donovan wrote:1. Derek and Cane are Co-Coaches, not because they were great wins but right now both are living the dream and they are close to wetting their pants they are so excited.
A week ago, my feelings were, "If we can win one of the 2 vs Virginia Tech/notre dame then finish out the regular season without losing, I'd be okay with losing to Clemson in ACC Championship Game, then going to a high profile Bowl ... now, I'm trying to not get delusions of grandeur.
Though, the way most of this season has gone, any loss wouldn't surprise me --- it wouldn't be ideal --- but it won't take me off guard.
If the stars should align just so; Derek & I could be meeting in the playoffs. However, the unfortunate story of the game, will be how the media will make a big deal about how Richt will be coaching against his former team.
---
donovan wrote:2. Notre Dame squeaking by the Demon Deacons probably has not ecclesiastical relevance.
I'll give Wake a lot of credit. They fought like crazy to get back into that game. They just got too far down early, and couldn't quite put enough back together in the time they had left. a simple case of,
too little too late.
I assume that pulling Wimbush and Adams was more of a precautionary thing, rather than a serious injury alert. Neither finished the game against Wake Forest, though, they were ahead by too much to lose. Truly, Wakes last score was with 51 seconds left in the game, and they still lost by 11.
My guess, pulling Wimbush & Adams allowed for the trainers to evaluate their conditions, go through the proper observation protocols, and protect their meal ticket.
I expect they will both be healthy enough to play this weekend
[or at least, that is what we will be told].
---
donovan wrote:3. Cougars thought they could gum the Bulldogs to death.
Was a decent game.
Fresno State never did pull away --- But BYU just couldn't do enough to tie things up.
---
donovan wrote:4. Miami has a defense.
And thank goodness for that ... else wise the `Canes would have buried themselves under the weight of those early interceptions. This is a season where the offense has taken its time to get its rhythm going, in almost every game. Without the defense standing strong, there would have been 5 losses.
It's one thing to have a defense that can play ... it is another thing to have a defense who spends a lot of time on the field, and still have the endurance & conditioning to finish strong.
---
donovan wrote:5. Joshua Jackson has received 54,675 invitations to Iowan Thanksgiving Dinners. None from Ohio.
Truly shows how one game can put a player on the map ... this guy was all over Ohio States receivers. But let's not forget the Hawkeyes offense here either.
Iowa certainly capitalized off of every mistake the Buckeyes made. I keep hearing how the Hurricanes finally played a complete game, however; if there is one team who deserves credit for playing start to finish this past Saturday, it's Iowa.
I just wish they could somehow play with that intensity when they are either on the road, or when they are playing a non-ranked opponent at home.
---
donovan wrote:6. Coach Spence is not worried. The Buckeyes will win the East Division with a win over Michigan State next week. The “Committee” will find a way.
Coach Spence
is not worried. He never believed the Buckeyes were good enough to be in the position they were, and wanted his team ranked accordingly.
He doesn't want the committee to find a way, so, when OSU gets a decent post season matchup where they can be competitive ... I think Spence will be content with that option.
---
donovan wrote:7. Florida is ready to bring back McElwain. A field goal in the 3rd qtr, down 22 points and you're are 4th and goal on the 7th. That is a new definition for a conservative.
And some people could believe it when the the U administration let Randy Shannon go.
He is a great defensive Coordinator. About as good as they come. And he is a solid recruiter as well.
But put him in charge of the whole team ... no, you'd be best to go in a different direction.
{as much as I'd like to believe he is being a loyal Hurricane, deliberately driving them into the abyss, I know better}At least the lizards are finding out now, rather than giving him the job after the season is over --- too bad really, because I'd enjoy watching him take that program into the quicksand.
---
donovan wrote:8. There will soon be an opening at A & M. Coaching in a non-Parity conference is insanity for a coach. The bottom feeders will always get fired and the top feeders will never be good enough. You know both lists.
So true. The only thing I can think for Sumlin as a comfort, is that he knew what A&M needed to accomplish prior to the start of the season.
No, it may not be fair. And yet, it is the way things are.
If Sumlin wanted something different; he could have taken a job elsewhere. But he didn't. And he's stayed there, even knowing how close to the edge he's been walking on.
---
donovan wrote:9. Chryst at Wisconsin might be Coach of the Year if anyone cared.
He might very well be. He's got the program heading up. Even if he does have the path of least resistance nationally, he is still getting his team to do what is expected of them --- after all, you can only do what you are presented with. They have a schedule, and they are playing it.
You cannot fault them for winning --- Saying they are winning against teams they do not get the chance to play against is conjecture.
---
donovan wrote:10. Lane Kiffin is the hero of the day. You have to love intentionally not covering the spread.
A win is still a win.
Marshall tied the game at one point, but never lead ... that last FAU drive was ... something to be forgotten.
Four plays, in 2 minute & 22 seconds, for a total of negative 41 yards, and being safetied. Though, taking a safety with 8 seconds left in the game leaving yourself a 5point lead with 8 seconds to go ... they did leave Marshall an outlier hope.
Again, a win is a win ... right?
---
donovan wrote:11. Washington State will go unnoticed, it was a good game.
The Cougars made it back into the playoff rankings; at #20 ... so they are effectively out of the conversation.
Yeah, the only thing that'll get them noticed now, is when they play Washington for the Apple Cup. Which, if they should win, they'll be lauded for 15 minutes; and would make the Huskies irrelevant.
---
donovan wrote:12. USC should go unnoticed, Jones is a fun running back to watch.
Jones may very well be the most exciting player on the Trojans' roster. But he is being overshadowed by the media erecting the alter of Darnold.
Maybe it should be noted: Washington State outright beat USC on the field, and yet, USC remains 4 rankings higher in the AP poll, 6 rankings higher in the Playoff poll & 8 rankings higher in the coaches poll; even though both teams are 8-2.
---
donovan wrote:13. Washington will go unnoticed. Pettis set an NCAA record, nine punt return TDs
Washington is still being talked about ... their conversation becomes less frequent the moment they lose 1 more.
If Washington State beat them, we won't here anything more until the final post season rankings.
And, yeah, we should be hearing more from the talking heads of the Huskies players ... you cannot have the amount of success they have been enjoying up there, without the team playing well.
---
donovan wrote:14. Boise State 7-2 is a prime example of what happens when you become so arrogant you think you can play with the self-proclaimed elite. Sell your birthright for a mess of pottage and…well you know the story.
What's worse, is 7-2 is still fairly decent, yet the attendance at Broncos game has slipped. Not good when you spend so much on Stadium upgrades & expanded seating.
And that 7-2 may very well be improved upon going forward ... however, the media used up all of the use they had for Boise once they got their playoff... Otherwise, they would be lobbying for UCF, instead of insisting that UCF is getting
their Bowl of "Pottage" being a New Year's 6 contender.
---
donovan wrote:15. And lastly, Flordia State will be the spoiler team for the rest of the year, they win out and get a Bowl with 6 wins. Someone has too. Heard it first right here.
As unlikely a scenario as this is; it would not be unheard of ---
"If" the `noles somehow make it clean past Clemson, they have a chance to squeak out a desperate ending.
It
could happen ... not probably ... just not impossibly.
.
.
.