College Football Week 18 – 20 down, 20 plus 1 to go
Bowl game mania – it’s hot
Are you having fun yet?
For me, Holiday Week 1 began with a root canal. I wasn’t having fun. Actually, the procedure really isn’t so bad anymore. But I needed some pampering from Swamp Mama so I played it to the hilt. I had my one and only other root canal when I was in college.
After a day off, the bowl games resumed on Monday, December 19th. That afternoon was a good time for me to relax and watch some football, while I was being pampered by Swamp Mama. Tulsa downed Central Michigan, 55-10, in the Miami Beach Bowl. The Golden Hurricane had a good day at the beach.
Tuesday evening, the Boca Raton Bowl took the spotlight. Western Kentucky blew past Memphis, 51-31. If you like offense, and a lot of it, this was a good game to watch. Meanwhile, the AAC must be saying, "Thank god for Tulsa." Otherwise the conference would be winless in the bowl games.
What’s going on with all the players backing out of the bowl games? Apparently, many of the players entering the NFL draft are worried about getting injured. Maybe we shouldn’t have the bowls at the end of the season. But then the players probably wouldn’t play in the last game or two of the regular season. Maybe we should just do away with college football all together.
Wednesday night in San Diego, BYU beat Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl, 24-21.
Speaking of backing out of bowl games, I bet Duke basketball player Grayson Allen wouldn’t back out of a bowl. Sometimes I think Allen must think he is playing football instead of basketball. Last week, Allen was suspended from the Duke team for tripping a player during a basketball game. Tripping players has become a habit for Allen and last week it finally caught up with him.
Now, I have to believe it was the Duke’s president Richard Brodhead or athletic director Kevin White who made the decision to suspend Allen. I can’t believe that arrogant coach Kranky Face would have suspended Allen that without being told to by a higher authority.
Thursday, Idaho surprised Colorado State in the Idaho Potato Bowl, 61-50 – yes football, not basketball. This was a big surprise and a good win for Idaho who will be dropping down to the FCS (Division IAA) level in 2018. Actually, Idaho would like to remain at the FCS (Division IA) level, but the school does not want to play at that level if it has to be an Independent.
Sadly, there is not an FCS conference that wants Idaho. Its current conference, the Sun Belt, is throwing the Vandals out after the 2017 season. Idaho wants to join the Mountain West Conference, but the MWC has no interest in the Vandals. In 2018, Idaho will play football in the Big Sky Conference.
Friday, Swamp Mama and I made the trek north to Florida’s panhandle to spend Christmas with Princess Gator, Bama Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe. We got an early start to beat the traffic. Highway 192 out of Melbourne was a breeze – hardly any traffic to speak of. Heading north, the traffic on the Florida Turnpike was moderate – acceptable.
Then we merged onto I-75 and it was a zoo. So 25 miles later, we exited I-75 in Ocala and took Highway 27 through Williston and Bronson to Chiefland. In Chiefland, we picked up U.S. 19 north. The driving on 27 and 19 was a breeze. North of Perry, we got onto I-10 west. The traffic, heading west on I-10, was moderate – not bad. It was a good trip.
Friday was also a big day for the bowls – three games. In the first game, Old Dominion beat Eastern Michigan in the Bahamas Bowl, 24-20 – not that many people in the Bahamas cared.
Next, in the Armed Forces Bowl, Louisiana Tech beat Navy, 48-45 – almost a basketball game. The Middies had a tough ending to their season which began so bright. After nine games, Navy was 9-2. Then the Mids lost their last three games to finish 9-5. But Navy had to play those last three games without starting quarterback Will Worth. Worth was out with a leg injury.
In the nightcap on Friday, Troy beat Ohio, 28-23, in the Dollar General Bowl in Mobile. During the season, Troy only lost to Clemson by 6 points – 30-24.
New Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin named his offensive coordinator. Kiffin hired Baylor OC Kendal Briles. With the coaching change at Baylor, Briles was going to be out of a job following Baylor’s game in the upcoming Cactus Bowl.
So, after 12 bowls, C-USA and the Sun Belt are looking good at 4-1. The AAC and MAC are looking bad at 1-4 and 0-4 respectively.
We’ve been looking for some cool, refreshing weather, but there won’t be any this Christmas – not in Florida. It’s hotter than hell. It’s even hot in the panhandle. The visitors from the north love it. The residents hate it.
Christmas Eve (Who plays football on Christmas Eve?), Hawaii beat Middle Tennessee, 52-35, in where else, the Hawaii Bowl.
Christmas Day, I’m sitting at 8-5 on my bowl picks. Good thing I picked Hawaii.
December 26 and it is still hot. No relief in sight.
He’s not hot, but hey, there may be hope yet for poor ole Les Miles. The day after Christmas, Connecticut fired head coach Bob Diaco. It only took UConn 30 days to make the decision to fire Diaco. What was that all about? The Connecticut athletic director must suffer from mind stuttering. In three seasons with the Huskies, Diaco was 11-26 – 3-9 this season.
So, that makes it 18 coaches now.
And on the day after Christmas, there were three bowl games. In the first encounter, Mississippi State beat Miami (Ohio), 17-16, in the St. Petersburg Bowl. It took two blocked kicks for the Bulldogs to beat the RedHawks. The first was a blocked extra point kick. That block kept the score from being 17-17. The second was a blocked field goal kick that came at the end of the game. That block kept the final score from being 19-17, in Miami’s favor.
Next, in the Quick Lane Bowl, Boston College beat Maryland, 36-30. BC was hot in the first half. The Terps were hot in the second half – but not hot enough.
In the day’s finale, NC State downed Vanderbilt, 41-17, in the Independence Bowl, in Shreveport. Vandy was a hot team at the end of the regular season, beating Ole Miss and Tennessee. But the Dores weren’t hot enough to cool the Wolfpack.
Four games were on tap on December 27. Army and North Texas got the action started in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. It was a thriller. Army beat North Texas in overtime, 38-31. And the Cadets won the game in the Mean Green’s back yard.
Swamp Mama and I bid farewell to the kids and grandkids in the panhandle and made our way back to the shores of east-central Florida. We drove home on the same roads we drove up on – only in reverse. The driving was a breeze on all roads except one – yes, I-75. The traffic on I-75 was stop and go between Ocala and the Florida Turnpike at Wildwood. Fortunately, it was only 25 miles.
While driving home, we learned that Carrie Fisher died. I found it interesting that in addition to Fisher, “Star Wars” director George Lucas also seriously considered Cindy Williams, Amy Irving, Sissy Spacek and Jodie Foster for the role of Princess Leia.
When Wake Forest scored 31 points in the first half of the Military Bowl, it was obvious that Temple didn’t get a copy of the Deacons playbook and game plans. After all, Wake Forest only averaged 20 points a game all season. But then when the Deacons only scored 3 points in the second half, it became apparent that the playbook and game plans must have been a late delivery to the Owls.
Yeah, Wake Forest beat Temple, 34-26, in the Military Bowl, in Annapolis. The game was quite a reversal for the teams. Wake Forest came into the game on a three-game losing streak, while Temple entered the game on a seven-game winning streak.
Minnesota defied all odds, beating Washington State, 17-12, in the Holiday Bowl, in San Diego. The game was sloppy, but most amazing was Washington State being held to 12 points. The Cougars averaged 38 points a game during the season. Minnesota entered the game under troubling emotions. Hats off to the Gophers.
Last night, another team, entering its bowl under troubling conditions, pulled off an upset. Baylor surprised Boise State in the Cactus Bowl, 31-12. It was interim coach Jim Grobe’s swan song with the Bears.
So, after 20 games, the ACC at 3-0 and the Sun Belt at 4-1 are looking good. The MAC at 0-5 and the AAC at 1-5 are looking bad. Stay tuned!
It was good to hear from Steve Moon last week.
Yeah, it’s still hot. Let’s hope the Mountaineers are hot today!
Enjoy Holiday Week 2!
Happy New Year!
Touchdown Tom
December 28, 2016
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
Note: The next CFW – College Football Week 19 – will be posted on Tuesday, January 3.
Review of the Bowls
What a mismatch – (in the Miami Beach Bowl) – Tulsa 55, Central Michigan 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Tulsa 34, Central Michigan 30). Tulsa became the first team in FBS history to have a 3,000-yard passer (Dane Evans), two 1,000-yard rushers (James Flanders and D’Angelo Brewer) and two 1,000-yards receivers (Josh Atkinson and Keevan Lucas) in the same season. That’s impressive. The Golden hurricane led 55-3 early in the fourth quarter. That’s impressive too. Tulsa racked up 581 total yards in the game – 261 yards rushing and 320 passing. Tulsa won 6 of its last 7 games this season to finish with a good 10-3 record. Attendance in Miami: 15,262
Welshed – (in the Boca Raton Bowl) – Western Kentucky 51, Memphis 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Western Kentucky 37, Memphis 34). This game was close for two quarters. But after the halftime break, WKU passed and ran away from Memphis. The teams combined for 1,089 total yards. Both teams passed well. The difference was in the rushing game. Memphis didn’t have one. The Hilltoppers outgained the Tigers on the ground 272 yards to 73. WKU’s Anthony Wales rushed for 245 yards. He also caught four passes for another 84 yards. After beginning the season 3-3, WKU finished the season winning 8-straight games. The Hilltoppers ended their year with an excellent 11-3 record. Attendance in Boca Raton: 24,726
Too little too late – (in the Poinsettia Bowl) – BYU 24, Wyoming 21 (Touchdown Tom said: BYU 34, Wyoming 27). Early in the fourth quarter, BYU led Wyoming 24-7. That’s about the time the Cowboys decided to go to work. Wyoming scored two touchdowns in five minutes and trailed the Cougars by three. But time ran out and the Cowboys came up short. Surprisingly, BYU wasn’t much passing (96 yards), but the Cougars Jamaal Williams rushed for 210 yards. After a 1-3 start, BYU won 8 of its last 9 games to finish its season at 9-4. Attendance in San Diego: 28,114
Basketball bowl – (in the Idaho Potato Bowl) – Idaho 61, Colorado State 50 (Touchdown Tom said: Colorado State 35, Idaho 25). Actually, it was football. But would you believe the score was 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. All 111 points were scored from the second quarter on. Idaho balanced out its point total over the three quarters – 20-21-20. CSU, however, scored 36 of its 50 points in the fourth quarter. The teams combined for 1,206 total yards – 826 passing. Idaho’s Matt Linehan passed for 381 yards and CSU’s Nick Stephens threw for 445 yards. Only Linehan was free of interceptions. Stephens threw 2 picks. The Vandals were the better rushing team, with 225 yards on the ground. Idaho’s Isaiah Saunders was responsible for 147 of those rushing yards. The Vandals also controlled the clock – 36 minutes to 24 minutes for the Rams. Idaho finished its season at 9-4, winning its last five games. Attendance in Boise: 24,975.
It’s better in the Bahamas – (in the Bahamas Bowl) – Old Dominion 24, Eastern Michigan 20 (Touchdown Tom said: Old Dominion 34, Eastern Michigan 26). Well, that’s what the Monarchs say. This was anybody’s ball game for three quarters. The score was tied 17-17 at the beginning of the fourth. Eastern Michigan dominated the stats, but not the score. In its third year, the winner of the Bahamas Bowl the first two years has gone on to win its conference the following year. That could be a good omen for Old Dominion. EMU’s Brogan Roback passed for 300 yards, and ODU’s Ray Lawry rushed for 133 yards. Old Dominion finished its season on a 6-game winning streak and a record of 10-3. Attendance in Nassau: 13,422
The torpedoes were duds – (in the Armed Forces Bowl) – Louisiana Tech 48, Navy 45 (Touchdown Tom said: Navy 39, Louisiana Tech 37). This came close to being a basketball game. Twice in the first quarter, Louisiana Tech led by 10 points at 10-0 and 17-7. In the second quarter, Navy made things close. The Middies took the lead at 21-17, with 11:17 to go before the half. From that point on, the score was tied four times and neither team had more than a three-point lead. La Tech’s Jonathan Barnes kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bulldogs the win. La Tech had 409 yards passing, while Navy had 300 yards rushing. The Bulldogs’ quarterback Ryan Higgins was 29-40-0 for 409 yards. Louisiana Tech ended its season with a 9-5 record. Attendance in Fort Worth: 40,542
Turnover nightmare – (in the Dollar General Bowl) – Troy 28, Ohio 23 (Touchdown Tom said: Troy 27, Ohio 25). Five turnovers destroyed Ohio’s chances in this game. Neither team could run with the ball – 78 yards for Ohio and 87 for Troy. Both passed amassed passing yardage – 315 yards for the Bobcats and 235 for the Trojans. However, 4 of Ohio’s 5 turnovers were interceptions. Troy finished its season with a 10-3 record. Attendance in Mobile: 32,377
Pot of gold – (in the Hawaii Bowl) – Hawaii 52, Middle Tennessee 35 (Touchdown Tom said: Hawaii 31, Middle Tennessee 30). The second quarter was Middle Tennessee’s downfall. That’s when Hawaii outscored the Blue Raiders 21-7. In all other quarters, the teams were equal. They combined for 1,042 total yards. Hawaii’s was balanced – passing and rushing. Middle Tennessee’s was all passing. Blue Raiders quarterback Brent Stockstill passed for 452 yards. Hawaii’s Diocemy Saint Juste rushed for 170 yards. The Rainbow Warriors ended their season on a three-game winning streak and a 7-7 record. Attendance in Honolulu: 23,175
Block that kick – (in the St. Petersburg Bowl) – Mississippi State 17, Miami (Ohio) 16 (Touchdown Tom said: Mississippi State 31, Miami 22). And that’s exactly what Miss State did – not once, but twice. The Bulldogs blocked two kicks and that’s what won the game for them. Miss State blocked an extra point attempt early in the game, and the Bulldogs blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt in the last 5 seconds of the game. Miss State never led in the game until 12:03 on the clock in the fourth quarter. Miami should have won the game. The RedHawks controlled the clock – 35 minutes to 25 minutes. Miami had more first downs – 24 to 17, and more total yards – 433 to 335. But Miami had more turnovers too – 2 to 0, along with the two missed kicks. Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald ran for 132 yards. Miss State finished its season with a record of 6-7. Attendance in St. Petersburg: 15,717
The Eagles gave the Terps a lube job – (in the Quick Lane Bowl) – Boston College 36, Maryland 30 (Touchdown Tom said: Maryland 28, Boston College 24). Boston College jumped out to a 29-13 halftime lead. Then Maryland got serious in the second half and outscored the Eagles 17-3. Still, the Terps came up short. The teams were pretty even in the stats. But Boston College controlled the clock 34 minutes to 26, while Maryland had 4 turnovers to 2 for the Eagles. The Terps Ty Johnson rushed for 159 yards. Boston College completed its season with a 7-6 record. Attendance in Detroit: 19,117
Howls that? – (in the Independence Bowl) – NC State 41, Vanderbilt 17 (Touchdown Tom said: NC State 25, Vanderbilt 22). After Vandy took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, NC State scored 28 unanswered points to take a commanding 28-3 lead midway through the third quarter. The Commodores closed the gap to 11 at 28-17, before the Wolfpack scored another 14 points to finish the game. NC State finished its season with a 7-6 record. Attendance in Shreveport: 28,995
Heart and soul – (in the Heart of Dallas Bowl) – Army 38, North Texas 31 (OT) (Touchdown Tom said: Army 32, North Texas 23). This game was full of excitement. The teams combined for 943 total yards. Army had 480 yards rushing, while North Texas had 314 passing. After the Mean Green briefly led 7-6 in the first quarter, Army scored 18 unanswered points to take a 24-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Then North Texas went on a roll, twice pulling within 3 at 24-21 at the end of the second quarter and 31-28 at the end of the third quarter. With 28 seconds on the clock, North Texas kicked a 37-yard field goal to tie the score at 31-31. In overtime, Army scored and North Texas didn’t. Army’s rushing game enabled the Cadets to control the game clock – 36 minutes to 24. North Texas quarterback Alec Morris passed for 304 yards. Army ended its season with a 4-game winning streak and a final record of 8-5. Attendance in Dallas: 39,117
Temple couldn’t find Tommy Elrod – (in the Military Bowl) – Wake Forest 34, Temple 26 (Touchdown Tom said: Temple 33, Wake Forest 28). After Temple took an early 7-0 lead, Wake Forest proceeded to score 31 unanswered points to take a 31-7 halftime lead over the Owls. Then Temple scored 19 unanswered to pull within 5 at 31-26 late in the fourth quarter. Wake added a field goal with 1:59 on the clock. The teams were all but even in the stats – first downs, total yards, turnovers and ball control. Temple’s weakness was rushing – only 20 yards on the ground. The Owls quarterback P.J. Walker passed for 396 yards. The Demon Deacons finished their season at 7-6. Attendance in Annapolis: 26,656
Fired up Gophers – (in the Holiday Bowl) – Minnesota 17, Washington State 12 (Touchdown Tom said: Washington State 32, Minnesota 27). We knew Minnesota wouldn’t show much offense (279 total yards), but Washington State? What happened? The Cougars only had 303 total yards. Generally, they average more than that passing. The Gophers came out of their holes and played super defense. Minnesota held Washington State to only 2 field goals in the first half. The Cougars only touchdown came with just 19 seconds left in the game. Minnesota finished its season with a 9-4 record. Attendance in San Diego: 48,704
Talk about out of hibernation – (in the Cactus Bowl) – Baylor 31, Boise State 12 (Touchdown Tom said: Boise State 35, Baylor 27). After losing 6-straight games at the end of the season, Baylor won its first game since October 15. The Bears jumped out to a 21-6 halftime lead and continued to outscore Boise State in the second half. The Broncos were flat and the Bears were not. Baylor had 515 total yards – 140 rushing and 375 passing. The Bears ended their season at 7-6. Attendance in Phoenix: 33,328
Last 15 Bowl Game Picks: 9 correct picks, 6 fumbles (60 percent)
Total Bowl Game Picks: 11 correct picks, 9 fumbles (55 percent)
Superlatives
Impressive Passers:
Colorado State’s Nick Stephens – 21-36-2 for 445 yards; Middle Tennessee’s Brent Stockstill – 30-51-2-432; Temple’s P.J. Walker – 28-49-1-396; Idaho’s Matt Linehan – 21-31-0-381; Baylor’s Zach Smith – 28-39-1-375, and Memphis’ Riley Ferguson – 25-43-1-372.
