Weekend in Review: Rivalry week brings out the worst

In the midst of the biggest moment of his football life, Utah's Sione Pouha realized how close life was to imitating Artest.

Clemson's Yusef Kelly comes away with a South Carolina helmet, which he reportedly throws into the stands.(AP)

Earlier in the weekend, Utah's senior defensive lineman watched an NBA game degenerate into a riot. Earlier in the day, he saw Clemson and South Carolina duke it out on the field. Earlier in the game, the 330-pounder was laid out by what he says was a punch to the liver by a BYU offensive player.

"It was a rivalry game, there were punches here and there," Pouha said late Saturday night. "I thought we were going to get in a fight, too. I remember what happened yesterday with the Pistons and Pacers. I remember all the fights we've been seeing on TV. You saw all those fights and you try to avoid them."

Think about what you saw Friday night when the Pacers-Pistons replays hit the screen. Then remember the pre-eminent word of the week before a single punch was thrown in Auburn Hills.

Hate.

Rivalry week. Hating your opponent. Every game a 60-minute war carrying on a 100-year tradition. Then throw in a disgusted foray into the fans by overpaid -- and obviously overwrought -- pro athletes. Hey, what did you expect but a little imitation, and maybe acceptance by players of what happened Friday night?

"For 24 hours, they watched that basketball fiasco on TV, that's all they watched," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said. "Every major news program. As far as the tempo of (our) game, I don't think there were any calls."

Bowden was suggesting officials let the game get out of hand. It didn't matter at that point. When state troopers have to get involved, it's beyond officiating. It borders on unlawful. It's also the culture. Players get so fired up they sometimes don't know how to separate hate for an opponent from overzealous physical aggression toward them -- or fans.

This is a discussion bigger than a football Saturday, but think of the images that are delivered each season this time of year. Fans have been beaten over the head (no pun intended) by the Ohio State-Michigan and Alabama-Auburn rivalries. Utah coach Urban Meyer was stumping for the Cougars-Utes hatefest. Who cares who's right when it gets this personal:

Where's Your God Now? read one sign held by a Utah fan mocking BYU's religious beliefs.

"We hate their fans," Utah fan Jerry Gurr said. "Their fans are ignorant, belligerent and totally stupid. BYU fans are myopic. They think they're the best there's ever been, and that no one else is as good as they are."

And that was before Utah won to presumably go to the Fiesta Bowl.

All this is nothing new in college football. Two years ago this month, tensions, anxiety and anticipation exploded in Columbus after Ohio State beat Michigan to go to the Fiesta Bowl. And that was a celebration. For a month, the nation wrung its hands over what to do about fans coming out of the stands. Now the argument has reversed to players going into the stands, or going against each other.

The Utes and Cougars seemed to be on the edge of something all night. There was jawing, hard hits, the usual. Pouha was attended to by trainers but returned.

It was a shame Lou Holtz's final regular-season game at South Carolina was overshadowed by the violence. Less publicized, the Cal-Stanford game degenerated into a series of cheap shots in the final minutes. There were 26 combined penalties for 228 yards.

"I don't know how it started," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "I don't know if it's frustration. I don't want to point fingers at them, but I just hope our guys didn't do anything we can't be proud of."

What's troubling is maybe Bowden was right. Along with the shock and outrage of Friday night, maybe some acceptance found its way into psyches.

"We won the game and the fight," Clemson linebacker David Dunham said.

Clemson's Yusef Kelly wove the NBA riot into the scene, in a strange and troubling way.

"It was no worse than the Pacers-Pistons last night," Kelly said. "They actually got the fans involved. At least we kept it between the football teams."

So this was better because it stayed on the field? Not exactly.

During the 10-minute delay caused by the brawl, Kelly grabbed a South Carolina helmet and flung it into the stands.

"If we're going to go down," he said, "We're going to go down together."

The No. 2 debate

If Auburn is going to make its move up to No. 2 in the BCS, time is getting short.

Both Oklahoma and Auburn each have one game remaining, each in their conference championship games. Simple math tells you Auburn's desperation to get to the Orange Bowl should be growing. One game, one chance Dec. 4.

"We should be the top one, but I'll take (No.) 2," Tommy Tuberville said after Saturday's 21-13 victory over Alabama.

The teams came into the weekend tied in the Associated Press poll, but Oklahoma surged ahead by five points in this week's poll. Auburn also lost two points and is now four behind Oklahoma in the coaches poll. It appears Oklahoma will remain No. 2 in the BCS, closer to No. 1 USC than it is No. 3 Auburn.

As impressive as the Auburn victory was, Oklahoma's 35-0 victory over Baylor should not be discounted. The Sooners have allowed a total of three points the past eight quarters. They have posted two shutouts (Baylor, Texas). They probably will lose some computer love Monday, but expect them to remain No. 2 overall in the BCS.

That means it all comes down to Dec. 4 in the SEC and Big 12 title games.

"You've got enough hotels down there for us, don't you?" Auburn legend Charles Barkley said to a cornered Orange Bowl official at the game. "You'd better, 'cause we're coming."

We'll see. That doesn't diminish from Auburn's undefeated season. The tragedy, for some, will be a 12-0 SEC champion not being able to compete for the outright national championship. That has never happened.

Scoping the Nation

• Oklahoma's BCS case will be "helped" by most likely having a 7-4 opponent from the Big 12 North to play in the Big 12 championship game. Iowa State (6-4) scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to beat Kansas State 37-23. The Cyclones need only to beat Missouri this week to clinch its first division title. Colorado, also 6-4, can win if it beats Nebraska on Friday and Iowa State loses. The fact an admittedly decrepit North will have a 7-4 champion helps the Sooners' case.

