All journalists, coaches, sports information directors, computer geeks and, of course, Lee Corso, must beg forgiveness for ever doubting the mighty Miami Hurricanes, and reconfigure their polls.
Here’s this week’s college football poll, compiled through unscientific observation from the Cheap Shots’ version of the BCS (Backside on Couch on Saturdays):
1. Miami
2. Nobody
3. Ohio State and Craig Krenzel’s, ahem, fortitude
4. Texas and Chris Simms’ reputation
5. Iowa. Yes, Iowa.
As you can see from the above poll, the Big Ten’s best have overcome adversity and referees, Texas lost at the perfect time (a month ago) and Nobody is close to Miami.
Ohio State survived a scare with Krenzel’s 4th-and-1 touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins to beat Purdue 10-6, but there was an upset in that game nonetheless: Replays showed that Ohio State’s half-ending field goal took place before time expired, proving that_brace yourselves_Big Ten referees made the right call.
That raises the Big Ten officials’ success rate to .247. New league motto: “Big Ten Refs: As Consistent as a Mud Hens’ utility infielder.”
Michigan State whipped Indiana 56-21 under interim coach Morris Watts. After the game, some Michigan State players acknowledged that they had considered boycotting the rest of the season in protest of Bobby Williams’ firing as coach. Of course, if they hadn’t mentally boycotted six games earlier this season, Williams would still be the coach.
Michigan State receiver Charles Rogers caught his 25th career touchdown pass, breaking the school record set by Kirk Gibson from 1975-78. Unfortunately, we’ll never know if Rogers could go yard on Dennis Eckersley.
In the days leading up to Texas A&M’s 30-26 upset of undefeated Oklahoma, Aggies coach R.C. Slocum was given a public vote of confidence by Texas A&M President Robert Gates. Public votes of confidence for coaches generally translate to: “Update your resume and call your Realtor.” In this case, the move worked and A&M beat a No.1 team for the first time in school history.
College football being a sport of followers, look for votes of confidence this week for:
Pittsburgh coach Walt Harris, who plays Miami.
Illinois coach Ron Turner, who plays Ohio State.
Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo, who coaches Indiana and needs all the help he can get.
Notre Dame fumbled and stumbled, but still beat Navy for the 39th straight time. Navy can take solace, at least, in the fact few members of the Fighting Irish over the last 39 years have ever used the word nautical.
“You can’t be proud after a loss,” Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco said.
True. The few and the proud are the Marines. And while they don’t have a football team, they remain three-point favorites this week over Navy.
The Fighting Irish came out in their traditional road white uniforms Saturday after some internal debate about whether the occasion called for beige or cream.
Brad Banks rates as the most efficient passer in the nation, leading many people to pose the question: Who’s Brad Banks?
Banks, Iowa’s quarterback, was 10-for-10 passing against Northwestern, which is the equivalent of 7-for-10 against a Big Ten program.
Michael Jenkins caught Ohio State’s game-winning touchdown pass to avoid an upset at Purdue. Omar Jenkins caught Notre Dame’s game-winning touchdown pass to avoid an upset at Navy. If Dusty Baker isn’t hired as manager, the Cubs should obviously throw the job to Ferguson Jenkins.
Baylor suffered its fourth shutout, a 41-0 loss to Texas, playing under fired coach Kevin Steele. Steele was given a vote of no confidence after a loss to Texas Tech last week, but agreed to coach until season’s end.
From now on, the cliche for coaching under duress and despair will be known as having “nerves of Steele.”
Air Force beat Army 49-30 to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, which was immediately put in a safe place, along with Dick Cheney.