Week 8 Post-Amble: Why College Football Is Special

Brent Musberger said it best as Michigan State’s Keith Nichol powered across the goal line for the decisive touchdown over Wisconsin.

“This is why we love college football.”

Week 8 was a particularly special one for me. It wasn’t so much a rekindling — that fire burns eternal. Week 8 was, however, the perfect reminder of why college football is something I so readily dedicate myself to.

My Thursday night was dedicated to watching teams with a combined 4-8 record play on the ESPN national showcase. And it was worth every minute logged.

Of course, Thursday night’s clash was notable for, in order:

1. A streaker dressed as a referee.

2. The fight that broke out as two struggling teams took out their frustrations on one another immediately following said streaker’s appearance.

3. The likelihood UCLA’s 48-12 loss ensured Rick Neuheisel’s ouster as Bruin head coach.

Not exactly a marquee billing, and oh-so different from the incredible battle of ranked Big Ten teams Musberger called. Full disclosure is required for the reader: I am an Arizona alumnus, thus a trip down Tucson’s memory lane via a lopsided game is going to mean a whole lot more to me than others. However my experience is a universal one for every fan of a Division I football team.

The universities and the venues change, but all understand the eager anticipation leading to kickoff. They understand the gamut of emotions experienced vicariously through the team. They understand the elation of a win, and they know the kinship of toasting the team after a win.

There are ardent fans of NFL franchises who share similar bonds with their rooting interests, and this is no way meant to diminish that. However, the professional game is a business conducted by millionaires. The collegiate game is played by young men who aspire to one day be those professionals. In other words, college players are dreamers.

College football is much like college in that regard. Taking in the sights and watching the Zona Zoo student section brought back the wonderment of the time I spent on campus: meeting my future wife, forging best friendships, and chronicling the football program’s exploits for The Daily Wildcat (the reason this blog even exists, really).

Like the athletes on the gridiron, students pursue their dreams. We share classrooms, we share hangouts around campus, we share the youthful inclination that anything is possible.

The “Rocket” play MSU offensive coordinator Dan Roushar called on the final possession captured the anything-is-possible essence. Kirk Cousins heaved what wasn’t his best ball of the night, but as Nichol pulled it down it certainly proved the most important.

Professors emphasize abandoning preconceptions. Russell Wilson came into East Lansing the clear Heisman frontrunner of the Big Ten, yet Cousins left Spartan Stadium with better passing figures across the board:

Of course, it would be foolish to neglect Wilson’s 30 yards rushing and touchdown via the ground. Both captained their offenses effectively, but Cousins did what he was called upon just a touch better than his counterpart.

Maturation is a critical byproduct of the college experience, and MSU has shown it in recent weeks. Sparty rebounded from offensively deficient showings against Notre Dame and Ohio State to establish a run game vs. Michigan, then this week open the passing attack for Cousins.

In addition, MSU went without a single penalty against the Badgers. Zip, zero, zilch. Accusations of dirtiness were answered resoundingly via the clean sheet.

College is also about opportunity. With three players suspended, LSU reserves got theirs and made the most of it. The Tigers left no doubt, they are the nation’s elite and a reason for that is their depth. Les Miles was without Heisman candidate Tyran Mathieu, but in his place reserve cornerback Ron Brooks made an outstanding pass deflection at a juncture when the game was still competitive, and helped blow it open later with a pick-six.

video via The Times-Picayune

Jordan Jefferson has also made the most of his second opportunity. Since returning from suspension on Sept. , Jefferson has scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, and a pair of passing touchdowns. His second via the air was a 42-yard long ball to Rueben Randle. The two-quarterback system is usually a disaster waiting to happen, but Jarrett Lee may have put to bed any worries it will go catastrophically for the Tigers when on the next possession, he hit Randle from 46 yards out.

BCS Anarchy

Halloween is still more than a week away, but the horrors came early for aforementioned Wisconsin and Oklahoma. The Sooners and Badgers are the first of the legitimate BCS contenders to fall victim, but rest assured: like the teens axed in Act One of a Friday The 13th film, more are sure to follow.

