coached by interim coach Barney Cotton. If Bo Pelini had been coaching, Nebraska probably would have lost by 28 to 35 points.

Yesterday, Swamp Mama and I hit the road, leaving the Panhandle behind to return to the beaches of east-central Florida. It was a pleasant day for driving – both weather and traffic – until we hit I-75. Oh, the weather remained pleasant, but the traffic was a different story.

From Lake City to the Florida Turnpike, I-75 was three lanes of wall-to-wall vehicles. Sometimes, we barely moved. It was practically as bad in the north-bound lanes. There were almost as many people leaving Florida as there were entering. And the trucks. Yes, the trucks. They were back – in full force.

Fortunately, once we exited I-75 onto the Florida Turnpike, the traffic thinned somewhat. The conditions improved considerably. It was smooth sailing the rest of the way home.

There were no bowl games Sunday. We needed a break. But there was considerable news on the college football front. Utah and its coach Kyle Whittingham may part ways. Whittingham, it seems, is in a big fight with his athletic director Chris Hill over the salaries of Whittingham’s assistant coaches.

Apparently the spat has been going on since last summer. Whittingham wants more money for his assistants. The dispute could well end in one of two ways – Whittingham may quit, or Hill may fire him. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, in Gainesville, there are no spats that we know of, but Gator quarterback Jeff Driskel could be playing football for the Duke Blue Devils next season. Driskel, who will obtain his undergraduate degree from Florida, may transfer to Duke. He has a year of eligibility left and would be available to play for the Blue Devils immediately. Sounds like Jim McElwain’s dog Claire-a-bell just may be a better quarterback than Driskel after all.

Then there was Arkansas coach Bret Bielema flashing the “Horns down” sign with his left hand while shaking Texas coach Charlie Strong’s hand at a Texas Bowl pre-game press conference. The downwards “Hook ’em Horns” sign is considered to be a slur on Texas. Don’t you just love coaches? They can be like little kids sometimes.

And finally, it appears to be all but certain – Jim Harbaugh is headed to Ann Arbor. That $8-to-$10 million a year carrot dangling out there was too much to turn down. It’s much better than a Super Bowl ring.

About halfway through the bowl games and the Pac-12 (3-0) and C-USA (4-1) are looking good. The ACC (2-4), MWC (2-4) and MAC (1-3) are looking bad. Stay tuned!

Speaking of looking good – well, more like, okay – I’m 11-7 on my bowl predictions. I was hurting at 6-7 going into Saturday’s five games. But I was a perfect 5-0 on those results. Eighteen bowls down and 20 to go, plus a championship game. Stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

Touchdown Tom
December 29, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


Review of the Bowls (13 more)

What a fight! (in the Miami Beach Bowl) – Memphis 55, BYU 48 (2OT) (Touchdown Tom said: BYU 34, Memphis 32). An ugly brawl broke out as soon as the game ended. And that was the second ugly thing of the game. The first was turnovers. In addition to the fight, the game was marred by nine turnovers – five by BYU and four by Memphis. Memphis took the initial lead in the game at 7-0 early in the first quarter. Although there were two ties, BYU never led until just before the half when the Cougars went up 28-24. Memphis retook the lead in the third quarter and led 38-28 at the start of the fourth quarter. BYU again retook the lead at 45-38 with 7:48 left in the game. The Tigers tied the score at 45-45 on a 5-yard pass from Paxton Lynch to Keiwone Malone with 0:45 on the clock. Both teams kicked a field goal in the first overtime. Memphis scored and held the Cougars scoreless in the second overtime. Both teams had more than 300 yards passing, but BYU only had 77 yards rushing to 174 for the Tigers. Attendance in Miami: 20,761

What’s up Doc? (in the Boca Raton Bowl) – Marshall 52, Northern Illinois 23 (Touchdown Tom said: Marshall 34, Northern Illinois 31). NIU scored first, midway through the opening quarter. Then it was pretty much all Marshall after that. Before the quarter ended, the Herd was up 14-7. Although Marshall generally dominated the game, the Huskies kept it interesting until midway through the third quarter when the Herd went up 31-13. Marshall’s Devon Johnson rushed for 131 yards and receiver Tommy Shuler had 18 receptions for 185 yards. Attendance in Boca Raton: 29,419

Football at its worst (in the Poinsettia Bowl) – Navy 17, San Diego State 16 (Touchdown Tom said: San Diego State 28, Navy 25). Look at the score and you might think the defenses were really good. But actually, the offenses were really bad – really bad. The game was marred by seven turnovers – four by Navy and three by San Diego State. Attendance in San Diego: 33,077

It ain’t over ’til it’s over (in the Bahamas Bowl) – Western Kentucky 49, Central Michigan 48 (Touchdown Tom said: Western Kentucky 42, Central Michigan 30). Would you believe, I wouldn’t if I hadn’t seen it, that WKU led CMU 49-14 at the start of the fourth quarter? In fact, the Hilltoppers led 49-14 at three and a half minutes into the fourth quarter. Then the Chippewas scored 34 unanswered points in the final 11:37 of the game. That’s a touchdown every 2 minutes and 19 seconds. The final TD was scored as time expired. CMU failed on a two-point conversion attempt. The teams combined for 1,254 total yards. Both coaches should fire their defensive coordinators. Attendance in Nassau: 13,667

Arborio! Arborio! (in the Hawaii Bowl) – Rice 30, Fresno State 6 (Touchdown Tom said: Fresno State 27, Rice 19). Rice took a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter and never looked back. The Owls’ defense held Fresno State to 93 yards passing. Rice quarterback Driphus Jackson passed for 318 yards. Attendance in Honolulu: 25,365

The Big Ten is so bad – (in the Heart of Dallas Bowl) – Louisiana Tech 35, Illinois 18 (Touchdown Tom said: Illinois 31, Louisiana Tech 25). Louisiana Tech never trailed in the game. The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter and held the lead until the final gun. The Banned Indians out-passed (329 yards to 247) and out-rushed (122 yards to 114) La Tech, but Illinois couldn’t out-score the Bulldogs. Attendance in Dallas: 31,297

The Knights were in the fast lane – (in the Quick Lane Bowl) – Rutgers 40, North Carolina 21 (Touchdown Tom said: North Carolina 34, Rutgers 28). Rutgers led 23-0 at halftime and increased the lead to 40-7 early in the fourth quarter. North Carolina was never in the game. The Scarlet Knights had two runners rush for 100 yards or more – Josh Hicks (202 yards) and Robert Martin (100 yards). Tar Heels’ quarterback Marquise Williams passed for 198 yards and rushed for 51 yards. Attendance in Detroit: 23,876

Dancing with Wolves – (in the St. Petersburg Bowl) – NC State 34, UCF 27 (Touchdown Tom said: UCF 26, NC State 22). Early in the second quarter, UCF led 10-7. But that was the last time the Knights led in the game. Three minutes after UCF went up 10-7, NC State scored to go up 14-10. The Wolfpack went on to build up a 34-13 lead by late in the fourth quarter. Then the Knights rallied with two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the game. But the rally fell short by 7 points. The two teams were equal in passing, but the difference was in the running game. NC State had a ground attack and UCF didn’t. The Wolfpack outrushed the Knights 187 yards to 82 yards. Attendance in St. Petersburg: 26,675

Shane ball (in the Military Bowl) – Virginia Tech 33, Cincinnati 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 18). After a tug of war for two quarters, Virginia Tech went up 13-10 as the first half clock expired. In the second half, the Hokies went on to build that lead to 30-10 by early in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats were the better passing team (345 yards to 124), while Va Tech was the better rushing team (210 yards to 144). The Bearcats suffered from three turnovers. The Hokies J.C. Coleman rushed for 157 yards. Recovering from recent throat surgery, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer watched the game from the press box. His son, Shane, was running things from the sideline. Attendance in Annapolis: 34,277

Deviled Dookies (in the Sun bowl) – Arizona State 36, Duke 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Arizona State 33, Duke 31). After trailing 20-3 midway through the second quarter and 30-17 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Dookies hung in there and fought back to take a 31-30 lead with 5:03 to go in the game. Eighteen seconds later, Arizona State scored to retake the lead at 36-31. In the closing minutes, the Dookies drove down to the Sun Devils’ goal line, but an interception stopped their drive. The teams were about as evenly matched as you can get. Duke led in total yards, 400 to 392. ASU led in passing yards, 240 to 235. Duke led in rushing yards, 165 to 152. ASU led in first downs, 22 to 21. But Duke led in turnovers, 2 to 0. Attendance in El Paso: 47,809

Chicken supreme (in the Independence Bowl) – South Carolina 24, Miami (Florida) 21 (Touchdown Tom said: South Carolina 30, Miami 26). Early in the second quarter, Miami led 6-0. But by halftime, South Carolina led 17-6. In the fourth quarter, the Canes scored with 2:16 on the clock to pull within three points at 24-21. Then the Gamecocks held on to win. Miami’s defense held South Carolina to 60 yards rushing, but the Gamecocks (Dylan Thompson) had 284 yards passing. The Canes’ Duke Johnson had 132 yards rushing. Attendance in Shreveport: 38,242

Wide right (in the Pinstripe Bowl) – Penn State 31, Boston College 30 (OT) (Touchdown Tom said: Penn State 24, Boston College 20). Penn State took a 7-0 lead with 5:22 to go in the first quarter. The score was tied 7-7 at the half. BC went ahead 14-7 midway through the third quarter and increased its lead to 21-7 late in the third. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions tied the score at 21-21. Trailing 24-21, Penn State’s Sam Ficken kicked a 45-yard field goal with 0:20 on the clock and the score was tied for the third time – 24-24. In overtime, BC scored but the kick went wide on the extra point. The Nittany Lions scored and made their PAT. Penn State dominated the passing, 371 yards to 97. BC dominated the running game, 285 yards to 82. State’s Christian Hackenberg passed for 371 yards. BC had two runners rush for more than 100 yards each – Jon Hilliman (148) and quarterback Tyler Murphy (105). Attendance in Bronx: 49,012

Fodder (in the Holiday Bowl) – USC 45, Nebraska 42 (Touchdown Tom said: USC 33, Nebraska 28). USC held Nebraska scoreless in the second quarter. Nebraska held USC scoreless in the fourth quarter. The Huskers led 17-10 at the end of the first quarter. The Trojans led 24-17 at the half. In the third quarter, USC built up a 45-27 lead. Then Nebraska rallied, scoring 15 points (two touchdowns) to cut USC’s lead to 3, with 6:52 remaining in the game. It was a stalemate after that. Nebraska won the passing game, 381 yards to 321. USC won the ground game, 194 yards to 144. The Huskers’ Tommy Armstrong passed for 381 yards. The Trojans’ Cody Kessler passed for 321 yards, and Javorius Allen rushed for 152 yards. Attendance in San Diego: 55,789

Last Week’s Bowl Game Picks: 7 correct, 6 wrong (53.9 percent)
Running Total Bowl Game Picks: 11 correct, 7 wrong (61.1 percent)


Superlatives

Impressive Passers:

Central Michigan’s Cooper Rush – 28-45-1 for 493 yards; Western Kentucky’s Brandon Doughty – 31-42-0-486; Nebraska’s Tommy Armstrong – 32-51-1-381, and Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg – 34-50-0-371.

USC’s Cody Kessler – 23-39-1 for 321yards; Rice’s Driphus Jackson – 15-24-0-318; Illinois’ Reilly O’Toole – 24-39-1-295; South Carolina’s Dylan Thompson – 22-34-0-284, and Marshall’s Rakeem Cato – 25-37-0-281.

Impressive Rushers:

Virginia Tech’s J.C. Coleman – 157 yards; USC’s Javorius Allen – 152 yards; Boston College’s Jon Hilliman – 148 yards; Miami of Florida’s Duke Johnson – 132 yards, and Marshall’s Devon Johnson – 131 yards.


Quotes of the Week

“I don’t want to impugn the proceeding was corrupt, but I think it was biased and the fix was in. It was all about a football game 10 days from now. It turned out to be just a predetermined whitewash to keep a guy playing football,” Jameis Winston’s accuser’s lawyer Baine Kerr, on the Florida State student code of conduct hearing decision.

“The proper forum to getting to the truth is going to be the court of law, not, essentially, a sham court like this one turned out to be,” Jameis Winston’s accuser’s lawyer Baine Kerr, on the Florida State student code of conduct hearing decision.

“I’m a good guy,” Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Former South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore is returning to Columbia where he will re-enroll at the University and also serve as an ambassador for the school and football team. Lattimore retired from the NFL after two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He is one of the most beloved players in South Carolina Gamecocks history.

Buffalo offensive coordinator Alex Wood was named the new head coach at Florida A&M. Wood served as Buffalo’s interim head coach much of the season (since October) when head coach Jeff Quinn was fired…. Memphis defensive coordinator Barry Odom was named to the same position at Missouri…. Colorado State offensive coordinator James Baldwin is the new offensive coordinator at Oregon State.

Terry Sims is the new head coach at Bethune-Cookman. Sims has been an assistant on the Wildcats’ staff for the past five years…. TCU coach Gary Patterson was named the AP Coach of the Year…. Utah offensive coordinator Dave Christensen is the new OC at Texas A&M…. Baylor coach Art Briles named his son, Kendall Briles, the new offensive coordinator at Baylor…. Wisconsin offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig is the new OC at Vanderbilt.


Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but at the end of the year as the bowl season was peaking and college football fans were ready to celebrate, ringing in the New Year, the number one song in the country…

…70 years ago this week in 1944 was “Don’t Fence Me In” by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

…65 years ago this week in 1949 was “Mule Train” by Frankie Laine

…60 years ago this week in 1954 was “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes

…55 years ago this week in 1959 was “Why” by Frankie Avalon

…50 years ago this week in 1964 was “I Feel Fine” by The Beatles

…45 years ago this week in 1969 was “Someday We’ll Be Together” by Diana Ross & The Supremes

…40 years ago this week in 1974 was “Angie Baby” by Helen Reddy

…35 years ago this week in 1979 was “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes

…30 years ago this week in 1984 was “Like a Virgin” by Madonna

…25 years ago this week in 1989 was “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins

…20 years ago this week in 1994 was “On Bended Knee” by Boyz II Men


Not directly college football related, but sadly there was one passing of note last week – Joe Cocker

Joe Cocker, the gravelly British singer who became recognizable for his take on the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” died last week at his home in Crawford, Colorado. He was 70. Cocker had been a journeyman singer in Britain for much of the 1960s. But he became a sensation after his performance of “With a Little Help From My Friends” at the Woodstock music festival in 1969. His appearance there established him as one of pop’s most powerful vocalists. His other hits included a version of the Box Tops’ hit “The Letter” and the standard “Cry Me a River,” both in 1970, and “You Are So Beautiful,” in 1975. His only No. 1 single was “Up Where We Belong,” recorded as a duet with Jennifer Warnes for the 1982 film “An Officer and a Gentleman.” John Robert Cocker was born on May 20, 1944, in Sheffield, England. Woodstock made Cocker a worldwide star, but throughout the 1970s his career was dogged by problems with drugs. His last hit “When the Night Comes” from the movie “An Innocent Man” (1989) went to No. 11 on Billboard’s pop chart.




Monday, December 22, 2014

College Football Week 18 – Five bowls down, 33 plus 1 to go
Nibbling on a few hors d’oeuvres
before Santa Claus arrives

This time of the year is always an interesting time for college football. It’s a more relaxed time, but interesting all the same.

The regular season has ended. Christmas Day and the major bowl games are approaching. It’s a time when rumors are flying, trends are developing, coaches are fired, coaches are hired and coaches leave one school for another.

Talk about coaches leaving one school for another, we almost had a perfect exchange of coaches, involving four schools. It began when Mike Riley left Oregon State to take the opening at Nebraska. Then Gary Andersen left Wisconsin to take Riley’s spot at Oregon State. Then Paul Chryst left Pitt to take Andersen’s spot at Wisconsin.

All that was needed to complete the perfect loop was for Bo Pelini to take Chryst’s spot at Pitt. But the problem was Pelini. Unlike Riley, Andersen and Chryst, Pelini was fired. And, unlike Riley, Anderson and Chryst, Pelini had a lot of baggage. He had so much baggage that Pitt wasn’t going to touch Pelini with a 30-foot pole – maybe not even a 40-foot pole.

Ultimately, Pelini surfaced at Youngstown State, a FCS school. That in itself is an interesting story. The president of Youngstown State is none other than Jim Tressel – the same Jim Tressel who carries as much baggage, if not more baggage than Pelini, for his transgressions at Ohio State – lying, cheating, you name it. Pelini is in good company at Youngstown State. Or is it the other way around?

It’s probably safe to say that Pelini will never again coach a FBS school. Of course, I probably thought the same thing about Bobby Petrino. And look where he is. But not only will Pelini never again coach a FBS school, he may never again coach at a FBS school.

There were a slew of defensive coordinator openings at the end of the season – Texas A&M, Auburn, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and South Florida, among others – some are still open. Pelini was a former defensive coordinator at Nebraska, Oklahoma and LSU. A defensive coordinator at an FBS school is better than a head coach at a FCS school. But apparently none of those schools wanted to touch Pelini with a 30-foot pole either – maybe not even a 40-foot pole.

Nebraska did the right thing, dumping Pelini. Yeah, he had winning seasons – never lost more than four games in a season. But Pelini’s teams typically beat the easy opponents on the schedule and lost to the tough ones. They never got out of that rut. They never improved. And I’m not sure Nebraska ever would have under Pelini.

Yeah it sure wasn’t the year to be a defensive coordinator. What was it with all those schools – Texas A&M, Auburn, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, South Florida, etc., dumping their DCs? It’s tough for DCs these days with the offenses becoming so sophisticated.

Then there was Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason. He dumped everybody – offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and a few assistants. Then there was South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. He didn’t dump anybody. Specifically, he didn’t dump his defensive coordinator – Lorenzo Ward.

The Gamecocks were 91st in total defense and 93rd in scoring defense, giving up 31.2 points a game. Everybody thought Spurrier would can Ward and hire Will Muschamp. Apparently, South Carolina couldn’t afford to fire Ward. The Gamecocks have no money. Muschamp went to Auburn for $1.6 million.

Not only does South Carolina not have any money, but also the Gamecocks won’t have any fans at the Independence Bowl. At last word, only about 800 tickets have been sold. Can’t say I blame the fans. The way the Gamecocks played this year who would want to follow them to a bowl game. And even if they had played well, who would want to go to Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Independence Bowl has long been a joke in the SEC, among the media, players and coaches. No SEC team ever wants to go the Independence Bowl. It’s like being banished to Siberia. It’s so bad that while talking to the press last week, Spurrier said South Carolina was going to the Liberty Bowl. No one wants to even mention the Independence Bowl by name. Or maybe that was a sign of the times with Spurrier. He can’t remember which bowl his team is playing in. I hope he didn’t book the team's flight.

And not only will South Carolina not have any fans at the Independence Bowl, but also the Gamecocks may not have any recruits next year. Spurrier, who normally says he’ll be around for another four or five years, recently said he thought he’d coach for two or three more years.

Since then, South Carolina has been losing commitments like crazy. They have been dropping like flies. As a result, Spurrier reneged on his two or three more years and went back to his old standby – four or five years. But now there is a rumor Spurrier will retire after the bowl game. Isn’t it fun? Stay tuned.

Speaking of retiring after a bowl game, some think that Nick Saban will retire if Alabama wins the national championship. That would be his fifth – one at LSU and four at Alabama. What more can he do?

Saban is one of two coaches among the four in the playoffs who was born and raised in West Virginia. The other is Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher. Not only are they from West Virginia, but Saban and Fisher grew up in communities that are separated by only a few miles.

Saban was born in Fairmont (1951), and grew up in Monongah. Fisher was born (1965) and raised in Clarksburg, about 20 miles south of Monongah. A third coach, Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez, the Pac-12 Coach of the Year, was born (1963) and raised in Grant Town, West Virginia, about 12 miles north of Monongah. The three communities are in north-central West Virginia.

The fourth successful coach from West Virginia is Marshall’s Doc Holliday. Holliday was born (1957) and grew up in Hurricane located in southwestern West Virginia. Combined, the four coaches had a 47-5 record this year. Not bad.

Unless there are more changes coming, 14 FBS schools will have new coaches next year. Ten of the 14 schools fired their coaches. The other four schools lost their coaches in self-initiated moves to another school.

In the latest hirings, Tulsa hired Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery. Houston hired Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman, and UNLV hired Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) High School coach Tony Sanchez. In six seasons at Bishop Gorman, Sanchez had an 85-5 record and won six-straight Nevada High School championships.

North Texas was the last FBS school to hire a head coach from the high school ranks. That was several years ago and it didn’t work out well for the Mean Green. And how well we remember when Notre Dame hired Gerry Faust, the Holy Roller from Moeller – Cincinnati’s Moeller High School. That didn’t work out well either.

Colorado State, Michigan and Pitt are the only three schools still looking for a coach. Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has interviewed for the Colorado State job. Michigan is doing everything it possibly can to secure San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Supposedly, Harbaugh is torn 50/50 between taking the Michigan post and staying in the NFL, but at another team.

A couple athletic directors have been in the news. Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson was fired. Nebraska fans will be happy to hear that. Pederson is a former AD at Nebraska – 2002-2007. He’s the one who fired Frank Solich and brought in Bill Callahan. What a smart move that was. I’m being facetious.

Callahan and Pederson were run out of Lincoln in 2007. They were lucky they made it out alive. Pitt was dumb enough to take Pederson back as AD. He held that position at Pitt before he went to Nebraska.

Meanwhile, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck is leaving his post at WVU to become the Vice President of the NCAA. Luck will be the No. 2 man at the NCAA, reporting to President Mark Emmert. Most believe Luck will replace Emmert in the not too distant future. Luck also will give up his seat on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, where he served as the Big 12’s representative.

Speaking of the Playoff Selection Committee, here’s some interesting trivia on the Committee’s final Top 25 rankings at the end of the season. The SEC had the most teams in the poll at seven – three of those in the Top 10. The Pac-12 was next with six teams in the rankings, followed by the ACC and Big Ten with four teams each. The Big 12 had three teams among the Top 25.

The Big 12, Big 10 and Pac-12 each had two teams in the Top 10. Florida State was the only ACC team in the Top 10. Outside the Power 5 conferences, Boise State of the MWC was the only ranked team from the Group of Five conferences.

It’s no surprise that five of the seven-ranked SEC teams were from the SEC’s West Division. The SEC West was the strongest conference in the country this year. All seven teams from that Division are playing in bowl games. In the SEC championship game, the West Division champion – Alabama – beat the East Division champion – Missouri – 42-13.

The Divisions are unbalanced in strength in the SEC. But these things run in cycles. I remember a few years ago when the East was much stronger than the West in the SEC.

The Pac-12 had a similar problem. The conference’s South Division was much stronger than the North. Five of the six-ranked Pac-12 teams in the Playoff Rankings (Arizona, UCLA, Arizona State, USC and Utah) were from the Pac-12’s South Division. But unlike the SEC, the Pac-12’s strongest team – Oregon – was from the North Division.

In the Big Ten, its West Division was bad like the SEC’s East Division. In the Big Ten’s championship game, Ohio State (from the East Division) beat Wisconsin (from the West), 59-0. That’s not healthy. Ohio State and Michigan State – both from the East – were the only legitimate teams in the Big Ten this year.

The Atlantic Division in the ACC was much stronger than its counterpart – the Coastal Division. Florida State, Clemson and Louisville are in the Atlantic Division. Likewise, the Mountain Division in the MWC (Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State, Air Force) was stronger than the MWC’s Pacific.

And in the MAC, the West (Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Toledo) was the best – better than East. Four of the MAC’s five bowl teams are from its West Division.

Hey, we had a decent guy win the Heisman Trophy this year – Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. It was refreshing to hear a humble acceptance speech, especially after last year’s self-centered, self-absorbed acceptance. With the likes of Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston winning in recent years, the Heisman Trophy was becoming the Sleazeman Trophy.

The first five of the 38 bowl games were played Saturday. Four of the five games were not close. Only the Camellia Bowl was exciting. Bowling Green beat South Alabama, 33-28, on a 78-yard touchdown pass with 1:04 left in the game.

Let’s hope Jim McElwain’s offense and defense at Florida is better than his former team displayed in the Las Vegas Bowl. Colorado State lost to Utah, 45-10.

Speaking of McElwain’s defense at Florida, the new Gator coach named Mississippi State defensive coordinator Geoff Collins as Florida’s new DC. It’s not a surprise that Collins wanted to leave Starkville. Following Miss State’s season-ending loss to Ole Miss, Bulldogs’ coach Dan Mullen threw Collins under the bus in his post-game press conference. Mullen blamed the loss on the defensive coach.

Ironically, Florida’s current defensive coordinator – D.J. Durkin – is the Gators interim coach for the Birmingham Bowl. Talk about a lame duck.

Did you see where Florida quarterback Treon Harris was charged with driving without a license? The way he played against Florida State I think he was quarterbacking without a license.

Oh, and by the way, Happy Winter! It began yesterday.

Season’s Greetings….…Happy Hanukkah….…Merry Christmas….…Happy Holidays

Touchdown Tom
December 22, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


Review of the Bowls (so far)

B-O-R-I-N-G (in the New Orleans Bowl) – Louisiana-Lafayette 16, Nevada 3 (Touchdown Tom said: Louisiana-Lafayette 31, Nevada 29). This game was about as exciting as watching grass grow. One thing is for sure – you don’t want to play the Rajin’ Cajuns in the New Orleans Bowl. It was ULL’s fourth-straight win in the Crescent City bowl. There wasn’t much offense in the game, especially not from Nevada. But ULL quarterback Terrance Broadway did complete 84 percent of his passes – 26 of 31. The score was 10-3 at the half. The only scoring in the second half were two field goals by ULL – both in the fourth quarter. Attendance in New Orleans: 34,014

Enchanting (in the New Mexico Bowl) – Utah State 21, UTEP 6 (Touchdown Tom said: Utah State 28, UTEP 17). UTEP grabbed the early lead at 3-0 in the first quarter. But it was all Utah State after that. The Aggies went up 7-3 later in the quarter and never trailed again. Utah State wasn’t much for passing – only 68 yards. But the Aggies made up for it on the ground – rushing for 279 yards. Attendance in Albuquerque: 28,725

359 to 12 (in the Las Vegas Bowl) – Utah 45, Colorado State 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Utah 38, Colorado State 35). That was the rushing yards stats in the game. Utah had 359 yards rushing to Colorado State’s 12 yards. Utah also had 29 first downs to 13 for CSU. The Utes’ Devontae Booker rushed for 162 yards. The other amazing stat in the game was the height of Utah quarterback Travis Wilson – 6-foot, 7 inches. Obviously, Wilson had no trouble seeing over the heads of the defenders. Attendance in Las Vegas: 33,067

Scalloped (in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) – Air Force 38, Western Michigan 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Air Force 31, Western Michigan 30). This was actually a good game until midway through the fourth quarter. Leading by just six points – 23-17 – Air Force scored two unanswered touchdowns to go up 38-17. The second of the two touchdowns came with 5:04 remaining in the fourth. Otherwise, the teams were pretty evenly matched. Western Michigan was the passing team – 297 yards, and Air Force was the running team – 284 yards. WMU quarterback Zach Terrell passed for 297 yards and rushed for 61 yards. Attendance in Boise: 18,223

Fragrant (in the Camellia Bowl) – Bowling Green 33, South Alabama 28 (Touchdown Tom said: South Alabama 26, Bowling Green 18). Bowling Green led throughout the game until 1:20 remaining in the fourth quarter when South Alabama went up 28-27. Not to be outdone, the Falcons scored on the first play of the ensuring series on a 78-yard pass from James Knapke to Roger Lewis. Knapke had 368 yards passing. The teams were pretty evenly matched in the stats, except for turnovers. South Alabama had four miscues to BG’s 1. Attendance in Montgomery: 20,256

Last Week’s Bowl Game Picks: 4 Correct, 1 Wrong (80 percent)
Running Total Bowl Game Picks: 4 Correct, 1 Wrong (80 percent)


Superlatives

Impressive Passers:

Bowling Green’s James Knapke – 25-39-0-368, and Western Michigan’s Zach Terrell – 19-38-0-297.

