College Football
Week 2 – After one game, Southern Miss fires coach
I guess that’s why
they call it the blues
We were supposed to get USC vs. Alabama, North Carolina at UCF, Michigan at Washington, Virginia vs. Georgia, Indiana at Wisconsin, TCU at California, Baylor vs. Ole Miss, Florida State vs. West Virginia, Purdue at Nebraska, etc. etc.
Instead, we got
Central Arkansas at UAB, South Alabama at Southern Miss, Eastern Kentucky at
Marshall, Middle Tennessee at Army, SMU at Texas State, Houston Baptist at
North Texas, Arkansas State at Memphis and Stephen F. Austin at UTEP.
“I guess that’s why they call it the blues”
Yeah, the opening weekend of the 2020 college football season didn’t exactly have brand names on its marquee. There were no Power Five teams playing.
But as the lyrics to the Bernie Taupin/Elton John song say, “things can only get better.”
Well, don’t hold your breath. This week, and the week after for that matter, aren’t much better. The good gets going when the going gets good. That will be in a couple of weeks – Week 4. In the meantime, you just have to grin and bear it.
Yes, the 2020 FBS college football season kicked off Thursday night with two games that took place next door to each other. In Birmingham, Alabama, UAB outscored Central Arkansas, 45-35. The Blazers had 459 total yards of offense.
Then 230 miles away in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, South Alabama upset Southern Miss, 32-21. The Jaguars had 526 total yards of offense. At least those two games were reasonably close.
Saturday’s games began with a couple of real nail biters. I’m not sure which game was more exciting or more thrilling – Marshall 59, Eastern Kentucky 0, or Army 42, Middle Tennessee 0.
First, in the Marshall game, the Herd racked up 627 total yards of offense and 34 first downs. Eastern Kentucky racked up all of seven first downs. Marshall quarterback Grant Wells threw four touchdown passes.
Then, in the Army game, the Cadets held Middle Tennessee to only 75 yards rushing and just 109 yards passing.
I have to tell you, I fell asleep during those two games. And I don’t fall asleep watching football. But they made for some good nap time.
Saturday’s games did get better. Next up, SMU edged Texas State, 31-24. The Mustang had 544 total yards of offense. SMU quarterback Shane Buechele passed for 367 of those yards and running back T.J. McDaniel rushed for 130 of the yards.
If you like a lot of offense, then the Houston Baptist at North Texas game was your cup of tea. North Texas won, 57-31. The teams combined for 1,290 total yards of offense. The Mean Green accounted for 721 of those yards.
Memphis and Arkansas State put on a good show Saturday night. Memphis came out on top, 37-24. Tigers quarterback Brady White threw four touchdown passes. In the nightcap, UTEP downed Stephen F. Austin, 24-14. UTEP dominated time of possession – 37 minutes.
Following a break on Sunday, the Labor Day Weekend of football wrapped up last night in Annapolis, Maryland. BYU put the hurt on Navy – big time. The Cougars annihilated the Goat Boys, 55-3. The score could have easily been 62-3, but BYU was gracious enough to take a couple of knees on the Navy goal line at the end of the game.
BYU had 580 total yards to 149 for Navy. The Cougars had 28 first downs to 7 for the Middies. BYU’s Tyler Allgeier rushed for 132 yards. It’s going to be a long season for Navy. It may be a longer Army-Navy game.
Teams from two of the three Power Five Conferences – the ACC and Big 12 – begin play this week. SEC teams do not begin play until September 26.
The biggest news of last week came out of Athens, Georgia. Jamie Newman, Georgia’s No. 1 quarterback announced he was opting out of the 2020 season. Newman, a graduate transfer, had specifically transferred to Georgia to play for the Dawgs this season. He was the starting quarterback at Wake Forest last season.
Newman’s opt-out apparently sets up another transfer to become Georgia’s starting quarterback. J.T. Daniels, who entered the transfer portal after the 2019 season, is set to move into the No. 1 spot. Daniels, a junior, played his freshman and sophomore seasons at USC. After transferring to Georgia, he was granted immediate eligibility to play by the NCAA.
One can only imagine how the loss of Newman will impact the Georgia football program this fall. Prior to Newman’s opt-out, Georgia and Florida were the co-favorites to win the SEC East Division, with a slight edge going to Georgia. Florida may now be the clear favorite to win the SEC East. Stay tuned!
Newman was the biggest news until Labor Day. Yesterday, Southern Miss fired head coach Jay Hopson after only one game into the season. The Golden Eagles, who were favored – big time – did look pretty bad in their loss to South Alabama on Thursday night. Hopson was in his fifth year at Sothern Miss with a record of 28-23.
