October 27, 2007
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan's Mike Hart and Chad Henne did not play because of injuries Saturday against Minnesota.
Hart has missed 2 1/2 games since appearing to injure his right ankle. Henne was on and off the field in last week's win at Illinois with an unknown injury.
The No. 19 Wolverines might've kept the senior stars off the field against the lowly Golden Gophers to rest them for the final three games of the regular season: at Michigan State, at Wisconsin and against top-ranked Ohio State at home.
Sophomore Carlos Brown replaced Hart and freshman Ryan Mallett played for Henne in the starting lineup.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
No. 18 Cal looking to end slide against seventh-ranked Sun Devils
By ANDREW BAGNATO, AP College Football Writer
October 25, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Three weeks ago, the California Golden Bears were dreaming about winning a national title.
Now they'd simply like to win a game. Back-to-back losses have dropped the Bears to No. 17 from No. 2.
Meanwhile, Arizona State has leaped from No. 18 to No. 7 and inherited all of Cal's national ambitions.
Two programs headed in opposite directions collide in the desert on Saturday night.
"We're very realistic about where we're at and the direction that we're trying to go in," Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said. "We're going to get tested. Our team knows that. We're playing who I think is one of the best teams in the country."
For ASU (7-0, 4-0 Pac-10), the game is an opportunity to make a national statement and keep climbing in the rankings. For Cal (5-2, 2-2 Pac-10), it's the last chance to salvage a shot at the Rose Bowl.
"I think it's important that we bounce back, we regroup, and that we still have confidence in who we are and what we're all about," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "We're a couple of plays away from being undefeated. It's disappointing, there's no question about it."
The game might draw a rare sellout in 71,706-seat Sun Devil Stadium.
Erickson's 7-0 start is the best in school history, and he's the first coach to win his first four Pac-10 games at ASU.
The fifth looks as if it will be far tougher than the others. ASU's first four conference opponents are a combined 4-13.
"Tape doesn't lie on California," Erickson said. "They're an extremely good football team, and obviously they can't afford to lose another game in the league if they want to have any opportunity to go to the Rose Bowl. So we're going to have play pretty good, I'm afraid."
Both of Cal's losses came down to the final minutes.
Starting quarterback Nate Longshore was sidelined by an ankle injury in a 31-28 loss to Oregon State in Berkeley on Oct. 13. The game ended when Longshore's replacement, Kevin Riley, was tackled deep in Beavers territory and the clock ran out before Cal's kick team could attempt a potential tying field goal.
A week later, Cal trailed UCLA by 2 late in the fourth quarter when Longshore threw an interception that was returned 76 yards for a touchdown. Final score: UCLA 30, Cal 21.
"We just need to change a couple of things and we will be all right," wide receiver Robert Jordan said. "It's not like we're getting blown out. It's not like other teams are outplaying us."
ASU has had only one close call -- and it went the Sun Devils' way when Washington State missed a late field goal in a 23-20 ASU victory on Oct. 6.
Otherwise, the Sun Devils have mostly cruised against a schedule ranked 97th by the NCAA. They've faced little adversity, although that changed when starting tailback Ryan Torain was lost for the season with a toe injury.
The bruising 6-foot-1, 213-pound senior had started six of the seven games for the Sun Devils, rushing for 553 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 100 yards and two scores.
Torain will be replaced by a tandem of Keegan Herring, a 5-10, 186-pound junior from Peoria, Ariz., and Dimitri Nance, a 5-10, 204-pound sophomore from Euless, Texas.
Herring will start against Cal, but Nance is expected to see a lot of action.
"There's a little bit more pressure on me," Herring said. "The guys want to see me step up."
ASU hopes to avoid a repeat of last season, when a loss to Cal all but wrecked its season.
The Sun Devils won their first three games before walking into a buzz saw in Strawberry Canyon. The 49-21 whipping by Cal started a three-game losing streak, and the Sun Devils never recovered, finishing 7-6.
"For me, I didn't play too well at Cal last year and they beat us pretty good," Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter said. "This is a game I've been looking forward to, a little over a year now, waiting to get a second chance at them."
October 25, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Three weeks ago, the California Golden Bears were dreaming about winning a national title.
Now they'd simply like to win a game. Back-to-back losses have dropped the Bears to No. 17 from No. 2.
Meanwhile, Arizona State has leaped from No. 18 to No. 7 and inherited all of Cal's national ambitions.
Two programs headed in opposite directions collide in the desert on Saturday night.
"We're very realistic about where we're at and the direction that we're trying to go in," Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said. "We're going to get tested. Our team knows that. We're playing who I think is one of the best teams in the country."
For ASU (7-0, 4-0 Pac-10), the game is an opportunity to make a national statement and keep climbing in the rankings. For Cal (5-2, 2-2 Pac-10), it's the last chance to salvage a shot at the Rose Bowl.
"I think it's important that we bounce back, we regroup, and that we still have confidence in who we are and what we're all about," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "We're a couple of plays away from being undefeated. It's disappointing, there's no question about it."
The game might draw a rare sellout in 71,706-seat Sun Devil Stadium.
Erickson's 7-0 start is the best in school history, and he's the first coach to win his first four Pac-10 games at ASU.
The fifth looks as if it will be far tougher than the others. ASU's first four conference opponents are a combined 4-13.
"Tape doesn't lie on California," Erickson said. "They're an extremely good football team, and obviously they can't afford to lose another game in the league if they want to have any opportunity to go to the Rose Bowl. So we're going to have play pretty good, I'm afraid."
Both of Cal's losses came down to the final minutes.
Starting quarterback Nate Longshore was sidelined by an ankle injury in a 31-28 loss to Oregon State in Berkeley on Oct. 13. The game ended when Longshore's replacement, Kevin Riley, was tackled deep in Beavers territory and the clock ran out before Cal's kick team could attempt a potential tying field goal.
A week later, Cal trailed UCLA by 2 late in the fourth quarter when Longshore threw an interception that was returned 76 yards for a touchdown. Final score: UCLA 30, Cal 21.
"We just need to change a couple of things and we will be all right," wide receiver Robert Jordan said. "It's not like we're getting blown out. It's not like other teams are outplaying us."
ASU has had only one close call -- and it went the Sun Devils' way when Washington State missed a late field goal in a 23-20 ASU victory on Oct. 6.
Otherwise, the Sun Devils have mostly cruised against a schedule ranked 97th by the NCAA. They've faced little adversity, although that changed when starting tailback Ryan Torain was lost for the season with a toe injury.
The bruising 6-foot-1, 213-pound senior had started six of the seven games for the Sun Devils, rushing for 553 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 100 yards and two scores.
Torain will be replaced by a tandem of Keegan Herring, a 5-10, 186-pound junior from Peoria, Ariz., and Dimitri Nance, a 5-10, 204-pound sophomore from Euless, Texas.
Herring will start against Cal, but Nance is expected to see a lot of action.
"There's a little bit more pressure on me," Herring said. "The guys want to see me step up."
ASU hopes to avoid a repeat of last season, when a loss to Cal all but wrecked its season.
The Sun Devils won their first three games before walking into a buzz saw in Strawberry Canyon. The 49-21 whipping by Cal started a three-game losing streak, and the Sun Devils never recovered, finishing 7-6.
"For me, I didn't play too well at Cal last year and they beat us pretty good," Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter said. "This is a game I've been looking forward to, a little over a year now, waiting to get a second chance at them."
(2) Boston Coll. 14, (8) Virginia Tech 10
By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP College Football Writer
October 26, 2007
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Matt Ryan bought some time, scrambling to his left away from the Virginia Tech rush while searching for an open receiver.
He found just what he was looking for, fired a pass all the way across the field and kept No. 2 Boston College perfect.
Call it Ryan's Heisman moment.
The senior quarterback threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Andre Callender with 11 seconds left and the Eagles validated themselves as national title contenders with an improbable 14-10 victory over No. 8 Virginia Tech on Thursday night.
Boston College avoided becoming the fourth second-ranked team to lose in the last four weeks, with Ryan throwing two touchdown passes in the final 2:11 after doing little for the first 55 minutes against the Hokies' swarming defense.
"Well, you know there's still time left on the clock," Ryan said. "You know you still have a shot and you still got a chance. We've been in this situation so many times through the course of the year in practice and we've prepared ourselves really well."
Boston College (4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), second in the BCS standings this week, improved to 8-0 for the first time since 1942. Despite the fast start, some were skeptical of the Eagles, who had only played one ranked team before Virginia Tech.
Ryan finished 25-for-52 for 285 yards with two interceptions, but the final numbers hardly told the story.
"That's what Heisman's do," Hokies defensive end Chris Ellis said. "They don't ever give up. We beat the O-line, put licks on him and he came through at the end. He had a 2-minute drill -- two of them. He did what he had to do."
With the Hokies (6-2, 3-1) leading 10-0 late in the fourth and the Eagles backed up against their own goal line, Ryan finally found a rhythm. He led a 91-yard scoring drive, capped by a 16-yard TD pass to Rich Gunnell with 2:11 left.
"Matt Ryan, what he did tonight, along with the receivers and the whole crew there in the last three minutes of the game, that was special," first-year coach Jeff Jagodzinski said. "There wasn't one bit of panic -- nothing -- with those kids, especially that guy."
Jagodzinski was pointing to Ryan.
After BC recovered an onside kick at its own 34, Ryan went back to work. Three times he scrambled away from pressure to complete passes, showing off the powerful right arm NFL scouts love and some nimble feet, too.
On the deciding play, he slid to his left and spotted Callender drifting back into the end zone away from the defense. Ryan let loose, and Callender cradled in the winning score.
Sean Glennon, making his first start for the Hokies since being benched after the 48-7 loss to LSU early in the second week of the season, played steady on a soggy night at Lane Stadium. He was 15-for-25 for 149 yards with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal in the second quarter. Glennon's 41-yard hook up with Royal in the third set up Jud Dunlevy's 44-yard field goal that made it 10-0.
Glennon was replacing injured freshman Tyrod Taylor.
Virginia Tech, eighth in the BCS standings, appeared to be on its way to sneaking back into the national title race after D.J. Parker picked off Ryan's pass at Eagles 31 with 6:01 left in the fourth quarter.
The Hokies couldn't convert the interception into points.
"You think back to several times during the game where you have an opportunity to go ahead and win it," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "We just didn't quite get it done."
Ryan went 9-for-15 on the final two drives, keeping BC's high hopes from being washed away on a windy and rainy night.
The first half was played in a steady, soaking rain and neither team could get much going. The Hokies and Eagles combined for seven fumbles, though only one turnover.
The turnover set up BC at the Virginia Tech 19. The Eagles could only move backward and gave the ball back when Ryan threw incomplete under pressure on fourth-and-24.
"I told our guys at halftime don't you dare look up until the end of the game and we'll go on to win this thing," Jagodzinski said.
Hokies defensive lineman Ellis and Barry Booker harassed Ryan constantly and the Hokies sacked the BC passer three times, half as many as the Eagles had allowed in their first seven games.
Branden Ore rushed for 97 yards on 20 carries for the Hokies against BC's top-ranked run defense, which came in allowing 46 yards per game.
The Eagles' biggest win in years was far more about grit than flash, and who knows how many back in Boston even saw it with the Red Sox playing Game 2 of World Series.
As for all that Heisman stuff, Ryan shrugged it off.
"I'm happy we moved to 8-0," he said. "That's all I care about."
Updated on Friday, Oct 26, 2007 12:57 am, EDT
October 26, 2007
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Matt Ryan bought some time, scrambling to his left away from the Virginia Tech rush while searching for an open receiver.
He found just what he was looking for, fired a pass all the way across the field and kept No. 2 Boston College perfect.
Call it Ryan's Heisman moment.
The senior quarterback threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Andre Callender with 11 seconds left and the Eagles validated themselves as national title contenders with an improbable 14-10 victory over No. 8 Virginia Tech on Thursday night.
Boston College avoided becoming the fourth second-ranked team to lose in the last four weeks, with Ryan throwing two touchdown passes in the final 2:11 after doing little for the first 55 minutes against the Hokies' swarming defense.
"Well, you know there's still time left on the clock," Ryan said. "You know you still have a shot and you still got a chance. We've been in this situation so many times through the course of the year in practice and we've prepared ourselves really well."
Boston College (4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), second in the BCS standings this week, improved to 8-0 for the first time since 1942. Despite the fast start, some were skeptical of the Eagles, who had only played one ranked team before Virginia Tech.
Ryan finished 25-for-52 for 285 yards with two interceptions, but the final numbers hardly told the story.
"That's what Heisman's do," Hokies defensive end Chris Ellis said. "They don't ever give up. We beat the O-line, put licks on him and he came through at the end. He had a 2-minute drill -- two of them. He did what he had to do."
With the Hokies (6-2, 3-1) leading 10-0 late in the fourth and the Eagles backed up against their own goal line, Ryan finally found a rhythm. He led a 91-yard scoring drive, capped by a 16-yard TD pass to Rich Gunnell with 2:11 left.
"Matt Ryan, what he did tonight, along with the receivers and the whole crew there in the last three minutes of the game, that was special," first-year coach Jeff Jagodzinski said. "There wasn't one bit of panic -- nothing -- with those kids, especially that guy."
Jagodzinski was pointing to Ryan.
After BC recovered an onside kick at its own 34, Ryan went back to work. Three times he scrambled away from pressure to complete passes, showing off the powerful right arm NFL scouts love and some nimble feet, too.
On the deciding play, he slid to his left and spotted Callender drifting back into the end zone away from the defense. Ryan let loose, and Callender cradled in the winning score.
Sean Glennon, making his first start for the Hokies since being benched after the 48-7 loss to LSU early in the second week of the season, played steady on a soggy night at Lane Stadium. He was 15-for-25 for 149 yards with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal in the second quarter. Glennon's 41-yard hook up with Royal in the third set up Jud Dunlevy's 44-yard field goal that made it 10-0.
Glennon was replacing injured freshman Tyrod Taylor.
Virginia Tech, eighth in the BCS standings, appeared to be on its way to sneaking back into the national title race after D.J. Parker picked off Ryan's pass at Eagles 31 with 6:01 left in the fourth quarter.
The Hokies couldn't convert the interception into points.
"You think back to several times during the game where you have an opportunity to go ahead and win it," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "We just didn't quite get it done."
Ryan went 9-for-15 on the final two drives, keeping BC's high hopes from being washed away on a windy and rainy night.
The first half was played in a steady, soaking rain and neither team could get much going. The Hokies and Eagles combined for seven fumbles, though only one turnover.
The turnover set up BC at the Virginia Tech 19. The Eagles could only move backward and gave the ball back when Ryan threw incomplete under pressure on fourth-and-24.
"I told our guys at halftime don't you dare look up until the end of the game and we'll go on to win this thing," Jagodzinski said.
Hokies defensive lineman Ellis and Barry Booker harassed Ryan constantly and the Hokies sacked the BC passer three times, half as many as the Eagles had allowed in their first seven games.
Branden Ore rushed for 97 yards on 20 carries for the Hokies against BC's top-ranked run defense, which came in allowing 46 yards per game.
The Eagles' biggest win in years was far more about grit than flash, and who knows how many back in Boston even saw it with the Red Sox playing Game 2 of World Series.
As for all that Heisman stuff, Ryan shrugged it off.
"I'm happy we moved to 8-0," he said. "That's all I care about."
Updated on Friday, Oct 26, 2007 12:57 am, EDT
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Boston College moves up to second-place in the BCS; Third-place LSU gains ground
By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP College Football Writer
October 21, 2007
NEW YORK (AP) -- With its toughest test yet just days away, Boston College moved into second-place behind Ohio State in the BCS standings Sunday.
