College Football Week 18 – 22 bowls in six days
The eye of the storm
After a rush of 18 bowl games during a span of eight days, we are now in a 38-hour lull – a pause in the action before the rush of 22 more bowl games during the next six days. You might say we are in the eye of the storm – the period of calm before all hell breaks loose again. But fasten your seatbelts. The action resumes later today. And it’s going to get fierce before it comes to an end on January 2.
The second half of the storm packs a more powerful wallop. The games get bigger as the higher ranked teams and the more prestigious bowls come into play – all peaking and climaxing during the last three of the six days.
At 4-1, the Pac-12 rules the roost after the first 18 games. Arizona, Utah, Washington State and Washington have all been winners. The Pac-12’s only loser was UCLA. The favored Bruins were upset by Nebraska.
Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference are putting up a respectable showing. Both conferences are 3-2. C-USA’s winners were Louisiana Tech, Western Kentucky and Marshall. The MWC has produced two of the biggest blowouts so far – Boise State 55, Northern Illinois 7, and San Diego State 42, Cincinnati 7.
The Mid-American Conference at 3-3 and the Sun Belt Conference at 2-2 are batting 500. The big winner in the MAC was Toledo. The Sun Belts brightest star was Georgia Southern.
The ACC (2-1) and the Big Ten (1-1) haven’t played enough games to make a comment. The Big 12 and the SEC have yet to play a bowl game. They experience their first game on December 29.
By a long shot, the worst conference in the bowl games so far is the American Athletic Conference. The AAC is a paltry 0-5. Three AAC teams – Navy, Memphis and Houston – have yet to play. But two of those three are underdogs. The performance of the ACC is disappointing as the league is considered to be the strongest of the Group of Five conferences.
For most, the Holiday Season officially began last Monday. The schools were out. Many employees began their Christmas vacation. And the first wave of the holiday travelers hit the highways and the airports.
It also was the first day of the week’s 13 bowl games. The action kicked off at the Miami Beach Bowl. Or as I call it, the Miami Misleading Bowl, since it doesn’t take place on or near a beach. Maybe they should call it the Medianoche Bowl since it takes place in Little Havana.
The lack of a beach didn’t bother Brandon Doughty. The Western Kentucky quarterback put on quite an aerial show, passing for 461 yards, as WKU beat South Florida, 45-35 – not on Miami Beach. On the other side of the ball, South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers couldn’t hit the broad side of a red barn…..I mean…..green barn. Many of Flowers’ passes landed near receivers, but nowhere near South Florida receivers. He only completed 41% of his passes.
The game had a couple of interesting twists. South Florida coach Willie Taggart is a former quarterback for WKU and a former coach of the Hilltoppers. In fact, Taggart recruited Brandon Doughty to WKU. Man, was he ever regretting that!
Tuesday, I had lunch with Ron Hoke, an old Navy buddy of mine. We were stationed and worked together in Bremerhaven, Germany and Edzell, Scotland in the early 1970s. After losing contact with one another in the late 1970s/early 1980s, we reconnected last April.
Ron, as it turns out, lives in Lakeland, Florida. We’ve begun a routine of meeting for lunch every couple of months. Ron drives and hour and I drive an hour and we meet in St. Cloud, Florida.
Texas State coach Dennis Franchione resigned. He coached TCU to a 25-10 record in three seasons – 1998-2000. TCU had been 1-10 the year before he came. The Horned Frogs were 10-1 in Franchione’s last season in Fort Worth. Then he became Alabama’s coach for two seasons – 2001-2002, where he was 17-8. Alabama had been 3-8 the year before he came.
After two seasons, Alabama offered Franchione a $15 million, 10-year contract extension. He refused to sign, and instead, left Tuscaloosa for Texas A&M. The move insulted Alabama fans big time. Next to the Tide, the favorite team of Alabama fans was whoever was playing Texas A&M. Tide fans loved it whenever the Aggies got beat under Franchione. Oklahoma beat the Aggies, 77-0. Alabama fans celebrated with a three-day party.