Impressive Rushers:

Utah’s Devontae Booker – 162 yards.


Weekend Recap

FCS Semifinals

North Dakota State 35, Sam Houston State 3
Illinois State 21, New Hampshire 18


Division II Championship

CSU-Pueblo 13, Minnesota State 0


Division III Championship:

Wisconsin-Whitewater 43, Mount Union 34


Quotes of the Week

“I’d like to play in the NFL. Does New York have any professional teams?,” Oregon’s Marcus Mariota on the ‘David Letterman Show.’

“We all know people like that. They just don’t know how to keep their mouth shut. I wish him well at Youngstown State because there’s no other place he can go,” Paul Finebaum on Bo Pelini.

“If there is any genuine outrage, it should be directed at Bo Pelini’s current employer. Youngstown State’s president is Jim Tressel. The same Jim Tressel who covered up NCAA violations at Ohio State. The same Jim Tressel who obfuscated during the investigation,” CBSSports.com writer Dennis Dodd.

“It would be unfair to say that Jim Tressel and Bo Pelini deserve each other. Their ‘sins’ are completely unrelated. At least Bo can look himself in the mirror. That’s more than can be said for Tressel,” CBSSports.com writer Dennis Dodd.

“We’re just going to have fun and beat up on these guys and just enjoy our time out there,” Florida running back Kelvin Taylor, on the upcoming Birmingham Bowl game against East Carolina.

“I think he is the future of the NFL,” Michael Vick on Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.

“Jameis loves college football, but I think he’s going to be one of the top two players drafted. He’s got to make a choice. He’s got to see what he wants to do. But it would not shock me either way. We’ll have the discussion here pretty soon,” Florida State coach Jeremy Fisher, on whether Jameis Winston will return for another season or go to the NFL.


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Villanova quarterback John Robertson won the Walter Payton Award given to the best player in the FBS…. The Walter Camp Football Foundation named TCU coach Gary Patterson the national Coach of the Year…. Ole Miss linebackers and special teams coach Tom Allen was named the new defensive coordinator at South Florida…. Former Purdue coach Danny Hope is the new co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at South Florida.

Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but sadly there were three passings of note last week – Fuzzy Thurston, Richard Hottelet and Virna Lisi.

Fuzzy Thurston, a guard for Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers, died last week in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was 80. Lombardi coached the Packers for nine seasons and Thurston was there for every one of them. Thurston was an excellent pass blocker for Bart Starr. He also was a crucial cog in the sweep, the play that was the foundation of the offense. Frederick Charles Thurston was born in Altoona, Wisconsin, near Eau Claire, on December 29, 1933. After graduating from Altoona High School, where there was no football, he went to Valparaiso University on a basketball scholarship. He did not play football until his junior year of college.

Richard Hottelet, who covered the D-Day invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge for CBS and who was the last survivor of the newsmen known as the “Murrow Boys” who worked under Edward R. Murrow, died last week at his home in Wilton, Connecticut. He was 97. As a CBS correspondent, Hottelet covered the major campaigns of the war in Europe, including the huge Allied airborne offensive across the Rhine known as Operation Varsity, during which he was forced to parachute from a flaming bomber. After the war, he reported from Moscow, West Germany and the United Nations. Richard Curt Hottelet was born in New York City on September 22, 1917. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1937. Hottelet retired from CBS in 1985.

Virna Lisi, who first captivated Italian moviegoers before sweeping into Hollywood in the 1960s to star opposite such leading men as Frank Sinatra and Tony Curtis, died last week. She was 78. In her first Hollywood role in 1965, she played opposite Jack Lemmon in “How to Murder Your Wife.” After that movie was released, Life Magazine featured her in a multi-page spread. Lisi went on to star alongside Tony Curtis in “Not With My Wife” and Frank Sinatra in “Assault on a Queen.” Virna Lisi was born in Ancona, Italy, on November 8, 1936. She turned down the part ultimately played by Jane Fonda in Roger Vadim’s “Barbarella” in 1968.




Friday, December 19, 2014

College Football Extra – Touchdown Tom’s Holiday Bonus
‘One love feeds the fire
one heart burns desire’

“Wonder who’s crying now”

What year was it?

It was the year Walter Cronkite retired, Bob Marley died and Ozzy Osbourne bit off the head of a bird. The Israeli Air Force destroyed Iraq’s nuclear reactor and two airplanes made their debuts.

Speaking of debuts, Michigan debuted as the No. 1 football team in the country at preseason. But when the season ended, Clemson was No. 1. It was also the year that two of the most-watched weddings in American television history took place – one in England and the other on a soap opera.

As the year began, Greece entered the European Economic Community. Nine days later, Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith opened on Broadway in the revival of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance.”

In mid-January, “Dynasty” debuted on ABC and “Hill Street Blues” debuted on NBC. St Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. A week later, the first DeLorean DNC-12 automobile rolled off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, and a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Sichuan Province in China, killing 150 people.

“It’s been a mystery
And still they try to see
Why something good can hurt so bad”

In the final days of the month, Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler was injured in a motorcycle accident and the Oakland Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, to win the Super Bowl.

A 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Athens, Greece, killing 22 people, in late February.

On a Friday, during the first week of March, following a 19-year run, Walter Cronkite retired as the main anchorman of “The CBS Evening News.” He was succeeded the next Monday by Dan Rather.

Speaking of CBS, just three weeks later, Ozzy Osbourne bit off the head of a dove at a CBS record label gathering in Los Angeles.

In Philadelphia, on the next to the last day of March, Indiana beat North Carolina, 63-50 to win the NCAA basketball championship.

The first of two April weddings occurred on the 11th when Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen married “One Day at a Time” actress Valerie Bertinelli. The next day, Tom Watson won the Masters Golf championship, and the Space Shuttle Columbia with NASA astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen aboard launched on the STS-1 mission. It returned two days later, marking the first time a manned reusable spacecraft returned from orbit.

A week later, a minor league baseball game between the Rochester Red Wings and the Pawtucket Red Sox at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, became the longest professional baseball game in history – 8 hours and 25 minutes, 33 innings. Meanwhile, Weird Al Yankovic made his first television appearance on “The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder.”

Near the end of the month, a second big wedding occurred. Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach were married in London.

On the second day of May, Sheena Easton hit No. 1 in the U.S. with “Morning Train (9 to 5)”. Two days later, Pleasant Colony, ridden by jockey Jorge Velasquez, won the Kentucky Derby.

“Caught on a one-way street
The taste is bittersweet
Love will survive somehow, some way”

Bobby Sands, a Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer and an elected member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, died at age 27 while on a hunger strike in prison. The following day, a jury of architects and sculptors unanimously selected Maya Lin’s design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from more than 1,400 entries.

In mid-May, Bob Marley died at age 36 from cancer. Two days later, as he entered St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Pope John Paul II was shot and nearly killed by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca.

In England, Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester City, 3-2, to win the FA Cup, while in the U.S., the Boston Celtics beat the Houston Rockets, 4 games to 2, to win the NBA championship.

A week later, Francois Mitterrand became the President of France, and the New York Islanders defeated the Minnesota North Stars, 4 matches to 1, to win the Stanley Cup.

June had barely begun when U2 made its first appearance on television on “The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder.” Three days later, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported for the first time that five men in the United States had a rare form of pneumonia with weakened immune systems – AIDS.

A few days later, the Israeli Air Force destroyed Iraq’s nuclear reactor. In Paris, Bjorn Borg and Hana Mandlikova won the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at the French Open.

In the middle of June, Major League baseball players began a 49-day strike over the issue of free-agent compensation. Also, during the Queen’s birthday parade and ceremony in London, six blank shots were fired at Elizabeth II.

Summer was underway and while not yet able to listen to the games on the radio, college football fans were listening to “A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)” by Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio; “Being with You” by Smokey Robinson; “Sukiyaki” by Taste of Honey; “Her Town Too” by James Taylor and J.D. Souther; “Living Inside Myself” by Gino Vannelli; “You Better You Bet” by The Who; “Too Much Time on My Hands” by Styx; “Take It on the Run” by REO Speedwagon; “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes, and “Say You’ll Be Mine” by Christopher Cross.

The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter made its first flight at Groom Lake, Nevada, while at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, David Graham won the U.S. Open Golf Championship.

“Our love feeds the fire
One heart burns desire
Wonder who’s crying now”

Meanwhile, the radio stations were playing “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield; “What Are We Doing in Love” by Dottie West and Kenny Rogers; “Winning” by Santana; “Medley” by Stars on 45; “Time” by Alan Parsons Project; “Still Right Here in My Heart” by Pure Prairie League; “Seven Year Ache” by Rosanne Cash; “This Little Girl” by Gary (U.S.) Bonds; “America” by Neil Diamond; “Is It You” by Lee Ritenour; “You Make My Dreams” by Daryl Hall & John Oates; “Sweet Baby” by George Duke and Stanley Clarke, and “The Waiting” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

Near the end of June, the first game of paintball was played in Henniker, New Hampshire. On the final day of the month, Fred Silverman was dismissed as president of NBC, after failing to improve the network’s third-place rating. He was replaced by Grant Tinker.

In England, on what better a day than the 4th of July, Americans John McEnroe and Chris Everett-Lloyd won the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at Wimbledon. Three days later, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to be nominated to the Supreme Court of the United States.

As the summer air grew thicker and warmer, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “Modern Girl” by Sheena Easton; “Nobody Wins” by Elton John; “The Stroke” by Billy Squier; “Double Dutch Bus” by Frankie Smith; Elvira by The Oak Ridge Boys; “Stronger Than Before” by Carole Bayer Sager; “Tom Sawyer” by Rush, and “The One That You Love” by Air Supply.

On July 17, two skywalks, filled with people at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, collapsed into a crowded atrium lobby, killing 114. Two days later, at Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England, Bill Rogers won the British Open Golf championship.

The summer airwaves were filled with music, including “Theme from ‘Greatest American Hero’” by Joey Scarbury; “Hearts” by Marty Balin; “All Those Years Ago” by George Harrison; “The Breakup Song” by The Greg Kihn Band; “It’s Now or Never” by John Schneider; “Queen of Hearts” by Juice Newton; “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins; “Gemini Dream” by The Moody Blues; “Feels So Right” by Alabama, and “Slow Hand” by The Pointer Sisters.

Near the end of July, a worldwide audience of more than 700 million people watched the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

“Two hearts born to run
Who’ll be the lonely one
Wonder who’s crying now”

On the first of August, MTV debuted on cable television, playing music videos 24 hours a day. “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles was the first video broadcast on MTV. Two days later, the air traffic controllers in the United States went on strike.

A week later, at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Georgia, Larry Nelson won the PGA championship. On the same day, Major League Baseball resumed from the strike with the annual All-Star game in Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium.

The striking air traffic controllers in the United States were dismissed from their jobs, and the Model 5150 IBM PC (with 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 processor) was released in the U.S. at a base price of $1,565.

Summer was coming to an end and football fans couldn’t wait for another season to begin. Michigan was the No. 1 team in the country at preseason. Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “I Don’t Need You” by Kenny Rogers; “Don’t Let Him Go” by REO Speedwagon; “Touch Me When We’re Dancing” by The Carpenters, and “Love On a Two Way Street” by Stacy Lattisaw.

Also, “Lady (You Bring Me Up) by The Commodores; “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me” by Ronnie Milsap; “Really Wanna Know You” by Gary Wright; “Cool Love” by Pablo Cruise; “Urgent” by Foreigner; “That Old Song” by Ray Parker Jr., and “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie.

Late in August, two U.S. fighter jets destroyed two Libyan fighter jets over the Gulf of Sidra.

September began and John McEnroe and Tracy Austin won the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at the U.S. Open. “Entertainment Tonight” debuted on TV.

Meanwhile, the college football season was underway and fans were tailgating to “Who’s Crying Now” by Journey; “Fire and Ice” by Pat Benatar; “The Beach Boys Medley” by The Beach Boys, and “Step by Step” by Eddie Rabbitt.

Also, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty; “Chloe” by Elton John; “Hold On Tight” by Electric Light Orchestra; “For Your Eyes Only” by Sheena Easton, and “I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)” by Lulu.

“So many stormy nights
So many wrongs and rights
Neither could change
Their headstrong ways”

On September 12, unranked Wisconsin beat No. 1 Michigan, 21-14. Two days later, Notre Dame was named the No. 1 team in the country.

A first class U.S. postage stamp cost 18 cents, up 3 cents from the first of the year. A gallon of gas was only $1.25. The average price of a new home was $78,200, and the median household income was $19,074.

At mid-September, Simon and Garfunkel performed a free reunion concert in New York’s Central Park, attended by more than 500,000 fans. Belize gained its independence from the United Kingdom.

On the 19th, Michigan beat No. 1 Notre Dame, 25-7. Two days later, the polls named USC the No. 1 team. The following weekend, No. 1 USC beat No. 2 Oklahoma, 28-24, in a classic game in the L.A. Coliseum.

Later in the month, Sandra Day O’Connor took her seat on the Supreme Court, and the Rolling Stones opened their U.S. tour in Philadelphia. The Boeing 767 airliner made it first flight, while in France, the TGV high-speed rail service between Paris and Lyon began.

Meanwhile, college football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “We’re in This Love Together” by Al Jarreau; “In Your Letter” by REO Speedwagon; “The Voice” by The Moody Blues, and “Super Freak (Part 1)” by Rick James.

Also, “Straight From the Heart” by The Allman Brothers Band; “Just Once” by Quincy Jones and James Ingram; “When She Was My Girl” by The Four Tops, and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” by Christopher Cross.