Don't look back BC, third-place LSU gained ground this week and two Pac-10 teams are primed to pounce if the teams ahead of them falter.
With Boston College playing at Virginia Tech, which is eighth in the standings, on Thursday night, the Eagles stay at No. 2 could be as short as South Florida's.
The Hokies are the highest ranked team BC has faced this season.
The Buckeyes (8-0), who are No. 1 in the Harris and coaches' polls, lead the Bowl Championship Series standings for the second consecutive week with an average of .976 out of a possible 1.000.
Ohio State is also No. 1 in the AP Top 25.
Boston College (7-0), which is tops in the computer ratings, took advantage of South Florida's loss last Thursday night at Rutgers and moved up one spot. The Eagles have a BCS average of .950. LSU (.911 average) also moved up a spot and closed in on the Eagles.
Unbeaten Arizona State (7-0) moved up four spots to fourth-place with a .763 average, just ahead of Pac-10 rival Oregon (.762).
The top two teams in the final standings will play in the BCS national championship game on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.
The Boston College-Virginia Tech game will start a big weekend of college football that could reshape the Bowl Championship Series standings and the national title race.
Seven of the top 12 teams in the BCS play ranked opponents.
The Buckeyes also face their toughest game so far, playing Penn State on Saturday night in Happy Valley.
Arizona State plays California at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. Oregon hosts Southern California, which is 12th in the latest BCS standings.
West Virginia, seventh in the BCS standings, is at Rutgers, and Florida, 11th in the BCS, faces SEC rival Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla.
Unbeaten Hawaii, trying to be this season's BCS buster, was 17th in the new standings. The Warriors, out of the Western Athletic Conference, which does not have an automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series, can automatically qualify by finishing in the top 12 of the standings.
October 21, 2007
NEW YORK (AP) -- With its toughest test yet just days away, Boston College moved into second-place behind Ohio State in the BCS standings Sunday.
Don't look back BC, third-place LSU gained ground this week and two Pac-10 teams are primed to pounce if the teams ahead of them falter.
With Boston College playing at Virginia Tech, which is eighth in the standings, on Thursday night, the Eagles stay at No. 2 could be as short as South Florida's.
The Hokies are the highest ranked team BC has faced this season.
The Buckeyes (8-0), who are No. 1 in the Harris and coaches' polls, lead the Bowl Championship Series standings for the second consecutive week with an average of .976 out of a possible 1.000.
Ohio State is also No. 1 in the AP Top 25.
Boston College (7-0), which is tops in the computer ratings, took advantage of South Florida's loss last Thursday night at Rutgers and moved up one spot. The Eagles have a BCS average of .950. LSU (.911 average) also moved up a spot and closed in on the Eagles.
Unbeaten Arizona State (7-0) moved up four spots to fourth-place with a .763 average, just ahead of Pac-10 rival Oregon (.762).
The top two teams in the final standings will play in the BCS national championship game on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.
The Boston College-Virginia Tech game will start a big weekend of college football that could reshape the Bowl Championship Series standings and the national title race.
Seven of the top 12 teams in the BCS play ranked opponents.
The Buckeyes also face their toughest game so far, playing Penn State on Saturday night in Happy Valley.
Arizona State plays California at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. Oregon hosts Southern California, which is 12th in the latest BCS standings.
West Virginia, seventh in the BCS standings, is at Rutgers, and Florida, 11th in the BCS, faces SEC rival Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla.
Unbeaten Hawaii, trying to be this season's BCS buster, was 17th in the new standings. The Warriors, out of the Western Athletic Conference, which does not have an automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series, can automatically qualify by finishing in the top 12 of the standings.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
USC 31 - Notre Dame 0 (In Progress) Comments Not Kind To ND
Notre Dame's getting slammed by Cal. Here's the most recent comments on the game on ESPN.com. Warning ND fans, they're not kind.
geddymd73 (Just now)
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Is there a worse team in all of football than Notre Dame? I don't know what UCLA was thinking. Hopefully, this program doesn't come back in many many years. Sorry, zero points is not "fighting back".
MontanaDomer (Less than a minute ago)
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Pathetic and embarrasing. No offense, no enthusiasm. Some coaches don't fit in college, some don't fit in the NFL.
Prediction: Petrino leads ND in two years. Great college resume as a coach and player with offensive ingenuity - and even a catholic. Just ask Louiville if they miss him. You heard it here first.
7aslan3 (5 minutes ago)
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how did UCLA lose to Notre Dame, ND is terrible
209jdizzle (7 minutes ago)
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2 teams i love to hate, notre dame and the yankees, god im lovin this season
7aslan3 (15 minutes ago)
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the rout is on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
gobama4ever67 (22 minutes ago)
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Go USC Go!!!!!!!!
spiritsunami (32 minutes ago)
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rwk81 (33 minutes ago) Report Violation | Ignore User hmm,
USC really isn't looking all that great. Some tough games coming up so I don't expect them to go undefeated for the rest of the season.
...Well, duh.
CoyPorter (53 minutes ago)
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Notre Dame needs a running game
texas7710 (55 minutes ago)
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at least ND is still fighting.That means alot to the program. but they need to have Rudy come talk to them to try and spark something and get them ready 4 next year
rwk81 (1 hour ago)
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hmm,
USC really isn't looking all that great. Some tough games coming up so I don't expect them to go undefeated for the rest of the season.
AllenbaughLaw624 (1 hour ago)
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GO USC BABY!
AllenbaughLaw624 (1 hour ago)
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dude it's 5 a.m. Sunday morning for me in China and I'm stuck watching this on the internet, but i'm LOVING it!! Although it should 35-0 by now.....
209jdizzle (1 hour ago)
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weis is gonna get his fat #### fired
Bortz918 (1 hour ago)
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Its hard to be a ND fan.... just pissed all day on Saturday
geddymd73 (1 hour ago)
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ND has a rough future. They already have had 4 sophomores transfer and the season is just halfway over. This team may be 1-11 for a long time coming. Hello Jr. College transfers.
Spivy_08 (1 hour ago)
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notre dame decided to get uniforms that match their play huh
gravyboat63 (1 hour ago)
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Did Rudy make that tackle?
nloaboy (1 hour ago)
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usc will win.NOT!!!
shanebobane1 (2 hours ago)
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wow walker sucks
geddymd73 (2 hours ago)
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There are a lot of I-AA teams that would be a bigger challenge for USC than Notre Dame. The only good ND team this year is North Dakota State.
coldheat8 (2 hours ago)
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USC makes me wanna puke. The way the press is on thier jocks all the time like the press does the Yankess in baseball.
coldheat8 (2 hours ago)
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What a funny story it would be if ND could win this game...but, since Lou Holtz said they would....there isnt a chance in hell!
shanebobane1 (2 hours ago)
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its a great game so far
gravyboat63 (2 hours ago)
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Who says I'm not outside? 99% is high. I have to eat.
SomeonePleaseCall911 (2 hours ago)
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it's too nice outside to be here
SomeonePleaseCall911 (2 hours ago)
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so you spend 99% of yer waking hours chatting. bladowwwwwww
gravyboat63 (2 hours ago)
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Thank you.
SomeonePleaseCall911 (2 hours ago)
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ok sorry i forgot ya sleep
gravyboat63 (3 hours ago)
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Yes.
gravyboat63 (3 hours ago)
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First of all, I'm not in here 24/7. It's more like 12/7. Second, I was referring to pariah's comment. And 3rd, I didn't tell you not to post. I didn't tell you what to post, just chill. Have some chili.
SomeonePleaseCall911 (3 hours ago)
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rudy sucks lmaooooooooooooooooo ooohahahahahahah too funny NOT
SomeonePleaseCall911 (3 hours ago)
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yer easily entertained huh gravy
gravyboat63 (3 hours ago)
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Now that's funny.lmao
SomeonePleaseCall911 (3 hours ago)
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well that's yer problem gravy because shame on dame??..huh??ppfftt immaculate reception??pfftt. i know yer in here 24/7 gravy but i'll post what i want to ok.
gravyboat63 (3 hours ago)
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I thought it was funny.lmao SomeonePlease..You need to chill.
SomeonePleaseCall911 (3 hours ago)
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This proves that haters have no sense of humor. These are some of the lamest comments I have ever seen.
blueandgold1977 (3 hours ago)
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3(+) USC turnovers fuel ND to a narrow victory!
ND 20
USC 17
plwtrick (4 hours ago)
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What do you think the pac 10 is the best haha.
usctrojans1023 (4 hours ago)
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Hey Charlie before you tell the crowd to annoy the Trojans in their walkthrough, try to earn some respcet as a head coach!
EAGLEBUZZ5150 (4 hours ago)
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yo flanders111,
It's all about the spread
Flanders111 (4 hours ago)
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And stop with the spreads - that is for betting/Vegas. LSU did not cover the spread vs Kentucky (favored by 9 but lost) so that means they suck arse as well?? They say USC's loss to Stanford was the worse ever - point spread wise - but there was no line on the Mich/Appa St game, so that tells me Michigan is the worst ever stilllll.....
App St Div-II; Stanford Div-I. A win is a win and screw the bettors - I hope all you clowns that bet on any game lose your butt.....
Flanders111 (4 hours ago)
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aimeedee2 - you should know by now that when you give facts to an SEC fan, it never registers! They are a joke - SEC is usually the best CFB conf but not this year. So Carolina is showing how great the SEC is - losing 17-3 to Vandy (worse than Stanford). LSU squeaked out a win vs the g c o c k s! I like Kentucky but not sure if they run the table. See when you lose to crappy SEC teams, they use the in conference excuse. But when USC loses to only PAC-10 teams over the last 4 years (exception Texas), they are overrated!
STFU SEC Fans! We get that you hate USC! Fine - when your teams have anywhere near the history of USC then we will talk...but you don't! You hate USC cuz we go into your backyard and take your players - that is what being a great school does. USC has the best record in CFB over the last 5 years and they still have only lost 1 game this year - oh the same as Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, etc. So when USC runs the table and makes it back into the BCS game, all you clowns can ...well figure it out your selves!
USC/ND is still a great rivalry. ND has had an awful season but this game defines each team. This year more than most, this will push USC up the chain again or push ND to a .500 record. This is the longest running OOC game and has more history, passion, and effect on the title than any other game nationwide.
Fight On USC and crush the Domers.....
EAGLEBUZZ5150 (4 hours ago)
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Southern Cal covers the spread...bank on it..........shame on dame shame on dame
pariahmonkey (4 hours ago)
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Notre Dame will need an immaculate reception to be break through the Trojans!
gravyboat63 (4 hours ago)
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beaushaf...How do you know?
sdumontjr5 (4 hours ago)
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LOL...some of these comments are funny....I'm a huge ND fan but seriously guys...what are the chances we are going to win....really!!! I'd love to see it happen especially after the miserable season we are having. But when is Weis leaving to coach the NY Giants???
SexiestManAlive21 (5 hours ago)
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blindfish, im sure your team has lost before too..........
So dont make me bring up those losses...........
blindfish28 (5 hours ago)
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beaushaf, just be quite, and don't make me talk about Appalacian state and Oregon!
beaushaf (5 hours ago)
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RUDY SUCKS!!!
beaushaf (5 hours ago)
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Man how I wish both teams could lose this game GO MICHIGAN!!!
geddymd73 (Just now)
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Is there a worse team in all of football than Notre Dame? I don't know what UCLA was thinking. Hopefully, this program doesn't come back in many many years. Sorry, zero points is not "fighting back".
MontanaDomer (Less than a minute ago)
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Pathetic and embarrasing. No offense, no enthusiasm. Some coaches don't fit in college, some don't fit in the NFL.
Prediction: Petrino leads ND in two years. Great college resume as a coach and player with offensive ingenuity - and even a catholic. Just ask Louiville if they miss him. You heard it here first.
7aslan3 (5 minutes ago)
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how did UCLA lose to Notre Dame, ND is terrible
209jdizzle (7 minutes ago)
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2 teams i love to hate, notre dame and the yankees, god im lovin this season
7aslan3 (15 minutes ago)
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the rout is on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
gobama4ever67 (22 minutes ago)
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Go USC Go!!!!!!!!
spiritsunami (32 minutes ago)
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rwk81 (33 minutes ago) Report Violation | Ignore User hmm,
USC really isn't looking all that great. Some tough games coming up so I don't expect them to go undefeated for the rest of the season.
...Well, duh.
CoyPorter (53 minutes ago)
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Notre Dame needs a running game
texas7710 (55 minutes ago)
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at least ND is still fighting.That means alot to the program. but they need to have Rudy come talk to them to try and spark something and get them ready 4 next year
rwk81 (1 hour ago)
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hmm,
USC really isn't looking all that great. Some tough games coming up so I don't expect them to go undefeated for the rest of the season.
AllenbaughLaw624 (1 hour ago)
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GO USC BABY!
AllenbaughLaw624 (1 hour ago)
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dude it's 5 a.m. Sunday morning for me in China and I'm stuck watching this on the internet, but i'm LOVING it!! Although it should 35-0 by now.....
209jdizzle (1 hour ago)
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weis is gonna get his fat #### fired
Bortz918 (1 hour ago)
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Its hard to be a ND fan.... just pissed all day on Saturday
geddymd73 (1 hour ago)
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ND has a rough future. They already have had 4 sophomores transfer and the season is just halfway over. This team may be 1-11 for a long time coming. Hello Jr. College transfers.
Spivy_08 (1 hour ago)
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notre dame decided to get uniforms that match their play huh
gravyboat63 (1 hour ago)
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Did Rudy make that tackle?
nloaboy (1 hour ago)
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usc will win.NOT!!!
shanebobane1 (2 hours ago)
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wow walker sucks
geddymd73 (2 hours ago)
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There are a lot of I-AA teams that would be a bigger challenge for USC than Notre Dame. The only good ND team this year is North Dakota State.
coldheat8 (2 hours ago)
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USC makes me wanna puke. The way the press is on thier jocks all the time like the press does the Yankess in baseball.
coldheat8 (2 hours ago)
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What a funny story it would be if ND could win this game...but, since Lou Holtz said they would....there isnt a chance in hell!
shanebobane1 (2 hours ago)
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its a great game so far
gravyboat63 (2 hours ago)
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Who says I'm not outside? 99% is high. I have to eat.
SomeonePleaseCall911 (2 hours ago)
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it's too nice outside to be here
SomeonePleaseCall911 (2 hours ago)
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so you spend 99% of yer waking hours chatting. bladowwwwwww
gravyboat63 (2 hours ago)
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Thank you.
SomeonePleaseCall911 (2 hours ago)
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ok sorry i forgot ya sleep
gravyboat63 (3 hours ago)
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Yes.
gravyboat63 (3 hours ago)
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First of all, I'm not in here 24/7. It's more like 12/7. Second, I was referring to pariah's comment. And 3rd, I didn't tell you not to post. I didn't tell you what to post, just chill. Have some chili.
SomeonePleaseCall911 (3 hours ago)
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rudy sucks lmaooooooooooooooooo ooohahahahahahah too funny NOT
SomeonePleaseCall911 (3 hours ago)
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yer easily entertained huh gravy
gravyboat63 (3 hours ago)
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Now that's funny.lmao
SomeonePleaseCall911 (3 hours ago)
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well that's yer problem gravy because shame on dame??..huh??ppfftt immaculate reception??pfftt. i know yer in here 24/7 gravy but i'll post what i want to ok.
gravyboat63 (3 hours ago)
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I thought it was funny.lmao SomeonePlease..You need to chill.
SomeonePleaseCall911 (3 hours ago)
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This proves that haters have no sense of humor. These are some of the lamest comments I have ever seen.
blueandgold1977 (3 hours ago)
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3(+) USC turnovers fuel ND to a narrow victory!
