Life isn't fair. Rick Dickson isn't conscious.

The Tulane AD fired coach Chris Scelfo on Tuesday. It was easily the most shocking firing of the season.

Scelfo gave blood to the city and the program. Dickson apparently forgot that Scelfo kept the Green Wave together after Hurricane Katrina. A projected bowl team in the 2005 preseason, Tulane was asked to play football under the worst conditions.

The team's psyche was as devastated as its city.

Remember the emergency bus ride to Jackson, Miss., with little more than the clothes on their backs? Remember when the buses stopped at a rest stop going to Dallas? Tulane players and coaches didn't know how bad it was until they saw a television showing their city under water.

Remember having to stay in student dorms for the entire season at Louisiana Tech, playing 11 games in 11 cities? It wasn't about finishing 2-9. It was about Tulane able to finish at all.

Scelfo never, ever made excuses when he could have written an encyclopedia on the subject. Everyone who came in contact with him will remember his class and work ethic.

He didn't deserve to be fired. He deserves to have a building named after him on campus. The man stayed eight seasons. Even more impressive, he wanted to stay eight seasons. Tommy Bowden knew what he was doing after 1998. He left for Clemson after going 12-0.

Tulane president Scott Cowen and the board of trustees did the program no favors a few years ago. It drew out a decision on whether to cut football or keep it Division I-A. That did wonders for recruiting.

Lack of interest will always kill a coach. Average attendance this season was 18,942 in the Superdome. Did Dickson stop to consider that there aren't that many people living in New Orleans anymore?

The school should be ashamed of itself. Scelfo should at least have been offered a spot in the athletic department.

Maybe he's better off. If Tulane can't win and can't draw with Chris Scelfo, maybe Katrina won. After the devastation it caused in New Orleans, the disaster that defined a man could end up killing a football program, too.

I'm told Barry Alvarez would listen if Miami made him head coach and athletic director for a combined salary of $4 million. ...

A Wisconsin outlet went way over the top with my mention of contact between Miami and Bret Bielema. It was presented to him sort of like, "Well, if your AD doesn't come, are you interested?"

My impression was that Bielema just laughed it off. Wisconsin's first-year coach is not a candidate, however contact was made. ...

Steve Spurrier would listen to Alabama but doesn't want to interview. He's earned that right. After what he's done, he doesn't have to get up in front of a bunch of trustees and repeat his résumé.

Spur Dog just wants to hear the offer and then consider it. I still don't think he'd go. ...

Alabama's best option is Nick Saban. We all know what he did at LSU. If Saban can extricate himself from the Dolphins then the job is his. The school will (have to) pay him $3 million a year. Saban will win. Isn't this what 'Bama wants? ...

Bob Davie wants the Arizona State job. The former Notre Dame coach apparently lives in Scottsdale. Don't know if he will be considered. He has been out of coaching for how long now? ...

Lisa Love is on the hook for the next Arizona State coach. You knew that when she fired Dirk Koetter, who had $2.85 million coming to him.

But the ASU AD has been the pressure squarely on herself with this boasting:

"The next person I will be hiring won't be shy about this. They'll clearly understand the goals. ... The Rose Bowl is the goal for Sun Devil football. No one should approach me about this job if they don't understand that and they don't understand what's going on at Arizona State University, because it's pretty powerful stuff."

The search, she said, "starts five minutes ago. I'm on it."

Whoa, Lisa, slow down. ASU's last Rose Bowl was after the 1996 season. Then again, maybe that's the point. ...

Note of the year, perhaps: This week marked the 80th consecutive year Oklahoma has had at least one first-team all-conference player. The streak began in 1926 in the old Missouri Valley Conference.

Only once since 1915 (1925) has OU not had a first-teamer. That's an incredible streak of 90 of the last 91 years.

With the end (almost) of the regular season come the best and worst of each conference:

ACC

Highlights
• Wake Forest's run to the ACC title game.
• Four of the six teams in the Atlantic Division finished with a game of each other -- Wake, Boston College, Clemson and Maryland.
• BC won at least eight games for the sixth consecutive season and seventh time in the last eight.
• Georgia Tech (7-1) lost only to Clemson in the ACC, but, oh, what a loss it was -- 31-7. Coach Chan Gailey got off the seven-win treadmill (four consecutive seasons) to finish 9-3 going into Saturday.
• Clemson's young backs James Davis (1,134 yards, 17 touchdowns) and C.J. Spiller (914, 10).

Lowlights
• The incredible crash of Miami and Florida State (both 6-6 and 3-5).
• The firing of Chuck Amato, John Bunting and Larry Coker. The "resignation" of Jeff Bowden, worth a cool $500,000 as a parting gift from boosters.
• Reggie Ball's inability to get Calvin Johnson the ball often enough might keep the Georgia Tech receiver from being a consensus All-American.
• Jad Dean's kicking. The Clemson kicker's missed extra point was the difference in an overtime loss to Boston College. Dean also missed a 39-yard field goal that would have tied the game against South Carolina. The Gamecocks won 31-28 for their first victory in Death Valley in 10 years.

Big East

Highlights
• The emergence of the league as a legit BCS conference.
• At least two teams (Rutgers, Louisville) with double-digit wins.
• Rutgers won the biggest game in its history, 28-25, over Louisville Nov. 9 on national television. The Scarlet Knights go into Saturday trying to win their first Big East title.
• Louisville's 44-34 victory over West Virginia on Nov. 2. South Florida's upset of West Virginia last Saturday. Cincinnati's upset of Rutgers.
• The No. 2 and No. 4 rushers, West Virginia's Steve Slaton and Rutgers' Ray Rice, are in the Big East.

Lowlights
• There weren't many, actually. Pittsburgh lost its last five after starting 6-1.

Big Ten

Highlights
• The song remained the same with the Big Two and the Little Nine. Ohio State and Michigan remain national championship contenders.
• The Buckeyes beat the Wolverines on Nov. 18 in a classic. Even better, no one got pepper sprayed.
• Best conference? Nine of the league's 11 teams are at .500 or better.
• Wisconsin (11-1) was BCS worthy but only two schools per conference are allowed to play in BCS bowls.
• Michigan State pulled off the biggest comeback in history against Northwestern. That was its only conference win as the Spartans finished tied for last.

Lowlights
• Minnesota's Glen Mason feuded with media and fans after holding up the administration for a contract extension. Then the Gophers finished 6-6.
• The departure of John L. Smith.
• The league went 1-3 vs. Notre Dame.
• On Sept. 30, Iowa was 4-0 and hosting Ohio State in what many called the biggest game ever in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes lost by 21 then lost five of their last seven.

Big 12

Highlights
• Bill Callahan getting Nebraska "back," not into national championship contention but back in the Big 12 title game for the first time since 1999.
• Kansas State's upset of Texas on Nov. 11 after two consecutive last-place finishes in the Big 12 North.
• The emergence of freshman quarterbacks Colt McCoy (Texas) and Josh Freeman (Kansas State).
• Oklahoma's comeback to win 10 games after losing its best player (Adrian Peterson), starting quarterback (Rhett Bomar) and a starting lineman (J.D. Quinn).

Lowlights
• Officiating problems seem to bug this conference each year. The league apologized to Missouri after a phantom holding call cost the team what would have been the winning touchdown at Iowa State.
• Dan Hawkins' first season at Colorado was a disaster, with the Buffs finishing 2-10.
• Texas A&M lost three close games at home to Texas Tech, Nebraska and Oklahoma by a total of six points but rebounded to win nine games. Dennis Franchione's future in College Station looks a little brighter.
• Texas wasn't able to defend its national championship.

