College Football Week 21 – Burrow throws five touchdown passes
Baton Rouge Tigers beat Clemson Tigers
for the National Championship
LSU’s defense put pressure on Trevor Lawrence. Clemson’s defense didn’t put pressure on Joe Burrow. That was the difference in the game. LSU beat Clemson, 42-25, for the national championship.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Joe Burrow is truly amazing. But actually, the entire LSU team was truly amazing Monday night. LSU’s offensive line protected Burrow and opened holes for running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
LSU’s receivers made some amazing catches. Ja’Mar Chase had nine receptions for 221 yards and Justin Jefferson had nine receptions for 106 yards. LSU’s running back Edwards-Helaire rushed for 110 yards.
On the other side of the ball, LSU’s defense all but shutdown Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence completed less than 50% of his passes and only threw for 234 yards. He also turned over the ball on a fumble. Clemson was just 1-for-11 in third down efficiency. The LSU defense held running back Travis Etienne to only 78 yards rushing.
But the star of the game was definitely Joe Burrow. He was 31-for-49, passing for 463 yards and five touchdowns. Additionally, Burrow rushed for 58 yards. LSU had 628 total yards in the game and Burrow had a hand in 521 of those yards. He also had a hand in all six of LSU’s touchdowns – passing for five TDs and rushing for one.
On Burrow’s fourth touchdown pass, he set the NCAA major college record for most touchdown passes in a season. That’s was his 59th touchdown pass and it broke the record of 58 touchdown passes held by former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy. And if that wasn’t enough, Burrow went on to get his 60th touchdown pass before the game was over.
Watching the beginning of the game, you never would have guessed that LSU was going to win, 42-25. For the first 20 minutes of the game, Clemson was the better team on the field. With 10:38 to go in the second quarter, Clemson led LSU, 17-7. Clemson was clicking and LSU wasn’t. On LSU’s first two possessions of the game, it was three-and-out.
Trailing Clemson 7-0 in the first quarter, LSU briefly got on track. Two nice runs by Edwards-Helaire helped to open up Burrows 52-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Mar Chase. The game was tied 7-7 and LSU seemed to have its act together.
But early in the second quarter, Clemson scored 10 points to take the 17-7 lead. That spurt by Clemson seemed to wake up LSU. LSU’s defense stiffened, while its offense began firing on all cylinders. In just nine minutes and seven seconds in the second quarter, LSU scored three-straight touchdowns – 21 unanswered points. LSU led at halftime, 28-17.
The second half began like the first half. On its first two possessions, LSU was three-and -out. Clemson, on its first possession, scored a touchdown and added a two-point conversion. LSU’s lead was cut to three points – 28-25.
That was the last we were to hear of Clemson. LSU, however, found itself again and scored two touchdowns to extend its lead to 17 points – 42-25. Clemson only got worse and worse as LSU got better and better. LSU finished its season 15-0, while Clemson ended up at 14-1. Hats off to Coach O. Game attendance at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome was 76,885.
Joe Burrow’s college football career is over, but Trevor Lawrence will be back for the 2020 season. And Clemson is already the favorite to win next season’s national championship.
There was never a dull moment during the week prior to the national championship game. In addition to all the Clemson-LSU pre-game hype, more players announced they were entering the NFL draft, other players announced they were transferring, and yes, there were even more coaching changes taking place.
It all began with Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa announcing last week his decision to enter the NFL draft this spring. At the end of Tagovailoa’s press conference, the Crimson Tide quarterback said, “I’d like to leave you all with this from one of my favorite Tim McGraw songs.” He then quoted a few lines from McGraw’s 2015 hit “Humble and Kind.”
“When you get
where you’re going,
don’t forget,
turn back around,
and help the
next one in line,
always stay
humble and kind”
When Tim McGraw heard about this, he tweeted Tagovailoa, “Excited to see where you land in the NFL. Inspired by your spirit.”
That night, in the final bowl game of the 2019 season, Louisiana (11-3) fought off Miami (Ohio) (8-6), 27-17, in the Mobile Bowl. Second-year Louisiana coach Billy Napier coached the Rajin’ Cajuns from 7-7 last season to 11-3 this season. Two of Louisiana’s three losses were to 13-1 Appalachian State by a combined 17 points.
