Revenge Of The Nerds

Brilliant metaphor for college football

We're rounding the far turn in the horse race that is college football.  Schedules are drawing down, showdowns for conference championships are shaping up, and the list of who's eligible to go bowling is getting longer every week (65 teams as The Smack goes to press).  'Bama and FSU continue to lead the way, but did anyone watch the Baylor Bears?


Assuming they win out, Baylor's strength of schedule the last three weeks of this season just might be enough for them to overtake THE Ohio State University.  In this the final year of the BCS national championship configuration, we can kiss goodbye the notion that these two might meet in, say, the Rose Bowl.  That game will feature the champ of the Big 10 (likely OSU) and the top dog of the Pac 12 (probably Oregon but--dare we say it?--USC?).

The best Baylor can hope for is a Fiesta Bowl matchup against the final at-large team, right now figuring to be #15 Fresno State, which owns a 9-0 record but against their less formidable Mountain West Conference opponents.  Just to make things interesting, there's a movement "out there" to reward UCF (yes, the George O'Leary UCF) with the final at-large.  Stay tuned.

Here's how it went in Week #12:

RPI students upon news of Union-RPI game

RPI 31, Union 28.  Dutchman's Shoes return to Troy as Enginerds.  Of course, there are those two rushing TDs by QB Brendan McGlynn.  But the Garnet have only themselves to blame, as RPI forces three interceptions and a costly fumble with just over two minutes remaining in the game.  Season over, goodbye to 20 seniors.  (Almost forget my annual mention of the fact that Audino was Marty White's position coach at Penn.)

Somebody other than Keenan Reynolds?

Navy 42, South Alabama 14.  Jaguars make a game of it until midway through the second quarter, when Middies option kicks into high for 39 unanswered points.  On the day Navy rolls up 351 yds. of rushing, featuring the efforts of RB Darius Staten, who averages 18.1 yds./carry.  Nine other backs touch the ball, including QB Keenan Reynolds (59 yds. rushing, TD) who also throws for 168 yds. and another TD.  South Alabama puts up goose eggs in the second half as Navy's defense stiffens.


BYU 59, Idaho State 13.  Six different BYU players score touchdowns, five in the 2nd quarter.  Senior QB Taysom Hill throws only nineteen times but two are for TDs.  Sophomore RB Adam Hine rushes for 142 yds. and bags his first TD.  Altogether the Cougar offense rolls up 578 yds. of total offense, an average of 8.4 yds./play.  Despite the Bengals' holding onto the ball for almost 36 minutes, they manage only one touchdown, as the BYU defense limits them to just 287 yds. in all.

Corso suffers wound from Herbstrieit

USC 20, Stanford 17.  Trojan defense puts on one of its most dominant efforts of the season, shutting down Cardinal QB Kevin Hogan (14-of-25, 127 yds., no TDs and two INTs) and limiting all rushers except Tyler Gaffney to just 52 yds. on the ground.  Though he's suffered through a tough year, PK Andre Heidari puts it between the uprights when it matters:  late in the 4th quarter.  Too bad coach Ed Orgeron has to wake up to news reports that (former USC player, current Denver Bronco acting head coach) Jack DelRio interviewed for his job.  Thank you, sir...may I have another?  Sheesh...

Boston College 38, North Carolina State 21.  Credit to USC for making a decision on a starting quarterback, even if was a week into the season.  Wolfpack should take a lesson on how badly tandeming works, even at the college level.  Starter Pete Thomas never looks comfortable and is held under his season average passing yardage.  BC defense holds State running game to only 35 yards.  But once again the big news concerns Eagle RB Andre Thomas, who breaks his week-old rushing record by churning up 339 yards and 2 TDs on 42 carries.  Not only is this a BC record but also an ACC record and highest in the nation amongst FBS schools this season.

Doesn't look injured to me

Oregon 44, Utah 21.  Reverting to pre-Stanford form, the Ducks manhandle the Utes in the second half and cruise to victory.  For the first 30 minutes it looks like Oregon is living in the past, and in the first few minutes of the second half Utah actually pulls to within 3 points.  Then the Quack Attack gets untracked, sparked by an 86-yard kickoff return by DeAnthony Thomas, who returned from injury just last week.  The third of three TD passes by Marcus Mariota and two rushing TDs by Byron Marshall show how explosive Oregon can be against anyone...well, except maybe Stanford.  Interesting Stat of the Day:  no Oregon drive takes longer than 1:57 to score.

Louisianna-Lafayette , Georgia State.  Panther defense has no answers for QB Terrance Broadway, who throws for 234 yards and four scores.  Once again State shows offensive ability, being outgained by only 14 yards in total offense.  The debate continues as to whether or not defense wins games, but lack of defense certainly loses them.