Links at Lunch: On Losing, Winning, and Perspective
By Kyle Kensing
Oregon’s 56-31 undressing of Arizona Saturday night in Tucson was a huge sigh of relief for the Ducks, writes Autzen Zoo’s Kristi Rifenbark. For the Ducks, Saturday was an exhibition in the quick strike offense still functioning. But for Arizona, major concerns swell. Los Angeles Times football columnist Chris Dufresne included UA in his break down of teams suffering some demoralizing losses to open the campaign.
Yet, no matter how bad things seem in Tucson, some losses to top 10 teams pale in comparison to what Wildcat basketball player Kevin Parrom endured this weekend. The junior guard-forward was shot Sunday reports Kevin Zimmerman at AZDesertSwarm.com. Parrom is thankfully doing well, but his shooting is a reminder of the tragedy that has befallen college athletes all too often in recent years. UConn’s Jasper Howard and Miami’s Bryan Pata were killed in the last five years, and are just two horrific examples. It puts the significance of on-field action in perspective.
On a lighter and far more frivolous note, Wisconsin-Nebraska is ahead and the Game of the Week here on SaturdayBlitz.com. Links after the jump.
- HuskerLocker.com analyzes all Nebraska fans need to know about their first ever Big Ten opponent.
- Likewise, Bucky’s 5th Quarter looks at the Huskers and asks, have the Huskers been playing possum?
- Nebraska may seem to be underachieving in pedestrian defeats of Fresno State and Wyoming, but tell that to the Cowboys. Nebraska rolled into Laramie and won big. 7220Report.com grades out UW’s performance.
- Clemson as a Week 4 big winner and is shocking the nation. Shakin’ The Southland writes CU is developing some much needed swagger headed into a road test at unbeaten Virginia Tech.
- Fellow ACC program Miami isn’t having such a great start to its season, falling inches shy in a loss to Kansas State. But for the Wildcats, things are looking good. Kurt Snyder is off to his 16th 3-0 start in Manhattan, and Jonathan Clubb at Jug Of Snyder had some thoughts on K-State’s first test of 2011.
- Another ACC member Maryland has some glaring flaws to address after a 38-7 thrashing vs. Temple, and things get worse for the Terrapins even when they get better. Pete Volk reports at TerrapinStationMD.com, UM adds one player and loses another for the Week 5 tilt vs. Towson.
- Towson’s off to a surprising 3-0 start headed into their paycheck game at Maryland. The Tigers are one of the non-FBS stories to follow. Another is Northwest Missouri State, which Matt Elder featured in his debut small school column at Crystal Ball Run.
- West Virginia is shaking off the cobwebs of a home loss to LSU. Dana Holgorsen spoke of the Mountaineers moving forward in his weekly teleconference, recapped at HailWV.com
- Your obligatory SEC link: Roll Bama Roll consolidates everything you’re wondering about the super-conference into a notebook.