College Football Week 5 – Urban Meyer to FSU, Tennessee or USC

Week Four never disappoints,

How ’bout, 67-63 and 23-17

I don’t know what it is about Week Four. Every year the fourth week in college football is generally filled with more thrills, chills, excitement, shocks and wows than any other week during the season. If nothing else, it certainly is the first week of every season that makes us sit up and say, “Really! That happened?”

Well, Week Four didn’t disappoint again this year. “Really. That happened!”

How ’bout UCLA trailing Washington State, 49-17, late in the third quarter, then rallying in the fourth quarter to overcome a 32-point deficit and come back to beat the Cougars, 67-63.

In the late show, UCLA and Washington State gave us everything you would want to see in a football game. Everything that is except defense. There were 18 touchdowns – nine by each team. UCLA scored seven of its touchdowns in the second half alone. There were 1,377 total yards of offense. There was a total of 1,077 passing yards. That’s enough touchdowns and passing yards to make you dizzy.

UCLA came into the game winless, with losses to the likes of Cincinnati and San Diego State. The Bruins were only averaging 14 points a game. Washington State on the other hand was undefeated. Not anymore.

Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon passed for 570 yards. All nine of the Cougars’ touchdowns came on Gordon passes. UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson passed for 507 yards. He threw five touchdown passes.

How did UCLA do it? Well, six, yes six, Washington State turnovers were a big help to the Bruins.

How ’bout Notre Dame and Georgia keeping you on the edge of your seat from the opening kickoff to the final seconds of the game. That’s what the Irish and the Dawgs did. The game of the week lived up to its hype.

Notre Dame-Georgia was the complete opposite of UCLA-Washington State. There were only four touchdowns – two by each team. The game was tied twice. Notre Dame took the lead twice. Georgia never led in the first half. The Dawgs first took the lead with 4:21 to go in the third quarter. Georgia went up 13-10. The Dawgs never relinquished the lead for the rest of the game and went on to win, 23-17.

Then there was a third-string quarterback, entering a game early in the first quarter and leading his team to an upset of a previously undefeated team. The third-string quarterback was a guy by the name of Matt Fink. Fink plays for USC. He led the Trojans, passing so easily against Utah’s vaulted defense, to a 30-23 win over the Utes. Fink passed for 351 yards and three touchdowns.

Then there was Tulane, pulling off not one, but two unexpected feats in its 38-31 win over Houston. First, the Green Wave rallied from a 21-point deficit, scoring 24 unanswered points to take to take a 31-28 lead over Houston. Second, with the game tied at 31-31, and only 18 seconds on the clock, and the ball on their own 29-yard line, Tulane scored a touchdown in just two plays to win the game.

Early in the second quarter, Houston led, 28-7. But then Tulane went on a rampage, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal. With 6:10 to go in the game, the Green Wave kicked a 44-yard field goal and took a three-point lead over Houston – 31-28. The Cougars came back and tied the score at 31-31 on a 24-yard field goal with 21 seconds left in the game.

After the ensuing kickoff, the fireworks began. It only took Tulane two plays to score the winning touchdown. On the first play, from their own 29 yard line, the Green Wave fooled the Houston defense on a fake kneel-down. After the snap, Tulane quarterback Justin McMillan appeared to be taking a knee. But, before the knee touched the ground, he handed off to running back Amare Jones who scampered around the end for an 18-yard gain before running out of bounds. Tulane had the ball on its own 47. On the next play, McMillan connected with Jalen McCleskey on a 53-yard catch and run. Touchdown Tulane, with 3 seconds on the clock. Tulane beat Houston, 38-31.

How ’bout Ole Miss losing to California, 28-20, and the Rebels had the ball just six inches from Cal’s goal line as time expired. With time running out and no timeouts left, Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee completed a 41-yard pass to Demarcus Gregory to put the ball on the Cal 10-yard line. On the next play, Plumlee’s pass to Elijah Moore moved the ball to six inches from the goal line with nine seconds left in the game. On the last play, as time expired, Plumlee was stopped short of the goal on a quarterback keeper. Cal moves to 4-0 on the season.

How ’bout Wisconsin walloping the daylights out of Michigan, 35-14. Wolverines’ coach Jim Harbaugh stood stunned on the sidelines. Harbaugh had a look on his face that said, “What in the hell is going on?”