The last time a coach got fired after one game into the season was in 1992. Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles fired head coach Jack Crowe after the Razorbacks’ opening game when Arkansas lost to The Citadel, 10-3. Crowe was in his third season at Arkansas.
Personally, I didn’t think any school would have the money to fire a coach in 2020. But when you are in your fifth year and you lose playing at home to a team you are heavily favored over, what else can you do. There was a time several years ago, and for many years, that Southern Miss was a real competitive team in college football. But in recent years, several recent years, Southern Miss has been a joke in college football.
The Big Ten remained in the news last week – big time. Thanks to the lawsuits, we learned that the Big Ten presidents and chancellors council voted 11-3 against a fall football season when they voted a month ago. Supposedly, the three schools who voted to play football were Iowa, Nebraska and Ohio State. The others voted against fall football.
Well, I can understand why Illinois, Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers didn’t want to play football. They rarely play football to begin with. But I would have thought that Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, and Wisconsin would have voted to play.
Then a rumor surfaced that the Big Ten was going to reverse its decision and start play on October 10. Hell, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh even said he could have his Wolverines ready to play in two weeks. Yeah, as long as they don’t open against Ohio State.
But the October 10 start turned out to be just that – a rumor. Meanwhile, we wait to see when the Big Ten will start play – Thanksgiving, January or February. Stay tuned!
In addition to Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman, more players continued to opt-out of the 2020 season last week. UCF lost at least 10 players, LSU four players – all opting out. Memphis lost its star running back Kenneth Gainwell. And Oklahoma star running back Kennedy Brooks has opted out. All told, among the teams still playing this fall, at least 93 players have opted out.
The SMU-TCU game that was scheduled for this Friday, September 11, was called off. TCU had too many players who recently tested positive to COVID. And it’s a good thing Tennessee isn’t playing anytime soon. The Vols have 44 players testing positive with COVID. At least one other SEC team is reported to be in the same boat as Tennessee.
Just yesterday, it was announced that the Tulsa at Oklahoma State game originally scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed. Tulsa has a COVID problem. The game will now be played on September 19.
The University of Utah athletic department has implemented a department-wide furlough, including athletic director Mark Harlan, football coach Kyle Whittingham and men’s basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak. Utah is facing a $50-60 million shortfall. The furlough is for an indefinite period of time. Other schools are facing shortfalls between $60-100 million.
Sadly, the so-called Olympic sports will be the victims of these financial shortfalls at colleges around the country. To date, at least 61 Division I colleges have already dropped one or more sports programs.
College basketball lost another legend. Two weeks ago it was Lute Olson. Last week it was John Thompson. The former Georgetown coach died on August 30. He was 78. Thompson was the head coach of Georgetown for 27 seasons from 1972 to 1999. In 1984, Georgetown won the NCAA national championship under Thompson. He became the first African-American head coach to win a major collegiate championship in basketball. In Thompson’s 27 seasons, the Hoyas made 24 post-season appearances – 20 in the NCAA tournament and four in the NIT.
Georgetown made it to three Final Fours. Thompson was Coach of the Year three times in the Big East Conference and was national Coach of the Year on three occasions. His overall record at Georgetown was 596-239. John Robert Thompson Jr. was born on September 2, 1941, in Washington, DC. He played college basketball at Providence and played two seasons for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. Prior to Georgetown, Thompson coached St. Anthony High School (Washington, DC) from 1966 to 1972.
Major League Baseball lost a legend too. Pitcher Tom Seaver, known as “Tom Terrific” died on August 31. He was 75. Pitching for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox, Seaver played 20 seasons, from 1967 to 1986, in Major League Baseball – mostly for the Mets (10 seasons) and the Reds (six seasons). His won-loss record was 311-205. He pitched the Mets to the 1969 World Series title. Seaver was a 12-time All-Star and won the National League Cy Young Award on three occasions. With the Reds in 1978, he pitched a no-hitter. After retiring from baseball, Seaver became a television color commentator, working for the Mets, the New York Yankees and with Vin Scully in 1989 for NBC. George Thomas Seaver was born was born on November 17, 1944, in Fresno, California.
Major League Baseball suffered a second loss of a legend on Sunday. Lou Brock, an outfielder who began his 19-year MLB career with the 1961 Chicago Cubs but spent the majority of his baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals, died on September 6. He was 81. Brock retired from the Cardinals at the end of the 1979 season. He played three seasons for the Cubs and 16 for the Cardinals. A six-time All-Star, Brock played on two World Series championship teams – the 1964 and 1967 Cardinals. He was known for breaking Ty Cobb’s all-time major league stolen base record in 1977.