Western Kentucky’s Mike White – 20-30-1 for 336 yards; Boise State’s Brett Rypien – 32-51-2-305; Tulsa’s Dane Evans – 28-38-0-304; North Texas’ Alec Morris – 26-38-1-304, and Eastern Michigan’s Brogan Roback – 26-46-1-300.
Impressive Rushers:
Western Kentucky’s Anthony Wales – 245 yards; BYU’s Jamaal Williams – 210 yards; Hawaii’s Diocemy Saint Juste – 170 yards, and Maryland’s Ty Johnson – 159 yards.
Idaho’s Isaiah Saunders – 147yards; Old Dominion’s Ray Lawry – 133 yards, and Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald – 132 yards.
Quotes of the Week
“I’m the best player in the country. That’s how I think. That’s how I feel,” Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Quote from the Past
“A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall,” Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy.
Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but sadly there were three passings of note last week – Fran Jeffries, George Michael and Carrie Fisher.
Fran Jeffries, a singer and dancer who performed a show-stopping samba in the 1963 film “The Pink Panther” and tantalized Tony Curtis with a seductive performance of the title song “Sex and the Singe Girl” a year later, died last week at her home in Los Angeles. She was 79. Jeffries was well-known on the cabaret and Las Vegas circuits as the singing partner of Dick Haymes, her husband. Jeffries was born Frances Ann Makris on May 18, 1937, in Mayfield, California, near Palo Alto. Two of her other movies were “A Talent for Loving” (1969) and the Elvis Presley film “Harum Scarum” (1965). Jeffries also recorded three albums from 1960 to 1966. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, she toured Europe with Sammy Davis Jr. and Southeast Asia with Bob Hope.
George Michael, the English singer/songwriter who sold tens of millions of albums as a member of the duo Wham! and on his own, died Sunday at his home in Goring in Oxfordshire, England. He was 53. Michael was one of pop’s reigning stars in the 1980s and 1990s – first with his lighthearted singles like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” then arriving with his 1987 album “Faith.” Michael wrote ballads like “Careless Whisper” and “Father Figure,” as well as dance tracks like “Freedom ’90” and “I Want Your Sex.” George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in East Finchley, London, on June 25, 1963. In 1986, Wham! dissolved with a farewell concert at Wembley Stadium. Michael’s album “Faith” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s album chart. The album produced four No. 1 hit singles – “I Want Your Sex,” “Father Figure,” “Monkey” and “One More Try.”
Carrie Fisher, the actress, author and screenwriter whose best-known role was Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” movie franchise, died yesterday. She was 60. Fisher was the daughter of pop singer Eddie Fisher and the actress Debbie Reynolds. “Star Wars,” released in 1977, turned her overnight into an international movie star. Fisher reprised the Princess Leia role in three more “Star Wars” films – “The Empire Strikes Back” in 1980, “Return of the Jedi” in 1983 and, 32 years later, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in 2015. Carrie Frances Fisher was born on October 21, 1956, in Beverly Hills, California. At 17, Fisher made her first movie, “Shampoo” (1975). Her book “Postcards From the Edge” was made into a movie in 1990, starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine. Fisher was also in the movie “When Harry Met Sally” (1989). She was married to singer Paul Simon for less than a year.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Monday, December 19, 2016
College Football Week 17 – All the head coaching jobs are filled
The calm before the storm –
morsels, tidbits and stocking stuffers
In the college football season, this time of the year is truly the calm before the storm. Actually, it is the calm after the storm and before the storm. We’re in between storms.
The regular season and conference championship games are over. Some teams survived those storms. Now we are waiting as the major bowl games and national championship game approach. We’re hoping to survive those storms.
Meanwhile, in between the storms, there are lots of holiday morsels, nibbles, tidbits and stocking stuffers to keep us entertained and nourished. It’s a relaxing and calming time before the next storm arrives.
And speaking of tidbits, I always thought the Deacon had bats in his belfry, but this? They call them the Demon Deacons and, lo and behold, Wake Forest found out last week it truly has a Demon among its Deacons. Tommy Elrod, a former Wake Forest player and assistant coach and current color commentator for Wake Forest’s football radio broadcasts, has been passing game plans, playbooks, etc. to some of Wake Forest’s opponents this season.
Specifically, the information was passed to Louisville, Virginia Tech and Army. The ACC has fined Louisville and Virginia Tech for accepting the data. I don’t know whose jurisdiction Army is under – maybe the Justice Department. Anyway, Elrod is no longer the color commentator for Wake Forest’s football broadcasts. He was fired from that position.
Apparently, Elrod was mad because he wasn’t retained as an assistant coach when current coach Dave Clawson replaced Jim Grobe. Wanna bet, that growing up, Elrod was one of those kids who always got a participation trophy – regardless of how his team fared.
There were lots of morsels last week in the coaching carousel. In fact, all the vacancies were filled. Like motels, the NCAA can put up a sign – “No Vacancy.”
Let’s get started. Purdue filled its vacancy, hiring Western Kentucky coach Jeff Brohm to be the Boilermakers new coach. Under Brohm, the Hilltoppers were 30-10 in three seasons. Prior to Western Kentucky, Brohm was a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for Louisville, Florida Atlantic, Illinois and UAB. A quarterback, Brohm played football for Louisville and several NFL teams.
And speaking of Western Kentucky, Oregon filled its vacancy, hiring South Florida coach Willie Taggart. I say Western Kentucky, because Taggart played quarterback for the Hilltoppers and is a former head coach of Western Kentucky. The past four seasons, Taggart was 24-25 at South Florida.
Meanwhile, Western Kentucky hired Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford to replace Brohm. At 34, Sanford is the youngest head coach in FBS football. He is a former quarterback at Boise State.
South Florida took care of its vacancy, hiring former Texas coach Charlie Strong to replace Taggart. Strong needs no introduction and South Florida is fortunate to have him.
Two Texas schools took care of their openings. Baylor hired Temple coach Matt Rhule, while Houston elevated its current offensive coordinator, Major Applewhite, to the head coaching job.
In four seasons at Temple, Rhule was 28-23. He was a linebacker at Penn State and an assistant coach at several schools before Temple. Rhule coached Temple to the AAC championship this season. Meanwhile, Applewhite, a former quarterback at Texas, was a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Syracuse, Rice, Alabama and Texas before joining the Houston staff in 2015.
Temple quickly filled its vacancy, hiring current Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins to be the Owls new coach. Before Florida, he was the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. Collins played college ball at Western Carolina where he was a linebacker.
Perhaps the most talked about hiring of all was Florida Atlantic naming Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin its new coach. There had been lots of speculation about Kiffin. Everyone was certain he would leave Alabama after this season. The question was: Where would he go?
Most seemed to have Kiffin becoming the offensive coordinator at LSU, under Ed Orgeron, or the head coach at Houston, replacing Tom Herman. But Kiffin was snubbed at Houston for Major Applewhite. After the Las Vegas Bowl, Houston may regret that. Anyway, eventually, Kiffin became the head coach at Florida Atlantic, taking a $500,000 pay cut along the way.
Kiffin has already made news at Florida Atlantic, by signing former Florida State quarterback De’Andre Johnson. Johnson was dismissed from the Florida State team for hitting a woman.
Cincinnati filled its vacancy, hiring Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell to be the Bearcats new coach. Fickell played for the Buckeyes and has been on the Ohio State coaching staff since 2002. He was the interim head coach of the Buckeyes during the 2011 season.
Three Mountain West Conference schools filled their vacancies. The best known of the three was Jeff Tedford being hired to coach Fresno State. Tedford is a former offensive coordinator at Oregon and the former head coach at California – 2002-2012. Most recently, he was an offensive consultant for Chris Petersen at Washington.
San Jose State hired Brent Brennan and Nevada hired Jay Norvell. Brennan was the receivers coach at Oregon State and Norvell was the receivers coach at Arizona State.
And finally, Georgia State hired Shawn Elliott as its new coach. Elliott was the offensive line coach at South Carolina.
So all said and done, there will be 17 new head coaches in FBS football next season. That is unless one or more of the current head coaches leave for the NFL after the bowl season. That possibility remains.
And all said and done poor ole Les Miles was left out in the cold. The former LSU head coach had hoped to land one of the openings. He tried hard to get the Baylor and Purdue jobs. I suppose the schools thought you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The Mad Hatter may have no more tricks up his sleeve.
A few coordinators of note have been named. Willie Taggart hired Jim Leavitt to be his defensive coordinator at Oregon. Leavitt, a former head coach at South Florida, was most recently the defensive coordinator at Colorado.
With Lane Kiffin out of the picture, if he was ever in, LSU coach Ed Orgeron named Matt Canada his offensive coordinator. Canada most recently was the offensive coordinator at Pitt. And, last but not least, and not surprisingly, Alabama coach Nick Saban replaced Kiffin with Steve Sarkisian. This past season, Sarkisian, the former Washington and USC head coach, was an offensive consultant for Saban at Alabama.
Among the seven FCS schools in Florida, recruiting has always been fierce, but it is going to be more so with the incredible lineup of coaches in the Sunshine State – Jimbo Fisher (Florida State), Mark Richt (Miami), Jim McElwain (Florida), Charlie Strong (South Florida), Scott Frost (UCF), Lane Kiffin (Florida Atlantic) and Butch Davis (Florida International). That’s an impressive list of coaches for one state.
The bowl season has commenced. Five games were played Saturday. Two went as expected and three didn’t. Three were exciting and two weren’t. It all began in Albuquerque where New Mexico beat Texas-San Antonio, 23-20, in the Blake Shelton Underwear Bowl.
The first of three upsets came next when San Diego State stunned Houston, 34-10, in the Las Vegas Bowl. And who did Houston hire as its new coach – Lieutenant Cherrypink….Sergeant Appleblossom? Oh yeah, it was Major Applewhite. Houston may be regretting its hire already. Calling Lane Kiffin, calling Lane Kiffin!
The second of three upsets occurred in Montgomery, Alabama, where Appalachian State got by Toledo, 31-28, in the Camellia Bowl. I always liked a bowl full of camellias. I’m not so sure this one was really that much of an upset. The Little Mountaineers are a good football team.
The third of three upsets really was an upset. Arkansas State pounded UCF, 31-13, in the Cure Bowl in Orlando. I don’t think anything could have cured UCF in this game. They were pretty sick. Scott Frost was nipping at their toes.
In the nightcap, Southern Miss edged Louisiana-Lafayette, 28-21, in the New Orleans Bowl. Eagles quarterback Nick Mullens put on a fireworks show, passing for 346 yards.
So the first five bowls began with a game that went as expected and ended with a game that went as expected. In between, there were two big surprises and one mild surprise. And we have 35 bowl games and a national championship game to go. Hang in there!
At 2-0, the Mountain West Conference is looking good after the first five bowl games, while the AAC, 0-2, is looking bad. The Sun Belt is hanging in there at 2-1.
Speaking of the conferences, year-in and year-out, the SEC is generally considered to be the best overall in football. However, 2016 was a down year for the SEC. The conference, most likely, wasn’t the best. The ACC, Pac-12 and Big Ten can state their cases.
Yes, Alabama at 13-0 is the best team in the country, or until further notice. But after Alabama, the quality of football dropped considerably in the SEC. Everyone else in the conference lost 4 or more games. Nobody, except Alabama, won more than 8 games. On the positive side, nobody in the SEC won less than four games or lost more than 8 games. That can’t be said for the other four Power 5 conferences, or any Group of 5 conferences for that matter.
Still, there are other problems in the SEC. Primarily, the conference isn’t healthy. The West Division of the SEC has won the conference championship game for 8-straight years and 9 of the last 10 years. What’s worse, in those last 8 years, only one championship game has been close. The other 7 have been routs – slaughters. That’s not healthy. Six of the last 9 years, one team – Alabama – has won the SEC West Division. Two of the other three years were won by Auburn.
The Big Ten may be showing some similar balance problems. Unlike the SEC, which began its championship game in 1992, the Big Ten title game is just six-years old. But in those 6 years, a Big Ten East team has won the conference championship the past four-consecutive years. Wisconsin, a Big Ten West team, has been to 4 of the 6 title games. Four of the Big Ten championship games have been close. Two were routs.
The Pac-12 definitely has a balance problem. In the 6 years of the Pac-12 title game, the North Division has won all 6 games. All 6 have been won by Stanford (3), Oregon (2) and Washington (1). Only one of the six Pac-12 title games has been close.
In the ACC, which began its title game in 2005, the Atlantic Division has won the last six games – 3 for Clemson, and 3 for Florida State. Four of those six games have been close. Among the Coastal Division teams, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech have been to 10 of the 12 ACC championship games.
The Big 12 holds its first championship game next season. Stay tuned!
Here’s a good stocking stuffer. Michigan has offered a scholarship to Christian McCaffrey’s youngest brother Luke McCaffrey. Luke is a sophomore in high school. Michigan already has a commitment from Dylan McCaffrey for the 2017 class. Dylan is a quarterback. Luke is the youngest of four brothers and the son of former Stanford and NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey.
Luke has played quarterback, receiver and defensive back for Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He also has a scholarship offer from Colorado. Older brother Dylan committed to Michigan last February. Meanwhile, Christian, a junior at Stanford, announced he is entering the NFL draft this spring.
One more morsel, this is the first time since 2005 that no player from the SEC finished in the Top 5 of the Heisman Trophy voting, ending a streak of 10-straight years. I guess it really was a down year in the SEC. The longest active streak now belongs to the Big 12, with three-straight years.
And your last tidbit, Stanford and Rice will open the 2017 football season in Sydney, Australia.
It was good to hear from Tim Muth, Scott Greenwood, Bob Willey, Jan Fields, Ken Burger and Stephanie Stein last week. Tim is bound and determined to take his three-month old grandson to the Orange Bowl game. I told Tim, yes and you should dress your grandson in khaki pants. Tim didn’t like that idea for some reason.
Swamp Mama and I are off to the North Country – Florida’s panhandle – for Christmas with Princess Gator, Bama Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe. Bootsie and Rockledge Gator are off to Malzahn/Saban Country for Christmas with Ryan, Lena, Riley and Savannah, and then to Dawg Country for Christmas with Andy, Krissy and Connor.
Merry Christmas….….Seasons Greeting………Happy Hanukkah………Happy Holidays
Touchdown Tom
December 19, 2016
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
Note: The next CFW – College Football Week 18 – will be posted on Wednesday, December 28.
