College Football Week 21 – The final chapter
Gonna take a sentimental journey
“Gonna set my heart at ease
Gonna make a sentimental journey
To renew old memories”
The 2017 college football season began back on Labor Day weekend. One of the most thrilling games of that weekend took place in the Rose Bowl. UCLA receiver Jordan Lasley caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Rosen with 43 seconds left in the game, as UCLA rallied from a 34-point deficit in the final 17 minutes of the contest to knock off Texas A&M, 45-44. The downfall of Kevin Sumlin began.
The season came to an end last Monday night when, in overtime, backup Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to receiver Devonta Smith. The Crimson Tide had rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat Georgia, 26-23 (OT).
The 17 weeks in between, every one of them, were filled with excitement, never a dull moment – never lacking for a game-winning touchdown, an overtime or an unexpected hero. From one week to the next, we never knew what to expect. And we never knew whose rear end Rockledge Gator was going to stick those Auburn flags up.
“Never thought my heart could be so yearny
Why did I decide to roam?
Gonna take a sentimental journey
Sentimental journey home”
At preseason, the major polls told us that Alabama was the No. 1 team in the country. They had that right. But the polls messed up on the next three. They really messed up on No. 3. After Alabama, the preseason polls had Ohio State at No. 2, Florida State at No. 3 and USC at No. 4.
Clemson at No. 5 and Oklahoma at No. 6 weren’t too far off. But Georgia at No. 15 missed the bark….I mean….the mark. I don’t think anyone thought Georgia would finish the season in the Top 4, much less at No. 2. The highest ranking Georgia received in any of the preseason polls was No. 10 in The Sporting News poll.
And I’m sorry Alabama fans, but I have to bring it up. Where was UCF ranked at preseason? Would you believe No. 75? Believe it! That was the consensus of all the polls. The Knights’ highest ranking in any of the polls at preseason was No. 54 in Lindys. UCF, of course, finished the season as national champions. No, I’m just kidding, Alabama fans. The Knights finished at No. 6.
As the season began, Oregon State scored the first touchdown of the 2017 campaign. However, the Beavers went on to lose that game to Colorado State, 58-27. Before the season was over Oregon State coach Gary Andersen was fired.
There was a lot of emotion on opening weekend, but perhaps none greater than when USC backup long snapper Jake Olson, totally blind, executed a clean snap on an extra point kick as USC beat Western Michigan, 49-31.
Two of the three biggest stunners on opening weekend took place in Texas. Maryland surprised Texas, in Tom Herman’s debut with the Longhorns. The Terps downed the Horns, 51-41. Then, in Waco, Liberty, transitioning from FCS to FBS, shocked Baylor, 48-45. The other stunner took place in Nevada. Howard, an FCS school, ambushed UNLV, 43-40.
The biggest winner in Florida on the second weekend of the season was Hurricane Irma. There was no defense that could stop her. Five games, involving Florida teams, were canceled.
Elsewhere, there were some interesting encounters. In Columbus, Oklahoma beat Ohio State, 31-16. OU quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrated after the game by planting the Oklahoma flag on the Ohio State logo at midfield. Clemson held off Auburn, 14-6, in an offensive snoozer. And in South Bend, Indiana, a freshman quarterback, starting his first game, held up to the pressure, as Georgia beat Notre Dame, 20-19. That quarterback was Jake Fromm.
Weekend 3 brought more thrills. Gators fans, and Vols fans, will never forget the end of the Tennessee-Florida game – although Vols fans want to forget it. It looked a lot like a Hail Mary, but it wasn’t really a Hail Mary when Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks threw a game-winning, 63-yard touchdown pass to Tyrie Cleveland, as time expired. Florida beat Tennessee, 26-20.
The eventual downfall of two coaches – Jim Mora and Mike Riley – began on Weekend 3. Memphis upset UCLA, 48-45, while Northern Illinois shocked Nebraska, in Lincoln, 21-17. By the end of the season both Mora and Riley were fired. Meanwhile, Mississippi State stunned LSU, 37-17.