Then there was SMU surprising TCU, 41-38. It was SMU’s first win over TCU since 2011. And San Jose State, yes San Jose State, beating Arkansas, 31-24. And who would have thought that Nebraska would have been trailing Illinois from 48 seconds into the game until the fourth quarter. The Huskers rallied to tie the score, then lose the lead again, then win the game, 42-38.

How ’bout UCF losing to Pitt, 35-34. It was the Knights first regular season loss in 27 games. Auburn held off Texas A&M, 28-20, in a thriller. Appalachian State upset North Carolina, 34-31. And Texas outscored Oklahoma State, 36-30.

With all the excitement of Week Four, there was only one overtime game. Texas State beat Georgia State 37-34 (3OT).

Among the quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa had another good week. In three quarters of play, the Alabama quarterback was 17-for-21, passing for 293 yards and five touchdowns as Bama beat Southern Miss, 49-7. LSU’s Joe Burrow was 25-for-34, passing for 398 yards and six touchdowns in the Tigers win over Vandy. Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts had the week off.

In four games, Tagovailoa has passed for 1,300 yards this season. Burrow has passed for 1,530 yards in four games. Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon leads the country with 1,894 yards in four games.

Speaking of quarterbacks, I don’t understand why Florida coach Dan Mullen replaced Kyle Trask with Emery Jones for the Gators second series against Tennessee. In the opening drive, Trask led Florida down the field in near perfection to a game opening touchdown. With Jones replacing Trask on the next series, the Gators lost their rhythm. They got out of sync. It made no sense to me. What was Mullen thinking. Putting Jones in later in the game when the Gators had a comfortable lead was logical. But not on the second series. Florida beat Tennessee, 34-3.

So in my book, after Week Four, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma remain the five superpowers. However, three of my four potential superpowers have gone by the wayside – Notre Dame, UCF and Utah are no more. LSU remains on my potential superpower list and I’ve added Auburn and Wisconsin to the list. But I am suspect of LSU’s defense. The Tigers gave up five touchdowns to Vanderbilt in their 66-38 win over the Commodores.

Of those eight teams, only Auburn appears to have a tough game this week. The Tigers host Mississippi State. Auburn could have a letdown after the big win over Texas A&M. In what should be fairly routine games, Alabama hosts Ole Miss, Oklahoma entertains Texas Tech and Wisconsin hosts Northwestern. Clemson is on the road at North Carolina, while Ohio State plays at Nebraska. Georgia and LSU have the week off.

And for the final wow factor of Week Four – speculation has Urban Meyer coaching either Florida State, Tennessee or USC come January. Stay tuned!

Yeah, I have to say, Week Four lived up to its reputation.

Touchdown Tom
September 23, 2019   

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

Weekend Recap 

GAME OF THE WEEK:  Kelly’s no hero – Georgia 23, Notre Dame 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Georgia 26, Notre Dame 18). Georgia had a running game and Notre Dame didn’t. That was the big difference in the game. It allowed Georgia to control the clock for about 35 minutes. The game was a classic defensive battle. Notre Dame played its best defense in the first half, holding the Dawgs to only seven points. Georgia played its best defense in the second half, holding the Irish to only seven points. Georgia’s Jake Fromm was 20-for-26 passing and D’Andre Swift had 98 yards rushing. Notre Dame’s leading rusher had 21 yards. Attendance in Athens: 93,246

RUNNER UP:  Jimbo’s in limbo – Auburn 28, Texas A&M 20 (Touchdown Tom said: Auburn 23 Texas A&M 19). Up 28-10 midway through the fourth quarter, Auburn held off an A&M rally. Like Notre Dame in the Georgia game, Texas A&M had no running game against the Tigers. The Aggies only had 56 yards rushing. Their leading rusher only had 26 yards. A&M’s Kellen Mond did put on quite a passing show – 355 yards. Auburn beat Texas A&M for the third-straight year. Attendance in College Station: 101,681

