The Weekend That Was: Irish and Seminoles Back?, Ducks Defense, Bulldogs 'Barking' for Love

Notre Dame's Manti Te'o

There both back. No doubt. Notre Dame and Florida State are back to their old form. Whip out your LA Gear light-up sneakers, Tamagotchis, and favorite boy band CD. It is like we have been sent back to the 90s.

In the words of former Seminole Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friends."

"Back" for both of these teams does not mean a perfect third of the season, if so both have already come "back" in the last decade. No. "Back" for these programs is an entire perfect season and a championship rings, hats and shirts adorning the players in January.

Notre Dame has played the tougher schedule, with wins over a top 10 team on the road (Michigan State) and a win against  No. 18 Michigan on Saturday. The Irish also has the more difficult schedule remaining, which will keep them from contending for one of the top two spots in the BCSNC. One of their biggest improvements since last season is turnover margin. Redshirt freshman Everett Golson has kept the ball from opposing defenses and the Irish defense is playing stingy. Notre Dame sits at No. 5 in turnover margin at plus-9. Four games into last season the Irish were ranked No. 118.

Florida State looked awfully good on Saturday though defeating No. 10 Clemson 49-37 at home with over 660 yards of total offense. E.J. Manuel is beginning to look like the player everyone thought he could be for the last two years, compiling over 1000 yards of offense, 8 touchdowns, and completing 73 percent of his passes this season. The Seminoles have the easiest schedule on paper of any true title contenders, but they must continue to improve and win games they should unlike they have done recently with such high expectations. Their most challenging game looks to be No. 11 Florida at home on the final week of the season.

DUCKS DEFENSE, RUN GAME IMPRESSIVE: Tell me if this makes any sense: Team A had 25 first downs, Team B had 19. Team A had 495 yards of total offense, Team B had almost 350. Yet, Team A beat Team B 47-0. Team A is Oregon, and Team B is Arizona.

The Wildcats had the ball six times in the Ducks red zone and came away with exactly zero points. With the way Arizona was moving the ball it is quite a testament to Oregon's defense to hold the shutout. In no way I am saying the Ducks' defense belongs in the same conversation as some of the SEC big boys but it is impressive nonetheless.

While it was slowed down a little in this game, even more impressive on the season has been the Oregon rushing attack. Lead by senior Kenjon Barner and the most electric player in college football, De'Anthony Thomas. The two have combined for more than 600 yards rushing and 10 scores through three games. Thomas would be the Heisman favorite if not for having to share the backfield with another potential contender. This means Thomas, who is scoring on every fifth offensive touch, is being underutilized.

I know that we have seen it before and I am not calling for the national championship right now, but it sure would be fun to see them play a top-tier SEC defense.

BULLDOG MAKING STRONG 'BARK' FOR HEISMAN: Speaking of Heisman contenders Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray has to start getting some love. If the Bulldogs are able to continue their winning ways, it can only help him. Against Vanderbilt on Saturday Murray was 18 for 24 for 250 yards, two passing scores and one rushing touchdown. He is on pace for more than 3,500 yards and 33 touchdowns for the regular season.

If gets enough support from the stout UGA defense to remain undefeated and can somehow beat Alabama or LSU in the SEC Championship, look for his name to be called at the Downtown Athletic Club during the second week of December.

Samford's Fabian Truss

BULLDOGS REMAIN UNBEATEN: It may not be hitting the national media, but there is another Bulldog team that is 4-0 and 2-0 in their conference, the Samford Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs scored 15 fourth quarter points for a 25-21 win at Southern Conference foe Western Carolina on Saturday. Running back Fabian Truss ran the ball 23 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score.The win sets up a televised game at Georgia Southern this week (Being televised at this level is still a big deal.) Under the direction of Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan, the program is without a  doubt headed in the right direction, and the Bulldogs are ranked in the coaches poll for the first time since 1995.

I am going to an alumni event in Atlanta on Tuesday and for the first time ever I have a feeling the Bulldogs from Birmingham will be a conversation over dinner. I will proudly take part in the "It's Great, To Be, a Saaaamford Buuulldog!" chant.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

We sat so close I could feel the spit coming off of Tech's
defensive coordinator Al Groh's tongue. 

-Oregon State defeated another ranked team to take coach Mike Reily officially off the hot seat: Wisconsin two weeks ago and ULCA this week. To celebrate the win, Reily ordered 200 double-doubles with fries from In-and-Out for his team.

-Georgia Tech lost a strange game to Miami in which the Hurricanes scored 19 points to open the game. The Yellow Jackets followed with 26 straight points in response. Miami scored the final 23 points, including a touchdown in overtime, to win the game.

-Western Kentucky won again, pounding Southern Mississippi 42-17. The Hilltoppers have won 10 of their last 12. Their two losses? LSU and Alabama.

-Missouri hates grown man football, and has begun initial talks of a move back to Big XII.

Bobby Dodd Stadium

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go to my first Atlantic Coast Conference game and second game at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium. I had been to watch the Yellow Jackets play once before on their home turf in an early season match-up against my Samford Bulldogs. Needless to say the atmosphere for a non-conference game with a FCS school has a little different feel than when Tech hosts the No. 5-ranked team in the nation, the Clemson Tigers.

The student section 10 minutes to kickoff

I went to the game thinking I would come away with a idea to write about the differences between an ACC and SEC contest. However, the game that would ensue was quite entertaining. Now I am not going as far as to say that the ACC is equal to the SEC atmosphere, not really a contest with about 40,000 less people, but to say I did not enjoy the evening would be lying. If you have never tailgated in an urban environment it's worth looking into.

The crowd with 10 minutes before kickoff was disappointing. Tech is more known for being an academic institution and the students say they have enough time to leave the library, but a half empty student section is inexcusable when you are competing in maybe the biggest game that will happen while you are at school. Nor can a fourth of your stadium be filled with opposing colors. And speaking of the those in attendance, because your team goes down 3-0 in the first quarter to one of the nation's top offenses does not mean you have the right to leave the game, which unfortunately for those who left happened. 



Sammy Watkins about to do work

But after the Yellow Jackets scored on their ensuing drive and the next 17 points, not a soul left (until Clemson fans started pouring out when the game was out of hand). The place was 'buzzing' with excitement and no one sat down, except for halftime and TV timeouts. There was an uneasiness in the stadium with a 24-3 lead because the Tigers can score so quickly (I am now a believer in Clemson WR Sammy Watkins); but with the triple-option offense Georgia Tech 'run's the tension was soon relieved as they pounded the ball on the ground.


Here they come...

When the clock struck 0:00 the students rushed the field, which I had never seen in person. It was a planned reaction, which means it was not the same as if they had won on a last minute field goal but it was impressive nonetheless. Everything that needed to happen in an upset happened for the then unranked Yellow Jackets: turnovers, home night game and an offense that can control clock. Tech fans have become used to this, with coach Paul Johnson undefeated against ranked opponents at home.




It was a great night in Atlanta for Georgia Tech and myself. The next college game on my schedule (unless you invite me to one sooner) is a trip down to a familiar venue in Jordan-Hare Stadium, as the Auburn Tigers host the Samford Bulldogs.