ND 20
USC 17
plwtrick (4 hours ago)
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What do you think the pac 10 is the best haha.
usctrojans1023 (4 hours ago)
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Hey Charlie before you tell the crowd to annoy the Trojans in their walkthrough, try to earn some respcet as a head coach!
EAGLEBUZZ5150 (4 hours ago)
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yo flanders111,
It's all about the spread
Flanders111 (4 hours ago)
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And stop with the spreads - that is for betting/Vegas. LSU did not cover the spread vs Kentucky (favored by 9 but lost) so that means they suck arse as well?? They say USC's loss to Stanford was the worse ever - point spread wise - but there was no line on the Mich/Appa St game, so that tells me Michigan is the worst ever stilllll.....
App St Div-II; Stanford Div-I. A win is a win and screw the bettors - I hope all you clowns that bet on any game lose your butt.....
Flanders111 (4 hours ago)
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aimeedee2 - you should know by now that when you give facts to an SEC fan, it never registers! They are a joke - SEC is usually the best CFB conf but not this year. So Carolina is showing how great the SEC is - losing 17-3 to Vandy (worse than Stanford). LSU squeaked out a win vs the g c o c k s! I like Kentucky but not sure if they run the table. See when you lose to crappy SEC teams, they use the in conference excuse. But when USC loses to only PAC-10 teams over the last 4 years (exception Texas), they are overrated!
STFU SEC Fans! We get that you hate USC! Fine - when your teams have anywhere near the history of USC then we will talk...but you don't! You hate USC cuz we go into your backyard and take your players - that is what being a great school does. USC has the best record in CFB over the last 5 years and they still have only lost 1 game this year - oh the same as Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, etc. So when USC runs the table and makes it back into the BCS game, all you clowns can ...well figure it out your selves!
USC/ND is still a great rivalry. ND has had an awful season but this game defines each team. This year more than most, this will push USC up the chain again or push ND to a .500 record. This is the longest running OOC game and has more history, passion, and effect on the title than any other game nationwide.
Fight On USC and crush the Domers.....
EAGLEBUZZ5150 (4 hours ago)
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Southern Cal covers the spread...bank on it..........shame on dame shame on dame
pariahmonkey (4 hours ago)
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Notre Dame will need an immaculate reception to be break through the Trojans!
gravyboat63 (4 hours ago)
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beaushaf...How do you know?
sdumontjr5 (4 hours ago)
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LOL...some of these comments are funny....I'm a huge ND fan but seriously guys...what are the chances we are going to win....really!!! I'd love to see it happen especially after the miserable season we are having. But when is Weis leaving to coach the NY Giants???
SexiestManAlive21 (5 hours ago)
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blindfish, im sure your team has lost before too..........
So dont make me bring up those losses...........
blindfish28 (5 hours ago)
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beaushaf, just be quite, and don't make me talk about Appalacian state and Oregon!
beaushaf (5 hours ago)
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RUDY SUCKS!!!
beaushaf (5 hours ago)
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Man how I wish both teams could lose this game GO MICHIGAN!!!
USC's Plane On Way To Notre Dame Plummets Dramatically
Some are taking this as a sign of an Irish victory. It could also just plain piss off USC. The bottom line is that this is shaping up to be a weird game.
Here's the story...
'Terrifying' Trip for USC
AP Sports
Posted: 2007-10-19 15:15:57
Filed Under: College Football
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Oct. 19) - The plane carrying USC's football team to South Bend plummeted during a severe thunderstorm, forcing the pilot to abort his first landing attempt.
There were about 125 people, including 82 players, on the chartered flight Thursday night for the cross-country trip for Saturday's game.
"That was terrifying," fullback Stanley Havili told the Los Angeles Times. "I thought I was going to die."
Some passengers were thrown from their seats by turbulence as lightning crackled around the storm-tossed plane, USC sports information director Tim Tessalone told The Associated Press on Friday. Safety Taylor Mays was screaming.
"It was a little bit of a roller coaster drop there for a minute," Tessalone said. "We had some people fly out of some seats. Everybody is fine, but it was a frightening little dip there."
The pilot aborted the approach and circled around the storm before landing without incident about 20 minutes later to the relief of the shaken team and the spouses of some staff members also on the flight, Tessalone said.
Here's the story...
'Terrifying' Trip for USC
AP Sports
Posted: 2007-10-19 15:15:57
Filed Under: College Football
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Oct. 19) - The plane carrying USC's football team to South Bend plummeted during a severe thunderstorm, forcing the pilot to abort his first landing attempt.
There were about 125 people, including 82 players, on the chartered flight Thursday night for the cross-country trip for Saturday's game.
"That was terrifying," fullback Stanley Havili told the Los Angeles Times. "I thought I was going to die."
Some passengers were thrown from their seats by turbulence as lightning crackled around the storm-tossed plane, USC sports information director Tim Tessalone told The Associated Press on Friday. Safety Taylor Mays was screaming.
"It was a little bit of a roller coaster drop there for a minute," Tessalone said. "We had some people fly out of some seats. Everybody is fine, but it was a frightening little dip there."
The pilot aborted the approach and circled around the storm before landing without incident about 20 minutes later to the relief of the shaken team and the spouses of some staff members also on the flight, Tessalone said.
Friday, October 19, 2007
USC's Pete Caroll Calls Charlie Weis: "He's A Jerk" - Also Dishes On Norm Chow
Earlier this year, USC Head Coach Pete Carroll referred to Notre Dame's Charlie Weis as a jerk. Read this blog post for more information.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Eric Schnupp - Baylor Football Assistant Coach Pees on Tavern Bar, Suspended - AP
Man. And the bathroom was just a walk away...
No. 1 coach: Baylor football coach suspended for peeing on tavern bar
04:59 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Associated Press
WACO, Texas -- A Baylor University assistant football coach cited by police for urinating on the bar at a tavern was suspended indefinitely Tuesday.
Eric Schnupp, Baylor’s offensive line/tight ends coach, was not arrested but was issued a citation at 2:20 a.m. Sunday for disorderly conduct-reckless exposure at Scruffy Murphy’s, Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson said.
The citation is a Class C misdemeanor carrying a $258 fine, according to Waco Municipal Court.
Coach Guy Morriss said Tuesday during his weekly news conference that he suspended Schnupp indefinitely, but did not comment further.
Schnupp, 30, had traveled Saturday with the team to Lawrence, Kan., where the Bears lost to Kansas 58-10. The team was back in Waco by 9 p.m.
Bartender Danny Severe said in Tuesday’s editions of the Waco Tribune-Herald that the incident happened around closing time and that Schnupp apparently thought no one was watching him as employees were moving patrons out of the building.
Severe said an employee witnessed Schnupp urinating on the bar, and a manager told police officers who were there for an unrelated matter.
Severe said Schnupp had taken several shots of hard liquor, most bought for him by other people.
Schnupp, in his first year as a coach at the world’s largest Baptist university, played football for the University of Miami from 1995-2000 and previously coached at West Texas A&M University.
"I can tell you that coach (Guy) Morriss is taking this issue very seriously," Joos said, declining to say what disciplinary measures are being considered.
Schnupp, in his first year as a coach at the world's largest Baptist university, played football for the University of Miami from 1995-2000 and previously coached at West Texas A&M.
No. 1 coach: Baylor football coach suspended for peeing on tavern bar
04:59 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Associated Press
WACO, Texas -- A Baylor University assistant football coach cited by police for urinating on the bar at a tavern was suspended indefinitely Tuesday.
Eric Schnupp, Baylor’s offensive line/tight ends coach, was not arrested but was issued a citation at 2:20 a.m. Sunday for disorderly conduct-reckless exposure at Scruffy Murphy’s, Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson said.
The citation is a Class C misdemeanor carrying a $258 fine, according to Waco Municipal Court.
Coach Guy Morriss said Tuesday during his weekly news conference that he suspended Schnupp indefinitely, but did not comment further.
Schnupp, 30, had traveled Saturday with the team to Lawrence, Kan., where the Bears lost to Kansas 58-10. The team was back in Waco by 9 p.m.
Bartender Danny Severe said in Tuesday’s editions of the Waco Tribune-Herald that the incident happened around closing time and that Schnupp apparently thought no one was watching him as employees were moving patrons out of the building.
Severe said an employee witnessed Schnupp urinating on the bar, and a manager told police officers who were there for an unrelated matter.
Severe said Schnupp had taken several shots of hard liquor, most bought for him by other people.
Schnupp, in his first year as a coach at the world’s largest Baptist university, played football for the University of Miami from 1995-2000 and previously coached at West Texas A&M University.
"I can tell you that coach (Guy) Morriss is taking this issue very seriously," Joos said, declining to say what disciplinary measures are being considered.
Schnupp, in his first year as a coach at the world's largest Baptist university, played football for the University of Miami from 1995-2000 and previously coached at West Texas A&M.
ND's Charlie Weis Wants This One - Evan Sharpley To Start v. USC - South Bend Tribune
With the season slipping away, it's clear Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weis wants a win. A victory against USC would all but salvage one of the worst seasons in Irish Football history.
FLASH .... Notre Dame Tickets
Sharpley to start at QB for Irish
By JEFF CARROLL
South Bend Tribune Staff Writer
Saying that the junior gives his team the best chance to win this week, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis on Tuesday said Evan Sharpley will start at quarterback this Saturday against No. 13-ranked USC.
The 6-foot-2, 216-pounder from Marshall, Mich., is coming off a performance against Boston College in which he completed 11 of 29 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Jimmy Clausen, a true freshman who had started the previous six games, has struggled to make progress in recent weeks, and Weis felt that it was time he took both a physical and mental break for at least a game.
"I think there's a lot of people who have bumps and bruises," Weis said. "That's not the only reason for this decision. I think Evan this week gives us the best chance of winning."
Clausen has completed 81 of 131 passes this season for 618 yards and has played in all seven ND games. He has thrown one touchdown pass and five interceptions.
Clausen also has been hampered by various physical ailments. He underwent offseason surgery to remove a bone spur on his throwing elbow, and was removed in the second half of a loss to Purdue on Sept. 29 with what appeared to be a hip or back injury.
"He's not injured," Weis said. "Is he hurt? Yeah, he's hurt.
"This gives him an opportunity to sit back and watch the game. The game slows down for you when you're not in. It goes fast when you're in there."
Sharpley threw for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns in relief of Clausen at Purdue.
Other notes of interest from Weis' press conference:
* Starting running back James Aldridge is "doubtful" against the Trojans with a high ankle sprain. Aldridge, who leads the Irish with 249 rushing yards this season, left during the first half of last week's loss.
Weis said he expects fifth-year senior Travis Thomas to get a lot of the playing time at that position. Thomas has 20 yards on 18 carries this season.
"I think we would go a little heaver with Travis in the mix," Weis said. "More than he has been this year."
* Weis said that wide receiver David Grimes, who has not played the last two weeks, and linebacker Maurice Crum, who was severely limited last week, have a better chance of playing this week.
"Both of them have a legitimate chance of playing this week," Weis said.
* Weis brushed off a question about whether he was concerned about the number of midseason exits from the program this season. Guard Matt Carufel's exit over the weekend was the third this season. Quarterback Demetrius Jones and tight end Konrad Reuland also have left, and current backup right tackle Chris Stewart returned home to Texas for a few days to ponder his Notre Dame future before returning to campus.
"I really can't worry too much about the guys that are leaving that aren't starting," Weis said.
* Previously injured former starting right guard Dan Wenger is available this week, but Eric Olsen will continue to start at that position.
* Weis on the green retro jerseys the Irish are wearing this week to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1977 national championship: "I think they're ugly. (The players) think they're cool. When I showed it to them, I thought it would be an emphatic no, (but) they couldn't have been any more fired up about it."
* On freshman linebackers Brian Smith and Kerry Neal: "They play this game with passion. When it's all said and done, by the time they leave here, they'll be household names."
Staff Writer Jeff Carroll
FLASH .... Notre Dame Tickets
Sharpley to start at QB for Irish
By JEFF CARROLL
South Bend Tribune Staff Writer
Saying that the junior gives his team the best chance to win this week, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis on Tuesday said Evan Sharpley will start at quarterback this Saturday against No. 13-ranked USC.
The 6-foot-2, 216-pounder from Marshall, Mich., is coming off a performance against Boston College in which he completed 11 of 29 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Jimmy Clausen, a true freshman who had started the previous six games, has struggled to make progress in recent weeks, and Weis felt that it was time he took both a physical and mental break for at least a game.
"I think there's a lot of people who have bumps and bruises," Weis said. "That's not the only reason for this decision. I think Evan this week gives us the best chance of winning."
Clausen has completed 81 of 131 passes this season for 618 yards and has played in all seven ND games. He has thrown one touchdown pass and five interceptions.
Clausen also has been hampered by various physical ailments. He underwent offseason surgery to remove a bone spur on his throwing elbow, and was removed in the second half of a loss to Purdue on Sept. 29 with what appeared to be a hip or back injury.
"He's not injured," Weis said. "Is he hurt? Yeah, he's hurt.
"This gives him an opportunity to sit back and watch the game. The game slows down for you when you're not in. It goes fast when you're in there."
Sharpley threw for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns in relief of Clausen at Purdue.
Other notes of interest from Weis' press conference:
* Starting running back James Aldridge is "doubtful" against the Trojans with a high ankle sprain. Aldridge, who leads the Irish with 249 rushing yards this season, left during the first half of last week's loss.
Weis said he expects fifth-year senior Travis Thomas to get a lot of the playing time at that position. Thomas has 20 yards on 18 carries this season.
"I think we would go a little heaver with Travis in the mix," Weis said. "More than he has been this year."
* Weis said that wide receiver David Grimes, who has not played the last two weeks, and linebacker Maurice Crum, who was severely limited last week, have a better chance of playing this week.
"Both of them have a legitimate chance of playing this week," Weis said.
* Weis brushed off a question about whether he was concerned about the number of midseason exits from the program this season. Guard Matt Carufel's exit over the weekend was the third this season. Quarterback Demetrius Jones and tight end Konrad Reuland also have left, and current backup right tackle Chris Stewart returned home to Texas for a few days to ponder his Notre Dame future before returning to campus.
"I really can't worry too much about the guys that are leaving that aren't starting," Weis said.
* Previously injured former starting right guard Dan Wenger is available this week, but Eric Olsen will continue to start at that position.
* Weis on the green retro jerseys the Irish are wearing this week to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1977 national championship: "I think they're ugly. (The players) think they're cool. When I showed it to them, I thought it would be an emphatic no, (but) they couldn't have been any more fired up about it."
* On freshman linebackers Brian Smith and Kerry Neal: "They play this game with passion. When it's all said and done, by the time they leave here, they'll be household names."
Staff Writer Jeff Carroll
Monday, October 15, 2007
Notre Dame's Charlie Weis Losing Recruits - Matt Carufel Leaving
Wow. ND Fans brag about Charlie Weis recruiting classes, but they fail to mention how many have plain left the program. The latest is lineman Matt Carufel.
Boise St. 69, Nevada 67, OT
By TODD DVORAK, Associated Press Writer
October 15, 2007
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- In a game with 136 total points and nearly 1,300 yards of total offense, it was the defense that made the biggest play.
Sooner or later the defense had to make a stop, and Boise State's Tim Brady did just that on the final play in the fourth overtime period, stuffing a 2-point conversion attempt in a thrilling 69-67 victory over Nevada on Sunday night.
The game set a record for most points in an NCAA Division I-A game since 1937, when official record keeping began.
The shootout finally ended on a sack by Brady, foiling Nevada's attempt to send the game into a fifth overtime.
"It was the biggest play we had all night," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "It's really too bad someone had to lose this one. I don't think I've felt that way after any game, ever."
For a while, it seemed this one would never end -- not with the way the offenses were moving up and down the field.
