2010 - week 5

Actually had a pretty nice little Saturday. College Gameday at 9 am, friend's apt for pre-OU/Texas, then Patio Grill for the game, I didn't know if I was going to have enough time! Sorry for the Old School reference, I couldn't help it. But really, it was a nice Saturday.

Here's why.

Living here in Dallas and having family ties to Oklahoma, I love OU/Texas weekend. It seems people here go crazy when it comes around, and that's a good thing. "I have a thousand friends coming in town, where are we watching the game? What time does it start? AHHHHH!!!" That's usually how a few conversations go when it's the week of. But most importantly, I love the actual game. For the past ten years or so, both teams have been ranked almost every single year, and a lot of times both in the top 10. There are star players galore, and the fans seem to take it up another level every year. This year was no exception. While both offenses played well, it was OU's who capitalized on their opportunities. Case in point is Texas had more total yards than OU, 373-360, but the Sooners had 26 first downs to Texas' 15. Landry Jones threw 2 td's with no interceptions, while Garrett Gilbert threw for more yards than Jones, but had 0 td's and one interception. And AGAIN OU had a comfortable lead late in the game, but let Texas hang around, and almost pull of a miraculous comeback. But thanks to Aaron Williams muffing a punt that OU recovered with just over a minute left, OU survived. If any of you thought the Sooners would come out of this early part of their schedule undefeated, than you are smarter than I am. I thought they might lose one, but they have made it through the fire, and on paper don't face anyone that they should lose to the rest of the season. Final score 28-20, Oklahoma.

Uh oh.

Alabama took care of business way too easily against Florida, in what was supposed to be the best game of the day. But it wasn't, not even close. Bama exposed what I have been saying all year, that Florida isn't NEARLY as good as people thought. Sometimes you can't just fill in new players, however talented, and expect to win every game every year. Gator QB John Brantley just isn't ready this year, but Florida will still probably win the SEC East, only because it flat out sucks over there. Too many people forget that Football Jesus was 9-4 his first year as the starter, after Florida had just won the national title the year before. Everyone thinks Tebow won every game he ever played in college. Brantley will be a good QB, just not right now. So now that the debate is clearly over as to who the best team in the SEC, and the nation is, we can move on. Alabama still may lose a game this year, don't know to who though. But I still believe they can win it all. Their offensive output against Florida wasn't even very productive, only mustering 273 yards total. But it didn't matter, they made every opportunity count, and turned one of the most boring, dominating performances of a high profile team this year. Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson barely broke a sweat. Final score 31-6, Alabama.

Thank God.

My man Terrelle Pryor doesn't need to be faking injuries to scare me into thinking I won't be able to watch him play. Luckily he ended up being okay, and only missed a quarter or so in Ohio State's lackluster performance at Illinois. What that did show me, is that backup QB Joe Bauserman will not be able to step right in and take over if Pryor did get seriously hurt. They went absolutely nowhere until Pryor came back in. It makes me think of how good Vince Young really was for Texas in '05. Without Pryor, the Buckeyes aren't going as far as they think they can. Final score 24-13, Ohio State.

Good Lord.

Oregon is really good. After stumbling out of the gate to an excellent Stanford team in the first half, the Ducks flipped the switch and went on a rampage! I faintly mentioned their offensive outputs in their first few games against nobodies, but this was against a top 10 team. LaMichael James is arguably the best running back in the country, and QB Darron Thomas showed he can run the show. I don't think there is ANYONE in the country that can stop them on offense. They went for 626 total yards, 238 passing, 388 rushing. Stanford QB Andrew Luck passed for 341 yards and two td's, and is still one of the best signal callers in the country, but it wasn't enough this time. Final score 52-31, Oregon.

Boise State and TCU started their conference schedules, which means blowouts from here on out. Boise State beat New Mexico State 59-0,(the absolute worst team in the nation) and TCU shut out Colorado State 27-0. Wow, impressive.

And now for the "what the bleep was that?" game of the week.

It goes to Tennessee at LSU. For the first time all season, LSU's offense showed up, and produced 434 total yards. But for some reason, the points weren't there, putting the Tigers down 14-10 early in the fourth quarter. Not much happened until the final minutes of the game, when all hell broke loose. LSU drives down inside the Tennessee five, clock winding down. Keep in mind, LSU has to score a touchdown to win. LSU QB Jordan Jefferson scrambles to the Tenn 1 with about 25 seconds left. LSU is out of time outs, so naturally they are spiking the ball. Wait, they're not spiking it! WHAT ARE THEY DOING?! LSU starts sending in different personnel, all while the clock is still counting down, 9..8..7, they're not getting set!! This prompts Tennessee to change their personnel, but chaos and confusion set in for the Vols, 5..4..3, clock still winding!! LSU gets lined up, 2...1, and center T-Bob Hebert hikes the ball that rolls past Jefferson because he wasn't ready for it. LSU falls on it, game over. WHAT?! Did LSU really just let the clock run out without getting a play off to lose the game?! What morons, Les Miles is being assassinated right now! But wait, after a minute or two celebration from Tennessee players and coaches, the refs signal everyone that the game is NOT over. When LSU snapped the ball, Tennessee had too many men on the field, substitution penalty, half the distance to goal. LSU lines up with no time on the clock, and runs it in for a score. Now the game is over, LSU wins. Did you get all of that. If not, here: http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/college-football/LSU-wins-with-wild-finish-798611