During the first week of October, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated while reviewing a parade in Cairo. A week later, Hosni Mubarak became the president of Egypt.

On October 10, unranked Arizona beat No. 1 USC, 13-10. Two days later, Texas became the No. 1 team in the county. The following weekend, unranked Arkansas beat No. 1 Texas, 42-11. Two days later, Penn State was named the No. 1 team in the country.

A loaf of bread cost 54 cents.

“And in a lover’s rage
They tore another page
The fightin’ is worth
The love they save”

Late in October, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees, 4 games to 2, to win the World Series.

At Halloween, college football fans were being tricked or treated to “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones; “I’ve Done Everything For You” by Rick Springfield; “The Theme from ‘Hill Street Blues’” by Mike Post, and “The Night Owls” by Little River Band.

Also, “Private Eyes” by Daryl Hall & John Oates; “Our Lips Are Sealed” by The Go-Go’s; “Hard To Say” by Dan Fogelberg; “Working in the Coal Mine” by Devo; “Share You Love with Me” by Kenny Rogers; “Tryin’ To Live My Life Without You” by Bob Seger, and “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” by Billy Joel.

On Halloween Day, unranked Miami (Florida) beat No. 1 Penn State, 17-14. Two days later, the polls made Pitt the No. 1 team in the country.

November began and Antigua and Barbuda gained their independence from the United Kingdom. Two weeks later, the ABC news talk show “This Week” debuted.

Also in mid-November, Luke and Laura’s wedding on “General Hospital” became one of the most watched weddings in American television history, second only to the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.

Suzanne Vega composed the song “Tom’s Diner.”

At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves on turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love)” by Marty Balin; “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by The Police; “No Reply At All” by Genesis; “Oh No” by The Commodores, and “My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)” by Chilliwack.

Also, “He’s A Liar” by The Bee Gees; “Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) by Air Supply; “Promises in the Dark” by Pat Benatar; “I Want You, I Need You” by Chris Christian; “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind and Fire; “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John; “The Old Songs” by Barry Manilow, and “Waiting For a Girl Like You” by Foreigner.

Two days after Thanksgiving, No. 11 Penn State beat No. 1 Pitt, 48-14. Clemson became the new No. 1 team in the country.

On December 4, “Falcon Crest” debuted on CBS.

The consensus All-American first team offense consisted of wide receiver Anthony Carter – Michigan (5-11, 161) Riviera Beach, FL; tight end Tim Wrightman – UCLA (6-3, 237) San Pedro, CA; lineman Sean Farrell – Penn State (6-3, 166) Westhampton Beach, NY; lineman Roy Foster – USC (6-4, 265) Overland Park, KS; lineman Terry Crouch – Oklahoma (6-1, 275) Dallas, TX; lineman Ed Muransky – Michigan (6-7, 275) Youngstown, OH; lineman Terry Tausch – Texas (6-4, 265) New Braunfels, TX; lineman Kurt Becker – Michigan (6-6, 260) Aurora, IL; center Dave Remington – Nebraska (6-3, 275) Omaha, NE; quarterback Jim McMahon – BYU (6-0, 185) Roy, UT; running back Marcus Allen – USC (6-2, 202) San Diego, CA, and running back Herschel Walker – Georgia (6-2, 222) Wrightsville, GA.

“One love feeds the fire
One heart burns desire
Wonder who’s crying now”

USC running back Marcus Allen won the Heisman Trophy. Allen beat out (2) Georgia running back Herschel Walker, (3) BYU quarterback Jim McMahon and (4) Pitt quarterback Dan Marino in the balloting.

Allen also won the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Award as college football’s best player. McMahon won the Davey O’Brien Award as the best quarterback.

The Outland Trophy, best interior lineman, went to Nebraska center Dave Remington. Texas defensive tackle Kenneth Sims won the Vince Lombardi Award – best lineman or linebacker,

In his last fight, Muhammad Ali lost to Trevor Berbick. And in the first bowl games of the season, Texas A&M beat Oklahoma State, 33-16, in the Independence Bowl; while Tennessee won the Garden State Bowl, beating Wisconsin, 28-21.

Some of the best albums of the year were “Escape” by Journey; “Abacab” by Genesis; “I Love Rock and Roll” by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts; “4” by Foreigner; “Paradise Theater” by Styx; “Pleasant Dreams” by The Ramones; “Shake It Up” by The Cars; “Freeze-Frame” by the J. Geils Band; “El Loco” by ZZ Top, and “Another Ticket” by Eric Clapton.

Also, “Hard Promises” by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers; “Ghost in the Machine” by The Police; “Reunion” by Jerry Jeff Walker; “October” by U2; “Tattoo You” by The Rolling Stones; “High ‘n’ Dry” by Def Leppard; “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” by AC/DC; and “Moving Pictures” by Rush.

With Christmas in the air and bowl games near, college football fans were doing their shopping to “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Diana Ross; “Harden My Heart” by Quaterflash; “Take My Heart” by Kool & The Gang; “Young Turks” by Rod Stewart; “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It for the World” by Ronnie Milsap, and “Leather and Lace” by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley.

Also, “Turn Your Love Around” by George Benson; “Hooked On Classics” by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; “Heart Like a Wheel” by The Steve Miller Band; “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey; “The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known) by Juice Newton; “Cool Night” by Paul Davis; “Yesterday’s Songs” by Neil Diamond; “Under Pressure” by David Bowie and Queen, and “Centerfold” by The J. Geils Band.

“Two hearts born to run
Who’ll be the lonely one
Wonder who’s crying now”

American Brigadier General James L. Dozier was kidnapped in Verona by the Italian Red Brigade. On December 18, an estimated 35 million people around the world watched a live satellite transmission of a Rod Stewart concert from the Los Angeles Forum.

BYU won the Holiday Bowl, beating Washington State, 38-36. The next day, Missouri beat Southern Miss, 19-17, in the Tangerine Bowl, and in the California Bowl, Toledo beat San Jose State, 27-25.

Some of the better movies of the year were “Raiders of the Lost Ark;” “Das Boot;” “Escape from New York;” “An American Werewolf in London;” “For Your Eyes Only;” “The Cannonball Run,” and “Mommie Dearest.”

Also, “Arthur;” “Chariots of Fire;” “The French Lieutenant’s Woman;” “Ragtime;” “Absence of Malice;” “Any Which Way You Can;” “Nine to Five,” and “Eye of the Needle.”

The better reads during the year included “The Covenant” by James Michener; “The Key to Rebecca” by Ken Follett; “The Clan of the Cave Bear” by Jean Auel; “The Hidden Target” by Helen MacInnes; “Answer As A Man” by Taylor Caldwell; “Gorky Park” by Martin Cruz Smith, and “The Aviator” by Ernest Gann.

Also, “Reflex” by Dick Francis; “God Emperor of Dune” by Frank Herbert; “The Officers’ Wives” by Thomas Fleming; “Noble House” by James Clavell; “Free Fall in Crimson” by John MacDonald; “XPD” by Len Deighton; “The Glitter Dome” by Joseph Wambaugh; “The Clowns of God” by Morris West, and “The Cardinal Sins” by Andrew Greeley.

Also, “Cujo” by Stephen King; “The Third Deadly Sin” by Lawrence Sanders; “Night Probe” by Clive Cussler; “The Hotel New Hampshire” by John Irving; “The Last Days of America” by Paul Erdman; “An Indecent Obsession” by Colleen McCullough, and “The Legacy” by Howard Fast.

Well-known people who were born during the year included Jessica Alba; Natalie Portman; Beyonce Knowles; Justin Timberlake; Britney Spears; Paris Hilton; Josh Groban; Nicole Richie, and Jennifer Hudson.

Also, Alicia Keys; Anna Kournikova; Eli Manning; Roger Federer; Serena Williams; Ivanka Trump; Barbara Bush; Jenna Bush; Michelle Dockery; Lleyton Hewitt, and Hope Solo.

“Only so many tears you can cry
’Til the heartache is over
And you can say your love
Will never die”

The day before Christmas, premium channel HBO debuted, broadcasting its 24-hour programming.

The consensus All-American first team defense consisted of lineman Billy Ray Smith – Arkansas (6-4, 228) Plano, TX; lineman Kenneth Sims – Texas (6-6, 265) Groesbeck, TX; lineman Andre Tippett – Iowa (6-4, 235) Newark, NJ; lineman Tim Krumrie – Wisconsin (6-3, 237) Mondovi, WI; linebacker Bob Crable – Notre Dame (6-3, 225) Cincinnati, OH; linebacker Jeff Davis – Clemson (6-0, 223) Greensboro, NC; linebacker Sal Sunseri – Pitt (6-0, 220) Pittsburgh, PA; defensive back Tommy Wilcox – Alabama (5-11, 187) Harahan, LA; defensive back Mike Richardson – Arizona State (6-1, 192) Compton, CA; defensive back Terry Kinard – Clemson (6-1, 183) Sumter, SC; defensive back Fred Marion – Miami (Florida) (6-3, 194) Gainesville, FL, and punter Reggie Roby – Iowa (6-3, 215) Waterloo, IA.

A few days after Christmas, Oklahoma beat Houston in the Sun Bowl, 40-14, and North Carolina took the Gator Bowl, beating Arkansas, 31-27.

The first American test-tube baby was born in Norfolk, Virginia.

Famous people who passed away during the year included Natalie Wood; William Holden; Richard Boone; Jack Albertson; William Wyler; Jim Davis; Gloria Grahame; Vera-Ellen; Bob Marley; Melvyn Douglas, and Robert Montgomery.

Also, Edith Head; Arthur O’Connell; Hoagy Carmichael; Allen Ludden; Bill Haley; Lowell Thomas; Anwar el-Sadat; Joe Louis; Omar Bradley; Harry Chapin; Ella Grasso; George Jessel; William Saroyan, and Albert Speer.

The most popular TV shows of the year were “Dynasty;” “Hill Street Blues;” “Dallas;” “Cagney and Lacey;” “Little House on the Prairie;” “The Dukes of Hazzard;” “M*A*S*H;” “Happy Days;” “Three’s Company;” “CHiPs;” “Magnum, P.I.,” and “Charlie’s Angels.”

During the final days of the year and on New Year’s Eve, college football fans were partying, drinking and singing to “Love in the First Degree” by Alabama; “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” by Daryl Hall & John Oates; “Key Largo” by Bertie Higgins; “Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight” by Eddie Rabbitt, and “Comin’ In and Out of Your Life” by Barbra Streisand.

Also, “Come Go with Me” by The Beach Boys; “Shake It Up” by The Cars; “She’s Got a Way” by Billy Joel; “You Could Have Been with Me” by Sheena Easton; “Leader of the Band” by Dan Fogelberg; “Love Is Alright Tonight” by Rick Springfield; “Waiting On a Friend” by The Rolling Stones, and “Take It Easy On Me” by The Little River Band.

“One love feeds the fire
One heart burns desire
Wonder who’s crying now”

In the Liberty Bowl, Ohio State beat Navy, 31-28, and it was Mississippi State 10, Kansas 0 in the All-American Bowl. Michigan beat UCLA, 33-14, in the Bluebonnet Bowl.

At the close of the year, the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent and the Dow Jones closed on December 31 at 875.

On New Year’s Eve, Oliver Luck quarterbacked West Virginia to a 26-6 victory over Florida in the Peach Bowl. Swamp Mama and Touchdown Tom were at the game.

ABC’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” featured appearances by The Four Tops, Rick Springfield, Barry Manilow, Alabama and Rick James.

In the final bowl games of the season Texas beat Alabama, 14-12, in the Cotton Bowl, while Penn State beat USC in the Fiesta Bowl, 26-10.

Also, Washington took the Rose Bowl, beating Iowa, 28-0, and in the Sugar Bowl, Pitt beat Georgia, 24-20. Finally Clemson beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, 22-15.

Clemson, under coach Danny Ford, finished the season at 12-0-0. The Tigers were declared the national champions by AP and UPI.

Two hearts born to run
Who’ll be the lonely one
Wonder who’s crying now”

“Who’s Crying Now” was recorded by the American rock band Journey. It was written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry. The song hit the charts in late July and remained on the charts for 21 weeks, throughout the entire football season, until mid December of that year. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Journey was a San Francisco-based band. Internationally known singer Randy Crawford did a soulful version of the song on her 1992 album “Through the Eyes of Love.” Her cover of this song featured jazz pianist Joe Sample of the Crusaders. In 2008, the song was featured in an episode of the CBS series “Cold Case.” In 2009, it was featured in the movie “Monsters and Aliens.”

The year and football season was 1981.

