Week #3 - NCAA Ruminations

"Revolutionaries wait, For my head on a silver plate, Just a puppet on a lonely string, Oh whoever would want to be the king?" - Cold Play, Viva La Vida 

The ACC's John Swofford announced the deal with the Devil. That's right, the Fighting Irish, based in a state that wouldn't know an ocean if it fell in it, will become the newest member of the ever-expanding (into the Big East) Atlantic Coast Conference (coastal recognition optional). Exciting right!?!?! Almost. The Irish managed to elude having to suffer through games against a full ACC slate in order to protect its national image and historical rivalries. Outside of the fact that it appears this was a desperation move on the ACC's part to not get left in the dust behind the four Bigs (SEC, Big 12, Big 10, Pac 12), it isn't a relatively bad play. As much as I despise the Irish, they are a good draw. One could argue the same sort of relationship did NOT benefit Big East football but you can hardly blame the Irish for what went on there. I'll say this, check out Notre Dame's tentative schedule for 2016 (as provided in this Yahoo! article): "In 2016, for example, Notre Dame is scheduled to play ACC members Boston College, Syracuse, Miami and Pittsburgh. By adding just one more ACC game, it can maintain the rest of its national schedule that includes games with Texas, USC, Stanford, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Navy at a neutral site." Wow wow wow.

"They call Alabama the Crimson Tide, call me Deacon Blues" - Steely Dan, Deacon Blues

A little music trivia: The Steely Dan hit was, in fact, inspired by the 1970s era Alabama football team and the same era Wake Forest team. Yes, Demon Deacons, you were the inspiration for a "name when I lose." Yesterday, the Tide rolled over hapless Arkansas 52-0 in Fayetteville (Petrino would not have mattered) while about 850 miles southeast in Tallahassee, Wake Forest got blasted into the stone age by the exact same score of 52-0. Those Steely Dan cats knew what they were talking about.

"It's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all" - Genesis, That's All

Before the Virginia Tech Hokies left the Big East for the allegedly greener pastures of the ACC, it made a habit of losing to the Pitt Panthers in years when the Hokies had no business losing to the Pitt Panthers. Oddly enough, the Hokies had Pitt scheduled for this year, even before Pitt knew it was jumping ship from the Big East to join its old league rival. So here we are, nine years removed from the last of three consecutive losses the Hokies suffered against Pitt. The Hokies were ranked 13th in the country while Pitt limped into the match having lost to Youngstown State and getting blasted by Cincinnati. Naturally, Virginia Tech suffered its fourth straight loss to the Panthers in a pathetic effort yesterday.

"Ooh, that smell. Can't you smell that smell? Ooh, that smell. The smell of death surrounds you, yeah " - Lynyrd Skynyrd, That Smell

The ACC did a stellar job in presenting its case to be seriously considered int he future football landscape. In addition to the aforementioned Hokies loss to Pitt, BC and UNC lost road games to Northwestern and Louisville, respectively. Maryland dropped a home game to UConn.

"Hello, Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me, Is there anyone home?" - Pink Floyd, Comfortably Numb
This is a picture (courtesy of Yahoo! Sports) of the home team entrance for the Miami Hurricanes during yesterday's tilt against Bethune-Cookman:

"What have you done for me lately? Ooh ooh ooh yeah! What have you done for me lately? Ooh ooh ooh yeah!" - Janet Jackson, What Have You Done for Me Lately
Auburn survived UL-Monroe's bid to become the leader int eh SEC Western Conference standings by escaping with a 3 point overtime win after giving up 14 to the Warhawks in the 4th quarter. If Auburn lost this, I'm guessing Gene Chizik stood a 50/50 chance of keeping his job a mere two years after a national title. In other SEC news, Western Kentucky beat Kentucky, prompting chants of "Our one and done future starting five in hoops is better than yours!"

"So tell me people, am I going insane? Tell me people, am I going insane? " - Black Sabbath, Am I Going Insane

Louisiana Tech is, for some reason, a member of the Western Athletic Conference. LSU played a non-conference game against a Western Athletic Conference team in Baton Rouge yesterday. Of course, that team was Idaho. 

"Al right! Stop whatcha doin'. 'Cuz I'm about ta ruin. Tha image and the style that ya used to!" - The Digital Underground, The Humpty Dance

Dear USC, you and your snot-nosed brat of a coach are going to have to come to terms with the fact that Stanford owns you. And to the media - just because you can't help falling over yourself and ranking USC at the top of the heap, when a team coming off an 11-2 season that is ranked beats a team still under NCAA sanctions, that isn't a "monumental upset".

"What have I done to deserve such a fate? I realize I have left it too late. And so it's true, pride comes before a fall. I'm telling you so that you won't lose all" - The Beatles, I'm a Loser
Colorado is 0-3 this season. Having lost to Colorado State, Sacramento State, and Fresno State. The Fresno State loss was by a 55 point margin. Houston, who went 13-1 last year, is also 0-3 which includes an opening loss to Texas State.


"You are not what I thought you were" - Sara Bareilles, Love Song
Fresh off its upset loss to Oregon State, Wisconsin needed a missed FG by visiting Utah State to claim a 16 to 14 victory. You might not want to overlook UTEP next week before the Badgers take on Nebraska in Big 10 play.