CFW Week 0 Results - Upset in Dublin

 CFW Week 0 Results – Upset in Dublin

The Noles forgot to kiss the Blarney Stone

 

All three of Saturday’s televised games involving an FBS team ended in a walk off, if you will. Tied 21-21, in Dublin, Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King led the Yellow Jackets down the field in the closing minutes of the game. Tech’s Aidan Birr kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to give Georgia Tech a 24-21 upset win over Florida State.

 

In Albuquerque, trailing New Mexico, 31-28, quarterback Tommy Mellott led Montana State down the field in the closing minutes of the game. With 10 seconds left in the contest, Montana State’s Scottie Humphrey ploughed through the line for four-yards and a touchdown. The Bobcats beat New Mexico, 35-31.

 

In Reno, trailing Nevada, 24-23, quarterback Preston Stone drove SMU down the field in the closing minutes of the game. With 1:18 left on the clock, SMU’s R.J. Maryland scored a touchdown on a 34-yard pass from Stone. The Mustangs beat Nevada, 29-24.

 

I suppose you couldn’t have scripted those games any better. Not unless you are a Florida State, New Mexico or Nevada fan. The losses had to be bitter for the Seminoles, Lobos and Wolf Pack.

 

On Florida State’s opening drive in the first quarter, the Noles were unstoppable. They advanced the ball with ease, scoring to take an 8-0 early lead in the game. You had the feeling Florida State was going to clobber Georgia Tech. But as the game progressed, Florida State’s offense petered out and the Noles’ defense never did get its act together.

 

New Mexico had a 31-14 lead over Montana State, as the fourth quarter began. Granted, two of New Mexico’s touchdowns were scored by the Lobos’ defense – fumble recoveries returned for a score. The fourth quarter was disastrous for New Mexico. Montana State outscored the Lobos, 21-0, in the final period.

 

When Nevada went up 24-13 on SMU late in the third quarter, it looked like it was lights out for the Mustangs. But the Wolf Pack couldn’t get their act together in the fourth quarter. SMU outscored Nevada, 16-0, in the final period.

 

The only Florida State player who must have kissed the Blarney Stone was kicker Ryan Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald kicked two field goals – one for 52 yards and the other for 59 yards. It was a good day for field goal kickers. SMU’s Collin Rogers kicked a 52-yard FG, while New Mexico’s Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 45-yard field goal. And, of course, Georgia Tech’s Aidan Birr kicked a 44-yard field goal to win the game for the Yellow Jackets.  

 

Georgia Tech coach Brent Key has done an amazing job with the Yellow Jackets in the short time he has been coach. Key took over the program halfway through the 2022 season when Geoff Collins was fired. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Key played right guard for Georgia Tech (1997-2000).

 

In the only other game Saturday, involving an FBS team, Hawaii beat Delaware State, 35-14.

 

Former Texas Longhorns and NFL quarterback Colt McCoy is set to begin his college football broadcasting career. The Big Ten announced the addition of McCoy, saying he will work the booth as a game analyst, and will also appear on the Big Ten College Countdown studio show this season. McCoy will make his debut September 7 on NBC and Peacock, working the Colorado-Nebraska game in Lincoln on Big Ten Saturday Night.

 

And the beat goes on. Paul Finebaum continued his verbal abuse of football coaches last week. Add Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy to the list of coaches who have been on the receiving end of Finebaum’s venom of late. Of Gundy, Finebaum said, “To me it’s all negative because if you’re a player thinking about going to the school (Oklahoma State) and the head coach – who’s already known for being on the edge – just literally comes after players for asking for money, then why would you go there. Why in the world would you go play for Mike Gundy when you can play in Norman for a coach who understands where college football is today.” Gundy is the latest coach to be torched by Finebaum within the past several weeks. The other coaches were Deion Sanders, Lincoln Riley, Lane Kiffin, Matt Rhule, Jim Harbaugh and Dabo Swinney. 

 

According to reports, the Big 12 and Connecticut have been in talks, regarding UConn’s potential membership in the Big 12. Apparently, UConn is interested. The plan is for the Huskies to join the Big 12 on July 1, 2026, in all sports except football. UConn would join in football on July 1, 2031. Big 12 presidents are scheduled to meet this week to discuss the addition of Connecticut. Stay tuned!

 

Talk show host and media personality Phil Donahue died last week. On television, Donahue hosted The Phil Donahue Show, later known as Donahue, for a 29-year run on national television. It began in Dayton, Ohio, in 1967 and ended in New York City in 1996. Donahue graduated from Notre Dame in 1957 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Phillip John Donahue was 88.

 

You’re familiar with two-a-days? That’s when football teams have two practices a day during fall camp. Well, starting this week, CFW goes to two-a-weeks – Monday and Thursday mornings. Monday morning will be a recap of the previous weekend. Thursday morning will be a preview of the upcoming weekend. The two-a-weeks will remain in place throughout the regular season until we get into the bowl games. Then CFW will revert back to its weekly Monday morning slot.