Nope sorry.

Denard Robinson did not hurt his leg bad enough last week to not play this week. I'm sure Indiana fans were hoping for that, but instead got the wrath of Robinson. This guy continues to pile up yards and touchdowns. I know it was against Indiana, a bottom feeder in the Big 10, but still. Robinson is making all the Rich Rod haters in Ann Arbor realize they guy can coach some offense. Against the Hoosiers, Denard went for 494 yards total and 5 td's! And Michigan needed every bit of it, considering Robinson scored the last one with 17 seconds left in the game to take the lead. I still don't really know how good the Wolverines are as a whole, but with Robinson, they will be in every game. I'm anxious to see how he does down the stretch in the Big 10 schedule, because they still have to play Michigan State, Iowa, and Ohio State. Final score 42-35. Michigan.

Speaking of sorry.

That's what A&M QB Jerrod Johnson should be telling his teammates after the game was over in Stillwater, OK. Johnson turned the ball over five times, and his team only lost by three. Has anyone ever heard me say it's not good to turn the ball over. I don't care how good your offense is playing, if you turn the ball over, your chances of losing just increased dramatically. Case in point, in the fourth quarter alone. A&M completely controlled the game, holding the ball for over 12 minutes in time of possession. Okie State only had it for a little over 2 minutes, but scored 10 points off two turnovers, and won the game. Not to discredit the Pokes offense, because it is good. It was the first time I actually got to see it. Kendall Hunter is an excellent running back, and receiver Justin Blackmon is the real deal. Final score 38-35, Oklahoma State.

Comical

The award for the most up and down, hilarious team no one would be able to figure out, would be Kansas. After losing in week one to North Dakota State 6-3, they go out the next week and beat 15th ranked Georgia Tech. Lose the next week to Southern Miss, beat New Mexico State the next week. And this past weekend get absolutely wiped off the field by Baylor of all people, 55-7. I mean, what is that? Head coach Turner Gill got props from me for beating a ranked team after you only scored three points against a horrific team and lost. But now I have no idea what he is doing. Sure Baylor is improved than the normal Baylor we're used to in past years, and QB Robert Griffin is the best player they've had in forever, but they're still Baylor! They will be lucky to win six games, and that will be their best season in twenty years! So Kansas, please continue to be so erratic week to week, so I can try to guess what the outcome of your game will be this week. Thank you. Final score 55-7, Baylor.

Speaking of horrific.

The Georgia Bulldogs have completely fallen off the face of the earth. I've said before that I didn't believe the preseason hype, but this? They are now 1-4 coming off a loss to Colorado. Not even the best receiver in the nation AJ Green returning could help them. I like Georgia, and head coach Mark Richt, but this is bad. He was on somewhat of a hot seat coming into this year, and if he doesn't get the ship righted IMMEDIATELY, he is gone. Hard to believe for a team that has consistently won a lot of games the past several years. QB Aaron Murray will be a stud, but he's young. And like all young quarterbacks there are struggles early, but I didn't expect a 1-4 start at all. The SEC East is a two team race already, and we're only in the third week of the conference schedule.

Again.

Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian has his old employer's number. In his first two seasons at Washington, after being the offensive coordinator at USC for four years, has beaten the Trojans on last second field goals. You don't hear a lot about USC these days do you? I still think Matt Barkley will be a first rate QB by the time he's done at USC, but the day finally belonged to Jake Locker. Talk about disappointing play the first few games, from a guy who many believe is a top five NFL draft pick. He played himself right out of that thinking, and out of the Heisman race before the first half of the season was over. But he came through against a big time opponent on the road, throwing for 310 yards and a score, and no picks. Frankly, there wasn't much defense to be spoken of at all, Washington had 536 total yards to USC's 484. Final score 32-31.

7th grade basketball score of the week - Ole Miss over Kentucky, 42-35.

Blowout of the week - Boise State's earlier mentioned win over New Mexico State. 59-0.

Arkansas had the week off.

Until next week,

Nance