2011 - week 11

It was an unprecedented week in college football. Huge matchups, big time upsets, and a scandal that will haunt a program forever.

I will say this about Penn State, and we will move on. It is sad that the legend(no more) Joe Paterno helped cover up Jerry Sandusky's sick, twisted acts of sexual child abuse. It is sad that he wasn't the only one covering it up. I'm sure there will be more facts come out about this ordeal, but for now we know what we know. As much as we all love college football, there has to come a time where just winning doesn't take priority over what is the right thing to do. Was Paterno and whoever else so caught up in maintaining a winning program that keeping a criminal under wraps seemed like a good idea? The answer is yes they did. And as much as people think, including the moronic Penn State fans who think Paterno did nothing wrong, he did. He literally kept quiet about a man who he knew committed these acts, and was continuing to do these horrible things. Paterno knew about it! As did the athletic director, and assistant coach Mike McQueary, who at this point is the only one who has come out and said he tried to stop one incident. But someone made him keep quiet. Sandusky was allowed to hang around the Penn State facilities this entire time, up until two weeks ago. Paterno, sadly, did a lot of things wrong. And now, the all time winningest coach in college football history will go down as a man who knowingly let another man commit sex acts to little boys time and time again, just so they would keep winning. Penn State and Paterno will not recover from this, ever.

Let's talk about the stuff that isn't so depressing.

Puzzling. This happens in football, some teams match up better with other teams, resulting in different outcomes. For instance, Texas Tech beats OU in Norman, OU the next weeks kills Kansas State on the road, the following week Oklahoma State barely survives a K State comeback that they probably should have lost in Stillwater. So logical thinking says Texas Tech-Oklahoma State should be a good game right? Nope! This one was over before it started. Okie State scored on every offensive possession in the first half, and took a 49-0 lead into halftime. Good lord! Brandon Weedon threw it around about as good as you can for an afternoon, going 31-37 for 423 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Pokes sit at number 2 in the BCS, and are in good shape with the OU game looming large. Tech on the other hand hasn't won since beating OU. In fact they have all been by large margins, 41-7 to powerhouse Iowa State, 52-20 at Texas, and this Okie State game, which was in Lubbock. What happened? Did they forget they still had to play some games before the season was over? Final score 66-6, Oklahoma State.

Speaking of blowouts.

I only bring them up because they are now relevant in the national picture. Houston is putting up insane offensive numbers. Their last four games they have scored 63, 73, 56, and 73 again. Granted it is against weak competition, but still impressive. They put up 735 total yards of offense, and Case Keenum is shattering the record books, and Houston is still undefeated. Their latest victim was little Tulane. Like I said, this is all against pretty weak teams, they do not belong in the BCS conversation, although we will hear about it incessantly for the next few weeks. Final score 73-17, Houston.

The reason Houston is being talked about.

Because Boise State is out of it! Woohoo! They were rolling along once again, and being talked about for sure getting to another BCS bowl if they went undefeated, as they were ranked 5th last week. There was even talk they could get into the national championship game if things fell their way. But thanks to the TCU Horned Frogs, that will not be the case. An extremely back and forth game that saw a ton of big plays and 952 yards of offense total, it all came down to the final minute, and the kicking game. As was the case last year when they lost to Nevada after Kyle Brotzman missed three field goals, Boise State had a chance to win the game in the final seconds with a field goal. But this time, it was Dan Goodale who was not able to convert on a 39 yard kick as time expired. HAHAHAHAHA! The more important play was the touchdown TCU scored before that. Head coach Gary Patterson went for two to take the lead instead of kicking the extra point to tie it. Massive cahoneys. Final score 36-35, TCU.

Alright this is getting old.

Tell me if you've heard this before? Texas A&M gives up a double digit lead in the second half, only to lose. Yes, you have heard it before. For the fourth time this year, it happened again. This time it was a 31-21 lead over Kansas State with 6:38 to go in the fourth quarter. K State was able to rally with a 53 yard td pass, and a filed goal on their next possession to tie it and send it to overtime. And it took four overtimes to decide this one. K State quarterback Colin Klein was able to punch it in form one yard out to seal the victory, and send the Aggies home with another blown lead. I mean really, as first this was funny, now its stupidity. What is A&M going to do next year in the SEC? Final score 53-50, Kansas State.

Don't look now.

But Oregon's only loss of the season was to number one LSU. After a demolishing at Stanford, the Ducks are looking good. After forcing John Elway #2, Andrew Luck to throw two picks, running one back for a touchdown, Oregon's offense went off. Stanford's physical play couldn't match the speed of the Ducks. LaMichael James ran for 146 yards and three scores, and showed why we shouldn't forget about him either after his horrific elbow injury earlier this season. Stanford is still a very good team, Oregon just looked better. Final score 53-30, Oregon.

Remember when?

I've said this already earlier in the season, but remember when Georgia was left for dead after starting 0-2 but then winning five straight? Well I can say it again, because they still haven't lost. They just look like a comletely different team. They completely dismantled Auburn this week 45-7, and if not for Arkansas, would have the best offense in the SEC. QB Aaron Murray is playing lights out, throwing 9 td's in his last two games. Frehsman running back Isiah Crowell is looking like a stud workhorse(even after he was suspended one game for hitting up the ganja). The Bulldogs are now 8-2, and if they beat Kentucky, will clinch the SEC East and head to Atlanta in three weeks. Who would have thought?

Still haven't turned it around.

Although they are better than last year, and are playing a lot of young guys, Texas isn't quite back yet. The quarterback carousel still isn't working, and never will, ever for anyone. And the running game, even with injuries to their top two rushers, is very inconsistent. They were only able to muster 247 yards of offense, and couldn't find the endzone against Missouri's defense. That isn't saying much. Why Texas was still even ranked is beyond me. Missouri beats them after losing six straight to Texas, and in the final meeting of the two conference schools. Final score 17-5, Missouri.

Best game no one watched - Toledo over Western Michigan 66-63, in regulation! Defensive coordinators for both schools should be kicked to the curb.

Another quiet, good team.

Virginia Tech's only loss of their season was to current ninth ranked Clemson. After beating a good Georgia Tech team this past Saturday, the Hokies are sitting at 9-1, and looking to win their fifth ACC title in only 7 years.

Somewhat satisfied, for now.

Arkansas took care of business against a struggling Tennessee team riddled with injuries. The Hogs turned in big play after big play, none more exciting than Joe Adams' 60 yard punt return. Adams broke 6 tackles, ran around in circles for about ten seconds, then found a seam and followed his blockers the rest of the way. Probably the best punt return of the year. Tyler Wilson was efficient, throwing for 224 yards and three scores. But again, the Hog defense was troubling. Tennessee moved the ball pretty consistently up and down the field with a true freshman QB making his first start, they just couldn't convert in the red zone. But if you keep them from scoring touchdowns, you'll take it. The better team did win out. Final score 49-7, Arkansas.

Until next week.