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Week Ten News and Notes
1591-272
What's the significance of the above number? Well, that's the combined score by which Nebraska beat Kansas during the Huskers' 36-game winning streak over the Jayhawks (1969-2004). On a per game basis, that works out to an average score of 44-8. During the streak, the Huskers put up 50 or more points 17 times, including totals of 63 (1978), 67 (1983), 70 (1986), 63 (1988), and 63 (1996). That history puts the Jayhawks' 76-39 thrashing of the Cornhuskers into proper perspective. Yes, payback is a bitch....
Speaking of Nebraska....
Bill Callahan left the NFL with very few friends, and he'll leave Lincoln the same way. The question is not if Callahan will get the axe, but when. That disastrous hire has set the Cornhusker program back a decade or more. Maybe Charlie Weis will be available soon....
Speaking of Kansas....
At 9-0, the Jayhawks remain one of only two unbeaten teams in the BCS, the other being the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes. But before jumping on the Kansas bandwagon, let's remember that the Jayhawks avoided both Oklahoma and Texas during the regular season, and they must still play #7 Missouri and the winner of the Big 12 South (likely to be the Sooners). If Kansas can run that table, then they should be squarely in the national championship hunt.
Speaking of the Bandwagon....
Every year, the national media fall in love with some new darling of a program. This year, there have been many. First, it was West Virginia, with their prolific rushing attack and porous defense, and Louisville with their prolific passing attack and equally porous defense; both teams went down early in the year. Then it Cal, who eked out a 20 to 17 victory over the 3-6 Washington State Cougars yesterday to snap a three-game losing streak. Then it was South Florida, who are now sinking faster than the Titanic after losing three straight to a bunch of Big East patsies. Finally, it was Boston College and superstar quartback Matt Ryan, who lost at home last Saturday to the un-ranked Florida State Seminoles. Kansas looks to be next in line to play Cinderella, with Missouri and Hawaii waiting in the wings. But something tells me that, by the end of the year, two traditional powers will be playing for all the marbles.
Who's Number One?
Despite being a perfect 10-0 and having out-scored their opponents by a combined 349-97, the Ohio State Buckeyes still can't get any love from the national media. And those media types were undoubtedly practicing their "I told you so" speeches when Ohio State went down to Wisconsin 17-10 midway through the third quarter of yesterday's game. Yes, the Badgers were impressive for about a half, but when the game and their season were on the line, the Buckeyes responded in even more impressive fashion, scoring the game's final 28 points to win going away. Until some one steps up and beats them, the Buckeyes should retain the top slot in all of the major polls.
Mr. Irrelevant
Steve Spurrier has proven one thing since he became that head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks - he can still run his big mouth. Since "The Ol' Ball Coach" took over the program in 2005, the 'Cocks are a mediocre 21-14, with 8 of those wins coming against college football bottom feeders such as Wofford, South Carolina State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee State, and Vanderbilt (twice). Last Saturday, South Carolina gave up an utterly embarrassing 48 points and 650 yards (541 on the ground) in being routed by an average-at-best Arkansas team. Maybe it's time to put Spurrier into the "One Shot Wonders" category along with Lloyd Carr, Phil Fulmer, and Mack Brown. I wonder which coach Steve will crack on this week? Maybe he should look in the mirror before opening his mouth.
Quick Hits
LSU is playing less like a team of destiny than a team waiting to be upset (again) ... If Ohio State's 41-14 loss to Florida in last year's title game precludes the Buckeyes from returning this season, then shouldn't the Oklahoma Sooners receive a lifetime ban for their BCS choke jobs...? Southern Cal is showing what happens when a team gets too much talent - to paraphrase Judge Smails, "the world needs role players, too...." New coach, same old Sparty, coming from ahead to blow another game against Michigan.... It's still anybody's Heisman, despite the fact that Darren McFadden rushed for an SEC-record 323 yards against the defense-less South Carolina Gamecocks.... Props to Boston College for finally taking themselves out of the national title race - the they're playing right now, the Eagles will be fortunate to win the ACC.
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