College Football Week 20 – Another Week to Wait
Perry, Herbert, Texas and Minnesota inspired; Moorhead, Foster and Malzahn didn’t; the bowls were a rollercoaster ride – up and down
And Jim Harbaugh struck out again, as Nick Saban rubbed it in.
Thumbs up to Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry and Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. They were awesome in their performances. Perry was damn the torpedoes full steam ahead and Herbert was running for the Roses. And what got into Texas? The Longhorns never looked or played this good all season.
You had to love Minnesota and coach P.J. Fleck. The underdog Gophers were inspiring in their upset win. And how ’bout Tennessee, scoring two touchdowns in the final 4:21 to rally and beat Indiana. But there was nothing inspiring about Michigan, as the Wolverines blew a halftime lead, going scoreless in the second half and getting it rubbed in their faces at the end.
Thumbs down to Joe Moorhead, Bud Foster and Gus Malzahn. Moorhead’s Bulldogs not only lost, but Moorhead got trashed and then fired after the game. Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator Foster retired a year too late, as his Hokies gave up 37 points. And Gus, Gus, Gus – you went from a blooming rose after the Alabama game to a bloomin’ onion after the Outback Bowl.
Yes, the past week has been a real rollercoaster ride. The bowls gave us lots of ups and lots of downs. Let’s take a ride.
Two days before New Year’s and the bowl activity picked back up, following the day of rest on Sunday. Before any of the games began, we learned that new Florida Atlantic coach Willie Taggart named Clint Trickett to be the Owls’ co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Trickett is a former quarterback at West Virginia.
The first of four games on December 30 was the First Responder Bowl. Western Kentucky (9-4) kicked Western Michigan (7-6), 23-20. Western couldn’t lose in this game. It was just a matter of which one. WKU’s Cory Munson kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired to give the Hilltoppers the win. The 52 yarder was Munson’s longest field goal in his kicking career. Just a minute and thirty-six seconds before Munson kicked the winning field goal, he kicked a 31-yard field goal to tie the score at 20-20.
The next two games both had a 4 p.m. ET kickoff. In Nashville, Louisville (8-5) beat Mississippi State (6-7), 38-28, in the Music City Bowl. It was a good season for first-year Louisville coach Scott Satterfield. It was a terrible season for second-year Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead. After the game, Bulldogs fans flocked to social media to trash Moorhead, who was already unpopular with the Mississippi State faithful.
Moorhead barely survived the chopping block this season, after just two years in Starkville. Odds are he will be fired by the end of next season. Little did we know at the time.
In the other 4 p.m. ET start, California (8-5) downed Illinois (6-7), 35-20, in the Red Box Bowl. Both California and Illinois had better than expected seasons in 2019. And both should be even better next year. Cal coach Justin Wilcox is doing good things in Berkeley. Illinois coach Lovey Smith saved his job.
Late in the day, Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins announced he would forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
December 30 came to an end in Miami Gardens where Florida (11-2) took care of Virginia (9-5), 36-28, in the Orange Bowl. Florida just didn’t have its heart in this game. The Gators did what they had to do to win. It was like “Let’s collect our check and get out of here.” On the other hand, Virginia was fired up. This was the biggest game in the history of Virginia’s football program. The Cavs had never been to a big bowl before. If and when they go to a bowl, it is usually the Commode Bowl.
Florida’s defense was awfully loose and sloppy. I have to say when defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is good, he is really, really good. But when Grantham is bad, he is really, really bad. Against Virginia, Grantham was bad. It reminded me of his defense against Georgia. The Gators stopped the run but they couldn’t defend the pass.
New Year’s Eve day, Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman announced he was entering the transfer portal and would play next season as a graduate senior at another school. And Baylor coach Matt Rhule announced he would be back in Waco next year with the Bears. Pundits had been speculating that Rhule would be the coach of either the Cleveland Browns, the New York Giants or the Carolina Panthers next year.
Five games were played on New Year’s Eve. In the first affair, Kentucky (8-5) scored late to beat Virginia Tech (8-5), 37-30, in the Belk Bowl. Kentucky quarterback Lynn Bowden rushed for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster retired after the game. Foster should have retired last season. He was about as useful as a floppy disk this season.
It was a tough season for Florida State. However, the Seminoles did manage to get a bowl bid – thanks to Alabama State. Regardless, Arizona State (8-5) beat Florida State (6-7), 20-14, in the Sun Bowl. ASU coach Herm Edwards got his first bowl win in his second season with the Sun Devils. The Sun Bowl was officially the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. After the game, instead of Gatorade, the Arizona State players dumped a tub of frosted flakes on coach Edwards.