SEC

Highlights
• The wild, wacky Hogs of Fayette-nam trying to win their first SEC title. Robert Johnson started the season at quarterback, then was shifted to receiver. A freshman quarterback (Mitch Mustain) went 8-0 then was replaced, at times, by the league's best runner (Darren McFadden), who began taking snaps.
• Through all this we keep hearing Houston Nutt's name pop up for openings. How does that happen after a team goes 10-2? Perhaps Nutt is getting tired of AD Frank Broyles.
• Four teams with at least 10 victories.
• Let's not hear any griping about Urban Meyer. He got the Gators into national championship contention and within a game of the SEC title in his second year.
• Going against (his) form, Meyer's Gators were tough defensively but spotty on offense. Chris Leak wound down a record-setting career being replaced at times by freshman Tim Tebow.
• LSU (10-2) probably had the league's most brutal schedule but lost only at Auburn and Florida. By the end of the season the Tigers were arguably the best team in the league and might be headed to a BCS bowl.
• Tigers quarterback JaMarcus Russell is the highest-rated passer among BCS conference schools.
• Rising from the dead, Rich Brooks saved his job and Kentucky won seven for only the fourth time in the last 28 years.
• Steve Spurrier stayed despite being mentioned for every open job. Don't folks understand that the Spur Dog just wants to call ball plays? He doesn't need the pressure cooker at Alabama.

Lowlights
• Georgia lost to Vanderbilt and Kentucky and gave up 50 to Tennessee at Sanford Stadium.
• It couldn't last forever. In 2005, all the league coaches made it through for the first time since the 1980s. But Alabama's Mike Shula was fired on Monday.
• The Mississippi schools continue to struggle. The Rebels and Bulldogs were a combined 7-17.
• No matter what the league says to the contrary, its non-conference schedule hurts. Florida is out of the national championship discussion because it played I-AA Western Carolina on Nov. 18.

Pac-10

Highlights
• No. 2 USC is within one game of playing for a national championship for a fourth consecutive year.
• Minus Reggie Bush, LenDale White and Matt Leinart, the Trojans won a record fifth consecutive conference title.
• Cal's Marshawn Lynch (1,178 rushing yards) was the Pac-10 offensive player of the year.
• Cal's DeSean Jackson (four punt-return touchdowns, nine receiving) will be the Pac-10's offensive player of the year in 2007.
• Arizona's Mike Stoops finally started to show some promise. The Wildcats finished 6-6 and upset Cal.
• Oregon State handed No. 2 USC its only loss and was No. 10 Boise State's most significant victory. Somebody owes the Beavers some BCS money.
• Eight bowl-eligible teams.
• OK, so it was only the BCS computers, but several of them had the Pac-10 rated as the No. 1 conference for most of the season.

Lowlights
• The replay snafu at Oregon on Sept. 16. Oklahoma was jobbed out of a victory by clumsy on-field and replay officials. The conference wrote a letter of apology to Oklahoma. The officiating crew was suspended for a game. Replay official Gordon Riese says he will retire.
• Stanford continued to be horrid. School officials are considered firing coach Walt Harris.

Independents

Highlights
• Notre Dame has all but clinched its second consecutive BCS bowl.
• Brady Quinn was a Heisman contender for most of the season, although his passing yards are down from last year.
• The Irish defense improved marginally from 75th in total defense to 45th. It made a dramatic rise from 103rd to 48th in pass defense.
• Tight end John Carlson is a finalist for the Mackey Award (best tight end).
• Paul Johnson led Navy (8-3) to its fourth consecutive season of at least eight wins. The Navy seniors are trying to become the first Midshipman class to go undefeated against Air Force and Army.
• An Oct. 28 victory over Bowling Green ended a 20-game losing streak for Temple. The Owls still finished 1-11.

Lowlights
• Temple is likely to finish last in scoring defense allowing 41.3 points per game.

Team of the week: Rice.

The nation's second-smallest I-A school beat SMU to insure a bowl game for the first time since 1961.

Jarett Dillard caught three touchdowns, tying the NCAA season record for consecutive touchdown catches (12 games). He joins Randy Moss (1997) and Larry Fitzgerald (2003) on that list.

The Biletnikoff Award semifinalist now has 25 touchdown catches in 23 career games. Rice (7-5) tied Arkansas for the biggest turnaround this season (six-game improvement from 2005).

All this from first-year coach Todd Graham, a former Tulsa assistant. ...

Texas A&M's Dennis Franchione got a breakthrough win Friday, 12-7 at Texas. The Aggies have been trapped behind the Sooners and Horns for most of this decade in the Big 12 South. While A&M blew earlier games against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, winning at Austin cannot be underplayed. ...

Arizona State's Dirk Koetter sounded like a man who had coached his last game despite a victory over Arizona.

"It's been my privilege to be the head coach at Arizona State for the last six seasons and if this is the end for me, it's a great way to go out," he said.

You'd be saying that too if the school owed you close to $3 million in a buyout. ...

Coaches of the year:

ACC: Jim Grobe, Wake Forest
Big Ten: Bret Bielema, Wisconsin
Big 12: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
Big East: Greg Schiano, Rutgers
SEC: Houston Nutt, Arkansas
WAC: June Jones, Hawaii
Conference USA: Art Briles, Houston
Sun Belt: Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee
Mountain West: Bronco Mendenhall, BYU
Pac-10: Pete Carroll, USC
MAC: (tie) Frank Solich, Ohio/Brian Kelly, Central Michigan. ...

Speaking of Kelly, Michigan State might be shifting its gaze to him to replace John L. Smith. ...

Just think how good receiver Calvin Johnson could have been if he had a quarterback who could get him the ball. Georgia Tech's Reggie Ball completed only six of 22 for 42 yards in the 15-12 loss to Georgia.

Georgia Tech goes into the ACC title game 9-3 but should be at least 11-1. Johnson was underutilized in losses to Notre Dame and Georgia and didn't catch a ball in a 24-point loss at Clemson. How does that happen, exactly?

"He was definitely rattled at the end of the game," said Georgia defensive tackle Ray Gant. "He was kicking and shoving people. He's 0-4 against Georgia, so you can't really blame him."

Johnson caught two passes for 13 yards against a defense that gave up 50 at home to Tennessee. What a waste. ...

Someone asked me last week to rate the top rivalries in the South. Georgia-Georgia Tech might not finish in the top five considering how one-sided the series is. ...

Why can't Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges even get an interview at some of these schools where there are openings? ....

This is weird: Oregon State will have played a significant part in the BCS race this season. USC's only loss is to the Beavers and remains in line to play for the national championship. Boise State is going to the Fiesta Bowl with its signature victory being over those same Beavers. ...

South Carolina rallied from 14 down at Clemson to beat the Tigers 31-28. The last time a visiting team came from that far back at Clemson was Duke in 1989.

We mention this only because Steve Spurrier was the coach who pulled off both comebacks. ...

The NFL Network is carrying on this print campaign trying to embarrass local cable systems into carrying the struggling network.

Readers are being told that they will miss out on the Ravens and Bengals on Thursday if the cable systems don't relent.

Oh no, not that! We can't possibly go on living without a Baltimore-Cincinnati football game on Thursday night. Think the NFL might have overrated its product? ...

Always a treat to visit the Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Marina del Rey area when staying in L.A. for USC games.

I recommend trying the Wahoo at 12 Washington, a funky beach cafe in Marina del Rey.

Updated BCS projections based on LSU beating Arkansas on Friday.