Franchione was 32-28 in five seasons at Texas A&M (2003-2007). Following the 2007 season, he was terminated in the midst of a controversy. Following a lull in action, Franchione surfaced at Texas State where he went 39-43. Prior to TCU, he was the coach of New Mexico for six seasons. The guy got around.
Akron beat Utah State 23-21 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It was Akron’s first bowl win and a good win for Terry Bowden. Terry might turn Akron into a winner yet. So I’m wondering, is there an Infamous Idaho Potato Bowl?
Just when all the open coaching slots were filled, another one became available. Ball State coach Pete Lembo resigned to become the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator under D.J. Durkin at Maryland. That makes 25 FBS schools that will have new head coaches next season. Ball State is in the MAC.
Speaking of the MAC, Toledo surprised Temple in the Boca Raton Bowl. The Rockets beat the Owls, 32-17. After a 7-0 start this season, Temple lost 4 of its last 7 games.
Wednesday, Swamp Mama and I left Indialantic, driving north to the Florida panhandle to spend Christmas with Princess Gator, Bama Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe. It was an uneventful and pleasant drive to Tallahassee. However, we ran into rain at Tallahassee and the moisture, heavy at times, remained with us for the final 90 minutes of the drive.
Boise State plastered Northern Illinois, 55-7, in the Poinsettia Bowl. I’m not sure why NIU even bothered to show up. I’m not sure the Huskies did show up. In a mild surprise, Georgia Southern beat Bowling Green, 58-27, in the Go Daddy Bowl. The Falcons were the champions of the MAC this season. They didn’t play like champions against Georgia Southern.
Former BYU quarterback Ty Detmer is returning home. He was named the new offensive coordinator for the Cougars. Detmer won the Heisman Trophy in 1990.
Thursday, Bama Gator, Gator Gabe and I went to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Two thumbs up! Swamp Mama, Princess Gator and Gator Babe stayed home and wrapped presents.
In the only bowl played outside the country, Western Michigan beat Middle Tennessee, 45-31, in the Bahamas Bowl. In its second year, the bowl is becoming a high-scoring affair. Last year Western Kentucky beat Central Michigan, 49-48.
Former Texas A&M quarterback Kyler Murray announced he is transferring to Oklahoma. Murray will sit out the 2016 season.
In the Hawaii Bowl, San Diego State had no mercy on Cincinnati. The Aztecs beat the Bearcats, 42-7. Late in the season, “Fire Tuberville” signs began to appear at Cincinnati games. Tommy Tuberville, the former Ole Miss, Auburn and Texas Tech coach is definitely on the hot seat. It got hotter after the loss to San Diego State.
Christmas Day in the panhandle and the temperature was 81. We were hoping for some cooler weather. It didn’t feel like Christmas. But at least it wasn’t raining.
The day after Christmas was the busiest bowl day of all – six games. Marshall and Connecticut began the day’s proceedings in the St. Petersburg Bowl. In a defensible battle, Marshall downed UConn, 16-10.
In the Snow…..I mean…..the Sun Bowl, Washington State edged Miami (Florida), 20-14, in another defensive battle. Snow fell throughout most of the game. There was no sun at the Sun Bowl this year. Also in Texas, another team from the state of Washington won its bowl game. The Washington Huskies downed Southern Miss, 44-31, in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Washington is going to be a good team next year.
In the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium, Duke won its first bowl game since 1961, beating Indiana, 44-41, in overtime. Who said those Dookies were a basketball school? In Frank Beamer’s swan song, Virginia Tech edged Tulsa, 55-52, in the Independence Bowl.
And in the nightcap, Nebraska surprised UCLA, 37-29, in the Foster Farms Bowl. It was a great ending to a so-so season for first-year Husker coach Mike Riley. Meanwhile, it was a disappointing finish for Bruins coach Jim Mora. Many picked UCLA to win the Pac-12 South this year and some went so far as to pick the Bruins to win the Pac-12. Mora seemed to start out hot in Westwood, but he has been cold lately.