So my good friend Tim Muth must be sad. He’s 0-2. Wake Forest lost to Michigan State and Florida State lost to Arizona State. Actually, my good friend is 0-3. Virginia lost to Florida. Whenever Florida wins, it’s a loss for Tim. And now he’s struggling to keep his grandchildren from becoming Gators.
The third game on New Year’s Eve was a nail biter. Navy (11-2) kicked a 23-yard field goal with 0:02 on the clock to beat Kansas State (8-5), 20-17, in the Liberty Bowl. And just as he wowed us in the Army-Navy game only two and a half weeks ago, Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry did it again. Against K-State, Perry passed for 57 yards and one touchdown, but more impressively he rushed for 213 yards.
Buried by the Sun and Liberty Bowls was the little known and perhaps little watched Arizona Bowl. Wyoming (8-5) beat Georgia State (7-6), 38-17. Georgia State, you may remember, was the team that upset Tennessee, 38-30, back on the opening weekend of the football season. Well, Georgia State wasn’t pulling any upsets in the Arizona Bowl, as Wyoming rolled over the Panthers.
The last college football game of 2019 took place in San Antonio, Texas. In the Alamo Bowl, Texas (8-5) clobbered Utah (11-3), 38-10. After a great regular season, 11-1, Utah totally fell apart in its last two games, losing to Oregon, 37-15, in the Pac-12 championship game and then to Texas. In its first 12 games, Utah gave up a total of 135 points (11.25 points a game). In the Utes final two games (Oregon and Texas) they gave up 75 points (37.5 points a game).
On the other hand, what got into Texas? The Longhorns never played this good – offense and defense – all season. It was like last year when Texas beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Horns never played that good all last season. Maybe Texas should just play bowl games.
Going into the New Year, I’m 15-15 with my picks. Nine bowls to go.
Happy New Year!
Two bowls shared the spotlight of being the first college football games of 2020 – the Outback Bowl in Tampa and the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Both started at 1 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day.
The weather was perfect for football in central Florida on New Year’s Day – crystal-clear, sunny-blue skies with crisp, moderate temperatures.
At the Outback Bowl, Gus fell off the Bus – again. Minnesota (11-2) surprised Auburn (9-4), 31-24. The Gophers’ offense ran through and around and passed over the Tigers’ defense. Minnesota’s defense jammed up Auburn’s running game and foiled the Tigers’ passing attack. In short, Minnesota controlled the line on both sides of the ball.
At basically the same time in Orlando, Jim Harbaugh came up a loser again. Alabama (11-2) put down Michigan, (9-4), 35-16, in the Citrus Bowl. It seems that Harbaugh can never win the big game. The Michigan coach is not only 0-5 against Ohio State, but also he is 0-4 in his last four bowl games. Alabama quarterback Mac Jones was 16-for-25, passing for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Alabama running back Najee Harris rushed for 136 yards.
Both the Outback and Citrus Bowls came down to a similar situation in the closing 60 seconds or so of the game. Minnesota, up 31-24 on Auburn, had the ball on Auburn’s goal line as the time was winding down. Instead of trying to score, Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan took a knee on two or three plays to run out the clock.
Likewise, Alabama, up 28-16 on Michigan, had the ball on Michigan’s goal line as the time was winding down. Instead of taking a knee, Alabama ran the ball at the Michigan defense, attempting to score. With 0:26 on the clock Alabama running back Najee Harris scored on a two-yard run and the Tide went up 35-16.
Does that say that Minnesota has class and Alabama doesn’t? Does that say that P.J. Fleck has character and Nick Saban doesn’t? No. It simply says that Nick Saban was telling Jim Harbaugh he can take his anti-SEC and anti-Alabama comments over the past couple of years and shove them up his you know what. I strongly suspect that if Alabama had been playing anyone else other than Michigan, Mac Jones would have taken a knee.
Demoted Texas offensive coordinator Tim Beck was hired by Dave Doeren to be NC State’s new offensive coordinator. At the end of the season, Texas coach Tom Herman stripped Beck of his offensive coordinator duties, demoting him to quarterbacks coach.
The weather in Pasadena was perfect for the Rose Bowl game too – sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. The outcome of the game was perfect too – that is if you are a Duck. Oregon (12-2) edged Wisconsin (10-4), 28-27. You can’t get any closer than that.
The Rose Bowl got off to a fast and furious start. Oregon received the opening kickoff and drove down the field to score a touchdown. Then, Wisconsin returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. With just 5:19 gone in the first quarter the score was 7-7. By the time the game was over, the lead changed hands no less than six times.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Oregon trailed Wisconsin, 27-21. With 7:41 on the clock, Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert scored a touchdown on a 30-yard run. The Ducks went up by one point and held on to win. Herbert scored three of Oregon’s four touchdowns on runs of 4, 5 and 30 yards.