USC (vs. Notre Dame) wins, Florida (vs. Florida State) wins

Advantage: USC, although the Trojans must beat UCLA to firm things up. If not, Florida could sneak up to No. 2 by winning the SEC title.

1. Ohio State
2. USC
3. Florida/Michigan

USC wins, Florida loses

Advantage: USC and Michigan. Goodbye Notre Dame. Goodbye Florida. If USC lost to UCLA, Michigan would be back in the picture.

USC loses, Florida wins

Advantage: Florida, but Michigan would like this result, too. Even if Florida won the SEC, it would be doing so against two-loss Arkansas. Would that be enough for the Gators? The voters don't have stomach to vault Notre Dame over Michigan, do they?

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Florida
4. Notre Dame

USC loses, Florida loses

Advantage: Michigan. Would this clinch a Buckeyes-Wolverines rematch? Michigan would move up to No. 2 in the human polls. Notre Dame would be No. 3. But each team's seasons would be over. You'd have to go down to (current BCS) No. 7 West Virginia to find the next one-loss team. ...

Why was Texas' Colt McCoy even playing on Friday? It was obvious his shoulder was still bothering him from the Kansas State game. Backup Jevan Snead should have started. Texas probably would have then beaten Texas A&M.

The upshot of the whole thing is that Snead, a true freshman, probably doesn't transfer now. There is no certainty that McCoy will play in the bowl game. ...

If Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State on Saturday, it will get to the Big 12 title game and, in some ways, have a right to be even angrier. That Oregon result would be keeping the Sooners from contending for the national championship. ...

Is there any doubt that LSU is the best team in the SEC at this moment? ...

"I don't want to hear anyone say this devalues the SEC championship game." --CBS analyst Gary Danielson

Sorry, Gary, that's exactly what LSU's victory over Arkansas does. If Florida is able to win in Tallahassee on Saturday, the best it can do is beat a two-loss Arkansas team in the SEC title game.

The SEC's chances to play in the BCS title game were just diminished. ...

More proof that Bobby Bowden is out of touch.

"Because you all ignited it," he said to the media recently referring to son Jeff's resignation. "You listen to eBay and e-mail and all that junk, and you all kept writing about it, and that fans it and makes it grow and grow, and it becomes a cancer. That's why."

Listen to eBay? ...

Headline on Miami's Friday press release:

COKER RELEASED FROM HIS CONTRACT AS HURRICANES HEAD COACH

"Released" from his contract? That makes it sound like Coker was trying to leave. Anything to soften the blow, I guess.

Southern California (vs. Notre Dame) wins, Florida (vs. Florida State) wins, Arkansas (vs. LSU) wins.

Advantage: USC, although Florida is still in the running if the Trojans lose their finale to UCLA.

Projection on Nov. 26:
1. Ohio State
2. USC
3. Florida/Michigan

USC wins, Florida wins, Arkansas loses.

Advantage: USC, although the Trojans must beat UCLA to firm things up. If not, Florida could sneak up to No. 2 by winning the SEC title.

1. Ohio State
2. USC
3. Florida/Michigan

USC wins, Florida loses, Arkansas wins.

Advantage: USC. Goodbye, Florida.

1. Ohio State
2. USC
3. Michigan
4. Arkansas

USC loses, Florida wins, Arkansas wins.

Advantage: Florida and Michigan -- maybe even Notre Dame, especially if the Irish blow out the Trojans. Florida would still have a game left against the one-loss Hogs.

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Florida
4. Notre Dame

USC loses, Florida loses, Arkansas wins.

Advantage: Michigan. In this scenario, a Buckeyes-Wolverines rematch becomes more than likely. Arkansas would be the only team left with a game remaining.

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Notre Dame
4. Arkansas

USC loses, Florida wins, Arkansas loses.

Advantage: Michigan would like this result too. Even if Florida won the SEC it would be doing so against two-loss Arkansas. Would that be enough for the Gators?

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Florida
4. Notre Dame. ...

One team is coming off a three-touchdown loss, which is not so bad. Its opponent just got punked by 22 points.

One team is 94th in turnover margin. The other is 107th in passing.

Welcome to the showdown for a berth in the ACC title game between Wake Forest and Maryland. The winner goes. The Orange Bowl is disappointed. ...

Perhaps the most meaningful referendum on the state of Miami football: There were only 23,808 lonely souls in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night.

Then one day later, Larry Coker was dismissed. The question is, now that Steve Spurrier has decided to "stay" -- or, never was a candidate -- who do the Hurricanes pursue? ...

There was a report this week that Alabama had made contact with Dolphins coach Nick Saban. Makes perfect sense for 'Bama. The school could pay him NFL money. He'd have complete control again and there is no doubt for this blog that the Tide would be competing for championships very soon.

Not so sure if Saban is interested, though. ...

The No. 108 offense vs. the No. 111 defense.

The No. 115 offense vs. the No. 101 defense.

This can only mean North Carolina (2-9) at Duke (0-11) in the merciful end to both programs' seasons. ...

While Ohio State lounges on the coach with the nation's longest winning streak, Duke carries on with the nation's longest losing streak (19 in a row). ...

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is making a horse's behind of himself. After the Big 12 admitted to a wrong call in Saturday's Iowa State game, he considers the Tigers 8-3, instead of 7-4.

The Tigers lost the game 21-16 after, it turns out, there was a phantom holding call on what would have been Missouri's game-winning touchdown on 4th-and-1.

Credit the Big 12 for admitting the mistake. Condemn Pinkel for not letting go. He'd better be getting ready for Kansas, which has punked his team three years in a row. ...

Hawaii (vs. Purdue) has won eight in a row, its last six by 40.3 points. ...

Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis should be a consensus All-American. The SEC's top tackler, (arguably) the conference's best player for the past two seasons, goes into his final game against Mississippi State.

Willis' mother abandoned him and his three siblings when he was 4. At age 10, Patrick worked in Tennessee cotton fields, turning the money over to his father to pay bills.

In July, his brother drowned.

Willis is going to make a lot of money very soon in the NFL. He will have earned it without playing a snap in the pros. ...

In the third installment of the Turkey Bowl, the Gormans beat the Dodds 6 (touchdowns)-4 on Thursday. The Attack in the Cul-de-Sac continues in '07. ...

The 81 combined points were second-highest to that memorable 86-0 Michigan victory in 1902. ...

Saturday marked the 38th meeting, all-time, of No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the AP poll. Three of those have come in the last calendar year -- Texas-USC in the Rose Bowl, Texas-Ohio State on Sept. 9 and Saturday. The 35 others were spread out over the previous 62 years. ...

Ohio State scored more than 40 in the series for the first time since a 50-14 victory in 1968. That was infamous game when Woody Hayes went for two after the last touchdown. Asked why, he said, "Because I couldn't go for three." ...

Ohio State topped 500 yards in total offense in the series for the first time in 45 years. ...

Troy Smith is the first Ohio State quarterback in history to start and win three games against Michigan in his career. In the three meetings, he has 1,051 yards of total offense. ...

The Buckeyes defense came into the game with the fewest average points surrendered (7.8) in at least the past seven years of I-A play. After allowing 39 points -- its most for the school in seven years, by the way -- that average went up to 10.4. ...

The Bucks' current nation-leading win streak (19) is third-longest in school history. ...

More Lloyd on a possible rematch:

"I think it will be very interesting to see what transpires in the polls as we go forward here. But I don't care to speculate ... and I know that it will probably be very controversial either way. So that's what we like."

More Lloyd on Bo:

"He would not have wanted to be a distraction. And I told our team we weren't going to use Bo and his passing away as a motivational deal. That would have been to dishonor him." ...

