Re: 2009 College Football Notebook
HARRIS POLL
Just sent my rankings in for Bigdaddy's
weekly poll thread and after comparing the different polls came up with this opinion. When the Harris Interactive college football poll began in 2005, organizers swore it would be different. The voting board wouldn't include just reporters (like the Associated Press) or coaches (like USA Today). Instead, the Harris poll would use former coaches, players, administrators and current and former media. Conferences would nominate voters, and the poll wouldn't begin until the season was about four weeks old. However, the Harris poll spits out pretty much the same rankings as the AP and USA Today's coaches, especially at the top. All three polls had the same teams in the same order in the top seven last week. And this week, there is only one difference: The AP and USA Today coaches rankings have Virginia Tech fifth and Boise State sixth, while the Harris voters have those two teams flip flopped. So much for something different. My top 5 sent to BD were 1. Alabama 2. Texas 3. Florida 4. Virginia Tech 5. LSU.
Quotes:
"I don't know if it was excessive for the moment....I didn't think we went crazy."
Georgia coach Mark Richt addressing the controversial penalty against Green.
"We were talking about him, before and after. He was a big motivator for us...Stafon knew we were on a mission tonight." Southern Cal QB Matt Barkley after the Trojans dedicated a victory over Cal to teammate Stafon Johnson, who was injured in a freak weight room accident.
"It's our time. We are back. We are still The U." Miami linebacker Jordan Futch after the win over Oklahoma. Apparently he forgot last week when Virginia Tech said, "U not."
"It was a blast. We haven't had enough fun." UTEP coach Mike Price, whose team scored 41 second-half points and stunned Houston 58-41.
*Back to the Georgia celebration penalty against LSU that may have cost them the game. I personally hate the showboating, but officials need to use some common sense. That was just a bad, stupid call. On the other hand, Coach Bear Bryant use to tell his players if they thought a touchdown would be the last one they ever scored, then go ahead and celebrate...otherwise, get your ass back on the sideline and celebrate with your teammates and get ready to score another one.
PAC 10
Don't look now, but the Pac-10 leader is Stanford. Hide the kids Lucy!! By the way, why isn't Toby Gerhart getting any love from the press?
CALIFORNIA
I thought this was going to be a team that would challenge for the league title. How does a team with the best running back in the country go from national title dark horse to getting outscored 76-6 in two straight weeks? Amazing!
FLORIDA STATE
Jimbo Fisher may now be the Noles coach-in-the-waiting to waiting-on-the-hot- seat. This trend of naming a head coach two or three years before the actual coach retires is ridicules. FSU is a perfect example. Anyone who doesn't think there's problems on that coaching staff needs to do some research. Bad, bad idea.
VIRGINIA
Did Al Groh save his job with the upset of North Carolina? Probably not unless he wins a bunch more games. How in the hell does North Carolina let Virginia beat them? It's college football and got to love it.
SOUTHERN MISS
Starting quarterback Austin Davis will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left foot against UAB. It was originally thought Davis hurt his foot or ankle when he went down early in the fourth quarter of the 30-17 loss Thursday night. The injury bug is killing SM with their top runner and receiver hurt.
TEXAS TECH
Quarterback Taylor Potts has been released from a Lubbock, hospital after being injured Saturday following two sacks by New Mexico before halftime. The Lubbock Avalanche Journal reported Sunday that Potts had a concussion.
ALABAMA at MISSISSIPPI
Bama is still ranked second in the nation in total defense, but it has dropped six spots to No. 14 in total offense. The Tide is allowing 222.2 yards per game. Only Florida (212.7) is better. Ole Miss is ranked No.18 in total defense (277.7). Alabama has dropped two spots to No. 4 in rushing defense (64.4 yards per game). Ole Miss is ranked No. 13 (159.7). In scoring defense, Bama is still ranked No. 13, allowing 14.4 points per game. Ole Miss is ranked sixth (10.7). Offensively, Alabama has averaged 462.8 yards per game. Ole Miss is ranked No. 51 in total offense (381.8). The Tide is still ranked No. 10 in rushing offense (228.2 yards per game). Ole Miss is ranked No. 42 (182.7). Alabama has dropped 15 spots to No. 48 in passing offense (234.6 yards per game). Ole Miss is ranked No. 79 (190.7). Bama is ranked eight is scoring (40 ppg). Ole Miss is ranked No. 31 at (32.5).
NOTRE DAME
My friend (IrishTim) is probably smiling today. His favorite quarterback (Jimmy Clausen) passed for 422 yards and a two touchdowns in a thrilling victory against Washington. Yeah Tim, he's in the Heisman watch.