Recuperating Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who will either enter the NFL draft this spring or return to Alabama for his final season next fall, reported that he would announce his decision on Monday, January 6. Most folks seem to think Tua will return for his senior season at Alabama. Stay tuned!
The nightcap on January 1 was the Sugar Bowl. It didn’t matter what the weather was like in New Orleans – the game was played indoors in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. But for the record it was 58° and cloudy.
Quite frankly, after the Minnesota-Auburn, Alabama-Michigan and Oregon-Wisconsin games, the Sugar Bowl was downright boring. Georgia (12-2) beat Baylor (11-3), 26-14. The game was never close. It was lacking in excitement. Neither team displayed much offense. It was the third-worst attended Sugar Bowl since 1939. Quite frankly, it was hard to stay awake until the end of the game. But I did. And what was with Baylor coach Matt Rhule? Was he trying to make a fashion statement? Is it the latest trend? Rhule was wearing a short-sleeve hoody underneath a wife-beater undershirt.
I slept later than usual on January 2. Believe it or not, there are still five more bowl games, plus the national championship game. Two of the five remaining bowl games were on January 2.
The first of the two bowl games – the Birmingham Bowl – had problems with the weather. Halfway through the first quarter, the game was stopped due to lightning and went into a weather delay. Cincinnati and Boston College were sitting at 0-0. The weather delay lasted for a good 90 minutes before the game resumed. Although Boston College probably wished it never resumed. Cincinnati (11-3) popped Boston College (6-7), 38-6.
Former Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin, who was fired in 2018 following two separate investigations into the death of a 19-year-old player from heatstroke, has joined Lane Kiffin’s coaching staff at Ole Miss. Former West Virginia quarterback Pat White was named the running backs coach at South Florida under new coach Jeff Scott.
Rumors began circulating on January 2 that Mississippi State was on the verge of firing Joe Moorhead. Stay tuned.
The first half of the Gator Bowl was a soccer match. Tennessee led Indiana at the break, 6-3. In the second half, it became more of a football game. But not until the final 4:21 for the Volunteers. Tennessee (8-5) squeaked by Indiana (8-5), 23-22, in the Gator Bowl. Trailing 22-9, the Vols scored two touchdowns in the final 4:21 of the game to win. The game was a nail biter for the fans of both teams, but only in the final five minutes.
Indiana has only been to five bowl games in the last 28 years. The Hoosiers haven’t won a bowl game since 1991.
On January 3, our attention was turned to Boise, Idaho, for that Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. I can smell the French fries now. But before we get to the bowl game, the rumors were true – Mississippi State fired Joe Moorhead, after only two seasons in Starkville. It just seems that Moorhead really didn’t know what he was doing as the head coach at Miss State. It was a bad fit. So the Bulldogs will be looking for a new coach.
Moorhead becomes the 13th coach to be fired this season. Two coaches stepped down on their own accord. Three coaches were hired away by bigger programs. Assuming there are no more shakeups, 18 schools will have new head coaches in 2020.
Now back to that Baked Potato, or is it the Mashed Potato Bowl. The Buckeye State….oh no, wrong school. The Ohio, after all this is the real Ohio isn’t it? Ohio (7-6) downed Nevada (7-6), 30-21, in the Sweet Potato Bowl. The Ohio jumped out to a 30-9 lead and then went into cruise control.
After the game, instead of Gatorade, Ohio players dumped a tub of French fries on coach Frank Solich. You gotta love Ohio coach Solich, but I have to tell you he reminds you of Tim Conway playing the Oldest Man (Duane Toddleberry) on The Carol Burnett Show, shuffling up and down the sideline with his short steps.
Well, Louisiana coach Billy Napier has turned down Mississippi State. Who’s next?
Yesterday, Tulane and Southern Miss got together in the Armed Forces Bowl. It was ideal weather in Fort Worth for the contest. Tulane (7-6) trampled Southern Miss (7-6), 30-13. Southern Miss scored the first 13 points, all in the first quarter, then the Green Wave rolled off 30 unanswered points. The Eagles never saw the end zone again after the 5:23 mark in the first quarter.
Utah State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford has been hired by P.J. Fleck to be Minnesota’s OC and quarterbacks coach. Sanford is a former head coach at Western Kentucky and a former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame and Boise State. He played quarterback at Boise State. Fleck lost his OC and quarterbacks coach Kirk Ciarrocca to Penn State before the Outback Bowl.
Oklahoma State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Sean Gleeson has been hired by Greg Schiano to fill the same position at Rutgers. A former Auburn (2013-2016) offensive coordinator, Rhett Lashlee, has been hired by Manny Diaz to be Miami’s new offensive coordinator. The past two seasons Ashlee has been the OC at SMU.