REST OF THE BEST:  Harbaugh can’t cut the cheese – Wisconsin 35, Michigan 14 (Touchdown Tom said: Wisconsin 26, Michigan 20). This one was over before it began. Wisconsin led the Wolverines 35-0 with 5:13 to go in the third quarter. Like Notre Dame and Texas A&M, Michigan had no running game – 40 yards rushing. The Wolverines’ leading rusher only had 21 yards. Wisconsin controlled the ball for 41 minutes. Four turnovers didn’t help the Wolverines any. The Badgers’ Jonathan Taylor rushed for 203 yards. Attendance in Madison: 80,245

Fight on – USC 30, Utah 23 (Touchdown Tom said: Utah 28, USC 23). USC took a 7-0 lead with 12:57 on the clock in the first quarter. The Trojans never trailed for the rest of the game, although it was tied once. USC lost quarterback Kedon Slovis early in the fourth quarter. Third string quarterback Matt Fink took over for the Trojans. Fink passed for 351 yards and three touchdowns. Utah dominated the statistics, but the Utes couldn’t dominate the score. Utah controlled the ball for 38 minutes and USC only had 28 yards rushing. Attendance in Los Angeles: 55,719

The Cowboys can’t lasso the Cows – Texas 36, Oklahoma State 30 (Touchdown Tom said: Texas 33, Oklahoma State 25). A tight game throughout. Texas led at the half, 21-20. Okie State led midway through the third quarter, 23-21. Texas pretty much put the game away when the Horns went up 36-23 with 11:33 left in the game. But Okie State came back with one more score. The two teams were as about as evenly matched in the stats as you can get. Basically no difference. Both passed well and both rushed well. Attendance in Austin: 96,936

The Mustangs take the Frogs for a ride – SMU 41, TCU 38 (Touchdown Tom said: TCU 30, SMU 16). SMU jumped out to an 18-7 first quarter lead over TCU and the Mustangs never looked back. Texas transfer quarterback Shane Buechele had a great game for SMU, passing for 288 yards. Attendance in Fort Worth: 41,250

Wild Horses – Boise State 30, Air Force 19 (Touchdown Tom said: Boise State 25, Air Force 19). This was a tight contest going into the fourth quarter. Boise State led 17-13. Then the Broncos scored two unanswered touchdowns and it was all over but the shouting. Boise State led 30-13. The Broncos won the game with only 93 yards rushing and with Air Force controlling the clock. The Falcons had 242 yards of rushing. Attendance in Boise: 36,498

Tar Heels couldn’t download the App – Appalachian State 34, North Carolina 31 (Touchdown Tom said: North Carolina 24, Appalachian State 23). North Carolina dominated the stats but App State dominated the score. The Little Mountaineers took advantage of three North Carolina turnovers. Attendance in Chapel Hill: 50,500

Give that dog a biscuit – Washington 45, BYU 19 (Touchdown Tom said: Washington 26, BYU 18). Hard to believe this was the same BYU team that beat USC last week. The Cougars had no running game – only 79 yards rushing. Washington quarterback Jacob Eason was solid passing – 24-for-28 and 290 yards. That’s an 86% completion rate. BYU is now 1-for-3 against Pac-12 teams this season. Attendance in Provo: 62,117

Bully skins the Cat – Mississippi State 28, Kentucky 13 (Touchdown Tom said: Kentucky 25, Mississippi State 22). Kentucky couldn’t overtake a 21-3 Miss State halftime lead. Kentucky quarterback Sawyer Smith only completed 36% of his passes. Two Miss State players rushed for more than 100 yards – quarterback Garrett Shrader ran for 125 yards and running back Kylin Hill had 120 yards. Attendance in Starkville: 54,556



.…AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Taking care of business – West Virginia 29, Kansas 24 (Touchdown Tom said: West Virginia 27, Kansas 23). West Virginia took a 7-0 first quarter lead and never trailed for the rest of the game – although the score was briefly tied 7-7 in the second quarter. The Mounties controlled the clock for almost 38 minutes. Other than ball control, the teams were fairly evenly matched in the stats. Attendance in Lawrence: 35,816

YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS:

Albert smokes Smokey – Florida 34, Tennessee 3 (Touchdown Tom said: Florida 27, Tennessee 14). The Gators totally shutdown Tennessee. The Vols only had 12 first downs and only 88 yards rushing. The game was a bit sloppy at times. There were seven turnovers between the teams. Florida’s Kyle Trask, starting his first game, was 20-for-28 passing for 293 yards. Florida has won 14 of its last 15 games against Tennessee and 27 of the last 34 games. Attendance in Gainesville: 82,776