Louis Clark Brock was born on June 18, 1939, in El Dorado, Arkansas. His family moved to Collinston, Louisiana, when he was two years old. In college, he played baseball for Southern University in Baton Rouge. After playing right field for the Cubs, Brock switched to left field when he joined the Cardinals in 1964. After retiring from baseball, he prospered as a florist in the St. Louis area. He worked as a color analyst for Monday night baseball on ABC in 1980 and for the Chicago White Sox telecasts in 1981.
Keep a smile on your face, college football fans. It does get better this week – a little.
If nothing else, I have at least learned a new term this season that I can start using. Whenever, Swamp Mama wants me to do something I don’t want to do or go someplace I don’t want to go, I can always say, “I think I’ll opt-out.”
Of course, Swamp Mama will push the button on her electronic whistle and cry, “Foul.”
“So dust out the demons inside
Touchdown Tom
Weekend Recap and Observations
No Power Five teams played on opening weekend. All nine games involved 14 Group of Five teams and four FCS teams. As awful as Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss looked, and as bad as UAB and North Texas looked on defense, I’m thinking Marshall could roll through C-USA this season. C-USA finished the weekend at 4-2.
Three AAC teams (SMU, Memphis, and Navy) played. Two won and one didn’t. The Sun Belt was 1-2.
Either BYU is a lot better than everybody thought or Navy is a lot worse than everybody thought. Regardless, BYU looked awfully good, while Navy looked awfully bad.
Referees this season are using an electronic whistle. The electronic whistle device hangs from their belt. It has a button that the referee pushes to make the whistle sound. However, it has been noted by the television commentators that the electronic whistle is often hard to hear, if heard at all.
Superlatives
Weekend’s Best Passers
SMU’s Shane Buechele – 26-36-2 for 367 yards (1TD).
Weekend’s Best Rushers
Navy’s Tyler Allgeier – 132 yards (2TDs); SMU’s T.J. McDaniel – 130 yards (1TD), and UAB’s Spencer Brown – 127 yards (1TD).
Quotes of the Week
“I am all in on the Notre Dame bandwagon. The SEC is going to beat each other up. Just look at the point spreads. It will be a one to two-point spread. Notre Dame will be involved in all but one. They are in a conference (ACC) right now that is struggling and the SEC is going to beat each other up. At the end of the day, I really believe Notre Dame and Clemson will be standing tall in the playoffs,” former coach Urban Meyer.
“I heard Paul Finebaum talking about Vanderbilt. He didn’t think they could win one game. To tell you the truth, I don’t know how Vanderbilt’s going to win one. They don’t have Arkansas on their schedule,” Steve Spurrier.
“Everybody has been we want to play as soon as we possibly can. And we’re ready to play. We could be ready to play a game in two weeks. Just get the pads on. Our guys have trained without a pause since June 15. That’s our position. We’re ready to play as soon as we possibly can play,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
Touchdown Tom’s
Predictions for
GAME OF THE WEEK: 1. Louisiana at Iowa State – (Sun Belt vs. Big 12) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN – Big things are expected from Iowa State in 2020. Of course, big things were expected last year too and they never materialized. The Cyclones finished 7-6. Granted Iowa State lost three of those games by a total of four points. But they do have quarterback Brock Purdy returning. That has Iowa State fans smiling. And the Cyclones’ defense is supposed to be better. Big things are expected from Louisiana too. The Rajin’ Cajuns were 11-3 last year. They barely lost the Big South Championship game to Appalachian State. Louisiana is supposed to challenge App State again this year for the Sun Belt title. The Cajuns sigh when they meet Cy – Iowa State 31, Louisiana 15.
RUNNER-UP: 2. Western Kentucky at Louisville – (C-USA vs. ACC) – 8 pm ET, Saturday, ACCN – Two intrastate neighbors get together for an incestuous affair. Louisville was supposed to be a bad team last year. But under first-year coach Scott Satterfield, the Cardinals were 8-5. They are supposed to be better this year. Similar story for Western Kentucky. After going 9-4 last year under first-year coach Tyson Helton, the Hilltoppers are supposed to be better this year. Louis pulls a Coupe de Ville – Louisville 32, Western Kentucky 25.
REST OF THE BEST: 3. Duke at Notre Dame – (ACC vs. ACC) – 2:30 pm ET, Saturday, NBC – Normally, the Dookies open against an FCS school. That’s changed. Last year they opened against Alabama. This year it is Notre Dame. The Dookies are biting the bullet from the get-go. Notre Dame is not only projected to be a Top 10 team, but also the Irish are projected to challenge Clemson for the ACC title. That’s right. Notre Dame is playing in the ACC this season. The Irish can win the ACC crown. They get off to a good start – Notre Dame 33, Duke 19.