Reports now have former Tennessee coach Butch Jones and Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham as the leading candidates for the Mississippi State job.
Back at the end of August, on the eve of the 2019 college football season, I posted 12 questions about the upcoming season in College Football Week 1. We didn’t know the answers to those 12 questions then. We do now. Let’s review the questions and check out the answers.
1.
Question: How will the transfer quarterbacks – Jalen
Hurts, Kelly Bryant, Justin Fields, Jacob Easton, Brandon
Wimbush, Austin Kendall and Tommy Stevens – perform this
season?
Answer: Jalen Hurts,
who transferred from Alabama to Oklahoma, led the Sooners to a 12-1 season, a
Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma lost
its Playoff game to LSU. Hurts finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
In general, it was a very good season for Hurts and Oklahoma.
Kelly Bryant, who
transferred from Clemson to Missouri, was a flop – Missouri finished 6-6.
Although in all fairness, Bryant was injured during part of the season and
missed two games. In general, it was a disappointing season for Bryant and
Missouri.
Justin Fields, who
transferred from Georgia to Ohio State, led the Buckeyes to a 13-0 season, a
Big Ten championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Ohio State
lost its Playoff game to Clemson. Fields finished third in the Heisman Trophy
balloting. In general. It was a very good season for Fields and Ohio State.
Jacob Eason, who
transferred from Georgia to Washington, led the Huskies to an 8-5 season,
including a Las Vegas Bowl win over Boise State. In general, it was a so-so
season for Eason and a disappointing season for Washington.
Brandon Wimbush, who
transferred from Notre Dame to UCF, lost his starting job to Adrian Gabriel
after a couple of games.
Austin Kendall, who
transferred from Oklahoma to West Virginia, started for the Mountaineers in
their first nine games and led WVU to a 3-6 record. After nine games, Kendall
lost his starting job to Jarret Doege. Doege was 2-1 in WVU’s final
three games. In general, it was a disappointing season for Kendall.
Tommy Stevens, who
transferred from Penn State to Mississippi State, lost his starting job to Garrett
Shrader after a few games. Footnote: Shrader was injured in a fight with a
teammate after Christmas and Stevens started for Mississippi State against
Louisville in the Music City Bowl. Mississippi State lost, but Stevens was
17-for-26, passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 71
yards and one touchdown.
2.
Question: Will a quarterback from Oklahoma win the Heisman
Trophy for the third straight year?
Answer: Close but no
banana. Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts came in second in the Heisman Trophy
balloting.
3.
Question: Can either Mack Brown or Les Miles
find a way to salvage a winning season?
Answer: Yes. First-year
coach Mack Brown coached North Carolina to a 7-6 season, including a
Military Bowl win over Temple. No. First-year coach Les Miles coached
Kansas to a 3-9 season. But one of Kansas’ three wins was over bowl-bound
Boston College, 48-24.
4.
Question: Will Dana Holgorsen find comfort at
Houston?
Answer: No. First-year
coach Dana Holgorsen coached Houston to a 4-8 season and last place in
the West Division of the AAC. One year and the heat is already on Holgorsen in
Houston.
5.
Question: Can anybody beat Clemson in the ACC, Alabama in
the SEC or Oklahoma in the Big 12? And for that matter, Boise State in the MWC,
UCF in the AAC and Appalachian State in the Sun Belt?
Answer: Clemson was 9-0
in ACC play. Alabama was 6-2 in SEC play. (LSU and Auburn beat the Tide.)
Oklahoma was 9-1 in Big 12 play. (Kansas State beat the Sooners.) Boise State
was 9-0 in MWC play. UCF was 6-2 in AAC play. (Cincinnati and Tulsa beat the
Knights.) Appalachian State was 8-1 in Sun Belt play. (Georgia Southern beat
the Little Mountaineers.)
6.
Question: Is this the year that Jim Harbaugh finally
beats Ohio State?
Answer: No. Ohio State
beat Michigan, 56-27. Jim Harbaugh is now 0-5 against the Buckeyes.
7.
Question: Will Urban Meyer be the coach of USC come
January 1?
Answer: No. Clay
Helton is still the coach at USC. But Urban Meyer may become an NFL
coach. Stay tuned!
8.
Question: Will Willie Taggart still be the coach of
Florida State come January 1?
Answer: No. Willie
Taggart was fired before the end of the season. Mike Norvell is the
new coach at Florida State. However, Taggart is now the new coach at Florida
Atlantic.
9.
Question: Will Lane Kiffin, Luke Fickell, Seth
Littrell or Mike Norvell be coaching a Power Five team next year?