Nebraska joins San Jose State as the second 5-7 team to win its bowl game. Now it’s up to Minnesota to make it a perfect threesome. The Gophers play today.
Yesterday, word broke that Jim Mora and Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald could be head coaches in the NFL next season. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, Alabama coach Nick Saban said he can’t see himself making another move. He’s glued to Tuscaloosa. And it looks like Lane Kiffin will be back with Saban for at least another year as the Tide’s offensive coordinator.
Swamp Mama and I left the panhandle yesterday, returning south to east-central Florida. Fortunately, we were only on I-75 from Ocala to the Turnpike. We wisely took the back roads down to Ocala – a good decision. Interstate 75 was packed solid and moving slow going south.
Yeah, we’re in the eye of the storm now. But there are still 22 bowls to be played this week. And that doesn’t include the national championship game on January 11th. The thrill is on.
Happy New Year!
Touchdown Tom
December 28, 2015
Review of Last Week’s Bowls
Bull-toppers – (in the Miami Beach Bowl) – Western Kentucky 45, South Florida 35 (Touchdown Tom said: South Florida 30, Western Kentucky 27). A close game at the break, South Florida led, 14-10. But WKU ran away from USF in the third quarter, outscoring the Bulls, 28-7. USF rallied in the fourth quarter and pulled within 3 points at 38-35, with plenty of time left. But that was as close as the Bulls would get. The stats were pretty even. South Florida was the better rushing team; WKU was the better passing team. Two USF players – Quinton Flowers and Marlon Mack – rushed for 108 yards each. WKU’s Brandon Doughty passed for 461 yards. Attendance in Miami: 21,712
Akwon – (in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) – Akron 23, Utah State 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Utah State 20, Akron 14). Trailing 10-7 and with the ball on the Akron 32, Utah State was driving at the end of the first half when Aggies quarterback Kent Myers fumbled. Akron defensive tackle Rodney Coe picked up the loose ball and returned it 56 yards to the Utah State 12, with four seconds left. Akron kicked a 29-yard field goal to extend its lead to 13-7, as the first half ended. That field goal off a fumble was the difference in the game. Attendance in Boise: 18,876
Rocket science – (in the Boca Raton Bowl) – Toledo 32, Temple 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Temple 22, Toledo 19). A close game at the end of the third quarter, Toledo led Temple 12-9. But in the fourth quarter, the Rockets ran away from the Owls, outscoring Temple, 20-8. Toledo dominated Temple in rushing yards (150 to 99) and in passing yards (285 to 236). Attendance in Boca Raton: 25,908
Stampede – (in the Poinsettia Bowl) – Boise State 55, Northern Illinois 7 (Touchdown Tom said: Boise State 31, Northern Illinois 21). Boise State jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead and never looked back. It was an embarrassing loss for NIU. Boise State had 654 total yards to only 33 for the Huskies. The Broncos had 35 first downs to 7 for NIU. And the Broncos dominated time of possession 43 minutes to 17 minutes. Simply put, NIU was never in the game. Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien passed for 377 yards. Attendance in San Diego: 21,501
Go Eagles Bowl – (in the Go Daddy Bowl) – Georgia Southern 58, Bowling Green 27 (Touchdown Tom said: Bowling Green 33, Georgia Southern 25). A good game at the half, Bowling Green led 27-23. Then Georgia Southern ran away with the game in the second half, outscoring the Falcons, 35-0. The Eagles were the better rushing team (452 yards to 166). BG was the better passing team (246 yards to 82). Georgia Southern quarterback Favian Upshaw rushed for 199 yards. Attendance in Mobile: 28,656
For the Broncos, it was better in the Bahamas – (in the Bahamas Bowl) – Western Michigan 45, Middle Tennessee 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Western Michigan 32, Middle Tennessee 30). Knotted at 24-24 at the end of the third, it was all Western Michigan in the fourth quarter. The Broncos outscored Middle Tennessee, 21-7, in the final period. WMU outdistanced the Blue Raiders in total yards, 613 to 442. WMU quarterback Zach Terrell passed for 297 yards and running back Jamauri Bogan ran for 215 yards. Middle Tennessee’s Brent Stockstill passed for 327 yards. Attendance in Nassau: 13,123
