NCAA Football With Shobe: Week 2
Week 2 in the college pigskin saga has finally revealed a proper upset (or two); a question about which teams appear to be "dominant" early in the season vs. merely sleepwalking through inferior patsies (does this even matter in week 2?); and a pesky Fresno State situation. Around the action in ~300 words; we'll go places Corso's not so fast to visit, my friend.
UPSETS, UPSETS, UPSETS
In sport, the best drama comes from the improbable outcome. Last weekend saw nothing of the kind - there were no upsets among the Top 25. This week? Haw. Har-dee-har-haw!
First: can anyone truthfully say they're completely surprised/shocked/dismayed that Notre Dame found shelter in the arms of Touchdown Jesus and sent Michigan's woeful ground attack packing in the second half? I certainly have little love for the Leprechaun and his minions in South Bend, but I sure as hell have respect for the power of mystique and tradition; there's no such thing as a walk in Notre Dame's home stadium, even during the most uncertain days of the Ty Willingham movement. I didn't see any of the game except as highlights, but I did catch the 4th quarter on the radio. Sounds like Michigan suffered from some freakish turnovers, bad decisionmaking in playbook choice (if the pass works, Lloyd, why keep calling halfback toss right? huh?), and a mostly demoralized defense in the face of the usual Papal magic act. ND fans, your penitent days may be behind you. That said, I *really* want Navy to find away against these guys. A 41-year losing streak just isn't good for the war effort.
Second, BCS conspiracy theorists: your new black helicopter is Fresno State. A solid walloping of a (vastly overrated?) Kansas State side has left a whole lotta flat-grade asphalt in front of the surging wheels of the Bulldog New Year's Day Express. Who's going to derail an undefeated season for them now? Fun Stuff. Glad the Boilers didn't have to stare them down in the pre-conference season, I tell you whut.
Third: Nebraska -- in Lincoln -- to Southern Freaking Missisippi, shaved 21-17. The old adage, "three turnovers and you should lose, four and you will lose," caught the Blackshirts napping at home. I can only imagine the howling rage and heavenward-directed fist-shaking in the tailgating acres outside of Memorial Stadium. I doubt Bill Callahan was pleased.
DOMINANCE
It's only week 2, so it's fun to pretend like any of this stuff we've seen so far really matters in telling more about conference and national title pictures. Separation Saturday this ain't. That said, I heard John Saunders on ABC already labeling USC's performance against CSU as sure evidence of USC's "dominance." Shoot, same could be said of Oklahoma (63-16 over hapless Houston), LSU over Arkansas State (53-3), Florida over the fabulous Eastern Michigan {mascot} (49-10), even Hampton over those wildmen from Howard (47-14). So, since Purdue was a house afire against Ball State by a 59-7 margin, that must be worth at least a three slot drop in the AP given last weekend's polling logic. By transitive property, that also means the Boilers should get at least a half victory over Boston College, even though they out-tested Penn State and a much-rankled JoePa.
Having seen Kyle Orton's effort in person today, I gotta say the guy has accuracy I simply haven't seen in the college game since I really started to care in my early 20s. He threw three passes today for 30+ yards that could only be caught by his intended receiver in that over-the-shoulder, gotta-make-you-cartwheel-to-get-it way of his. I think Orton was 26 for 29? That's scandalous. Here's hoping Purdue can find some of this same juju when it heads to Notre Dame in two weeks. The Domers are apparently back in the business of stirring up the echoes again, so nothing's for certain, vegas handicappers be damned. Purdue hasn't won in South Bend since Hester Prynne was fending off suitors with pointy hats from Back Bay. So yeah, I'm still concerned.
Stop the presses...I see here Western Illinois beat Cheyney 98-7. Sheezus. Did the Western O-line get to drive their pickup trucks in-game? It's a good thing they didn't tack on a field goal because I don't think ESPNEWS' ticker supports three digit scores. If that's not dominance (albeit of the divsion II variety), then what the flip is?
TO THE MAC AND BACK
It doesn't look like this is the year for big MAC upsets over proven powers in the Big Ten (among other places). Or, is it? Marshall, Marshall, Marshall! You pulled this week's Oregon State, by the looks of the final score and that last-gasp OSU field goal to top you in regulation. The ghost of Craig Krenzel Past, or something. That damned Buckeye good fortune seems to be in early effect. OSU hasn't lost at home in 17 games, and the Thundering Herd just came so daggone close.
Other MAC teams playing ranked or significant opponents went 0-fer today, especially the unfortunate Western Michigan Cowboys, victims of a 63-0 stonewalling at the hands of Virginia Tech. MAC teams still represent trouble to the unsuspecting, but no one from this conference is going to pull a fast one this season, it seems.
WHERE IS THIS ALL HEADED?
Oh c'mon. Still too early to tell. But it's going to be a great season. I have little reason to doubt USC, Miami, Oklahoma, and LSU will be the usual suspects. But the Big Ten remains wide open (Iowa? Purdue? Sure, make room OSU and UM) and the Big 12 seems to be trouble, so there should be something to savor each Saturday morning.