Answer: Yes for Lane
Kiffin. Kiffin will be coaching Ole Miss in 2020. No for Luke Fickell.
Fickell will be back for his fourth season at Cincinnati in 2020. No for Seth
Littrell. Littrell will be back for his fifth season at North Texas in
2020. Yes for Mike Norvell. Norvell will be coaching Florida State in
2020.
10.
Question: Can South Carolina beat Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky
or Texas A&M in 2019?
Answer: Entering the
2019 season, South Carolina had lost 5-straight games to Clemson, 5-straight to
Kentucky and 5-straight to Texas A&M. The Gamecocks had lost 4-straight
games to Georgia. In three seasons, Coach Will Muschamp had yet to beat
any of those teams. Well, in 2019, South Carolina beat Georgia and Kentucky,
but the Gamecocks continued to lose to Clemson and Texas A&M. That’s
6-straight losses to Clemson and Texas A&M.
11.
Question: With no clear-cut favorite, who will win the Big
Ten West and ACC Coastal Divisions?
Answer: Wisconsin and
Minnesota tied for the Big Ten West with 7-2 records in conference play. But
Wisconsin was the Big Ten West champion based on its victory over Minnesota in
the face-to-face meeting. In the ACC, Virginia (6-2) won the Coastal Division,
beating out Virginia Tech (5-3).
12.
Question: Whose restaurant will be more successful – Urban
Meyer’s or Steve Spurrier’s?
Answer: The jury is
still out. While Urban Meyer’s restaurant opened in September, Steve
Spurrier’s restaurant doesn’t open until June 2020. Urban Meyer’s Pint
House, located in the Columbus suburb of Dublin, Ohio, opened its doors at 3
p.m. ET on Friday, September 27, 2019. It was the Friday before the Ohio
State-Nebraska game in Lincoln. Urban Meyer’s Pint House is an 8,500
square-foot, bar-grill restaurant. The restaurant has a booth that is always
reserved for Urban and his wife Shelley, who live down the street from
the restaurant. Meyer co-owns the restaurant with controversial Columbus
restaurant, nightclub and night light promoter Chris Corso. Currently,
Urban’s Pint House has a 4.2 rating out of 5.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just the Mobile Bowl tomorrow and the CFP national championship game on January 13 to go. We’re getting there. But I don’t understand why we have to wait two weeks for the CFP national championship game. What was the thinking? It should have been scheduled for tomorrow night, January 6.
With one game to go, I’m 22-16 with my bowl picks.
Happy New Year!
Touchdown Tom
January 5, 2020
(Note: College Football Week 21 will be published on Tuesday, January 14, the morning after the CFP national championship game.)
Review of the Bowls
The Hilltoppers responded (in the First Responder Bowl) – Western Kentucky 23, Western Michigan 20 (Touchdown Tom Said: Western Kentucky 25, Western Michigan 22). When WKU kicked the field goal as time expired, it was the Hilltoppers first lead in the game since late in the second quarter when they led 10-3. The game was tied on three occasions – 10-10 late in the second quarter, 17-17 early in the fourth quarter and 20-20 late in the fourth quarter. WKU dominated the statistics. The Hilltoppers had 481 yards of offense. WKU quarterback Ty Storey passed for 358 yards. Attendance in Dallas: 13,164
Bully couldn’t name that tune (in the Music City Bowl) – Louisville 38, Mississippi State 28 (Touchdown Tom Said: Mississippi State 30, Louisville 17). Weird game. Early in the second quarter, Mississippi State led 14-0. Then from 7:57 left in the second to 13:52 to go in the fourth quarter, Louisville ripped off 31 unanswered points to go up 31-14. Louisville had 510 total yards to 366 for Miss state. Attendance in Nashville: 46,850
The Banned Indians were boxed (in the Red Box Bowl) – California 35, Illinois 20 (Touchdown Tom Said: California 30, Illinois 21). Illinois briefly had two leads in the first quarter at 3-0 and 10-7. But once California went up 14-10 early in the second quarter, the Bears never trailed after that. Cal stretched its lead to 35-13 early in the fourth quarter. The teams were pretty even in the stats. Cal quarterback Chase Garbers was 22-for-31, passing for 272 yards and four touchdowns. Cal running back Christopher Brown rushed for 120 yards. Attendance in Santa Clara: 34,177
Albert enjoyed his navels (in the Orange Bowl) – Florida 36, Virginia 28 (Touchdown Tom Said: Florida 34, Virginia 20). Florida had 549 total yards to 375 for Virginia. The Gators had a running game – 244 yards, and the Cavs didn’t – 52 yards. Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins was 28-for-40, passing for 323 yards and four touchdowns. Florida running back Lamical Perine rushed for 138 yards. Attendance in Miami Gardens: 65,157