4. Clemson at Wake Forest – (ACC vs. ACC) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – The best thing you can say about Wake Forest in this game is that ESPN’s College GameDay is in Winston-Salem. Now, who would have thought that would have ever happened. Well, thanks to COVID and thanks to opening against Clemson, Wake Forest wound up with GameDay. That’s about all the Deacons will be able to cheer about. Clemson is loaded. That’s all you have to say. The Tigers wake up in the forest – Clemson 40, Wake Forest 12.
5. Syracuse at North Carolina – (ACC vs. ACC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ACCN – Expectations are high for the Tar Heels. They should be with quarterback Sam Howell returning. He was nothing short of sensational last season. And that was his freshman year. Of course, he could suffer from the sophomore jinx this season. Syracuse was a disaster last year. This year, the Orange are a mystery. They could be a surprise team. Then again they could be a disaster again. Second-year coach Mack Brown has the Tar Heels headed in the right direction – North Carolina 30, Syracuse 17.
6. UAB (1-0) at Miami (Florida) – (C-USA vs. ACC) – 8 pm ET, Thursday, ACCN – UAB has a game under its belt. That could be a positive. But the Blazers defense looked terrible against an FCS team. Miami’s offense, led by quarterback D’Eriq King, will make mincemeat out of the Blazers. After all, it is Hurricane season – Miami 34, UAB 14.
7. Louisiana Tech at Baylor – (C-USA vs. Big 12) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, FOX – Baylor is coming off a strong season in 2019. The Bears were 11-3. But this year isn’t expected to be as good. Louisiana Tech was 10-3 last year. That record included a bowl-game win over Miami (Florida). La Tech will give Baylor a battle. But ultimately, Baylor grins and Bears it – Baylor 35, Louisiana Tech 20.
8. Tulane at South Alabama (1-0) – (AAC vs. Sun Belt) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN2 – South Alabama knocked off Southern Miss in its opener last week. The Jags are favored over Tulane. But I think the Green Wave will come through with an upset. The Jags can’t ride the Wave – Tulane 24, South Alabama 21.
9. Arkansas State (0-1) at Kansas State – (Sun Belt vs. Big 12) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, FS1 – Memphis is a good team and last week Arkansas State gave Memphis a run for its money. They should give Kansas State a run for its money too. K-State is really an unknown this season. No one knows what to expect out of them. Especially the Red Wolves – Kansas State 33, Arkansas State 22.
10. Georgia Tech at Florida State – (ACC vs. ACC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – A new era begins in Tallahassee. FSU has begun a lot of new eras since Bobby Bowden left. This is the third one. You know what they say: the third time is a charm. New coach Mike Norvell is rather charming. But that charm will wear off real fast if he doesn’t win. Under second-year coach Geoff Collins, the Yellow Jackets are still rebuilding. They don’t get much building done in Tallahassee – Florida State 27, Georgia Tech 19.
YE OLDE STOMPING
GROUNDS:
Eastern Kentucky (0-1) at West Virginia – (Ohio Valley vs. Big 12) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, FS1 – After beginning its tour of the Mountain State in Huntington last week, Eastern Kentucky continues its tour in Morgantown this week. The opening show of the tour was a disaster. This week it will be a wreck. This is Neal Brown’s second season at WVU. The climb continues. The Mountaineers make the Colonels look like Buck Privates – West Virginia 49, Eastern Kentucky 3.
UTEP (1-0) at Texas – (C-USA vs. Big 12) – 8 pm ET, Saturday, LHN – UTEP doesn’t win many games, but the Miners won their opener last week. That might be their last hurrah. Texas will have no trouble dominating this game. It’s just a question of how much the Horns dominate. Bevo is horny – Texas 37, UTEP 13.
ELSEWHERE AROUNBD FLORIDA:
Citadel at South Florida – (Southern vs. AAC) – 1 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN+….
Touchdown Tom
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but with Labor Day Weekend over, college football fans were hyped about the start of another season, the number one song in the country…
…75 years ago this week in 1945 was “On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe” by Johnny Mercer
…70 years ago this week in 1950 was “Goodnight Irene” by Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers
…65 years ago this week in 1955 was “The Yellow Rose Of Texas” by Mitch Miller
…60 years ago this week in 1960 was “It’s Now Or Never” by Elvis Presley
…55 years ago this week in 1965 was “Help” by The Beatles
…50 years ago this week in 1970 was “War” by Edwin Starr
…45 years ago this week in 1975 was “Rhinestone Cowboy” by Glen Campbell
…40 years ago this week in 1980 was “Upside Down” by Diana Ross
…35 years ago this week in 1985 was “St. Elmo’s Fire” by John Parr
…30 years ago this week in 1990 was “Blaze Of Glory” by Jon Bon Jovi
No comments:
Post a Comment