Touchdown Tom
December 19, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com




Monday, December 15, 2014

College Football Week 17 – Five Bowl Games on Saturday
Have a holly jolly bowl game
It’s the best time of the year

It’s beginning to look a lot like a forecast
Everywhere you go
Take a look at who’s going to win
glistening once again
With offenses and defenses aglow

Touchdown Tom’s Annual Bowl Game Predictions:

New Orleans Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana
(Mercedes-Benz Superdome)
11 am ET, December 20 – ESPN
Wolf meat etouffee
Louisiana-Lafayette 31, Nevada 29

New Mexico Bowl – Albuquerque, New Mexico
(University Stadium)
2:20 pm ET, December 20 – ESPN
The canary dies
Utah State 28, UTEP 17

Las Vegas Bowl – Las Vegas, Nevada
(Sam Boyd Stadium)
3:30 pm ET, December 20 – ABC
The Utes have the Ram in a jam
Utah 38, Colorado State 35

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, Idaho
(Albertsons Stadium)
5:45 pm ET, December 20 – ESPN
The Fly Boys make geldings out of the Broncos
Air Force 31, Western Michigan 30

Camellia Bowl – Montgomery, Alabama
(Crampton Stadium)
9:15 pm ET, December 20 – ESPN
Falcons can’t drive Jaguars
South Alabama 26, Bowling Green 18

Miami Beach Bowl – Miami, Florida
(Marlins Park)
2 pm ET, December 22 – ESPN
The Mormons book the Tigers
BYU 34, Memphis 32

Boca Raton Bowl – Boca Raton, Florida
(FAU Stadium)
6 pm ET, December 23 – ESPN
No Buffalo burgers for the Huskies
Marshall 34, Northern Illinois 31

Poinsettia Bowl – San Diego, California
(Qualcomm Stadium)
9:30 pm ET, December 23 – ESPN
The Aztecs rock the boat
San Diego State 28, Navy 25

Bahamas Bowl – Nassau, Bhahmas
(Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium)
12 noon ET, December 24 – ESPN
The Hilltoppers love to munch on Chips
Western Kentucky 42, Central Michigan 30

Hawaii Bowl – Honolulu, Hawaii
(Aloha Stadium)
8 pm ET, December 24 – ESPN
The Bulldogs drain the paddies
Fresno State 27, Rice 19

Heart of Dallas Bowl – Dallas, Texas
(Cotton Bowl)
1 pm ET, December 26 – ESPN
A band of Banned Indians
Knocks the Bull out of the Dogs
Illinois 31, Louisiana Tech 25

Quick Lane Bowl – Detroit, Michigan
(Ford Field)
4:30 pm ET, December 26 – ESPN
The Knights go down in Motor Town
North Carolina 34, Rutgers 28

St. Petersburg Bowl – St. Petersburg, Florida
(Tropicana Field)
8 pm ET, December 26 – ESPN
Nothing big and bad about this Wolf
UCF 26, NC State 22

Military Bowl – Annapolis, Maryland
(Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
1 pm ET, December 27 – ESPN
Beamer balls the Bearcats
Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 18

Sun Bowl – El Paso, Texas
(Sun Bowl)
2 pm ET, December 27 – CBS
The Desert Devils make Duke puke
Arizona State 33, Duke 21

Independence Bowl – Shreveport, Louisiana
(Independence Stadium)
3:30 pm ET, December 27 – ABC
Spurrier is a worrier
But Al’s not in his Golden years
South Carolina 30, Miami (Florida) 26

Pinstripe Bowl – Bronx, New York
(Yankee Stadium)
4:30 pm ET, December 27 – ESPN
The Lion hits a homerun,
While the Eagle flies out
Penn State 24, Boston College 20

Holiday Bowl – San Diego, California
(Qualcomm Stadium)
8 pm ET, December 27 – ESPN
The Trojans turn the Corn into chowder
USC 33, Nebraska 28

Liberty Bowl – Memphis, Tennessee
(Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium)
2 pm ET, December 29 – ESPN
Kevin ain’t in heaven as Trickett turns on the spigot
West Virginia 35, Texas A&M 34

Russell Athletic Bowl – Orlando, Florida
(Florida Citrus Bowl)
5:30 pm ET, December 29 – ESPN
Dabo poops at the sight of Stoops
Oklahoma 28, Clemson 16

Texas Bowl – Houston, Texas
(NRG Stadium)
9 pm ET, December 29 – ESPN
Bevo smokes the Pork
Texas 17, Arkansas 16

Music City Bowl – Nashville, Tennessee
(LP Field)
3 pm ET, December 30 – ESPN
Singing a lullaby, the Mad Hatter puts the Irish to sleep
LSU 23, Notre Dame 20

Belk Bowl – Charlotte, North Carolina
(Bank of America Stadium)
6:30 pm ET, December 30 – ESPN
Uga retrieves the Bird
Georgia 32, Louisville 23

Foster Farms Bowl – Santa Clara, California
(Levi’s Stadium)
10 pm ET, December 30 – ESPN
The Trees put the Turtles in a box
Stanford 28, Maryland 14

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl – Atlanta, Georgia
(Georgia Dome)
12:30 pm ET, December 31 – ESPN
The Hot Toadies spike the Hot Toddies
TCU 23, Ole Miss 16

Fiesta Bowl – Glendale, Arizona
(University of Phoenix Stadium)
4 pm EST, December 31 – ESPN
The Rod reels-in a Bronco
Arizona 37, Boise State 29

Orange Bowl – Miami Gardens, Florida
(Sun Life Stadium)
8 pm ET, December 31 – ESPN
Buzz suffers a Dak attack
Mississippi State 29, Georgia Tech 27

Outback Bowl – Tampa, Florida
(Raymond James Stadium)
12 noon ET, January 1 – ESPN2
The Tigers bury Barry
Auburn 34, Wisconsin 26

Cotton Bowl – Arlington, Texas
(AT&T Stadium)
12:30 pm ET, January 1 – ESPN
Bryce is nice and Briles smiles
Baylor 27, Michigan State 19

Citrus Bowl – Orlando, Florida
(Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium)
1 pm ET, January 1 – ABC
The Tigers are out for the Kill
Missouri 26, Minnesota 23

Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California
(Rose Bowl)
5 pm ET, January 1 – ESPN
Puddles sticks that spear up Osceola’s rear
Oregon 33, Florida State 27

Sugar Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana
(Mercedes-Benz Superdome)
8:30 pm ET, January 1 – ESPN
Amari Cooper puts the Buckeyes in a stupor
Alabama 32, Ohio State 28

Armed Forces Bowl – Fort Worth, Texas
(Amon G. Carter Stadium)
12 noon ET, January 2 – ESPN
The Panthers kick the Cougars out of the litter box
Pitt 30, Houston 27

TaxSlayer Bowl – Jacksonville, Florida
(EverBank Field)
3:20 pm ET, January 2 – ESPN
Smokey’s a Bird dog
Tennessee 27, Iowa 20

Alamo Bowl – San Antonio, Texas
(Alamodome)
6:45 pm ET, January 2 – ESPN
The Wildcats stuff the Teddy Bears
Kansas State 33, UCLA 29

Cactus Bowl – Tempe, Arizona
(Sun Devil Stadium)
10:15 pm ET, January 2 – ESPN
The Cowboys brand the Huskies
Oklahoma State 31, Washington 30

Birmingham Bowl – Birmingham, Alabama
(Legion Field)
1 pm ET, January 3 – ESPN
Tick-tock, Tick-tock, the Gator has a clock
Florida 33, East Carolina 30

Go Daddy Bowl – Mobile Alabama
(Ladd-Peebles Stadium)
9 pm ET, January 4 – ESPN
The Rockets empty the Red Wolves’ pockets
Toledo 35, Arkansas State 33

College Football Playoff National Championship – Arlington, Texas
(AT&T Stadium)
8:30 pm ET, January 12 – ESPN
Huey, Dewey and Louie say, “Sorry Amari”
As the Ducks chide the Tide and make Nick sick.
Oregon 27, Alabama 24

Touchdown Tom
December 15, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


Weekend Recap

Navy 17, Army 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Navy 29, Army 18). Army scored first on a 7-yard return of a blocked punt. The Cadets never scored again until 1:51 left in the game when they kicked a 52-yard field goal. In between, Navy scored 17 points. Army’s offense failed to score a touchdown. The game was mostly a defensive battle – not much offense. The two teams only had 517 total yards combined. The Middies beat the Cadets for the 13th-straight year and for the 16th time in the last 18 games. But under first year coach Jeff Monken, Army could be turning the corner. Coming into the contest, Navy was averaging 358 yards-a-game rushing. Army held the Middies to 205 yards rushing. Attendance in Baltimore: 70,935

Week 16 Pick Result: 1 correct, 0 wrong (100 percent)
Final Season Results: 194 correct, 79 wrong (71.1 percent)


Heisman Trophy Presentation:

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy. In the balloting, Mariota was first, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon was second, Alabama receiver Amari Cooper was third, TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin was fourth and Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was fifth. Mariota received 788 first-place votes of 894 casts.


FCS Quarterfinals:

New Hampshire 35, Chattanooga 30
North Dakota State 39, Coastal Carolina 32
Sam Houston State 34, Villanova 31
Illinois State 59, Eastern Washington 46


Division II Semifinals:

West Georgia 7, CSU-Pueblo 3
Minnesota State 47, Concord 13


Division III Semifinals:

Mount Union 70, Wesley 21
UW-Whitewater 20, Linfield 14


Quotes of the Week

“And in the other semifinal, Alabama’s Nick Saban and Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, trying to outwit and out-arrogant one another,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“Sitting beside each other, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer looked like a married couple at the divorce attorney’s office. They never even looked at each other,” Paul Finebaum, on Saban’s and Meyer’s demeanor at the College Playoff press conference in Orlando.

“The Urbanator is back. And that’s a scary thought for the millions of us who believe Urban Meyer to be among the most arrogant, disingenuous coaches in college football history. The fact of the matter is, he is also among the greatest coaches in college football history,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“There’s no doubt that this is where I’m supposed to be,” new Oregon State coach Gary Andersen at his introductory press conference in Corvallis.

“I’m just a ball coach and at the end of the day that’s what I enjoy doing and I’m very thankful to have a great family that understands that,” new Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp at his introductory press conference.


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Oregon’s Marcus Mariota won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback annually. Mariota beat out UCLA’s Brett Hundley, USC’s Cody Kessler, Baylor’s Bryce Petty and Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott for the award. This season, Mariota completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 3,783 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Tennessee will now open its 2015 schedule against Bowling Green in Knoxville. The Vols were scheduled to open against UAB, but the Blazers dropped their football program last week…. Ohio State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom Herman was named the winner of this year’s Broyles Award, given annually to college football’s best assistant coach. Herman beat out Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost, TCU offensive coordinator Doug Meacham and Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel for the award.

Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright won the Bronco Nagurski Award, given to the nation’s top college defensive player. The other finalists for the award were Texas defensive tackle Malcolm Brown, Alabama defensive back Landon Collins, Ole Miss defensive back Senquez Golson and Louisville defensive back Gerod Holliman…. UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks won the Lott Impact Trophy awarded to the college defensive player who had the biggest influence on his team. Kendricks beat out Alabama’s Landon Collins, Duke’s David Helton and Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha for the trophy.

Florida State tight end Nick O’Leary won the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s best tight end. O’Leary is the grandson of golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota won the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards given to college football’s most outstanding player…. Former Florida coach Will Muschamp was named the defensive coordinator at Auburn…. Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel was named the new head coach at Missouri State.

Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but during the pre-Christmas days of December as college football fans were drinking eggnog and eating fruitcake with visions of what ifs, bowl games and Santa Claus dancing in their heads, the number one song in the country…

…70 years ago this week in 1944 was “I’m Making Believe” by The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald

…65 years ago this week in 1949 was “Mule Train” by Frankie Laine

…60 years ago this week in 1954 was “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes

…55 years ago this week in 1959 was “Heartaches by the Number” by Guy Mitchell

…50 years ago this week in 1964 was “Mr. Lonely” by Bobby Vinton

…45 years ago this week in 1969 was “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul & Mary

…40 years ago this week in 1974 was “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas

…35 years ago this week in 1979 was “Babe” by Styx

…30 years ago this week in 1984 was “Out of Touch” by Daryl Hall and John Oates

…25 years ago this week in 1989 was “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel

…20 years ago this week in 1994 was “Here Comes the Hotstepper” by Ini Kamoze


Not directly college football related, but sadly there was one passing of note last week – Mary Ann Mobley,

Mary Ann Mobley, the first Miss America from Mississippi and an actress who starred in two films with Elvis Presley, died last week in Beverly Hills, California. She was 77. Mobley was crowned Miss America in 1958, the same year she graduated from the University of Mississippi, where she was a Chi Omega and a majorette in the Ole Miss band. For more than four decades, she performed in film, on television and on Broadway, becoming one of the most successful winners of the pageant. Mary Ann Mobley was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, on February 17, 1937. She grew up in Brandon, Mississippi. She was married to actor and television host Gary Collins for 45 years, until his death in 2012.




Friday, December 12, 2014

College Football Extra – Touchdown Tom’s Bowl Game Preview
’Tis the season for the bowl games
Fa la la la la, la la la la

See the blazing games before us
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Bang the drum and join the chorus
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Follow me in merry measure
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
While I tell you of bowl game treasure
Fa la la la la, la la la la


Your 2014 Bowl Game Preview

Grab your favorite snacks (chili dogs, cold pizza, etc.), get your favorite beverage (coffee or something stronger), pull up your comfy chair, kick off your shoes, get a pillow, maybe a blanket and settle in to watch some football – a lot of football.  Thirty-nine games will be played over a 23-day stretch – that’s a long stretch – from December 20 to January 12.

College football’s season-ending extravaganza begins in the Crescent City of New Orleans and ends three weeks later in the suburbs of Dallas/Fort Worth at the house that Jerry Jones built – AT&T Stadium.   

Just when you thought we don’t need another bowl game, four new bowls were added to this season’s procession.  Last year there were 34 bowls, plus the BCS Championship game.  This year, there are 38 bowls, plus the College Playoff National Championship game.

The four new bowls – all played before Christmas Day – are the Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama), the Miami Beach Bowl (Miami, Florida), the Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Florida) and the Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas). 

Two bowls changed their names this year and one of those bowls moved to a new location.  The former Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl in Detroit is now the Quick Lane Bowl – still in Detroit.  The former Fight Hunger Bowl is now the Foster Farms Bowl and it moved 45 miles south from AT&T Park in San Francisco to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

The three busiest days for bowl games are opening day December 20, two days after Christmas (December 27) and New Year’s Day (January 1).  There are five games on each of those three days.  Twenty-six of the 39 games are played between December 26 and January 2.  That could be intoxicating.