The Wildcats bought out the store (in the Belk Bowl) – Kentucky 37, Virginia Tech 30 (Touchdown Tom Said: Virginia Tech 27, Kentucky 19). Although the game was briefly tied on two occasions – 17-17 in the third quarter and 24-24 in the third quarter – Virginia Tech led throughout most of the game. That is until the final 0:15 of the game when Kentucky went up 31-30. As time expired, the Wildcats added another six points off a Virginia Tech fumble. Kentucky had 331 yards rushing and only 73 yards passing. Tech’s Deshawn McClease rushed for 126 yards. Attendance in Charlotte: 44,138
Red zone breakdown (in the Sun Bowl) – Arizona State 20, Florida State 14 (Touchdown Tom Said: Arizona State 27, Florida State 23). Arizona State led throughout the game until 1:04 to go in the third quarter. That’s when Florida State went on top for the first time – 14-9. But with 10:06 to go in the fourth quarter, ASU went back up – 20-14. The Sun Devils held on to win. Florida State dominated the stats, including turnovers. The Noles suffered six miscues. The Sun Devils offense failed to score a touchdown. A complete failure in the red zone, Arizona State kicked four field goals. Their one touchdown came on an interception return for a TD. ASU only had 87 yards rushing. Attendance in El Paso: 42,212
Admiral Perry strikes again (in the Liberty Bowl) – Navy 20, Kansas State 17 (Touchdown Tom Said: Kansas State 27, Navy 21). Navy led throughout most of the game. But the score was tied twice – 10-10 at halftime and 17-17 midway through the fourth quarter. Navy retook the lead for good with a field goal in the closing seconds. Navy’s defense all but shut down K-State. The Wildcats only had 170 total yards – just 46 yards rushing. Navy had more rushing yards – 323 – than K-State had total yards. Navy also maintained time of possession for more than 36 minutes. Attendance in Memphis: 50,515
Ride ’em Cowboys (in the Arizona Bowl) – Wyoming 38, Georgia State 17 (Touchdown Tom Said: Wyoming 25, Georgia State 16). Wyoming trailed through much of the first quarter. But the Cowboys took a 10-7 lead with 2:12 to go in the first and never trailed again in the game. With 8:12 to go in the third quarter, Wyoming stretched its lead to 31-10. Wyoming running back Xazavian Valladay rushed for 204 yards and one touchdown. The Cowboys had a balanced attack of 290 yards rushing and 234 yards passing. Attendance in Tucson: 36,892
Bevo put on the Horns (in the Alamo Bowl) – Texas 38, Utah 10 (Touchdown Tom Said: Utah 28, Texas 27). Utah gave up only 10 points to Texas in the first half. Then the Utes gave up 28 points to the Longhorns in the second half. Texas had 438 total yards to 254 for Utah. Attendance in San Antonio: 60,147
Aubie couldn’t row (in the Outback Bowl) – Minnesota 31, Auburn 24 (Touchdown Tom Said: Auburn 30, Minnesota 23). This game was tit-for-tat until the fourth quarter. That’s when Minnesota scored and Auburn didn’t. In the first quarter, Auburn went up 3-0. Minnesota followed with a field goal – 3-3. Still in the first quarter, Auburn went up 10-3. Minnesota followed with a touchdown – 10-10. Then in the second quarter, Minnesota went up 17-10. Auburn followed with a touchdown – 17-17. Just before the half, Minnesota went up 24-17. In the third quarter, Auburn scored a touchdown – 24-24. In the fourth quarter, Minnesota went up 31-24. Auburn failed to follow up. The Gophers had 497 total yards to 232 for the Tigers. Auburn only had 56 yards rushing. Perhaps more importantly, Minnesota controlled ball possession for more than 37 minutes. Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan was 19-for-29, passing for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Tanners only miscue was throwing an interception on Minnesota’s opening drive of the game. Gophers’ running back Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 140 yards. Attendance in Tampa: 45,652
Take that Harbaugh (in the Citrus Bowl) – Alabama 35, Michigan 16 (Touchdown Tom Said: Alabama 31, Michigan 20). At halftime, Michigan led Alabama 16-14. In the second half, Alabama outscored Michigan 21-0. Alabama made adjustments at halftime. Michigan didn’t. And the Tide wore down the Wolverines in the second half. Michigan did maintain time of possession for more than 34 minutes. Attendance in Orlando: 59,746