The next weekend, Penn State barely escaped defeat. The Nittany Lions scored a touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Trace McSorley to Juwan Johnson, as time expired, to beat Iowa, 21-19. And Nebraska fired athletic director Shawn Eichorst.
Weekend 5 found Bootsie, Rockledge Gator, Swamp Mama and Touchdown Tom in Gainesville for the Vanderbilt-Florida game. Out West, Washington State knocked off USC, 30-27. The Cougars kicked a 32-yard field goal in the closing seconds to win. Meanwhile, in Oxford, Mississippi, Ole Miss students voted overwhelming to change the school’s mascot from the Black Bear to a Landshark. Don’t ask me what the Landshark mascot looks like. I’m afraid to look.
The following week, found Swamp Mama and Touchdown Tom in Missouri for a little touring and a reunion. First, with friends Sue and Dave Brolhorst, they tasted bourbon, drank beer and sipped wine as the foursome toured Weston, Hamilton, Columbia, Hermann and Jefferson City.
Then Swamp Mama and TT headed south to Branson. Touchdown Tom got together with 11 other guys who he was stationed with in the Navy in Edzell, Scotland, in 1972-73. More good times and good beer drinking.
There was plenty of good football action in Week 6 too. It began Thursday night in Raleigh with Ryan Finley winning the battle of quarterbacks. Finley and NC State beat Lamar Jackson and Louisville, 39-25.
Into the weekend, Iowa State provided the biggest surprise of all. The Cyclones upset Oklahoma, 38-31. It was the Sooners first and only loss of the season until the Rose Bowl game.
On the 7th Weekend of college football, Florida rolled out some strange looking uniforms. Fans called them slime green, putrid green and butt ugly. Rockledge Gator said the Gators looked like Ninja Turtles. The uniforms didn’t help. The Gators lost to Texas A&M, 19-17, as Bootsie, Rockledge Gator, Swamp Mama and Touchdown Tom were in Gainesville for the game.
There were no less than seven big upsets that weekend. Among them, Syracuse, a 17-point underdog, shocked Clemson, 27-24. It was Clemson’s first and only loss of the season until the Sugar Bowl game. Then California, a 24-point underdog, stunned previously undefeated Washington State, 37-3.
And it wasn’t over. Arizona State knocked off previously undefeated Washington, 13-7. Auburn, a favorite to take care of business in Baton Rouge, was upended by LSU, 27-23. And a 2-4 Boston College came out of nowhere, surprising a 4-2 Louisville, 45-42.
Oregon State fired Gary Andersen, while Nebraska hired Bill Moos to be the Huskers athletic director.
There were no surprises in Week 8 – the favorites won, the underdogs lost. But there were eight overtime games. Among them, Texas took Oklahoma State to overtime before the Cowboys pulled it out, 13-10 (OT). Northwestern outlasted Iowa, 17-10 (OT). In the most exciting of the overtime games, Arizona edged California, 45-44, in two overtimes.
Week 9 saw Florida fire Jim McElwain. It came as no surprise. Penn State almost surprised Ohio State. Trailing the Nittany Lions by 18 points in the second quarter, Ohio State rallied to edge Penn State, 39-38. J.T. Barrett was the star of the game for the Buckeyes. The Ohio State quarterback was 33-for-39, passing for 328 yards and four touchdowns. And, oh yes, Barrett rushed for 95 yards.
Then Iowa State continued to play the spoiler. This time the Cyclones handed TCU its first loss of the season, 14-7. Florida State continued its season of misery. The Noles lost to Boston College, 35-3. FSU’s record fell to 2-5.
In the second quarter, Ole Miss led Arkansas, 31-7. At the end of the game, Ole Miss lost to Arkansas, 38-37. Meanwhile, Kentucky got a rare win over Tennessee.
Week 10, everyone had their eyes focused on the college football playoff rankings. Who was in? Who was out? Georgia, Wisconsin, Alabama and Miami were still undefeated. Notre Dame, Clemson, Oklahoma, TCU and Washington just had one loss. Ohio State, Penn State, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech were eliminated. Iowa crushed Ohio State, 55-24.
