The SEC West is redefining 4x4
This week in NCAA Ruminations, I ask the question, "Should we just reschedule LSU and Alabama for the national title game?" Given the gushing over the two programs after week 2, we might as well. Sure they play each other in early November, but what else stands in the way? Certainly not Arkansas, ahem LA-Monroe. Certainly not anyone from the SEC East (What? You are buying into Florida and South Carolina?). We learned last year that regular season games don't' matter with these two. Where 4x4 normally means a preferred means of transportation to the Swampers in Bama and Louisiana, now it just means, "Give us this game four times in two years and call the winner of the even numbered game the title holder."
Before we get too crazy though, let's look a little closer. Bama, to date, eviscerated Michigan and blanked Western Kentucky 35-0. Let's toss Western Kentucky out. It may not be an FCS program but it should be. And what about that Michigan win. Was that a matter of the finest football machine of all time firing on all cylinders or could it be that the Wolverines simply aren't that strong. It did take the Maize and Blue a while to put Air Force away. Bama plays at Arkansas next weekend. That would have been a top ten match-up were it not for the tumble the Hogs took all the way from 8th and out of the top 25.
And what about LSU? Week 1 was North Texas (see Western Kentucky above). Week two, the Tigers thoroughly dismantled Washington. Heck, North Texas managed to score more points than the Huskies' measly 3. That is impressive against a Big 6 squad but remember, Washington was a 7-6 team last year. Up next for the Tiger is Idaho (making a play for the Northwest territories Les?), at 0-2 and hapless Auburn, and then Towson (Towson????)
It's fine that we recognize these are two very good programs, but let's not get carried away, mmmmkay ES(ec)PN?
Big 10 Blues
It has been widely reported that the Big 10 absolutely stunk it up last weekend. This was not an exaggeration. Penn State couldn't manage more than one field goal with FIVE chances at them and lost to UVA on the road. The way UVA played, this might have been the Nittany Lions last chance at victory. (side note to the preppy doofuses in Charlottesville - when you require four missed field goals to beat a school that is under the most severe NCAA penalty ever administered short of the death penalty, you don't rush the field). Purdue gagged yet another opportunity against Notre Dame. Nebraska lost a shoot out with UCLA. Iowa set back offensive football 80 years with a 6 point performance in a loss to Iowa State (who only managed 9 points). And finally, Wisconsin, an early favorite as a national title contender, lost to Oregon State on the road and managed 7 points and 81 yards gross rushing (net 31). Thank goodness for Indiana and Northwestern, both of whom are 2-0.
Speaking of Wisconsin, it was announced today that the offensive line coach was FIRED! After two games - yikes!
Pac 10 Stuff
Outside of Colorado's absolute putridness, the PAC 10 is representing itself well. The most eye-opening result of the weekend was not Oregon State's upset of Wisconsin, it was Arizona's dismantling of Oklahoma State. Yes, RichRod knows offense. is it fair to say USC might present a challenge to teams from either Tuscaloosa or Baton Rouge? Everyone remarked about how pedestrian USC's win over Syracuse was. #1 the game was in the Meadowlands and #2 Matt Barkley threw for six TD's! The Trojans score at will.
ACC Stuff
Miami is horrible and likely will be for a while. End of ACC stuff.
Some Interesting Tidbits
VIP Award goes to the medical staffs for Tulane and Tulsa
After a collision with his own teammate Saturday, Tulane's Devon Walker suffered a broken neck. It was one of those plays that look like thousands of other plays on any given Saturday in NCAAF, only at the end of it, a body went limp. The medical staffs of both teams set to work on Walker immediately and, as reported by ESPN, the treatment included an ON THE FIELD TRACHEOTOMY! It was reported Monday that Walker was in stable condition. His long term prognosis is unclear but it is possible at this point that long-term paralysis may not occur. Walker seems to be one of the actual STUDENT-athletes, majoring in cell and molecular biology. VIP award tot he staffs and best wishes to Walker for a recovery.