A Sunday ad in the Columbus Dispatch sports section had both eventualities covered. A travel company advertised ticket packages to the BCS title game and the Rose Bowl. ...

Oddity of the week: Outgoing Iowa State coach Dan McCarney won his last game as Cyclones coach 21-16 over Missouri. McCarney, who resigned earlier this month, has taken the Clones to bowls five of the last seven years.

His counterpart, Gary Pinkel, got a contract extension last week and now has lost four of his past five. ...

Did John Bunting save his job by beating North Carolina State? Guess not. ...

The Orange Bowl can't wait. Well actually it can: The only thing we know for sure in the ACC is that Georgia Tech will be showing up in Jacksonville.

In the Atlantic Division, it's a mess. Boston College, Wake Forest and Maryland are locked in a three-way tie for the lead, each at 5-2.

With the Orange Bowl waiting for an ACC champion -- that most likely will finish out of the top 10 -- it's reasonable to ask if the Orange Bowl will sell out.

Especially if we're looking at Wake Forest and Rutgers. ...

The end? Don't be surprised if Mike Shula is fired. The loss to Auburn was that bad.

What a weird, wild, sad and exhilarating day on Friday. The plane lands in Columbus, I turn on my phone. The office had left a message that Bo Schembechler had collapsed.

A few seconds later, who do I run into but John Cooper. He's waiting for a plane to Charlotte, where he does analyst work on the weekend. He is shocked when told Bo is in critical condition. The two had just been on a conference call two days earlier trying to promote something called the Master Coaches Survey.

Then I found myself scrambling to call everyone and anyone, trying to do justice to Bo's life. The most poignant moment came when I reached John Robinson's wife, Linda.

The two couples had become close friends over the years. Linda's voice was cracking with emotion as she talked of just speaking to the Schembechlers recently.

It seems trivial, but Bo's death caused us to "spike" (journalism-speak for kill) a story I had done on the Dead Schembechlers. It didn't seem appropriate. Maybe someday I'll bury it somewhere in this blog.

The Dead Schembechlers almost immediately posted a tribute to Bo on their website. Then at about 3 p.m. ET the group broke up so as not to offend anyone in the future. Understand the group had been together 16 years writing such classics as Bomb Ann Arbor Now.

Classy and touching move by the band. They played their last gig here at the Newport Music Hall. ...

Went to the hockey game last night to get away from it all. Like that was going to happen. The Blue Jackets are terrible (lost to Colorado 3-0). The biggest cheers of the night came when 1) Jim Tressel appeared on the video screen wearing a Blue Jackets jersey and 2) a Michigan fan got a pie in the face from the Blue Jackets mascot (it was a skit). ...

First impression walking into The Shoe. The crowd is subdued, perhaps because of Bo's death. Riding down the elevator at the hotel one fan summed up the prevailing thought of Buckeye Nation.

"I swear to God, he did it on purpose, just to beat Ohio State one last time," he said.

We'll see if there is a certain win-one-for-the-Gipper mentality with the Wolverines. ...

We writers root for the best stories, not for teams. The best story today is Michigan winning, given recent events. Sorry, Bucknuts. ...

It occurred to me that 30 years from now, reporters will be looking back at our stories to get a taste for how this game was played.

Wow, a lot of pressure. I better be good today.

BMOC Alert: Rutgers kicker Jeremy Ito on the aftermath of his game-winning kick against Louisville on Nov. 9: "Yeah, I got some numbers, some just walking down College Avenue," he told the Newark Star-Ledger. "I mean, people knew who I was before, but nothing like that." ...

Remember that confusing reversal of a reversal last week? USC coach Pete Carroll, a replay opponent, was caught on camera saying three times, "(Bleep) you," after getting an explanation from an official. Not clear who he was yelling at. ...

Jimmy Heggins has to be smiling. He "resigned" in 2005 after 19 years on the Seminoles staff, essentially because Bobby Bowden had do something except fire his son.

Now Jeff Bowden is the one doing the "resigning." Meanwhile, Heggins the is offensive line coach at Kentucky and the Wildcats (vs. Louisiana-Monroe) are about to win seven games for only the fourth time in the last 28 years.

"It's nice to be able to get coaches that get let go at other places for whatever reason," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks told reporters. "How's Florida State's offense doing this year? I just thought I'd throw that out there." ...

The Master Coaches Survey is clamoring to get into the BCS. The little-known poll produced by 17 former coaches each week wants to replace the BCS computers. It won't happen if they come with the anti-Rutgers bias they portrayed this week.

"I really do not think they are in the class with those teams that have been mentioned that have lost one football game, because of the strong defense of Arkansas, Florida and LSU," former Georgia coach Vince Dooley said of the Scarlet Knights. "I don't think they are that good."

There is something called the Master Coaches Survey. It is a largely unknown independent poll of former coaches. It also wants into the BCS process, replacing the computer indexes.

A conference call with media on Wednesday was fairly revealing. Check out voter Bo Schembechler:

"If you look at them, neither one has had a really tough schedule," Bo said of Ohio State and Michigan. "Other than Texas, who have they (Ohio State) beaten? Who have they played? The Big Ten is about as weak this year (as I've seen it). The two top teams have really not played the real top teams in the country."

Former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum voted in the coaches poll for 14 years. He said it was almost impossible to fill out a credible ballot each week.

"By the time I got home Saturday night, I'd seen highlights on 10 o'clock news but there were games still in progress," Slocum said. "It really helped when the Internet came along. I hated to turn in a poll when I didn't know which teams won out there. There was no other way to do it. A lot of those games weren't completed. I had to go to work the next day.

"There are a lot of coaches who hand it over to an SID or assistant SID (to fill out). You don't know who is doing all those polls."

More Bo:

"We used to do it on the 1 o'clock (coaches') meeting on Sunday afternoon. We did it as a staff. It got hectic and all that. Finally, I just resigned. I said, 'My vote is not accurate, I haven't even seen some of these teams play.'"

Other 17 former coaches voting in the poll are John Cooper, Vince Dooley and John Robinson.

What's the big deal? This is the third No. 1 vs. No. 2 (in AP) game in last 10½ months. Count the BCS title game and we'll see four such games in a 53-week period. There have been 37 total since 1943.

The other recent games: Texas 41, USC 38 in the 2006 Rose Bowl; and Ohio State 24, Texas 7 on Sept. 9.

Can this right be right? Ohio State hasn't won an outright Big Ten title since 1984. ...

There is way -- it's a long shot -- that Rutgers could end up in the Rose Bowl.

First, it would take the Scarlet Knights winning out, which is a long shot in itself. There are games left at Cincinnati, vs. Syracuse and at West Virginia.

Second, the Ohio State-Michigan loser falls no lower than No. 2 in the BCS.

Third, USC loses its next two against Cal and Notre Dame.

Fourth, that would leave Cal in Pasadena and the Rose Bowl with an opening. The candidates would be Rutgers, a one-loss Louisville and a bunch of two-loss teams. ...

If Rutgers loses along the way, that enhances Notre Dame's chances of playing in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1925. Ohio State-Michigan would have to rematch. Then USC would have to lose twice to Cal and Notre Dame. ...

Isn't it weird that the consolation prize for Saturday's loser in Columbus is the Rose Bowl? At worst. ...

FYI, tickets to Ohio State-Michigan are going for $4,000. That's the highest price I've heard this season for any game. Even more impressive considering The Horseshoe seats 105,000. ...

Hack band Nickelback apparently tried to big time Ohio State into getting four tickets for The Large Contest. "If you were John Lennon and you needed four tickets for the Beatles, I couldn't help you," Ohio State SID Steve Snapp told the Chicago Tribune.

