Remember when all you needed to make a death threat was a magazine, scissors and some Elmer's?
Think of the effort some LSU wackos made punching all those keys to call Tim Tebow's cellie.
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| Smith didn't have much hype out of high school, but he's being noticed now. (Getty Images) |
Joe Paterno took that simple act of annoyance to new heights, confirming this week that he got out of his car to confront a couple after some sort of perceived wayward driving.
It's getting bad when the game's second-winningest coach is ending up on the same police blotter as his players. To be fair, the woman only filed a complaint. No arrests were made.
What a break for all us during college football's week of behaving badly. It seems like every day some coach or player is dragging the game to new lows. This week's lowlights: Paterno and Tebow who had to change his cell number because of harassment from LSU fans last week. WWL mentions this because there is some relief.
Central Florida's Kevin Smith isn't exactly an angel -- he was suspended for a game last season -- but he is achieving on the field. Halfway through the season the Knights' junior tailback leads the nation in rushing.
The product of Miami Southridge High School is humble, credits his offensive line and hasn't flipped off anyone that we know of. Saturday is his moment, or at least another moment. Central Florida plays South Florida, trying to get to where the Bulls are at the moment -- on par with Florida State and Miami in the state of Florida.
South Florida had the advantage of early entry into the Big East. Central Florida still resides in Conference USA where it got to the league's championship game two years ago with Smith running for 1,128 yards as a freshman.
South Florida had its day defeating then-No. 5 West Virginia last month. Now Central Florida could have its breakthrough game by beating the current No. 5.
"I don't think this could get any better," Smith said.
A new coach at Southridge had converted Smith from tailback to safety for his senior season. The recruiting interest subsequently dropped off. Central Florida coach George O'Leary was the only suitor who recruited Smith purely as a tailback. Smith took one look at the lavish facilities at Central Florida and was hooked.
"The only thing I knew about UCF was it was Disney World," Smith said. "As soon as I came on a visit I committed. All the construction, the indoor facility, the weight room, the great atmosphere ..."
Smith is this year's version of Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe, the off-the-radar back from a mid-major. Wolfe led the country in rushing last season. The high point of Smith's career could have been a couple of weeks ago. Smith rushed for 149 yards against Texas but the 'Horns snuck out a close win.
"I don't think I run with a chip," Smith said. "I don't hold anything against those colleges. This is a business. Everybody recruits who they want. I run to represent my school."
WWL will take anything wholesome. The longer the season goes, the slimier it gets. Smith arrived at 188 pounds as a freshman. When asked how he got to his current 211, Smith quickly answered: "I definitely won't be on any enhancements. I'm all natural."
Maybe there is hope for our grand, old game. Just don't cut anybody off; you never know what octogenarian is lurking behind you.
Scouting the Nation
This season should shut up the knuckleheads who don't want to see a poll until the leaves turn brown.
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| It's hard to believe that South Florida will be among the BCS leaders. (Getty Images) |
We wouldn't know that LSU had beaten two top 10 teams on its way to -- what is it called again? -- the No. 1 ranking.
Without a poll you wouldn't have Appalachian State eligible for two national championships -- in the AP poll and the Sports Network I-AA poll. That's what the mother of all upsets (at the time) does for you.
This rant courtesy of WWL which can't wait for Sunday afternoon for the only poll that matters to debut on Sunday: The BCS standings. Ah yes, the computerized, humanized voice of reason.
By then we'll know if Hawaii really has a shot to become this season's Boise State, or just how solid a lead LSU has at No. 1. Or Cal at No. 2, assuming Cal is No. 2.
If the favorites win -- wait, are you kidding? -- the top five should look something like this Sunday afternoon.
1. LSU 2. Cal/Ohio State 3. Ohio State/Cal 4. Boston College/Oklahoma/South Florida 5. Oklahoma/South Florida/Boston College
That clear enough for you?
"Nothing is for sure," BCS guru Jerry Palm said. "There are too many variables at this time of year as opposed to the end of November."
