Here’s some random thoughts on the week 3 games after having a day to digest everything.
- As I watched the Maryland-Cal game, something stuck me: it wasn’t too long ago that these were two programs on the rise. Neither seems to have been able to make the leap to occasional challenger to elite power.
The team Ralph Friedgen inherited in 2001 had gone 5-6 the previous year. They went 10-2 and won the ACC and followed that up with 11-3 (2002) and 10-3 (2003). In 2004, things seemed to turn sour, with the Terps going 5-6 followed by 5-6 in 2005. They snuck up on some folks in 2006 and finished 9-4, only to drop back to mediocre in 2007 at 6-7. They just can’t seem to take that next step to become a major player in the ACC year in and year out. With the ACC having an off year so far, maybe this is the year Maryland can turn things around.
In 2003, Jeff Tedford finally got his shot as head coach, taking over a Cal team that had won only 1 game the previous season. He immediately raised expectations when he finished 7-5 in his first season. Over the next few seasons, Cal steadily improved, going 8-6 (2003), 10-2 (2004), and 8-4 (2005). Tedford finally broke through and lead Cal to a 10-3 record and became co-Pac-10 champions in 2006. They promptly took a step back last year, when they 6 of their last 8 and finished 7-6 on the season. In each year that Tedford has been at Cal, they have been mentioned as the team that could knock USC of their throne, but each year they slip up against teams that they should beat. They just can’t seem to become the Pac-10 challenger that the conference needs.
It was strange to see these two teams who are on opposite sides of the country and have taken the same path face off.
- Speaking of the Maryland game, they have one ugly end-zone. It’s not as bad as the one in Knoxville, but it’s certainly not attractive. I don’t understand why they decided to put the state flag in the end zone as opposed to the team name or logo.
- Did anyone else notice that stands were pretty bare at the Clemson-NCSU game? The cameras panned the crowd right after the start of the 3rd quarter and it looked like an Atlanta Hawks game. The announcer even mistakenly said a “crowd of 80” before correcting himself to 80,000. Memorial Stadium has a seating capacity of 80,301 and the attendance for the game was reported as 76,500. But the stands looked to be holding considerably less. I was hoping that the good people of Clemson had finally realized that their season could only end in heartbreak as long as Tommy Bowden was their coach and decided not to show up in protest. But I guess that’s not the case.
- USC dominated Ohio State. It wasn’t even close. USC looked like they were playing a high school team. That makes 3 straight big games in which Ohio State has choked. At some point, the coaches and the AP writers will have to realize that they are over rated and stop ranking them in the top 5, right? It’s one thing to beat up on the weak teams in the Big Ten, but its whole different beast trying to beat teams with equal or greater talent than you. And Ohio Stat just can’t do it.
- The Gamecocks seem to have some sort of hex on the Bulldogs. They always manage to keep the game close, no matter the talent disparity (and it is considerable). They almost stole the game from the Dawgs, but Chris Smelley struck again and threw a killer pick near the goal line in the closing seconds that would have sent the game in to OT. SC also lost a fumble in the end zone that could have tied it up earlier in the game. But in the end the Dawgs escaped and their title hopes live on.
- Another thing I noticed about the UGA game was the announcers unashamed love for Matthew Stafford. They couldn’t do enough to kiss the ass of the “best NFL QB prospect in the country”. This is the same Matthew Stafford who needed his defense to make plays to beat the Gamecocks because he couldn’t. The same Matthew Stafford that could only manage 146 yards and no TDs against SC. When he made a mistake, it was the fault of his offensive line or his receivers. In fact, the announcers were talking about his progression over the years and mentioned that he struggled at times last year. And why did he struggle? Not because he’s not a very good QB or because he makes poor decisions. It was because “his receivers let him down.” When will people stop making excuses for Stafford? If he played on any other team, he’d be labeled a bust or an underachiever. But fortunately for him he has a great offensive line and a stable of stud running backs that are able to carry the team. Because he is clearly not cut out to do so.
- Sure it was against Nevada, but Chase Daniel put up some impressive numbers. That kid is good. He‘s another one who falls into the height trap that I don’t understand. Under 6 foot and foolishly shunned by the big schools in favor of “prototypical” QB’s.
- The Tide seemed to get their act together again, after not scoring an offensive TD against Tulane. Arkansas is up next and Bama hasn’t won in Fayetteville since 2002. They are to Alabama as SC is to UGA. They just play us tough every year, no matter how good or bad they are. This will be the first real test (and no, Clemson was not a test) that the Tide will face. This will give us a better idea of how the season will go.
- And I have to include this, since Mickey is a Michigan fan, but they performed poorly against Notre Dame. Michigan turned the ball over 6 times. With that many turnovers, even Notre Dame will be able to stay in the game. The good news is that Michigan has a much brighter future ahead of them. Rodriguez has been able to win at every place he’s coach. Weis struggled against New Mexico State, despite having the talent from three straight top 5 recruiting classes on his side.
- I’m guessing that the win over Tennessee was just a fluke.
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