Bravo, Snapper. ....

"There was literally a roar in the back of the plane. These kids are dialed in, just like the rest of us are."

That was ND coach Charlie Weis describing how the Irish, while flying back from Air Force, found out about Texas' loss to Kansas State. ...

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has two weeks to rest a shoulder stinger that knocked him out after the first series against Kansas State. He says he is OK. The 'Horns end the regular season Nov. 24 vs. Texas A&M having still not clinched the Big 12 South. ...

We can officially wave goodbye to Chuck Amato at North Carolina State. After the ultimate up-and-down season, the Wolfpack (3-7) are out of bowl consideration. ...

Since the brawl against Miami, Florida International has lost three games by a combined 108-3. Coach Don Strock was on the hot seat before the Miami game. He will soon join Amato in the unemployment line. ...

Georgia Tech's ACC Coastal Division title is only the third such "title" the program has won since 1952. ...

There is no patience in New Orleans. A couple of Tulane fans holding a "Fire Scelfo" sign were ejected from the Superdome during Saturday's loss to Southern Miss. ...

Can't get the image of the guy in the Nashville airport Sunday night out of my head. He was on his cell, laptop open, checking on his fantasy NASCAR team. No matter what I do in life, I will never sink that low. ...

So now what does Miami do? Butch Davis is spoken for. Greg Schiano isn't going anywhere. Look for defensive coordinator Randy Shannon to get a serious look. His name came up before Notre Dame hired Tyrone Willingham. Plus, Shannon would be affordable and I'm hearing Miami's athletic department is way in debt. ...

North Carolina last won the ACC in 1980. It has had 16 players taken in the first round in its history. Davis recruited 22 first-round choices in his six years at Miami. ...

Ohio's Frank Solich can clinch a spot in the MAC title game with a victory Thursday against Akron. That would be five days after his former team, Nebraska, clinched its first Big 12 North title since 1999 (under Solich).

Ohio has the MAC's only win over the Big Ten this season (Illinois) in 18 attempts. ...

Apparently there is something called the Randy Moss Return Man Award in college football. What? What's next, the Terrell Owens Man of the Year Award? ...

For those of you doubt Rutgers, tell me that Ohio State or Michigan would turn down running backs Ray Rice or Brian Leonard. ...

Watch for the Nagurski Award finalists (best defensive player) to be announced on Thursday. ...

You know who continues to look like the biggest fool in this Bob Knight thing? Texas Tech AD Gerald Myers. Myers continues to defend Knight even after this latest incident. Have you no dignity, man?

Myers said Knight "quickly lifted" the chin of player Michael Prince. Yeah, and Knight once said he was "positioning" Neil Reed, too.

The only thing that has propped Knight up through his career is his ability to win basketball games. That shouldn't give him a free pass to abuse people.

Rutgers is in better shape that it could have dreamed. It moved from No. 13 to No. 6 in the BCS and has a realistic chance of playing in the national championship game. Not only that, the Scarlet Knights are No. 2 in the computers.

There is still a lot of work to do but here's what has to happen for Rutgers to play for the national championship:

• Of the five teams ahead of it, four are involved in head-to-head games. Ohio State-Michigan and USC-Notre Dame. That means that if Rutgers keeps winning it automatically will move up to No. 4.

• The best-case scenario for Rutgers: LSU beats Arkansas, Arkansas beats Florida. Then every team in the SEC has at least two losses. Cal beats USC and USC beats Notre Dame. Rutgers' only competition would be the Ohio State-Michigan loser.

In the short term, the Scarlet Knights have to hope for a blowout win by either the Wolverines or Buckeyes. ....

You forgot about ...: Virginia Tech, which is eliminated from the ACC race but has won eight games and shut out its third opponent on the season on Saturday (Kent State, 23-0). ...

Duke (0-10), which is officially the worst team in America after Stanford (1-9) beat Washington. ...

Steve Slaton who bounced back from those four fumbles against Louisville with 148 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati. ...

Oklahoma, which is still in the running for the Big 12 title game. After beating Texas Tech, the Sooners need a loss by Texas in its finale against Texas A&M to have a chance.

Nebraska, which is in the Big 12 title game for the first time since 1999. ...

BCS bowl lineup as of this moment:

BCS championship game: Ohio State vs. USC
Rose: Michigan vs. Cal
Fiesta: Texas vs. Boise State
Sugar: Arkansas vs. Notre Dame
Orange: West Virginia vs. Georgia Tech. ...

It's starting to get to that point where two-loss teams might have to be considered for some BCS at-large bids. We projected the four at-large spots will be filled by Cal, Michigan, Boise State and Notre Dame.

Teams have to be in the top 14 of the final BCS for consideration for an at-large BCS. It's going to be hard for No. 15 Cal (8-2) to sustain another loss and still be in the top 14. No. 3 USC (9-1) could lose to Cal and still get a Rose Bowl bid. No. 5 Notre Dame (9-1) could lose by 30 at USC on Nov. 25 and still be in the top 14.

No. 11 LSU (8-2) could win out. Boise State is in good shape, automatically qualified as of now, at No. 12 in the BCS. Don't count out Oklahoma (8-2) at No. 17. What bowl wouldn't want Adrian Peterson returning from his injury in what possibly would be his final game as a collegian?

Rutgers started the trend, now Saturday's games are carrying the banner: The BCS is a mess. If anyone believes Florida should be playing in the national championship game, please keep your hand down.

The last time Florida did not score at least 30 in one of its SEC home games was 1988. ...

After sitting on the couch watching this team, it's clear that the Gators don't have a serviceable offensive line. Urban Meyer must be going nuts. He expected so much more out of this offense. ...

It's clear to me that Ohio State has better athletes than Michigan. Better skill players, faster defensive players. I'm trying to find a place where Michigan has an advantage next Saturday and I can't. Maybe special teams, but I'm leaning toward a blowout next week ...

By the way, when did Jim Tressel start channeling Tony La Russa? Did you check out those sunglasses on T-Love? ...

One of the country's best stories is hiding down in Dallas. SMU is still alive in Conference USA's West Division and could end up hosting the conference championship game. ...

This Rich Brooks thing could work out for Kentucky. The Wildcats became bowl eligible after beating Vanderbilt. Don't go nuts, but I can make a compelling case for Andre Woodson (450 yards, four touchdowns Saturday) being the all-SEC quarterback.

I lied. I told you last week in this space that I was flying cross country to watch Boise State play at San Jose State. Turns out that game is about the 10th most important of the weekend.

I got to thinking about how Michigan and Ohio State were prepping against Big Ten cadavers in preparation for their game next week.

So here I am. Home. Believe me, I don't miss a cross-country flight from Newark. Thursday night was bad enough. Let's just say this boy wasn't meant for the Jersey Turnpike and Rutgers wasn't ready for the biggest game in its history.

Before it contends for a national championship it might want to consider paved parking lots. Ah, heck, it was hard not to feel good for the Scarlet Knights. They're not going to play for the national championship, but this year could be their entree into the big time. ...

Georgia's upset of Auburn helps Texas the most. Anything that breaks the logjam between Texas and Florida in the BCS is worthy of discussion.

With No. 4 Florida being only two-one thousandths of a point ahead of No. 5 Texas, the Auburn loss is not good for the Gators. Florida's only loss is to a two-loss team. Texas has lost only to the No. 1 team in the country -- two months ago. ...

West Virginia looks like it's going to win the Big East despite that loss at Louisville. Assuming that West Virginia beats Rutgers on Dec. 2 (if the race makes it that far), the Mountaineers would most likely own the tiebreaker.