Seeing Buckeyes on the horizon – Nebraska 42, Illinois 38 (Touchdown Tom said: Nebraska 34, Illinois 9). Now tell me Nebraska was looking ahead to Ohio State. Illinois held a two-touchdown lead over the Huskers throughout much of the game. Of course four fumbles didn’t help Nebraska any. The Banned Indians were pathetic passing – only 78 yards. Huskers’ quarterback Adrian Martinez passed for 327 yards and rushed for 118 yards. As a team, Nebraska had 671 total yards. Illinois’ Reggie Corbin rushed for 134 yards. Attendance in Champaign: 44,512



Week 4 Results:    9 winners, 4 fumbles (69.2 percent)
For the Season:   44 winners, 15 fumbles (74.6 percent)



ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA:

Louisiana Tech 43, FIU 31 – Attendance in Ruston: 18,782
Dartmouth 35, Jacksonville U. 6 – Attendance in Jacksonville: 2,077
Florida State 35, Louisville 24 – Attendance in Tallahassee: 46,530
Pitt 35, UCF 34 – Attendance in Pittsburgh: 42,056 

Miami 17, Central Michigan 12 – Attendance in Miami Gardens: 49,997
Florida Atlantic 42, Wagner 7 – Attendance in Boca Raton: 14,210
Stetson 59, Western New England 28 – Attendance in Deland: 1,330 

Bethune-Cookman 22, Mississippi Valley State 6 – Attendance in Itta Bena: 6,487
Florida A&M 27, Southern U. 21 – Attendance in Tallahassee: 27,191
Delta State 30, Florida Tech 28 – Attendance in Cleveland: 6,665
West Florida 69, Virginia-Lynchburg 0 – Attendance in Pensacola: 4,831



Superlatives 

Impressive Passers: 

Washington State’s Anthony Gordon – 41-61-2 for 570 yards (9TDs); UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 25-38-1-507 (5TDs); Iowa State’s Brock Purdy – 21-27-1-435 (3TDs); Colorado State’s Patrick O’Brien – 32-52-1-405 (1TD); San Jose State’s Josh Love – 32-49-1-402 (2TDs); LSU’s Joe Burrow – 25-34-0-398 (6TDs), and FIU’s James Morgan – 29-41-1-394 (2TDs). 

Also, Florida Atlantic’s Chris Robinson – 25-36-0 for 379 yards (5TDs); California’s Chase Garbers – 23-35-1-357 (4TDs); New Mexico’s Tevaka Salanoa-Tuioti – 16-28-1-355 (3TDs); USC’s Matt Fink – 21-30-1-351 (3TDs); Wake Forest’s Jamie Newman – 27-35-1-351 (5TDs); Arizona State’s Jayden Daniels – 24-39-1-345 (2TDs), and UCF’s Dillon Gabriel – 25-42-2-338 (2TDs). 

Also, Colorado’s Stephen Montez – 23-30-0 for 337 yards (3TDs); Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond – 31-49-0-335 (2TDs); New Mexico State’s Josh Adkins – 30-47-1-335 (3TDs); Ball State’s Drew Plitt – 35-57-1-333; Nebraska’s Adrian Martinez – 22-34-0-327 (3TDs); Western Michigan’s Jon Wassink – 20-34-0-327 (2TDs); North Carolina’s Sam Howell – 27-41-2-323 (3TDs); Arkansas State’s Logan Bonner – 17-31-0-320 (4TDs), and Liberty’s Stephen Calvert – 10-16-0-319 (2TDs).

Impressive Rushers:

Colorado State’s Marvin Kinsey – 246 yards (2TDs); Toledo’s Bryant Koback – 228 yards (3TDs); Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor – 203 yards (2TDs); TCU’s Darius Anderson – 161 yards (2TDs), and Boston College’s A.J. Dillon – 150 yards (2TDs). 