Ducks unlimited (in the Rose Bowl) – Oregon 28, Wisconsin 27 (Touchdown Tom Said: Oregon 24, Wisconsin 20). There actually wasn’t a lot of offense in this game. Wisconsin had 322 total yards to 204 for Oregon. The Ducks only had 66 yards rushing. Neither team passed for more than 186 yards. Oddly enough, Wisconsin controlled time of possession for more than 38 minutes. But the Badgers did have four turnovers. Attendance in Pasadena: 90,462
Ho-hum (in the Sugar Bowl) – Georgia 26, Baylor 14 (Touchdown Tom Said: Georgia 22, Baylor 17). Georgia led 19-0 at halftime and then went into cruise control in the second half. Neither team had more than 380 yards of offense. Neither team had a running game. Baylor only had 61 yards rushing. The Bears suffered from three turnovers. Georgia had none. The best thing that can be said: Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm had a decent game – 20-for-30, passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Attendance in New Orleans: 55,211
The Eagles were water logged (in the Birmingham Bowl) – Cincinnati 38, Boston College 6 (Touchdown Tom Said: Cincinnati 30, Boston College 20). Cincinnati racked up 343 rushing yards. That was more than Boston College’s total yards – 164 yards. The Bearcats maintained time of possession for more than 41 minutes. Cincinnati had 33 first downs to eight for BC. Attendance in Birmingham: 27,193
Smoked by the onside (in the Gator Bowl) – Tennessee 23, Indiana 22 (Touchdown Tom Said: Tennessee 29, Indiana 22). Indiana all but had this game in the bag. The Hoosiers were beating Tennessee 22-9 with less than five minutes to go in the game. The Vols pulled it out with the help of recovering an onside kick. Neither team had a lot of offense in this game, especially when they got in the red zone. Indiana only had 76 yards rushing. Attendance in Jacksonville: 61,789
The Bobcats’ potatoes were gold (in the Idaho Potato Bowl) – Ohio 30, Nevada 21 (Touchdown Tom Said: Ohio 25, Nevada 19). The two teams were evenly matched in total yards, but Ohio was the rushing team – 288 yards, and Nevada was the passing team – 401 yards. Nevada only had 29 yards rushing. Nevada quarterback Carson Strong passed for 402 yards. Attendance in Boise: 13,611
Big Waves (in the Armed Forces Bowl) – Tulane 30, Southern Miss 13 (Touchdown Tom Said: Tulane 30, Southern Miss 20). Tulane had a balanced attack, running and passing. Southern Miss only had 58 yards rushing. Tulane quarterback Justin McMillan was 13-for-18, passing for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Attendance in Fort Worth: 38,513
Last Week’s Bowl Game Picks: 12 winners, 5 fumbles (70.6 percent)
Near Complete Bowl Game Picks: 22 winners, 16 fumbles (57.9 percent)
Superlatives
Impressive Passers:
Nevada’s Carson Strong – 31-49-0-402 (1TD); Western Kentucky’s Ty Storey – 35-51-2-358 (2TDs); Alabama’s Mac Jones – 16-25-0-327 (3TDs), and Virginia’s Bryce Perkins – 28-40-1-323 (4TDs).
Impressive Rushers:
Kentucky’s Lynn Bowden – 233 yards (2TDs); Navy’s Malcolm Perry – 213 yards; Wyoming’s Xazavian Valladay – 204 yards (1TD), and Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim – 140 yards (1TD).
Quotes of the Week
“I want to thank the Gators for the best, the loudest and the greatest ovation I’ve ever received in my life. Gator Nation, you are the best,” former Florida coach Steve Spurrier, who was part of the pre-game coin toss ceremony at the Orange Bowl.
“The GusCoaster ride never ends,” USA Today sports writer Dan Wolken.
“Harbaugh continues to be the most overrated coach in college football history,” Fox Sports college football analyst Clay Travis.
“It was kind of a smack in the face,” Michigan linebacker Cameron McGrone, on Alabama’s last touchdown in the Citrus Bowl.
“I genuinely feel sorry for Jim Harbaugh. Right now Jim Harbaugh is a very small man in college football,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum.
“Nick Saban decided, you know what? My foot is on his throat. I’m just going to kick him one more time. I felt like the college-football world cheered Saban yesterday in doing that,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum, on Nick Saban’s decision to score one more time on Michigan.
“Jim Harbaugh calling a timeout against Alabama with one second left so that Shea Patterson can end his college career with an interception is so Michigan that it hurts,” college football enthusiast David Hookstead.
“Football isn’t going to change until coaches like Durkin are out of the sport and the tactics he allegedly used at Maryland are placed into the trash bin of history,” Dan Wolken, USA Today sports writer, on Lane Kiffin’s hiring of D.J. Durkin at Ole Miss.