Review of the First Five Bowls
Los Lobos – (in the New Mexico Bowl) – New Mexico 23, Texas-San Antonio 20 (Touchdown Tom said: New Mexico 33, UTSA 29). After UTSA took an early 3-0 lead, New Mexico came back, scored and went up 7-3. The Lobos never trailed for the rest of the game. But the Roadrunners kept things close. Through much of the fourth quarter, UTSA trailed New Mexico by only three points – 16-13. In spite of the score, UTSA dominated the stats. The Roadrunners outrushed New Mexico and out-passed the Lobos. They just couldn’t beat New Mexico. Neither team could pass worth a darn. After starting its season at 2-3, New Mexico won 7 of its last 8 games to finish its season with a respectable 9-4 record. Attendance in Albuquerque: 29,688
Apple butter – (in the Las Vegas Bowl) – San Diego State 34, Houston 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Houston 30, San Diego State 28). This wasn’t a good start for new Houston coach Major Applewhite. In fact, it was a terrible start. Actually, it was a good start at first. The Cougars led San Diego State, 10-0, at the end of the first. Then it was all San Diego State. The Aztecs reeled off 34 unanswered points. Neither team displayed much offense. But Houston was the worse of the two. The Cougars only had 25 yards rushing. Their leading rusher only had 18 yards. Houston quarterback Greg Ward threw four interceptions. After starting the season 5-0, the Cougars lost 4 of their last 8 games. San Diego State finished its season with an impressive 11-3 record. Attendance in Las Vegas: 29,286
Hold my camellia – (in the Camellia Bowl) – Appalachian State 31, Toledo 28 (Touchdown Tom said: Toledo 29, Appalachian State 28). This game was close from the start to the finish. It was tied on four different occasions. Although Appalachian State never trailed, the Little Mountaineers never led by more than 7 points. With less than 6 minutes to go in the game, the score was tied 28-28. That’s when App State kicked a 39-yard field goal to go up 31-28. With 1:48 on the clock, Toledo missed a 30-yard field goal. Toledo couldn’t stop App State on the ground. The Little Mounties rushed for 297 yards. App State’s Marcus Cox and Taylor Lamb each rushed for more than 125 yards. Toledo’s only success was passing. Logan Woodside threw for 246 yards. After starting its season 1-2, Appalachian State won 9 of its last 10 games to finish its season with a good 10-3 record. Attendance in Montgomery: Unknown
Frosted – (in the Cure Bowl) – Arkansas State 31, UCF 13 (Touchdown Tom said: UCF 26, Arkansas State 23). Talk about a boring game, this was it. Neither team could mount an offense. Arkansas State rushed for 29 yards and UCF rushed for 12 yards. Neither team was much better passing. The Red Wolves jumped out to a 17-0 first quarter lead. The Knights scored 10 points in the second quarter and trailed 17-10 at the break. Ark State went on to outscore UCF 14-3 in the second half. After starting the season 0-4, Arkansas State won 8 of its last 9 games to finish its season at 8-5. Attendance in Orlando: 27,213
Nicked by Mullens – (in the New Orleans Bowl) – Southern Miss 28, Louisiana-Lafayette 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Southern Miss 30, Louisiana-Lafayette 27). This was a close game, even though Southern Miss dominated ULL in total yards – 481 to 252. The teams were similar in rushing. The difference was passing. The Eagles Nick Mullens out-passed the Cajuns 346 yards to 95. Southern Miss jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Then ULL fought back to tie the score at 14-14 by halftime. Early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles led 28-14. The Cajuns scored with 5:10 remaining in the game to pull within 7, trailing 28-21. Southern Miss hung on to win. Southern Miss finished its season with a 7-6 record. Attendance in New Orleans: 35,061
First Five Bowl Picks: 2 correct, 3 fumbles (40 percent)
Superlatives
Impressive Passers:
Southern Miss’ Nick Mullens – 25-40-1 for 346 yards and Toledo’s Logan Woodside – 18-26-0-247.
Impressive Rushers:
Appalachian State’s Marcus Cox – 143 yards; Southern Miss’ Ito Smith – 138 yards; Appalachian State’s Taylor Lamb – 126 yards, and UTSA’s Jarveon Williams – 125 yards.
Weekend Recap
FCS (Division IAA) Semifinals
James Madison 27, North Dakota State 17
……Attendance in Fargo: 18,282
Youngstown State 40, Eastern Washington 38
……Attendance in Cheney: 5,233
Celebration Bowl
Grambling State 10, North Carolina Central 9
……Attendance in Atlanta: 31,096
Division II Championship
Northwest Missouri State 29, North Alabama 3
……Attendance in Kansas City, Kansas: 9,576
Division III Championship
Mary Hardin-Baylor 10, UW-Oshkosh 7
……Attendance in Salem, Virginia: 3,476
Quotes of the Week
“I know you’re going to ask me about coach Kiffin. Lane has done a phenomenal job. We think this is a wonderful opportunity for him,” Alabama coach Nick Saban, on his offensive coordinator being named the new head coach at Florida Atlantic.
Quote from the Past
“My advice to defensive players is to take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in a bad humor,” Tennessee coach Bowden Wyatt.
Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
P.S.
Not exactly 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…
…75 years ago this week in 1941 was “Elmer’s Tune” by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
…70 years ago this week in 1946 was “The Old Lamplighter” by Sammy Kaye
…65 years ago this week in 1951 was “(It’s No) Sin” by Eddy Howard and His Orchestra
…60 years ago this week in 1956 was “Singing the Blues” by Guy Mitchell
…55 years ago this week in 1961 was “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens
…50 years ago this week in 1966 was “Winchester Cathedral” by The New Vaudeville Band
…45 years ago this week in 1971 was “Brand New Key” by Melanie
…40 years ago this week in 1976 was “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” by Rod Stewart
…35 years ago this week in 1981 was “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John
…30 years ago this week in 1986 was “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby & the Range
…25 years ago this week in 1991 was “Black or White” by Michael Jackson
Not exactly college football related, but sadly there were five passings of note last week – Alan Thicke, James Elrod, Craig Sager, Bernard Fox and Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Alan Thicke, a Canadian singer, songwriter and actor best remembered for his portrayal as a father on the television sitcom “Growing Pains,” died last week. He was 69. “Growing Pains” ran from 1985 to 1992. Thicke had a diversity of talents, including songwriting. He wrote the theme songs for numerous game shows, including “The Jokers Wild,” “Celebrity Sweepstakes” and “Wheel of Fortune.” He co-wrote the themes for “Different Strokes” and “The Facts of Life” with Al Burton and Gloria Loring. Loring was Thicke’s first wife and the mother of Robin Thicke. His career included stints as a game-show host, talk-show host and a character on the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Thicke was also a host of the annual Disney Christmas Parade (with Joan Lunden) and the Miss Universe Pageant. Alan Willis Jeffrey was born on March 1, 1947, in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. He later changed his name to Thicke.
James Elrod, an All-American defensive end on Oklahoma’s 1974 and 1975 national championship teams, died last week in a car crash. He was 62. Elrod, who was known as Jimbo, played three years in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs as a middle linebacker. He also spent one season with the Houston Oilers. Under coach Barry Switzer, Oklahoma’s 1974 team went undefeated – 11-0. The 1975 squad went 11-1, defeating Michigan in the Orange Bowl. Elrod was also a member of Oklahoma’s 1974 national champion wrestling team. James Whittington Elrod was born on March 25, 1954, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Craig Sager, a sideline reporter for the National Basketball Association television broadcasts, died last week in Atlanta. He was 65. Craig Graham Sager was born on June 29, 1951, in Batavia, Illinois. Sager attended Northwestern University where he was Willie the Wildcat – the school’s mascot. After graduation from Northwestern, he began his career as a reporter for a Sarasota, Florida radio station. He worked for TV stations in Florida and Kansas City, Missouri, before joining CNN in 1981. In 1990, he moved to Turner Sports, where he covered basketball, baseball, football and golf.
Bernard Fox, a Welsh-born, character actor on classic 1960s TV sitcoms, died last week. He was 89. Fox is best-known for his role on “Bewitched” (Dr. Bombay), but also is known for his role on “Hogan’s Heroes” (Col. Rodney Crittendon). Fox established himself as a regular television presence in the 1960s with appearances on comedies like “Make Room for Daddy,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “I Dream of Jeannie” and “The Andy Griffith Show” and dramas like “Perry Mason,” “12 O’Clock High” and “Burke’s Law.” He was born Bernard Lawson on May 11, 1927, in Port Talbot, Wales.
Zsa Zsa Gabor, the Hungarian actress whose glamour and multiple marriages to millionaires extended her modestly successful career in movies and television, died yesterday in Los Angeles. She was 99. Married at least eight times, she called everyone “Dahlink.” Her career, which began with the title of Miss Hungary in 1936, was still going strong in the 1990s, outlasting those of her sisters, Eva and Magda. Gabor appeared in more than 60 television movies and feature films. Her best roles were early in her career in “Moulin Rouge” (1952) and “Lili” (1953). From the 1950s into the 1990s, Gabor was on scores of television programs: talk shows, game shows, comedy specials, westerns and dramas. She was born Sari Gabor in Budapest, Hungary, on February 6 or 7, 1917. On the eve of World War II, Gabor and her sisters and mother immigrated to the United States.
The calm before the storm –
morsels, tidbits and stocking stuffers
In the college football season, this time of the year is truly the calm before the storm. Actually, it is the calm after the storm and before the storm. We’re in between storms.
The regular season and conference championship games are over. Some teams survived those storms. Now we are waiting as the major bowl games and national championship game approach. We’re hoping to survive those storms.
Meanwhile, in between the storms, there are lots of holiday morsels, nibbles, tidbits and stocking stuffers to keep us entertained and nourished. It’s a relaxing and calming time before the next storm arrives.
And speaking of tidbits, I always thought the Deacon had bats in his belfry, but this? They call them the Demon Deacons and, lo and behold, Wake Forest found out last week it truly has a Demon among its Deacons. Tommy Elrod, a former Wake Forest player and assistant coach and current color commentator for Wake Forest’s football radio broadcasts, has been passing game plans, playbooks, etc. to some of Wake Forest’s opponents this season.
Specifically, the information was passed to Louisville, Virginia Tech and Army. The ACC has fined Louisville and Virginia Tech for accepting the data. I don’t know whose jurisdiction Army is under – maybe the Justice Department. Anyway, Elrod is no longer the color commentator for Wake Forest’s football broadcasts. He was fired from that position.
Apparently, Elrod was mad because he wasn’t retained as an assistant coach when current coach Dave Clawson replaced Jim Grobe. Wanna bet, that growing up, Elrod was one of those kids who always got a participation trophy – regardless of how his team fared.
There were lots of morsels last week in the coaching carousel. In fact, all the vacancies were filled. Like motels, the NCAA can put up a sign – “No Vacancy.”
Let’s get started. Purdue filled its vacancy, hiring Western Kentucky coach Jeff Brohm to be the Boilermakers new coach. Under Brohm, the Hilltoppers were 30-10 in three seasons. Prior to Western Kentucky, Brohm was a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for Louisville, Florida Atlantic, Illinois and UAB. A quarterback, Brohm played football for Louisville and several NFL teams.
And speaking of Western Kentucky, Oregon filled its vacancy, hiring South Florida coach Willie Taggart. I say Western Kentucky, because Taggart played quarterback for the Hilltoppers and is a former head coach of Western Kentucky. The past four seasons, Taggart was 24-25 at South Florida.
Meanwhile, Western Kentucky hired Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford to replace Brohm. At 34, Sanford is the youngest head coach in FBS football. He is a former quarterback at Boise State.
South Florida took care of its vacancy, hiring former Texas coach Charlie Strong to replace Taggart. Strong needs no introduction and South Florida is fortunate to have him.
Two Texas schools took care of their openings. Baylor hired Temple coach Matt Rhule, while Houston elevated its current offensive coordinator, Major Applewhite, to the head coaching job.
In four seasons at Temple, Rhule was 28-23. He was a linebacker at Penn State and an assistant coach at several schools before Temple. Rhule coached Temple to the AAC championship this season. Meanwhile, Applewhite, a former quarterback at Texas, was a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Syracuse, Rice, Alabama and Texas before joining the Houston staff in 2015.
Temple quickly filled its vacancy, hiring current Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins to be the Owls new coach. Before Florida, he was the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. Collins played college ball at Western Carolina where he was a linebacker.
Perhaps the most talked about hiring of all was Florida Atlantic naming Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin its new coach. There had been lots of speculation about Kiffin. Everyone was certain he would leave Alabama after this season. The question was: Where would he go?
Most seemed to have Kiffin becoming the offensive coordinator at LSU, under Ed Orgeron, or the head coach at Houston, replacing Tom Herman. But Kiffin was snubbed at Houston for Major Applewhite. After the Las Vegas Bowl, Houston may regret that. Anyway, eventually, Kiffin became the head coach at Florida Atlantic, taking a $500,000 pay cut along the way.
Kiffin has already made news at Florida Atlantic, by signing former Florida State quarterback De’Andre Johnson. Johnson was dismissed from the Florida State team for hitting a woman.
Cincinnati filled its vacancy, hiring Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell to be the Bearcats new coach. Fickell played for the Buckeyes and has been on the Ohio State coaching staff since 2002. He was the interim head coach of the Buckeyes during the 2011 season.
Three Mountain West Conference schools filled their vacancies. The best known of the three was Jeff Tedford being hired to coach Fresno State. Tedford is a former offensive coordinator at Oregon and the former head coach at California – 2002-2012. Most recently, he was an offensive consultant for Chris Petersen at Washington.
San Jose State hired Brent Brennan and Nevada hired Jay Norvell. Brennan was the receivers coach at Oregon State and Norvell was the receivers coach at Arizona State.
And finally, Georgia State hired Shawn Elliott as its new coach. Elliott was the offensive line coach at South Carolina.
So all said and done, there will be 17 new head coaches in FBS football next season. That is unless one or more of the current head coaches leave for the NFL after the bowl season. That possibility remains.
And all said and done poor ole Les Miles was left out in the cold. The former LSU head coach had hoped to land one of the openings. He tried hard to get the Baylor and Purdue jobs. I suppose the schools thought you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The Mad Hatter may have no more tricks up his sleeve.
A few coordinators of note have been named. Willie Taggart hired Jim Leavitt to be his defensive coordinator at Oregon. Leavitt, a former head coach at South Florida, was most recently the defensive coordinator at Colorado.
With Lane Kiffin out of the picture, if he was ever in, LSU coach Ed Orgeron named Matt Canada his offensive coordinator. Canada most recently was the offensive coordinator at Pitt. And, last but not least, and not surprisingly, Alabama coach Nick Saban replaced Kiffin with Steve Sarkisian. This past season, Sarkisian, the former Washington and USC head coach, was an offensive consultant for Saban at Alabama.
Among the seven FCS schools in Florida, recruiting has always been fierce, but it is going to be more so with the incredible lineup of coaches in the Sunshine State – Jimbo Fisher (Florida State), Mark Richt (Miami), Jim McElwain (Florida), Charlie Strong (South Florida), Scott Frost (UCF), Lane Kiffin (Florida Atlantic) and Butch Davis (Florida International). That’s an impressive list of coaches for one state.
The bowl season has commenced. Five games were played Saturday. Two went as expected and three didn’t. Three were exciting and two weren’t. It all began in Albuquerque where New Mexico beat Texas-San Antonio, 23-20, in the Blake Shelton Underwear Bowl.
The first of three upsets came next when San Diego State stunned Houston, 34-10, in the Las Vegas Bowl. And who did Houston hire as its new coach – Lieutenant Cherrypink….Sergeant Appleblossom? Oh yeah, it was Major Applewhite. Houston may be regretting its hire already. Calling Lane Kiffin, calling Lane Kiffin!
The second of three upsets occurred in Montgomery, Alabama, where Appalachian State got by Toledo, 31-28, in the Camellia Bowl. I always liked a bowl full of camellias. I’m not so sure this one was really that much of an upset. The Little Mountaineers are a good football team.
The third of three upsets really was an upset. Arkansas State pounded UCF, 31-13, in the Cure Bowl in Orlando. I don’t think anything could have cured UCF in this game. They were pretty sick. Scott Frost was nipping at their toes.
In the nightcap, Southern Miss edged Louisiana-Lafayette, 28-21, in the New Orleans Bowl. Eagles quarterback Nick Mullens put on a fireworks show, passing for 346 yards.