Quotes of the Week 

“If there was one thing professionally that I would do over again, it would have been not to leave LSU. It was a huge mistake to leave college football,” Alabama coach Nick Saban, reflecting on his departure from LSU for the Miami Dolphins 

Signs of the Week 

Brian Kelly Texts With His Index Finger 



Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for
This Week’s 10 Biggest and Most Intriguing Games…and then some 

GAME OF THE WEEK:  1. Virginia (4-0) at Notre Dame (2-1) – (ACC vs. Ind.) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, NBC – Notre Dame could have a letdown after its tough loss to Georgia. But the Irish know they cannot afford anymore losses. Virginia was obviously looking ahead to Notre Dame in its near miss to Old Dominion. We really don’t know how good the Cavaliers are. Are they for real? We’ll find out this week. It won’t be an Irish wake – Notre Dame 30, Virginia 24.

RUNNER UP:  2. Mississippi State (3-1) at Auburn (4-0) – (SEC vs. SEC) – 7 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Speaking of letdowns, that’s exactly what Auburn could have this week, following the big win over Texas A&M. Miss State won’t be a pushover. The Bulldogs should be fired up after their win over Kentucky. They are but the fire goes out – Auburn 30, Mississippi State 20. 

REST OF THE BEST:  3. Arizona State (3-1) at California (4-0) – (Pac-12 vs. Pac-12) – 10:30 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – Cal is the surprise team of the year. The question is: Can the Bears keep it up. This was going to be the game of the week until the Sun Devils lost to Colorado. Looks like the Devils are going to lose again – California 30, Arizona State 27. 

4. Ohio State (4-0) at Nebraska (3-1) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – Nebraska is very suspect on defense – very. And Ohio State loves to prey on weak defenses. When things are clicking, the Huskers offense can score. They could give the Buckeyes a test. But the defense is the Huskers weak link in the chain – Ohio State 38, Nebraska 24. 

5. Wake Forest (4-0) at Boston College (3-1) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ACCN – Wake Forest has been playing well. Except for that hiccup against Kansas, BC has been playing well. Both teams should put some points on the board in this game – maybe a lot of points. The Deacs put up the most – Wake Forest 30, Boston College 26. 

6. Kansas State (3-0) at Oklahoma State (3-1) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 7 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN+ – Kansas State is undefeated, but no one is really sure about the Wildcats. Their new coach – Chris Klieman – is definitely a good one. Okie State needs to rebound after the tough loss to Texas. The Cowboys do – Oklahoma State 31, Kansas State 27. 

7. USC (3-1) at Washington (3-1) – (Pac-12 vs. Pac-12) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, FOX – Washington can’t afford another loss. The Huskies already have a conference loss. USC’s loss is not a conference loss. So the Huskies have more to lose than the Trojans. That’s why they don’t lose this one – Washington 30, USC 23. 

8. Washington State (3-1) at Utah (3-1) – (Pac-12 vs. Pac-12) – 10 pm ET, Saturday, FS1 – I don’t think Washington State is going to be scoring 63 points this week. Both teams should be mad after last week’s losses. The Utes are madder – Utah 34, Washington State 32. 

9. Indiana (3-1) at Michigan State (3-1) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, BTN – On paper, this should be a breather for Michigan State. But Indiana is known to give the Spartans problems. The Hoosiers age getting better. But not better enough – Michigan State 30, Indiana 28. 

10. Texas Tech (2-1) at Oklahoma (3-0) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, FOX – Both teams had the week off. So both should come in raring to go. It’s the start of conference play for both teams. OU moves to 1-0 in the Big 12 – Oklahoma 35, Texas Tech 15. 



.…AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

11. Penn State (3-0) at Maryland (2-1) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 8 pm ET, Friday, FS1 – Neither team has established itself. Penn State is 3-0 but an uncertain 3-0. Maryland looked really good against Syracuse, then the Terps fell apart against Temple, who lost to Buffalo, who lost to Penn State. But I know, you can’t compare scores. However, compared to the Terps, the Nitts are better – Penn State 26, Maryland 18. 

YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS: 

Towson (3-1) at Florida (4-0) – (Colonial vs. SEC) – 4 pm ET, Saturday, SECN – This will be like the UT-Martin game. In fact Swamp Mama said to me, “Where is Towson?” It’s like, “Where is Martin?” I don’t think Martin or Towson know where they are. But Towson gets a big pay check. Actually, Towson is big in lacrosse. But this is football – Florida 40, Towson 15. 