Well, after telling Baylor fans he would be back in Waco next season, Matt Rhule signed a seven-year contract last week to be the head coach of the Carolina Panthers in the NFL. The deal pays Rhule $8.57 million a year with incentives that could add up to an additional $1.43 million annually. Rhule made $4.1 million this past season at Baylor. The Carolina Panthers paid Baylor a $6 million buyout to get Rhule.
I think it must have been that short-sleeve hoody under the wife-beater undershirt Rhule was wearing during the Sugar Bowl that attracted the Carolina Panthers to him.
Not to be outdone by Tua Tagovailoa, Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm announced he is leaving early to enter the NFL draft this spring. In three years with Georgia, Fromm quarterbacked the Dawgs to a 36-7 record. Not bad.
San Diego State coach Randy Long announced he is stepping down. Long, 70, coached the Aztecs for nine seasons, compiling an 81-38 record, three Mountain West Conference championships and four 10-win seasons. Long will be replaced by San Diego State defensive line coach Brady Hoke. Hoke has been around. He is a former head coach at Ball State, San Diego State, Michigan and an interim head coach at Tennessee.
Meanwhile in Starkville, Washington State coach Mike Leach was named head football coach at Mississippi State. Leach signed a contract that will pay him $5 million a year for four years. There are a number of incentives and bonuses attached to the contract. Leach also received $4.7 million to pay 10 assistant coaches.
Granted, the Bulldogs fans are going to see some exciting football under Leach – exciting on offense. But the hiring of Leach says to me that Mississippi State has no interest in ever winning the SEC West Division – much less the SEC itself. In eight seasons in the Pac-12, Leach never won the conference title and only achieved one Pac-12 North Division title. Washington State tied Washington for the 2018 North Division top spot. However, the Cougars lost to the Huskies, 28-15, in the face-to-face meeting. In fact, during his eight years in Pullman, Leach was 1-7 against Washington.
Then in 10 seasons in the Big 12 at Texas Tech, Leach never won the conference championship and only achieved one Big 12 South Division title, that too a tie for the division title – a three-way tie with Oklahoma and Texas. Oklahoma, who beat Texas Tech, 65-21, represented the Big 12 South in the conference championship game.
Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman is transferring to Georgia and will play next season for the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer. Former Georgia coach Mark Richt predicts Newman will be the best quarterback in the SEC in 2020. Likewise, Texas Tech quarterback Jett Duffey is transferring to Tulane and will play immediately for the Green Wave as a graduate transfer.
North Dakota State capped a 16-0 season with its eighth FCS national championship. The Bison beat James Madison, 28-20, for the national title on Saturday. James Madison finished its season at 14-2.
Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard, the nation’s leading rusher in 2019, announced he is returning for his senior season.
As we enter a new week, Baylor and Washington State are still in the market for a head coach. Stay tuned!
Touchdown Tom
January 14, 2020
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
(Note: College Football Week 22 – the final CFW of the season – will be posted Monday morning, January 20.)
Week in Review
The Cajuns were more mobile (in the Mobile Bowl) – Louisiana 27, Miami (Ohio) 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Louisiana 27, Miami 21). Miami led for the first 29 minutes of the game. Then, with one minute to go before the halftime break, Louisiana took its first lead at 10-7. The Cajuns never trailed again. The teams were all but equal in passing yards – Louisiana had 246 yards and Miami had 248 yards. Attendance in Mobile: 29,212
FCS (Division I-AA) Championship Game
North Dakota State 28, James Madison 20 – Attendance in Frisco: 17,866
Quotes of the Week
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be the head football coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. I loved Washington State, but I am excited for the next chapter in the SEC. It’s a privilege to be part of the MSU family,” new Mississippi State coach Mike Leach.
“I have been watching Jamie Newman all season with the ACC Network. Georgia just landed a great one. I predict he will be the best quarterback in the SEC,” former Georgia coach Mark Richt.