So the first five bowls began with a game that went as expected and ended with a game that went as expected. In between, there were two big surprises and one mild surprise. And we have 35 bowl games and a national championship game to go. Hang in there!
At 2-0, the Mountain West Conference is looking good after the first five bowl games, while the AAC, 0-2, is looking bad. The Sun Belt is hanging in there at 2-1.
Speaking of the conferences, year-in and year-out, the SEC is generally considered to be the best overall in football. However, 2016 was a down year for the SEC. The conference, most likely, wasn’t the best. The ACC, Pac-12 and Big Ten can state their cases.
Yes, Alabama at 13-0 is the best team in the country, or until further notice. But after Alabama, the quality of football dropped considerably in the SEC. Everyone else in the conference lost 4 or more games. Nobody, except Alabama, won more than 8 games. On the positive side, nobody in the SEC won less than four games or lost more than 8 games. That can’t be said for the other four Power 5 conferences, or any Group of 5 conferences for that matter.
Still, there are other problems in the SEC. Primarily, the conference isn’t healthy. The West Division of the SEC has won the conference championship game for 8-straight years and 9 of the last 10 years. What’s worse, in those last 8 years, only one championship game has been close. The other 7 have been routs – slaughters. That’s not healthy. Six of the last 9 years, one team – Alabama – has won the SEC West Division. Two of the other three years were won by Auburn.
The Big Ten may be showing some similar balance problems. Unlike the SEC, which began its championship game in 1992, the Big Ten title game is just six-years old. But in those 6 years, a Big Ten East team has won the conference championship the past four-consecutive years. Wisconsin, a Big Ten West team, has been to 4 of the 6 title games. Four of the Big Ten championship games have been close. Two were routs.
The Pac-12 definitely has a balance problem. In the 6 years of the Pac-12 title game, the North Division has won all 6 games. All 6 have been won by Stanford (3), Oregon (2) and Washington (1). Only one of the six Pac-12 title games has been close.
In the ACC, which began its title game in 2005, the Atlantic Division has won the last six games – 3 for Clemson, and 3 for Florida State. Four of those six games have been close. Among the Coastal Division teams, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech have been to 10 of the 12 ACC championship games.
The Big 12 holds its first championship game next season. Stay tuned!
Here’s a good stocking stuffer. Michigan has offered a scholarship to Christian McCaffrey’s youngest brother Luke McCaffrey. Luke is a sophomore in high school. Michigan already has a commitment from Dylan McCaffrey for the 2017 class. Dylan is a quarterback. Luke is the youngest of four brothers and the son of former Stanford and NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey.
Luke has played quarterback, receiver and defensive back for Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He also has a scholarship offer from Colorado. Older brother Dylan committed to Michigan last February. Meanwhile, Christian, a junior at Stanford, announced he is entering the NFL draft this spring.
One more morsel, this is the first time since 2005 that no player from the SEC finished in the Top 5 of the Heisman Trophy voting, ending a streak of 10-straight years. I guess it really was a down year in the SEC. The longest active streak now belongs to the Big 12, with three-straight years.
And your last tidbit, Stanford and Rice will open the 2017 football season in Sydney, Australia.
It was good to hear from Tim Muth, Scott Greenwood, Bob Willey, Jan Fields, Ken Burger and Stephanie Stein last week. Tim is bound and determined to take his three-month old grandson to the Orange Bowl game. I told Tim, yes and you should dress your grandson in khaki pants. Tim didn’t like that idea for some reason.
Swamp Mama and I are off to the North Country – Florida’s panhandle – for Christmas with Princess Gator, Bama Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe. Bootsie and Rockledge Gator are off to Malzahn/Saban Country for Christmas with Ryan, Lena, Riley and Savannah, and then to Dawg Country for Christmas with Andy, Krissy and Connor.
Merry Christmas….….Seasons Greeting………Happy Hanukkah………Happy Holidays
Touchdown Tom
December 19, 2016
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
Note: The next CFW – College Football Week 18 – will be posted on Wednesday, December 28.
Review of the First Five Bowls
Los Lobos – (in the New Mexico Bowl) – New Mexico 23, Texas-San Antonio 20 (Touchdown Tom said: New Mexico 33, UTSA 29). After UTSA took an early 3-0 lead, New Mexico came back, scored and went up 7-3. The Lobos never trailed for the rest of the game. But the Roadrunners kept things close. Through much of the fourth quarter, UTSA trailed New Mexico by only three points – 16-13. In spite of the score, UTSA dominated the stats. The Roadrunners outrushed New Mexico and out-passed the Lobos. They just couldn’t beat New Mexico. Neither team could pass worth a darn. After starting its season at 2-3, New Mexico won 7 of its last 8 games to finish its season with a respectable 9-4 record. Attendance in Albuquerque: 29,688
Apple butter – (in the Las Vegas Bowl) – San Diego State 34, Houston 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Houston 30, San Diego State 28). This wasn’t a good start for new Houston coach Major Applewhite. In fact, it was a terrible start. Actually, it was a good start at first. The Cougars led San Diego State, 10-0, at the end of the first. Then it was all San Diego State. The Aztecs reeled off 34 unanswered points. Neither team displayed much offense. But Houston was the worse of the two. The Cougars only had 25 yards rushing. Their leading rusher only had 18 yards. Houston quarterback Greg Ward threw four interceptions. After starting the season 5-0, the Cougars lost 4 of their last 8 games. San Diego State finished its season with an impressive 11-3 record. Attendance in Las Vegas: 29,286
Hold my camellia – (in the Camellia Bowl) – Appalachian State 31, Toledo 28 (Touchdown Tom said: Toledo 29, Appalachian State 28). This game was close from the start to the finish. It was tied on four different occasions. Although Appalachian State never trailed, the Little Mountaineers never led by more than 7 points. With less than 6 minutes to go in the game, the score was tied 28-28. That’s when App State kicked a 39-yard field goal to go up 31-28. With 1:48 on the clock, Toledo missed a 30-yard field goal. Toledo couldn’t stop App State on the ground. The Little Mounties rushed for 297 yards. App State’s Marcus Cox and Taylor Lamb each rushed for more than 125 yards. Toledo’s only success was passing. Logan Woodside threw for 246 yards. After starting its season 1-2, Appalachian State won 9 of its last 10 games to finish its season with a good 10-3 record. Attendance in Montgomery: Unknown
Frosted – (in the Cure Bowl) – Arkansas State 31, UCF 13 (Touchdown Tom said: UCF 26, Arkansas State 23). Talk about a boring game, this was it. Neither team could mount an offense. Arkansas State rushed for 29 yards and UCF rushed for 12 yards. Neither team was much better passing. The Red Wolves jumped out to a 17-0 first quarter lead. The Knights scored 10 points in the second quarter and trailed 17-10 at the break. Ark State went on to outscore UCF 14-3 in the second half. After starting the season 0-4, Arkansas State won 8 of its last 9 games to finish its season at 8-5. Attendance in Orlando: 27,213
Nicked by Mullens – (in the New Orleans Bowl) – Southern Miss 28, Louisiana-Lafayette 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Southern Miss 30, Louisiana-Lafayette 27). This was a close game, even though Southern Miss dominated ULL in total yards – 481 to 252. The teams were similar in rushing. The difference was passing. The Eagles Nick Mullens out-passed the Cajuns 346 yards to 95. Southern Miss jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Then ULL fought back to tie the score at 14-14 by halftime. Early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles led 28-14. The Cajuns scored with 5:10 remaining in the game to pull within 7, trailing 28-21. Southern Miss hung on to win. Southern Miss finished its season with a 7-6 record. Attendance in New Orleans: 35,061
First Five Bowl Picks: 2 correct, 3 fumbles (40 percent)
Superlatives
Impressive Passers:
Southern Miss’ Nick Mullens – 25-40-1 for 346 yards and Toledo’s Logan Woodside – 18-26-0-247.
Impressive Rushers:
Appalachian State’s Marcus Cox – 143 yards; Southern Miss’ Ito Smith – 138 yards; Appalachian State’s Taylor Lamb – 126 yards, and UTSA’s Jarveon Williams – 125 yards.
Weekend Recap
FCS (Division IAA) Semifinals
James Madison 27, North Dakota State 17
……Attendance in Fargo: 18,282
Youngstown State 40, Eastern Washington 38
……Attendance in Cheney: 5,233
Celebration Bowl
Grambling State 10, North Carolina Central 9
……Attendance in Atlanta: 31,096
Division II Championship
Northwest Missouri State 29, North Alabama 3
……Attendance in Kansas City, Kansas: 9,576
Division III Championship
Mary Hardin-Baylor 10, UW-Oshkosh 7
……Attendance in Salem, Virginia: 3,476
Quotes of the Week
“I know you’re going to ask me about coach Kiffin. Lane has done a phenomenal job. We think this is a wonderful opportunity for him,” Alabama coach Nick Saban, on his offensive coordinator being named the new head coach at Florida Atlantic.
Quote from the Past
“My advice to defensive players is to take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in a bad humor,” Tennessee coach Bowden Wyatt.
Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
P.S.
Not exactly 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…
…75 years ago this week in 1941 was “Elmer’s Tune” by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
…70 years ago this week in 1946 was “The Old Lamplighter” by Sammy Kaye
…65 years ago this week in 1951 was “(It’s No) Sin” by Eddy Howard and His Orchestra
…60 years ago this week in 1956 was “Singing the Blues” by Guy Mitchell
…55 years ago this week in 1961 was “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens
…50 years ago this week in 1966 was “Winchester Cathedral” by The New Vaudeville Band
…45 years ago this week in 1971 was “Brand New Key” by Melanie
…40 years ago this week in 1976 was “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” by Rod Stewart
…35 years ago this week in 1981 was “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John
…30 years ago this week in 1986 was “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby & the Range
…25 years ago this week in 1991 was “Black or White” by Michael Jackson
Not exactly college football related, but sadly there were five passings of note last week – Alan Thicke, James Elrod, Craig Sager, Bernard Fox and Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Alan Thicke, a Canadian singer, songwriter and actor best remembered for his portrayal as a father on the television sitcom “Growing Pains,” died last week. He was 69. “Growing Pains” ran from 1985 to 1992. Thicke had a diversity of talents, including songwriting. He wrote the theme songs for numerous game shows, including “The Jokers Wild,” “Celebrity Sweepstakes” and “Wheel of Fortune.” He co-wrote the themes for “Different Strokes” and “The Facts of Life” with Al Burton and Gloria Loring. Loring was Thicke’s first wife and the mother of Robin Thicke. His career included stints as a game-show host, talk-show host and a character on the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Thicke was also a host of the annual Disney Christmas Parade (with Joan Lunden) and the Miss Universe Pageant. Alan Willis Jeffrey was born on March 1, 1947, in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. He later changed his name to Thicke.
James Elrod, an All-American defensive end on Oklahoma’s 1974 and 1975 national championship teams, died last week in a car crash. He was 62. Elrod, who was known as Jimbo, played three years in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs as a middle linebacker. He also spent one season with the Houston Oilers. Under coach Barry Switzer, Oklahoma’s 1974 team went undefeated – 11-0. The 1975 squad went 11-1, defeating Michigan in the Orange Bowl. Elrod was also a member of Oklahoma’s 1974 national champion wrestling team. James Whittington Elrod was born on March 25, 1954, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Craig Sager, a sideline reporter for the National Basketball Association television broadcasts, died last week in Atlanta. He was 65. Craig Graham Sager was born on June 29, 1951, in Batavia, Illinois. Sager attended Northwestern University where he was Willie the Wildcat – the school’s mascot. After graduation from Northwestern, he began his career as a reporter for a Sarasota, Florida radio station. He worked for TV stations in Florida and Kansas City, Missouri, before joining CNN in 1981. In 1990, he moved to Turner Sports, where he covered basketball, baseball, football and golf.
Bernard Fox, a Welsh-born, character actor on classic 1960s TV sitcoms, died last week. He was 89. Fox is best-known for his role on “Bewitched” (Dr. Bombay), but also is known for his role on “Hogan’s Heroes” (Col. Rodney Crittendon). Fox established himself as a regular television presence in the 1960s with appearances on comedies like “Make Room for Daddy,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “I Dream of Jeannie” and “The Andy Griffith Show” and dramas like “Perry Mason,” “12 O’Clock High” and “Burke’s Law.” He was born Bernard Lawson on May 11, 1927, in Port Talbot, Wales.
Zsa Zsa Gabor, the Hungarian actress whose glamour and multiple marriages to millionaires extended her modestly successful career in movies and television, died yesterday in Los Angeles. She was 99. Married at least eight times, she called everyone “Dahlink.” Her career, which began with the title of Miss Hungary in 1936, was still going strong in the 1990s, outlasting those of her sisters, Eva and Magda. Gabor appeared in more than 60 television movies and feature films. Her best roles were early in her career in “Moulin Rouge” (1952) and “Lili” (1953). From the 1950s into the 1990s, Gabor was on scores of television programs: talk shows, game shows, comedy specials, westerns and dramas. She was born Sari Gabor in Budapest, Hungary, on February 6 or 7, 1917. On the eve of World War II, Gabor and her sisters and mother immigrated to the United States.
Friday, December 16, 2016
College Football Week – Touchdown Tom’s Holiday Bonus
‘And ever our love will last
I always want to call you friend’
It was the year of three popes and three plane crashes. It was the year of two blizzards and two earthquakes. The first casino opened in Atlantic City and the first test-tube baby was born. “Dallas” debuted on television, a new coin was authorized and minted, and sadly, it was the year of Jonestown.
Two college football teams split the national championship, sharing the No. 1 spot at the end of the season.
What year was it?
On the very first day of the year, Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashed into the ocean near Bombay, killing 213 people.
Two weeks later, “Fantasy Island” premiered on ABC. The Sex Pistols said farewell, playing their final show at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, and former Vice-President Hubert Humphrey died.
“Whenever I call you friend
I begin to think I understand
Anywhere we are
You and I have always been
Forever and ever”
The following day, in the Superdome in New Orleans, the Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl XII, beating the Denver Broncos, 27-10. It was the Super Bowl of firsts – the first one played in a domed stadium and the first played in prime time. The game marked the first, and only, time two players – defensive tackle Randy White and defensive end Harvey Martin – were named MVP. It was also the first time a defensive lineman was named MVP in a Super Bowl.
Near the end of January, a tremendous blizzard blanketed the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes, killing 70 people. Three nights later, the Doobie Brothers made a guest appearance on ABC’s “What’s Happening.
On the first of February, film director Roman Polanski skipped bail and fled to France, after pleading guilty to charges of engaging in sex with a 13-year-old girl. Four days later, a second massive blizzard struck the U.S., this time in the Northeast, killing 100 people and causing more than $520 million in damage.
The following week, Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314, a Boeing 737-200 passenger jet, crashed in Cranbrook, British Columbia, killing 44 of the 50 people on board. “How the West Was Won” premiered on CBS. In Florida, serial killer Ted Bundy was captured in Pensacola, while in California, the “Hillside Strangler,” a serial killer in Los Angeles, claimed his tenth and final victim.
As March began, Charlie Chaplain’s remains were stolen from the cemetery in Cosier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. A week later, porn publisher Larry Flynt was shot and paralyzed in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
In the middle of March, “The Incredible Hulk” premiered on CBS, and former Italian Premier Aldo Moro was kidnapped by the Red Brigade. Five of his bodyguards were killed. A week later, Karl Wallenda, of “The Flying Wallendas,” died after falling off a tight-rope stretched between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In St. Louis, near the end of March, Kentucky, coached by Joe B. Hall, beat Duke, 94-88, to win the NCAA Basketball Championship. Kentucky’s Jake Givens was named the MVP. The next day, Daryl Gates became the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, succeeding Robert F. Rock. Gates would keep the position for the next 14 years.
On the 2nd of April, “Dallas” debuted on CBS, giving birth to the modern-day prime-time soap opera. The next day, at the 50th Academy Awards, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, “Annie Hall” won for Best Picture. The Best Actor Award went to Richard Dreyfuss for “The Goodbye Girl,” while the Best Actress Award went to Diane Keaton for “Annie Hall.”
A week later, Gary Player won the Masters Golf Tournament. It was Player’s third Masters title. Going into the final round, he overcame a 7-point shot deficit to win.