Duke (2-1) at Virginia Tech (2-1) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 7 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – Two teams whose seasons could go either way. This game may determine which way. Actually, we have a road race coming up in Indialantic called the “Witch Way.” But I don’t think the Dookies know the way – Virginia Tech 27, Duke 25. 

Minnesota (3-0) at Purdue (1-2) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN2 – Minnesota often gets off to 3-0, etc. starts and then the Gophers seem to fall apart. Purdue has already fallen apart. I don’t think the Gophers are ready to fall apart yet – Minnesota 33, Purdue 27. 

Georgia (4-0), Texas (3-1) and West Virginia (3-1) are off this week. 

ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA:

North Carolina Wesleyan (1-1) at Stetson (2-1) – (South Athletic vs. Pioneer) – 1 pm ET, Saturday….
Ave Maria (2-1) at Jacksonville U. (1-2) – (Sun vs. Pioneer) – 1 pm ET, Saturday….
Bethune-Cookman (2-1) at Howard (1-3) – (MEAC vs. MEAC) – 1 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN3…. 

SMU (4-0) at South Florida (1-2) – (AAC vs. AAC) – 4 pm ET, Saturday, ESPNU….
Florida Atlantic (2-2) at Charlotte (2-2) – (C-USA vs. C-USA) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, NFLN….
Florida A&M (2-1) at Norfolk State (1-3) – (MEAC vs. MEAC) – 4 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN3…. 

Connecticut (1-2) at UCF (3-1) – (AAC vs. AAC) – 7 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN2….
West Georgia (2-1) at Florida Tech (2-1) – (Gulf South vs. Gulf South) – 7 pm ET, Saturday….
Mississippi College (2-1) at West Florida (2-1) – (Gulf South vs. Gulf South) – 7 pm ET, Saturday….
NC State (2-1) at Florida State (2-2) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ACCN …. 

FIU (1-3) and Miami (2-2) are off this week. 

Touchdown Tom
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com



P.S.

Not exactly college football related, but near the end of September as the college football season was about to move into its second month, the number one song in the country…

…75 years ago this week in 1944 was “Swinging On A Star” by Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra

…70 years ago this week in 1949 was “You’re Breaking My Heart” by Vic Damone

…65 years ago this week in 1954 was “Hey There” by Rosemary Clooney

…60 years ago this week in 1959 was “Sleep Walk” by Santo & Johnny

…55 years ago this week in 1964 was “Oh, Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison

…50 years ago this week in 1969 was “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies

…45 years ago this week in 1974 was “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe” by Barry White and “Rock Me Gently” by Andy Kim

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

…35 years ago this week in 1984 was “Missing You” by John Waite

…30 years ago this week in 1989 was “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” by Milli Vanilli

…25 years ago this week in 1994 was “I’ll Make Love To You” by Boyz II Men



Not exactly college football related, but there were six passings of note last week – John Ralston, Ric Ocasek, Phyllis Newman, Cokie Roberts, Sander Vanocur and Howard “Hopalong” Cassady.

John Ralston, the former Stanford and Denver Broncos coach, died last week in Sunnyvale, California. He was 92. Ralston was the head coach at Utah State from 1959 to 1962. He became Stanford’s coach in 1963 and the Denver Broncos’ coach in 1972. After leaving Denver in 1976 with a 34-33-3 record in five seasons, he coached the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League. He ended his coaching career at San Jose State, where he coached the Spartans from 1993 to 1996. Ralston’s Stanford teams won consecutive Pac-8 championships and the Rose Bowl following the 1970 and 1971 seasons. He coached Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett at Stanford and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive Rose Bowl under coach Pappy Waldorf. Ralston served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific during World War II.