Big East rules state that in the event of a tie, the highest-ranked team goes. That's the old Miami rule to make sure the league's marquee team got the major bowl bid if it was tied. ...

Ohio State-Texas rematch. ...

A couple of weeks after Dan McCarney came to Iowa State in 1995, he was accused of spousal abuse against his then-estranged wife. It came during the emotional aftermath of the O.J. Simpson trial.

For a few tenuous days, it looked like McCarney wasn't going to get to keep the job he just accepted.

But McCarney kept his job and Iowa State prospered.

• Five bowls in the last six years.
• A program-changing victory over Nebraska in 2002.
• Two trips to New York for the Heisman ceremony with tailback Troy Davis.
• A nine-win season in 2000.
• A near-upset of Florida State in 2002 when quarterback Seneca Wallace was ruled out of bounds near the goal line. A touchdown there would have tied the game late.
• A futuristic athletic office complex at one end of Jack Trice Field.

In the end, McCarney was done in failed expectations (some picked the 'Clones to win the Big 12 North) and a new athletic director. Jamie Pollard said the program had lost "momentum" -- which was probably right.

But McCarney should get credit for what he did the past dozen years, more than what didn't happen this year.

If Pollard is willing, LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini seems to be a perfect fit for Iowa State.

Pelini hasn't been seriously considered as a head coach in the past (although he has interviewed) because he isn't the CEO type. He'll tell you exactly what he thinks. All he wants to do is coach football.

That persona might fit in rural Iowa. Pelini has a brilliant defensive mind, has coached at two Big 12 schools (Oklahoma and Nebraska) and desperately wants to be a head coach.

Get him a swash-buckling offensive coordinator, and watch players flock to Ames. If it happened at places like Rutgers, Kansas State and San Jose State, it can certainly happen at Iowa State, which isn't nearly in bad of shape as those three were.

Oh yeah, Pelini is undefeated as a head coach. He was the guy who led Nebraska over Michigan State in the 2004 Alamo Bowl after Frank Solich was fired.

Dick Tomey is not given to battlefield promotions. Oh, he's given a walk-on a scholarship before, but never in the locker room after a game.

Jibiri Sharp, a walk-on, well, everything, couldn't believe his ears after San Jose State's victory over Louisiana Tech.

Jazzed about Jibiri, Tomey awarded the 6-foot-4, 331-pound Sharp a scholarship, effective at the end of the season, of course.

Who knows where Sharp and the Spartans will be by then? They already are bowl-eligible (6-2) for the first time since 2000 and aiming for their first bowl since 1990. They're off to their best eight-game start in 20 years. With undefeated Boise State coming to town, Tomey's team controls its destiny in the WAC.

San Jose State, Tomey and the WAC share much of the same recent history. Two years ago the program was one of the most forgotten and downtrodden in the country. A faculty senate advisory questioned whether to even keep football.

The WAC was left for dead in 1999 after half the league broke away to form what is now the Mountain West.

Tomey, nearing the end of an excellent career, still wanted to be a head coach. He did a great job as Texas' defensive coordinator but accepted the San Jose State job on Dec. 27, 2004, less than a week before the Longhorns played Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Retirement turned into rejuvenation. By coming to San Jose, Tomey missed out on the 2005 national championship and came to a program that started last season 1-8.

"I appreciated the opportunity to be at Texas, to be with Mack (Brown)," Tomey said. "I'm a better coach for having been there."

However, "I knew this program was a great program years ago. I knew it could be a great again."

Since that 1-8 start the Spartans are 8-2 and making a case for being the second-best program in the Bay Area behind Cal. It has beaten Stanford and certainly plays a better brand of football than the Oakland Raiders.

Tomey has done it with deft recruiting. There are 17 seniors, but eight true freshmen have made huge contributions. Sharp has turned out to be one of the most versatile players on the team, having played fullback, offensive line and defensive line. He also blocks on the field-goal unit.

The defense is typical Tomey. It is No. 1 against the pass in the WAC and No. 2 in scoring. Corner Dwight Lowery is a strong All-America candidate leading the nation in interceptions (eight, more than 28 I-A teams). The program also has the distinction of being the only team with three Joneses at linebacker -- Demetrius, Damaja and Travis. They are not related but they can hit.

If this is a retirement job for Tomey, so be it. His retirement is open-ended. The job appealed to him because of his West Coast ties. Tomey had once lived nearby when he spent a time with the 49ers.

San Jose got a guy who is the winningest coach at two schools (Arizona and Hawaii). Tomey also is in the top 10 all-time in conference wins in both the Pac-10 and the WAC.

In less than two seasons, he has energized a program that struggled for attendance and credibility. Close to 20,000 are expected to be on hand for the game that could vault the Spartans into their first bowl game in 16 years.

"We're better this year," said Tomey whose team is 0-6 all-time against Boise. "How much better, we'll see." ...

You wonder why San Jose State recruiting coordinator Brent Brennan couldn't recruit his cousin.

Hawaii's Colt Brennan went into the Louisiana Tech game with 39 touchdown passes and is on track to break David Klingler's single-season mark of 54.

Football doesn't count anymore. It's hard to think some stupid computer or asinine poll.

Bryan Pata is dead.

It's hard to think about anything except the Miami defensive lineman's family, the UM football team and coach Larry Coker. A depressing season turned tragic when Pata was murdered Tuesday night.

This is no time to pontificate about the danger of guns or even whether Saturday's game against Maryland should be played. The only thing I can think about is how that bullet not only killed a great kid but tore through Miami.

The Hurricanes are loved in South Florida. No matter what criticisms there are of the program, Miami is the biggest success story in the sport in the past 30 years. The Hurricanes changed the way we looked at college football -- because we could not look away.

They were/are entertainers, mostly great kids. Colorful players with colorful coaches. We wanted to be around them because they were anything but boring.

I remember suggesting that the Miami dynasty was over before the Virginia Tech game last year. Whether or not it was, wasn't the point. It was an opinion. I expected holy hell if they won. You don't write something like that, then not show up.

Apparently, coaches made copies of the column and passed it out on the plane on the way to Blacksburg. Of course, Miami won. I will take no credit. I did take a lot of grief.

One assistant, on the field after the game, said sarcastically: "Nice pick." A team rep told me as I entered the locker room, "I don't know if you want to go in there." Another assistant undressed me in the locker room in front of everyone. I was told an offensive lineman "wanted to see me."

The player good-naturedly turned to other writers and criticized those who doubted the 'Canes, knowing I was right at his side.

The reaction was exactly what I expected. Miami has pride, but it didn't go over the edge. Never was one curse word uttered. Never did I feel physically threatened. It was their way of saying, "We're still here, deal with it." Virginia Tech had just found out.

At the end of the night, I had even more respect for the 'Canes. I wrote what I wrote. They played and won. End of story.

I think now how that locker room hurts, how Pata's teammates will feel his death for the rest of their lives. How the greatest success story in the past 30 years must deal with another death. There have been four deaths of Miami players in the past 10 years.

This is my sympathy card, 'Canes. You are a great program stocked with great people. Thoughts and prayers to the Pata family and Hurricane football.

I look forward to talking football with you again, if that's ever possible. Right now, football doesn't count.

Only in Columbus, Ohio, is there a citywide ban on "porch couches" -- or, as they call them the week of the Michigan game, kindling.

The city council met recently to begin planning for the postgame drunken riot, furniture-burning party that follows a victory over Michigan.

Trash men will go out three times next week to clean out dumpsters of anything that can be used as "fuel." The porch-couch ban began 17 months ago. Since then 200 citations have been issued.