“I see myself within your eyes
And that’s all I need to show me why
Everything I do
Always takes me home to you
Forever and ever”
In mid-April, the U.S. Senate voted 68-32 to turn the Panama Canal over to Panamanian control, effective January 1, 2000. Meanwhile, Soviet air defense shot down Korean Airlines Flight 902. The plane made an emergency landing on a frozen lake in Russia. Two days later, on “Saturday Night Live,” Steve Martin performed the original “King Tut” and The Blues Brothers made their first appearance.
During the first week of May, the Cincinnati Reds’ Pete Rose got his 3,000th hit. Ipswich Town won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal, 1-0, in London’s Wembley Stadium, and at the 104th running of the Kentucky Derby, Affirmed, ridden by jockey Steve Cauthen, won.
On the 9th of May, the corpse of former Italian Premier Aldo Moro was found in a red Renault. During the middle of the month, Barry Gibb became the first and only songwriter in history to have written four consecutive No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Charlie Chaplain’s coffin was found near Lake Geneva, nine miles from the cemetery from which it was stolen, and Mavis Hutchinson became the first woman to run across the U.S. Her trek took 69 days.
On May 25th, a bomb exploded in a building on the campus of Northwestern University, wounding a security guard – the first Unabomber attack. The Who performed their last show with drummer Keith Moon, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins, 4 matches to 2, to win NHL’s Stanley Cup. Larry Robinson was named the MVP.
The next day, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Resorts International opened for business – the first legal casino in the eastern U.S. Two days later, Al Unser won his third Indianapolis 500.
The FIFA World Cup began play in Argentina on June 1.
A few days later, California voters approved Proposition 13, which slashed property taxes 60%. On June 7th, the Washington Bullets beat the Seattle SuperSonics, 4 games to 3, to win the NBA Championship. Wes Unseld was named the most valuable player.
In Paris, at the French Open Tennis Championship, Romania’s Virginia Ruzici beat Yugoslavia’s Mimi Jausovec to win the women’s singles title. The next day, Sweden’s Bjorn Borg beat Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas to take the men’s singles title.
At the 110th running of the Belmont Stakes, Affirmed won the race, becoming a Triple Crown winner. The Rolling Stones opened their 25-date U.S. summer tour in Lakeland, Florida.
On June 12th, Princess Gator was born.
Serial killer David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam,” was sentenced to 365 years in prison. Three days later, King Hussein of Jordan married 26-year-old Lisa Halaby, who took the name Queen Noor. The following day, the movie “Grease,” starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, opened in U.S. theaters.
“Now I know my life
Has given me more than memories
Day by day….we can see
In every moment there’s a reason to carry on”
Summer was underway and while not yet able to listen to the games on the radio, college football fans were listening to “Love Is Like Oxygen” by Sweet; “Dance With Me” by Peter Brown and Betty Wright; “This Time I’m In It For Love” by Player; “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” by Meat Loaf; “Werewolves Of London” by Warren Zevon; “Every Kinda People” by Robert Palmer; “With A Little Luck” by Paul McCartney and Wings; “It’s A Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler; “Deacon Blues” by Steely Dan; “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” by Johnny Mathis/Deniece Williams, and “You’re The One That I Want” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
In mid-June at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colorado, Andy North won his first U.S. Open Golf title. He beat Dave Stockton and J.C. Snead by one stroke. The next day, “Garfield,” which became the most widely syndicated comic strip, made its debut. On June 20th, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, killing 45 people and injuring hundreds.
Meanwhile, the radio stations were playing “Heartless” by Heart; “Because The Night” by The Patti Smith Group; “You’re The Love” by Seals & Crofts; “You Belong To Me” by Carly Simon; “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb; “Cheeseburger In Paradise” by Jimmy Buffett; “Follow You, Follow Me” by Genesis; “Take A Chance On Me” by ABBA; “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty; “Oh What A Night For Dancing” by Barry White, and “I Was Only Joking” by Rod Stewart.
As June came to a close, Argentina defeated the Netherlands, 3-1 in extra time, to win the World Cup, and Peter Frampton was nearly killed in a car accident in the Bahamas.
Three days past July the 4th, the Solomon Islands became independent from the United Kingdom, and Czechoslovakia’s Martina Navratilova beat American Chris Evert to win the women’s singles tennis title at Wimbledon. The next day, Sweden’s Bjorn Borg defeated American Jimmy Connors to win the men’s title.
As the summer air grew thicker and warmer, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “Even Now” by Barry Manilow; “Thank God It’s Friday” by Love and Kisses; “The Groove Line” by Heatwave; “It’s The Same Old Song” by KC and The Sunshine Band; “Only The Good Die Young” by Billy Joel; “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton; “Still The Same” by Bob Seger; “Last Dance” by Donna Summer, and “If Ever I See You Again” by Roberta Flack.
During the middle of July, more than 200 people died in an explosion of a tanker truck at a campsite in Costa Dorada, Spain. At the Old Course in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, Jack Nicklaus won his third British Open Golf Championship.
The summer airwaves continued to be filled with music, including “Can We Still Be Friends” by Todd Rundgren; “Runaway” by Jefferson Starship; “King Tut” by Steve Martin; “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones; “Grease” by Frankie Valli; “Magnet And Steel” by Walter Eagan; “FM” by Steely Dan; “My Angel Baby” by Toby Beau, and “Rivers Of Babylon” by Boney M.
“Sweet love’s showing us a heavenly light
Never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we’ll be doin’ it”
Near the end of July, Louis Brown, the world’s first test-tube baby, was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester, U.K.
On August 6th, Pope Paul VI died in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. The same day, at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, John Mahaffey won the PGA title, his only major championship. He beat Jerry Pate and Tom Watson in a sudden death playoff to win.
Summer was coming to an end and college football fans couldn’t wait for the season to begin. Alabama was the No. 1 team in the preseason polls. The top songs on the radio were “Stay”/“The Load Out” by Jackson Browne; “Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh; “Copacabana” by Barry Manilow; “Stuff Like That” by Quincy Jones; “Hot Child In The City” by Nick Gilder; “Songbird” by Barbra Streisand; “I’ve Had Enough” by Paul McCartney and Wings, and “Just What I Needed” by The Cars;
In mid-August, Double Eagle II became the first balloon to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean, flying from Presque Isle, Maine to Misery, France. In Central America, the Sandinistas seized the Nicaraguan National Palace.
Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “Shame” by Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King; “Three Times A Lady” by The Commodores; “Two Tickets To Paradise” by Eddie Money; “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey; “Macho Man” by The Village People; “You” by Rita Coolidge; “You And I” by Rick James, and “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner.
In the waning days of August, Pope John Paul I succeeded Pope Paul VI as the 263rd Pope.
During the first week of September, Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat began the Camp David peace process accords in Maryland, and The Who’s Keith Moon died at the Curzon Palace in Mayfair, London, from a drug overdose at the age of 32. Just a day later, Iranian army troops open fired on rioters in Tehran, killing 122 and wounding 4,000.
At the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, American Chris Evert beat American Pam Shriver to take the women’s single title. It was Evert’s fourth consecutive U.S. Open title and eighth grand slam title. The next day, American Jimmy Connors defeated Sweden’s Bjorn Borg for the men’s singles title. It marked Connors’ third U.S. Open title and fifth career grand slam win.
Meanwhile, the college football season was underway and fans were tailgating to “Close The Door” by Teddy Pendergrass; “Fool (If You Think It’s Over) by Chris Rea; “Hopelessly Devoted To You” by Olivia Newton John; “Kiss You All Over” by Exile, and “I Love The Nightlife” by Alicia Bridges.
“Sweet love’s showing us a heavenly light
I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we’ll be doin’ it right”
On September 16, a 7.4 earthquake hit Tabas, Iran, killing 15,000 people. The following day, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Peace Accords.
“Taxi,” “Mork & Mindy” and “WKRP in Cincinnati” all made their television premiers during September. A first class postage stamp cost 15 cents. A loaf of bread was 33 cents, and the price of a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline was 68 cents.
September 23 was an upsetting day in college football. No. 7 USC knocked off No. 1 Alabama, 24-14. Two days later, Oklahoma was named the No. 1 team in the country. On the day the Sooners became No. 1, PSA Flight 122, a Boeing 727, collided with a small private plane and crashed in San Diego – 144 people were killed.
College football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “An Everlasting Love” by Andy Gibb; “Love Is In The Air” by John Paul Young; “You Needed Me” by Anne Murray, and “A Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy” by The Kinks.
Near the end of September, Pope John Paul I died after only 33 days of papacy. On the last day of the month, Virginia Tech beat William & Mary, 22-19, on a 50-yard touchdown pass from David Lamie to Ron Zollicoffer on the last play of the game.
October began with Vietnam attacking Cambodia. Nine days later, the minting of the Susan B. Anthony dollar was authorized.
On the 16th of the month, John Paul II succeeded John Paul I as the 264th Pope, resulting in the first year of three popes since 1605. John Paul II was the first Polish pope in history and the first non-Italian pope since 1523.
A day later, the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 2, to win the World Series. Yankees’ shortstop Bucky Dent was named the MVP. On the third Saturday in October, Doug Dobbs kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give Arkansas State a 6-3 win over McNeese State.
As Halloween approached, college football fans were carving their pumpkins to “Oh! Darling” by Robin Gibb; “Hollywood Nights” by Bob Seger; “Took The Last Train” by David Gates; “She’s Always A Woman” by Billy Joel; “Right Down The Line” by Gerry Rafferty; “Don’t Look Back” by Boston; “Back In The U.S.A.” by Linda Ronstadt; “Dance (Disco Heat)” by Sylvester; “Josie” by Steely Dan; “It’s A Laugh” by Daryl Hall & John Oates; “Who Are You” by The Who; “Sweet Life” by Paul Davis, and “How Much I Feel” by Ambrosia.
At the end of the month, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin won the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts achieving a Middle East accord.
The unemployment rate was 6.1% and the yearly inflation rate stood at 7.62%. A dozen eggs cost 48 cents. The price of a pound of bacon and a pound of butter was $1.20 and $1.33 respectively.
“Whenever I call you friend
I believe I’ve come to understand
Everywhere we are
You and I were meant to be
Forever and ever”
The first week of November saw rioters attack the British Embassy in Tehran, while in India, Indira Gandhi was re-elected to parliament.
As the college football season was nearing an end, college football fans were singing to “Prisoner Of Your Love” by Player; “Beast Of Burden” by The Rolling Stones; “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer; “I Just Wanna Stop” by Gino Vannelli; “Everybody Needs Love” by Stephen Bishop; “Blue Collar Man” by Styx; “Don’t Want To Live Without It” by Pablo Cruise, and “Ready To Take A Chance Again” by Barry Manilow.
On the second weekend in November, San Jose State beat Pacific, 33-31, as time expired, on a five-yard pass from Ed Luther to Rick Parma. The same weekend, No. 4 Nebraska upset No. 1 Oklahoma, 17-14. Two days later, Penn State became the No. 1 team in the country.
At mid-November, in Jonestown, Guyana, Jim Jones led his Peoples Temple cult in a mass-murder suicide that claimed 918 lives. The incident included the assassination of U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan, by the Peoples Temple cult.
At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “Change Of Heart” by Eric Carmen; “Sharing The Night Together” by Dr. Hook; “Straight On” by Heart; “Double Vision” by Foreigner; “Raining In My Heart” by Leo Sayer; “Time Passages” by Al Stewart; “Strange Way” by Firefall, and “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan.
As November came to a close, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated by former Supervisor Dan White, and in college football, Penn State, at 11-0, was the only team to finish the regular season undefeated.
Just a few days into December, Diane Feinstein succeeded the murdered George Moscone to become San Francisco’s first female mayor. Two days later, the Spanish Constitution formally restored the country’s democratic government.
The consensus All-American first team offense consisted of wide receiver Emanuel Tolbert – SMU (5-10, 180) Little Rock, AR; tight end Kellen Winslow – Missouri (6-6, 235) East St. Louis, IL; tackle Keith Dorney – Penn State (6-5, 257) Allentown, PA; tackle Kevin Clark – Nebraska (6-4, 275) Odessa, TX; guard Pat Howell – USC (6-6, 255) Fresno, CA; guard Greg Roberts – Oklahoma (6-3, 238) Nacogdoches, TX; center Dave Huffman – Notre Dame (6-5, 245) Dallas, TX; center Jim Ritcher – NC State (6-3, 242) Hinckley, OH; quarterback Chuck Fusina – Penn State (6-1, 195) McKees Rocks, PA; running back Billy Sims – Oklahoma (6-0, 205) Hooks, TX; running back Charles White – USC (5-11, 183) San Fernando, CA; running back Ted Brown – NC State (5-10, 195) High Point, NC, and running back Charles Alexander – LSU (6-1, 214) Galveston, TX.
“I think about the times to come
Knowin’ I will be the lucky one
And ever our love will last
I always want to call you friend”
Oklahoma running back Billy Sims won the Heisman Trophy. Sims was followed in the voting by (2) Penn State quarterback Chuck Fusina, (3) Michigan quarterback Rick Leach and (4) USC running back Charles White.
Sims also won the Walter Camp Award as college football’s most outstanding player, while Fusina won the Maxwell Award as college football’s most outstanding player.
The Outland Trophy for the best interior lineman went to Oklahoma guard Greg Roberts. The Lombardi Award for the best lineman or linebacker was won by Penn State defensive tackle Bruce Clark.
On December 11, two million Iranians demonstrated against the Shah, while in the U.S., six men robbed the Lufthansa cargo facility at John F. Kennedy Airport. Two days later, the first Susan B. Anthony dollars were minted in Philadelphia.
The movie “Superman” was released on the 15th of December. The same day, Cleveland, Ohio, became the first major American city to go into default since the Great Depression.
Some of the best albums of the year were “Parallel Lines” by Blondie; “Outlandos d’Amour” by The Police; “52nd Street” by Billy Joel; “Some Girls” by The Rolling Stones; “Kaya” by Bob Marley and the Wailers; “Comes a Time” by Neil Young; “Street-Legal” by Bob Dylan; “Backless” by Eric Clapton, and “You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish” by REO Speedwagon.
Also, “Infinity” by Journey; “Pieces of Eight” by Styx; “You’re Gonna Get It” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; “Hemispheres” by Rush; “Here, My Dear” by Marvin Gaye; “Stardust” by Willie Nelson; “Blondes Have More Fun” by Rod Stewart; “A Single Man” by Elton John; “Babylon by Bus” by Bob Marley and the Wailers; “Natural High” by The Commodores, and “City to City” by Gerry Rafferty.
Also, “Endless Wire” by Gordon Lightfoot; “Plastic Letters” by Blondie; “Street Hassle” by Lou Reed; “The Last Waltz” by The Band; “Heaven Tonight” by Cheap Trick; “Darkness on the Edge of Town” by Bruce Springsteen; “Double Vision” by Foreigner; “Nightwatch” by Kenny Loggins; “Heartbreaker” by Dolly Parton; “Time Passages” by Al Stewart, and “Dire Straits” by Dire Straits.
In the first bowl games of the season, Arizona State defeated Rutgers, 34-18, in the Garden State Bowl, while East Carolina beat Louisiana Tech, 35-17, in the Independence Bowl. In the All-America Bowl, Texas A&M downed Iowa State, 28-12.
With Christmas near and bowl games in the air, college football fans were doing their Holiday shopping to “The Power Of Gold” by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg; “Instant Replay” by Dan Hartman; “Promises” by Eric Clapton; “(Our Love) Don’t Throw It All Away” by Andy Gibb; “New York Grove” by KISS; “Alive Again” by Chicago; “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars; “How You Gonna See Me Now” by Alice Cooper; “Y.M.C.A.” by The Village People; “We’ve Got Tonite” by Bob Seger; “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” by Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond; “Le Freak” by Chic; “Take Me To The River” by Talking Heads; “My Life” by Billy Joel; “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers, and “Please Come Home For Christmas” by The Eagles.
“Now I know my life
Has given me more than memories
Day by day….we can see
In every moment there’s a reason to carry on”
A few days before Christmas, Navy won the Holiday Bowl, beating BYU, 23-16. Texas beat Maryland, 42-0, in the Sun Bowl, while Missouri edged LSU in the Liberty Bowl, 20-15.
Some of the popular movies of the year were “Grease;” “Midnight Express;” “The Deer Hunter;” “The Boys from Brazil;” “The Buddy Holly Story;” “Days of Heaven,” and “Every Which Way but Loose.”