The Broncos (5-1, 2-0 Western Athletic Conference) rolled up 627 total yards on offense, including Ian Johnson's 205 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Nevada, led by Colin Kaepernick, a redshirt freshman quarterback making his first start, topped the Broncos with 639 total yards. The Wolfpack (2-4, 0-2) tied the game in the fourth extra period when Luke Lippincott scored on an 8-yard burst up the middle, capping a rushing attack that amassed 406 yards, the fourth most ever allowed by Boise State.
But Nevada opted to pass on the two-point try, and Kaepernick rolled right, found nobody open then moments later found himself in Brady's grasp, sealing Boise State's eighth straight win over the Wolfpack.
"To come up two points short in overtime in a game like this is a hard pill to swallow," said Kaepernick, who threw for three TDs and rushed for two more. "We knew we were going to have to keep putting points on the board to stay in the game."
Talk about an understatement.
Altogether, the teams combined for 17 touchdowns, 1,266 total yards of offense and a handful of personal bests.
Boise State quarterback Taylor Tharp threw for a career-high 320 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those came in the first two overtimes, both 25-yard scoring strikes to Jeremy Childs and Sherm Brasser.
Johnson had 256 yards total offense, including a 32-yard TD pass, the first of his career in the fourth quarter that put the Broncos up 41-34. His 72-yard TD run in the second quarter was the longest of his career.
Kaepernick, starting in place of injured sophomore Nick Graziano, ran for 177 yards and two scores and passed for another 243 yards and three TDs. His performance came against a Boise State defense that entered the game the third best in the nation, averaging just 12.2 points per game.
"I'm proud of our guys," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "They came back and stood up all game long. We're going to learn a lot from this game and get better."
The Wolfpack trailed most of the game, but grabbed their first lead late in the fourth when Brett Jaekle made a 35-yard field goal.
But Boise State freshman Kyle Brotzman sent the game into overtime by nailing a 27-yard field goal as time expired.
The teams traded touchdowns through the first two overtimes. In the third, Jaekle put Nevada on top with a 27-yard field goal, but Brotzman answered with a 29-yarder.
In the fourth overtime, Johnson scored from a yard out and Tharp lofted a short pass to Jeremy Avery on the 2-point conversion.
Nevada matched the touchdown, but Brady came up big when he got back up on his feet and chased down Kaepernick to end the game.
"You've got to give a lot of credit in this game to our offense," Brady said. "They battled for us and they kept us in the game because we weren't on top of our game tonight."
Updated on Monday, Oct 15, 2007 2:20 am, EDT
October 15, 2007
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- In a game with 136 total points and nearly 1,300 yards of total offense, it was the defense that made the biggest play.
Sooner or later the defense had to make a stop, and Boise State's Tim Brady did just that on the final play in the fourth overtime period, stuffing a 2-point conversion attempt in a thrilling 69-67 victory over Nevada on Sunday night.
The game set a record for most points in an NCAA Division I-A game since 1937, when official record keeping began.
The shootout finally ended on a sack by Brady, foiling Nevada's attempt to send the game into a fifth overtime.
"It was the biggest play we had all night," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "It's really too bad someone had to lose this one. I don't think I've felt that way after any game, ever."
For a while, it seemed this one would never end -- not with the way the offenses were moving up and down the field.
The Broncos (5-1, 2-0 Western Athletic Conference) rolled up 627 total yards on offense, including Ian Johnson's 205 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Nevada, led by Colin Kaepernick, a redshirt freshman quarterback making his first start, topped the Broncos with 639 total yards. The Wolfpack (2-4, 0-2) tied the game in the fourth extra period when Luke Lippincott scored on an 8-yard burst up the middle, capping a rushing attack that amassed 406 yards, the fourth most ever allowed by Boise State.
But Nevada opted to pass on the two-point try, and Kaepernick rolled right, found nobody open then moments later found himself in Brady's grasp, sealing Boise State's eighth straight win over the Wolfpack.
"To come up two points short in overtime in a game like this is a hard pill to swallow," said Kaepernick, who threw for three TDs and rushed for two more. "We knew we were going to have to keep putting points on the board to stay in the game."
Talk about an understatement.
Altogether, the teams combined for 17 touchdowns, 1,266 total yards of offense and a handful of personal bests.
Boise State quarterback Taylor Tharp threw for a career-high 320 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those came in the first two overtimes, both 25-yard scoring strikes to Jeremy Childs and Sherm Brasser.
Johnson had 256 yards total offense, including a 32-yard TD pass, the first of his career in the fourth quarter that put the Broncos up 41-34. His 72-yard TD run in the second quarter was the longest of his career.
Kaepernick, starting in place of injured sophomore Nick Graziano, ran for 177 yards and two scores and passed for another 243 yards and three TDs. His performance came against a Boise State defense that entered the game the third best in the nation, averaging just 12.2 points per game.
"I'm proud of our guys," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "They came back and stood up all game long. We're going to learn a lot from this game and get better."
The Wolfpack trailed most of the game, but grabbed their first lead late in the fourth when Brett Jaekle made a 35-yard field goal.
But Boise State freshman Kyle Brotzman sent the game into overtime by nailing a 27-yard field goal as time expired.
The teams traded touchdowns through the first two overtimes. In the third, Jaekle put Nevada on top with a 27-yard field goal, but Brotzman answered with a 29-yarder.
In the fourth overtime, Johnson scored from a yard out and Tharp lofted a short pass to Jeremy Avery on the 2-point conversion.
Nevada matched the touchdown, but Brady came up big when he got back up on his feet and chased down Kaepernick to end the game.
"You've got to give a lot of credit in this game to our offense," Brady said. "They battled for us and they kept us in the game because we weren't on top of our game tonight."
Updated on Monday, Oct 15, 2007 2:20 am, EDT
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Hart injures right ankle in first half against Purdue
Associated Press
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan's Mike Hart was limited to playing just the first half of the Wolverines' 48-21 victory over Purdue on Saturday after limping to the sideline with an apparent right ankle injury.
After coming out in the second quarter, Hart appeared to be relatively healthy in the second half as he smiled and laughed with teammates while watching the game.
"Talk to coach [Lloyd] Carr," he said repeatedly as he walked off the field after the game.
Carr bristled during his news conference when asked about the extent of the injury and whether it would keep Hart out of the next game at No. 18 Illinois, but was a little more forthcoming during Michigan's radio broadcast.
"How much swelling and how he feels in these next couple of days will really be the determining factor on what it looks like in terms of him coming back," he said. "He's a tough guy, a quick healer."
Hart's teammates expect him to be on the field.
"It's going to take a lot to keep Mike off that field," safety Jamar Adams said. "Somehow, he's going to find his way out there."
Against Purdue, Hart had 21 carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns that helped build a 31-7 halftime lead. He set a school record with his seventh straight 100-yard game.
Brandon Minor, Hart's backup, limped off the field during the first drive of the second half after he appeared to hurt his left ankle. Minor later left the stadium with a protective boot covering his left foot.
Third-string running back Carlos Brown scored twice in the fourth quarter.
Hart became Michigan's career rushing leader last week and entered Saturday's game as the nation's leading rusher.
The senior moved past Wisconsin's Anthony Davis for fifth among the Big Ten's career rushing leaders with 4,757. He trails Wisconsin's Ron Dayne -- who ran for a conference-record 7,125 yards -- Ohio State's Archie Griffin, Indiana's Anthony Thompson and Michigan State's Lorenzo White.
Hart finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting last year. He aided his bid to win the award with a made-for-TV play late in the first quarter. He ran to the left, landed on his back atop a teammate, rolled off, kept himself off the turf by extending his right arm and scored on an 11-yard run.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan's Mike Hart was limited to playing just the first half of the Wolverines' 48-21 victory over Purdue on Saturday after limping to the sideline with an apparent right ankle injury.
After coming out in the second quarter, Hart appeared to be relatively healthy in the second half as he smiled and laughed with teammates while watching the game.
"Talk to coach [Lloyd] Carr," he said repeatedly as he walked off the field after the game.
Carr bristled during his news conference when asked about the extent of the injury and whether it would keep Hart out of the next game at No. 18 Illinois, but was a little more forthcoming during Michigan's radio broadcast.
"How much swelling and how he feels in these next couple of days will really be the determining factor on what it looks like in terms of him coming back," he said. "He's a tough guy, a quick healer."
Hart's teammates expect him to be on the field.
"It's going to take a lot to keep Mike off that field," safety Jamar Adams said. "Somehow, he's going to find his way out there."
Against Purdue, Hart had 21 carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns that helped build a 31-7 halftime lead. He set a school record with his seventh straight 100-yard game.
Brandon Minor, Hart's backup, limped off the field during the first drive of the second half after he appeared to hurt his left ankle. Minor later left the stadium with a protective boot covering his left foot.
Third-string running back Carlos Brown scored twice in the fourth quarter.
Hart became Michigan's career rushing leader last week and entered Saturday's game as the nation's leading rusher.
The senior moved past Wisconsin's Anthony Davis for fifth among the Big Ten's career rushing leaders with 4,757. He trails Wisconsin's Ron Dayne -- who ran for a conference-record 7,125 yards -- Ohio State's Archie Griffin, Indiana's Anthony Thompson and Michigan State's Lorenzo White.
Hart finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting last year. He aided his bid to win the award with a made-for-TV play late in the first quarter. He ran to the left, landed on his back atop a teammate, rolled off, kept himself off the turf by extending his right arm and scored on an 11-yard run.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
(5) South Florida 64, UCF 12
The cinderella story persists for the fifth ranked team in the country.While sixty-four points is impressive, their biggest test will come next Thursday against Big East foe Rutgers.
By FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer
October 13, 2007
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- South Florida coach Jim Leavitt doesn't want to talk about the national title race.
His fifth-ranked Bulls have to conquer the Big East first.
"I like to win more than I do lose, that I know. And I like the position we're in right now, but I'm not thinking about all that other stuff. I'm really not," Leavitt said after Saturday's 64-12 rout of Central Florida.
"I get distracted like everybody else, but I try to keep them to a minimum. We've only played one game in the Big East, and our goal from the beginning was the Big East championship. And I want to tell you something, it's going to be a barn burner these next number of weeks."
Playing at home for the first time since climbing into the top 10, the Bulls showed they're adjusting nicely to their new role of national title contender. The victory was their school record-tying eighth straight.
George Selvie, the nation's sack leader, led a swarming defense that corralled the nation's leading rusher, and Matt Grothe threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more to help the Bulls (6-0) extend the best start in USF's relatively brief football history.
Kevin Smith, who began the day averaging 172 yards per game rushing for Central Florida, was limited to 55 on 18 carries. The junior, who had gained at least 100 in a UCF-record five straight games, spent much of the second half on the bench after the score got out of hand.
USF's defense extended its streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher to 14 games. The Bulls haven't allowed a back to reach the plateau since Ray Rice of Rutgers gained 212 against them early last season.
"It was a great challenge," Selvie said, mindful that the Bulls face Rice again Thursday night. "We love it, but we've got to keep it that way all season."
Grothe completed 15 of 28 passes for 212 yards, including TD throws of 9 yards to Taurus Johnson and 7 yards to Cedric Hill. He also scored on a pair of 6-yard runs before being replaced by Grant Gregory with USF leading 43-10 in the third quarter.
Selvie continued his torrid start with three more tackles for losses, giving him a school single-season record 20 1/2 in six games. He had one sack, his total to 11 1/2 , and also forced a fumble that led to Grothe's first TD.
UCF (3-3) turned the ball over three times in the first quarter, a continuation of a sloppy second-half performance the previous week at East Carolina. The Knights led that game 28-17 before five third-quarter turnovers contributed to a 52-38 loss.
"They took it to us today," UCF coach George O'Leary said. "Life goes on tomorrow, but it's a disappointing loss from the standpoint of the amount of time we put in to try to get some things done right."
USF improved to 3-0 in the series that some fans refer to as the "I-4 War" because Interstate 4 is the main road connecting Tampa and Orlando.
The schools, located less than 100 miles apart, are natural geographical rivals who didn't meet for the first time until two years ago because of USF's reluctance to commit to the idea.
The teams will meet again in 2008, but the future of the series is uncertain after that.
UCF, which dropped to 0-18 all-time against ranked opponents, dug a deep hole for itself in an error-filled first half. The Knights lost two fumbles and an interception to set up 17 points, and Smith lost his footing in his own end zone for a safety that helped USF build a 29-10 lead at the break.
Grothe topped 100 yards rushing for the second straight week. The 6-foot, 213-pound sophomore broke two tackles on his 6-yard TD run in the second quarter, then spun out of the grasp of a defender to score again to put the Bulls up 36-10 early in the third.
UCF benched quarterback Kyle Israel briefly in the second quarter, but backup Michael Greco didn't have any better luck against a relentless pass rush. Israel finished 5-for-11 for 13 yards and one interception, while Greco was 6-of-16 for 71 yards.
The Knights scored their only touchdown without putting the ball in the air, marching 63 yards on the ground with Smith carrying six times for 39 yards and Israel finishing the eight-play drive with a 2-yard run.
"I can't believe anybody would beat us like that," Israel said. "With a loss like this, really all you can do is move past it. ... You've just got to give credit to South Florida. They played like where they're ranked."
Updated on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 5:29 pm, EDT
By FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer
October 13, 2007
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- South Florida coach Jim Leavitt doesn't want to talk about the national title race.
His fifth-ranked Bulls have to conquer the Big East first.
"I like to win more than I do lose, that I know. And I like the position we're in right now, but I'm not thinking about all that other stuff. I'm really not," Leavitt said after Saturday's 64-12 rout of Central Florida.
"I get distracted like everybody else, but I try to keep them to a minimum. We've only played one game in the Big East, and our goal from the beginning was the Big East championship. And I want to tell you something, it's going to be a barn burner these next number of weeks."
Playing at home for the first time since climbing into the top 10, the Bulls showed they're adjusting nicely to their new role of national title contender. The victory was their school record-tying eighth straight.
George Selvie, the nation's sack leader, led a swarming defense that corralled the nation's leading rusher, and Matt Grothe threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more to help the Bulls (6-0) extend the best start in USF's relatively brief football history.
Kevin Smith, who began the day averaging 172 yards per game rushing for Central Florida, was limited to 55 on 18 carries. The junior, who had gained at least 100 in a UCF-record five straight games, spent much of the second half on the bench after the score got out of hand.
USF's defense extended its streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher to 14 games. The Bulls haven't allowed a back to reach the plateau since Ray Rice of Rutgers gained 212 against them early last season.
"It was a great challenge," Selvie said, mindful that the Bulls face Rice again Thursday night. "We love it, but we've got to keep it that way all season."
Grothe completed 15 of 28 passes for 212 yards, including TD throws of 9 yards to Taurus Johnson and 7 yards to Cedric Hill. He also scored on a pair of 6-yard runs before being replaced by Grant Gregory with USF leading 43-10 in the third quarter.
Selvie continued his torrid start with three more tackles for losses, giving him a school single-season record 20 1/2 in six games. He had one sack, his total to 11 1/2 , and also forced a fumble that led to Grothe's first TD.
UCF (3-3) turned the ball over three times in the first quarter, a continuation of a sloppy second-half performance the previous week at East Carolina. The Knights led that game 28-17 before five third-quarter turnovers contributed to a 52-38 loss.
"They took it to us today," UCF coach George O'Leary said. "Life goes on tomorrow, but it's a disappointing loss from the standpoint of the amount of time we put in to try to get some things done right."
USF improved to 3-0 in the series that some fans refer to as the "I-4 War" because Interstate 4 is the main road connecting Tampa and Orlando.
The schools, located less than 100 miles apart, are natural geographical rivals who didn't meet for the first time until two years ago because of USF's reluctance to commit to the idea.