Ric Ocasek, the Cars founder, songwriter and front man, whose deadpan vocal delivery and lanky, sun-glassed look defined a rock era with chart-topping hits such as “Just What I Needed,” died last week in Manhattan, New York. He was 75. The Cars were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year. Ocasek, along with Benjamin Orr, formed the Cars in Boston in 1976. The Cars became one of the most essential American bands of the late 1970s and 1980s with their fusion of 1960s pop and 1970s glam. Ocasek’s long, lanky appearance formed the band’s lasting image. The Cars first three hits were “Good Times Roll,” “My Best Friend’s Girl” and “Just What I Needed.” The band had 10 other hit singles on Billboard’s Top 40 chart. Four of their six albums made Billboard’s Top 10 album chart. The Cars commercial peak came in 1984 with the hit singles “You Might Think” and “Magic” sung by Ocasek and “Drive” sung by Orr. The band broke up in 1988, but its influence was deeply felt into the 1990s. Ocasek grew up in Baltimore His family moved to Cleveland when he was a teenager. After graduating from high school, Ocasek attended Antioch College and Bowling Green State University in the mid-1960s. He met Orr in 1965. They relocated to Boston in the early 1970s. Ocasek was married for 28 years to model Paulina Porizkova. They had recently separated.

Phyllis Newman, a Tony Award-winning Broadway veteran who became the first woman to host “The Tonight Show” before turning her attention to fight for women’s health, died last week. She was 86. Newman won the 1962 Tony for best supporting actress in the musical “Subways Are For Sleeping.” She earned a second Tony nomination in 1987 for her performance in the Neil Simon play “Broadway Bound.” Her other Broadway credits include “On the Town,” “Awake and Sing” and “The Prisoner of Second Avenue.” She replaced Barbara Harris in “The Apple Tree.” She appeared on several television shows, including a brief appearance on the ABC soap opera “One Life to Live.” Newman also appeared in several films. Phyllis Newman was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on March 19, 1933. She made her Broadway debut in 1952 in “Wish You Were Here.”

Cokie Roberts, a pioneering journalist who joined an upstart NPR in 1978 and left an indelible imprint on the growing network with her coverage of Washington politics before later going to ABC news, died last week. She was 75. A bestselling author and Emmy Award winner, Roberts was one of NPR’s most recognizable voices and is considered one of a handful of pioneering female journalists. Roberts joined ABC news in 1988, while retaining a part-time role as a political commentator at NPR that she maintained until her death. The daughter of former U.S. representatives, she grew up walking the halls of Congress. Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs was born in New Orleans on December 27, 1943. She was given the nickname Cokie by her brother who had trouble pronouncing Corinne. The nickname stuck. Roberts father was Thomas Hale Boggs, a former Democratic majority leader of the House who served in Congress for more than three decades before he disappeared on a flight in Alaska in 1972. Her mother, Lindy Claiborne Boggs, took over her husband’s seat and served for 17 years. Roberts graduated from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She married journalist Steven Roberts in 1966. In the early 1970s, they moved to Athens, Greece, where he worked for the New York Times. She filed radio stories for CBS. In 1977, Roberts and her family returned to Washington and she soon joined NPR. She left NPR in 1988 to become a political correspondent for ABC’s “World News Tonight” with Peter Jennings. From 1992 to 2002, Roberts co-anchored ABC’s Sunday morning news show “This Week,” alongside Sam Donaldson.

Sander Vanocur, a veteran broadcaster for NBC and other networks who covered the civil rights movement and Vietnam War, died last week in Santa Barbara, California. He was 91. Vanocur was a familiar face on television news for decades, beginning when he joined NBC News in the late 1950s. Vanocur left NBC in 1972 to lead a short-lived news program with Robert McNeil on PBS, then spent time at a think tank and teaching before joining the Washington Post in 1975. In 1977, he went to ABC News. Sander Vanocur was born on January 8, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio. After his parents divorced in the early 1940s, he moved with his mother and sister to Peoria, Illinois. Vanocur graduated in 1950 from Northwestern University. He then studied at the London School of Economics and served in the U.S. Army for two years. He worked for the Manchester Guardian, before joining the New York Times in 1955. He moved to NBC in 1957.

Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, who won the 1955 Heisman Trophy at Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to the national championship in his junior year, and who later played in the NFL, died last week. He was 85. Cassady also played baseball at Ohio State and was a longtime coach and official in the New York Yankees organization. He rushed for 2,466 yards and scored 37 touchdowns in his 36 games at Ohio State. Cassady played shortstop on the Buckeyes’ baseball team, where his teammate was Frank Howard. He played eight seasons in the NFL, six with the Detroit Tigers, one with the Cleveland Browns and one with the Philadelphia Eagles, before retiring in 1963. Cassady was a native of Columbus, Ohio.