Also, “Heaven Can Wait;” “Same Time, Next Year;” “Superman;” “California Suite;” “Death on the Nile;” “Comes a Horseman;” “Coming Home;” “Animal House;” “Force 10 from Navarone,” and “The Last Waltz.”
On Christmas Day, Purdue won the Peach Bowl, dumping Georgia Tech, 41-21, and Arkansas and UCLA played to a 10-10 tie in the Fiesta Bowl.
Some of the better reads during the year included “The Thorn Birds” by Colleen McCullough; “The Honorable Schoolboy” by John le Carre; “Beggarman, Thief” by Irwin Shaw; “The Second Deadly Sin” by Lawrence Sanders; “The Immigrants” by Howard Fast; “Scruples” by Judith Krantz; “The Human Factor” by Graham Greene, and “The Holcroft Covenant” by Robert Ludlum.
Also, “The World According to Garp” by John Irving; “The Last Convertible” by Anton Meyer; “Evergreen” by Belva Plain; “Eye of the Needle” by Ken Follett; “Chesapeake” by James Michener; “War and Remembrance” by Herman Wouk; “The Far Pavilions” by M.M. Kaye; “Second Generation” by Howard Fast; “Prelude to Terror” by Helen MacInnes; “The Empty Copper Sea” by John MacDonald, and “Bright Flows the River” by Taylor Caldwell.
Well-known people who were born during the year included James Franco; Katherine Heigl; Mathew Goode; Katie Holmes; Ashton Kutcher; Topher Grace; Alex Rodriguez; Bubba Watson; Frank Lampard; Kurt Busch; Usher, and Kobe Bryant.
Also, Rachel McAdams; Enrique Iglesias; Josh Hartnett; Jesse Palmer; John Legend; Shane Battier; Joey Harrington; Tim Hasselbeck; Champ Bailey; Josh Heupel; LaVar Arrington; Chase Utley; Erin Andrews, and Chelsea Carnohan Cushing.
“Sweet love….sweet love, yeah
Sweet love….sweet love, yeah
You’re the glowin’ light in my life
Source of pride in my life”
The consensus All-American first team defense consisted of defensive lineman Al Harris – Arizona State (6-5, 240) Wheeler AFB, Hawaii; lineman Bruce Clark – Penn State (6-3, 246) New Castle, PA; lineman Hugh Green – Pitt (6-2, 215) Natchez, MS; lineman Mike Bell – Colorado State (6-5, 265) Wichita, KS; lineman Marty Lyons – Alabama (6-6, 250) St. Petersburg, FL; linebacker Bob Golic – Notre Dame (6-3, 244) Willowick, OH; linebacker Jerry Robinson – UCLA (6-3, 209) Santa Rosa, CA; linebacker Tom Cousineau – Ohio State (6-3, 227) Fairview Park, OH; defensive back Johnnie Johnson – Texas (6-2, 183) LaGrange, TX; defensive back Kenny Easley – UCLA (6-2, 202) Chesapeake, VA; defensive back Jeff Nixon – Richmond (6-4, 195) Glendale, AZ.
Two days after Christmas, the Constitution of Spain was approved, officially ending 40 years of military dictatorship.
Famous people who passed away during the year included Bob Crane; Hubert Humphrey; Margaret Mead; Golda Meir; Harvey Milk; George Moscone; Jacques Brel; Pope John Paul I; Dan Dailey; Norman Rockwell, and Gig Young.
Also, John D. Rockefeller III; Ilka Chase; Ford Frick; Totie Fields; Pope Paul VI; Louis Prima; Charles Boyer; Jack Warner; Bruce Catton; Jack Oakie; Edgar Bergen, Carl Betz; Maybelle Carter; Keith Moon; and Chill Wills.
On December 29, Clemson beat Ohio State, 17-15, in the Gator Bowl.
The most popular TV shows of the year were “The Incredible Hulk;” “Dallas;” “Mork & Mindy;” “Taxi;” “WKRP in Cincinnati;” “Happy Days;” “Barney Miller;” “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Laverne & Shirley.”
Also, “The Love Boat;” “Three’s Company;” “M*A*S*H;” “The Waltons;” “The Jefferson’s;” “Alice;” “Little House on the Prairie;” “The Rockford Files;” “Quincy, M.E.,” and “CHiPs.”
During the last few days of the year and on New Year’s Eve, college football fans were partying, drinking, celebrating and singing to “Part-Time Love” by Elton John; “Bicycle Race”/“Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen; “Every 1’s A Winner” by Hot Chocolate; “I Was Made For Dancin’” by Leif Garrett; “Fire” by The Pointer Sisters; “A Man I’ll Never Be” by Boston; “Shake It” by Ian Mathews; “Too Much Heaven” by The Bee Gees; “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire; “Don’t Cry Out Loud” by Melissa Manchester; “Lotta Love” by Nicolette Larson; “A Little More Love” by Olivia Newton-John; “Home And Dry” by Gerry Rafferty; “Got To Be real” by Cheryl Lynn; “Soul Man” by The Blues Brothers, and “Baby I’m Burnin’” by Dolly Parton.
At the close of the year, the DOW closed at 805.
“Whenever I call you friend
I begin to think I understand
Anywhere we are
You and I have always been
Forever and ever”
On New Year’s Eve, Stanford beat Georgia in the Bluebonnet Bowl, 25-22. The seventh annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special aired on ABC, with performances by Barry Manilow, Village People, Chuck Mangione, Tanya Tucker and Rick James.
In the final four and crucial bowl games of the season, Notre Dame slipped by Houston in the Cotton Bowl, 35-34, and Oklahoma got revenge, downing Nebraska 31-24 in the Orange Bowl.
In the Rose Bowl, USC edged Michigan, 17-10, and in the Sugar Bowl, No. 2 Alabama handed No. 1 Penn State its first loss of the season. The Crimson Tide beat the Nittany Lions, 14-7.
After all was played and done, two teams split the national championship. Alabama (11-1), coached by Bear Bryant, was No. 1 in the AP Poll, while USC (12-1), coached by John Robinson, was No. 1 in the UPI Poll.
“Whenever I Call You Friend” was recorded by Kenny Loggins, with backing vocals by Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. The song was written by Loggins and Melissa Manchester. “Whenever I Call You Friend” debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart on July 29 and remained there for 20 weeks, throughout the entire football season, until December 16. The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Manchester was intended to record the backing vocals, but she and Loggins were under different contracts which would not allow them to record together. Loggins got to know Nicks when he was the opening act for Fleetwood Mac during an 18-month tour.
The year and football season was 1978.
Touchdown Tom
December 16, 2016
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
‘And ever our love will last
I always want to call you friend’
It was the year of three popes and three plane crashes. It was the year of two blizzards and two earthquakes. The first casino opened in Atlantic City and the first test-tube baby was born. “Dallas” debuted on television, a new coin was authorized and minted, and sadly, it was the year of Jonestown.
Two college football teams split the national championship, sharing the No. 1 spot at the end of the season.
What year was it?
On the very first day of the year, Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashed into the ocean near Bombay, killing 213 people.
Two weeks later, “Fantasy Island” premiered on ABC. The Sex Pistols said farewell, playing their final show at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, and former Vice-President Hubert Humphrey died.
“Whenever I call you friend
I begin to think I understand
Anywhere we are
You and I have always been
Forever and ever”
The following day, in the Superdome in New Orleans, the Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl XII, beating the Denver Broncos, 27-10. It was the Super Bowl of firsts – the first one played in a domed stadium and the first played in prime time. The game marked the first, and only, time two players – defensive tackle Randy White and defensive end Harvey Martin – were named MVP. It was also the first time a defensive lineman was named MVP in a Super Bowl.
Near the end of January, a tremendous blizzard blanketed the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes, killing 70 people. Three nights later, the Doobie Brothers made a guest appearance on ABC’s “What’s Happening.
On the first of February, film director Roman Polanski skipped bail and fled to France, after pleading guilty to charges of engaging in sex with a 13-year-old girl. Four days later, a second massive blizzard struck the U.S., this time in the Northeast, killing 100 people and causing more than $520 million in damage.
The following week, Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314, a Boeing 737-200 passenger jet, crashed in Cranbrook, British Columbia, killing 44 of the 50 people on board. “How the West Was Won” premiered on CBS. In Florida, serial killer Ted Bundy was captured in Pensacola, while in California, the “Hillside Strangler,” a serial killer in Los Angeles, claimed his tenth and final victim.
As March began, Charlie Chaplain’s remains were stolen from the cemetery in Cosier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. A week later, porn publisher Larry Flynt was shot and paralyzed in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
In the middle of March, “The Incredible Hulk” premiered on CBS, and former Italian Premier Aldo Moro was kidnapped by the Red Brigade. Five of his bodyguards were killed. A week later, Karl Wallenda, of “The Flying Wallendas,” died after falling off a tight-rope stretched between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In St. Louis, near the end of March, Kentucky, coached by Joe B. Hall, beat Duke, 94-88, to win the NCAA Basketball Championship. Kentucky’s Jake Givens was named the MVP. The next day, Daryl Gates became the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, succeeding Robert F. Rock. Gates would keep the position for the next 14 years.
On the 2nd of April, “Dallas” debuted on CBS, giving birth to the modern-day prime-time soap opera. The next day, at the 50th Academy Awards, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, “Annie Hall” won for Best Picture. The Best Actor Award went to Richard Dreyfuss for “The Goodbye Girl,” while the Best Actress Award went to Diane Keaton for “Annie Hall.”
A week later, Gary Player won the Masters Golf Tournament. It was Player’s third Masters title. Going into the final round, he overcame a 7-point shot deficit to win.
“I see myself within your eyes
And that’s all I need to show me why
Everything I do
Always takes me home to you
Forever and ever”
In mid-April, the U.S. Senate voted 68-32 to turn the Panama Canal over to Panamanian control, effective January 1, 2000. Meanwhile, Soviet air defense shot down Korean Airlines Flight 902. The plane made an emergency landing on a frozen lake in Russia. Two days later, on “Saturday Night Live,” Steve Martin performed the original “King Tut” and The Blues Brothers made their first appearance.
During the first week of May, the Cincinnati Reds’ Pete Rose got his 3,000th hit. Ipswich Town won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal, 1-0, in London’s Wembley Stadium, and at the 104th running of the Kentucky Derby, Affirmed, ridden by jockey Steve Cauthen, won.
On the 9th of May, the corpse of former Italian Premier Aldo Moro was found in a red Renault. During the middle of the month, Barry Gibb became the first and only songwriter in history to have written four consecutive No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Charlie Chaplain’s coffin was found near Lake Geneva, nine miles from the cemetery from which it was stolen, and Mavis Hutchinson became the first woman to run across the U.S. Her trek took 69 days.
On May 25th, a bomb exploded in a building on the campus of Northwestern University, wounding a security guard – the first Unabomber attack. The Who performed their last show with drummer Keith Moon, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins, 4 matches to 2, to win NHL’s Stanley Cup. Larry Robinson was named the MVP.
The next day, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Resorts International opened for business – the first legal casino in the eastern U.S. Two days later, Al Unser won his third Indianapolis 500.
The FIFA World Cup began play in Argentina on June 1.
A few days later, California voters approved Proposition 13, which slashed property taxes 60%. On June 7th, the Washington Bullets beat the Seattle SuperSonics, 4 games to 3, to win the NBA Championship. Wes Unseld was named the most valuable player.
In Paris, at the French Open Tennis Championship, Romania’s Virginia Ruzici beat Yugoslavia’s Mimi Jausovec to win the women’s singles title. The next day, Sweden’s Bjorn Borg beat Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas to take the men’s singles title.
At the 110th running of the Belmont Stakes, Affirmed won the race, becoming a Triple Crown winner. The Rolling Stones opened their 25-date U.S. summer tour in Lakeland, Florida.
On June 12th, Princess Gator was born.
Serial killer David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam,” was sentenced to 365 years in prison. Three days later, King Hussein of Jordan married 26-year-old Lisa Halaby, who took the name Queen Noor. The following day, the movie “Grease,” starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, opened in U.S. theaters.
“Now I know my life
Has given me more than memories
Day by day….we can see
In every moment there’s a reason to carry on”
Summer was underway and while not yet able to listen to the games on the radio, college football fans were listening to “Love Is Like Oxygen” by Sweet; “Dance With Me” by Peter Brown and Betty Wright; “This Time I’m In It For Love” by Player; “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” by Meat Loaf; “Werewolves Of London” by Warren Zevon; “Every Kinda People” by Robert Palmer; “With A Little Luck” by Paul McCartney and Wings; “It’s A Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler; “Deacon Blues” by Steely Dan; “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” by Johnny Mathis/Deniece Williams, and “You’re The One That I Want” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
In mid-June at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colorado, Andy North won his first U.S. Open Golf title. He beat Dave Stockton and J.C. Snead by one stroke. The next day, “Garfield,” which became the most widely syndicated comic strip, made its debut. On June 20th, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, killing 45 people and injuring hundreds.
Meanwhile, the radio stations were playing “Heartless” by Heart; “Because The Night” by The Patti Smith Group; “You’re The Love” by Seals & Crofts; “You Belong To Me” by Carly Simon; “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb; “Cheeseburger In Paradise” by Jimmy Buffett; “Follow You, Follow Me” by Genesis; “Take A Chance On Me” by ABBA; “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty; “Oh What A Night For Dancing” by Barry White, and “I Was Only Joking” by Rod Stewart.
As June came to a close, Argentina defeated the Netherlands, 3-1 in extra time, to win the World Cup, and Peter Frampton was nearly killed in a car accident in the Bahamas.
Three days past July the 4th, the Solomon Islands became independent from the United Kingdom, and Czechoslovakia’s Martina Navratilova beat American Chris Evert to win the women’s singles tennis title at Wimbledon. The next day, Sweden’s Bjorn Borg defeated American Jimmy Connors to win the men’s title.
As the summer air grew thicker and warmer, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “Even Now” by Barry Manilow; “Thank God It’s Friday” by Love and Kisses; “The Groove Line” by Heatwave; “It’s The Same Old Song” by KC and The Sunshine Band; “Only The Good Die Young” by Billy Joel; “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton; “Still The Same” by Bob Seger; “Last Dance” by Donna Summer, and “If Ever I See You Again” by Roberta Flack.
During the middle of July, more than 200 people died in an explosion of a tanker truck at a campsite in Costa Dorada, Spain. At the Old Course in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, Jack Nicklaus won his third British Open Golf Championship.
The summer airwaves continued to be filled with music, including “Can We Still Be Friends” by Todd Rundgren; “Runaway” by Jefferson Starship; “King Tut” by Steve Martin; “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones; “Grease” by Frankie Valli; “Magnet And Steel” by Walter Eagan; “FM” by Steely Dan; “My Angel Baby” by Toby Beau, and “Rivers Of Babylon” by Boney M.
“Sweet love’s showing us a heavenly light
Never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we’ll be doin’ it”
Near the end of July, Louis Brown, the world’s first test-tube baby, was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester, U.K.
On August 6th, Pope Paul VI died in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. The same day, at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, John Mahaffey won the PGA title, his only major championship. He beat Jerry Pate and Tom Watson in a sudden death playoff to win.
Summer was coming to an end and college football fans couldn’t wait for the season to begin. Alabama was the No. 1 team in the preseason polls. The top songs on the radio were “Stay”/“The Load Out” by Jackson Browne; “Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh; “Copacabana” by Barry Manilow; “Stuff Like That” by Quincy Jones; “Hot Child In The City” by Nick Gilder; “Songbird” by Barbra Streisand; “I’ve Had Enough” by Paul McCartney and Wings, and “Just What I Needed” by The Cars;
In mid-August, Double Eagle II became the first balloon to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean, flying from Presque Isle, Maine to Misery, France. In Central America, the Sandinistas seized the Nicaraguan National Palace.
Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “Shame” by Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King; “Three Times A Lady” by The Commodores; “Two Tickets To Paradise” by Eddie Money; “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey; “Macho Man” by The Village People; “You” by Rita Coolidge; “You And I” by Rick James, and “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner.
In the waning days of August, Pope John Paul I succeeded Pope Paul VI as the 263rd Pope.
During the first week of September, Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat began the Camp David peace process accords in Maryland, and The Who’s Keith Moon died at the Curzon Palace in Mayfair, London, from a drug overdose at the age of 32. Just a day later, Iranian army troops open fired on rioters in Tehran, killing 122 and wounding 4,000.