The 2014 bowl season premiers on December 20 with no less than five games.  The first of the five is the New Orleans Bowl between Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4) of the Sun Belt and Nevada (7-5) from the MWC.  This is ULL’s fourth-straight appearance in the New Orleans Bowl.  The Rajin’ Cajuns are 3-0 in the bowl having defeated San Diego State (2011), East Carolina (2012) and Tulane (2013).  ULL is 26th in the country in rushing yards, averaging 228.4 yards a game.  The Rajin’ Cajuns leading rusher is sophomore running back Elijah McGuire who has 1,165 yards rushing, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.  ULL’s senior quarterback Terrance Broadway passed for 2,073 yards this season.  The Rajin’ Cajuns came into the 2014 season riding three-straight 9-4 seasons.  If they win the New Orleans Bowl, they will be 9-4 for the fourth-straight year.  In his fourth season, Mark Hudspeth is the coach of ULL.  The Rajin’ Cajuns finished second in the Sun Belt Conference this year.  Nevada comes into the bowl ranked 32nd in the country in rushing with 215.2 yards per game.  The Wolf Pack’s best wins this year were over Washington State (24-13), BYU (42-35) and San Diego State (30-14).  Nevada is led by senior quarterback Cody Fajardo with 2,374 yards passing.  Fajardo also is the team’s leading rusher with 997 yards.  The Wolf Pack are under second-year coach Brian Polian.          

Next up is on December 20 is the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, pitting Utah State (9-4) from the MWC against UTEP (7-5) of C-USA.  Utah State’s biggest wins this season were over BYU (35-20) and Air Force (34-16).  The Aggies were 21st in the nation in defensive scoring, holding opponents to 20.8 points a game.  Under second-year coach Matt Wells, Utah State comes into the New Mexico Bowl having won 5 of its last six games.  It’s the Aggies fourth-straight year in a bowl game.  UTEP, under second-year coach Sean Kugler, is the 34th best rushing team in the country, averaging 212.7 yards a game.  The Miners leading rusher is sophomore running back Aaron Jones who totaled 1,233 yards this season.  This is UTEP’s first bowl game since 2010.

The third game on December 20 is the Las Vegas Bowl between Utah (8-4) of the Pac-12 and Colorado State (10-2) from the MWC.  Utah got off to a great start this season, winning six of its first seven games.  Under 10th-year coach Kyle Whittingham, the Utes best wins were over UCLA (30-28), USC (24-21) and Stanford 20-17 (2OT). Utah is led by junior quarterback Travis Wilson (2,012 yards passing) and junior running back Devontae Booker (1,350 yards rushing). This is Utah’s first bowl game since the 2011 season.  Colorado State is one of the nation’s best offensive teams.  The Rams are 8th in the nation in passing, averaging 326.3 yards a game.  CSU is 22nd in the country in scoring offense, averaging 35.9 points a game.  On the other side of the ball, the Rams are 34th nationally in scoring defense, allowing their opponents only 23.4 points a game.  CSU is led by senior quarterback Garrett Grayson who passed for 3,779 yards and 32 touchdowns. Senior running back Dee Hart rushed for 1,254 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.  Sophomore receiver Rashard Higgins had 89 receptions for 1,640 yards. The Rams best wins were over Boston College (24-21) and Utah State (16-13). Third-year CSU coach Jim McElwain was named the new coach of the Florida Gators last week.       

From Las Vegas the action moves north to Boise for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, matching Air Force (9-3) of the MWC against Western Michigan (8-4) from the MAC.  Air Force comes into the bowl with a strong finish on the season, winning five of its last six games.  Under eighth-year coach Troy Calhoun the Falcons were 8th nationally in rushing this season, averaging 272.2 yards per game.  Air Force’s biggest wins were over Boise State (28-14) and Colorado State (27-24). The Falcons also won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy this year, having beaten Army and Navy. Western Michigan was one of the most improved teams in the country this season, going from 1-11 in 2013 to 8-4 this year. The Broncos are under second-year coach P.J. Fleck, the youngest FBS Division coach in the country.  After a rough start (2-3), WMU won six of its final seven games.  The Broncos are 32nd in the country in scoring, averaging 34.6 points a game.  WMU is led by sophomore quarterback Zach Terrell who passed for 3,146 yards.  On the ground, the Broncos were led by freshman running back Jarvion Franklin who rushed for 1,525 yards.  This is WMU’s first bowl game since 2011.

Opening day of the bowl season wraps up with South Alabama (6-6) from the Sun Belt taking on Bowling Green (7-6) of the MAC in the inaugural Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. In only its sixth-year of playing football, South Alabama is playing in its first bowl game.  The Jaguars started the year strong, winning five of its first six games.  Then South Alabama lost four of its final five games.  The Jaguars are coached by sixth-year coach Joey Jones. This is Bowling Green’s third-straight bowl game.  The Falcons started out strong going 5-2 in their first seven games.  Then BG lost four of its final six games.  The Falcons are led by sophomore quarterback James Knapke who passed for 2,805 yards this season. BG is under first-year coach Dino Babers. This may, in fact, be the second Camellia Bowl.  But the other one was held in a different location.  In 1948, there was a Camellia Bowl in Lafayette, Louisiana.  Hardin-Simmons beat Wichita State, 49-12.      

Two days later – December 22 – in Miami, BYU (8-4) an Independent plays Memphis (9-3) of the AAC in the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl. Who knows, BYU could have been undefeated this season.  The Cougars began 4-0, including a 41-7 win over Texas, but then BYU lost its talented junior quarterback Taysom Hill to a season-ending injury.  The Cougars lost their next four games.  Once replacement senior quarterback Christian Stewart settled in, BYU went 4-0.  Stewart passed for 2,273 yards.  The Cougars are 20th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 36.2 points a game.  They are 33rd in passing, averaging 272.9 yards per game.  BYU is under tenth-year coach Bronco Mendenhall.  Memphis was one of the surprise teams of the year and most improved too.  Under third-year coach Justin Fuente, the Tigers went from 3-9 last year to 9-3 this year.  Memphis was co-winners of the AAC Conference.  At preseason, the Tigers were picked to finish at or near the bottom of the AAC. Memphis is led by sophomore quarterback Paxton Lynch who passed for 2,725 yards this season.  The Tigers come into the bowl on a six-game winning streak.  It is the school’s first bowl game since 2008.  Memphis’ biggest win this season was over Cincinnati (41-14).  The Tigers are 5th in the country in scoring defense, holding opponents to 17.1 points a game.  They are 30th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 34.7 points a game.          

The next day – December 23 – in Florida, Marshall (12-1) of C-USA plays Northern Illinois (11-2) from the MAC in the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl.  Marshall, champions of C-USA, have some impressive stats: 5th nationally in scoring offense (45.1 points a game); 7th in rushing yards (275.6 yards per game); 18th in passing yards (287.8 yards per game), and 22nd in scoring defense (20.8 points a game).  The Herd are led by senior quarterback Rakeem Cato who passed for 3,622 yards and 37 touchdowns.  And also by junior running back Devon Johnson who rushed for 1,686 yards, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. Doc Holiday is in his 5th year coaching Marshall.  Northern Illinois, under second-year coach Rod Carey, was the champions of the MAC.  The Huskies come into the bowl, riding a seven-game winning streak.  NIU’s biggest wins were over Northwestern (23-15), Toledo (27-24) and Western Michigan (31-21).  The Huskies are led by sophomore quarterback Drew Hare who passed for 2,097 yards.  NIU is 14th nationally in rushing, averaging 252.9 a game.

On the same day in San Diego, Navy (6-5, with one game to play) an Independent takes on San Diego State (7-5) of the MWC in the Poinsettia Bowl.  Navy plays Army tomorrow to end its regular season.  After a rough start – 2-4 – the Midshipmen won four of their last five games.  Under 7th-year coach Ken Niumatalolo, Navy is 2nd in the nation in rushing, averaging 357.8 yards a game. The Middies are 33rd in the country in scoring offense, averaging 34.5 points a game.  In his fourth season with the Aztecs, Rocky Long coaches San Diego State.  The Aztecs were 14th in the nation in scoring defense, holding their opponents to 20.1 points a game.  They were 30th in rushing, averaging 218.6 yards a game.  The Aztecs leading rusher is sophomore Donnel Pumphrey who had 1,761 yards this season.

The first of two bowl games on Christmas Eve is the inaugural Bahamas Bowl in Nassau, featuring Western Kentucky (7-5) of C-USA against Central Michigan (7-5) from the MAC.  Western Kentucky was the only team to beat Marshall this year – 67-66 (OT). The Hilltoppers’ other good wins were over Bowling Green (59-31) and Navy (36-27).  Under first-year coach Jeff Brohm, WKU was 3rd nationally in passing yards, averaging 365 per game, and 6th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 44 points a game.  The Hilltoppers are led by senior quarterback Brandon Doughty who passed for 4,344 yards and 44 touchdowns.  Junior Leon Allen led WKU in rushing with 1,490 yards.  The Hilltoppers come into the bowl on a 4-game winning streak, and winners of five of their last six games.  Central Michigan is under fifth-year coach Dan Enos.  The Chippewas are led by sophomore quarterback Cooper Rush who passed for 2,664 yards.  Senior Thomas Rawls rushed for 1,103 yards. CMU had big wins over Purdue (38-17) and Northern Illinois (34-17).  The Chippewas have won five of their last seven games.  Central Michigan beat Western Kentucky in the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, 24-21.         

Also on Christmas Eve, Fresno State (6-7) from the MWC takes on Rice (7-5) of C-USA in the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu.  Fresno State became bowl eligible on a 6-6 regular season record.  The seventh loss came in the MWC championship game.  The Bulldogs season followed a pattern.  They lost three games, then won three games, lost three games, then won three games, before losing in the MWC title game.  Fresno State’s best win was over San Diego State (24-13).  Under third-year coach Tim DeRuyter the Bulldogs were led by junior quarterback Brian Burrell who had 2,576 yards passing. Junior running back Marteze Waller rushed for 1,292 yards, and senior receiver Josh Harper had 86 receptions for 1,072 yards. Rice got off to a disastrous 0-3 start and then won six-straight games.  The Owls finished up losing 2 of their final three games.  Rice is led by junior quarterback Driphus Jackson who passed for 2,524 yards.  The Owls are coached by 8th-year coach David Bailiff.      

Following Christmas Day break, there are three bowls on December 26.  The first one on the day after Christmas pits Illinois (6-6) of the Big Ten against Louisiana Tech (8-5) from C-USA in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.  Illinois’ best win was over Minnesota (28-24).  The Banned Indians finished the season strong, winning their last two games over Penn State (16-14) and Northwestern (47-33). Illinois is under 3rd-year coach Tim Beckman.  This is the Banned Indians first bowl game since 2011.  Louisiana Tech can put some points on the board.  The Bulldogs are 13th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 37.5 points a game.  La Tech almost became only the second team to beat Marshall.  In the C-USA championship game, the Bulldogs fell to the Herd 26-23 on a touchdown by Marshall in the final two minutes.  La Tech’s best wins were over Louisiana-Lafayette (48-20) and Western Kentucky (59-10).  Senior quarterback Cody Sokol leads the Bulldogs in passing with 3,189 yards and 29 touchdowns.  Junior running back Kenneth Dixon had 1,236 yards rushing.  Under second year coach Skip Holtz, La Tech is playing in its first bowl game since 2011. The Bulldogs finished the season strong, winning six of their last eight games. 

Next on the agenda is the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit matching North Carolina (6-6) from the ACC against Rutgers (7-5) of the Big Ten. North Carolina’s season started off pretty dismal.  After six games, the Tar Heels were 2-4.  But UNC salvaged its season somewhat, going 4-2 in the final six games.  The Tar Heels, under third-year coach Larry Fedora, had their best wins over Georgia Tech (48-43) and Duke (45-20).  Junior quarterback Marquise Williams led UNC with 2,870 yards passing and 737 yards rushing.  The Tar Heels were 24th in the nation in passing yards, averaging 279,3 yards per game.  Rutgers started off hot going 5-1 in its first six games.  Then the Scarlet Knights cooled down, going 2-4 in their final six games.  Senior quarterback Gary Nova led Rutgers with 2,667 yards passing.  The Knights are coached by Kyle Flood in his third year.  Rutgers is playing in its fourth-straight bowl game.     

The third bowl on December 26 takes place in Florida where NC State (7-5) of the ACC tangles with UCF (9-3) from the AAC in the St. Petersburg Bowl.  NC State won its first four games then proceeded to lose its next four games.  The Wolfpack finished up winning three of its last four games.  State’s best win was its last one – 35-7 over North Carolina. The Wolfpack are led by junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett – 2,344 yards passing.  Brissett, a transfer from Florida, also was the second leading rusher on the team with 498 yards. State coach Dave Doeren is in his second year.  UCF was the co-champions of the AAC Conference.  The Knights, under 11th-year coach George O’Leary are one of the best defensive teams in the country.  They are holding their opponents to 17.9 points a game – 9th-best in the country.  After an 0-2 start, UCF won nine of its last 10 games.  The Knights best wins were over Houston (17-12), BYU (31-24 in overtime) and East Carolina 32-30.  Sophomore quarterback Justin Holman leads UCF with 2,661 yards passing.     

The first of five bowls on December 27 is the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland, between Virginia Tech (6-6) from the ACC and Cincinnati (9-3) of the AAC.  Virginia Tech was one of the worst teams in the country on offense and one of the best teams on defense.  The Hokies were 17th nationally in scoring defense, holding foes to 20.4 points a game.  Tech was 4-2 in the first half of the season and 2-4 in the second half.  Tech’s three best wins were Ohio State (35-21), North Carolina (34-17) and Duke (17-16).  Junior quarterback Michael Brewer, a transfer from Texas Tech, passed for 2,598 yards.  Frank Beamer is in his 28th-year coaching the Hokies. Cincinnati enters the bowl game on a seven-game winning streak.  The Bearcats were 2-3 before reeling off seven straight.  Under second-year coach Tommy Tuberville, Cincinnati was 13th in the country in passing yards, averaging 300.2 yards a game.  The Bearcats are also 26th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 35.4 points a game.  Sophomore quarterback Gunner Kiel, a transfer from Notre Dame, passed for 3,010 yards.  Cincinnati is appearing in its fourth-straight bowl game. The Bearcats best wins were over Toledo (58-34), East Carolina (54-46) and Houston (38-31).