 

The next CFW – Week 1 Forecast – will be posted Thursday morning August 29. 

 

Touchdown Tom

August 26, 2024

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

 

Week 0 Recap

 

Oh, Mikey boy, the fans, the fans are calling – Georgia Tech 24, Florida State 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Florida State 27, Georgia Tech 19). With 10:58 on the clock in the first quarter, Florida State took the opening lead over Georgia Tech at 8-0. But Tech came storming back. Just three and a half minutes later, the Yellow Jackets scored and trailed, 8-7. Early in the second quarter, FSU added a field goal and went up 11-7. Late in the second quarter, Georgia Tech scored a touchdown and went up 14-11. As time expired in the first half, Noles kicker Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a 59-yard field goal. The score was 14-14 at halftime. Neither team scored in the third quarter. Three seconds into the fourth quarter, Georgia Tech scored a touchdown and went up 21-14. Halfway through the fourth-quarter, FSU evened the score at 21-21. Tech won the game 24-21 on an Aidan Birr 44-yard field goal as time expired. FSU’s offense was marginal at best. The Noles’ defense was terrible. They gave up 336 total yards to Georgia Tech. The Jackets had 190 yards rushing. FSU had no ground game. The Noles had 193 yards passing on the arm of D.J. Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei was 19-27-0 passing, with no TDs. It was a clean game. Neither team suffered a turnover. And there were only four penalties total. Tech quarterback Haynes King was named the game’s MVP. He passed for 146 yards (11-17-0) and rushed for 54 yards. Attendance in Dublin: 47,998

 

Mustang Ranch – SMU 29, Nevada 24 (Touchdown Tom said: SMU 30, Nevada 22). After a slow start by both teams, Nevada finally scored with 1:07 to go in the first quarter. The Wolf Pack went up 7-0. Three minutes later, SMU scored a touchdown. The game was tied 7-7. Still in the second quarter, the two teams exchanged field goals. First Nevada, and the Pack were up 10-7. SMU followed and the score was tied again, 10-10. Then with just nine seconds to go before halftime, Nevada scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The Pack led at the break, 17-10. About three minutes into the third quarter, SMU kicked a field goal and trailed, 17-13. Late in the third quarter, Nevada scored a touchdown and increased its lead to 24-23. The Wolf Pack would never score again. With 8”01 to go in the third quarter, SMU added a touchdown. The Mustangs trailed, 24-21. Less than a minute later, SMU got a safety and trailed 24-23. Following a six-minute lull by both teams, SMU scored a touchdown with 1:18 left in the game. The Ponies held on to win, 29-24. The game was marred with penalties – 11 on each team, 22 in all. Neither team had a ground game and Nevada didn’t have a passing game. SMU passed for 308 yards. Time of possession favored Nevada – 36:17 to 23:43. Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis had 132 yards passing and 77 yards rushing for a total of 209 yards. Attendance in Reno: 20,263

 

Week 0 Results: 1 winner, 1 fumble (50 percent)

 

 

ELSWHERE AREOUND FLORIDA:

 

Florida A&M 24, Norfolk State 23 – Attendance in Atlanta: 22,210

 

 

Superlatives

 

Week 0’s Best Passers:

 

SMU’s Preston Stone – 17-30-1-254 (1TD);

 

Week 0’s Best Rushers:

 

New Mexico’s Eli Sanders – 87 yards; Nevada’s Brendon Lewis – 77 yards; Georgia Tech’s Jamal Haynes – 75 yards (2TDs);

 

 

Quotes of the Week

 

“I’m going to pick the Gators to finish somewhere around fifth or sixth in the SEC, winning between eight and 10 games – maybe nine,” former Florida coach Steve Spurrier, on this year’s Gators.

 

“The best part about this season is maybe Florida State fans will quit talking about last season,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum.

 

“It’s not how you start,” college football analyst and former Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell, on FSU’s loss to Georgia Tech.

 

“Out of all the people ESPN has fired, how does he still have a job,” an Ohio State fan, on ESPN GameDay’s Desmond Howard.

 

Touchdown Tom

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

P.S.

 

Not exactly college football related, but as the Labor Day Weekend approached and college football fans were hyped for the start of another season, the number one song in the country…

 

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

 

…75 years ago, this week in 1949, was “Some Enchanted Evening” by Perry Como

 

…70 years ago, this week in 1954, was “Sh-Boom” by The Crew-Cuts with David Carroll and His Orchestra

 

…65 years ago, this week in 1959, was “The Three Bells” by The Browns

 

…60 years ago, this week in 1964, was “Where Did Our Love Go” by The Supremes

 

…55 years ago, this week in 1969, was “Honky Tonk Women” by The Rolling Stones

 

…50 years ago, this week in 1974, was “(You’re) Having My Baby” by Paul Anka and Odia Coates

 

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

 

…40 years ago, this week in 1984, was “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.

 

…35 years ago, this week in 1989, was “Right Here Waiting” by Richard Marx