Clemson had a close call. The Tigers beat NC State, 38-31. Meanwhile, UCF was undefeated and starting to attract attention. Lane Kiffin was attracting attention too, as his Florida Atlantic Owls were on a 5-game winning streak.
They called Week 11 – “Showdown Saturday.” The Top 10 teams in the CFP rankings were playing crucial games. Auburn crushed Georgia, 40-17; Miami bounced Notre Dame, 41-8; Oklahoma turned back TCU, 41-20, and Stanford took Washington, 30-22.
Meanwhile, Alabama, Clemson and Wisconsin continued to win. And Tennessee finally fired Butch Jones. UCF remained undefeated and Florida Atlantic won its 6th-straight game.
Week 12 saw Swamp Mama get inducted into the University of Florida’s Grand Guard Society. Touchdown Tom and Swamp Mama were in Gainesville for the ceremonies and the UAB-Florida game.
Aside from that, Week 12 was “Cupcake Week.” The big teams were playing the likes of Mercer, The Citadel, Louisiana-Monroe, Wofford, Delaware State, Western Carolina, etc. They all tasted good.
In a few good games, Purdue stunned Iowa in Iowa City. The Boilermakers beat the Hawkeyes, 24-15. Kansas State surprised Oklahoma State. The Wildcats beat the Cowboys 45-40. Wake Forest downed NC State, 30-24. Out West, USC beat UCLA, 28-23.
UCF improved to 10-0 and Florida Atlantic won its 7th-straight. Meanwhile, Missouri was turning its season around, going from 1-5 to 6-5.
Week 13 was Thanksgiving Week. It was also a big upset week as both No. 1 and No. 2 lost. The week was also a busy one for Swamp Mama and Touchdown Tom as the two hosted 19 guests for Thanksgiving dinner. The Irish Mules were flowing.
No. 6 Auburn beat No. 1 and previously undefeated Alabama, 26-14. But in the biggest surprise of all, unranked Pitt beat No. 2 and previously undefeated Miami, 24-14.
In a thriller, UCF remained undefeated, beating South Florida, 49-42. Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic improved to 9-3.
In other games on Thanksgiving Week, Iowa embarrassed Nebraska, 56-14. Afterward, Mike Riley was fired. Ohio State beat Michigan, 31-20. Jim Harbaugh fell to 0-3 against the Buckeyes. Stanford downed Notre Dame, 38-20.
Wisconsin and UCF were the only undefeated FBS teams in the country.
UCLA hired Chip Kelly and Florida hired Dan Mullen, while Tennessee almost hired Greg Schiano. Meanwhile, Arizona State fired Todd Graham and Texas A&M fired Kevin Sumlin.
Week 14 was “Championship Week.” All 10 FBS conferences crowned their champions. Yes, the conference champions were crowned and the four playoff teams were announced.
Georgia got revenge. After losing to Auburn, 40-17, a few weeks earlier, the Dawgs beat Auburn, 28-7, for the SEC championship. In a thriller in the Big Ten championship game, Ohio State handed Wisconsin its first loss of the season. The Buckeyes beat the Badgers 27-21.
UCF finished its season undefeated at 12-0. The Knights beat Memphis, 62-55, to win the AAC title. After the game, UCF coach Scott Frost announced he was going to Nebraska. Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic Owls won Conference –USA, beating North Texas, 41-17. FAU (10-3) finished its season on a 9-game winning streak.
The next day, Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia and Alabama became the four playoff teams, based on their Top 4 finish in the final CFP poll.
Meanwhile, Tennessee struggled to find a coach. Everybody was turning down the Vols offer. Tennessee fans wanted athletic director John Currie fired. Tennessee chancellor Beverly Davenport responded – she fired Currie. Former Vols coach Phillip Fulmer was named athletic director.
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said, “Goodbye Tallahassee.” The FSU coach announced his decision to take the Texas A&M job. Mississippi State hired Joe Moorhead and Arizona State hired Herm Edwards.