Heading out to the Southwest, Arizona State (9-3) from the Pac-12 plays Duke (9-3) of the ACC in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Arizona State began the season at 8-1.  Then the Sun Devils lost two of their last three games. ASU is 18th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 37 points a game.  The Sun Devils additionally are 29th-nationally in passing, averaging 276.3 yards per game.  ASU can go with two quarterbacks – senior Taylor Kelly and junior Mike Bercovici.  Junior receiver Jaelen Strong caught 75 passes for 1,062 yards. Under third-year coach Todd Graham, the Sun Devils had several quality wins over USC (38-34), Stanford (26-10), Washington (24-10), Utah (19-16 in overtime) and Notre Dame (55-31). Duke had another great season under David Cutcliffe in his 7th year.  The Blue Devils were 8-1 in their first nine games.  Then they lost two of their final three games.  Interestingly enough, Duke was 20th in the country in defensive scoring, holding its opponents to 20.6 points a game.  The Dookies’ best win was over Georgia Tech (31-25).  Senior quarterback Anthony Boone leads Duke with 2,507 yards passing.

The third bowl on December 27 takes place in Shreveport, Louisiana, where South Carolina (6-6) from the SEC goes up against Miami (Florida) 6-6 of the ACC in the Independence Bowl. South Carolina was 21st in the nation in passing, averaging 281.4 yards a game.  Senior quarterback Dylan Thompson led the Gamecocks with 3,280 yards passing. But South Carolina had one of the worst defenses in the country.  Under tenth-year coach Steve Spurrier, the Gamecocks’ best win was over Georgia (38-35).  South Carolina has won its last three bowl games. Miami, like South Carolina, had a very disappointing season.  In fact, the Hurricanes come into the bowl game riding a three-game losing streak.  Miami’s best wins were over Duke (22-10), Cincinnati (55-34) and North Carolina (47-20).  Under fourth-year coach Al Golden, the Canes are led by freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya, who passed for 2,962 yards.  Miami has a great running back – junior Duke Johnson – who rushed for 1,520 yards, averaging 7 yards a carry. 

Up next is the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium, matching Penn State (6-6) of the Big Ten against Boston College (7-5) from the ACC.  Penn State began the season hot, winning its first four games.  Then the Nittany Lions lost four games. Then they won two.  Penn State comes into the bowl game on a two-game losing streak.  The Lions are under first-year coach James Franklin.  Penn State’s best win was its first game of the season, over UCF (26-24).  There were no good wins after that.  But there was a quality loss against Ohio State (31-24 in two overtimes).  The Lions have one of the better defenses in the country – 8th nationally in scoring defense, holding foes to 17.7 points a game.  Not bad.  Sophomore quarterback Christian Hackenberg leads Penn State with 2,606 yards passing. Boston College’s season, although not great, was much better than expected.  The Eagles’ best wins were over USC (37-31) and NC State (30-14).  BC is 15th in the country in rushing, averaging 251.8 yards a game.  On the other side of the coin, the Eagles are 18th in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 20.5 points a game.  Senior quarterback Tyler Murphy, a transfer from Florida, is the team’s leading rusher with 1,079 yards. BC is coached by Steve Addazio in his second year.  

The last bowl game on December 27 pits USC (8-4) from the Pac-12 against Nebraska (9-3) of the Big Ten in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.  USC never could get its act together this season.  Under first-year coach Steve Sarkisian, the Trojans best wins were over Stanford (13-10), Arizona (28-26) and Notre Dame (49-14). USC has one of the best quarterbacks in the country in junior Cody Kessler.  He passed for 3,505 yards and 36 touchdowns.  Junior running back Javorius Allen rushed for 1,337 yards, and junior receiver Nelson Agholor had 97 receptions for 1,223 yards. The Trojans are 15th-nationally in passing yards, averaging 294.6 yards a game.  They are also 27th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 35.1 points a game.  Nebraska finished the season 9-3, but fired its coach Bo Pelini, who was in his 7th year coaching the Huskers.  Under Pelini, Nebraska typically beat all the easy teams on its schedule, but lost to all the tough teams.  The Huskers only good win this season was at the end against Iowa (37-34 in overtime).  Nebraska is 14th in the country in offensive scoring, averaging 37.4 points a game.  The Huskers also are 17th in the nation in rushing, averaging 248.3 yards a game.  But they are one of the worst teams in passing. Nebraska is led by senior running back Ameer Abdullah who rushed for 1,523 yards.       

Two days later – December 29 – the bowl action moves to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl between West Virginia (7-5) of the Big 12 and Texas A&M (7-5) from the SEC. After a 2-2 start, West Virginia won 4 straight and was ranked in the Playoff Rankings for a couple weeks.  But the Mountaineers proceeded to drop 3 consecutive games before coming back to win their finale.  Under fourth-year coach Dana Holgorsen, WVU’s best wins were over Baylor (41-27) and Oklahoma State (34-10).  The Mounties were the only team to beat Baylor.  WVU had a quality loss to TCU – 31-30 on a last second field goal.  WVU is 9th in the nation in passing, averaging 314.6 yards a game. Senior quarterback Clint Trickett passed for 3,285 yards. The Mounties have two outstanding receivers – senior Kevin White (102 catches for 1,318 yards) and senior Mario Alford (62 catches for 888 yards). Texas A&M started out hot, winning its first five games.  Then the Aggies dropped three-straight.  They ended up winning two, then losing two.  A&M’s best wins were over Auburn (41-38), South Carolina (52-28) and Arkansas (35-28 in overtime). The Aggies are 12th in the country in passing, averaging 306.4 yards a game.  A&M switched quarterbacks during the season from sophomore Kenny Hill to freshman Kyle Allen.  The Aggies are coached by Kevin Sumlin in his 3rd year.  Sumlin fired his defensive coordinator at the end of the season.

From Memphis we go to Orlando where Oklahoma (8-4) from the Big 12 and Clemson (9-3) of the ACC will face off in the Russell Athletic Bowl.  Oklahoma started out good at 4-0.  But it was up-and-down for the Sooners after that.  OU’s best wins were over Tennessee (34-10), West Virginia (45-33) and Texas (31-26).  Under 16th-year coach Bob Stoops, the Sooners are 9th in the nation in rushing, averaging 268.6 yards per game.  Additionally, they are 11th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 38.9 points a game. OU is led by freshman running back Samaje Perine who rushed for 1,579 yards.  After a rough start – 1-2 – Clemson reeled off six-straight wins.  The Tigers finished strong, winning their last two games.  Clemson had several good wins over North Carolina (50-35), NC State (41-0), Louisville (23-17), Boston College (17-13) and South Carolina (35-17). Under seventh-year coach Dabo Swinney, the Tigers are 7th in the country in scoring defense, holding their foes to 17.6 points a game.            

The last game on December 29 takes place in Houston at the Texas Bowl between Texas (6-6) from the Big 12 and Arkansas (6-6) of the SEC.  Texas finished the season stronger than the Longhorns began it.  After six games, Texas was 2-4.  Then the Longhorns won four of their final six games.  Under first-year coach Charlie Strong, Texas’ best wins were over West Virginia (33-16) and Oklahoma State (28-7).  The Longhorns sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes passed for 2,352 yards.  Senior receiver John Harris had 64 receptions for 1,015 yards. Like Texas, Arkansas also got better as the season went along.  The Razorbacks’ two best wins were at the end of the season, over LSU (17-0) and Ole Miss (30-0). Arkansas also beat Northern Illinois, 52-14.  The Razorbacks strengths were their defense and their rushing game.  Arkansas was 15th in the country in scoring defense, holding foes to 20.3 points a game.  The Razorbacks were 28th-nationally is rushing, averaging 220.3 yards a game.  Arkansas had two running backs who tallied more than a thousand yards rushing – junior Jonathan Williams (1,085) and sophomore Alex Collins (1,024). The Razorbacks are coached by Bret Bielema in his 2nd-year.

The first of three games on December 30 matches LSU (8-4) of the SEC against Notre Dame (7-5) an Independent in the Music City Bowl in Nashville. LSU is one of the best defensive teams in the country.  The Tigers are 3rd in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 16.4 points a game.  On the other side of the ball, LSU is 29th in the country in rushing yards, averaging 219.5 a game.  Les Miles is in his tenth-year coaching the Tigers.  LSU’s best wins were over Wisconsin (28-24), Ole Miss (10-7) and Texas A&M (23-17). After nine games, the Tigers were 7-2, but then they lost of their final three games.  Notre Dame got off to a hot start going 6-0.  Then the Irish lost five of their final six games.  Notre Dames best wins were over Stanford (17-14) and North Carolina (50-43).  The Irish had a quality loss to Florida State (31-27).  Senior quarterback Everett Golson led Notre Dame with 3,355 yards passing.  Sophomore receiver William Fuller had 71 catches for 1,037 yards. The Irish are 16th in the country in passing, averaging 293.8 yards a game.  Brian Kelly is in his fifth-year coaching Notre Dame.          

The football scene moves to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Belk Bowl, pitting Georgia (9-3) from the SEC against Louisville (9-3) of the ACC.  Georgia has several impressive statistics.  The Dawgs are 8th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 41.7 points a game, and 25th in the nation in scoring defense, holding foes to 21.3 points a game.  Georgia also is 13th nationally in rushing, averaging 255 yards a game.  The Dawgs had several good wins over Clemson 45-21), Tennessee (35-32), Missouri (34-0), Arkansas (45-32) and Auburn (34-7).  Mark Richt is in his 14th-year coaching Georgia.  With junior running back Todd Gurley out much of the time, freshman Nick Chubb picked up the rushing for the Dawgs, tallying 1,281 yards.  Louisville is coached by Bobby Petrino who is in his 5th year – over two stints – with the Cardinals.  This was Petrino’s first year back after leaving Louisville after the 2006 season.  The Cardinals had some great wins over Miami-Florida (31-13), NC State (30-18), Boston College (38-19) and Notre Dame (31-28).  Louisville finished strong, winning its last three games.  The Cardinals are 18th nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to 20.5 points a game.

The final bowl on December 30 takes place on the West Coast in Santa Clara, California, with Stanford (7-5) of the Pac-12 going up against Maryland (7-5) from the Big Ten in the Foster Farms Bowl.  At the beginning of the season, Stanford had no offense.  The defense kept the Trees in their games.  The offense developed by the end of the season. Under coach David Shaw in his fourth year with Stanford, the Trees were 2nd in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 16 points a game.  Stanford’s best wins were over Washington (20-13) and UCLA (31-10).  Senior quarterback Kevin Hogan passed for 2,603 yards.  The Trees are on a two-game winning streak coming into the bowl game.  Maryland was up-and-down all season, but mostly up.  The Terrapins best wins were over Iowa (38-31) and Penn State (20-19).  Coached by Randy Edsall in his fourth year, Maryland was one of the worst teams in the country in rushing offense – only 130.4 yards a game.  Senior quarterback C.J. Brown had 2,083 yards passing and was also the team’s leading rusher with 569 yards.   

The first of three bowls on New Year’s Eve is the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl between TCU (11-1) from the Big 12 and Ole Miss (9-3) of the SEC in Atlanta.  It’s not a playoff bowl that TCU wanted, but it is a chance for the Horned Frogs to prove they belonged in a playoff bowl.  TCU ended the season with some impressive numbers.  The Frogs were 2nd in the country in scoring offense, averaging 46.8 points a game.  At the same time, TCU was 16th nationally in scoring defense, only allowing 16.3 points a game.  In addition, the Frogs were 7th in the nation in passing, averaging 332.8 yards a game.  TCU junior quarterback Trevone Boykin led the Frogs with 3,714 yards passing and was second in rushing with 642 yards.  TCU’s best wins were over Minnesota (30-7), Oklahoma (37-33), West Virginia (31-30), Kansas State (41-20) and Texas (48-10).  The Frogs’ one loss was by 3 points to Baylor.  In his 14th-year, Gary Patterson coaches TCU.  Ole Miss started very strong winning its first seven games.  The Rebel Bears lost three of their last five games.  Under coach Hugh Freeze in his third year, Ole Miss played the best defense in the country, holding opponents to 13.8 points a game.  The Hotty Toddies were also 30th nationally in passing, averaging 275.6 yards a game.  Senior quarterback Bo Wallace threw for 3,085 yards.  Ole Miss’ best wins were over Boise State (35-13), Memphis (24-3), Alabama (23-17) and Mississippi State (31-17).  

Heading west, the next bowl pits Arizona (10-3) of the Pac-12 against Boise State (11-2) from the MWC in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.  Arizona doesn’t have to travel far for its bowl game – about 115 miles.  The Wildcats are 28th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 34.8 points a game.  They are also 28th in the country in rushing, averaging 277.7 yards per game.  Under coach Rich Rodriguez in his third year, Arizona’s best wins were over Oregon (31-24), Utah (42-10) and Arizona State (42-35). Freshman quarterback Anu Solomon passed for 3,458 yards and freshman running back Nick Wilson rushed for 1,289 yards.  Boise State comes into the bowl game riding an eight-game winning streak.  The Broncos, under first-year coach Brian Harsin, are 9th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 39.8 points a game. They are 26th-nationally in passing, averaging 278.2 yards a game, and 31st in rushing, averaging 217.8 yards a game.  Boise State is led by senior quarterback Grant Hedrick who passed for 3,827 yards, and junior running back Jay Ajayi who rushed for 1,689 yards.  The Broncos were champions of the MWC.

The last football game of the year takes place in Miami Gardens, Florida, in the Orange Bowl between Mississippi State (10-2) of the SEC and Georgia Tech (10-3) from the ACC. Mississippi State won its first nine games.  Then the Bulldogs finished 1-2.  They are one of the best teams on offense in the country.  Miss State is 15th in scoring offense – 37.2 points a game; 20th in rushing – 239.8 yards a game, and 36th in passing – 266.3 yards a game.  On defense, the Bulldogs are 10th-nationally in scoring, holding foes to 19.4 points a game.  Miss State’s best wins were over LSU (34-29), Texas A&M (48-31), Auburn (38-23) and Arkansas (17-10).  The Bulldogs are led by junior quarterback Dak Prescott who passed for 2,996 yards, and junior running back Josh Robinson who rushed for 1,128 yards.  Miss State is coached by Dan Mullen in his sixth season.  Georgia Tech won its first five games of the season.  Then the Yellow Jackets lost two consecutive games before coming back and winning their final five games.  Tech then lost to Florida State in the ACC championship game by 2 points.  Under coach Paul Johnson in his seventh year, the Jackets best wins were over NC State (56-23), Clemson (28-6) and Georgia (30-24 in overtime).  Tech is the 3rd-best team in the country rushing, averaging 333.6 yards a game.  The Jackets are 18th in scoring offense, averaging 37 points a game. 