This week in NCAA Ruminations, I ask the question, "Should we just reschedule LSU and Alabama for the national title game?" Given the gushing over the two programs after week 2, we might as well. Sure they play each other in early November, but what else stands in the way? Certainly not Arkansas, ahem LA-Monroe. Certainly not anyone from the SEC East (What? You are buying into Florida and South Carolina?). We learned last year that regular season games don't' matter with these two. Where 4x4 normally means a preferred means of transportation to the Swampers in Bama and Louisiana, now it just means, "Give us this game four times in two years and call the winner of the even numbered game the title holder."
Before we get too crazy though, let's look a little closer. Bama, to date, eviscerated Michigan and blanked Western Kentucky 35-0. Let's toss Western Kentucky out. It may not be an FCS program but it should be. And what about that Michigan win. Was that a matter of the finest football machine of all time firing on all cylinders or could it be that the Wolverines simply aren't that strong. It did take the Maize and Blue a while to put Air Force away. Bama plays at Arkansas next weekend. That would have been a top ten match-up were it not for the tumble the Hogs took all the way from 8th and out of the top 25.
And what about LSU? Week 1 was North Texas (see Western Kentucky above). Week two, the Tigers thoroughly dismantled Washington. Heck, North Texas managed to score more points than the Huskies' measly 3. That is impressive against a Big 6 squad but remember, Washington was a 7-6 team last year. Up next for the Tiger is Idaho (making a play for the Northwest territories Les?), at 0-2 and hapless Auburn, and then Towson (Towson????)
It's fine that we recognize these are two very good programs, but let's not get carried away, mmmmkay ES(ec)PN?
Big 10 Blues
It has been widely reported that the Big 10 absolutely stunk it up last weekend. This was not an exaggeration. Penn State couldn't manage more than one field goal with FIVE chances at them and lost to UVA on the road. The way UVA played, this might have been the Nittany Lions last chance at victory. (side note to the preppy doofuses in Charlottesville - when you require four missed field goals to beat a school that is under the most severe NCAA penalty ever administered short of the death penalty, you don't rush the field). Purdue gagged yet another opportunity against Notre Dame. Nebraska lost a shoot out with UCLA. Iowa set back offensive football 80 years with a 6 point performance in a loss to Iowa State (who only managed 9 points). And finally, Wisconsin, an early favorite as a national title contender, lost to Oregon State on the road and managed 7 points and 81 yards gross rushing (net 31). Thank goodness for Indiana and Northwestern, both of whom are 2-0.
Speaking of Wisconsin, it was announced today that the offensive line coach was FIRED! After two games - yikes!
Pac 10 Stuff
Outside of Colorado's absolute putridness, the PAC 10 is representing itself well. The most eye-opening result of the weekend was not Oregon State's upset of Wisconsin, it was Arizona's dismantling of Oklahoma State. Yes, RichRod knows offense. is it fair to say USC might present a challenge to teams from either Tuscaloosa or Baton Rouge? Everyone remarked about how pedestrian USC's win over Syracuse was. #1 the game was in the Meadowlands and #2 Matt Barkley threw for six TD's! The Trojans score at will.
ACC Stuff
Miami is horrible and likely will be for a while. End of ACC stuff.
Some Interesting Tidbits
- Two weeks into the season and Conference USA doesn't have one undefeated team among its 12 members.
- Two weeks into the season and the Mountain West conference doesn't have one undefeated team among its 10 members.
- Two weeks into the season and only 1 of 14 MAC teams is undefeated.
- Louisana-Monroe opened the season with Arkansas. Up next is Auburn. (If they win that one, do they get a crack at the SEC West title?) After that is Baylor.
VIP Award goes to the medical staffs for Tulane and Tulsa
After a collision with his own teammate Saturday, Tulane's Devon Walker suffered a broken neck. It was one of those plays that look like thousands of other plays on any given Saturday in NCAAF, only at the end of it, a body went limp. The medical staffs of both teams set to work on Walker immediately and, as reported by ESPN, the treatment included an ON THE FIELD TRACHEOTOMY! It was reported Monday that Walker was in stable condition. His long term prognosis is unclear but it is possible at this point that long-term paralysis may not occur. Walker seems to be one of the actual STUDENT-athletes, majoring in cell and molecular biology. VIP award tot he staffs and best wishes to Walker for a recovery.
No comments:
Post a Comment