The teams will meet again in 2008, but the future of the series is uncertain after that.
UCF, which dropped to 0-18 all-time against ranked opponents, dug a deep hole for itself in an error-filled first half. The Knights lost two fumbles and an interception to set up 17 points, and Smith lost his footing in his own end zone for a safety that helped USF build a 29-10 lead at the break.
Grothe topped 100 yards rushing for the second straight week. The 6-foot, 213-pound sophomore broke two tackles on his 6-yard TD run in the second quarter, then spun out of the grasp of a defender to score again to put the Bulls up 36-10 early in the third.
UCF benched quarterback Kyle Israel briefly in the second quarter, but backup Michael Greco didn't have any better luck against a relentless pass rush. Israel finished 5-for-11 for 13 yards and one interception, while Greco was 6-of-16 for 71 yards.
The Knights scored their only touchdown without putting the ball in the air, marching 63 yards on the ground with Smith carrying six times for 39 yards and Israel finishing the eight-play drive with a 2-yard run.
"I can't believe anybody would beat us like that," Israel said. "With a loss like this, really all you can do is move past it. ... You've just got to give credit to South Florida. They played like where they're ranked."
Updated on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 5:29 pm, EDT
4) Boston Coll. 27, Notre Dame 14
As the embarrassment continues in South Bend, the BC Eagles celebrate their undefeated season.
By TOM COYNE, AP Sports Writer
October 13, 2007
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Matt Ryan kept Notre Dame from getting payback on unbeaten Boston College.
Ryan used a series of screens and short passes to keep the blitzing Irish off balance and threw two touchdowns to lead the fourth-ranked Eagles to a 27-14 victory over Notre Dame.
The Irish were hoping to put a damper on BC's national title hopes as the Eagles had done when they cost Notre Dame a national championship in 1993. They threatened, but just couldn't pull it out.
BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski said he never viewed the game against the Irish (1-6) as a trap game because he knew his team wouldn't take Notre Dame lightly.
"Our kids were so excited about coming out here and playing this football game. It's a great rivalry," he said.
Jagodzinski said his message has stayed consistent against each opponent.
"I told our guys we can't get to where we want to go unless we keep taking care of business every week," he said.
Boston College is 7-0 for just the fifth time in 107 seasons, the first time since 1942, and beat its rival Notre Dame for the fifth straight time. The Irish lead the series between the only two Catholic schools to play major college football 9-8, but the Eagles have won six of the last seven.
The Eagles appeared ready to blow the game open when Ryan threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Andre Callender to make it 20-0 with 11:42 left in the third quarter. The score was set up when Tyronne Pruitt intercepted a pass by Jimmy Clausen and returned it 30 yards to the Notre Dame 11.
However, the Irish scored a pair of touchdowns 95 seconds apart to cut it to 20-14. Evan Sharpley, who replaced the ineffective Jimmy Clausen at quarterback, threw a 19-yard TD pass to Robby Parris and linebacker Brian Smith returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown.
The Eagles quickly regained control after the Irish were called for excessive celebration and penalized 15 yards on the kickoff. Brad Newman returned the kick 18 yards to the Notre Dame 44 and the Eagles needed only five plays to score. Ryan, throwing quickly to beat the blitz, hit Kevin Challenger for a 13-yard TD to make it 27-14.
Ryan said he wasn't flustered after throwing the interception for a Notre Dame TD.
"Right after you throw a pick that goes for six you want to come right back out fighting," Ryan said. "At this point in my career I've thrown plenty of picks. You just have to block it out. As a quarterback you definitely have to have temporary amnesia and go out there and keep chucking it. That's what we did."
Despite the constant blitzing, the Irish didn't sack Ryan.
"He's got a really quick release," Notre Dame nose tackle Pat Kuntz said. "He's good, and there's nothing much else I can say about that. He's probably the best quarterback we've seen."
Ryan, 21-4 as a starter, was 32-of-49 passing. Callender caught 10 passes for 91 yards and rushed for 90 yards on 23 carries, including TD runs of 7 and 1 yards.
The Irish offense struggled again, managing just 222 yards total offense. BC, which entered as the No. 3 defense against the run holding opponents to 49.7 yards a game, held the Irish to 27 yards rushing. It was the fifth time this season the Irish were held to less than 50 yards rushing.
Clausen started but failed to lead the Irish to a score. He was 7-of-20 for 60 yards and was pulled after he threw his second interception on Notre Dame's first offensive play of the second half. That set up BC's third touchdown.
Sharpley was 11-of-29 for 135 yards. Coach Charlie Weis said he would have to review the tape before deciding who will start against USC next week.
"I'm never big on blaming the quarterback for the lack of production on the offense," Weis said.
Weis said the biggest problem for the Irish were too many mistakes. The Irish had the excessive celebration penalty set up one score, the interception set up another and the punter's knee touching the ground another.
"I think we had a chance in this game, but the bottom line is they won 27-14," he said. "If I sit there and say, 'God if we were just better on that snap, or if we would have hit this one pass or if we didn't get a penalty. ...' But the thing is, we did."
Notre Dame has lost five straight to Top 5 teams since beating fifth-ranked Michigan in 2005 in Weis' second game as coach of the Irish.
Notre Dame is 1-6 for just the third time in school history. The other two times were in 1956 and 1960.
By TOM COYNE, AP Sports Writer
October 13, 2007
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Matt Ryan kept Notre Dame from getting payback on unbeaten Boston College.
Ryan used a series of screens and short passes to keep the blitzing Irish off balance and threw two touchdowns to lead the fourth-ranked Eagles to a 27-14 victory over Notre Dame.
The Irish were hoping to put a damper on BC's national title hopes as the Eagles had done when they cost Notre Dame a national championship in 1993. They threatened, but just couldn't pull it out.
BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski said he never viewed the game against the Irish (1-6) as a trap game because he knew his team wouldn't take Notre Dame lightly.
"Our kids were so excited about coming out here and playing this football game. It's a great rivalry," he said.
Jagodzinski said his message has stayed consistent against each opponent.
"I told our guys we can't get to where we want to go unless we keep taking care of business every week," he said.
Boston College is 7-0 for just the fifth time in 107 seasons, the first time since 1942, and beat its rival Notre Dame for the fifth straight time. The Irish lead the series between the only two Catholic schools to play major college football 9-8, but the Eagles have won six of the last seven.
The Eagles appeared ready to blow the game open when Ryan threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Andre Callender to make it 20-0 with 11:42 left in the third quarter. The score was set up when Tyronne Pruitt intercepted a pass by Jimmy Clausen and returned it 30 yards to the Notre Dame 11.
However, the Irish scored a pair of touchdowns 95 seconds apart to cut it to 20-14. Evan Sharpley, who replaced the ineffective Jimmy Clausen at quarterback, threw a 19-yard TD pass to Robby Parris and linebacker Brian Smith returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown.
The Eagles quickly regained control after the Irish were called for excessive celebration and penalized 15 yards on the kickoff. Brad Newman returned the kick 18 yards to the Notre Dame 44 and the Eagles needed only five plays to score. Ryan, throwing quickly to beat the blitz, hit Kevin Challenger for a 13-yard TD to make it 27-14.
Ryan said he wasn't flustered after throwing the interception for a Notre Dame TD.
"Right after you throw a pick that goes for six you want to come right back out fighting," Ryan said. "At this point in my career I've thrown plenty of picks. You just have to block it out. As a quarterback you definitely have to have temporary amnesia and go out there and keep chucking it. That's what we did."
Despite the constant blitzing, the Irish didn't sack Ryan.
"He's got a really quick release," Notre Dame nose tackle Pat Kuntz said. "He's good, and there's nothing much else I can say about that. He's probably the best quarterback we've seen."
Ryan, 21-4 as a starter, was 32-of-49 passing. Callender caught 10 passes for 91 yards and rushed for 90 yards on 23 carries, including TD runs of 7 and 1 yards.
The Irish offense struggled again, managing just 222 yards total offense. BC, which entered as the No. 3 defense against the run holding opponents to 49.7 yards a game, held the Irish to 27 yards rushing. It was the fifth time this season the Irish were held to less than 50 yards rushing.
Clausen started but failed to lead the Irish to a score. He was 7-of-20 for 60 yards and was pulled after he threw his second interception on Notre Dame's first offensive play of the second half. That set up BC's third touchdown.
Sharpley was 11-of-29 for 135 yards. Coach Charlie Weis said he would have to review the tape before deciding who will start against USC next week.
"I'm never big on blaming the quarterback for the lack of production on the offense," Weis said.
Weis said the biggest problem for the Irish were too many mistakes. The Irish had the excessive celebration penalty set up one score, the interception set up another and the punter's knee touching the ground another.
"I think we had a chance in this game, but the bottom line is they won 27-14," he said. "If I sit there and say, 'God if we were just better on that snap, or if we would have hit this one pass or if we didn't get a penalty. ...' But the thing is, we did."
Notre Dame has lost five straight to Top 5 teams since beating fifth-ranked Michigan in 2005 in Weis' second game as coach of the Irish.
Notre Dame is 1-6 for just the third time in school history. The other two times were in 1956 and 1960.
Penn St. 38, (19) Wisconsin 7
Consecutive road losses by the Badgers will most likely move them out of the top 25.
By GENARO C. ARMAS, AP Sports Writer
October 13, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Wide smiles broke out on the faces of the Penn State Nittany Lions after Deon Butler's 29-yard touchdown catch.
Terrell Golden greeted his teammate on the sideline by jumping high in the air and bumping Butler's hips.
Penn State was glad to be playing football again.
Anthony Morelli threw for 216 yards and the TD to Butler, Rodney Kinlaw ran for 115 yards and another score, and the Nittany Lions capitalized on mistake-prone No. 19 Wisconsin in a surprisingly easy 38-7 win Saturday.
"It was getting back to the basics. Just play football," Golden said Saturday, following a week full of off-the-field distractions at Penn State. "You don't work football. You play it."
Penn State (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) moved the ball with ease in claiming its second straight conference win and scored on two of three Wisconsin first-half turnovers.
The Badgers (5-2, 2-2) lost their second straight after having won 14 in a row.
Just last week the Badgers were ranked No. 5 and had aspirations for a national title. Now, they've lost two straight and are struggling.
Wisconsin's season-long woes on defense continued after giving up 437 yards Saturday. Their formidable offense faltered, too, held to a season-low point total.
"We can't let them intimidate us," defensive end Maurice Evans, who had two sacks, said about the Badgers' physical offensive line. "We can't play scared."
"Overrated!" chanted blue and white-clad fans with five minutes left in the fourth quarter and the game well in hand.
Star tailback P.J. Hill, who bruised a groin last week against Illinois, had 19 carries and ran for a touchdown but was held to 75 yards rushing on the afternoon, 50 below his season average.
Coach Bret Beilema said Hill may have also hurt his wrist Saturday afternoon.
Hill got the Badgers off to an awful start, fumbling on the Wisconsin 16 after being hit by defensive end Josh Gaines on the first play.
Linebacker Sean Lee recovered at the 12, and three plays later Matt Hahn leaped into the end zone from 1 yard out to give the Nittany Lions a quick 7-0 lead.
"I was just at the right place at the right time," Gaines said about the fumble. "It kind of set the tone."
It was a bad omen for the Badgers.
"Anytime you start the game the way we did, with turning the ball over on the opening possession and putting our defense behind it ... mistakes out of the gate," Bielema said, trailing off at one point.
Early in the second quarter, wide-open freshman wideout David Gilreath, getting more playing time because of injuries to the Wisconsin receiving corps, bobbled a pass that would have given the Badgers a sure first down at midfield. Penn State's Lydell Sargeant picked the ball out of the air for an interception.
Three plays later, Morelli faked left and hit Deon Butler in stride down the right sideline for a 29-yard score and 17-7 lead.
A giddy Butler raised his right fist as he trotted by the raucous student section.
Happy Valley celebrated a happy homecoming game.
Evan Royster's 19-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-1 with 6:29 in the second quarter gave Penn State a 24-7 lead that Wisconsin would never threaten. Royster had 68 yards on eight carries, and Morelli finished 16-of-28 passing.
Wisconsin safety Kim Royston readied for long day Sunday of watching film back in Madison.
"I can't think off the top of my head," Royston said when asked what's wrong with the defense. "Our defense has to get better, that's all I can really say."
The beleaguered Nittany Lions finally generated some good news Saturday after a tough week off the field.
Police on Friday charged running back Austin Scott with rape. Scott was suspended on Oct. 5.
Coach Joe Paterno has also said he is investigating the possibility that a couple players were involved in a fight earlier this month. And two Nittany Lions are still awaiting trial on criminal charges in connection with another fight off-campus in April.
Saturday was all about football.
"I told them, 'Let's go play football.' That's all," Paterno said when asked how his team responded in practice. "You can't do anything about some of the mistakes" made by other players.
Anthony Scirrotto also had an interception for Penn State's active defense.
For the second straight week, Wisconsin couldn't overcome a double-digit halftime deficit on the road.
Quarterback Tyler Donovan was forced to throw often in the second half and had to scramble often to keep drives alive. He finished 16-of-29 for 220 yards and an interception.
Wisconsin's Kyle Jefferson had six catches for 124 yards. Butler led Penn State with seven receptions for 93 yards and Golden added five for 83.
Updated on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 8:40 pm, EDT
By GENARO C. ARMAS, AP Sports Writer
October 13, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Wide smiles broke out on the faces of the Penn State Nittany Lions after Deon Butler's 29-yard touchdown catch.
Terrell Golden greeted his teammate on the sideline by jumping high in the air and bumping Butler's hips.
Penn State was glad to be playing football again.
Anthony Morelli threw for 216 yards and the TD to Butler, Rodney Kinlaw ran for 115 yards and another score, and the Nittany Lions capitalized on mistake-prone No. 19 Wisconsin in a surprisingly easy 38-7 win Saturday.
"It was getting back to the basics. Just play football," Golden said Saturday, following a week full of off-the-field distractions at Penn State. "You don't work football. You play it."
Penn State (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) moved the ball with ease in claiming its second straight conference win and scored on two of three Wisconsin first-half turnovers.
The Badgers (5-2, 2-2) lost their second straight after having won 14 in a row.
Just last week the Badgers were ranked No. 5 and had aspirations for a national title. Now, they've lost two straight and are struggling.
Wisconsin's season-long woes on defense continued after giving up 437 yards Saturday. Their formidable offense faltered, too, held to a season-low point total.
"We can't let them intimidate us," defensive end Maurice Evans, who had two sacks, said about the Badgers' physical offensive line. "We can't play scared."
"Overrated!" chanted blue and white-clad fans with five minutes left in the fourth quarter and the game well in hand.
Star tailback P.J. Hill, who bruised a groin last week against Illinois, had 19 carries and ran for a touchdown but was held to 75 yards rushing on the afternoon, 50 below his season average.
Coach Bret Beilema said Hill may have also hurt his wrist Saturday afternoon.
Hill got the Badgers off to an awful start, fumbling on the Wisconsin 16 after being hit by defensive end Josh Gaines on the first play.
Linebacker Sean Lee recovered at the 12, and three plays later Matt Hahn leaped into the end zone from 1 yard out to give the Nittany Lions a quick 7-0 lead.
"I was just at the right place at the right time," Gaines said about the fumble. "It kind of set the tone."
It was a bad omen for the Badgers.
"Anytime you start the game the way we did, with turning the ball over on the opening possession and putting our defense behind it ... mistakes out of the gate," Bielema said, trailing off at one point.
Early in the second quarter, wide-open freshman wideout David Gilreath, getting more playing time because of injuries to the Wisconsin receiving corps, bobbled a pass that would have given the Badgers a sure first down at midfield. Penn State's Lydell Sargeant picked the ball out of the air for an interception.
