Happy Trails!

It’s the holiday season, and what better time for colleges and universities to show their appreciation for the coaches who devote their lives to student athletes than to “relieve them of their duties”! 

Perhaps the most notable, though not entirely surprising, is the firing of Gene Chizik, who just two years ago was carried aloft by his national champion Auburn Tigers.  More recent (and relevant) developments include 1-9 in the SEC; three season-ending humiliations at the hands of Texas A & M, Georgia, and Alabama; and allegations that his coaching staff has been involved in nefarious recruiting practices.  In the SEC?  REALLY????

Other terminations include Tom O’Brien at N. C. State, even though the Wolfpack finished 7-5.  Highly-respected Athletic Director Kay Yow, herself one of the all-time winningest coaches (women’s basketball) was imminently quotable.  On the university's football program, Yow remarked that she and O’Brien “agree on the goal of becoming a Top 25 team, we just disagree on how to get there”.  Most ironic, however, was Yow mentioning that she especially appreciated O’Brien’s “attention toward NCAA rules compliance”.  Yeah, sure.  On the other hand, I guess $1.2 million over the next four years should ease O’Brien’s regrets about playing by the rules.

Out at Boston College is Frank Spaziani, who wasn’t left with a whole lot in the wake of Jeff Jagodzinski’s hasty exit in 2009.  You may recall that Jago was discovered to be interviewing with NFL teams, and when warned that it could lead to his termination, continued interviewing…and was summarily fired.  Not as surprising is Jon Embree, who went 4-21 in two seasons at Colorado, simply unacceptable after the successes of the likes of Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel, and Gary Barnett.  But a real shocker is Danny Hope at Purdue, who was let go just hours after the Boilermakers reclaimed the Old Oaken Bucket from Indiana.  Hell, it's only a pail.

No word yet on Lane Kiffin.

Here's the rest of the (w)rap for Week #13:

Fresno State 48, Air Force 15.  Former NFL-er David Carr’s little brother Derek surpasses 400 yds. passing for the sixth time this season, as the Bulldogs rout the Falcons.  Carr is brilliant—28-of-32—and the FSU defense forces two fumbles and an interception in holding The Academy to just over 300 yds. in total offense.  Zephyrs now off until December 29^th, when they will face either Central Florida, East Carolina, or Tulsa in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth.

BYU 50, New Mexico State 14.  Cougars bring their slacker 2012 schedule to a merciful conclusion by stomping what’s left of the Aggies.  Game gets off to a slow start; no one scores in the first quarter at all, and then NMSU actually takes the lead on an Andrew Manley-to-Perris Scoggins 8-yard strike.  From that point on, it’s all BYU, with backup QB James Lark throwing six TD passes, five of them to WR Cody Hoffman.  Can’t say whether it’s stingy BYU defense or anemic State offense, but either way Aggies only manage 187 total yards of offense.  Next up for BYU:  San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl vs. San Diego State.  Seems that Cougars decide to pass up Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl where they would have had to play USC, Arizona State, or Washington.

#1 Notre Dame 22, USC 13.  Game certainly lives up to its hype, especially 5-play Irish goal line stand in the 4^th quarter.  WR Marqise Lee makes it look easy, first with a 43-yard kickoff return, followed immediately by a 53-yard pass from freshman backup QB Max Wittek.  Then the Irish defense gets stingy.  Although a pass interference penalty puts the ball on the one, the Trojans cannot score.  Afterward, Lane Kiffin is heard to remark, “When the ball is on the two-inch line, you’d think you could score touchdowns.”  Notre Dame is the complete package:  offense (217 yds. passing by Everett Golson, 146 yds. rushing from Theo Riddick), defense (led by Manti Te’o who has one of the two Wittek interceptions while collecting his season-high 100 tackles), and special teams (three field goals from PK Kyle Brindza).  They'll need it against whoever wins the SEC.

Colorado State 24, New Mexico 20.  Rams draw first blood, only to have Lobos come back and hold a lead until late in the fourth quarter.  Moments after a crucial 4^th-and-2 at midfield is converted into a 1^st down by RB Chris Nwoke, WR Joe Hansley hauls in a 30-yard strike from QB Connor Smith.  New Mexico, which maintains nice offensive balance throughout the afternoon, has its chance at the endzone in final two minutes, only to see three B. R. Holbrook passes fall incomplete.  4-9 is still 4-9, but if there is such a thing as “quality losses”, the Lobos and coach Bob Davie have a great deal on which to build heading into 2013.  Especially looking forward to the possibility of BYU returning to the Mountain West and having to face them.

For those of you who I've turned into D-III fans, here are the results from Round 2 of the "Road to the Stagg Bowl":

#1 Mount Union 55, #19 Johns Hopkins 13

#2 Mary Hardin-Baylor 63, #16 Franklin 17

#3 Linfield 30, North Central (IL) 14

#4 St. Thomas 24, #17 Elmhurst 17

#5 UW-Oshkosh 37, Bethel 14

#6 Wesley 56, #18 Cortland State 6

#7 Hobart 35, #24 Wittenberg 10

#9 Widener 28, #11 Salisbury 7

NOTE:  2011 D-III National Champion UW-Whitewater didn't make the playoffs.  GO HOBART!!