Nearly skunked – (in the Hawaii Bowl) – San Diego State 42, Cincinnati 7 (Touchdown Tom said: San Diego State 28, Cincinnati 26). San Diego State dominated Cincinnati throughout. The Aztecs led 42-0 with 9 minutes to go in the game. The Bearcats scored on a one-yard run with 3:21 remaining in the game to avoid a shutout. Cincinnati quarterback Hayden Moore threw three interceptions. Attendance in San Diego: 22,793
The Huskies were Green – (in the St. Petersburg Bowl) – Marshall 16, Connecticut 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Connecticut 25, Marshall 20). A defensive struggle throughout, each team only scored one touchdown – and both of those TDs were in the first quarter. The rest of the way, it was all field goals – 3 to 1 for Marshall. The Herd dominated the Huskies in the stats. Marshall had 24 first downs to 15 for UConn, and 389 total yards to 213 for the Huskies. Marshall also controlled the clock – 35 minutes to 25 minutes. Attendance in St. Petersburg: 14,652
Snow in the Sun – (in the Sun Bowl) – Washington State 20, Miami (Florida) 14 (Touchdown Tom said: Washington State 36, Miami 34). Washington State’s defense entered the game ranked 93rd in the country. But with less than 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Miami only had 7 points on the board. A few seconds later, the Canes added 7 more. The Cougars built up a 20-7 first half lead. Both teams’ defenses took over on the second half. Wazzu’s Luke Falk passed for 295 yards. Attendance in El Paso: 41,180
The Huskies got to the heart of the matter – (in the Heart of Dallas Bowl) – Washington 44, Southern Miss 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Washington 30, Southern Miss 20). This was a good game at the break. Washington led Southern Miss at the half by only 4 points – 21-17. The game remained close late into the third quarter with the score tied, 24-24. Then the Huskies scored 17 unanswered points to take a 41-24 lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Huskies had 580 total yards to 375 for the Eagles. Washington’s Myles Gaskin ran for 181 yards. The Eagles’ Nick Mullens passed for 331 yards. Attendance in Dallas: 20,229
Almost a basketball score – (in the Pinstripe Bowl) – Duke 44, Indiana 41 (OT) (Touchdown Tom said: Duke 35, Indiana 32). Duke won the rushing game – 373 yards to 278. Indiana won the passing game – 389 yards to 163. The Hoosiers also won the first down race – 33 to 23. The Hoosiers ended up with 667 total yards. The teams combined for 1,203 total yards. Attendance in the Bronx: 37,218
The last of Beamer ball – (in the Independence Bowl) – Virginia Tech 55, Tulsa 52 (Touchdown Tom said: Virginia Tech 32, Tulsa 17). The defenses didn’t show up until the second half. Virginia Tech led 45-31 at the break. Then the Hokies only scored 10 points on the second half. Tulsa added 21 more. The game got interesting when Tulsa closed the gap to 3 points – 55-52 – with 3:47 left in the game. The teams combined for 1,161 total yards. Tulsa’s Dane Evans passed for 377 yards. Virginia Tech’s Michael Brewer passed for 344 yards. Attendance in Shreveport: 31,289
Corn does grow on Foster’s Farm – (in the Foster Farms Bowl) – Nebraska 37, UCLA 29 (Touchdown Tom said: UCLA 34, Nebraska 28). Midway through the second quarter, UCLA led 21-7. Then Nebraska scored 30 unanswered points. Early in the fourth quarter, the Huskers led 37-21. After going scoreless for about 26 minutes, the Bruins added one last touchdown with 11:29 remaining in the game. Nebraska had 31 first downs to 17 for UCLA. The Huskers had 500 total yards to 386 for the Bruins. Nebraska also dominated time of possession – 38 minutes to 22 minutes. UCLA freshman quarterback Josh Rosen passed for 319 yards, but he also threw two interceptions. Attendance in Santa Clara: 33,527
Last Week’s Picks: 7 Correct, 6 Wrong (53.9%)
Running Total: 11 Correct, 7 Wrong (61.1%)
Superlatives
Impressive Passers:
Western Kentucky’s Brandon Doughty – 32-44-2 for 461 yards; Indiana’s Nate Sudfeld – 28-51-2-389; Boise State’s Brett Rypien – 29-39-1-377; Tulsa’s Dane Evans – 27-44-0-374, and Virginia Tech’s Michael Brewer – 23-37-1-344.