Touchdown Tom
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but on the 5th day of the New Year, as college football fans were still celebrating bowl wins, commiserating over bowl losses, worrying about New Year’s resolutions and going back to work or school, the number one song in the country…
…75 years ago this week in 1945 was “Don’t Fence Me In” by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters
…70 years ago this week in 1950 was “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” by The Andrews Sisters, and “Mule Train” by Frankie Laine
…65 years ago this week in 1955 was “Let Me Go Lover” by Joan Weber, and “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes
…60 years ago this week in 1960 was “El Paso” by Marty Robins
…55 years ago this week in 1965 was “I Feel Fine” by The Beatles
…50 years ago this week in 1970 was “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” by B.J. Thomas
…45 years ago this week in 1975 was “Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds” by Elton John
…40 years ago this week in 1980 was “Please Don’t Go” by K.C. and The Sunshine Band
…35 years ago this week in 1985 was “Like A Virgin” by Madonna
…30 years ago this week in 1990 was “Another Day In Paradise” by Phil Collins
Not exactly college football related, but there were three passings of note last week – David Stern, Don Larsen and Sam Wyche.
David Stern, who during his 30-year run as commissioner of the National Basketball Association masterminded its transformation from a league in peril to a multibillion-dollar industry and the first American sports league to thrive internationally, died last week in New York City. He was 77. Stern served as the NBA’s fourth commissioner from February 1, 1984 to February 1, 2014. He possessed a marketing vision and instinct that helped lift the league from its darkest period to new levels of prosperity and popularity – both domestically and abroad. David Joel Stern was born on September 22, 1942, in New York City. He grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, and graduated from Rutgers in 1963, before attending Columbia Law School. Stern joined the NBA in 1978 as general counsel under commissioner Larry O’Brien. He was elevated to executive vice president in November 1980. As commissioner, Stern grew the NBA from 23 to 30 teams.
Don Larsen, an ordinary pitcher who achieved the extraordinary when he threw the only perfect game in World Series history, died last week in Hayden Lake, Idaho. He was 90. When Larsen took the mound against the Brooklyn Dodgers on the afternoon of October 8, 1956, at the original New York Yankees stadium, he was in his fourth season of an unremarkable career. Larsen was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 215 pounds. He had a brush cut and oversize ears. Larsen lost 21 games pitching for the Baltimore Orioles two years earlier. Nonetheless, for one day Larsen was the picture of perfection. Twenty-seven times the batters in a Dodgers lineup came to the plate, and all returned to the dugout without a hit, a walk or an error by a Yankees fielder. No pitcher, before or since, has thrown a no-hitter in the World Series. His Yankee teammates called him “Gooney Bird.” He went 11-5 in 1956. Larsen pitched his no-hitter in game five, with the series tied two games apiece. The Yankees won 2-0, and went to win the Series, 4 games to 3. At the end of the game, catcher Yogi Berra leapt into Larsen’s arms. The madcap embrace was captured in a photo that became a classic baseball image. Donald James Larsen was born on August 7, 1929, in Michigan City, Indiana. His parents moved the family to San Diego when he was 15. Larsen reached the majors in 1953. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics in December 1959 in a deal that brought Roger Maris to the Yankees. He also pitched for the Chicago White Sox, the San Francisco Giants, the Houston Astros, the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago Cubs. After baseball, Larsen was a salesman for a paper products company in California. Later, he and his wife retired to Idaho, where he loved to fish. In December 2012, he sold his Yankees uniform that he wore that memorable day at an auction for $765,000. The money was used to provide for the education of his grandsons.
Sam Wyche, who was the last coach to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl, died at his home last week in Pickens, South Carolina. He was 74. Wyche coached for several NFL teams but was most closely associated with the Bengals. He began his career as a backup quarterback for the team in 1968, the franchise’s first year. Wyche joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1979 as quarterbacks coach, working under Bill Walsh to develop a rookie quarterback named Joe Montana. After a year of coaching at Indiana University, then a relatively young 38, he took over in 1984 as head coach of the Bengals. During a run of success, Wyche was also widely credited with the first coach to routinely use the no-huddle offense to keep defenses off kilter. The Bengals lost, 20-16, to Walsh’s 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII. In 1990, he was fined by the NFL for preventing a female reporter from entering the team’s locker room. Wyche was known to run up the score on opponents, once ordering an onside kick when his team was up 45-0. After a 3-13 finish in 1991, Wyche left Cincinnati for Tampa, where he coached the Buccaneers for four seasons. He was quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2004 and 2005. Then he moved to Pickens where he volunteered as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the town’s high school team. Samuel David Wyche was born on January 5, 1945, in Atlanta. He attended Furman University where he played quarterback. He earned a degree in business from Furman in 1966 and later a master’s degree in business from the University of South Carolina.
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