Army beat Navy for the second-straight year in Week 15. The Cadets beat the Midshipmen, 14-13, as Navy missed a 48-yard field goal as time expired.
Baker Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy. Stanford running back Bryce Love came in second in the balloting.
Meantime, everyone was bracing for the start of 39 bowl games.
The coaching carousel pretty much came to an end in Week 16. Florida State hired Willie Taggart, Oregon elevated Mario Cristobal, Arkansas chose Chad Morris and SMU secured Sonny Dukes. And yes, Tennessee finally found a coach. Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt was named the Vols new coach.
Mike Riley is going back to Oregon State as the assistant head coach. Last but not least, UCF hired Josh Heupel to replace Scott Frost.
The first five bowl games were played. Key among them, Boise State beat Oregon, 38-28, in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Week 17 brought Christmas. It also brought Touchdown Tom his bourbon balls, brownies, baked pecans and Buche de Noel. He was a happy camper. In the first of the 16 bowl games during Week 17, Florida Atlantic finished the season 11-3, on an 10-game winning streak. Lane Kiffin’s Owls beat Akron, 50-3, in the Boca Raton Bowl.
In some of the other notable bowl games, South Florida beat Texas Tech, 38-34, in the Birmingham Bowl, while Army edged San Diego State, 42-35, in the Armed Forces Bowl. Kansas State downed UCLA, 35-17, in the Cactus Bowl, and Purdue slipped by Arizona, 38-35, in the Foster Farms Bowl.
And in the final game of Week 17, Texas beat Missouri, 33-16, in the Texas Bowl.
In Week 18, the last 18 of the 39 bowl games were played. Navy made up for its loss to Army. The Middies clobbered Virginia, 49-7, in the Military Bowl. But Navy kicker Bennett Moehring was still missing field goals at the end of the game.
TCU rallied from 18 points down to edge Stanford, 39-37, in the Alamo Bowl, while Wake Forest outlasted Texas A&M, 55-52, in the Belk Bowl.
Meanwhile, as the Rose Bowl was approaching, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield appeared to be suffering from “flu-like” conditions.
New Mexico State, making its first bowl appearance in 57 years, beat Utah State, 26-20 (OT) in the Arizona Bowl. In the first of the New Year’s Six bowls, Ohio State took care of USC, 24-7, in the Cotton Bowl. Penn State got by Washington, 35-28, in the Fiesta Bowl.
Miami coach Mark Richt lost his cool on the sideline during the Orange Bowl. Richt got into a heated verbal and physical exchange with the referees, as his Canes lost to Wisconsin, 34-24.
On New Year’s Day, South Carolina rallied from a 16-point deficit to upend Michigan, 26-19, in the Outback Bowl, and Notre Dame knocked off LSU, 21-17, in the Citrus Bowl.
In one of the most anticipated games, UCF surprised Auburn in the Peach Bowl. The Knights downed the Tigers, 34-27. UCF finished its season at 13-0, the only undefeated FBS team in the country. Following the game, UCF fans began making claims that the Knights were the national champions.
In the first of the two playoff games, Georgia downed Oklahoma in a super thriller in the Rose Bowl. The Dawgs won 54-48 in double overtime. In the other playoff game, Alabama beat Clemson in a rather boring Sugar Bowl. The Tide won 24-6.
The Big Ten had the best bowl record of all the conferences at 7-1. The Pac-12 finished with the worst record at 1-8.
Just when we thought the coaching carousel was over, we got a surprise in Week 19. Arizona fired Rich Rodriguez. Meanwhile, much to the chagrin of Alabama and Georgia fans and Paul Finebaum, UCF was still claiming the national championship.
And speaking of the national championship, the real one, Alabama bested Georgia, 26-23 (OT), to win the national title. Alabama backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa became the hero of the game for the Tide. Trailing Georgia 13-0 at halftime, Tagovailoa came off the bench at the start of the second half and rallied Alabama to its victory.