Question for the geniuses in the council: What if the offenders keep their kindling, oh, in the living room or in the basement? Just wondering. Porches aren't the only natural habitat for couches. ...

Texas coach Mack Brown on the dangers of being on the sideline:

"I love Joe (Paterno) to death. It is very dangerous. I got my knee replaced this summer. The No. 1 thing the doctor told me that would get me back in the hospital was if I didn't watch where I stood and what I did on the sideline.

"In the Ohio State game (Sept. 9) a guy comes from nowhere, hits me in the mouth. Good thing he hit me up high. I even talked to my coaches (Sunday) about the dangers of the sideline. It is a very, very dangerous thing."

(Note: Brown did not need the knee replacement because of an injury on the sideline). ...

Rich Rodriguez on the criticism of the Big East that has sprung up since Louisville's victory over West Virginia on Thursday:

"There's a faction of people still criticizing Big East teams," the Mountaineers coach said. "If it was a low-scoring game they probably would have said there's no offense ... Our league is still underrated and other leagues are overrated." ...

If you're going to criticize the lack of defense played in that Cards-Mountaineers game, then give credit to Louisville's D for causing seven fumbles (including one on a two-point conversion).

The Mountaineers lost four of those fumbles, two by running back Steve Slaton, who fumbled four times by himself.

Here's part of the official reason: Slaton had a bruised funny bone and sprained left wrist that kept him from gripping the ball sufficiently. ...

Of the AP preseason top 25, seven are currently unranked. Judge for yourself, the biggest disappointments of the season:

Preseason No. 11, Florida State, 5-4
No. 12: Miami, 5-4
No. 15, Georgia, 6-4
No. 16, Iowa, 6-4
No. 18, Clemson, 7-3
No. 19, Penn State, 6-4
No. 22, TCU, 6-2
No. 24, Arizona State, 5-4
No. 25, Texas Tech, 6-4. ...

Which reminds me, look for Arizona State AD Lisa Love to take a run at Norm Chow if Dirk Koetter is fired. Love is from USC, which was also Chow's last employer before he went to the Tennessee Titans. Chow has been up for several college jobs, but there is a question whether he really wants a head coaching job or just needs to be shown he is needed. ...

Sixty-four teams are going to have to become bowl eligible to fill all the slots. That wasn't supposed to be a problem with the NCAA deciding the 6-6 was the cutoff point.

With four weeks' worth of games left, 48 teams are currently bowl eligible (at least six victories). Another 18 have five victories, needing one more to become bowl eligible.

Here are a few teams who could go either way:

Miami, 5-4: 'Canes need to squeeze out a victory in the final three at Maryland, at Virginia and at home against Boston College. Could be tough.

Indiana, 5-5: The loss to Minnesota hurt a lot. The Hoosiers would have been in if they beat the Gophers. Now they have to beat Michigan (Saturday) or win at Purdue (Nov. 18) to get the program's first bowl since 1993.

Cincinnati, 5-4: Mark Dantonio has made great strides at Cincy. However, getting to a bowl in his third season is going to be tough. The season finishes at West Virginia, vs. Rutgers and at UConn.

Kansas, 5-5: The Jayhawks are trying to go to consecutive bowls for the first time. KU finishes against rivals Kansas State and Missouri. It has beaten Missouri three consecutive years.

Oklahoma State, 5-4: A surprise in the Big 12, the Cowboys need to hustle to get to six. The season ends with Baylor, Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

Conference USA: There's a game of cutthroat going on in C-USA. Eight of the 12 teams can still get to the championship game. Ten of the 12 can still become bowl eligible, but only two are (Houston and Tulsa). The league has five bowl slots.

Oregon State, 6-3: Seemingly safe but because the Beavers play a 13th game in Hawaii, they must win one more to become bowl eligible.

Purdue, 6-4: Same for the Boilers, who need a victory against Illinois, Indiana or Hawaii.

Mountain West: Leader BYU (7-2, 5-0) and TCU (6-2, 2-2) are the only conference teams bowl eligible. The Cougars should wrap up the conference title but have work to do against the teams immediately below them, Wyoming (5-5), New Mexico (5-4) and Utah (5-4).

Kentucky, 5-4: Rich Brooks has gotten off the hot seat. Things should cool down considerably if the 'Cats can beat Vandy, Louisiana-Monroe or Tennessee.

South Carolina, 5-4: The Ball Coach has to go to Florida and Clemson. That means South Carolina better win at home on Nov. 18 against Middle Tennessee.

Arizona State, 5-4: An extremely disappointing season for the Sun Devils. They started out ranked and now must beat Washington State, UCLA or Arizona to get to a low-level bowl.

LSU-Tennessee leftovers.

The Legend of Johnny Crompton was almost born Saturday night.

Tennessee's redshirt freshman quarterback goes by the name of Jonathan Crompton, but when he threw a go-ahead 54-yard pass with 7½ minutes left, pickers and grinners all over the state were firing up their stringed instruments.

After that score, Tennessee led 24-21 and Vols everywhere had visions of a BCS bowl dancing in their heads. The legend didn't die -- it may have been just delayed -- after LSU's JaMarcus Russell threw the game-winning touchdown with nine seconds left.

When Vol Nation gets over the crippling loss, it will start considering the kid from "just over the mountains" -- as one staffer put it -- in Waynesville, NC. Crompton was forced into action when starter Erik Ainge injured his left ankle in the first quarter. Ainge already was hobbled coming into the game because of a sprained right ankle suffered on Oct. 28.

So Crompton wasn't exactly shocked to be in there. Actually, he isn't exactly shocked to be anywhere. Inserted for the injured Ainge in that South Carolina game a week ago, he got under center and began calling an audible. The sideline freaked. Coaches quickly called a timeout and reminded Crompton that he was in there to run the clock down.

Yes, you could say the kid is competitive. Crompton is known for keeping the first-team offense after practice so he can get extra reps with the starters. Then he has to be reminded that the starting 10 are tired, having put in full practice while Crompton took backup snaps.

"I think what everybody got to see is what we've been saying all along," receivers coach Trooper Taylor told reporters. "He's a terrific player, he brings a lot to the table."

Crompton was a big-time recruit, but sat out 2005 after tearing the labrum in his throwing shoulder. In eight previous games before Saturday he had thrown (and completed) four passes. He completed 11 of 24 for 138 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against LSU.

The last thing Tennessee needs is another quarterback controversy. It's no secret that Ainge lost confidence last year constantly trading places with Rick Clausen. Comfortable as the No. 1 this year, Ainge sprinted out to a great start under new/old offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe.

But while Crompton is raw, he does have more mobility than the purely pocket passing Ainge. The pressure if off the Vols in terms of competing for the SEC title and a BCS bowl. But a new round of Who's The Quarterback might just be beginning.

"I think he's going to be a heck of a quarterback," coach Phil Fulmer said.

He was speaking of Crompton on Saturday. Stay tuned, though, for further updates. ...

Joe Paterno needs a "get back" coach. You know, the strength coach or whomever yells, "Get back!" when players stray off the sidelines.

In this case, Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless rammed right into JoePa's knee going out of bounds against Wisconsin. The coach was carted off the field having suffered a broken left leg and knee ligament damage. At least he went out on his shield. Remember the last time JoePa left the field during a game? He had the diarrhea thing going at Ohio State. ...

Meanwhile, what has happened at Iowa? It was only a few weeks ago when Ohio State came to the town for the biggest game ever in Iowa City. On Saturday, Northwestern picked up its first Big Ten win there 21-7. Iowa was outgained 443-264. Coach Kirk Feretnz called his team "fat cats."