• On his way out the door, Ron Zook outdid Steve Spurrier. Florida won at Florida State for the first time since 1986 in Zook's last regular-season game. That earned him a ride off the field and sparked some irony. The man who was able to handle Georgia but couldn't beat Mississippi State went out on an upbeat note. He won't say if he'll coach the bowl game, which might be more a function of the Florida administration. The Florida search looks off kilter. President Bernie Machen is determined to do a thorough search, although things will heat up now that the season is over. However, Utah's Urban Meyer strongly indicated over the weekend he is going to stay in Salt Lake City. The next two coaches on the wish list are Louisville's Bobby Petrino and West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez.

• Why Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart had no choice but to "release" the Mountain West from its obligation to send its champion to Memphis: Utah will receive $4 million-$6 million from the $14 million payout it will get from going to a BCS bowl. The Liberty pays each participant $1.35 million. If Ehrhart had held the Utes to the contract, he wouldn't have made it out of Utah intact.

• The Liberty no doubt is getting paid off -- by the Fiesta Bowl, Mountain West, whatever. Consequently, the Liberty most likely will get an undefeated Boise State from the WAC to replace Utah. One hand greases the other. Look for the WAC to get a check for "releasing" the Broncos.

• Tennessee clinching the SEC East (38-33 over Vanderbilt) was almost a footnote to the biggest question in Knoxville. Will freshman Erik Ainge be ready for the SEC championship game? In his first career start, third-stringer Rick Clausen completed 19-of-30 for 189 yards. There was no word on Ainge's availability (he has a separated shoulder), but two weeks off can't hurt. Neither can Phil Fulmer, defensive coordinator John Chavis and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders having that long to dissect Auburn. They have time and revenge on their side.

• Ted Ginn Jr. looks like the Heisman favorite of 2005. The freshman returned a punt 82 yards in Ohio State's 37-21 destruction of Michigan. Ginn tied an NCAA record with his fourth punt return for a touchdown in a season. Best of all for the Buckeyes, he has got three more seasons left. After two weeks of bashing from Maurice Clarett, Ohio State looks like it is setting itself for a title run next year. Question, though: How did quarterback Troy Smith not start all season? The offense was actually, well, exciting.

• Don't forget about Cal's J.J. Arrington for Heisman. He rushed for 169 yards in Cal's 41-6 Big Game victory over Stanford. Arrington, a late-closing Heisman candidate, broke Chuck Muncie's single-season school rushing record. He is the only back in the country to rush for at least 100 yards in all 10 of his games. Oklahoma freshman Adrian Peterson is 10-of-11.

• California (9-1) is a Dec. 4 victory at Southern Miss away from the Rose Bowl. The Rose berth would be the school's first in 45 years. "It would mean a lot to the program," coach Jeff Tedford told reporters. "It would mean a lot to the players and coaches. And after being here three years, I know how hungry our fans and alums are."

• A source close to the program confirmed the school is assembling a package to try to keep Tedford, who is the favorite for the Washington job. It might take a $2 million-per-year offer, but Cal can't afford to let this momentum get away. It is in the process of a $150 million facilities upgrade. Without Tedford around to keep the momentum going, it is going to be hard to raise all that money.

• It looks like the Heisman is going to come down to the final weekend in two weeks. Adrian Peterson got his name back high on the list with 240 yards against Baylor. The Sooners' 19-year-old star became the first I-A freshman to rush for at least 100 yards in 10 games in his first season.

• With teammate Jason White, Utah's Alex Smith and Cal's J.J. Arrington done with their seasons, the Heisman might come down to Texas and USC candidates. Cedric Benson has one more game left this week against Texas A&M. The Trojans have two more games before votes are due. Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush no doubt will have nationally televised statements to make.

• Oregon State (6-5) won the loser-leave-town Civil War 50-21 over Oregon. With both teams at 5-5, the winner was guaranteed a bowl berth. The loser stayed home. It has been a long drop for the Ducks (5-6), who three years ago were playing in the Fiesta Bowl. They are shut out of a bowl for the first time since 1996. Oregon suffered its first losing season in 11 years. The Beavers rebounded from a 1-4 start and are likely headed to the Sun Bowl or Insight Bowl.

• It was borderline shameful for the broadcasters of the Penn State-Michigan State game to keep flogging the rumor mill regarding Joe Paterno. There was no tangible evidence JoePa was going to step down following a 37-13 victory over the Spartans. He'll be back for at least another year. "Have I ever said I wasn't (coming back)?" he said.

• Nothing like doing it when it counts: Kyle Orton threw for 522 yards and six touchdowns against hapless Indiana in a 63-24 victory. Purdue's 763 yards were a school and Big Ten record. The Boilers finished 7-4, but that nasty four-game losing streak in the middle of the hurt like hell.

• BYU's Gary Crowton would not address his job status after losing to Utah. Since taking over for LaVell Edwards and starting 12-2, Crowton is 14-21. The Salt Lake City Tribune said the legacy left by Edwards has been "badly tarnished." Expect an announcement, not in Crowton's favor, soon.

• Most disappointing team? Has to be Missouri, which went belly up with the Big 12 North title and a bowl game on the line against Kansas. The Tigers (4-6) lost their fifth consecutive 31-14 at home. Missouri was a top-15 team with a Heisman candidate quarterback, Brad Smith, heading into the season. Smith completed only 15 of 40 passes. Meanwhile, Kansas' Brian Luke had a big day for the Jayhawks, who beat Missouri and Kansas State in the same season for the first time since 1989. Two weeks ago, Luke was a scout team quarterback.