Yes, 2017 was quite a season. It was a season that Alabama was predicted, from day one, to win the national championship. However, as the season progressed, the Crimson Tide not only lost their No. 1 position, but they barely made it into the four-team playoff as the No. 4 seed. Then, lo and behold, Alabama won it all, as originally forecast. What a season!
“Oh, the wayward wind is a restless wind
A restless wind that yearns to wander”
Meanwhile, in the week following the national championship game, backup Georgia quarterback, and former starter, Jacob Eason announced he is transferring. Eason is expected to transfer to Washington. He is from the State of Washington. He’ll sit out next season.
Also, UCF backup quarterback Noah Vedral announced is following Scott Frost to Nebraska. Vedral, a native of Wahoo, Nebraska, will sit out the 2018 season.
Kevin Sumlin, the tandem team of Les Miles and Hugh Freeze and even Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo all got into the act for the Arizona job. In the end, Sumlin won out. Sunday, Arizona announced that Kevin Sumlin is the new coach of the Arizona Wildcats.
So Les Miles strikes out, yet again. Even Hugh Freeze couldn’t help his cause. Looks like Miles will be commentating again for Fox Sports in 2018. I assume Fox still wants him. Nobody else appears to want the Mad Hatter.
And finally, Drake Stoops, son of former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, will be a freshman walk-on at OU next season. Stoops, a 5-foot-11, 175 pound receiver had scholarship offers from Ohio, Arkansas State, Memphis and Western Kentucky. He chose to walk-on at Oklahoma instead.
So, how did the new coaches perform in 2017? Which ones were the best hires? Which ones were the worst? Of the 23 head coaches who made their debuts at new schools in 2017, 13 coached their teams to bowl games – one to the college football playoffs. Of the 13, seven won their bowl games.
Without a doubt, the best of the new coaches was Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. Riley coached the Sooners to a 12-2 record, a Big 12 championship and a spot in the college football playoffs.
Five other new hires had good to outstanding seasons. Three of those coaches were in Florida. Charlie Strong led South Florida to a 10-2 record, while Lane Kiffin coached Florida Atlantic to an 11-3 record. Both won their bowl games. In Miami, Butch Davis led Florida International to an 8-5 season.
The other two new coaches who had strong starts were Jeff Tedford and Ed Orgeron. Tedford coached Fresno State to a 10-4 season and a bowl victory. Orgeron led LSU to a 9-4 record.
Meanwhile, five coaches didn’t look so good in their first seasons. The worst of the bunch was Matt Rhule at Baylor. The Bears finished at 1-11. Not far behind Rhule, was Brent Brennan at San Jose State. Brennan’s Spartans ended the season at 2-11.
Two new coaches had 3-9 seasons. They were Nevada’s Jay Norvell and Connecticut’s Randy Edsall. On the tails of Norvell and Edsall was Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell. The Bearcats were 4-8 in 2017.
The other 12 new coaches finished with records at or near .500.
“Done laid around, done stayed around
This old game too long
Autumn’s long gone and winter’s been coming on
Done laid around, done stayed around
This old game too long
And it seems like I’ve gotta travel on
And it seems like I’ve gotta travel on”
What can we expect for the 2018 season? Well, the “Way-Too-Early” Top 25 polls for next season are out, way too early. As you would expect, Alabama is the No. 1 team. ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2018 looks like this: (1) Alabama, (2) Clemson, (3) Ohio state, (4) Oklahoma, (5) Georgia, (6) Wisconsin, (7) Miami (Florida), (8) Washington.
Also, (9) Michigan State, (10) West Virginia, (11) Penn State, (12) Auburn, (13) Michigan, (14) Virginia Tech, (15) USC, (16) TCU, (17) Boise State, (18) Stanford, (19) Mississippi State, (20) Notre Dame, (21) UCF, (22) Florida State, (23) LSU, (24) Texas, and (25) South Carolina.