At the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, American Chris Evert beat American Pam Shriver to take the women’s single title. It was Evert’s fourth consecutive U.S. Open title and eighth grand slam title. The next day, American Jimmy Connors defeated Sweden’s Bjorn Borg for the men’s singles title. It marked Connors’ third U.S. Open title and fifth career grand slam win.
Meanwhile, the college football season was underway and fans were tailgating to “Close The Door” by Teddy Pendergrass; “Fool (If You Think It’s Over) by Chris Rea; “Hopelessly Devoted To You” by Olivia Newton John; “Kiss You All Over” by Exile, and “I Love The Nightlife” by Alicia Bridges.
“Sweet love’s showing us a heavenly light
I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we’ll be doin’ it right”
On September 16, a 7.4 earthquake hit Tabas, Iran, killing 15,000 people. The following day, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Peace Accords.
“Taxi,” “Mork & Mindy” and “WKRP in Cincinnati” all made their television premiers during September. A first class postage stamp cost 15 cents. A loaf of bread was 33 cents, and the price of a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline was 68 cents.
September 23 was an upsetting day in college football. No. 7 USC knocked off No. 1 Alabama, 24-14. Two days later, Oklahoma was named the No. 1 team in the country. On the day the Sooners became No. 1, PSA Flight 122, a Boeing 727, collided with a small private plane and crashed in San Diego – 144 people were killed.
College football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “An Everlasting Love” by Andy Gibb; “Love Is In The Air” by John Paul Young; “You Needed Me” by Anne Murray, and “A Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy” by The Kinks.
Near the end of September, Pope John Paul I died after only 33 days of papacy. On the last day of the month, Virginia Tech beat William & Mary, 22-19, on a 50-yard touchdown pass from David Lamie to Ron Zollicoffer on the last play of the game.
October began with Vietnam attacking Cambodia. Nine days later, the minting of the Susan B. Anthony dollar was authorized.
On the 16th of the month, John Paul II succeeded John Paul I as the 264th Pope, resulting in the first year of three popes since 1605. John Paul II was the first Polish pope in history and the first non-Italian pope since 1523.
A day later, the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 2, to win the World Series. Yankees’ shortstop Bucky Dent was named the MVP. On the third Saturday in October, Doug Dobbs kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give Arkansas State a 6-3 win over McNeese State.
As Halloween approached, college football fans were carving their pumpkins to “Oh! Darling” by Robin Gibb; “Hollywood Nights” by Bob Seger; “Took The Last Train” by David Gates; “She’s Always A Woman” by Billy Joel; “Right Down The Line” by Gerry Rafferty; “Don’t Look Back” by Boston; “Back In The U.S.A.” by Linda Ronstadt; “Dance (Disco Heat)” by Sylvester; “Josie” by Steely Dan; “It’s A Laugh” by Daryl Hall & John Oates; “Who Are You” by The Who; “Sweet Life” by Paul Davis, and “How Much I Feel” by Ambrosia.
At the end of the month, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin won the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts achieving a Middle East accord.
The unemployment rate was 6.1% and the yearly inflation rate stood at 7.62%. A dozen eggs cost 48 cents. The price of a pound of bacon and a pound of butter was $1.20 and $1.33 respectively.
“Whenever I call you friend
I believe I’ve come to understand
Everywhere we are
You and I were meant to be
Forever and ever”
The first week of November saw rioters attack the British Embassy in Tehran, while in India, Indira Gandhi was re-elected to parliament.
As the college football season was nearing an end, college football fans were singing to “Prisoner Of Your Love” by Player; “Beast Of Burden” by The Rolling Stones; “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer; “I Just Wanna Stop” by Gino Vannelli; “Everybody Needs Love” by Stephen Bishop; “Blue Collar Man” by Styx; “Don’t Want To Live Without It” by Pablo Cruise, and “Ready To Take A Chance Again” by Barry Manilow.
On the second weekend in November, San Jose State beat Pacific, 33-31, as time expired, on a five-yard pass from Ed Luther to Rick Parma. The same weekend, No. 4 Nebraska upset No. 1 Oklahoma, 17-14. Two days later, Penn State became the No. 1 team in the country.
At mid-November, in Jonestown, Guyana, Jim Jones led his Peoples Temple cult in a mass-murder suicide that claimed 918 lives. The incident included the assassination of U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan, by the Peoples Temple cult.
At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “Change Of Heart” by Eric Carmen; “Sharing The Night Together” by Dr. Hook; “Straight On” by Heart; “Double Vision” by Foreigner; “Raining In My Heart” by Leo Sayer; “Time Passages” by Al Stewart; “Strange Way” by Firefall, and “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan.
As November came to a close, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated by former Supervisor Dan White, and in college football, Penn State, at 11-0, was the only team to finish the regular season undefeated.
Just a few days into December, Diane Feinstein succeeded the murdered George Moscone to become San Francisco’s first female mayor. Two days later, the Spanish Constitution formally restored the country’s democratic government.
The consensus All-American first team offense consisted of wide receiver Emanuel Tolbert – SMU (5-10, 180) Little Rock, AR; tight end Kellen Winslow – Missouri (6-6, 235) East St. Louis, IL; tackle Keith Dorney – Penn State (6-5, 257) Allentown, PA; tackle Kevin Clark – Nebraska (6-4, 275) Odessa, TX; guard Pat Howell – USC (6-6, 255) Fresno, CA; guard Greg Roberts – Oklahoma (6-3, 238) Nacogdoches, TX; center Dave Huffman – Notre Dame (6-5, 245) Dallas, TX; center Jim Ritcher – NC State (6-3, 242) Hinckley, OH; quarterback Chuck Fusina – Penn State (6-1, 195) McKees Rocks, PA; running back Billy Sims – Oklahoma (6-0, 205) Hooks, TX; running back Charles White – USC (5-11, 183) San Fernando, CA; running back Ted Brown – NC State (5-10, 195) High Point, NC, and running back Charles Alexander – LSU (6-1, 214) Galveston, TX.
“I think about the times to come
Knowin’ I will be the lucky one
And ever our love will last
I always want to call you friend”
Oklahoma running back Billy Sims won the Heisman Trophy. Sims was followed in the voting by (2) Penn State quarterback Chuck Fusina, (3) Michigan quarterback Rick Leach and (4) USC running back Charles White.
Sims also won the Walter Camp Award as college football’s most outstanding player, while Fusina won the Maxwell Award as college football’s most outstanding player.
The Outland Trophy for the best interior lineman went to Oklahoma guard Greg Roberts. The Lombardi Award for the best lineman or linebacker was won by Penn State defensive tackle Bruce Clark.
On December 11, two million Iranians demonstrated against the Shah, while in the U.S., six men robbed the Lufthansa cargo facility at John F. Kennedy Airport. Two days later, the first Susan B. Anthony dollars were minted in Philadelphia.
The movie “Superman” was released on the 15th of December. The same day, Cleveland, Ohio, became the first major American city to go into default since the Great Depression.
Some of the best albums of the year were “Parallel Lines” by Blondie; “Outlandos d’Amour” by The Police; “52nd Street” by Billy Joel; “Some Girls” by The Rolling Stones; “Kaya” by Bob Marley and the Wailers; “Comes a Time” by Neil Young; “Street-Legal” by Bob Dylan; “Backless” by Eric Clapton, and “You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish” by REO Speedwagon.
Also, “Infinity” by Journey; “Pieces of Eight” by Styx; “You’re Gonna Get It” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; “Hemispheres” by Rush; “Here, My Dear” by Marvin Gaye; “Stardust” by Willie Nelson; “Blondes Have More Fun” by Rod Stewart; “A Single Man” by Elton John; “Babylon by Bus” by Bob Marley and the Wailers; “Natural High” by The Commodores, and “City to City” by Gerry Rafferty.
Also, “Endless Wire” by Gordon Lightfoot; “Plastic Letters” by Blondie; “Street Hassle” by Lou Reed; “The Last Waltz” by The Band; “Heaven Tonight” by Cheap Trick; “Darkness on the Edge of Town” by Bruce Springsteen; “Double Vision” by Foreigner; “Nightwatch” by Kenny Loggins; “Heartbreaker” by Dolly Parton; “Time Passages” by Al Stewart, and “Dire Straits” by Dire Straits.
In the first bowl games of the season, Arizona State defeated Rutgers, 34-18, in the Garden State Bowl, while East Carolina beat Louisiana Tech, 35-17, in the Independence Bowl. In the All-America Bowl, Texas A&M downed Iowa State, 28-12.
With Christmas near and bowl games in the air, college football fans were doing their Holiday shopping to “The Power Of Gold” by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg; “Instant Replay” by Dan Hartman; “Promises” by Eric Clapton; “(Our Love) Don’t Throw It All Away” by Andy Gibb; “New York Grove” by KISS; “Alive Again” by Chicago; “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars; “How You Gonna See Me Now” by Alice Cooper; “Y.M.C.A.” by The Village People; “We’ve Got Tonite” by Bob Seger; “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” by Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond; “Le Freak” by Chic; “Take Me To The River” by Talking Heads; “My Life” by Billy Joel; “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers, and “Please Come Home For Christmas” by The Eagles.
“Now I know my life
Has given me more than memories
Day by day….we can see
In every moment there’s a reason to carry on”
A few days before Christmas, Navy won the Holiday Bowl, beating BYU, 23-16. Texas beat Maryland, 42-0, in the Sun Bowl, while Missouri edged LSU in the Liberty Bowl, 20-15.
Some of the popular movies of the year were “Grease;” “Midnight Express;” “The Deer Hunter;” “The Boys from Brazil;” “The Buddy Holly Story;” “Days of Heaven,” and “Every Which Way but Loose.”
Also, “Heaven Can Wait;” “Same Time, Next Year;” “Superman;” “California Suite;” “Death on the Nile;” “Comes a Horseman;” “Coming Home;” “Animal House;” “Force 10 from Navarone,” and “The Last Waltz.”
On Christmas Day, Purdue won the Peach Bowl, dumping Georgia Tech, 41-21, and Arkansas and UCLA played to a 10-10 tie in the Fiesta Bowl.
Some of the better reads during the year included “The Thorn Birds” by Colleen McCullough; “The Honorable Schoolboy” by John le Carre; “Beggarman, Thief” by Irwin Shaw; “The Second Deadly Sin” by Lawrence Sanders; “The Immigrants” by Howard Fast; “Scruples” by Judith Krantz; “The Human Factor” by Graham Greene, and “The Holcroft Covenant” by Robert Ludlum.
Also, “The World According to Garp” by John Irving; “The Last Convertible” by Anton Meyer; “Evergreen” by Belva Plain; “Eye of the Needle” by Ken Follett; “Chesapeake” by James Michener; “War and Remembrance” by Herman Wouk; “The Far Pavilions” by M.M. Kaye; “Second Generation” by Howard Fast; “Prelude to Terror” by Helen MacInnes; “The Empty Copper Sea” by John MacDonald, and “Bright Flows the River” by Taylor Caldwell.
Well-known people who were born during the year included James Franco; Katherine Heigl; Mathew Goode; Katie Holmes; Ashton Kutcher; Topher Grace; Alex Rodriguez; Bubba Watson; Frank Lampard; Kurt Busch; Usher, and Kobe Bryant.
Also, Rachel McAdams; Enrique Iglesias; Josh Hartnett; Jesse Palmer; John Legend; Shane Battier; Joey Harrington; Tim Hasselbeck; Champ Bailey; Josh Heupel; LaVar Arrington; Chase Utley; Erin Andrews, and Chelsea Carnohan Cushing.
“Sweet love….sweet love, yeah
Sweet love….sweet love, yeah
You’re the glowin’ light in my life
Source of pride in my life”
The consensus All-American first team defense consisted of defensive lineman Al Harris – Arizona State (6-5, 240) Wheeler AFB, Hawaii; lineman Bruce Clark – Penn State (6-3, 246) New Castle, PA; lineman Hugh Green – Pitt (6-2, 215) Natchez, MS; lineman Mike Bell – Colorado State (6-5, 265) Wichita, KS; lineman Marty Lyons – Alabama (6-6, 250) St. Petersburg, FL; linebacker Bob Golic – Notre Dame (6-3, 244) Willowick, OH; linebacker Jerry Robinson – UCLA (6-3, 209) Santa Rosa, CA; linebacker Tom Cousineau – Ohio State (6-3, 227) Fairview Park, OH; defensive back Johnnie Johnson – Texas (6-2, 183) LaGrange, TX; defensive back Kenny Easley – UCLA (6-2, 202) Chesapeake, VA; defensive back Jeff Nixon – Richmond (6-4, 195) Glendale, AZ.
Two days after Christmas, the Constitution of Spain was approved, officially ending 40 years of military dictatorship.
Famous people who passed away during the year included Bob Crane; Hubert Humphrey; Margaret Mead; Golda Meir; Harvey Milk; George Moscone; Jacques Brel; Pope John Paul I; Dan Dailey; Norman Rockwell, and Gig Young.
Also, John D. Rockefeller III; Ilka Chase; Ford Frick; Totie Fields; Pope Paul VI; Louis Prima; Charles Boyer; Jack Warner; Bruce Catton; Jack Oakie; Edgar Bergen, Carl Betz; Maybelle Carter; Keith Moon; and Chill Wills.
On December 29, Clemson beat Ohio State, 17-15, in the Gator Bowl.
The most popular TV shows of the year were “The Incredible Hulk;” “Dallas;” “Mork & Mindy;” “Taxi;” “WKRP in Cincinnati;” “Happy Days;” “Barney Miller;” “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Laverne & Shirley.”
Also, “The Love Boat;” “Three’s Company;” “M*A*S*H;” “The Waltons;” “The Jefferson’s;” “Alice;” “Little House on the Prairie;” “The Rockford Files;” “Quincy, M.E.,” and “CHiPs.”
During the last few days of the year and on New Year’s Eve, college football fans were partying, drinking, celebrating and singing to “Part-Time Love” by Elton John; “Bicycle Race”/“Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen; “Every 1’s A Winner” by Hot Chocolate; “I Was Made For Dancin’” by Leif Garrett; “Fire” by The Pointer Sisters; “A Man I’ll Never Be” by Boston; “Shake It” by Ian Mathews; “Too Much Heaven” by The Bee Gees; “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire; “Don’t Cry Out Loud” by Melissa Manchester; “Lotta Love” by Nicolette Larson; “A Little More Love” by Olivia Newton-John; “Home And Dry” by Gerry Rafferty; “Got To Be real” by Cheryl Lynn; “Soul Man” by The Blues Brothers, and “Baby I’m Burnin’” by Dolly Parton.
At the close of the year, the DOW closed at 805.
“Whenever I call you friend
I begin to think I understand
Anywhere we are
You and I have always been
Forever and ever”
On New Year’s Eve, Stanford beat Georgia in the Bluebonnet Bowl, 25-22. The seventh annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special aired on ABC, with performances by Barry Manilow, Village People, Chuck Mangione, Tanya Tucker and Rick James.
In the final four and crucial bowl games of the season, Notre Dame slipped by Houston in the Cotton Bowl, 35-34, and Oklahoma got revenge, downing Nebraska 31-24 in the Orange Bowl.
In the Rose Bowl, USC edged Michigan, 17-10, and in the Sugar Bowl, No. 2 Alabama handed No. 1 Penn State its first loss of the season. The Crimson Tide beat the Nittany Lions, 14-7.
After all was played and done, two teams split the national championship. Alabama (11-1), coached by Bear Bryant, was No. 1 in the AP Poll, while USC (12-1), coached by John Robinson, was No. 1 in the UPI Poll.
“Whenever I Call You Friend” was recorded by Kenny Loggins, with backing vocals by Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. The song was written by Loggins and Melissa Manchester. “Whenever I Call You Friend” debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart on July 29 and remained there for 20 weeks, throughout the entire football season, until December 16. The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Manchester was intended to record the backing vocals, but she and Loggins were under different contracts which would not allow them to record together. Loggins got to know Nicks when he was the opening act for Fleetwood Mac during an 18-month tour.
The year and football season was 1978.