Maybe, but check the collars on those kitties. It's hard to play when you're gagging. ...

The weekend in Knoxville wouldn't be complete without a big shout out to The Tiger Pimps. Yes, you may start your parental controls now.

The Pimps are a group of friends who dress up like Snoop wannabes and attend one LSU road game a year. This season it was Tennessee. Knoxville may never be the same. When I dressed, I mean right out of central casting. I don't know where some of these guys got their gear. We're talking fur coats, purple waistcoats, wide-brimmed hats. Enough (faux) jewel-encrusted drinking cups to make Lil Jon jealous.

These boys are crunk.

It's all in good fun right down to the purple and yellow boom box carted around on a wagon. Needless to say, The Pimps celebrated in style after LSU won. One hungover OG rolled through security Sunday morning yelling, "Ya'll got pimped!" to any Tennessee fan who could hear him.

Another reason why we love this game. Check them out at tigerpimpnation.com. ...

There might be a full-on quarterback controversy at Arkansas. Freshman Mitch Mustain was yanked after the first series at South Carolina. Sophomore Casey Dick played effectively the rest of the way in a 26-20 victory. Houston Nutt must deal with this issue while trying to win the SEC West. The Hogs have Tennessee, Mississippi State and LSU remaining. ...

Kansas State (6-4) is going bowling in its first season under Ron Prince after winning at Colorado 34-21. That's amazing accomplishment considering K-State spent the last two season at or near the bottom of the Big 12 North and Prince is a rookie coach ...

Stanford has completely given up under Walt Harris. You under if the administration will consider making a change even though it would have eat a lot of his contract. This is only Harris' second year. The Cardinal are winless after losing to USC 42-0 and haven't scored a touchdown in 10 quarters. ....

Besides Boise, the only sure thing in the BCS is Notre Dame. The Irish clocked North Carolina to move to 8-1 for the first time since 2002. They have Air Force, Army and USC left. Notre Dame could lose by 30 to the Trojans on Nov. 2 and still get a BCS bowl. It only has to finish in the top 14 of the BCS to "qualify". Wink, wink. ...

Cal has two sellouts in a season for the first time in more than 50 years. It has a chance to nail down its first conference title in 31 years later this month when it travels to USC.

Now I know what U2 feels like. This isn't a road trip. I'm on tour. Louisville on Thursday night, now on to Knoxville for LSU-Tennessee.

I'll turn right around and hit Rutgers next Thursday for the Big East's latest game of the century. Then it's to the West Coast for Boise State-San Jose State. That's four games in nine days.

Keep those lighters handy. I will be doing an encore.

Some observations:

Louisville might not be the best team in the country, but who is the clear No. 1? Given the system, the Cardinals deserve a shot at answering that question in the national championship game.

The SEC is going to freak when it gets wind of an undefeated Louisville team beating out a one-loss SEC team. But that's the BCS system. It rewards those who go undefeated.

While the quality of the Big East isn't up to par with the SEC, we're not talking the WAC or Conference USA here. After Brian Brohm went nuts Thursday night, I had an agent e-mail me asking for the family's number. The agent didn't know the kid was that good.

(Don't worry, an agent contacting a family is completely on the up and up. I didn't have a number anyway.)

Besides, the Big East is looking forward to a date in the desert. Commish Mike Tranghese doesn't care who knows it. He had some fairly pointed remarks Thursday afternoon at a pregame luncheon for media.

On a playoff: "If the playoff proponents would just take a step back ... the old system was a travesty. By the way, (under the old bowl structure) we'd have a deal in place for the winner of this game (Louisville-West Virginia). We'd have a place for the loser of this game. We'd have a place for Rutgers before they played."

On BCS creator and former SEC commissioner Roy Kramer: "Roy understood that by creating this we could create even more interest in the regular season. People can knock and beat up Roy, but he's dead right. This is, in essence, a playoff game. That's what these two teams are playing for. They are playing for the right to hopefully get to a championship game. Rutgers is going to do that next week. Tennessee is doing that this week."

On Big East expansion: "We've built up a brand and have some equity. We want someone who is going to make us better."

(Note: There are no immediate plans to expand, but word is that Central Florida might someday be invited. However, the school has to prove its worth with a broad-based sports offering and, oh yes, a winning football program.)

On criticism of the non-conference schedule: "Without naming names, let's go look at a lot of other people's non-conference schedules. Who are we kidding? There aren't a lot of people going out, putting themselves at risk in non-conference play."

That, dear reader, is a clear shot at the SEC, which is not exactly known for taxing itself in the non-conference.

That also means it's on between the Northeast Newbies and the Kings of College Football.

Stop by the Neyland Stadium press box on Saturday and say hi. I'll be the one with the roadies in tow. Sorry, no groupies.

Michigan State probably did the right thing in jettisoning John L. Smith. It can begin its search immediately while Smith tries to get the team to a bowl game.

The politics, though. Uh! I'm told it's going to mess trying to get everyone on the same page for the next hire. Trustee Joel Ferguson is upset that Smith wasn't exactly his guy four years ago.

Plus, you have a board of trustees that tends to meddle. Former coach George Perles is attempting to be named to the board. If that happens, I'm told, Perles will attempt to control the process.

AD Ron Mason should be left alone to make the hire but he has a new boss -- president Lou Anna K. Simon who has a new contract that puts her in power through 2011. Mason has one year left on his deal. Good luck, Ron.

None of these people alone are dangerous. But give them all their base of power and divergent viewpoints and, well, as I said, this could be a mess.

Steve Mariucci is reportedly a top candidate but I think Michigan State could do a lot better. I was told Thursday that it is Butch Davis' job "to lose." Part of me thinks that Davis likes seeing his name in print. He has been linked to Miami, North Carolina and a couple of high schools near his home in Arkansas.

The same reasons why the Michigan State job is so tough -- having to beat Michigan, proximity to Notre Dame and Ohio State -- are the reasons why the job could be great.

Michigan State always has athletes. It is merely mired in mediocrity. I did a story after the Notre Dame loss stating that the program is exactly one game over .500 since 1976. Perles wants the program to get back to the "old Michigan State". What exactly is the old Michigan State, George?

Smith is another reason why grad rates are convenient crutches. Fifty percent of Smith's first recruiting class will graduate next spring. That number will increase to 70 percent for his fifth-year seniors.

Nobody cares about that now. Everything is predicated on winning percentage. But you already knew that.

Here's a few names to chew on: Central Michigan's Brian Kelly and Western Michigan's Bill Cubit to get a look. Cincinnati coach Mark Dantonio once was an assistant in East Lansing and still has strong ties to The Sweater Vest at Ohio State. Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur spent nine years as a Spartans assistant. ...

Oh you myopians. I received several e-mails this week making it clear that Tommy Bowden was hit with a liquor bottle by a Clemson fan. As if that mattered. When I wrote Tuesday that I was concerned about stadium security, I don't want to be checking school colors.

A liquor bottle is a liquor bottle. I'm sure if Bowden was seriously injured at Virginia Tech it would have made him feel a lot better knowing the weapon that hit him was from a Clemson fan. Get with it, people. ...

If Minnesota (3-6) doesn't beat Indiana in the Metrodome things could get extremely uncomfortable. One observer swears that when students start chanting "Fi-re Mason," the school band has been ordered to fire up in order to drown them out.

"People have short memories," Mason told reporters. "I've been here 10 years. Some of those (students) were eight years old that might be booing me. Where was this program when they were 8 years old? Huh? Where was it?"