“I know you’re not supposed to like anything from Ole Miss. But I like playing against crummy coaches more than I do good coaches,” new Mississippi State coach Mike Leach, on Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.
“We might as well be playing in Baton Rouge,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, prior to the national championship game.
“I’ve never been around a player like Joe. The guy is a perfectionist. It does rub off on our football team. He’s an outstanding leader,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron, on his quarterback Joe Burrow.
Touchdown Tom
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but there were four passings of note last week – George Perles, Buck Henry, Edd Byrnes and Neil Peart.
George Perles, who coached Michigan State to a Rose Bowl victory in 1978 and was a key defensive assistant for the dominant Pittsburgh Steelers teams of the 1970s, died last week. He was 85. Perles played football at Michigan State and later was an assistant coach, head coach, athletic director and member of the school’s governing body. Michigan State hired Perles in 1983 to revive its beleaguered football program. He did just that, winning Big Ten titles in 1987 and 1990 and coaching the team to seven bowls games. His 1987 team beat USC, 20-17, on January 1, 1988, for Michigan State’s first Rose Bowl win in more than three decades. Perles became Michigan State’s athletic director in 1990 against the wishes of the school’s president John DiBiaggio. He was forced to give up the AD job in 1992 and was fired as coach late in the 1994 season, as Michigan State became involved in an academic scandal. Nick Saban replaced Perles at Michigan State. Perles was born and raised in Detroit. He first played football at Tennessee, then at Florida State before winding up at Michigan State.
Buck Henry, the legendary scribe, screenwriter and comedy writer who co-wrote “The Graduate,” “Catch-22” and “To Die For,” and co-created the TV series “Get Smart,” died last week. He was 89. Henry’s other screenplays include “The Owl and the Pussycat,” “Heaven Can Wait” and “What’s Up Doc.” He occasionally had bit parts in the movies he wrote. Henry also guest starred on “30 Rock,” “Will & Grace,” “Franklin & Bash” and “Hot in Cleveland.” Henry Zuckerman was born on December 9, 1930 in New York City. His nickname, Buck, came from a grandfather, and he later made Buck Henry his legal name. From 1952 to 1954 he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Henry co-hosted “Saturday Night Live” 10 times.
Edd Byrnes, star of the 1950s and 1960s TV hit “77 Sunset Strip” who went on to co-star in the 1978 smash movie “Grease,” died last week at his home in Santa Monica, California. He was 87. Byrnes became a sensation as the co-star of the ABC detective drama “77 Sunset Strip.” He played Kookie, the parking lot attendant with the habit of running his comb through his slick hair. The Kookie character took on more fame when Byrnes teamed with Connie Stevens on the novelty record – “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb).” The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in April 1959 and climbed to No. 4. Byrnes also appeared as Kookie in crossover episodes with fellow ABC dramas “Hawaiian Eye” and “Surfside Six.” Byrnes was on “77 Sunset Strip” for five seasons. In the mid-1960s to the late 1990s, he enjoyed a long run in TV guest roles and supporting movie roles. Edward Byrne Breitenberger was born in New York City. He went to Hollywood in his early 20s. Before “77 Sunset Strip,” he logged roles on 1950s TV dramas “Wire Service,” “Navy Log” and “Crossroads.” He was featured in three episodes of “Maverick.” After his run as Kookie, Byrnes appeared on such series as “Burke’s Law,” “Honey West,” “Mannix,” “Love American Style,” “Adam-12,” “Marcus Welby, MD,” “Police Woman,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island” and “Murder She Wrote,” among many others. His film credits include “Darby’s Rangers” (1958), “Marjorie Morningstar” (1958), “Up Periscope” (1959) and “Yellowstone Kelly” (1959).
Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist for Rush died last week in Santa Monica, California. He was 67. Peart was widely considered one of the best drummers in rock history. A gifted writer, he was also the author of numerous books. Rush finished their final tour in 2015. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Rush formed in 1968. Their most successful album was 1981’s “Moving Pictures,” which sold four million copies. Neil Peart was born on September 12, 1952, in Ontario, Canada.
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