No matter which teams turn up in the top two, the omens are not good. Only once (2005) have the teams that debuted at 1-2 in the BCS met in the championship game (USC-Texas). Twice (1998 and 2000) neither team that started at the top made it to the promised land. In the remaining six seasons at least one team made it.
• Here's the deal on Missouri-Oklahoma: All the sudden it's the game of the day. Missouri hasn't played in a contest like this, maybe ever. Oklahoma is used to it, even though it hasn't won them all recently.
The Tigers most likely are going to have to outscore OU to win in Norman, which could happen. The X factor could be Missouri freshman Jeremy Maclin, the nation's No. 1 all-purpose runner averaging more than 214 yards per game. How important is a good all-purpose guy? Ever hear of Reggie Bush?
Tiger lovers are jumping all over the 9-point line but consider this: Missouri hasn't been within 17 points in Norman since 1987 and hasn't won outright there since 1966.
• FranScam is all wrapped up nice and tidy. Not! Texas A&M "admonished" coach Dennis Franchione on Thursday. Why the fancy word? Let's be honest, the path is being greased for Fran's eventual firing.
He already has violated his contract. The AP reported that a clause in the deal that runs through 2012 specifically bans income from websites. Fran will likely fight any attempt to cut into his buyout, which should be good theater.
Meanwhile, the Aggies have to travel to Texas Tech where they haven't won since 1993 and have lost the last two meetings by a combined 70 points. WWL would settle for Mike Leach repeating his summation of last season's 31-27 Tech win: "Once in a while a pirate can beat a solider."
• We now know when the Ol' Ball Coach persona was born. It happened in 1989 when Steve Spurrier's Duke team dropped a 41-0 number on North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
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| Don't expect Mr. Ball Coach to let up on North Carolina. This one will be ugly. (Getty Images) |
What we learned is that Spurrier doesn't forget and he will have no mercy when South Carolina visits North Carolina.
• Who knew at this point in the season we would have to distinguish between the USCs in the top 10. South Carolina is the No. 7 USC. Southern Cal is the No. 10 USC.
• Speaking of which, the Trojans got quite a break in the coaches' poll dropping only to No. 7. Anyone else think USC should have dropped to about No. 15 after being on the losing end of the biggest upset (point-spread wise) of all time?
• The computers have more "objectivity." In three of the six computers that make up the BCS, the Trojans are No. 24 (Massey), No. 25 (Colley), and No. 26 (Sagarin).
• Mark Sanchez's first career start (against Arizona) comes at a convenient time at Southern Cal. Had John David Booty not broken his finger against Stanford, Pete Carroll would have had to seriously consider making a change anyway. At best, Booty hasn't gotten any better. At worst, his play has deteriorated alarmingly (see four picks against Stanford).
• Jim Harbaugh to Michigan? Whoa, whoa let's not get carried away. Let's see if the Cardinal can get to .500 by beating TCU first. Give the Prince of Palo Alto five or six years after Les Miles heads to the NFL, then he'll be ready for Michigan.
• Darren McFadden makes for a Heisman conundrum. At his current pace he'll run for 2,025 yards. But he hasn't finished two games, his team has lost twice and he goes into the Auburn game with sore ribs.
It's going to be hard to ignore McFadden but if his team finishes 8-4 that's exactly what might happen. The Heisman doesn't necessarily go to the best player in the country. It goes to the best player in the top 10 who plays well on national television in November.
• Besides, running mate Felix Jones (No. 3 all-purpose) might be just as valuable to the Hogs.
• Colorado (at Kansas State) actually leads the Big 12 North despite Missouri and Kansas being the league's only two undefeated teams. The Buffs (4-2, 2-0) get both the Tigers and Jayhawks at home.
• Of the 11 undefeated teams left, only five are in the top 10 of the coaches' poll (LSU, Cal, Ohio State, BC and South Florida). That's the fewest undefeated teams in the top 10 at this point in the season in at least five years.