Also, Southern Miss’ Nick Mullens – 25-38-0 for 331 yards; Middle Tennessee’s Brent Stockstill – 26-39-1-327; UCLA’s Josh Rosen – 26-40-2-319; Western Michigan’s Zach Terrell – 18-26-1-297, and Washington State’s Luke Falk – 29-53-0-295.
Impressive Rushers:
Indiana’s Devine Redding – 227 yards; Western Michigan’s Jamauri Bogan – 215 yards; Georgia Southern’s Favian Upshaw – 199 yards; Washington’s Myles Gaskin – 181 yards, and Duke’s Thomas Sirk – 155 yards.
Quotes of the Week
“Two basketball schools, playing football in a baseball stadium,” CBS Sports Network’s Adam Zucker, on the Pinstripe Bowl.
In the Huddle
Elsewhere around college football . . . Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey was named The Associated Press player of the year. During the season, McCaffrey ran for 1,847 yards and eight touchdowns, caught 41 passes for 540 yards and four scores and averaged 28.9 yards per kickoff return, with another score. He also threw two touchdown passes. McCaffrey set the NCAA record for all-purpose yards with 3,496 this season.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was named The Associated Press coach of the year. Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio and Houston’s Tom Herman tied for 2nd in the voting. Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops was 4th, followed by Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly and Florida’s Jim McElwain.
Touchdown Tom
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but there were three passings of note last week – Peggy Say, Dave Henderson and Jim O’Toole.
Peggy Say, who waged a nearly seven-year campaign to keep the world from forgetting about her younger brother Terry Anderson, the American hostage held longest by Shiite militiamen in Lebanon, died last week in Cookeville, Tennessee. She was 74. Anderson, who was chief Mideast correspondent for The Associated Press, was abducted in March 1985. Say wrapped the nation in a figurative yellow ribbon of remembrance, drawing attention to her captive brother and working non-stop for his release. She rallied his fellow journalists, ordinary Americans, humanitarian groups and world figures, including President Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and Yasir Arafat. Terry Anderson was eventually released in December 1991. Peggy Rae Anderson was born in Lorain, Ohio, on February 15, 1941. She grew up in Batavia, New York. Seeking her brother’s release, Say made herself into a national figure.
Dave Henderson, a former major league outfielder who played for five teams, died yesterday in Seattle. He was 57. In 14 seasons in the majors, Henderson was a reliable contributor to four teams that reached the World Series. His greatest success came from 1988 to 1991 with the Oakland Athletics, who went to the World Series three times during that period. Henderson began his career with the Seattle Mariners. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1986. He later played for the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals. After his playing career, Henderson spent time as a broadcaster for the Mariners. Dave Henderson was born on July 21, 1958, in Merced, California.
Jim O’Toole, a star pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1960s, died Saturday. He was 78. O’Toole, a left-hander, started the opening game of the 1961 World Series, losing, 2-0, to the New York Yankees ace Whitey Ford. He was the National Leagues starting pitcher in the 1963 All-Star game. O’Toole made his debut at age 21 with the Reds, late in the 1958 season. O’Toole, a Chicago native, adopted Cincinnati as his hometown. He raised his children there.
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