Three plays later, Morelli faked left and hit Deon Butler in stride down the right sideline for a 29-yard score and 17-7 lead.
A giddy Butler raised his right fist as he trotted by the raucous student section.
Happy Valley celebrated a happy homecoming game.
Evan Royster's 19-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-1 with 6:29 in the second quarter gave Penn State a 24-7 lead that Wisconsin would never threaten. Royster had 68 yards on eight carries, and Morelli finished 16-of-28 passing.
Wisconsin safety Kim Royston readied for long day Sunday of watching film back in Madison.
"I can't think off the top of my head," Royston said when asked what's wrong with the defense. "Our defense has to get better, that's all I can really say."
The beleaguered Nittany Lions finally generated some good news Saturday after a tough week off the field.
Police on Friday charged running back Austin Scott with rape. Scott was suspended on Oct. 5.
Coach Joe Paterno has also said he is investigating the possibility that a couple players were involved in a fight earlier this month. And two Nittany Lions are still awaiting trial on criminal charges in connection with another fight off-campus in April.
Saturday was all about football.
"I told them, 'Let's go play football.' That's all," Paterno said when asked how his team responded in practice. "You can't do anything about some of the mistakes" made by other players.
Anthony Scirrotto also had an interception for Penn State's active defense.
For the second straight week, Wisconsin couldn't overcome a double-digit halftime deficit on the road.
Quarterback Tyler Donovan was forced to throw often in the second half and had to scramble often to keep drives alive. He finished 16-of-29 for 220 yards and an interception.
Wisconsin's Kyle Jefferson had six catches for 124 yards. Butler led Penn State with seven receptions for 93 yards and Golden added five for 83.
Updated on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 8:40 pm, EDT
(17) Kentucky 43, (1) LSU 37, 3OT
With number one LSU and number two Cal both faltering today, who will be the new top ranked team in the nation.
By JEFFREY McMURRAY, Associated Press Writer
October 13, 2007
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky topped them all by toppling No. 1 LSU.
Andre Woodson and the Wildcats became the latest team to shake up the national title race, and the first in nearly four years to take down the top-ranked team in the regular season, beating the Tigers 43-37 in triple overtime Saturday.
Woodson found Steve Johnson wide open in the end zone for a 7-yard score in the third extra period. The 2-point conversion, required after two overtimes, failed but it didn't matter.
With a chance to win it, LSU (6-1, 3-1 SEC) couldn't get a first down on four straight running plays. Charles Scott was stopped a yard short on fourth-and-2 and No. 17 Kentucky (6-1, 2-1) had it's first victory over a No. 1 team since 1964, when it beat Mississippi.
"It proved we're a team that obviously earns a lot more respect now," Woodson said in the middle of the on-field celebration. "We've come a long way from being a doormat in the SEC to competing with the best teams in the SEC and getting some wins."
No highly ranked team seems safe in a season of surprises. It started with Appalachian State knocking off then-No. 5 Michigan in Week 1. In the past two weeks, nine teams ranked in the top 10 have lost, including No. 2 USC falling 24-23 to Stanford last week.
No. 1 had been safe though, until now.
The last time a No. 1 team was beaten during the regular season was Dec. 6, 2003, when Kansas State beat Oklahoma 35-7 for the Big 12 title.
The last No. 1 team to lose in overtime was Miami, beaten by Ohio State in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
Kentucky took its turn this time, led by a Heisman Trophy contender at quarterback.
Woodson wasn't sharp early but completed 21 of 38 passes for 250 yards, throwing for three TDs and running for another. He largely had to carry the load with top rusher Rafael Little sidelined with a bruised thigh.
On the winning TD, Johnson was wide open because defender Jonathan Zenon tripped and fell. Woodson double-pumped before firing a strike.
"Whenever it starts to look dark, that's when they dig down and find something extra," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said.
LSU became No. 1 two weeks ago for the first time since 1959. In its first game as the top team, the Tigers escaped with a 28-24 win over Florida last week when Jacob Hester scored on a 2-yard run with less than a minute left.
This week, LSU couldn't escape and it looks like the Tigers' stay atop the rankings will be a short one.
The first Bowl Championship Series standings come out Sunday.
Fans at Commonwealth Stadium stormed the field, in a scene reminiscent of 2002, the last time these teams played in Lexington. Only that time, it was a false alarm because LSU's Devery Henderson scored on a 75-yard tipped pass as time expired in what is still known in Baton Rouge as the "Bluegrass Miracle."
Early on Saturday, it didn't seem like this game was heading to a miracle finish. It didn't seem like the Tigers would need one.
But starting with a minute left in the third quarter, Kentucky scored 13 straight points to tie it at 27. Both teams scored rushing TDs in the first OT and field goals in the second.
Woodson, who earlier this season broke Trent Dilfer's major college record of 271 consecutive passes without an interception, had two picked off Saturday.
The Wildcats took an early 7-0 lead after Woodson's tipped, wobbly pass was grabbed in the end zone by T.C. Drake.
The Tigers didn't wait long to answer. Two long runs -- 27 yards from Trindon Holliday and 55 yards from Scott -- set up Scott's first TD, a 1-yard plunge, to tie the game at 7. The Tigers tacked on another TD by Scott, from 13 yards out, late in the first half.
Kentucky closed the deficit to 17-14 at halftime when Woodson found Steve Johnson on a 50-yard post, then scrambled 12 yards untouched into the end zone.
Until late in the game, Kentucky did little against LSU's top ranked defense, which had allowed fewer than 200 yards a game.
Updated on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 9:29 pm, EDT
By JEFFREY McMURRAY, Associated Press Writer
October 13, 2007
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky topped them all by toppling No. 1 LSU.
Andre Woodson and the Wildcats became the latest team to shake up the national title race, and the first in nearly four years to take down the top-ranked team in the regular season, beating the Tigers 43-37 in triple overtime Saturday.
Woodson found Steve Johnson wide open in the end zone for a 7-yard score in the third extra period. The 2-point conversion, required after two overtimes, failed but it didn't matter.
With a chance to win it, LSU (6-1, 3-1 SEC) couldn't get a first down on four straight running plays. Charles Scott was stopped a yard short on fourth-and-2 and No. 17 Kentucky (6-1, 2-1) had it's first victory over a No. 1 team since 1964, when it beat Mississippi.
"It proved we're a team that obviously earns a lot more respect now," Woodson said in the middle of the on-field celebration. "We've come a long way from being a doormat in the SEC to competing with the best teams in the SEC and getting some wins."
No highly ranked team seems safe in a season of surprises. It started with Appalachian State knocking off then-No. 5 Michigan in Week 1. In the past two weeks, nine teams ranked in the top 10 have lost, including No. 2 USC falling 24-23 to Stanford last week.
No. 1 had been safe though, until now.
The last time a No. 1 team was beaten during the regular season was Dec. 6, 2003, when Kansas State beat Oklahoma 35-7 for the Big 12 title.
The last No. 1 team to lose in overtime was Miami, beaten by Ohio State in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
Kentucky took its turn this time, led by a Heisman Trophy contender at quarterback.
Woodson wasn't sharp early but completed 21 of 38 passes for 250 yards, throwing for three TDs and running for another. He largely had to carry the load with top rusher Rafael Little sidelined with a bruised thigh.
On the winning TD, Johnson was wide open because defender Jonathan Zenon tripped and fell. Woodson double-pumped before firing a strike.
"Whenever it starts to look dark, that's when they dig down and find something extra," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said.
LSU became No. 1 two weeks ago for the first time since 1959. In its first game as the top team, the Tigers escaped with a 28-24 win over Florida last week when Jacob Hester scored on a 2-yard run with less than a minute left.
This week, LSU couldn't escape and it looks like the Tigers' stay atop the rankings will be a short one.
The first Bowl Championship Series standings come out Sunday.
Fans at Commonwealth Stadium stormed the field, in a scene reminiscent of 2002, the last time these teams played in Lexington. Only that time, it was a false alarm because LSU's Devery Henderson scored on a 75-yard tipped pass as time expired in what is still known in Baton Rouge as the "Bluegrass Miracle."
Early on Saturday, it didn't seem like this game was heading to a miracle finish. It didn't seem like the Tigers would need one.
But starting with a minute left in the third quarter, Kentucky scored 13 straight points to tie it at 27. Both teams scored rushing TDs in the first OT and field goals in the second.
Woodson, who earlier this season broke Trent Dilfer's major college record of 271 consecutive passes without an interception, had two picked off Saturday.
The Wildcats took an early 7-0 lead after Woodson's tipped, wobbly pass was grabbed in the end zone by T.C. Drake.
The Tigers didn't wait long to answer. Two long runs -- 27 yards from Trindon Holliday and 55 yards from Scott -- set up Scott's first TD, a 1-yard plunge, to tie the game at 7. The Tigers tacked on another TD by Scott, from 13 yards out, late in the first half.
Kentucky closed the deficit to 17-14 at halftime when Woodson found Steve Johnson on a 50-yard post, then scrambled 12 yards untouched into the end zone.
Until late in the game, Kentucky did little against LSU's top ranked defense, which had allowed fewer than 200 yards a game.
Updated on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 9:29 pm, EDT
Friday, October 12, 2007
Penn St. RB Austin Scott charged with rape, assault
By GENARO C. ARMAS, AP Sports Writer
October 12, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Suspended Penn State running back Austin Scott is charged with raping a woman at his campus apartment after meeting her at a bar.
Scott was arraigned Friday on charges of rape, sexual assault and two counts of aggravated indecent assault, all felonies, in connection with the Oct. 5 encounter. According to court papers, Scott told investigators the woman did not initially want to have sex.
Scott declined to comment as he left the courtroom Friday.
"The interaction he had with the woman involved was consensual, and we anticipate we will be able to prove that in court," Scott's attorney, Joseph Amendola, said. "Very optimistic. We're looking forward to the opportunity of establishing his innocence."
Authorities said the encounter occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 5. Coach Joe Paterno suspended Scott later that day, and the school announced the next day the tailback had violated an unspecified team rule.
Scott remains enrolled at Penn State.
"As with the case with any sexual assault, we consider it a matter adjudicated by the court, and we can't get into details at this point," university spokeswoman Lisa Powers said.
Scott also faces three misdemeanors: two counts of indecent assault and one count of simple assault. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bail and ordered to stay away from the alleged victim.
Scott is still on the roster but still suspended, team spokesman Jeff Nelson said Friday.
"As coach Paterno stated earlier this week, he has not participated with the team since the end of last week and we do not have any further comment at this point," Nelson said.
A preliminary hearing for Scott was scheduled for Wednesday.
Scott, a fifth-year senior, ran for 302 yards and six touchdowns this season before his suspension last week. He arrived at Penn State in 2003 a highly touted recruit after setting state records of 3,853 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns as a senior at Parkland High School in Allentown.
He led Penn State in rushing his freshman year (436 yards), but nagging injuries and other off-field issues kept him lagging on the depth chart. He redshirted last season after being slowed by an ankle injury.
October 12, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Suspended Penn State running back Austin Scott is charged with raping a woman at his campus apartment after meeting her at a bar.
Scott was arraigned Friday on charges of rape, sexual assault and two counts of aggravated indecent assault, all felonies, in connection with the Oct. 5 encounter. According to court papers, Scott told investigators the woman did not initially want to have sex.
Scott declined to comment as he left the courtroom Friday.
"The interaction he had with the woman involved was consensual, and we anticipate we will be able to prove that in court," Scott's attorney, Joseph Amendola, said. "Very optimistic. We're looking forward to the opportunity of establishing his innocence."
Authorities said the encounter occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 5. Coach Joe Paterno suspended Scott later that day, and the school announced the next day the tailback had violated an unspecified team rule.
Scott remains enrolled at Penn State.
"As with the case with any sexual assault, we consider it a matter adjudicated by the court, and we can't get into details at this point," university spokeswoman Lisa Powers said.
Scott also faces three misdemeanors: two counts of indecent assault and one count of simple assault. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bail and ordered to stay away from the alleged victim.
Scott is still on the roster but still suspended, team spokesman Jeff Nelson said Friday.
"As coach Paterno stated earlier this week, he has not participated with the team since the end of last week and we do not have any further comment at this point," Nelson said.
A preliminary hearing for Scott was scheduled for Wednesday.
Scott, a fifth-year senior, ran for 302 yards and six touchdowns this season before his suspension last week. He arrived at Penn State in 2003 a highly touted recruit after setting state records of 3,853 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns as a senior at Parkland High School in Allentown.
He led Penn State in rushing his freshman year (436 yards), but nagging injuries and other off-field issues kept him lagging on the depth chart. He redshirted last season after being slowed by an ankle injury.
Florida walk-on player killed in motorcycle accident
By MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer
October 12, 2007
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- A walk-on defensive back for the Florida Gators was killed early Friday when the motorcycle he was driving hit a median at a high rate of speed, police said.
Michael Guilford, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from Quincy, was not wearing a helmet. Neither was passenger Ashley Slonina, a Florida junior from Lynn Haven who also died in the crash.
The two were riding a 1998 silver Kawasaki motorcycle when it struck a median near campus around 1 a.m., police spokesman Lt. Keith Kameg said. Kameg said officers estimated the motorcycle was traveling 25 to 30 mph over the speed limit.
Police were awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports and investigating a report that the students had been at a gathering at a nearby apartment complex before the crash, Kameg said.
Crisis counselors were available to meet with students who knew Guilford and Slonina.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Michael Guilford," coach Urban Meyer said in a statement. "He was an outstanding, quality young man that was loved, respected and admired by all of us. His unselfish efforts on helping his teammates getting ready to play every week were only a glimpse of the person he was.
Guilford, nicknamed "Sunshine" because his long blonde hair resembled that of Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass in the football movie "Remember the Titans," was named one of the scout team players of the week following Florida's win over Mississippi earlier this season.
Guilford also mimicked Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith during preparation for the Bowl Championship Series national title game in January.
October 12, 2007
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- A walk-on defensive back for the Florida Gators was killed early Friday when the motorcycle he was driving hit a median at a high rate of speed, police said.
Michael Guilford, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from Quincy, was not wearing a helmet. Neither was passenger Ashley Slonina, a Florida junior from Lynn Haven who also died in the crash.
The two were riding a 1998 silver Kawasaki motorcycle when it struck a median near campus around 1 a.m., police spokesman Lt. Keith Kameg said. Kameg said officers estimated the motorcycle was traveling 25 to 30 mph over the speed limit.
Police were awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports and investigating a report that the students had been at a gathering at a nearby apartment complex before the crash, Kameg said.
Crisis counselors were available to meet with students who knew Guilford and Slonina.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Michael Guilford," coach Urban Meyer said in a statement. "He was an outstanding, quality young man that was loved, respected and admired by all of us. His unselfish efforts on helping his teammates getting ready to play every week were only a glimpse of the person he was.
Guilford, nicknamed "Sunshine" because his long blonde hair resembled that of Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass in the football movie "Remember the Titans," was named one of the scout team players of the week following Florida's win over Mississippi earlier this season.
Guilford also mimicked Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith during preparation for the Bowl Championship Series national title game in January.
Wake Forest 24, (21) Florida St. 21
The upsets continue to mount.
By JOEDY McCREARY, AP Sports Writer
October 12, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- Riley Skinner wasn't good enough to play for the Florida State Seminoles. Once again, he proved talented enough to help Wake Forest beat them.
Skinner's 35-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Moore in the fourth quarter led the Demon Deacons past No. 21 Florida State 24-21 on Thursday night and helped the sophomore quarterback improve to 2-0 against his homestate school that didn't recruit him.