Playing the slasher role to the Sooners was Texas Tech, losers of two straight in Big 12 play because of its inability to stop opposing offenses. Now, Tech didn’t exactly shut down Landry Jones and the uptempo Sooner offense. The Red Raiders did get enough stops at critical junctures to supplement the explosive offense, though.

OU came into Saturday’s contest having allowed just 95 points in six games. The 41 Tech dropped on the Sooners now accounts for 30 percent of all the scoring against OU this season. Major kudos are due TT offensive coordinator Neal Brown, who found ways to exploit OU where others could not. It didn’t hurt the Red Raiders used Seth Doege to the tune of 441 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions.

Landry Jones had a terrific game as well, racking up 412 yards and five touchdowns, but with Doege carving out the win the Red Raider quarterback has to garner national attention (more on that in a bit).

So where do the Badgers and Sooners go from here?

The last two BCS Championship games have featured two unbeatens, but for the previous three at least one team with a loss qualified. The Sooners and Badgers certainly aren’t disqualified yet, but both must join the anti-BCS legion in rooting for pure anarchy. Oregon, Stanford, K-State, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Boise State: all must lose to buoy UW and OU. LSU and Alabama may need to lose twice for either OU for UW to earn title game opportunities.

The Badgers can still win the Leaders Division of the Big Ten, which would earn them another crack at MSU should Sparty win the Legends. The Spartans still face Nebraska though, but either would be a BCS points boon to the Badgers.

Tech’s road victory over OU is proof positive that very few games are gimmes, but the most likely stumbling blocks for the remaining unbeaten are as follows:

• Nov. 12 vs. Oregon: Last season Stanford dominated Oregon in Autzen Stadium for a half; in the second, the Ducks rolled. That was SU’s last defeat. Can David Shaw do what Jim Harbaugh’s last season did not and topple UO?

• Nov. 26 vs. Notre Dame: As you can see, the meat of Stanford’s schedule comes at season’s end. Some of the luster’s come off the Irish after Saturday’s rout vs. USC no matter how shiny their helmets gleam. Nevertheless, the Irish are a good team, particularly on defense. Even in defeat the UND defense has played well.

Oklahoma State

• Oct. 29 vs. Baylor: Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon vs. Robert Griffin III and Kendall Wright. Defensive coordinators weep.

• Nov. 5 vs. Kansas State: If K-State pulls off the upset of Oklahoma this coming week, this game becomes monumental. Seemingly every weekend is a marquee showdown of quarterbacks in the Big 12, and this is no exception.

• Nov. 12 at Texas Tech: The Red Raiders proved they’re a force to reckon with. Seth Doege vs. Brandon Weeden airing the ball out should wear out a scoreboard light or two.

• Nov. 26 vs. Oklahoma: The Bedlam Game takes on unprecedented significance if both teams win out on the way to Stillwater.

Boise State

• Nov. 12 vs. TCU: TCU-Boise State has been a fun little rivalry of sorts the last few years. TCU spoiled BSU’s perfect 2008 in the Poinsettia Bowl, and the Broncos returned the favor at the next season’s Fiesta Bowl. The Mountain West moved this game to Boise after the Frogs announced their departure to the Big East — does TCU use this as a launching pad to one last MWC title before going to the Big 12 (not East)?

• Nov. 19 at San Diego State: SDSU has been a great home team the last season-and-a-half, and a defeat of presumed MWC heavyweight BSU would be quite the feather in the cap.

LSU

• Nov. 5 at Alabama: Game of the Century.

Alabama

• Nov. 5 vs. LSU: Ditto.

Clemson

• Oct. 29 at Georgia Tech: Some of the sting has been taken out of the Yellow Jackets, but a trip to Atlanta is a certain trap opportunity.

• Nov. 26 at South Carolina: The Tigers will see a Gamecock team without Marcus Lattimore, and with a quarterback who just recently stepped into the starter’s role.

Kansas State

• Oct. 29 vs. Oklahoma: K-State’s Cinderella run just keeps on going, but it’s worth noting that the Wildcats have gone 7-0 without facing A&M, OU or Oklahoma State. The Sooners haven’t lost to K-State since the Wildcats royally screwed up the BCS championship landscape in 2003.

