2011 - week 5

We're getting into the meat of the season now. Most everyone is in the full conference schedule now, and should be finding out about themselves. This is when it really starts to get interesting.

Still sound like a good idea?

Last week I verbally unloaded on the Hogs, and frankly, I want to again. But I won't. A win is a win, and if not for the heroics of Tyler Wilson and Jarius Wright, it would have been a massacre of words by me. The defense in the first half was atrocious, letting Texas A&M run for around 250 yards and score five touchdowns. But thankfully I was probably not the only one screaming at the players at halftime(they could hear me through the TV, I swear). The coaching staff did something right, because the second half was a different story. The defense clamped down and only allowed three points, even though they still continued to give up a lot of yards(628 total for the game, ouch). Jarius Wright continues to be the only receiver that can get open, and Greg Childs apparently doesn't feel like playing anymore. The running game is still non existent, but showed signs of life late in the game when they needed it. Broderick Green is back from an off-season knee injury, and looks to be ready to go. Tyler Wilson passed for 510 yards, breaking the school record by 101 for a game. I'm still not sure about this team, but again, it was a victory. And if there weren't enough Aggie jokes to begin with, more are bound to start surfacing. I've been saying for while now, A&M to the SEC isn't a good idea for them. I just don't get when they decided they actually belonged. Was it the 0-7 record against SEC teams since joining the Big 12, spanning 16 years? Or was it the fact that they just didn't realize what they were getting into before jumping ship out of jealousy to Texas? Even the Associated Press recap article had a line in it after the game that went something like, "get used to it A&M, it may be like this for a while." Noting how Arkansas fans were cheering after the game and yelling at Aggie fans, welcome to the SEC!! I mean, did the A&M higher-ups convos go like this, "hey, I'm really jealous of Texas' money and power in this conference, I have a great idea. Let's go to the best conference in the country, in fact, the best division in the land, to try to make them jealous. It's no big deal we can't compete with them, and haven't beaten a team from that conference in almost 20 years. We'll just say we're going for the recruiting and the money." I still say good luck. Final score 42-38, Arkansas.

Back to reality.

For now at least. Baylor's magical start to the season, and Robert Griffin's ridiculous stat sheet has taken a blow. After starting the season with only 12 incompletions to 13 touchdowns, and no interceptions, Griffin went 23-31(8 incompletions) and threw a pick. It was bound to happen, nobody can sustain that kind of success, especially at Baylor. It was a nice story, and Griffin is a good kid. But Kansas State came to play, and are sitting at 4-0 themselves. Bill Snyder for the second time has revived a lingering program, that guy can coach. And while Baylor can score on anyone, history shows that even with Griffin there, they can't handle success. Griffin may still make it to New York if he plays even close to what he has been doing. Final score 36-35, Kansas State.

Speaking of still undefeated.

Clemson? That team that always folds under high expectations? The one with the deuschy head coach? Yes, that Clemson. When looking at the schedule the last three weeks against Auburn, Florida State, and Virginia Tech, all ranked at the time, I would guess 1-2 if they were lucky. Nope. 3-0. 4-0 for the season after a convincing win over Va Tech, who I thought would kill them. Shows how much I know. I've mentioned before the true freshman Sammy Watkins, who continues to impress. And QB Tahj Boyd seems to be headed for a stellar season. The jury is still out on them though to see if they can keep it going. They have not been able to in the past. Final score 23-3, Clemson.

Rolling along.

It's been noted that Russell Wilson was a great fit at Wisconsin when he transferred in from NC State. But I didn't know it would be this good. Wisconsin was already a really good team. They have a great running game, and a solid defense. But with the addition of Wilson, they are just about as complete a team there is. He went 14-20 for 255 yards and 2 td's, no picks. With their running game, I don't think they can be stopped if he keeps putting up those numbers. On the flip side, the opponent was Nebraska, who on their own revenge tour from last year, and new beginnings chapter hasn't gone too well. They wanted so badly to avenge their Big 12 title game loss in '09 to Texas, but lost the rematch in '10. Then would have loved to beat an old rival in OU in their last Big 12 title game last year before bolting to the Big 10, but were unsuccessful there. And in said Big 10 debut, were crushed by this Wisconsin team. Not a good start. Good for me, I hate Nebraska. Final score, 48-17, Wisconsin.