"We needed that for Wake Forest this year (because) a lot of people doubted us, we hadn't really won real pretty," Skinner said. "We needed that for our confidence and to show we're for real."
Skinner completed 19 of 27 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns for the Demon Deacons (4-2, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
The defending league champs rallied in the second half to follow up last year's stunning 30-0 rout in Tallahassee by claiming the first consecutive wins over the Seminoles (4-2, 1-2) in school history.
"They didn't want to be a one-hit wonder and just have a good season last year," coach Jim Grobe said. "There's been a lot of pressure on this football team."
Skinner led the Demon Deacons 82 yards in nine plays, converting three third downs during their game-winning drive. The biggest came when Skinner sidestepped a pass rush, stepped forward in the pocket and found Moore, who had a step on cornerback Jamie Robinson at the goal line, for the easy score that put Wake Forest up 21-14 with 6:41 remaining.
"It got into a battle of quarterbacks, and their quarterback made the play down there that won the game," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said.
Florida State gave the ball right back to Wake Forest on the first play of its ensuing drive, when Chip Vaughn intercepted Xavier Lee's deep pass at the 26. The Demon Deacons milked the clock and set up Sam Swank's 48-yard field goal with 1:40 to play that made it a 10-point game.
Lee scored on a 17-yard run with 17 seconds left to draw the Seminoles within three, but Wake Forest recovered an onside kick to seal it.
"For the most part, I still think we had opportunities to put the game out of hand, but we didn't capitalize on the chances we had," Lee said.
Josh Adams rushed 18 times for 140 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown run, and caught a scoring pass. Micah Andrews gained 57 tough yards in helping spark the comeback. The Demon Deacons ran all over Florida State's 11th-ranked run defense, gaining 180 yards, more than double the Seminoles' 81.8 yards entering the game.
"Everybody got that first hit, and after that, we kind of figured out that ... we can play with these guys," Andrews said.
Wake Forest's defense in the first half allowed two big plays that set up the Seminoles' two scoring drives, then shut them down after halftime. The Demon Deacons forced five second-half punts, intercepted two passes and allowed 105 total yards after the break -- with a good chunk coming after Swank's late kick. Florida State's rushing offense never could get going, finishing with 47 yards on 24 carries.
"They pretty much ran a similar offense that we saw last week against Duke," Wake Forest defensive lineman Jeremy Thompson said. "We pretty much knew what they were going to show us."
Lee finished 24-of-45 for 283 yards and two touchdowns for the Seminoles, who led 14-7 at halftime before the Demon Deacons' offense began clicking.
Wake Forest moved 80 yards in nine plays late in the third quarter to force a 14-14 tie -- a drive that started when Alphonso Smith intercepted Lee in the end zone. Skinner capped the drive with a nifty play in which he faked a handoff to Adams, deked like he would roll right and instead reversed field and flipped to the wide-open tailback for a 6-yard score.
Florida State rallied from an early deficit by using two big plays to set up short touchdowns passes. Lee hit Parker for 58 yards and then hooked up again three plays later from 6 yards out -- the first TD of the receiver's career -- that snapped a five-quarter scoreless streak against Wake Forest.
Later, Carr outjumped Smith on a 50-yard gain down the right sideline, then did it again in the left corner of the end zone to make it 14-7 43 seconds before halftime.
Adams had given Wake Forest a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter when he took a handoff at his own 17, stutter-stepped through the line and burst down the right sideline for the fourth-longest touchdown run in school history and the longest run allowed by Florida State in more than a decade.
"The home run, that's what Josh gives you," Grobe said. "Against a team like Florida State, you've got to have that once in a while."
By JOEDY McCREARY, AP Sports Writer
October 12, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- Riley Skinner wasn't good enough to play for the Florida State Seminoles. Once again, he proved talented enough to help Wake Forest beat them.
Skinner's 35-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Moore in the fourth quarter led the Demon Deacons past No. 21 Florida State 24-21 on Thursday night and helped the sophomore quarterback improve to 2-0 against his homestate school that didn't recruit him.
"We needed that for Wake Forest this year (because) a lot of people doubted us, we hadn't really won real pretty," Skinner said. "We needed that for our confidence and to show we're for real."
Skinner completed 19 of 27 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns for the Demon Deacons (4-2, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
The defending league champs rallied in the second half to follow up last year's stunning 30-0 rout in Tallahassee by claiming the first consecutive wins over the Seminoles (4-2, 1-2) in school history.
"They didn't want to be a one-hit wonder and just have a good season last year," coach Jim Grobe said. "There's been a lot of pressure on this football team."
Skinner led the Demon Deacons 82 yards in nine plays, converting three third downs during their game-winning drive. The biggest came when Skinner sidestepped a pass rush, stepped forward in the pocket and found Moore, who had a step on cornerback Jamie Robinson at the goal line, for the easy score that put Wake Forest up 21-14 with 6:41 remaining.
"It got into a battle of quarterbacks, and their quarterback made the play down there that won the game," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said.
Florida State gave the ball right back to Wake Forest on the first play of its ensuing drive, when Chip Vaughn intercepted Xavier Lee's deep pass at the 26. The Demon Deacons milked the clock and set up Sam Swank's 48-yard field goal with 1:40 to play that made it a 10-point game.
Lee scored on a 17-yard run with 17 seconds left to draw the Seminoles within three, but Wake Forest recovered an onside kick to seal it.
"For the most part, I still think we had opportunities to put the game out of hand, but we didn't capitalize on the chances we had," Lee said.
Josh Adams rushed 18 times for 140 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown run, and caught a scoring pass. Micah Andrews gained 57 tough yards in helping spark the comeback. The Demon Deacons ran all over Florida State's 11th-ranked run defense, gaining 180 yards, more than double the Seminoles' 81.8 yards entering the game.
"Everybody got that first hit, and after that, we kind of figured out that ... we can play with these guys," Andrews said.
Wake Forest's defense in the first half allowed two big plays that set up the Seminoles' two scoring drives, then shut them down after halftime. The Demon Deacons forced five second-half punts, intercepted two passes and allowed 105 total yards after the break -- with a good chunk coming after Swank's late kick. Florida State's rushing offense never could get going, finishing with 47 yards on 24 carries.
"They pretty much ran a similar offense that we saw last week against Duke," Wake Forest defensive lineman Jeremy Thompson said. "We pretty much knew what they were going to show us."
Lee finished 24-of-45 for 283 yards and two touchdowns for the Seminoles, who led 14-7 at halftime before the Demon Deacons' offense began clicking.
Wake Forest moved 80 yards in nine plays late in the third quarter to force a 14-14 tie -- a drive that started when Alphonso Smith intercepted Lee in the end zone. Skinner capped the drive with a nifty play in which he faked a handoff to Adams, deked like he would roll right and instead reversed field and flipped to the wide-open tailback for a 6-yard score.
Florida State rallied from an early deficit by using two big plays to set up short touchdowns passes. Lee hit Parker for 58 yards and then hooked up again three plays later from 6 yards out -- the first TD of the receiver's career -- that snapped a five-quarter scoreless streak against Wake Forest.
Later, Carr outjumped Smith on a 50-yard gain down the right sideline, then did it again in the left corner of the end zone to make it 14-7 43 seconds before halftime.
Adams had given Wake Forest a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter when he took a handoff at his own 17, stutter-stepped through the line and burst down the right sideline for the fourth-longest touchdown run in school history and the longest run allowed by Florida State in more than a decade.
"The home run, that's what Josh gives you," Grobe said. "Against a team like Florida State, you've got to have that once in a while."
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Boston College Visits Notre Dame - Suffering Irish Fans Pray For Win
Boston College -- now 4th ranked in the country -- is coming to Notre Dame for a big game. But this ND team has won only one game and that was lucky as UCLA made several turnovers -- seven in all. Notre Dame was outgained by almost 100 yards in that game. It's a big game, with tickets going for over $200 in some parts of the stadium.
Notre Dame fans know that they need help. That's why a few have made new "Suffering Irish" t-shirts for sale. The idea is to get Notre Dame fans to pray for their team to win.
It's a good idea, as they're gonna need it.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Pac-10 Tables Turned - Cal Ranked #2, USC Ranked #10
Wow. read it and weap! Plus, USC's coming to Cal in November. This is going to be a game for the ages!
LSU is unanimous No. 1 after week of upsets; USC falls to No. 10 - Associated Press
NEW YORK -- No doubt about it, LSU is No. 1.
As for the rest of the Top 25, five wild weeks of college football have taken quite a toll.
The Tigers were a unanimous choice for the top spot in The Associated Press rankings released Sunday, receiving all 65 first-place from the media panel. The last unanimous No. 1 during the regular season was Ohio State in December.
LSU is one of just four teams that started the season ranked in the top 10 and remain there. The others are No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 8 West Virginia and No. 10 Southern California, which became the latest team to take a tumble after a startling loss to an unranked opponent.
The Trojans fell to Stanford 24-23 on Saturday, then dropped eight spots in the rankings.
California is the new No. 2, with its best showing in the AP Top 25 since 1951, when the Golden Bears were No. 1.
Ohio State is No. 3 and No. 4 Boston College has its highest ranking since Doug Flutie had the Eagles fourth in 1984. South Florida, which entered the poll for the first time three weeks ago, is now No. 5.
A week before the first Bowl Championship Series standings are released, LSU is a unanimous No. 1 in all the major polls. In the coaches' poll, the rest of the top five is California, Ohio State and Boston College while Oklahoma and South Florida are tied for fifth.
In the Harris poll, the top four are the same as the AP and coaches' poll, but Oklahoma holds the No. 5 spot all to itself with USF sixth. The Harris and coaches' polls are part of the formula to determine which teams will play in the BCS national title game Jan. 7 in New Orleans.
A week after half the top 10 and nine ranked teams lost, another four top-10 teams and 11 ranked teams overall went down Saturday.
As a result, there are 10 teams in the latest rankings, including four in the top 10 (BC, USF, No. 7 South Carolina and No. 9 Oregon), that were unranked to start the season.
Coach Steve Spurrier has led South Carolina to its highest ranking since Dec. 12, 1984, when the Gamecocks were also seventh.
"It's nice, very nice," Spurrier said Sunday. "We appreciate it. Obviously it's good for our football program, for our university and all that, but we realize that it's almost exactly halfway through the season, six games, a lot can happen in the next six."
The second 10 starts with No. 11 Missouri, which has its highest ranking since 1981, when the Tigers were No. 8.
No. 12 Virginia Tech is followed by Florida and then three unbeaten teams -- Arizona State, Cincinnati and Hawaii. No. 17 Kentucky fell nine spots after losing at South Carolina 38-23 on Thursday.
Five teams fell from the rankings this week. Illinois, which beat No. 5 Wisconsin 31-26, and unbeaten Kansas, which won at Kansas State for the first time since 1989, moved into the poll for the first time this season.
The Illini are No. 18 and ranked for the first time since 2001. Kansas is No. 20 and ranked for the first time since 1995. In between is No. 19 Wisconsin, which dropped 14 spots after its first loss of the season.
No. 21 Florida State, winners of four straight, moved back into the Top 25, as did No. 22 Auburn. No. 23 Texas benefited from so many other ranked teams losing and stayed in the poll after a second consecutive loss. The Longhorns fell to Oklahoma 28-21.
No. 24 Georgia dropped 12 spots after a 35-14 defeat to Tennessee, and the Vols moved back into the rankings at No. 25, giving the Southeastern Conference seven ranked teams, the most of any conference.
Falling out of the Top 25 were Nebraska, Clemson, Kansas State, Rutgers and Purdue.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
LSU is unanimous No. 1 after week of upsets; USC falls to No. 10 - Associated Press
NEW YORK -- No doubt about it, LSU is No. 1.
As for the rest of the Top 25, five wild weeks of college football have taken quite a toll.
The Tigers were a unanimous choice for the top spot in The Associated Press rankings released Sunday, receiving all 65 first-place from the media panel. The last unanimous No. 1 during the regular season was Ohio State in December.
LSU is one of just four teams that started the season ranked in the top 10 and remain there. The others are No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 8 West Virginia and No. 10 Southern California, which became the latest team to take a tumble after a startling loss to an unranked opponent.
The Trojans fell to Stanford 24-23 on Saturday, then dropped eight spots in the rankings.
California is the new No. 2, with its best showing in the AP Top 25 since 1951, when the Golden Bears were No. 1.
Ohio State is No. 3 and No. 4 Boston College has its highest ranking since Doug Flutie had the Eagles fourth in 1984. South Florida, which entered the poll for the first time three weeks ago, is now No. 5.
A week before the first Bowl Championship Series standings are released, LSU is a unanimous No. 1 in all the major polls. In the coaches' poll, the rest of the top five is California, Ohio State and Boston College while Oklahoma and South Florida are tied for fifth.
In the Harris poll, the top four are the same as the AP and coaches' poll, but Oklahoma holds the No. 5 spot all to itself with USF sixth. The Harris and coaches' polls are part of the formula to determine which teams will play in the BCS national title game Jan. 7 in New Orleans.
A week after half the top 10 and nine ranked teams lost, another four top-10 teams and 11 ranked teams overall went down Saturday.
As a result, there are 10 teams in the latest rankings, including four in the top 10 (BC, USF, No. 7 South Carolina and No. 9 Oregon), that were unranked to start the season.
Coach Steve Spurrier has led South Carolina to its highest ranking since Dec. 12, 1984, when the Gamecocks were also seventh.
"It's nice, very nice," Spurrier said Sunday. "We appreciate it. Obviously it's good for our football program, for our university and all that, but we realize that it's almost exactly halfway through the season, six games, a lot can happen in the next six."
The second 10 starts with No. 11 Missouri, which has its highest ranking since 1981, when the Tigers were No. 8.
No. 12 Virginia Tech is followed by Florida and then three unbeaten teams -- Arizona State, Cincinnati and Hawaii. No. 17 Kentucky fell nine spots after losing at South Carolina 38-23 on Thursday.
Five teams fell from the rankings this week. Illinois, which beat No. 5 Wisconsin 31-26, and unbeaten Kansas, which won at Kansas State for the first time since 1989, moved into the poll for the first time this season.
The Illini are No. 18 and ranked for the first time since 2001. Kansas is No. 20 and ranked for the first time since 1995. In between is No. 19 Wisconsin, which dropped 14 spots after its first loss of the season.
No. 21 Florida State, winners of four straight, moved back into the Top 25, as did No. 22 Auburn. No. 23 Texas benefited from so many other ranked teams losing and stayed in the poll after a second consecutive loss. The Longhorns fell to Oklahoma 28-21.
No. 24 Georgia dropped 12 spots after a 35-14 defeat to Tennessee, and the Vols moved back into the rankings at No. 25, giving the Southeastern Conference seven ranked teams, the most of any conference.
Falling out of the Top 25 were Nebraska, Clemson, Kansas State, Rutgers and Purdue.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
UCLA's 7 Turnovers Lead To Loss: Notre Dame 20, UCLA 6
Notre Dame was outgained by UCLA, 282 to 140 total yards. Given that performance, this may be the only game they win all year. Seven turnovers don't happen every week.
Notre Dame takes advantage of UCLA walk-on QB to win first game
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Maybe this will stop the laughing.
Jimmy Clausen scored on a quarterback sneak and Maurice Crum returned a fumble 34 yards for another touchdown during a 50-second span of the third quarter as Notre Dame fought its way out of one of the worst slumps in school history with a 20-6 victory over UCLA on Saturday.
It was only the second time Notre Dame had played in Pasadena. Knute Rockne's "Four Horsemen" defeated coach Pop Warner's Stanford team 27-10 in the 1925 Rose Bowl to give the Irish their first undisputed national championship.
This win was significant in quite a different way. It was Notre Dame's first victory of the season and assured the Fighting Irish they won't equal the longest losing streak in school history.