The first football game of 2015 will be played between Auburn (8-4) from the SEC and Wisconsin (10-3) from the Big Ten in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. Auburn comes into the bowl as the 12th-best team in the country in rushing, averaging 258.5 yards per game.  The Tigers are 23rd in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 35.8 points a game.  Auburn began the season at 5-0, but then lost four of its remaining seven games.  The Tigers best wins were over Kansas State (20-14), LSU (41-7) and Ole Miss (35-31).  Auburn is led by senior quarterback Nick Marshall and senior running back Cameron Artis-Payne.  Artis-Payne rushed for 1,482 yards this season. Marshall rushed for 780 yards. The Tigers are coached by Gus Malzahn in his second year.  Wisconsin’s chances of winning this game may have taken a hit with the departure of head coach Gary Andersen.  Andersen is leaving the Badgers for the job at Oregon State.  The Badgers finished their regular season with a seven-game winning streak.  Then they lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.  Wisconsin has some impressive stats.  The Badgers are 4th in the country in rushing – 314 yards per game; 13th in scoring defenses – allowing only 20 points a game, and 31st in scoring offense – 34.6 points a game.  Wisconsin’s best wins were over Nebraska (59-24), Iowa (26-24) and Minnesota (34-24).  The Badgers’ junior running back Melvin Gordon rushed for 2,336 yards, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez will coach the Badgers in the bowl game.

The January 1 party continues in Arlington, Texas, at the Cotton Bowl where Baylor (11-1) of the Big 12 takes on Michigan State (10-2) from the Big Ten. Baylor comes into the bowl, riding a five-game winning streak.  Under seventh-year coach Art Briles, the Bears have been impressive this season.  They are No. 1 in the country in scoring offense, averaging 48.8 points a game. Additionally, Baylor is 5th in passing – 346.2 yards a game, and 23rd in rushing with 235.2 yards a game.  Senior quarterback Bryce Petty passed for 3,305 yards, and sophomore running back Shock Linwood rushed for 1,226 yards.  The Bears best wins were over TCU (61-58), Oklahoma (48-14) and Kansas State (38-27). Michigan State’s only good win all season was over Nebraska (27-22).  Along the way, the Spartans did put up some good statistics.  They are 7th in the country in scoring offense – 43.1 points a game; 12th in scoring defense, giving up only 19.9 points a game, and 24th in rushing – 234.9 yards a game.  Junior quarterback Connor Cook passed for 2,900 yards.  Senior running back Jeremy Langford rushed for 1,360 yards, and senior receiver Tony Lippett had 60 catches for 1,124 yards.  Michigan State is coached by Mark Dantonio in his eighth year.

Next, it’s back to Florida for the Citrus Bowl, pitting Missouri (10-3) from the SEC against Minnesota (8-4) of the Big Ten.  Under coach Gary Pinkel in his 14th year, Missouri’s best wins were over UCF (38-10), Texas A&M (34-27), Tennessee (29-21) and Arkansas (21-14).  The Tigers finished the season winning six-consecutive games, before losing to Alabama in the SEC title game. Missouri is 26th in the nation in scoring defense – allowing 21.4 points a game.  Tigers’ sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk passed for 2,551 yards. Minnesota is 27th in the nation in rushing – 224.6 yards a game.  The Gophers best wins this season were over Iowa (51-14) and Nebraska (28-24).  Minnesota is coached by Jerry Kill in his fourth year. The Gophers were led by senior running back David Cobb who had 1,548 yards rushing.

This year, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, hosts one of the playoff games, matching No. 2 Oregon (12-1) from the Pac-12 against No. 3 Florida State (13-0) of the ACC. Oregon comes into the bowl with an eight-game winning streak.  The Ducks are a complete football team, especially on offense.  Oregon is 3rd in the country in scoring offense – 46.3 points a game; 11th nationally in passing – 308.9 yards per game, and 22nd in rushing – 237.3 yards a game.  On defense, the Ducks are 29th in scoring defense, allowing 22.5 points a game.  Oregon junior quarterback Marcus Mariota leads the Ducks with 3,783 yards passing and 669 yards rushing. Freshman running back Royce Freeman had 1,299 yards rushing.  Oregon’s best wins were over Michigan State (46-27), UCLA (42-30), Stanford (45-16), Utah (51-27) and Arizona (51-13). In his second year, Mark Helfrich coaches the Ducks.  Meanwhile, Florida State is not too shabby either.  The Seminoles are 14th in the country in passing – 299.8 yards a game; 29th in scoring offense – 34.8 points a game, and 30th in scoring defense, holding opponents to 23 points a game.  In his fifth season, Jimbo Fisher coaches Florida State.  Team leader sophomore quarterback Jameis Winston passed for 3,559 yards.  Senior receiver Rashad Greene had 93 receptions for 1,306 yards, while senior tight end Nick O’Leary had 47 catches for 614 yards. The Noles best wins were over Clemson (23-17 in overtime), NC State (56-41), Notre Dame (31-27) and Louisville (42-31).  

The other playoff game features Alabama (12-1) of the SEC against Ohio State (12-1) from the Big Ten in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.  Alabama’s strength is defense as the Tide is 4th in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 16.6 points a game.  But Bama isn’t too shabby on offense either.  The Tide is 17th in the nation in scoring offense – 37.1 points a game, and 22nd in passing, averaging 281 yards a game.  Alabama’s best wins were over West Virginia (33-23), Texas A&M (59-0), LSU (20-13 in overtime), Mississippi State (25-20), Auburn (55-44) and Missouri (42-13).  The Tide is currently on an eight-game winning streak.  Bama is led by senior quarterback Blake Sims who threw for 3,250 yards.  The Tide has two dangerous runners in junior T.J. Yeldon (932 yards) and sophomore Derrick Henry (895 yards).  Junior receiver Amari Cooper had 115 receptions for 1,656 yards. Nick Saban, in his eighth year, coaches Alabama. Ohio State comes into the playoff on an 11-game winning streak.  The Buckeyes haven’t lost since September 6.  Ohio State’s best wins were over Michigan State (49-37), Minnesota (31-24) and Wisconsin (59-0).  Urban Meyer, in his third year, coaches the Buckeyes.  His record in Columbus is an impressive 36-3.  Ohio State is 4th in the country in scoring offense – 45.2 points a game; 11th in rushing – 260.8 yards a game, and 23rd in scoring defense, holding opponents to 21.2 points a game.  The leading rusher for the Buckeyes is sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott with 1,402 yards.  Interesting that Alabama and Ohio State each had a 59-0 win this year.

On the second day of January, four bowl games take place.  The first is the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, featuring Pitt (6-6) of the ACC against Houston (7-5) from the AAC.  Pitt began the season winning its first three games.  Then the Panthers lost six of their last nine games.  Paul Chryst, in his third year, coaches Pitt.  The Panthers biggest asset is sophomore running back James Conner, who rushed for 1,675 yards.  Sophomore receiver Tyler Boyd had 69 catches for 1,149 yards.  Pitt is 16th in the country in rushing, averaging 251.3 yards a game. Houston finished the season 7-5, but still fired its coach Tony Levine – not enough offense.  The Cougars were 11th in the nation in scoring defense, holding foes to 19.5 points a game.  Houston’s best win was over Memphis (28-24).    

The second game on January 2 is in Jacksonville, Florida, where Tennessee (6-6) from the SEC and Iowa (7-5) from the Big Ten go at it in the TaxSlayer Bowl. This is Tennessee’s first bowl game since 2010.  Butch Jones, in his second year, coaches the Vols.  Tennessee’s best win was over South Carolina (45-42 in overtime).  The Vols are one of the worst teams in the country in rushing.  Iowa is coached by Kirk Ferentz, in his 16th season. The Hawkeyes come into the bowl 2-4 in their last six games.  Junior quarterback Jake Rudock passed for 2,404 yards, and senior running back Mark Weisman rushed for 802 yards.       

Moving over to Texas, Kansas State (9-3) of the Big 12 and UCLA (9-3) from the Pac-12 meet in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.  The Alamo Bowl landed two of the better and most interesting teams in the country.  Kansas State started the season at 7-1 before going 2-2 in its final four games.  The Wildcats are 20th in the country in passing – 283.2 yards a game; 23rd in scoring offense – 35.8 points a game, and 27th in scoring defense, allowing 21.8 points a game.  K-State is led by senior quarterback Jake Waters who threw for 3,163 yards.  The Wildcats also have one of the nation’s best receivers in senior Tyler Lockett – 93 receptions for 1,351 yards.  K-State is coached by Bill Snyder in his 23rd year over two stints at the school. The Wildcats best wins were over Oklahoma (31-30), Texas (23-0) and West Virginia (26-20).  UCLA began the season 4-0, lost two games, went 5-0 and then lost their finale. The Bruins best wins were over Memphis (42-35), Texas (20-17), Arizona State (62-27), Arizona (17-7) and USC (38-20).  UCLA was the only Pac-12 team to beat both Arizona and Arizona State.  In his third season, Jim Mora coaches the Bruins.  Junior quarterback Brett Hundley passed for 3,019 yards, and sophomore running back Paul Perkins rushed for 1,378 yards.

The last of the for bowls on January 2 is the Cactus Bowl in Tempe, Arizona, matching Oklahoma State (6-6) from the Big 12 against Washington (8-5) of the Pac-12.  Oklahoma State had a disappointing season.  The Cowboys began 5-1 – the loss being by six points to Florida State.  Then Okie State lost its starting quarterback – J.W. Walsh – to injury.  The Pokes lost their next five games, before coming on to upset intrastate rival Oklahoma (38-35 in overtime) in their season finale.  Mike Gundy, in his 10th season, coaches Okie State. Washington finished the season 8-5, but the Huskies didn’t beat a single team with a winning record.  Washington also is one of the worst passing teams in the country.  Former Boise State coach Chris Petersen was in his first year, coaching the Huskies. 

The next day, Florida (6-5) of the SEC plays East Carolina (8-4) from the AAC in the Birmingham Bowl – alias the Where UAB Doesn’t Play Anymore Bowl.  Florida’s defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin is the Gators interim coach for the game.  Florida had a disappointing season which resulted in the firing of coach Will Muschamp.  The Gators were one of the worst teams in the country in passing, but they were 24th in the nation in scoring defense – giving up 21.2 points a game.  Florida’s best win was over Georgia (38-20).  East Carolina had a disappointing season too. After starting out 6-1, with impressive wins over Virginia Tech (28-21) and North Carolina (70-41), the Pirates only won two of their final five games.  East Carolina is an impressive passing team – 2nd in the country, averaging 367.3 yards a game.  The Pirates also are 15th in the nation in scoring offense – 37.2 points a game.  Senior quarterback Shane Carden passed for 4,309 yards.  Senior receiver Justin Hardy had 110 receptions for 1,334 yards.  East Carolina is coached by Ruffin McNeill in his fifth year.  

The final bowl game of the season is on January 4 in Mobile, Alabama, between Toledo (8-4) from the MAC and Arkansas State (7-5) of the Sun Belt in the Go Daddy Bowl.  Toledo’s best wins during the season were over Central Michigan (42-28), Western Michigan (20-19 in overtime) and Bowling Green (27-20).  The Rockets are coached by Matt Campbell in his third year.  Toledo is 18th in the country in rushing – 247.3 yards a game.  Sophomore running back Kareem Hunt rushed for 1,360 yards.  Arkansas State is 21st in the country in scoring offense – 36.1 points a game, and 25th in rushing 229 yards a game.  Junior quarterback Fredi Knighten passed for 2,874 yards and rushed for 775 yards.  Blake Anderson, in his first year, coaches the Red Wolves.  Arkansas State’s best wins were over Utah State (21-14 in overtime) and South Alabama (45-10).     

The College Football Playoff National Championship game will take place on January 12 in Arlington, Texas.    

That’s the lineup.  Now you can plan your Holiday schedule.

From Atlantic to Pacific
Gee, the bowl games are terrific

For bragging rights, the SEC has the most teams in bowl games with 12, followed by the ACC with 11 and the Big Ten with 10.  The Pac-12 has 8 teams playing in bowls, followed by the Big 12 and the MWC with 7. Three conferences placed 5 teams in bowl games – the AAC, C-USA and the MAC.  The Sun Belt trailed the pack, placing 3 of its teams in bowl games.  There are 3 Independents playing in the games.  

Five bowl-eligible teams from four conferences failed to get bids – two from C-USA, one from the AAC, one from the MAC and one from the Sun Belt.  The two C-USA teams are Middle Tennessee (6-6) and UAB (6-6).  The AAC team is Temple (6-6), the MAC team is Ohio (6-6) and the Sun Belt team is Texas State (7-5).

It’s the second year in a row that Texas State has been jilted. UAB’s chances for a bowl invitation were all but crushed when the school announced – before the bowl invitations were made and not afterwards – that it was suspending the football program. 

Three more teams had bowl-eligible records, but were not sanctioned by the NCAA to compete in a bowl since it was their first year at the FBS level.  Teams moving up from one level to another – called in-transition – have to sit out of bowl games for one year.  One of the teams is from C-USA – Old Dominion (6-6).  The other two are Sun Belt teams – Georgia Southern (9-3) and Appalachian State (7-5).

My annual predictions for each of the 38 bowls and the national championship game will be posted Monday, December 15 in College Football Week 17 – CFW Week 17.

Go Navy, Beat Army!

Touchdown Tom
December 12, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com