• Nov. 5 at Oklahoma State: Should Bill Snyder’s Wildcats shock the nation (and intensify the frothy mouthed stupidity of certain pundits), the Big 12 title may very well be on the line in this unexpected showdown.

• Nov. 12 vs. Texas A&M: Texas A&M is forgotten seemingly, but not gone. The Aggies’ win over Texas Tech looks all the more impressive, and remain a force to reckon with in the Big 12.

#149; Nov. 19 at Texas: Young Texas will have nearly a season under its belt by the time the Wildcats come to Austin. Manny Diaz will have his hands full devising a scheme for the run-based K-State offense.

Houston is among the unbeaten ranks, but by virtue of playing exactly zero ranked teams thus far, with only two possibilities of doing so by season’s end (SMU Nov. 19, which is a stretch and predicated on the Mustangs going unbeaten until then, and Southern Miss in the C-USA Championship should the Golden Eagles maintain their current Top 25 positioning).

The Cougars will certainly not enter any championship discussion, and would need complete anarchy to reign to slip into the top 14 of the BCS rankings.

The scenarios are too convoluted to delve into here, but rest assured a future post is forthcoming to breakdown everything UH would need to attend a BCS bowl.

Heisman Hunt

The balance of Stanford’s offense has been a consistent talking point throughout the season. Perhaps Washington defensive coordinator Nick Holt missed that, as the Cardinal ran all over UW. But all that running meant Andrew Luck threw just 21 times, completing 16 for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Yeah, not really the kind of line that should draw criticism.

Trent Richardson may now be the overall frontrunner now, coming off a two-touchdown performance against Tennessee. He now has 17 scores on the season, more than any ball carrier but Temple’s Bernard Pierce and Wisconsin’s Montee Ball. Richardson is also running for 124 yards per game and has plenty of opportunities for more main event showings.

Ball may have lost at MSU, but his nation’s leading 19 touchdowns have him in consideration, particularly if the Badgers rebound.

DARK HORSES

The dark horses are multiplying, and their cases become increasingly difficult to ignore. Seth Doege for example has better passing statistics than Brandon Weeden in most categories, and Landry Jones across the board. Tech has two losses against in, so Doege is in a similar No Man’s Land as Robert Griffin III given the Heisman’s such a team award.

Collin Klein is also worthy of discussion right now, in large part because he’s not on that island of defeat. Though he’s passed for just eight touchdowns while throwing three interceptions, he’s scored 14 times on the ground. Hes also just shy of 100 yards rushing per game. He would need 130 next week to elevate to that level, and triple digit averages in two categories is a football equivalent of a triple-double in basketball or 30-30 in baseball.

Aforementioned Houston’s Case Keenum is having a ridiculous campaign: 23 touchdowns to just two interceptions, a 73 percent completion rating and a nation leading 2685 yards. Surely an undefeated season would have to garner Keenum genuine Heisman consideration and an invitation to New York.

Sammy Watkins provides the gusto of Clemson’s offense, but Tajh Boyd is the necessary engine. The Tiger sophomore has 24 touchdowns to just three interceptions, and nearly 2400 yards through the air.

Endangered Streaks

The end of Saturday night’s Navy-East Carolina game was a microcosm of the Mids’ season. Navy fought hard, played well, racked up points and were in it until the very end of a hotly contested affair. Yet in the end, a heartbreaking climax awaited the Midshipmen as the would-be game-tying field goal careened off the upright.

Navy is now 2-5 with Notre Dame still to come. The Mids can lose only once more to extend their eight-year bowl streak.

Any margin for error is more than Boston College has though, which faces the end of its 13-year streak now sitting at 1-6. The Eagles had to finish last season 5-0 to reach the KRAFT Fight Hunger Bowl, but thus far there’s been little to suggest the Eagles can replicate that stretch.

Utah boasts a consecutive bowl game streak as long as Navy’s, but like the Mids are below .500 heading into October’s final week. UU lost starting quarterback Jordan Wynn for the remainder of the season. That’s the bad news. The good news is UU finishes with Oregon State, Arizona, Washington State, UCLA and Colorado