Touchdown Tom
December 16, 2016
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
Monday, December 12, 2016
College Football Week 16 – Five Bowl Games on Saturday
Good bowl games we bring
To you and your kin
Good bowl games for the holidays
And a Happy New Year
Oh, the weather outside is frightfulBut my predictions are so delightfulAnd since I made none out of spiteLet me be right, let me be right, let me be right Touchdown Tom’s Annual Bowl Game Predictions:
New Mexico Bowl – Albuquerque, New Mexico
(University Stadium)
2 pm ET, December 17 – ESPN
The Coyote never got the Roadrunner
But the Lobo does. So much for Beep-Beep
New Mexico 33, UTSA 29
Las Vegas Bowl – Las Vegas, Nevada
(Sam Boyd Stadium)
3:30 pm ET, December 17 – ABC
What the Cougars do to the Aztecs
Stays in Las Vegas
Houston 30, San Diego State 28
Camellia Bowl – Montgomery, Alabama
(Cramton Stadium)
5:30 pm ET, December 17 – ESPN
Holy Toledo, Batman!
These are no Mud Hens
Toledo 29, Appalachian State 28
Cure Bowl – Orlando, Florida
(Camping World Stadium)
5:30 pm ET, December 17 – CBSSN
What do Knights eat at the round table?
Cured Wolf meat
UCF 26, Arkansas State 23
New Orleans Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana
(Mercedes-Benz Superdome)
9 pm ET, December 17 – ESPN
Boudreaux gets Eagle droppings
In his Jambalaya
Southern Miss 30, Louisiana-Lafayette 27
Miami Beach Bowl – Miami, Florida
(Marlins Park)
2:30 pm ET, December 19 – ESPN
What’s Golden about a Hurricane?
The Chippewas find out
Tulsa 34, Central Michigan 30
Boca Raton Bowl – Boca Raton, Florida
(FAU Stadium)
7 pm ET, December 20 – ESPN
The Hilltoppers give the Tigers
A White Christmas
Western Kentucky 37, Memphis 34
Poinsettia Bowl – San Diego, California
(Qualcomm Stadium)
9 pm ET, December 21 – ESPN
The Cougars Book the Cowboys
BYU 34, Wyoming 27
Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, Idaho
(Albertsons Stadium)
7 pm ET, December 22 – ESPN
Idaho Potatoes are Common taters
Colorado State 35, Idaho 25
Bahamas Bowl – Nassau, Bhahmas
(Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium)
1 pm ET, December 23 – ESPN
The Monarchs pop out of their cocoon
Old Dominion 34, Eastern Michigan 26
Armed Forces Bowl – Fort Worth, Texas
(Amon G. Carter Stadium)
4:30 pm ET, December 23 – ESPN
The Goats float their Boats
Navy 39, Louisiana Tech 37
Dollar General Bowl – Mobile Alabama
(Ladd-Peebles Stadium)
8 pm ET, December 23 – ESPN
The Trojans find Solich’s Achilles heal
Troy 27, Ohio 25
Hawaii Bowl – Honolulu, Hawaii
(Aloha Stadium)
8 pm ET, December 24 – ESPN
The Warriors are not stuck in the Middle with Blue
Book ’em Rolo
Hawaii 31, Middle Tennessee 30
St. Petersburg Bowl – St. Petersburg, Florida
(Tropicana Field)
11 am ET, December 26 – ESPN
The Bulldogs retrieve a RedHawk in St. Wrinklesburg
Mississippi State 31, Miami (Ohio) 22
Quick Lane Bowl – Detroit, Michigan
(Ford Field)
2:30 pm ET, December 26 – ESPN
The Beantown Birds have a breakdown in Mo’town
Maryland 28, Boston College 24
Independence Bowl – Shreveport, Louisiana
(Independence Stadium)
5 pm ET, December 26 – ESPN2
The Wolves take the Commodores on a Louisiana Hayride
NC State 25, Vanderbilt 22
Heart of Dallas Bowl – Dallas, Texas
(Cotton Bowl)
12 noon ET, December 27 – ESPN
Army Green beats Mean Green
Army 32, North Texas 23
Military Bowl – Annapolis, Maryland
(Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
3:30 pm ET, December 27 – ESPN
The Deacons have Owls in their Belfry
Temple 33, Wake Forest 28
Holiday Bowl – San Diego, California
(Qualcomm Stadium)
7 pm ET, December 27 – ESPN
Leach sucks the blood out of the Gophers
Washington State 32, Minnesota 27
Cactus Bowl – Phoenix, Arizona
(Chase Field)
10:15 pm ET, December 27 – ESPN
These Bears don’t know how to hug
Boise State 35, Baylor 27
Pinstripe Bowl – Bronx, New York
(Yankee Stadium)
2 pm ET, December 28 – ESPN
Pitt sticks the Wildcats under its arm
Pitt 32, Northwestern 30
Russell Athletic Bowl – Orlando, Florida
(Camping World Stadium)
5:30 pm ET, December 28 – ESPN
There’s a new ride at Disney
It’s called “Surviving Sunnyside”
The Canes are afraid to ride it
West Virginia 27, Miami (Florida) 26
Foster Farms Bowl – Santa Clara, California
(Levi’s Stadium)
8:30 pm ET, December 28 – Fox
The Utes take the Who’s Yours
Out behind the barn
On Foster’s Farm
Utah 28, Indiana 20
Texas Bowl – Houston, Texas
(NRG Stadium)
9 pm ET, December 28 – ESPN
Reveille wakes the Aggies
Texas A&M 29, Kansas State 27
Birmingham Bowl – Birmingham, Alabama
(Legion Field)
2 pm ET, December 29 – ESPN
The Cock-a-doodle-doos make a Mustake
South Florida 34, South Carolina 26
Belk Bowl – Charlotte, North Carolina
(Bank of America Stadium)
5:30 pm ET, December 29 – ESPN
Turkeys like Bacon
Virginia Tech 32, Arkansas 26
Alamo Bowl – San Antonio, Texas
(Alamodome)
9 pm ET, December 29 – ESPN
Remember the Buffalo
Colorado 30, Oklahoma State 29
Liberty Bowl – Memphis, Tennessee
(Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium)
12 noon ET, December 30 – ESPN
TCU and Georgia go looking for
A gin-soaked, bar-room queen
She takes Uga upstairs for a ride
He couldn’t drink her off his mind
TCU 27, Georgia 25
Sun Bowl – El Paso, Texas
(Sun Bowl)
2 pm ET, December 30 – CBS
Here comes the Sun
And the Trees say, “It’s all right”
Stanford 26, North Carolina 24
Music City Bowl – Nashville, Tennessee
(Nissan Stadium)
3:30 pm ET, December 30 – ESPN
Herbie can’t sing
Nor play the fiddle
Tennessee 30, Nebraska 28
Arizona Bowl – Tucson, Arizona
(Arizona Stadium)
5:30 pm ET, December 30 – ASN
The Flyboys come down to the ground to drive Jaguars
Air Force 31, South Alabama 21
Orange Bowl – Miami Gardens, Florida (CFP/NY6)
(Hard Rock Stadium)
8 pm ET, December 30 – ESPN
Jimbo can’t wear khaki
Michigan 32, Florida State 23
Citrus Bowl – Orlando, Florida
(Camping World Stadium)
11 am ET, December 31 – ABC
The Red Birds win
Because Lamar says,
“It’s in the Cards”
Louisville 30, LSU 27
TaxSlayer Bowl – Jacksonville, Florida
(EverBank Field)
11 am ET, December 31 – ESPN
Buzz doesn’t float like a butterfly
But he stings like a Bee
Georgia Tech 29, Kentucky 25
Peach Bowl – Atlanta, Georgia (CFP Semifinal No. 1)
(Georgia Dome)
3 pm ET, December 31 – ESPN
The Tide puts a Nick in the Huskies
Alabama 28, Washington 26
Fiesta Bowl – Glendale, Arizona (CFP Semifinal No. 2)
(University of Phoenix Stadium)
7 pm EST, December 31 – ESPN
The Tigers take a siesta in the Fiesta
Ohio State 31, Clemson 27
Outback Bowl – Tampa, Florida
(Raymond James Stadium)
1 pm ET, January 2 – ABC
If you’ve got Alligator arms,
you avoid picking up the ball.
That’s what you do
Iowa 23, Florida 20
Cotton Bowl – Arlington, Texas (CFP/NY6)
(AT&T Stadium)
1 pm ET, January 2 – ESPN
The Broncos get caught in their PJs
Wisconsin 28, Western Michigan 26
Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California (CFP/NY6)
(Rose Bowl)
5 pm ET, January 2 – ESPN
Roses are Red
Penn State is Blue
USC 30, Penn State 29
Sugar Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana (CFP/NY6)
(Mercedes-Benz Superdome)
8:30 pm ET, January 2 – ESPN
Stoopsy sidetracks Gus
While the Sooners trash the Bus
Oklahoma 31, Auburn 30
College Football Playoff National Championship – Tampa, Florida
(Raymond James Stadium)
8:00 pm ET, January 9 – ESPN
Urban heads for the bar
While Nick smokes a Cigar!
Alabama 28, Ohio State 25
Touchdown Tom
December 12, 2016
Weekend Recap
GAME OF THE WEEK: Army 21, Navy 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Navy 34, Army 20). Well, it was bound to happen sometime. After 14 years of Navy victories, Army rose up and put it to the Middies. The Cadets truly played like they wanted the game more. The rushing of Army running backs Kell Walker (94 yards) and Andy Davidson (87 yards) helped the Black Knights control the game. The Cadets maintained the ball for 40 minutes and 32 seconds. That didn’t leave Navy much time to score. Army took a 7-0 lead with 4:23 left in the first quarter. The Cadets held onto the lead until Navy went ahead – 17-14 – for the first time at the 12:42 mark in the fourth quarter. Army retook the lead with 6 minutes on the clock and held onto to win. Attendance in Baltimore: 71,600
Week 15 Results: 0 correct picks, 1 fumble (0 percent)
Final Season Results: 155 correct picks, 86 fumbles (64.3 percent)
Heisman Trophy Presentation:
Louisville sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy Saturday night. Jackson came in first place in the voting with 2,144 points (3 points for first place, 2 for second and 1 for third). Clemson junior quarterback Deshaun Watson came in second with 1,524 points.
Watson was followed by Oklahoma senior quarterback Baker Mayfield with 361 points. Mayfield’s teammate senior receiver Dede Westbrook was fourth with 209 points. Michigan junior linebacker Jabrill Peppers came in fifth with 208 points.
FCS (Division IAA) Quarterfinals:
James Madison 65, Sam Houston State 7
……Attendance in Harrisonburg: 15,646
North Dakota State 36, South Dakota State 10
……Attendance in Fargo: 18,285
Youngstown State 30, Wofford 23
……Attendance in Youngstown: 8,066
Eastern Washington 38, Richmond 0
……Attendance in Cheney: 5,150
Division II Semifinals:
North Alabama 23, Shepherd 13
……Attendance in Shepherd: 7,017
Northwest Missouri State 35, Ferris State 20
……Attendance in Maryville: 5,264
Division III Semifinals:
UW-Oshkosh 10, John Carroll 3
……Attendance in Oshkosh: 962
Mary Hardin-Baylor 14, Mount Union 12
……Attendance in Belton: 4,084
Quotes of the Week
“Three years ago we were 1-11. Now we’re 13-0,” Western Michigan senior quarterback Zach Terrell.
“You know what? I think it’s harder here. I think it’s harder here than it is anywhere else,” Army coach Jeff Monken, on playing football at Army.
“It just shows I’ve got a lot more work to do in this next game to show people I should have been in New York,” Florida State junior running back Dalvin Cook, on not being a Heisman Trophy finalist.
“Lane Kiffin did not show me anything that Major Applewhite did not show me. Sure, he’s been a head coach and he’s been an okay head coach. But I can tell you this. Kiffin was not a safe hire,” University of Houston board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta, on not hiring Lane Kiffin.
Quote from the Past
“All those who need showers, take them,” USC coach John McKay, after the Trojans lost to Notre Dame, 51-0.
Signs of the Day
Navy Has Small Decks
Army Don’t Mean Ship
This Is Navy’s Bye Week
Touchdown Tom
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but sadly there were six passings of note last week – Van Williams, Rashaan Salaam, Dave Edwards, John Glenn, Greg Lake and Ken Hechler.
Van Williams, who played crime fighters on television in the 1960s, most notably the “Green Hornet” on the ABC show of the same name, died last week in Scottsdale, Arizona. A tall, athletic Texan, Williams looked the part of a superhero and grew up an actual cowboy. He played a detective named Kenny Madison on two ABC series – “Bourbon Street Beat” and “Surfside 6.” The shows ran from 1959 to 1962. He also played a young executive on another ABC series “The Tycoon” (1964-65). By the 1980s, Williams had mostly left acting behind to run a communications company. Vanzandt Jarvis Williams was born in Fort Worth on February 27, 1934. His parents owned a cattle ranch. He graduated from TCU before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. His other television appearances included “77 Sunset Strip,” “Mission Impossible” and “How the West Was Won.” Among his films were “Tall Story” (1960) and “The Caretakers” (1963).
Rashaan Salaam, a former running back for Colorado who won the Heisman Trophy, died last week in Boulder, Colorado. He was 42. Rashaan Iman Salaam was born on October 8, 1974, in San Diego. Salaam won the Heisman Trophy in 1994. Salaam was a first-round selection in the 1995 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, with whom he played three seasons. His promising professional career was cut short by injuries, fumbles and marijuana use.
Dave Edwards, a linebacker who helped lead the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowls and was part of the team’s so-called ‘Doomsday Defense,’ died last week at his home in Lake Whitney, Texas, about 80 miles southwest of Dallas. He was 76. Edwards played for the Cowboys from 1963 through 1975. During his time with the team, the Cowboys won Super Bowl VI in 1972, beating the Miami Dolphins, 24-3, and played in two other Super Bowls after the 1970 and 1975 seasons. At Auburn University, Edwards played both ways – receiver and defensive end – during the 1959, 1960 and 1961 seasons. David Monroe Edwards was born on December 14, 1939, in Abbeville, Alabama. In high school he was a standout football and basketball player.
John Glenn, the son of Ohio who was hailed as a national hero and a symbol of the space age as the first American to orbit the earth, then became a national political figure for 24 years in the Senate, died last week in Columbus, Ohio. He was 95. Glenn made his orbit on February 20, 1962. He resigned from the astronaut corps in 1964 and entered politics, serving four full terms as a Democratic senator from Ohio and in 1984 running unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination. Thirty-six years after his Mercury flight, in the last months of his final senate term, Glenn returned to space as he was launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery on October 29, 1988. At age 77, he became the oldest person to go into space. John Herschel Glenn was born on July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio. A few years later, the Glenns moved to New Concord, a small town in southeastern Ohio. In high school, he lettered in football, basketball and tennis. In 1939, Glenn enrolled in Muskingum College in his hometown and studied chemistry. He took flying lessons on the side. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Glenn signed up for the Naval Aviation program and became a Marine pilot. During World War II, he flew 59 combat missions in the Pacific. Glenn flew 90 combat missions in the Korean War. In 1959, he applied and was selected to become an astronaut.
Greg Lake, a singer, guitarist and songwriter who was a founding member of the 1970s rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, died last week in London. He was 69. Lake Europeanized rock ’n’ roll by blending it with classical music and presenting it with symphonic grandeur. Gregory Stewart Lake was born on November 10, 1947, in Poole, a seaside town in Dorset, England. He grew up in nearby Oakdale. When he was only 13, Lake wrote “Lucky Man,” which later became one of ELP’s greatest hits. Emerson, Lake and Palmer, who formed in 1970, recorded four albums which all went platinum. The band broke up in 1979. ELP reunited in 1992 and recorded its fifth album. The group performed for the last time together in London in 2010.
Ken Hechler, who spent nine terms in the House of Representatives and had a colorful presence in West Virginia politics for decades, died Saturday at his home in Romney, West Virginia. He was 102. Hechler was the oldest living former member of congress. Before entering politics, he was a college professor, a best-selling author and a speechwriter for President Harry S. Truman. As a professor of government at Marshall College in Huntington, West Virginia, Hechler was first elected to congress as a Democrat in the fall of 1958. He went on to serve nine terms. After leaving congress, Hechler was West Virginia’s secretary of state from 1985 to 2001. As an Army combat historian, he wrote “The Bridge at Remagen” (1957), a best seller that in 1969 was made into a Hollywood movie, starring George Segal, Robert Vaughn and Ben Gazzara. Kenneth William Hechler was born September 20, 1914, in Roslyn, New York. He graduated from Swarthmore College in 1935 and received a doctorate in political science from Columbia University in 1940.
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