Opening weekend next season (August 30-September 3) has some really good and interesting encounters. Here’s a sampling: Defending national champion Alabama vs. Louisville in Orlando. The Cardinals will be playing without Lamar Jackson for first time in three seasons. And will Jalen Hurts or Tua Tagovailoa start for the Tide? Will Jalen Hurts still be on the team?
In Jim Harbaugh’s fourth season, his Michigan Wolverines go up against Notre Dame in South Bend. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham leads Auburn against always loaded Washington in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Never underestimate a Chris Petersen-coached team.
In an Ed Orgeron vs. Mark Richt affair, LSU meets Miami (Florida) in Arlington, Texas. Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic Owls take on Oklahoma in Norman. Virginia Tech meets Willie Taggart’s Florida State Seminoles – Labor Day Night – in Tallahassee. It will be Taggart’s debut game, coaching FSU.
First-year coach Jeremy Pruitt puts his Vols up against Will Grier and David Sills. It will be Tennessee vs. West Virginia in Charlotte, North Carolina. Chip Kelly makes his debut at UCLA, as the Bruins host Cincinnati.
And finally, always tough FCS power house James Madison tangles with NC State in Raleigh. That’s a pretty good opening weekend. But we have to wait seven months. Stay tuned!
“Hello darkness my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again”
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sounds of silence”
Touchdown Tom
January 15, 2018
Quotes of the Week
“It was a decision I don’t know I would have been courageous enough to make. That’s the answer you want to hear. The other answer is that he was pretty obviously better and they had 12 games to figure that out and didn’t. Coach Saban is above criticism with everything’s he’s accomplished, so I don’t mean it that way, but I recruited Tua out of high school and knew what he could do and it doesn’t surprise me that he did what he did. Jalen’s a great player, too. That was a very bold and courageous move and I’m surprised it didn’t happen earlier in the season,” new Nebraska coach Scott Frost, on Nick Saban replacing Jalen Hurts with Tua Tagovailoa in the championship game.
“We felt all along this year that we were the only team that could beat Alabama, and of course it ended up being that way. We got a lot of guys coming back, and I know they’re very hungry. Any time you’ve been close and you have a lot of guys coming back, it really helps you. I know we’re going to be a hungry team. Now, you got to earn it in our league. The SEC West is a monster. Every week you got to bring your lunch, but I really like where we’re at,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn.
“Ooh wee. Now he’s going to have to play Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State. It’s going to be a tough road to plow. You know what my feeling is? He is capable. In three or four years he might be among them,” former Florida state coach Bobby Bowden, on Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M.
“I got to play against Bill Belichick and so many of the best defensive minds, and there is not a brighter defensive mind in the game than Nick Saban,” Tim Tebow.
“When you talk about defense, Nick Saban is up there with the best in the world and is maybe the best of all time as far as defensive minds. Yes, it’s recruiting, but it’s also scheme. What he has done on the defensive side of the football has changed college football,” Tim Tebow.
And finally, notables from the football nation who left us during this past football season included Dick MacPherson, 86, Syracuse and New England Patriots coach; Frank Broyles, 92, Arkansas coach and athletic director; Red Miller, 89, Denver Broncos coach and Joe Tiller, 74, Purdue football coach.
Also, Y.A. Tittle, 90, LSU and NFL quarterback; Ron Meyer, 76, former college and NFL football coach; Tubby Raymond, 92, Delaware football coach; Tommy Nobis, 74, Texas and Atlanta Falcons football player; Larry Libertore, 78, Florida quarterback, and Carmen Cozza, 87, Yale football coach.
He waited until the end of the season. Sadly, legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson, the voice of college football, died Friday. He was 89. Jackson, who retired in 2006, spent 50 years calling the action in college football games. He was one of the most popular play-by-play personalities in the business. His famous, colorful expressions were “Whoa, Nellie” and “Big Uglies.” He is credited with nicknaming the Rose Bowl “The Granddaddy of Them All” and Michigan’s stadium “The Big House.” His last game was the Rose Bowl on January 4, 2006, when Texas beat USC, 41-38, for the BCS national championship. Keith Jackson was born on October 18, 1928, in Roopville, Georgia, near the Alabama state line. After high school, he spent four years in the Marine Corps, before enrolling in Washington State University. He graduated from WSU with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.