Coach Charlie Weis obviously was relieved.
"When you're 0-5, everyone in the country is laughing at you," Weis said. "The only thing you can do is do something about it on the field. I'm really happy for the kids.
"We never had a better week of practice since I've been here. I said good things will happen, and it happened."
After a school record 0-5 start, the Irish avoided tying their longest losing streak. The victory was their first in eight games dating back to last season. The only other time the Irish lost eight straight was in 1960, when they won their opener and didn't win again until the final game of the season.
This time, Notre Dame (1-5) knocked UCLA quarterback Ben Olson out with a knee injury late in the first quarter, then hounded freshman redshirt McLeod Bethel-Thompson into a string of mistakes.
A walk-on pressed into the backup role for UCLA (4-2, 3-0 Pac-10) because of an injury to Patrick Cowan, Bethel-Thompson had not thrown a pass in a college game.
The Irish picked off four of his throws, with Crum getting two of them. He also recovered the quarterback's fumble and ran it in for a touchdown.
"It's unfortunate that Ben went down early in the game," UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said. "It's the kind of game where Notre Dame played everything close to the vest and didn't make any mistakes. They put some pressure on our offense, and our offenses made some mistakes.
"Mac (Bethel-Thompson) did a nice job, given the circumstances with the type of game and his experience. I give credit to Notre Dame. When they don't have any turnovers and you have six, that's unfortunate."
Clausen put the Irish ahead 13-6 when he bulled over from 1 yard out, with 1:53 left in the third quarter. David Bruton set up the score when he intercepted a pass at the UCLA 21 and returned it to the 4.
The Irish players began to celebrate a bit on the sidelines when Clausen scored, and Weis said he told them to tone it down.
"It's been a while since we've been up in the second half," he said. "So I told my guys to act like they've been there before. Don't make me look an idiot."
Crum gave the Irish a 14-point pad when he scooped up the fumble and scored with 1:03 remaining in the third.
Notre Dame's Brandon Walker kicked a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 48-yarder that bounced off the cross bar and went over to tie it 6-6 midway through the third quarter. UCLA's Kai Forbath kicked a 29-yarder in the first quarter, then gave the Bruins a 6-3 lead with a 49-yarder late in the first half.
Bethel-Thompson completed 12-of-28 for 139 yards. Brandon Breazell and Joe Cowan each had five receptions for 69 yards for the punchless Bruins.
Clausen, a freshman who was a high school standout in the Los Angeles suburb of Westlake Village, completed 17-of-27 for 84 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
John Carlson had six catches for 38 yards for Notre Dame.
The oft-injured Olson left the game when Tom Zbikowski sacked him, twisting the quarterback's left knee, late in the first quarter. Olson fumbled on the play and Kerry Neal picked up the ball to give Notre Dame the ball at the Bruins' 1-yard line and set up Walker's first field goal.
Last year, Olson went out with a knee injury in the fifth game and Cowan was the quarterback the rest of the season. Olson missed this year's game against Washington because of concussion-like symptoms.
Notre Dame takes advantage of UCLA walk-on QB to win first game
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Maybe this will stop the laughing.
Jimmy Clausen scored on a quarterback sneak and Maurice Crum returned a fumble 34 yards for another touchdown during a 50-second span of the third quarter as Notre Dame fought its way out of one of the worst slumps in school history with a 20-6 victory over UCLA on Saturday.
It was only the second time Notre Dame had played in Pasadena. Knute Rockne's "Four Horsemen" defeated coach Pop Warner's Stanford team 27-10 in the 1925 Rose Bowl to give the Irish their first undisputed national championship.
This win was significant in quite a different way. It was Notre Dame's first victory of the season and assured the Fighting Irish they won't equal the longest losing streak in school history.
Coach Charlie Weis obviously was relieved.
"When you're 0-5, everyone in the country is laughing at you," Weis said. "The only thing you can do is do something about it on the field. I'm really happy for the kids.
"We never had a better week of practice since I've been here. I said good things will happen, and it happened."
After a school record 0-5 start, the Irish avoided tying their longest losing streak. The victory was their first in eight games dating back to last season. The only other time the Irish lost eight straight was in 1960, when they won their opener and didn't win again until the final game of the season.
This time, Notre Dame (1-5) knocked UCLA quarterback Ben Olson out with a knee injury late in the first quarter, then hounded freshman redshirt McLeod Bethel-Thompson into a string of mistakes.
A walk-on pressed into the backup role for UCLA (4-2, 3-0 Pac-10) because of an injury to Patrick Cowan, Bethel-Thompson had not thrown a pass in a college game.
The Irish picked off four of his throws, with Crum getting two of them. He also recovered the quarterback's fumble and ran it in for a touchdown.
"It's unfortunate that Ben went down early in the game," UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said. "It's the kind of game where Notre Dame played everything close to the vest and didn't make any mistakes. They put some pressure on our offense, and our offenses made some mistakes.
"Mac (Bethel-Thompson) did a nice job, given the circumstances with the type of game and his experience. I give credit to Notre Dame. When they don't have any turnovers and you have six, that's unfortunate."
Clausen put the Irish ahead 13-6 when he bulled over from 1 yard out, with 1:53 left in the third quarter. David Bruton set up the score when he intercepted a pass at the UCLA 21 and returned it to the 4.
The Irish players began to celebrate a bit on the sidelines when Clausen scored, and Weis said he told them to tone it down.
"It's been a while since we've been up in the second half," he said. "So I told my guys to act like they've been there before. Don't make me look an idiot."
Crum gave the Irish a 14-point pad when he scooped up the fumble and scored with 1:03 remaining in the third.
Notre Dame's Brandon Walker kicked a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 48-yarder that bounced off the cross bar and went over to tie it 6-6 midway through the third quarter. UCLA's Kai Forbath kicked a 29-yarder in the first quarter, then gave the Bruins a 6-3 lead with a 49-yarder late in the first half.
Bethel-Thompson completed 12-of-28 for 139 yards. Brandon Breazell and Joe Cowan each had five receptions for 69 yards for the punchless Bruins.
Clausen, a freshman who was a high school standout in the Los Angeles suburb of Westlake Village, completed 17-of-27 for 84 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
John Carlson had six catches for 38 yards for Notre Dame.
The oft-injured Olson left the game when Tom Zbikowski sacked him, twisting the quarterback's left knee, late in the first quarter. Olson fumbled on the play and Kerry Neal picked up the ball to give Notre Dame the ball at the Bruins' 1-yard line and set up Walker's first field goal.
Last year, Olson went out with a knee injury in the fifth game and Cowan was the quarterback the rest of the season. Olson missed this year's game against Washington because of concussion-like symptoms.
Stanford Shocks USC 24-23 - Southern Cal Loses To Cardinal
It's hard to tell who's more shocked over Stanford's improbable 24-23 win over Number 1 or Number 2 ranked USC, Cardinal Fans or USC Fans , or College Football fans .
Or for that matter, me.
When I thought about the Stanford / USC matchup, it never occured to me that this would happen. It wasn't even on my radar screen to see it. I happened to hear it flipping the radio tuner and stopped. I was expecting that USC would be clobbering Stanford. And even when I learned that the Cardinal was only six points down with just over 2 minutes left, I thought to myself, "watch their fear of success doom them."
That's what I thought.
And those final two minutes gave me a lot of reasons to think that, from the several near-interception throws, to the final holding penalty on Stanford, and then the 12-men-on-the-field penalty, to the 4th down -- 4th down -- touchdown pass. It seemed that Stanford would almost -- but not -- win the game.
But, just as in life, they had chance after chance, and one of them turned up in their favor when it mattered most as this video shows:
And when it did, I screamed. I hollered. I'd wished I was at a sports bar just to see the reactions. Even the annoucer couldn't believe it, screaming "Touchdown USC! No! Stanford! Stanford!" Geez.
What's cool about this is it proves that nothing is certain, nothing is given, and it's all up to God. Think about it. The winning quarterback Tavita Pritchard, a sophomore from Tacoma, Wash., filling in for the injured starter T.C. Ostrander, completed 11-of-30 for 149 yards and the winning TD in his first college game as a starter.
Wow. Another reason to expect a Stanford loss. But it didn't happen.
I thought about going down to Stanford to celebrate the victory. After all, looking at this video from the Stanford campus celebration, you can see it was fun:
USC QB John David Booty who threw four interceptions, said of the loss, "You just gotta deal with it and move on."
The Meaning Of The Number 4
What they've got to deal with is the biggest upset in college football history. Stanford was a 40-point-underdog and pulled out a game that's marked with spritual references to the number 4: 24 -- the Stanford score; 14 -- Stanford QB Tavita Pritchard's jersy number; 4th down -- the down the TD pass was thrown -- 4 interceptions thrown by USC QB John David Booty; 4 -- the number of sacks by the Stanford Defense. What is it about the number 4? Well, is seems that the number has some real significance.
In Buddhism:
The Group of Fours 1. The Four Noble Truths 1. Suffering 2. The Cause of Suffering 3. The Cessation of Suffering 4. The Way Leading to the Cessation of Suffering
2. The Four Mental Principles 1. Wisdom (Panna) 2. Truthfulness (Sacca) 3. Abandonment of evil and selfishness (Caga) 4. Appeasement (Upasama)
3. The Four Bases of Success 1. Appreciation (Chanda) 2. Effort (Viriya) 3. Attention (Citta) 4. Investigation (Vimamsa)
4. The Four Divine States of Mind 1. Loving-kindness (Metta) 2. Compassion (Karuna) 3. Sympathetic joy over others' achievement (Mudita) 4. Equanimity (Upekkha)
5. The Four Virtues Conducive to Social Welfare 1. Generosity (Dana) 2. Kind Speech (Piyavaca) 3. Benevolence (Atthacaritya) 4. Adaptability (Samanattata)
6. The Fourfold Right Effort: 1. Effort to restrain from evil 2. Effort to abandon evil 3. Effort to develop good 4. Effort to maintain good
4 Virtues According to Plato:
Wisdom, courage, self-control, and justice.
Considering that Stanford was suffering, given their being waxed by Arizona State and losing their starting QB the week before, the 4s came into play, but it seems to mean that in this, Stanford has finished their journey through the road to success and achieved it, and in doing so reached a divine state of mind.
Will the Cardinal run the table and win all of its remaining games? Even this Cal fan has to admit the possibility seems real. I know it places a bigger light on this year's Big Game.
Boy this is a fun year!
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Maryland 28, Georgia Tech 26
Coming off a tremendous victory at Rutgers, the Terrapins improve to 4-2 and 1-1 in the ardent ACC.
By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press Writer
October 6, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- In his first career start, Chris Turner threw for 255 yards, and Lance Ball ran for three touchdowns as Maryland barely held on for a 28-26 victory Saturday over Georgia Tech.
Travis Bell sent a 52-yard field goal attempt wide right with 54 seconds remaining. Andrew Gardner was whistled for holding on the previous play, knocking the Yellow Jackets back 10 yards and preventing them from lining up for what would have been a 40-yard try.
Turner had three passes of longer than 40 yards in the first half, including the first touchdown pass of his career, a 78-yard strike to Jason Goode. He cooled off in the second half but finished 10 of 17 for 255 yards and a touchdown.
Ball carried 16 times for 86 yards and three touchdowns.
Maryland (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) had leads of 21-3 and 28-17, but Georgia Tech closed to 28-26 with 8:21 left in the game on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Bennett to Demariyus Thomas. The Yellow Jackets' two-point conversion try fell short when linebacker Dave Philistin stuffed Tashard Choice on a direct snap.
Philistin finished with 21 tackles.
In a matchup of the top two rushing offenses in the ACC, the teams combined for more than 550 yards through the air, compared to 263 on the ground.
Georgia Tech (3-3, 1-3) moved the ball consistently against the Terrapins, gaining 484 total yards and crossing midfield on every possession except its first. But the Yellow Jackets failed to capitalize on several drives, in part because of a lost fumble and two missed field goals.
Saturday's victory was Turner's second straight impressive performance. He replaced an injured Jordan Steffy late in the second quarter the previous week and led the Terps to a 34-24 road upset over then-No. 10 Rutgers.
Steffy, who suffered a concussion against Rutgers, did not dress Saturday. Nor did the team's leading tackler, Erin Henderson, who has a bad knee.
Maryland scored first on Turner's long pass to Goode, then extended its lead to 21-3 early in the second quarter on TD runs of 7 yards and 1 yard by Ball.
The Yellow Jackets managed only three points on offense in the first half, thanks to a missed 47-yard field goal and a fumble by Tashard Choice at the Maryland 28.
On one of the drives, Choice took a direct snap from his own 40, broke through the line and appeared to be on his way to a touchdown. But he pulled up lame and ran out of bounds at the Maryland 32, and the drive stalled on Bell's missed field goal.
Bennett finished 22 of 34 for 309 yards and a touchdown. Choice had 32 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown.
Georgia Tech's first touchdown came with less than a minute to go in the first half, when Turner, under pressure on a third down, was hit by Vance Walker and fumbled. Defensive end Darrell Robertson picked up the ball and ran 32 yards for the score.
Updated on Saturday, Oct 6, 2007 4:02 pm, EDT
By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press Writer
October 6, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- In his first career start, Chris Turner threw for 255 yards, and Lance Ball ran for three touchdowns as Maryland barely held on for a 28-26 victory Saturday over Georgia Tech.
Travis Bell sent a 52-yard field goal attempt wide right with 54 seconds remaining. Andrew Gardner was whistled for holding on the previous play, knocking the Yellow Jackets back 10 yards and preventing them from lining up for what would have been a 40-yard try.
Turner had three passes of longer than 40 yards in the first half, including the first touchdown pass of his career, a 78-yard strike to Jason Goode. He cooled off in the second half but finished 10 of 17 for 255 yards and a touchdown.
Ball carried 16 times for 86 yards and three touchdowns.
Maryland (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) had leads of 21-3 and 28-17, but Georgia Tech closed to 28-26 with 8:21 left in the game on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Bennett to Demariyus Thomas. The Yellow Jackets' two-point conversion try fell short when linebacker Dave Philistin stuffed Tashard Choice on a direct snap.
Philistin finished with 21 tackles.
In a matchup of the top two rushing offenses in the ACC, the teams combined for more than 550 yards through the air, compared to 263 on the ground.
Georgia Tech (3-3, 1-3) moved the ball consistently against the Terrapins, gaining 484 total yards and crossing midfield on every possession except its first. But the Yellow Jackets failed to capitalize on several drives, in part because of a lost fumble and two missed field goals.
Saturday's victory was Turner's second straight impressive performance. He replaced an injured Jordan Steffy late in the second quarter the previous week and led the Terps to a 34-24 road upset over then-No. 10 Rutgers.
Steffy, who suffered a concussion against Rutgers, did not dress Saturday. Nor did the team's leading tackler, Erin Henderson, who has a bad knee.
Maryland scored first on Turner's long pass to Goode, then extended its lead to 21-3 early in the second quarter on TD runs of 7 yards and 1 yard by Ball.
The Yellow Jackets managed only three points on offense in the first half, thanks to a missed 47-yard field goal and a fumble by Tashard Choice at the Maryland 28.
On one of the drives, Choice took a direct snap from his own 40, broke through the line and appeared to be on his way to a touchdown. But he pulled up lame and ran out of bounds at the Maryland 32, and the drive stalled on Bell's missed field goal.
Bennett finished 22 of 34 for 309 yards and a touchdown. Choice had 32 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown.
Georgia Tech's first touchdown came with less than a minute to go in the first half, when Turner, under pressure on a third down, was hit by Vance Walker and fumbled. Defensive end Darrell Robertson picked up the ball and ran 32 yards for the score.
Updated on Saturday, Oct 6, 2007 4:02 pm, EDT