Speaking of disappointment.

But is it really though? Super high expectations this year for South Carolina, and already they haven't lived up to it. For whatever reason, Steve Spurrier hasn't been able to get over the hump since taking over. Some people say they did last year by making it to the SEC title game last year, but they were run out of town by Auburn. And still managed to lose 5 games last season. Nice job. And we all know the "controversy" over starting QB Stephen Garcia, who after taking back his starting job three weeks ago, has been benched again, this time just for sucking. I though Garcia was the Gamecock's best option at quarterback, but it appears not to be. I don't think new starter Conner Shaw will be any better. But Spurrier has no choice. Point being that Auburn and their struggling defense was able to shut down Garcia and media darling running back Marcus Lattimore to just 289 total yards. While Auburn RB Michael Dyer ran 41 times for 141 yards and a score. Handing an SEC East team ANOTHER loss by an SEC West foe. Spurrier is now throwing in the towel and going with Shaw, who may provide a spark, but let's be honest, it won't matter. South Carolina under achieves again. Final score 16-13, Auburn.

Blowout of the week - Michigan over Minnesota, 58-0.

Dallas bests Ft. Worth.

SMU has enjoyed consecutive bowl trips and a program turnaround since the cheating days of the 80's. But the team just an hour away in TCU has had much more success, including a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin a year ago. But a season opening loss to Baylor, showed TCU was not the same team from the last couple of years. And this time, SMU was there to take it. Holding onto a 27-10 lead in the fourth quarter, on the road, SMU was riding high. But wait, TCU wasn't done. They came storming back to tie the game and send it to overtime! Surely the Mustangs weren't going to let this opportunity slip away. And they didn't. A 19 yard td pass in the first overtime by J.J. McDermott gave SMU the lead. They were then able to stop TCU on fourth down for the win! Yes! Final score 40-33, SMU.

Stat of the week - The guy who consistently gets awarded the most underrated coach in America, Mike Riley at Oregon State(never understood why), is now 0-4 on the season after this week's loss to Arizona. Underrated for what, not being mediocre enough?

What in the world happened?

Remember when Ohio State was probably going to be preseason ranked in the top five? Had a quarterback who was on the short list of real Heisman contenders? and who would have been going for what seemed to be their 48th straight Big 10 championship? Well less than a year later, they are 3-2, unranked, and scored a touchdown with 10 seconds left in  the game to avoid being shutout. Four of the suspended 'tattoo five' are coming back this week, the one not is of course former main man Terrelle Pryor, who bolted out of town. It may make a difference, it may not. It couldn't hurt. The defense seems to be okay, holding Michigan State to just 10 points. But when your quarterback situation is about as well off as if I was the starter, there's not much hope. True freshman Braxton Miller looks to get the start this week. He has the potential, but is nowhere near ready. It may take a couple more years to get the Buckeyes going again, and that's only to say they don't massive NCAA infractions from what happened last year. I also still don't think head coach Luke Fickell is the answer. It was a sentimental hire for a guy who had played there, and been a long time assistant. He gets two seasons max, and he's outta there. Final score 10-7, Michigan State.

New segment: The bonehead play of the week.

Goes to Navy quarterback Kriss Proctor. Not only does he not know how to spell Chris, but for acting like a big shot after he scored Navy's go ahead touchdown in the first overtime of a wild comeback. Navy roared back from being down 28-10 early in the fourth quarter to tie it and send it to overtime. That I'm awesome move to an Air Force defender after the score resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Which then lead to the extra point being pushed back 15 yards, which was then blocked by Air Force. All Air Force had to do was score and kick the extra point, and they win. So they did just that. Hey Kriss, next time, learn how to spell, and don't get in the face of an opposing player and cost your team the game against a rival. Nice going.

Sort of like the Boise State and TCU sections of years past.

But this time it's for LSU and Alabama. They are clearly the best two teams in the country, with almost identical styles. Both have suffocating defenses, and efficient offenses, and are loaded across the board with NFL talent. LSU handled Kentucky easily 35-7, with corner Tyrann Matheiu scoring ANOTHER touchdown on a fumble recovery. And Bama went into the Swamp at Florida and dismantled the Gators, 38-10.

Until next week.