“That silly wind will soon begin and I’ll be on my way
Going home to stay, going home to stay
That silly wind will soon begin and I’ll be on my way
And I feel like I just want to travel on”
Touchdown Tom
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but in mid-January as college football fans were putting the lid on another great season and shift their full attention to college basketball, the number one song in the country…
…75 years ago this week in 1943 was “There Are Such Things” by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
…70 years ago this week in 1948 was “Ballerina” by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra
…65 years ago this week in 1953 was “Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes” by Perry Como
…60 years ago this week in 1958 was “At The Hop” by Danny & The Juniors
…55 years ago this week in 1963 was “Go Away Little Girl” by Steve Lawrence
…50 years ago this week in 1968 was “Judy In Disguise (With Glasses) by John Fred and His Playboy Band
…45 years ago this week in 1973 was “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon
…40 years ago this week in 1978 was “Baby Come Back” by Player
…35 years ago this week in 1983 was “Down Under” by Men At Work
…30 years ago this week in 1988 was “Got My Mind Set On You” by George Harrison
…25 years ago this week in 1993 was “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
Not exactly college football related, but notables from other sports who left us during this past football season included Don Baylor, 68, MLB player and manager; Bryan Murray, 74, NHL coach and general manager; Tommy Hawkins, 80, Notre Dame and NBA basketball player; Jud Heathcote, 90, Michigan State basketball coach, and Rollie Massimino, 82, Villanova basketball coach.
Also, Jim McDaniels, 69, Western Kentucky basketball player; Gene Michael, 79, New York Yankees player, manager and general manger; Connie Hawkins, 75, basketball player; Jim Landis, 83, MLB player; Ray Halladay, 40, MLB pitcher; Bobby Doerr, 99, Boston Red Sox second baseman; Pancho Segura, 96, tennis player; Jana Novotna, 49, tennis player; Frank Larry, 87, Detroit Tigers pitcher; Dick Enberg, 82, sportscaster, and Johnny Bower, 93, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie.
Not exactly college football related, but notables from the entertainment world who passed away during the 2017 football season included Barbara Cook, 89, Broadway actress and singer; Glen Campbell, 81, singer; Joseph Bologna, 82, actor; Jerry Lewis, 91, comedian; Jay Thomas, 69, actor; Richard Anderson, 91, actor; Shelley Berman, 92, comedian, and Walter Becker, 67, co-founder of Steely Dan.
Also, Don Williams, 78, country music singer; Troy Gentry, 50, country music singer; Harry Dean Stanton, 91, actor; Hugh Hefner, 91, Playboy magazine publisher; Anne Jeffreys, 94, actress; Monty Hall, 96, TV game show host; Tom Petty, 66, singer, songwriter and guitarist; Robert Guillaume, 89, actor; Fats Domino, 89, singer; John Hillerman, 84, actor; Paul Buckmaster, 71, music arranger, and Mel Tillis, 85, country music singer and songwriter.
Also, Della Reese, 86, singer and actress; Ann Wedgeworth, 83, actress; David Cassidy, 67, actor and singer; Jim Nabors, 87, actor (Gomer Pyle) and singer; Mitch Margo, 70, member of the Tokens; Keely Smith, 89, singer; Rose Marie, 94, actress, singer and comedian; Rick Hall, 85, Muscle Shoals music producer; Jerry Van Dyke, 86, actor and comedian, and Ray Thomas, 76, founding member of the Moody Blues.
Not exactly college football related, but well-known folks from other walks of life who passed away during the 2017 football season included Dick Gregory, 84, comedian turned protestor, and Pete Domenici, 85, former U.S. Senator from New Mexico.
Also, Paul Weitz, 85, astronaut; Dennis Banks, 80, Native American protester; Richard Gordon, 88, astronaut; Bruce McCandless, 80, astronaut; Sue Grafton, 77, author, and John Young, 87, astronaut.
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